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Less than six months after settling into the Editor?s chair here at MarineNews , I know that I will never be done learning new things about this diverse sector of the maritime industry. For example, I?ve become only too aware that ?one size does not fit all.? Nowhere does that adage ring truer than in the world of workboats, where these multi-mis- sioned platforms have been virtually transformed ? seemingly overnight ? into some of the most interesting and sophisticated vessels on the water. Hence, the previously narrow defini- tion of the ?workboat? sector has to be reexamined. Within the pages of this voluminous Workboat Annual edition, we have done just that. If one size doesn?t fit all anymore, it is also true that size still matters. Today, however, size is defined in many different ways. Perhaps most important to regulators and by default the workboat industry they oversee, is the size of a vessel?s carbon footprint. If yours isn?t getting smaller, then perhaps you need to take a new look at how you are doing business. The need to balance missions against the downstream impact of those goals is no longer a nice public relations move; it?s just simply required. That said; you can get there from here. Continuing with my theme of a diverse and interesting workboat sector, our boat of the month selection is perhaps not what you might expect but perhaps it should be. That?s because the Glosten Associates designed, Next Generation Research Vessel balances performance with Zero Footprint Objectives. A workboat by any definition, this slick new concept design promises diverse, multi-missioned research capabilities, packaged into a highly capable platform with zero water emissions and drastically reduced air emissions. It rarely gets any better than that. In this same edition, Susan Buchanan leads us through the business thought process that prominent workboat oper- ators employ when deciding which boat to build, why and what capabilities those boats need to have. Rounding out that discussion is our TECH file which profiles Harvey Gulf International?s futuristic entry into the GOM offshore construction vessel markets. When completed, the vessel will be one of the most sophisticated platforms of its kind and also serves notice to oil & gas operators everywhere that U.S. flag assets do exist to service this highly technical market. Beyond the operators themselves, industry advocates who sometimes find themselves on different sides of contentious discussions now find themselves working towards similar goals in a crowded market. Environmental and regulatory compliance, workboat safety and ultimately, the return to profitable business conditions in the US GOM and else- where, all dominate the collective agenda of the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) and the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA). One size does not fit all. A broad look at the workboat market ? the small, family owned and operated Tradewinds Towing group (page 50) as a perfect example ? shows us that there is no one formula (or required size) to navigat- ing the complicated GOM offshore game. That much I do know. SUBSCRIBESubscribe to the print or electronic edition of MarineNews at www.marinelink.com/renewsubscr/Renew04/subscribe.html or e-mail Kathleen Hickey at [email protected] DAILY NEWS via E-MAILTwice every business day we provide breaking news, tailored to your specification, delivered FREE directly to your e-mail. To subscribe visit http://maritimetoday.com/login.aspx POST & SEARCHJOBSJob listings are updated daily and help match employers with qualified employees. Post a position or keep abreast of new employment opportunities at http://www.maritimejobs.com ADVERTISEMN offers a number of print and electronic advertising packages. To see our editorial calendar and advertising rates, visit www.marinelink.com/AdvRates/Rates.asp Joseph Keefe, Editor, [email protected] Online Resources 6MNNovember 2011EDITOR?S NOTEkeefe@ marinelink.comMN#11 (1-17) a:MN 2011 Layouts 11/3/2011 11:19 AM Page 6