Page 46: of Marine News Magazine (September 2013)

A tumultuous 3 years for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, start- ing with the disastrous Macondo Oil Spill in April of 2010, has come full circle, arriving at a buoyant period for Gulf Cost boat builders, oil & gas developers and the maritime professionals who make it all happen. At the center of all of it is the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) and its President and CEO, Jim Adams. OMSA bills itself as the leading national association of, and spokesman for, the offshore marine transportation ser- vice industry. As a central tenet of its existence, OMSA vigorously defends the cabotage laws of the United States and encourages and promotes high standards of safety training and environmental protection. Listen in as Adams weighs in on the past, present and whats in store for the most vibrant, and arguably the most important sector for domestic maritime interests today. CURRENT CONDITIONS ? UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITY According to Jim Adams, one of the greatest challenges facing industry today is to match the growing crewing re- quirements with a quali? ed workforce. He explains, To meet the realities of an aging mariner population and the introduction of a new ? eet of larger more capable ships, many of our companies are engaged in comprehensive mariner training programs. Smart companies are applying the resources necessary to build a new workforce from the ground up.? Beyond this, he says that the word needs to get out to every region of the United States that abundant opportunities exist right now in the U.S. maritime indus- try on the Gulf Coast. And, he adds, Mariners working in the Gulf energy sector can live anywhere in country, earn very attractive compensation packages and enjoy a unique amount of time off when not working at sea. Many of the OMSA members are actively recruiting for quali? ed, cre- dentialed mariners for staf? ng their current vessels.? Adams next points to the immediate bene? t of a na- tion striving to become energy independent. Quite sim- ply, exploration and development create jobs. Whether its Bakken crude in North Dakota or the offshore service vessel ? eet based in Port Fourchon, its clear that domestic energy activity provides full employment for those willing to work. Looking back to the enormity of the 2010 mora- torium, when the entire industry was idled, the challenge of workforce development is put into perspective.? The offshore service vessel industry is characterized by con- stant change and technological innovation. No other sector of the maritime industry recapitalizes its ? eet and adopts ad- vanced technology at a pace close to that which we have seen in todays offshore service market. Jim Adams says that there is a perfectly good reason for all of that. Over eighty years ago, when our industrys pioneers converted their shrimp boats and small tugs to serve near shore platforms in the marshes of South Louisiana, they almost immediately recognized that a customized and innovative boat could do a better, safer job. From that realization, the OSV was born and some of the descendants of those pioneers lead OMSA today.? EXPANDING FLEETS ? AND REASONS WHYThe American maritime market is an extremely competi- tive environment and our offshore maritime companies are investing in the future. There is no other sector of the global maritime industry where customer requirements drive rein- vestment and innovation at the pace we see in our own back- yard. The demand for domestic offshore energy is driving in- vestment in new ships, constructed in U.S. shipyards around the country, employing tens of thousands of Americans. Jim Adams explains, Our industrys ? eet of new U.S. ? ag offshore service vessels is truly remarkable. They are re- markable for their size, power, precision and application of advanced technologies. Many of the new U.S. vessels are max- imizing their competitive advantage by delivering and install- ing the merchandize needed for deepwater development. In todays environment, energy companies embrace an absolute 15 Minutes with OMSAs Jim Adams By Joseph Keefe 46 MNSeptember 2013MN Sept2013 Layout 32-49.indd 468/29/2013 5:27:27 PM