Page 30: of Marine News Magazine (September 2016)

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OFFSHORE TRENDS

Sustainable (R)Evolution –

Photo: Jen Berghuis

A Multi-Purpose Maritime Education Fleet

Industry Stakeholder Chad Fuhrmann presents ‘an unprecedented opportunity’ as well as a viable option when it comes to ? nding replacement training vessels for future maritime of? cers …

By Chad Fuhrmann fforts have been underway since 2014 to procure gov- Considering the number and type(s) of vessels currently ernment funding for new training vessels for the State laid up in the Gulf of Mexico region and the need for new

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Maritime Academies (SMA). Pending bills in Congress and relevant training platforms for the nation’s maritime at this time would provide $300 million for the construction schools, this ? eet of inactive OSVs represents a potential- of the ? rst of four training vessels for the SMAs with a total ly unique opportunity to create a diverse, Multi-Mission of $1.2 billion for the proposed four vessel package. Domes- Maritime Education Fleet comprised of high tech vessels tic maritime stakeholders have other options, however. These that are capable of performing both training and commer- alternatives are attractive for more than one reason. cial functions, and are readily equipped with the modern

Separately, the U.S. offshore energy sector has experienced equipment now standard across the maritime industry.

a signi? cant decline in demand and production, re? ecting the international drop in oil prices. Consequently, utilization

The Changing Face of the U.S. Maritime Industry rates of Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) have dropped signif-

Modern OSVs make up a growing sector of the U.S. icantly over the last two years. Indeed, some global estimates maritime industry. The total number of Jones Act eligible put the number of idled OSVs at as many as 1,000 units. vessels currently hovers at around 40,000 hulls, with less

Many of these assets are on the market at a time when de- than 400 of these considered deep draft or blue water ton- mand is low, and valuations are moving in the same direction.

nage. OSVs (+/- 1,000), coastal vessels, and boats plying

September 2016

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