Page 39: of Marine News Magazine (May 2017)

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OFFSHORE TRENDS

Name OwnerCrane (M/T)Built or Converted

HOS WarlandHornbeck250 2016

HOS WoodlandHornbeck250 2016

Ocean EvolutionOceaneering250 TBD-2017

Paul CandiesOtto Candies250 TBD-2017

Harvey Sub-SeaHarvey Gulf250 TBD-2017

HarveyBlue-SeaHarvey Gulf250 TBD-2017

HOS WarhorseHornbeck250 TBD-2018

HOS Wild HorseHornbeck250 TBD-2018

Harvey Deep-SeaHarvey Gulf165 2013

Harvey InterventionHarvey Gulf165 2016

Kirt ChouestEdison Chouest165 2008

Aaron Smith, President and CEO,

Dove C-Lift Holdings150 2015

Offshore Marine Service

HOS BayouHornbeck150 2014

Association (OMSA)

Ocean AllianceOceaneering150 2011

C-InstallerEdison Chouest150 2014 complished by Jones Act quali? ed vessels.” OMSA’s chief

Holiday EdisonEdison Chouest150 2010 executive, Aaron Smith offered another view, with a clari-

Kelly Ann CandiesOtto Candies100 2012 ? cation of what the rule says, and what it does not. “The

CBP notice most directly impacts the work completed by

Wyatt CandiesOtto Candies100 2012 subsea construction/IMR vessels; that is known and under-

Chloe CandiesOtto Candies100 2006 stood by all parties. As we have previously proven, there

Grant CandiesOtto Candies100 2008 are more than 30 Jones Act IMR vessels available,” he told

HOS MystiqueHornbeck100 2008

MarineNews, adding for emphasis, “It seems OMSA is the

Ross CandiesOtto Candies100 2009 only ones talking about what the notice says. Interestingly,

SURF ChallengerOtto Marine100 2007 others are talking about pipelay and heavy-lift operations.

Ocean Intervention IIOceaneering73 1999

The notice does not cover pipelay operations, and transpor-

HOS RidgewindHornbeck70 2015 tation of merchandise by foreign ? ag vessels during heavy

Harvey DiscoveryHarvey Gulf64 2006 lift operations is prohibited by the Jones Act and previous

AMC AmbassadorEmas Offshore60 1998 letter rulings not covered by revocation. OMSA has offered

Brandon BordelonBordelon Marine60 2015 a legislative solution based upon a time-tested program to

Ocean InterventionOceaneering54 1998 ensure heavy lift operations can continue. We are waiting to

Shelia BordelonBordelon Marine50 2015 hear if that legislative solution will be accepted.”

Bordelon 104Bordelon MarineTBD TBD-2018

With the comment period now in the rearview mirror

Table 1 (source: OMSA) and the ? nal notice date of May 18 looming large in the proverbial porthole, the matter could quickly be settled be- fore summer. If settled in favor of Jones Act operators, Al- cannot transport merchandise between two U.S. points.” len Leatt warns, “Industry just doesn’t know the answer to Echoing those sentiments, Shane Guidry had the last word this important question, which raises considerable uncer- on the matter. “CBP’s action is meant to correct inconsis- tainty in many sectors of the oil and gas industry. Projects tencies between letter rulings and U.S. law. Additionally, may simply have to stop – with all the practical, ? nancial, this action is fully consistent with President Trump’s ‘Buy and legal mess that would be created.” American, Hire American’ initiative. Put simply, CBP is ac-

Otto Candies III disagrees. It’s much simpler than that, he knowledging that their letter rulings were wrong and allowed says, explaining, “IMCA wants people to think that the no- foreign vessels to transport merchandise from one point to tice will kick all foreign vessels out of the Gulf, it won’t. The another point, that’s a violation of the Jones Act. We applaud notice doesn’t deal at all with drilling so foreign ? ag drillships CBP for getting it right and righting their previous wrong.” and MODUs will still operate here and the notice speci? cal- The most signi? cant Jones Act battle in recent memory ly states that installation and repair activities are not covered is still being played out in the Gulf of Mexico. What hap- by the Jones Act, so foreign vessels can do those operations as pens next is anyone’s guess. The only thing certain is that well. All the notice says, is what the law says, foreign vessels both sides are “in it to win it.” 39 www.marinelink.com MN