Page 47: of Maritime Logistics Professional Magazine (Q4 2016)

46 48

advantage) will continue to grow, especially for those choos- coming together, then seeing how we can survive together.” ing to burn it as a source of propulsion. In the domestic off- As sure of his game plan as anyone, Guidry also admits shore markets, only Harvey Gulf has made that commitment. there might have been a few things that he might’ve done dif- ferently. His ? ve, 300-foot diesel direct boats – for example

Safety – he wishes were all LNG-powered. “My two big construction

Back in the summer of 2013, Guidry boasted, “At our compa- boats – I probably should have made those LNG, as well.” ny, there is no budget in our safety department – they get what- Looking ahead, he remains bullish on LNG. “The next big ever they want. They can make any changes they need to for thing for us is LNG ATB bunker barges. You know, we’re not the betterment of the boat; no matter what the cost or the time an ATB business now, but it could be a platform for us not involved. Today, I’ve got 36 boats working and 18 safety people. only in the LNG marine market ATBs, but it could be a plat-

It’s my most costly division and there’s no doubt it brings in the form for us to get in the ATB market, overall.” most in terms of return.” Today – in a decidedly more glum busi- We pointed out that Harvey Gulf had once been in the trans- ness atmosphere – he also insists that not much has changed. port markets, but had gotten out. Guidry acknowledges that “Because the new, big boats have so many personnel, and reality but replies, “We got out and we would certainly enter- they’re so advanced, we’re able to manage the ? eet with one tain the opportunities to bid long-term transport contracts for safety representative for each three boats. So, it’s still the new builds, of course. We’re not opposed to owning tankers if same. That hasn’t changed. In July, we made three years with the opportunity presented itself. We’ve been doing this since zero total recordable injuries (TRI).” Where, perhaps, BSEE 1945, my family, and I’m lucky enough to learn from them to might fear that safety will take a back seat to the bottom line in get all that knowledge and know how to operate vessels and, tough times, that hasn’t been the case at Harvey Gulf. we think, operate them better than most. And there’s nothing we don’t think that we couldn’t build and operate, which is

What’s Next – and 20/20 hindsight another stepping stone for us to get to a different business.”

The Harvey Gulf party line says that consolidation is something Asked if anyone else was managing to make money in this off- that needs to be looked at. Guidry adds, “If we were all smart guys shore environment, Guidry shrugged and said, “It doesn’t seem then we’d ? gure out a way to consolidate companies. Not only like it from the quarterly earnings reports you see. It’ll catch up would it help everybody survive a downturn, it would be pro? t- to us, too, if it stays bad. We just have to have a better mousetrap able during this downturn for investors. I think we’d be much more to keep our boats working, which we think we do. We think a successful when it does turn.” That said; Guidry also doesn’t think lot of our LNG ? eet and our 300 short class vessels, and we just all the boats will go back into the water in the Gulf of Mexico. brought two of the 220’s out of stack and put them out to work.”

That’s not to say there isn’t a place for many. According In the end, says Guidry, it can come down to not so much to Guidry, there is. “I think a lot of this tonnage is good ton- wanting to be the biggest all the time. Just the best. “That’s nage, so it’ll have an opportunity at some discounted price what you have to do. You have to stay focused and be safe. The to replace boats in other markets around the world – 25 or record clearly shows that we are. I’m still young and I need 30-year-old ‘junkers,’ if you will. That’s like bringing in new to run my business myself every day and not let others run it tonnage, for some people.” Circling back to the current cast of for me. And, it’ll continue to be successful.” That’s a busi- players in the U.S. Gulf, Guidry doesn’t think acquisitions are ness plan that hasn’t changed much at all – from mid-summer as likely as a possible merger. “People need to be focused on 2013, to present day. He might just be on to something.

www.maritimelogisticsprofessional.com 47I 34-49 Q4 MP2016.indd 47 11/9/2016 12:27:17 PM