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ROVOP contracts
£25m IN UNDERWATER CONTRACTS IN SIX MONTHS
A Global underwater robotic vehicle company says it is well positioned fi nancially and across all energy sectors as it celebrates its 10th anniversary
ROVOP is on a strong growth trajectory after securing contracts valued at £25m in the last six months.
The Aberdeen headquartered global business has won a diverse spread of work across offshore energy sectors in Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
The contract wins, along with a financial restructure in 2020, have placed ROVOP in robust financial health with positive cash flow and available working capital to invest in its people, services and its fleet to meet future demand.
The new contracts involve dive support, inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM), decommissioning, cable lay and construction surveys for new clients, Prysmian Group and Mermaid Subsea Services Thailand, among others.
ROVOP has also renewed existing contracts in the offshore wind sector after investing in its fleet with the addition of two Schilling HD work-class ROVs. Both of which will be deployed on a Scottish wind farm for EDT Offshore.
Chief Executive at ROVOP, Neil Potter, said: “Having started out ten years ago focussing on the offshore wind sector and then diversifying into oil and gas, it is fitting that, as we celebrate this milestone of a decade in business, we are reporting major new contracts in renewables. We now have a healthy spread of contracts in offshore energy sectors and geographic locations around the world performing seabed surveys, UXO identification, boulder clearance, construction and cable installation support and IRM.
Mr Potter said that, while it’s widely acknowledged that companies operating in oil and gas can transfer their skills into offshore wind and vice versa, it’s not always as straightforward as it appears.
“There are some fundamental differences between the sectors. But with our experience and track-record in renewables, we understand these and know how to adapt our service and technology for each. Oil and gas remain very important to us and crucial to meeting global demand for energy as we transition to cleaner, greener sources.”
ROVOP employs 200 people offshore and onshore from bases in Aberdeen and Houston, with additional offices in Dubai, the Netherlands and Singapore.
8 L to R Paul Yeats,
ROVOP Chief Commercial Offi cer and Neil Potter, CEO
Geotechnical introduction course
Off shore site investigation and geotechnical engineering in the off shore environment will become more accessible with a new introductory course.
The Society for Underwater Technology’s (SUT) course aims to provide a broad overview of the offshore market, and how the data acquired is applied to maximise the value of offshore projects in both the offshore oil and gas and offshore renewable energy sectors.
The course is the online equivalent of the face-to-face course successfully run by the Society’s Offshore Site Investigation Group (OSIG) for several years.
Chery Burgess, CEO of the SUT (right), said: “The first two days of the OSIG course have a geophysical theme, and then in week two the attention turns to the geotechnical side of things. We have an impressive list of industry and academic experts covering a wide range of topics, from planning an offshore site investigation through technical and operational aspects of data acquisition and reporting, to the practical use of the data in geohazard assessment and foundation design.
“Our speakers are drawn from Vysus, MCL Consultancy, RPS, Bangor University, RWE, BP, University of Southampton, Gardline, Ørsted, NGI, University of Bristol, Atkins, Subsea 7, and Lloyd’s Register. Our thanks are extended to Francesca Ciavaglia of Lloyd’s Register who has co-ordinated preparation of this course.“
The online course is spread over four half days for two weeks (Tuesday and Thursday mornings) on 16, 18, 23 and 25 November.
Each half-day session will include a set of oral presentations, followed by small-group practical activities with the scope to reinforce the knowledge and get further insight on the topics presented. Small-group activities will also provide an opportunity to discuss with experts in the field, while creating an engaging and interactive environment. The course provides an excellent opportunity to network within the offshore industry.
UK and French specialist shipyards have announced a merger to produce a strong multinational player in aluminium shipbuilding.
Britain’s Wight Shipyard Co. has announced an all-share merger with the complementary multinational shipbuilder OCEA to create a combined group to capitalise on fast ferry and offshore renewable energy market opportunities.
The deal is scheduled to complete March 2022 and will see The Wight Shipyard Co. nearly double in size, providing significant employment opportunities at the East Cowes, UK yard.
Speaking about the merger, Peter Morton, CEO of The Wight Shipyard Co. commented: “This is a transformational deal for The Wight Shipyard Co. and for the Isle of Wight, confirming the resurgence of the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom. We have been working with OCEA on a number of projects and it was very clear from the outset that we complemented each other in terms of skills and experience and, going forward through the business cycle, both companies can benefit from the synergies and opportunities that this deal presents. We have enjoyed a first-class working relationship with OCEA to produce vessels and solutions to the highest standards, pushing the boundaries in terms of fuel efficiency, the environment and modern shipbuilding practices.”
The Wight Shipyard Co. has rapidly built a considerable reputation in the fast-ferry market, selling its innovative, high-tech, environmentally friendly vessels both domestically and internationally and was recently awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Export in 2021. OCEA similarly, was awarded the Baird Maritime award in 2020 for best large patrol boat (Offshore Patrol Vessel OPV270) and is an innovator in the aluminium vessel market with high quality builds for the maritime security, passenger vessel, multipurpose workboat, transoceanic yacht and hydrographic research markets. The strength of OCEA’s international export market has driven its multinational expansion. Both companies also have complementary expertise supporting the offshore renewable energy sector. Combining the two together will produce a truly global aluminium shipbuilding operation with an order book that offers the business security and sustainability well into the future.
Roland Joassard, CEO and founder of OCEA is excited by the deal saying: “OCEA is expanding internationally to respond to strong demand in these markets and appreciates the new ‘Global Britain’ and refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy outlook. Wight Shipyard Co. shares the same DNA, passion and high quality of workmanship as OCEA and its expertise in the fast ferry market complements OCEA’s qualities in other markets. Having worked with the Wight Shipyard Co. and Peter’s team in a number of ways already, we feel that they are the perfect partner to develop global orders for the fast ferry and offshore renewable energy markets.”
Based at their primary yard in Les Sables d’Olonne, OCEA employs more than 500 skilled operators with further facilities in France, the Caribbean and the Philippines. Following the merger with the Wight Shipyard Co., the Group will share resources and operations in East Cowes that will ramp up significantly, helping the Isle of Wight to ‘level up’ with the creation of much-needed employment opportunities.
Speaking about those opportunities, Peter Morton further commented: “For East Cowes and the Isle of Wight, this is a step change in terms of future employment and security for the outstanding team at The Wight Shipyard Co. We will be able to bring in more highskilled shipbuilders and technicians as well as providing career pathways all through the production chain.”
ALUMINIUM SHIPBUILDING ALLIANCE
8 Wight Shipyard Group has become a major
player in aluminium shipbuilding
8 OCEA’s primary shipyard is located at Les
