Mainport Acquire New Offshore Support Vessel

Mainport this week completed purchase pf the offshore supply vessel Smit Lloyd 32 from Seacor, based in the US and one of the world’s largest supply boat companies. Mainport have renamed the vessel “Mainport Oak” and she is now starting a medium term 4 year contract with Compagnie Generale de Geophysique (CGG) who are now the worlds largest seismic vessel fleet.

CGG recently completed the takeover of Veritas, a major player in the US seismic market, in a US$3.1 Billion transaction and have now 20 seismic vessels operating in all parts of the world. The “Mainport Oak” will provide support services to these large seismic vessels and her first assignment will be in Brazil.

The vessel is presently being modified to suit for purpose in Capetown in South Africa where Mainport took delivery of the vessel. She will join her sister vessel Seahorse Supporter which Mainport are operating for CGG at present on the Indian coast.

David Ronayne, Chief executive of Mainport commented “We are delighted with this purchase as it consolidates our position with CGG. They are very pleased with the level of service from our Seahorse Supporter and shore team while she is operating in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.

The “Mainport Oak” will now reposition to another part of the world, Brazil, in South America.

CGG have exciting plans to construct new seismic vessels which operate using Heavy fuel oil instead of Gas Oil. This may lead to new opportunities for support vessels which will need to have capacity to carry HFO, which is unusual for these type of vessels.

The “Mainport Oak” worked from Cork in previous years for various offshore oil exploration companies in their drilling programmes.

She is now being modified in Capetown and where our own company “Mainport Africa” was able to source good quality ship engineering facilities and equipment for us.

Our Marine director Capt Dave Hopkins, is currently in Capetown overseeing the conversion work and reports the vessel to be in excellent condition and will be ready to depart for Brazil late in February.