GMS Secures New Contracts in Middle East and Europe

Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Marine Services (GMS) has won three new contracts worth around $46 million for transformer installation in the German offshore sector for its jackup barge GMS Endeavour.

The self-elevating self-propelled E-Class vessel, which has been occupied on wind farm installations and maintenance projects, has just commenced the first of the new contracts with Keppel Offshore & Marine, and contracts with ABB Group and Siemens will take her through to the second quarter of 2014. Sister barge GMS Endurance also recently began a new contract with ConocoPhillips in the Southern North Sea.

The company, which has a fleet of nine jackup barges with current commitments worth $460 million, is seeing an increasing demand for its niche E-Class assets. These vessels are highly adaptable, providing a multi-purpose solution for a variety of offshore operations anywhere in the world.

Duncan Anderson, GMS chief executive, says: “Our ability to customise our fleet to suit the individual requirements of our clients is one of our biggest selling points. This, along with our attainment of UK North Sea Safety Case, makes us flexible and able to offer maneuverable harsh weather jackup barges in a variety of different configurations for offshore projects in the oil, gas and renewables sectors.”

The E-Class jackup barges, which have accommodation capabilities for up to 150 people, have the competitive edge over conventional jackup barges. Their dynamic positioning (DP2) allows them to move under their own power and ensures high accuracy positioning alongside platforms. Anchor handling tug support is not required and they can move faster, around eight knots compared to four knots. The weather window to move infield for a conventional barge is an average of four days, while the GMS E-Class can do it in a day.

GMS is also the largest provider of self-elevating self-propelled jackup barges in the Middle East, where all seven of its K-Class vessels are on contract. Kikuyu was recently awarded a further three-year contract with Occidental Petroleum of Qatar, while Keloa has just become the third GMS jackup barge to be contracted to ADMA OPCO.

Mr Anderson adds: “Critical to sustaining our successful growth is the continuity of our exceptional HSE standards, operational performance and client services. In 2012 we achieved zero lost time injuries (LTI) for the second consecutive year, had more than 17,000 combined days without LTI on our vessels and more than 10,000 safety observations were reported by our fleet thanks to additional onshore and offshore safety reporting initiatives. We will continue to deliver these high standards across all sectors of our business.”

GMS, April 23, 2013