Healthy growth depends on an excellent business climate

North Sea offshore markets continue to show a high level of activity. This is also the case for Vroon Offshore Services (VOS) B.V. in Den Helder: the company is expanding and its modern fleet is increasing.

The company’s ambitious newbuilding programme, which will see six new vessels (four PSVs and two SSVs) delivered to the company during 2015, illustrates the need for more capacity in the offshore industry. Ship owners like Vroon benefit from these increased market needs. Unlike the merchant shipping business, the offshore industry has only marginally been affected by the recent economic crisis and continues to offer extensive opportunities.

As managing director of a company operating in this dynamic market, I am encouraged by the fact that, despite the continuing macro-economical uncertainties, analysts predict that mature offshore markets – such as in the North Sea – will continue to show good levels of activity and that there will be growth opportunities in oil, gas and renewable energy market segments. In addition, the installation and maintenance of offshore wind farms is considered another growth market.

With the addition of our new vessels, we will be well prepared to meet some important trends, like the increasing demand for vessels with dynamic-positioning capabilities, the increasing shallow-water subsea-support work, related to offshore wind and oil and gas maintenance requirements, and the increasing demand for ‘walk-to-work’ vessels, for both the offshore wind and oil and gas sectors.

New developments often mean that existing legislation is not up-to-date. To ensure timely updates to legislation regarding issues like safety and labour, the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR) is in close contact with Dutch policy makers. In this way, innovative market developments can be anticipated and appropriate action can be taken. The KVNR strives for a national code of conduct to ensure current legislation is in line with new maritime activities at sea. Seagoing nations, such as Germany and Norway, already have such measures in place, Dutch ship owners run the risk of lagging behind.

KVNR and Holland Shipbuilding Association have identified relevant bottlenecks in legislation regarding technical issues for offshore wind vessels. In addition to technical IMO Legislation, the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) regarding safe work is also important. Clarity about rules and regulations is essential to ensure shipping companies remain competitive. To give one example, under the MLC 2006 everybody on board a vessel is regarded as a seafarer, even a mechanic employed to conduct work at a wind farm. Apart from being incorrect, this is unacceptable for ship owners.

To summarise, engaged, skilled and high-performing shipboard and shore-based staff members are key to the success of VOS and will ensure that the new vessels are smoothly incorporated into the fleet during 2015. In addition, it is vital that the fiscal and legislative climate in the Netherlands remains attractive for maritime companies like ours. Lastly, we remain fully aware of the importance of continuous development and strive to remain competitive and guarantee success in meeting the ever-increasing client requirements.

Jan-Piet Baars
Managing Director
Vroon Offshore Services North Sea