OTC 2014: Ulstein enters U.S. market

Approximately 100 000 people are attending the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston this week. Included are 80 Norwegian companies.

“USA is an increasingly important area of growth, and we see the importance of being present,” comments Ulstein’s CEO, Gunvor Ulstein.

Several Ulstein designed vessels are working in the Gulf of Mexico with Galveston as port. A N.Y. listed shipowner recently bought eight platform supply vessels from Ulstein. And Ulstein was recently contracted to design their first vessel to be constructed in USA.

The vessel of the large and new-developed offshore construction vessel design (SX165), will be constructed at Edison Chouest Offshore’s LaShip yard in Louisiana. The contract also includes options. Edison Chouest Offshore operates a fleet of more than 200 vessels. It was important for Edison Chouest Offshore to establish themselves in the Gulf of Mexico with a large Jones Act construction vessel, and the SX165 design was selected for building such a vessel at their own shipyard. The current market situation indicates that the demand for such vessels will be strong in the coming years.

The interest from Norwegian companies to this year’s exhibition beats all records. The Norwegian companies are located at Innovation Norway’s exhibition area.