The solution to the increasing number of laid up Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) resulting from the current predicament facing the offshore oil and gas industry lies in conversion, according to the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Group
The group believes that the situation could be turned around and make the idle PSVs into profitable assets again by converting them into vessels capable of taking on roles in alternative sectors such as aquaculture, shipping and defence.
The proposal comes as PSVs line up in ports as a result of the ongoing situation in the offshore oil and gas industry driven by historically low oil prices, halted exploration projects and reduced production.
“Our design teams have come up with workable ideas across several industries. For example, we can convert a laid up PSV into a profitable container feeder or, for naval operations, a logistic support vessel,” says Damen Sales Manager Remko Hottentot .
“The possibilities are numerous. It will also be possible to transform a PSV into an accommodation and O&M vessel.”
One example of an already developed proposal is the Damen Live Fish Carrier 8916 for the aquaculture industry. Damen claims that the concept of using the existing PSV platform for this purpose is ideal “yielding many advantages for live fish carrying situations.”
In addition to permanent conversion concepts, Damen said that it can also create temporary designs. These can be applied to vessels originally built by Damen or other shipbuilding companies.