In July this year, Teekay Offshore acquired Logitel Offshore Holdings – a company that was established in 2013 between Sevan Marine ASA and CeFront Technology AS. Logitel Offshore has the exclusive right to use Sevan Marine’s unique cylindrical hull design for accommodation units.
These units enable offshore companies to carry out maintenance campaigns. “Our units can carry up to 500 passengers and offer a wide range of service and maintenance options for offshore companies,” says Kjell Ove Breivik, the Head of Teekay’s Floating Accommodation Segment.
“Our unique cylindrical Sevan-based designs provides competitive advantages such as high uptime, excellent motion characteristics, more deck space, better stability, and more storage space than other FPSO designs,” states Breivik. “The technology is well-proven. When the 2007-built Piranema Spirit came onstream, it revolutionised the world of FPSOs.” Until 2007, FPSO solutions were dominated by drill ships and semi-submersible vessels.
Over the course of the next five years, expectations are that there will be a strong demand for UMS in markets such as Brazil, Mexico and the North Sea. “The Brazilian oil production is expected to double before 2020, hence the need for units for maintenance and safety in this market is expected to be strong,” Breivik states. Indications suggest that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico will also increase in the years to come. In the North Sea, low quality, lack of vessels that can handle harsh weather conditions, extension of field life and decommissioning of offshore platforms indicate rise in demand.