Ms. Virgie, picture here, is one of ECO’s 280′ PSVs. Photo: Edison Chouest Offshore
Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), one of the industry’s largest, most diverse and dynamic marine transportation solutions providers, announced the addition of eight new vessels to an aggressive newbuild campaign first released one year ago. ECO, which currently has 25 vessels under construction at shipyards worldwide, announced an additional eight Jones Act-class deepwater offshore service vessels, with delivery to occur within the next 24 months.
ECO currently supports the majority of the U.S. Gulf deepwater operations and a rapidly expanding share of the global market with its fleet of over 200 highly specialized new generation offshore service and supply vessels. So far in 2012, ECO has delivered 13 new vessels, both domestically and worldwide, with three of those in the new 300’/5,150 DWT Jones Act class. Additional 2012 deliveries include PSVs in Brazil, two well stimulation vessels, fast supply boats, a Norwegian-built PSV, as well as Aiviq, the 360’ ice class anchor handler currently at work in Alaska.
“Our goal remains to provide our customers with the most cost-effective solutions in the industry,” said ECO Vice President of Operations Dino Chouest. This new group of newbuilds will be constructed on speculation.
The eight new additions, hulls 14-21 in this series of 300’ class vessels, are in the early stages of construction, with steel and equipment on order, according to ECO President Gary Chouest. Construction will occur at the four Chouest affiliate shipyards: North American Shipbuilding (Larose, LA), La Ship (Houma, LA), Gulf Ship (Gulfport, MS) and Tampa Ship (Tampa, FL).
“At the same time, we are also increasing our international order book to replace Jones Act tonnage that departed the Gulf of Mexico two years ago, now slated to return,” remarked Dino Chouest. That segment of vessels includes six (6) boats under construction at Remontowa S.A. in Gdansk, Poland, as well as 11 vessels (9 PSVs, 2 anchor handlers) at Chouest affiliate shipyard Navship in Navegantes, Brazil.
ECO also has four 194’ fast supply vessels currently under construction at Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Loreauville, LA.
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