Offshore Support Vessel MarketSize and Trends

The development of offshore facilities involves a variety of marine assets. Over the past few decades, there has been a drastic increase in the offshore E&P activities resulting in to increase in development and demand for offshore support vessels. These vessels are used for exploration, development, production and decommissioning phase of an offshore oil, and gas fields. Offshore support vessel (OSV) can be prepared according to the operators specifications. Offshore E&P operations are complex, failure of operations have drastic consequences on economy and environment. Different types of support vessels are required for different offshore environment. Therefore, development in technology has immensely supported the growth of offshore support vessel market.

Increase in oil demand is expected to increase the exploration and production, in turn fueling offshore support vessel market. However, fluctuating oil price, high initial investment, lack of skilled labor, and government regulations are the major restrains for the growth of offshore support vessel market.

Global Offshore Support Vessel Market Taxonomy

Anchor Handling Towing and Supply Vessel (AHTS)
Seismic Vessel
Platform Supply Vessel (PSV)
Well Intervention Vessel
Offshore Construction Vessel
Accommodation Ships
Multipurpose Support Vessel (MSV)
Crew Vessel
Inspection, Maintenance and Repair Vessel (IMR)
Mooring Launchers
Remote Operating Vessel (ROV)
Dive Support Vessel
Chase Vessel
Safety Standby/Utility Vessel
Oil Terminal Support Vessel
Others

On the basis of water depth, the global offshore support vessel market is segmented as:

Shallow Water
Deep Water
Ultra-Deep Water

The Anchor Handling Towing and Supply Vessel segment is accounted to have highest demand in the offshore support vessel market. However, demand for Platform Supply Vessel is anticipated to increase over the forecast period.

The shallow water depth segment is accounted to have highest growth in offshore support vessel market, as the expenditure in shallow water is less. However, new projects are established in deep and ultra-deep waters over the last few decades emphasizing on the growth of offshore support vessel market.

Global Offshore Support Vessel Market Outlook

Asia Pacific is accounted to have fastest growth in the offshore support vessel market, owing to increase in globalization and energy demand from economies, such as China, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Development in technology has led to augment in the offshore support vessel market. Furthermore, increasing consumption and offshore E&P development in Australia, South China Sea, and Gulf of Thailand have driven the offshore support vessel market in this region. According to Baker Hughes, the offshore rig count in Asia Pacific in March 2017 was 76 as compared to March 2016, which was 70.
North America is witnessed to have a prominent growth in the offshore support vessel market owing to the increasing production activity in the Gulf of Mexico. Latin America is witnessed to have a burgeoning growth, owing to increase in E&P activities in Golden Triangle (Brazil). According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, total offshore production has grown by 6.5% in the U.S. In 2016, Gulf of Mexico is anticipated to witness a production of 0.1 million b/d and 0.2 million b/d in 2017.
Middle East is projected to have a significant growth in the offshore support vessel market owing to the rising offshore production activities in Saudi Arabia. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest producer in offshore field comprising of 13% of world’s total offshore production including Safaniya oil field, with the highest production of 1.1 to 1.5 million b/d.