Wilhelmsen Ships Service expands in Asia offshore market

WSS has been supplying the Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) market for more than 30 years, but going forward will increase its focus on non-OSV markets, providing its safety services to customers working in seismic exploration, mobile drilling rigs/platforms/vessels, accommodation platforms, pipe layers and other speciality vessels as well as fixed installations and decommissioning sectors.

WSS’s offshore capabilities cover safety systems (personal safety, fire protection, safety services), chemicals (water treatment, fuel treatment, chemical services) full ships’ agency services and a range of products (welding, hydraulic equipment, refrigeration).

Michael Connolly, General Manager West Coast Oceania, Wilhelmsen Ships Service, says:

“Traditional ships service markets are changing. The global recession is continuing to impact on the operations of shipowners and managers who are looking to drive costs down. In the offshore market however, business is much steadier, with high energy prices, new oil and gas field developments and greater use of technology all creating opportunity for experienced service partners.”

“There is currently huge potential for WSS to provide services across a much wider section of the offshore market across Asia Pacific, particularly within South Asia which is currently experiencing the highest concentration of offshore activity across the region.”

WSS is ideally positioned to support offshore vessels, rigs and industry personnel worldwide, given that its products are already available to serve the marine market from key supply locations. As a result customers do not need to buy new equipment for each area of operation, since much of the required inventory can be supplied or exchanged during regular port calls and re-supply.

WSS also has product specialists who can work with a vessel’s engineering and health and safety teams to specify and supply equipment to meet the demands of extreme offshore environments. In a commitment to environmental protection, WSS offers its extensive range of Unitor marine chemicals, accredited to the ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system standard.

“This, coupled with continuing investments in the oil and gas segment and robust emerging markets are driving the global economic recovery and this growth is forecasted to keep up for the years to come,” added Mick Connolly

“It makes sense for us to focus our activities on a growing sector in such times and we are expanding our operations across Asia to ensure that we are ready to meet demand and offer a joined-up, single-source solution.”