BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC has awarded Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen a multiple year, multi-million pound contract.
Vroon said on Monday that BP had hired three emergency rescue and response vessels (ERRVs) from its subsidiary, Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen.
The North Sea’s largest operator of ERRVs said that it will provide three specialist vessels to support BP’s operations in the Caribbean: the VOS Gorgeous, the VOS Fabulous and the VOS Grace.
Dedicated to supporting offshore operations 24/7 365 days a year, ERRVs are fully equipped to recover and rescue people from the water, provide a place of safety and medical aid. They also monitor the safety zone, helping to avoid collisions, act as a first response in handling oil spills and as a reserve radio station.
These vessels and their specialist crews have departed from North Sea waters to service the contract and Vroon Offshore will establish a local presence in Trinidad and Tobago to support them.
This contract follows a 2018 agreement between BP and Vroon Offshore to supply five ERRVs in the North Sea and West of Shetland on a long-term contract.
Craig Harvie, Managing Director of Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen, said: “The award of this major contract, which further strengthens our relationship with BP, underlines their appreciation of the benefits of implementing the proven North Sea ERRV model. It’s a real signal of confidence in the effectiveness of North Sea emergency response and rescue services. We’re thrilled to have been selected as BP’s preferred partner in Trinidad and Tobago and view it as a platform from which to move into the wider Caribbean and South American markets.
“Significant investment in our fleet in recent years has cemented our position as a market leader. Our modern and versatile fleet, combined with highly qualified, experienced colleagues, means we provide safe, reliable, value-added, cost-effective services which meet the needs of our customers.”
Commenting on the contract award, marine team lead at BP Trinidad and Tobago, Sham Parasram, said: “BP looks forward to working with Vroon and leveraging their expertise and the relationship already built up in our UK North Sea region.”
Vroon Offshore Services operates a diverse and modern fleet of 39 ERRVs. A major part of the fleet has cargo-carrying capabilities, while some vessels have towage and tanker-assist features. With its own rescue-craft maintenance workshop in Montrose an office in Great Yarmouth, for local support, the company employs 50 people onshore and 1,000 seafarers.