An Aberdeen firm has won a four-year contract to provide maritime emergency and safety services for BP in the Caribbean.
Vroon Offshore Services Aberdeen already supplies emergency rescue and response vessels (ERRVs) for the oil and gas giant in the North Sea but his is its first international deal.
Now it will operate three specialist vessels to support BP Trinidad and Tobagos VOS Gorgeous, the VOS Fabulous and the VOS Grace.
ERRVs are equipped to recover and rescue people from the water, providing 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.
The vessels and their specialist crews have moved from the North Sea waters and Vroon Offshore will establish a presence in Trinidad and Tobago to support them.
In 2018, Vroon Offshore supplied five ERRVs for BP in the North Sea and West of Shetland on a long-term contract.
The firm, which has a craft maintenance workshop in Montrose and an office in Great Yarmouth, operates a fleet of 39 ERRVs, many capable of carrying cargo. It employs 50 people onshore and 1,000 seafarers.
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.”
Sham Parasram, marine team lead at BP Trinidad and Tobago, said: “BP looks forward to working with Vroon and leveraging their expertise and the relationship already built up in our UK North Sea region.”
