Critical deliveries

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Christian Monsted, MD at Scan-Trans, says regional activity is holding up.

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GAC’s Ismayil Manzil says the offshore logistics sector is often misinterpreted.

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GAC’s energy logistics division has 30 specialised vessels in the Persian Gulf.

Maritime logistics to remote offshore rigs and platforms brings its own unique set of challenges and requirements. Matt Scotland meets the region's leading providers.

Downtime is a dirty word to those operating in the oil and gas industry, and measures are ever increasingly put in place to ensure this kept to the absolute minimum. This becomes trickier when your production site is situated tens or hundreds of kilometres offshore, as receiving the necessary components, parts or people can often take some time.

It is important, therefore, to have a logistical service that can offer a rapid - as rapid as you can be at sea - and reliable service to the offshore operators.

"Offshore logistics is misinterpreted sometimes. Just to be concerned about the boats, barges and support services in the water misses the other side. At GAC we provide support onshore as well, and have bases in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, two in Saudi Arabia and in Kuwait," says Ismayil Manzil, group energy logistics manager, GAC.

"We assist the offshore exploration and production companies in the Middle East by bringing materials from all over the world, and by mobilising people, vessels and equipment in a fast and efficient manner."

Manzil explains that GAC provides onshore storage facilities for equipment set for offshore deployment in the local vicinity, meaning they can significantly cut the amount of time it takes to deliver much needed components.

The company has around 30 vessels dedicated to the Persian Gulf region, with 100% in use today with various specialties.

"We have specialist boats supporting operations in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, and we have the SSS (ship supply service) in Bahrain and the UAE. For heavy loads, which we have been doing for approximately the last 30 years, we put it onto a sling and a hook attached to the ship or platform then pick this up - it's pretty easy," states Manzil.

One barrier to deliveries is the weather, as high swells at sea make transfers difficult and dangerous, if not impossible.

"During rough weather we suspend our operations and keep a close eye on the forecasts, and will go with the weatherman's instructions. For example, in the last few weeks we have had to suspend a lot of operations in the region due to the high winds and swells at sea," adds Manzil.

Heavy lift

Danish firm Scan-Trans also caters to the offshore oil and gas industry in the Middle East, with its regional headquarters being located in Dubai, UAE.

"We trade our fleet worldwide, which very much caters to the oil and gas industry. Many drill sites today are located far away from big commercial ports, so by having the flexibility to offer a direct service in small and complicated areas of the world I believe we are providing a valuable service," says Christian Monsted, managing director Scan-Trans - Dubai.

The logistics specialists currently operate a worldwide fleet of roughly 25-30 vessel, with about four to five located in the UAE over the past month.

"Scan-Trans use smaller box-shaped multi-purpose tween deck or heavy lift ships, enabling us to avoid the many calls at intermediate ports that can extend the duration of the voyage and cause serious problems for the client," explains Monsted.

Due to the ongoing offshore projects in the Persian Gulf, Scan-Trans states that it has not been too heavily affected by the recent global downturn.

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