Tough Industry
The offshore access industry is one of the fastest growing in the world. The companies in this business make it possible for their clients to move people from a vessel to a stable platform offshore, such as an offshore oil platform or an offshore wind turbine. However, it is also hard to succeed as a company in this industry, mainly due to the conservative market. The purpose of this article therefore is to segment the market and describe how it is possible to get a foot in the door.
The Offshore Oil & Gas Industry
The offshore oil & gas industry is the most lucrative client to operate for. However, it is also one of the most conservative. One example of this is that the industry sticks to using the helicopter as method of transporting personnel offshore, although this is relatively unsafe and there are much better solutions available.
In order to succeed in this part of the market, your firm will need a well-functioning marketing department and furthermore, it is a wise move to build a network of relationships with departments of big companies like Shell, Wintershall and BP.
The Offshore Wind Sector
The offshore wind sector is less profitable than the offshore oil & gas industry, but it is the fastest growing segment the offshore access companies serve. More and more governments all over the world are focusing on sustainable forms of energy generation, especially after the nuclear disaster in Japan, March 2011. Therefore, it is expected that a lot of wind parks will be constructed in the following years. All of these offshore wind turbines will need some maintenance work from time to time. This is only possible with offshore access solutions.
The offshore wind industry is less conservative than the offshore oil & gas industry, and since the industry is growing in a rapid pace, it is relatively easy to gain market share here. However, offshore safety is a very important priority in this industry, so you will need to provide a safe access solution. Examples are the differentiated offshore access system, the Windcat Workboat and the jack-up platform. However, these methods of providing offshore access are also much more expensive than the helicopter.
Evaluation
It is very profitable to operate in the offshore access industry, but you will first have to get a foot in the door of the market in order to achieve a successful offshore career. In order to succeed in the offshore oil & gas industry, you will need to build a strong network first or have a strong marketing campaign. It is easier to succeed in the offshore wind sector, but this is also a less lucrative client to serve.