Adani Ports arm ties up with US firm Oceaneering for deepwater push
New Delhi, May 12
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd on Tuesday said its maritime subsidiary Astro Offshore has partnered with US-based engineering and applied technology company Oceaneering International Inc. to expand into ultra-deepwater and subsea operations, a major step in its global offshore growth strategy.
The agreement between the companies is aimed at tapping specialised offshore opportunities in Europe and strengthening capabilities in complex subsea engineering projects, including underwater construction, pipeline installation, inspection, and maintenance.
The move supports APSEZ's broader ambition to build a globally diversified marine platform spanning logistics, offshore support services and deepwater infrastructure solutions.
As part of its expansion, Astro Offshore has inducted Astro Atlas, its first ultra-deepwater vessel, reinforcing its focus on building a younger, high-specification fleet with advanced operational capabilities.
APSEZ Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer Ashwani Gupta said that this development supports APSEZ's ambition to build a globally diversified marine platform.
He further added that by combining Astro Offshore's expanding high-specification fleet with Oceaneering's deepwater engineering and ROV expertise, we are enhancing our capabilities in complex offshore operations while expanding into Europe.
Astro Offshore CEO Mark Humphreys said the addition of Astro Atlas strengthens the company's ultra-deepwater capabilities and enables it to address a wider range of offshore requirements.
"As our largest and most capable vessel to date, she enables us to support a broader range of complex offshore operations and respond more effectively to evolving client requirements," he said
Additionally, the 97-metre DP2 multipurpose support vessel (formerly Energy Savannah) is equipped with advanced subsea systems including a 150-tonne crane, a secondary crane, a moonpool and accommodation for up to 100 personnel.
It is capable of operating in water depths exceeding 3,000 metres, the company said.
The partnership comes as APSEZ accelerates its long-term strategy to scale its marine business globally, targeting a 200-vessel fleet along with marine revenue of Rs 6,000 crore and capital expenditure of Rs 13,000 crore by FY31.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive to see an Indian company taking on ultra-deepwater operations. The Astro Atlas vessel sounds like a beast with that 150-tonne crane and 3000m depth capability. But I wonder about the environmental safeguards - deepwater drilling can be risky. Hope proper oversight is in place.
Ye toh acha hai! (This is good!) Indian companies going global in niche sectors. European offshore market is tough but Oceaneering's expertise plus Astro's fleet could be a winning combo. Just hope the Rs 13,000 crore capex doesn't put too much debt pressure on APSEZ.
As someone who worked in offshore oil & gas for 15 years, this is a major step for any Asian firm. Subsea engineering requires massive capital and expertise. Oceaneering is a top-tier player. If executed well, this could position India as a serious competitor to Singapore and Dubai in marine services.
Bold move targeting Europe when many Western firms are pulling back from deepwater. The vessel specifications are impressive - DP2 capable with 100 personnel accommodation. But the real test will be getting contracts in a competitive European market. EPC and oil majors there are very demanding.
Love seeing Indian infrastructure companies think beyond just ports and logistics. Subsea engineering is highly specialised and we need more such tech partnerships. But I hope they also invest in training Indian engineers for these deepwater operations instead of relying solely on foreign expertise.
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