Houlder Attracting Houston’s Offshore Engineering Talent

U.K.-based engineering group Houlder has launched a new venture to support clients headquartered in the United States following an increasing number of successful global projects for oil majors, operators and service providers.

Houlder Americas Inc. opened its San Felipe Plaza doors earlier this year and is already undertaking work for a growing number of clients including Ensco and Schlumberger. Key to the business’s success is employing local engineers to work alongside the small team that has relocated from the U.K. led by Garry Kennie, Houlder Americas Inc. president. Garry previously led Houlder’s Offshore Project and Engineering business in Aberdeen.

Commenting on the new office Garry said, “The new venture is the clearest indication yet that Houlder truly operates globally. Providing support to the world’s leading offshore operators and service providers means working closer with our clients operating in Houston. Importantly, our business strategy is based on recruiting and retaining a knowledgeable and capable local workforce. It’s what our clients asked for.”

The Houlder name has been associated with the marine industry since the 1850s when it was formed as The Houlder Brothers’ Shipping Line. Houlder entered the oil and gas sector in the 1970s as a drilling and subsea contractor - designing, owning and operating mobile drilling units, dive support vessels and semi-submersibles including the Uncle John, currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Today, the company provides wholly independent design and analysis, engineering and innovation and project management services varying from leading semisubmersible rig upgrades and vessel conversions to supplying new deck equipment and handling systems.

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