Bibby Steers to Offshore Cable Installation

Bibby Offshore announced its decision to move into the offshore wind array cable installation market. The company has purchased a power cable lay carousel from Ecosse Subsea Systems (ESS), which will enable Bibby Offshore to lay power cables for offshore wind projects from its vessels.

Bibby Offshore and ESS have also entered into strategic alliance by way of a framework agreement. Under this alliance, Bibby Offshore will provide commercial expertise supported by subsea project management and engineering experience, while ESS will provide innovation and in depth sector competence through its trenching expertise. Both companies will collaborate to develop other technologies and working methods which will benefit clients by reducing risk and lowering project costs.

The company’s entry into this new market complements Bibby HydroMap’s offshore survey capability and Bibby Marine Services recent investment in a new build ‘walk to work’ service operation vessel, the Bibby WaveMaster 1.

Fraser Moonie, Chief Operating Officer of Bibby Offshore said, the company's entry into the cable lay market strengthens its renewables offering in the North Sea. "We have worked with ESS in the subsea market for more than a decade, and this new strategic alliance will help us further our offshore offering and support our diverse client base,” Moonie added.

Mike Wilson, Managing Director of Ecosse Subsea Systems Limited, said collaborating with Bibby Offshore in the offshore wind arena "will enable us to tackle much bigger projects and clients with the opportunity to use a genuine U.K. owned and operated supply chain in this sector.”