Inchcape Shipping Supports Saipem in Gulf of Mexico Pipe Laying Project

Inchcape Shipping Services has successfully supported Saipem, the leading international contractor to the oil and gas industry, with a major pipe laying project in the Gulf of Mexico.

Providing marine agency and logistics support for Saipem’s newest pipelay vessel Castorone during its first project in the Gulf, ISS assembled a 15 person team that provided port agency and husbandry, crew logistics services, freight forwarding, warehousing and personnel logistics throughout the 9 month project.

The Castorone, which is a DP3, ice classed, pipelay vessel, was employed on the 219 kilometer long Walker Ridge oil export pipeline, which connects Chevron’s Jack and St Malo fields in 2,140 meters of water, north to a Shell-operated platform in Green Canyon block 10.

During the course of the project, ISS handled over 250 port calls in Port Fourchon and New Iberia, Louisiana, and safely coordinated over 6000 crew changes and nearly 600 van transports between New Orleans and Port Fourchon.

ISS supplied project logistics support to Saipem through the provision and operation of bonded warehouses in Houston, Texas and Port Fourchon, Louisiana, with the arrangement and timely customs clearance and delivery of over 2500 tons of freight.

Says Clark Buffam, General Manager Offshore Logistics, ISS North America, “ISS is delighted to be able to support Saipem throughout this diverse and challenging project from our dedicated offshore agency and logistics division based in Houston, Texas. ISS has built a reputation as an innovative and agile partner in the Gulf and is rapidly extending its capability as a trusted strategic partner across the global offshore industry.”