N.S., Houston Firms Share Dive Expertise

Companies got down to the business today of bringing opportunity home to Nova Scotia following the announcement of a record $592-million offshore exploration program.

Dartmouth-based Dominion Diving Ltd. announced a contract with Stolt Comex Seaway of Houston that pools the companies' expertise in subsea diving operations related to the Sable Offshore Energy Project.

Premier Russell MacLellan announced the awarding of 19 new offshore exploration licences in Houston on Tuesday. Seventy-five Nova Scotia companies are currently in the Texan city to attend the Offshore Technology Conference, the largest gathering of its kind in the world.

"Yesterday's announcement by the premier is excellent news for Nova Scotia companies interested in expanding the services they supply to the offshore industry," said Troy Ritcy, vice-president of marketing for Dominion Diving.

"The contract we've entered into with Stolt Comex Seaway will enable us to share technological knowledge and specialized equipment for current and future offshore-related opportunities," he said. "It brings together subsea expertise, global experience and local knowledge of the harsh subsea environments on the Scotian Shelf."

The teaming of the two companies involves use of the dive support vessel Seaway Condor for the installation of spool pieces by offshore saturation diving and subsea technology. Dominion Diving will provide the saturation diving expertise and highly trained divers to operate Remotely Operated Vehicles, or ROVs.

"The sharing of this type of expertise on a project of this magnitude represents a tremendous opportunity for our company to increase its work potential," said Mr. Ritcy.