Halifax Supply Ship Doing Business in the North Sea

From the North Atlantic to the North Sea, Nova Scotia companies are making their mark in the offshore oil and gas industry.

As one of the world's biggest oil and gas conferences gets underway in Scotland, the Atlantic Towing supply ship Kingfisher, built by Halifax Shipyard, a division of Irving Shipbuilding, is heading out to the North Sea to tow an offshore accommodation unit. This is just one of a number of towing operations the Nova Scotian vessel has conducted over the past few months.

Energy Minister Cecil Clarke, who is in Aberdeen, Scotland for the Offshore Europe Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference, took some time to tour the Kingfisher on Monday, Sept. 1.

"Going beyond our borders, doing business worldwide, this is what building our industry is all about," said Mr. Clarke. "By promoting our top-rate, Nova Scotian businesses at oil and gas shows like Offshore Europe, we can use the expertise we gain working in our offshore to compete in other markets around the world."

Completed at Halifax Shipyards in 2002, the Kingfisher is one of the industry's top-rated supply vessels, providing towing, stand- by and supply services to the offshore industry in harsh, treacherous conditions.

"We're pleased that the energy minister has had a chance to see, first-hand, Nova Scotia's expertise at work in the international oil and gas market," said Andrew McArthur, vice-chair of Irving Shipbuilding. "Promoting our abilities at shows like Offshore Europe is a key part in establishing and maintaining business relationships that lead to these types of contracts."

Irving Shipbuilding is one of 13 Nova Scotia companies and organizations attending the four-day conference and trade show that attracts exhibitors from around the world and more than 24,000 delegates. The Nova Scotia delegation is being led by the Department of Energy and the Offshore/Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia.