ITEM 1—Business
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1997. In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, references to “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or like terms refer to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries, except as otherwise indicated. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. is a leading provider of marine transportation, subsea installation and accommodation support services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and U.S. military customers. Since our establishment, we have primarily focused on providing innovative technologically advanced marine solutions to meet the evolving needs of the deepwater and ultra-deepwater energy industry in domestic and select foreign locations. Throughout our history, we have expanded our fleet of vessels primarily through a series of new vessel construction programs, as well as through acquisitions of existing vessels. We maintain our headquarters at 103 Northpark Boulevard, Covington, Louisiana, 70433; our telephone number is (985) 727-2000.
We own and operate one of the youngest and largest fleets of U.S.-flagged, new generation OSVs and MPSVs. In late 2011, we commenced our fifth OSV newbuild program, which also includes the construction of MPSVs. Since that time, we have grown our new generation fleet from 51 OSVs and four MPSVs to
66
OSVs and
eight
MPSVs. Upon completion of the last two vessels to be delivered under this newbuild program, our expected fleet will be comprised of
66
OSVs and
ten
MPSVs. Together, these vessels support the deep-well, deepwater and ultra-deepwater activities of the offshore oil and gas industry. Such activities include oil and gas exploration, field development, production, construction, installation, IRM, well-stimulation and other enhanced oil recovery activities. We have also developed a specialized application of our new generation OSVs for use by the U.S. military. Our new generation OSVs and MPSVs have enhanced capabilities that allow us to more effectively support the premium drilling and installation equipment and facilities required for the offshore deep-well, deepwater and ultra-deepwater energy industry. We are one of the top two operators of domestic high-spec new generation OSVs and MPSVs and one of the top three operators of such equipment worldwide, based on DWT. Our fleet is among the youngest in the industry, with a weighted-average age, based on DWT, of nine years.
While we have historically operated our vessels predominately in the U.S. GoM, we have diversified our market presence and now operate in three core geographic markets: the GoM, Mexico and Brazil. In addition to our core markets, we frequently operate in other foreign regions on a project or term charter basis. We have recently operated in the Middle East, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and in other locations in Latin America, including Nicaragua, Guyana, Trinidad and Argentina. We have further diversified by providing specialized vessel solutions to non-oilfield customers, such as the United States military as well as oceanographic research and other customers that utilize sophisticated marine platforms in their operations. In addition, we have provided vessel management services for other vessel owners, such as crewing, daily operational management and maintenance activities. We also operate a shore-base support facility located in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. See "Item 2-Properties" for a listing of our shoreside support facilities.
Although all of our vessels are physically capable of operating in both domestic and international waters, approximately 76% are qualified under Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, as amended, or the Jones Act, to engage in the U.S. coastwise trade. The two remaining vessels being constructed under our fifth OSV newbuild program are also expected to be eligible for Jones Act coastwise trading privileges. Foreign owned, flagged, built or crewed vessels are restricted in their ability to conduct U.S. coastwise trade and are typically excluded from such trade in the GoM. Of the public company OSV peer group, we own the largest fleet of Jones Act-qualified, new generation OSVs and MPSVs, which we believe offers us a competitive advantage in the GoM. From time to time, we may elect to reflag certain of our vessels to the flag of another nation. We have reflagged 14 Jones Act-qualified OSVs and one Vanuatu-flagged MPSV to Mexican and other flags, including one OSV under Brazilian registry. We believe we currently own and operate one of the youngest and largest fleets of Mexican-flagged new generation OSVs and MPSVs. Once a Jones Act-qualified vessel is reflagged or a new vessel is foreign flagged, it permanently loses the right to engage in U.S. coastwise trade.
We intend to continue our efforts through up cycles and down cycles to maximize stockholder value through our long-term return-oriented growth strategy. We will, as opportunities arise, acquire or construct additional vessels, as well
as divest certain assets that we consider to be non-core or otherwise not in line with our long-term strategy or prevailing industry trends.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR BUSINESS
The Deepwater Offshore Energy Industry
The modern quest to explore for and produce energy resources located offshore began in the 1940s. While these offshore operations began in shallow waters, relatively close to shore, technological advances have permitted them to migrate to ever deeper waters and well depths. Until the late 1970s, most offshore activity was technologically and logistically restricted to that which was accessible on the continental shelf, or waters of up to about 500 feet of depth. Since that time, a number of advances have opened drilling regions in deepwater. The initial push into deeper waters was facilitated through the development of “floating” drilling units that could be positioned over a drilling site without being fixed to the seafloor. Petrobras pioneered these techniques in Brazil beginning in the late 1970s as it lacked an accessible “shallow water” continental shelf. The first deepwater project in the United States Gulf of Mexico was completed in 1993 in nearly 3,000 feet of water by Shell Oil Company. That Shell facility produced a then unheard of 46,000 barrels per day from a reservoir tapped at 25,000 feet. Today, exploration and production activities have pushed into the ultra-deepwater, where wells are routinely drilled in water depths of more than 8,000 feet, the deepest having been drilled in approximately 10,000 feet of water.
In addition to the ability to operate in very deep water, technological advances have also allowed hydrocarbon resources to be detected, drilled for and produced at extreme well depths. “Pre-salt” discoveries in Brazil are being drilled and produced in waters exceeding 5,000 feet and at well depths of more than 35,000 feet. In 2014, Chevron announced first oil from its Jack/St. Malo facility in the GoM, which is expected to produce previously undetectable lower tertiary hydrocarbons at a rate of 94,000 barrels per day from deposits more than 20,000 feet below the seabed situated in 7,000 feet of water. In addition to contending with extreme deepwater and deep well depths, these projects present challenges involving high temperatures and pressures within reservoirs and the associated difficulties of safely bringing those resources to the surface and then transporting them to shoreside locations. Despite these challenges, today deepwater production accounts for approximately 86% of all offshore production in the United States. The GoM production is expected to account for 16% and 17% of total forecast U.S. crude oil production in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Deepwater Regions
The energy industry has had success in many deepwater regions throughout the world. Deepwater drilling efforts are underway in the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean and Asia. However, the so-called “golden triangle” of deepwater activity is comprised of deposits found offshore West Africa, the Eastern coast of South America - dominated by Brazil and more recently, Guyana - and the GoM. Our core markets are the U.S. GoM, Mexico and Brazil.
As large international oil companies were pushed out of participating in many regions of the world by national oil companies intent upon retaining for themselves the economic benefits of national exploitation, the deepwater GoM grew in significance. The deepwater GoM is among the most abundant hydrocarbon regions in the world. Political stability in the United States and accessibility of deepwater lease blocks allows major oil companies to plan, execute and finance the significant long-term commitments that deepwater success requires. While the scale and complexity associated with deepwater projects is considerable, the significant size of the resource discoveries allows companies to replenish reserves on a large scale from relatively few projects. Unlike most onshore exploration and production projects, deepwater projects require long-lead times to plan and execute, but also enjoy long production lives once online. For instance, the first exploratory wells at the Jack/St. Malo fields were drilled in 2003 and 2004 and first oil was not produced until 2014. Now online, Chevron projects that the Jack/St. Malo fields are expected to produce an estimated 500 million oil equivalent barrels over 30 years. Consequently, short term fluctuations in oil and gas prices typically do not have the same impact on sanctioned deepwater projects as such fluctuations may have on other onshore and continental shelf projects. As a result of the severity and length of current on-going commodity price declines, some previously sanctioned deepwater projects have, nevertheless, been deferred and the pace of newly sanctioned projects in the deepwater GoM has slowed considerably since 2015.
Emerging opportunities for the deepwater offshore energy industry are presented by recent changes in Mexico and Brazil, two of our core markets, which have both recently expanded access to their deepwater regions to foreign operators. In December 2013, the Mexican congress ended PEMEX's 75 year-old monopoly on drilling activities in Mexico and voted in favor of allowing the government to grant contracts and licenses for exploration and production of oil and gas to foreign firms, which previously had been prohibited under Mexico’s constitution. In December 2016, Mexico
conducted its first ever deepwater auctions, which drew bids from several major integrated oil companies, as well as several independent oil companies on 10 deepwater opportunities. In January 2018, Mexico completed a second round of deepwater auctions, awarding 19 of 29 deepwater blocks. In 2018, companies began exploration activities on the deepwater blocks that were awarded.
Brazil, through its state-owned national oil company, Petrobras, has been a pioneer in deepwater drilling and remains a dominant player in the global deepwater energy industry. Petrobras claims approximately 9.7 billion barrels of proven deepwater and ultra-deepwater resources, the vast majority of which are located in pre-salt formations, which were the driving force behind an ambitious national plan to dramatically increase production by 2023 to 3.4 million barrels per day. These plans were sidelined by declines in the price of oil combined with a wide reaching corruption probe involving Petobras. In light of these difficulties being experienced by Petrobras, in 2016, the Brazilian Congress determined to re-open the vast Brazilian pre-salt regions to foreign operators. Brazil hosted multiple rounds of deepwater auctions for pre-salt oil blocks in 2018 with an additional auction scheduled to be held in November 2019.
The Subsea Oilfield
Deepwater successes have driven further innovation around the infrastructure required to produce and transport ashore the abundant resources that have been discovered. In shallower regions, once hydrocarbons are discovered, they are typically produced by installing a fixed platform over the well site onto which are installed all of the equipment and infrastructure necessary to produce the hydrocarbons and move them ashore through pipelines. Platforms also provide a locale from which well maintenance and similar activities can be performed. The size, pressures, temperatures and water depths of deepwater hydrocarbon deposits require enormous amounts of infrastructure to develop, produce and maintain their wells. These challenges have pushed the development of technologies to allow infrastructure to be placed directly onto the seafloor, as opposed to a fixed platform. The process of building out this subsea oilfield requires the use of vessels to transport infrastructure to location, install infrastructure to subsea points and inspect, repair and maintain it throughout the multi-decade life of the field. When hydrocarbons are brought to the surface, they are gathered from multiple subsea locations through pipelines to a single deepwater floating "top-side" production facility. These "top-side" production facilities take years to design, engineer, transport, install and, often, cost billions of dollars and represent a significant source of demand for vessel services during their installation and commissioning. More recently, deepwater producers have capitalized on their existing deepwater infrastructure to gain efficiencies through the use of so-called "tie-backs". A tie-back allows a deepwater well to be produced without having to install a new top-side facility by "tying the well back" to a near-by existing top-side facility accessible to the well location. Tie-backs require the installation of subsea infrastructure to connect the well to the remote "top-side" facility.
Depiction of a GoM Subsea Deepwater Oilfield
OSVs
OSVs primarily serve exploratory and developmental drilling rigs and production facilities and support offshore and subsea construction, installation, IRM and decommissioning activities. OSVs differ from other ships primarily due to their cargo-carrying flexibility and capacity. In addition to transporting deck cargo, such as pipe or drummed material and equipment, OSVs also transport liquid mud, potable and drilling water, diesel fuel, dry bulk cement and personnel between shore-bases and offshore rigs and production facilities. Deepwater environments require OSVs with capabilities that allow them to more effectively support drilling and related subsea construction projects that occur far from shore, in deepwater and increasingly at extreme well depths. In order to best serve these projects, we have designed our various classes of new generation vessels in a manner that seeks to maximize their liquid mud and dry bulk cement capacities, as well as their larger areas of open deck space. Deepwater operations also require vessels having dynamic positioning, or anchorless station-keeping capability, driven primarily by safety concerns that preclude vessels from physically mooring to floating deepwater installations. DP systems have experienced steady increases in technology over time with the highest DP rating currently being DP-3. The number following the DP notation generally indicates the degree of redundancy built into the vessel’s systems and the range of usefulness of the vessel in deepwater construction and subsea operations. Higher numbers represent greater DP capabilities. Today, deepwater drilling operations in the GoM overwhelmingly prefer a DP-2 notation and a vessel with 2,500 DWT capacity or greater. We consider these vessels to be high-spec new generation OSVs. Currently, 59 of our vessels are DP-2 and two are DP-3. The two remaining MPSVs contracted to be constructed under our fifth newbuild program are expected to be DP-2. Ultra-deepwater projects, which occur in waters of greater than 5,000 feet, are driving a need for DP-2 vessels with very large capacities. The distance of these projects from shore, together with their water and well depths dictate the use of massive volumes of bulk drilling materials and related supplies. The OSVs that have been delivered as part of our fifth OSV newbuild program are among the largest in the world. With DWT capacities of 5,500 DWT to 6,200 DWT, we believe these ultra high-spec vessels provide our ultra-deepwater drilling customers vessel solutions that help them to maximize efficiencies and improve the logistical challenges prevalent in their projects.
Vessels that do not carry at least a DP-2 notation or have less than 2,500 DWT capacity typically operate in more shallow U.S. waters or in foreign locations in which DP-2 has not yet emerged as the dominant standard. Currently, 18 of our vessels are low-spec, comprising 13% of our fleet by DWT. The remaining 87% of our fleet is considered high-spec, including roughly 60% of our overall fleet that is ultra high-spec.
Two ultra high-spec HOSMAX OSVs
MPSVs
MPSVs also support the deepwater activities of the energy industry. MPSVs are distinguished from OSVs in that they are more specialized and often significantly larger vessels that are principally used for IRM activities, such as the subsea installation of well heads, risers, jumpers, umbilicals and other equipment placed on the seafloor. MPSVs are also utilized in connection with the setting of pipelines, the commissioning and de-commissioning of offshore facilities, the maintenance and/or repair of subsea equipment and the intervention of such wells, well testing and flow-back operations and other sophisticated deepwater operations. To perform these various functions, MPSVs are or can be equipped with a variety of lifting and deployment systems, including large capacity cranes, winches or reel systems, well intervention equipment, ROVs and accommodation facilities. The typical MPSV is outfitted with one or more deepwater cranes
employing active heave compensation technology, one or more ROVs, a helideck and expansive accommodations for the offshore crew, including customer personnel. MPSVs can also be outfitted as a flotel to provide accommodations to large numbers of offshore construction and technical personnel involved in large-scale offshore projects, such as the commissioning of a floating offshore production facility. When in a flotel mode, the MPSV provides living quarters for third-party personnel, catering, laundry, medical services, recreational facilities, offices and as a helicopter heliport for the embarkation and disembarkation of offshore personnel. In addition, flotels coordinate and help to provide the facilities necessary for the offshore workers being accommodated to safely move from the vessel to other offshore structures being supported through the use of articulated gangways that allow personnel to "walk to work." Generally, MPSVs command higher dayrates than OSVs due to their significantly larger relative size and versatility, as well as higher construction and operating costs.
370 class MPSVs
We have devised MPSVs that, in addition to the array of services described above, are also capable of being utilized to transport deck or bulk cargoes in capacities exceeding most other new generation OSVs. We own and operate two proprietary 370 class DP-2 new generation MPSVs with such capabilities. These MPSVs have approximately double the deadweight and three times the liquid mud barrel-capacity of one of our 265 class new generation OSVs and more than four times the liquid mud barrel-capacity of one of our 240 class new generation OSVs. Moreover, with their large tanks, these MPSVs have assisted in large volume deepwater well testing and flow-back operations, as well as supporting large drilling operations in remote or harsh conditions
.
Both of our 370 class MPSVs uniquely have certifications by the USCG that permit Jones Act-qualified operations as a supply vessel, industrial/construction vessel and as a petroleum and chemical tanker under subchapters “L”, “I”, “D”, and “O”, respectively. We believe that these vessels are not only the largest supply vessels in the world, but are also the only vessels in the world to have received all four of these certifications.
400 class and 310 class MPSVs
Until recently, due to a lack of Jones Act-qualified MPSVs, many customers would charter an OSV to carry equipment to location, which was then installed by a foreign flag MPSV. By eliminating the need for two vessels, we believe our customers will improve efficiencies and mitigate operational risks. Our Jones Act-qualified MPSVs are equipped with a heave-compensated knuckle-boom crane, helideck, accommodations for approximately 90-100 persons and are suitable for two or more work-class ROVs. Moreover, our Jones Act-qualified MPSVs are also equipped with below-deck cargo tanks, allowing them to expand their mission utility to include services more typically provided by OSVs.
We expect to take delivery of two 400 class MPSVs in the
second and third quarters
of
2020
. Because our 400 class and 310 class MPSVs are Jones Act-qualified, we expect that they will enable our customers to transport equipment from shore to the installation site to be installed by the MPSV without needing to use a second (domestic) vessel for transport like foreign-flagged MPSVs are required to do. We believe that, once delivered, the 400 class MPSVs will be the largest and most capable Jones Act-qualified MPSVs available in the market.
Rendering of Planned HOS 400' Class MPSV
In April 2015, we also outfitted one of our 310 class OSVs that was placed in service under our ongoing newbuild program as a 310 class MPSV in flotel configuration. This U.S.-flagged, Jones Act-qualified MPSV includes a 35-ton knuckle-boom crane, a motion-compensated gangway and accommodations for 194 persons. Being Jones Act-qualified gives it mission flexibility that foreign flag flotels lack in the GoM.
430 class
We also operate the
HOS Iron Horse
and
HOS Achiever,
which are 430 class DP-3 new generation MPSVs. A DP-3 notation requires greater vessel and ship-system redundancies. DP-3 systems also include separate vessel compartments with fire-retardant walls for generators, prime movers, switchboards and most other DP components. These 430 class MPSVs are designed to handle a variety of global offshore energy applications, many of which are not dependent on the exploratory rig count. They are excellent platforms for those specialty services described above for our 400 and 310 class MPSVs with the exception of handling liquid cargoes. The
HOS Iron Horse
and the
HOS Achiever
are not U.S.-flagged vessels, however, they can engage in certain legally permissible operations in the U.S. that do not constitute coastwise trade. The
HOS Achiever
is currently configured as a flotel with accommodations for up to 270 personnel onboard, including the vessel's marine crew, hotel and catering staff. These accommodations allow this vessel to support the commissioning of deepwater installations around the world. Because flotel services do not typically involve the coastwise transportation of passengers, foreign-flag vessels, such as our 430 class MPSVs, can provide this service in the U.S. We recently placed the
HOS Iron Horse
into Mexican registry through our Mexican affiliate. We believe that the
HOS
Iron Horse
is among the most sophisticated MPSVs in Mexican registry and will be a highly capable asset serving the growing Mexican market.
We believe that our reputation for safety and technologically superior vessels, combined with our size and scale in certain core markets relative to our public company OSV peer group, enhance our ability to compete for work awarded by major oil companies, independent oil companies, national oil companies and the U.S. government, who are among our primary customers. These customers demand a high level of safety and technological advancements to meet the more stringent regulatory standards in the GoM. As our customers’ needs and requirements become more demanding, we expect that smaller vessel operators may struggle to meet these standards.
The following table provides information, as of
February 13, 2019
, regarding our owned fleet of
66
new generation OSVs,
eight
MPSVs and two MPSVs yet to be delivered under our fifth OSV newbuild program, as well as our managed fleet of
four
new generation OSVs that serve the U.S. Navy.
Our Vessels
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Name
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Design
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Current
Service
Function
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Current
Location
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In-Service
Date
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Deadweight
(long tons)
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Liquid Mud
Capacity
(barrels)
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Total
Horsepower
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DP
Class
(1)
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OWNED VESSELS:
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MPSVs
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HOS Iron Horse
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430
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Multi-Purpose (FF)
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Mexico
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Nov 2009
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6,345
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n/a
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8,050
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DP-3
|
HOS Achiever
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430
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Multi-Purpose (FF)
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Brazil
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Oct 2008
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5,096
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n/a
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8,050
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DP-3
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HOS Warhorse
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400 ES
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Multi-Purpose
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TBD
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2Q2020 est.
(2)
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6,200 est
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14,100 est.
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9,000 est.
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|
DP-2
|
HOS Wild Horse
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400 ES
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Multi-Purpose
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TBD
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3Q2020 est.
(2)
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6,200 est.
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14,100 est.
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9,000 est.
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DP-2
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HOS Centerline
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370
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Stacked
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GoM
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Mar 2009
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7,903
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30,962
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6,000
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DP-2
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HOS Strongline
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370
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Stacked
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GoM
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Mar 2010
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7,881
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30,962
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6,000
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DP-2
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HOS Bayou
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310
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Multi-Purpose
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GoM
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Dec 2014
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5,189
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20,981
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Warland
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310 ES
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Multi-Purpose
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GoM
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Aug 2016
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4,977
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19,120
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9,000
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DP-2
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HOS Woodland
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310 ES
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Multi-Purpose
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GoM
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Sep 2016
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5,132
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19,120
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9,000
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DP-2
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HOS Riverbend
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300
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Multi-Purpose
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GoM
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Feb 2014
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4,608
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16,938
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7,300
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DP-2
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OSVs
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300 class (Over 5,000 DWT)
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HOS Commander
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320
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Supply
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GoM
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Nov 2013
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6,046
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
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HOS Carolina
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320
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Supply
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GoM
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|
Feb 2014
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6,059
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|
20,911
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|
6,008
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|
DP-2
|
HOS Claymore
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320
|
|
Supply
|
|
GoM
|
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Mar 2014
|
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6,042
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20,911
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|
6,008
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|
DP-2
|
HOS Captain
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320
|
|
Supply
|
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GoM
|
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Jul 2014
|
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6,051
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|
20,911
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|
6,008
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DP-2
|
HOS Clearview
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320
|
|
Supply
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|
GoM
|
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Aug 2014
|
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6,053
|
|
20,911
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|
6,008
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|
DP-2
|
HOS Crockett
|
|
320
|
|
Supply
|
|
GoM
|
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Dec 2014
|
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6,047
|
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
|
HOS Caledonia
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320
|
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Supply
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GoM
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Jan 2015
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6,066
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
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HOS Crestview
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320
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Supply (FF)
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Latin America
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Feb 2015
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6,052
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
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HOS Cedar Ridge
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320
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Supply
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GoM
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Nov 2015
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6,046
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
|
HOS Carousel
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320
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Supply
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GoM
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Jun 2015
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6,059
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20,911
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6,008
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DP-2
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HOS Black Foot
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310
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Supply
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GoM
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Jul 2014
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6,055
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21,417
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7,300
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DP-2
|
HOS Black Rock
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310
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Supply
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GoM
|
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Aug 2014
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6,055
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|
21,417
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7,300
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DP-2
|
HOS Black Watch
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310
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Supply
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GoM
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Oct 2014
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6,055
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21,417
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7,300
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DP-2
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HOS Brass Ring
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310
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Supply (FF)
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Brazil
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Jan 2016
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5,633
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21,417
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Briarwood
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310
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Supply
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GoM
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Jan 2016
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5,993
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21,417
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Red Dawn
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300
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Supply
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Other U.S.
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Jun 2013
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5,407
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20,846
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Red Rock
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300
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Military
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Other U.S.
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Oct 2013
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5,407
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20,846
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Renaissance
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300
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Supply
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GoM
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Nov 2013
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5,407
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20,846
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6,700
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DP-2
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HOS Browning
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300
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Supply (FF)
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Latin America
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May 2018
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5,553
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19,516
|
|
6,700
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Winchester
|
|
300
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
May 2018
|
|
5,553
|
|
19,516
|
|
6,700
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Coral
|
|
290
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Mar 2009
|
|
5,609
|
|
15,212
|
|
6,140
|
|
DP-2
|
280 class (3,500 to 5,000 DWT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOS Colt
|
|
270
|
|
Supply
|
|
Latin America
|
|
May 2018
|
|
3,792
|
|
12,591
|
|
6,700
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Remington
|
|
270
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
May 2018
|
|
3,780
|
|
12,569
|
|
6,700
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Ridgewind
|
|
265
|
|
Supply
|
|
GoM
|
|
Nov 2001
|
|
3,070
|
|
9,414
|
|
6,780
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Brimstone
|
|
265
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jun 2002
|
|
3,718
|
|
10,350
|
|
6,780
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Stormridge
|
|
265
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Aug 2002
|
|
3,659
|
|
10,350
|
|
6,780
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Sandstorm
|
|
265
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Oct 2002
|
|
3,659
|
|
10,336
|
|
6,780
|
|
DP-2
|
240 class (2,500 to 3,500 DWT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOS Saylor
|
|
240
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
GoM
|
|
Oct 1999
|
|
2,774
|
|
n/a
|
|
7,844
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Navegante
|
|
240
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jan 2000
|
|
3,289
|
|
4,450
|
|
7,844
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Resolution
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Oct 2008
|
|
2,751
|
|
8,240
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Mystique
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Jan 2009
|
|
2,333
|
|
8,300
|
|
5,586
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Pinnacle
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Feb 2010
|
|
2,707
|
|
8,240
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Windancer
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
May 2010
|
|
2,724
|
|
8,240
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Wildwing
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Sept 2010
|
|
2,707
|
|
8,240
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Bluewater
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Mar 2003
|
|
2,754
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Gemstone
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jun 2003
|
|
2,758
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Greystone
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Sep 2003
|
|
2,754
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Silverstar
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jan 2004
|
|
2,762
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Polestar
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
May 2008
|
|
2,752
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Shooting Star
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jul 2008
|
|
2,728
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS North Star
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Nov 2008
|
|
2,749
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Lode Star
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Feb 2009
|
|
2,746
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Silver Arrow
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Oct 2009
|
|
2,664
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Sweet Water
|
|
240 ED
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Dec 2009
|
|
2,701
|
|
8,270
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Design
|
|
Current
Service
Function
|
|
Current
Location
|
|
In-Service
Date
|
|
Deadweight
(long tons)
|
|
Liquid Mud
Capacity
(barrels)
|
|
Total
Horsepower
|
|
DP
Class
(1)
|
HOS Beignet
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
May 2013
(3)
|
|
2,772
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Boudin
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
May 2013
(3)
|
|
2,715
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Bourre'
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Sep 2013
(3)
|
|
2,772
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Coquille
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Sep 2013
(3)
|
|
2,742
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Cayenne
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Nov 2013
(3)
|
|
2,772
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Chicory
|
|
S240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Nov 2013
(3)
|
|
2,731
|
|
8,000
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
200 class (1,500 to 2,500 DWT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOS Innovator
|
|
240 E
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Apr 2001
|
|
2,036
|
|
6,290
|
|
4,520
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Dominator
|
|
240 E
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Feb 2002
|
|
2,054
|
|
6,400
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Deepwater
|
|
240
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Nov 1999
|
|
2,259
|
|
4,470
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Cornerstone
|
|
240
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Mar 2000
|
|
2,259
|
|
6,280
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-2
|
HOS Beaufort
|
|
S200
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Mar 1999
|
|
2,246
|
|
4,120
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Hawke
|
|
S200
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jul 1999
|
|
1,767
|
|
4,100
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Douglas
|
|
S200
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Apr 2000
|
|
2,246
|
|
4,120
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Nome
|
|
S200
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Aug 2000
|
|
2,246
|
|
4,120
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Crossfire
|
|
200
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Nov 1998
|
|
1,780
|
|
2,714
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Super H
|
|
200
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jan 1999
|
|
1,764
|
|
3,590
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Brigadoon
|
|
200
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Mar 1999
|
|
1,767
|
|
3,590
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Thunderfoot
|
|
200
|
|
Supply (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
May 1999
|
|
1,678
|
|
3,600
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Dakota
|
|
200
|
|
Stacked (FF)
|
|
Mexico
|
|
Jun 1999
|
|
1,780
|
|
2,714
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Explorer
|
|
220
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Feb 1999
|
|
1,625
|
|
3,050
|
|
3,900
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Voyager
|
|
220
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
May 1998
|
|
1,625
|
|
3,050
|
|
3,900
|
|
DP-1
|
HOS Pioneer
|
|
220
|
|
Stacked
|
|
GoM
|
|
Jun 2000
|
|
1,630
|
|
3,050
|
|
4,000
|
|
DP-1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANAGED VESSELS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
240 class (2,500 to 3,500 DWT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
USNS Black Powder
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Jun 2009
|
|
2,900
|
|
8,300
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
USNS Westwind
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Jun 2009
|
|
2,900
|
|
8,300
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
USNS Eagleview
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Oct 2009
|
|
2,900
|
|
8,300
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
USNS Arrowhead
|
|
250 EDF
|
|
Military
|
|
Other U.S.
|
|
Jan 2009
|
|
2,900
|
|
8,300
|
|
6,000
|
|
DP-2
|
FF—foreign-flagged
TBD—to be determined
|
|
(1)
|
“DP-1,” “DP-2” and “DP-3” mean various classifications, or equivalent, of dynamic positioning systems on new generation vessels to automatically maintain a vessel’s position and heading through anchor-less station keeping.
|
|
|
(2)
|
These vessels are currently being constructed under our fifth OSV newbuild construction program with anticipated in-service dates during
2020
.
|
|
|
(3)
|
These six vessels were converted into 240 class DP-2 OSVs as part of our 200 class OSV retrofit program in 2013. They were originally constructed and placed in service in their prior Super 200 class DP-1 configuration in 1999 or 2000 and were acquired by us in August 2007.
|
We own long-term lease rights to two adjacent shore-base facilities located in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, named HOS Port. Port Fourchon’s proximity to the deepwater GoM provides a strategic logistical advantage for servicing drilling rigs, production facilities and other offshore installations and sites. We also utilize HOS Port as a shoreside facility for performing vessel maintenance, outfitting and other in-the-water shipyard activities. Developed as a multi-use facility, Port Fourchon has historically been a land base for offshore oil support services and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, or LOOP. According to industry sources, Port Fourchon services nearly all deepwater rigs and almost half of all shallow water rigs in the GoM. The HOS Port facility has approximately five years remaining on its current lease and two additional five-year renewal options on each parcel. The combined acreage of HOS Port is approximately 60 acres with total waterfront bulkhead of nearly 3,000 linear feet. HOS Port not only supports our existing fleet and customers’ deepwater logistics requirements, but it underscores our long-term commitment to and our long-term outlook for the deepwater GoM.
Principal Markets
OSVs and MPSVs operate worldwide, but are generally concentrated in relatively few offshore regions with high levels of exploration and development activity, such as the GoM, the North Sea, Southeast Asia, West Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Our core geographic markets are the GoM, Mexico and Brazil. In these markets we provide services to several major integrated oil companies as well as mid-size and large independent oil companies with deepwater and ultra-deepwater activities and to national oil companies such as PEMEX and Petrobras. We also occasionally operate in select international markets, which have included the rest of Latin America, West Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Caribbean basin. We are often subcontracted by other oilfield service companies, both in the GoM and internationally, to provide a new generation fleet that enables them to render offshore oilfield services, such as well stimulation or other enhanced oil recovery activities, seismic surveying, diving and ROV operations, construction, installation, inspection, maintenance, repair and decommissioning services. We also provide a specialized application of our new generation OSVs for use by the United States military.
While there is some vessel migration between regions, key factors such as mobilization costs, vessel suitability and government statutes prohibiting foreign-flagged vessels from operating in certain waters, or coastwise cabotage laws such as the Jones Act, can limit the migration of OSVs into certain markets. Because some MPSVs are generally utilized for non-cargo operations, they are less limited by cabotage laws. Demand for OSVs, as evidenced by dayrates and utilization rates, is primarily related to offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activity. Such activity is influenced by a number of factors, including the actual and forecasted price of oil and natural gas, the level of drilling permit activity, capital budgets of offshore exploration and production companies, and repair and maintenance needs in the deepwater oilfield.
Offshore exploration and production activities are increasingly focused on deep wells (as defined by total well depth rather than water depth), whether on the Outer Continental Shelf or in the deepwater or ultra-deepwater. These types of wells require high-specification equipment, which has driven the recent and nearly completed newbuild cycle for drilling rigs and for OSVs. There were 32 floating rigs under construction or on order on
February 13, 2019
and, as of that date, there were options outstanding to build seven additional floating rigs. In addition, on that date, there were 75 high-spec jack-up rigs under construction or on order worldwide, and there were options outstanding to build 13 additional high-spec jack-up rigs. Most, if not all, of these rigs were ordered prior to the downturn in oil prices that has persisted since late 2014. Consequently, the market for deepwater drilling rigs is expected to be over-supplied for the forseeable future. This oversupply of rigs may drive down the cost of contracting a drilling rig, with the result that more rigs may be employed, which could positively impact utilization of supply vessels. Each drilling rig working on deep-well projects typically requires more than one OSV to service it, and the number of OSVs required is dependent on many factors, including the type of activity being undertaken, the location of the rig and the size and capacity of the OSVs. During normal operating conditions, based on the historical data for the number of floating rigs and OSVs working, we believe that two to four OSVs per rig are required in the GoM and even more OSVs are necessary per rig in Brazil where greater logistical challenges result in longer vessel turnaround times to service drill sites. Typically, during the initial drilling stage, more OSVs are required to supply drilling mud, drill pipe and other materials than at later stages of the drilling cycle. In addition, generally more OSVs are required the farther a drilling rig is located from shore. Under normal weather conditions, the transit time to deepwater drilling rigs in the GoM and Brazil can typically range from six to 24 hours for a new generation vessel. In Brazil, transit time for a new generation vessel to some of the newer, more logistically remote deepwater drilling rig locations are more appropriately measured in days, not hours. In addition to drilling rig support, deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration and production activities should result in the expansion of other specialty-service offerings for our vessels. These markets include subsea construction support, installation, IRM work, and life-of-field services, which include well-stimulation, workovers and decommissioning.
While Mexico has an active shallow water market, Mexico is now at the dawn of its deepwater efforts, which were enabled by the legal changes made in Mexico that opened its offshore areas to foreign investment. Mexico shares a deepwater border with the United States. Deepwater exploratory success on the U.S. side of that border, particularly in the “Perdido Belt” region suggests a high probability of similar success to be achieved on the Mexican side of the border. The first deepwater wells will be drilled in Mexico in 2019.
Our charters are the product of either direct negotiation or a competitive proposal process, which evaluates vessel capability, availability and price. Our primary method of chartering in the GoM is through direct vessel negotiations with our customers on either a long-term or spot basis. In the international market, we sometimes charter through local entities in order to comply with cabotage or other local requirements. Some charters are solicited by customers through international vessel brokerage firms, which earn a commission that is customarily paid by the vessel owner. Our operations and management agreement with the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command was a sole source selection based upon certain capabilities unique to the Company that were developed while the applicable vessels were chartered to the Navy. All of our charters, whether long-term or spot, are priced on a dayrate basis, whereby for each day that the vessel is under contract to the customer, we earn a fixed amount of charter-hire for making the vessel available for the customer’s use. Some of the long-term contracts for our vessels and all of our government, including national oil company, charters contain early termination options in favor of the customer; however, some have fees designed to discourage early termination. Long-term charters sometimes contain provisions that permit us to increase our dayrates in order to be compensated for certain increased operational expenses or regulatory changes.
Competition
The offshore support vessel industry is highly competitive. Competition primarily involves such factors as:
|
|
•
|
quality, capability and age of vessels;
|
|
|
•
|
quality, capability and nationality of the crew members;
|
|
|
•
|
ability to meet the customer’s schedule;
|
|
|
•
|
safety record, reputation, experience;
|
Our three core markets, the U.S. GoM, Mexico and Brazil, all have strict cabotage laws that provide varying levels of insulation from foreign competition. While these laws vary in their provisions, generally they provide a barrier to entry to market participants that are short-term focused and unwilling to make a significant contribution of capital to the country being served.
Our high-spec OSVs are predominately U.S.-flagged vessels, which qualify them under the Jones Act to engage in domestic coastwise trade. The Jones Act restricts the ability of vessels that are foreign-built, foreign-owned, foreign-crewed or foreign-flagged from engaging in coastwise trade in the United States. The transportation services typically provided by OSVs constitute coastwise trade as defined by the Jones Act. See "Item 1A-Risk Factors" for a more detailed discussion of the Jones Act. Consequently, competition for our services in the GoM is largely restricted to other U.S. vessel owners and operators, both publicly and privately held. We believe that we operate the second largest fleet by DWT of new generation Jones Act-qualified OSVs in the United States. Internationally, our OSVs compete against other U.S. owners, as well as foreign owners and operators of OSVs. Some of our international competitors may benefit from a lower cost basis in their vessels, which are usually not constructed in U.S. shipyards, as well as from lower crewing costs and favorable tax regimes. While foreign vessel owners cannot engage in U.S. coastwise trade, some cabotage laws in other parts of the world permit temporary waivers for foreign vessels if domestic vessels are unavailable. We and other U.S. and foreign vessel owners have been able to obtain such waivers in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate.
Many of the services provided by MPSVs do not involve the transportation of merchandise and therefore are generally not considered coastwise trade under U.S. and foreign cabotage laws. Consequently, our MPSVs being constructed under our fifth newbuild program face competition from both foreign-flagged vessels and U.S.-flagged vessels for non-coastwise trade activities. In addition, since 2009, owners and operators of Jones-Act qualified MPSVs, such as ourselves, have challenged interpretations of the Jones Act issued by Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, that we believe erroneously allowed foreign MPSVs to be used in U.S. coastwise trade. In 2009 and again in 2017, CBP announced proposed modifications to or revocations of these interpretations, but subsequently withdrew both of those proposals. In 2017, trade organizations representing the owners and operators of Jones-Act qualified MPSVs, as well as U.S. shipyards that build them, sued CBP on account of the continued existence of Jones Act interpretations that are inconsistent with the statute. That suit is pending in Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, Captain Paul Radtke, et. al. v. U.S Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, et. al. Civil Action No. 17-2412. If successful, that litigation may reduce competition that our Jones-Act qualified MPSVs face from foreign MPSVs that are currently allowed by CBP to engage in coastwise trade.
Competition in the MPSV industry is significantly affected by the particular capabilities of a vessel to meet the requirements of a customer’s project as well as price. While operating in the GoM, our MPSVs are required to utilize U.S. crews while foreign-owned vessels have historically been allowed to employ non-U.S. mariners, often from low-wage nations. U.S. crews are often more expensive than foreign crews. Also, foreign MPSV owners may have more favorable tax regimes than ours. Consequently, prices for foreign-owned MPSVs in the GoM are often lower than prices we can charge. Finally, some potential MPSV customers are also owners of MPSVs that will compete with our vessels. During the recent downturn, many foreign MPSVs have departed the GoM and most MPSVs currently operating in the GoM are Jones-Act qualified. If market conditions improve and the CBP letter rulings continue to allow foreign vessels to engage in coastwise trade, we might face significant price competition from the owners of these foreign vessels that enjoy lower manning and tax burdens.
We continue to observe intense scrutiny by our customers on the safety and environmental management systems of vessel operators. As a consequence, we believe that deepwater customers are increasingly biased towards companies that have demonstrated a financial and operational commitment and capacity to employ such systems. We believe this trend will, over time, make it difficult for small enterprises to compete effectively in the deepwater OSV and MPSV markets. Additionally, we have observed less willingness by operators to utilize DP-1 vessels in deepwater operations in the GoM. This trend will likely result in the retirement of conventional non-DP vessels and a migration of DP-1 vessels to non-deepwater regions, such as the shelf, and certain international regions.
Although some of our principal competitors are larger or have more extensive international operations than we do, we believe that our operating capabilities and reputation for quality and safety enable us to compete effectively with other fleets in the market areas in which we operate or intend to operate. In particular, we believe that the relatively young age and advanced features of our OSVs and MPSVs provide us with a competitive advantage. The ages of our high-spec new generation OSVs range from two years to 20 years with a weighted-average fleet age, based on DWT, of seven years. In fact, approximately 91% of our active new generation OSVs have been placed in-service since January 1, 2008, giving our active fleet of OSVs an average age of six years. The average age of the industry’s conventional U.S.-flagged OSV fleet is over 35 years and the industry's domestic new generation OSV fleet is approximately 10 years. We believe that most of these older vessels are cold-stacked and many of them have been or will be permanently retired in the next few years due to physical and economic obsolescence. Worldwide competition for new generation vessels has been impacted in recent years by the increase in newbuild OSVs placed in-service to address greater customer interest in deep-well, deepwater and ultra-deepwater drilling activity and the decline in industry activity due to low oil prices. Upon completion of our fifth OSV newbuild program, we expect to own a fleet of 76 Upstream vessels of which 83% will be DP-2 or DP-3 with a weighted-average fleet age, based on DWT, of 11 years in
2020
.
Over the past five years, there have been several, and we expect further, formal and informal restructurings of owners and operators of OSVs and MPSVs that compete with us in the U.S. and globally. Two of our publicly traded domestic competitors emerged from Chapter 11 proceedings in 2017 and such competitors merged in late-2018. Companies that have undergone restructurings may have less debt and obligations associated with servicing their debt than companies that have not undergone restructurings. Additionally, fresh start accounting rules might also provide advantages that impact financial results that such restructured companies report. Because we have not initiated measures of this kind, we may face stiffer competition from restructured companies and may also report lower financial results relative to such restructured companies. We believe any advantages experienced by such competitors are short-term and limited in nature given the capital intensive nature of our business. Because all vessels must eventually be replaced, and shipyard costs have not and are not expected to decrease, even our competitors that have been restructured must generate returns sufficient to cover their cost of capital and fund eventual fleet replacement.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. Our inability to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could impact our ability to manage, maintain and grow our business. In crewing our vessels, we require skilled employees who can perform physically demanding work and operate complex vessel systems. As the result of our vessel stacking strategy, we have reduced our mariner headcount significantly. When these stacked vessels return to service, we will need to hire and train additional mariners to operate such vessels.
CUSTOMER DEPENDENCY
Our customers are generally limited to large, independent, integrated or nationally-owned energy companies. These firms are relatively few in number. The percentage of revenues attributable to a customer in any particular year depends on the level of oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities undertaken by such customer, the availability and suitability of our vessels for the customer’s projects or products and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. For the year ended
December 31, 2018
, Military Sealift Command and Royal Dutch Shell plc (including worldwide affiliates) each accounted for 10% or more of our consolidated revenues. For a discussion of significant customers in prior periods, see Note
15
to our consolidated financial statements.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Environmental Laws and Regulations
Our operations are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and international laws and regulations regarding the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection. The requirements of these laws and regulations have become more complex and stringent in recent years and may, in certain circumstances, impose strict, joint and several liability, rendering a company liable for environmental damages and remediation costs without regard to negligence or fault on the part of such party. Aside from possible liability for damages and costs including natural resource damages associated with releases of oil or hazardous materials into the environment, such laws and regulations may expose us to liability for the conditions caused by others or even acts of ours that were in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations at the time such acts were performed. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may result in the imposition of administrative, civil and criminal penalties, revocation of permits, issuance of corrective action orders and suspension or termination of our operations. Moreover, it is possible that future changes in the environmental laws, regulations or enforcement policies that impose additional or more restrictive requirements or
claims for damages to persons, property, natural resources or the environment could result in substantial costs and liabilities to us and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. We have performed what we consider to be appropriate environmental due diligence in connection with our operations and, where possible, we have taken all necessary steps to qualify for any applicable statutory defenses and limits of liability available under environmental regulations. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with currently applicable environmental laws and regulations.
OPA 90 and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto amend and augment the oil spill provisions of the Clean Water Act and impose a variety of duties and liabilities on “responsible parties” related to the prevention and/or reporting of oil spills and damages resulting from such spills in or threatening U.S. Waters, including the Outer Continental Shelf or adjoining shorelines. A “responsible party” includes the owner or operator of an onshore facility, pipeline or vessel or the lessee or permittee of the area in which an offshore facility is located. OPA 90 assigns liability to each responsible party for containment and oil removal costs, as well as a variety of public and private damages including the costs of responding to a release of oil, natural resource damages, damages for injury to, or economic losses resulting from, destruction of real or personal property of persons who own or lease such affected property. For any vessels, other than “tank vessels,” that are subject to OPA 90, the liability limits are the greater of $1,100 per gross ton or $939,800. A party cannot take advantage of liability limits if the spill was caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct or resulted from violation of a federal safety, construction or operating regulation. In addition, for an Outer Continental Shelf facility or a vessel carrying crude oil from a well situated on the Outer Continental Shelf, the limits apply only to liability for damages (e.g. natural resources, real or personal property, subsistence use, reserves, profits and earnings capacity, and public services damages). The owner or operator of such facility or vessel is liable for all removal costs resulting from a discharge or substantial threat of discharge without limits. If the party fails to report a spill or to cooperate fully in the cleanup, the liability limits likewise do not apply and certain defenses may not be available. Moreover, OPA 90 imposes on responsible parties the need for proof of financial responsibility to cover at least some costs in a potential spill. As required, we have provided satisfactory evidence of financial responsibility to the USCG for all of our vessels over 300 tons. OPA 90 does not preempt state law, and states may impose liability on responsible parties and requirements for removal beyond what is provided in OPA 90.
OPA 90 also imposes ongoing requirements on a responsible party, including preparedness and prevention of oil spills and preparation of an oil spill response plan. We have engaged the Marine Spill Response Corporation to serve as our Oil Spill Removal Organization for purposes of providing oil spill removal resources and services for our operations in U.S. waters as required by the USCG. In addition, our Tank Vessel Response Plan and Non-Tank Vessel Response Plan have been approved by the USCG.
The Clean Water Act imposes strict controls on the discharge of pollutants into the navigable waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act also provides for civil, criminal and administrative penalties for any unauthorized discharge of oil or other hazardous substances in reportable quantities and imposes liability for the costs of removal and remediation of an unauthorized discharge, including the costs of restoring damaged natural resources. Many states have laws that are analogous to the Clean Water Act and also require remediation of accidental releases of petroleum or other pollutants in reportable quantities. Our OSVs routinely transport diesel fuel to offshore rigs and platforms and also carry diesel fuel for their own use. Our OSVs also transport bulk chemical materials and liquid mud used in drilling activities, which contain oil and oil by-products. We maintain vessel response plans as required by the Clean Water Act to address potential oil and fuel spills.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, also known as “CERCLA” or “Superfund,” and similar laws impose liability for releases of hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants into the environment. CERCLA currently exempts crude oil from the definition of hazardous substances for purposes of the statute, but our operations may involve the use or handling of other materials that may be classified as hazardous substances, pollutants and contaminants. CERCLA assigns strict, joint and several liability to each responsible party for response costs, as well as natural resource damages. Under CERCLA, responsible parties include not only owners and operators of vessels but also any person who arranged for the disposal or treatment, or arranged with a transporter for transport for disposal or treatment of hazardous substances, and any person who accepted hazardous substances for transport to and selected the disposal or treatment facilities. Thus, we could be held liable for releases of hazardous substances that resulted from operations by third parties not under our control or for releases associated with practices performed by us or others that were standard in the industry at the time and in compliance with existing laws and regulations.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulates the generation, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of onshore hazardous and non-hazardous wastes and requires states to develop programs to ensure the safe treatment, storage and disposal of wastes. States having jurisdiction over our operations also have their own laws governing the generation and management of solid and hazardous waste. We generate non-hazardous wastes and small quantities of hazardous wastes in connection with routine operations. We believe that all of the wastes that we generate are handled in all material respects in compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and analogous state statutes.
The USCG's final Ballast Rule became effective on June 21, 2012, and the EPA renewed the Vessel General Permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System effective on December 19, 2013. In addition, the International Maritime Organization's, or IMO, International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments otherwise known as the Ballast Water Management Convention, or BWMC, became effective on September 8, 2017. The BWMC has similar standards to that of the USCG and EPA ballast water regulations. These regulations require all our existing vessels to meet certain standards pertaining to ballast water discharges. An exemption to certain compliance requirements in the U.S. is provided for vessels that operate within an isolated geographic region, as determined by the USCG and EPA, respectively. Most of our vessels operating in the GoM are exempt from the ballast water treatment requirements. However, for non-exempt vessels, ballast water treatment equipment may be required to be utilized on the vessel. The USCG has several approved ballast water treatment systems and, as a result, we will have to become compliant with ballast water treatment requirements that previously were waived in the U.S. Internationally, compliance with IMO’s BWMC is not expected to impact us until third quarter 2019 and thereafter, as implementation of these rules is based on the renewal of a vessel’s International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate after September 8, 2017. We have currently estimated the cost of compliance with either the USCG's Ballast Rule or the BWMC to be approximately $325,000 per vessel that is required to be fitted with a treatment system.
The Clean Air Act, or CAA, passed by Congress in 1970 regulates all air pollutants resulting from industrial activities. The 1990 amendments to the CAA established jurisdiction of offshore regions. Proposed and existing facilities and vessels must prepare, as part of their development plans and reporting procedures, detailed emissions data to prove compliance with the CAA and obtain necessary permits. We believe that all of our facilities and vessels have obtained the necessary permits and are operating in all material respects in compliance with the CAA. The EPA also imposed emissions regulations affecting vessels that operate in the United States. The EPA’s decision to regulate “greenhouse gases” as a pollutant may result in further regulations and compliance costs.
Climate Change
Greenhouse gas emissions have increasingly become the subject of international, national, regional, state and local attention. The EPA has adopted regulations under the CAA that require new and existing industrial facilities to obtain permits for carbon dioxide equivalent emissions above emission thresholds. In addition, the EPA adopted rules that mandate reporting of greenhouse gas data and other information by i) industrial sources, ii) suppliers of certain products, and iii) facilities that inject carbon dioxide underground. To the extent that these regulations may apply, we could be responsible for costs associated with complying with such regulations. Cap and trade initiatives to limit greenhouse gas emissions have been introduced in the European Union. Future treaty obligations, statutory or regulatory changes or new climate change legislation in the jurisdictions in which we operate.
Restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions or other related legislative or regulatory enactments could have an effect in those industries that use significant amounts of petroleum products, which could potentially result in a reduction in demand for petroleum products and, consequently and indirectly, our offshore transportation and support services. We are currently unable to predict the manner or extent of any such effect. Furthermore, one of the asserted long-term physical effects of climate change may be an increase in the severity and frequency of adverse weather conditions, such as hurricanes, which may increase our insurance costs or risk retention, limit insurance availability or reduce the areas in which, or the number of days during which, our customers would contract for our vessels in general and in the GoM in particular. We are currently unable to predict the manner or extent of any such effect.
EMPLOYEES
On
December 31, 2018
, we had 1,009 employees, including 817 operating personnel and 192 corporate, administrative and management personnel. Excluded from these personnel totals are 120 third-country nationals that we contracted to serve on our vessels as of
December 31, 2018
. These non-U.S. mariners are typically provided by international crewing agencies. With the exception of 182 employees located in Brazil and Mexico, none of our employees are represented by a union or employed pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or similar arrangement.
We have not experienced any strikes or work stoppages, and our management believes that we continue to experience good relations with our employees.
GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
The table below presents revenues by geographic region for the past three fiscal years (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
2018
|
% of total
|
|
2017
|
% of total
|
|
2016
|
% of total
|
United States
|
$
|
173,211
|
|
81.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
153,060
|
|
80.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
185,475
|
|
82.7
|
%
|
International
|
39,193
|
|
18.5
|
%
|
|
38,352
|
|
20.0
|
%
|
|
38,824
|
|
17.3
|
%
|
|
$
|
212,404
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
191,412
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
224,299
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
The table below presents net book value of property, plant and equipment by geographic region for the past three fiscal years (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
2018
|
% of total
|
|
2017
|
% of total
|
|
2016
|
% of total
|
United States
|
$
|
2,181,878
|
|
89.6
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,218,773
|
|
88.7
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,250,384
|
|
87.3
|
%
|
International
|
252,950
|
|
10.4
|
%
|
|
282,240
|
|
11.3
|
%
|
|
328,004
|
|
12.7
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,434,828
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,501,013
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
2,578,388
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
Foreign Operations
Operating in foreign markets presents many political, social and economic challenges. Although we take measures to mitigate these risks, they cannot be completely eliminated. See "Item—1A Risk Factors" for a further discussion of the risks of operating in foreign markets.
SEASONALITY
Demand for our offshore support services is directly affected by the levels of offshore drilling and production activity. Budgets of many of our customers are based upon a calendar year, and demand for our services has historically been stronger in the second and third calendar quarters when allocated budgets are expended by our customers and weather conditions are more favorable for offshore activities. Many other factors, such as the expiration of drilling leases and the supply of and demand for oil and natural gas, may affect this general trend in any particular year. In addition, we typically have an increase in demand for our vessels to survey and repair offshore infrastructure immediately following major hurricanes or other named storms in the GoM.
WEBSITE AND OTHER ACCESS TO COMPANY REPORTS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Our website address is
http://www.hornbeckoffshore.com
. We make available on this website, free of charge, access to our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements and amendments to those reports, as well as other documents that we file with, or furnish to, the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are filed with, or furnished to, the Commission. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included on our website under the heading “Investors—IR Home.” Accordingly, investors should monitor such portion of our website, in addition to following our press releases, Commission filings and public conference calls and webcasts. Periodically, we also update our investor presentations which can be viewed on our website. You may read and copy any materials we file with the Commission at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You can obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-732-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission at
http://www.sec.gov
. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Conduct, titled "Navigating with Integrity," (which applies to all employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and certain Financial and Accounting Officers), Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Members of the Board of Directors, and the charters for our Audit, Nominating/Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees, can all be found on the Investor Relations page of our website under “Corporate Governance”. We intend to disclose any changes to or waivers
from the Code of Conduct that would otherwise be required to be disclosed under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K on our website. We will also provide printed copies of these materials to any stockholder upon request to Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., Attn: General Counsel, 103 Northpark Boulevard, Suite 300, Covington, Louisiana 70433. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filings we make with the Commission.
ITEM 1A—Risk Factors
Our results of operations and financial condition can be adversely affected by numerous risks. You should carefully consider the risks described below as well as the other information we have provided in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. You should also consider the factors contained in our “Forward Looking Statements” disclaimer found on page ii of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.
We may not have the funds available or be able to obtain the funds necessary to meet the obligations relating to our 2020 senior notes or our 2021 senior notes.
As of December 31, 2018, our 2020 senior notes and our 2021 senior notes, which collectively have a face value of $816.9
million outstanding, mature in April 2020 and March 2021, respectively. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain change of control events, as defined in the indentures governing the 2020 senior notes and the 2021 senior notes, holders of such notes would have the right to require us to repurchase such notes at
101%
of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. Absent the combination of a significant recovery of market conditions such that cash flows from operations were to increase materially from projected levels coupled with a refinancing and/or further management of our funded debt obligations, we do not currently expect to have sufficient liquidity to repay the full amount of the 2020 senior notes and the 2021 senior notes as they mature in fiscal 2020 and 2021, respectively. There can be no assurance that cash flows from operations will increase materially or that we will succeed in accessing new capital or, if successful, that the capital we raise will not be expensive or dilutive to stockholders. Failure to meet our obligations related to any tranche of our senior notes may result in the acceleration of our other indebtedness and result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The permissibility of our recently completed second-lien exchange has been challenged by certain holders of our 2020 senior notes and 2021 senior notes.
In February 2019, we conducted an exchange of a portion of our 2020 senior notes for second-lien term loans that mature in February 2025. Certain non-participating holders of our 2020 senior notes and holders of 2021 senior notes raised issues regarding the permissibility of the exchange transaction under the indentures governing their notes. Based upon the advice of counsel, we believe that the exchange was permissible and that we would prevail in a legal challenge to its permissibility should one arise. If the Company’s interpretation is deemed to be incorrect in a legal proceeding and an Event of Default is declared, then obligations under the 2020 senior notes and 2021 senior notes could become due prior to their stated maturities. In such an event, the Company would not be able to satisfy the accelerated amounts at such earlier time and would likely have to seek bankruptcy protection.
Unstacking of vessels could detrimentally impact the market for OSVs.
As of February 13, 2019, we estimate that approximately 80 U.S.-flagged OSVs are cold-stacked. To the extent that such vessels are unstacked by vessel operators, in response to improved, or perceived improvement in market conditions, more rapidly than the market can absorb such additional vessels, the market for OSVs could become oversupplied, adversely affecting the sustainability of a demand-driven market recovery for our services.
As a result of the declines in oil prices that began in late 2014, our customers have reduced and may further reduce spending on exploration and production projects, resulting in a decrease in demand for our services.
Oil and natural gas prices, and market expectations of potential changes in these prices, significantly impact the level of worldwide drilling and production services activities. Reduced demand for oil and natural gas or periods of surplus oil and natural gas generally result in lower prices for these commodities and often impact the economics of planned drilling projects and ongoing production projects, resulting in the curtailment, reduction, delay or postponement of such projects for an indeterminate period of time. When drilling and production activity and related spending declines, both vessel dayrates and utilization for our vessels historically decline as well. This has been the case, beginning in October 2014 and continuing into 2019.
Oil prices worldwide dropped significantly commencing in 2014. While prices have partially recovered, we cannot predict whether current prices are sustainable. Further we do not know whether current prices will result in increased offshore and/or deepwater capital spending by our customers.
A continuation of the prolonged reduction in the overall level of exploration and development activities, whether resulting from changes in oil and gas prices or otherwise, could materially and adversely affect us by negatively impacting:
•
our revenues, cash flows and profitability;
•
the fair market value of our vessels;
•
our ability to maintain or increase our borrowing capacity;
|
|
•
|
our ability to obtain capital to re-finance our existing debt or expand our business through acquisitions, or otherwise;
|
•
the collectability of our receivables; and
|
|
•
|
our ability to retain or rehire skilled personnel whom we would need in the event of an upturn in the demand for our services.
|
If any of the foregoing were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Increases in the supply of vessels could decrease dayrates.
In addition to our fifth OSV newbuild program, which is nearing completion, certain of our competitors previously announced plans to construct new vessels to be deployed in domestic and foreign locations, thus adding to the available vessel capacity. A remobilization to the GoM oilfield of U.S.-flagged vessels currently operating in other regions or in non-oilfield applications would result in an increase in vessel capacity in the GoM, one of our core markets. Similarly, vessel capacity in foreign markets, including our core markets of Mexico and Brazil, may also be impacted by U.S.-flagged or other vessels migrating to such foreign locations. Further, a repeal, suspension or significant modification of the Jones Act, or the administrative erosion of its benefits, permitting vessels that are either foreign-flagged, foreign-built, foreign-owned, foreign-controlled or foreign-operated to engage in the U.S. coastwise trade, would also result in an increase in capacity. Any increase in the supply of OSVs or MPSVs, whether through new construction, refurbishment or conversion of vessels from other uses, remobilization or changes in law or its application, could not only increase competition for charters and lower utilization and dayrates, which would adversely affect our revenues and profitability, but could also worsen the impact of the current or any future downturn in the oil and gas industry on our results of operations and financial condition. Because some services provided by MPSVs are not protected by the Jones Act, foreign competitors have and in the future may bring additional MPSVs to the GoM or build additional MPSVs that we will compete with domestically or internationally for such services.
The level of offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity has historically been volatile and is likely to continue to be so in the future. The level of activity is subject to large fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in a variety of factors that are beyond our control.
Changes in, among others, the following factors can negatively impact our performance:
|
|
•
|
worldwide demand for oil and natural gas;
|
|
|
•
|
prevailing oil and natural gas prices and expectations about future prices and price volatility;
|
|
|
•
|
changes in capital spending budgets by our customers;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability of oil and gas companies to generate or otherwise obtain funds for exploration and production;
|
|
|
•
|
local and international political and economic conditions and policies;
|
|
|
•
|
unavailability of drilling rigs in our core markets of the GoM, Mexico and Brazil;
|
|
|
•
|
the cost of offshore exploration for, and production and transportation of, oil and natural gas;
|
|
|
•
|
successful exploration for, and production and transportation of, oil and natural gas from onshore sources;
|
|
|
•
|
consolidation of oil and gas and oil service companies operating offshore;
|
|
|
•
|
availability and rate of discovery of new oil and natural gas reserves in offshore areas;
|
|
|
•
|
technological advances affecting energy production and consumption;
|
|
|
•
|
the ability or willingness of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to set and maintain production levels for oil;
|
|
|
•
|
oil and natural gas production levels by non-OPEC countries;
|
|
|
•
|
weather conditions; and
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|
•
|
environmental and other regulations affecting our customers and their other service providers.
|
Commencing in late 2014, we observed a significant decline in oil prices, which caused oil companies to announce and implement significant reductions in their capital spending programs, that is the source of much of our business activity. A prolonged period of reduced oil prices is having and could continue to have a significant adverse and long-term impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The early termination of contracts on our vessels could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Some of the long-term contracts for our vessels and all contracts with governmental entities and national oil companies contain early termination options in favor of the customer; however, some have early termination remedies or other provisions designed to discourage the customers from exercising such options. We cannot assure that our customers would not choose to exercise their termination rights in spite of such remedies or the threat of litigation with us. Until replacement of such business with other customers, any termination could temporarily disrupt our business or otherwise adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We might not be able to replace such business on economically equivalent terms. In addition, during the current and prior downturns, we have experienced customers requesting contractual concessions even though contrary to existing contractual terms. While not legally required to give concessions, commercial considerations may dictate that we do so, given the relatively few deepwater customers operating in the GoM.
Intense competition in our industry could reduce our profitability and market share.
Contracts for our vessels are generally awarded on an intensely competitive basis. Some of our competitors are willing to accept lower dayrates in order to maintain utilization, which can have a negative impact on our dayrates and utilization. As a result, we could lose customers and market share to these competitors. Similarly, competition in various markets may also be impacted by U.S.-flagged vessels migrating in and out of foreign locations due to the pace of drilling activity in the GoM.
We may not be able to complete the construction of our remaining newbuild program or may experience delays or cost overruns related to that program.
We are currently constructing the last two MPSVs under our pending newbuild program. These vessels are large and complex. We are required to make remaining milestone payments totaling approximately
$61 million
, the majority of which payments we expect to be incurred during 2019 and
2020
. While we have sufficient cash on hand today to meet these obligations, unforeseen events could result in our inability to fund these obligations when they come due, which could have an adverse impact on our business plans, financial condition and results from operations. Additionally, litigation with the shipyard with which we had contracted to build such vessels has delayed construction and unforeseen events could result in significant cost overruns for which, under certain circumstances, we might be responsible.
The failure to successfully complete repairs, maintenance and routine drydockings on-schedule and on-budget could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We routinely engage shipyards to drydock our vessels for regulatory compliance and to provide repair and maintenance. These activities are subject to the risks of delay and cost overruns inherent in any large construction project, including shortages of equipment, lack of shipyard availability, unforeseen engineering problems, work stoppages, weather interference, unanticipated cost increases, including costs of steel, inability to obtain necessary certifications and approvals and shortages of materials or skilled labor. Significant delays could result in adverse effects to our anticipated contract commitments or revenues. Significant cost overruns could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We have grown, and may continue to grow, through acquisitions that give rise to risks and challenges that could adversely affect our future financial results.
We regularly consider possible acquisitions of single vessels, vessel fleets and businesses that complement our existing operations to enable us to grow our business. Acquisitions can involve a number of special risks and challenges, including:
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diversion of management time and attention from our existing business and other business opportunities;
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delays in closing or the inability to close an acquisition for any reason, including third party consents or approvals;
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any unanticipated negative impact on us of disclosed or undisclosed matters relating to any vessels or operations acquired;
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loss or termination of employees, including costs associated with the termination or replacement of those employees;
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assumption of debt or other liabilities of the acquired business, including litigation related to the acquired business;
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the incurrence of additional acquisition-related debt as well as increased expenses and working capital requirements;
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dilution of stock ownership of existing stockholders;
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increased costs and efforts in connection with compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and
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substantial accounting charges for restructuring and related expenses, impairment of goodwill, amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation expense.
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Even if we consummate an acquisition, the process of integrating acquired operations into our own may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and costs and may require significant management attention and financial resources. In addition, integrating acquired businesses may impact the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. In the currently depressed market for OSVs, we might not be able to place vessels we acquire into immediate service, which will result in our paying for the cost to stack these vessels and eventually the cost to reactivate them, which could be a significant barrier to their utilization if we do not have sufficient liquidity to justify such expenses. Any of the foregoing, and other factors, could harm our ability to achieve anticipated levels of utilization and profitability from acquired vessels or businesses or to realize other anticipated benefits of acquisitions.
We can give no assurance that we will be able to identify desirable acquisition candidates or that we will be successful in entering into definitive agreements or closing such acquisitions on satisfactory terms. An inability to acquire additional vessels or businesses may limit our growth potential.
Our contracts with the United States Government could be impacted by budget cuts or government "shut-downs".
Our government contracts depend upon annual funding commitments authorized by Congress. In a period of government budget cuts or other political events, such as a prolonged government shut-down, our contracts might not be re-authorized or might be temporarily suspended, resulting in a material decline in our anticipated revenues.
We are subject to complex laws and regulations, including environmental regulations that can adversely affect the cost, manner or feasibility of doing business.
Increasingly stringent federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing worker health and safety and the manning, construction and operation of vessels significantly affect our operations. Many aspects of the marine industry are subject to extensive governmental regulation by the USCG, the National Transportation Safety Board, the EPA and the United States Customs Service, and their foreign equivalents, and to regulation by private industry organizations such as the American Bureau of Shipping. The USCG and the National Transportation Safety Board set safety standards and are authorized to investigate vessel accidents and recommend improved safety standards, while the USCG and Customs Service are authorized to inspect vessels at will. Our operations are also subject to international
conventions, federal, state, local and international laws and regulations that control the discharge of pollutants into the environment or otherwise relate to environmental protection. Compliance with such laws, regulations and standards may require installation of costly equipment, increased manning, specific training, and/or operational changes. While we endeavor to comply with all applicable laws, circumstances might exist where we might not come into complete compliance with applicable laws and regulations, which could result in administrative and civil penalties, criminal sanctions, imposition of remedial obligations or the suspension or termination of our operations. Some environmental laws impose strict, joint and several liability for remediation of spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances, which could subject us to liability without regard to whether we were negligent or at fault. These laws and regulations may expose us to liability for the conduct of, or conditions caused by, others, including charterers. Moreover, these laws and regulations could change in ways that substantially increase costs that we may not be able to pass along to our customers. Any changes in applicable conventions or laws, regulations or standards that would impose additional requirements or restrictions on our or our oil and gas exploration and production customers’ operations could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. It is possible that laws and regulations may become even more stringent, which could also adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We are also subject to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which provides that, upon proclamation by the President of a national emergency or a threat to the security of the national defense, the Secretary of Transportation may requisition or purchase any vessel or other watercraft owned by United States citizens (which includes United States corporations), including vessels under construction in the United States. If one of our OSVs or MPSVs were purchased or requisitioned by the federal government under this law, we would be entitled to be paid the fair market value of the vessel in the case of a purchase or, in the case of a requisition, the fair market value of charter hire. We would also not be entitled to be compensated for any consequential damages we suffer as a result of the requisition or purchase of any of our OSVs or MPSVs. The purchase or the requisition for an extended period of time of one or more of our vessels could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Finally, we are subject to the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly referred to as the Jones Act, which requires that vessels engaged in coastwise trade to carry cargo between U.S. ports be documented under the laws of the United States and be controlled by U.S. citizens. A corporation is not considered a U.S. citizen unless, among other things, at least 75% of the ownership of voting interests with respect to its equity securities are held by U.S. citizens. We endeavor to ensure that we would be determined to be a U.S. citizen as defined under these laws by including in our certificate of incorporation certain restrictions on the ownership of our capital stock by non-U.S. citizens and establishing certain monitoring protocols and other mechanisms to maintain compliance with these laws. If we are determined at any time not to be in compliance with these citizenship requirements, our vessels might become ineligible to engage in the coastwise trade in U.S. domestic waters, and our business and operating results would be materially adversely affected.
The Jones Act’s provisions restricting coastwise trade to vessels controlled by U.S. citizens have been circumvented in recent years by foreign interests that seek to engage in trade reserved for vessels controlled by U.S. citizens and otherwise qualifying for coastwise trade. Legal challenges against such actions are difficult, costly to pursue and are of uncertain outcome. In addition, the Jones Act is often criticized and there are efforts underway by affected interest groups to seek its repeal. To the extent such efforts are successful and foreign competition is permitted, such competition could have a material adverse effect on domestic companies in the offshore service vessel industry and on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in the interest of national defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized to suspend the coastwise trading restrictions imposed by the Jones Act on vessels not controlled by U.S. citizens. Such waivers are granted from time-to-time.
Our business involves many operating risks that may disrupt our business or otherwise result in substantial losses, and insurance may be unavailable or inadequate to protect us against these risks.
Our vessels are subject to operating risks such as:
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catastrophic marine disaster;
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adverse weather and sea conditions;
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collisions or allisions;
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oil and hazardous substance spills;
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The occurrence of any of these events may result in damage to or loss of our vessels or other property, injury or death of people or contamination of the environment. If any of these events were to occur, we could be exposed to liability for resulting damages and possible penalties that, pursuant to typical marine indemnity policies, we must pay and then seek reimbursement from our insurer. Affected vessels may also be removed from service and thus be unavailable for income-generating activity. While we believe our insurance coverage is adequate and insures us against risks that are customary in the industry, we may be unable to renew such coverage in the future at commercially reasonable rates. Moreover, existing or future coverage may not be sufficient to cover claims that may arise and we do not maintain insurance for loss of income resulting from a marine casualty.
Our operations in international markets and shipyard activities in foreign shipyards subjects us to risks inherent in conducting business internationally.
We derive a portion of our revenues from foreign sources. In addition, certain of our shipyard repair and procurement activities are being conducted with foreign vendors. We therefore face risks inherent in conducting business internationally, such as legal and governmental regulatory requirements, potential vessel detentions, seizures or nationalization of assets, import-export quotas or other trade barriers, difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and longer collection periods, political and economic instability, kidnapping of or assault on personnel, piracy, adverse tax consequences, difficulties and costs of staffing international operations and language and cultural differences. We do not hedge against foreign currency risk. While we endeavor to contract in U.S. Dollars when operating internationally, some contracts may be denominated in a foreign currency, which would result in a foreign currency exposure risk. All of these risks are beyond our control and difficult to insure against. We cannot predict the nature and the likelihood of any such events. If such an event should occur, however, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may lose the right to operate in some international markets in which we have a presence.
In certain foreign markets in which we operate, most notably Mexico and Brazil, we sometimes depend upon governmental waivers of cabotage laws. These waivers could be revoked or made more burdensome, which could result in our inability to continue our operations or materially increase the costs of operating in such foreign locations. In addition, our foreign customers are often large state-owned oil companies that have monopolies or near monopolies in their home countries. These companies sometimes impose contractual requirements or restrictions that cannot be negotiated away and that can impose significant operating risks upon us. From time to time, we have challenged these contractual actions in foreign markets, which entails significant risks.
Future results of operations depend on the long-term financial stability of our customers.
Some of the contracts we enter into for our vessels are full utilization contracts with initial terms ranging from one to five years. We enter into these long-term contracts with our customers based on a credit assessment at the time of execution. Our financial condition in any period may therefore depend on the long-term stability and creditworthiness of our customers. We can provide no assurance that our customers will fulfill their obligations under our long-term contracts and the insolvency or other failure of a customer to fulfill its obligations under such contracts could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to attract and retain qualified, skilled employees necessary to operate our business.
Our success depends in large part on our ability to attract and retain highly skilled and qualified personnel. Our inability to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified employees could impair our ability to manage, maintain and grow our business.
In crewing our vessels, we require skilled employees who can perform physically demanding work. As a result of the recent volatility of the oil and gas industry, we have significantly reduced our mariner headcount. Additionally, as a result of such volatility, vessel employees and potential employees may choose to pursue employment in fields that offer a more desirable work environment at wage rates that are competitive with ours. Further, unlike the current weak market
conditions, during normal market conditions, we face strong competition within the broader oilfield industry for employees and potential employees, including competition from drilling rig operators for our fleet personnel. We may have difficulty hiring employees or finding suitable replacements as needed and, once normal market conditions return, should a reduced pool of workers arise, it is possible that we would have to raise wage rates or increase our benefits offered to attract workers and to retain our current employees. In such circumstances, should we not be able to increase our service rates to our customers to compensate for wage-rate increases or recruit qualified personnel to operate our vessels at full utilization, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Our employees are covered by federal laws that may subject us to job-related claims in addition to those provided by state laws.
Some of our employees are covered by provisions of the Jones Act, the Death on the High Seas Act and general maritime law. These laws preempt state workers’ compensation laws and permit these employees and their representatives to pursue actions against employers for job-related incidents in federal courts based on tort theories. Because we are not generally protected by the damage limits imposed by state workers’ compensation statutes for these types of claims, we may have greater exposure for any claims made by these employees.
Our success depends on key members of our management, the loss of whom could disrupt our business operations.
We depend to a large extent on the efforts and continued employment of our executive officers and key management personnel. We do not maintain key-man insurance. Given the prolonged down-turn that has affected the offshore oil services sector, coupled with industry management turnover resulting from restructurings and other corporate changes, seasoned managers are in demand. The loss of services of one or more of our executive officers or key management personnel could have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictions contained in the indentures governing our 2020 senior notes, our 2021 senior notes, and in the agreements governing our first-lien term loans and second-lien term loans may limit our ability to obtain additional financing and to pursue other business opportunities.
Covenants contained in the indentures governing our 2020 senior notes and 2021 senior notes and in the agreements governing our first-lien term loans and second-lien term loans require us to meet certain financial tests, which may limit or otherwise restrict:
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our flexibility in operating, planning for, and reacting to changes, in our business;
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our ability to dispose of assets, withstand current or future economic or industry downturns and compete with others in our industry for strategic opportunities; and
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our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, refinancing of existing debt, capital expenditures, including our newbuild programs, acquisitions, general corporate and other purposes.
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We have high levels of fixed costs that will be incurred regardless of our level of business activity.
Our business has high fixed costs. Downtime or low productivity due to reduced demand, as is currently being experienced, from weather interruptions or other causes can have a significant negative effect on our operating results and financial condition. In addition, given our recent vessel stackings, our fixed costs are borne by a substantially smaller active fleet of vessels.
Our revenues and operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors such as volatility in our vessel dayrates, changes in utilization, vessel incidents and other unforeseen matters. Many of these factors that may cause our actual financial results to vary from our publicly disclosed earnings guidance and forecasts are outside of our control.
Our actual financial results might vary from those anticipated by us or by securities analysts and investors, and these variations could be material. From time to time we publicly provide various forms of guidance, which reflect our projections about future market expectations and operating performance. The numerous assumptions underlying such guidance may be impacted by factors that are beyond our control and might not turn out to be accurate. Although we
believe that the assumptions underlying our projections are reasonable when such projections are made, actual results could be materially different, particularly with respect to our MPSVs.
We are susceptible to unexpected increases in operating expenses such as crew wages, materials and supplies, maintenance and repairs, and insurance costs.
Many of our operating costs, such as crew wages, materials and supplies, maintenance and repairs, and insurance costs, are unpredictable and vary based on events beyond our control. Our gross margins will vary based on fluctuations in our operating costs. If our costs increase or we encounter unforeseen costs, we may not be able to recover such costs from our customers, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Stacked vessels may introduce additional operational issues.
In recognition of weak market conditions, we have elected to stack OSVs and MPSVs on various dates since October 1, 2014. We may choose to stack additional vessels should market conditions warrant. In connection with such stackings, we have reduced our mariner headcount significantly. Operationally, we limit the number of persons available to maintain such stacked vessels. Also, we have fewer revenue-producing units in service that can contribute to our results and contribute cash flows to cover our fixed costs and commitments. When stacked vessels return to service, we will incur previously deferred drydocking costs for regulatory recertifications and may incur costs to hire and train mariners to operate such vessels. Delay in reactivating stacked vessels and the costs and other expenses related to the reactivation of stacked vessels could have a material adverse effect on our cash flows and results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by uncertainty in the global financial markets.
Our future results may be impacted by volatility, weakness or deterioration in the debt and equity capital markets. Inflation, deflation, or other adverse economic conditions may negatively affect us or parties with whom we do business resulting in their non-payment or inability to perform obligations owed to us, such as the failure of customers to honor their commitments, the failure of shipyards and major suppliers to complete orders or the failure by lenders to provide expected funding under our loan agreements. Additionally, credit market conditions may slow our collection efforts as customers experience increased difficulty in obtaining requisite financing, potentially leading to lost revenue and higher than normal accounts receivable. This could result in greater expense associated with collection efforts and increased bad debt expense.
Any softening in the global economic recovery may adversely impact our ability to issue additional debt and equity in the future on acceptable terms. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available if needed and to the extent required, on acceptable terms.
We may be unable to collect amounts owed to us by our customers.
We typically grant our customers credit on a short-term basis. Related credit risks are inherent as we do not typically collateralize receivables due from customers. We provide estimates for uncollectible accounts based primarily on our judgment using historical losses, current economic conditions and individual evaluations of each customer as evidence supporting the receivables valuations stated on our financial statements. However, our receivables valuation estimates may not be accurate and receivables due from customers reflected in our financial statements may not be collectible.
Future changes in legislation, policy, restrictions or regulations for drilling in the United States that cause delays or deter new drilling could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
In response to the April 20, 2010,
Deepwater Horizon
incident, the regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over oil and gas exploration, including the DOI, imposed temporary moratoria on drilling operations, by requiring operators to reapply for exploration plans and drilling permits that had previously been approved, and by adopting numerous new regulations and new interpretations of existing regulations regarding offshore operations that are applicable to our customers and with which their new applications for exploration plans and drilling permits must prove compliant. Compliance with these new regulations and new interpretations of existing regulations have materially increased the cost of drilling operations in the GoM. These additional compliance costs could materially adversely impact our business, financial position or results of operations.
The fundamental change purchase feature of our 2019 convertible senior notes and the change of control purchase features of our 2020 senior notes and our 2021 senior notes and provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, stockholder rights plan and Delaware law may delay or prevent an otherwise beneficial takeover attempt of the Company.
The terms of our 2019 convertible senior notes require us to purchase the notes for cash in the event of a fundamental change, as defined in the applicable indenture. Upon a change in control, our 2020 senior notes and our 2021 senior notes require us to repurchase such senior notes at
101%
of aggregate principal. A change in control of the Company would trigger the requirement that we purchase the 2019 convertible senior notes, the 2020 senior notes and the 2021 senior notes. A de-listing of the Company would trigger the requirement that we purchase the 2019 convertible senior notes. Furthermore, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, Delaware corporations law, and our stockholder rights plan contain provisions that could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from attempting to acquire, control of us. These provisions could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a takeover of the Company that would otherwise be beneficial to investors.
Our stock price and the price of our other publicly traded securities have been volatile, declining precipitously from time to time during the period from 2013 through the present, and they could decline again.
The securities markets in general and our common stock and other publicly traded securities
in particular have experienced significant price and volume volatility in recent years. The market price and trading volume of our common stock and other publicly traded securities may continue to experience significant fluctuations due not only to general capital market conditions but also to a change in sentiment in the market regarding our operations or business prospects or those of companies in our industry. In addition to the other risk factors discussed above, the price and volume volatility of our common stock and other publicly traded securities may be affected by:
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factors influencing the levels of global oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation activities, such as the current depressed prices for oil or natural gas;
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the ability or willingness of OPEC to set and maintain production levels for oil;
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oil and gas production levels by non-OPEC countries;
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operating results that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;
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disasters such as the
Deepwater Horizon
incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010;
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the operating and securities price performance of companies that investors or analysts consider comparable to us;
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actions by rating agencies related to our 2019 convertible senior notes, our 2020 senior notes, or our 2021 senior notes;
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announcements of strategic developments, acquisitions and other material events by us or by our competitors;
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our ability to refinance or otherwise satisfy amounts due under our various debt instruments; and
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changes in global financial markets and global economies and general market conditions, such as interest rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets.
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