Hos Innovator News

Sonsub announced that, as of February 10, Sonsub’s HOS Innovator and Innovator 09 ROV Crews have accumulated an impressive 250,000 man-hours and over 1,000 days without a lost time incident (LTI). This exceptional accomplishment is the direct result of the dedication, pride, and work ethics the personnel onboard the HOS Innovator have shown time and again. Sonsub wishes to recognize the great cooperation and attitude of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Delta Catering, and the leadership of Sonsub’s Superintendents Rickie Stier and Conrad Picou.

Sonsub announced that, as of February 10th, its HOS Innovator and Innovator 09 ROV Crews have accumulated an impressive 250,000 man-hours and over 1,000 days without a lost time incident (LTI). This exceptional accomplishment is the direct result of the dedication, pride, and work ethics the personnel onboard the HOS Innovator have shown time and again. Sonsub wishes to recognize the great cooperation and attitude of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Delta Catering, and the leadership of Sonsub’s Superintendents Rickie Stier and Conrad Picou.

Hornbeck-Leevac Marine Services, Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has approved a new vessel construction program for its wholly-owned subsidiary, Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC. This is the company's third such program since its inception five years ago - the first two were seven and six vessel programs, respectively. The current plan is to build eight additional state-of-the-art, deepwater OSVs, with construction of four 240-ft. DP-2 Class vessels to commence as soon as a definitive agreement has been signed with the selected shipyard. The company has signed a letter of intent for the first four vessels with one of the shipyards currently constructing vessels for Hornbeck and, therefore, anticipates prompt contract execution.

Sonsub’s versatile 240 ft., Class II DP vessel, the HOS INNOVATOR, has completed a its first year of operations in the Gulf of Mexico. During this time the HOS INNOVATOR had no LTI’S (Lost Time Incidents) and held 321 safety/toolbox meetings. These accomplishments are the result of dedicated personnel, technically superior equipment and the help from our established, long-term partners. The vessel, permanently outfitted with a 200 Hp INNOVATORâ ROV and a 36 ton, 75 ft. box boom crane, has assisted with some of the largest projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The HOS INNOVATOR spread has thus far performed tasks including pre-lay pipeline route inspections, pipeline crossing mat installations, pig pushing operations and wellhead change-outs.

Todd Hornbeck, who has quickly yet judiciously built a sizeable marine company at Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. in just five years, shares with MarineNews the secrets of his success. Upon meeting with Todd Hornbeck, President and CEO of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. at the literal epicenter of big oil dollars - the recent Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston - one is continuously struck with the contrasts of the man and mission. "Cutting edge, but very conservative and practical in our approach to business" is his description of the company. The son of a successful entrepreneur who survived the devastating oil downturn of the early to mid 1980s…

In order to continue to serve ongoing client projects in the Gulf of Mexico, Sonsub extended its long term vessel charter with Hornbeck Offshore Services, LLC for the HOS Innovator DP II Vessel for the 2005 season. HOS Innovator -- having worked for Sonsub for almost four years -- equipped with a heavy duty workclass Innovator ROV, has been utilized on several significant projects in the Gulf with works including mattress installation, touchdown monitoring, pre and post lay survey, pod change outs and a variety of other construction related activities.

Saipem America has been awarded the pre-crossing mattresses installation of the 20 in. Shenzi Oil Export Pipeline Project by Enterprise Field Services, LLC. The Shenzi Field development is located in 4,400 ft. of water, approximately 120 nautical miles offshore, in the Gulf of Mexico. Scope of work includes the installation of over 250 concrete mattresses for the pre -lay phase of Enterprises’s new 83 mile export pipeline in a water depths ranging from 435 to 4,325 ft. deep. Saipem America will be utilizing the HOS Innovator and the InnovatorÒ ROV to perform the transportation and installation of the Company provided concrete mattresses in multiple mobilizations. The project is expected start in early September with a completion deadline by November 1, 2007.

Sonsub’s HOS Innovator vessel crew recently completed 200,000 man-hours with no Lost Time Incidents (LTIs). Since it began working for Sonsub in 2001, the vessel has been involved with jumper installation, flying lead installation, mattress installation, touchdown monitoring, pre and post lay survey and a variety of other construction related activities. Additionally, Sonsub has also recently extended its contract for the vessel for another year.

Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. of Mandeville La. delivered its first Classed DP II PSV, HOS Innovator, for service. Leevac Industries of Jennings, La. constructed the vessel to Hornbeck's design. Upon delivery, the vessel began a three-year charter with Sonsub Inc. of Houston, Texas as a multi functional ROV Support Vessel. Measuring 240 x 54 x 18 ft. (73.1 x 16.4 x 5.4 m), this vessel is the first of six DP II classed vessels to be delivered to Hornbeck Offshore during the next eight months. The latest of the HOS "New Breed" has been uniquely engineered to offer numerous advantages over existing tonnage in the U.S flag fleet. The unique hull form assists in making the Innovator a very DP capable and fuel-efficient vessel.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico region is again poised to prosper, spurred by the buzz of activity surrounding the oil patch, and specifically the renewed vigor with which companies will explore and develop deepwater fields for the production of natural resources. Though the resumption of business at "full throttle" has taken perhaps a bit longer than many observers would have initially predicted, particularly given the continued high price of oil and gas and the "pro" oil industry political team occupying the White House, it is a safe bet that, at least for the next several years, the offshore oil business will ensure that the marine business in the GOM region is a prosperous one.

Sonsub is pleased to announce they have been awarded a 1-year preferred provider agreement with Global Industries to provide forROV and ROV//DSV services to support Global’s projects in the Gulf of Mexico. Sonsub’s first project under the agreement will be to provide touchdown monitoring and ROV intervention support with the HOS Innovator vessel and Triton 27 ROV system. Triton 27 will be mobilized onboard the “Hercules” lay-barge to monitor the pipe from the pipe at the stinger output, while the INNOVATOR®9 ROV system onboard the HOS Innovator, will perform touchdown monitoring and other required ROV intervention tasks.

Although this has been considered an off year in the Gulf of Mexico from rig count and fleet utilization standpoints, it is another record year for major offshore operators expanding their fleets and the shipyards that are building these vessels. Last year, over 50 supply boats were delivered and about an equal number of crew/supply vessels made their way into the fleets of operators. This year looks equally robust as vessels are being ordered in quantities of four, six and even 10. This begs the question as to why offshore vessel operators are order record number of vessels if the business is sluggish? The answer is two fold: Deep water and deep gas. Drilling activity is bound to increase based on these two factors industry leaders believe.