Ready for the next offshore oil and gas boom

Although the pundits are

divided about when the oil

price will improve and oil rigs

and their support boats will

return to the coast of Namibia

for mobilisation, one thing is

certain – some will return to

use Walvis Bay as a start-up

base when the time comes.

Offshore reports indicate that

oil companies and concession

holders are preparing to

recommence seismic surveys on

Namibian blocks.

“We’re ready for the next

offshore business boom,” says

Katja Glöditzsch of KLD Ships

Agency.

She co-founded the fiveyear-

old company in May 2011,

just ahead of the first wave of

interest in gas and oil deposits

off Walvis Bay.

Since then the company has

provided agency services to

some of the biggest rigs and

support vessels that have made

use of the port’s facilities and

landside services.

Even though there are a

number of drilling rigs lying

idle in the bay, KLD is “keeping

busy” with crew changes and

other support for the vessels

that are operational, and are

being refurbished.

KLD is taking the

opportunity to do a little

“refurbishing of its own”.

“We have made the first five

years through a combination of

good fortune and having loyal

customers,” she says.

With the work load having

eased a little the company is

taking the opportunity to review

and fine-tune its systems.

“It is also a good opportunity

to diversify and to look at other

products and services.

“We realise that we can’t

change the direction of the

wind. What we have to do is to

adjust the sails.