Wilhelmsen opens Houston office
Wilhelmsen Technical Solutions (WTS), provider of cost efficient, fully engineered solutions, equipment and services for newbuildings and retrofits in the maritime and offshore industries, has established a new office in Houston, Texas in response to increased client demand for its newbuilding and aftermarket products and services, company reports.
WTS is targeting increased business from the local offshore industry in the Gulf of Mexico in addition to expanding its focus on Brazil, where deepwater offshore production is entering a new and dynamic phase.
Philip Bannerman, Vice President of WTS Americas Region, says the company is well placed to provide the required mix of skills and competence in demand.
“Both US and Brazilian offshore & energy markets are booming and we wanted to be closer to where our customers are. As offshore activity grows, the challenge for operators is sourcing a reliable partner with a global reach, qualified personnel and the depth of service offer to support their business.”
To provide clients with a portfolio of services from a single location, the Houston office will draw on sector expertise from across the WTS network, including aftermarket and newbuilding HVAC-R systems and electrical/automation systems.
Typical projects will be pre-engineering on newbuilds as well as modifications, midlife upgrades and key maintenance projects between and during dry docks.
Stephen McAfee, WTS Sales Manager for Offshore & Energy, said: “We already have a core of offshore clients in the Gulf of Mexico but winning new business here means being local because these contracts are often very time-sensitive. We are developing a strong engineering and project management base in Houston, supported by existing functions from our Fort Lauderdale office, including our large stock of European spares.”
Through its Houston office, WTS can also start to address the shortage of skilled personnel among specialist offshore contractors, by directly employing personnel in the US and drawing on its offices worldwide to provide specialised knowledge.
Philip Bannerman added that as regulatory and environmental requirements become tougher and the procurement process more transparent, the advantage falls to WTS.