PLATFORM HOPPING

TBY talks to Brian Garrad, Acting Director of Caspian Marine Services (CMS), on innovations, partnerships, and challenges to running an offshore company in the Caspian region.

BIOGRAPHY

After starting his career working on different marine vessels for various shipping companies, from 2005-2010 Brian Garrad worked as HSSEQ Manager and HR Manager at P&O Maritime Services (Europe and Middle East). From 2010-2013, he worked as a Principal Marine Surveyor and Marine Consultant at Global Maritime Consultancy. From 2013 to 2015 he worked as COO at Caspian Marine Services. He was appointed Director of Caspian Marine Services in November 2015.

CMS struck a $34 million deal with Austal to build a 70m fast crew boat. What are some of the added benefits this acquisition will add to your fleet?

In 2015, we receivedthe delivery of the first fast crew boat, capable of carrying up to 150 passengers offshore, which, at the time, was unique in the world. It is the first vessel of its type to be fitted with DP2 and the Ampelmann (walk to work system), which is a gangway mounted on the back deck of the ship that allows the vessel to connect to an offshore platform. It is like an inverse flight simulator, where the module stays still and the vessel moves about underneath it. That vessel was delivered in early 2015 and then, in June 2015, we also signed a contract with BP for a second vessel, which is being constructed with Austal, in Freemantle, Australia. It will be a sister ship to our current fast