OFFSHORE: UPDATEAs Operators Look for the Bottom,Gulf Gloom PersistsCredit: Yesenia RodriguezGulf of Mexico vessel operators want to see sustained, higher oil prices.By Susan Buchananfter a rough two years, supply boat owners and op- vessels many not get any better for another two years or erators in the Gulf of Mexico hope crude oil prices so. With a ? eet of 22 crew boats and supply boats, New will improve in 2017. That would encourage activity Orleans-based Laborde Marine has an operations of? ce Aamong the offshore drillers that they service and would put in Morgan City, La. The ? rm’s international unit pro-unemployed boats back in the water. Vessel owners aren’t vides offshore supply vessels and line handlers in Brazil’s necessarily banking on a good year ahead, however. Rio de Janeiro area. “Utilization of OSVs and PSVs in the Gulf is below In early October, buoyed however brie? y by hopes that 50 percent now, down from about 70 percent a year an OPEC production cap would provide price supports, ago and 90 percent two years ago,” Peter Laborde, Jr., West Texas Intermediate crude reached $51.50 a barrel on founder of Laborde Marine, estimated in early October. the New York Mercantile Exchange, up from $41.25 in “Of course, we don’t know where crude oil prices will mid-August. As MarineNews went to press, stability in the go from here.” He fears the region’s demand for supply oil markets was anything but certain, however.November 2016 MN38MN Nov16 Layout 32-49.indd 38 10/21/2016 2:32:20 PM