The Gulf's offshore hiring boom comes to an abrupt end

摘要

As the slump in oil drilling activity deepens, the Gulf of Mexico offshore industry has ceased to be a strong job-growth market for professional mariners. The steep decline in crude oil prices has caused operators to take offshore supply vessels (OSVs) out of service and reduce investment on new and existing crews. Layoffs have even been reported. That's in sharp contrast to 2011 to 2014, when the Gulf was a go-to destination for licensed mariners as the offshore industry blossomed following the October 2010 expiration of the U.S. deepwater moratorium. With crude oil prices consistently over $100 a barrel and shipyards launching new support vessels, operators needed crews and specialized skills.