More than 3,000 vessels are now traversing Guyana’s waters daily, a surge driven in part by increased offshore oil and gas activity and broader growth in the maritime sector.
This is according to Chairman of the Shipping Association of Guyana, Komal Singh, who said on June 19 that the increase has created new employment opportunities for Guyanese workers.
“The maritime industry has transformed significantly. If you go back to pre-oil, the maritime industry growth, especially the shipping side, we have seen over 3,000 vessels traversing the water on a daily basis right now. That’s over 40% increase over the last five or six years,” Singh said during the Matpal Marine Institute Career Exhibition at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.
He noted that the offshore oil and gas operations have also increased the demand for trained maritime professionals.
“What it means to us as youths and as mariners is basically that there’s an abundance of opportunity that is opening up right now in the maritime sector… We have so many vacancies that we still try to fill on a daily basis, especially in that sector, in that department,” Singh said.
ExxonMobil’s operations in the Stabroek Block rely on an extensive maritime network to support drilling, production, logistics, maintenance, and crude lifting activities. With production above 900,000 barrels per day, demand for platform supply vessels, terminal support vessels, subsea support vessels, and other marine services has increased to support offshore developments.
ExxonMobil serves as operator of the block with a 45% interest. Its partners are Hess, part of Chevron, with 30%, and CNOOC with 25%.
The Shipping Association of Guyana represents shipping agents, vessel operators, terminal operators and logistics providers that support these activities, playing a key role in the movement of cargo, equipment and personnel serving the country’s offshore oil and gas industry.
