Guyana’s offshore oil industry depends on more than drilling rigs and floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels. It also relies on a growing maritime workforce that keeps people, equipment and supplies moving between shore and offshore operations.
Since production began in the Stabroek Block in 2019, there have been sustained efforts by government and industry stakeholders on training and upskilling Guyanese to access technical and professional offshore roles across the industry.
With oil production now above 900,000 barrels per day, the workforce supporting the sector is expanding. Demand is rising for seafarers, vessel operators, marine engineers, pilots, logistics personnel, and other maritime specialists to keep vessels, equipment, and supplies moving between shore and offshore facilities.
The Guyana government has repeatedly pointed to increased vessel traffic within the country’s exclusive economic zone, driven by the high volume of well drilling activities, appraisals, and discoveries, all of which are accelerating maritime commerce and creating a greater need for skilled maritime personnel across the industry.
Training institutions are responding to this demand. MatPal Marine Institute now trains more than 200 seafarers annually, providing internationally recognized certifications that prepare Guyanese for careers aboard offshore support vessels and across the maritime industry.
According to MatPal’s Secretary and Director, Coleen Abrams, Guyanese must now position themselves for opportunities emerging in the maritime industry.
“The future does not belong to bystanders. It belongs to the adaptable, the tech-savvy, the resilient, and those who possess an insatiable hunger to learn,” she declared on June 19 during a career day exhibition at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.
Industry partners are also investing directly in the next generation of maritime professionals. Earlier this year, Noble Corporation selected 20 Guyanese, including six women, for its Marine Cadet Scholarship Programme, delivered in partnership with MatPal. The initiative provides training and sea-time opportunities for careers in the offshore marine sector.
El Dorado Offshore also opens applications annually for its Marine Cadet Scholarship Programme, providing another pathway for Guyanese seeking maritime careers connected to the energy industry.
The importance of those careers has also been emphasized by SBM Offshore Guyana Country Manager Martin Cheong, who noted that while the oil and gas industry does not directly employ large numbers of people, maritime and energy-related skills create opportunities across a wide range of industries.
“For young people considering your future, this is an exciting time. There are opportunities that did not exist the same way for generations ago. You must prepare yourself. You must be willing to learn, to work hard, and to maintain openness to new possibilities,” he encouraged.
With multiple FPSOs operating offshore and additional developments under construction, demand for marine transportation, vessel management, navigation, offshore logistics, and support services are expected to remain key parts of Guyana’s long-term energy workforce.
