Island Offshore to provide Titanic expedition support ship

Island Pride, the type of vessel that will be used to support the 2019 Titanic Survey Expedition

AUGUST 29, 2018 — An Island Offshore Subsea Construction and Accommodation Vessel is to be the primary topside support vessel for OceanGate Expeditions’ 2019 Titanic Survey Expedition.

Everett, WA, based OceanGate recently selected Island Offshore as its preferred partner for deep sea exploration. Under the agreement, OceanGate will grant first right of refusal to Island Offshore on all deep sea expeditions over the next five years that require a commercial grade and classed support vessel. Island Offshore will provide suitable ships, offshore crew and personnel to support the OceanGate Expeditions team and help accomplish the mission objectives. The two companies are already discussing projects in the Caribbean Sea, Coral Sea, Adriatic Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.

“Every offshore expedition has its own set of logistical challenges,” says Stockton Rush, OceanGate CEO and Founder. “The partnership with Island Offshore is instrumental in reducing those challenges. Their vast knowledge, experienced crews, and ability to adapt are exactly what we need to deliver exceptional experiences to our clients and mission specialists.”

“Our crew is honored and excited to be a part of this historic expedition. We are really looking forward to working with OceanGate and helping them accomplish their mission of making manned exploration of the deep ocean more accessible than ever,” saysHåvard Ulstein, Managing Director of Island Offshore, in which the Chouest and Ulstein familes are partners.

OceanGate’s 2019 expedition will be the first manned submersible mission to the RMS Titanic since 2005. The chosen Island Offshore vessel, scheduled to depart from St. John’s, Newfoundland in June 2019, will serve as the topside support ship The six-week expedition will explore and map the wreck located nearly 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic. The Island Offshore vessel will house over 35 expedition crew members, mission specialists, researchers, and scientists for the duration of the expedition.

Island Offshore’s fleet of Subsea Construction and Accommodation Vessels are all complete with private sleeping quarters for everyone on board and offer various spacious and comfortable spaces for collaboration, research, and relaxation. Equipped with a commercial grade kitchen, gym, medical room and various lounge spaces, each vessel is well suited to serve both the scientific objectives of the mission, as well as the needs of the crew and participating mission specialists. The vessel’s helipad makes it possible to efficiently transport mission specialists and crew to and from St. John’s, Newfoundland, maximizing time spent at the dive site.