Marine Industries Global Market Analysis - Marine Institute

MARINE INDUSTRIES GLOBAL MARKET ANALYSIS
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11 Ocean Survey
Definition – all expenditure on seabed survey and shallow seismic survey for civil purposes, such
as navigational charts and oil & gas. Excludes deep seismic.
1999–03 2004 2005–09
Irish Market €M 64 12 54
UK Market €M 608 104 517
Europe Market €M 3,201 538 2,722
World Market €M 11,715 2,013 10,137
11.1 INTRODUCTION
Survey of the oceans for civilian purposes has a number of distinct sectors including
hydrographic survey for the production of navigational charts, exploration and
development of oil & gas reserves, port & harbours, submarine cable routes, windfarm
installations, etc.
Figure 11.1: Ocean Survey – World Market
Ocean Survey is a large activity, with some 737 vessels worldwide having significant
survey capability.The number of vessels operated by national hydrographic agencies
alone total 322 and these have crews exceeding 8,700 people. 46
The production of hydrographic survey equipment is also a major activity,
(although we exclude it from this section.) When this is included, our view is that
perhaps 18,000 people are employed in various forms of activities related to ocean
survey worldwide.
11.2 WORLD MARKET
We forecast that the world market will exhibit a long-term growth trend, with
Western Europe and North America continuing to be the regions of greatest activity.
In 2004 the world value of ocean surveying was €2 billion.The world market
exhibits a long-term growth trend if analysed in US dollars, and stable if represented
in euros, due to the decline in value of the dollar over time, in relation to the euro.
Due to the impact of external factors, the commercial contracting industry has
experienced major cycles. 1999 represented a cyclical low due to the impact of the
1998 oil price fall, but in 2000 business rose strongly from the submarine cable sector
which itself collapsed in 2001–2002.The submarine cable sector had attracted
significant resources that were released into the wider market in 2001–2, depressing
prices. Our five-year forecast shows hydrographic charting as the largest sector,
followed by oil & gas and port & harbour survey.
11.3 EUROPEAN MARKET
Europe is a major player in this high tech sector (€538 million in 2004), which is
dominated by the Netherlands.There is also emerging market potential associated
with the commissioning of EEZ surveys.The UK forms the largest European market
due to the combination of its oil & gas industry surveys and hydrographic activity.
Norway is also significant due to its oil & gas activity. Activity in the other significant
markets is mainly a function of hydrographic surveys. Ireland has good experience
(having completed the world’s largest EEZ survey) but has no major player.
Source: Douglas–Westwood
Table 11.1: Ocean Survey – World Market
1999–03 2004 2005–09
Africa 383 80 439
Asia 1559 270 1363
Australasia 313 59 285
E Europe/FSU 2310 401 2044
Latin America 664 118 617
Middle East 152 35 160
North America 3133 511 2507
Western Europe 3201 538 2722
TOTAL (€M) 11715 2013 10137
Source: Douglas-Westwood
Figure 11.2: Ocean Survey – Regional
Segmentation 2005–2009
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IHO Yearbook 2003
Source: Douglas–Westwood