Commodities

Supporting offshore energy with strategic financing for oil, gas, and wind support vessels

Leveraging its expertise in the offshore wind, oil and gas sectors, Macquarie's Shipping Finance business enabled an American investment company to expand into offshore service vessels by structuring a $US98.4 million senior secured term loan facility

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SectorCommodities
Sub-sectorShipping
LocationUnited States

Opportunity

From enduring harsh weather conditions to operating in deep waters, offshore oil and gas extraction and renewable energy installations demand precise execution.

Construction Support Vessels (CSVs) play a key role in installing subsea infrastructure, maintaining platforms, and developing offshore wind farms. Equipped with advanced technology such as dynamic positioning systems and heavy-lift cranes, CSVs are designed to perform a wide range of tasks with precision and efficiency. As demand for offshore energy grows, the reliance on CSVs is expected to increase1, making them indispensable assets in the industry.

Recognising this growing sector, Macquarie’s Shipping Finance team – part of Commodities and Global Markets – identified an opportunity to expand its support to clients. In early 2024, the team began collaborating with Macquarie’s oil and gas and offshore wind specialists to understand the offshore value chain and resilient ship types.

This collaboration, combined with the deep commodities and energy expertise of Macquarie’s energy specialists, led the team to start to offer financing for offshore vessels.

In line with this trend, a well-established American maritime focused investment company was seeking to expand into the offshore service vessels market to widen its portfolio, after having success with chemical tankers. The company sought Macquarie’s support to finance two modern multi-purpose offshore vessels in a competitive bid.


Approach

Leveraging its experience from financing similar vessels previously, including a syndicated facility where Macquarie financed $US100 million secured by 32 offshore vessels, our Shipping Finance team were able to move quickly. By structuring a $US98.4 million senior secured term loan facility within a matter of weeks, the client was able to win the bid.

To ensure the success of the transaction, the team conducted a thorough assessment of the vessels' capabilities and market potential. The team also structured the loan facility to provide maximum flexibility and support for the client’s ongoing growth ambitions, including favourable terms and conditions tailored to the unique requirements of the offshore sector.

Outcome

The successful financing of the two modern multi-purpose offshore vessels allowed the client to expand its fleet and strengthen its market position. With the new vessels, the company ensured long-term continuity and produced an attractive stream of low-risk income while gaining market share.

Macquarie's Shipping Finance team has financed a series of previous investments for the client through different investment vehicles, demonstrating a focus on building enduring partnerships and the capacity to support large-scale maritime projects.

For Macquarie, this deal allowed further growth in the offshore service vessel industry, showcasing the team’s ability to quickly and effectively respond to market opportunities.

$US98.4 million

value of the senior secured loan

$US650+ million

total financing of offshore support vessels to date2

100+

offshore support vessels financed to date2