Offshore experts join forces to combat sargassum

A joint venture called Caribbean Sea Clear, based in Martinique, has been set up to address the urgent problem of sargassum seaweed that has been affecting the region.

Jifmar Offshore Services, with its head office in France, and the Martinican company SOMARA (Société Maritime de Remorquage et d’Assistance) have finalized the creation of the joint venture. The agreement was signed on 27 November.

CSC, which will be based in Martinique, has a mission to provide solutions to the proliferation of sargassum and to improve the quality of coastal waters in the Caribbean.

Jean-Michel Berud, co-founder of Jifmar, said: “CSC is an alliance between maritime know-how, project culture and local expertise to build an ambitious response to the sargassum problem.” And Jean-Pierre Porry founder of SOMARA, said: “With Jifmar, we want to bring an innovative, pragmatic and industrial solution against the sargassum. I am very enthusiastic about the realization of this project.”

Versatile

CSC is looking to mobilize a workboat in the West Indies in January 2019 that will test a device for combating the sargassum phenomenon. This versatile vessel will be involved in other maritime operations, too, such as wreck salvage, marine construction support and more general projects aimed at protecting and improving the Caribbean maritime environment, a crucial aim of the joint venture.

Jifmar, founded in 2005, delivers integrated maritime solutions and provides advanced services in the maritime and offshore oilfield sectors. The company is able to draw on significant material resources, including DP1 and DP2 vessels. SOMARA, created in 2003, is a Martinican company specializing in port and maritime assistance that operates throughout the Caribbean. It is a recognized operator in the oil terminals of the region.

Troublesome weed

Sargassum has been recognised as a problem in the Caribbean since matted piles of the seaweed were washed up on Eastern Caribbean shores in 2011.

The seaweed has a negative impact on tourism, fisheries and wildlife and Caribbean governments have acknowledged it could pose a long-term threat.

In 2014 the sargassum made its way to southern Mexico and the beaches of Cancun. And many believe 2018 has been the region’s worst year for the troublesome weed.