Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) in Paradise
I spent the past week on vacation in my hometown of Nassau, Bahamas. As an archipelago of 700 islands and cays, the Bahamas relies on maritime connectivity to support its economy.
Global container lines such as MSC and CMA-CGM, as well as regional player Tropical Shipping, connect Nassau to the international market.
There is also an extensive intra-island network of domestic “mailboats” trading between Nassau and the smaller "family islands”. During my visits over the years, I've noticed changes in the domestic fleet docked at Potters Cay, underneath the bridges connecting New Providence to Paradise Island.
Historically, the Potters Cay domestic fleet consisted of landing craft vessels built with a roll-on, roll-off ramp in the bow––ideal for servicing the less-developed family islands, which often lacked the shoreside infrastructure needed for lifting cargo on and off of vessels.
Today, the favored vessel design is a converted Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), modified with a stern roll-on, roll-off ramp. Originally built to service the offshore oil and gas industry in the U.S. Gulf, these vessels feature a bridge positioned in the bow and large, open stern decks––perfect for efficiently pulling alongside offshore platforms to deliver supplies.
Following the oil price crash from 2014-2016, many PSVs became redundant in their original roles. Fortunately, several have found new purpose in serving the unique maritime logistics needs of the Bahamas.
PS - If you know where to look, these PSVs have some telltale signs of their past lives (and owners).
