Offshore support vessel market seen topping $41B by 2030

The offshore support vessel market is projected to climb above $41 billion by 2030, according to The Business Research Company, driven by offshore oil and gas, wind power and fleet modernization. North America is expected to remain the largest regional market, while platform support vessels lead the segment mix.

Why it matters: - Offshore support vessels are the workhorses for offshore energy, logistics and marine operations. - The market’s growth signals continued spending on deepwater oil and gas, offshore wind and vessel upgrades. - Request a sample report for more information.

What happened: - The Business Research Company projected the offshore support vessel market will exceed $41 billion by 2030. - The firm said the market will grow at a 7% compound annual rate through 2030. - North America is projected to be the largest regional market by 2030 at $12.7 billion, up from $9.8 billion in 2025. - The United States is expected to be the largest national market by 2030 at $10.5 billion, up from $8.1 billion in 2025.

The details: - Offshore support vessels sit within the broader oil and gas supporting activities market, which is forecast to reach nearly $353 billion by 2030. - The sector would represent about 12% of that supporting-activities market and about 0.4% of the broader oil and gas industry, which is forecast at $10,725 billion by 2030. - Platform support vessels are expected to be the largest vessel type by 2030, with 31% market share and about $13 billion in value. - Other vessel types include anchor-handling tug supply vessels, multipurpose support vessels, emergency response and rescue vessels, crew vessels, seismic vessels and chase vessels. - The market is also segmented by service type, water depth and application, including oil and gas and other offshore industries. - Tidewater Inc. held the largest global share in 2025 at 4%. - The top ten companies accounted for 17% of total revenue in 2025, underscoring a fragmented market. - Entry barriers include maritime safety rules, vessel construction standards, offshore operational expertise, capital needs and dependable marine support. - In June 2025, Vallianz Holdings Limited introduced Rawabi 73, a 70-meter anchor-handling tug supply vessel built at Premier Marine Shipyards in Dubai. - The report listed Tidewater, DOF ASA, Bourbon Offshore, Swire Pacific Offshore Ltd., Solstad Offshore ASA and Seacor Marine Holdings among major operators. - It also listed ArcelorMittal, Nippon Steel, Siemens Energy, ABB, Wärtsilä, Caterpillar and Cummins among key suppliers to the industry.

Between the lines: - Demand is being pulled by three overlapping trends: offshore oil and gas expansion, offshore wind buildout and fleet modernization. - Deepwater and ultra-deepwater work requires more specialized vessels, which supports pricing and fleet renewal. - New vessel technology such as dynamic positioning, hybrid propulsion, automation, real-time monitoring and fuel-efficient engines is becoming a competitive differentiator. - The fragmented market suggests scale alone is not enough; operators need technology, fleet breadth and regional presence to stand out.

What's next: - The report expects offshore oil and gas exploration, offshore wind projects and fleet upgrades to remain the main growth engines through 2030. - The seven major vessel segments are projected to add more than $12.4 billion in value by 2030. - Platform support vessels are expected to add about $4 billion, while anchor-handling tug supply vessels and multipurpose support vessels are projected to add about $3 billion and $2 billion, respectively. - The company said future growth will come from hybrid and low-emission vessels, autonomous and remotely operated vehicle capabilities, digital fleet management and predictive maintenance. - Access the full report for the detailed forecast.