Is Tidewater Inc. a Buy?

Tidewater Inc., along with its subsidiaries, provides essential marine support and transportation services globally for the offshore energy industry, leveraging its diverse fleet of specialized vessels. Its core activities include facilitating offshore oil and natural gas exploration, field development, and production, as well as contributing to windfarm development and maintenance. These critical services range from towing and anchor handling for mobile offshore drilling units to the crucial transport of supplies and personnel for ongoing drilling, workover, and production operations. Tidewater also offers offshore construction, seismic, and subsea support, provides geotechnical survey assistance for windfarm construction, and undertakes specialized tasks like pipe and cable laying. To achieve this, the company manages and charters a variety of vessels. Its deepwater fleet comprises platform supply vessels (PSVs) and anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, designed to move equipment and provisions from shore bases to offshore drilling rigs and production platforms in both deep and intermediate waters. For shallower operations, it deploys towing-supply vessels, alongside crew boats, utility vessels, and offshore tugs that shuttle personnel and materials to various offshore installations. Additionally, its offshore tugs play a vital role in towing floating drilling rigs and barges, assisting with tanker docking, and supporting construction barges, as well as pipe and cable laying activities. Tidewater's clientele is broad, encompassing major and independent oil and natural gas exploration and production firms, state-owned or controlled foreign entities, drilling contractors, and companies engaged in offshore construction, windfarm development, diving, and well stimulation. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned a fleet of 135 vessels. Tidewater Inc. was established in 1956 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.