Oceaneering to add 200 jobs in Morgan City

Oceaneering International announced Monday that it will invest $5 million into a major expansion project at its Morgan City headquarters. The capital improvement is expected to include an addition of 200 direct jobs locally by the end of 2012.

“There is no government funding involved,” Oceaneering Vice President Mannina said prior to his announcement at the company’s main manufacturing facility for remotely operated vehicles. “We are putting all the money into this ourselves.”

Joined by Gov. Bobby Jindal, Rep. Jeff Landry, Morgan City Mayor Tim Matte and a large representation of the company’s 1,700 employees worldwide, Mannina said this project begins with a 30,000 square foot addition to the 100,000 square foot manufacturing and maintenance building. This location will also see the addition of approximately 120 new employees specifically trained for production and performance of the company’s core product: remotely operated vehicles.

An additional 80 workers will join a support base for Oceaneering’s full line of operations, which includes diving, rigging, inspection, inventory and administration.

Rick Myrick is an electronics technician who has worked with Oceaneering for 16 years. “We’ve got plenty for work now,” Myrick said. “We are building the [ROV] subs and the cages here. This is where I work and we need the room.”

Speaking to the crowd, Jindal said this expansion and job creation initiative could influence the creation of 400 indirect jobs for the Louisiana economy.

“The 200 new jobs will average more than $60,000 a year [in salary], plus benefits,” Jindal said. “With the 400 indirect jobs, that’s 600 families that can stay in Louisiana to work and live. This is another sign that our business climate is among the best in the country.”

“The significance of this building illustrates Oceaneering’s commitment to Louisiana,” Mannina said. “This will help us optimize some efficiencies in our operations and will improve our quality of service.”

“I think being on the cutting edge of technology has kept companies like Oceaneering [International] competitive,” Matte said.

In addition to being the world’s largest ROV manufacturer, Oceaneering is a global oil field provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on deepwater applications. Through the use of its applied technology expertise, Oceaneering also serves the defense and aerospace industries.

“We know that [President Obama] does not understand that drilling equals jobs,” Landry said following the presentation. “All they are asking for is for the government to get out of their way. Allow the free market to work and applying out trade.”

Construction on the building addition is expected to be complete by November.