Offshore Support

With over a decade of proven results from across oceans and countries our support vessel Merlin and her crew continue to thrive in supporting day and multi-day offshore work. We enjoy the comradery of professional maritime work while underway and integrate seamlessly into teams of every multitude. From bonding over three gourmet meals a day out of our galley, to celebrating mission success in unison, every evolution undertaken aboard becomes top priority of the vessel and crew.

Black Tide has spent a considerable number of years working with the most sophisticated autonomous systems in the world. We are highly proficient in acoustic tracking of AUV's, are confident to safely deploy and recover small boats at sea while underway and are functionally set up to easily onboard a variety of communications gear and equipment. From crossing oceans with autonomous systems, providing comfortable long-term deployment accommodations, and carrying and deploying systems at sea, we are flexible and adaptable for every project.

We have a selection of a dozen small support craft ranging from 7m diesel zodiacs all the way down to 4m inflatables with an outboard. We also carry a small assortment of aluminum and steel work skiffs. We can arrive in port and deploy two 7m RHIBs and a 115' support vessel to run 24/7 security zones or multi vessel escort services .

Our primary support vessel, Merlin , has successfully deployed and recovered hundreds of scientific sensors and buoys along the West coast and beyond. Equipped with a large Palfinger knuckle boom crane, three-point mooring capability, and a moon pool, we are set up to support everything from single day missins to extended multi-day scientific deployments of all kinds.  WIth a deck load capacity of 60 tons and the flexibility to deploy multiple systems during a single trip, we deliver efficient, high-productivity support tailored to the demands of your  project.

Having a three-point mooring system, HP compressors, a commercial dive platform and full length large rung dive ladder, we are ideal for salvage work, multi-day remote dive work, scientific diving, ROV support, and underwater surveys.  We can accommodate multiple LP compressors, a dive chamber, gas racks, and ancillary equipment.