Creating an Industry

Tidewater’s story begins in 1955, when a group of investors led by the Laborde family of New Orleans pioneered the development of the first offshore service vessel tailor-made to support the new and growing offshore oil and gas industry. A year later, as the vessel Ebb Tide prepared to sail to work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Tidewater Marine Service, Inc. commenced operations. Its first leader was John P. Laborde.

Now, more than 55 years and many vessels later, Tidewater remains the leader of the industry it created, following the search for oil and gas into increasingly deeper waters globally and extending its proven record of service to installations closer to land. In the process, the company has earned a reputation for anticipating and responding to the changing worldwide needs of energy exploration and production.