Oceaneering International to expand in Chesapeake

Oceaneering International Inc. is planning to expand its Chesapeake operations, creating 70 new jobs.

Oceaneering International, a provider of engineering services and products for the offshore oil and gas industry, plans to consolidate its engineering, manufacturing and administrative functions at a new, 150,000-square-foot facility that will be developed by Virginia Beach-based Armada Hoffler Properties.

Virginia completed against North Carolina for the project, which in addition to the new jobs, kept more than 460 existing jobs in the city.

Gov. Bob McDonnell approved a $750,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to help Chesapeake with the project and a $750,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership.

Oceaneering has operated an engineering/ship repair facility in Chesapeake for 13 years. The company’s Marine Services Division in Chesapeake focuses on submarines, deep submergence systems and air cushion landing craft. The U.S. Navy is the company’s primary customer.

“This location provides ideal convenience to our current, very capable employee base, in which we have already invested significant training, as well as proximity to key customers and shipyards,” Oceaneering Vice President and General Manager Wayne Jakubowski said in a statement.
Jessica Sabbath