Offshore charterers in the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM) are going through a “structural demand shift” that must necessarily be followed by the “structural supply changes” gained from consolidating US owners, says Hornbeck Offshore Services (HOS).

Todd Hornbeck, HOS’ chairman, president and chief executive, says he is now hearing fairly bleak sentiment among oil company clients, who have given up on the idea that the oil prices will be low just for an extended period.