Tidewater and GulfMark Offshore are getting ready to put their proposed $1.25bn merger up for shareholder approval.

Both New York-listed OSV owners have filed a joint proxy statement and prospectus with regulators regarding Tidewater's acquisition of GulfMark's outstanding shares in a stock-for-stock exchange.

John Rynd-led Tidewater and Quintin Kneen Gulfmark shareholders will hold separate votes on the 15 July proposed merger in person on 15 November or by proxy by that date.