Tidewater has promoted a member of its board of directors and a 35-year veteran of the offshore marine sector as its new chairman.

The Houston-based offshore vessel giant announced that it hired Dick Fagerstal for the non-executive role, replacing the retired Larry Rigdon.

Tapping an existing director, without a replacement to take Fagerstal’s prior role, reduces the size of Tidewater’s board from nine to eight members.