Tidewater's struggles in Africa continue, but the company is investing in the region via its $5.3m swoop for crewboats formerly owned by Hermitage Offshore.

The Houston-based, New York-listed offshore giant said on its third-quarter earnings call on Friday that the 11 ships, bought at Scorpio Group-owned Hermitage's bankruptcy auction last month, will continue trading in West Africa, not be scrapped or otherwise disposed of.