Norwegian subsea specialist DeepOcean and Saudi Arabia-based offshore services firm Jana Marine Services (JMS) have signed a Heads of Terms agreement to establish a joint venture company, to be named JADE Subsea Services, which will deliver integrated subsea engineering and project management solutions across the Middle East oil and gas sector.

Under the agreement, JADE Subsea Services will enter into a five-year charter agreement with JMS for a newbuild DP2 (dynamically-positioned Class 2) hybrid-powered diving support vessel (DSV) currently under construction in China.

The vessel is designed for subsea construction, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR), and dive-support operations.

It will be equipped with a 12-man saturation diving system, air diving spreads, a light work-class remotely-operated vehicle (ROV), a 100-tonne crane and accommodation for up to 120 personnel.

Scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2026, the 98-metre vessel will be fitted with hybrid-power batteries (2 × 800 kW) in addition to conventional generator sets.

JADE will leverage DeepOcean’s global subsea engineering, survey, installation and IMR capabilities and JMS’s strong local presence, fleet of offshore support vessels and alignment with Saudi Arabia’s in-kingdom localisation programme.

In a statement, DeepOcean’s Chief Executive Officer Øyvind Mikaelsen said: “Jana Marine brings a new-build vessel, marine expertise and deep local knowledge to the partnership.

We contribute our subsea services capabilities, technology and specialist engineering.

Together, this partnership will offer the offshore oil and gas industry in the Middle East region a highly competitive and fully integrated subsea services solution.” JMS’s Chief Executive Mohammad AlSubaie added that “Our strategy is to continue expanding our fleet for carrying out topside and subsea inspections, repair and maintenance of offshore oil and gas installations.

We will provide purpose-built offshore support vessels and equipment, while DeepOcean brings its specialist subsea competence, which is renowned globally.”

The collaboration marks a strategic advance for both companies: DeepOcean strengthens its Middle East footprint following its acquisition of Subsea services player Shelf Subsea and the establishment of a UAE office, while JMS deepens its position as a Saudi-local partner aligned with the national oil-company ecosystem and localisation initiatives.

The partnership is intended to tap into growing demand for integrated offshore and subsea services in the region, driven by the Arab Gulf’s oil-and-gas operators increasing expenditure on field maintenance, decommissioning and lifecycle asset management.

With the first asset delivery slated for 2026 and charter duration of five years, JADE Subsea Services will offer an integrated platform combining vessel, dive and ROV capability with project execution and support services.

The venture signals how Saudi Arabia’s offshore services market is evolving, emphasising localisation, global partnerships and advanced asset-based capability to support the next phase of regional oil-field development.