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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had unfunded capital commitments of $12.5 million for miscellaneous vessel equipment, including $9.6 million in respect of hybrid battery power systems. Of the unfunded capital commitments, $6.9 million is payable during the remainder of 2024 and $5.6 million is payable during 2025. The Company has indefinitely deferred an additional $9.2 million of orders with respect to one fast support vessel.

In December 2015, the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office issued a tax-deficiency notice to Seabulk Offshore do Brasil Ltda, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of SEACOR Marine (“Seabulk Offshore do Brasil”), with respect to certain profit participation contributions (also known as “PIS”) and social security financing contributions (also known as “COFINS”) requirements alleged to be due from Seabulk Offshore do Brasil (“Deficiency Notice”) in respect of the period of January 2011 until December 2012. In January 2016, the Company administratively appealed the Deficiency Notice on the basis that, among other arguments, (i) such contributions were not applicable in the circumstances of a 70%/30% cost allocation structure, and (ii) the tax

inspector had incorrectly determined that values received from outside of Brazil could not be classified as expense refunds. The initial appeal was dismissed by the Brazilian Federal Revenue Office and the Company appealed such dismissal and is currently awaiting an administrative trial. A local Brazilian law has been enacted that supports the Company’s position that such contribution requirements are not applicable, but it is uncertain whether such law will be taken into consideration with respect to administrative proceedings commenced prior to the enactment of the law. Accordingly, the success of Seabulk Offshore do Brasil in the administrative proceedings cannot be assured and the matter may need to be addressed through judicial court proceedings. The potential levy arising from the Deficiency Notice is R$25.2 million based on a historical potential levy of R$12.87 million (USD $3.5 million and USD $1.8 million, respectively, based on the exchange rate as of September 30, 2024).

In the normal course of its business, the Company becomes involved in various other litigation matters including, among others, claims by third parties for alleged property damages and personal injuries. Management has used estimates in determining the Company’s potential exposure to these matters and has recorded reserves in its financial statements related thereto where appropriate. It is possible that a change in the Company’s estimates of that exposure could occur, but the Company does not expect that such changes in estimated costs would have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are participating employers in two industry-wide, multi-employer, defined benefit pension funds in the United Kingdom: the U.K Merchant Navy Officers Pension Fund (“MNOPF”) and the U.K. Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (“MNRPF”). The Company’s participation in the MNOPF began with the acquisition of the Stirling group of companies (the “Stirling Group”) in 2001 and relates to certain officers employed between 1978 and 2002 by the Stirling Group and/or its predecessors. The Company’s participation in the MNRPF also began with the acquisition of the Stirling Group in 2001 and relates to ratings employed by the Stirling Group and/or its predecessors through today. Both of these plans are in deficit positions and, depending upon the results of future actuarial valuations, it is possible that the plans could experience funding deficits that will require the Company to recognize payroll related operating expenses in the periods invoices are received.

On October 19, 2021, the Company was informed by the MNRPF that two issues had been identified during a review of the MNRPF by the applicable trustee that would potentially give rise to material additional liabilities for the MNRPF. On November 23, 2023, the trustee advised that following the tri-annual valuation, $1.5 million (£1.2 million) of the potential cumulative funding deficit of the MNRPF was allocated to the Company as a participating employer, including the additional liabilities mentioned above. During 2023, the Company recognized payroll related operating expenses of $1.5 million (£1.2 million) for its allocated share of the potential cumulative funding deficit, which the Company anticipated being invoiced for during 2024 and 2025. On April 30, 2024, the Company was informed by the MNRPF that the Company’s allocated share of the potential cumulative funding deficit may be reduced due to changes in valuation assumptions, and on July 5, 2024, the Company was informed by the MNRPF that the Company’s final deficit share amount was $0.4 million (£0.3 million). As of June 30, 2024, the Company recognized a reduction in the payroll related operating expenses of $1.2 million (£0.9 million) to reflect the decreased deficit share amount. All invoices were settled in full in October 2024.