Profile & History

Major Dev Saigal, our founder and his family moved from Peshawar (British India) after Partition to New Delhi, Independent India. He served as an officer in Indian Army (Sikh Regiment and the Judge Advocate General JAG) branch and after taking early retirement in the 1960's started life as entrepreneur manufacturing and selling transistor radios, which were much required by the Indian soldiers who sat at their lonely border outposts as means of communications with their families and for alleviating stress. He subsequently moved to the commercial and financial capital of India, Mumbai in the late 60's to help develop and build Interocean Shipping Company together with his younger brother. In 1976 he founded and established 'Offshore and Shipping Services' (name changed to Ardee). Ardee over has four decades of experience in forging partnerships in the global oil and gas Industry. Amongst its many achievements Ardee has been the pioneers in assisting the Indian National oil company ONGC in implementing their objective of achieving greater self-sufficiency in hydrocarbons.

With a rapidly growing population in India the growing thirst for oil, seen in the backdrop of a depleting oil output from the onshore fields, self -sufficiency and energy security, were key to the policy of the Government of India. The government was therefore keen to explore the possibility of offshore oil. In an era where international communication and travel from India was difficult Major Saigal took upon himself the challenge to source the best technology and equipment for offshore exploration equipment and rigs required by India. Thus started our journey into the offshore oil and gas industry.

A company that started out as ship brokers specializing in the carriage of food-grain from USA to India in supertankers to feed India's as a result of the famines due to drought has since diversified and pioneered the charter of offshore drilling rigs, offshore supply boats, MSV's pipe-lay barges, provided office accommodation, manned rigs and boats, cleared essential equipment in and out of India for safe operations, arranged catering and most importantly were the first to substitute foreign workers and train Indians to take over highly skilled offshore jobs thereby saving valuable foreign exchange resources.

We have introduced and successfully sold energy and hydrocarbon saving proprietary technologies to refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer plants, provided marine and land support services to major EPC contractors, sold technologically and commercially superior marine and industrial equipment to most Indian shipyards and owners of vessels. We also assist banks, financial institutions, accountants and law firm in mergers and acquisitions of oil and industrial assets because of our deep understanding of this complex industry. We are making inroads to be at the forefront of renewable energy such as wind and solar along with information technology in the 21st century. With our own office facilities in the business metropolises of India, Mumbai and New Delhi we are constantly seeking to reinvent ourselves. We continue to serve the needs of India as well as to explore newer markets as part of the global economy. It is through our belief in in building trusting long term relationships with our clients and associates that we see our path to growth.