BLUE OCEAN
Samson Rope, SWOS Team for Heavy Lift
Samson high-performance synthetic slings helped Technip install subsea hardware at Petrobras’ Cascade & Chinook project. Installing two pumping stations and two manifolds at Petrobras’s Cascade and Chinook fields in the Gulf of Mexico at depths in excess of 2,500m was accomplished with a “wet handshake” and the assistance of Samson’s AmSteel-Blue fabricated into lifting slings for the operation. Technip was the contractor, and Deep Blue was the installation vessel used during the deepwater installation. The project is among the deepest subsea installations in the Gulf of Mexico, and marks the first use of an FPSO in U.S. waters. While formulating installation procedures, Southwest Ocean Services (SWOS) and Samson's offshore technical sales team were in contact with the operations and installation team at Technip, who intended to use the wet handshake technique to transfer loads from Deep Blue’s overboard crane to the A&R winch in the moonpool to the seafloor. Since the handshake was to be accomplished with ROV’s, the use of wire rope slings would have presented many rigging and handling issues due to the weight and stiffness of the wire. SWOS worked with Technip’s design team to develop a synthetic solution, not only for the sling, but also for the custom chafing gear and the project specific ROV handling slings.
Thunderhorse Arrives on Dockwise Ship
Dockwise Shipping B.V. today set a new record by delivering BP’s 59,500-ton semi-submersible Thunder Horse platform in Corpus Christi, USA. Already on June 19, 2002 Dockwise has been awarded the contract for the sea transportation of the largest semi-submersible PDQ (Production & Drilling Quarters) unit ever built of its kind by DSME in South Korea. The Thunder Horse PDQ is transported on the largest heavy transport vessel of the Dockwise fleet the m.v. Blue Marlin.
Chiles Offshore Wins Award
The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) awarded Chiles Offshore the 2002 Safety in Seas Award, recognizing their outstanding contribution to the improvement of safe operating procedures in the offshore industries. Selected by a blue ribbon panel of judges composed of representatives from the US Coast Guard, the Minerals Management Service and the National Academy of Sciences Marine Sciences Board, Chiles Offshore was recognized for their complete, rig- specific orientation
Blue Whale Operations Update
Coast Guard District Eleven continues to support the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in conducting overflights to monitor the locations of blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel and surrounding area. This information is being passed to vessel agents to increase industry awareness. Since September 8, 2007, two blue whale carcasses have been discovered in the Santa Barbara Channel, and one was discovered in Long Beach Harbor
CMB Acquires Dry Bulk Asset
The Board of Directors of CMB met pursuant to the provisions of the Belgian Code of Companies relating to the existence of conflicts of interest and authorized the company to acquire the dry bulk assets of Delphis on the basis of current market values. Delphis is a subsidiary of SAVERCO, one of CMB’s reference shareholders. The acquisition will include a 50% participating interest in the joint venture company Ocean Capes Limited, owner of the capesize vessels Mineral Subic (2011-179
Great Lakes Beaches: EPA Satellite Data Contract
US EPA awards Blue Water Satellite contract to providie satellite data for an epidemiological study of 4 beaches. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a contract to Blue Water Satellite of Bowling Green, OH to provide unique historical data regarding the concentrations of potentially harmful Cyanobacteria, Chlorophyll-a, and Phosphorus at four Great Lakes beaches. This historical data will be used as part of an epidemiological study to potentially correlate concentrations
Heavy Lift Vessel Enters Pearl Harbor with SBX
The heavy lift vessel MV Blue Marlin enters Pearl Harbor, Hawaii with the Sea Based X-Band Radar (SBX) aboard after completing a 15,000-mile journey from Corpus Christi, Texas. SBX is a combination of the world’s largest phased array X-band radar carried aboard a mobile, ocean-going semi-submersible oil platform. It will provide the nation with highly advanced ballistic missile detection and will be able to discriminate a hostile warhead from decoys and countermeasures
Greek Ferries: The New Business Model
The ultra competitive Greek ferry market has not only proven to be a fertile breeding ground for advanced marine technology, it has served as a role model for the direction of shipping services in both the region and the world. The Greek market has provided the collective builders and suppliers of advanced fast and conventional ferries a rich environment for business over the past few months, a trend that seems likely to continue
Rawson VP Operations, Deep Blue Marine
Deep Blue Marine Inc. announced that the company has appointed William Rawson formally of Key West Florida as VP of Operations. Rawson has worked for the company since 2006 as the captain of the recovery vessel Cap N Tracy. Rawson has provided the company with a wealth of knowledge in many areas including artifact recovery, seaman ship and business skills. Rawson began his career on the ocean at the age of 15 and has spent his entire life plying the trades of the sea
Blue Marine Acquires Tankers for PEMEX Refinación
Blue Marine Shipping, has acquired two new tankers that shall be leased by PEMEX Refinación for the next 10 years. On May 30, Blue Marine awarded two out of the five tender agreements in which PEMEX Refinación invited tenders in order to improve its fleet. The cost of these two new tankers, African Future and Torm Wabash, reached 85.8 million and 98.4 million dollars respectively. The tankers were previously owned by the Torm and Delmod Marine Companies
Coast Guard World War Memorial Restored and Rededicated
The Coast Guard World War Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated May 23, 1928, as a tribute to the Coast Guardsmen who lost their lives in World War I. During the past year, the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Chief Petty Officer Association led a collaborative effort of 37
Viking Goes Blue Water
Viking Cruises launch Viking Ocean Cruises, the first new cruise line in nearly a decade. Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages
Europe's Atlantic Action Plan Unveiled
The European Commission has adopted an Action Plan to revitalise the marine & maritime economy in the Atlantic Ocean Area. The Action Plan aims to show how the EU's Atlantic Member States, their regions and the Commission can help create sustainable growth in coastal regions and drive forward
Ulstein Delivers Fourth PSV in PX121 Series
Ulstein Verft delivered Blue Thunder, the fourth of six medium-sized platform supply vessels of the PX121 design from Ulsteinto Blue Ship Invest, on Monday, May 13, 2013. Owned by Blue Ship Invest, a wholly-owned company in Ulstein Group, the platform supply vessel (PSV) is commercially and
Bollinger Delivers Ocean Sun to Crowley
The third of four Ocean Class Tugs has been delivered to Crowley from Bollinger Marine Fabricators. The Ocean Sun is DP 2, measures 156 feet in length and is rated at 10,880 HP. The vessel is outfitted for long-range, high-capacity ocean towing, rig moves, platform and floating production
Blue North Order 'Green' Alaska Commercial Fishing Boat
Blue North has contracted Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington, to build an eco-friendly, technologically advanced fishing vessel. The innovative “green” boat – which will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014 – was specifically developed for the Alaska
Titanic ll Project Appoints Ship Managers
Blue Star Line Chairman, Professor Clive Palmer, appoints V.Ships Leisure as ship management services partner for his Titanic II project. According to the Blue Star Line's press release, V.Ships Leisure is the world’s largest supplier of management and outsourcing services to the maritime
Vessel Sales: April 2013
The following list of ship sales for April 2013 was prepared by Shipping Intelligence Inc., New York. Sale Prices are listed in millions USD. Date - Vessel name - DWT - BLT/AGE - Price
Ocean Exchange Calls for Innovative Solutions
Solutions submitted to the third annual Ocean Exchange should have the potential to generate economic growth and increase productivity while reducing the use of nature’s resources and waste production. This year’s competition, with a theme of LEAP TO ZERO+
U.S. National Ocean Service 2014 Budget Request
The FY 2014 President's Budget Request for the National Ocean Service (NOS) amounts to $529.2M. The National Ocean Service (NOS) observes, measures, assesses and manages coastal, ocean and Great Lakes areas and provides science-based services to inform decision making
New Port of Montreal Tugboat Christened
Océan Remorquage Montréal Inc. tugboat 'Ocean Pierre Julien' christened at the Ocean Industries shipyard, Isle-aux-Coudres. The construction of this tug cost $ 10.6 million, and the vessel is the 3rd of the Intrépide series to be built at Ocean Industries.
Belize Court Stymies Offshore Drilling Plans
Belize's Supreme Court declared offshore drilling contracts issued by the Government of Belize (in 2004 and 2007) null and void. The ruling, handed down by Justice Oswell Legall , was in response to a case brought by Oceana, COLA, and the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage
U.S. National Ocean Policy Plan Released
The Obama Administration releases its final plan for translating the National Ocean Policy into on-the-ground actions to benefit the American people. With significant public input from a wide spectrum of individuals and interests, the final Implementation Plan focuses on improving coordination
Nor-Shipping 2013 Features Agenda Offshore Conference
Building on the success of its first offshore conference in 2011, Nor-Shipping will again host Agenda Offshore on June 5, signifying the importance of the maritime industry as it increasingly moves offshore to service the oil and gas industry.
U.S. Navy Names Research Vessel to Honor Sally Ride
U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the nation's newest research vessel will be named R/V Sally Ride, in honor of the former UC San Diego faculty member who was the first American female astronaut and the youngest American to fly in space. The ship is owned by the U.S