Offshore Unit
Norway Recognizes ABS MODU Rules
The maritime authority of Norway, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD), has extended its authorization to class society ABS to include Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO). This entitles ABS to class Norwegian-flagged rigs without having to perform additional safety equivalencies or a GAP analysis to meet Norwegian law. The additional annex to the existing agreement between NMD and ABS was signed the week of Feb. 23 in Haugesund, Norway by ABS President and COO Christopher J. Wiernicki and NMD Acting Director General of Shipping and Navigation Sigurd Gude. It marked a milestone for the world’s leading offshore classification society as this acceptance by the NMD means ABS has demonstrated that its requirements for MODUs offer equivalent levels of safety to those currently used by the NMD. This formal recognition is now reflected in ABS’ newly revised Guide for Mobile Offshore Units Operating on Norwegian Continental Shelf, N-Notation. The guide outlines the classification requirements for the (N) symbol, a design verification indicating the unit complies with applicable ABS Rules and or Guides plus compliance with the latest maritime technical requirements of Norway’s Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) as enforced by NMD.
IADC Recognizes GL Noble Denton Expert
The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) has recognized Mike Hoyle, one of GL Noble Denton's leading technical authorities for offshore oil and gas structures, for his contribution to new ISO Standards for the site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units. The IDAC Committee presented its Exemplary Service Award to Mr Hoyle in recognition of his role as leader of a dedicated International Standards Organization work group
Operational Management Program for Offshore Industry
ABS Nautical Systems LLC has released a new version of its advanced ABS SafeNet operational and management system software, developed to meet the needs of the offshore industry. The new system has been released as ABS SafeNet Offshore. ABS SafeNet Offshore is equally applicable to mobile and fixed units, to ship shaped drilling and production units, to spars, TLPs, semisubmersibles and platforms. "This is a very flexible program," says Jack Kitchura, president of ABS Nautical Systems
ABS - 60 Yrs in Brazilian Market
ABS has marked the 60th anniversary of its activities providing classification services to the Brazilian shipping and offshore industries with a dinner in Rio de Janeiro attended by luminaries from the Brazilian maritime community. Speaking at the dinner ABS Chairman and CEO Robert D. Somerville noted the significant expansion of the offshore, shipbuilding and shipowning sectors that is currently taking place in Brazil
Hydrex: Turnkey Solutions for the Offshore Industry
In the second half of 2010 Hydrex carried out a full inspection and removed all fouling from three drilling vessels in the Gulf of Mexico owned by Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling company. This was done to reduce the weight and drag of the vessels and increase their available deck load. Fully equipped and operational, all Hydrex offices are ready to mobilize immediately to carry out high quality and fast underwater cleaning operations or any other maintenance and
OSX Offshore Has Newbuildings in Brazil, Asian Shipyards
OSX offshore industry order book reaches 21 newbuilding units with latest order for two new well-head platforms (WHP) for Brazil construction OSX, an EBX Group Company of integrated solutions for offshore units and services, received an order from its anchor client OGX Petróleo e Gás for construction and charter of two new Wellhead Platforms, WHP-3 and WHP-4, pursuant to the Strategic Cooperation Agreement entered into by the companies.
IZAR Fene Shipyard Receives Order for LNG Barge
Norway's Statoil has ordered the construction of an LNG barge from IZAR Fene Shipyard to serve as support for a gas liquefaction plant. The LNG barge, scheduled to be completed in August 2003, will house on its deck about 24,000 tons of processing equipment for the plant, which will convert natural gas from the Snøhvit field into liquefied natural gas (LNG). About 70 cargoes of LNG per year will be shipped out from this floating plant.
Bureau Veritas: A New Meaning of Efficiency
Bureau Veritas says continuing pressure on environmental emissions, coupled with rising oil prices, puts a new focus on operational efficiency. Writing in the Bureau Veritas Marine Business Review 2011 Bernard Anne, managing director of BV’s Marine Division said, “Efficiency has to take on a new meaning. To be efficient means more than optimising a ship to burn less fuel when loaded and at its design service speed
RINA Publishes Gas Fuel Notation
Genoa-based verification, certification and ship classification group RINA has published a new notation GAS FUELLED SHIPS which establishes requirements for the use of liquefied or compressed natural gas (LNG or CNG) on board ship as an alternative to traditional fuels. It is designed to give the industry a regulatory tool to ensure that the arrangement and installation on board of machinery using this type of fuel are such as to provide a level of integrity
Solstad Ships Dock at Gibdock
Norway’s Solstad Offshore has returned to Gibdock for the conversion and drydocking of the 84m long, 4500 dwt Platform Support Vessel Normand Vester. This follows the conversion of the Normand Trym and Normand Vibran at the Gibraltar yard, successfully completed for the same owner last year. While the Normand Vester project is similar in scope to these earlier conversions, there are some differences. In this case
DNV Enhances Class Rules for Offshore Units
DNV has restructured its offshore classification rules for Mobile Offshore Units in order to improve transparency and enhance safety. “Our aim is to help the rig owner in the building process – to clearly show that the unit is constructed in compliance with reliability and safety
Lloyd’s Register Holds Offshore Technical Committee
Lloyd’s Register’s Global Technology Center in Singapore held its inaugural Offshore Technical Committee last week with representatives from national and international oil companies, EPC contractors, owners, operators, fabricators, shipbuilders
OTC Approves New Construction Rules
Two new Rule-sets approved at the first Offshore Technical Committee (OTC) held at LR's Global Technology Centre in Singapore. Lloyd's Register say that these two new rule-sets will be made public later this month (May 2013). The Floating Offshore Installations at a Fixed Location 2013 Rules and
DNV Sees 27% Annual Revenue Increase
DNV said its continued focus on safety and service quality and the ability to provide leading-edge technology advice and solutions contributed to its market and financial performance in 2012. The company reported that revenues increased by 27% compared to 2011
Shipping Deal Opens Market for BASSnet Software
Indonesia-based logistics and shipping company, PT Pelita Samudera Shipping (PT PSS) has chosen BASSnet software solutions to enhance the management of its highly valued shipping assets. Upgrading the efficiency of the well-known ship manning firm marks BASS’ foray into the
MARIN CD Propeller Series
The open water characteristics for a large systematic series of Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP) were recently measured at MARIN, including ducted propellers. Around the world people involved in ship and propeller design have been working with the open water thrust and torque
Matt Yacavone Joins Crowley
Matt Yacavone joins Crowley as Vice President of Sales and Chartering, Petroleum Services. He will be domiciled in the company's Jacksonville headquarters and report to Rob Grune, senior vice president and general manager, petroleum services.
DNV: Need for windfarm construction vessels growing rapidly
Dubai: 2013 marks the start of a period of rapid growth in the windfarm construction vessel market and it coincides with new operational demands that require careful consideration, particularly in the design of jack-up systems. DNV highlights the need for owners and yards to consider both
OSX: Full Speed Ahead on Mammoth Shipyard Project
Danilo Souza Baptista, OSX’s Director of Naval Construction, sat with MR Contributing Editor Claudio Paschoa at EBX Group’s new HQ in downtown Rio de Janeiro, in a meeting room overlooking Guanabara Bay with Sugar Loaf Mountain as a backdrop
OSBV Expand OAS Operations in Qatar
Offshore Solutions BV (OSBV), the joint venture between AMEC and Cofely Nederland NV was awarded a Variation Order (VO) to its existing contract with Qatar Shell GTL Limited (Shell Qatar) for a second Offshore Access System (OAS), bringing its operational units with oil and gas majors in the
A New Revision of DNV's Offshore Standard for ISDS
A new version of DNV’s offshore standard for Integrated Software Dependent Systems (ISDS) has been issued. DNV is experiencing increasing demand from the drilling market for this kind of service and has now established a separate dedicated section in order to better serve this
China Offshore Units to be Caterpillar Powered
Cat® 16CM32C generator sets selected to provide main power for a fixed platform & FPSO slated to operate in the Enping Oilfield. Four 16CM32C generator sets will be installed on the fixed drilling production platform; the remaining four will be installed on the FPSO
Drydocks World Launches Global Offshore Services
Drydocks World announced the launch of its Drydocks World - Global Offshore Services arm at a special ceremony organized at Dubai Maritime City, the new business units located in Fujairah and Dubai Maritime City and Drydocks Dubai.
First X-BOW Workboat to be Fitted With VSP
The infield support vessel (ISV) ‘Siem Moxie’ will be the first Ulstein X-BOW workboat to be fitted with two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP). X-BOW vessels are characterised by the absence of a bulbous bow. Their bow slopes backwards above the water line which results in reduced
DNV Supports Drydock Free Operation of Mobile Offshore Units
Moving MOUs to sheltered waters or drydock facilities for surveys is disruptive and expensive. Using the experience gained from several years of dealing with floating production units and surveying drilling units on location, DNV is now preparing a Recommended Practice (RP) to allow mobile