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Seismic Vessel News

04 Oct 2022

Argeo Charters Argeo Searcher Vessel

Credit: Argeo

Argeo, a Norwegian autonomous underwater vehicle provider, has signed a 5-year bareboat contract for the vessel Argeo Searcher (former Ocean Pearl), with an option to purchase the vessel for $2 million after 12 months and $1 million after 27 months. The vessel is expected to be delivered to the company on December 10, 2022."The international expansion of Argeo means contracts are significantly larger, with longer duration, and therefore require predictability in our operational value chain.

04 Oct 2022

Shearwater to Introduce Deepwater Dual-ROV OBN Deployment Vessel

Credit: Shearwater GeoServices

Marine seismic survey services specialist Shearwater GeoServices is set to introduce its first dual ROV seismic vessel, which the company says will be equipped with a broad scope of operational capabilities. "Designed to deploy ocean bottom nodes in both deep and shallow water, the vessel will also be able to provide high-quality source for surveys and conduct towed streamer surveys," Shearwater said.The dual ROV vessel, under Shearwater ownership and management, is expected to be available in the second quarter of 2023 following a conversion of the SW Tasman multipurpose vessel.

21 Mar 2022

Eidesvik Offshore Nets Bareboat Charter of 'Veritas Viking'

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Eidesvik Offshore said Friday it had won a contract for its Veritas Viking seismic vessel.The deal, with an undisclosed client, is for a bareboat charter for 100 days with options for extensions. The 93,4 meters long vessel was built in 1998."The vessel will be mobilized from its current location at Bømlo and is scheduled to commence the bareboat contract ultimo April 2022," Eidesvik Offshore said.

02 Mar 2022

Shearwater Sells Seismic Vessel Quartet for Recycling

Polar Marquis - Credit: Shearwater GeoServices

Offshore seismic services company Shearwater GeoServices said Tuesday it was divesting the four seismic survey vessels Polar Marquis, Oceanic Challenger, SW Emerald, and SW Eagle for recycling as part of its fleet renewal strategy.The first two vessels, Polar Marquis and Ocean Challenger, have been delivered in Turkey for recycling in accordance with EU regulations and the 2009 Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, Shearwater GeoServices said.SW Emerald - Credit: Shearwater GeoServicesThe further two vessels…

15 Sep 2021

CGG Extends Seismic Vessel Deal with Shearwater in Brazil

Shearwater GeoServices has won a six-month contract extension with seismic data firm CGG on its Nebula survey offshore Brazil and is nearing completion of work for CGG on its North Viking Graben survey.Shearwater has previously conducted work for the extensive Nebula survey in the Campos and Santos basins and the announced extension will run to the end of 2021.“We are pleased with this extension in this very promising exploration area, adding more work to Oceanic Sirius and to our overall backlog”, said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater.In the North Sea, Shearwater's Amazon Conqueror vessel has recently completed its work for CGG on the North Viking Graben survey, where the SW Amundsen vessel continues.

10 Jun 2021

Shearwater GeoServices Recycles Seismic Vessel

 Western Trident -Credit:Shearwater

Marine seismic contractor Shearwater GeoServices has sold the seismic vessel Western Trident for recycling as part of the company’s fleet renewal strategy.The vessel has been delivered in Turkey for recycling. In late 2020, Shearwater also sold the CGG Alize vessel to be repurposed outside of the seismic industry.Shearwater said the vessel sales, coupled with the company's recent acquisition of six modern seismic vessels, forms part of Shearwater’s fleet renewal strategy to replace older and less efficient units.

29 Sep 2020

Sovcomflot Returns Seismic Vessel to Polarcus

Ivan Gubkin - Credit: Sovcomflot

Russian firm Sovcomflot has returned the offshore seismic vessel Ivan Gubkin to its owner Polarcus.The 14-streamer 3D seismic vessel - originally named Polarcus Amani - had been on a charter with Sovcomflot since 2017 and should've stayed with Sovcomflot for five and a half years.However, the two companies earlier this month agreed for Sovcomflot to extend the contract for Polarcus' other seismic vessel the Vyacheslav Tikhonov - which has worked for SCF since 2011 - and shorten…

14 Aug 2020

Erdogan: Turkey will Retaliate to Any Attack on Seismic Vessel in Mediterranean

Turkish Navy vessels escorting the Oruc Reis seismic vessel - Credit: Turkish Defense Ministry

President Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece on Friday that Turkey will retaliate against any attack on its survey vessel Oruc Reis in the eastern Mediterranean in an escalating row between the NATO allies over gas and oil exploration in the region.Turkey and Greece are vehemently at odds over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources in the region, and tensions rose after Ankara launched exploration operations in a disputed area of the Mediterranean on Monday. On Thursday, Erdogan…

17 Jul 2020

Polarcus Nadia on the Move after Long Layup

Polarcus' seismic vessel Polarcus Nadia is on the move, after more than five years in lay-up in the Netherlands, according to information released Friday by Dutch Marine Contractors.The Polarcus Nadia, delivered in 2010, was cold stacked by Polarcus in early 2015 during the previous oil price downturn, in a move to cut operating costs, with little hope it would be reactivated soon. The former CEO Rod Starr said at the time that it cost around $1.6 million per year to cold-stack the vessel, and, up to $40 million to reactivate it.The Polarcus Nadia has been in layup ever since, with limited info on the vessel since the cold-stacking.Dutch Marine Contractors on Friday said: "After a few years of layup, MV Polarcus Nadia departed this morning from Amsterdam to Norway.

29 Jun 2020

Navalrocha Shipyard Active Despite COVID-19

(Photo: Navalrocha Shipyard)

Portugal’s Navalrocha Shipyard is reporting a flurry of activity in 2020 as it navigates the COVID-19 outbreak and prepares for a packed order book in the coming months.Navalrocha commercial director Sergio Rodrigues said the shipyard had recorded several landmarks during a highly memorable period in its history, completing its first multimillion Euro refit for a seismic survey vessel before managing its first ballast water treatment system (BWTS) installation.The projects were accompanied by a series of other deals involving bunker tankers…

16 Apr 2020

Chinese Seismic Vessel Seen Moving Near Malaysia Amid Rising South China Sea Tensions

Image Credit: China Geologic Survey (File Photo)

A Chinese government survey ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels moved south near Malaysia, shipping data showed Thursday, amid accusations that China is using the pandemic to assert its presence in the South China Sea.The Haiyang Dizhi 8 was spotted off Vietnam this week, returning after being closely tracked last year in the resource-rich waters, a potential global flashpoint as the United States challenges China's sweeping maritime claims.The ship appeared to have started a survey in waters 352 kilometers (218 miles) off the coasts of Brunei and Malaysia on Thursday…

14 Apr 2020

Chinese Seismic Vessel Returns to Waters off Vietnam Amid Virus 'Distraction' Charges

A Chinese ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels last year has returned to waters near Vietnam as the United States accused China of pushing its presence in the South China Sea while other claimants are pre-occupied with the coronavirus.Vietnamese vessels last year spent months shadowing the Chinese Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey vessel in resource-rich waters that are a potential global flashpoint as the United States challenges China's sweeping maritime claims.On Tuesday, the ship, which is used for offshore seismic surveys, appeared again 158 km (98 miles) off Vietnam's coast, within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), flanked by at least one China Coast Guard vessel…

30 Jan 2020

Polarcus Seismic Vessel Refit Completed

(Photo: Navalrocha)

Portugal’s Navalrocha shipyard said it has completed a multimillion-euro repair and refit project for Dubai-based marine geophysical company Polarcus.The drydock project which completed in January 2020 involved a broad package of work to the ultra-modern 14 streamer 3D/4D seismic vessel – Polarcus Naila.The vessel is environmentally advanced with diesel-electric propulsion, high specification catalytic converters, a double hull and advanced bilge water cleaning system.“The Polarcus Naila visited Navalrocha shipyard for a total of 33-days running through the Christmas period…

17 Apr 2019

JAPEX Begins Drilling at Offshore Hokkaido

Japanese hydrocarbon exploration, production and transportation company, Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., Ltd. (JAPEX) has started the exploratory drilling at offshore Hidaka area of Hokkaido.The drilling job is a part of the offshore exploration project commissioned by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (ANRE).This project is aiming to evaluate the presence of oil and natural gas resources in the area based on the analysis to be conducted through the result from this exploration well.The location of the exploration well is approximately 50 kilometers offshore of Hidaka area of Hokkaido with the depth of approximately 1…

01 Apr 2019

Ocean Geo-Frontier Tallies Survey Contract

(Photo: PGS)

New joint venture company Ocean Geo-Frontier (OGF) on Monday signed a consignment service agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) for geophysical surveys to be conducted by a three-dimensional geophysical survey vessel.OGF was established in December 2018 to meet an expected demand increase for offshore surveys after Japan’s Cabinet Office approved the Third Basic Plan on Ocean Policy for the development of domestic resources, including oil and gas…

15 Mar 2019

Seismic Shoot Offshore South Africa Begins

Africa Energy Corp., an oil and gas company with exploration assets offshore South Africa and Namibia, has announced the start of a new 3D marine seismic acquisition programme over the Paddavissie Fairway on Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa.The Brulpadda discovery is located on Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua Basin 175 kilometers off the southern coast of South Africa. The block covers an area of 19,000 square kilometers with water depths ranging from 200 to 1,800 meters.Jan Maier, Africa Energy's VP Exploration, said:  "We are pleased to announce the initiation of a 3D seismic program with Polarcus to better define prospects within Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa.

20 Dec 2018

Damen: Tandem Seismic Vessel Repairs in Amsterdam

Photo: Damen

Sister-ships Oceanic Sirius and Oceanic Vega have completed a round-the-clock, 10-day maintenance program at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm). For eight of those days the two 106-meter vessels were in the yard’s 250-meter drydock no.4 in a tandem arrangement to maximize the efficiency of the yard's resources.The twin SX120 type seismic research vessels were built by Ulstein Verft in Norway are owned by CGG Eidesvik Ship Management AS, a joint venture between Eidesvik Offshore and CGG.

18 Nov 2018

PGS Offers Seismic Vessel to Japan

Norwegian seismic services provider Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS) has offered to sell the Ramform Sterling vessel to the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC).The seismic services that help oil companies to find oil and gas reserves offshore worldwide said in a press release that it had been informed that JOGMEC, an incorporated administrative agency of Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, is the preferred tenderer and that negotiations would be initiated with the aim of concluding necessary contracts."PGS has now been informed that the Company is the preferred tenderer, and negotiations will be initiated with the aim of concluding necessary contracts. A final award to PGS will only take place if and when all contracts have been concluded.

13 Nov 2018

SeaBird Takes Delivery of Seismic Vessel from CGG

Norwegian seismic surveyor SeaBird Exploration said it had taken delivery of the Geowave Voyager from France's CGG, and the vessel has been renamed Eagle Explorer.The vessel was acquired fully rigged with 40km streamer and dual source, for $17 million and a NOK 120 million private placement.As part of the purchase agreement, SeaBird will have a preferred supplier status with CGG when using the Eagle Explorer.SeaBird and CGG have entered into a 160-day contract for the vessel, operating as a source vessel, with options for CGG to extend.The vessel will go to work starting in December, after completing class renewal.

15 Jul 2018

Court Dismisses Claim against Armada Seismic Invest II

The Supreme Court has dismissed claims of EUR 9 mln (USD 10.51 mln) from Norway's PGS Geophysical (UK) Limited against Armada Seismic Invest II AS in connection with the delivery of 3D seismic vessel Polar Duchess, said a press release from GC Rieber Shipping ASA. The Norwegian shipping company that operates offshore subsea support vessels said in a stock exchange annoucement: "Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement 29 May 2018, where it was announced that PGS had appealed Gulating Court of Appeal`s decision in PGS claim of approx. "The dispute has now been adjudicated by the Supreme Court`s appeals committee, which has rendered its decision. The Supreme Court's appeal committee ruled in favor of Armada and the claim against Armada has been dismissed," it added.

12 Jul 2018

SeaBird Exploration Acquires Geowave Voyager

SeaBird Exploration announced it is in an exclusive process to acquire the seismic vessel Geowave Voyager and certain seismic equipment from Exploration Vessel Resources II AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of CGG S.A., for a cash consideration of $17 million.SeaBird intends to carry out a private placement of new shares in the company raising gross proceeds of minimum NOK 80 million and maximum of NOK 120 million. The subscription price  in the Private Placement will be determined through an accelerated book-building process. The net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used to finance the Transaction and for general corporate purposes.The company is currently in an exclusive process with CGG to acquire the seismic vessel Geowave Voyager…

06 Jun 2018

Polarcus Scoops 3D Marine Seismic Project

Seismic vessel owner Polarcus Limited said it has been awarded an XArray 3D marine seismic acquisition project.The project duration is for up to 10 vessel months and is expected to commence in Q3 2018, providing backlog for two vessels throughout Q4 2018 and in to Q1 2019.

04 Jun 2018

Polarcus Names Oestergaard COO

(Photo: Polarcus)

Seismic vessel owner Polarcus Limited has appointed Lars Oestergaard as chief operating officer effective immediately. He will lead the company’s geophysical, operations and sales teams as well as the EHSQ department.Oestergaard joins Polarcus from Maersk Drillingm, where he held a number of operational and commercial roles, most recently as chief commercial officer.Oestergaard has been awarded 350,000 performance share units and 150,000 restricted share units under the Company's 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan. He currently holds no shares in the company.

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