South China

US Restrain China GofM Aspirations

CNOOC, China's largest offshore oil and natural gas producer, barred from outright opeation of recently acquired Gulf of Mexico oilfields. The oilfields were acquired by CNOOC through its US$15-billion takeover of Canadian firm Nexen. The state-owned oil giant's purchase of Nexen includes about 200 deep-water leases in the Gulf, however the company has surrendered operating control of them to quell US national security concerns, reports the South China Morning Post, noting that the requirements contrast with approvals for state-owned companies including Norway's Statoil and Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro to control drilling and production in the Gulf. CNOOC will still own the assets and be allowed some general oversight, as well as to collect revenue from the properties, but with the status of a 'non-operator'. Source: South China Morning Post    

CNOOC in Teams up with F&G

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) will tie up with US engineering design firm Friede & Goldman to develop China's first deep-water semi-submersible drill platform. CNOOC said the two companies signed a contract in late November and will jointly hold intellectual property rights put into the new rig. The rig is expected to cost about 4.5 bln yuan and will be delivered to CNOOC in October 2010 for use in the South China Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa, among other locations

Cnooc - $29b S China Sea Exploration

According to a Nov. 24 Bloomberg report, Cnooc Ltd. and its partners may spend about $29b to develop fuel deposits in the South China Sea in the nation's biggest push to tap reserves off the coast. The investments between next year and 2020 include an estimated $2.2b by parent China National Offshore Oil Corp. to build deepwater drilling equipment. (Source: Bloomberg)

Tanker Crew Robbed in Latest Piracy Attack

According to a Sept. 24 report from United Press International, Asia, armed pirates boarded a tanker in the South China Sea, assaulted a crew member and robbed the rest of the crew. The six pirates were armed with knives and machetes as they boarded the Singapore-registered Prospect, the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) said. The ship carrying liquefied petroleum gas was boarded just off Anambas Island.

Hijacked Tug Recovered, Pirates Arrested

The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre issued an Incident Report stating that the tug Asta, which was hijacked in the South China Sea on Feb. 7, has been found and recovered in the area of Surigao City in the Philippines. Seven suspected pirates are currently in custody. The Chief Engineer, who was taken with the tug, has also been found alive. (2/26/10). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

This Day in Naval History – May 25 & 26

May 26 1944 - USS England sinks fifth Japanese submarine in one week 1952 - Tests from 26-29 May demonstrate feasibility of the angled-deck concept conducted on simulated angled deck on USS Midway 1990 - USS Beaufort rescues 24 Vietnamese refugees in South China Sea May 27 1813 - American joint operations against Fort George, Canada 1919 - Navy NC-4 completes trans-Atlantic flight from Newfoundland to Lisbon, Portugal

MOL Enhances Asia-South Africa Service Network

TOKYO—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL ) today announced the upgrade of its Asia-South Africa network with the two following changes:   MOL will meet customer needs by providing high-quality direct services and by providing variety of port coverage continuously.  MOL will join  new Asia and South Africa Service (ASA). Opening of the new route, linking Central and South China, Taiwan, South East Asia and South Africa, will start on April 8, 2012.  

Expro Expanding South China Sea Service

New base in Shekou positions Expro to capitalise in the South China Sea. International oilfield services company Expro officially opened its new operations base in China, on February 2, in the company of key clientele and senior Expro management. The base in the Shekou industrial zone will have a workforce made up of both operational and support employees that will be responsible for servicing operations in the South China Sea

CNOOC Building Deep-sea Drilling Rig

China will finish its first deep-sea drilling rig with a maximum working depth of three kilometers by 2011, a spokesman for China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) said. The maximum drilling depth will reach 12 kilometers, which means it can operate in deep-water regions in the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. The project, with a total investment of $599m, will be carried out by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co. under China State Shipbuilding Corporation

New 328-ft. Rescue Ship Unveiled

A new rescue ship was added to maritime service in the coastal city of South China. Designed and built in China, Nanhaijiu 101 is said to be the largest, fastest and the most powerful rescue ship in the country. It has two engines that can generate 14,000 kW, 6,000 kW more than the capacity of the any other ship in the fleet. The 328-ft. long vessel can rescue up to 200 people, and has landing space for helicopters. It can fight fires, tow ships and search for vessels at night.