Torch Offshore

Torch Offshore Announces Shipyard Conversion Contract

Torch Offshore, Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Torch Express L.L.C., has entered into a contract with Davie Maritime Inc. of Quebec, Canada for the conversion of the Midnight Express at a cost of approximately $37.0 million. The total cost of the entire conversion project, including anticipated financial costs, will be between $80.0 million and $90.0 million. The 520-foot LASH (heavy transport) vessel will be converted into a DP-2 offshore construction vessel with the capability to work in varying water depths throughout the world. The Midnight Express has been at the Davie Maritime shipyard since April 2002 where the functional design was being performed. Some of the conversion work will begin immediately; however, the complete contract will not become effective until various conditions are satisfied, including arrangements for the required debt financing for the project. Torch Offshore, Inc. Chairman and CEO, Lyle G. Stockstill, commented, "We have worked very closely with the management of Davie Maritime and their technical staff for several months and we are pleased with their professionalism and the way in which they have tackled the project. We are confident that the personnel of Davie Maritime will do a good job with the conversion of the Midnight Express. The current schedule should put the Midnight Express in the water and ready for work in the fourth quarter of 2003

Feature: Staying the Course

Torch Offshore LLC is a Gretna, La-based integrated offshore contractor whose niche market is the installation of small diameter flow lines and related infrastructure on the Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In 2002, the company had revenues of $68 million, laying 227 miles of pipe. Torch Offshore operates a fleet of nine vessels that lay the pipe and/or support this activity. The company is in the process of converting two large vessels that will give the company the ability

Explosion at Russian Shipyard Kills One

An explosion on a decommissioned nuclear submarine being cut up for scrap metal at a northern Russian shipyard killed at least one person and seriously injured another, an emergency official said Monday. According to the Associated Press, the blast at the Zvyozdochka plant on the White Sea took place at 8:32 a.m. aboard a submarine that had already been stripped of its nuclear fuel and reactors, said Igor Grigoriyev, a spokesman for the Emergency Situations Ministry in the Arkhangelsk

Market Report: When Will the Turn Around Come?

By Larry Pearson It seems to be a soap opera without an end. "It is crazy…makes no sense at all," is a common observation. If you are in the oil and gas business, the number one question is, "When is the drilling going to pickup?" It is a question without an answer…at least through the first quarter of 2004. "Normally when prices are low and oil rises about $25 a barrel and gas goes above $2.50 per million cubic foot, everybody goes back to work," noted Roy Breaux, Jr

Wojtaszczyk Joins Bisso Marine

Bisso Marine announced the addition of Andy Wojtaszczyk. Wojtaszczyk joins the company as Subsea Services project manager, managing saturation diving and ROV operations. Prior to joining Bisso Marine, Wojtaszczyk served as ROV superintendent in Equatorial Guinea for Bienvenue Consulting Services/Hess Corporation and ROV project manager for Offshore Innovative Solutions, Inc. Before that, he was SAT superintendent aboard the DPII DSV Midnight Hunter for Torch Offshore, Inc.

Fendercare's Rowlands Cares for Olympic Torch

On Wednesday July 4, Paul Rowlands, Marketing Executive for Fendercare Marine was given the honor of being an official Olympic Torchbearer and carrying the flame through Fakenham, Norfolk. Paul was nominated to carry the torch in recognition of his fundraising efforts, following the death of his daughter, Alice at just 15 days old in 2007.   Alice was born six weeks early and with a rare liver condition, neonatal hemochromatosis

Gulf Of Mexico Rig Count Declines

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico rig count declined for the first time in four weeks, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. This week, 149 of the 191 rigs deployed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico are under contract, two less than were under contract last week. U.S. Gulf offshore rig utilization now stands at 78.0 percent. The European offshore rig count declined by one rig, the result of a contracted rig moving out of the area

U.S. Offshore Rig Count Increases

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore rig count increased for the third consecutive week, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. Today, the U.S. Gulf rig count stands at 151, a one-rig increase since last week. Total fleet size is unchanged at 191 rigs. Fleet utilization this week is 79.1 percent. The European offshore rig count is unchanged from last week. Of the 107 mobile offshore drilling rigs deployed in the area

Gulf Of Mexico Rig Count Increases

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico offshore rig count continues to rebound, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. This week, 149 of the 191 mobile offshore drilling rigs in the U.S. Gulf are under contract, a four-rig increase over last week's week count and a seven-rig increase on a month-to-month basis. U.S. Gulf rig fleet utilization this week is 78.0 percent. The European offshore rig count continues to decline

Worldwide/U.S. Gulf Rig Counts Rise

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico and worldwide offshore rig counts increased since last week, while the European offshore rig count was unchanged, according to Offshore Data Services' weekly mobile offshore rig count. The worldwide offshore rig count increased by five compared to last week. This week, 471 of world's 631 mobile offshore drilling units are under contract. Worldwide offshore rig utilization is 74.6 percent. The U.S