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Falkland Islands News

20 Feb 2024

ABB to Power First South American Built Hybrid-electric Polar Expedition Cruise Ship

(Image: Antarctica21)

ABB has been selected by the Astilleros y Servicios Navales S.A. (ASENAV) shipyard based in Chile to provide a power and propulsion system for Antarctica21’s newbuild boutique expedition ship Magellan Discoverer. Due for delivery in 2026, the vessel is the first hybrid-electric polar cruise ship featuring Azipod propulsion to be built in the Americas. Accommodating up to 96 passengers and 67 crew members, the vessel will be operating in the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and…

26 Jan 2023

Mark Heward Named Director at MITAGS

Mark Heward (Photo: MITAGS)

The Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) announced that Mark Heward has joined its team as Director. Heward came aboard with MITAGS in October 2022, after retiring from a 22-year active service career in the Royal Navy.“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Heward aboard as the Director of MITAGS. Mark’s underway time, leadership, management and training experience together with being fully STCW qualified and his continuing education experience are a rare combination,” said Eric Friend, MITAGS Executive Director.

25 Feb 2021

RRS James Clark Ross Makes Its Last Antarctic Call

Last call of the JCR at Rothera (Photo: Alex Wallace / BAS)

It's the end of an era for the U.K.'s RRS James Clark Ross, which made its final call to Rothera Research Station in Antarctic on February 19 after 30 years of service. British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said the polar research vessel will be sold at the end of the 2020/2021 Antarctic season and replaced by the newly built RRS Sir David Attenborough.Rothera was the RRS James Clark Ross’s final call of the ship’s five-and-a-half-month mission to deliver scientific and operational staff to Antarctica, and to resupply the U.K. stations in Antarctica for another year.

23 Feb 2020

Hurtigruten Makes History in Antarctica

MS Roald Amundsen, a battery-hybrid powered expedition cruise ship operated by Hurtigruten, has been exploring waters further south than any ship operated by the line in its 127-year history.The world's first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship crossed the Antarctic Circle and kept going, reaching the ice edge at 70 degrees south on Wednesday at 4:14 p.m. on February 19th Antarctica time."Our guests are thrilled! This is what Hurtigruten's expedition cruises are all about, pushing new frontiers and creating unique experiences for guests from all over the world. We are following in the footsteps of polar hero Roald Amundsen himself…

15 Aug 2019

Briggs Marine Gets SSE Hydro Contract

UK-based marine services company Briggs Marine Contractors (BMC) has been awarded a framework agreement for the underwater inspection and maintenance of SSE Hydro and thermal power generation sites.Under the contract, the company will provide services throughout Scotland and the United Kingdom for three years.The Briggs Marine Dive Team, who are approved for in-water inspection by ABS, Lloyds Register, and DNV-GL, has extensive experience working in remote and challenging locations and will be bringing their collective skills and knowledge to this contract by delivering a sustainable and cost effective solution to the client.Craig English…

22 Feb 2019

Australia Leads FPSO Deployment in AsiaPac

A total of 67 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSOs) vessels are expected to start operations globally by 2025, with Australia leading the Asia-Pacific region.Globally, 67 planned and announced FPSOs are expected to start operations between 2019 and 2025, revealed the report 'Q1 2019 Global FPSO Industry' by GlobalData.Of these, 26 are planned and 41 are announced and of these Australia will account for all FPSOs planned for deployment in Oceania during 2019-2025.In Oceania, all the five upcoming FPSOs-Barossa, Browse 1, Browse 2, Buffalo (Re-Development), and Crux-are announced FPSOs, it said.Woodside Browse Ltd. leads among operators with two upcoming FPSOs, which are expected to commence operations during the outlook period.

05 Feb 2019

UK Holds Maritime Seminar

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) yesterday (5th February) launched a five-day capacity building seminar to help UK Overseas Territories support safe maritime trade.The seminar, delivered as part of the Government’s Overseas Territories Seabed Mapping Programme, will focus on international regulations, with sessions on maritime safety information training, best practice governance and maritime law. This guidance, given by experts at both the UKHO and MCA, will help each of the 10 participating territories to comply with international obligations and share their own maritime safety information with ships operating in their waters.For these ships, this information, including up-to-date bathymetry (seabed mapping data), navigational warnings and observations, is essential to safe navigation.

19 Nov 2018

Argentine Submarine Found After Yearlong Search

(Photo: Ocean Infinity)

The Argentine Navy submarine that went missing a year ago off the country's Atlantic Coast was found by a private company involved in what had been a massive search for the vessel and its 44-member crew, the defense ministry said in a news conference on Saturday.The ARA San Juan submarine was discovered by marine tracking contractor Ocean Infinity, 907 meters (2,975 feet) below the ocean surface. The vessel was found in an underwater canyon with its tail partially "imploded," Argentina's Defense Minister Carlos Aguad said.Given the poor visibility at the site…

19 Jun 2018

Marlink Boosts VSAT Services for Indian Ocean Fishing Vessels

Marlink has boosted satellite capacity in the Indian Ocean and around the Falkland Islands with specific focus on delivering reliable, high bandwidth VSAT services to commercial fishing vessels.The new capacity is already enabling improved vessel and fleet operations and providing greater access to voice calling and Internet for crews on a number of Spanish tuna vessels in the Indian Ocean serviced by Marlink partner Nautical, while the extra bandwidth around the Falkland Islands has been put in place to meet a predicted spike in demand as more companies look for new fishing grounds.While delivering services direct to the end-user, Marlink also partners with leading satcom providers globally, such as Nautical, to deliver multi-band services to fishing fleets.

23 Jan 2018

All-Women Crew Circumnavigating the Globe

Indian vessel INSV Tarini entered Port Stanley, (Falkland islands on January 22, 2018 during it’s maiden voyage to circumnavigate the globe. This is the first-ever Indian circumnavigation of the globe by an all-women crew. The vessel is skippered by Lieutenant Commander Vartika Joshi, and the crew comprises Lieutenant Commanders Pratibha Jamwal, P Swathi, and Lieutenants S Vijaya Devi, B Aishwarya and Payal Gupta. Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister had flagged-off INSV Tarini from Goa on 10 September 2017. The vessel has covered approximately 15,000 Nautical miles from Goa, crossing the Equator on September 25, 2017, then Cape Leeuwin on November 9 and Cape Horn on January 18.

18 Jan 2018

BMT Hires Strategy Director Tomlinson

Guy Tomlinson (Photo: BMT)

BMT has appointed Guy Tomlinson as Group Capability and Strategy Director. Tomlinson joins BMT from QinetiQ where he led a 35-strong business development team as UK Sales Director. He brings to the role experience from across the maritime, defense, cyber and information and training domains, as well as leading on several sales and business development transformation programs. Prior to joining QinetiQ, Tomlinson served in the Royal Air Force for 23 years as an engineer officer, with operational tours in Iraq, Kosovo and the Falkland Islands.

14 Dec 2017

Argentinean Sub Chased by Helicopter before Vanishing

File photo: TR-1700 Class submarines San Juan and Santa Cruz (Photo: MartĂ­n Otero - Base Naval Mar del Plata (BNMP))

A family member of one of the sailors aboard missing Argentinean submarine ARA San Juan is claiming the vessel was chased by a British helicopter and a Chilean ship before it vanished in mid-November. Jessica Medina, the sister of one of the 44 submariners aboard the missing San Juan, told an Argentinean newspaper that she received mysterious WhatsApp messages from her brother Roberto Daniel prior to the sub’s disappearance that claimed San Juan was being chased while sailing near the Falkland Islands.

08 Dec 2017

Argentina Sticking with Submarine Program despite Disaster

Photo: Archivo Gaceta Marinera

Argentina and other South American countries are likely to maintain or increase their submarine programs despite the scrutiny that has followed the fatal loss of an Argentine sub in South Atlantic waters last month, defense specialists said. The disappearance of the ARA San Juan with 44 crew members aboard has put pressure on Argentine President Mauricio Macri to consider boosting spending for the military, including the country’s two remaining submarines. Military spending sharply decreased after the end of Argentina’s dictatorship in 1983.

07 Sep 2017

Haycock to Lead Business Development at BMT

Paul Haycock (Photo: BMT)

BMT Group subsidiary BMT Asset Performance has appointed Paul Haycock as Business Development Lead for Surface Systems. Haycock joins BMT after 35 years in the Royal Navy, serving on a variety of ships and in a diverse range of environments. A Warfare Officer and Lynx Helicopter Observer, Haycock’s sea time has ranged from Minesweepers on Fishery Protection duties to Frigates and Destroyers as a Bridge Watch Keeper, Ships Communications Officer, Flight Commander and Second in Command.

04 Mar 2017

Inside Brazil's Cruise Slump

Brazil is still attracting cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line, which is bringing a ship to Brazil for the first time in the 2016/2017 season. However, hard numbers do not bode well for the industry as the number of cruises dropped by more than half in four years, with a staggering 54 percent decrease in the number of regular cruise ships on the Brazilian coast. In 2012, the season had 15 regular ships, while this year there will be only seven, and the number of passengers boarding at Santos port will be 42 percent lower. The 2010/2011 season of cruises hit the record for ships on the Brazilian coast: 20. Since then, this number has fallen year on year…

22 Dec 2016

FORAN Signs Contract with NODOSA Shipyard

Photo: FORAN

The SENER engineering and technology group has signed a new contract with NODOSA SHIPYARD to install its FORAN CAD/CAM/CAE system to design and produce the shipyard's new projects. This contract covers installing permanent FORAN system licenses in all design disciplines (Hull Forms and Naval Architecture, Hull Structure, Machinery & Outfitting and Electrical). As part of this agreement, SENER will provide engineering services in addition to technical support and training. The system has been installed successfully in the shipyard's Marin factory…

14 Sep 2016

UK, Argentina to cooperate on Falklands oil and gas restrictions

Britain and Argentina have agreed to work together towards removing measures restricting the oil and gas industry, shipping and fishing around the disputed Falkland Islands, Britain's Foreign Office said on Wednesday. The two countries fought a war in 1982 over the British-run islands in the South Atlantic, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, and the issue has continued to cause tensions in the two countries' relationship. The Foreign Office said London and Buenos Aires had agreed their first positive statement about South Atlantic issues since 1999. It said the discussions that had taken place did not affect the sovereignty issue and Britain remained clear in its support of the islanders, the majority of whom want the islands to remain under British control.

05 Aug 2016

Is it a Ship or Iceberg?

Small iceberg off the port bow of Canadian Coast Guard ship Louis St-Laurent. (Photo: Canadian Coast Guard)

Developing the capability to discriminate between ships and icebergs in northern latitudes is a common interest shared by Canada’s Department of National Defense (DND) and the oil and gas industry. For DND, the focus is on ship detection for maritime security, whereas oil and gas companies are interested in detecting icebergs to ensure primarily the safety and also the productivity of offshore exploration and production operations. The Polar Epsilon and Polar Epsilon-2 applied…

13 Jan 2016

SBM Offshore Bags Premier Oil FPSO Contract

SBM Offshore informed that Premier Oil plc (Premier) has awarded the Company the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract for an FPSO for Phase 1 of its Sea Lion development in the North Falkland Basin. The 18-month contract awarded to SBM Offshore covers the FEED elements of the proposed FPSO. The asset will be a converted FPSO with a throughput capacity of approximately 85,000 barrels per day and will operate in 450 meters of water. The proposed Phase 1 Sea Lion project, operated by Premier with Rockhopper Exploration plc as the JV partner, is located 220 kilometers north of the Falkland Islands. This first phase is subject to final investment decision targeted for the end of the FEED in the second half of 2017.

13 Jan 2016

Premier Awards FPSO FEED Contract to SBM Offshore

SBM Offshore announced it has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract from Premier Oil plc for an FPSO for Phase 1 of its Sea Lion development in the North Falkland Basin. The 18-month contract awarded to SBM Offshore covers the FEED elements of the proposed FPSO. The asset will be a converted FPSO with a throughput capacity of approximately 85,000 barrels per day and will operate in 450 meters of water. The proposed Phase 1 Sea Lion project, operated by Premier with Rockhopper Exploration plc as the JV partner, is located 220 kilometers north of the Falkland Islands. This first phase is subject to final investment decision targeted for the end of the FEED in the second half of 2017.

13 Feb 2016

Premier Oil and Rockhopper Abandon Ocean Rig Contract

Two of the major British players in Falkland Islands offshore oil development, Premier Oil and Rockhopper Exploration, cancelled a joint venture contract with Ocean Rig UDW. In June 2014, the companies entered into a contract with Ocean Rig for the provision of the Eirik Raude for an exploration drilling campaign in the Falkland Islands. However, following a number of material "operational issues" with the rig, Premier and Noble Energy issued a termination notice to Ocean Rig on Thursday, terminating the contract with immediate effect. "As a result, Premier will no longer be drilling the Chatham exploration well during the current campaign.

16 Feb 2016

Ocean Rig Loses Two Drilling Contracts

Ocean Rig UDW Inc., a global provider of offshore deepwater drilling services, announced  that two of its drilling contracts have been terminated. The Nasdaq-listed drilling affiliate of DryShips said that Total E&P Congo has terminated its long-term charter of the ultra-deepwater drillship Ocean Rig Apollo, which is currently deployed in Congo and will be demobilised “in due course”. As per the contract Ocean Rig is entitled to a termination fee that varies from 50% to 95% of the operating daily rate that will be payable over the balance of the contract. The Ocean Rig Apollo will demobilize from Congo in due course and is available for alternative employment.

25 Apr 2016

BigOceanData Provides VMS to Falkland Islands

Photo courtesy of BigOceanData

BigOceanData has been awarded a contract to provide the Government of the Falkland Islands with its vessel monitoring system (VMS) capability for another five years. For the first time the system will include AIS data, which will be integrated with existing Inmarsat tracking data from the fishing vessels. BigOceanData has been supplying the Falkland Islands government with its vessel monitoring system (VMS) for over 10 years. The system is based on an in-house client/server enterprise IT system and Inmarsat cooperative tracking.