Dirty Oil News

Asian countries remain the lead destinations for Russian vacuum gasoil (VGO) and fuel oil exports after the European Union's embargo, traders said and Refinitiv data showed. "Pretty stable flows for refining and bunkering", one trader said. According to Refinitiv data, China and India, which became main importers of embargoed Russian oil, were respectively accounting for about 2.6 million tonnes and 2.1 million tonnes of exports of dirty oil products from Russian ports since the start of the year…

The European Union's full embargo of Russian oil products came into effect on Feb. 5, but data from traders and Refinitiv show that the bulk of Russia's fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO) is already being shipped to other regions, mostly in Asia.In January, less than 5% of Russian fuel oil and VGO was shipped to EU countries, including some 100,000 tonnes to Agioi Theodoroi in Greece, about 80,000 tonnes to the Latvian port of Ventspils and 30,000 tonnes - to the Italian port of Augusta."No need to say…

The inland waterway system, flowing through the United States heartland, is a microcosm of all that has been happening in 2020: trade tensions, infrastructure issues, shifting trends in fuel consumption and the pandemic that has gripped us since the winter months. Shortly after the initial coronavirus outbreak here in the U.S., maritime workers were deemed to be “essential”, paving the way for cargo flows to recover from their springtime nadir. As COVID-19 infections turned up on U.S. shores, the boats continued plying the waterways, albeit with reduced volumes in some cases.

A  1,600-horsepower towboat delivered to Harvey, La.-based operator L&L Marine Transportation in June is now operational with a full range of Thordon oil-free and grease-free bearings.Designed by Entech, the 65-foot twin-screw towboat Amelia Ray is purpose-built by Rodriquez Shipbuilding in Coden, Ala. for the transportation of petrochemicals along all inland and coastal waters in the southern states of the U.S.In addition to newest towboat addition, L&L Marine operates the 2,000-horsepower Melissa Lee and three 1,200-horsepower vessels Angela Rae, Myrna Ann and Madeleine Michelle.

Ocean Tankers, the provider oil tanker shipping and chartering services to oil companies and trading houses, has ordered six handy-sized tankers to be built at the Chinese shipbuilding facility Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding, said a report in Reuters. The report said that the Singapore based tanker company has placed the order for an undisclosed sum as the company renews and expands its fleet and ships are expected to be delivered by 2020. The order is for 23,500-deadweight tonne (dwt) tankers that can carry crude, clean or dirty oil products, to be delivered in stages by the end of the decade. The latest order brings the total number of new vessels that Ocean Tankers has ordered to 28, with 12 more optional units. Ocean Tankers has a modern fleet of more than 100 oil tankers of various sizes.

Where commercial marine and safety considerations allide with recreational and other peripheral agendas, the discussion can sometimes be contentious. One such example of this reality is now playing out on the Hudson River in New York. On June 9, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard published a three-page Federal Register notice, seeking public comments on a proposal suggesting new anchorage grounds in the Hudson River, from Yonkers to Kingston, N.Y. Officially, this was an advance notice of proposed rulemaking…

Alaska Longline, LLC, and Alaska Ship & Drydock (ASD) will christen the F/V Arctic Prowler on Oct. 5, 2013. The ceremony for the new 136 ft. freezer longliner will be held at the Ketchikan Shipyard in Ketchikan, Alaska. F/V Arctic Prowler, the first large commercial fishing vessel to be built in Alaska, is an Ocean going Factory Longliner, capable of processing and storing catch aboard. The vessel is to be Load Lined and classed by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and will be U.S. flagged. The design shall comply with all applicable U.S. Coast Guard and Class Society stability requirements.

High fuel prices, increasing emissions regulations and environmental concerns are driving fleets to cut expenses, emissions and waste disposal using new filter technology. With ship fleets facing spiraling fuel prices and new tougher environmental regulations from the EPA and IMO, fleet managers have had to look for new technology to control costs and emissions. One of the most promising areas to considerably cut spending while meeting all EPA and IMO regulations is reducing maintenance costs and waste production/disposal with reusable lubrication filter technology.

Vroon Offshore Services contracted by BP for emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) services on the UK continental shelf. Netherlands' Vroon say that these services will be undertaken by A- and B-Class field-support vessels and a platform-supply vessel. In due course one of the field-support vessels will be replaced by a newbuilding vessel currently under construction for Vroon in China (see artist’s impression). Mark Hardie, BP’s UK Logistics Infrastructure Manager, said…

In April 2012, the Starnav Perseus, the first of four GPA 688SC PSVs (PETROBRAS PSV 4500) was launched at Brazilian shipyard Detroit Brasil Ltda., a subsidiary of Detroit Chile. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm Guido Perla & Associates, Inc. (GPA) provided the Basic/Class Design and Detailed Construction Engineering after successfully competing in PETROBRAS’ demanding bidding process with a cost-efficient, technically convincing design. Throughout the design and engineering process…

On January 4, 2011, Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc. of East Boothbay, Maine began construction of a 93-ft by 38-ft, 6,000 hp Z-Drive tug for Moran Towing Corporation of New Canaan, Conn. Washburn & Doughty is building the vessel to its newest in-house design based upon the yard’s previous 92-ft by 32-ft design, of which there are 22 tugs in operation. The increased length and beam will allow for increased horsepower while maintaining the maneuvering characteristics and handling capabilities.

On September 1, 2010, Washburn & Doughty Associates, Inc. delivered the Mary Ann Moran, a 121 ft x 36 ft x 18 ft Intercon Tug, to Moran Towing Corporation. Designed by Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering Corp., Mary Ann Moran is the fourth vessel built by Washburn & Doughty to this design and delivered to Moran Towing. According to the vessel’s captain, Mr. Jake Jarrell, “I can say that this boat is by far one of the best vessels I have ever had the pleasure of working on in over 30 years in the industry.

Bisso Towboat Co., Inc. announced the delivery of its new 4,000 HP ASD tractor tug Michael S. Constructed at Main Iron Works, Houma, LA, the 100 by 38 by 13.5-ft Michael S. is powered by two Cat 3516B main engines, producing 2,000 hp each at 1,600 RPM, which drive two Ulstein-Aquamaster US205 MK2 z-drives. The Z-drives feature 90.6 inch diameter by 82.4 inch pitch four blade stainless steel propellers set in stainless steel nozzles and the estimated bollard pull is 60 tons. Electrical service is provided by a pair of 99 KW Marathon Mariner generators powered by John Deere 6068TFM76 engines. Deck equipment includes a Markey DYSF-42 hydraulic bow winch equipped with 500 ft of eight inch circumference Plasma line and a Washington Chain and Supply RSRH100 100-ton quick release tow hook.

A routine oil and filter change in the tight quarters of the engine room onboard a boat is normally a messy and awkward job. Buckets of used lube oil and filter cartridges must be lugged up the narrow galley stairs for disposal and new oil and filters must be carried down the stairs, all in the short time while the boat is in dock for maintenance. Boston Harbor Cruises found that Alfa Laval's Eliminator, an automatic self-cleaning filter system installed in combination with Cummins' Centinel system in its high-speed catamarans, saved $2,100 per engine per year in oil, filter and labor costs. With a total of three boats, each with four engines, equipped with the Eliminator, Boston Harbor Cruises save a total of $25,200 per year.

The recently developed Damen ASD Tug 2411 is a real push-pull ASD Tug, designed primarily for working over the bow. This tug is a powerful 4,200 kW vessel that develops a bollard pull of around 70,000 kg; full ahead to full astern in a ship's length, turning around in 10 seconds. With the introduction of the Damen ASD Tug 2411, Damen Shipyards has put a new type of port tug on the market: very compact, with an enormous bollard pull. The prototype of this boat (yard number 512201) was built at Damen Shipyards Changde in China for stock and as a demonstration model, but before delivery the boat was sold to an Australian shipping company and named Barunga.

European plans drawn up in the wake of the Erika accident to crack down on aging tankers could endanger shippers' ability to supply oil to the continent, shipping analysts said. Detailed plans put to European Union transport ministers last week were stiffer than early outline proposals, they said. "Europe may not be able to guarantee oil supply because it has suddenly moved the goalposts," one tanker analyst who asked not to be identified said. The EU proposals demand that all single hull crude tankers above 20,000 deadweight tons and product carriers over 30,000 dwt should not be able to enter European ports after January 1, 2010. In February the EU issued outline proposals indicating it would follow the U.S.

European plans drawn up in the wake of the Erika accident to crack down on aging tankers could endanger shippers' ability to supply oil to the continent, shipping analysts said. Detailed plans put to European Union transport ministers last week were stiffer than early outline proposals, they said. The EU proposals demand that all single hull crude tankers above 20,000 deadweight tons and product carriers over 30,000 dwt should not be able to enter European ports after January 1, 2010. Although the EU said in February that it would follow the U.S. Oil Pollution Act (OPA), enacted in 1990, and give operators until 2015 to upgrade their fleets to double-hulled vessels, European plans have now opted for a cutoff five years earlier than the American laws.

Thoma-Sea Boatbuilders Inc., Houma, La., launched the first of two new 150-ft. offshore supply vessels (OSVs) it is building for Massie Towing of Houma. The vessels were designed by Frank Basil of Intech & Associates, also of Houma. The first vessel, M1, entered service in mid-June, and the second vessel is scheduled to launch in December 2000. Massie will operate both vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Propulsion power for the two new OSVs comes from twin Cat 3508EUI marine engines, each rated 905 bhp (675 bkW) at 1,600 rpm. The electronic unit injected 3508s drive Bird Johnson 72 x 59 in. propellers through Twin Disc 5:1 gears, providing a service speed of 14 knots.

Seacraft Shipyard Corporation of Amelia, La., delivered M/V Contender, a 140-ft. aluminum oilfield crewboat. M/V Contender represents the new generation of aluminum oilfield crewboat, designed and built to transport and support the oilfield industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Designed in house, the vessel is certified for Gulf of Mexico Service by the United States Coast Guard and the American Bureau Shipping via loadline standards. The vessel is certified to carry 140 long tons of deck cargo located on the large aft deck measuring 70 x 18-ft. The vessel is equipped to transfer 20,938 gallons of rig water and 11,500 gallons of fuel. The vessel is also equipped to carry 7,776 gallons of ship’s fuel and 1,500 gallons of potable water.

The evolution of liftboats took a giant leap forward when Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., delivered the L/B MYRTLE, a 137.5-ft. liftboat to Montco Offshore, Inc., Golden Meadow, La. Equipped with 245-ft., legs, the self-propelled floating platform has the ability to work in water depths to 180 ft. with a 15-ft. air gap while lifting a total of 850 KIPS of variable load. What makes the L/B MYRTLE different from other liftboats is that it is equipped with a bow thruster and controllable pitch (CP) propellers for greater maneuverability and pinpoint positioning of the huge legs with oversized pads on the ocean bottom. Lee Orgeron, Montco’s president states, “We always strive to give our customers the best possible service with the highest level of safety built-in.

Oil leaking from a fuel tanker that sank in the Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates while reportedly smuggling Iraqi oil was brought under control on Sunday, a UAE official said. The 3,500-ton Iraqi tanker Zainab, which sank on Saturday, was intercepted several days ago by the Multinational Interception Force that enforces sanctions against Iraq, an official at the Bahrain-based U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said. The ship, which was carrying about 1,300 tons of fuel oil, ran into trouble on its way to a holding area in international waters for ships suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil in violation of U.N. sanctions. It was reported…

The evolution of a new offshore boat design ideally happens with considerable customer input. But in the case of Bollinger Shipyards' new 220-ft. class supply vessel, a fortunate coincidence happen. The first customer for the new vessel, C&G Boats, Golden Meadow, La., and Bollinger independently evolved a vessel with many of the same design features. "When we decided that we needed a new, more capable supply boat, we rejected many conventional designs because they did not have what our customers told us they wanted," said Joey Arceneaux, president of MNM Boats, the operating division of C&G Boats, Golden Meadow, La. Arceneaux said he…

Institutions through out North America are paying a lot of attention to the University of Delaware’s new research vessel the Hugh R. Sharpe recently delivered from Dakota Creek Industries of Anacortes Washington. The vessel is fitted with retractable transducer pod, articulating stern gantry, wet lab, dry lab, forward gear deployment boom and CTD handling system. It incorporates in one vessel many of the most sought after features found on scientific research vessels around the world. But it is the propulsion system that is setting the new standard in American research vessels. The 146x32-foot (44.5x9.75-meter) diesel electric vessel is powered by four Cummins KTA19 -D(M1)-powered electric generators.