Offshore Division News

Testing, inspection and certification specialist Bureau Veritas and nuclear power technology developer ThorCon have entered an agreement for the technology qualification and the subsequent development of a 500-megawatt (MW) molten salt nuclear power barge for operations in Indonesia.The concept developed by ThorCon is a molten salt fission reactor that operates at low pressure and uses liquid fuel. The liquid fuel enables much higher operating temperatures, leading to greater…

Classification society ABS announced it has appointed veteran offshore industry leader Miguel Hernandez to head its offshore division. The former MODEC general manager of sales and marketing is now ABS Senior Vice President of Offshore Business Development, leading global offshore including the FPSO, FPU and floating offshore wind sectors.“As the world’s leading offshore class, we are always looking to innovate and develop our services for clients. This is why we have appointed Miguel…

Offshore installation firm Jan De Nul Group said Monday that its next-gen offshore jack-up installation vessel for offshore renewables and decommissioning had been launched at the COSCO Shipping Shipyard in Nantong, China. According to the vessel owner, the Voltaire will be the second and largest jack-up vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet, and able to support the renewable energy industry to build next-generation offshore wind farms. The Voltaire, built to transport, lift and install offshore wind turbines…

Offshore installation firm Jan De Nul said Thursday that Les Alizés, its next-gen floating offshore installation vessel had been launched at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.The vessel is now ready for the final construction phase, including sea trials, to be completed by H2 2022.Les Alizés will be the largest Heavy Lift Vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet, able to install XXL offshore wind components, in floating conditions and with ultra-low emissions.The launch started on January 2, by flooding the dry dock in which Les Alizés was built.

Glamox, a supplier of lighting solutions to the marine and offshore markets, has signed an agreement to acquire the Norwegian company Luminell Group AS.Established in 2010, Luminell develops and provides floodlights, searchlights, and lighting controls in the marine and offshore lighting market. "Together, Luminell and Glamox will have a leading product offering in the global marine and offshore market for all vessel sizes”, says Rune Marthinussen, CEO of Glamox. “The merger and…

InfraStrata's Harland & Wolff has won a contract with Saipem to build and load out eight wind turbine generator (WTG) jacket foundations for the EDF Renewables and ESB Energy-owned Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm project, located in the outer Firth of Forth in Scotland.The contract value is around £26million (~$35,7 million), with the contract scheduled to start from July 1, 2021.The works for fabrication, consolidation and load-out of the eight WTG jacket foundations will principally be conducted at Harland and Wolff's newly acquired Methil facilities in Scotland…

Maritime and offshore classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries’design for a Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel that is planned for operations in Mexican waters.The two-million-barrel cargo tank capacity design was reviewed for its compliance with the ABS Guide for Floating Production Installations.“As a leader in offshore classification, with a long track record of supporting industry innovations, ABS is delighted to add this project from HHI to that proud list.

RSC Bio Solutions announced team expansions in several key geographic areas, as well as expanded distribution coverage. Hideki Tominga and Alhareth Shahen are joining as business development managers, Thomas TO is joining as a Technical Business Consultant, and Miranda Lo and Cherl Minot are coming on board in customer support functions. David Simpson has been promoted to lead global business development activities for the marine and offshore division.“We are proud to be playing a leadership role in developing innovative solutions to address the accelerating challenges heavy equipment and maritime operators face today,” said Mike Guggenheimer, President and CEO of RSC Bio Solutions.

Luxembourg-based marine services company Jan De Nul Group has agreed to buy the offshore construction and cable-lay vessel Connector from Ocean Yield. The vessel will be officially transferred during the fourth quarter of 2020.The Connector, previously known as Lewek Connector, is an advanced subsea construction & cable-lay vessel that was operating on a long-term bareboat charter until February 2017. Ocean Yield has, expecting a market recovery, for the past years traded the vessel in the short-term market.

US-based Crowley Maritime Corp. announced on Wednesday that it has realigned its marine services organization and introduced new leadership.In a move that aims to provide better support to customers, Crowley Marine Services, part of the company’s shipping arm, will now be comprised of three distinct, yet interrelated business segments: offshore services, ship assist and tanker escort and engineering services – those provided by Crowley and subsidiary Jensen Maritime Consultants.Jeff Andreini…

The offshore support vessel provider for the global oil and gas industry, K Line Offshore has sold one of its platform supply vessels (PSV) to Gard Supply AS.The Norway-based offshore division of Japan's K Line said that the the 2004-built PSV KL Arendalfjord is its very first ship."A Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance was signed and KL Arendalfjord was delivered by K Line Offshore AS(KOAS) to Gard Supply AS in Tønsberg, Norway," said the press release from the shipowning and operating company with high end PSVs and two of the world's most powerful AHTS. KL Arendalfjord was delivered from Vard, Brevik in 2004 and acquired through a long term bareboatcharter by KOAS in 2009.The vessel is the UT755L-type with deck area of 680m2.

Survitec Group, a manufacturer of marine safety and survival equipment, has restructured its offshore division to better serve customers with assets operating in the oil, gas and wind (renewable) energy sectors, it said.The reorganization of the business unit coincides with renewed activity in the offshore industry following the market downturn, together with Survitec’s overall strategy to hone its focus within key sectors.Ross Wilkinson, VP of U.K. and Scandinavia who leads Survitec Global Energy, said, “The offshore market is emerging from its recent low-point, while the offshore wind market has grown exponentially over the last decade."Ross added…

Tim Protheroe, with more than 40 years of industry experience, was tapped to head North American activities for Bureau Veritas Marine & OffshoreProtheroe was officially named Regional Chief Executive, Marine & Offshore, North America, providing leadership in the United States and Canada. His role includes responsibility for the marine operational client support teams and services provided under the continued management of the General Manager, Marine Operations, Daniel Giani. Protheroe will report to Bruno Dabouis…

Bureau Veritas  has appointed Matthieu de Tugny as Executive Vice-President, Bureau Veritas Group to lead the Marine & Offshore Division (M&O).He will be a member of the Bureau Veritas Group Executive Committee reporting to Didier Michaud-Daniel, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas.Matthieu de Tugny succeeds Philippe Donche-Gay as the head of Marine & Offshore.“Matthieu de Tugny is recognized in the maritime community as a highly experienced leader with a career comprising different leadership roles world-wide. He embodies the expertise and values of Bureau Veritas”, commented CEO Didier Michaud-Daniel.“Taking the helm of Marine & Offshore – the division representing the origins of Bureau Veritas – Matthieu will now continue the remarkable transformation of the division.

Bureau Veritas has announced that it has appointed David Barrow as Vice-President for its Marine & Offshore South Asia Zone. He succeeds Kerem Kiper, who has already taken up the post of Vice-President, Middle-East, Africa and India.Based in Singapore, Barrow is responsible for leading the development and delivery of new activities and services for Marine & Offshore for the region. Alongside this, Barrow will be at the helm of a number of key accounts and will ensure compliance with both Group and Marine & Offshore Division standards.With over 35 years of experience in the maritime industry…

The global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries ABS granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) Standardized design for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility.Initially intended for operations in West Africa, HHI advises its standardized topside design is adaptive to a range of conditions, potentially offering reduced costs and shorter project timelines.“ABS is the world leader in Offshore and in FPSO classification. We have worked closely with HHI, using our experience in the sector to support the development of this innovative concept…

In what can be construed as another positive sign for the turnaround of the offshore energy markets, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) said it has set up a new business unit to focus on the oil and gas and offshore energy renewables markets.“This segment is focused on special operations and driven by different rules, so we decided to establish a dedicated expert team to specifically attend to the needs of the offshore market,” said Matthias Mueller, Managing Director of BSM…

International manufacturer Roxtec is helping protect Britain’s new £200m ($265m) polar research vessel - RRS Sir David Attenborough – after supplying a range of specialist safety seals.The new build ship is being funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead and run by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).It will operate in extreme conditions in both Antarctica and the Arctic, enduring up to 60 days in sea-ice for scientists to gather…

Dutch transportation and installation contractor Jumbo said it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) for the construction of a new heavy lift crane vessel (HLCV) scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2020. The DP2 vessel will feature dual fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and will be built to serve the offshore wind and the offshore oil and gas industries. “Despite the current offshore climate, we are committing to this industry long term,” said Jumbo managing director, Michael Kahn.

At a ceremony in Singapore Bureau Veritas formally joined the Global Industry Alliance (GIA). The GIA was officially inaugurated on June 29 by IMO Secretary General, Mr Kitack Lim. 17 companies have now signed up to join the GIA, which will work within a framework established by Global Maritime Energy Efficiency Partnership (GloMEEP) Project, a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - IMO project. The GIA will support improving the energy efficiency of ships and shipping by collectively identifying and developing innovative solutions to address common barriers and promote the uptake of energy efficiency technologies and operational measures.

Kotug International’s offshore division has assisted Allseas with the transfer and transport of Shell’s Brent Delta topsides after the record-setting removal of the structure by Pioneering Spirit. Kotug was mainly involved in the assistance of the cargo barge Iron Lady during the transfer of the topsides from the Pioneering Spirit to the Iron Lady and the ensuing tow of the barge to the Able UK decommissioning yard in Teesside, Northeast England. After the Pioneering Spirit lifted the Brent Delta platform…

Canadian shipbuilder and industrial fabricator Davie Shipbuilding has awarded ALMACO Group the contract for the delivery of the superstructure of Project Resolve, a Navy AOR vessel, the first project carried out as part of ALMACO and Davie’s cooperation and technology transfer. The vessel’s superstructure will be delivered by ALMACO as a single structure to be integrated to the hull at the Davie shipyard. ALMACO’s scope of work includes the full EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract for the living quarter superstructure including cabins…

The latest digital development launched by Bureau Veritas (BV) supports in-service surveyors with a new mobile app for class and statutory surveys. My Jobs is a mobile application developed by the Marine & Offshore division of BV to facilitate the survey process from end to end. BV’s ships in service surveyors are now able to access up to date information on mobile devices anytime and anywhere. Over 20 percent of BV surveyors are now using the My Jobs mobile app to carry out live reporting on the spot – and usage is growing.