Genesis Energy News

There’s a barge full of reasons why many operators turn to ATBs.A  mainstay of the U.S. coastwise dirty and refined products trades, articulated tug barges (ATB) have increasingly filled a void left as the fleet of Jones Act tankers (with crew complement requirements exceeding that of tugs) has aged out. With the cargo capacity of the larger ATBs – some with barges exceeding 300,000 barrels capacity – rivalling that of workhorse tankers that had served oil consuming regions, the concept certainly makes sense from a supply and distribution perspective.With 50…

ABS mobile application is purpose-built for the workboat, inland sectors. ABS Nautical Systems, the ABS enterprise fleet management software suite, has launched a new mobile application, NS Workboat. The latest in a line of new tools that ABS has developed to help workboat operators gain compliance with the pending Subchapter M regulations, the ‘app’, which leverages the Nautical Systems enterprise software, is a mobile solution that is purpose-built for the workboat and inland-shipping sectors, where ease of use is of paramount importance.

Genesis Energy, L.P. announce plans to invest approximately US$150-million to construct a new crude oil, intermediates and refined products import / export terminal in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the Baton Rouge Terminal). The Baton Rouge Terminal will be located on approximately 90 acres of land near the Port of Greater Baton Rouge (the Port) and will be connected to the Port’s existing deepwater docks on the Mississippi River. The docks are capable of berthing vessels ranging from barges to Aframax class vessels.

Ongoing infrastructure and newbuild activity not expected to let up. Modern, sophisticated and quality tonnage arrives at just the right time. Vessel builders are ramped up for strong demand from the Gulf of Mexico, where oil drilling is very soon expected to return to pre-Macondo levels. Utilization rates for offshore vessels are rising in the GoM, along with associated dayrates. Three Louisiana leaders--Edison Chouest Offshore in Cut Off, Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. in Covington and Harvey Gulf International Marine in New Orleans--are engaged in aggressive newbuild programs.

Genesis Energy has completed the previously announced acquisition of all the assets of the downstream transportation business of Hornbeck Offshore Transportation, LLC. The purchase price was approximately $230 million plus customary adjustments. The acquired business is primarily comprised of nine barges and nine tug boats which transport crude oil and refined petroleum products, principally serving refineries and storage terminals along the Gulf Coast, Eastern Seaboard, Great Lakes and Caribbean. Hornbeck and Genesis say they have also entered into transition service agreements to facilitate a smooth transition of operations and uninterrupted services for both employees and customers.

Genesis Energy, L.P. has agreed to acquire for approximately US$230-million all the assets of the downstream transportation business of Hornbeck Offshore Transportation, LLC (“Hornbeck”). The business is primarily comprised of nine barges and nine tug boats which transport crude oil and refined petroleum products, principally serving refineries and storage terminals along the Gulf Coast, Eastern Seaboard, Great Lakes and Caribbean. At the closing of the transaction, Hornbeck and Genesis expect to enter into transition service agreements to facilitate a smooth transition of operations and uninterrupted services for both employees and customers.

Genesis Energy, L.P. has completed the previously announced acquisition of the black oil barge transportation business of Florida Marine Transporters, Inc. and its affiliates (FMT). The purchase price was $141 million plus customary adjustments. The acquired business is comprised of 30 barges (seven of which are being sub-leased under similar terms of an existing FMT lease) and 14 push/tow boats which transport heavy refined petroleum products, primarily serving refineries and storage terminals along the Gulf Coast, Intracoastal Canal and western river systems of the United States, including the Red, Ouachita and Mississippi Rivers.

The Kupe Gas Project enters an exciting phase with the arrival of the gigantic rig that will be used to drill the three production wells into the Kupe reservoir 3000 metres below the surface. The arrival of the Ensco 107 offshore drilling rig from Singapore, marks a major milestone in the offshore operations, which are progressing to plan and on time. The rig’s first job will be to install the wellhead platform jacket, one of the largest structural components for the Project’s offshore platform, situated 30 kilometres offshore, from Hawera. The jacket is currently in Port Taranaki harbor waiting for the Ensco 107 to be set up on the Kupe location.