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Golden Triangle News

01 Nov 2023

Brazilian Offshore Uptick Could Tighten US OSV Fleet

(File photo: Jackson Offshore Operators)

Increased activity in the Brazilian offshore oil and gas sector could help strengthen the market recovery for offshore supply vessels (OSV) in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.In early October, Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras issued requests for quotations (RFQ) for up to 20 OSVs ranging from 3,000 to over 4,500 deadweight tons to support upcoming drilling and production activities. The value of all of these potential long-term charters could approach $1 billion.While Petrobras typically prefers to use Brazilian-flagged vessels…

23 Dec 2022

Two Offshore Drilling Firms Set to Merge

Credit: Aquadrill

Offshore drilling firms Seadrill Limited and Aquadrill (ex-Seadrill Partners) on Thursday announced a definitive merger agreement under which Seadrill will acquire Aquadrill in an all-stock transaction. When the transaction is completed, Seadrill shareholders and Aquadrill unitholders will own 62% and 38% of the common shares in the new company, respectively. Based on Seadrill's 30-day volume-weighted average share price of US$31.25 on the NYSE as of December 22, 2022, the deal…

22 Aug 2022

What Impact Will Strike at Britain's Busiest Container Port Have?

Š Rob / Adobe Stock

More than 1,900 workers at Britain's biggest container port, Felixstowe, have begun eight days of strike action that will cause disruption to trade and supply chains.The staff at Felixstowe, on the east coast of England, are taking industrial action in a dispute over pay, becoming the latest workers to strike in Britain as unions demand higher wages for members facing a cost-of-living crisis. read moreBelow is a look at Felixstowe's operations and the possible impact from the strike:How big is the port?About 48% of all containers brought into the UK are transported through the Felixstowe port…

29 Oct 2021

“It’s alive!”: Offshore Drillers Start Resuscitating Idle Drillships

Drilling rigs stacked in Las Palmas/Credit:Larry - AdobeStock

Offshore drilling rig reactivations have begun as utilization and dayrates continue their rapid recovery, Esgian's Teresa Wilkie writes.We expected it to happen just not necessarily this soon. But now it’s official, several cold-stacked rigs are about to be reactivated for new jobs in the Golden Triangle, and Valaris is taking the lead. Just last week, the driller confirmed that it will reactivate 6th generation, ultra-deepwater drillship Valaris DS-4 for a minimum 580-day deal with Petrobras Brazil.

11 Sep 2017

USCG, EPA Cleaning up a Dozen Texas Chemical Spills after Harvey

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency are working with Texas state regulators to clean up oil and chemicals spilled from a dozen industrial facilities after flooding from Hurricane Harvey, authorities said. The spills came from oil refineries, fuel terminals and other businesses, but EPA spokeswoman Terri White said it was not possible to provide an estimate for the amounts spilled. "Initial reports were based on observation," White said. Refineries owned by Valero Energy Corp in Houston, Motiva Inc in Port Arthur, and Exxon Mobile Corp in Baytown, were among the facilities that had reported spills, according to White. Representatives for those companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

24 Aug 2017

MEBA, Liberty Maritime Spat Heats Up

Liberty Maritime responds to MEBA’s ‘Informational Picket’ against the U.S. flag operator. Coinciding with Liberty Maritime’s reflagging ceremony in the Golden Triangle; The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) this week staged what they characterized as an ‘informational picket’ today against Liberty Maritime Corp., to include Liberty Global Logistics (Liberty). Not so, says Bob Wellner, President of Liberty Global Logistics LLC (LGL), who weighed in this morning on the matter. In his own prepared comments, Wellner told Marinelink, “The MEBA agreement with Liberty Maritime only covers dry cargo vessels which are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program.

29 Jun 2017

Wicker’s SHIPS Act Included in Defense Bill

Ingalls Shipbuilding yard in Pascagoula, Miss. (File photo: HII)

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, announced that he successfully added his “SHIPS Act” proposal to help the Navy reach its requirement of a 355-ship fleet in this year’s “National Defense Authorization Act” (NDAA). The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the national defense bill, authorizing $640 billion in overall funding for America’s servicemembers, military installations and industrial base. It now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

14 Feb 2015

Port of Antwerp Opens Training Centre in Mumbai

Port of Antwerp in Belgium, the second largest port in Europe, is rolling out a training centre in Mumbai to offer training for port professionals in India. Temporary facilities are being used at the moment, until the new centre is ready, the company said in its press release. Antwerp has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jawaharal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), the largest container port in India, to establish the JNPT APEC Port Training Centre. Marc Van Peel, Antwerp port alderman, and Eddy Bruyninckx, CEO of Antwerp Port Authority, each presented an introductory lecture about the port of Antwerp, as a foretaste of the teaching syllabus. The series of lectures is being organized by APEC, the international port training and education centre.

07 Feb 2015

Antwerp Port takes Roadshow to India

The port of Antwerp has planned a Roadshow in India as this country has generated a record 5 million tonnes of cargo in Antwerp in 2014. The roadshow has been programmed from 9 to 13 February 2015. With an annual freight volume of 199 million tonnes the port of Antwerp is the second-largest in Europe. Its central location in the heart of Europe makes it possible to serve a huge consumer market very quickly: an essential advantage for exporting countries that target the European consumer. To help convince such countries of the unique position occupied by Antwerp in the European port landscape, the Antwerp port community regularly organises missions abroad. The port of Antwerp has long been convinced of the economic growth potential of India.

07 Nov 2014

SAR Boat Named ‘Ship of the Year’ by KNVTS

Photo courtesy of Damen

Damen and its partners have won the Royal Netherlands Society for Marine Engineering (KNVTS) ‘Ship of the Year Award’ for Nh1816,the first of a series of the SAR 1906, a new search and rescue (SAR) boat, at the Maritime Awards Gala 2014 held in Rotterdam. The SAR 1906 is a 35-knots self-righting vessel, with an aluminum hull and a composite wheelhouse. The hull design is based on the Axe Bow technology, adapted for the specific operations of lifeboats. Developed in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM)…

29 Sep 2014

DNV GL Opens New Office in Malaysia

To meet the growing demand in the region, DNV GL opened a new office in Malaysia. The official opening of the office coincided with the company’s celebration of a double milestone: 150 years of history as a world leader in classification and technical assurance services and its first year as a newly merged company. "According to the OECD, growth in the Emerging Asian economies (South East Asia, China and India) is expected to be a robust 6.9% for the 2014-18 period. Registering a 6.4% growth in Q2 of 2014, Malaysia has a well-diversified economy, with major contributors coming from export-driven service and manufacturing industries as well as the mining and agricultural sectors. The country is a key driver of offshore investments and is building substantial offshore infrastructure.

24 Sep 2014

Maersk to Invest Billions, Reap Savings, but No Cash for Shareholders

Photo: Maersk

Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Wednesday it would invest billions of dollars in new ships, reap hundreds of millions in savings and announced valuable contracts for its drilling rigs. But shares of the world's largest container shipping company fell more than 3 percent, partly because it failed to announce any of the initiatives the market had anticipated for its investor day in Copenhagen. Analysts had hoped that Maersk would say it had sold a big oil asset in Angola, which would have cut future capital investments, or unveil an increase in its payments to shareholders.

28 Oct 2013

Subsea Vessels Poised for Increased Global Demand

Calvin Ling, Douglas-Westwood, Singapore

In its latest subsea vessels report Douglas-Westwood (DW) forecast more than $100b of expenditure on subsea vessel operations over the next five years – with global demand is expected to increase by 23%. The increase in expenditure is expected to be higher than the growth in vessel days, due to the move towards higher specification vessels to cater for deeper and more complicated field development programs. Dayrates for high specification dive support vessels (DSV) and multipurpose support vessels (MSV) are expected to increase by over 40% by 2017.

07 Aug 2012

Keppel Signs $4.1B Deal

The offshore industry, and specifically Brazil, continue to be a driver for maritime markets, as Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiary Fernvale Pte. Ltd., signed contracts with Sete Brasil Participações S.A. (Sete Brasil), for the design and construction of five additional semisubmersible (semi) drilling rigs for approximately $4.1b, following the Letter of Intent announced in April 2012. The five semis will be based on Keppel's DSSTM 38E design, which has improved capability and operability, making it well suited to meet the stringent requirements of the deepwater "Golden Triangle" region of Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. The semis are scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2016, 3Q 2017, 2Q 2018, 4Q 2018, and 3Q 2019 respectively.

12 Apr 2012

Keppel to Build Five Semis for $4.12 Billion for Sete Brasil

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiaries, Keppel FELS Brasil S.A. and Estaleiro BrasFELS Ltda, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Sete Brasil Participações S.A. (Sete Brasil), for the design and construction of five additional semisubmersible (semi) drilling rigs based on Keppel's proprietary DSSTM 38E design. The aim of the LOI is to facilitate Keppel O&M's preparation work on these potential projects, pending the signing of the final construction contracts. The total value of the contracts, if and when successfully agreed and executed between Keppel O&M and Sete Brasil, will be approximately $4.12 billion. Earlier in December, 2011, Keppel O&M secured one semi to be built to the same DSSTM 38E design from Sete Brasil.

26 Mar 2012

MARIN Opens Depressurized Wave Basin

Following a true maritime tradition, the new DWB was christened. The representatives and attendees each had a bottle filled with water from their own organisation or habitat symbolising their connection with the new facility. MARIN’s unique Depressurised Wave Basin (DWB) was officially inaugurated on March 19 by Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. Representing the combination of a depressurised towing tank with a wave maker, the DWB creates a world first.

12 Jan 2012

Latin America on the (Offshore O&G Spend) Move

While much attention rightfully is paid the development of offshore oil and gas spending offshore Africa, a new report claims that Latin America is one of the fastest growing regions globally, slated to exceed Africa's Deepwater spend by 2014. Speaking at the SUT Learning Luncheon in Houston Steven Kopits, Douglas-Westwood Director, commented, “For oil companies the overall outlook for 2012 is positive. The 12th edition of the World Deepwater Market Forecast forecasts a 90% growth in expenditure, compared with the previous five-year period, with $232 billion to be spent 2012-2016. The outlook for the deepwater business is clearly one of significant long-term opportunity.

22 Dec 2011

Keppel Wins $809m Contract from Sete Brasil

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiary Fernvale Pte. Ltd., has secured a contract worth approximately $809m from Urca Drilling B.V., a subsidiary of Sete Brasil Participações S.A. (Sete Brasil), for the design and construction of a semisubmersible (semi) drilling rig based on Keppel's proprietary DSSTM 38E design. The DSSTM 38E is an enhancement of Keppel's proven fifth generation deepwater solution, the DSSTM 38. With improved capability and operability, it is designed to meet the stringent requirements of the deepwater "Golden Triangle" region, comprising Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. Scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2015, the rig is intended to support the exploration of Brazil's estimated 50 billion barrels of deep-sea oil and gas reserves1.

17 Aug 2011

Strong Recovery in Vessel Demand

Douglas-Westwood forecasts strong recovery in vessel demand. The World Subsea Vessel Operations Market 2011-2015 details expenditure set to grow 52%, totaling $72bn between 2011 and 2015. Lead author, Simon Robb, commented, “Project timetables are accelerating as confidence returns to the industry, with a shift to larger and more complex deep water projects. Projects are increasingly capital intensive, which is benefitting offshore contractors with the capability and expertise to provide deep water services. “Global vessel demand for Subsea Vessels is expected to climb beyond 310,000 days for the forecast period 2011-2015 – a 28% increase on the previous five years.

20 Apr 2011

INTERVIEW: Carmen Pino, Castrol Offshore

Carmen Pino, Castrol Offshore

The business of lube and fluid supply is fiercely competitive and ever-changing, continually challenged to deliver more economical, environmentally and better performing product. Maritime Reporter spent some time with Carmen Pino, a West Point graduate and the Regional Operating Director, Castrol Offshore , to discuss his team’s strategy to grow its business. How would you describe your management philosophy? Pino       I am very participative; I want to meet all of my people and the customers personally. At the same time, I set clear direction and boundaries.

29 Mar 2011

Keppel Receives US$8 Million From QGOG For Early Delivery of Alpha Star

The DSSTM 38 ultra deepwater semisubmersible rig was delivered a record four months ahead of schedule. Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has delivered Alpha Star, the second of two DSSTM 38 semisubmersible rigs, to Brazil's Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG) four months ahead of schedule and with zero lost time incidents. This continues Keppel FELS track record of delivering its rigs on time or ahead of schedule. It is the third early delivery this year, following the early delivery of the semisubmersible drilling tender…

05 Dec 2001

Great Ships of 2001 -- Skandi Carla

Norway's west coast maritime cluster has again demonstrated its technological skills and business verve through the delivery of a complex, diesel-electric offshore support vessel equipped to carry out deepwater subsea inspection and construction tasks. Ordered from Aukra Industrier by local operator District Offshore (DOF), the 275-ft. (84-m) Skandi Carla ranks among the world's most sophisticated ships designed for ROV(remote-operated vehicle) deployment. The powerful, dynamic-positioning vessel entered an immediate five-year charter assignment to Aberdeen-based survey specialist Fugro-UDI, to whose requirements she has been customized.

30 Aug 2009

Keppel, First DSS 38 Semisubmersible for Brazil

Photo courtesy Keppel FELS

Keppel FELS Limited is on track to deliver Gold Star, the first of two DSS 38 deepwater rigs to Brazilian operator, Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG) later this year. Progressing on time and within budget, Gold Star will be the first DSS 38 rig to enter the market and support Petrobras's exploration and production activities. Gold Star was named today by Lady Sponsor, Mrs Fiona Steane, spouse of Mr Christopher Steane, Global Head for Structured Finance of the rig’s financiers, ING Bank.