Brazilian Offshore Uptick Could Tighten US OSV Fleet
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 vesselsâŚ
Two Offshore Drilling Firms Set to Merge
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 dealâŚ
What Impact Will Strike at Britain's Busiest Container Port Have?
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 portâŚ
âItâs alive!â: Offshore Drillers Start Resuscitating Idle Drillships
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 itâs 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.
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.
MEBA, Liberty Maritime Spat Heats Up
Liberty Maritime responds to MEBAâs âInformational Picketâ against the U.S. flag operator. Coinciding with Liberty Maritimeâs reflagging ceremony in the Golden Triangle; The Marine Engineersâ Beneficial Association (MEBA) this week staged what they characterized as an âinformational picketâ 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, âThe MEBA agreement with Liberty Maritime only covers dry cargo vessels which are enrolled in the Maritime Security Program.
Wickerâs SHIPS Act Included in Defense Bill
U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Chairman of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, announced that he successfully added his âSHIPS Actâ proposal to help the Navy reach its requirement of a 355-ship fleet in this yearâs âNational Defense Authorization Actâ (NDAA). The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved the national defense bill, authorizing $640 billion in overall funding for Americaâs servicemembers, military installations and industrial base. It now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
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.
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.
SAR Boat Named âShip of the Yearâ by KNVTS
Damen and its partners have won the Royal Netherlands Society for Marine Engineering (KNVTS) âShip of the Year Awardâ 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)âŚ
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 companyâs 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.
Maersk to Invest Billions, Reap Savings, but No Cash for Shareholders
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.
Subsea Vessels Poised for Increased Global Demand
In its latest subsea vessels report Douglas-Westwood (DW) forecast more than $100b of expenditure on subsea vessel operations over the next five years â 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.
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.
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.
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. MARINâs 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.
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, âFor 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.
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.
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, âProject 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. âGlobal vessel demand for Subsea Vessels is expected to climb beyond 310,000 days for the forecast period 2011-2015 â a 28% increase on the previous five years.
INTERVIEW: 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 teamâs 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.
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 tenderâŚ
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.
Keppel, First DSS 38 Semisubmersible for Brazil
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 rigâs financiers, ING Bank.