US Moves to Loosen Safety Rules for Arctic Offshore Drilling
The Trump administration on Thursday proposed to loosen Obama-era safety regulations for the oil industry in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska to ease the way for petroleum extraction in the region, an effort that President-elect Joe Biden will likely throw out once in office.The proposal would revise a suite of Obama-era rules crafted to improve safety in the extreme conditions of the Arctic after a Shell drilling rig ran aground there in 2012. The company later abandoned oil exploration in the region and there are no active drilling operations there.Now, much of the U.S.
Kanfer, CGR Partner to Market LNG Bunkering Vessels
Kanfer Shipping AS, the Norway-based shipping company focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) break-bulk and bunkering ships, said it has entered into an exclusive agreement with CGR Arctic Marine (CGR), the Norwegian LNG technology company that has designed and developed a unique LNG bunkering vessel as well as an innovative gas delivery system that together reduce the overall cost of LNG bunkering infrastructure.Under the licensing and development agreement, Kanfer will exclusively…
Freighter Runs Aground in Lake Superior
The U.S. Coast Guard informs it is continuing to monitor and respond to the 833-foot U.S. cargo vessel Roger Blough, which ran aground Friday afternoon on Gros Cap Reef in Whitefish Bay in Lake Superior. The chance of a fuel spill is minimal and flooding on the vessel is stable, the Coast Guard said. The Roger Blough crew is said to be in good condition with no reported injuries. Plans to free the grounded freighter continue to progress through the combined efforts of Canadian partners, company representatives and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Crystal Charters Escort Vessel for Arctic Cruise
When cruise liner Crystal Serenity sets off on its 32-day expedition voyage through the Northwest Passage from Anchorage to New York August 16, she will be escorted by the RRS Ernest Shackleton. Crystal Cruises recently secured RRS Ernest Shackleton for the voyage via a charter party agreement with Tactical Marine Solutions of Victoria, Canada and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) headquartered in Cambridge, U.K. Under the contract, RRS Ernest Shackleton, an ICE 05 classed icebreaker (exceeding the more common 1A Super class)…
BSEE Oversees Testing of Shell’s Arctic Equipment
Testing of Shell’s proposed Arctic-ready capping stack system was supervised this week by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) in Puget Sound, BSEE Director Brian Salerno announced today. BSEE Alaska Region Director Mark Fesmire oversaw the testing to ensure compliance with Federal safety standards for oil and gas exploration on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. The capping stack, used to contain the flow of oil in the event that all primary and backup blowout prevention equipment fails during drilling…
Second Modular Capture Vessel for US Operation
Drydocks World announced the completion and delivery of Eagle Louisiana, the second of two Modular Capture Vessels (MCV) for the U.S. The first MCV, Eagle Texas, sailed away from Drydocks World’s yard in August last year. The vessels are the world’s first MCVs. Drydocks World converted the AFRAmax tanker for AET, a global leader in petroleum shipping, which has a 20-year agreement with Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) for the operation of the MCVs. Ten world-renowned companies form MWCC: ExxonMobil…
Webtool Emergency Cutting Tools
Allspeeds Ltd. designs and manufactures the Webtool range of cutting and gripping tools. In addition to the standard range, Allspeeds has manufactured a bespoke emergency cutting tool. The tool was supplied to an organization operating a number of floating production storage and offloading systems and will be used in the work of the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC), an independent company that provides well-containment equipment and technology in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico.
Salazar Directs Deepwater Oil & Gas Containment Exercise
MWCC to Deploy Capping Stack for Exercise in the Gulf. As part of the Obama administration’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the oil and gas industry’s ability to respond in the event of a deepwater blowout and ensure that offshore oil and gas production can continue to expand safely and responsibly, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today charged the Marine Well Containment Company (MWCC) with conducting a live drill this summer to deploy critical pieces of state-of-the-art well control equipment in the Gulf of Mexico.
BSEE's Watson Weighs in at OTC
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director James A. Watson delivered remarks today at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. Director Watson discussed recent recruitment incentives, BSEE's offshore safety focus and regulatory priorities. Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to talk about the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s continued efforts to enhance safety offshore. This is my first time at OTC, and I have been extremely impressed by the scientific and technical know-how on display…
Oil Majors to Invest $1B in GOM Oil Containment System
Today four oil majors – Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell – announced a plan to build and deploy a rapid response system that will be available to capture and contain oil in the event of a potential future underwater well blowout in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Significantly, the companies have already committed $1 billion to fund the initial costs of the system, and the four will form a non-profit organization, the Marine Well Containment Company, to operate and maintain this system. Other companies will be invited and encouraged to participate in this organization.
Washington State Amends Oil Spill Prevention Law
The Washington State legislature adopted Substitute Senate Bill 6641 amending the state oil spill prevention law. The amendment, among other things, directs the Department of Ecology to adopt regulations establishing standards requiring deployment of containment equipment prior to transfer of oil involving a ship (including during bunkering operations). The regulations are to be promulgated not later than June 30, 2006. (HK Law).
Salvage Plan Considered For Elk River Tug
The Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy's Supervisor of Salvage, is reviewing a plan submitted by the owners and contracted salvors of a sunken tug and a barge impeding vessel traffic in the Elk River in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The tug and barge, which sank in the shipping channel following a collision with a freighter, have caused the adjacent C&D Canal to remain closed to all vessel traffic pending their safe removal. Four men remain missing following the incident. The salvage plan, submitted by Norfolk Dredging Marine, the sunken tug Swift's owners, and Ellsworth Salvage, the contractor, must adequately address a number of safety, environmental, and navigational considerations in order to receive the agencies' authorization to begin operations.
