Experienced Operator News

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards announced it has inked a deal with HaiSea Marine for the build and delivery of three liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled escort tugs and two battery-electric harbor tugs which will provide ship-assist and escort towing services to LNG carriers calling at LNG Canada’s new export facility in Kitimat, B.C., on Canada's west coast.Following an initial tender process which began in 2018, HaiSea Marine has awarded the contract for all five tugs to Sanmar plus an option for a sixth.

Germany’s Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has completed the acquisition of Estonia’s largest terminal operator, Transiidikeskuse AS (TK). The last conditions that the sales contract dated 26 March 2018 was subject to were recently fulfilled, resulting in all shares in Transiidikeskuse AS being transferred to HHLA International GmbH. As a result, the transaction has now been completed. Chairwoman of HHLA’s Executive Board, Angela Titzrath, made this comment during a visit to the Estonian capital of Tallinn: “We’re delighted that the takeover has now been completed. This will allow us to successfully advance the ongoing integration of TK into the HHLA Group.

The partnership between Damen Shipyards Group and Ampelmann to extend the benefits of motion-compensated gangway systems to fast crew supply vessels has reached a major landmark. At the end of March, the first Damen fast crew supply (FCS) vessel to be fitted with an Ampelmann L-type system began operations in the Gulf of Guinea. This marks a significant step forward in the move towards bringing the latest advances in safe and flexible marine access to a wider array of oil and gas operations. Damen and Ampelmann have together been promoting their integrated solutions combining Damen’s FCS range and Ampelmann’s systems and now, thanks to the vision of Nigerian offshore services company LATC Marine and its client ExxonMobil Nigeria, the first has entered service.

For the average person, tracking down a spare part is often merely an annoyance. But for the crew of a Coast Guard cutter, the availability of spare parts can be important to mission completion or greatly affect their work environment. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center in New London, Conn., is currently studying how the use of 3-D printing technology might improve mission readiness through logistical support. Now in the evaluation phase, 3-D printers are available…

Wood Group PSN Inc., a Nevada corporation headquartered in Houston, was ordered to pay $9.5 million in two separate cases involving its conduct in the Gulf of Mexico. Specifically, Wood Group PSN was ordered to pay $7 million for falsely reporting over several years that personnel had performed safety inspections on offshore facilities in the Gulf of Mexico in the Western District of Louisiana, and $1.8 million for negligently discharging oil into the Gulf of Mexico in violation of the Clean Water Act after an explosion on an offshore facility in the Eastern District of Louisiana, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeff Wood of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana Stephanie A. Finley, and U.S.

Royal IHC and German company DIHAG Holding GmbH have jointly acquired the Belgian steel and iron foundry, Allard-Europe NV. respectively. Through this acquisition, IHC is able to realize a reliable supply chain (competitive on price, quality and delivery time) for strategically important casting products, as well as improve its product development capabilities. At its foundry in Turnhout, Allard-Europe casts high-grade steel and iron components, which it then supplies to various markets including dredging, offshore and shipbuilding. The company specializes in bespoke products and short production runs. DIHAG, an experienced operator of foundries…

Woodside has finalised an agreement with Noble Energy and Glencore to farm in to the Tilapia Production Sharing Contract (PSC) off the coast of Cameroon. The 3875 km² block is located within the Douala Basin, offshore southwest Cameroon in water depths ranging from the shoreline to 1100 m. Under the agreement, Woodside will acquire a 30% non-operating interest. Noble Energy will retain a 46.67% interest and will continue to operate the PSC. Glencore will retain a 23.33% interest. The Joint Venture plans to drill the Cheetah exploration well in 2015. Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said the Douala Basin represented an exciting opportunity with demonstrated oil prospectivity.

FRC International launched the innovative ‘DYNAV’ dynamic navigation system for high speed craft at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden in October. The DYNAV launch event enabled attendees from Scandinavia and Europe to come together with the objective of improving seafarer safety, operational performance and interoperability on fast craft. Professional sectors organizations included Search & Rescue, Navy, Special Forces, Coast Guard, law enforcement, maritime pilots, maritime legislators, training organisation and boat builders.

Rolls-Royce has won its first contract to supply a new version of its innovative Promas Lite propulsion system to American ship owner Glacier Fish to improve propeller efficiency on its Guido Perla Associates designed factory trawler 'Alaska Ocean'. Promas Lite is an integrated propeller and rudder system that increases efficiency and is designed specifically for retrofitting to existing ships. Glacier Fish is currently installing the newest version of Promas Lite, which incorporates a new nozzle design for even greater efficiency gains…

Rolls-Royce has won a contract to supply its Promas Lite propulsion system to the Norwegian ship owner Hurtigruten to improve propeller efficiency on its cruise ship Richard With. Promas Lite is an integrated propeller and rudder system that increases efficiency and is designed specifically for retrofitting to existing ships. Hurtigruten will install Promas Lite on their Richard With cruise ship in November this year; an upgrade that the company said will significantly reduce operating costs for Hurtigruten. Estimated propeller efficiency improvement for the ship is between 11-14% at 15 knots.

Jack-up rig 'Maersk Endurer' contracted for 2-year drill off Cameroon, adding about US$ 100-million to Maersk Drilling's contract backlog. Maersk Drilling expands its activities in West Africa with the signing of a contract for the jack-up Maersk Endurer with Addax Petroleum, owned by Sinopec, which is one of the largest oil and gas producers in the world. The contract duration is two years and the value is around USD 100 million. Expected commencement is late October 2012. “We are pleased to have signed this contract with a very experienced operator in West Africa…

BOURBON opens a new affiliate in Saint Petersburg, Bourbon Baltic, which will provide clients with first-class ship management resources. It complements BOURBON’s current operations in Sakhalin. Global leader in offshore oil and gas marine services, BOURBON opens Bourbon Baltic, an affiliate based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to optimize vessel crew recruitment and continue offering oil and gas clients around the world top quality ship management services for their offshore needs. BOURBON affiliates are strategically located around the world to work closely with local stakeholders and get access to highly skilled seafarers. North-western Russia with its center in St Petersburg has a long-standing tradition of maritime activity and was chosen by BOURBON for the Group’s Russian affiliate.