Form Alliance News

Fortune Technologies, a Greek provider of integrated maritime software solutions and Microsoft's Dynamics NAV partner, announced a strategic alliance with RINA, the classification, certification, inspection, testing and consulting multinational, to create value added services for the Greek and global shipping market.RINA aims to further enhance its presence in the maritime market, and in particular within the digital technology sector, by further developing the RINACube digital platform with Fortune Technologies, a leader in IT and maritime ERP systems.By leveraging RINA's network and know-how, as well as Fortune Technologies' specialization in maritime ERP…

Oil and gas exploration and production company Kosmos Energy said that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Shell Exploration Company B.V. to jointly explore in Southern West Africa.Initially, the alliance will focus on Namibia, where Kosmos has completed the farm-in to Shell's acreage in PEL 39, and Sao Tome & Principe where it has entered into exclusive negotiations for Shell to take an interest in Kosmos’ acreage in blocks 5, 6, 11, and 12.As part of the alliance, the two companies will also jointly evaluate opportunities in adjacent geographies.

Exxon Mobil Corp and Petróleo Brasileiro SA, Brazil's state-controlled oil producer also known as Petrobras, said on Thursday they had formed an alliance to develop energy projects around the world.   The deal, which was signed in Rio de Janeiro, will have the companies study ways they can cooperate on exploration, production and chemical ventures inside and outside of Brazil.   The deal comes two months after Exxon and Petrobras were jointly awarded six oil-rich blocks in Brazilian coastal waters. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; editing by Diane Craft)

A group of 14 South Korean shippers are joining forces to form the first domestic alliance, aiming to restore the country’s shipping sector, reported Yonhap. Under the name “Korea Shipping Partnership (KSP)”, the new shipping consortium will be led by Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and supported by Korea Shipowners Association (KSA). HMM, Pan Ocean Co. and 12 other shipping companies that are mainly involved in routes in the Asian region will cooperate to boost their profitability on routes to Vietnam, Indonesia and other countries through restructuring efforts. Under the terms of agreement, they will cooperate to improve their collective strength through various measures including increasing shared cargo capacity, adding new shipping routes and co-managing overseas terminals.

Genesis Technology Solutions, Inc. (GenesisSolutions), the asset performance optimization subsidiary of ABS Group, has signed an Alliance agreement with Infor (US), Inc., a enterprise asset management (EAM) software provider and strategic technology partner for more than 90,000 organizations worldwide. With this alliance, GenesisSolutions will help support Infor and its customers in optimizing the power of Infor EAM. Through services and solutions, customers can improve capital asset management in ways that help increase reliability, enhance predictive maintenance, confirm regulatory compliance, reduce energy usage and support sustainability initiatives across industry sectors.

The world's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers are clubbing together to secure more flexible supply contracts in a move that further shifts power to buyers rather than producers. Japan, China and South Korea are the world's biggest LNG importers, accounting for about 55 percent of global purchases, according to data from energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. The countries' biggest respective buyers are joining together to extract concessions from producers that would give them supply flexibility such as having the right to re-sell imports to third parties…

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with major UK ports operator, Peel Ports, who own the Port of Liverpool, as the latter gears up for the formal opening of its Liverpool2 container terminal in early November. The formal agreement creates a strategic alliance aimed at facilitating international trade and generating new business by promoting trade routes between Liverpool and the west coast of South America via the Panama Canal. The agreement was signed October 24 by Jorge L.

The Port of Los Angeles, Ports of Auckland in New Zealand and Guangzhou in China have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) a ground-breaking Tripartite Economic Alliance for promoting closer ties. “The port of Los Angeles looks forward to collaborating with the ports of Auckland and Guangzhou on a series of initiatives, including promoting commercial and business opportunities as well as sharing innovative best practices,” said ambassador Vilma Martinez, Los Angeles harbor commission president. Los Angeles, Guangzhou and Auckland are sister cities and strategic trading partners that share similar economic goals. The newly formed alliance provides a platform for growing trilateral cooperation to foster trade…

OneSubsea™, a Cameron and Schlumberger company, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. and Schlumberger today announced that they have entered into a letter of intent to form an alliance to develop technologies and deliver services to optimize the cost and efficiency of subsea well intervention systems. Helix is a leading subsea well intervention provider, with the largest fleet size of well intervention vessels, and an unequalled track record in cost-effective subsea well intervention. OneSubsea, a preeminent solution provider for subsea well control, with a global footprint of executed major projects, has significant experience in the manufacture and supply of subsea well intervention equipment and services.

TRACE International and DA-Desk FZ-LLC today announced a partnership to create greater transparency in the shipping industry. The first-of-its-kind shipping industry partnership pairs TRACE, the worldwide leader in setting the standard for global compliance due diligence, with DA-Desk, the largest independent provider of port cost management services. The alliance enables port agents and suppliers registered with DA-Desk to receive preferential pricing for TRACEcertification and promote their commitment to compliance. TRACEcertification is an internationally accepted due diligence review, analysis and approval process that allows entities to own their verified compliance information and share it with all global business partners.

Maersk Line, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. and CMA CGM have in principle agreed to establish a long-term operational alliance on East – West trades, called the P3 Network. The aim is to improve and optimise operations and service offerings. The P3 Network will operate a capacity of 2.6 million TEU (initially 255 vessels on 29 loops) on three trade lanes: Asia – Europe, Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic. While the P3 Network vessels will be operated independently by a joint vessel operating centre…

LMS Shipmanagement & Wallem Group team up to provide ship management, crewing, & marine technical services. International Shipholding Corporation (ISH) announce that LMS Shipmanagement, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, and Wallem Group Ltd. have agreed to form an alliance encompassing the ship management, crewing, and marine technical services for ISH’s International Flag vessels. While LMS and Wallem will continue to operate independently, the alliance provides that, based on expertise, the daily functions will be divided between the two companies. Thus, the alliance will allow ISH to take advantage of the economy of scale of a larger ship management organization. International Shipholding Corporation’s U.S.

Cooperation Broadens Project Management, Marine Cargo and Logistics Capabilities in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Crowley Maritime Corporation's solutions group and PB Towage Ltd., part of the Pacific Basin Shipping group, have formed a business alliance that combines their respective services and regional positioning to collectively broaden their project management, marine project cargo and logistics capabilities in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The alliance will enable the companies to provide comprehensive project management, project cargo transportation, logistics, ocean towing, offshore support, salvage support and bulk cargo transportation solutions to oil and gas…

Genoil Inc. announced that they have executed a Joint Operating Agreement with Aquamation Inc., to collaborate in industrial water treatment projects & process plant projects for clients in the oil and gas and petrochemical industries. Under the Joint Operating Agreement, Genoil and Aquamation will jointly market and further develop and integrate their oil and water separation technologies. Additionally, Genoil and Aquamation will share revenues and profits for these projects.

Through its U.S. General Agent, Solar International Shipping, Yang Ming Line announced that five major Asian steamship lines have agreed to form one of the largest cooperative international sea container transport efforts among steamship lines. The new alliance for a cooperative worldwide network will consist of: COSCO Container Lines Ltd., Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K-Line), Yang Ming Marine Transport, Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd., and Senator Lines GmbH. Management for the group agree that the only way to provide the best possible service to customers in the container shipping industry is by means of optimization of each carrier?s assets and rationalization of their serivces on a global basis.

McMoRan Exploration Co. and Halliburton Company have announced the formation of a strategic alliance to conduct operations for McMoRan's recently announced major new oil and gas exploration and development program in the Gulf of Mexico. As previously announced, McMoRan has acquired from Texaco Exploration and Production the right to explore 89 oil and gas tracts and McMoRan purchased Shell Offshore Inc.'s, interest in 56 exploratory leases, all in the Gulf of Mexico. These two transactions, together with its current lease inventory, provide McMoRan exploratory rights to 160 blocks covering approximately 750,000 gross acres and the foundation for an aggressive exploration and development program.

FirstWave and A&P Group have laid the foundation for the first global network dedicated to marine repair. This alliance will initially capitalize on the multi-site facilities and knowledge of both companies in offshore vessel maintenance, rig repairs and complex conversions. The joint venture also allows both companies to combine marketing and share project management expertise for the delivery of repair and conversion services for clients in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the alliance is formulating to extend its services into West Africa by year-end.

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.

Citing irreconcilable differences in the structuring of a proposed alliance between ABS and RINA, ABS has withdrawn from further negotiations with RINA. "It is our understanding that RINA and Bureau Veritas will sign a letter of intent to merge certain of their operations," said ABS Chairman and CEO Frank J. Iarossi. ABS and RINA had spent more than a year exploring possible ways of structuring an alliance that would have strengthened the services offered to RINA's core constituency of Italian shipowners. "Throughout, we always had the interests of the shipowners at the forefront of our discussions," added Iarossi. ABS has maintained an office and operations in Italy for almost 80 years, with current headquarters in Genoa.

Three major Japanese shipbuilders are forming an alliance on commercial vessels and ocean engineering to survive competition with South Korean shipyards. The three firms -- Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd and Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co Ltd will cooperate on joint procurement of materials and design skills for building commercial vessels, aiming to cut production costs. They will decide in one or two years whether to spin off their divisions for commercial ships and ocean engineering to form a joint venture, a Kawasaki spokesman said. If they do so, the joint firm's sales are likely to rise to a level equal to that of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, spokesmen for the three shipbuilders said. The alliance excludes military ships.

Transas Marine (USA), Inc. of Lynwood, WA, and Valhalla Enterprises, Inc. (VEI), of Fort Lauderdale, FL, have announced a manufacturers’ alliance aimed at benefiting marine electronic dealers and recreational boaters. The agreement brings together VEI, a world leading manufacturer of flat panel displays and marine computers with Transas Marine, a world leader in electronic navigation products, vessel traffic systems and training solutions, marine surveillance, and simulation systems. Under the new alliance, VEI will distribute select Transas Marine navigation products to Transas Marine’s existing dealer network for the recreational market in the United States, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

CorrosionSource.com and PaintSquare.com have formed an alliance to integrate their Internet exchange, portal and technical offerings to the corrosion control community worldwide. The basis for the alliance is that the two sites together offer a full range of technical and product information, as well as rich Web site functionalities, to both corrosion specialists and non-specialists alike. CorrosionSource has a 30,000-page technical library dealing with the disciplines of corrosion technology and includes contributions from Nickel Development Institute and Marcel Dekker, Inc. PaintSquare’s library focuses on protective and marine coatings…

Wärtsilä's subsidiary Wärtsilä Automation Norway and Emerson Process Management, a business of the US company Emerson have decided to form an alliance to provide process automation systems for FPSO (Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading) vessels. Wärtsilä Automation Norway brings expertise in automation systems for marine and offshore applications, and Emerson process management. Engineering teams from both companies will work together to develop solutions suitable for FPSO vessels. The aim is to offer solutions that will raise efficiency and reduce costs. The alliance's first collaborative project is for BW Offshore FPSO "BW Enterprise".