Gas Freeing News

Quality Tank Cleaning LLC (QTC) has inaugurated a new industrial tank cleaning facility in collaboration with Harvey Gulf (HGIM).The company has introduced Ivan Galicia as a partner in the new endeavor located at Harvey Gulf’s Operations Facility in Port Fourchon, LA.With an illustrious career spanning over 25 years in the industry, Galicia is esteemed for his unparalleled expertise in tank cleaning operations, earning him recognition as a foremost authority in the field. He and…

Schulte Group unveiled its next generation design for an liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel (LBV), which it said is engineered to be easy-to-use and reduce last-mile costs.The unique vessel design, presented at Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, does away with the need for fenders and spacer pontoons, replacing them with an integrated outrigging system that’s compatible with any vessel type and can be operational in five minutes with the push of a button. Same applies to the telescopic crane, which extends over 40 meters over the water and can be adjusted to any required reach.

Ecochlor’s Board of Directors (BOD) has appointed Andrew Marshall as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately, replacing Steve Candito.In making the announcement Ecochlor said that Candito will continue to support the company as a senior advisor to the Ecochlor BOD and leadership team. “When Andrew joined Ecochlor in 2019 as Vice President of Business Development he started the process of reshaping our international sales team as well as assisting in transforming the core of our business and growth strategy into the success that it is today," said Candito.

Scott Theriot has been named president and CEO of Southwest Shipyard L.P., effective August 12, 2020.Theriot takes over from Read Boles who has served as interim president and CEO since February, following the passing of the shipyard's previous president and CEO Martin DeCamp.Boles has returned to his advisory role on the company's board of directors.Theriot has more than 30 years of marine industry and executive leadership experience in vessel new construction and repair in the Gulf Coast region…

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…

Ecochlor to represent NanoVapor in the maritime industry. The NanoVapor technology improves crew safety while significantly reducing time and any environmental pollution related to gas-freeing VOCs from cargo or bunker tanks. A single application can continue to suppress VOCs for days. The NanoVapor degassing process is more cost effective than traditional methods of cleaning these types of tanks.A NanoVapor unit consists of two components: a nano-suppressant liquid, TankSafe and a portable delivery unit, Model ST-1000.

There have been a number of recent tragedies surrounding the cleaning of confined-spaces on board ships and despite there being very strict procedures, regulatory guidelines and instruction manuals in place regarding working in enclosed spaces, seafarers are still at risk of dying when cleaning out cargo tanks as enclosed spaces are frequently impossible to properly ventilate, their atmosphere difficult to measure, and the spaces themselves difficult to reach.To address these concerns…

Using nanotechnology to improve safety and efficiency.For as long as oil and petrochemicals have been in use by transportation, safely managing their highly flammable, toxic, and environmentally damaging vapors has been an ever present challenge. Even with increasing emphasis on safety procedures and better training, these invisible and dangerous vapors continue to result in the loss of life and property. But now, new nanotechnologies can provide safer and faster solutions that were not thought possible with conventional methods.

The importance of a JH143 Builder’s risk survey has been well documented. Since the Joint Hull Committee created JH 143 – Shipyard Risk Assessment form was brought into effect in November 2003, it has become a valuable tool that insurers can use to evaluate risks and exposures. The conducting of a JH 143 is now commonplace; however this survey continues to be especially important as shipyards incorporate new production methodologies into their operations, including modular construction and block transportation.In our dealing with shipyards and reviewing of JH143 Builders risk surveys at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, we have observed…

Hendry Marine Industries, Inc. (HMI) (along with its affiliated companies Gulf Marine Repair Corporation, Universal Environmental Solutions, LLC, and Anchor Sandblasting and Coatings, LLC) offers a broad range of maritime services in Port Tampa Bay, including commercial and government ship repair, steel fabrication, gas-freeing, tank cleaning, slop services, lead and asbestos abatement, brokered waste and blasting and coating. The Hendry family entered the maritime business in 1926 when Captain F.M. Hendry started a construction aggregate business and then later a dredging business.

Anything but unconventional, Viega piping products and systems provide uncommon time savings and safer repairs, leading to a better bottom line. The maritime industry, over time, has been unusually resistant to change in many aspects of how it operates. Arguably, the ‘biggest’ advances on the water spanning a five decade period leading up to the beginning of the new millennium could be measured in terms of deadweight tonnage and/or the length of a particular class of hulls. Nowhere is that reality more evident than in the shipyard, and looking at what equipment and hardware is used to build and repair marine vessels – now and in the past. Marine piping systems are a perfect example.

Drones could cut time and costs for deliveries and inspections across the Maersk Group – but they must be reliable and absolutely safe. Maersk Tankers is testing delivery to vessels on drones that have been certified for explosive environments. Markus Kuhn peers out through the fog and spots the Maersk Edgar waiting across the chilly Danish waters. Drone operator Thierry Bauer, dressed against the winter cold after a long journey from his centre of operations in Southern France, carefully attaches the cargo of Maersk cookies to its transport.

U.S. Coast Guard Guidance Helps to Bring some Clarity to the Debate. In July 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard released Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-15 (“NVIC”), titled Marine Casualty Reporting Procedures Guide with Associated Standard Interpretations. The purpose of the NVIC is to assist vessel owners and operators in understanding the marine casualty reporting requirements, which many in the industry think are about as clear as mud. Confusion as to what constitutes a marine casualty and what incidents need to be reported has persisted in the marine industry for years.

Recent casualties involving explosions aboard barges conducting tank cleaning operations alongside marine terminals have resulted in serious injuries to vessel crews and facility workers, catastrophic property damage, as well as harm to the environment. A review of related casualties has revealed that vessel personnel, facility personnel and shore side managers failed to ensure that established procedures and safe practices were followed. Specifically, the Operational Manuals and regulatory requirements were not routinely followed by those involved. As a result unintended and disastrous consequences occurred. This safety alert aims to raise awareness regarding this issue and highlight critical lessons learned from these incidents.

W&O Europe, a global supplier to the marine and marine offshore markets for pipe, valves and fittings, valve automation and engineered solutions, has entered into a new partnership with original equipment manufacturer Tube-Mac Piping Technologies. The distribution agreement names W&O Europe as the official distributor of Tube-Mac’s PYPLOK product in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg (also known as Benelux) and Turkey for the marine industries. “The agreement with Tube-Mac is…

Wärtsilä is to supply inert gas systems for a Floating Storage Unit (FSU) on Norway's Heidrun offshore oil & gas field, and for two supporting shuttle tankers. The FSU is owned by Statoil, the Norwegian state owned energy company, and the tankers by AET Tanker Holdings, the Singapore based petroleum transportation company. All three vessels are being built by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea. The Wärtsilä contract with SHI was signed in February 2013. Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for October, 2013.

The concept of force majeure has been broadly accepted since mariners initially encountered the perils of the sea. Persons and governments ashore have been obligated, at least by natural law, to accept and succor those in distress at sea. Concomitant with force majeure is the notion of providing a ship in distress with a place or port of refuge. A place of refuge is where a ship could go to avoid or ameliorate the peril and then depart at the earliest opportunity. While the original need for force majeure and a place of refuge was to reduce the risk to the lives of those on board the ship…

The "Stolt Valor" caught fire on 15th March 2012 north of Bahrain. The fire, which broke out on board the vessel was completely extinguished by 22nd March, while the removal of all pollutants - both chemical cargo and fuel - was completed by the 29th of April, with no spillage during the transfer. The vessel is currently in stable condition at anchor with minimum stresses applied. The Kingdom of Bahrain was identified as the best destination for the Stolt Valor due to the technical capabilities of both the GOP as a regulator and supervisor of maritime safety and environmental matters…

U.S. By Frederick B. Most commercial mariners and their vessel operating employers probably know that when certain significant vessel-related events occur, these must be reported to the U.S. Coast Guard. In my experience, however, there is widespread uncertainty in the marine industry about what must be reported and, more significantly, when. Many companies learn the hard way about these requirements and end up paying healthy fines — anywhere from several hundred to thousands of dollars — for failing to “immediately,” as the regulations require, report such events.

A major step forward in tanker operation safety was taken as ABS announced technical guidance for inert gas systems for ballast tanks. Compliance to the guidelines leads to the class notation IGS-Ballast. ABS is the first society to set standards and offer a notation for complying with design criteria and procedures for inerting ballast tanks on double hull tankers. The timely introduction of the ABS Guide For Inert Gas System For Ballast Tanks addresses industry concerns regarding the potential leakage of volatile gases from oil laden cargo tanks into the ballast or void spaces. This concern has been further heightened as double hull tanker configurations become the standard with mandated phase in by 2010.

The California Maritime Academy of Vallejo, CA, a member of the , and Clearwater Port LLC, announced the creation of a joint program to expand West Coast training in the handling and transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) products. The program puts in place the first formal continuing education LNG training available from a nationally recognized institution on the West Coast. Cal Maritime is one of seven maritime academies nationwide and the only one on the West Coast. is proposing the conversion of an operating offshore oil platform…

Following weeks of preparation and more than seven days of intensive, round-the-clock operations, RESOLVE Salvage & Fire, (ASIA) Pte Ltd. announced that more than 1000 MT of volatile LPG 1- Butene have been removed from the stranded and  wrecked freighter LPG OBERON  in the Taiwan Strait. The Thailand-flagged freighter ran hard aground in strong winds early this year, seven miles from the Penghu archipelago 30 miles northwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The 2695-ton vessel sustained…

The General Organization of Sea Ports (GOP) said that the Liberian vessel -- MV Stolt Valor -- was granted permission to take refuge in Bahrain’s waters. The operation to move the tanker to the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) began early on Tuesday June 26, 2012), where the ASRY team began preparing it for its onward journey. Prior to the commencement of the tow operation, the GOP submitted a plan of action for approval by representatives from Bahrain’s Environmental Affairs and the Bahrain Coast Guard…