Geoff Taylor News

Joined up thinking from two marine technology suppliers addresses impending legislation for Ballast Water Treatment and offers a practical solution for monitoring and recording the correct discharge of ballast water, in real-time. The International Maritime Organizations 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention lays down strict guidelines for the treatment and discharge of ballast water. Already in force as of January 1, 2015 in U.S. waters, universal ratification is expected to occur during the next six months.

Jay Daga has been named Chief Financial Officer of Topaz Energy and Marine, an international offshore support vessel owner with operations in the Middle East, Caspian and West Africa. Daga will take his position with immediate effect, having been with Topaz for 15 years in a number of finance positions, most recently as Deputy CFO. Topaz noted that Daga led its two latest capital raising initiatives being the company’s $350 million corporate bond issue in 2013 and its recent $75 million equity injection by Standard Chartered Private Equity. Topaz also confirmed the departure of Chief Operating Officer, Roy Donaldson, who joined Topaz in 2005. Geoff Taylor will act as interim COO while the search for a successor is underway.

Topaz Marine Engineering, a regional marine repair service provider and boat builder, announced the appointment of Geoff Taylor as its new Managing Director. Geoff joins the company following a period as an independent marine consultant. Prior to this he enjoyed a career spanning twenty seven years with Dubai Drydocks and Drydocks World. After holding a number of managerial positions he became Technical Director of Dubai Drydocks in 1999, CEO in 2004 and Group CEO in 2007. He was instrumental in developing Dubai Drydocks from a single site ship repair yard into world class repair…

Dubai Drydocks World, the shipbuilding arm of state investor Dubai World, is eyeing yards in China, India and Vietnam, to expand capacity in the hot business of rig building with oil at records near $100 a barrel. Chief executive Geoff Taylor told Reuters on Thursday that the company was part of a joint venture which is in advanced talks to buy a small unlisted shipyard in China's Jiangsu province along the Yangtze River delta. Taylor said the deal was likely to cost Drydock World a total of $55 million. After the acquisition, likely to be completed in the next few weeks, the company plans to inject more cash to turn the yard into a larger shipbuilding and repair facility, he said.

Drydocks World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, has announced that it has successfully completed the setting up of a new group under its umbrella. Geoff Taylor, CEO of Drydocks World, said Drydocks World will monitor, control and set procedures in respect of finance, HR and other common functions in group companies. Those in the group at present include Drydocks World Dubai, which is an amalgamation of Dubai Drydocks and Jadaf, Drydocks World Singapore, formerly Pan United Marine, Drydocks World Batam, a green field development in Indonesia, Platinum Yachts FZ and Platinum Yacht management. Drydocks World Dubai is the complete amalgamation of Jadaf Shipyard and Dubai Drydocks.

According to reports, DP World, on target to achieve 40 percent growth in four years, will spend up to $3b to boost container traffic at the 52 port terminals it currently operates around the globe. Announcing the formal launch of Dubai World — the holding group comprising a collection of companies, including P&F World, the parent company of DP World — Sulayem said the diversified entity, which has seen the size and spread of business growing over the past couple of years, is geared to tap further huge potential for growth. Sulayem said DP World and its adviser Deutsche Bank were evaluating various offers for the six US terminals it acquired as part of the $6.8 billion take-over of Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company in February.