Global Marine Systems News

Huawei Marine Networks, a global submarine network provider, announced completion of the West Africa Cable System (WACS) Upgrade II.A press release from the joint venture between the Chinese firm Huawei Technologies and the British company Global Marine Systems said that the project was signed in February 2018 and successfully put into commercial use in October of the same year.The upgrade realized 32*100G wavelengths configured on the longest optically amplified single fiber span stretching 11500km from South Africa to Portugal.As the longest 100G submarine cable system in Africa, WACS has two network operation centers and 15 landing points in 14 countries spanning West Africa and Europe.

The diversified holding company HC2 Holdings announced that it is exploring strategic alternatives, including a potential sale, for its  Global Marine Group (GMG)  subsidiary.As part of this process, Global Marine Holdings, a leading provider of offshore engineering services to the telecommunications, renewables and oil & gas industries through its operating subsidiary Global Marine Systems Limited, has engaged Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and ABN AMRO Bank as joint advisors to explore strategic alternatives for the business."Since our acquisition four years ago, the management team at Global Marine has repositioned and strengthened itself by securing and maintaining leadership positions in various key growth markets…

Will Roberts has joined Foss Maritime as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), responsible for building the customer facing team to drive and sustain the company’s market share and long-term revenue generation. CCO is a newly developed position at Foss Maritime. In his role as CCO, Roberts will set out to advance Foss’ global perspective on market opportunities and lead in the assessment and prioritization of geographic and operational market segments through marketing, sales and business development activities.

Subsea cable systems design, installation and maintenance firm Global Marine Systems Limited, has added the 6,200 ton cable deadweight CS Recorder to its fleet. Built in 2000, the vessel formerly known as the Maersk Recorder, has previously been chartered by Global Marine for numerous cable installation projects and has since successfully completed work in the oil and gas and renewables sectors. The newly named CS Recorder is intended to support the telecoms installation business growth over the next 5-10 years, with a number of critical projects scheduled during 2018, 2019 and 2020.

CWind, a provider of services to the offshore wind industry, has announced that it has invested in the company’s largest crew transfer vessel to date. Newly named as CWind Phantom, the 27.4m catamaran can hold 20,000 litres of fuel and has a 20 ton cargo capacity, making her suitable for longer stretches of work at wind farms located further from shore. This investment demonstrates the company’s ability to evolve with the changing market. CWind’s fleet now totals 18, with access to additional cable installation and maintenance vessels via CWind’s parent company, Global Marine Systems Limited.

Global Marine Systems Limited has acquired a majority interest in offshore renewables specialist CWind Limited. According to Global Marine, the purchase demonstrates its commitment to the offshore renewable sector and adds a diverse range of construction and O&M services to its current capabilities. CWind has to date supported the construction and operation of more than 26 wind farms in the North Sea, Irish Sea and the Baltic delivering a broad range of construction and O&M services. Substantial growth has led CWind to open a new office in Bremen, Germany in 2014.

Electrical system integrator Alewijnse Marine Systems is celebrating the first anniversary of delivering electrical services and maintenance to vessels at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque. Twelve months after it began work there, the results are well above expectations with 19 contracts fulfilled for 10 vessels, representing a strong start, the company reports. The delivery of electrical services and maintenance to vessels at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque started in April 2014 with the MPI Resolution maintenance project, a turbine installation vessel.

Global Marine Systems Limited’s vessel Cable Innovator has recently left Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion) after extensive work including the installation of a ballast water treatment system and a five-year survey. Global Marine Systems has been active on the cable-laying market since the industry’s earliest days and offers its clients 160 years of experience in the sector. Global Marine has worked with Damen previously when its vessel, Wave Sentinel, went through a scope of work at the company’s Brest yard.

Global Marine Systems Ltd. (GMSL)  is in the process of converting six of its cable installation and repair vessels to begin using the latest Makai software technology. With the addition of GMSL to the list of customers, Makai software products are now used by large installers and smaller telecom cable installers throughout the world, accounting for more than 80% of the world’s cable installation fleet, the company said. 3)    The MakaiLay Seismic module which will enhance the capabilities of GMSL in accurately installing and retrieving seismic arrays for the oil and gas industry.

BMT Scientific Marine Services announced an expansion of its operations team with the appointment of Phil Hart as the new Vice President of Operations and Jeffrey Lewis as Vice President - Client Support Operations. Phil has over 17 years of experience in the offshore industry, including project management, technology development, designing and implementing new product lines and company revenue streams, building and directing multiple cross-functional teams, and budgeting. Phil previously was a Project Manager and Consultant at Cranfield University…

Forum Energy Technologies contracts with Global Marine Systems to supply a PerryTM XT 600 Trenching System. The XT 600 Trenching System is scheduled for delivery in 2013. It will be installed in the Global Marine vessel the Cable Retriever, based in the Philippines, and will replace the T205 trencher that was previously supplied by Forum/Perry in 2000. The XT 600 Trenching System will be used to support Global Marine's subsea cable maintenance contracts in South East Asia and the Indian Ocean. The trenching system is to come complete with Launch & Recovery System and special tooling. The trencher provides three meter ROV burial capability on the ocean floor.

Global Marine Systems Energy contracted A&P North East to ready 'Cable Enterprise' for offshore wind farm operations. The project took 110 days work to make the vessel ready for a contract on the Gwynt y Mor offshore wind farm, situated off the coast of Wales. Works carried out by A&P North East on the project included; fitting of a carousel to the main deck and under deck stiffening along with  fabrication and installation of a number of items including a forward cow catcher, bulwalk sections, A-Frame seats and plough carriage.

Global Marine Systems announced Kim Wichmann-Hansen as President of Global Marine Energy, a division focused on Subsea Electrical infrastructure for the Offshore Wind and Energy Transmission markets, as well as Subsea Umbilical and Cable Transportation & Installation for the Offshore Oil & Gas industry. “Despite tough economic conditions around the world, we believe that investment in non-polluting energy sources such as offshore wind must and will continue.” said Gabriel Ruhan CEO Global Marine Systems. “This is evidenced by the success we and our partner Visser & Smit Hanab have experienced to date, and the positive dialogue our people have fostered with leading energy companies driving the Offshore Wind industry forward.

Astilleros de Santander, S.A. (Astander) has completed a recent upgrade project for Aberdeen-based Technip. The work was carried out on the 11,564 grt multi-purpose subsea installation vessel CSO Deep Pioneer, and included the installation of two new ROV launch & recovery systems and eight new two-cabin modular accommodation modules to take in the new crew requirements. Three new 1.360 Kw generators were also installed to support the new power demand onboard as a result of all the new equipment in a new purpose-built generator room.

The United Kingdom’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has recently approved the first two Ship Security Plans for UK flagged vessels. It expects these to be the first of many before the implementation date of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) on 1st July 2004. The first verifications of ships security systems have been scheduled for early November. The plan approved was for the vessel CMA – CGM Normandie. This has been carried out as a joint exercise between the operators of the vessel, Zodiac Maritime Agencies Ltd, and their security advisers, Maritime and Underwater Security Consultants (MUSC). Zodiac were pleased with the progress and are intending to implement the plan on board the vessel as soon as possible…

Global Marine Systems Limited (Global Marine), a subsidiary of Global Crossing Inc, and a provider of subsea engineering solutions, has been sold to Bridgehouse Marine Ltd. Bridgehouse Marine is a specialised business that acquires and manages companies providing marine services to the telecommunications and energy industries. Andy Ruhan, Bridgehouse Capital's Managing Director and an investor in Bridgehouse Marine, will become the Chairman of Global Marine. Peter Ford will take over as acting CEO, and both appointments are made with immediate effect. Phil Metcalf, Global Marine's outgoing CEO, said: "The investment represents a great deal both for Global Marine and Global Crossing.

The Oceanic Princess, the first of two new cable laying vessels purchased for conversion by specialist UK shipping group James Fisher and Sons PLC in the second half of last year, has been delivered on long term charter to it-International Telecom, a subsidiary of Advanced Technology Systems, Greensboro, N.C. Delivery to it-International on May 4 follows the successful completion of sea trials for the 5,000-ton former RoRo vessel, converted to its new role at the Victor Lenac shipyard in Rijeka, Croatia. Conversion work on the second ship, the 3,000-ton Oceanic Pearl, is at an advanced stage. This vessel is expected to undergo sea trials later in the summer prior to going on charter to it-International.

A contract for the construction of a deepwater construction vessel was signed by Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., and Torch, Inc. The Guido Perla & Associates-designed 340 x 85 x 31 ft. M/V Midnight Warrior is a current generation construction vessel, equipped to provide offshore flowline installation, offshore umbilical installation and subsea construction and is capable of worldwide operations. Midnight Warrior is to be ABS-classed, Maltese Cross A1, Maltese Cross AMS, DP-2 Circle E for unlimited international service. The 15,000 hp vessel will be diesel electric, SCR, with three 3,000 hp azimuthing thrusters on the stern and two 2,000 hp tunnel thrusters in the bow. The U.S.

Torch Offshore LLC is a Gretna, La-based integrated offshore contractor whose niche market is the installation of small diameter flow lines and related infrastructure on the Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In 2002, the company had revenues of $68 million, laying 227 miles of pipe. Torch Offshore operates a fleet of nine vessels that lay the pipe and/or support this activity. The company is in the process of converting two large vessels that will give the company the ability to compete in the deepwater segment pf the market. "The company's strategy for the future is highly focused on the deepwater arenas of the world," said Lyle G. Stockstill, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Torch Offshore.