International Division News

Astomos Energy, the biggest LPG distributor and trader in Japan, has chosen Maersk Tankers as voyage manager for, initially, five very large gas carriers (VLGCs).The Maersk Tankers service includes day-to-day vessel operations, fuel optimisation and claims handling. It covers full post-fixture support from the time the vessel is fixed for a voyage, through its successful execution, to the closure of the voyage books.“We are honored to commence the partnership with Maersk Tankers, not only pursuing efficient operation but also environmental goals.

Jan De Nul Group’s newest Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger Sanderus has just arrived in Belgium to execute maintenance dredging works in the coastal ports. Not just any dredger, but an ULEv with ultra-low emissions as this vessel has a two-stage catalytic filter system on board.The dredger Sanderus is Jan De Nul's fourth Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv) that has been launched within the past year. The vessel was built in Singapore and left the shipyard in January after offshore tests. Another three major vessels with a same technology and ultra-low emissions are under construction.

Tim Nolan has been named the next president and CEO of U.S. domestic ocean carrier TOTE Inc., parent company Saltchuk announced today. TOTE is the parent company to TOTE Maritime and TOTE Services.Nolan, who is currently president of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, will succeed retiring president CEO Anthony Chiarello who will step down July 16 after eight years at the helm.Nolan has been with the TOTE family of companies since 2013. He will remain in Jacksonville, Fla., as TOTE’s…

A French judge on Wednesday placed tycoon Vincent Bollore under formal investigation over allegations his company undercharged for work on behalf of presidential candidates in two African nations in return for port contracts.Bollore's company, Groupe Bollore, announced the decision by Judge Serge Tournaire, which came after Bollore had been questioned for two days by French fraud police.Bollore, whose logistics empire is a powerhouse in former French colonies across West Africa…

The Hamburg Süd Group reported it has increased its total turnover by 16.8 percent to 6,058 million euros, driven primarily by its takeover and integration of the container operations of the Chilean shipping company Compañía Chilena de Navegación Interoceánica S.A. (CCNI) in late March 2015 as well as the entry into the East-West trade lanes. Shipment volume in the liner business rose sharply on the previous year, by 21.5 percent to 4,101 million TEU. Despite the weakness of the South American economies – especially Brazil…

Brazilian prosecutors plan to file criminal charges stemming from the lease of an Ensco Plc offshore oil-drilling ship to Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras "in due course," they said. The plan to prosecute over the Ensco-Petrobras charter was mentioned in a Thursday statement presenting corruption charges stemming from the 2009 lease of another drillship, Vantage Drilling's Titanium Explorer Rig. In the Vantage case, prosecutors formally charged six people, including Petrobras' former international-unit chief Jorge Zelada. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, chartered the DS-5 in 2008, when it was owned by Pride International, a company London-based Ensco purchased in 2011.

Continental Resources Inc, the largest oil producer in North Dakota's Bakken shale formation, said on Thursday that Rick Bott, its president and chief operating officer, had resigned. Bott, 54, was widely considered the likely successor to Continental Chief Executive Officer Harold Hamm, 68. His departure leaves a talent gap at the top of the company, which is in the midst of an ambitious attempt to double its 2012 production levels by 2017. Continental said Bott's duties will be divided between remaining executives. It was not immediately clear why Bott resigned or if he had secured a new job. Before joining Continental in 2012, Bott had worked at Cairn India Ltd and in Devon Energy Corp's international division. Calls to Bott were not immediately returned.

This Seminar will be held at the Connecticut Maritime Association Exhibition in Stamford, Connecticut, at 3 p.m. EST on March 19, 2014, in the Charter Oak Seminar room. The distinguished panel of experts will discuss the growing prevalence of shipboard telemedical diagnosis and treatment and its effect on the immediate and long term health care of the international seafarer. The panel discussion will kick off with remarks by Christina DeSimone, CEO of Future Care Inc. The panel discussion will featureMartin Slade, Lecturer & Director of Research of Yale Occupational & Environmental Medicine; Dr. Antonio Abaya, M.D., Medical Director of Health Metrics…

Tundra International announced it has entered an exclusive partnership with Mr. David Hammond, Barrister of 9 Bedford Row International Chambers to identify and develop new technology based training methods to test personnel on their knowledge and application of the Rules for the Use of Force and the '100 Series Rules' as it applies to the maritime security environment. The 100 Series Rules, created by David Hammond, a U.K. Counsel and barrister-at-law who heads up the maritime practice at the International division of 9 Bedford Row Chambers, are intended to be a model set and example of best practice for maritime Rules for the Use of Force…

Australian Parliament's new maritime legislation will revamp Australian maritime regulatory responsibilites in 2013. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will become the national regulator for all domestic commercial vessels in Australia, with state and Northern Territory maritime agencies exercising AMSA delegations in administering national standards. The new Navigation Act 2012 will modernise the way international shipping is regulated by AMSA, providing for high levels of safety and protection of the marine environment through transparent and flexible regulation. The Regulatory Affairs and Reform Division will become the Domestic Vessel Division.

Björn Ingemanson, 53, has been appointed new President of Volvo Penta. Ingemanson is currently President of Volvo Trucks’ International Division and will assume his new position on April 1, 2012, when he will succeed the current President Göran Gummeson, who will retire next year. Ingemanson has a long history at the Volvo Group and his past positions include CFO of Volvo Trucks and European head of the Group’s customer financing company, Volvo Financial Services. Volvo Penta’s current President Göran Gummeson, who turns 65 in February, will remain as President until March 31, 2012.

Arc Light Acquisition Adds Capabilities to Marine Compnay's Existing Services. San Diego marine hybrid systems pioneer Arc Lite Power, LLC has signed an agreement to purchase National City shipyard Knight & Carver Maritime, the companies announced today. The $30 million total investment will expand the capabilities of the combined companies to serve the emerging “green marine” market. Knight & Carver, a leading provider of marine construction and maintenance services since 1971, will continue its traditional offerings in addition to adding the operations of the world’s first global hybrid superyacht conversion and certification center. An interim operating agreement will allow combined operations to begin immediately. “The future has arrived for hybrid marine power,” said Sampson A.

Tradewinds’ Fifth Oslo Shipping Forum, scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, gathers industry leaders to focus on Norwegian shipping and the new financial landscape. In an uncertain market characterized by falling freight rates, tonnage oversupply and fierce competition, the Norwegian shipping industry faces significant challenges. The Fifth Oslo Shipping Forum, organised by Nor-Shipping 2009 Conference Partner Tradewinds, has assembled leading industry voices to focus on how the Norwegian shipping industry can succeed in the current tumultuous markets. Organised into four sessions, presentations at the day-long event will focus on a board range of topics…

QinetiQ Group announced the appointment of David Mellors as Chief Financial Officer. It is anticipated that David will take up his new role with effect from the end of August 2008 when he will also join the QinetiQ Board as an Executive Director. David, 39, joins from Logica PLC, the IT and business services group where he is the Deputy CFO. Previously he was the CFO of Logica’s International division covering operations in North America, Australia, Middle East and Asia and prior to that the Group Financial Controller.

Jose Bueno Joins the ACR Electronics Sales Team as International Sales Manager. Bueno is an international sales and marketing veteran having most recently held positions with Directlink International and Cosmo Communications Corp. both located in Miami, Florida. Bueno will oversee marine and bridge electronics, government, outdoor and aviation market sales for ACR¹s international division covering Asia, the Pacific Rim and Latin America.

In a move to bridge electronics and an increase in marine sales, the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., ACR team has assumed new titles and responsibilities. Tony Smith, a 15 year sales veteran at Fort Lauderdale-based ACR Electronics, has been promoted to Sales Director, assuming the responsibilities of marine and bridge electronics, government, outdoor and aviation sales for the company¹s international division, which covers Asia, the Pacific Rim and Latin America. Bob Pro, who joined ACR in 2004 as the Western Marine Sales Manager, has been promoted to North America Sales Manager, Marine Division. Pro¹s new assignment will entail managing all aspects of marine business, including bridge electronics, commercial, recreational, and national accounts.

Global Industries, Ltd. has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire ETPM, SA, a leading international offshore construction company wholly-owned by Groupe GTM, the construction affiliate of French utility Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux. The combined company will be the largest offshore construction company in market capitalization with combined 1998 revenues of approximately $1.3 billion. ETPM provides a full range of turnkey services, including design, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning of offshore platforms and pipelines. ETPM will be combined with Global's current international operations to create a new International Division. Pierre Laborie, ETPM's current president and COO, will head the new division.

Christopher Brown, formerly Claims Director for Gard, will bring his experience to the UK P&I Club when he joins managers Thomas Miller on August 1. Mr. Brown, 40, trained and qualified as a maritime lawyer in the United States. A Norwegian speaker, he has been with Gard since 1989 and was stationed at its Hong Kong office after 1997. Brown leaves Norway for family reasons and is greatly looking forward to working for the world's largest P&I club. He will spend a year in Miller's London office before transferring to Thomas Miller (Asia Pacific) in Hong Kong as Claims Director for Asia, where he will focus particularly on China.

Global Industries, Ltd. has attained the offshore marine construction business of its Mexican joint venture CCC Fabricaciones y Construcciones, S.A. de C.V. and sold its interest in CCC to the other principal shareholder of CCC, Grupo Consorcio de Fabricaciones y Construcciones. Under these terms, Global is acquiring four marine vessels and the marine support base at Cuidad de Carmen, Mexico, in addition to the existing offshore marine construction contracts totaling more than $72 million. Another transaction in the works is a definitive purchase agreement that was signed for the attainment of ETPM, SA, an international offshore construction company.

Global Industries, Ltd. has attained the offshore marine construction business of its Mexican joint venture CCC Fabricaciones y Construcciones, S.A. de C.V. and sold its interest in CCC to the other principal shareholder of CCC, Grupo Consorcio de Fabricaciones y Construcciones. Under these terms, Global is acquiring four marine vessels and the marine support base at Cuidad de Carmen, Mexico, in addition to the existing offshore marine construction contracts totaling more than $72 million. Another transaction in the works is a definitive purchase agreement that was signed for the attainment of ETPM, SA, an international offshore construction company.