International Service News

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) and Panama’s main maritime associations concluded the meetings for the revision of the General Merchant Marine Law, law 57 of August 6, 2008.A total of 188 articles were reviewed; 70 were modified; 10 were eliminated and more than 12 new articles were proposed, and all of them were approved in consensus. These amendments aim at improving the competitiveness of the Panama Ship Registry for remaining at the forefront of the maritime sector.For this Administration…

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) said it has recovered more than $15.7 million in wage payments owed to seafarers who sail on Panamanian-flagged vessels.Under its current administration, through the General Directorate of Seafarers (DGGM), the AMP said it has recovered $15,763,052.24 for vessel crewmembers, including $5,315,909.99 in 2022.The AMP said that during this span 1,248 maritime labor complaints were processed (including 451 in 2022) and that 1,864 crew members of various nationalities have been repatriated through the intervention of the AMP the shipowners…

The U.S. Postal Service is using ships for overseas transport as the number of commercial flights typically used to send mail abroad has plummeted due to the coronavirus pandemic. The agency said on April 23 that a first mail shipment bound for Europe departed JFK International Service Center in New York three days earlier and is being transported on a containership scheduled to arrive at the port of Rotterdam on May 7. The vessel is said to be carrying 6,036 receptacles in five containers weighing 32…

High-tech deep-drilling company GA Drilling signed a EUR 4.2 million funding agreement with Lead Ventures and a service agreement with MOL Group.Lead Ventures, a Budapest based venture capital firm invested funds provided by MOL Group, and Hungarian Eximbank.The deal gives GA Drilling access to onshore production wells to test its disruptive PLASMABIT plug & abandonment technology in real field conditions.The agreement is a major step in enabling the commercialization of the PLASMABIT technology, which can bring positive environmental impacts, and significant cost and time reductions when compared to conventional methods of decommissioning…

Maritime services provider Ardent and Singapore Salvage Engineers (SSE) have joined forces for future operations within Singapore and adjacent waters. The two companies signed a cooperation agreement on the 19th of January 2018 to closely work together on future opportunities and at the same time retain their own corporate identities. “Through SSE’s strong background within the immediate region of Singapore and adjacent waters in combination with the diversity of resources they operate, this cooperation enables the provision of high quality, cost efficient and prompt response solutions towards the maritime and offshore industry in this particular region.” said Bas Michiels, Ardent’s Director Asia.

Glander International Bunkering, one of the industry’s oldest bunker trading and brokering firms, has announced that the group has merged with the Norwegian company Scandinavian Bunkering AS. Scandinavian Bunkering AS. was established in 1993 and as of September 26, 2016 the company will change its name and rebrand to Glander International Bunkering (Norway) AS. The merge will give way to a magnitude of new and improved resources on account of the union of two very strong entities, Glander International Bunkering said.

Drydocks World, the international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors has successfully been certified to European Standards EN 1090 – 1 and EN 1090-2. The certification program is part of the European Union’s Construction Products Regulation CPR 305/2011. Drydocks World’s main yard activities undertaken in its facility are found to be complying with Factory Production Control (FPC) requirements by the auditing body. The scope of the certification includes Corrosion Protected Load Bearing Steel Structures, which can be manufactured under Execution Class 3 (EXC 3). Drydocks World is authorized to apply…

The PALFINGER Group has signed today the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares in Herkules Harding Holding AS and thus, the globally operating Harding Group. The seller is the Norwegian private equity fund Herkules. Harding is one of the leading suppliers of lifesaving equipment and lifecycle services for maritime installations and ships. Through this acquisition, PALFINGER will add new products and an international service network to its marine business. The final closing of this acquisition of Harding by PALFINGER is contingent on the approval of the authorities. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Styrk Bekkenes, CEO of Harding, is very enthusiastic about the acquisition. “PALFINGER is a perfect match for Harding.

As maritime markets continue to struggle, merger and acquisition activity should heat up. Today, Austria's Palfinger Group announced that it intends to acquire 100% of the shares in Herkules Harding Holding AS and thus, the globally operating Harding Group. The seller is the Norwegian private equity fund Herkules. Harding is a leading suppliers of lifesaving equipment and lifecycle services for maritime installations and ships. Through this acquisition, PALFINGER will add new products and an international service network to its marine business.

Greece is considered to be the world’s first ship-owning country in terms of tonnage. The Greeks are known to control 17.7% of world fleet and gaining share except in crude tankers. Even recession in the dry bulk market has not had much effect on the Greek-owned fleet with the fleet size touching 5,226 vessels last year with a total DWT of 334 million. For debt-laden Greece, shipping – a key element of Greek economic activity since ancient times – is considered a knight in shining armor at this crucial juncture. Most Greek shipping companies are family owned businesses which have been in shipping for many decades, even over a hundred years.

The latest five-year BIMCO/ICS Manpower Report forecasts a serious future shortage in the supply of seafarers. • A need for an additional 147,500 officers by 2025 to service the world merchant fleet. The global supply of officers is forecast to increase steadily, but this is predicted to be outpaced by increasing demand. Some officer categories are in especially short supply, including engineer officers at management level and officers needed for specialised ships such as chemical, LNG and LPG carriers. The report suggests that in the past five years the industry has made good progress with increasing recruitment and training levels and reducing officer wastage (i.e. retaining qualified seafarers and increasing the number of years which they serve at sea).

Launched yesterday evening at the International Maritime Organization, the latest five-year BIMCO/ICS Manpower Report forecasts a serious future shortage in the supply of seafarers. • A need for an additional 147,500 officers by 2025 to service the world merchant fleet. The global supply of officers is forecast to increase steadily, but this is predicted to be outpaced by increasing demand. Some officer categories are in especially short supply, including engineer officers at management level and officers needed for specialised ships such as chemical, LNG and LPG carriers. The report suggests that in the past five years the industry has made good progress with increasing recruitment and training levels and reducing officer wastage (i.e.

Drydocks World, an international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, announced it has received a five star rating from the British Safety Council for the Occupational Health and Safety. The company underwent a detailed, quantified and objective audit conducted by the British Safety Council on occupational health, safety management systems and a number of key safety indicators. Drydocks World’s management continually focuses on principles that enhance operational excellence, sustainable development and creating a culture to increase the safety of employees.

Drydocks World, an international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors has completed the yard’s first Rig Integrity Assurance Program (RIAP) on rig Diyina for the National Drilling Company (NDC), and the first EPCC concept rig project the yard has undertaken. The completion of rig Diyina is a reflection of Drydocks World’s capabilities and dedication to addressing the refurbishment requirements of offshore drilling rigs, the yard said. Drydocks World has completed 17 projects for NDC, with rig Diyina being the first RIAP project. On rig Diyina 2,000 tons of steel, 17 kilometers of piping, 180 kilometers of cabling and approximately 90,000 square meters of painting work has been carried out.

Hybrid marine power and propulsion systems for workboats isn’t farfetched. In fact, it may be essential. In 2015, two significant developments are going to make many operators, owners and builders of professional vessels consider hybrid marine power. The new emissions laws – here and abroad – and the incentives for high technology manufacturers to invest in developing highly efficient batteries are the primary drivers. That said; dramatically reducing pollution in both water and…

Rickmers Group reports that a representative of its company today has been allowed to board the seized container vessel Maersk Tigris, following an urgent request to Iranian authorities. The seized ship, managed by Rickmers Shipmanagement (Singapore), has a crew of 24 seafarers. The Rickmers representative has been able to establish that all seafarers are safe and on board the vessel. Given the current circumstances they are all in a good condition, the ship’s manager said. Maersk Tigris was seized by the Iranian Navy on Tuesday April 28 and has since been under control of the authorities. Iranian officials said the seizure is related to a cargo dispute with Maersk Line, the charterers of the vessel, which dates back to 2005.

Drydocks World and Maritine World, international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, have been recognized at the ADNOC HSE awards for bringing safety and environment benefits to the industry in partnership with the National Drilling Company (NDC). The award ceremony was held at the InterContinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi on April 21 with numerous national companies in attendance such as ADGAS, ADNATCO-NGSCO, ZADCO, NDC and GASCO. Drydocks World…

Drydocks World the international service providers to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors won the ISO 3834-2: 2005 certificate for quality requirements on fusion welding of metallic materials. This certificate validates Drydocks World’s capabilities in line with international welding standards and criteria, ensuring proper monitoring, documenting, testing and supervision of the welding process. The terms of service required in relation to welding have been met through compliance with rules, conditions and requirements. The ISO 3834-2: 2005pledges that the implementation of welding operations are being carried out correctly and accurately through the development of welding procedures.

Drydocks World, the international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, handled 37 projects simultaneously in the Dubai yard, exceeding the previous record of 35 vessels. “Since January 2015 Drydocks World has increased the rate of vessel completion, with 33 per cent more vessels leaving the yard in March,” the company press release said. Drydocks World’s 37 projects include dredgers, rigs, gas carriers, tankers and container ships, which are being repaired and refitted for clients such as Chevron Shipping, Technip, Saudi Aramco, Shelf Drilling, Saipem, the National Drilling Company, Excelerate Energy and Aban Offshore.

Drydocks World, the international service provider to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors, have simultaneously berthed 11 rigs in the Dubai yard, breaking its record of nine rigs at the yard set in February this year. Clients contributing to the record include Saipem, Saudi Aramco, Shelf Drilling, Aban Offshore and the National Drilling Company. Drydocks World said it has focused its efforts to cater to the offshore market and rig requirements through establishing a dedicated rig division which has worked to market the yard facilities…

Despite plummeting global fuel-prices, raising inevitable questions about their impact on the fuel conservation sector of the market, Krill Systems has reported strong booth traffic and interest in its products and services at the recent Work Boat Show in New Orleans. The company believes that this seems to indicate is that demand for fuel management strategies continues throughout the global oil and gas sector, even in the present pricing environment. Krill announced expansion…

Drydocks World received a high-level delegation of the Council members from the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) on 11 November. The delegation included Mr. Olav Eek Thorstensen, MD & CEO of Thome Shipmanagement, Ms. Ann-Marie Astrom, Vice Chairman of the Rederi AB Gotland. The delegation also included members of the board: Mr. Derya Sabaz, COO / Co-owner of v Besiktas Likid AS, Mr. Takis E. Koutris, Managing Director of Roxana Shipping SA, Mr. Tim Horne, Managing Director of Teekay, Mr. Wellington Koo, Executive Director of Valles Shipping and Mr. Erik Ranheim, Staff Member of the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO). The delegation met senior management and operational figures in the Drydocks World group, led by Eng.

Drydocks World the international service provider to the maritime, oil, gas and energy sectors has received the Shipyard/Ship Repair Facility of the Year and the Technology/Innovation Awards for the Modular Capture Vessels(MCV’s) project at the Maritime Standard Awards. The winners were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on November 6th 2014 at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai. The awards sought out best-in-class organizations, projects, employee safety milestones, goals and safety awareness in the workplace. Organizationsthat arecommitted to making safety a significant part of their business strategy and use innovative ideas to encourage and engage staff in workplace safety were recognized.Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum…