U.S. Refinery Workers' Contract Talks Moving Slowly
With just a week of bargaining left until the national contract for U.S. refinery workers expires, the United Steelworkers union (USW) said talks with oil company representatives for a new pact were going slow, according to a Twitter message sent to members. "It's time for the industry to get serious about addressing issues that matter to USW members," the message said. The USW rejected the first industry proposal on Friday, calling it "inadequate and offensive," according to a message sent to members. A spokesman for Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the lead negotiator for U.S. refinery owners, confirmed that an initial offer had been made to the USW, but declined to discuss details.
Competence: the Key to Safe and Efficient Offshore Operations
A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. To that end, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework.
Marine Warranty Surveyors Association Launched
On Thursday 25 April 2013, at Lloyd’s of London, a new professional body, the International Association of Marine Warranty Surveyors (IAMWS), was formally launched. Approximately 120 representatives from the energy insurance market together with brokers and oil company representatives attended a seminar to announce the aims and objectives of the new association. This new body will assess and provide accreditation to practicing marine warranty surveyors from across the world to ensure they operate to an acknowledged minimum professional standard and code of ethics. The benefits of a common standard have increasingly been discussed by the offshore oil and gas industry, and IAMWS has been created to promote a consistent and robust level of service.
Norway Looks to Arctic Oil Exploration
The 22nd License Round announced by Minister of Petroluem and Energy Ola Borten Moe includes as many as 72 blocks in the Barents Sea, several of them near the polar ice ridge, reports the 'Barents Observer'. And Norwegian Arctic drilling will not stop with the 22nd License Round. According to Borten Moe, his ministry is ready to take it all the way to the 84th latitude, the northernmost point in Norwegian waters. In his meeting this week with high-ranking international politicians, including U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, as well as a number of powerful oil company representatives, the Norwegian minister made it very clear what he intends to do in the area. For environmentalists, the signals from the Norwegian government are bad news.
Offshore Profile: Offshore Prospects Keep Bollinger Busy
Maritime Reporter recently spent some time with Mike Ellis, Executive VP and COO of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., to discuss offshore market business trends and the future direction of one of the nation's elite marine construction companies. Q: What is the significance of the Offshore Market to Bollinger? A: The offshore market is very significant to Bollinger Shipbuilding. In addition to the 12 facilities that perform repair services on the offshore supply vessel markets, our new construction facilities build OSVs and other related equipment. When the offshore market is slow, it creates significant idle capacity in our industry which in turn makes for a difficult market for shipyards. Q: What percentage of your business is related to the offshore business?
