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Oil Spill Response Operations News

01 Jul 2021

L3 Harris Tapped to Deliver USV for Offshore Oil Spill Response

Photo courtesy L3 Harris

An unidentified "leading integrated oil and gas company" recently took delivery of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) from  L3Harris Technologies, a USV designed to help out during oil spill response operations.C-Tug 3 is an 11-ft. USV  outfitted with L3Harris' ASView control system,a system designed to enable USV remote operations from a land-based control station. C-Tug 3 is designed to execute pre-programmed mission plans and real-time teleoperation via a remote touch screen unit. Once deployed, the USV can tow an oil containment boom into position to prevent the spread of any contaminants.

24 Jun 2019

OP/ED: A Reassessment of the U.S. Marine Salvage Posture

Jim Elliott is President of the American Salvage Association and Chief Operating Officer of the Teichman Group of Companies.

It has been ten years since the U.S. Salvage and Marine Firefighting Regulations were published: Is it time for a reassessment of the U.S. marine salvage posture?In 1982, the National Research Council’s Committee on the National Salvage Posture prepared a study entitled, “Marine Salvage in the United States.” The goal of the report was “to assess the present national posture for coping with ship rescue salvage and towing situations for time-critical offshore salvage in general.”…

16 Jul 2018

New Oil Spill Tech Solutions Put to the Test

A rotocraft equipped with a thermal infrared sensor captured images of emulsified oil to validate the sensor’s capabilities during the NOAA and BSEE funded remote sensing test. Image: Courtesy Ohmsett

No two oil spill response operations are the same. Each can present new and even tougher challenges for spill responders as they detect, contain and recover spilled oil. Diverse aspects affecting oil spill response operations can be the physical environment, spill monitoring, use of chemical dispersants, and the availability of proper technology for the situation.Some challenges have been met through research and technology development of techniques for dealing with spills. However…

22 Mar 2017

Guam Bolsters Oil Spill Recovery Capacity

Photo: Lamor Corporation

Lamor recently commissioned itsLSC 4C Side Collecting Oil Skimming System for Guam’s Oil Spill Response Operations Company (OSROCO) and T&T Marine Salvage (T&T) making it the largest skimming system in the region. OSROCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cabras Marine, and T&T operate the skimming system as well as an array of small crafts, and other specialized response equipment. OSROCO, Cabras and T&T employees are trained and certified in accordance with the U.S. Federal Government’s oil spill response and safety standards.

12 Jan 2017

Meet Seahunter, a Multipurpose Connectable Plastic Workboat

(Photo: Lamor Corporation)

A new multipurpose connectable plastic workboat offers versatility to a variety of end users. Seahunter can serve as a multi-use commercial platform or powered vessel, with each hull designed to used individually or connected together at port, starboard or bow with lockable pins. Manufactured in Norway, Spain and Finland by Finnish based Lamor Corporation, the catamaran hull is constructed in rotomolded thermo plastic (PE), which ensures durable and low maintenance surface, the builder said.

06 Jun 2016

Dual-fuel Icebreaker Polaris Presented at CIMAC

Wärtsilä 34DF engine (Image: Wärtsilä)

The design and technical features of Finland's newest icebreaker Polaris were presented on Monday, June 6, in Helsinki as part of the CIMAC World Congress. IB Polaris is the most environmentally friendly diesel-electric icebreaker ever built. It uses both low sulphur diesel and LNG as fuel, which significantly reduces its emissions. The special hull form and propulsion arrangement will minimize ice resistance and maximize the icebreaking capacity of the vessel. The main purpose of IB Polaris is icebreaking and assisting of other vessels in ice conditions in the Baltic Sea.

28 Apr 2015

Vyborg Shipyard to Build Icebreaker

Vyborg Shipyard signed a License and Concept Design Agreement with the Finnish engineering company Aker Arctic Technology for two icebreaking support vessels. Two multifunctional diesels-electric- powered icebreakers 22 MW will be built at Vyborg Shipyard by order of LLC Gazprom Neft Novy Port. In the nearest time Aker Arctic engineers will start development of concept design package and perform model tests in open water and in ice conditions. At a later stage on the basis of the concept design there will be developed technical design for the vessels. According to the procurement documents, the contract is valued at RUB 6,008,550,000. The order is to be fulfilled by November 30, 2018.

14 Jan 2015

BSEE Allocates $6m for Oil Spill Research Projects

Photo courtesy of BSEE

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) will invest up to $6 million to support oil spill response research projects in 2015 and is soliciting proposals for these projects. In a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) released on the federal government’s business opportunities website, www.FedBizOpps.gov, the bureau called for white papers focusing specifically on one of seven topic areas for proposed research covering oil spill response operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The deadline for submitting white papers is February 9, 2015.

07 Aug 2014

Deltamarin to Outfit First LNG-powered Icebreaker

Image copyright Aker Arctic

Deltamarin Ltd. has been awarded a contract by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard Inc. for the entire machinery and technical spaces outfitting production design of the first LNG-powered icebreaker. The vessel is to be built for the Finnish Transport Agencey, and aims to reduce emissions and fuel costs by using both diesel and LNG as fuel. The icebreaker is designed especially for operations in the most challenging icebreaking conditions in the Baltic Sea. Equipped with the industry’s most advanced technology…

10 Jun 2014

Wärtsilä to Power World's first LNG Fueled Icebreaker

The new icebreaker built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the Finnish Transport Agency and powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines will be the most environmentally friendly icebreaker ever built.

A new icebreaker being built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the Finnish Transport Agency will be powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines capable of operating on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low sulphur diesel fuel. When launched in late 2015, it will be the first LNG-powered icebreaker in the world. Wärtsilä's track record in dual-fuel engine technology was a crucial factor in the award of the contract. By enabling LNG to be used as the engine fuel, both exhaust emissions and fuel costs are notably reduced.

10 Jun 2014

New Eco-friendly Icebreaker to be Powered by Wärtsilä DF Engines

Wärtsilä says that a new icebreaker being built by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard for the Finnish Transport Agency will be powered by Wärtsilä dual-fuel engines capable of operating on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low sulphur diesel fuel. When launched in late 2015, it will be the first LNG-powered icebreaker in the world. The full scope of supply calls for one 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF, two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF, and two 12-cylinder Wärtsilä 34DF engines. The vessel will be able to move continuously through 1.6 meter thick ice, and be capable of breaking a 25 meter wide channel in 1.2 meter thick ice at a speed of 6 knots. It will also be able to reach an average assistance speed of 9 to 11 knots and in open water the service speed will be a minimum of 16 knots.

22 Apr 2014

Arctic Energy Exploration Efforts Heat Up

The first ever cargo vessel to sail from Murmansk to Shanghai via the Northern Sea Route, without the assistance of icebreakers, recently completed its maiden crossing, cutting a 65-day journey on the return leg down to 19 days. ABB’s Azipod electric propulsion technology helps to make the year-round journey possible. (Photo: ABB)

Oil and gas—and also mining—are the drivers today propelling Arctic maritime operations and the construction of new vessels able to operate in extreme latitudes. While the gas and oil resources can be recovered in the Arctic or far north and shipped to markets by sea or pipeline, the cost of doing must be balanced upon the global market price for those commodities. Ships and marine structures able to operate in the harsh conditions of the extreme latitudes require special designs and construction techniques.

08 Apr 2014

Insights - Paul Hankins, President American Salvage Association

This month’s editorial calendar has, in part, as its focus, oil pollution, prevention and response. Or, in other words, missions and matters that cut to the very heart of the American Salvage Association (ASA) and the goals of its considerable membership. This month, ASA President Paul Hankins weighs in on a host of issues that impact the rapidly evolving world of salvage, the players that make up that sector of the marine industry, and why all of that is important. Mr. Hankins…

22 Jan 2014

Finnish Transport Agency Orders Icebreaker

Arctech Helsinki Shipyard will build the new icebreaker for the Finnish Transport Agency. The Finnish Transport Agency informed about the results of the tendering process on January 22, 2014. The Finnish Transport Agency procures a new icebreaker to renew the aging fleet of state-owned icebreakers, to improve the level of icebreaker services and to ensure the competitiveness of Finnish exports. The procurement is worth 123 MEU and the final contract will be signed by the end of February. The vessel will be delivered by winter 2016. ”It is great that the new icebreaker of the Finnish government will be built at Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, which has over 100 years experience in building of arctic vessels. We have the best know-how and experienced builders for such projects.

23 Dec 2013

BSEE Targets $7 Million Investment in Oil Spill Response Research

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) announced that it is soliciting proposals for oil spill response research projects and will be investing up to $7 million to support these projects in 2014. In a Broad Agency Announcement released on the federal governments business opportunities website, FedBizOpps.gov, the bureau called for white papers focusing specifically on one of 10 topic areas for proposed research covering oil spill response operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

30 Sep 2013

ASA Names New 2013-2015 Officers

Paul Hankins: Photo credit ASA

Paul Hankins, Vice President for Salvage Operations at Donjon Marine Co., Inc., was elected President, succeeding Tim Beaver, Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., who served as President from 2011-2013. Jim Elliott, T&T Marine Salvage, Inc., was named Secretary/Treasurer. Paul Hankins has over 30 years’ experience in the marine industry after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelors of Science in Naval Architecture and from George Washington University in 1991 with a Master’s degree in Environmental Management.

24 Sep 2013

Elastec/American Named Distributor for OceanEye Oil Spill Aerial Surveillance System

When Elastec/American Marine managed the controlled burn operation in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, the response operation was more efficient when aerial surveillance was available. Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were frequently employed in the search for oil, but those alternatives proved costly and were also unavailable at night. In other scenarios, limitations such as fog, heavy rains or snow may make flying impractical and unsafe for the flight crew. Valuable time may be lost preparing and filing flight plans…

09 May 2013

Aker Arctic Brings Oblique Ice Breaker to Market

With construction underway on the first ever Oblique Icebreaker, research specialist Aker Arctic Technology  has unveiled a new version of the vessel type that will bring ice management and pollution control in thick first year ice to a new level. The first ARC 100  is due delivery to the Russian Ministry of Transport in early 2014, after a collaborative build involving Kaliningrad’s OJSC Yantar and Helsinki’s Arctech yards. The resulting newbuilding is a breakthrough in asymmetric three-thruster conceptual design…

16 Apr 2013

Aker Arctic to Design Icebreaker for Finnish Government

Photo: Aker Arctic Technology Oy

The Finnish Transport Agency signed a contract with Aker Arctic Technology Oy for design of a new icebreaker for the government. Aker Arctic in cooperation with ILS Oy will design the vessel and prepare the technical documents needed to hold tender for its construction in compliance with the performance requirements for the vessel, and will assist the Finnish Transport Agency in negotiations with shipyards later this autumn. The government has already taken earlier a decision in principle to procure a new icebreaker; and 125 million euro has been earmarked for its construction by winter 2016.

06 Sep 2012

New Oil Spill Response Equipment

Photo credit SECurus

The new SECurus system uses infrared cameras and radar to allow oil slicks to be monitored and collected. The new system makes it easier to see and remove the oil both during the day and at night, which is particularly important in the far north where there is little daylight in the winter months. The new system is operated from a vessel, and utilises both an infra-red camera and a newly developed radar system to monitor and collect information about the oil-spill. Normally aeroplanes and helicopters are used to monitor the situation, but these are not always available.

29 Apr 2011

RESOLVE, Shanghai Shengmin Shipping Svcs Form Oil Spill Response JV

U.S.- based RESOLVE Marine Group and Shanghai- based Shanghai Shengmin Shipping Service Co., Ltd. Shanghai, China,   April 29, 2011 – Shanghai Shengmin Shipping Service Co., Ltd. and  U.S.–based RESOLVE Marine Group, Inc. have announced the formation of an Oil Spill Response Organization joint venture, the Shanghai Resolve-Shengmin OSRO Company (SRSOC). SRSOC will provide Class 1 oil spill response organization services, enabling tank vessels and other ships calling at Chinese…

20 Jan 2011

Lamore World-Wide Oil Spill Response

Lamor oil recovery equipment being deployed during the clean-up efforts. Photo courtesy Lamor Corporation Ab

The April 2010 Gulf of Mexico massive oil spill needed immediate external support, expertise, solutions and equipment to assist in the containment and clean-up efforts. Finnish based Lamor Corporation immediately set its action plans into motion and within 36 hours, through its global network, the company airlifted its arsenal of equipment and key personnel to the scene. The blown-out well on the ocean floor off Louisiana threatened the entire ecosystem in the area as well as the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people at a rate of over 5,000 barrels of leaking crude oil per day.

07 Jul 2010

Consilium Oil Spill Radar Tested

During three days of extensive testing, the advanced capability of Consilium’s oil spill radar to detect oil slicks has been successfully verified. The sea trials were part of an exercise in order to certify satisfactory safety and efficiency in oil spill response operations. The operation was conducted by the Norwegian Clean Seas Association For Operating Companies (NOFO), from June 8 – 10, 2010. With the permission of the Norwegian Coast Guard, the Consilium Selesmar Selux ST 340 radar display and a 12kW 9ft antenna radar sensor were temporally installed on the Vessel KV Bergen.