Oil Spill Response Vessels News

Damen Shipyards Group and Compagnie Maritime Monégasque (CMM) announced a two-year offshore support contract for Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 7011 Aqua Helix. The vessel will transport personnel to and from offshore platforms in support of an oil and gas decommissioning project. The 2022-built Aqua Helix arrived in Brazil on January 26 and is anticipated to commence work in the coming weeks.“During the design phase of the FCS 7011, we considered the Brazilian market a strong fit for this vessel…

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and advanced perception systems, announced Monday that classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) has granted type approval to the company’s commercial wireless remote-control helm system.Type approval from Bureau Veritas means that the wireless control technology embedded in both Sea Machines’ SM200 and SM300 systems has undergone rigorous third-party testing and certification to meet the stringent demands…

Maritime autonomous surface ship (“MASS”) technology continues to advance at a rapid pace around the globe. Although it’s not being embraced as quickly in the United States commercial market as other parts of the world, U.S. industry professionals and regulators look forward to continued development and implementation as a means to improve efficiency and safety.OpportunitiesThe U.S. Maritime Administration (“MARAD”) hosted “Achieving Critical MASS: Spotlight on the U.S. Vessel Automation Industry” July 22 and 23, 2019, encouraging discussion between U.S.

A containership has reportedly leaked fuel oil into the Arthur Kill waterway near Staten Island, N.Y., the U.S. Coast Guard said.The Coast Guard said it is working alongside partner agencies to respond to the spill, which occurred while the vessel was moored at the Global Marine New York Container Terminal on Thursday afternoon. The amount of fuel spilled is currently unknown, and the cause of the spill is under investigation, the Coast Guard said.A Unified Command has been established on scene to coordinate cleanup efforts. Containment boom has been placed around the vessel and there are multiple oil spill response vessels actively…

Compagnie Maritime Monégasque (CMM) and Damen Shipyards Group (Damen) have joined forces to introduce a fast, safe and reliable Fast Marine Access crew change solution for the Brazilian market using a Damen FCS 7011. The solution looks to transfer personnel between shore and the ever more distant deep sea offshore platforms and flotels. The FCS 7011 focuses on increased safety, cost reduction and comfort, while offering a high speed solution to complement existing helicopter transfers.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) continues to coordinate the containment and clean-up efforts of the oil spillage in Singapore’s waters following the collision of container vessels Wan Hai 301 and APL Denver. As of 5 January 2016, a total of 17 vessels and 222 personnel have been deployed. Progress of the clean-up is being made along the western coastlines of Pulau Ubin (OBS Jetty) and Nenas Channel. Some patches of oil were spotted off CAFHI Jetty and also along the shorelines of Pasir Ris Beach, Changi Point Ferry Terminal, Changi Sailing Club and Changi Beach in the early hours of the morning. Contractors were deployed to clean up the affected shorelines.

Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) launched their newest oil spill response vessel in Burrard Inlet. The boat, named after former employee George Penman, was christened at a private ceremony in Coal Harbour. The $4.5 million G.M. Penman is a 65-foot Ocean Class Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV) built by Rozema Boat Works in Washington State. It is only the fifth vessel of its kind in the world with sister vessels operating in Santa Barbara servicing the offshore production platforms off the California coast.

New SeaHow skimmer systems – designed to collect both light and heavy oils efficiently – can be implemented in almost any work boat, starting with vessels only six meters long. SeaHow operates one of northern Europe’s largest fleets of oil spill response vessels, and its hands-on experience of more than 30 years was central to the three years in developing its own line of SeaHow skimmers. SeaHow skimmers are suitable for vessels from 6m long to the largest vessels used in off-shore OSR.

This month’s featured INSIGHTS executive is Steven A. Candito, President and CEO of the National Response Corporation (NRC). He has extensive experience with OPA 90 compliance issues with particular focus on vessel owner and insurance matters. Candito was previously an attorney with Haight Gardner Poor & Havens, specializing in maritime litigation and environmental law. He also served as a marine engineer aboard Exxon USA’s domestic tanker fleet from 1980 to 1985. Candito is a graduate of Hofstra University School of Law and the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

Merger positions combined company to play a dominant role in recapitalization of North Pacific fishing fleet and emerging Arctic oil gas operations. Kvichak Marine Industries and Vigor Industrial today announced the companies are merging to unite their strengths in the design and fabrication of aluminum workboats, shipbuilding, and boat building. Under the terms of the merger, Kvichak will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Vigor. Kvichak’s current owners (Jim Meckley, Brian Thomas and Keith Whittemore) will join Vigor as shareholders and as members of the leadership team. “My partners and I are very excited to be joining Vigor. Sharing best ideas and practices across companies will make us even more competitive and create a more stable business base for our workers…

Compagnie Maritime Monégasque SAM (CMM) has secured contracts with Petrobras Brazil to charter five newbuild fast oil spill response vessels (OSRVs) with a new fuel-efficient Damen axe-bow design. CMM has secured contracts with Petrobras to charter five newbuild fast oil spill response vessels using a new fuel-efficient Sea Axe design by Damen Shipyards Group, allowing the vessel to reach offshore oil platforms in half the time it takes traditional oil spill response vessels. Three vessels will start operating by end of December 2015 and two by end of June 2016.

A 65-mile (105-km) stretch of the lower Mississippi River, including the Port of New Orleans, remained closed on Sunday night while crews cleaned up oil that spilled when a barge was hit by another vessel, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The collision happened on Saturday afternoon near Vacherie, Louisiana, about 52 miles (84 km) west of New Orleans, according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bill Colclough. The Lindsay Ann Erickson, which was pushing grain barges, collided with a barge carrying barrels of light crude oil pushed by the Hannah C. Settoon, which caused oil to go into the river, according to Colclough. No injuries were reported, and the source of the oil has been secured, the Coast Guard said.

Long awaited, much hyped, the new rules require compliance in January. Will industry and more importantly, the response community, be ready? In September, the U.S. Coast Guard published the long awaited Non-tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) and Other Response Plan regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard cites “Improved preparedness and reaction to an incident, including a worst case discharge, and improved effectiveness of shore-side and onboard response activities” as the primary benefits of the new rule. For all affected vessels, a mandatory compliance date of January 30, 2014 looms large the porthole. The regulations impact self-propelled non-tank vessels of 400 gross tons or greater that operate in navigable waters of the United States and carry any kind of oil as fuel for main propulsion.

From a single newbuild and repair yard near Rotterdam in 1927, the family-owned Damen Shipbuilding group has expanded to 38 shipyards and related companies involved in new construction as well as repair and maintenance activities. Now with more than 8,000 employees and a presence in 34 countries, the Netherlands-based Damen group has become one of the world’s most successful shipbuilding businesses, thanks largely to its production methods and ever-expanding design portfolio. When Kommer Damen began running the Damen company in 1969, he made changes to the company’s operations instantaneously.

National Response Corporation (NRC) and Resolve Marine Group announce the expansion of their 1Call response coverage for all vessels trading in U.S. waters. The service offers tanker and nontank vessel owners and operators full, single-source coverage in compliance with latest U.S. Coast Guard regulations for Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF), and Oil Spill Removal Organization (OSRO). This announcement reflects the U.S. Coast Guard’s final rule in the Nontank Vessel Response Plans and Other Response Plan Requirements published in the Federal Register. The rule requires owners or operators of vessels trading in U.S. waters to submit response plans naming OSRO and SMFF providers by January 30, 2014.

Rolls-Royce contracted by Aliança S/A Industria Naval e Empresa de Navegacao, a subsidiary of Fischer Group, and Brazilian shipowner Asgaard Navegação S.A for the design and delivery of equipment to two offshore vessels for Asgaard. The contract value is about £11million to Rolls-Royce. The two vessels are Oil Spill Response Vessels (OSRV), type UT 535 E, with systems designed to prevent damage from oil spills. They have the capacity to transfer recovered oil for proper onshore disposal.

CIC Boluomiao Shipyard, Zhuhai, delivers 3 oil-spill response vessels to regional safety agency. Deputy general manager of Guangzhou Maritime Administration Bureau Lin zungui, deputy director of China Maritime Safety Administration Shen jixun, director Xiao weizhe and other managers of Boluomiao shipyard (CIC) attended the ceremony, which was hosted by secretary of the Party committee Zhang Kaiyi. The CIC Boluomiao Shipyard manager said that this delivery ceremony marked a new starting point for the shipyard.

Together with its Italian partner yard Cantiere Navale Vittoria S.p.a., Damen Shipyards are building two Stan Patrols 5509 to the Italian Guardia di Finanza. This Italian law enforcement agency deals with financial crime, smuggling, illegal immigration and narcotics traffic and maintains a fleet of about 250 vessels. The contract, resulting from a European tender, may be considered quite a unique event, said Frank de Lange, sales director North, West and South Europe at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem.

Nautilus Marine Acquisition Corp. announce closing the purchase of Cypriot vessel owner Assetplus Ltd., & expiry of its tender offer. Greece's Nautilus Marine Acquistion describes itself as a newly-organized 'blank check' company (meaning that it is in a developmental stage that either doesn't have an established business plan or has a business plan that revolves around a merger or acquisition with another firm). The company they have acquired, Assetplus, owns two platform supply vessels (PSVs) and two oil spill response vessels (OSRVs) and is negotiating acquisition of another two vessels. The company also has six four-year time charter contracts secured from Brazil's oil and gas company Petrobras.

Oil spill equipment manufacturer Elastec brings new and sophisticated tools to a market in need of better, faster, more efficient and environmentally sound tactics. Just what the doctor ordered. Elastec/American Marine may well be the largest manufacturer of oil spill and environmental equipment in North America, but it is technology and innovation that are quickly propelling the firm to the top of the markets. With six U.S. locations, three foreign offices and a network of global dealers, ISO 9001 certified-Elastec produces a range of products that includes oil spill equipment (skimmers, containment boom, fire boom, dispersant application equipment), incinerators, vacuum systems, portable tanks, pumps and a dozen more entries.

Arnout Damen, COO of Damen Shipyards Group, officially opens a new office in Norwegian Stavanger. When asked why Dutch headquartered Damen Shipyards sets up an advanced base in Stavanger, its new Sales Manager said: “It is the European Oil & Gas capital and the place the ONS Exhibition and conferences are held. Stavanger is, so to speak, a mini-Houston”. The opening gave Mr Hottentot a chance to show what Damen is about and in particular that it is becoming more and more active in the Offshore industry, having booked newbuilding orders for a series of four Platform Supply Vessels to be built at Damen Shipyard Galati (Romania) and another two to be built at Damen Shipyards Bergum (The Netherlands).

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. While this month’s selection for our INSIGHTS feature needs no introduction to maritime and energy insiders everywhere, Todd Hornbeck’s professional journey is worth pausing to reflect upon. Hornbeck, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (NYSE:HOS), founded the company in 1997. Until 2002 Mr. Hornbeck served as the President and Secretary of the company, when he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and then, Chairman of the Board in 2005.

The 'Kulluk', towed by the 'AHTS Aiviq' has arrived in the safe harbor for assessment of any damage caused by its recent grounding. The Kulluk was refloated from its Ocean Bay position, off Sitkalidak Island, late Jan. 6, and will remain connected to its support vessels while it undergoes assessment in Kiliuda Bay, located about 30 miles north of Ocean Bay. The final location for assessment within the Bay will be determined by environmental conditions, including weather. The Coast…