Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Sapphire News

29 Dec 2023

Mermaid Secures $10M Loan to Repay Subsea Vessel Acquisition

(Credit: Mermaid Maritime)

Thai subsea services company Mermaid Maritime has through its subsidiary Mermaid Subsea Oil and Gas Services (MSOGS) secured a loan of up to $10 million for the acquisition of Mermaid Sapphire ROV support vessel.The loan agreement, SinoPac Capital International, will facilitate the reimbursement of Mermaid’s equity used for the acquisition of the Mermaid Sapphire.The Mermaid Sapphire is a DP2 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support vessel equipped with a deepwater work-class ROV…

13 Jan 2023

Wilhelmsen Takes Over Management of HLS' New VLGC

(Photo: Wilhelmsen Ship Management)

Norwegian vessel operator Wilhelmsen Ship Management announced it has taken over management of the newbuild liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier HLS Blue Sapphire.The 86,000-cubic-meter-capacity very large gas carrier (VLGC) is the first managed by Wilhelmsen for new client Hyundai LNG Shipping of South Korea.The LPG dual fuel vessel was built at South Korea's Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Ltd.

01 Apr 2022

'Siem Sapphire' Providing W2W Services for Offshore Wind Farm Commissioning in Taiwan

©Siem Offshore

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore has signed a new contract for the “Siem Sapphire” AHTS vessel for operations in Taiwan. "Delivery [of the vessel] has already taken place, and secures firm utilization well into the third quarter of 2022 plus options," Siem Offshore said.The scope of work consists of walk-to-work (“W2W”) operations for accommodation support in relation to the commissioning of an offshore wind farm. Siem Offshore did not say who the client was."This contract reiterates the strong demand from the offshore wind market…

26 Oct 2021

Shed the Satellite: Quantum Sensors hold Promise for Future GPS-Free Navigation

A compact device designed and built at Sandia National Laboratories could become a pivotal component of next-generation navigation systems. (Photo by Bret Latter)

Don’t let the titanium metal walls or the sapphire windows fool you. It’s what’s on the inside of this small, curious device that could someday kick off a new era of navigation.For more than a year, the avocado-sized vacuum chamber has contained a cloud of atoms at the right conditions for precise navigational measurements. It is the first device that is small, energy-efficient and reliable enough to potentially move quantum sensors — sensors that use quantum mechanics to outperform conventional technologies — from the lab into commercial use…

12 Jul 2021

Orkim Tankers Fit With Thordon's COMPAC System

(Photo: Thordon Bearings)

China’s Fujian Southeast Shipyard has delivered four in a series of five new product tankers ordered by Malaysia’s Orkim Sdn Bhd.The 9000dwt Orkim Sapphire and Orkim Pearl, and 14,500dwt Orkim Diamond and Orkim Emerald represent the first vessels in the ship operator’s fleet to be fitted with a COMPAC seawater lubricated shafting system from Thordon Bearings.Working with the shipowner’s representative, Shanghai-based CY Engineering, Thordon’s authorized distributor in China, supplied…

28 Aug 2020

ReCAAP Issues Alert Over Armed Robberies at Batangas Anchorage

Two recent instances of violent armed robbery against ships berthed/anchored in Batangas, Philippines have prompted the ReCAAP Information Sharing Center (ICS) to alert the maritime community to dangers in the area.The two incidents occurred within an interval of seven days, and in both cases the perpetrators demonstrated violence toward crew with a knife.The first incident occurred on August 14 at about 10 a.m. local time, aboard the chemical/oil product tanker Pacific Sapphire berthed at Bauan, International Port Inc., Batangas.

07 Aug 2020

Robert Allan Ltd. Celebrates 90 Years of Business

(Photo: Robert Allan Ltd.)

In business, as in life, after major anniversary milestones like 60 (Diamond) and 75 (Diamond or Sapphire), it seems that every year after that is worth celebrating. However, 90 years is somewhat in the nether regions of celebrations; certainly, a major achievement after say 75, but not quite the centenary either. However, Robert Allan Ltd. has been an active and growing business now for 90 years and we believe that is worth celebrating in a time when it feels, frankly, that there is not a great deal to celebrate.The family lore has always been that my grandfather…

27 Jul 2020

Saga Sells Cruise Ship to Turkey's Anex Tour

Saga Sapphire (Photo: Saga Cruises)

Saga announced it has completed the sale of cruise ship Saga Sapphire to Anex Tour, a family-run Turkish tour operator. The ship is scheduled to reenter service as Blue Sapphire operating for Anex Tour’s new cruise line in 2021.While many cruise ships are currently being sold or scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Saga Sapphire sale is unrelated to COVID-19. Anex Tour had announced in August 2019 it would acquire the vessel.Neset Kockar, Chairman of Anex Tour, said,…

04 Jun 2020

Princess Cruises Extends Suspension of Some Voyages

© NAN / Adobe Stock

Carnival Corp’s Princess Cruises on Thursday extended the suspension of some of its voyages in Australia, Canada and Taiwan as ports around the world remain shut due to the coronavirus crisis.Cruise lines, hammered by a crisis which has seen some ships develop into high-profile infection hotspots, in recent days have been steadily pushing back cancellations well into the second half of 2020.Princess Cruises, long a favorite of older travelers, said it has extended the delay of operations on all cruises sailing in and out of Australia through mid-September on the Sea Princess…

13 Mar 2020

A Raft of Cruise Lines Have Suspended Operations

© Farida / Adobe Stock

Several major cruise operators have voluntarily suspended operations in response to the developing coronavirus pandemic. For most, the reason given has been "an abundance of caution".On Wednesday, Viking became the first major cruise line to temporarily suspend operations, canceling all river and ocean cruises scheduled to embark between March 12 to April 30. It said it expected to resume sailings on May 1.Princess Cruises, the operator of two coronavirus-stricken ships -- Diamond…

06 Jan 2020

Gazprom Neft Completes Okhotsk Survey

Russian oil and gas exploration company Gazprom Neft has completed ecological monitoring of grey whale populations at the Ayashsky license block, offshore from Sakhalin Island, with expedition members registering more than 550 animals in the course of a five-month survey.According to a press release, the ecological monitoring of grey whales in the Sea of Okhotsk forms part of a joint programme being implemented by oil and gas companies operating in Sakhalin. Gazprom Neft joined the programme in 2017, on starting development of its Ayashsky license block.Researchers conducted 58 sorties on the Siem Sapphire support vessel between June and October…

08 Aug 2019

Saga Sells Sapphire Vessel to Turkish Firm

Turkish-based tour operator Anex Tour is entering the cruise business with the acquisition of Saga Cruises' Saga Sapphire.Anex chairman Neset Kockar said the acquisition would allow the Turkish holiday giant to create a “unique eastern Mediterranean cruise experience”. “With changing habits of travelers, we must adopt our product offering accordingly,” said Kockar.The 800-passenger vessel will be transferred to ANEX Tour in mid-2020 and begin sailing cruises around the Eastern Mediterranean from her new homeport in Antalya, Turkey.Spanning 12 decks, Saga Sapphire offers various onboard amenities, such as 382 cabins, restaurants, pools…

15 Mar 2019

California: Encouraging Ships to Slow Down

The partners in an initiative to cut air pollution and protect endangered whales announced results from the 2018 program and recognized the 12 shipping companies that participated, reducing speeds to 10 knots or less in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Santa Barbara Channel region.The voluntary incentive program ran July 1 - November 15, 2018. Partners recognized the companies at a ceremony at the Bannings Landing Community Center near the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.Shipping companies received financial awards based on the percent of distance traveled by their vessels through the Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) zones at…

26 Feb 2019

200,000-dwt Bulk Carrier for K-Line

At the Marugame business headquarters Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., the 200,000-dwt ton Cape size bulker "CAPE SAPPHIRE" has been completed.The ship is compliant with the Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carrier (CSR-BC) for bulk cargo ships, and the main institution is equipped with an electronically controlled engine with enhanced anti-corrosion measures, in order to save energy, we have installed WAD (Weather Adapted Duct) in front of the propeller and Hybrid Fin behind the propeller.The vessel is equipped with a scrubber on the funnel to remove sulfur oxides from the gas discharged from the engine. The ship will be engaged in iron ore and coal transport for Japanese steel mill.Cape Sapphire Main ParticularsLOA: 299.95mWidth: 50mDepth: 24.70Draft: 18.32mDeadweight: 208…

19 Oct 2018

Standard Drilling Sells PSVs

New World Supply, where S.D. Standard Drilling (SDSD) has an ownership of 26.2 percent, has completed a sale of two of its six medium sized platform supply vessels (PSVs).According to the Cyprus-based company that offers offshore drilling services to the oil and natural gas exploration industry, the vessels, World Sapphire and World Emerald, have been in lay-up in Spain since October and November 2016.The purchase price, which remains confidential, has been fully paid for both vessels.The transaction is done at a level that reflect significantly higher vessel value compared to SDSD's book value and acquisition price of the shares in New World Supply Ltd.SDSD consider its holding in NWS as a financial investment.

08 May 2018

Bibby Offshore Bags Spirit Energy Contract

Sapphire (Photo: Bibby Offshore)

Subsea services provider Bibby Offshore said it has secured a fixed term framework agreement with independent oil and gas operator Spirit Energy.Awarded in April, the two-year agreement, which follows on from a previous five-year agreement, will see Bibby Offshore carry out inspection repair and maintenance (IRM) works, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) inspection and subsea survey operations across a number of North Sea structures and pipelines.The project will utilize Bibby Offshore’s diverse fleet capabilities, including its multi-role diving and ROV support vessel, Bibby Sapphire, a Quasar M

16 Mar 2018

MPC Container Ships Acquires 5 Feeder Vessels from Simatech

Oslo based MPC Container Ships ASA said it has reached a deal to acquire five feeder containerships presently managed and operated by Simatech Shipping & Forwarding L.L.C., Dubai for a total purchase price of $41.9 million in cash.    MPC said it will establish wholly-owned subsidiaries to take over the five vessels, which include Sima Pride (1,201 TEU, built 2004), Sima Perfect (1,221 TEU, built 2005), Sima Prestige (1,221 TEU, built 2005), Sima Sapphire (1,440 TEU, built 2006) and Sima Sadaf (1,440 TEU, built 2007).   Physical takeover is expected in the first half of 2018, lifting the MPC Container Ships fleet to 64 feeder units.   MPC Container Ships was formed in April 2017 and owns and operates a portfolio of containerships between 1,000 and 3,000 TEU.

19 Sep 2017

Scorpio Tankers Updates on Fleet Status

Scorpio Tankers sold and leased back, on a bareboat basis, three 2013 built MR product tankers, STI Beryl, STI Le Rocher and STI Larvotto to Bank of Communications Financial Leasing in April 2017. The sales price was $29 million per vessel and the company bareboat chartered-in the vessels for a period of up to eight years at $8,800 per day per vessel. The international provider in the transportation for refined petroleum products has the option to purchase these vessels beginning at the end of the fifth year of the agreements through the end of the eighth year of the agreements. Additionally, a deposit of $4.35 million per vessel was retained by the buyers and will either be applied to the purchase price of the vessel if a purchase option is exercised…

17 Sep 2017

New Private LNG Terminal in Pakistan

A group of leading business houses in Pakistan plan to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal by March 2019 for gas processing and consumption in their own plants, Reuters reported. The proposed, second multi-million dollars terminal being set up at the Port Qasim to handle LNG imports will give tremendous boost to LNG trade. The private terminal will bring the total number of potential LNG import projects in the country to eight. Currently, Pakistan has only one active LNG import terminal at Port Qasim in Karachi but is seen by traders and suppliers as a major growth market key to soaking up a growing glut of the fuel on international markets.

01 Aug 2017

Grand Bahama Shipyard Reports Commercial Success

(Photo: Grand Bahama Shipyard Limited)

Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) said it has completed work on 30 commercial vessels within first half of 2017, predominantly comprised of companies returning to the yard with repeat business including tankers, bulk carriers, containerships, tugs, dive support vessels and drilling support vessels. In what is considered a volatile market, GBS said 2017 has been a great year for repeat customers, solidifying its position as a supporter of the major U.S. East Coast…

09 May 2017

Scorpio to Sell Two MR Product Tankers

Scorpio Tankers, provider of marine transportation of petroleum products, announced that it has reached an agreement with an unrelated third party to sell two of its 2013 built MR product tankers (STI Sapphire and STI Emerald) for approximately $56.4 million in aggregate. The sales are expected to close in June 2017 at which time the Company will repay the outstanding secured debt for these vessels of $27.6 million in aggregate. The Company will record a write-down of approximately $9.3 million during the second quarter of 2017 in connection with the entry into this agreement. Scorpio currently owns 78 product tankers (23 LR2, 14 Handymax…

05 Jun 2017

Recent Vessel Sales: May 2017

Vessel sales for May 2017 (as of June 1) as prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.

10 Aug 2016

Recent Vessel Sales - July 2016

Vessel sales for July 2016 (as of August 1) as prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.