Swire Pacific News

The offshore supply vessel industry has weathered a tumultuous decade characterized by a prolonged trough that tested the resilience of vessel owners. However, the tides have turned, and the industry is now experiencing a strong and much-awaited revival.The offshore supply vessel industry has weathered a tumultuous decade characterized by a prolonged trough that tested the resilience of vessel owners. However, the tides have turned, and the industry is now experiencing a strong and much-awaited revival.While long seen as a derelict industry by investors…

U.S.-headquartered offshore support vessels (OSV) owner Tidewater Inc. on Friday announced it has completed its acquisition of Singapore's Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings Limited (SPO), creating the industry’s largest OSV fleet.The $190 million transaction adds 50 vessels to the Tidewater fleet, which now stands at more than 200 vessels in total, including crew boats, tug boats and maintenance vessels.SPO, now formerly a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Limited, will operate under the Tidewater brand name.

Tongues are wagging in the offshore sector, as one of the longest-running rumors in the market has finally come true. U.S. offshore vessel owner Tidewater Marine has acquired Singapore's Swire Pacific Offshore for USD 190 million, the company’s biggest powerplay since its acquisition of GulfMark Offshore back in 2018.But why SPO, and why now? In this article, VesselsValue's Head of Offshore, Rob Day, seeks to answer these questions and provide commentary on why this long-time…

Offshore service vessels owner Tidewater has signed a partnership agreement with Tero Marine to provide consultancy services and the fleetwide implementation of Tero Marine’s TM Master fleet management software suite.The move is part of Tidewater's wider initiative aiming to transform its fleet to global systems and processes, create efficiencies through automation, digitalization to connect and integrate onshore and offshore, and scalability to optimize fleet efficiency for new acquisitions.

U.S.-based offshore support vessel owner Tidewater said Wednesday it had agreed to acquire Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings Limited (SPO), a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Limited for around $190 million. Tidewater said the transaction would create the industry’s largest fleet of offshore support vessels with 203 vessels in total, including crew boats, tug boats and maintenance vessels. "SPO’s fleet of 50 OSVs consists of 29 AHTS vessels and 21 PSVs; pro forma for the transaction…

Danish offshore wind turbine transportation and installation company Swire Blue Ocean (SBO) is getting ready for listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange, to position the company for the next phase of its growth.Also, Swire Blue Ocean, as a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore, will be rebranded and renamed Cadeler. The company said the new name would reflect the company’s Scandinavian maritime heritage "and its commitment to excellence in maritime operations."In connection with the Mikkel Gleerup…

Offshore vessel operator Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) has informed that seven of its crew members of the Pacific Warden,  abducted in a pirate attack offshore Equatorial Guinea in November, have now been released.According to a press release, after 31 days in captivity, the crew were met by senior representatives from SPO. Immediate medical checks and other necessary arrangements were organized, and all have now returned to their homes.“I would like to recognize our crew members and their families for the extraordinary courage, resilience and patience  they demonstrated throughout this ordeal," said Managing Director, SPO, Peter Langslow.Peter added: "We are relieved that it has been possible for the crew to be reunited with their families in time for the Christmas and year-end holidays…

Pirates have abducted seven crew members from an anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel offshore Equatorial Guinea, the vessel's owner Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) said.The Singaporean-flagged Pacific Warden was attacked on November 20, 2019 at approximately 5 a.m. local time, while supporting offshore field operations in Equatorial Guinea, SPO confirmed on Sunday.Seven of the 15 crew members on board have been taken by the attackers and are presently missing, while the other eight are safely ashore and unharmed, according to SPO.Maritime intelligence group Dryad said local reports indicate that the 68.9-meter Pacific Warden was attacked by two speed boats while traveling from Luba, Boiko island to Serpentina/Zafiro field complex.

Swire has installed FuelTrax Vision, a new onboard surveillance system.Swire Pacific Offshore, a marine services conglomerate and a leading service provider to the offshore oil and gas industry currently operates six vessels with FuelTrax on board, two of which have been installed with the latest FuelTrax Vision technology. The two FuelTrax Vision systems have been preforming without disruption since December 2018.FuelTrax is designed to be a smart, self-contained, marine fuel management solution, which protects assets and ensures security of fuel, compliance and optimized vessel performance.With the launch of its FuelTrax Vision system…

Launching this week in partnership with Airbus, Wilhelmsen’s shore-to-ship Singapore pilot project, marks the first deployment of drone technology in real-time port conditions, delivering a variety of small, time-critical items to working vessels at anchorage.Lifting off from Marina South Pier in Singapore with 3D printed consumables from Wilhelmsen’s onshore 3D printing micro-factory, the Airbus Skyways drone navigated autonomously along pre-determined ‘aerial-corridors’ in its 1.5km flight to Eastern Working Anchorage.

Subsea operations specialist, Swire Seabed AS has taken delivery of its fourth subsea vessel, Seabed Constructor. Swire Seabed has secured a six-year contract for Seabed Constructor with UK based Ocean Infinity. The vessel will be carrying out AUV based survey and construction support operations on a global basis. The vessel is a multi-functional subsea support and construction vessel of MT6022 MK II design. 115 metres in length and with a beam of 22 metres, Seabed Constructor is equipped with a 250-tonne crane and a free deck space of 1,300 square metres. “The decision to invest in this high quality subsea vessel is part of Swire Seabed’s long-term growth strategy.

With its latest delivery to Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO), shipbuilder Austal Limited has delivered its second high speed crew transfer vessel this year, and its fourth offshore crew transfer vessel in the past 15 months. The 57.6-meter, all-aluminum catamaran, named Pacific Kestrel, was designed by Incat Crowther and constructed by Austal’s shipyard in the Philippines. The 40 knot ‘Offshore Express 57’ Large Crew Transfer Vessel (LCTV) is a technologically advanced transport solution that is affordable and economical to own and operate.

Around 300 people gathered in Tokyo on May 12 to attend a ship recycling seminar held by leading classification society ClassNK. In addition to ClassNK representatives, top industry experts from Asia and Europe discussed the current challenges of ship recycling and what the industry can do to support safe and environmentally sound recycling practices. Koichi Kato, Deputy Director-General for Engineering Affairs, Maritime Bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), opened the seminar with a keynote address.

OSV@Vivo has been taken to the heart of the Singapore public with an anticipated 4,000 visitors, expected to throng the two state-of-the-art Offshore Support Vessels (OSV) “Pacific Legacy” and “VOS Prince” moored at local shopping mall Vivocity Waterfront Promenade from 21 to 23 April 2016. Local institutes of higher learning are lending their support to this inaugural event with some 600 students from the Institute of Technical Education and Ngee Ann Polytechnic already registered to attend. This industry-led project, spearheaded by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) and held in conjunction with Singapore Maritime Week, is designed to create awareness of the offshore marine sector – a key sector in the Singapore maritime industry.

Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) announces a change in leadership with the appointment of a new Managing Director in Singapore. Mr Ron Mathison has taken over the helm as the new Managing Director on Monday, 21st September 2015. Mr Mathison has also been appointed as Director of John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd, with effect from 1st August 2015. Mr Mathison embarked on his career with John Swire & Sons Limited (“Swire”) when he joined Cathay Pacific Airways in 1984 and has more than 30 years of experience within various divisions of the Swire Group. Prior to his new appointment in SPO, he was the Group Managing Director of James Finlay Ltd in UK for the last seven years. Before that, from 2004 to 2008, he was the Director of Cargo in Cathay Pacific Airways.

Subsea operation specialist, Swire Seabed, has placed an order for the acquisition of two Kystdesign Supporter Work-Class Remotely Operated Vehicles (WROVs) with Lidan Launch and Recovery Systems (LARS), for delivery in February 2016. Swire Seabed has the option to purchase two more WROVs. Swire Seabed prides itself on its strong track record of undertaking a wide range of subsea operations and its team of highly experienced onshore and offshore specialists. Swire Seabed’s other mobile subsea assets include a 6,000 metres depth rated Argus Bathysaurus XL WROV, a Sperre Subfighter 15k observation ROV and the Seabed Excavator, a cutting-edge multi-purpose subsea tool carrier and dredging vehicle.

Shipowner and operator, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO) celebrated the delivery of its latest Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), Pacific Grackle on Thursday, 17 September 2015 in Japan. The G Class series is the latest addition to SPO’s fleet and is specially commissioned to meet the increasing market demand for PSV vessels. These vessels, with their 4,000-tonne deadweight, are powered by a four-engine diesel electric propulsion plant and equipped with highly efficient counter rotating azimuth thrusters ensuring excellent fuel efficiency. These FiFi 1, DP2 vessels, with their high Environmental Regularity Number (ERN) are SPS Compliant, Clean Class and built LFL notation ready, to allow for future methanol carriage.

Shipowner and operator, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO) won the SRS Shipowner of the Year award at the Singapore International Maritime Awards (IMA) 2015 ceremony held on Tuesday, 21 April 2014 at The Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore. Held as one of the anchor events of the Singapore Maritime Week (19 - 24 April 2015), the biennial Singapore IMA ceremony seeks to give recognition to  individuals and companies for their contributions to Singapore's development as a premier global hub port and an international maritime centre. The event is organised by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). “Winning the SRS Shipowner of the Year award is a great honour for SPO as we celebrate our 40th anniversary this year.

Shipowner and operator, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO) celebrated the naming of two new vessels, Pacific Centurion, an Anchor Handling Tug Supply (AHTS) vessel, and Pacific Goldfinch, a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) at the dual vessel naming ceremony held on Tuesday, 24 March 2015 at Loyang Offshore Supply Base. The naming ceremony was graced by Lady Sponsor, Mrs Joy Slosar, wife of Mr John Slosar, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited and SPO and attended by SPO Board Members, employees and key project partners. “The addition of Pacific Centurion and Pacific Goldfinch continues our strategy of developing a modern, fuel-efficient, well-specified and reliable fleet capable of supporting the exacting requirements of the offshore industry around the world.

Royal IHC (IHC) has joined forces with Tompkins UK to enter the deep and ultra-deep water, oil and gas geotechnical survey and site investigation market under the banner of TI Geosciences. TI Geosciences will initially provide cone penetration test (CPT)/gravity coring services. These will be based on Tompkins’ deep-push, buoyancy stabilized, deep-water CPT system – equipped with AP van den Berg’s digital pressure compensated Icone – deployed from a Swire Pacific Offshore G-class platform supply vessel.

Shipowner and operator, Swire Pacific Offshore Operations (Pte) Ltd (SPO) welcomed its fourth L Class Platform Supply Vessel (PSV), Pacific Liberty at a naming ceremony held in Kyoto, Japan on Tuesday, 3rd February 2015. The naming ceremony was held at Maizuru Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) in Kyoto. Graced by Lady Sponsor, Mrs Sylvia Maria Z. Pertierra, the wife of Mr Eduardo Pertierra, President of Anscor Swire Ship Management Corporation, the event was attended by 30 people including Mr Rupert Bray, Marine Services Director of SPO and Mr Yoshio Otagaki, Representative Director and Vice President, Ship and Offshore Division, JMU.

Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) was presented the Sustainable Business Award (SBA) for Business Responsibility and Ethics at the inaugural Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development held in Singapore on Tuesday, 25 November 2014. “SPO is honoured to receive the award from the respected and expert panel of judges. The Company will continue to deepen the integration of sustainability as an essential part of how we manage and operate our business. Moving forward, we will increase our communication of how sustainability adds value to SPO and its communities to all our stakeholders”, said General Manager - Sustainable Development of SPO, Simon Bennett.

Dubai-based Swire Emergency Response Services (SERS), a fully owned subsidiary of Swire Pacific Offshore group, announced its partnership with Mediterranean-based International Environmental and Marine Services (IEMS) to jointly provide Tier 2/3 response services to clients in Europe, Africa and the Middle East The partnership was inked on 24 October in Dubai. “We are excited about the collaboration between SERS and IEMS. This partnership will allow both companies to leverage on each other’s expertise and provide a broader range of highly sophisticated, prompt and reliable emergency response services to the offshore oil and gas industry.