Ugland News

J.J. Ugland awarded a contract to ScanReach to deliver its ConnectFuel solution to optimize fuel consumption and reporting for J.J. Ugland's fleet.Onboard Wireless Connectivity (OWC) is the platform for real-time data collection, analytics and reporting to onboard and onshore users. OWC is unique in the ability to quickly install the wireless mesh network, as it consists of wireless mesh network nodes that can be mounted onto bulkheads by crew or installers, an onboard server to host the data and applications, and a Cloud endpoint.

KVH Industries, Inc. announced V.Ships Norway has signed up 12 oil tankers for KVH linkHUB, an onboard media player that provides a library of hundreds of hours of licensed premium digital entertainment content from KVH MOVIElink and TVlink services.V.Ships Norway initially trialed the service on one oil tanker and, following positive feedback from the crew, recently rolled it out to a total of 12 tankers.KVH MOVIElink services feature new Hollywood and Bollywood releases curated with seafarers in mind…

Japanese shipbuilding major Tsuneishi Shipbuilding delivered the 500th newbuilding in long running bulker range the Tsuneishi Economical Standard Ship (TESS).The TESS64 Aeroline bulker Sarita was delivered to Ugland Shipping by Tsuneshi Heavy Industries (Cebu) in November last year marked the 500th vessel of a TEES design to be delivered."As indicated by its name “TESS”, the TESS series features fuel consumption performance with excellent economy, and high versatility that is easy to use. TESS, our representative brand, has been a favorite with customers since the first ship was completed in 1984," said a press release.While Handymax bulk carriers used to have a deadweight of 36…

Pirates have kidnapped nine crew members from a Norwegian shipping vessel named the MV Bonita off the coast of Benin in West Africa.MV Bonita was anchored and awaiting berth at the Cotonou port to discharge a shipment of gypsum when the pirates boarded, the shipping firm  J.J. Ugland said in a statement Sunday.The Norwegian Shipowners’ Association said that it is in close contact with Ugland Shipping with a common and clear goal to bring the 9 sailors back to safety. The vessel and remaining crew are safely anchored in Cotonou and investigations are carried out. An emergency response team from J.J. Ugland is working with authorities on the case.The threat from piracy in West Africa has been high for years.

UK Industry trade body Mersey Maritime has announced a new trade agreement with the Isle of Man Shipping Association (IOMSA) which aims to supercharge bilateral trade, particularly among small to medium sized businesses. The agreement was announced at a special reception during the International Festival of Business in Liverpool UK and has resulted from a series of discussions facilitated by the Isle of Man Ship Registry, which is an Executive Club member of Mersey Maritime, and other IoM based companies such as software engineer PDMS, both of which are also involved with IOMSA.

Enterprising student Liam Finch has been putting his summer days to good use by working on an important survey for the Isle of Man Shipping Association (IOMSA). Liam, 20, is involved in a project aiming to shed light on the value of the marine industry to the island. He has based himself at the premises of Bibby Ship Management Group Ltd on the Isle of Man Business Park. Bibby commercial director Mark Robertshaw is also vice chairman of the IOMSA and welcomed Liam onboard to undertake the work. Liam, from Derbyhaven, is studying Viking Studies at the University of Nottingham. The scheme itself takes place during the summer over a period of six to 12 weeks depending on the size of the project and needs of the business / organisation.

Orders for gas carriers placed with Korean and Japanese shipyards figure prominently amongst the latest newbuilding orders noted in the latest Clarkson Hellas S&P Weekly Bulletin. Pan Ocean have placed an order for two firm 207,000 dwt Newcastlemaxes at New Times, with both vessels due to deliver within the second half of 2016. Also in China, Clarkson Hellas mentions that Conti Reederei have extended their order for 64,000 dwt Ultramax to a total of 20 vessels by declaring a further eight options. The first in the series will begin to deliver in the early part of next year, with the latest additions for delivery from 2017 onwards. In the same sector JJ Ugland have announced an order at Imabari for two firm 63,000 dwt Ultramax due to deliver in 2017.

China & Japan shipbuilders scoop the pool of international shipbuilding orders according to the latest Clarkson Hellas S&P Weekly Bulletin. Clarkson Hellas says that Pan Ocean has placed an order for two firm 207,000 dwt Newcastlemaxes at New Times, with both vessels due to deliver within the second half of 2016. Also in China, Conti Reederei have extended their order for 64,000 dwt Ultramax to a total of 20 vessels by declaring a further eight options. The first in the series will begin to deliver in the early part of next year, with the latest additions for delivery from 2017 onwards. In the same sector JJ Ugland have announced an order at Imabari for two firm 63,000 dwt Ultramax due to deliver in 2017.

Seated at his desk with a view of St. John’s harbour, Oceanex Executive Chairman Captain Sid Hynes is highlighting the innovation in the Oceanex Connaigra, Oceanex Inc.,’s 210-m custom-designed container/roll on roll off (Con/Ro) ice class 1A ship that is presently coming to life in the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. (FSG) shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. Following four years of study and research, the design stage was completed. First steel was cut in October 2012, and the keel was laid on February 11,  2013.

'MV Star Norita', a 58,000 dwt supramax bulk carrier named and delivered from Tsuneishi (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding Inc., China. The vessel is a sister of the recently delivered Isabelita, Bonita and Kristinita of the TESS 58 design. Star Norita is 100% owned by Ugland Shipping AS. Margrethe Nes Beisland,  wife of Ugland's Managing Director Øystein Beisland, christened the vessel 'Star Norita' which is to join the UBULK Pool and is fixed on a 5-year TC to Grieg Star Shipping AS, Bergen.

Scana Propulsion to supply propulsion systems for type SALT 100 PSV for shipowners Ugland
 Offshore. The vessel is designed by Salt Ship Design and the propeller system is
developed in partnership between Salt Ship Design and Scana Propulsion. The 
system is a counter-rotating propeller system (CRP) with two propellers driven
by permanent-magnet motors that rotate independently of each other in the same
 shaft line. Reliability and fuel efficiency has been the philosophy of this 
concept. Direct-driven counter-rotating propellers with constant protection against 
external damage makes the system more efficient and reliable compared to a
 conventional system.

Korean shipbuilders have achieved a market-leading role in the construction of LNG tankers. Following commitment to serve this market with products, Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) has received a breakthrough success by receiving firm orders for its Bridgeline, Integrated Navigation System, to be fitted to seven of the new LNG tankers, with options for further deliveries in the future. KMSS will provide Radar/ARPA, ECDIS- electronic chart display system, MBB- voyage data recorder, UAIS- universal automatic identification system with full integration of the navigation instruments. The Bridgeline assembly will be carried out in Korea.

ABS has been authorized to conduct inspections and issue approvals and certificates to convention ships registered in Canada. ABS acts on behalf of over 100 administrations around the world to issue statutory certificates on their behalf. Transport Canada’s Marine Safety Executive branch issued the authorization under its Delegated Statutory Inspection Programme. According to ABS Regulatory Affairs Manager Gregory Shark the class society successfully documented and demonstrated its ability to address those unique aspects of Canadian national requirements which exceed ABS Rules and the International Conventions. The authorization process called for an in-depth comparison matrix examining Transport Canada’s requirements…

Industries Co., Ltd. For many years now, contracts for ships and floating units to operate in an offshore environment have been much-prized value-added goals at Samsung. These include not only shuttle but drill ships, floating storage and offloading units (FSOs), with their derivative production types (FPSOs), crane ships, and various types of floating and fixed platforms. Some of the more interesting ships that have been created here have included a trio of deepwater drill ships for Reading & Bates capable of working in water depths down to 3000m, the 312,500 dwt FPSO Bonga for operating off Nigeria, and the Saibos FDS, a pipelayer/crane vessel with a jib capacity of 600tonnes.

Expanding the Suezmax fleet and greater involvement in carrying oil products are among the ambitions being pursued by theTeekay Tanker Services (TTS) business unit of Teekay. "At the same time, we're working to expand our strong Aframax position," said TTS Vice President Peder Farmen, who heads the product transport sector of TTS from the group's Norwegian office in Stavanger. Teekay's conventional shipping operations in Norway have further diversified the company's fleet, the majority of which is comprised of Aframax vessels. Since Teekay's acquisitions of Bona Shipholding in 1999, Ugland Nordic Shipping in 2001 and Navion in 2002, Teekay has established itself as a leading tanker operator in the North Sea and Atlantic, in addition to the Pacific.

The Ocean Sea Award will be presented to Raymond P. President of American Roll-on Roll-off Carriers (ARC), and Robert P. Chairman and CEO of The American Shipping Group. Towers, New York City, on November 5, 2004. Association, AFL-CIO, made the announcements. represent the finest in American spirit," said Mr. Bowers. "Mr. Mr. government officials. services abroad for the U.S. countries. seafarers who will be honored for specific acts of bravery at sea. Mr. Ebeling has been President and Chairman of ARC, a U.S. service ocean carrier, since 1990. ro-ro ships between the United States and Northern Europe, and two U.S. ro-ro ships between the U.S. most of the U.S. military vehicles in those trades. Department of Defense. He also has been President of Wallenius Lines Holding Inc. 1990.

Norwegian shipping group Leif Hoegh said its improvement in operating profit - from $56.6 million from $22.9 million the previous year - was largely a result of investments in Hoegh Ugland Auto Liners (HUAL) and contract shipping in the form of gas and dry bulk and reefer vessels. "LHC expects global growth in 2001, which at the outset will dampen the demand growth in several segments in which LHC is involved," it said.

Tanker companies have been pumping out impressive results in recent weeks but it is the owners of smaller ships that have led the field and will continue to do so in 2001, analysts said. They said the best of them so far has been Teekay, which with its fleet of 75 Aframaxes (70-80,000 tonners) reported a profit of $270 million for the year ended December 31, 2000, compared to a loss of $17.7 million in the preceding year. It also beat analysts' predictions. "Teekay beat the street by a long way," said Nicolai Heidenreich of consultants Marine Money Capital Partners. Another big Aframax operator, Overseas Shipholding Group, last week reported $90.3 million profits for 2000, compared with $14.8 million in 1999. Both Teekay and OSG's results reflect an extremely strong Aframax market in 2000.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on Teekay Shipping Corp. to positive from stable. The outlook revision reflects Teekay's consistent, solid performance, which has resulted in a gradually improving financial profile, and expectations for more predictable cash flow generation due to the purchase of contract-based shuttle tanker operator Ugland Nordic Shipping ASA. Teekay's rating reflects a favorable business position as the leading midsize ("Aframax") crude oil tanker operator in the Indo-Pacific Basin, expanded presences in the AtlanticAframax tanker market and the North Sea Shuttle tanker market, and fairly conservative financial policies. These factors are offset by significant, but carefully managed exposure to the volatile tanker spot markets.

International tanker group Teekay's acquisition of a majority of the world's biggest shuttle-tanker owner Ugland Nordic Shipping could lead to a second merger to dominate the sector, with Statoil's tanker subsidiary Navion, analysts said. Norwegian energy giant Statoil is close to being privatized, and the future direction of Navion, in which it holds 80 percent, is uncertain. Co-owner of Navion, Norway's Rasmussen group, last month bought a major stake in Ugland, and analysts said this was the first step towards an Ugland-Navion merger. Both Teekay and Rasmussen now seem open to the possibility that one huge merger involving all four parties could still go ahead. Ugland Nordic has a fleet of 14, and four more on order.

International tanker group Teekay has taken control of 56 percent of shares in Norway’s Ugland Nordic Shipping. Teekay will submit an offer to acquire all remaining shares in UNS at $15.85 per share, which values UNS just below $225.6 million. UNS said its board members, including the president and chief executive officer and management had sold their shares to Teekay for an undisclosed price. Teekay, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has a fleet of 75 tankers. — (Reuters)

Bender Shipbuilding & Repair of Mobile, Ala., has been awarded the conversion of the 400 x 102 ft. Sea Sorceress. The barge, which will be converted from a manned fuel barge to a DP-II construction barge for Cal Dive International of Houston, Texas, will receive eight 850 kW retractable Z drives. These drives will be powered by four Wärtsilä generators providing 6.6kV of power. A new engine room on the dynamically positioned barge will be used for the vessel's main source of power, as well as ancillary equipment. A 31 x 102 ft. (9.4 x 31 m) stern piece will be removed and replaced by a new stern housing for four of the thrusters - the other four will be positioned forward in the bow.

Diana Shipping Inc., a global shipping transportation company specializing in dry bulk cargoes, announced that it has entered one of its Panamax dry bulk carriers, the Oceanis, into a time-charter contract with J.B. Ugland Dry Bulk A/S for a period of approximately 24 days, estimated to begin on August 22, 2005, at a gross rate of $12,500 per day plus a $198,000 one-time payment. Applying the above mentioned one-time payment to this fixture, and based on the estimated duration of 24 days, the effective gross time charter rate per day increases by approximately $8,250 per day to approximately $20,750 per day. The Oceanis is a Panamax dry bulk carrier of 75,211 dwt built in Korea in 2001.