Value Added Solutions News

Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine has, via its subsidiary Keppel Shipyard, secured contracts worth around S$250 million (~USD180,4 million) for the integration of two Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSO).Keppel Offshore & Marine, which is set to merge with Sembcorp Marine, said Friday that the FPSO integration contracts were awarded by repeat customers, BW Offshore, and SBM Offshore.The first contract is between Keppel Shipyard and BW Offshore to carry out the integration work on a newbuild FPSO.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is preparing for major repairs at six of its Mississippi River locks this winter to ensure they continue working as designed.Maintenance is scheduled at Lock and Dam 4, Alma, Wisconsin; Lock and Dam 5A, near Fountain City, Wisconsin; Lock and Dam 6, Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Lock and Dam 7, near La Crescent, Minnesota; Lock and Dam 8, near Genoa, Wisconsin; and Lock and Dam 10, Guttenberg, Iowa.The locks will be closed from Nov.

Marlink said it has been selected by Turkish tanker operator Güngen Denizcilik ve Ticaret A/Ş (Gungen Maritime & Trading) to provide Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service on four of its six vessels. The agreement was concluded through Marlink’s local partner Ozsay Satellite which worked with the company to provide a high quality package of enterprise and crew welfare services.Gungen will use the high throughput Ka-band service together with Marlink’s voice service provided via XChange for Fleet Xpress.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Schlumberger introduce the Egypt Upstream Gateway, a unique and innovative national project for digitizing subsurface information and delivering a digital subsurface platform to ensure Egypt's subsurface data is kept evergreen.The Egypt Upstream Gateway will also be a platform to promote Egypt's exploration and production potential worldwide.The Egypt Upstream Gateway will leverage the GAIA digital subsurface platform and provide additional value-added solutions—enabled by digital technology and domain expertise—using the DELFI E&P cognitive environment capabilities and technologies."Leveraging…

The Vessel is on track to commence deliveries of compliant marine fuels from Q1 2020.Singapore-based bunker tanker owner and operator Sinanju Tankers Holdings (“Sinanju”) achieved a new milestone today with the launch of the republic’s inaugural LNG-powered conventional bunker tanker.The 7,990 dwt vessel was christened “Marine Vicky” by her Lady Sponsor, Ms. Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) at a launch ceremony held in Nantong, China at Keppel Nantong Shipyard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine (“Keppel O&M”).Ms.

Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) has through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Keppel Shipyard Ltd (Keppel Shipyard) and Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), secured integration and upgrading contracts worth a combined value of about S$160mln (USD 118mln).Chris Ong, CEO, Keppel O&M, said, "These contracts from repeat customers are testament to Keppel O&M's strong customer service in delivering on time, within budget and safely as well as our extensive track record in modification and upgrading projects for a wide variety of products such as FPSOs and drilling rigs."With strong engineering expertise and project management capabilities…

Thuraya Telecommunications company, a subsidiary of the Al Yah Satellite Communications company (Yahsat), has partnered with ITC Global to set up Thuraya VSAT+, the ground-breaking maritime satellite service.ITC Global is a subsidiary of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. The partnership gives Thuraya access to Panasonic’s global mobility network, which enables the Ku-band element of the Thuraya VSAT+ service.Thuraya launched VSAT+ in Q4 2018. The service offers global coverage, best-in-class data rates to meet growing demand for high-throughput services…

Maritime connectivity services provider Globecomm has appointed J&E Papadopoulos as its new representative to the Greece and Cyprus shipping markets.J&E Papadopoulos will provide sales and marketing services locally as well as pre- and post-sales support, installation, commissioning and technical services for Globecomm Maritime products in the region.Established in Piraeus in 1968, J&E Papadopoulos SA is a distributor of marine spare parts, representing numerous European and U.S.

SpeedCast International, a global communications and network service provider, is the first Inmarsat partner to integrate the software element of the Fleet Xpress Network Service Device (SoftNSD) into its Fleet Xpress offering. This allows third party application providers to develop and publish innovative, content-rich applications over Fleet Xpress, such as the real-time analysis of data, including engine monitoring, weather information and fuel consumption rates. These applications can deliver real benefits in operational efficiency, safety and compliance, IT security and crew welfare. The integration of the software element of the Fleet Xpress Network Service Device will also allow SpeedCast to build value added solutions and applications over SIGMA Gateway.

Brian Salerno was sworn in as the Director of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) on August 26, 2013. He is responsible for promoting safety, protecting the environment and conserving resources through the vigorous regulatory oversight and enforcement of offshore operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Prior to his appointment as Bureau Director, Salerno served as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations where he was responsible for establishing and providing operational strategy…

Maritime communication and maritime VSAT operator Marlink has signed a strategic alliance with Inmarsat, which will see Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress service integrated into Marlink’s existing service portfolio. Through the agreement, Marlink will bring more than 2,000 vessels to Inmarsat’s new Fleet Xpress service over a five-year period. Marlink said it unlocks significant operational potential for its Fleet Xpress customers by providing access to a diverse range of Value Added Solutions, including its XChange communication management platform with capabilities including Universal Remote Access for increased IT efficiency and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for crew communication. “We’re delighted to add Fleet Xpress into our broad service portfolio,” said Erik Ceuppens, CEO, Marlink.

Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), through its wholly owned subsidiary, Keppel Offshore & Marine USA, Inc., has completed the acquisition of Cameron International Corporation's offshore product division, which comprises the LETOURNEAU jackup rig designs, rig kit business, as well as its aftersales and aftermarket services. The acquisition will not only broaden Keppel O&M's suite of jackup rig designs but also expand its business in the provision of aftersales and aftermarket services, the company said. The acquired company will operate as Keppel LeTourneau with offices in the United States, United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Chow Yew Yuen…

Inmarsat, a provider of global mobile satellite communications, has launched Fleet Xpress; the first globally available, high-speed broadband solution for maritime and offshore operators available from a single communications provider. Fleet Xpress aims to allow ship owners and operators to enhance business intelligence, improve operational efficiency and vessel performance, and provide a host of high-value, crew welfare benefits. Fleet Xpress will also empower third party application providers to enhance existing services to maritime customers, and to develop innovative new applications that will further drive operational efficiencies, ranging from real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics and telemedicine, to security and crew service management tools, among others.

Independent Oil and Gas PLC (IOG) is extending its seismic remapping agreement with Baker Hughes’ Reservoir Development Services (RDS) group to better understand resource potential for its Blythe and Cronx/Elgood projects in the Southern North Sea (SNS), with an expected delivery date of late July 2015. “We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with RDS as the initial results from the seismic remapping work are positive,” said Mark Routh, IOG’s Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that the added field remapping will help to better predict resource potential and accessibility,” said Scott Reeves, President of Reservoir Development Services. RDS will also evaluate IOG’s future prospects and discoveries in the SNS including, Truman, Harvey, Hambleton, Tetley and Rebellion.

MTN Communications (MTN) has expanded its cruise client base with three additional operators leveraging enhanced services for passenger, crew and corporate communications. MTN provides products, solutions and content to address each line’s passenger segment with Internet and calling communications, entertainment and content. Noble Caledonia specializes in “small ships delivering big experiences.”  With the goal of generating lasting memories for like-minded travelers, the operator revolves its itineraries around world events…

Marlink and Palantir AS have signed a strategic partnership agreement that aims to improve access to IT services in the maritime industry. Palantir’s IT products complement Marlink parent company Airbus Defence and Space’s extensive AuroraGlobal multi-band (Ka-, Ku-, C and L-band) connectivity portfolio and value added solutions, which enable shipping companies to optimize communications and operations. Through the agreement, Palantir, a supplier of managed maritime IT products and services will support Marlink in taking increased responsibility for its customers’ IT systems on board.

Kvaerner says it is exploring new strategic opportunities to further strengthen its business and has retained Greenhill & Co. International LLP to advise on evaluating all strategic alternatives. Kvaerner has during the first half of 2014 delivered several key oil and gas projects on schedule, won new key contracts and continued to implement cost reduction measures. The company's Board of Directors says it is pleased with how Kvaerner has built a strong position as a competitive contractor recognized for its high quality delivery of demanding oil and gas projects. The Board concludes that the time now is right to explore opportunities  to accelerate the  development of Kvaerner.

The board of directors of Yara International today announced the appointment of Svein Richard Brandtzæg as the company's new President and Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Jørgen Ole Haslestad by February 2015. Brandtzæg currently serves as President and CEO of Norsk Hydro ASA, a position he has held since 2009. Prior to this, he has held a number of management positions in Norsk Hydro. Born in Norway in 1957, Brandtzæg graduated from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He holds an economics degree from the Norwegian School of Management and a PhD from NTNU. "In preparation for the retirement of Jørgen Ole Haslestad at the age of 65, the Yara Board of Directors initiated a thorough process to identify his successor.

Aberdeenshire-based oilfield service company ROMAR International has entered a two year agreement with STEP Oiltools to represent the company in the Middle East. This agreement follows on from a successful contract already in place with STEP Oiltools to promote ROMAR’s range of magnetic separation products in South East Asia which has seen the company’s sales increase by 95% in the region. As part of the South East Asia contract, two successful jobs were recently completed in North West Australia and Brunei with a combined contract value of $1.2 million.

James Fisher and Sons plc announces the launch of two new exciting products to assist in the safe transfer of personnel during offshore wind farm operations. Fendercare Marine and Strainstall, members of James Fisher and Sons plc, in conjunction with Maritime International have launched two new products – the Eco-Fender range and the Vessel Motion Monitoring System, both specifically targeted  to assist in the safe transfer of personnel during offshore wind farm operations. Fendercare in conjunction with Strainstall…

Inchcape Shipping Serviceshas been awarded a major three year contract with the United Nations to supply food and bottled water to thousands of AMISOM troops in Somalia. The UN chose ISS as the preferred provider to deliver its food rations to the 12,000 troops currently deployed by AMISOM (The African Union Mission in Somalia). AMISOM conducts peace support operations to stabilise the country and is a regional peacekeeping mission approved by the United Nations. On signing the contract at the UN Building in New York, Jesper Steenbuch, Executive Vice President for ISS Supply Chain Solutions, said: “This award signifies ISS’ continued expansion into supply chain management and is a major milestone directly in line with our overall business strategy.

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).

New offshore wind safety product Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) achieves excellent results in first tests. Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS) developed to provide accurate motion monitoring, improves safety during vessel transfer operations. Offers real time impact load measurement combined with additional data logging capability to support health and safety analysis and investigations. Successful testing has been carried out by Submarine Technology Ltd (STL). James Fisher and Sons plc group companies Fendercare and Strainstall Marine have received excellent results following work with sub-sea and offshore development experts Submarine Technology Ltd (STL) to test and validate their new Vessel Motion Monitoring System (VMMS).