Will Rowley News

Nine days after a slick was first spotted by Trinidad and Tobago's Coast Guard, an oil leak from a capsized barge remains unplugged, according to first responders and authorities, prompting nations across the Caribbean to coordinate a response.The spill has spread miles from Tobago's shore, the area first hit by the incident. Trinidad this week alerted neighbors Venezuela and Grenada on possible impact to their coasts.The Caribbean Disaster Management Agency, dependent on regional group Caricom…

First responders and volunteers from Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday sought to contain an oil spill detected last week in the Caribbean country's waters and clean areas of Tobago island's coast already affected by the incident.Trinidad and Tobago's coast guard first spotted the spill on Feb. 7, about 6 kilometers off the coast of Studley Park, the chief secretary of Tobago's national assembly, Farley Augustine, said in a press conference on Sunday.Barriers have been installed to contain the spill…

The Board of Directors of Wallem Group have announced that John-Kaare Aune will be stepping aside as Wallem Group’s CEO and after a period of transition will leave in January 2024.The Wallem Board has appointed John Rowley to succeed him, with effect from January 1, 2024. Rowley is currently Senior Vice President Global Food and Transportation Divisions at NSF, prior to which he was CEO SAI Global Assurance following eight years on the executive team at the Lloyd's Register Group…

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

The UN’s 193 Member States have adopted a legally binding marine biodiversity agreement, the High Seas Treaty, following nearly two decades of fierce negotiations.Adopted by the Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), the “high seas” treaty aims at taking stewardship of the ocean on behalf of present and future generations, in line with the Convention on the Law of the Sea.The new agreement contains 75 articles that aim at protecting…

In a ceremony held in Trinidad and Tobago on November 23, 2022, Proman Stena Bulk Ltd formally named its first newbuild IMOIIMeMAX methanol-fueled 49,900 DWT vessel, Stena Pro Patria.Stena Pro Patria is the first of three methanol-fueled vessels delivered in 2022 to the joint venture between tanker company Stena Bulk and the methanol producer Proman, with a further three newbuilds due for  delivery between now and 2024.The naming ceremony was the first for a methanol-fueled newbuild in Trinidad and Tobago, and was attended by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime  Minister, Dr.

Australian mining giant BHP has taken two KOTUG's tugs on long-term charters to support bulk carrier loadings at Port Hedland, Australia.KOTUG, a Dutch marine services and towage company, said Thursday, its new build Rotortugs RT Imperieuse and RT Clerke had arrived in Port Hedland.Both 32m ART80-32 tugs, built at Cheoy Lee Shipyard, have three Caterpillar main engines, that deliver a total output of 5,295kW each, 13 knots sailing speed, and 80 tons bollard pull power. They are equipped with advanced DMT Escort Winches.

Oil and gas services company Proserv Controls, has acquired the Middle Eastern operations of Dron & Dickson Electromechanical Contracting (DDEC) LLC, for an undisclosed fee. DDEC is a UK-based specialist in the supply, assembly, and maintenance of hazardous areas and industrial electrical equipment."The deal reinforces and expands the breadth of offering and capability that Proserv delivers in the Middle East and North Africa, where it has multiple sites including in Abu Dhabi…

Hydrocomp’s ProCad facilitates in-house Process Control of Propeller Design and Manufacture. Maritime Tactical Systems Inc. (MARTAC) is a Florida-based company building next-generation unmanned vessels for military applications. In preparation for the “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) military exercises in Pearl Harbor this last July, MARTAC needed a new propeller design for their MANTAS series high-speed vessels. Unfortunately, their current supplier was not meeting delivery schedules for the high-quality surface-piercing propellers that they need…

In OOCL’s commitment to environmental protection and data integrity standards, we are pleased to announce that OOCL has taken a further step forward in our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting by extending the scope to container terminals, namely Long Beach Container Terminal, LLC. (LBCT) in the United States and Kaohsiung Container Terminal (KAOCT) in Taiwan. Each year, OOCL ensures that such standards are consistent and upheld by certifying our environmental data through independent business assurance service providers. Accredited by Lloyd’s Register (LR), this is the third consecutive year that OOCL has achieved dual reporting standards through the use of Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) and ISO 14064-1:2006 verification tools.

On May 25, 2016, The University of the West Indies Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business (UWI-ALJGSB) together with the Trinidad and Tobago Shipbuilding & Repair Maritime Cluster (TTSR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to undertake maritime project initiatives involving research, the sharing of knowledge and showcase technologies in the context of improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions in the maritime sector. One such initiative involves an Expression…

Mooring and offloading systems supplier, Offspring International, has announced a rapid response, surge protection system for terminal loading hoses. Called Oiltech Surge Protector, the hose monitoring system offers a smarter and more sensitive way of detecting hose overpressure during tanker loading. If a pressure surge is detected, pumping operations are automatically shutdown. According to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (2013), the highest incidence of tanker related oil spills is during loading operations.

OOCL’s emissions data reported into the BSR Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG) verified as true and accurate by Lloyd's Register, supporting the operator’s commitment to reducing GHG emissions from their vessels. Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) is an integrated international container transportation company with a commitment to environmental care. Lloyd’s Register has confirmed that OOCL’s emissions data reported into the BSR CCWG Environmental Performance Metrics Assessment (EPMA) tool has been verified as true and accurate, supporting the leading operator’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their vessels.

Lankofirst said offshore trials of its synthetic fiber rope mooring connector have shown a reduction in mooring line deployment times and improvements in health and safety compared with traditional mooring line plate links and thimbles, reports deepwater mooring rope specialist, Lankhorst Ropes Offshore Division (LROD). The cost and complexity of deploying deepwater moorings is driving the development of new mooring line technologies and deployment methodologies. Lankhorst, in collaboration with LROD worldwide agent…

Atlas launches IMIST in three new languages to improve safety standards in growing South East Asia energy market. Atlas has announced three new translations of its IMIST program, now available in nine languages. International Minimum Industry Safety Training (IMIST) is now available in Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian, which will support the roll out of the global standard in safety across the world. IMIST has been developed by oil and gas training standards body OPITO, delivered in partnership with Atlas via e-learning.

Atlas has announced a new partnership agreement with Thunderbird business school to become their first global partner in the UK. The Aberdeen-headquartered firm has joined forces with Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Arizona, globally accredited by AACSB and NCA. This takes Atlas into a new area of Continuing Professional Development with a reputable business school that is well immersed within the global energy sector. Atlas is currently experiencing an unprecedented period of international growth as the demand increases for an effective means of learning and training…

Lloyd’s Register has appointed John Rowley as its new President for Lloyd’s Register Asia. He succeeds John Stansfeld who has returned to London to drive the implementation of the organization’s new Group strategy. Rowley joins the Group after a 14-year career with Ecolab Inc, a Fortune 500 multi-national corporation operating in the industrial chemicals sector, where he most recently held the position of Vice-President and Managing Director for Asia. As President for Lloyd’s Register Asia…

Chris Myers, John Rowley, and John Irving of the Holland & Knight firm have authored a Client Alert on the recent decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejecting a challenge to vicarious corporate criminal liability. The case involved the criminal prosecution of a ship owner/operator for failure to properly maintain an oil record book (ORB) as required by Coast Guard regulations. Members of the engineering department on the ship had utilized a by-pass pipe to route oily wastewater directly into the ocean. The ORB was falsified to omit this activity. The owner/operator contended that its policies prohibited such activity and that the government should be required to prove that the company did not have an effective compliance program.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Eric J. Rowley, Fleet Public Affairs Center Det. USS Connecticut (SSN 22) arrived at Naval Base (NB) Kitsap Bremerton Jan. 29, officially changing its home port from Groton, Conn., after a six-month deployment. Connecticut left Groton July 25 for a six-month deployment around the world conducting real world operations and visiting many ports before arriving to its new home in Bremerton. "We had a successful deployment," said Lt. j.g. James Foster, Connecticut supply officer. "We got to visit lots of interesting places and do missions of national importance. The half-hour ceremony left friends and families waiting in blistery cold weather to give their Sailors a warm welcome to their new homes.

Lift boats are the unglamorous vessels of oil and gas well servicing industry. They travel to the job site with three large cylindrical legs rising 150-250 ft. above the waterline. Once onsite, lift boats lower their legs to the seabed and raise their hull up to 100 ft. above the waterline to be even with the structure they are servicing to provide a stable platform for workers to transit from the lift boat to the project in which they are working. These versatile vessels can serve through the entire life of a oil or gas well from driving casing to provide a "path" for a jackup rig to drill through construction of the platform, repair and renovation of the platform to plug and abandonment of the well.

It was inevitable. For several years now crew/supply boats have been following, almost in lock step their "big brothers," the supply boats, with technical and other innovations. Drop down bow thrusters, DP-1 systems, better crew accommodations and advanced radar systems are just a few of the features first introduced on supply boats and now available on crew/supply boats. The next step in this evolution is the introduction of automated monitoring, control and alarm systems on crew/supply boats. Trico Marine, Houma, La., is now operating three 155-ft. by 28-ft. crew/supply vessels that feature what is believed to be the first ever state-of-the-art automation system on this vessel type. Gulf Craft, Patterson, La., built the three identical vessels.

Technology, The Aluminum Association, Inc. Aluminum has been used in the marine industry for more than 100 years because of its light weight and ease of fabrication combined with good corrosion and fatigue resistance. However, for much of the past 30 years, fiberglass has been the material of choice of North American boatbuilders, particularly for higher-volume production lines. Competitively priced compared with boats made from most other materials, fiberglass boats can also be made from standardized molds that reduce their construction time and labor. Aluminum alloys, which are specified for marine use, offer many benefits, though, too.

Following the success of Oceanology International in London in March, the marine science and ocean technology industries will now turn their attention to OI Americas. OI Americas, the Second Joint Ocean Forum, will be held at the Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, June 4-6, 2003. The Americas account for 29% of the world's $747bn marine market (source: Westwood, Parsons, Rowley, Global Ocean Markets, January 2002). Established in 2001, OI Americas made a promising debut in Miami, attracting 350 exhibitors and 3300 visitors.. The move to New Orleans takes the Show straight to the heart of the U.S. offshore oil industry, close to survey, charting and mapping companies.