Energy Support Services News

Crowley Alaska Tankers, LLC, has completed its acquisition of three tankers from SeaRiver Maritime Inc. and is now chartering the vessels back to SeaRiver under varying multi-year terms.The tankers Liberty Bay and Eagle Bay, now under Crowley ownership and operation and renamed Washington and California respectively, each have a capacity of 760,000 barrels and transport crude from Alaska to West Coast refineries. The tanker SR American Progress, renamed Oregon, has a capacity of 342,000 barrels and transports refined petroleum between the U.S.

Crowley Alaska Tankers, LLC, has signed an agreement to purchase three tankers from SeaRiver Maritime Inc., and charter them back to SeaRiver under varying multi-year terms. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Included in the acquisition are the tankers Liberty Bay and Eagle Bay, each of which have a capacity of 800,000 barrels and transport crude from Alaska to West Coast refineries; and the tanker SR American Progress, which has a capacity of 342,000 barrels and transports refined petroleum between U.S. gulf and East Coast ports. Crowley said it will now work with regulators to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to serve the Alaska and West Coast markets.

Marine operations company Green Marine Energy Support Services, based in Stromness, Orkney, took delivery of a Damen Multi Cat 2712 workboat for its offshore wave and tidal activities, the builder announced. The vessel’s first job was laying the moorings for and towing Green Marine’s heavy-lifting barge and the removal of the HS1000 tidal turbine for Andritz Hydro Hammerfest. With a length of 27.7 meters and a beam of 12.45 meters, the Multi Cat 2712 workboat, which was christened Green Isle…

Damen Shipyards Group delivered a Multi Cat 2613 on April 30, 2015 to Orkney, Scotland-based chartering company Scotmarine to be used for offshore tidal activities in Scotland’s Northern Isles. The hull of the new vessel was in stock and customized for the client earlier this year. The 50-metric-ton bollard pull vessel has a large crane and will replace the stock vessel Multi Cat Orcadia Scotmarine purchased three years ago. Scotmarine will deploy the new vessel in developing underwater tidal energy farms for Scot Renewables Tidal Power.

Crowley Maritime Corp. and IbisTek, LLC, have announced the formation of a joint venture, called IbisTek Crowley Limited, to provide a comprehensive package of project logistics, energy support services and emergency response capabilities in Ghana, West Africa. The partnership, which meets the local standards required to be considered an “indigenous Ghanaian company,” leverages Crowley’s worldwide logistics footprint and project expertise and Ghana-based IbisTek’s existing relationships and customer base in the region. The IbisTek Crowley office will utilize local participation in the oil and gas support sector through the staffing of Ghanaian national employees who will work with Crowley’s U.S.

Canada-based Aecon Group Inc. Revenue was $590 million for the second quarter of 2014 compared to $698 million for the same period of 2013, largely due to lower revenue in Mining (as a result of lower volume of site installation work following the substantial completion of a significant project in 2013, and lower demand for contract mining services largely driven by temporary client production shutdowns in the oil sands during the second quarter). Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2014 was $13.8 million compared to $36.7 million for the second quarter of 2013 driven by the slower quarter in the Mining segment. For the first half of 2014, Adjusted EBITDA was $16.9 million compared to $25.4 million in the prior year.

Crowley's Ocean Rangers Have Protected Alaska's Environment Since 2008. The State of Alaska's Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) has announced that it has awarded a contract to Crowley Maritime Corporation to continue administering the State of Alaska's Ocean Ranger Program, effective November 2011. The contract directs Crowley to recruit, hire, train and organize the logistics of placing Ocean Rangers on board cruise ships each season to act as independent observers and to assure compliance with federal and state environmental health, sanitation and safety requirements.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that it has restructured its petroleum distribution and contract services group, consolidating all Alaska operations under Craig Tornga, vice president. Tornga, who will remain in Anchorage and will continue reporting to Rocky Smith, senior vice president and general manager, will continue to manage Alaska's petroleum distribution and fuel sales but will now also manage tanker assist and escort services in Valdez and Prince William Sound, Alaska, and energy support services on Alaska's North Slope.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced a restructuring involving three members of its senior leadership team. John Douglass and Rob Grune will move to new positions, with Douglass taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's Puerto Rico/Caribbean liner services, and Grune taking over as senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's petroleum transportation group. Both executives will remain domiciled in Jacksonville and continue to report to Tom Crowley, chairman, president and CEO.

Nome Mayor Denise Michels and a couple hundred guests gathered at the Small Boat Harbor in Seward, Alaska, on May 10 to celebrate the christening of Crowley's newest tug - the Nachik (NAH-chick). Later this month, the company will take delivery of its sister vessel, the Sesok (SEE-sock). Crowley has invested in these two IKKAT (Ick-cut) Class vessels specifically to support Alaska shallow draft challenges and to enhance environmental and safety presence in Alaska waters. The Nachik…

The vessel construction boom at Crowley continued as the company took delivery of the Nachik, a newly-designed shallow draft tug, from Diversified Marine in Portland, Ore. The Nachik, which means "hair seal" in the native Inupiaq language, will be deployed in Alaska and is the third new vessel to be handed off to Crowley in less than two weeks. The company took delivery of the articulated tug-barge (ATB) Commitment and 650-6 in Pascagoula, Miss., and on March 28 Crowley christened and launched the 455-4, a heavy-lift series deck barge, at Gunderson Marine in Portland.

Crowley Maritime Corporation took delivery of the Vigilant, a new Z-Drive tugboat that is being chartered from BayDelta Maritime, Inc., for use in Crowley's ship assist and escort business in Cook Inlet, Alaska. The nimble, powerful, ice-strengthened tug will be stationed at the Tesoro Alaska Company's Nikiski refinery in Cook Inlet on a year-round basis to provide enhanced safety and environmental protection for tankers docking there. The tug was built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders…

Crowley Maritime Corporation promoted Alex Sweeney to vice president and general manager of its energy and marine services business unit. Sweeney will live in Seattle and report to Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley Jr. He replaces Steve Peterson, who is leaving the company. Sweeney will be responsible for all aspects of Crowley's specialized services provided to companies engaged in the exploration, production and distribution of oil and gas. Areas of operation extend from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to the Russian Far East to Africa.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Jim Shettig has been promoted to vice president of the company's East Coast and Gulf contract services business. He will remain domiciled in Houston and continue to report to John Douglass, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's marine services group. Shettig, who most recently served as general manager of East Coast and Gulf contract services, will now have profit and loss responsibilities for the business. His group provides a myriad of services to customers, including energy logistics, remote offshore drilling support, ocean towing and transportation and other energy support services. Shettig is an 18-year Crowley veteran.

Crowley Maritime Corporation announced that Bruce Harland has been promoted to vice president of the company's West Coast, Alaska and international contract services. He will remain in Seattle and continue to report to John Douglass, senior vice president and general manager of Crowley's marine services group. Harland, who most recently served as general manager of West Coast, Alaska and international contract services, will now have profit and loss responsibilities for the business as part of the upgrade in the position. His group provides a myriad of services to customers, including energy logistics, remote offshore drilling support, ocean towing and transportation, and energy support services, including all-terrain transportation of cargo and personnel on the North Slope of Alaska.

Crowley Maritime Corporation has expanded its international presence with the formation of Crowley Far East Services. shoreside logistics and transportation services to the energy and construction industries in the region. vessels, including some of the industry's most powerful oceangoing tugboats, and barges with heavy lift, breakbulk and ice breaking capabilities measuring up to 400 feet long and 100 feet wide. charter local equipment and will use vessels operated under the Russian flag thus creating jobs and opportunities for Russian citizens while supporting the local economy. The new company provides marketing, operational support and infrastructure for current and future operations on Sakhalin Island and in the Far East.

The much anticipated turnaround in the Gulf of Mexico Oil Patch is happening, and the companies that supply boats and services in the area are feeling the impact. Consolidation has touched every facet of the marine business — every facet of business — for nearly a decade. Following the economic slowdown and resultant "weeding out of the weaklings" in the early 1990s, a new business plan stressing size and economic resource emerged. The plan, obviously, has not worked universally, as some companies overextended just as the market came crashing down in 1997. Today, for better or worse, a handful of enormous companies reign over the business of owning and operating vessels and rigs in the Gulf of Mexico region.