Jackup Barges News

Abu Dhabi Ports – the master developer, operator and manager of ports and Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirate ― has signed a contract with Gulf Marine Services (GMS) that will see the creation of a state-of-the-art facility at Zayed Port where GMS will construct and maintain its offshore support vessels that serve the region’s oil and gas industry. Zayed Port in Abu Dhabi city―a regional hub for the cruise industry, and general and bulk cargo―will lease the new facility to GMS for three years. GMS, founded in Abu Dhabi in 1977 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2014, is the largest operator of self-propelled self-elevating support vessels (SESVs), also known as jackup barges, in the world.

Gulf Marine Services the provider of advanced self-propelled self-elevating support vessels (SESVs) serving the offshore oil, gas and renewable energy sectors, informed that the newly-built GMS Scirocco has been completed ahead of schedule and under budget and has been awarded its first contract. The vessel will commence a four-month contract (three months firm with a one-month option) in October for an engineering, procurement and construction contractor working for a MENA-based national oil company, with day rates in line with those previously indicated for the region. GMS Scirocco is the second of a new SESV design, the Mid-Size Class, to be added to the Group's fleet and a third, GMS Sharqi, will be delivered in Q1 2016.

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), a leading Classification Society, today announced it has opened offices in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the second office location for IRClass in the Middle East, following Dubai, and reflects the society’s strong commitment to the region. It also represents the latest stage of IRClass’ strategic expansion in key global territories. “Oil & Gas is an important growth area for IRClass and Abu Dhabi is therefore a pivotal market location,” said Mr. C. Sriramamurthy, Chief Operating Officer at IRClass. “This new office will enable our close proximity to customers and ability to better service the needs of the offshore as well as onshore sectors.

Declining North Sea production and increasingly mature assets are expected to drive demand for offshore accommodation support, with the attributed maintenance, refurbishment and shutdown work requiring additional personnel-on-board and workshop capacity, Douglas-Westwood reported. However, the harsh met ocean conditions of the northern North Sea (NNS) ultimately limit Operator choice to two types of accommodation - jackup barges and semisubs – due to the greater stability and safety offered. Despite growing demand for semisub units, the sector is plagued by constrained global supply and limited availability, placing upward pressure on day rates. This is having a significant impact on contract costs in the NNS, with day rates typically ranging from $200-350k.

Declining North Sea production and increasingly mature assets are expected to drive demand for offshore accommodation support, with the attributed maintenance, refurbishment and shutdown work requiring additional personnel-on-board and workshop capacity, according to Douglas-Westwood in their 'DW Monday' analysis. However, the harsh met ocean conditions of the northern North Sea (NNS) ultimately limit Operator choice to two types of accommodation - jackup barges and semisubs – due to the greater stability and safety offered. Despite growing demand for semisub units, the sector is plagued by constrained global supply and limited availability, placing upward pressure on day rates.

Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) is to supply Gulf Marine Services’ latest E-Class vessel 'GMS Enterprise' with a new state-of-the-art diesel electric propulsion system. Details are explained by Paul Winson, Vice President Sales at NES. Gulf Marine Services (GMS) is the largest provider of self-propelled self-elevating jackup barges in the world. The rigs are highly versatile and support the offshore oil and gas industry as well as the offshore wind industry. The vessel will be outfitted at GMS’ own yard in Abu Dhabi, UAE. GMS Enterprise will operate using the world leading Quadro Drive® VFD.

The last visible piece of the stern section of the New Carissa was removed on September 23. After four months of work and several days of diving to clear the seabed of the final 50 tons of debris, the last load of New Carissa scrap landed at the Empire dock in on September 29. With the removal earlier this week of TITAN's two jackup barges, the Karlissa A and Karlissa B, which were raised 40 feet above the surf zone, the wreck removal was done. On February 4, 1999 the New Carissa ran aground near .