Control Services News

As the global cruise industry returns to service, DNV delivers a project for a UVD Robot from Green Instruments and prepares for further demand increase of its Product Assurance service tailored to infection prevention and control for the maritime industry as the benefit of the service is realized.COVID-19 hit the maritime industry hard, in particular, the cruise sector. Since the start of the pandemic, DNV had been called on by vessel owners and operators to support their efforts to address the safety of their passengers, crew, and destinations.

The Pentagon named a senior general to command military relief operations in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico on Thursday and the Trump administration sent a Cabinet emissary to the island as U.S. lawmakers called for a more robust response to the crisis. The U.S. territory of 3.4 million people struggled through a ninth day with virtually no electricity, patchy communications and shortages of fuel, clean water and other essentials in the wake of Hurricane Maria, the most powerful storm to hit the island in nearly 90 years. The storm struck on Sept. 20 with lethal, roof-ripping force and torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and heavily damaged homes, roads and other infrastructure. The storm killed more than 30 people across the Caribbean, including at least 16 in Puerto Rico.

Diversification is the key at Oregon-based North River Boats. Listening closely to the customer’s needs recently won the day on a multi-hull U.S. Navy contract, but that’s not all that’s happening in Oregon. Roseburg, Ore.-based North River Boats has, over time, thrived by delivering one of the most diverse vessel portfolios in North America. Those offerings include both domestic and foreign deliveries, as well as recreational, commercial and military hulls. And, if that formula has taught them just one thing, then that metric would be that different customers need different features. And, for a firm known initially for cranking out a well-known brand of nearly identical recreational craft, it has also learned that flexibility in design and offerings can also win the day.

The Panama Canal’s impact on shipping routes and vessel sizes since it opened in 1914 is undisputed. This will continue with the opening of a third channel for larger vessels in 2016. This briefing examines the risk management impact of this expansion on the maritime industry. Why is the Panama Canal Expansion Significant? The Panama Canal’s $5.25 billion expansion increases the maximum vessel capacity and enlarges the overall volume of transported freight. Existing locks can handle ships up to 106 ft. wide, 965 ft. long, and 39.5 ft. of draft.

North River Boats’ formula for success: anchored in a diverse portfolio and customer base. Tucked away in Roseburg, Ore., North River Boats began simply enough in 1974 by building jet powered boats to run shallow, technical white water rivers. Over time, the company also developed a solid reputation for jet boat designs. Later, as sport fishing regulations, seasons, and species evolved, North River expanded to build deep vee outboard powered recreational boats to fish larger rivers, estuaries and the ocean. The firm is also known for another reason: its diversified production of hulls, delivered to an equally wide range of clients, both domestic and foreign.

Fugro has been awarded a large geotechnical and geophysical (G&G) programme by ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC (AKLNG - a consortium of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, British Petroleum, TransCanada and the State of Alaska). The 2015 G&G programme follows successful completion of a similar but smaller programme carried out by Fugro in 2014. The geotechnical scope of work includes drilling and sampling of borings for the onshore liquefaction facilities, marine terminal and offshore pipelines. It also includes installation of monitoring wells, seismograph and in situ measurement of soil properties. The geological and earthquake engineering scope will include assessment of geohazards, source characterisation, probabilistic seismic hazard and site response analyses.

Regional Reporting Inc. (RRI) and Global Risk Evaluations (GREvL) inform of the creation of a joint venture aimed at expanding their marine services offerings. The new company Marine Reporting International Ltd. (MRI) will combine the marine division of GREvL and RRI's UK subsidiary. The new company Marine Reporting International Ltd. (MRI) will combine the marine division of GREvL and RRI's UK subsidiary. MRI will be headed by John Worrall and John Arber, supported by George Stobbs and Marek Domanski. They will be joined by Matthew Cook in the UK and Stephen Cook acting as liaison with RRI's Marine Division to provide services on behalf of MRI throughout the USA and Canada. The combined strengths of GREvL Marine and RRI will support and grow this strong North Atlantic Alliance.

Intertek, a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, has been awarded the dimensional control contract for INPEX Ichthys FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offloading) turret development. This contract calls for the assurance and verification of fabrication and integration of the FPSO turret. Intertek Surveying Services has been operating for over 25 years and is considered a global leader in dimensional control, laser scanning and precise surveying. Through its expert dimensional control surveyors, Intertek will support INPEX with audits during the fabrication and integration process to ensure first-time fit up. The Ichthys LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) project involves piping gas nearly 900 km from the Ichthys field off the north-west coast of Western Australia to Darwin…

Balance Point Control Ltd. (BPC), a Superior Energy Services, Inc. company, has developed the Concentric Snubbing Unit- 160 (CSU – 160) rig assist snubbing unit. According to BPC their new CSU-160 is the first fully remote-operated snubbing unit on the market. Furthermore, BPC built a complete Zone-1 electric-driven hydraulic powerpack with four separate drive banks to set a new safety standard in the industry as this minimizes personnel exposure to pressurized hydraulic lines.

U.S. Navy awards Electric Boat a contract for nuclear-maintenance work for submarines homeported at Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the contract, Electric Boat will continue to operate the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base. The company will provide project management, planning, training and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs.  A core group of approximately 25 Electric Boat employees are assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 100 shipyard employees assigned for short periods.   The contract has a potential value of $23.6 million over 9 months.

New York - Considerable investment is being ploughed into oil and gas enhanced production services in the hope of increasing production efficiency in a market in which global hydrocarbon consumption is only expected to increase, according to market intelligence experts GBI Research. The new report shows that the application of enhanced production techniques, such as the artificial lift technique in upstream production processes, and sand control services, will considerably improve the percentage recovery of oil and gas from onshore and offshore reservoirs. Artificial lift services picked up the pace in 2011 as a result of increasing oil and gas demand, which brought about the need to enhance production above levels achieved from naturally flowing reservoirs.

GAC China launched a new specialist service to help ship owners comply with stringent new anti-pollution regulations that come into force at the country’s ports on March 1, 2012. Under the China Maritime Safety Agency (MSA) rules, owners and operators of vessels carrying any cargo deemed to represent a potential pollution risk in Chinese territorial waters must work with a Government-approved Ship Pollution Response Organisation (SPRO) to establish and implement a detailed Ship Pollution Response Regime before entering, leaving or starting operations in port. As part of its Owners’ Protective Agency service package in mainland China…

Professional Tank Cleaning & Sandblasting provides a turnkey corrosion control services for several different areas on board mega yachts and larger service vessels. The key to any successful coating system has 3 main components:  Removing Salts & Surface Contaminants, Producing the Proper Surface Profile,& Proper Selection and Application of the Appropriate Coating or Tank Lining. Professional Tank Cleaning & Sandblasting performs rehabilitation projects on all tanks, bilges, exhaust trunks, sea chests, shaft tubes, cofferdams, chain lockers, bulwarks and hulls.

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $25m contract for management and support of nuclear-maintenance work for submarines homeported at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD). The contract has a potential value of $78m over three years if all options are exercised. Under the contract, Electric Boat will continue to operate the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base. The company will provide project management, planning, training and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs. A core group of about 25 Electric Boat employees is assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 100 shipyard employees assigned for short periods.

W&O, supplier of marine valves, pipes, fittings, engineered products and valve automation solutions, announced that its Mobile, Ala. operations have relocated to a new 40,000 square-foot facility to meet the immediate and long-term needs of its rapidly growing business in the region. The new facility more than doubles available space from the previous location and provides increased efficiency for customers. Mobile’s strong economic climate combined with W&O’s industry expertise and innovative maritime solutions has helped the company increase its customer base and grow its revenue by more than 30 percent in the Mobile area, facilitating the expansion and relocation of Mobile operations.

The U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $6.3m modification to a previously awarded contract for management and support of nuclear-maintenance work for submarines homeported at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) . Under the terms of the contract modification, Electric Boat will continue to operate the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base through Sept. 30, 2009. The company will provide project management, planning, training and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs. A core group of about 25 Electric Boat employees are assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 100 shipyard employees assigned for short periods.

Recertification audit was successfully completed at NLMK by Bureau Veritas (France) for the combine's production of slabs for shipbuilding. The auditors inspected the operation of converter units and technical control services, the documentation of quality management system and control tests of samples of steel grades produced and supplied by NLMK to Europe according to the requirements of Bureau Veritas. NLMK will be granted a new Bureau Veritas certificate of conformity of the produced shipbuilding slabs, which will be in effect for five years. Source: FIS

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $7 million modification to a previously awarded contract under which Electric Boat will manage and support nuclear-maintenance work for submarines homeported at Submarine base New London, Conn. Electric Boat is a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics. Under the terms of the contract modification, Electric Boat will continue to operate the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base through September 30, 2002. The company will provide project management, planning, training, and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs in support of operational submarines. A core group of 20 Electric Boat employees are assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 60 shipyard employees for short periods.

The U.S. Navy awarded a $13.9 million contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for management and support of nuclear maintenance work for submarines home-ported at Submarine Base - New London, Conn. Under the terms of the contract, Electric Boat will operate the Nuclear Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base through September 2006. The company will provide project management, planning, training and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs. A core group of 22 Electric Boat employees is assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 110 shipyard employees assigned for short periods. If all options are exercised and funded, the contract could be worth $61.8 million over three years.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $13.9 million contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat for management and support of nuclear maintenance work for submarines home-ported at Submarine Base - New London, Conn. General Dynamics. Regional Maintenance Department (NRMD) at the submarine base through September 2006. The company will provide project management, planning, training and radiological-control services to support maintenance, modernization and repairs. A core group of 22 Electric Boat employees is assigned to the NRMD, with surge groups of up to 110 shipyard employees assigned for short periods. If all options are exercised and funded, the contract could be worth $61.8 million over three years.

Four people symbolic of those in the frontline of the massive waterfront rescue and evacuation operation, which followed the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York on 11 September 2001, are the recipients of the James E. McGuire Safety Award. International Registries, Inc. presented the awards at a dinner in Reston, Virginia, near Washington D.C. on 15 October 2002. In attendance were leaders of the international maritime community, distinguished members of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and other government agencies, and members of the Marshall Islands Quality Council. Rear Admiral Richard E. Bennis, USCG (Ret.), Captain of the Port of New York on September 11…

Tim Donney has joined Fireman's Fund McGee Marine Underwriters at the company's New York City headquarters as Marine Loss Control Director. A 25-year veteran of marine loss control, Donney will manage the loss control services provided by this leading marine insurer, which includes the largest internal ocean marine loss control staff in the industry. Donney, who was previously the president of Hull & Cargo Surveyors, Inc., most recently served as the Director of National Operations for the Marine Division of Intermodal Transportation Services, Inc. (ITS).

In the first six months of 2001, throughput in the port of Rotterdam increased to 161.8 million tons, 2.3% more than in the first half of 2000. The transshipment of coal (+26%), petrochemical products and petcokes(+%), crude oil (+7.5%) and agribulk (+16%) in particular contributed to the good result. Other liquid bulk (chemicals, oil and fats, -2%), other dry bulk (including sand, phosphates, minerals, -%), ores and scrap (-10.2%) and the three general cargo groups (roll on/roll off, containers and other general cargo) showed a decrease. Total incoming trade increased by 5%, while outgoing trade was down 6%. During the first six months, growth gradually slackened off again.