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UK-based independent full-cycle oil and gas company confirmed that Indico-1 well in Colombia reached target depth of 10,604 feet and encountered the Lower Sands of the Une formation.The South America focused oil and gas producer, which owns 30% non-operated working interest in the Indico-1 well, said the Lower Sands package is the same formation which holds the 120 feet oil column discovered at nearby Mariposa, which lies some 6.5 kilometres to the North West of Indico-1.The Mariposa well has produced at a stable rate of approximately 3…

MarineNews showcases the ten best of North America’s 2018 workboat deliveries. Domestic shipyard production is robust, innovative and getting greener. And, that translates into two kinds of ‘green.’As the domestic offshore energy support sector slowly awakens, other sectors have been happy to take the spotlight in its absence. As always, and if a hull was delivered in 2018, we took a look at it, with several areas as a focus for inclusion into this edition. For my part, I’m always excited when the U.S. boatbuilding sector can deliver for a foreign buyer. We’ve checked that box here.

The government of Panama gave a US$1.4 billion contract to build a bridge over the Panama Canal to Panama Cuarto Puente, a Chinese consortium.Panama Cuarto Puente consortium or so-called Panama Fourth Bridge Consortium,  composed of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its unit China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), will design and build a bridge over the Panama Canal.According to a report in Reuters, the 6.5-km (4-mile) bridge will have six car lanes and a two-way metro line.

Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Venice launched the Carnival Panorama, a sister ship of the 4,000-passenger Carnival Vista and Carnival Horizon.The the largest shipbuilder in Europe said in a press release that interior fittings will now begin, leading the ship to its delivery, scheduled in autumn 2019.The launching of the Carnival Cruise Line vessel was introduced by the traditional and well-wishing “coin ceremony”, consisting, according to an ancient shipbuilding custom, in welding a silver dollar on the last deck of the ship.

Florida-based Crowley Logistics has added 400 new refrigerated (reefer) cargo containers to its industry-leading equipment fleet just in time for the peak perishables shipping season beginning in Central America.The additional units, all 40-foot-long, high cubes built to Crowley’s exacting standards, further demonstrates the company’s focus on offering customers the most reliable and efficient equipment in the market. These units have wireless asset monitoring technology, which will provide continuous monitoring of the equipment as it transits from origin to destination…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national trade association representing the U.S. shipyard and repair industry, honors the life and legacy of President George H.W. Bush, a true American hero.Matthew Paxton, President of SCA remarked, “President George H.W. Bush’s life was built on a foundation of loyalty and service to his nation. When Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese during the Second World War, George H.W. Bush was irrevocably committed to serving his country and joined the United States Navy, becoming one of the youngest flying officers.

Choosing the ‘top stories of 2018’ was, this year, a difficult task. Many compelling story threads played out, dramatically impacting the North American waterfront, and in particular, the workboat sector – each in their own unique way. Read on to find out how and why.Autonomous Vessels: Ready or Not, Here They ComeFuturistic, remote-controlled autonomous marine vehicles aren’t coming. They are here. As the pace of change quickens, autonomous vessels are already providing service and value on the water.

Legislation that sets standards for incidental water discharges from vessels passed the House on Nov. 29.The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, S. 140, which includes the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), passed the Senate two weeks earlier and now moves to the President to be signed.The provision places the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the lead role of establishing standards for ballast water discharge, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will monitor and enforce compliance.

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was offered the opportunity to interview Admiral Karl Schultz, the 26th Commandant in the history of the United States Coast Guard, in his office in Washington, DC. Just five months into his tenure, his plate is predictably full with a number of challenges, including: Attracting and retaining future U.S. Coast Guard personnel; addressing a number of assymetric threats, including cyber attacks; and ensuring captial and operating budgets are adequate to safely and efficiently carry out a global mission envelope, to name but a few.

If Iran can not export oil then no country will export oil from the Gulf - Iran president.America should know that if Iran can not export oil then no country will export oil from the Gulf, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday in a speech broadcast live on state TV.U.S. officials have said they intend to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero in an effort to curb the Islamic Republic's missile program and regional influence.Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh

Iran's navy on Saturday launched a domestically made destroyer, which state media said has radar-evading stealth properties, as tensions rise with arch-enemy, the United States.In a ceremony carried live on state television, the Sahand destroyer -- which can sustain voyages lasting five months without resupply -- joined Iran's regular navy at a base in Bandar Abbas on the Gulf.The Sahand has a flight deck for helicopters, torpedo launchers, anti-aircraft and anti-ship guns, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and electronic warfare capabilities, state television reported.U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of an international agreement on Iran's nuclear programme in May and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

Liberian Corporate Registry appointed Anthony Perea as Managing Director.Anthony was previously Managing Director at global corporate and fiduciary services provider AMICORP, where he was head of institutional sales for the Americas, Latin America and Asia, said a press release.He has nearly 25 years’ experience in business development and operations in the financial and corporate services sector, with a particular focus on wealth management, as well as trust and corporate and fiduciary services.

Nieuw Statendam, the new cruise ship of Holland America Line, was presented at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice. Holland America Line is a brand under Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise operator.The vessel is the 16th Holland America Line ship built by Fincantieri and is the line’s second Pinnacle-class ship after Koningsdam, delivered in 2016.The 99,902-ton vessel accommodates 2,666 guests and is the ultimate expression of the Holland America Line brand.

German shipping company Hamburg Süd is resuming its weekly direct service from Peru’s Port of Paita to Philadelphia just in time for the forthcoming mango and grape season in South America.The international logistics service provider said in a press release that with a transit time of eleven days, the service provides exporters in Peru and US importers a premium product designed specifically with these sensitive cargoes in mind.The release quoted Frank Smet, Chief Commercial Officer…

Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen-owned LNG shipper Flex LNG believes that the LNG market is in the early stages of a multi-year recovery.According to a report by Flex LNG, the market for seaborne transportation of LNG has improved significantly during the third quarter with the primary driver being the nearly 50 per cent year on year growth in imports to China.Additionally there is high demand growth in other more mature markets such as South Korea and Taiwan.Flex LNG pointed out that Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimate demand growth of approximately 8.5% in 2018…

Canada-based provider of oil cargo transportation services Island Tug and Barge Ltd informed that s new ATB push tug the Island Raider has entered service pushing the double hulled refined petroleum products barge, ITB Resolution.The Island Raider is the first of two, twin Z-drive, ATB push tugs for service on the West Coast of North America. Constructed at Island Tug’s Annacis Island Shipyard on the Fraser River, the Island Raider is connected by an articulating pin system to…

South Korean shipyards have seemingly boxed out rivals from the market for building large ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG), winning all of the orders for the next three years worth more than $9 billion.Three South Korean yards - Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung Heavy Industries - have won the more than 50 orders placed for new large-scale LNG tankers for delivery in the next three years, according to data from the…

Damen Shipyards Group has unveiled a new vessel design geared toward the developing offshore wind market in North America: the Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 3410 service accommodation and transfer vessel (SATV).The new design builds on Damen designs that have been proven in the European renewables market. The main premise is the patented Damen Twin Axe bow design, which combines the Axe Bow with a catamaran hull to allow the vessel to cut through waves instead of slamming, thereby improving seakeeping and onboard comfort.

DSP Data and System Planning successfully supported the transition of DP World Prince Rupert Terminal, the  second largest container terminal in Canada, to the NAVIS N4 terminal operating system (TOS).Prince Rupert selected Navis N4 to improve efficiency, guarantee scalability and sustain their expansion plans.The Prince Rupert Terminal expansion was unveiled in August 2017 to increase the facility’s capacity by 50%, making it one of the fastest growing container ports in North America.Part of the expansion involved installing massive cranes…

Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced the further expansion of its Asia - east coast South America service as a follow-up to the earlier announcement detailing the expanded cooperation with Hapag Lloyd.A week ago, ONE announced the expansion of its Asia-South America service. ONE had said it is cooperating with Hapag-Lloyd and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) in the Asia-South America trade lane.Commencing in the 2nd week of December 2018, the additional weekly offering will enhance ONE’s service frequency and broaden its coverage between Asia and the east coast of South America…

Humphree makes inroads in North American markets with vessel stabilization technology.If you haven’t yet heard of Humphree – the Sweden-based supplier of vessel stabilization systems – then, more than likely, that’s about to change. The firm’s penetration into the North American commercial and leisure marine market has seen its equipment on several vessels, including high-profile deployments like the new Seastreak high-speed commuting ferry.Founded in 2002 by a team of hydrodynamic and marine engineers…

International technology Group Andritz has received orders from two renowned shipping companies to supply SeaSOx desulfurization systems for exhaust gas cleaning, thus confirming Andritz’s know-how in exhaust cleaning technologies.Installation of both SeaSOx systems is scheduled for March 2019, said a press release from the Austrian plant engineering group.Andritz claims that it is the only company worldwide offering wet scrubber as well as dry scrubber solutions for the shipping industry – under the tradename SeaSOx.In line with the requirements of the shipping industry…

The Argentine Navy submarine that went missing a year ago off the country's Atlantic Coast was found by a private company involved in what had been a massive search for the vessel and its 44-member crew, the defense ministry said in a news conference on Saturday.The ARA San Juan submarine was discovered by marine tracking contractor Ocean Infinity, 907 meters (2,975 feet) below the ocean surface. The vessel was found in an underwater canyon with its tail partially "imploded," Argentina's Defense Minister Carlos Aguad said.Given the poor visibility at the site…