Bergesen News

Bluewater's Haewene Brim FPSO, normally used for oil production from Shell's Pierce Field in the UK North Sea, has recently arrived in Haugesund, Norway.Norwegian engineering and construction Aibel shared a video of the FPSO arrival in Haugesund, towed by a Maersk Supply Service vessel. In Norway, the Haewene Brim FPSO, built in 1996,  will undergo upgrades and life extension work.While at Aibel's yard, the FPSO will also be upgraded to allow for gas export, the Norwegian firm said.According to World Energy Reports' FPSO database…

The Board of Viking Supply Ships AB (under name change from Rederi AB Transatlantic) has decided to appoint Christian W. Berg as CEO of the company with immediate effect. Christian will in parallel continue as head of the Viking Supply Ships business area just as today. Christian W. Berg is born 1968 and has since 2011 been head of the business area Viking Supply Ships, coming previously from Chief Commercial Officer in Siem Offshore (2008-2011) which is a company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. From 1999 to 2008, Christian has had various leading positions at several companies, such as Promarine Ltd and Promarine AS, NavTech AS in Egersund and Horizon Mobile Communications in Singapore. Christian has had various board engagements within the scope of his employments.

Tanker operator, BW Fleet Management, expanded its Fleet Repair Agreement with ASRY’s Bahrain yard. The new repair agreement was signed by Morten Steen Martinsen, managing director of BW Fleet Management and Chris Potter, CEO of ASRY, in April in Bahrain. The Norwegian company, which operates out of both Oslo and Singapore, manages a fleet of more than 90 vessels operated by BW Gas and BW Maritime, and the ASRY repair agreement involves those crude oil tankers, product tankers and LPG carriers that trade to the Arabian Gulf, giving guaranteed dock space and fixed rates.

Christian Lange has become the managing partner of Faststream AS, the Oslo based arm of international maritime recruitment specialist Faststream Recruitment Ltd. Commenting on the appointment, Faststream Group CEO Mark Charman said: “Christian is a shipping man through and through with years of shipbroking experience under his belt who really understands the sector. After two years with Faststream, I’m delighted that he has become a partner in our fast growing firm. Oslo born Christian Lange (53) began his career in shipping in 1975 as a shipbroker in Hamburg. He has worked in a variety of positions for United Arab Chartering (1978-79)…

Korean shipbuilders have achieved a market-leading role in the construction of LNG tankers. Following commitment to serve this market with products, Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) has received a breakthrough success by receiving firm orders for its Bridgeline, Integrated Navigation System, to be fitted to seven of the new LNG tankers, with options for further deliveries in the future. KMSS will provide Radar/ARPA, ECDIS- electronic chart display system, MBB- voyage data recorder, UAIS- universal automatic identification system with full integration of the navigation instruments. The Bridgeline assembly will be carried out in Korea.

Wärtsilä Corporation has supplied a 5,800 kW Power Module to Bergesen d.y. Offshore AS, Norway, for installation on board the FPSO vessel Berge Hus. The Module, which is powered by a Wärtsilä 18V32DF dual-fuel engine, will burn produced gas. Currently being converted into an FPSO vessel from a VLCC tanker at the Jurong shipyard in Singapore, Berge Hus is destined for operation on the Ceiba oil field off Equatorial Guinea. Oil was reached in the Ceiba field by another Bergesen FPSO vessel, the Sendje Berge, in November 2000. The sister ship Berge Hus will take over work on that field in the first quarter of 2002 to complete the planned 10 production wells and four water injection wells, and continue handling the crude oil produced from the field.

Representing the new owners of Norwegian shipping company Bergesen, Andreas Sohmen-Pao delivered a clear message in his well received speech at the Annual Meeting of the NSA Tank and Bulkship Group last week. Sohmen-Pao told industry members, which had turned out in record numbers, that he thought Norway was at a crossroads when it came to shipping. Politicians had to decide whether to give the shipping industry equal treatment with that enjoyed by competitors internationally, and the industry itself had to decide whether to continue to actively develop the Norwegian shipping cluster or not. "As we all know, Norway took bold steps in tax reform for shipping in 1996, with favorable results.

South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, the world's second-largest shipyard, said on Monday it has won orders worth $1.1 billion for four LNG (liquefied natural gas) ships. The company said in a filing to the Korea Stock Exchange Bergesen of Norway had placed an order for three LNG carriers, although did not give the buyer of the fourth ship.

In a move that is likely to increase repairs of U.S.-flagged ships at Bahrain’s ASRY, the Bahraini Government has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Government to designate Bahrain as a ‘home port’ for U.S. ships. ASRY has been repairing U.S. Navy and MSC ships for a number of years, especially during the Kuwait and Iraq Wars. On the commercial side, ASRY has also been carrying out emergency repairs to U.S.-flagged ships. However, under this new agreement, U.S.-flagged commercial vessels can now repair in ASRY without paying the 50% levy to the U.S. Government by repairing overseas. Bahrain is the only major Gulf shiprepair country to enter into this agreement with the U.S. Authorities.

Bergesen has agreed with Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) on a preliminary agreement for the employment of four LNG-carriers for a minimum of 20 ½ years from delivery. Final contract is subject to NLNG making its final investment decision on its further extension called NLNG Plus. Subject to same investment decision, Bergesen will enter into an agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., Korea, to build the vessels. Delivery shall take place in first, third and fourth quarter 2005, and in first quarter 2006. Total project price will be about $710 million, including interest and other expenses during construction period. The agreement is based on four vessels of 140.500 cbm each, but the vessels' capacity can be increased to 145.000 cbm at NLNG's option.

While European leaders continue to disparage the business practices of Far East shipbuilders, particularly those in South Korea, based on alleged subsidy use and abuse, these yards continue to win new business and further sway the balance of shipbuilding power worldwide. Daewoo Shipbuilding was reportedly awarded a deal to build four LNG carriers for Norway's Bergesen, at an estimated price of more than $160 million per ship. The contract calls for Daewoo to deliver the first ship by the first quarter of 2005 and the last ship by the first quarter of 2006. The ships, capable of carrying 140,500 cu. m. of LNG each, will be chartered to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd.

The Bergesen group generated first-quarter operating profit of $25.6 million, substantially down on the $104.3 million recorded last year. These figures include capital gains on the sale of vessels of $ 10.4 million in 2002 and $7.2 million in 2001. Freight income on a T/C basis totalled $114.5 million, compared with $ 196.9 million in 2001. The accounts show net financial income of $5.2 million after a $3.1 million reversal of previous write-downs of shares and net foreign exchange gains of $4.5 million.. Profit before tax came to $30.8 million, compared with $79.7 million last year. The interim accounts have been prepared using the same accounting policies as the annual accounts for 2001. Bergesen has decided to stop reporting value-adjusted equity figures.

Bergesen has entered into a preliminary agreement with the Algerian oil company Sonatrach for employment of one LNG-carrier for minimum 20 years from delivery. Sonatrach has an option to extend the agreement by maximum five years. The vessel is the third vessel in a series of seven large LNG-carriers ordered by Bergesen at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd, Korea. The vessel shall be delivered in third quarter 2004. Sonatrach will participate with an ownership share of 50 percent in the vessel with effect from delivery from the yard, but the vessel will be 100 percent financed by Bergesen. Final agreement with Sonatrach is expected to be concluded in the near future.

Kongsberg Maritime Ship Systems (KMSS) has recently won a number of orders for its cargo monitoring systems in Japan and Korea. These new orders are collectively worth over $1 million and firmly establish KMSS as a major player in these lucrative markets. The first order is for a Custody Transfer System (CTS) for MOL and Qatar Gas Hull 1561 currently under construction at Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Japan. The second order is also for a CTS cargo system for Shell Hull 2183 currently under construction at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., in Nagasaki, Japan. The ship is the last to be built in a series of three, which have also been fitted with equipment from KMSS. currently under construction at Daewoo in Korea.

Bergesen has sold the gas-carriers Havvind and Havlys, both 12.000 cbm, built in 1976, for scrapping. The sales price is about USD 0,8 million per vessel. The vessels will be delivered in the second half of June 2002. Bergesen will also put up the gascarrier Havlur, 12.000 cbm, built in 1977, for sale for scrapping.

Bergesen DAY. ASA plans to buy a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier from South Korea's Daewoo Heavy Industries Ltd. for approximately $150 million, company officials said. Under the preliminary agreement, the vessel would have a capacity of 138,000 cu. m. and be delivered in the first quarter of 2003, officials said. The final agreement is expected to be signed by early April 2000. Bergesen will also have an option to order an additional LNG-carrier for delivery in the second half of 2003.

A U.S. oil majors' Internet tanker venture is merging with a shipping dot-com in a bid to become the first live online chartering exchange for the industry. SeaLogistics, which is backed by five oil groups, is merging with OneSea Direct, which has several major shipowner investors, to combine their efforts in web-based tanker chartering, the two companies said. SeaLogistics currently involves U.S. oil companies Texaco, Chevron, Koch Industries, L.G. Caltex and Coastal Corp. OneSea includes support from leading shipping companies such as A.P. Moeller, Bergesen, Teekay, I.M. Skaugen, OMI Corp., Osprey, Leif Hoegh, Worldwide, Acomarit, and V.Ships.

Norwegian shipping group Bergesen d.y. ASA predicts that tanker markets would stay strong due to good demand for oil, but that the number of vessels sold for scrap would fall in 2000. The company, one of the world's top shipping groups, reported a fall in pre-tax earnings to $10.2 million from $19.8 million in the first quarter of 1999. "The tanker market is expected to stay strong in future due to the lifting of OPEC's production restraints as well as good growth in oil consumption," company officials said. OPEC and other nations including Norway relaxed restrictions on oil production from April 1 after a surge in prices to nine-year highs in early 2000.

Norwegian shipping company Bergesen plans to replace around 600 European staff members by the end of 2002 to create cost savings worth about $22.4 million a year, company officials said. Bergesen Managing Director Svein Erik Amundsen said despite recent efforts by Norwegian politicians to encourage recruitment to the shipping industry, the company was struggling to find qualified Norwegian seafarers. He said the company was in talks with unions to arrange wage packages to employees who would be forced to quit. Union officials said Bergesen workers had not yet accepted the company's proposal. They said the union had offered its members legal assistance in an effort to fight for improved wage packages. About 3,800 seafarers currently work onboard Bergesen vessels.

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

The All Share Index in Oslo was up 3.8 percent in May, and shipping and offshore stocks were leading the way as the Shipping Index surged 13.9 percent during the month. All but three of the offshore stocks listed on the OSE experienced positive share price movements in the period. Northern Offshore (NOF), announcing strong results for first quarter, was up all of 50 percent. Nortrans Offshore (NOL), Navis (NIS), Stolt Comex Seaway (SCS) and Smedvig (SME/SMEB) were all up between 33 and 20 percent. Polar Holding (POL) fell 26 percent in May as District Offshore (DOF) failed in it's attempt to acquire the company. Brøvig Offshore was down 17 percent, while DOF fell 3 percent. The two cruise operators both experienced a positive share price development in May.

Shipping and offshore shares performed well in March with an increase in the Shipping Index of 2.3 percent. The Oslo market as a whole fell 2.2 percent, much due to the world-wide price fall for the IT and telecom sector. Despite the uncertainty about the outcome of the OPEC meeting on March 27 and 28, a number of offshore shares rose significantly during the month. Even though the oil price fell slightly as a result of the meeting, it is obviously within a price range that is considered as comfortable by investors. The two share classes in Smedvig (SME and SMEB) were both up about 19 percent in the period, topping the long list of positive performers in the offshore sector. All but five of the listed offshore shares increased their value during March.