Civil Aviation Authority News

Norwegian oil companies resumed helicopter flights to offshore oil and gas fields on Friday following Wednesday's deadly crash off the country's west coast, operator Equinor and airports said on Friday.On Thursday helicopter traffic was halted to oil and gas platforms following the crash in which one person died and five were injured. Norway said it was considering grounding Sikorsky's S-92A aircraft model while investigating the accident."Based on dialogue with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)…

Whether we realize it or not, robotics and robotics systems are starting to impact our daily lives. From warehouse picking systems through to high-end medical devices through to your mowbot lawnmower. Each tends to be specialized to its own task and a similar trend is now starting to play out in the offshore wind space, where it’s hoped that robots can make operations safer and more efficient.According to a report, The Economic Opportunity for Robotics in Offshore Wind and Key Energy Markets by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult)…

Norwegian oil company Equinor has successfully sent a drone carrying a 3D-printed cargo from shore to an offshore production platform in the North Sea in what the company says is a world's first.In a flight spanning around 80 kilometers from the Mongstad base onshore to the Troll field in the North Sea offshore Norway, the drone carried a 3D-printed part for the lifeboat system. The flight took one hour, at an altitude of approx. 5000 feet, or 1524 meters."The flight was a test…

Wilhelmsen’s Marine Products division signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Singapore-based drone delivery startup F-drones, for last mile delivery of its 3D printed spare parts.As the only drone delivery provider currently authorized by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to execute drone deliveries beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) to vessels at anchorage, the agreement with F-drones enables Wilhelmsen to broaden the scope of its exclusive on-demand additive manufacturing service…

Launching this week in partnership with Airbus, Wilhelmsen’s shore-to-ship Singapore pilot project, marks the first deployment of drone technology in real-time port conditions, delivering a variety of small, time-critical items to working vessels at anchorage.Lifting off from Marina South Pier in Singapore with 3D printed consumables from Wilhelmsen’s onshore 3D printing micro-factory, the Airbus Skyways drone navigated autonomously along pre-determined ‘aerial-corridors’ in its 1.5km flight to Eastern Working Anchorage.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service lifts off with Airbus, bringing drone delivery to one of the world’s busiest portsPairing Wilhelmsen’s ships agency expertise and safety standards with Airbus’ expertise in aeronautical vertical lift solutions, the Agency by Air project brings shore-to-ship drone delivery to one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore.Launching at Singapore port’s Marina South Pier in quarter three 2018, Wilhelmsen Ships Service and Airbus will be piloting the delivery of spare parts…

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) have invested in a new Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) ground system to enhance search and rescue capabilities in Singapore’s maritime and aeronautical Search and Rescue Regions (SRRs). The system comprises a ground segment as well as a space segment which deploys Medium-altitude Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites. Distress signals, emitted from the emergency beacons activated by aircraft, ships or persons in distress, will be received simultaneously by the MEO satellites and relayed back to the ground segment. The new MEOSAR ground system is an improvement to the current Low-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (LEOSAR) ground system…

Martek Marine announced the official appointment of highly-acclaimed aviation expert Paul Forster as their Head of UAV Operations. Paul brings over 30 years’ unparalleled aviation experience to Martek, in both high-profile operational and leadership roles. The drone industry is booming and Martek are the driving force behind the most disruptive and talked about Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology that's taking the market by storm! The appointment of Paul fulfils a crucial element of Martek’s strategy, which will help to cement them as world leaders in Unmanned Aerial Services (UAS). Paul started his astonishing career as a flight instructor and professional pilot…

A feasibility study to look into the possible expansion of the Northeast Asia Logistics Information Service Network (NEAL-NET) is being undertaken in Cambodia, as part of a project co-funded by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and China. NEAL-NET was established in 2010 by China, Japan and the Republic of Korea as a transnational, non-profit cooperative mechanism for logistics information exchange and technological cooperation. The envisaged expansion of NEAL-NET is expected to support the implementation of the revised Facilitation Convention, which will require public authorities to establish systems for the electronic exchange of information relating to ships’ cargo, crew and passengers, by 8 April 2019.

An eight-day training course on the latest tools, processes and procedures in the investigation of marine incidents is taking place in Victoria, Seychelles (7-15 November). The course will focus in particular on how to carry out such investigations in accordance with the mandatory  International Maritime Organization (IMO)  Casualty Investigation Code. William Azuh of the Technical Cooperation Division and Ms Purity Thirimu of IMO Regional Presence Office, Nairobi, are coordinating the training course. Twenty five participants are drawn from the Seychelles Marine Accident Investigation Board, Department of Transport, Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration…

Rolls-Royce announced that Stephen Daintith has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and as an executive director of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. Stephen will take up his new role in 2017, succeeding David Smith who will leave Rolls-Royce after three years to pursue other business interests. Stephen Daintith is currently Chief Financial Officer of Daily Mail & General Trust plc. Previously he was employed by News International as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer of Dow Jones & Co. His earlier career was spent working internationally in a number of senior positions at British American Tobacco, also at Forte, the Civil Aviation Authority and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

Cyberhawk, the world leader in Remotely Operated Aerial Vehicle (ROAV) inspection and survey, and a pioneer in the conversion of drone-captured data into powerful asset information, is targeting expansion following agreement on a new £2 million funding package from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks’ Growth Finance team. The funding will enable Livingston-based Cyberhawk to accelerate growth, create jobs, develop its products and services and expand its global footprint, ensuring the company continues to lead the commercial development of the ROAV inspection market. Established in 2008, Cyberhawk is headquartered in Livingston, Scotland, with international offices in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Drydocks World the leading provider of maritime and offshore services to the shipping, oil, gas and energy sectors marked a major milestone in successfully completing the world’s largest turret mooring system with His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group attending the sail-away and completion ceremony to celebrate the occasion. At almost 100 meters high, weighing over 11,000 tons and with a diameter of 26 meters, the turret will ensure the Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility can operate safely in the most extreme weather conditions.

On Friday, April 10, the Seychelles Coast Guard, Air Force, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA), Seychelles Maritime Safety Administration (SMSA) carried out a comprehensive search and rescue (SAR)exercise in the Seychelles. The Maritime Police Patrol Unit (MPPU) as well as other authorities participated as observers. The exercise was conducted together with EUCAP Nestor and the EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta represented by the Dutch Flagship Johan de Witt, on board the Swedish Force Commander Rear Admiral Jonas Haggren.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it has commenced its Search and Rescue (SAR) Capability Partnership Program this week with counterpart agencies in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius. This program is being delivered as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Government Partnerships for Development program, which provides funds to eligible Australian public sector organizations to support economic growth and poverty alleviation in developing countries in the Indian Ocean, Asia and Pacific Regions. AMSA will receive a total of $2.6 million in funding over three years to work in cooperation with the three partner countries and strengthen their national SAR services.

Singapore said on Sunday it has activated its air force and navy to help in the search and rescue operation for the AirAsia jet that went missing on a flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore. "Two C130s are already on stand-by for this purpose. We remain ready to provide any assistance to support the search and rescue effort," the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said in a statement. A waiting area, and facilities and support have been set up for relatives at Changi Airport Terminal 2, it said. (Reporting by Saeed Azhar, Anshuman Daga and Rujun Shen; Editing by Richard Borsuk)

Talisman Sinopec Energy UK has closed its Buchan Alpha platform in the North Sea, the company said on Wednesday, ahead of an expected severe winter storm. The Buchan Alpha is a floating production installation that contributes less than 5,000 barrels of oil per day to the Forties crude stream. A spokeswoman for the company, a joint venture between Canada's Talisman and China's Sinopec, said 61 non-essential personnel had been taken from the installation to Aberdeen, Scotland, in advance of the storm. "This was completed on December 8. A team of 15 remain on board and production remains shut down for the time being," she said. Britain's Met Office has issued an amber "be prepared" warning for Scotland…

On 4 and 5 December, EUCAP Nestor Head of Mission, Etienne de Poncins, visited EUCAP Nestor’s Country Office in the Seychelles. During his visit, he met several high officials to discuss the way ahead for the exemplary and successful cooperation between the Seychelles and the Mission. He also took part in the closing ceremony for the 2nd Basic Training Course for the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) and officially handed over Maritime Safety equipment to the Seychelles Coast Guard as well as IT equipment to the Seychelles Air Force. During his visit to the Seychelles, De Poncins met with top officials; Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Mr. Joel Morgan, Chief of Defense Forces Brigadier Payet, Ambassador Loustau-Lalanne Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General Mr.

Drydocks World the international service provider to the maritime, oil, gas and energy sectors has received the Shipyard/Ship Repair Facility of the Year and the Technology/Innovation Awards for the Modular Capture Vessels(MCV’s) project at the Maritime Standard Awards. The winners were announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on November 6th 2014 at the Atlantis hotel in Dubai. The awards sought out best-in-class organizations, projects, employee safety milestones, goals and safety awareness in the workplace. Organizationsthat arecommitted to making safety a significant part of their business strategy and use innovative ideas to encourage and engage staff in workplace safety were recognized.Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum…

A service helicopter carrying workers to an oil rig off the coast of Ghana operated by Russia's Lukoil crashed into the ocean on Thursday, killing at least three people, a military spokesman said. Four people were rescued and another was missing, military spokesman Mbawine Attintande said. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said the incident occurred after the helicopter took off from the western port of Takoradi on its way to the Jack Ryag oil rig near the giant Jubilee field. The cause of the crash was not immediately known. (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Emma Farge and Robin Pomeroy)

Vietnam sends helicopters to check "yellow object", possible plane life raft - minister. Vietnam has scrambled rescue helicopters to check a "yellow object" floating in its waters that rescue teams suspect could be a life raft from a Malaysian plane that went missing with 239 people aboard, a minister said on Monday. A Vietnamese jet had seen the object earlier on Monday but was unable to get close enough to determine what it was, Pham Quy Tieu, Vice Transport Minister and deputy head of the country's rescue committee, told Reuters. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said on its website searches were being conducted about 140 km (90 miles) southwest of Tho Chu island, which is located about 200 km off the coast of southern Vietnam.

The Philippines' Ports Authority has resumed full commercial operations at the port of Tacloban which was closed for about 12 days after Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) struck. The Ports Authority and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) worked round-the-clock to restart operations at the port, which is expected to become the relief hub. Cargo handling equipment from ICTSI to help temporarily run the port of Tacloban until it recovers from damage caused by the storm is due to arrive today.

Recent severe storms in the U.K. North Sea have resulted in a number of floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) being shut down in order to assess and repair the damage caused. Notwithstanding the possible safety implications for operations crew, oil and gas majors are facing weeks, if not months without a critical asset which in turn, is having a significant impact on future production. The design and operation of an FPSO in remote locations requires detailed information on the structural response of the vessel within the local environment offshore.