Cost Efficient Solutions News

Floating LNG solutions provider Höegh LNG and the Norwegian oil and gas firm Aker BP have entered a strategic partnership to develop a "fully comprehensive carbon transport and storage offering for industrial CO2 emitters in Northern Europe.""The agreement combines the companies’ respective strengths, expertise, and technologies to establish a strong value chain for CCS on the Norwegian Continental Shelf that includes gathering, transporting and securely injecting CO2 for permanent storage in subsea reservoirs…

Dutch offshore self-elevating platform and services provider Jack-Up Barge BV believes innovative and cost-efficient solutions are needed now more than ever across the offshore oil and gas and renewables businesses.The current market faces challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices to wind farms that have spiraled in size from 2-3 MW turbines to 12 MW turbines in just a few years. It’s a constantly changing landscape, and the risk is that if the industry keeps doing things the same way, it’ll get the same results, says Jack-Up Barge.

Sustainable, energy-efficient working practices and environmental regulatory compliance are among the hot-button topics driving the spread of maritime digitalization.The benefits of a digital strategy for companies working within the maritime industry soon stack up. In addition to providing operational/logistical streamlining, data-based insights, a competitive edge and a reputational leg-up, connecting operational systems and consolidating interfaces also drives the levels of…

Kongsberg and MAN Energy Solutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the purpose of exploring the potential for collaboration on a common data infrastructure for the maritime sector.The collaboration will broaden the value offering to vessel operators, improve return on investment in digital solutions and increase the adoption of secure connectivity.Under the MoU, MAN Energy Solutions is set to investigate the possibility of using Kongsberg Digital’s data-infrastructure solution…

Classification society DNV GL has announced that it has awarded Hyundai Heavy Industries with an approval in principle (AiP) for the design of a jetty-moored nearshore floating LNG (FLNG) barge.DNV GL reviewed the design based on the feasibility of constructing the FLNG barge using standard shipbuilding rules and techniques, said a release.The Approval in Principle (AIP) certificate confirms that DNV GL has found no significant obstacles to prevent the concept from being realized by applying the DNV GL rules for classification of ships and offshore standards.“The FLNG market is beginning to emerge, and near shore projects are expected to be at the forefront of these developments…

TechnipFMC has begun operating as a unified oil and gas services company following completion of the merger of Houston-based FMC Technologies and paris-based Technip. Now with a combined 44,000 employees, the new TechnipFMC will work on oil and gas projects, technologies, systems and services “from concept to project delivery and beyond” with headquarters in Houston, London and Paris. A key focus for TechnipFMC will be project economics across subsea, onshore/offshore and surface, the company said in a press release.

GAC UK and Forth Logistics Marine Services (FLMS) have formed a partnership to provide mooring and related terminal services around the UK. Formed on the back of a long term contract in the River Forth with an oil major to be announced later in the year, the pairing combines FLMS’s years of marine experience with GAC’s expertise and reputation for integrity as the leading ship agent in the UK and in the River Forth. According to GAC UK MD Herman Jorgensen, the winning combination will provide “safe, strong operations with unrivalled 24/7 customer focus”. The fleet of six line handling vessels includes two new Alnmaritec Wave Handler vessels currently being built at the company’s Port of Blyth yard. Three more vessels are en route from Qatar a sixth is coming from Australia this autumn.

Seagull Oil & Gas has launched the most cost efficient and comprehensive e-learning training package in the industry for offshore personnel working in explosive atmospheres. Building on International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, the new series covers basic understanding, installation in Ex-areas, Exi installation, cable entry, IP degree, and inspection and maintenance. “We believe today’s market requires more cost efficient and better Ex and El safety training” says Morten Aasen, Managing Director, Seagull Oil & Gas. “Together with leading subject experts we have developed a series of new courses covering these safety-critical subjects. The content of the courses includes e-learning modules that normally require two days of classroom study covering theory.

The Swedish Club reported to its board today that it has achieved a consistent 2015 underwriting performance with financial stability and cost-efficient quality services for its members. It delivered a balanced underwriting result, despite higher claims activity and increased volatility, and demonstrated a resilience that is underpinned by diversification in its product lines, based on prudent management, the Club announced. The year began with a series of major casualties, including total losses which were far beyond what could be expected in terms of probability. However, the Club closed the year with a combined ratio of 99 percent. The challenge was on the investment side, particularly given the turbulent period in the autumn which was led by sharp equity falls in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won an order for substructure connection mooring systems for the world's first floating offshore wind farm: Statoil's Hywind pilot park in Scotland. MacGregor will be responsible for the delivery of the Pusnes substructure mooring connection system for the pilot project's five floating wind turbines. Delivery of equipment is planned from the second through the fourth quarter of 2016 and installation of the wind turbines is scheduled for 2017. "This contract represents a step change for MacGregor in terms of entering a new industry sector," says Jan Martin Grindheim, Director, Sales and Business Development, MacGregor Offshore Mooring Systems. "The project hinges on applying proven technology in new applications.

Even as world energy prices continue to maintain low pricing levels, offshore contracts are there to be won. Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd has secured a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) conversion contract as well as three repair, upgrade and modification contracts worth a total of about S$125 million. The FPSO conversion project Keppel Shipyard will be undertaking is for Armada Madura EPC Limited, a joint venture between long-standing customer Bumi Armada Berhad (Bumi Armada) and Shapoorji Pallonji Group (Shapoorji Pallonji). "This is our third conversion/upgrading project for the joint venture," said Michael Chia, Managing Director (Marine & Technology), Keppel O&M.

Telenor Maritime Radio’s (TMR) business unit for the commercial maritime communications market, MarCom, integrates with Maritime Communications Partner (MCP). The internal transfer in Telenor, effective from June 1, 2015, strengthens MCP with expert competence on maritime communications, new products and solutions, better coverage and the opportunity to maintain growth in Europe and the U.S. with further expansion into Asia, the company said. MarCom with a Nordic focus has delivered satellite communication to ferries and other vessels…

The world’s first subsea wet gas compressor station is now ready for the final testing at Horsøy outside Bergen before being prepared for installation and hook-up to Gullfaks C in 2015. By adding 22 million extra barrels of oil equivalent from the Gullfaks South Brent reservoir the compressor will help extend the field’s productive life. Starting back in 2008 the efforts to develop and qualify the compressor in line with Statoil’s requirements represent a good example of Statoil’s cooperation with the Norwegian supply industry to develop robust improved oil recovery solutions.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a contract from Stena North Sea Ltd. to convert the 29,800gt RoPax ferry Dieppe Seaways to optimize it for its new route between Dublin and Holyhead in Ireland. The order further strengthens MacGregor's position as the first choice supplier for RoRo conversions and was booked into the second quarter 2014 order intake. MacGregor's RoRo conversion team is no stranger to the vessel, which will be renamed Stena Superfast X, originally altering the ferry in 2008 to suit new operations across the English Channel.

Semco Maritime and PetroVietnam Marine Shipyard join forces to establish high class rig upgrade player in South East Asia - Vung Tau Rig Services. The initiative shall tap into the growing market for rig upgrades in the region. Semco Maritime opens new office at the PetroVietnam Marine Shipyard office building to strengthen the strategic partnership PetroVietnam Marine Shipyard (PVMS) and Semco Maritime JSC have entered into a strategic partnership with the aim to perform rig repair, refurbishment and upgrades in Vietnam for local and international rig operators in the region. The companies are combining their strong competences to offer high quality and cost efficient solutions under the alliance brand name: Vung Tau Rig Services.

The European Union will support with just over €6.1 million from the TEN-T Program a project to upgrade the transport link between northern Sweden and western Finland, including land and waterborne transport systems. It will also contribute to the realization of the Motorways of the Sea (TEN-T Priority Project 21) concept. The project, selected for funding under the 2012 TEN-T Multi-Annual Program, will design, takes place on what is commonly referred to as the Bothnian Corridor and will construct and improve the transport links through new transport patterns, multimodal logistics and cost efficient solutions. Infrastructure investments will be made in both countries in order to improve port logistics, rail connections and port intermodality.

Induction-based electric propulsion motor technology from GE’s Power Conversion business will be used to power four new LNG carriers that Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries will build for Maran Gas Maritime, the gas shipping unit of the Angelicoussis Shipping Group. Contracts for the propulsion systems were signed in late May. Hyundai Heavy Industries will deliver the vessels over a 15-month period beginning in July 2015. In late April of this year, sea trials were completed…

The first electrical LNG carrier to be ordered by Maran Gas incorporating induction-based electric propulsion motor technology from GE’s Power Conversion business is expected to enter commercial service in July. The Woodside Rogers, built by one of the major Korean shipbuilders, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), at its shipyard near Busan, successfully completed sea trials in late April and was handed over to Maran Gas on July 1. It is the first of seven LNG carriers…

IMO inform that regulations to improve the energy efficiency of international shipping entered into force 1, January 2013. The EEDI is a non-prescriptive, performance-based mechanism that leaves the choice of technologies to use in a specific ship design to the industry. As long as the required energy-efficiency level is attained, ship designers and builders would be free to use the most cost-efficient solutions for the ship to comply with the regulations. The SEEMP establishes a mechanism for operators to improve the energy efficiency of ships. Ships are required to keep on board a ship specific Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP).

DNV has developed a new pipeline concept, called X-Stream, that can significantly reduce the cost of a deep- and ultra-deepwater gas pipeline while still complying with the strictest safety and integrity regime. X-Stream is based on established and field-proven technologies which have been innovatively arranged. X-Stream can reduce both the pipeline wall thickness and time spent on welding and installation compared to deep-water gas pipelines currently in operation. The exact reduction in the wall thickness depends on the water depth, pipe diameter and actual pipeline profile.