Offshore Oil Emergencies – New Quick Response Aid
One of the key benefits of this new service is that senior executives in head offices in London, Houston or elsewhere can respond to an emergency, at least initially, via remote access over the internet without jumping on a plane. Jim Black, Managing Director of J J Black Consultancy Limited, explains: “As the service allows energy companies to see all assets in any geographical area - including those assets that they do not own or operate - it means that, in the event of an emergency, for example a vessel in distress, the oil company can identify the nearest asset, such as another vessel, crew boat, or even drilling rig, and then contact the local authorities, usually the coastguard, to request assistance.
Austal HSV First Registered and Flagged as a U.S. Commercial Ship
Having already completed two years of service supporting the operations of the US Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) in the Western Pacific theatre, the Austal catamaran “WestPac Express” has become the first large high speed vessel (HSV) to be registered and flagged as a commercial ship in the United States. After a competitive bid process, the HSV was first chartered in July 2001 for a “proof of concept” period. This was so successful that the Military Sealift Command signed a three year charter in January 2002, again after receiving several competing offers. The III MEF charter was the first time the US military had contracted a commercial vessel of this type for military support.
News: Austal HSV Registered, Flagged as U.S. Ship
Having already completed two years of service supporting the operations of the U.S. Marine Corps' Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) in the Western Pacific theatre, the 101-m Austal catamaran "WestPac Express" has now achieved another distinction: it is the first large high speed vessel to be registered and flagged as a commercial ship in the U.S. After a competitive bid process, the HSV was first chartered in July 2001 for a "proof of concept" period. This was so successful that the Military Sealift Command signed a three year charter in January 2002, again after receiving several competing offers. The III MEF charter was the first time the US military had contracted a commercial vessel of this type for military support.
