Maintenance Support Services News

U.K. shipbuilder SMS Group reports it has delivered a newbuild aquaculture vessel to a Tuna farm operator in Malta.The new vessel, Emmaya, has 24m LOA, 8.5m beam and a 3m draft, and it is built to the MCA-MGN-280-Catergory 1 (150nm from safe haven) workboat code. Designed by Walker Marine Design, the workboat will provide tuna harvesting and aquaculture/fish farm logistical and maintenance support services.David Azzopardi, Director of Fish and Fish Ltd, said, “This represents a major investment for Fish and Fish Ltd…

Dutch shipbuilder Royal IHC said Thursday it has signed three contracts with the Jordan-based Arab Potash Company (APC) to deliver two cutter suction dredgers (CSDs) and implement a new maintenance agreement. The first contract comprises the delivery of a custom-built CSD, the second is a three-year maintenance contract for the IHC dredgers Jarash and Mutah, and the third involves another dredger, which will be a copy of Jarash.The newly built CSD Alkaramah is based on a modified, innovative IHC Beaver 65 DDSP with three different working depth ranges: up to 18, 25 and 32 metres.

Aker Solutions has secured a three year contract to provide operations and maintenance services to Total E&P UK Ltd and its joint venture partner DONG E&P (UK) Ltd at the new Shetland Gas Plant (SGP). The agreement includes provision of operations, maintenance and services support personnel for Total E&P UK at the new gas plant, which will receive gas from the Laggan and Tormore fields, west of Shetland. The contract is valid for three and a half years with an optional two year extension. It will see the creation of up to 150 positions in support of the contract, both on-site at SGP and onshore in Aberdeen. Contract value is undisclosed. Aker Solutions has worked with Total E&P UK since 1989 continually developing the joint relationship and overall service provision.

Aker Solutions secures maintenance and modifications contract with BP Norway. BP has decided to extend the maintenance and modification contract with Aker Solutions, exercising an option in the existing agreement for the Ula, Valhall, Skarv, Hod and Tambar fields. Scope of work under the contract includes maintenance support services and brownfield modification projects covering engineering, procurement, fabrication and offshore installation. The contract currently employs approximately 200 people in Stavanger, 20 in Egersund and 300 in offshore rotation. Maintenance and modifications work will help to increase oil recovery rate and extend the life of BP's fields.

Aker Solutions has secured a contract for maintenance, modifications and operations work with an undisclosed customer in the UK sector of the North Sea. The two-year contract will guarantee over 180 jobs annually for Aker Solutions in Aberdeen, UK. There are also two optional one-year contract extensions that may be exercised in the future. Aker Solutions estimates the contract value to be approximately £13 million per year. Mike Forbes, Aker Solutions' managing director of maintenance, modifications and operations in Aberdeen, comments: "We are delighted to win this important contract. We are dedicated to further developing our highly…

BP has decided to extend the maintenance and modification contract with Aker Solutions, exercising a one year option in the existing agreement for the Ula, Valhall, Hod and Tambar fields. Work under the new option will last until April 2012. The contract value is estimated to be NOK 2-300 MNOK. The original maintenance and modification contract was signed in 2005. "We are very pleased that BP again demonstrates their trust in Aker Solutions. We look forward to continue our long term cooperation with BP"…

Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $7,191,000 modification to previously awarded contract N00024-08-C-5122 to exercise an option for the ship self-defense system pre- and post-certification /life-cycle maintenance support services. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif. (90%); Tewksbury, Mass. (2.5%); Portsmouth, R.I. (2.5%); St. Petersburg, Fla. (2.5%); and Tucson, Ariz. (2.5%), and is expected to be completed by September 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $7,191,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity. (Source: Department of Defense)

The 600-passenger dinner cruise vessel; M/V Horizon was delivered to Pegasus Yacht Cruises of New York by Blount Industries on March 5. Measuring 161 ft. (49 m), Horizon boasts a welded steel, single chine hull with three enclosed dining decks, with all superstructure above the second deck is 100 percent aluminum construction. New Jersey-based Robinson Interiors designed Horizon with old world ambience in mind — its dining room features varnished cherry wood paneling and trim. The vessel is powered by two owner-supplied Detroit Diesel 16V-92 engines, soft mounted for silent operation with Lo-Rez vibration mounts and couplings. Electric engine controls by Mathers provide throttle and gear control, while a Murphy alarm panel monitors the propulsion engines.