North Sea News

The international provider of offshore contract drilling services for oil and gas wells Transocean announced that the ultra-deepwater semisubmersible GSF Development Driller I was awarded an 11-well contract (approximately 955 days) commencing offshore Australia in the first half of 2019 with Chevron Australia.The estimated firm contract backlog, excluding integrated services, is approximately USD 158 million. Additionally, the contract includes four one-well options.Two days ago…

Towage and salvage specialist Multraship says it is continuing to grow its fleet with a number of new additions to its varied range of vessels.On July 7, the 453-gt firefighting tug Multratug 31 was christened at Terneuzen in the Netherlands. The 83-ton bollard-pull vessel was delivered in 2017.Multraship managing director, Leendert Muller, said, “We are operating in a highly competitive market, employing all our resources across a wide range of different sectors. Indeed, we have been so busy that even our christenings are a little behindhand.”In April…

With the industry hoping for better “grades” after the “effort” of recent years, this week’s Analysis updates our half year shipping report showing a ClarkSea Index up 9% y-o-y but still below trend since the financial crisis (see Graph of the Week). After comments of “must do better” and “showing potential” in recent years, do the statistics suggest “extra classes” will again be needed over the summer holidays?Progress But No Time To Relax!Our ClarkSea Index (comprising tankers…

Tidewater Inc. and GulfMark Offshore, Inc. announced Monday that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the two companies, creating the industry’s largest owner of offshore support vessels and continuing consolidation in the offshore sector.The combined company will be operated under the Tidewater brand and will be led by Tidewater president and CEO John Rynd, with the industry’s largest fleet and the broadest global operating footprint in the OSV sector…

Maersk Drilling has been awarded contract extensions for the high-efficiency jack-up rigs Maersk Resolute and Maersk Resolve by Petrogas E&P Netherlands B.V. and Wintershall Noordzee B.V., respectively. The extensions allow the two rigs to continue their high-performance operations in the North Sea. Maersk Resolute has been awarded a 56-day contract extension by Petrogas E&P Netherlands B.V., continuing its work in the Dutch Sector of the North Sea where it has drilled multiple wells since commencing operations in June 2017.

Aberdeen-headquartered operators of offshore support vessels Sentinel Marine said it has taken delivery of the latest vessel to join its fleet. The Bailey Sentinel, constructed in China, is now en route to Aberdeen and is due to arrive in early September. The new emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) will operate rescue and recovery services for a major North Sea oil field operator following sea trials. The vessel is the eighth new build to join the expanding Sentinel Marine fleet since 2015. One further new vessel is set to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019.

The construction of a 900-metre-deep deep-sea quay near the HoogTij business park along the North Sea Canal is set to begin this summer. HoogTij is divided into two parts: a site reserved for port-related companies (the maritime section) and a site intended for land-based companies (the land section). The total area can accommodate 130 hectares of business activity. HoogTij is a project initiated by the Municipality of Zaanstad, Port of Amsterdam and Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Haventerrein Westzaan (the Haventerrein Westzaan Development Company).

An engineering team from power specialist Royston has completed the overhaul of engines on a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, operated by Bluewater Services.Engineers undertook the 16,000-hour service on the Wartsila W6L46 diesel engines onboard the 252m, 103,000 DWT Samsung built Haewene Brim, as part of a comprehensive refurbishment and refit of critical fuel and power systems.The FPSO has been operating in the Shell’s Pierce field located in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea for the past five years.

As the global fleet of offshore renewables fleet increases, ways to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency and safety of operations and maintenance work, using robotics and autonomous systems, will also grow. Elaine Maslin reports.Robotics and autonomous systems are moving into many areas of modern day life. It’s becoming harder to avoid them, from our phones to automotive systems and now offshore energy renewable projects.Both are seen as tools to do otherwise dull, dirty or dangerous work…

Prosafe has signed a contract with Aker BP ASA for the Safe Scandinavia to provide accommodation support at the Ula platform in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The firm duration of the contract commencing mid-August 2018 is seven months with eight one-month options. Total value of the contract excluding the option periods is approximately USD 25.5 million. The option periods, if exercised, have a total value of approximately USD 36.7 million. The contract will ensure employment of the Safe Scandinavia soon after expiry of her previous contract that concluded end-June 2018.

Thailand-based subsea and offshore drilling services company Mermaid Maritime Public Company announced that its Middle East business unit has been awarded a subsea services contract in a GCC country with an initial contract value of USD 16 million.The contract award, with work scheduled to be performed in the Arabian Gulf during the course of August 2018 until March 2019, will involve the use of the DP2 Dive Support Vessel ‘Mermaid Endurer’ equipped with the Air and SAT Dive systems…

ABB has won orders worth more than $150 million from Danish energy company Ørsted to supply technology to transmit wind energy from the 1,400 megawatt (MW) Hornsea Project Two, slated to be the world's largest offshore wind farm.The orders were booked in the second quarter of 2018 and are the first tranche of a global five year frame agreement for the supply of electrical and automation equipment for offshore and onshore wind power connection and integration to the grid, ABB said.ABB will supply its Static Var Compensation (SVC) Light technology with ABB Ability MACH control systems…

Semi-submersible firm Prosafe said that it has been offered a month extension for the Safe Boreas charter contract at the Mariner project by operator Equinor."Equinor UK Limited (formerly Statoil (UK) Limited) has exercised the first of six one-month options to extend the charter of the Safe Boreas. The total value of the option is USD 6 million," said a press statement.In early August 2017, the Safe Boreas commenced a 13 month firm operational period at Mariner in the UK sector of the North Sea.

Unmanned systems are finding a growing number of applications in the maritime sector, and have the potential to make a significant contribution to safety and risk management, says the Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty's (AGCS) Safety and Shipping Review 2018.These include assessing environmental pollution, monitoring cargo loading and pirate activity along coastlines and carrying out cargo tank inspections. Drones could enable faster, more informed decisionmaking on board, reducing the impact of any incident.

Rowan Companies plc announced that the Rowan EXL III, an EXL Class high specification jack-up rig, has been awarded a six-month contract from Cantium in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.The contract is expected to commence in early November 2018. The EXL III is currently under contract with Cantium in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico through mid to late August 2018. Rowan is a global provider of contract drilling services with a fleet of 27 mobile offshore drilling units, composed of 23 self-elevating jack-up rigs and four ultra-deepwater drillships.The Company's fleet operates worldwide…

At the end of June, Damen Shipyards Group along with Ampelmann and VEEM hosted a Marine Access Event, where over two days delegates from both the offshore renewable and non-renewable industries had the opportunity to sail from IJmuiden in the Netherlands to experience the latest in marine access solutions. The demonstrations took place on board a Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009 equipped with an Ampelmann L-type gangway and two VEEM VG 260SD gyro stabilizers.This combination of VEEM gyro stabilizers…

Because of the ongoing period of drought, and on the advice of the National Water Coordination Committee, the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management has switched to the so called KWA scenario (‘Klimaatbestendige Wateraanvoer’).One of the decisions made is that it is necessary to adjust the lock passage regime in IJmuiden to reduce saltwater intrusion from the North Sea Canal into the Amsterdam Rhine Canal.Therefore Port of Amsterdam will start the optimisation of the passage process, from Thursday 26 July 2018 at 06.00 pm.

U.S. President Donald Trump expects the European Union to fund 9 to 11 liquefied natural gas (LNG) ports to absorb "vastly" more shipments from the United States but current EU investment in new projects will only help open small markets.In a White House press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte late on Monday, Trump said part of the U.S.-EU trade talks sought to expand America's reach into the continent's gas markets which were awash in Russian supply."And we are already talking to the European Union about building anywhere from 9 to 11 ports…

DNV GL has won a cross-service contract to support Shell's Penguins Field redevelopment on the UK Continental Shelf.The contract with Shell involves a team which will deliver an integrated verification and class project for the operator's Penguins floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.DNV GL is providing integrated Verification and Class services to the project. This will be led by a team in UK Oil & Gas, collaborating with the DNV GL Offshore Class unit in Norway and the DNV GL yard team in China and the Philippines.Justin Fletcher…

Harvey Gulf International Marine’s parent, HGIM Corp., has announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors to serve following the company’s emergence from Chapter 11 proceedings.The seven member Board includes two current members remaining on the Board and five new members, each with expertise in individual areas particularly suited to support the company’s operation and development and collectively, creating a leadership platform that will enable Harvey Gulf to adjust and thrive in an ever-changing market. Shane Guidry. Mr.

Teekay Offshore GP entered into shipbuilding contracts to construct two LNG-fueled Aframax DP2 shuttle tanker newbuildings from Samsung Heavy Industries for delivery in late-2020 and early-2021, bringing the Partnership’s orderbook to six shuttle tankers.These newbuildings will be constructed based on Teekay Offshore’s New Shuttle Spirit design which incorporates proven technologies to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, including LNG propulsion technology.Upon expected delivery in late-2020 through early-2021…

China's Unipec, the trading arm of state oil major Sinopec, has suspended crude oil imports from the United States due to a growing trade spat between Washington and Beijing, three sources familiar with the situation said on Friday.The sources declined to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media.It is not clear how long the temporary halt will last, but one of the sources said Unipec has no new bookings of U.S. crude until at least October.Unipec and Sinopec, Asia's largest refiner and biggest buyer of U.S.

Transhipment in the North Sea Canal Area at the seaports Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad declined to 49.4 million tonnes in the first half of 2018, a decrease of 5.1%. The Port of Amsterdam saw transhipment fall by 4.8% to 40.2 million tonnes.In IJmuiden, transhipment declined to 9.3 million tonnes (-4.4%), Beverwijk registered a decline to 282,000 tonnes (-18.6%) and in Zaanstad transhipment fell to 84,000 tonnes (-59.3%).The decline in Amsterdam in the first half of the year was due to two cargo flows: coal and oil products.