Offshore International News

International shipbroker IFCHOR Galbraiths (IG) will be providing offshore brokerage services in the oil and gas market following its acquisition of Norwegian offshore specialist UNO Offshore.Founded in 2010, with a seven-strong team based in Bergen and Haugesund, UNO Offshore focuses on providing chartering, newbuild, sale and purchase, research and consulting services related to the oil and gas sector. UNO Offshore will be renamed IG Offshore.Commenting on the move, IG co-CEO, Bjorn Andersen, said, “We are delighted to bring Hans and his experienced team into the IG family.

The U.S. House has this week passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), in which it attached a provision that would change rules for manning offshore vessels in U.S. waters, with the goal of fostering American jobs in the U.S. offshore wind sector, however, the move could be counterproductive.According to American Clean Power (ACP), which has slammed the move, the U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act contains a provision that requires, within 120 days, that the nationality…

Offshore Support and Logistics Services Company (OFCO – Offshore International), the integrated maritime logistics service provider that is jointly owned by Allianz Marine & Logistics Services (AMLS) and SAFEEN, Abu Dhabi Ports’ marine services arm, announced it has acquired seven offshore support vessels, including four anchor handling tugs, a 65-meter landing craft, as well as a supply ship and multipurpose safety standby vessel.Officially launched in January 2021, OFCO provides onshore and offshore integrated logistics solutions, and subsea services.

Abu Dhabi Ports’ maritime arm SAFEEN has signed an agreement with offshore vessel owner Allianz Marine & Logistics Services (AMLS), to launch a new international provider of integrated maritime logistic services."Operating under the title of Offshore Support and Logistics Services Company (OFCO – Offshore International), headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the new joint venture will be one of the largest, most capable, and cost-efficient providers of onshore and offshore integrated logistics solutions and subsea services in the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Counci] Gulf Cooperation Council region and beyond," Abu Dhabi Ports said in a statement.According to the statement released Thursday…

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. Guidry remains the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for HGIM Corp. Mr. Guidry is the third generation in his family to lead Harvey Gulf. Mr.

Clyde Training Solutions (CTS) opened central Scotland’s first dedicated marine and offshore international training centre. CTS – a newly established Clyde Group company -  is now offering an extensive range of onsite accredited maritime safety courses to an international market at its new complex on the banks of the River Clyde in Clydebank. Phase one of operations at the centre has created in the region of 30 jobs with potential operational growth likely to create future employment. The centre offers multiple classrooms, dedicated deep-water pool, HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training module), and full fire training ground complete with training stack and helideck, all within easy reach of Glasgow Airport and Glasgow city centre.

Bibby Offshore’s Norway division, Bibby Offshore AS, has secured its first contract in the region with ConocoPhillips Skandinavia. Managed from Bibby Offshore’s Stavanger office, the workscope involves project management, installation engineering, procurement and subsea installation works, related to maintenance activities on the Norpipe Oil pipeline. The contract is due for completion in Q3 2016 and will utilize the construction support vessel Olympic Ares to support operator…

Offshore oil and gas drilling firm Northern Offshore Ltd. has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended $165m cash acquisition by Shandong Offshore International Company Limited. The NOK7.59 per share offer by Shandong has been unanimously recommended by the board of directors of NOF and undertakings to accept the offer have been received by approximately 65% of NOF’s shareholders, including Fredriksen’s Geveran Trading. The acquisition price values Northern Offshore's issued share capital at approximately NOK 1.3 billion. The acquisition is expected to become effective during the first half of August 2015. The takeover will see NOF merged with Shandong International Offshore subsidiary Blue Ocean Drilling with, the acquisition expected to become effective the first half of August.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) fleet has received a boost with the arrival of the newly acquired warship, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Centenary F91, stealth Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV). The first of two P-18N Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) ordered by Nigeria was delivered in November 2014 at the China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Company (CSOC)'s Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan, China. This is coming barely a month after the Navy received another war ship, the NNS OKPABANA, which was acquired from the United States of America. The second vessel is expected to arrive in Nigeria later part of the year and substantial part of it is finishing and fitting work will be done in Nigeria.

Marking another order for Deltamarin’s B.Delta37, the first Chinese shipowner COSCO has ordered four 40,000 DWT Handymax bulk carriers at Tianjin Xingang shipyard in China. In addition to the latest COSCO order, 16 B.Delta37 vessels had previously been ordered at the Tianjin Xingang shipyard, with eight vessels for Louis Dreyfus Armateurs and another eight for M.T. Maritime Management Group (MTMM) / Strategic Shipping Inc. (SSI). The main dimensions of the vessels for COSCO are: length below 180 m and beam 30 m. The service speed at design draught is 14.0 knots.

Northern Offshore subsidiary, Northern Offshore International Drilling Company says it has executed a long-term drilling contract with an affiliate of CAMAC Energy Inc. for its drillship 'Energy Searcher'. The contract commits to an initial period of one year, with an option to extend the contact for an additional one-year term. Commencement of drilling activities on the Oyo Field offshore Nigeria is expected during the first half of 2014. The contract value for the first one-year term is just under US$100 million, plus mobilization fees.

International oilfield specialist Glacier Energy Services confirmed the acquisition of Aberdeen-based Ross Offshore in a multi-million pound deal, further extending its onsite specialist technical support offering to the energy industry. The purchase sees Glacier Energy Services establish an offshore division headquarters at Ross Offshore's modern facility at Peterseat Drive in Aberdeen. Following the acquisition, Glacier has a combined turnover of more than £15million, with a global staff of 110 people across its operational hubs in Glasgow…

Chinese shipbuilding giant, China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) makes debut at Malaysia defense show. The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) recently made its debut in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia, reports Xinhua. The company brought its latest product models, including a submarine, landing platform dock and frigate, to the four-day show. Xu Ziqiu, general manager of China Shipbuilding and Offshore International, the international marketing and sales arm of CSIC Xu admitted the shipbuilding industry was not yet fully recovered from the global financial crisis, and hence his company was interested in tapping the global market. Source: Xinhua

Doen Pacific as one of only 5 marine waterjet manufacturers in the world matching engines to 4,000kW, and CSIC, one of the two largest shipbuilding conglomerates in China, together with its Member WMMP, have jointly signed a license agreement for the manufacture and sale of WMMP‐DOEN Waterjets in China. The signing ceremony took place on October 29, in Wuhan, China, and was attended by representatives of each company, headed by Mr. He Jiwu, Board Chairman and President ‐ Wuhan Marine Machinery Plant; Mr. Wu Jing, Vice‐Executive General Manager ‐ China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd, as the Technology Import channel for CSIC; Mr. Mark Peters, Director ‐ Doen Pacific Pty. Ltd; and Mr. Timothy Udvary, Director and Chief Engineer ‐ Doen Pacific Pty. Ltd.

The SENER contracts are with the Chinese CSDDC ((China Ship Development and Design Center) & CSOC (China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. Ltd). Once built, the fishing vessel will be operated by the company CNFC (China National Fisheries Corporation) in the fishing-grounds of the coast of West Africa. This project represents an important milestone for SENER because it is the first marine engineering contract achieved in China. The scope of the project to be developed…

Keppel Shipyard Ltd has secured two contracts worth a total of S$146 million (over $120 million) to convert a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit as well as to fabricate and integrate an external turret mooring system for an existing FPSO unit. The first contract, from Single Buoy Moorings Inc (SBM), involves the conversion of the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) M/T Concorde Spirit into a FPSO facility, to be named FPSO OSX-2. SBM had been engaged by OSX Brasil S.A. (OSX) to supply the FPSO, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2013 and will be deployed in the OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes S.A. (OGX) field in Campos Basin, offshore Brazil.

The Norwegian cartel authority Konkurransetilsynet has approved the merger of Noble Denton with Germanischer Lloyd (GL). The two companies had announced their merger on 1 April 2009. Together, Germanischer Lloyd and Noble Denton will form a global technical assurance and consulting company to serve the oil and gas sector. The purchase of Noble Denton is the largest corporate acquisition in the history of Germanischer Lloyd. Germanischer Lloyd and Noble Denton will provide consulting, assurance as well as project management on a worldwide scale especially for the oil & gas and renewable energy sectors as well as for the maritime industry. The spectrum of services ranges from design and construction, transportation and installation.

The merger of Noble Denton and Germanischer Lloyd forms an integrated technical assurance and consulting company to serve the worldwide energy industries. The new entity will provide assurance, inspection, and consulting as well as project management. It will focus its worldwide services along the entire life cycle oil and gas - upstream, midstream, and downstream, renewable and energy installations onshore and offshore. This includes safety, integrity, reliability and performance management. Germanischer Lloyd, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and Noble Denton, headquartered in London have followed similar growth strategies. Both organisations have conducted a number of acquisitions recently to complement their areas of expertise.

Noble Denton, the premier provider of life cycle marine and offshore engineering services to the oil & gas, marine and renewables industries, announced two executive appointments within its American operations. The company appointed Michael Lowe as Global Business Team Group Director, Project Management Services, and Vernon Luning as President, Lowe Offshore International, US Project Management Services. Michael Lowe will report to David Rowan, Managing Director, Project Management & Execution, with an initial remit to develop the company’s global field development project management capabilities. He furthers a 35-year career in domestic and international oil & gas project management and market development.

A pair of Northwind Marine’s rough-water diesel-powered A/RIB vessels are operating in the tumultuous seas off the and , servicing floating oil production vessels as far as 60 miles from any beach. They are naval architect designed 36-foot Tow Master Vessel Support Boats—aluminum/rigid-hull, inflatable work boats featuring air-foam collars. Singapore-based Rubicon Offshore International, Ltd took delivery of the two 36-foot, diesel-powered A/RIBS this summer and put them into use in Southeast Asian oil fields. The boats feature increased buoyancy to operate in rough seas offshore.

Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd (Keppel Singmarine), has secured two contracts worth $153.4m. The first contract was awarded by a repeat customer, Global Offshore International Ltd (Global Offshore), for a derrick pipelay vessel. This is a multi-purpose construction vessel suitable for worldwide operations. With accommodation up to 264 persons onboard, the derrick pipelay vessel will be equipped with two units of propulsion thrusters…

Keppel Corp. said Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd. has won two shipbuilding contracts worth $155.6m, Thompson Financial reported. Keppel Singmarine will build a derrick pipelay vessel for Global Offshore International Ltd, a unit of U.S.-listed Global Industries Ltd. In a separate deal, Keppel Singmarine will construct a 100-metre Rolls-Royce designed UT 788 CDL ultra-deepwater multi-functional support vessel For Lewek Shipping Pte Ltd., a unit of Singapore-listed Ezra Holdings Ltd. Source:  Thompson Financial

The CEO of Tidewater Inc said his company is evaluating assets from Superior Offshore International which last week warned of limited liquidity, Reuters reported said the process was in the very early stages for Tidewater, which is the world's largest provider of offshore supply boats to the energy industry. On April 1, Superior Offshore, which provides subsea construction and commercial diving services, said it hired the investment back of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale. Source:  Reuters