Operations South News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Monday awarded $19.6 million in grants aiming to help 31 shipyards modernize, increase productivity, and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.The grants were awarded to shipbuilding and repair yards in 15 states throughout the U.S. as part of MARAD's Small Shipyard Grant Program. Since 2008, the program has awarded $262.5 million to nearly 300 shipyards in 32 states and territories.

South Korean shipowners Heung-A Shipping and Sinokor Merchant Marine have confirmed that they are in talks to merge their container businesses, reports Pulse News. According to various media reports, the South Korean liner companies have decided to merge their container shipping services by the end of the year before joining forces with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM). HMM had already agreed to become a strategic partner to Sinokor and Heung-A by creating an HMM+K2 consortium. The two companies would sign the deal on April 3, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Korea Shipowners’ Association. It said that Korea Shipping Partnership (KSP)…

South Korean container shipper Hanjin Shipping said on Monday that it would close all 10 of its European businesses operations, reports the Wall Street Journal. Hanjin has applied for court approval to close all 10 of its business operations in Europe, including its regional headquarters in Germany, according to a company spokeswoman. The decision to shut down its European business is part of a breakup process for Hanjin, which began earlier this month. A judge had said the court, which is handling Hanjin’s insolvency proceedings, would consider selling the company entirely. The company expects to start the process as early as this week after obtaining approval from the Seoul Central District Court.

1861 - While commanding a gunboat flotilla, Cmdr. James Harmon Ward is mortally wounded by a musket ball while aiming the bow gun of his flagship, USS Thomas Freeborn at Mathias Point, Va. Ward is the first US Naval officer casualty of the Civil War. 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the 301-ton yacht Hornet captures the Spanish steamer Benito Estenger off Cape Cruz, Cuba. 1916 - At the Battle of Los Trencheros during the Dominican Campaign in the Dominican Republic, the Fourth Marine Regiment withstands an attack by Dominican insurgent forces. 1945 - PV-1 (VPB 142) sinks the Japanese submarine I 165, 450 miles east of Saipan, Mariana Islands. 1945 - USS Blueback (SS 326) sinks Imperial Japanese Navy submarine chaser, (CH 2), north of Lombok, Java Sea.

A condensate leak occurred on the Gudrun platform in the North Sea on February 18, 2015. The incident has been investigated by Statoil’s corporate investigation team which classifies it to be of the highest degree of seriousness. On the morning of February 18, noise and vibrations were reported on Gudrun, and shortly afterwards hydrocarbons were confirmed in the process module. There was a 2 mm wide crack extending approximately 90 percent across the circumference of a two-inch pipeline. Condensate had leaked from the pipeline and resulted in gas distribution.

Today in U.S. Naval History: June 27 1813 - USS President anchors in Bergen, Norway 1950 - To support U.N. call to assist South Korea, Truman authorizes U.S. naval and air operations south of 38th Parallel, Korea For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

Production from a subsea template at the Snorre B platform in the North Sea has been shut down following the discovery of an abnormal erosion of mass under the template, says Statoil. Statoil add that over  the last 24 hours, no movement has been observed in the pit at the subsea template. The area is under continuous ROV surveillance and sediment samples have been taken. "Brine" (water with heavier sediments) was pumped into the well for a brief period in the event that there was some sort of connection between the pit and the well. There have been no signs of hydrocarbon leaks in any of the surveys carried out since the pit was discovered on 17 May, 2014. "The pit is stable and is being monitored continuously.

At 7:25 a.m. on April 7, Statoil and its partners (GDF SUEZ and OMV) started production on the Gudrun oil and gas field in the North Sea. "Gudrun is the first new Statoil-operated platform to come on stream on the Norwegian continental shelf since 2005. This is a red-letter day for the company," said Arne Sigve Nylund, Statoil's executive vice president for the Development and Production Norway business area. The new field contributes to important production from the Norwegian shelf. Statoil expects to recover 184 million barrels of oil and gas (oil equivalent) from the field.

Today in U.S. Naval History: June 27 1813 - USS President anchors in Bergen, Norway 1950 - To support U.N. call to assist South Korea, Truman authorizes U.S. naval and air operations south of 38th Parallel, Korea For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center website at www.history.navy.mil.

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) is advised of a strike by port workers at Maceio port in Brazil on Friday 22nd February from 0700 to 1300 hours. The striking port workers will include stevedores and linesmen, so the port will not be operative during this time. “We anticipate this will delay the berthing of any vessels calling at Maceio until the end of the strike,” said Francisco Villagrán, Vice President Operations South America for ISS. ISS Brazil will continue to monitor events in the country on behalf of shipowners and operators, and will post any news updates to the company website. www.iss-shipping.com

From the Navy News Service 1813 - USS President anchors in . 1950 - To support United Nations call to assist , President Harry S. Truman authorizes naval and air operations south of 38th Parallel, .

From the Navy News Service 1813 - USS President anchors in Bergen, Norway. 1950 - To support United Nations call to assist South Korea, President Harry S. Truman authorizes U.S. naval and air operations south of 38th Parallel, Korea. Source: NavNews