Richard Smith News

While 2020 proved to be a challenging year for offshore oil and gas markets, the same cannot be said about offshore renewables, which saw substantial growth."It is expected that a number of offshore support vessels (“OSVs”) and crew boats will be redeployed from the offshore oil and gas sector to service the offshore wind industry and that existing offshore wind installation vessels will be upgraded as turbines continue to scale up."Offshore renewable projects achieved an estimated record project sanctioning of US$56bn…

London-based international law firm Watson Farley & Williams has advised TUI Cruises GmbH on its acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises from TUI AG for US$1.3bn, excluding net debt.According to the the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in summer 2020. The deal includes the acquisition of HL Cruises’ luxury and expedition fleet, consisting of two five-star plus luxury vessels and three expedition cruise ships, by TUI Cruises. This expands TUI Cruises’ existing fleet to twelve cruise ships, which will enable it to participate in the growth of the cruise industry as the…

London-based international law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Foresight Group of Dubai on the delivery arrangements relating to a LeTourneau Super 116E jackup drilling rig named “VIVEKANAND 3”.The rig was constructed in China by Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry Dalian Shipyard (“Cosco Dalian”) and is one of three jackup rigs constructed, delivered and employed over the last three years; a great achievement given the current challenges faced by the offshore drilling market.VIVEKANAND 3 will be deployed on charter to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (“ADNOC”) and is the last of the three rigs built for Foresight by Cosco Dalian.

Blue Water Ventures International, a historic shipwreck research and recovery company, has entered an agreement with Under Marine Group to joint venture on future deep water wreck sites located in and around the waters of Great Britain and the Caribbean. Blue Water and Under Marine Group will be collaborating with shipwreck researchers to pinpoint locations of interest. Under the terms of the agreement, Under Marine will be responsible for funding deep water wreck operations and project specific research, and Blue Water will be responsible for additional research, technical project management and logistical overview. Under Marine Group is a team of world class…

As a result of market demand for NORSOK workspace modules, Ferguson Norge, specialists in the rental of DNV 2.7-1 / EN 12079 certified offshore containers, refrigeration/freezer modules, workspace modules and accommodation solutions to the global offshore energy industry, said it has expanded its NORSOK accredited range to include a enhanced series of Z-015 workshops. The range has been developed in response to customer requests for NORSOK products. The workshops have been modified to qualify for NORSOK accreditation and Ferguson Norge has already been taking orders for them.

The Ferguson Group, global specialists in the provision of offshore DNV 2.7-1/EN12079 containers and accommodation solutions, has posted its 2012 results, which show continuing growth, with worldwide sales increasing by over 10% to £57.6m and pre tax profits up to £16.2m from £15.6m in 2011. Commenting on the results, Richard Smith, Group Finance Director, said: “2012 was another successful year for the Ferguson Group, which saw the company increase profits during a year of continuing investment in our global infrastructure and asset base.

A four-man team from Lloyd's Register will set sail today from Ushuaia, Argentina, as part of an international expedition to the Antarctic, lead by the renowned polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan, OBE. The team of technical experts and eco-entrepreneurs will form part of the International Antarctic Expedition 2012, led by Swan, who has dedicated his life to the preservation of the Antarctic by promoting recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change. "We have had a long and beneficial relationship with Robert, the basis for which has been the common goals held by both of our organizations: to benefit society by helping to protect the environment and the lives of those who depend on it…

OT Africa Line (OTAL), the specialist West African carrier, has appointed several key figures to its UK and European based operations. Romain Berard has been appointed OTAL's African Sales Manager. Based in London, Mr. Berard will work as part of the commercial sales team. Traveling extensively throughout the African Sub-Continent, he will promote OTAL's services and build on existing relationships with the line's African agency network. Mr. Berard will be the African agents' first point of contact regarding sales strategy. Romain joins OTAL from Delmas (a subsidiary of the Bolloré Group, OTAL's parent company) where he was the U.K. Northbound Manager. Diane Mussault joins OTAL as Northbound Sales Manager. Ms. Mussault will be responsible for all northbound sales and pricing.

Questions about the 2003 ferry crash that killed 11 people are expected to be answered today. A judge will decide whether to accept a probation officer's recommendation that ex-ferry director Patrick Ryan and ferry pilot Richard Smith be sentenced to six months or less in jail. The judge will also decide whether damages against the city in the fatal crash can be limited under a 19th century maritime law. New York City could face tens of millions of dollars in civil judgements.

According to reports, the captain of the Staten Island ferry that slammed into a pier and killed 11 people when its assistant pilot fell asleep says he initially lied about where he was during the crash because he wanted to share the blame. "I felt I had a responsibility as a captain to shoulder some of the blame for the actions of (assistant pilot) Richard Smith," former Capt. Michael Gansas told WCBS-TV. He said he rushed from the rear of the ferry to the pilot house. "I noticed Richard Smith with his hands over his head, his eyes, and he was saying, `I must have dozed off. I fell asleep,"' Gansas said. The ferry, the Andrew J. Barberi, had crashed as it was docking on a run from Manhattan, tearing a 250-foot-long gash that ran 8 feet deep into its hull.

Fireworks exploded over the Bay Bridge and thousands of people crowding the waterfront near the new ballpark gasped in admiration. Some of the best seats for the spectacle are along the north side of Pier 50, home of Westar Marine Services where owner's and employees share a barbecue in honor of the annual display sponsored by a local radio station. But the folks at Westar are more than passive observers, the tugs that are managing the fireworks barges are contracted from Westar. This annual fireworks event sums up Westar Marine Services' role on San Francisco Bay. They are the company that takes on all of the niche jobs that others with their large investments in big horsepower and Z-drives can't afford to be doing.

San Francisco Bay, with its huge area and several ports, could more rightly be called an inland sea. Small harbors like Vallejo, major container ports like Oakland and several great bridges combine to create an immense demand for marine construction and repair. Moving a lot of that construction equipment around the Bay is an important part of the work of Port of San Francisco-based Westar Marine Services. In business since 1976, Westar has a fleet of six barges, four water taxis and nine tugs up to 3,000 hp. As a part of their fleet maintenance program the company recently purchased a pair of Cummins N14-M marine engines rated at 440 hp to repower their 56 x 14.5-ft. tug Wildcat. They had added five ft. to the boat's stern and a pair of kort nozzles with new 48-in.