Songa News

MPC Container Ships ASA announce on Tuesday that it has completed its acquisition of Songa Container AS.MPC announced in June that it had entered the share purchase agreement to acquire 100% of Songa shares for $210.25 million on a debt and cash free basis.Constantin Baack, CEO of MPC Container Ships, said, "It is with great pleasure we announce the successful closing of this milestone transaction. Charter rates have continued to rise since the signing of the agreement, improving the risk-reward dynamics of the transaction even further. This transaction will have an immediate accretive impact on our earnings in a surging container market. Our growing fleet reinforces our industry leading position as an intra-regional trade tonnage provider.

Subsea energy services firm Subsea 7 said Thursday it had agreed to merge its renewables business with OHT, and Oslo-listed heavy lift and transportation vessel owner which is building a fleet of offshore wind installation vessels, too.The combined company will be renamed Seaway 7 ASA and will initially retain OHT’s listing on Oslo’s Euronext Growth market, with a view to a future listing on the main board of Oslo Børs. Subsea 7 will own 72% and OHT’s shareholders 28% of Seaway 7 ASA.

MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) announced it has reached a deal to acquire fellow Norwegian-based container shipping company Songa Container AS for $210.25 million on a debt and cash free basis. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of July 2021.Upon closing, MPCC will acquire Songa’s fleet of 11 container vessels, with an average size of 2,250 TEU and an average age of 11.9 years , creating a combined fleet of 75 ships and a total capacity of roughly 158,000 TEU. Nine of the acquired ships are fitted with scrubbers while three are equipped with the highest ice-class.Constantin Baack, MPC Container Ships CEO, said, “This…

Korean Register (KR) has completed a comprehensive cyber security survey of the chemical/oil tanker SONGA HAWK and has certified the ship to be fully compliant in all areas, the very first ship to achieve the certification.Songa Ship management manages and operates 18 chemical/oil tankers and five semi-submersible vessels. The company signed a cyber security contract (valid for five years) with KR in 2018, covering its fleet of 23 vessels.KR conducted a cyber security audit of Songa Ship management and certified the company to be fully compliant in all areas in 2019…

A foreign cargo ship ran aground in Istanbul's Bosphorus strait on Friday, requiring a rescue operation and prompting authorities to temporarily close the picturesque and crowded waterway running through Turkey's largest city.There were no injuries or casualties, the governor's office said, adding that the ship had reported engine failure shortly before its grounding near the shore.There was no damage to the concrete walkway running along the shore, Reuters witnesses said.The Bosphorus, among the world's busiest shipping routes, was temporarily closed to international traffic as boats towed the vessel south towards the Sea of Marmara.The Liberian-flagged Songa Iridum had come from Ukraine's Odessa and was headed for Istanbul's port of Ambarli, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data.

Norway-based Songa Bulk AS, an investment vehicle established to invest in dry bulk assets, has made an agreement to merge with company Axxis Geo Solutions (AGS).Per deal, Songa Bulk will assume the assets, rights and obligations of the Houston-based AGS against issuance of shares in Songa Bulk to existing shareholders of AGS.The exchange ratio in the Merger is based on an equity value of Songa Bulk of NOK 17.93 million, corresponding to a price per share of NOK 0.5, and an equity value of AGS of NOK 514.82 million, corresponding to a price per share of NOK 0.7.The shareholders of AGS will receive 1.4 shares of Songa Bulk per one share in AGS…

With less than a week until Christmas and most of our presents bought, we're feeling the pinch. However, that's nothing compared to the amount that some have been spending this year. VesselsValue's Senior Analyst Court Smith gives a rundown on which countries have splashed the most cash on second hand vessel purchases over 2018.USAJP Morgan Global Maritime is the US company who has spent the most on second hand vessels: 308 million USD so far in 2018. However, they have changed their purchasing strategy half way through the year.

Switzerland-based offshore driller Transocean Ltd. announced Wednesday that it has completed the acquisition of Greek peer Ocean Rig UDW Inc.The $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal adds nine high-specification ultra-deepwater drillships, two harsh environment semisubmersibles, and two high-specification ultra-deepwater drillships currently under construction to Transocean's existing fleet."We are excited to begin actively marketing these assets into the growing list of opportunities we continue to see emerging across our global customer base…

Offshore oil driller Transocean Ltd said on Tuesday it would buy peer Ocean Rig UDW Inc in a $2.7 billion cash-and-stock deal, its second major acquisition this year as the company bets on a recovery in the offshore sector.The acquisition signals new optimism for offshore drillers, which were hit hard by the steep plunge in oil prices from 2014. Offshore projects, which are more costly than onshore work and take years to develop, became less attractive after oil prices fell to below $30 a barrel in 2016.Global crude prices have since recovered to above $70, renewing producer interest in offshore basins around the world, including Brazil and the U.S.

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised CMB Financial Leasing (CMBFL) on a US$180.4m sale and leaseback transaction with Star Bulk Carriers Corp, a Nasdaq-listed global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation of dry bulk cargoes.The funds obtained by Star Bulk under this new five-year capital lease of US$180.4m entered into with CMBFL were used to part-finance the cash portion of the consideration with regards to Star Bulk’s acquisition of 15 dry bulk vessels from Norwegian shipowner Songa Bulk ASA.Founded in 2008, Shanghai-based CMBFL provides financial leasing solutions to large, medium, and small businesses across China.

Star Bulk Carriers has announced a net income of US$10.73 million for the second quarter of 2018, a significant improvement over the company’s net loss of US$10.28 million for the same period last year.The global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes said that voyage revenues for the quarter totalled US$132.6 million, almost double the US$78.6 million generated in the second quarter of 2017.Petros Pappas, Chief Executive Officer of Star Bulk, said: "We are optimistic about market fundamentals of the industry given the strengthening rate and asset value environment. Dry bulk supply is presently expanding at the lowest pace of the last decade while demand is supported by healthy ton-mile growth due to continued Chinese demand for higher quality raw materials.

Teekay Offshore GP LLC, the general partner of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., announced today that Jan Rune Steinsland has been appointed the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Teekay Offshore Group Ltd., a management services company that provides services to the Partnership’s subsidiaries (together with the Partnership, the Teekay Offshore Group) effective September 3, 2018. The Partnership’s interim CFO, Tim Cowan, will step down effective September 3, 2018, but will remain with the Partnership for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.Steinsland brings approximately 30 years of energy and offshore industry experience, including most recently serving as CFO of drilling contractor Songa Offshore SE…

The global shipping company providing worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector Star Bulk Carriers Corp will commence trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker “SBLK R” starting on Monday July 16, 2018. The ship manager of seaborne transportation announced on July 6 2018 that it had closed the acquisition of 15 operating dry bulk vessels from Songa Bulk for an aggregate of 13.725 million common shares of Star Bulk and $145.0 million in cash. As announced previously by Songa, the first distribution of the consideration shares by Songa to its eligible shareholders is expected to be effected today, July 13, 2018. Following such distribution, Star Bulk has satisfied all listing obligations.

Hundreds of workers on Norwegian offshore oil and gas rigs went on strike on Tuesday after rejecting a proposed wage deal, leading to the shutdown of one Shell-operated field and helping send Brent crude prices higher.One union said hundreds more workers would join the strike on Sunday if an agreement over union demands for a wage increase and pension rights was not reached.Royal Dutch Shell said that due to the strike it was temporarily closing production at its Knarr field, which has a daily output of 23…

Global shipping company Star Bulk Carriers, announced  that it has closed the previously announced acquisition of fifteen operating dry bulk vessels  from Songa Bulk  for an aggregate of 13.725 million common shares of Star Bulk  and $145.0 million in cash. Following the closing of the Vessel Purchase Transaction, (i) Arne Blystad will be appointed to the Board of Directors of Star Bulk as Class C Director and Herman Billung will join the management team of Star Bulk as Senior Vice President and (ii) Songa is expected to distribute the Consideration Shares to its shareholders. First trading day of the secondary listing of the Company’s common shares on Oslo Børs, a regulated stock market operated by Oslo Børs ASA of Norway, is expected to take place by mid-July.

Star Bulk Carriers  announced that Songa Bulk has informed the Company that 99.73% of the present shareholders of Songa, at the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of Songa held on June 5, 2018, have voted in favor of and approved the previously announced transaction. Accordingly, Star Bulk will acquire 15 operating vessels of Songa for an aggregate of 13.725 million common shares of the Company  and $145 million in cash. The approval of the shareholders of Songa was a condition to the closing of the Vessel Purchase Transaction, which has now been satisfied. The Vessel Purchase Transaction remains subject to other customary closing conditions, and is expected to be consummated by the third quarter of 2018.

Glasgow based Songa Shipmanagement Ltd. selected CR Ocean Engineering, LLC, as the supplier of exhaust gas cleaning systems for its oil/chemical tankers and Heavy lift vessels, with options for more. The Scrubbing Systems will enter commercial operations commencing in the late summer 2018 and go on throughout the beginning of 2020. In addition to the existing 0.1 percent sulfur fuel Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in Europe and North America, starting January 1, 2020, the rest of…

Greece-based dry bulk shipping firm Star Bulk Carriers has entered into definitive agreements to acquire 18 dry bulk vessels in two all-share transactions. 15 of the vessels will be acquired from Songa Bulk and three of the vessels will be acquired from Oceanbulk Container Carriers. The consideration for the vessels was determined based on average vessel valuations by independent vessel appraisers. The Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 13.725 million common and pay $145 million in cash for the acquisition of all of Songa’s 15 modern dry bulk vessels . The cash portion of the Songa consideration will be financed through proceeds of a new five-year capital lease of $180 million with China Merchants Bank Leasing with a margin of 280 bps…

Michael Mannering has been nominated to succeed Polarcus’ outgoing chairman of the board, Peter Rigg, with effect from the 2018 AGM on May 10.Rigg will retire after a decade as chairman of the marine geophysical company, having served in the role since the company’s inception in 2008.Mannering has previously held many senior corporate positions in Schlumberger as well as chairman and, subsequently, non-executive director of Songa Offshore until its acquisition by Transocean. He has a BSc (First Class) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southampton.

Transocean Ltd. announced today that it completed the previously announced compulsory acquisition of the remaining outstanding shares of Songa Offshore SE.   All remaining shares in Songa Offshore were transferred to Transocean in accordance with the terms and conditions of the compulsory acquisition.    Transocean then settled the compulsory acquisition by delivering Consideration Shares, Exchangeable Bonds and cash consideration, as applicable, to Songa Offshore shareholders. Songa Offshore’s shares remained listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange through March 28, 2018.

Bjørnar Iversen, CEO of Songa Offshore SE, has resigned effective 6 March 2018 said a single sentence press statement from the company. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, said the statement. Before joining the company in June 2013, Iversen was a member of the executive leadership team at Odfjell Drilling AS. During his 17 year's tenure at Odfjell Drilling, he has been executive vice president for Corporate Business Development, Odfjell Drilling Technology and Odfjell Well Services. His latest position was President and CEO of Odfjell Galvao Ltda in Brazil.

Demand for offshore rig rental globally is starting to recover from its worst ever downturn, led by oil firms' growing demand for harsh-environment exploration and triggering multi-billion dollar tie-ups among drillers hoping to profit, executives said. While the 2014-2016 oil price crash caused firms to cut exploration budgets, ending a boom in rig demand and bankrupting many owners, energy companies are now seeking to replenish their hydrocarbon reserves. The nascent demand for harsh-environment rigs…

About 77 pct of Songa shareholders have so far accepted deal. Transocean, one of the world's biggest drilling rig operators, has agreed a deal to buy Norwegian competitor Songa Offshore for 9.1 billion Norwegian crowns ($1.1 bln), the two companies said on Tuesday. The deal, which would be mostly paid for in shares and convertible bonds, would strengthen Transocean's position in offshore drilling as Songa is Norwegian oil major Statoil's largest drilling service provider. The offer values Songa shares at 47.50 Norwegian crowns each, a 39.7 percent premium over Monday's closing price. Shares in Songa surged 31 percent on news of the deal, which needs the backing of at least 90 percent of Songa shareholders. So far about 77 percent of shareholders have agreed to the offer, the company said.