Songkhla News

Thailand's first tropical storm in three decades, packing winds of up to 80 kph (50 mph), is expected to make landfall on Friday evening, sending thousands of people flocking to shelter inland and shutting down a major airport.The winds accompanying tropical storm Pabuk churned up high waves and gusts in the Gulf of Thailand, ahead of its arrival in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.Weather officials warned of torrential downpours and strong winds in 15 provinces in the Thai south…

Ferguson Group Singapore, a specialist in the provision of DNV 2.7-1 / EN12079 offshore containers, reefers, tanks, waste skips, baskets, accommodation and engineering workspace modules has announced the appointment of OPS Oilfield Equipment and Services Ltd (OPS-OES) as the group’s new exclusive partner for Thailand. Bangkok Headquartered OPS Oilfield Equipment and Services Ltd, has been servicing the offshore and onshore energy sector in Thailand for many years. It covers offshore operations from bases in Songkhla and Sattahip.

“In the last five years, pirates have killed at least 411 fishermen and wounded at least 1,000 more, suggested Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of Cox’s Bazar District Fishing Trawler Owners Association (DFTOA). According to the DFTOA, pirates attacked more than 1,000 fishing boats, abducting more than 3,000 fishermen, killed over 45 and collected more than $1.28 million in ransoms from fishery owners of two coastal towns – Chakaria and Maheshkhali, alone from late 2011 to late 2012,” reported a Bangladeshi paper in April 2013.

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) says it is expanding its network of supply points across Asia as it responds to an increasing level of offshore oil and gas exploration and production. The first new WSS supply point, at Songkhla, southern Thailand opened in January 2014 and other locations have been identified to enable WSS to work closer to areas of emerging demand. New supply sites are under consideration in Kemaman, Malaysia, Balikpapan, Indonesia and in Myanmar. Countries including Malaysia…

Thailand’s Unithai Shipyard and Engineering said it has expanded operations to support the steady growth of offshore operations. The company has opened a new branch in Songkhla province, one of the busiest offshore markets in the region. The new branch will be fully equipped to fulfil clients’ needs for their offshore operations, such as in ship repair, warehousing, berthing, workshops, equipment and tools. The new facilities comprise a 60-meter berthing quay with a five-meter draught for small repair and the loading and discharging of cargo, and an 800-square-meter covered warehouse.

Rough weather in the Gulf of Thailand is thwarting attempts to re-float an oil tanker that ran aground near the port of Sonkhla as long ago as January 9, 2014, according to 'The Nation' newspaper. A sand-suction dredger was deployed to create a water channel on the beach to allow the oil tanker Orapin 4 to move back to sea off Songkhla; however, the operation came to a temporary halt as the dredger was forced to take shelter at Nu Island amid strong winds. The Meteorological Department has forecast rough seas in the area until Sunday, February 23, 2014, reports 'The Nation'.

For training of Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) activities within their fleet, Uniwise Offshore Thailand purchased a NAUTIS Offshore Supply Vessel Simulator and Instructor Station. The simulator was delivered and installed by VSTEP at the Uniwise Offshore training center in Songkhla. Uniwise Offshore owns and operates the largest crew boat fleet in the Gulf of Thailand, supporting the Kingdom’s offshore oil and gas activities. The Songkhla training center plays a key part in the company strategy to develop, train and retain competent Thai crew. The Songkhla base houses the main technical center of excellence, with an engine maintenance facility essential for high crew boat up-time, a large warehouse for critical spares and mentioned training center, through which all crews must pass.

Coastal Energy Company, an independent exploration and production company with assets in Thailand, issues 2013 guidance. •    The Company expects operating expenses to average approximately $19.00 per bbl offshore Thailand, well below 2012 levels as the Company realizes a full year of facilities purchases for its Thailand operations. •    The Company expects total company production to average 33,000 boepd (net to Coastal) for the full year. This estimate includes 27,000 bopd from offshore Thailand, 2,300 boepd onshore Thailand and net production from Malaysia averaging 3,700 bopd (Production expected to begin in early Q3). •    Total capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $315MM, down from the estimated $360MM in 2012.

International oil services company Aker Solutions has expanded its subsea business by establishing a subsea lifecycle service base in Labuan, Malaysia. The objective is to support all installed and future shallow and deepwater projects within the Asia Pacific region. The new service base, which is located in Labuan Federal Territory in Eastern Malaysia, will provide strategic and effective support services for Aker Solutions' onshore and offshore oil and gas customers. An opening ceremony was held at the new site and was officiated by Dave Hutchinson, head of Aker Solutions' subsea business in Asia Pacific. "Our new subsea lifecycle…

Keppel Shipyard Ltd will be completing the conversion of the Floating, Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel, Ratu Songkhla, for M3nergy JDA Sdn Bhd. Speaking at its naming ceremony, Mr Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine, Keppel Shipyard’s parent company said, “The excellent team work between M3nergy and Keppel Shipyard has enabled us to deliver FSO Ratu Songkhla within six months, and without any lost-time incidents. Formerly a 1989-built Panamax tanker, the vessel arrived at Keppel Shipyard in February this year for her conversion.

Stimulated by the news that the 2nd floating dock ( for capsize and post panamax vessels ) will put in operation in July of 2004, HRDD experienced another up surging output in January of 2004. M/V Maritime Songkhla ( 160.38 x 24.6 x 13.6 ) from IMC ( Singapore ), 480 tons of steel renewal and the twisted hatch covers adjustment; Also, another vessel from IMC, M/V Unirial ( 225 x 32.2 x 18.3 ) finished her 12 days docking and repair in HRDD in the beginning of January, 2004. M/V Kallisto ( 182 x 27.6 ) from Totis Maritime S. M/V Agia Pisti ( 145.27 x 24.6 x 13.6 ) from Samios Shipping Company S.A. Also the routine dock and repair were performed on M/V Pacific Mercury ( 189.99 x 32.2 x 16.5 ) and M/V Pacific Scorpio ( 189.99 x 32.2 x 16.5 ) from Pacific Emerald shipping inc.

The uprising shipping market stimulated the ship repair business for yards all over the world in this two years, especially for the Chinese shipyards. The increase of shipping rate for cape size and panamax bulk carriers, particularly the raw material market, consequently caused the rise of ship repair material cost and labor cost. Even so, all the ship repair yards are fully booked by the rolling-in ship owners and managers. The records for the first half of 2004 by Huarun Dadong Dockyard (HRDD) illuminates this tendency too.

Just when you think all safety measures are in place, a stray snake enters the picture to muck up the works. A natural gas facility in southern Thailand was brought to a standstill by a blackout blamed on a snake. A plant pumping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the southern Thai province of Songkhla to Malaysia had to suspend operations after its electricity system was downed by a stray boa constrictor. The reptile caused a short circuit in the system by wrapping around an electricity transmission line and clamping down on a high-voltage transformer. (Source: RIA Novosti)