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Veolia News

06 Mar 2024

AME Hires Paul Savage as Operations Manager

Paul Savage (Photo: AME)

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. based maritime and industrial mechanical service repair specialist Advanced Mechanical Enterprises (AME) announced it has appointed Paul Savage as its new Operations Manager.With over 30 years of leadership and project management experience, Savage joins the AME management team from Veolia North America, where he served as Vice President, managing complex industrial and government contracts. At Veolia, Savage was at the helm of commercial, state, and federal contracts…

22 Apr 2022

One of the Heaviest Offshore Jacket Lifts Ever: Allseas' Pioneering Spirit Removes Ninian Northern Jacket

The Pioneering Spirit removing the Ninian Northern jacket - Credit: Allseas

Offshore installation and decommissioning contractor Allseas has removed the Ninian Northern jacket in the North Sea in a single lift, showcasing its new jacket lifting system installed aboard its giant Pioneering Spirit vessel.In what was the first deployment of the new jacket lifting technology, Pioneering Spirit removed CNR International’s Ninian Northern jacket from the northern North Sea and transported it intact to shore for recycling.Weighing in at 8100 tonnes, the first commercial lift with Pioneering Spirit’s Jacket lift system (JLS) is one of the heaviest offshore jackets lifts ever…

10 Nov 2021

INSIDE THE DATA BARGE: Silicon Valley Meets Maritime in the Making of NDT's Barge-based Data Center

Photo courtesy Nautilus Data Technologies

Nautilus Data Technologies (NDT) and Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) provide an interesting new twist to the maritime digitalization discussion, with the design, manufacture and delivery of an innovative 7MW data center housed on a refurbished 240-ft. deck barge. Jim Connaughton, CEO, NDT & Michael Complita, PE – VP Strategic Expansion, EBDG, discuss the strategic and environmental advantages as well as the future of housing massive computer banks on barges.When one says “Silicon Valley”, the first image to come to mind likely is not a barge.

31 Aug 2020

VIDEO: Pioneering Spirit Brings Ninian Northern Topside to Lerwick

 Credit: Rory Gillies/Shetland Flyer Aerial Media.

Pioneering Spirit, one of the world's largest vessels, reached Lerwick Harbour on Friday, August 28, carrying aboard the 14,200 tonne Ninian Northern Platform topside.Prior to the arrival in Lerwick, the giant catamaran had removed the Ninian Northern topsides in a single-lift from a jacket standing in 140 m water depth, at the Ninian oilfield around 100 miles (88 nautical miles) north-east of Shetland.Delivery of the Ninian Northern platform topside marked the inauguration of a new…

28 Aug 2020

Allseas' Pioneering Spirit Removes Ninian Topsides in Final Decom Gig of 2020

Credit: Allseas

Allseas' colossal Pioneering Spirit offshore construction - or in this case "deconstruction - vessel has removed the Ninian Northern platform topsides in the UK North Sea.Located in the North Sea, 160 kilometers northeast of the Shetland Islands, the CNR International-operated (CNRI) Ninian Northern platform comprised topsides modules for drilling, production, and accommodation, supported by an eight-legged jacket standing in 140 m water depth.The 14,200-tonne Ninian Northern topsides removal marks Allseas giant catamaran's final decommissioning job of 2020…

17 Jul 2019

Decommissioning in Shetland Expands

Two installations from Spirit Energy’s ST-1 in the North Sea have arrived at the Dales Voe decommissioning facility in Shetland, Scotland, with works set to be carried out by partners Veolia and Peterson.The 45-metre high 1,300 tonne steel jacket and 1,200 tonne topsides structure arrived into Dales Voe in Lerwick.The structures will be dismantled and disposed of by partners Veolia and Peterson. Now at the end of their working life recovering these platforms is important to maximize the value of the materials and assets they contain, and further the sustainability of the offshore industry.With a recycling target of  97% the project includes recovery of approximately 2…

08 Aug 2018

RWO Veolia to Present New Products at SMM

User Interface of RWO Veolia’s new OWS-Controller (Photo: RWO Veolia)

RWO Veolia is presenting its new products RWO-CBM and OWS-Controller at this year's leading trade fair SMM, focusing on the main topics of smart shipping and green technology. The products are milestones in the development of a fully digitalized system maintenance and will already make the operation of water treatment plants on ships and offshore platforms much more efficient, transparent, safe and environmentally friendly. The Bremen-based water specialists will talk about the…

01 Feb 2018

Almarin Buoys Reach New Markets

(Photo: Almarin)

Almarin navigation buoys are being installed in a growing number of markets both in Europe and further afield, proving the effectiveness of their simple reliable design with the use of high quality materials manufactured in Europe. In the Léman lake, border between France and Switzerland, buoys have been installed to mark a floating containment boom in the estuary of Rhone river, nearby Port Valais. The Balizamar buoys used in this case were adapted by the customer for this application.

13 Aug 2017

Buchan Alpha Arrives in Shetland for Decommissioning

The Buchan Alpha oil production vessel has arrived safely in Lerwick, Shetland for disposal. A semi-submersible moored floating production vessel, weighing 12,000 tonnes, Buchan Alpha was built in 1973 as a drilling rig and converted for production purposes in Stornoway between 1978-80. The vessel commenced production in 1981 from the Buchan field, located in blocks 21/1A and 20/5A, and has subsequently also produced the nearby Hannay field. Production ceased, as planned, on 12 May 2017 having produced around 148mm barrels of oil. The contract for disposal was internationally tendered and awarded to Veolia working with their strategic partner in decommissioning, Peterson, who have a proven safety and environmental track record in the decommissioning of oil and gas assets.

25 Aug 2016

SMM 2016: World Premieres from around the Globe

Photo courtesy of SMM

Some 50,000 trade visitors from the whole of the world are expected in Hamburg for the start of SMM in less than two weeks. And once again, it is fully booked – with a total of more than 2,150 exhibitors from 67 countries, presenting their most innovative products and services. “SMM will live up to its reputation as the pacemaker of the industry again, with exhibitors from every part of the maritime value chain and a high-quality conference program,” says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH.

01 Dec 2015

France-Corsica Ferry Operator SNCM's Takeover Gets EU Clearance

The European Commission has approved the takeover of troubled France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM by Corsican entrepreneur Patrick Rocca, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday. In the letter dated Nov. 27 to French junior transport minister Alain Vidalies, European Commission antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said a takeover by Rocca would guarantee the required "economic discontinuity" between SNCM's old and new shareholders and clear the way for the Commission to withdraw its 2013 order that SNCM repay 440 million euros worth of illegal state aid. The ruling clears the way for SNCM majority shareholder Transdev, jointly owned by water and waste group Veolia and French state bank CDC, to sell SNCM.

19 Jun 2015

RWO Plots Its Strategy for CleanBallast

CleanBallast system (Image: RWO)

It’s been a difficult year in the ballast water market so far, says Bremen-based manufacturer RWO. Quite close to ratification, new regulations show up on the horizon, and old ones are put under discussion, piling the pressure on system requirements and manufacturers. In this volatile setup, RWO, a subsidiary of Veolia Water Technologies, molds its strategy for the CleanBallast system. Dr. “We are in close contact with our customers, who understand and appreciate our considerate approach,” Ausfelder continues.

04 Nov 2014

Ferry Operator SNCM Files for Court Protection

France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM has suspended payments to creditors and will file for court protection on Tuesday, the firm said in a statement late on Monday. Majority-owned by public transport firm Transdev, which is owned by water firm Veolia and French state bank CDC, SNCM said its management would now focus on finding a buyer for the firm. The court protection procedure will effectively mean the end of loss-making SNCM, which is unable to repay 440 million euros ($550 million) of illegal state aid as ordered by European Union competition authorities. Shipping companies could buy some of its ferries and take over part of its 1,900-strong staff to continue the key Marseille-Corsica lines, but other routes are expected to be discontinued.

29 Oct 2014

Ferry Unit SNCM to Seek Court Protection Next Week

Photo: SNCM

France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM will file for court protection next week, a source close to the company told Reuters on Wednesday, which will clear the way for its shareholder Veolia to restructure its transport division. Water and waste firm Veolia and the French state, which together control SNCM, have said court protection from creditors is the only way to shield the loss-making ferry operator from two separate European Union state aid repayment claims totalling 440 million euros.

05 Sep 2014

RWO to Put Changes on Display at SMM

Photo: RWO

In April, Bremen-based RWO announced a 30% revenue-increase in its core business, and also the ballast water business comes up with some important news. RWO said some more things have changed since then and can be seen at this year’s SMM in Hamburg. “The RWO Bonus – that’s how we call it - is the result of a careful market analysis and important talks to our partners and customers” said Andreas Rosebrock, Sales Director at RWO. “Since 1975 we have been manufacturing high-quality…

04 Sep 2014

French Ferry Firm Loses State Aid Appeal

Photo: SNCM

Cash-strapped ferry operator SNCM looks set to seek legal protection from its creditors after Europe's highest court ruled on Thursday it must pay back 220 million euros ($289 million) of French state aid. SNCM, owned 66 percent by transport group Transdev, has racked up losses as low-cost competitors have eaten away its market share and is fast running out of funds. Transdev - itself a joint venture between water and waste firm Veolia and French state bank CDC - has said it will…

09 Jul 2014

French Govt to End Corsica Ferry Blockades

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday he would take steps "within hours" to end blockades of ports in Marseille and Corsica by workers of the SNCM ferry operator, who are striking over the firm's restructuring plans. Workers at the loss-making company partially owned by Veolia have been on strike since June 24, occupying ferries and blockading access to part of Marseille's port for 16 days over fears they will lose jobs and job privileges. The strike has left the island in part cut off from the mainland at the peak of the tourist season vital to Corsica's economy while holding up the flow of goods. Valls, who has warned repeatedly that the strike could condemn the SNCM "to death"…

08 Jul 2014

Valls Urges End to Strike at "Sinking" Ferry Group SNCM

Workers at France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM must end their strike and let the troubled company undergo a restructuring to secure its future, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Tuesday. Loss-making SNCM, whose unions have been on strike since June 24, risks bankruptcy and needs to be placed under court protection, Valls told TV station TF1 in an interview. "This situation cannot go on and there needs to be a court-ordered restructuring, because this company is sinking, and in fact the days of strike that accumulate are only putting it more into trouble," Valls said. The comments were even harsher than those of France's transport minister…

22 Jun 2014

Veolia Strategy At Sea Over France-Corsica Ferry Stalemate

Veolia Environnement, a global leader in water and waste management, has a little local difficulty: an ailing France-Corsica ferry operator that weighs on its shares, gives its CEO nightmares and puts the brakes on its strategic plans. At the end of 2012, new Chief Executive Antoine Frerot decided to get out of transport to focus Veolia on its higher-margin water, waste andenergy businesses, and agreed with state-owned Caisse des Depots (CDC) that it would gradually stake over Veolia's stake in their joint venture Transdev, which runs trains, buses and taxis in about 20 countries. CDC had one condition - that Veolia keep Transdev's 66 percent stake in Societe Nationale Corse Mediterranee (SNCM), a loss-making ferry operator that once had a monopoly on France-Corsica routes.

17 Jun 2014

Baja Ferries Hopes to Buy SNCM

Image courtesy of SNCM

Mexican ferry company Baja Ferries said on Tuesday it hopes to close a deal to buy troubled French ferry operator SNCM before November or December. SNCM (Societé Nationale Corse-Méditerranée), which runs routes from cities on France's Mediterranean coast to Corsica and northern Africa, has accrued losses of about 250 million euros ($340.38 million) from 2001 to 2013. In May, Baja said it was in talks with French transport firm Transdev about buying its 66 percent stake in SNCM.

12 May 2014

Veolia Retakes Control of Corsica Ferry Company

The board of France-Corsica ferry operator SNCM on Monday voted out its chief executive who had sided with trade unions, allowing shareholder Veolia to retake control and restructure the loss-making firm. Veolia wants to put Societe Nationale Corse Mediterranee under court protection to shield it from a European Commission order to repay 440 million euros ($605 million) of state aid and is looking for a buyer of a restructured SNCM. Transport firm Transdev - itself a 50-50 joint venture between Veolia and state-backed Caisse des Depots (CDC) - owns 66 percent of SNCM but Transdev has not been able to impose its will at SNCM because the ferry company's chief executive and board chairman have sided with its unions and ignored instructions of their employer.

12 May 2014

Veolia's Control of Corsica Ferry Company up to Board Vote

Image: SNCM

Government representatives on the board of Corsica ferry operator SNCM will vote on Monday to decide whether Veolia can retake control of the troubled business. The vote is tricky for the government as siding with Veolia could lead to protests by SNCM unions in Marseille ahead of European elections in two weeks. Veolia wants to put loss-making SNCM (Societe Nationale Maritime Corse Mediterranee) under court protection to shield it from a European Commission order to repay 440 million euros ($605 million) of state aid. Veolia has also said it will not put any more money into the ferry company.

09 Apr 2014

Transdev Sees Return to Profit, Ferry Unit Blocks Veolia Deal

French transport firm Transdev expects to return to profit this year, but sees no quick solution for its troubled Mediterranean ferry unit SNCM, which is blocking a reshuffle in Transdev shareholdings between Veolia and state-owned bank CDC. Transdev's 2013 net loss narrowed to 130 million euros ($179 million) from a restated 391 million loss in 2012. The loss was mainly due to 107 million euros worth of writedowns related to SNCM, which runs ferries between Corsica and mainland France. At the presentation of the firm's 2013 earnings, Transdev CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac said a partial sale of Veolia's 50 percent stake in Transdev to its joint-venture partner CDC remained conditional on the sale of Transdev's 66 percent stake in SNCM, as CDC does not want to take it over.