Maritime Industry Top News
BOS Completes Short Notice Call Out Contract
Bibby Offshore Singapore (BOS) said it has successfully completed a call out contract with PTT Exploration & Production Co Ltd (PTTEP). The project involved a short notice mobilization, and saw the BOS-operated DP2 ROV Support Vessel, the Bibby Spring perform subsea inspection services to PTTEP’s Bongkot Field assets in the Gulf of Thailand. The work was successfully completed within PTTEP’s restricted timeframe.
Hyundai Heavy Names First Newbuild LNG FSRU
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) held a naming ceremony for the world’s first newbuilding LNG floating storage regasification unit (LNG FSRU), ordered from Höegh LNG in June 2011. The 170,000 cbm LNG FSRU, measuring 294 meters in length, 46 meters in width and 26 meters in depth with the storage capacity of 70,000 metric tons of chilled natural gas, will be chartered to Lithuania’s Klaipedos Nafta under a long-term contract.
MTU Series 4000 Engines ABS NVR Certified
As the first engines in its power class the MTU Series 4000 was recently awarded Naval Vessel Rules (NVR) certification by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). The new ABS NVR certification, a requirement for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Fast Response Cutter (FRC) program, was awarded after 1,500 hours of testing of the 20V 4000 M73 that included extensive run times at 110% of the engine’s rated power in a variety of extreme environmental conditions.
Sharpeye Keeps Watch on Chesapeake Bay
Kelvin Hughes, a global supplier of surveillance and navigation systems, announced that it has recently supplied two SharpEye Solid State X Band surveillance radars to the Maryland Natural Resources Police (MPRP), to provide additional coverage around protected oyster beds. The SharpEye radars are key sensors in the MNRP Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network (MLEIN), whose mission is to secure the 3,100 miles of Maryland coastline.
Ocean Safety Wins UK Defense Contract
Independent safety supplier Ocean Safety has been awarded a four year contract with the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense (MOD). This contract will see Ocean Safety continue to supply, service and repair their commercial liferafts and DBC marine evacuation systems. Direct support will be given to the Royal Navy’s current flagship HMS Bulwark and to the new fleet of Type 45 destroyers which are based in Portsmouth.
MOL Sign Methanol Carrier Deal with AMPCO
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) say they have received a newbuilding charter contract for two methanol carriers from Atlantic Methanol Production Company LLC (AMPCO) based on an offer tendered in 2013. The vessels will be built at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The ships will operate under a long-term charter and the new contract will play a vital role in MOL's strategy of strengthening long-term business.
DryShips & Subsidiary Ocean Rig Report Rough & Smooth Q4 2013
Greek-based drybulk & tankship owners DryShips and subsidiary offshore deepwater drilling service provider Ocean Rig announce unaudited financial and operating results for the fourth quarter, year ended 31, December 2013. For the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company reported a net loss of $24.4 million, or $0.06 basic and diluted loss per share. The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA of $163.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, as compared to $109.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2012.
Small Unmanned Boat 'Pioneer' Makes NjordWorks Debut
Manufacturer of small unmanned vehicles, NjordWorks Inc., based in Niceville, Florida, announce the debut of the 'Pioneer' unmanned boat for civil and commercial use. The Pioneer unmanned boat, or unmanned surface vehicle (USV), lives up to its name, say the manufacturers, as being the first in a class of small unmanned vehicles designed for very shallow and difficult to access bodies of water. Like other unmanned vehicles…
Gulf of Thailand Tankship Still Aground After 6 Weeks
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.
New Baton Rouge Deepwater Dock: Genesis to Invest US$150-Million
Genesis Energy, L.P. announce plans to invest approximately US$150-million to construct a new crude oil, intermediates and refined products import / export terminal in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (the Baton Rouge Terminal). The Baton Rouge Terminal will be located on approximately 90 acres of land near the Port of Greater Baton Rouge (the Port) and will be connected to the Port’s existing deepwater docks on the Mississippi River.
IBIA Urges Bunker Suppliers to Adopt ISO Fuel Specs
In a bid to improve bunker quality across the marine fuel supply chain, the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) informs that it has called on marine fuel suppliers to adopt the ISO 2010 specifications for bunkers. Despite having been introduced four years ago to improve bunker standards, it is estimated that only a quarter of bunker suppliers are currently supplying in accordance with the 2010 specifications.
Russian Energy Major to Trade ADRs on Moscow Exchange
Gazprom inform that its shares are now being traded in American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the Moscow bourse. The company explains that the listing of its ADRs at a Russian stock exchange assures higher demand for these securities and, consequently, the Company's shares. Gazprom add that this is another milestone in their consistent efforts aimed at increasing the liquidity and price of the Company's securities.
Transocean Drilling Rig Fleet Update Summary
Transocean Ltd. has issued a monthly Fleet Update Summary which includes new contracts, significant changes to existing contracts, and changes in estimated planned out-of-service time of 15 or more days since January 16, 2014. The total value of new contracts since the January 16, 2014 Fleet Status Report is approximately $66 million. Estimated 2014 out-of-service time increased by a net 150 days,…
Jet Edge Waterjets Distributed in 6 States by KF Machinery
Jet Edge, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ultra-high pressure waterjet systems for precision cutting, coating removal and surface preparation, say that KF Machinery is now distributing Jet Edge precision waterjet cutting systems in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Western Wisconsin and Western Iowa. Located in Lakeville, Minn., KF Machinery offers full-service precision sheet metal manufacturing and forming equipment to manufacturers in a variety of industries…
Panama Canal Extension Dispute: Talks, Not Works, Continue
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reports that despite efforts to agree with Grupo Unidos por el Canal, S.A. (GUPC) to resume work on the new locks project, positions between the parties remain apart. According to ACP a telephone confernce was held with CEOs of the contracting companies comprising GUPC (Sacyr Vallehermoso, S.A (Spain), Impregilo, S.p.A. (Italy), Jan de Nul Group (Belgium) and Constructora Urbana, S.A.
Erik Thun Orders LNG Cargo Ship
Swedish shipping company Erik Thun A.B. has granted Shipyard Ferus Smit the order for building an LNG powered cargo vessel, with two more units on option. The first vessel will be delivered in autumn 2015 from the yard in Westerbroek, Groningen. The Thun shipping company has a strong market position in Northern Europe and the Baltic area. To further strengthen her position as ‘green’ fleet with the new SECA rules coming into force in 2015 for the Baltic…
SSA Sponsors Maritime Scholarships
The Singapore Shipping Association (SSA) said it has underlined its commitment to investing in the future of the Singapore and global shipping industry by sponsoring S$50,000 through three scholarships during the 2014/2015 academic year. The scholarships will come under the the MaritimeONE Scholarship Program administered by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) and will be offered to students attending…
Floating Production Market Forecast
Today, 319 oil/gas floating production units are now in service, on order or available for reuse on another field. FPSOs account for 65% of the existing systems, 74% of systems on order. Another 25 floating LNG processing systems are in service or on order. Liquefaction floaters account for 12%, regasification floaters 88%. No liquefaction floaters are yet in service – all three are on order. In addition, 101 floating storage units are in service, on order or available.
DSIC Appoints Ahern to Advisory Board
Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC), an advanced technology provider of security and detection systems, today announced that The Honorable Jayson P. Ahern, former Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection, was appointed to the company's Advisory Board, effective immediately. Ahern, is a Principal with The Chertoff Group, providing strategic consulting services on homeland and border security management and global commerce and supply chain matters.
Something Old, Something New ...
I must admit that exploring the historical nature of our business is one of my favorite endeavors, and this month we are pleased to continue our series of articles in celebration of our 75th anniversary. Patricia Keefe again graces our pages with her overview of the creation and fate of what is arguably the greatest if not most famous ship in the history of U.S. shipbuilding, the passenger liner SS United States.
