R Marine expands to Melbourne

Australian luxury boating dealership network R Marine has expanded to Melbourne, with an agreement between Australian boatbuilder Riviera and dealership Jacksons Marine, based in Sandringham.

Rebranded as R Marine Jacksons VIC, the dealership — which opened its doors in the 1950s — joins a network of 13 R Marine dealers that stretches from Auckland, New Zealand to Fremantle, Western Australia.

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Strategic Marines to open Mexican Yard

Strategic Marine reported that it will open its first shipyard in the Americas in early 2008 following a joint venture bid with Servicios Navales E Industriales S.A. DE C.V. (SENI) to build two 52m aluminum crew boats for Arrendadora Ocean Mexicana S.A. de CV (Blue Marine Offshore) in Mexico.

Strategic Marine already operates yards at its HendersonWestern Australia, Tuas in Singapore and Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone, Ba-Ria Vung Tau in southern Vietnam. The $11.9m contract will see the two vessels operated by Blue Marine Offshore for its Pemex contract in the Gulf of Mexico. Work on the contract is scheduled to commence this year, before which Strategic will work with SENI to upgrade its existing maintenance facility at Mazatlan on the Mexican west coast. Both vessels will be based on Strategic’s Deep V High Speed Planing Hull design and will be operated by a 10-man crew with a 60 passengers capacity in addition to 100 tonne of cargo at a cruising speed of 20knts. The company believes the contract win was heavily influenced by its powertrain decision which provided greater hull efficiency and hence reduced fuel consumption. Strategic Marine chairman, Mark Newbold, said the Mazatlan yard would provide Strategic Marine with the ability to target both the North and South American offshore and para-military markets. Design of the two vessels will be undertaken at the company’s Henderson facility.

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S. Korea Refiner Steps Up Single Hull Ban

South Korea's GS Caltex will reportedly ban crude shipments on single-hulled oil tankers from next year, according to a Reuters report, well ahead of international laws that timetable their phase out.

The move is significant in Asia, particularly if others follow suit.
Pending the actions of others, the move could have a ripple effect on the shipbuilding industry and the need for double hull tankers. The industry is currently in the midst of a record orderbook, with much shipbuilding capacity booked through 2011.

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Petro-Canada Reports O&G Discoveries

Petro-Canada is reporting oil and gas discoveries at two exploration wells: one in the U.K. sector of the North Sea and one in deep water off Trinidad and Tobago, according to a report on The Canadian Press.

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Cassra-1 well in deep-water Block 22 was completed as a significant natural gas discovery. Petro-Canada operates the well and holds a 90 per cent interest. The second discovery was in the British sector of the North Sea, with the successful completion of the 13/21b-7 well. The well encountered two oil columns that total nearly 80 metres when combined.

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