Marine BizTV: 01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Golar LNG - World's first FSRU goes into operation

Golar LNG is pleased to advise the successful start up of its first Floating Storage and Regasification Vessel (FSRU), the Golar Spirit.

The Golar Spirit is the world's first FSRU conversion project which was awarded to Golar by Petrobras in April 2007. The FSRU gives Petrobras the ability to receive LNG from standard LNG Carriers and provide natural gas ashore for domestic consumption. The successfully completed commissioning and performance test runs form part of the delivery protocol for the vessel. The vessel will now be placed in FSRU service and will continue to operate at the direction of Petrobras. The commissioning tests performed involved running each of the 3 regasification trains in turn at different regasification capacities for an agreed period of time. Following the initial performance tests, DNV issued a Statement of Approval of the Regasification Plant and Interim Class Certificate confirming the REGAS-2 Class notation. Gary Smith, Golar Management's CEO, commented that "it was particularly pleasing to see the FSRU delivered into service following a short, flawless start up and commissioning period. The execution and delivery of this project is testimony to the technical capability and experience of Golar's staff and its technical partners to deliver new and innovative solutions to the LNG industry.

StatoilHydro makes small discovery in Oseberg area

OSLO: StatoilHydro ASA (NYSE: STO) has made a small oil discovery at an exploration well in the Curran prospect.

The prospect is in the western part of the Oseberg area in the North Sea. Exploration well 30/8-4 S was drilled by Transocean semisubmersible Transocean Winner. Hydrocarbons were struck in the upper parts of the Brent group. Drilling was terminated in Middle Jurassic Rocks. Well water depth is around 308 feet (93.8 m). StatoilHydro Vice President for Exploration Ton Dreyer said that the field was not quite commercial at current oil prices, but added that the company was pleased to have proven more resources near its Oseberg installation. The size of the find is within the range of 3 to 15.7 million BOE, mostly oil. The drilling was intended to test a petroleum trap south of the Tune field, below a north-south running fault in the Oseberg area. No wells had been drilled in this type of trap in the area before. The well has been plugged and abandoned. A possible tie-back from the discovery to installation in the area will be considered. Transocean Winner will now drill well 30/5-3 in the northern part of the Oseberg area.

IHC Merwede launches 'Hos Iron Horse'

IHC Merwede, The Netherlands, will launch a multi purpose OSV for Hornbeck Offshore Services in USA.

IHC Merwede Offshore & Marine was granted the order to design and build the new vessel in 2007. The keel was laid on July 23, 2008. The naming ceremony of the ‘Hos Iron Horse’ will take place officially upon delivery in the third quarter of 2009. The ‘Hos Iron Horse’ is a versatile vessel and suitable for worldwide operation. Hornbeck Offshore Services intends to use the vessel in the shallow waters of the Mexican Gulf. With her deepwater cranes, deck cranes and moonpool, the vessel can be used in a wide range of offshore construction activities. But the vessel can also easily be adapted to a charterer’s specific wishes and requirements. The moonpool facilitates subsea operations. Subsea operations can be supported by two work class ROVs which are housed in a hangar. The vessel is equipped with a 400-tonne heave compensated mast crane capable of working at a 3,000-metre water depth and a 120-tonne heave compensated offshore knuckle boom crane.

PTP retains Malaysian container port crown

Kuala Lumpur: The Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Johor has retained its status as the country’s leading port for the sixth year in a row, having handled 5.6m teu in 2008.

According to new PTP ceo Captain Ismail Hashim, despite the global economic slowdown in 2008, PTP still managed to grow its “local” throughput volume by approximately 43%, up by 94,000teu from the 218,000teu recorded in 2007. Hashim attributed the growth to factors including increased import and export shipping services available at the port. In particular he mentioned the new services between PTP and Australia, New Zealand and Philippines that have been introduced by Malaysia’s leading shipping company, MISC, when they moved their hub from Singapore to PTP in June 2008. He also spoke of the new hapag Lloyd service linking PTP to Europe and the Far East. “The various forms of shipping line arrangements such as joint services and slot exchange arrangements between the different shipping lines calling at PTP has made it possible for local cargo owners to move more cargo through PTP in 2008” Hashim said.

NaiKun and Haida Nation partner for offshore wind project

Vancouver, B.C.: British Columbia-based renewable energy company NaiKun Wind Energy Group and the Council of the Haida Nation have formed a partnership to support the development of Canada's first offshore wind energy project.

The NaiKun project is located in British Columbia's Hecate Strait, between the mainland and the Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. The area is the traditional territory of the Haida, the indigenous people of the area. The partnership will be a commercial limited partnership that will operate and maintain the NaiKun wind energy project after construction. The agreement provides benefits to the Haida Nation from the project, including revenue sharing, environmental stewardship and employment and economic development opportunities. The agreement formalizes the relationship between the Haida Nation and NaiKun, and builds on a memorandum of understanding signed in May 2007. The Haida Nation and NaiKun subsidiary NaiKun Wind Operating Inc. will participate equally in the partnership in terms of ownership and economic value.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Keppel delivers final Scorpion jackup

USA: Keppel AmFELS has delivered the jackup drilling rig, ‘Offshore Intrepid’, to Scorpion Intrepid.

With this delivery, Keppel AmFELS has completed the series of five LeTourneau Super 116 jackup rigs commissioned by Scorpion in 2005. ‘Offshore Intrepid’ was named by Mrs Drucie Cole, wife of Jon Cole, Scorpion’s President & CEO, at the Keppel AmFELS yard on January 24. This rig has been chartered by Odfjell Drilling Services to operate in the Arabian Gulf for 41 months, beginning in the second quarter of this year. The first two jackup drilling rig units, ‘Offshore Courageous’ and ‘Offshore Defender’, were delivered in 2007 while the third and fourth, ‘Offshore Resolute’ and ‘Offshore Vigilant’, were delivered in 2008. Identical to her sister rigs, ‘Offshore Intrepid’ incorporates a 21-metre cantilever, the maximum reach currently available for all but a few harsh environment units. This rig is capable of working in 105 metres of water as outfitted or in water of depths up to 120 metres through the installation of additional leg sections.

World's First Drilling FPSO Leaves Singapore Shipyard

The world's first (FDPSO), which is owned by Prosafe Production, has left Keppel Shipyard in Singapore on January 24, 2009.

After a short stay at anchorage, it will head for the Republic of Congo where it will be deployed at Murphy West Africa Ltd's (a subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation) deepwater Azurite development in the Mer Profonde Sud Block. Named the Azurite, this first of its kind FPSO with drilling capabilities incorporates a design that is cost efficient and effective for drilling and producing deepwater fields. The vessel is equipped with a modular drilling package that can be removed and reused elsewhere when the production wells have been drilled. The Azurite has a storage capacity of 1.4 million barrels of oil and a process capacity of 60,000 bfpd/40,000 bopd and will be spread-moored at a water depth of 1,400 meters. Prosafe Production has been responsible for the FPSO conversion, while Murphy West Africa Ltd (Murphy) has been responsible for the drilling scope.

Piracy latest: German gas tanker hijacked

Nairobi: Somali pirates this morning successfully hijacked the 3,415gt LPG tanker, MV Longchamp, in the gulf of Aden.

The Bahamas-flagged vessel was being managed by Hamburg-based Bernard Schulte Ship management and had a crew of 13 seafarers onboard at the time of the attack. "There was a heavy exchange of gunfire (but) the crew is believed to be safe," Andrew Mwangura who runs the Kenya chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme is quoted as saying. It remains unclear if the foreign navies patrolling the Gulf of Aden attempted to prevent the attack or were responsible for the gunfire. The vessel is expected to be moored off the Somalian coast while the pirates negotiate the terms of its release.

World's rig industry reeling from cancellations and global slow down

A weaker global demand for energy has forced cancellations that are hitting the world’s profitable oil rig industry.

Production is now slowing and exploration budgets have been cut back in recent weeks as the economy worsens and builders have reported a slow uptake on new orders coupled with cancellations and the renegotiation of contracts. "We are forecasting a slowdown in the new rig-building orders in 2009 followed by a recovery in 2010 as sector fundamentals reassert themselves," Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse said. It also stated that Macquarie Research said some oil drillers were deferring new orders in anticipation that prices of oil rigs would drop even lower as the demand for raw materials used in making structures tapered off.

Paradox Marine Receives Coast Guard Medal

Wireless boat security systems supplier Paradox Marine has received a medal from the US Coast Guard in recognition of its product, the Nav-Tracker 2.0 GPS Tracking System.

The system helped the Coast Guard recover a stolen boat in the Bahamas last September 17. A 34 ft Contender equipped with the Paradox Marine Nav-Tracker 2.0 GPS tracking system, stolen from Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas, was located by the system and recovered in the vicinity by the US Coast Guard about 12 hours later.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Keel-laying of the 'Celebrity Eclipse'

The first block of the new 122,000GT passenger cruise vessel ‘Celebrity Eclipse’ was put in place at Meyer Werft for Celebrity Cruises, USA.

Executive Vice President Maritime & Newbuilding, Harri Kulovaara, Vice President Newbuilding Christer Schoug and Project Director Jarmo Laakso of Celebrity Cruisesput down the traditional lucky coins in the new part of the dock of the shipyard before the first block of the new ship was lowered. This first block weighs approximately 550 tonnes, and measures 16 metres in length, 36.8 metres in breadth and 8 metres in height. The ‘Celebrity Eclipse’ has a length overall of 317 metres, a breadth of 36.8 metres, and will be able to operate at a speed of more than 24 knots. More than 2,852 passengers will be accommodated in 1,426 cabins. This class of ships features plenty of technical innovations. It will contain numerous energy-saving systems, and is built in line with the latest stability regulations. The ‘Celebrity Eclipse’ is the third ship in a series of five for Celebrity Cruises. Delivery is scheduled for 2010.

Saudi-based offshore facility fabrication yard begins work

Dammam: Saudi Aramco's Offshore Projects Division recently began fabrication activities for four offshore platforms at the newly constructed STAR Fabrication Facility at Dammam, Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz Port, the first offshore facilities fabrication yard in the kingdom.

The yard is performing work from a new long-term agreement contract awarded to a consortium between Snamprogetti Saudi Arabia Ltd. and Saipem, TAQA, Al-Rushaid Fabrications Co. Ltd. (STAR). The agreement required the contractor to build a full-service fabrication yard and offshore support base in the kingdom capable of constructing the company's increasing number of offshore well platforms and pipelines. The STAR facility, which will directly employ about 900 workers, covers 3.23 million square feet (300,000 sq m) and is capable of fabricating 15,432 tons (14,000 tonnes) of structural steel per year. The entire facility was engineered, procured and constructed in just over one year. Northern Area Projects Department manager Abdulaziz I. Fallatah said, "In addition to advancing Saudi Aramco's business objectives, this new state-of-the-art facility also achieves the company's goals of stimulating the Saudi economy and developing Saudi nationals in the highly skilled offshore fabrication industry." Training of the initial group of Saudi nationals in skilled crafts has begun in earnest and Saudi Aramco said it is proceeding according to plan.

Linking Indian, French navies

Kochi, India: The French Navy is in consultation with navies of many countries, including India, in developing interoperability as part of its effort to carve out a mechanism to fight piracy at sea, Jerome Bonnafont, Ambassador of France to India, has said.

Captain Herve Blejean, commanding officer of the 13,000-tonne carrier that is on a six-month around-the-globe-voyage with 119 cadets, including 14 females and some foreign cadets, on board, said the problem of piracy had grown when there was not much navy participation in fighting piracy. “However, the French Navy has been able to apprehend over 25 pirates, including eight last night, after it got actively involved in this task. Indian naval ships have also done commendable work in neutralizing bids by pirates. The legal aspect of fighting piracy — bringing pirates to book — is very complicated, but we have a strong resolution from the United Nations in this regard,” he said, pointing out that in an anti-piracy offensive launched by Jeanne D’ Arc off the Somali coast on April 11 last year, 30 hostages were freed and six pirates arrested. In order to coordinate against threats of piracy, narcotic traffic, human trafficking and the like, a special communication device was deployed to connect Indian and French navies. “This is mainly to exchange operational data,” he said. As regards the French presence in the Indian Ocean, the Captain said the French continued to deploy at least two frigates here because the north of Indian Ocean faced a few issues and the French wanted this area to stabilise.

AEMTC and GL Academy to collaborate for maritime training

Mumbai: Anglo-Eastern Maritime Training Centre (AEMTC) and GL Academy have signed an agreement for collaboration on advanced maritime training.

The cooperation marks the beginning of an extensive collaboration to work jointly on a post-graduate diploma course in naval architecture. Additionally, value-added seminars and workshops for the maritime industry will be provided. The first GL Academy course on "Ship Structures II" will be held in February. Further topics are scheduled for 2009. AEMTC was set up in 1994 and today is an international training institute catering to personnel for the maritime and offshore training sectors. It uses modern methods of teaching including simulation, hands-on workshop training, and web-based learning and assessment systems.

Korean and Indian shipyards rethink and restructure

Shipyards in Korea and India are rethinking and restructuring in a bid to hold out during the credit crunch.

In South Korea, the scale of restructuring is evident, though analysts say that the “first round” of restructuring had not been dramatic. They say that a large scale second phase would begin in February. The world’s largest shipbuilding market is set to concentrate on business diversification, and may choose to build high value-added ships and offshore plants since smaller firms have so far not expressed any enthusiasm for this sector. And while large shipbuilders may be unable to get the finances to upsize themselves at the moment, they see this time as a chance to widen South Korea’s lead over Chinese shipbuilding. Meanwhile, failed South Korean builder C& Heavy Industries, which was liquidated has now been presented with three options. The first could be to reject financial support offered and rebuild the business independently by securing some US$10 million in funds and US$104 million in investment capital. The second option would be for the builder to allow the courts to restructure the business. The final option would be for the company to sell off to a third party. The South Korean government is keen to withdraw C& Heavy from the market and is heavily promoting restructuring to other yards.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

MOL and Gulf LPG start VLGC Pool

Tokyo: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Gulf LPG Transport Company W.L.L. of Qatar (Gulf LPG) have entered into an agreement for immediate launch of a very large gas carrier (VLGC) pool called LPG Global Transport.

MOL and Gulf LPG have jointly incorporated LPG Global Transport Management Inc. to manage the pool’s business operations. In a statement to the press, the Japanese shipping giant said, “Both MOL and Gulf LPG are bullish about the future expansion of global LPG seaborne trade, especially from Qatar. LPG Global Transport will be able to offer enhanced services to LPG charterers and create efficiencies by optimizing voyage costs through efficient deployment of the combined fleet.” LPG Global Transport is expected to substantially increase its pooled fleet, with Gulf LPG contributing one new building in March 2009 and MOL adding seven new buildings to be delivered during the second half of 2009 and the first half of 2010.

New cranes at Ecuadorian terminal heralds new era of port operations

The Guayaquil Container and Multipurpose Terminals (GCMT) in Ecuador has recently taken delivery of three new quay cranes and eight rubber tyred gantries (RTGs).

The new container handling equipment, manufactured by Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery of China, is the first of their type to be introduced in Ecuador, heralding a new era of modern port operations in the country. The owner and operator of the terminal, Contecon Guayaquil, acquired two mobile harbor cranes immediately after its takeover of the port in 2007.

Venezuela seizes ENSCO rig

Venezuela seized an oil rig run ENSCO in a dispute over payment for services today, a sign that tumbling oil prices have worsened the cash crunch at state-run PDVSA.

The company said ENSCO had broken its contract by halting drilling at the offshore Petrosucre oil project that includes investment from Italy's ENI in a dispute over ENSCO's past work. PDVSA said Dallas-based ENSCO had earned $110 million from its work at the project, but did not say how much money ENSCO was owed or whether negotiations continue. ENSCO was not immediately available to comment on the issue, but a company spokesman had previously confirmed it was struggling to receive payment from PDVSA. PDVSA has built close to $8 billion in debts with providers and sources said in recent months it has skipped payments to partners and services companies as falling crude prices and heavy social spending have pinched its finances. But the company has faced growing complaints from a broad array of providers about unpaid bills.

New tanker launched at Brodosplit

Croatia: A new tanker for navigation and transport for oil products in icy regions was launched at the Brodosplit shipyard last weekend (Saturday January 24).

The Swedish owner of newbuilding 462, a tanker with a 65,056-tonne capacity, is Concordia Maritime. The tanker was built in accordance with the MAX concept is characterized by good economy, high flexibility and a high level of safety. Its wider hull design means that the vessel can load about 30 percent more cargo without its draught being affected. In addition to having mandatory double hulls, the vessel has double main engines in two completely separate engine rooms, double rudders and steering gear, two propellers and double control systems. All these double systems can be operated independently of each other, which results in even safer oil transportation. This is the first ship of a total of four in a handmax fleet building program which Concordia contracted Brodosplit to build.

Northrop Grumman Launches Sub

Northrop Grumman Corporation reached a milestone by launching the Virginia-class submarine New Mexico (SSN 779) at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va, on Jan. 22.

"Launching a ship is always a proud moment for the shipbuilders and crew," said Becky Stewart, vice president of submarine programs for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. "Our Virginia-class team has done an excellent job of achieving this milestone and furthering our efforts to deliver New Mexico eight months ahead of schedule." On January 15, shipbuilders used a transfer car system to move the 7,800-ton New Mexico out of a construction facility to a floating dry dock. Two days later, they submerged the floating dry dock and successfully launched New Mexico into the James River. Once in the water, tugboats moved New Mexico to the shipyard's submarine pier where final outfitting and testing will take place. New Mexico is the sixth ship of the Virginia class. With improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements, it will provide undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. The ship's construction began March 2004, the keel was authenticated on April 12, 2008, and the ship's sponsor, Cindy Giambastiani, christened the ship during a ceremony held Dec. 13, 2008. New Mexico is scheduled for delivery in Aug. 2009.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Global bags $75m Transgasindo gig

Offshore engineering player Global Industries has won a $75 million pipeline replacement job with Indonesian outfit Transgasindo.

The job starts in February and work on the 28 inch pipeline should be finished by April. Global use the pipelay barge Comanche, assisted by support vessels, to install a new 23 kilometre section at KP 110-KP 133 Kuala Tungkal - Panaran, Grissik-Singapore Pipeline. The project also includes a total of eight hot tap installations to tie the new pipeline to the existing pipeline. The repair is to be carried out without interruption of the gas flow.
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CMA CGM aims to take leading spot in Asia

French transport liner CMA CGM appears to be poised to launch a new Asia-Europe service in July to secure a leading position in the Asian shipping market.

Though the shipping giant suspended its FAL 4 Asia-Europe service after five months, CMA CGM is now telling employees that it will start the FAL 5 service in a few months’ time. No details have been given about the configuration of the new service but its launch looks set to coincide with the arrival in service of the first of eight 13,300TEU newbuildings ordered by CMA CGM. "It is a considerable challenge in a volatile economy, but it will anchor CMA CGM firmly as the leader in Asia; in China, of course, but also in countries like Korea, Japan and Vietnam," said CMA CGM vice president Nicolas Sartini. The FAL 1 deploys ten ships: one of 11,000TEU and nine of 8,500 TEU. The FAL 2 deploys eight 9,500TEU vessels and the FAL 3 has six 6,500TEU and three 8,500TEU vessels.

Bharati Shipyard to build first LNG fuelled vessel in India

Leading Offshore and Cargo Shipbuilding Company, Bharati Shipyard is on the verge of creating a record by developing the first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered vessel in the country.

"Today, we are in the design stage and will start constructing the vessels from mid 2009 and expect to deliver them by the second half of 2010," said Sauvir Sarkar, president (design) of Bharati Shipyard. The company has already got orders for two Roll on-Roll off (Ro Ro) vessels from Norway-based Sea Cargo AS. The two vessels will be designed to use LNG as ship propulsion fuel and it would be the first vessels to be built in the world as per new IMO regulations of inherent gas safe concept. Each of the vessel is estimated to cost $40 million. Among other benefits, according to Mr Sarkar, the two big advantages to the owners would be reduction in fuel cost and substantially decreased emissions. Bunker costs, which remained at a steady $100 plus per metric tonnes between 2000 and 2005, have increased 6-fold until 3rd quarter 2008, hiking up the cost of operations for shipowners. On the pollution front, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been tightening the levels of NOx and SOx emissions from ships and shipowners are made to opt for reducing emissions by means of low sulphur fuels, catalytic converters etc. In such a scenario, these ships are understood to provide the owners with maximum benefits in terms of environment, reduction in auxiliary machinery, engine room comfort and equipment maintenance.

Statoil’s Kristin Resumes Production

The Kristin field in the Norwegian Sea came back on stream on Jan. 22.

StatoilHydro has replaced lifeboat components and done extensive testing to ensure that these craft function in all weather and wave conditions. Kristin produces about 10 million cubic metres of gas and roughly 10,000 cubic metres of condensate per day. Production capacity is 20,000 cubic metres of condensate and just over 18 million cubic metres of rich gas per day. Production from Kristin has been shut down since 8 January. A number of specialist teams in the group have worked with the safety delegate service and lifeboat supplier Umoe Schat-Harding to find a solution. The authorities have been informed of the decision. “The problem with the new lifeboats on the Kristin platform was with the hydraulic mechanism which releases the lifeboats from the platform,” explained operations vice president Eileen Andersen Buan. Many of these craft have been modified, with new models installed on some installations during the past few years. The problems have fallen under three main heads: design weaknesses, the influence of gravitational forces during a drop, and driving the craft through the sea in extreme winds and waves.

BigLift adds five heavylifts to its fleet

Five more heavylift vessels will be added to Amsterdam-based BigLift Shipping.

The 17,500DWT vessels will each have two 400-tonne cranes and one 12o-tonne crane. These “D-4” ships are further developments of the “D-gracht” vessels from BigLift’s parent company, Spliethoff. On board, the high allowable deck loads to stow heavy cargoes. Should visibility from the wheelhouse be obstructed by large deck loads, the vessels are easily maneuvered from a second command station forward. The vessels are being built at the Ohua Shipyard in China and will be delivered between mid 2010 and the end of 2010.

Monday, January 26, 2009

FMC to build BP offshore gear

FMC Technologies has landed an $80 million job with BP for subsea equipment.

They are destined for the UK supermajor's deep-water projects off Angola. FMC's contract includes six subsea trees, control systems, wellheads, tubing hangers, well jumpers and flow bases. The equipment will be made and delivered this year from at FMC's Kongsberg, Norway and Dunfermline, Scotland facilities. Last week FMC announced it had won a $140 million job with BP at Block 18, off Angola. FMC and BP could not be immediately reached by Upstream for comment.

Goal-based ship construction standards- Inherent objectives for a new generation of seaworthy ships

The world's largest floating drydock CS Ermei made by China Shipping Industry Co (CIC), a unit of China Shipping Group has been put into operation.

The facility operates at CIC's ship repair yard at Liaoning province's Changxing Island near Dalian, and is used for maintenance and refit on ships from all over the world, and has an annual repair capacity of 160 ships and output value of CYN10 billion (US$1.46 billion). The drydock, designed by Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI), is 410 metres long, 82 metres wide, 28 metres draught with a uplift force of 85,000 tonnes and a self weight of 42,000 tonnes. It is the largest and most advanced floating shipyard in the world. The above news indicates, that the industry requires a better, sophisticated and prolonged seaworthy duration ships that could be delivered sooner. With almost 80 percent of the dockyards overbooked for 2009, it is time that states should look into developing innovative inventions such as the CS Ermei. The notion of “goal-based ship construction standards” was introduced in IMO at the 89th session of the Council in November 2002 through a proposal by the Bahamas and Greece, suggesting that IMO should play a larger role in determining the standards to which new ships are built, traditionally the responsibility of classification societies and shipyards.

UKHO opens Singapore office

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) opened an office in Singapore on January 23.

The office, based in the British High Commission, is an initiative backed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore – a key long-standing partner and influence in the region – and is staffed by a member of UKHO’s International Partnering team, Chris Thorne. The UKHO’s Singapore office is expected to serve as a springboard for capacity building in the region and delivery of training to foreign government hydrographic offices as well as a base for gaining an insight into the needs of mariners, distributors and product specialists in this busy maritime trading area. The training facility will be delivered and managed jointly with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Panama gears up for Panama Maritime IX exhibition

The maritime community is gearing up for the bi-annual Panama Maritime IX World Conference & Exhibition, which will take place in Panama February 9-11, 2009 and will be inaugurated by Panama’s President Martin Torrijos with the participation of IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos.

Panama Maritime IX World Conference & Exhibition is jointly organized by Panama Maritime Law Association (PMLA) in association with Panama’s Chamber of Shipping and with the undivided support from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP). The conference is reputed for its ability to draw the key international players and provide a platform for discussion of important matters related to the maritime industry, both from a Latin American view point and from that of the industry as a whole. This year the conference-exhibition will focus on the main concerns of the maritime industry in the region and worldwide and will include: Port industry in Latin America; Green Shipping with its implications for the maritime industry; maritime insurance in the Latin American market; trends of international trade; Panama’s new legislation for the sector and the seafarers’ realities of today.

Reflex Marine Launches Toro Transfer Device

Reflex Marine launched its revolutionary Toro personnel transfer capsule on Jan. 21 in Aberdeen, Scotland at the same time announcing the unit’s first sales.

The launch celebration at the Maritime Museum, followed a demonstration at Woollard & Henry, Aberdeen. Following purchases by Chevron and BG Group, the crew transfer device will soon be operating in the North Sea and North Africa. Enquiries have also been received from operators in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and USA. The Aberdeen launch and demonstration was the first leg of a world tour which will see similar events taking place in key growth areas such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Houston. Following close consultation within the industry, the company set out to develop a low cost transfer device, which maintains high levels of passenger protection and operational performance, established with earlier designs.

New generation RAmparts 3200B design from Robert Allan

In 2007 Norwegian vessel owners, Østensjø Rederi approached Turkish shipyard Sanmar Denizcilik Makin eve Ticaret, of Istanbul, to build a tug similar to the standard 32-metre RAmparts 3200 class tug, designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan.

This requirement led to a close collaboration between owner, builder and designer to develop a revised, beamier design. The result is a new generation of ASD tug, known as the RAmparts 3200B Class. This is built under the “Escort 80” series name at Sanmar. The vessel is suitable for a wide range of duties including harbour towage and ship-handling, coastal towing, and escort operations. It is also equipped for firefighting and oil spill response duties. The hull form reflects the now very well-proven double chine form with a sweeping "chined" stern. A large escort skeg is fitted forward to enhance the indirect towing capability and to provide enhanced roll stability. Particulars of the first of the 4,800kW Vivax class tugs are: an overall length of 32 metres, a moulded beam of twelve metres, moulded depth of 5.36 metres and maximum overall draught of 6.11 metres. The vessel is classed by ABS under Towage Service, Escort Vessel, ABCU, Fi-Fi 1, Oil Recovery Class 1, Unrestricted Service.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Petrobras to invest $174.4bn with new plan

Petrobras plans to spend $174.4 billion in the 2009-2013 period, 56% more than the amount budgeted under its previous five-year estimate.

Petrobras will invest an average $35 billion a year to expand oil and gas output, refining and fuels distribution, chief executive Jose Sergio Gabrielli said. The budget was approved three months later than expected. The increase comes amid a 68% drop in the price of oil since the commodity reached a record $147.27 a barrel on 11 July on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Petrobras had originally planned to release its spending plans in October. Petrobras has used government-backed or subsidised loans to make up for a fall in cash holdings under its $112 billion 2008- 2012 plan, a programme that committed the company to spend more than $22 billion a year. The company sees its crude output in Brazil growing to 3.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2013, boosted by output from its massive, recently discovered subsalt reserves. Petrobras sees subsalt oil output at 219,000 bpd by 2013, 582,000 bpd by 2015 and 1.8 million bpd by 2020, said Gabrielli. Of the total investments, Petrobras will allocate $92 billion for exploration and production, including the subsalt reserves, compared with $65 billion that was directed to E&P during the previous 2008-12 plan. Gabrielli said that the plans were based on the presumption that world oil prices would average about $42 a barrel over the period but saw prices as low as $37 a barrel this year.

Keppel Offshore & Marine braces for tough market

Singapore: Despite ending 2008 on a strong note with an 18% increase in revenues to $8.5bn Keppel Offshore & Marine has stated that it expects to see fewer rig and ship repair contracts during the coming months.

The subsidiary of the Keppel Group, accounted for 72% of group revenue of $11.8bn, having completed and delivered three semisubmersibles and 13 jackups to its customers. ‘The global economic slowdown and financial crisis as well as the drop in oil prices have affected the oil and gas industry,’ the company said in its annual report. ‘This is expected to result in fewer rig contracts. Shiprepair is also expected to be affected by slumping freight rates and more vessels being laid up. ‘However, the demand for FPSO conversions remains strong. The outstanding order book of $10.8bn with deliveries into 2012 will keep Keppel Offshore & Marine’s yards busy. Offshore & Marine Division will continue to be the largest contributor to the profit of the Group. The Division will continue to focus on cutting edge technologies and long-term relationships with its customers,’ it concluded.

Marseilles expects 160,000 more passengers in 2009

Marseilles is expecting 160,000 more passengers to embark, disembark or transit at its port in 2009.

This year, the French port expects over 700,000 passengers, including 500,000 transit passengers. In 2008, Marseilles had 140,000 passengers embark and disembark, while there were 400,000 transit passengers. Marseilles has reported a steady increase in cruise traffic since 2000. Cruise liners frequently calling at the port include Costa and MSC.

Russian shipbuilding update

The Zvezdochka Shipyard may begin weaning itself from building defence ships for the Navy and focus instead on building ships for the civil industry.

At a recent conference titled “Economic activities of Russia in the Arctic direction: problems of developing marine activities,” Russia held assessments of the ability of the yard to take on such orders. There are no concrete plans as of yet for Zvezdochka to make a transition, however, Russian insiders believe it will be highly probable as the Moscow Forum of Oil and Gas Industrialists has given the idea very firm backing and support. Krasnye Barrikady Shipyard has been struggling to pay wages to its employees. The Astrkhan shipyard may be able to gain some assistance from a Turkish company so as to continue work on the Caspian shelf for another one year. Other existing contracts include four orders for oil equipment in Kazakhstan and a drilling platform for the UAE.

Friday, January 23, 2009

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems lands international submarine components contracts

Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has lately landed a series of international submarine components contracts from Korea, Italy and Columbia.

In December 2008, ThyssenKrupp-owned company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) received a contract from Korea for the delivery of six material packages to build Class 214 submarines. The contract was made between the HDW/ Marine Force International (MFI) consortium and the South Korean procurement authority DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration). It will provide Korea with a second batch of boats in this successful class of submarines. In late 2008, Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, under license from HDW, delivered three Class 214 submarines to the DAPA. Each submarine had a displacement of 1,700 tonnes and had a length of 65 metres. The vessels have a combined diesel-electric and fuel cell propulsion system. Equipped with ultra-modern sensors and an integrated Command and Weapon Control System, the vessels are optimally suited for reconnaissance and surveillance tasks. After studying the tenders produced by national Korean shipyards, DAPA selected Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to build the first boat of the second batch. Submission of tenders for the second boat is due to take place in summer 2009.

New business model at the Odense Steel Shipyard

Following a period of project financing stalemate due to the financial crisis, the board members of the Odense Steel Shipyard have agreed to a new business model at the Lindo shipyard.

The new business model focuses on a more specialized shipyard, and a new offer to use facilities and other areas of the yard to external businesses. “We will continue to have a shipyard, but one which also entails a reorganization of part of the production at Lindo from ship building to alternative utilization of the workforce and production machinery. Our wish is to keep a shipyard and other production at Lindo. Therefore, we have agreed upon a new business model which is creative and forward thinking, but also realistic and necessary,” said Chairman Lars-Erik Brenoe after the board meeting. There will be three business areas: a shipyard, an industry part, and some shared facilities. In the future, the shipyard will concentrate on producing smaller ships, including, potentially, ships for the offshore area. At the same time, external businesses will be allowed to make use of the Lindo facilities for the production of heavy steel products.

Three Korean yards slated for debt workout

Daehan Shipbuilding, Jinse Shipbuilding and Nok Bong Shipbuilding are all being urged to apply for rehabilitation proceedings (workout) under the control of banks.

A group of banks have scrutinized the books of these three and concluded they can survive given some help unlike C&Heavy Industries which was cast as under earlier this week by the Korean Federation of Banks. Beginning this month, South Korean financial organizations conducted credit checks on more than 100 shipyards and construction companies mired in deteriorating business performance. Daehan had been faced with a string of problems, including management instability at its parent company Daeju Group. Though it asked owners to change their payment schemes and so on, it decided at the turn of last year to abort the construction of its No.2 dock in light of its worsening financial problems. As for Jinse, its issuance of refund guarantees had stalled, reportedly causing the cancellation of the orders for around 20 bulkers in the autumn of last year. Meanwhile, Nok Bong has a more than 20-year track record in shipbuilding.

Flex LNG delays floater deliveries

Flex LNG said it had agreed with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries to delay delivery of four floating gas liquefaction units the yard is building for the Norway-listed group.

Flex said it had agreed to push back delivery dates for the floating liquefied natural gas processing units by between six and seven months among other changes to its agreements with SHI. It said the changes would affect timelines for installing the hulls and topsides on fields. Despite the delays, Flex said the business case for its floating LNG technology remained “robust” and it was continuing to develop its project portfolio. The company said it would continue front-end engineering and design (FEED) and pre-FEED work with its engineering partners to developing a range of field-specific LNG modules to allow the floating units maximum flexibility of deployment.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Marine BizTV adds new satellite ‘Eurobird’

A new satellite named Eurobird streams Marine BizTV making it available in Europe.

In addition to satellites, Thaicom-5 (C Band) and Hotbird 6 (Ku Band), a new satellite named Eurobird also covers Marine BizTV enabling its availability in Europe. The downlinking frequency to obtain the channel is 11919, Polarity: Vertical, Symbol Rate: 27.500, FEC:3/4. The channel has its coverage through satellite and cable TV in Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe, North and South America and parallel coverage on Web TV. Marine BizTV will be distributed to the target segment via DTH in areas where DTH platform is popular and through cable network in areas connected through cable distribution networks.

Korean Navy’s new submarine makes deepest dive in its history

The Korean Navy has recently completed the final test dive during sea acceptance tests for its rescue submersible ROKS ‘DSRV II’.

Built by Scotland’s James Fisher Defence (JFD), this submarine is the first in Korea to be classed with Lloyd’s Register. During its final dive, the vessel achieved a depth of 507 metres, the deepest recorded dive in the history of the Korean Navy. ROKS ‘DSRV II’ was built to a design based on the Glasgow-based JFD's Deep Search and Rescue (DSAR) 500 Class submarine rescue vehicle platform. Its construction, which draws on the JFD's experience in global submarine rescue operations and participation in submarine rescue, was overseen by Lloyd's Register. Surveyor Paul Marshall from the Glasgow office, dealt with most of the production and testing during construction and Liz Kennedy from the hull office, coordinated the global involvement of Lloyd’s Register in the project. The test dives, from the Chung-Hae-Jin, the ROK Navy’s multipurpose salvage and submarine rescue ship, were monitored by Lloyd's Register Asia’s Korean surveyors Jae Sun Kim and Hein Leemhuis. The DSAR 500 Class rescue submersible is light, manoeuvrable and highly capable incorporating several significant advances in rescue technology.

22 VLCCs utilised for oil storage: SSY

London: Voyage movements and shipping fixtures suggest as many as 22 Very Large Crude Carriers and one Suezmax may be currently used for storing crude oil.

A further 12-13 ships are potentially being utilized for floating storage, he added, although tanker fixtures could also indicate that these vessels may still be in the process of delivering or loading crude, and not simply employed as storage. If all the vessels identified by SSY are in fact storing crude oil, it would suggest just over 70 million barrels of crude is currently being stored afloat. Demand for VLCCs for use as floating storage has been rising since late last year, as a combination of lower freight rates and a wide contango in oil futures prices - where near term contracts trade at a discount to those further into the future - have allowed traders to turn a profit from buying spot crude and locking in a higher selling price for delivery further in the future. Last week, the International Energy Agency reported that the amount of crude oil currently being stored in oil tankers has swelled to between 50 million and 80 million barrels, highlighting weak demand for both oil and sea borne transport.

Cosmo wins Abu Dhabi extension

Cosmo Oil Company, Japan's fourth-largest refiner, will be granted a 20-year extension of its stake in an offshore Abu Dhabi oilfield that is set to expire in 2012.

The move comes among increased efforts by Japanese companies to tie down stable crude production amid an ambitious aim by the government to produce 40% of the country's oil needs from Japanese-owned fields by 2030. A Cosmo subsidiary, Abu Dhabi Oil Company, which has been operating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) oilfield under a 45-year contract, may also be granted additional exploration rights when the agreement is renewed, the official said. Abu Dhabi Oil, which currently produces about 18,000 barrels per day, has the capacity to produce about 25,000 bpd. The Abu Dhabi government's investment arm, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), owns one-fifth of Cosmo. The UAE is Cosmo's biggest crude supplier and the second-biggest supplier to Japan after Saudi Arabia.

Keppel delivers first jackup rig of 2009 to Maersk Driling

Keppel FELS, Singapore, has delivered the third of four high efficiency jackup rigs to Maersk Drilling.

The rig was named ‘Maersk Resolve’, by Mrs Sun-hee Madsen, spouse of Mr Erik Madsen, Maersk Drilling’s Site Manager at a ceremony yesterday (January 21). Tong Chong Heong, Keppel Offshore and Marine’s newly appointed CEO said that beginning with ‘Maersk Resolve’, Keppel FELS would deliver as many as 14 rigs in 2009. The series of high efficiency rigs ordered by Maersk Drilling have a maximum operating depth of 105 metres and are suitable for drilling deep, high temperature/ high pressure wells of 9,145 metres. They are also highly automated for safe operations. The first rig, ‘Maersk Resilient’, was delivered in February 2008 and has commenced operations for Dubai Petroleum Establishment. The second rig, ‘Maersk Resolute’, was delivered in August 2008 and has been contracted to Dong Energy for operations in the Danish part of the North Sea over three years. Meanwhile, the fourth and final jackup rig of this fleet is on-track for delivery in the second quarter of 2009. Keppel FELS also recently delivered the ‘Maersk Developer’, the first of three semisubmersibles to Maersk Drilling.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Drydocks World builds two jackups on speculation, others may follow

Drydocks World’s Graha yard in Batam, Indonesia, is planning to build two jackup rigs on speculation.

Deliveries are slated for the end of 2010 and the first quarter of 2011. The yard is currently building four jackup rigs, two for a UMW Holdings- Standard Drilling joint venture and two for Saipem. In other news, Drydocks World may consider building other vessels at the company’s shipyards in Singapore and Indonesia in anticipation of a pickup in demand for newbuilds when the economy recovers. The yards have received some expressions of interest, however final contracts are slow to roll forth due to the current economic climate.

APL secure in Singapore

Singapore: APL, the container shipping business of the NOL Group, has achieved STP-plus status as part of Singapore's Secure Trade Partnership (STP).

STP-plus is an enhanced tier of the STP programme - the voluntary supply chain security initiative introduced in 2007 by Singapore Customs. STP-plus is awarded to companies which have in place robust security measures and best practices that meet the more stringent standards defined by the STP Criteria. APL is one of the first organisations to achieve the higher rating from a total of 27 companies which have been certified under the STP programme.

Chouest Purchases Tampa Shipyard

On November 18, 2008, Edison Chouest Offshore officials appeared before the Tampa Port Authority in an effort to secure the assignment of Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair’s long-term lease agreement with the port.

The authority had no objection to the transfer and, on that date, Tampa Ship, LLC was born. Chouest assumed management and operation of the yard in early December. The Tampa shipyard is a full service conversion, overhaul and repair facility that was previously owned by a group associated with Mobile, AL-based Bender Shipbuilding and Repair. The shipyard has been the only commercial shipyard equipped with four large graving docks (capable of servicing ships up to 150,000 DWT) and extensive crane facilities between Pascagoula, MS and Hampton Roads, VA. “Tampa Ship provides us more capacity for new construction and the repair of much larger vessels,” said President Gary Chouest. “Now that we have closed on the purchase, we are looking forward to construction on our first new vessel this month.” Although the shipyard specialized in recent years in performing repairs and overhauls, Chouest has agreed to assist in the phase out of a new construction deal with Bender. The previous owner has been building three large barges for Overseas Shipholding Group; Chouest will assist in completing that deal, slated for a late 2009 delivery.

Japanese shipping lines scale back on fleet expansions

Both Nippon Yusen KK (NYK) and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) have decided to draw back on their initial fleet expansion programme as the world continues to feel the pressure caused by the credit crunch.

NYK initially had plans to increase its own fleet as well as chartered ships, to 1,000 by 2010, but has decided to go the other way now, with new plans to shave off 200 vessels. The company will reduce its investment in new ships by 15 percent starting this fiscal year. Meanwhile MOL’s plan was to boost the number of ships in their own and chartered fleet by some 300 vessels to 1,200 by the end of fiscal 2012, however the company has now decided to downgrade its plans through 2009. Many shipping companies worldwide are cutting back on fleet expansions, however many continue to introduce new, fuel-efficient ships while concurrently retiring older ships.

Medco and Anadarko can Nunukan deal

Indonesia’s Medco Energi and independent Anadarko Petroleum have reportedly ended a joint exploration agreement covering Medco’s Nunukan block in the country.

The pair signed a mutual termination agreement in December, ending plans to develop the 4917-square-kilometre offshore block in East Kalimantan’s Tarakan basin, the Platts news service reported. Under the deal Anadarko will refund Medco about $14 million that the company has spent on exploration on the block to date. The US company will still try to drill an exploration block on the block as stipulated under the agreement. If it fails to do so by 30 June 2010, Anadarko will pay Medco $25 million less any expenses incurred in attempting to drill, the news service said. Under a 2007 agreement, Anadarko had agreed to a staged farm in to 60% of the Nunukan block, and to take over operatorship of the project. An earlier exploration agreement proposed Anadarko earning a stake of up to 40% of Medco’s interest in certain PSCs for an investment of up to $80 million. Medco said in a statement to the Jakarta Stock Exchange that both agreements had now been ended.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Groundbreaking ceremony held for Huizhou Port's first dedicated container terminal

China: Hutchison Port Holdings and the Huizhou Port Affairs Group Company Limited held a groundbreaking ceremony last week.

The companies broke ground on two 50,000-tonne container berths at Huizhou Quanwan International Container Terminals (HQCT), which will soon become Huizhou Port’s first dedicated container terminal. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by over 400 guests, representing the municipal government, local enterprises as well as top executives from the port and shipping industries. Huang Yebin, Party Secretary of the Huizhou Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China; Li Ruqiu, Mayor of Huizhou; John Meredith, Group Managing Director of HPH; James S Tsien, Managing Director of Hutchison Ports China; and Zhong Jiayun, Chairman and President of Huizhou Port Affairs Group Company Limited, jointly hosted the ceremony. At the ceremony, Mr Tsien explained that Huizhou Quanwan International Container Terminals would be the first dedicated container terminal in Huizhou Port. An expressway network and two major railway arteries, the Beijing-Kowloon and Guangzhou-Meizhou-Shantou lines, connect HQCT to the Pearl River Delta and manufacturing hinterlands along the railways.

STX Shipyard launches first China-made diesel engine

Dalian: South Korea's STX Group, said that its Chinese shipyard had succeeded in manufacturing a highly efficient diesel engine, a technological breakthrough that will help enhance its competitiveness.

The engine, made in China's northeastern port city of Dalian, would be installed on a bulk carrier being built at the shipyard, the group said in a statement. The shipyard built its first vessel in December, 2008. STX is the first South Korean shipbuilder to build vessels in China. Its Chinese shipyard was capable of manufacturing 150 high-powered diesel engines a year, STX said. Meanwhile, STX Group said its Norwegian subsidiary will sell US$86 million worth of bonds to help bolster the group's financial health. STX Norway AS will issue the floating-rate bonds and sell them wholly to Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore, the group said, without disclosing the debt's maturity. There is plenty of speculation that STX is about to embark on significant staff cuts at its newly acquired French and Finnish subsidiaries.

Russian gas set to flow through Ukraine

Russia's state-controlled gas company Gazprom said it would resume supplies to Europe via Ukraine at 0700 GMT today, nearly two weeks after a contract row cut flows to freezing European countries.

The order to start pumping gas again followed the signing of a 10-year gas contract between Moscow and Kiev and late-night talks between Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and officials from the Gazprom gas export monopoly. Officials have said it would take 36 hours or more after the restart for the pipeline system to become operational again and for gas to reach Europe, parts of which have had to ration supplies to households and business because of the dispute. "For the EU, the decisive moment will come when renewed supplies are registered at its borders," Martin Riman, industry minister for the Czech Republic, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said after the new contract was signed yesterday. Russian media quoted Tymoshenko as saying after her talks in Moscow that under the new contract her country would pay about $230 per 1000 cubic metres of gas in 2009. That is a figure that officials in Ukraine, struggling with a deep economic slump, say they can just about afford to pay. The dispute follows a shorter disruption three years ago and has once again called into question the credibility of Russia and Ukraine as reliable energy suppliers for Europe.

Shekou Container Terminal volume up 24 percent to 4.1 million TEU in 2008

Shenzhen's Shekou Container Terminal hit its annual throughput target of 4.1 million TEU, marking a 24 percent year-on-year increase in 2008.

SCT earlier took delivery of six new electricity-driven rubber tyre gantry cranes for its new No. 8 berth, marking the arrival of the last of ten new cranes. The No. 8 berth, which commenced operation in September 2008, has an annual capacity of 700,000TEU with a quay length of 455 metres and a depth of 17 metres. The berth, equipped with four quay cranes, can handle the world's largest containerships.

Germanischer Lloyd acquires International Refinery Services

Singapore-based "International Refinery Services Pte Ltd" (IRS) is the latest addition to Germanischer Lloyd.

With the acquisition of the asset management expert company, the GL Group expands its service portfolio for the petroleum, oil and gas industry yet again. "With IRS, the GL Group adds substantial expertise in risk management and capacity of advanced inspection techniques," said Pekka Paasivaara, Member of the Executive Board Germanischer Lloyd in Singapore. Previous acquisitions in Great Britain, Canada, the U.S. and Malaysia over the past 18 months have strengthened the technical portfolio of the GL Group considerably. With its latest acquisition, GL will be able to provide extended services specifically to the oil and gas industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Germanischer Lloyd offers engineering consultancy, technical assurance, asset management, risk and safety consultancy, industrial inspections and software solutions to the oil & gas industry. The holistic service offering is directed at owners and operators of complex plants and installations. Complemented by the British Advantica Group, Canadian and U.S. PV Inspection, Kuala Lumpur-based Trident Consultants and U.S.-based Material Consulting Services, the GL Group's range of oil and gas services extends across the asset life cycle. With the additional expertise of IRS, Germanischer Lloyd will now be able to further extend its network and service portfolio especially in Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

Monday, January 19, 2009

DP World places large crane order, unveils plans for more piers and berths

Dubai Port World is purchasing 87 sets of container cranes for US$343 million from port machinery supplier, Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery Company, the world’s largest port equipment producer.

The cranes are to be delivered between 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. The deal comes amid plans by international container terminal operator DP World to build ten more piers over the next few years, with 13 berths currently under construction.
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Jurong polishes first Larsen semisub

Singapore’s Jurong Shipyard has wrapped up major construction work on Petrorig 1, the first of four ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs the yard is building for Larsen Oil & Gas.

Jurong parent SembCorp Marine said turnkey work on the rig was wrapped on schedule and the rig was on track for delivery in March. Its maiden assignment is under a five-year charter with Petrobras in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig was named in a ceremony at the yard and will now move to an anchorage to allow thrusters to be installed. The Petrorig 1 is a sixth-generation rig built to the Friede & Goldman’s Ex-D Millennium design. The dynamically positioned rig will be capable of drilling in to depths of up to 37,500 feet in water up to 10,000 feet deep. The rig has an operational displacement of 46,750 tonnes and a deck-load capacity of up to 8000 tonnes. Petrorig 2 has landed a five-year charter with Petrobras off Brazil and Petrorig 3 has been handed a three-year gig with Pemex off Mexico.

Port of Sohar joins Green Award certification initiative

The Port of Sohar has become the first port in the Middle East to enter the Green Award scheme — a certification system that encourages ships and ship-owners to embrace environment-friendly operational and management practices.

The scheme is supervised by the Rotterdam-based Bureau Green Award, the executive body of the autonomous, non-profit Green Award Foundation. The certification procedure consists of an office audit of each individual ship applying for certification. Green Award certified ships receive a significant reduction in port dues that are part of the scheme. Currently, 221 ships are Green Award certified. At present, only crude oil and product tankers, as well as dry bulk carriers of over 20,000 DWT, have applied for the certification. Plans are afoot to broaden the scope of the scheme to also include container ships and LNG carriers in the future, a senior representative of the Green Award Foundation stated here yesterday. As a Green Award partner, the Port of Sohar joins 30 ports and harbours around the world that support this initiative.

Cambodia to build new port in Phnom Penh

Cambodia's government has announced a plan to build a new port in capital city Phnom Penh by the end of this year or in early 2010 to meet the increasing demand for waterway transportation.

The project, estimated at $25 million, was approved by the government in October 2008 and feasibility work is underway, said Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. The port will be located south of the city in the lower Mekong River area and not far away from the current Phnom Penh port. The new facility will have a capacity of 300,000 containers a day, which is six times larger than the current Phnom Penh port, Minister Keat Chhon added.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

ConocoPhillips cuts jobs

US supermajor ConocoPhillips, citing a steep decline in oil and gas prices, said it will cut 4% of its workforce and sees big writedowns on some of its exploration and production assets.

The cut will trim about about 1,300 jobs worldwide. The company also set its 2009 capital expenditures at $12.5 billion, a budget the company said was ample enough to fund large development projects but down from a projected $20 billion in spending for 2008. Conoco said the drop in oil and gas prices will affect its year-end reserves. Shares of Conoco fell nearly 3% in extended trading. On a year-over-year basis, crude oil prices fell more than 50%, while natural gas prices tumbled 25%.
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Iraq eyeing new Syria export route

Iraq is planning to build a new pipeline to pump natural gas to Syria, part of its efforts to develop new oil and gas export routes, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said.

Oil Minister Hussain Al Shahristani met Syrian ambassador Nawaf Aboud Al Shaikh Faris in Baghdad to discuss co-operation in oil and gas between countries that have restored diplomatic ties in recent years after a decades-long freeze. "The Iraqi oil ministry is preparing the requirements to fulfill the project of transporting gas from the Akkas field to Syria," ministry spokesman Asim Jihad quoted Al Shahristani as saying. He said the ministry has already reached an agreement with a firm specialising in constructing gas pipelines to work on the project, although he did not name the firm. He also said Iraq and Syria have plans to reopen a long-shut oil pipeline to pump Iraqi crude to the Syrian port of Banias.
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'Hebei Spirit' Two released on bail, rally cancelled

News has been received from Korea that the ‘Hebei Two’, Captain Jasprit Chawla and Chief Officer Syam Chetan, have been released from jail on bail, pending the final decision by the Supreme Court.

Bail was set at $ 10,000 for each officer. The treatment of the Hebei Two brought together global shipping associations and unions which planned to host a rally in London to protest against the treatment of Captain Chawla and Chief Officer Chetan. In view of the release of the Hebei Two, the trade associations and unions have agreed to cancel the rally, which was originally scheduled for January 23 in London. V.Ships’ Senior Management, which employs the two men, expressed its gratitude to the Korean Government for taking the first positive steps in resolving the case.
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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Petrobras to invest $1.1bn in Bolivia

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva plans to invest $1.1 billion to develop Bolivia’s natural-gas reserves as the Andean nation struggles to meet supply contracts to Brazil and Argentina.

Brazil’s state oil company “has made the commitment to invest $1.1 billion in the coming years,” Lula said. “We need gas and we will act with the Bolivian government to fulfill that need.” Bolivia has struggled to keep up with supply contracts to Brazil and Argentina as investment dropped off under President Evo Morales’ administration. Petrobras suspended projects in Bolivia in 2006 after Bolivia raised taxes by 80%. Lula and Morales also visited the Bolivian town of Puerto Suarez and announced the two countries would work on exploration of new gas deposits in Bolivia, without elaborating.
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Gazprom, ENI to handle South Stream project preparations

A joint working group of Gazprom and ENI (Italy) will meet to address preparations to the South Stream project.

The meeting was approved by Gazprom and ENI chiefs Alexei Miller and Paolo Scaroni. Miller gave Scaroni details of the ongoing gas dispute with Ukraine and steps Gazprom had been taking to resolve the standoff. Against the background of the gas row, the task of diversifying gas routes has become even more pressing. In particular, the two chiefs discussed the South Stream project which will link Russia directly to Europe and enhance its energy security.
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Russia outlines Arctic waterway ambitions

Russia intends to substantially increase the volume of cargo transportation across the Arctic waterway in accordance with plans to develop the country's Arctic and Far Eastern regions, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said.

Levitin is taking part in a ministerial conference on environment protection and energy in the transport sector that is being held in Tokyo. The Russian government plans to create a free economic zone at the Far Eastern port of Vanino that will be linked through the northern waterway to a transportation hub in Murmansk in the northwest of Russia, Levitin said. "This is the shortest waterway linking Russia's Far East, as well as Japan, with Europe," he said. To develop the Arctic Region, the government plans to upgrade existing ports and build new ones on Russia's northern coast, namely on the Barents Sea and near the mouths of major Siberian rivers, he said. New marine safety services should be created and all ships and shipping companies should be equipped with receivers of Russia's global satellite navigation system GLONASS, Levitin said.

Ensco International Updates Contract Status of Offshore Rig Fleet

Ensco International Incorporated announced that its Contract Status of Offshore Rig Fleet Report has been updated as of January 15, 2009.

The Report is available on the Company's Web site at http://www.enscointernational.com and can be accessed from the home page by clicking on "Rig Contract Status." The Report also can be accessed through the SEC EDGAR System. The Company updates and files the Report with the SEC on Form 8-K on or about the 15th of each month. Ensco routinely posts all material information on its Website. Ensco, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, owns and operates a modern fleet of offshore drilling rigs servicing the petroleum industry on a global basis.

Vinalines receives bank loan for fleet and seaport development

Viet Nam National Shipping Lines Corp has signed a co-operative agreement with the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam for a US$857 million loan for 2009 to 2011.

The capital will be invested in the development of seaports, fleets and marine services. Vinalines posted a 2008 revenue earning of US$1.2 billion, which is 41 percent higher than its 2007 figure.

Friday, January 16, 2009

South Korea to deliver over 500 ships in 2009

South Korean builders seem unfazed by the global financial downturn as its largest shipbuilders are set to deliver the highest-ever number of ships in 2009.

According to the Korean Shipbuilders’ Association (Koshipa), nine of its member companies will deliver 522 ships this year, about a hundred ships more than in 2007. Hyundai Heavy Industries passed a major milestone last year when it delivered over 100 vessels for the first time, and other yards like Samsung, Daewoo, STX and Hanjin have all reported an increase in output levels. Nine of the member companies affiliated with Koshipa account for 90 percent of the total ship building production in Korea.

GL buys Singaporean oil and gas firm

Singapore-based "International Refinery Services Pte Ltd" (IRS) is the latest addition to Germanischer Lloyd (GL).

With the acquisition of the asset management expert company, the GL Group is expanding its service portfolio for the petroleum, oil and gas industry. "With IRS, the GL Group adds substantial expertise in risk management and capacity of advanced inspection techniques," said Pekka Paasivaara, Member of the Executive Board Germanischer Lloyd at the press conference in Singapore. Previous acquisitions in Great Britain, Canada, the U.S. and Malaysia over the past 18 months have strengthened the technical portfolio of the GL Group considerably. With its latest acquisition, GL will be able to provide extended services specifically to the oil and gas industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Germanischer Lloyd offers engineering consultancy, technical assurance, asset management, risk and safety consultancy, industrial inspections and software solutions to the oil & gas industry. The holistic service offering is directed at owners and operators of complex plants and installations. With the additional expertise of IRS, Germanischer Lloyd will now be able to further extend its network and service portfolio especially in Australia, Singapore, the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan's major yards post high completion volume figures for 2008

Six major Japanese builders have posted the completion volumes of their shipyards for 2008, showing a total of 108 ships built in the heavy industries, totaling some 7.24 million GT, an increase of 18.2 percent over 2007.

Universal Shipbuilding posted a completion volume of more than two million GT for the second year in a row; while the main shipyard at Maizuru Shipyard’s completion volume was over one million GT. The other four yards posted completion volume figures of 2.07 million GT. The overall completion volume at Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding (MES) was 1.35 million, which represents a 14.4 percent increase from 2007. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ completion volume saw an increase of nearly one third at 32.2 percent (1.34 million FT), IHC Marine’s overall completion volume was up 42.2 percent (1.21 million) and Kawasaki posted a 46.3 percent increase from 2007 at 790,000GT.

Vinashin launches offshore floating storage unit with a 150,000 DW

The Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group (Vinashin) launched the FSO-05, an offshore floating storage unit with a 150,000 DWT (Dead Weight Tonnage).

The US$190 million FSO, built on order of the PetroVietnam Technical Services Joint Stock Company (PTSC), a subsidiary of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), is the first floating storage unit ever built in Vietnam and the biggest ever shipbuilding deal between the two domestic firms. “It is also the biggest product built by Vinashin so far, which once again strengthened our foothold in the world shipbuilding market” said Vinashin’s CEO Pham Thanh Binh at the launch ceremony in Hai Phong’s Nam Trieu Shipyard. The FSO-05 will be able to receive 15,000 tonnes of oil a day and has an offload capacity of 3,500-5,000 tonnes of oil per hour, he added.

Gail ‘may pump D6 gas’

The Gas Authority of India Limited, the subcontinent’s largest gas pipeline operator, may be in line for exclusive marketing rights for gas produced from Reliance Industries’ offshore D6 Block.

The Bombay High Court, which is hearing a dispute over how gas from the project should be supplied to power generators and fertilizer companies, may appoint Gail to manage the flows. The court had reportedly said that it could change an existing injunction preventing Reliance from selling the gas to anyone other than Reliance Natural Resources, a separate midstream arm of India’s giant Reliance comglomerate. Gas from the project, which is set to flow by the end of next month, will be landed at Kakinada, in Andhra Pradesh state. Another official said government official had held talks with Reliance and Gail over the matter as early as six weeks ago.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Penn Maritime takes delivery of second articulated tug barge

USA: The second in a series of 35-metre articulated tug barges (ATB) vessels was delivered to Penn Maritime from Thoma-Sea Boat builders in December 2008.

The vessel has a length of 35 metres on a beam of 10.9 metres and a moulded depth of 5.2 metres. ‘Coho’ is powered by a pair of ABS-certified 1,490kW, 60-litre V-16 Cummins QSK60 engines turning up to 1,800rpm into Reintjes gears with 7.45:1 ratios. The boat is fitted with Nautican nozzles and shutter rudders. The vessel also has three 99kW generator sets. The elevated wheelhouse has an eye level of 15.7 metres.

Qatar to step up LNG sales to India in 2009

Qatar, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas exporter said it would sell additional LNG to India this fiscal year to ease fuel deficit faced by power and fertiliser units in the country.

“We will sell more extra (LNG) cargoes this year,” Qatar Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah said on his arrival here to attend the Petrotech 2009 conference. RasGas currently sells 5mn tonnes a year of LNG to Petronet under a 25-year contract. An additional 2.5mn tonnes will be supplied under the same contract from the fourth quarter of 2009. Qatar, which last year came to the rescue of the beleaguered Dabhol power plant by agreeing to supply more than 1.25mn tonnes, is likely to supply six cargoes this year beginning February.

Blue Energy set for exploration plunge

Perth-based gas player Blue Energy had completed a technical review of its coalbed methane portfolio in Queensland and will press ahead with a farm-out process to drive development of some of its 100%-owned assets.

The move was part of the company’s “cash conservation” approach to future exploration, Perth said. It said it had appointed MBA Consulting to help with the farm-out process. Blue Energy said it had seen “considerable interest” in its tenements on ATP 813P, ATP 814P, ATP 817P and ATP 854P. The company said that as part of its “strong refocus on exploration activities”, chief executive Bill Williams would step down later this month to pursue other interests. Williams stepped into the role in March last year following the unexpected early retirement of founding director Sharif Oussa. Blue Energy chairman Peter Cockcroft will assume executive and management responsibility while the company continues to reorganise and steps up exploration work this year.

Milford Haven Service takes delivery of 'Svitzer Kilroom'

The third in a series of six high-performance terminal escort tugs, the ‘Svitzer Kilroom’ entered service at the Dragon LNG terminal in Milford Haven, UK.

The ‘Svitzer Kilroom’ is the largest and most powerful of the RAstar series of tugs being built for this major terminal operation, all to the new RAstar designs developed by Vancouver-based naval architech Robert Allan. This RAstar 3900-class tug was constructed by Freire Construcciones Navales of Vigo, Spain and completed trials in early December, 2008. In addition to this 39-metre tug, a series of five smaller sisters tugs of the RAstar 3400-class are also being built by Freire. ‘Svitzer Kilroom’ measures 39.1 metres in overall length on a moulded beam of 14.7 metres and a moulded depth of 6.11 metres. The vessel is equipped for typical ship-handling and escort work, with a Rolls-Royce model TW 3000/1000H single drum hawser winch on the fore deck, with a capacity for 250 metres of 76mm diameter high strength towline.

Busan retains fifth spot in box rankings

South Korea's largest port Busan ranked fifth in the world in terms of box handling in 2008.

Container traffic through Busan reached 13.42 million TEUs last year, up from 13.26 million TEUs in 2007 and 12.03 million TEUs in 2006. With the ranking, the port has retained the spot for the third consecutive year, it said. Singapore was the world's largest port last year with cargo handling reaching 29.92 million TEUs, followed by Shanghai with 28.01 million, Hong Kong with 24.30 million and Shenzhen with 21.42 million.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Rongsheng completes world's first Suez tanker built to CSR

Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries, China, has recently held a naming ceremony for a new ship.

The ceremony was held at the newly completed Terminal No. 2 and was for the first Rongsheng-built 156,000-tonne oil tanker. Histanker is also the world’s first Suez-tanker to meet Common Structural Rules (CSR). The vessel was ordered by a Greek company, and has an overall length of 274 metres, on a beam of 48 metres and a depth of 23.7 metres.
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