Strategic Marine Opens Shipyard in Vietnam

Western Australian shipbuilder Strategic Marine officially opened its $16.3m (USD) shipyard in Vietnam, demonstrating that the company is confident it can ride out the current global economic turmoil.

Strategic Marine Chairman Mark Newbold told several hundred dignitaries and guests attending the grand opening that the Vietnamese yard had already won more than $61.8m in orders. Newbold said with three other yards in Australia, Singapore and Mexico, the company was currently constructing 63 fully-financed vessels with an order book value of $164.2m, with an additional 77 vessels already contracted by international clients valued at $80m. He also announced the company had pioneered and funded an apprenticeship scheme which would see 55 Vietnamese undertake a two-year course in a range of specialized shipbuilding skills. “This scheme is expected to boost the National government’s plans to expand and modernize its shipbuilding industry, while helping us to upgrade skill levels,” Newbold said. With its newest facility, Strategic Marine has transformed 136,000sqm of vacant land at Dong Xuyen Industrial Zone in Ba Ria Vung Tau province into a fully functioning shipyard with the capability to construct large steel and aluminium vessels.

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Abu Dhabi wins contract for 34 interceptor craft

Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding (ADSB) has won a contract to supply 34 interceptors to a security firm in Abu Dhabi.

The new 16-metre vessels will be designed by Yonca-Onuk of Turkey and co-produced by the International Golden Group of Abu Dhabi. William Saltzer, CEO of ADSB said that the first vessel would be delivered in twelve months’ time.

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Petrobras spuds well in Iracema prospect

Petrobras has spudded a first well with the newbuild Seadrill semi-submersible West Taurus, targeting the Iracema prospect on the pre-salt Tupi trend.

The drilling operation was reported on the website of Brazilian hydrocarbon regulator ANP. The well is at a water depth of 2210 metres on Block BM-S-11. It is pursuing a prospect that block partners have described as a sub-structure of the giant Tupi find, where Petrobras has estimated recoverable light oil and gas resources at between 5 billion and 8 billion barrels (oil equivalent). The West Taurus arrived in Brazil recently and is chasing a pre-salt target depth of 6275 metres with its first operation for Petrobras. The Brazilian company is partnered by BG and Galp Energia on this block. Petrobras is also drilling an exploration well on the Iguacu North prospect on Block BM-S-9. This area forms part of the giant Sugarloaf structure, where expert opinion suggests that tens of billions of barrels may be accessible. Diamond Offshore’s Ocean Clipper is being used on this operation.

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MOL holds safety conferences

Japanese container line Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has held its 2009 Safety Conference in Mumbai, India and Manila, the Philippines.

The conferences have been held every year since 2007 with the primary objective of explaining and enhancing safety measures and promoting the exchange of ideas and opinions. The conferences were held on February 20 in Mumbai and February 25 in Manila. The next MOL Safety Conference is scheduled for Zagreb, Croatia, in early March.

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