One day after the Somali Government gave foreign powers the green light to use force against bandits on board ‘Faina’, Somali pirates have said they were ready to fight any rescue attempt.
“Anyone who tries to attack us or deceive us will face bad repercussions,” the pirates’ spokesman Sugule Ail told the Associated Pres via satellite telephone. “We have nothing to do with insurgents or terrorist organisations. We only need money,” he continued. “We would never reduce the ransom.” The Associated Press said that even though the Ukrainian military cargo-carrying vessel was surrounded by US Navy vessels and helicopters, the pirate sounded “calm and relaxed”. The US is particularly worried that the pirates are after the military loot, including 33 Soviet designed T-72 tanks and an assortment of weapons, and would use them in an al-Qaida-linked movement that is battling the government in Somalia. According to The Associated Press, Ali warned against the types of raids that were carried out this year by French commandos when rescuing hostages on board hijacked vessels. Russia has likewise used commando tactics to rescue hostages, however in those cases, hostages have died in the efforts. Meanwhile The Associated Press said that a Danish intelligence company which specialises in maritime security said that Somali pirates make an average of US$1 million per hijacked ship. The news agency reported that Roger Middleton, who published a report on Somali piracy for London-based Chatham House, predicted that the current situation would only meet its resolution in the payment of the ransom.
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Saturday, October 4, 2008
ABS Nautical Systems Announces New Business Intelligence Tools
Clients of ABS Nautical Systems will soon have a more prominent seat at the developers’ table.
Functionality to be released in version 5.4 of the NS 5 fleet management software this year will deliver personalized dashboards and reporting capabilities to its users. Reducing the daily administrative duties for all levels of the organization, the new “My Tasks” module collects the outstanding duties, alarms and internal system messages of an individual user and displays them in a single control center. Speaking at the annual User Conference in Long Beach, California this week, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Sandipan Bhattacharya compared the module to tools available in common software products such as Microsoft Outlook. Once logged into the software, users can immediately see any purchasing, maintenance, quality or crewing tasks requiring their attention. The parameters displayed in the dashboard are defined by the users, who can also select their own design elements such as fonts and icons. “For the initial release we focused particularly on the tasks performed at the Superintendent level’, said Bhattacharya. “Requisitions, work orders or open audits for any vessels they manage will be immediately accessible for processing”. Tightly tied to company defined authorization profiles, the module secures the visibility and access to data and will be integrated into the NS 5 system at no additional cost. Personalization will also be available through NS 5 Insight, an on-demand reporting tool that taps a separate reporting database, safeguarding company data while still giving end-users the ability to create custom reports.
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Functionality to be released in version 5.4 of the NS 5 fleet management software this year will deliver personalized dashboards and reporting capabilities to its users. Reducing the daily administrative duties for all levels of the organization, the new “My Tasks” module collects the outstanding duties, alarms and internal system messages of an individual user and displays them in a single control center. Speaking at the annual User Conference in Long Beach, California this week, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Sandipan Bhattacharya compared the module to tools available in common software products such as Microsoft Outlook. Once logged into the software, users can immediately see any purchasing, maintenance, quality or crewing tasks requiring their attention. The parameters displayed in the dashboard are defined by the users, who can also select their own design elements such as fonts and icons. “For the initial release we focused particularly on the tasks performed at the Superintendent level’, said Bhattacharya. “Requisitions, work orders or open audits for any vessels they manage will be immediately accessible for processing”. Tightly tied to company defined authorization profiles, the module secures the visibility and access to data and will be integrated into the NS 5 system at no additional cost. Personalization will also be available through NS 5 Insight, an on-demand reporting tool that taps a separate reporting database, safeguarding company data while still giving end-users the ability to create custom reports.
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Powerful PSV from Sarawak
Vroon of the Netherlands serves seven distinct markets, from reefer ships to car carriers.
The company continues to grow their fleet of offshore support vessels and took delivery of three new and one used vessel last month. Included in the expansion was the Conan Wu and Associates-designed ‘VOS Energy’ from Eastern Marine Shipyard in Sarawak, East Malaysia. The 53.8-metre platform supply vessel which carries a 13.8-metre beam and a 4.5-metre moulded depth. The vessel is powered by a pair of Cummins KTA50-M main engines each rated for 1,193kW at 1,800 RPM supplied by Scott & English (Malaysia) which gives the PSV a 13.5-knot cruising speed. In addition to the Cummins mains, the vessel incorporates a pair of 250kW gensets powered by Cummins QSM11 engines, a single Cummins 6BT 5.9(D) 80kW genset and a Cummins 4BT3.9G 46kW emergency genset. A Cummins KTA38M1 delivers 820kW to a pump for the fire fighting monitors. Finally a Cummins KTA19M3 delivers 445kW to a 6.5-tonne side thruster. All in all, ‘VOS Energy’ has eight Cummins engines. On deck a pair of five-tonne tugger winches supplements a 40-tonne towing winch. The main deck has 330 cubic metres of cargo area. Accommodation is provided for up to 42 crew and personnel.
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The company continues to grow their fleet of offshore support vessels and took delivery of three new and one used vessel last month. Included in the expansion was the Conan Wu and Associates-designed ‘VOS Energy’ from Eastern Marine Shipyard in Sarawak, East Malaysia. The 53.8-metre platform supply vessel which carries a 13.8-metre beam and a 4.5-metre moulded depth. The vessel is powered by a pair of Cummins KTA50-M main engines each rated for 1,193kW at 1,800 RPM supplied by Scott & English (Malaysia) which gives the PSV a 13.5-knot cruising speed. In addition to the Cummins mains, the vessel incorporates a pair of 250kW gensets powered by Cummins QSM11 engines, a single Cummins 6BT 5.9(D) 80kW genset and a Cummins 4BT3.9G 46kW emergency genset. A Cummins KTA38M1 delivers 820kW to a pump for the fire fighting monitors. Finally a Cummins KTA19M3 delivers 445kW to a 6.5-tonne side thruster. All in all, ‘VOS Energy’ has eight Cummins engines. On deck a pair of five-tonne tugger winches supplements a 40-tonne towing winch. The main deck has 330 cubic metres of cargo area. Accommodation is provided for up to 42 crew and personnel.
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Brazil nixes 32 blocks from bidding round
Brazilian hydrocarbons regulator ANP has withdrawn 32 onshore blocks from the upcoming 10th licensing round due to technical and environmental restrictions.
The ANP withdrew 28 blocks in the Araripe and Pernambuco-Paraiba basins and four blocks in the Parana basin. The 10th oil bidding round will now offer 130 onshore blocks totaling 70,000 square kilometres in Parecis, Reconcavo, Potiguar, Parana, Amazonas, Sao Francisco and Sergipe-Alagoas. The ANP will host technical and environmental seminars as well as public hearing sessions concerning round 10 licensing in October. Last year, Brazil withdrew 41 sub-salt blocks from an auction of 312 oil blocks held in December after Petrobras revealed that the sub-salt Tupi discovery harboured reserves of between 5 billion and 8 billion barrels of oil.
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The ANP withdrew 28 blocks in the Araripe and Pernambuco-Paraiba basins and four blocks in the Parana basin. The 10th oil bidding round will now offer 130 onshore blocks totaling 70,000 square kilometres in Parecis, Reconcavo, Potiguar, Parana, Amazonas, Sao Francisco and Sergipe-Alagoas. The ANP will host technical and environmental seminars as well as public hearing sessions concerning round 10 licensing in October. Last year, Brazil withdrew 41 sub-salt blocks from an auction of 312 oil blocks held in December after Petrobras revealed that the sub-salt Tupi discovery harboured reserves of between 5 billion and 8 billion barrels of oil.
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Friday, October 3, 2008
Piraeus Port Authority to get new Expo Center
Long sought and with procedures lasting about one year (or more), finally the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) will be able to use a new Expo Center.
The relative deal was signed yesterday with a consortium comprised by local investors and real estate developers and construction companies, like Lamda Development, J&P-Avax, Damco Energy, Reds SA, Rota Ltd. and Klearxos Routsis SA. Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium, named AEAS, will build and operate the new Expo Center, which will be built in Palataki area of the port zone of Piraeus. The project will cost approximately 90 million euros, funded by the private companies, which will have exclusive earning rights for a period of 25 years. PPA will receive an annual amount of at least 2.5 million euros, as soon as the new center opens its doors. The total earnings for PPA for the whole 25 year period are estimated at about 99 million euros. The old Expo Center didn’t manage to provide PPA with revenues more than 1.5 million euros at its best year. The new center will provide 34.000 sq.metres of space, parking space of 36,000 square metres, roof garden, offices, as well as shops and restaurants. It will also bolster the latest developments in communications technologies, in order to cater the needs of international conventions and conferences, not to mention Expos. Of course, the main goal of the developers will be to have the center ready by June of 2010, when the next “Posidonia” will take place. Many stakeholders of the Hellenic maritime community have called for the return of Posidonia to their natural venue, which is the port of Piraeus, but organizers might be reluctant to head back, given that the timeframe is particularly limited. In other words, if something goes wrong with the construction schedules, they will be left out dry. Furthermore, planning for the next Posidonia has already began, something which means that exhibitors will need to know approximately the available space they will be given, as well as its positioning in the exhibition. This is impossible to be provided for the new Expo Center, since no actual works have taken place yet.
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The relative deal was signed yesterday with a consortium comprised by local investors and real estate developers and construction companies, like Lamda Development, J&P-Avax, Damco Energy, Reds SA, Rota Ltd. and Klearxos Routsis SA. Under the terms of the agreement, the consortium, named AEAS, will build and operate the new Expo Center, which will be built in Palataki area of the port zone of Piraeus. The project will cost approximately 90 million euros, funded by the private companies, which will have exclusive earning rights for a period of 25 years. PPA will receive an annual amount of at least 2.5 million euros, as soon as the new center opens its doors. The total earnings for PPA for the whole 25 year period are estimated at about 99 million euros. The old Expo Center didn’t manage to provide PPA with revenues more than 1.5 million euros at its best year. The new center will provide 34.000 sq.metres of space, parking space of 36,000 square metres, roof garden, offices, as well as shops and restaurants. It will also bolster the latest developments in communications technologies, in order to cater the needs of international conventions and conferences, not to mention Expos. Of course, the main goal of the developers will be to have the center ready by June of 2010, when the next “Posidonia” will take place. Many stakeholders of the Hellenic maritime community have called for the return of Posidonia to their natural venue, which is the port of Piraeus, but organizers might be reluctant to head back, given that the timeframe is particularly limited. In other words, if something goes wrong with the construction schedules, they will be left out dry. Furthermore, planning for the next Posidonia has already began, something which means that exhibitors will need to know approximately the available space they will be given, as well as its positioning in the exhibition. This is impossible to be provided for the new Expo Center, since no actual works have taken place yet.
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Full steam ahead for Blue Giant
Blue Marine has launched the Blue Giant ship which is now on its way to Mexico to provide maintenance services to oil platforms.
The €100 million ($138 million) vessel, which was built in Germany, provides well maintenance, dry-dock facilities and workshop facilities. Blue Giant will arrive off the coast of Mexico later this month and provide maintenance services to platforms, smaller vessels and pipe laying services.
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The €100 million ($138 million) vessel, which was built in Germany, provides well maintenance, dry-dock facilities and workshop facilities. Blue Giant will arrive off the coast of Mexico later this month and provide maintenance services to platforms, smaller vessels and pipe laying services.
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Keppel Shipyard wins FSRU and FPSO contracts
Singapore: Keppel Shipyard has secured two follow-on offshore storage contracts including another Floating Storage and Regasification Unit for Golar LNG, to whom the yard recently delivered the world's first FSRU, Golar Spirit.
Work on the vessels is worth SS150m combined and is expected to commence in October 2008. The Golar contract is for the conversion of Golar Winter (VT1), a Membrane Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Carrier into a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU). The scope of work includes the installation of a re-gasification plant system, the upgrade of control systems, electrical systems and marine systems. When completed in the second quarter of 2009, the FSRU Golar Winter will be capable of re-gasifying 14 million cubic metres of natural gas per day. Like the Golar Spirit, it will be operated by Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras SA, and moored at a pier in the Guanabara Bay, off Rio de Janeiro. Golar Spirit has been moored at the Port of Pecem, northeast of Brazil. The other contract is from Single Buoy Moorings Inc (SBM), for the upgrading and conversion of a tanker into a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). This will be the tenth FPSO conversion project that Keppel has undertaken for SBM since 2000. To be converted from the 255,272 dwt VLCC MT Accord, the spread-moored P-57 FPSO will be capable of producing 180,000 bopd and undertake gas compression of 71 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d). Keppel Shipyard’s scope of work includes the hull and marine conversion, spread mooring aids installation, accommodation block extensions/refurbishment, fabrication & installation of marine pipe rack, topside module supports as well as part of the topside modules installation. To be supplied in a fixed lumpsum contract by SBM to Petrobras SA, the vessel is expected to leave Keppel Shipyard in the fourth quarter of 2009 for Brazil where the remaining work will be completed, which will account for 65% of the whole project. The vessel will subsequently be deployed in the deepwater Jubarte field in the Campos Basin.
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Work on the vessels is worth SS150m combined and is expected to commence in October 2008. The Golar contract is for the conversion of Golar Winter (VT1), a Membrane Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Carrier into a Floating Storage Re-gasification Unit (FSRU). The scope of work includes the installation of a re-gasification plant system, the upgrade of control systems, electrical systems and marine systems. When completed in the second quarter of 2009, the FSRU Golar Winter will be capable of re-gasifying 14 million cubic metres of natural gas per day. Like the Golar Spirit, it will be operated by Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras SA, and moored at a pier in the Guanabara Bay, off Rio de Janeiro. Golar Spirit has been moored at the Port of Pecem, northeast of Brazil. The other contract is from Single Buoy Moorings Inc (SBM), for the upgrading and conversion of a tanker into a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). This will be the tenth FPSO conversion project that Keppel has undertaken for SBM since 2000. To be converted from the 255,272 dwt VLCC MT Accord, the spread-moored P-57 FPSO will be capable of producing 180,000 bopd and undertake gas compression of 71 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmscf/d). Keppel Shipyard’s scope of work includes the hull and marine conversion, spread mooring aids installation, accommodation block extensions/refurbishment, fabrication & installation of marine pipe rack, topside module supports as well as part of the topside modules installation. To be supplied in a fixed lumpsum contract by SBM to Petrobras SA, the vessel is expected to leave Keppel Shipyard in the fourth quarter of 2009 for Brazil where the remaining work will be completed, which will account for 65% of the whole project. The vessel will subsequently be deployed in the deepwater Jubarte field in the Campos Basin.
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