The United States Navy received a second major shipment of Fiobuoys, made by Fiomarine, a small company based in Tasmania, Australia.
The shipments are part of a two-year supply contract. The contract represents a 340 per cent sales growth for Fiomarine in less than three years. The order for its Fiobuoy underwater retrieval system is Fiomarine’s largest to date, and makes the U.S. the chief user of the technology. Fiomarine is now pursuing other U.S. markets, beginning with an exhibition at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans in December. Fiomarine is one of only a few Australian companies that supplies directly to the U.S. Defense Department. “The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been using Fiobuoys for ten years, so it was only a matter of time,” said Fiomarine Commercial Director John Fiotakis. Mr. Fiotakis invented the submersible marine marker buoy and retrieval system in the 1980s when his boat’s motors were caught in a number of crayfish pot lines. The idea of keeping everything hidden underwater was quickly recognized by the ADF as an invaluable tool in defense operations. The Fiobuoy is a buoy that remains submerged underwater while tethered to equipment or assets. To retrieve that equipment, a signal is sent to the buoy to release itself and complete its marking function on the surface. It is currently used by the Navies of Australia, U.S., Singapore and Japan, and in support of marine research and hydrographic operations around the world. Fiomarine is exhibiting as part of Maritime Tasmania at Booth 3327 at International Workboat.
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Thursday, November 27, 2008
NASSCO lays keel for 'Sunshine State' product carrier
USA: NASSCO, has held a keel laying ceremony for its third product carrier.
The ship is being built for US Shipping Partners and is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009. NASSCO began construction of the ship in July. It will be 182.8-metres-long and have a cargo capacity of 331,000 barrels. The ship will be used in coastal trade, carrying petroleum and chemical products. US Shipping Partners previously announced that the ship would be named ‘Sunshine State’, the state nickname of Florida. ‘Sunshine State’ will be part of the "State" class of product carriers, all of which are named after state nicknames. The previous two ships are ‘Golden State’ and ‘Pelican State’, named in honour of California and Louisiana, respectively.
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The ship is being built for US Shipping Partners and is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2009. NASSCO began construction of the ship in July. It will be 182.8-metres-long and have a cargo capacity of 331,000 barrels. The ship will be used in coastal trade, carrying petroleum and chemical products. US Shipping Partners previously announced that the ship would be named ‘Sunshine State’, the state nickname of Florida. ‘Sunshine State’ will be part of the "State" class of product carriers, all of which are named after state nicknames. The previous two ships are ‘Golden State’ and ‘Pelican State’, named in honour of California and Louisiana, respectively.
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Contractors re-think newbuild orders
Keppel Offshore & Marine has received indications from Seadrill, Scorpion Offshore and Lewek Shipping that they are reviewing their options on newbuilding contracts that were signed in the middle of this year.
The contracts under review are for a semisubmersible for Scorpion Offshore, two jack-up rigs for Seadrill and a multi-functional support vessel for Lewek Shipping. Keppel is in talks with them to arrive at mutually acceptable arrangements for these contracts, said the company in a statement. Construction work has not started on these projects, but down payments have been received. “If these contracts are cancelled, the cancellations are not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Keppel Corporation for the financial year ending 31 December 2008,” said Keppel.
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The contracts under review are for a semisubmersible for Scorpion Offshore, two jack-up rigs for Seadrill and a multi-functional support vessel for Lewek Shipping. Keppel is in talks with them to arrive at mutually acceptable arrangements for these contracts, said the company in a statement. Construction work has not started on these projects, but down payments have been received. “If these contracts are cancelled, the cancellations are not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Keppel Corporation for the financial year ending 31 December 2008,” said Keppel.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Ship sinks in northern Philippines, 11 missing
Manila - At least 11 people were missing in the Philippines after ship carrying heavy equipment for an airport expansion project sank in northern waters.
Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo told that nine other people from the Mark Jason I were rescued by two passing ships in choppy waters off Calayan island on Tuesday night. "Those rescued were seen clinging to the half-submerged ship," Tamayo said, adding it was difficult to search for the others because of poor visibility and bad weather conditions. "We were told rescuers in the area were encountering strong winds, huge waves and poor visibility." Tamayo said coast guard search-and-rescue vessels and an aircraft had been sent to look for the missing crew and passengers. The Mark Jason I left Manila a week ago with 14 crew and six other men bringing heavy equipment to Batanes island, off the northern tip of the main Luzon island. Ship accidents are common in the Philippines. Early this month, 39 people, including eight children, were drowned after a boat capsized in the central Philippines.
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Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo told that nine other people from the Mark Jason I were rescued by two passing ships in choppy waters off Calayan island on Tuesday night. "Those rescued were seen clinging to the half-submerged ship," Tamayo said, adding it was difficult to search for the others because of poor visibility and bad weather conditions. "We were told rescuers in the area were encountering strong winds, huge waves and poor visibility." Tamayo said coast guard search-and-rescue vessels and an aircraft had been sent to look for the missing crew and passengers. The Mark Jason I left Manila a week ago with 14 crew and six other men bringing heavy equipment to Batanes island, off the northern tip of the main Luzon island. Ship accidents are common in the Philippines. Early this month, 39 people, including eight children, were drowned after a boat capsized in the central Philippines.
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Yantai Raffles debuts world's strongest crane
Yantai Raffles Shipyard in China has celebrated the first commercial lift by its eagerly awaited new 20,000 tonne capacity crane system Taisun before a crowd of 750 local and international industry figures.
The massive 14,000 tonne deckbox of COSL semi-submersible drilling rig COSL Pioneer was lifted and mated onto the columns and hull of the Rig in one single operation, described as an unprecedented feat within the industry. The megalift crane system has taken the best part of 10 years to plan, design, build and install. "Taisun marks a fresh chapter in offshore engineering and construction," said YRS deputy chairman Brian Chang during the ceremony. "We believe that this new construction methodology will create tremendous, mutually beneficial value for us and our clients.” Taisun enabled the concurrent construction of the COSLPioneer deckbox and hull; thereby bringing increased efficiency in project execution, up to 2m saved man hours, overall cost savings and extra yard capacity for YRS. The amount of work required at precarious heights was also greatly reduced, also improving safety levels and quality. Taisun can also carry out installation of Floating, Production, Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) topsides onto the FPSO Hull, decommissioning of rigs as well as hoisting of mega structures with a width of up to 120 metres.
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The massive 14,000 tonne deckbox of COSL semi-submersible drilling rig COSL Pioneer was lifted and mated onto the columns and hull of the Rig in one single operation, described as an unprecedented feat within the industry. The megalift crane system has taken the best part of 10 years to plan, design, build and install. "Taisun marks a fresh chapter in offshore engineering and construction," said YRS deputy chairman Brian Chang during the ceremony. "We believe that this new construction methodology will create tremendous, mutually beneficial value for us and our clients.” Taisun enabled the concurrent construction of the COSLPioneer deckbox and hull; thereby bringing increased efficiency in project execution, up to 2m saved man hours, overall cost savings and extra yard capacity for YRS. The amount of work required at precarious heights was also greatly reduced, also improving safety levels and quality. Taisun can also carry out installation of Floating, Production, Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) topsides onto the FPSO Hull, decommissioning of rigs as well as hoisting of mega structures with a width of up to 120 metres.
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Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and OSHA Form Partnership
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, a leading U.S. commercial shipyard, recently signed an agreement entering into a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The partnership is designed to assist Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in implementing a safety program to further protect employees, improve safety statistics and become qualified to participate in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The agreement was signed November 12th during a small ceremony at the shipyard by representatives of OSHA, The Philadelphia Metal Trades Council and Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Under the agreement, the shipyard will develop a safety and health management program with a focus on Management Leadership and Employee Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention and Control, and Training. These elements, based on OSHA’s 1989 Guidelines, and other goals, including reducing or maintaining injury and illness rates, could make the yard eligible to apply for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in as few as two years. Jim Miller, President and CEO of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, stated “Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is honored to be selected and proud to partner with OSHA. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a leading U.S. commercial shipyard constructing vessels for operation in the Jones Act market. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as the preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships.
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The partnership is designed to assist Aker Philadelphia Shipyard in implementing a safety program to further protect employees, improve safety statistics and become qualified to participate in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The agreement was signed November 12th during a small ceremony at the shipyard by representatives of OSHA, The Philadelphia Metal Trades Council and Aker Philadelphia Shipyard. Under the agreement, the shipyard will develop a safety and health management program with a focus on Management Leadership and Employee Involvement, Worksite Analysis, Hazard Prevention and Control, and Training. These elements, based on OSHA’s 1989 Guidelines, and other goals, including reducing or maintaining injury and illness rates, could make the yard eligible to apply for OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) in as few as two years. Jim Miller, President and CEO of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, stated “Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is honored to be selected and proud to partner with OSHA. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is a leading U.S. commercial shipyard constructing vessels for operation in the Jones Act market. It possesses a state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility and has earned a reputation as the preferred provider of oceangoing merchant vessels with a track record of delivering quality ships.
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Abu Dhabi ports will levy higher tariffs next year
Abu Dhabi Terminals, which operates four commercial seaports in Abu Dhabi, plans to increase tariffs at the ports in January next year, its CEO said.
"There will be an average 10 per cent increase in storage and handling charges," Mohammad Al Mannaei told. ADT operates Mina Zayed, Musaffah, Freeport and New Dhow Harbour seaports. ADT last increased tariffs at the seaports in January, when all port charges except those for stevedoring were revised. The port dues are levied on the basis of gross registered tonnage (GRT) of the vessels. "Even after the increases, our port charges will still be the lowest in the region. This includes comparison with Jebel Ali, Fujairah and Sharjah ports in the UAE as well," Al Mannaei said. He said the global meltdown has yet to directly affect the sea transportation sector in the UAE. "This year there has been a 50 per cent increase overall in general cargo in Mina Zayed - main components of which are building materials and pipe for the oil industry - and a 30 per increase in container activity," Al Mannaei said. He said according to the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the developer of the Khalifa seaport in Taweelah, the port is now about 50 per cent complete. Al Mannaei added that he expected the first phase of Khalifa port to be completed on schedule in 2011. The management of Khalifa port will be shared by ADT and DP World.
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"There will be an average 10 per cent increase in storage and handling charges," Mohammad Al Mannaei told. ADT operates Mina Zayed, Musaffah, Freeport and New Dhow Harbour seaports. ADT last increased tariffs at the seaports in January, when all port charges except those for stevedoring were revised. The port dues are levied on the basis of gross registered tonnage (GRT) of the vessels. "Even after the increases, our port charges will still be the lowest in the region. This includes comparison with Jebel Ali, Fujairah and Sharjah ports in the UAE as well," Al Mannaei said. He said the global meltdown has yet to directly affect the sea transportation sector in the UAE. "This year there has been a 50 per cent increase overall in general cargo in Mina Zayed - main components of which are building materials and pipe for the oil industry - and a 30 per increase in container activity," Al Mannaei said. He said according to the Abu Dhabi Ports Company, the developer of the Khalifa seaport in Taweelah, the port is now about 50 per cent complete. Al Mannaei added that he expected the first phase of Khalifa port to be completed on schedule in 2011. The management of Khalifa port will be shared by ADT and DP World.
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