Remedial Offshore selects GE V228 diesel engines

Remedial Offshore announces the purchase of V228 medium-speed diesel engines from GE Marine, Erie, Pa.

The engines will be used to power the new Remedial Offshore Elevating Support Vessels. As the world's first self-propelled, 100-metre nominal water depth-rated jack-up well intervention vessel, Remedial Offhore's ESV design provides a hybrid between a jack-up drilling rig and a marine vessel. The new ESV concept offers tremendous versatility and operational functionality, ranging from an incorporated electric well work over package to a large open deck for offshore support functions. Each vessel is uniquely outfitted to provide a stable work environment for deploying today's most advanced well intervention or production enhancement technologies. ESV abilities include well workovers, sidetracking, well abandonment, facility upgrades, brownfield rejuvenation projects and small field developments, as well as providing complete services for well intervention. Each ESV will employ four GE diesels, one 8-cylinder V228 and three 16-cylinder engines. Two Remedial Offshore ESVs are under construction in China, one at the Yantai Raffles Shipyard. in Shandong, and the second at the COSCO Shipyard Group's facility in Nantong. GE has already delivered to the shipyards two 8V228 and six 16V228 engines.

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IBIA campaigning produces results at IMO

The International Bunker Industry Association has reported a number of significant, positive developments for the bunker industry following the meeting in London of the IMO Bulk Liquids and Gases subcommittee.

Firstly, the subcommittee agreed to streamline proposals designed to reduce sulphur emissions from marine fuel oil. Three options now remain on the table, for discussion at MEPC 57 starting on March 31, 2008. These include a proposal lowering the global cap in two stages and removing the need for Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs), a lowering of sulphur limits in SECAs, and a lowering of the global sulphur limit alongside tighter SECA regimes and the possibility of even stricter so-called 'micro-emissions control areas' close to designated sensitive coastal areas. IBIA secretary-general Ian Adams says, 'IBIA took a full and active part in the BLG discussions. It remains committed to its position that all options, which have the potential to limit harmful emissions from shipping, must be examined and debated before a final decision is made. On another subject, the BLG meeting also agreed that bunker vessels should be excluded from the debate about whether or not to impose more stringent controls and reporting procedures on ship-to-ship transfers of oil. IBIA was one of four delegations asked to participate in discussions over the precision of testing methods used to determine sulphur content in marine fuel oils, and the so-called 'grey area' surrounding test results.

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Kan Tan semi-sub on the move

The Kan Tan IV semi-submersible drilling rig is being towed to a new location off Trinidad.

Operators Canadian Superior Energy and Challenger Energy said the rig is being towed about 2.2 miles from the Victory well site to the Bounty well site at Intrepid block 5. The companies said the rig move had been delayed until today due to unusually high seas in the area with maximum wave heights in excess of 15 feet that made it impossible to move the rig until earlier today.

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National Iranian Oil Hires Vessel to Ship Gasoil from Singapore

National Iranian Oil Co. hired a tanker to transport 80,000 metric tons of gasoil or diesel to the Middle East gulf from Singapore.

The state oil company's shipping unit National Iranian Tanker Co. chartered Champion Pride, owned by Nippon Yusen K.K. for a voyage starting on Feb. 22, for $550,000, Odin Marine (Singapore) Pte said today. The company last month hired Silvaplana, owned by Lukiardopulo & Co., to deliver a similar cargo from Singapore.
Iran, the second-largest oil producer in the Middle East, imports products such as gasoline and diesel as it does not have adequate refining capacity to meet rising demand. Iran imports around 100,000 barrels a day of gasoline, Energy Security Analysis Inc. said. A U.S. led push to isolate Iranian banks from the global financial system because of terrorist-related activities intensified since 2006, said the Wakefield, Massachusetts-based research firm. Iran has agreements to buy gasoline and diesel from the Kuwait-based Independent Petroleum Group and a Trafigura AG- linked company over the next six months.

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Hercules buys three rigs from Transocean

Hercules Offshore and Transocean have entered into a definitive agreement whereby Hercules will purchase three of Transocean's Gulf of Mexico jackup drilling rigs and related equipment for US$320 million.

The sale of GSF Adriatic III, GSF High Island I and GSF High Island VIII mark Transocean's exit from operations in the shallow-water area of the Gulf of Mexico. The sales will be consummated at the conclusion of each rig's current contract commitments, subject to regulatory approval. Hercules Offshore is already negotiating international contracts for GSF High Island I and GSF High Island VIII, and plans to market GSF Adriatic III internationally in the future. The GSF Adriatic III is a Marathon LeTourneau 116C design jackup with a water depth capability of 350 feet (106.7 m). Its contract with El Paso expires Feb. 19. GSF High Island I and VIII were built in 1979 and 1981, respectively, and are Marathon LeTourneau 82-SDC design jackups with a water depth capability of up to 250 feet (76 m). GSF High Island VIII has a contract with BHP Billiton, which expires on April 30.

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MarAd-Assistance to Small Shipyards Grant Program

The US Maritime Administration (MarAd) issued an amendment to its earlier announcement of the establishment of a new grant program to provide assistance to small shipyards.

The amendment clarifies the scope of the program and explains that, if the small shipyard does not have audited financial statements, it may submit financial statements compiled by an independent Certified Public Accountant.

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Bahamas joins two United Nations anti-fouling conventions

The Bahamas, with the world's third largest registered fleet, has signed on to two major IMO Conventions and deposited its annual assessment for 2008 with the UN organization.

Basil O'Brien, High Commissioner and Permanent Representative of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to the IMO, has deposited with IMO Secretary-General, Efthimios Mitropoulos, instruments of accession to the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) and the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunkers Convention). The AFS Convention will prohibit the use of harmful organisations in anti-fouling paints used on ships and will establish a mechanism to prevent the potential future use of other harmful substances in anti-fouling systems. Parties to the convention are required to prohibit and/or restrict the use of harmful anti-fouling systems on ships flying their flag and all ships that enter a port, shipyard or offshore terminal of a participating nation, an IMO statement said. The AFS Convention will enter into force for the Bahamas in September 2008. Accession by the Bahamas brings the number of states having ratified the Convention to 28 and the tonnage figure to 43.79 per cent of the world's fleet. The 2001 Bunkers Convention was adopted to ensure that adequate, prompt and effective compensation is available to persons who suffer damage caused by oil spills when carried as fuel in a ship's bunkers, and will enter into force for the Bahamas in November. The Bahamas has also contributed US$2.41 million to the IMO's 2008 budget, based on the size of the nation's registered merchant shipping tonnage.
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