Energy Searcher Gets Offshore Nigeria Contract
Northern Offshore subsidiary, Northern Offshore International Drilling Company says it has executed a long-term drilling contract with an affiliate of CAMAC Energy Inc. for its drillship 'Energy Searcher'. The contract commits to an initial period of one year, with an option to extend the contact for an additional one-year term. Commencement of drilling activities on the Oyo Field offshore Nigeria is expected during the first half of 2014.
UMaine's Offshore Wind Pilot Project Gets Green Light
The Maine Public Utilities Commission has approved in a 2-1 vote a term sheet for Maine Aqua Ventus’ pilot offshore wind energy project. The decision clears a hurdle for Maine Aqua Ventus in its path to receive electric ratepayer support as it tests new offshore wind technology developed at the University of Maine. (Maine Aqua Ventus is a consortium made up of Emera, Cianbro and Maine Prime Technologies LLC, a spin-off company representing UMaine).
China Shipyard Delivers First 'Home Grown' Mega-Container Ship
China's first 10,000 TEU container ship with independent intellectual property rights has been delivered from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, reports Xinhua. This ship was built for China Shipping Container Lines and is capable of carrying 10,036 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). Its Energy Efficiency Design Index can meet reduction standards for carbon emissions to be implemented in 2025.
GasLog to Buy Three BG Group LNG Carriers & Charter Back
GasLog Ltd. says it has agreed with Methane Services Ltd. (MSL), an affiliate of BG Group, to purchase 3 LNG carriers from MSL's fleet and to charter those ships back to MSL for 6-year initial terms. MSL also will have options to extend the term of the time charters for 2 of the ships for a period of either 3 or 5 years at its election. The ships to be acquired will be nominated by MSL from an agreed group of six sister ships built in 2006 and 2007.
South Stream Transport Readies for Black Sea Offshore Pipeline Lay
Holland's South Stream Transport has signed an option agreement with the Bulgarian ports of Varna and Burgas for the storage and handling of pipe segments in Black Sea coastal 'marshalling yards prior to commencement of the huge project. The South Stream Offshore Pipeline will consist of four parallel pipelines through the Black Sea, each made up of over 75,000 pipe segments. The pipes will be stored in so-called marshalling yards at harbours on the shore in Bulgaria…
STEM $125,000 Scholarships Honors U.S. Navy Legend
Raytheon Company has established the Raytheon – Zumwalt Scholarship, in honor of Admiral Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt, Jr., Chief of Naval Operations (1970 – 1974), and the next-generation multimission destroyer, the DDG 1000 class, which aptly bears the Zumwalt name. Established through the Anchor Scholarship Foundation, Raytheon has funded a $125,000 endowment to support an ongoing program to provide annual scholarships to students pursuing a four-year degree in a STEM (Science…
Hong Kong Plans to Add High-Value Maritime Services
In his annual policy address to the Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council, Chief Executive C Y Leung pledged that the Government would continue to improve port facilities and enhance the efficiency of port operations, thereby seizing the opportunities brought by the growth of trade in the Mainland and Asia. "The logistics industry has flourished in recent years. Ten hectares of land have been set aside in Tuen Mun West for logistics use.
India's Cochin Shipyard Delivers Fast Patrol Boat
Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) says it has delivered the third of the series of 20 Fast Patrol Vessels being built for the Indian Coast Guard. The vessel is named “ABHINAV” and will be operated by the Coast Guard station at Kochi. The first vessel was commissioned on 13th December 2013 and the second on 31 December 2013. Like its sister ships, “ ABHINAV” also can move very fast at a speed of 33 knots and will be very effective in supporting the Indian Coast Guard in its anti smuggling…
Report: Tug Boat Overturns Off of New York
According to a report on http://abclocal.go.com, a privately owned tug boat overturned approximately four and a half miles south of Atlantic Beach around 4 p.m.
MTN Appoints Venegas GM, Oil and Gas
MTN Communications (MTN) announces Santos Venegas has joined the company as general manager for its Oil and Gas Division. This appointment further solidifies MTN’s position in the market as a pioneer in communications technology spanning across various market segments. A 35-year industry veteran and respected consultant, Santos most recently served as managing director for Latin America at Harris CapRock. Prior to that role, he was director of Corporate Development.
Rear Adm. Byus (Ret.) to Lead Battelle’s Maritime Systems Group
Fred Byus, a U.S. Navy retired Rear Admiral, has been named General Manager of Battelle’s Maritime Systems business unit. Byus joined Battelle in December 2007 as Vice President of National Security’s Navy Market Group after a distinguished 31-year career in the U.S. Navy. His Navy experience included leadership positions in nuclear engineering, submarines, and command and control of fleet and joint forces.
Record Cargo Volumes Reported at Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon
The Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon finished 2013 by shipping more cargo during the fourth quarter than any other quarter in the port's 37-year history. The 1.59 million…
GIMF Completes Construction of New Liftboat, The Bellator
Gulf Island Marine Fabricators (GIMF) has just completed construction of a new liftboat, The Bellator, for C.S. Liftboats, Inc, Abbeville, La. The Bellator is ABS Classed A-1, AMS, and Mobile Offshore Unit. The new boat, designed by A.K. Suda Inc. Metairie, LA measures 150’x118’x12’-8” and carries accommodations for 46 people. The new liftboat features three 300-foot legs with a working depth of 235 feet and a maximum deck elevation of 282 feet above the mud line.
Port of L.A. Container Volumes up for December
The Port of Los Angeles has released its December 2013 cargo volumes. December overall volumes increased 11.09 percent compared to December 2012. The increase is due in part to shippers moving cargo in advance of the Chinese New Year, which this year falls on January 31. Imports increased 8.63 percent, from 296,874 Twenty-Foot Equivalent (TEU) containers in December 2012 to 322,500 TEUs this December.
Spill Forces Channel Closure at Corpus Christi
The Harbor Master's office at the port of Corpus Christi stopped ship traffic at approximately 8:30 a.m. today, January 15, due to a spill at the Bulk Material Dock No.2.
Philippine Coast Guard Recover Cadaver of Overboard Crewman
The personnel of Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Olutanga have retrieved the cadaver of a crewman who fell overboard from MV Evert Sweet last Saturday, January 11.
VLCC Luxembourg Sold, to Undergo FPSO Conversion
Euronav NV today announced that it has sold its oldest double-hulled VLCC Luxembourg (1999 – 299,150 dwt), for $28 million (USD). The vessel is wholly owned by Euronav. The capital gain on that sale of about $6 million will be recorded at delivery. The net cash proceeds available to Euronav after the mandatory repayment of its debt obligation will be $5 million. The vessel is foreseen to be delivered to its new owner between May 1…
Omnibus Bill Boosts Funding for USACE Projects
Upon review of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) is pleased with the FY 2014 Energy & Water Development Appropriations funding level of $5.467 billion, a $748 million increase over the FY 2013 post-sequester enacted level. Within the Civil Works budget, the Construction General Account receives $1.656 billion and provides $163 million for the Olmsted Lock and Dam project.
Malta Opens Investigation into Libya Tanker Incident
The Maltese Government and Transport Malta said they are are investigating the alleged accident involving the Malta registered ship MT Baku, in international waters, off the coast of Libya.
Maritime Reporter @ 75: The Daily Cartoon
Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was founded by John J. O'Malley (1905-1980) in 1939, and today ranks as the world's largest audited trade publication in the world serving the maritime industry, with a circulation of more than 35,000 worldwide, including ship and boat owners, ship and boat builders, naval architects and marine engineers. Today Maritime Reporter heads a group of four print and 10 websites serving the global maritime, offshore and subsea sector.