Today in U.S. Naval History: January 20
Today in U.S. 1903 - Theodore Roosevelt issues Executive Order placing Midway Islands under jurisdiction of the Navy Department. 1914 - School for naval air training opens in Pensacola, Fla. 1948 - Establishment of U.S. Persian Gulf Area Command (later changed to Middle East Force in August 1948). For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.
Hanjin Cutting its Losses
Drewry’s weekly container insight report shows exits from the transatlantic and Asia-Black Sea trades demonstrate how Hanjin is prioritizing financial repair over global coverage. Drewry said cash-strapped Hanjin Shipping has recently announced to its customers that it will be leaving two unprofitable trade lanes. The South Korean carrier will cease taking slots on the Asia‐Black Sea Express (ABX) service of China Shipping…
Safety Code Revised for Small Fishing Vessels
Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar has welcomed the publication by the Irish Maritime Administration in his Department of a revised Code of Practice for the Design…
Shell Director on Medical Leave
Royal Dutch Shell today announced that, effective immediately, Upstream International Director, Andy Brown, is on extended leave to recuperate from a recent medical procedure. During Andy's recuperation and until his return to work, Maarten Wetselaar, Executive Vice President Integrated Gas and former head of finance for Upstream International, will serve as acting Upstream International Director, in addition to carrying out his regular duties.
Vessel Guards Thwart Somali Pirate Attack
Dryad Maritime Intelligence have today confirmed the first piracy attack of 2014 which saw an attack launched by Somali pirates south of Salalah in the late hours of January 17.
OW Bunker Contracted for BOSTCO Terminal
OW Bunker announced that it has signed an exclusive alliance with UNIPEC America to provide products at the new BOSTCO (Battleground Oil Specialty Terminal) fuel oil terminal in Houston. The move further expands the company’s physical presence in the region, complementing its existing operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Panama. UNIPEC America has negotiated the rights to supply bunkers ex-pipe at the new BOSTCO terminal.
Open Hearing on Mongstad Carbon Projects
Statoil will be present today for the first day of the Storting's open hearing regarding the state's handling of the carbon projects at Mongstad. The objective of the hearing is to review the recommendations and problems described in the report of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway on last autumns' investigation into the way the Norwegian state has dealt with the question of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Shell Sells Wheatstone LNG Stake in Australia
Royal Dutch Shell plc has announced it has agreed to sell its 8% equity interest in the Wheatstone-Iago Joint Venture and 6.4% interest in the 8.9 million metric tons per annum Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia for a cash consideration of $1.135 billion to the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC), subject to closing. Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden commented, “Shell will remain a major player in Australia’s energy industry.
ISS Wins Gas Pipeline Logistics Contract
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has secured an offshore logistics services project in Tanzania from China Petroleum Pipeline Bureau (CPPB) and Anglo Eastern Ship Management.
Crew Rescued from Wind Farm Vessel Fire
A crewman has been airlifted to James Paget University Hospital this morning after a fire on board a 17-meter wind farm support vessel, Norfolk Tern, four nautical miles off Great Yarmouth, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. Humber Coastguard said it received a call from the Norfolk Tern just after 8 a.m. reporting they had a fire in their starboard engine, which they managed to bring it under control…
Aspida Maritime Security Open New Office
Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC) Aspida Maritime Security said it has opened a new office in Copenhagen, adding to its locatons in London, Athens and Seoul. “Our presence in Denmark will improve the quality of service offered to our current Danish customers and ultimately serve better the entire Scandinavian region,” said Panos G. Moraitis, President and CEO of Aspida. With partners in more than 30 countries, Aspida is driven by 120 employees worldwide.
SENER Wins Engineering Company of the Year
The engineering and technology group SENER has been awarded in The European Energy Awards 2013 as Engineering Company of the Year. The technology group has more than 5,500 professionals across 50 offices globally. SENER received this award for innovative projects such as the Gemasolar solar thermal plant. Located in Seville, Spain, this is the first commercial central tower power plant with molten…
Petrofac Orders Ulstein Design
Sharjah based Petrofac is to build the Petrofac JSD 6000 deepwater derrick lay vessel, a customized Ulstein SOC 5000 developed by Dutch design company Ulstein Sea of Solutions. The vessel will be constructed at the ZPMC yard in China and be available for construction and installation activities in early 2017. The dynamically-positioned Petrofac JSD 6000 is a unique, innovative design featuring J-Lay…
Damen Crew Supplier for Sure Wind
The first of two Damen Twin Axe Fast Crew Suppliers has officially been handed over to British company Sure Wind. A specialist in the German offshore wind market, Sure Wind already has work for the two newbuild FCS 2610 vessels. The first vessel Sure Star will head straight to Esbjerg and will then be deployed in the German market. A second sister vessel, Sure Swift will be delivered end-February.
Plymouth, UK, Maritime Development Land Deal Signed
The deal is described by the British Government as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to expand the region’s marine and advanced manufacturing industries by freeing up land at the South Yard in Devonport Naval Base. It will enable marine companies to grow their operations, the relocation of supply chain companies to the region and the creation of new marine enterprises. The City Deal is intended to reinvigorate the region’s marine and advanced manufacturing sectors, creating over 9,000 jobs.
US Warship Makes Singapore Strait Rescue
Boat crew from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer 'USS Spruance' (DDG 111) have rescued a Filipino mariner who fell overboard from a vessel in transit through the Singapore Strait. The Malaysian-flagged motor vessel Pantagruel made a 'man overboard' distress call and the Spruance picked the man up with its rigid-hull-inflatable boat soon afterwards. He was assessed by the crew as being in stable condition and was then transferred to a Singapore Police Coast Guard vessel.
Beacon Order Harsh Environment Offshore Rig
Beacon Holdings Group say they have ordered a harsh environment semi-submersible GM4-D rig from Yantai CIMC Raffles in Singapore, with an option to build a second rig from the shipyard. The rig they have ordered has been given the name Beacon Atlantic, and planned delivery is the fourth quarter of 2016. Beacon Atlantic will be built using the GM4-D-design in co-operation with the shipyard and the designer Global Maritime.
Cargo Ship Mistakenly Thought Pirates Boarding
Eritrean forces in the Red Sea have boarded a merchant vessel that was in their territorial waters in an incident the crew initially reported as a pirate attack, reports Reuters. It was not immediately clear why the forces boarded the ship, the MV Marzooqah, and it was not possible to contact authorities in Eritrea, one of Africa's most isolated nations. Reuters quotes Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff…
Singapore Cancels Two Bunker Supplier Licences
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) states it has cancelled the bunker supplier licences of Excel Petroleum Enterprise Pte Ltd and Lian Hoe Leong & Brothers Pte Ltd with effect from 15 January 2014 for contravening the terms and conditions of the bunkering licences. Both companies were found to have breached Clause 3 of the terms and conditions of the Bunkering Licence (Bunker Supplier) by allowing other companies to use their Bunker Delivery Notes to supply bunkers.
Kværner to Play Part in Construction of Enormous Offshore Spar Platform
Norway's Kværner ASA say that Technip Norge AS has awarded them a sub-contract for the Fjord Base and Support Services up-ending and preparation for mating operations of the sub-structure for the Aasta Hansteen Spar platform. With a total length of 198 meters, Aasta Hansteen will be the world's largest spar platform, claims Kværner, and the first of its kind on the Norwegian continental shelf. Statoil has contracted Technip and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in a consortium to engineer…
