Oil Major Total Close to Angola Kaombo Decision
French oil major Total is on the verge of making a final investment decision on Angola's Kaombo oil project after lowering the cost by $4 billion, its chief executive said on Friday. "We're on the verge," Christophe de Margerie told reporters on the sidelines of an oil conference in Paris. The field is expected to produce 230,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, with a start-up date expected in 2017.
ASNE to Host Blue Green Sustainability Symposium
The American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) Blue Green Sustainability Symposium is an inaugural event highlighting emerging technologies and solutions to meet…
Iran's Oil Exports Surge above Sanctions
Iran's crude oil exports have surged to their highest in 20 months, far exceeding a 1 million barrel-per-day limit set by the West under an interim deal on curbing Tehran's nuclear program.
Baltic Sea Freight Index down on Weak Capesize Rates
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, dropped for a 14th straight session on Friday, driven mainly by falling capesize rates.
LEEVAC Launches PSV for Aries Marine
LEEVAC Shipyards Jennings, LLC launched the M/V Ram Nation, the first vessel of a new series of 4,000 DWT PSVs for Aries Marine Corporation, on Tuesday, March 18. The Ram Nation is scheduled to be delivered during the third quarter of this year. The Ram Nation is an LEEVAC-designed 270 ft., diesel-electric, DPS-2, FI FI 1 Platform Supply Vessel that will be certified for worldwide operations. Chris Vaccari…
MLC Amendments Address Abandonments, Claims
Governments, maritime employer representatives coordinated by the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and their counterparts from the International Transport…
Long Beach Dismisses Proposed Los Angeles Merger
A proposal by the LA 2020 Commission to merge the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach – the two busiest container ports in the US – has been slated by Long Beach leaders for being “condescending and disrespectful”. The Commission made the recommendation in its A Time for Action report, along with 12 other recommendations on minimum wage and promoting regional tourism, and defended its proposal by saying it will “put the city on a path to fiscal stability and renew job creation”.
Protests Close Libya's Western Zawiya Oil Port
Libya's western Zawiya oil terminal has been closed by protesters preventing some oil product tankers from discharging, a government statement said on Friday. Local citizens demonstrating against the General National Council, the country's parliament, have blocked the entrance to the port preventing oil workers from entering. The connecting oilfield El Sharara and the pipeline itself have been blocked by other protest groups since March. (Reporting by Feras Bosalum, Writing by Julia Payne.
Sea Star Line Vessel Used in Training Exercise
On April 2, 2014, Sea Star Line’s vessel El Faro and its employees participated in a joint training exercise at North Florida shipyards. The training exercise focused on evaluating agency procedures, communication plans and training programs to assure all agencies can respond in the most efficient way to emergency events and to mitigate risks and damage. “The mock training exercise was an excellent…
NAT Closes Public Offering
Nordic American Tankers Limited announced today that, in connection with its previously announced public offering of 12,000,000 common shares at a public offering price of $8.62 per share, the underwriters exercised in full the option granted to them by the company and purchased an additional 1,800,000 common shares on the same terms on which the 12,000,000 common shares were sold to the underwriters.
Today in U.S. Naval History: April 11
Today in U.S. 1970 - Launch of Apollo 13, commanded by Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., USN. Former naval aviator Fred W. Haise, Jr. was the Lunar Module Pilot. While 200,000 miles from Earth there was an explosion on board which forced Apollo 13 to circle the moon without landing. Mission duration was five days, 22 hours and 54 minutes. Recovery was by HS-4 helicopters from USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2). 1991 - U.N.
More Disruption at Libya's Oil Ports
Libya may have averted a state collapse by striking a deal with eastern rebels to reopen occupied oil ports, but technical delays and simmering federalist dissent…
Kongsberg to Supply Engine Room Simulator to Ghana
The Regional Maritime University (RMU) has awarded Kongsberg Maritime a contract to deliver its K-Sim Engine simulator for its premises in Accra, Ghana. The highly advanced Full Mission Engine Room Simulator (ERS), which is due for delivery in May 2014 will enable RMU to provide education according to STCW requirements. RMU is a tertiary institution that gained university status in October 2007. It…
IMO, Bangladesh Target Improved Ship-recycling Standards
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have signed a landmark agreement to work together to improve safety and environmental standards in the country’s ship-recycling industry. A Memorandum of Understanding formalizing the cooperation between the two was signed by Nicolaos Charalambous, Director, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO and Md.
UKHO Delivers Geospatial Intelligence to the MOD
The UKHO Defense Maritime Geospatial Services (DMarGS) capability has been launched on the UK MOD’s Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) and will be rolled out to users over the coming weeks. This capability delivers the full range of the UKHO’s Digital Defense Maritime Charts and other Maritime Geo Spatial Products and services to the wider UK MOD community in support of Situational Awareness and Mission Planning activities.
House LNG Export Bill Advances
The Subcommittee on Energy and Power today approved H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, by a vote of 15 to 11. Authored by Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.)…
Two Refiners to Load Oil at Libya's Hariga Port
Barely a day after Libya's National Oil Corp (NOC) lifted force majeure at Hariga port, two refiners are already preparing to pick up Sarir crude from storage over the next two weeks, trading and shipping sources said on Friday. The Aegean Dignity is on subjects - meaning final arrangements are being made- to load crude at Hariga around April 15-16, sources said. Reuters AIS Live ship tracking showed the tanker with orders to sail to Libya.
Ingalls Delivers Amphibious Assault Ship America
Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division delivered the amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) to the U.S. Navy today. More than 900 crew members marched through the shipyard for a delivery ceremony on the ship's flight deck, where they joined Ingalls shipbuilders and personnel from the U.S. Navy's Supervisor of Shipbuilding-Gulf Coast. "The shipbuilders of Ingalls have worked tirelessly to deliver this awesome, powerful warship to our U.S.
SSI Speaks in Washington about LCS Program Cuts
SSI USA Director of Operations Patrick Roberts recently had meetings with U.S. senators, congressmen and navy brass to discuss the upcoming Pentagon Department of Defense Budget as it relates to the U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs. It was noted that Roberts' position is somewhat unique in that as an industrial engineer representing SSI, he was able to bring a neutral, yet broad and objective perspective to analyzing this subject.
Damen to Build ASD Tug for Smit Lamnalco
Smit Lamnalco has contracted Damen to build a new, shallow draught ASD Tug2810, the design of which illustrates the cooperative relationship between the two companies. The tug is set to expand Smit Lamnalco’s oil and gas terminal support services in Novorossiysk, on the Russian Black Sea coast. The contract specifies for the standard 2810 design in all but one key aspect – the vessel’s draught will…
