Noble Execs Cut Deal with SEC Ahead of Bribery Trial
Two executives from offshore drilling contractor Noble Corp have agreed to settle civil claims they participated in a bribery scheme to obtain permits for oil rigs in Nigeria…
Ocean Safety Sees Big Boost in Gas Business
![Gas refilling and service centre at Ocean Safety, Southampton](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/gas-refilling-and-service-centre-29652.jpg)
Ocean Safety said it has been busy since gaining Lloyds Register approval to carry out hydrostatic pressure testing in accordance with TPED (Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive) and things are only set to get busier. During the past year Ocean Safety has noticed a steady increase in business, ranging from fire protection and service companies including Basingstoke Fire, Griffin Fire, Resmar and Wessex Fire, as well as from their core maritime customer base.
UK Divers Fined for Undeclared Shipwreck Raids
![Artifacts that were taken from the wrecks (MCA photo)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/artifacts-that-were-taken-from-29651.jpg)
In a landmark case, two divers today have been made to pay a total of £63,500 in fines and costs for not declaring valuable items from shipwrecks off the U.K. coast. David Knight and Edward Huzzey, both from Sandgate, had previously pleaded guilty to 19 offences between them, contrary to section 236 and section 237 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Knight was fined £7,000 and Huzzey £6,500. They were each ordered to pay £25,000 in costs.
KNC to Provide Security Tech for Algerian VTMIS
![Photo courtesy of Kongsberg](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-kongsberg-29647.jpg)
Kongsberg Norcontrol IT (KNC) will provide the core maritime surveillance, voice communications, port management and port community technologies for the new Algerian national Vessel Traffic Management and Information System (VTMIS). KNC is part of a consortium with Ericsson, Indjaz and Korea Trading and Industries Co. Ltd that is tasked with delivering the new VTMIS, with work starting this Summer.
USCG Finalizes Inland Navigation Rule Changes
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announced Wednesday the publication of the final rule finalizing changes to the inland navigation rules and their annexes in 33 Code…
Seafarers’ Lounge Opens at Kiel Cruise Terminal
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-29646.jpg)
German Seamen’s Mission takes over new showcase facility. The German Seamen’s Mission (Deutsche Seemannsmission e.V.) has moved into its new showcase Seafarers’ Lounge at the Ostseekai Cruise Terminal in Kiel. The facility is for the use of ship crews and is designed to improve communication and offer advice. At an official opening ceremony and on behalf of the Port of kiel, which was responsible for building the facility, Dr.
Transas Simulators Used During IMRF Exercises
![Photo courtesy of Transas](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-transas-29645.png)
On June 1, a mass rescue simulation exercise using Transas Navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 took place within the International Maritime Mass Rescue Conference 2014 held by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). The conference was hosted by the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS). More than 100 participants gathered at simulator facilities of the Chalmers Universty of Technology (Sweden) and the Swedish Maritime Administration.
LR to Class Unique Energy Efficient Ferry
![Texelstroom](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/texelstroom-29643.jpg)
Large ferry to trade between the Dutch islands of Texel and Den Helder will have an advanced energy management system – operating principally on gas but also with batteries, solar auxiliary power and the capability to run solely on diesel. Lloyd’s Register will class Texelstroom, the 1,750-passenger, 350-vehicle, double ended ferry that will operate between the Dutch islands of Texel and Den Helder. Ordered by Royal N.V.
Congress Gets It Done with WRRDA
![Michael J. Toohey, President and CEO, Waterways Council, Inc.](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/michael-j-toohey-president-and-29644.jpg)
On May 22, the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, containing major recommendations of the Capital Development Plan (CDP), was passed by a vote 91-7 in the Senate. As MarineNews was going to press, President Obama finally signed the bill into law. The conference agreement had passed the House on May 20 by an overwhelming 412-4 vote. The bill contains four key elements of the Capital Development Plan that were included in the House WAVE 4 (H.R. 1149) and Senate RIVER Act (S.
Market Improving for German Equipment Suppliers
The German Engineering Federation (VDMA) reported a good order situation for German marine and offshore oil and gas equipment suppliers, but the upsurge in incoming…
INSIGHTS Focus: Robert Kunkel Talks Power and Propulsion
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/-29641.jpg)
Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. He is a past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, a contributing writer for many maritime and technical trades publications…
Oil Falls Towards $111 on Libya Ports Deal
Oil fell towards $111 a barrel on Wednesday, its lowest in almost three weeks, on a possible substantial recovery in Libyan exports after rebels said they would reopen two oil terminals.
EMAS AMC Installs 50 Platforms for Chevron
EMAS AMC, the subsea services division of EMAS, a global offshore contractor and provider of integrated offshore solutions to the oil and gas industry has achieved…
MacGregor Winch Portfolio Wins Order from Marco Polo
![MacGregor now offers an expanded portfolio comprising both MacGregor and Hatlapa products](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/macgregor-now-offers-an-expanded-29635.jpg)
MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured a contract with the Marco Polo Shipyard Pte Ltd with its facilities in Batam, Indonesia, to supply deck equipment for two 76m, 9,000kW anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels with bollard pulls of 150 metric tons, to be constructed for Marco Polo Marine. There are options for two further vessels. Each shipset includes a high pressure windlass/mooring winch…
Vopak to Divest from 15 Terminals
![Photo courtesy of Vopak](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-courtesy-of-vopak-29634.jpg)
Dutch oil and chemicals storage company Vopak said on Wednesday it would divest from 15 primarily smaller terminals and planned to cut capital expenditure by about $136 million (100 million euros). The world's largest independent storage tank operator has suffered from the harsh business climate in Europe, where high crude prices and sinking diesel profits have prompted refiners to cut operating rates by nearly a quarter this summer.
OWS Orders Damen Vessel for Dutch Offshore Project
![Damen FCS 2008 Twin Axe (Image courtesy of Damen)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/damen-fcs-2008-twin-axe-29637.jpg)
Dutch company Offshore Wind Services (OWS), specialists in the provision of crew transfer vessels to the offshore wind industry have ordered a Damen FCS 2008. This is the company’s second vessel ordered from Damen this year. Damen Shipyard Den Helder in the Netherlands will meet the specific requirements of the client. This includes outfitting the vessel with a second generator set and offshore crane. She will also be painted in the company’s colors. The vessel is to be named Offshore Waddenzee.
Norway's Kvaerner and China's COOEC form Joint Venture
China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) and Norway's Kvaerner are setting up a joint venture in China to conduct oil engineering projects worldwide in the…
SAAM SMIT Towage J/V to Operate 100 Tugboat Fleet
Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. inform that with SAAM S.A. they have successfully created a joint harbor towage operation within the American Continent in Brazil…
Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping's Premises Get a Facelift
Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping (NMIS) held a simple ceremony yesterday to celebrate the upgradation of its premises in Mumbai and for having updated the…
Pacific Ship Repair Awarded 'USS Shoup' Contract Modification
The U.S. Department of Defense informs that Pacific Ship Repair and Fabrication, Inc., San Diego, California, is being awarded a $9,093,866 modification to previously…