Maersk Supply acquires Subsea Support Vessel

The MT 6022 design vessel, built in 2008 by Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven Verft A/S, features three work class ROV’s, a high-load capacity deck, and a Hydramarine main crane with a lifting capacity of 250 tonnes and a wire of 2,450 m. The vessel accommodates up to 120 people, and has a low fuel consumption thanks to its diesel electric power plant.

Rem Offshore ASA said that delivery of the vessel will take place shortly and that the sale will give it a booked profit, and net cash of approx. NOK 200 mill after repayment of debt.

The vessel is presently on a long term charter agreement with DeepOcean Shipping AS. The work scope involves subsea tree and jumper installation in up to 2,000 m water depth. Maersk Supply Service will take over this charter agreement including the option for extensions.

“Being part of a group with a strong balance sheet allows us to take advantage of the opportunities arising in the industry,” says Maersk Supply Service CEO Jørn Madsen. “This acquisition of a quality asset is fully in line with our strategic ambition of growing our subsea fleet and at the same time adds contract coverage during a period of market downturn. The work scope is well related to our area of expertise, and we look forward to working with our long-term customer, DeepOcean, on this operation.”

“Maersk and DeepOcean have a long and successful track record of cooperation on vessel charters, including the most recent long term charter agreement for the new-build Maersk Connector,” says DeepOcean Commercial Director Henk van den Ijssel. “This seven-year agreement for a market leading 7,000 t capacity cable installation vessel, arriving first quarter 2016 and already three contracts secured, shows a dedicated long term commitment from both companies.

Atwood and DSME agree drillship delivery delays

DECEMBER 21, 2015 — Atwood Oceanics, Inc. (NYSE: ATW) said today that subsidiaries of the company have agreed with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) to delay delivery of two newbuild

Right time to swoop on distressed offshore players?

DECEMBER 18, 2015 — Oslo, Norway, headquartered international law firm Wikborg Rein says current low oil prices could mean there are bargains to be had for investors in the offshore sector who

GulfMark and Simek agree PSV delivery delay

 

According to the filing, “on December 14, 2015, a subsidiary of GulfMark Offshore, Inc. (“GulfMark”) entered into an agreement with Simek AS to delay the delivery of its North Sea vessel under construction in Norway from 2016 to 2017. Under the original agreement, GulfMark’s subsidiary paid 20% of the construction price within three months of contract inception, and was to pay the remaining 80%, or approximately $33 million, in February 2016 upon delivery. Under the new agreement, GulfMark’s subsidiary will take delivery of the vessel in January 2017 and will pay approximately $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, approximately $5 million in the first quarter of 2016, approximately $4 million in the second quarter of 2016 and approximately $22 million in the first quarter of 2017 upon delivery of the vessel.”

Rolls-Royce wins China AHTS equipment order

The contract is to equip nine SPA80A Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels to be designed and built by Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group and owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ESNAAD.

The vessels will be built at Sinopacific’s Zhejiang Shipyard and the first vessel is due for delivery in 2017.

Each ship will have a bollard pull of 80 metric tonnes will be equipped with Bergen diesel engines, main and tunnel thrusters, electrical power system and a deck machinery package from Rolls-Royce.

“The visit of Rolls-Royce senior executives to Sinopacific in 2013 reinforced the relationship between our two companies as did the provision of  Rolls-Royce integrated equipment packages for Sinopacific’s in-house designed SPA150 AHTS series. This was a first for Rolls-Royce in the Chinese market,” said SinJiang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of Sinopacific. “The Rolls-Royce Chinese team has provided us with great support by staying close, enhancing communications and giving us confidence for future cooperation. Sinopacific aims to work closely with our strategic partners, such as Rolls-Royce, presenting the best products and services for our ship owners while strengthening our leadership in the most demanding markets.”

“This is a significant contract. It demonstrates our market leading capabilities in a wide range of offshore marine products, and our ability to combine them in a way that creates real value for our customers,” said Richard Wang, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President Commercial – Marine.  “We look forward to working with and continuing a profitable and long-lasting relationship with Sinopacific.”

Felony charges brought against platform operator

According to the Bill of Information, on or about November 26, 2012, ERT knowingly and willfully failed to comply with the regulations for hot work on its offshore production platform known as Ship Shoal 225. Specifically, it is alleged that ERT violated Title 30, Code of Federal Regulation, Section 250.113(c)(4), which mandates that welding and associated activities, also known as hot work, on offshore facilities may not take place within 10 feet of a well bay unless production in that area is shut-in.

On or about November 27, 2012, on Ship Shoal 225, ERT is further alleged to have knowingly and willfully failed to comply with the regulations for blowout preventer testing. A blowout preventer system is designed to ensure well control and prevent potential release of oil and gas and possible loss of well control.

ERT is also alleged to have violated the Clean Water Act by tampering with the method of collecting the monthly overboard produced water discharge samples to be tested for oil and grease content pursuant to its NPDES permit. As required by its NPDES Permit, ERT is prohibited from introducing into the Gulf of Mexico produced water in which the oil and grease content exceed a monthly average of 29 mg/l. Produced water is that which is brought up from the hydrocarbon-bearing strata during the extraction of oil and gas, and can include formation water, injection water, oil and any chemicals added downhole or during the oil/water separation process. ERT collects and submits monthly samples of its produced water to a laboratory for testing to determine whether the quantity of oil and grease contained in the produced water exceeds a monthly average of 29 mg/l, as required by its NPDES Permit.

The Bill of Information, filed Monday, alleges that beginning at a time unknown, but continuing to on or about March 2014, ERT tampered with the monitoring methods for the collection of the overboard water samples on nine of its offshore facilities in violation of Title 33, United States Code, Section 1319(c)(4). Most recently, on or about June 9, 2015, ERT is alleged to have knowingly discharged and caused a discharge of a pollutant from a point source into the Gulf of Mexico without a permit in violation of Title 33, United States Code, Section 1319(c)(2)(A).

If convicted, ERT faces a maximum term of probation of five years per count and/or a maximum fine of $500,000 per count or twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss to any person pursuant to statute.

The case was investigated by the Department of Interior-Office of Inspector General (Energy Investigations Unit) with assistance from the Investigations and Review Unit, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Greenfield of the United States Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit.

Read the Bill of Information HERE

Seacor eyes spin off of offshore business

NOVEMBER 30, 2015 — Seacor Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CKH) is positioning itself for a potential spin off of its offshore marine subsidiary, Seacor Marine Holdings Inc. (SMH). Seacor Holdings has agreed to

World’s largest wind farm installer delivered

Built for Great Yarmouth, U.K., based Seajacks International, the jack-up vessel is based on the Gusto MSC NG14000X design and has more than 8,000 metric tons of available variable deck load. Equipped with a 1,540-metric-ton Huisman leg-encircling crane and a usable deck space in excess of 5,000 sq m the unit is outfitted with 105-m legs with the ability to install components in water depths to 65 m in North Sea conditions.

The rig is capable of meeting the installation needs of jumbo-monopiles, jackets, and turbines of future wind farms in deeper waters farther from shore.

“Industry growth depends on innovation and new designs,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. “As a technology leader, ABS is pleased to work with Seajacks as it develops and launches vessels with increasingly greater capabilities.”

Seajacks CEO Blair Ainslie credits the strong working relationship among the project participants for the successful delivery of this unit.

“The cooperation among Seajacks, ABS and SHI was vital to the success of this newbuild effort,” he says. “As we bring new designs to the market, we rely on partners who are willing to take on projects like this one that break new ground in the industry.”

Since 2009, Seajacks has invested in five self-propelled jackup units, all of which have been classed by ABS. The Seajacks Scylla is a milestone for the company as it is considered to be the most technically advanced installation vessel in the market.

The Seajacks Scylla complies with ABS classification requirements for self-propelled jack-up units, including DPS-2 for dynamic positioning capability; ACCU, which applies to automatic centralized control unmanned units; and CRC for crane register certificate.

In early December, Seajacks Scylla will begin her journey from South Korea to Europe on-board the heavy load carrier vessel, HLV Osprey, and is expected to arrive in Rotterdam around the end of January. Seajacks operations teams will then prepare the vessel for her first project next spring.

Criminal charges filed in West Delta 32 platform fire case

According to the indictment, the defendants were involved in different capacities while construction work was being done of the West Delta 32 platform when it exploded.

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations LLC and Grand Isle Shipyards Inc. are charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, eight counts of failing to follow proper safety practices under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and one count of violating the Clean Water Act. Wood Group PSN Inc., Moss, Dantin and Srubar are charged with felony violations of OCSLA and the Clean Water Act.

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and federal regulations govern welding and activities that generate heat or sparks, known as “hot work,” on oil production platforms in U.S. waters. Because this work can be hazardous and cause explosions, regulations mandate specific precautions that must be taken before the work can commence. For instance, before hot work can be performed, pipes and tanks that had contained hydrocarbons must be isolated from the work or purged of hydrocarbons. Gas detectors and devices used to prevent gas from traveling through pipes must be used. According to the Indictment, these safety precautions were not followed and an explosion causing the deaths of three men and a spill resulted

“Workers lives can depend on their employer’s faithfulness to the law, not least of all those working in oil and gas production where safety must be a paramount concern,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the nation’s bedrock environmental laws that protect the environment, and the health and safety of all Americans.”

“The energy sector represents a vital industry in this region, but its work must be performed responsibly,” state U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Today’s indictment underscores that we will hold accountable all parties – both businesses and individuals – whose criminality jeopardizes our environment or risks the loss of life.”
“Developing domestic sources of energy must be done responsibly and safely,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dan Pflaster of EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program in Louisiana. “EPA will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to hold companies fully accountable for illegal conduct and to assure compliance with laws that protect the public and the delicate Gulf Coast ecosystem from harm.”

The Department of Justice notes that “an indictment is only an allegation of wrongdoing and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty at trial.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Interior Office of Inspector General and EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division. The case is being prosecuted by Emily Greenfield of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and by Kenneth E. Nelson of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice.

Oil demand will triple in 2016, price to hit $60 per barrel

NOVEMBER 18, 2015—Are you ready for an oil rebound? Barclays Corporate Banking is predicting that next year the demand for oil will triple and crude oil will hit $60 per barrel. Barclays

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