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| Penguins FPSO |
Oslo-listed company Magnora has decided to separate its legacy business, the divested segment related to floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units for oil and gas industry, from its renewables business, with significant activity in the offshore wind industry.
Source: Offshore Engineer
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| Source HD Hyundai Heavy Industries |
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| XIANG TAI KOU (Source Cosco Shipping) |
COSCO SHIPPING Specialized’s newest 65,000t DWT DP2 semi-submersible vessel was delivered on December 28th, 2023. This new 46m wide addition brings the total fleet to sixteen vessels.
In the previous year, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers collaborated with Guangzhou Salvage to establish a joint venture. This partnership oversees a diverse fleet of semi-submersible vessels, with capacities ranging from 20,000 to 98,000 deadweight tonnes (dwt). This fleet includes two of the world's largest semi-submersible vessels.
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| Gold Star rig (Source Keppel) |
HMH, a Norwegian company specializing in both offshore and onshore drilling equipment, has recently signed a significant long-term services agreement with Brazilian drilling contractor Constellation Oil Services. This deal, notable for its duration and potential for extension, focuses on providing integrated maintenance support for the blowout preventers (BOPs) on three of Constellation's ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs operating off the coast of Brazil.
These rigs, named Alpha Star, Gold Star, and Lone Star, are key assets in Constellation's fleet. Each is an ultra-deepwater DP semi-submersible drilling rig, with impressive capabilities in terms of water and drilling depth. They are specifically equipped to handle challenging pre-salt drilling operations.
This partnership is being touted as a first of its kind in Brazil, with a unique remuneration model that ties payment to performance, effectively sharing the risks between HMH and Constellation. Rodrigo Ribeiro, CEO of Constellation, highlighted the benefits of this agreement, expecting it to enhance the reliability and operational efficiency of the rigs, especially in well control and process safety. It's also anticipated to open up new business opportunities for Constellation.
Under the agreement, HMH and Constellation will collaboratively handle the maintenance of the rigs' BOPs. The scope includes parts supply, predictive and preventative maintenance, optimization of maintenance schedules using data analytics, maintenance between wells, ongoing certification, and continuous engineering support from HMH's team.
Chuck Chauviere, President of HMH’s Pressure Control Systems division, emphasized the implementation of a condition-based maintenance program. This approach is intended to optimize maintenance intervals and improve overall operational performance, ensuring that the BOPs are always in a ready-to-operate state.
The partnership is expected to make a significant impact on the uptime of drilling and well intervention campaigns. By changing the approach to equipment maintenance and asset management, these drilling units should be available for use over longer periods, providing a boost to operational efficiency and profitability.
Constellation’s current offshore fleet includes a diverse range of rigs, capable of operating in various water depths, making them a versatile player in the offshore drilling sector.
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| Grain de Sail |
Grain de Sail, a French company, recently held a celebration for the christening of Grain de Sail II, the world's most substantial modern cargo sailboat. This vessel, constructed by the local shipbuilder Piriou, represents a significant advancement in eco-friendly maritime transport.
Grain de Sail II, following over a year of construction and a transit exceeding two months, arrived at its home port in Saint-Malo, France, in late November 2023. The christening ceremony, which took place on January 11, 2024, marked the vessel's addition to Grain de Sail's fleet of wind-powered cargo ships.
The ship, powered primarily by wind (except during port maneuvers), measures 52 meters in length, more than double the size of its predecessor. It has a capacity of transporting 290 European pallets or 350 tons of cargo, which is nearly ten times the payload of the first Grain de Sail vessel. This represents a significant stride in reducing carbon emissions, with the Grain de Sail II capable of reducing carbon emissions by over 90% compared to traditional ships on similar routes.
The Grain de Sail II, constructed entirely from aluminum, boasts 1,500 square meters of sails. It is designed to travel from Saint-Malo to New York in approximately fifteen days, achieving commercial speeds of up to 12 knots. The ship's design integrates solar panels, hydro generators, and the first pellet boiler installed on a merchant ship, further reinforcing its commitment to eco-friendly operations.
The upcoming steps for the Grain de Sail II involve installing sails, conducting sea trials, and training sailors before its first commercial voyage to New York in early March. Olivier Barreau, co-founder and President of Grain de Sail, emphasized the vessel's capacity to fulfill the company's transport needs for cocoa and coffee and offered its use to other companies seeking to decarbonize their maritime transport. Loïc Briand, Managing Director of Grain de Sail Shipping, highlighted the ship's design, developed through extensive experience and thousands of work hours, ensuring safety, comfort, and environmental preservation.
In related developments, Grain de Sail has launched a new sail-powered shipping line connecting Saint-Malo in France with Southampton in the UK, further expanding its eco-friendly maritime transport initiatives.
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