Disaster ferry trials to start next month

THE TRIALS of those charged with manslaughter over the sinking of the Tongan ferry Princess Ashika will reportedly begin in the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court early next month. The 37-year-old unseaworthy vessel sank in calm seas in August 2009, killing 74 people. Following...

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IMB pleads for piracy plan

DESPERATE measures are needed to stem worsening high seas piracy, according to the International Maritime Bureau’s annual report. The report said piracy has “increased dramatically” in percentage terms over armed robbery in territorial waters. Last year’s 445...

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NYK changes VLOC orders in DACOS

apanese liner Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) announced the company has changed the vessel type that originally ordered at Dalian COSCO Shipbuilding Industry (DACOS) from two 300,000dwt VLOCs to three 200,000dwt capesize bulkers. The date for delivery is still in 2013 with no change. [Read More] Source:...

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Konecranes acquires company in South America

Earlier this month, Konecranes acquired Gruas Koman Limitada, the former licensee of Konecranes in Recoleta, Santiago, Chile. The acquisition also includes the Peruvian start-up subsidiary, Koman Gruas Peru S.R.L. [Read More] Source: Heavy L...

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Northrop Grumman gets long lead time contract for NSC 5

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) a firm fixed-price contract for long-lead material procurement on a fifth National Security Cutter. The contract is for $89 million, with options that would increase potential value to $94...

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E.R. Schiffahrt cancels AHTS orders at Korean shipyard

Hamburg-headquartered shipowner and ship manager E.R. Schiffahrt reports that it has cancelled orders placed with the Korean shipyard Sekwang for four anchor handling tug supply vessels "due to ongoing delays in completion and the resulting difficulties of safely securing charters for the vessels." [Read...

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Ship carrying uranium anchored near Ladysmith/Chemainus

A ship carrying uranium concentrate bound for China has anchored off the coast of Ladysmith/Chemainus after severe weather interrupted its travel plans. According to the Cameco website, the Saskatchewan-based company that produced and is shipping the uranium,...

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European container import volumes up 15.4pc in 2010

EUROPEAN container volumes strengthened last year with January to November imports up 15.4 per cent over 2009, while exports rose 10.3 per cent. [Read More] Source: Sea N...

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Hanjin Shipping received two 8,600TEU class containerships.

Named "Hanjin Hamburg" and "Hanjin New York", are the second and the third of the series of five 8,600TEU class ships received from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. [Read More] Ssource: Transport Wee...

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The New World Alliance set to reduce ocean capacity

The New World Alliance said yesterday it will temporarily reduce capacity on selected Trans-Pacific Trade services to coincide with Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in Asia.  The three container shipping lines in the alliance -- APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) said...

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Shipowners to need incentives to embrace LNG fuel

Governments will likely need to provide lucrative economic incentives to shipowners, ports and refiners before the maritime sector embraces LNG as a new, cleaner-burning bunker fuel, industry officials said. [Read More] Source: Reut...

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Middle East Tanker Surplus Shrinks as February Cargoes Approach

A surplus of supertankers competing for 2 million-barrel cargoes of Middle East crude oil shrank as owners awaited increased demand for vessels to load next month. There are 15 percent more very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, for hire over the next 30 days than there are likely cargoes, [Read More] Source:...

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Greek-Flagged Ship Numbers Drop as Owners Favor Larger Vessels

The number of ships in the Greek- flagged merchant marine fleet, the world’s fifth-largest, fell last year as owners favored larger vessels, the Hellenic Statistical Authority said. [Read More] Source: Bloomb...

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Dry-Bulk Ship Returns Reach 2-Year Low on Atlantic Competition

Shipowners’ returns from hauling coal, iron ore and other dry-bulk commodities fell to the lowest level in almost two years as more vessels competed for cargoes in the Atlantic Ocean. Owners are seeking better returns after Pacific shipments plunged because of the Australian state of Queensland’s worst...

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General Maritime Enters Into Memoranda of Agreement for the Sale and Leaseback of Three Product Tankers

General Maritime Corporation announced yesterday that it has entered into memoranda of agreement to sell three product tankers, the 2004-built Genmar Concord, the 2005-built Stena Concept and the 2005-built Stena Contest, to affiliates of Northern Shipping Fund...

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World shipping fleet grows by 10.1% in deadweight tonnage during 2010

According to a new research from N.Cotzias Shipping Group, the world’s shipping fleet in service has grown by 10.1% in terms of carrying capacity, and amounts 1.39 billion tones compared to 1.26 billion tones in 2009. The largest year on year increase was evidenced...

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Japan orders exceed 10m GT

After falling for 15 months in a row, Japanese export ship orders rose for the 13th consecutive month in December on a year-on-year basis, soaring 162.1 percent to 1,236,270 gross tons, according to figures released by the Japan Ship Exporters’ Association (JSEA)...

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Newbuilding back to normal

As the total of world's newbuilding orders for this year is estimated at 35m CGT, increasing by 4% as compared to 2010, a recovery in newbuilding orders is expected to be faster than expected after the severe recession in 2009. This corresponds to the level of the annual average orders before the booming...

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2 die from shipyard fire

Two workers have died among the three who suffered burn injuries in an explosion at a ship-breaking yard at Sitakunda. 'Nirad', 32, and 'Rubel', 30, died around 3pm on Tuesday at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, assistant registrar of the burns unit S Khaled...

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In China and Korea Lloyd's Register marks a significant year for new construction

Trust in service levels and technical capability proved to be winning combination for Lloyd’s Register in Asia in 2010. Success has been particularly marked in both China and Korea Lloyd's Register’s teams in China and Korea have established a strong position in terms of ships ordered in 2010 which...

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Container Ship Rates Rising as Fuel Prices Slow Vessels: Freight Markets

Container vessels are sailing at the slowest speeds in at least two years to save on fuel costs, driving up freight rates and the shares of shipbuilders. The global fleet of about 4,660 carriers moved at an average of 11.44 knots last month, 7.4 percent less than...

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Japanese Ship Orders Surge 162 Percent

After falling for 15 months in a row, Japanese export ship orders rose for the 13th consecutive month in December on a year-on-year basis, soaring 162.1 percent to 1,236,270 gross tons, according to figures released by the Japan Ship Exporters’ Association (JSEA)...

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Mainland Announces the Extension of its Oil and Gas Leases at Their Buena Vista Haynesville Shale Operating Area in Mississippi

Mainland Resources, Inc. announces the successful negotiation of lease extensions for their Buena Vista acreage in Jefferson County, Mississippi. At this date, greater than 95% of the acreage that will expire in 2011 has been successfully extended into 2012 thereby...

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Egypt: West Kom Ombo basement prospect dry

Energean Oil & Gas, Athens, has plugged the WKO-X1 frontier exploratory well in the 31,521 sq km West Kom Ombo block in southern Egypt. The well went to a total depth of 3,253 ft. After drilling through heavily karstified limestones, it encountered a succession...

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Nigerian rebels warns of "ferocious attack"

Jomo Gbomo, spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), said in an emailed statement that people living close to depots storing fuel should evacuate immediately to avoid "loss of lives and properties." "We cannot guarantee the safety...

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Alyeska restarts Trans-Alaska Pipeline System following bypass installation

Pipeline operator Alyeska has restarted the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) following the successful installation of the bypass line to circumvent the damaged Pump Station 1 in Prudhoe Bay. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System restarted on January 17 at 10:18 a.m. after crews installed the 157-foot...

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Origin Energy announces drilling of Dao Ruang-2 appraisal well

Origin Energy (“Origin”) advises that drilling has commenced at the Dao Ruang-2 appraisal well in Block L15/50, Onshore North East Thailand. Origin has a 40% interest in this exploration block. The well forms part of a farm-in arrangement between Origin...

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Petrofac awarded US$1.2 billion project in Algeria

Petrofac, the international oil & gas facilities service provider, has been awarded a US$1.2 billion lump-sum engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by In Salah Gas (ISG), an association between Sonatrach, BP and Statoil, to develop southern...

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Norway awards 50 production licenses in APA 2010

On January 18, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate sent offers to 39 companies for 50 new production licenses on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.  The offers were submitted after the authorities had evaluated applications from 41 companies in the Awards in...

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Pacific Drilling Weighing an IPO This Year to Expand Deep-Water Rig Fleet

Pacific Drilling Ltd. is considering an initial public offering this year to raise money to expand its fleet of deepwater vessels as rising oil prices boost demand for the world’s most expensive rigs. “We’re doing our initial due diligence to decide what’s an...

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Iran: South Pars Annual Revenue to Hit $120 billion in Next Four Years

Iran plans to complete the development of its South Pars gas field by March 2015, the oil ministry’s news website Shana reported, citing National Iranian Oil Co. Managing Director Ahmad Qalebani. Qalebani did not elaborate on the current status of the different...

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Pacific Bora Awarded Initial 3-year Contract with Chevron

Pacific Drilling is pleased to announce that the Pacific Bora has been contracted to Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a wholly owned Chevron subsidiary to work on the continued development of the Agbami Field in Nigeria. Total revenue from the contract is expected...

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Noble Corporation Announces Letter Of Intent For New Fice And A Half Year Contract And Provides Update on Brazil Operation

Noble Corporation today announced that a subsidiary has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc for a new five and one-half year drilling contract on a newbuild ultra-deepwater drillship that is expected to commence in the...

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Belgium: Fluxys and Statoil to Explore Cooperation in Natural Gas Storage

Fluxys and Statoil will examine the options for Statoil to book long-term storage capacity at Fluxys’ underground storage site in Loenhout. The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect during the current Belgian trade mission in Norway....

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Shell tight-lipped after production halted on four Brent platforms

Oil giant Shell says it does not yet know when operations will resume on four of its North Sea platforms after they were suspended following an incident at the weekend. A protective fender, thought to weigh around 25 tonnes, fell off the Brent Bravo installation...

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Oilex reworks work program on Timor Sea license

Oilex Ltd advises that the Autoridade Nacional Do Petroleo (ANP), the Designated Authority for the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) in the Timor Sea has approved the JPDA 06-103 Joint Venture's proposal to vary the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) work...

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Transocean Ltd names Nick Deeming senior vice president & general counsel

Offshore drilling contractor Transocean Ltd reported on Monday the appointment of Nick Deeming as senior vice president, general counsel and assistant corporate secretary of the company, effective 7 February 2011. The company said Deeming succeeds Eric B. Brown,...

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Tunisia govt extends Gulfsands’ and ADX Energy’s Kerkouane offshore exploration licence

The Tunisian government has granted three more years for exploration and appraisal activities, until 22 February 2014. Gulfsands Petroleum PLC said the government of Tunisia has approved the renewal of the Kerkouane offshore exploration licence and has granted...

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Apache Corp., regulators investigating potential gas leak in US Gulf

Apache Corporation and US regulators are investigating a potential natural gas leak at an offshore production platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the independent producer said Tuesday. Apache said a hydrocarbon sheen was discovered in the water near its production...

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British Ambassador to Brazil VIsit Petrobras

Petrobras’ CEO, José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, welcomed the British ambassador to Brazil, Alan Charlton, and the British consul-general in Rio de Janeiro, Paula Walsh, at company headquarters today (01/17). During the visit, they talked about cooperation opportunities...

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Expro secures contract extension in Canada

Leading international oilfield services company Expro has secured a multi-million dollar contract extension to supply offshore well test equipment and services in Newfoundland, Canada. Well test equipment and services are being provided on two offshore rigs for...

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Repsol, Wins "Best Private Company" award for its development and recruiting policies for people with disablities

Repsol has been awarded the Ability Award for the "Best Private Company" in recognition of its overall contribution and significant participation in the development and recruitment of people with disabilities. The aim of the Ability Awards is to publicly recognize...

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McMoRan Exploration shares down on 4Q loss

McMoRan Exploration Co. reported a wider than expected loss for the fourth quarter Tuesday, causing shares of the oil and natural gas exploration company to fall nearly 8 percent. The company said Tuesday it lost $77 million, or 75 cents per share, during the...

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W&T Offshore Announces Appointment of Jesus G. Melendrez

W&T Offshore, Inc. today announced the appointment of Jesus G. Melendrez as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. From 2003 to 2010, Mr. Melendrez worked at Mariner Energy, Inc. and served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility,...

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BP's plan could impact on whales: groups

Southern right whales, humpbacks, the great white shark and southern bluefin tuna could be at risk after the federal government gave BP permission to explore for new oil reserves, environment groups say. The embattled energy giant has been granted four permits...

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C-Nav Delivers More Products, Services to Polarcus

C-Nav, the premier supplier of international GNSS Precise Point Positioning services, has installed its latest GNSS systems on the Polarcus Samur. C-Nav has made four installations for Polarcus Group as a part of its service contract with the company. Past installations...

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