The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) chose the final day of Ocean Business at Southampton (16 April) to announce the eagerly awaited start date for the IIMS accredited vessel inspectors (AVIs) scheme, for CMID (Common Marine Inspection Document ) work on a worldwide basis as 1 June. Those wishing to apply to become IIMS AVIs will be able to register their interest from the beginning of May in order to allow for processing of applications from 1 June.

“The accreditation process for CMID vessel inspectors, to be known as accredited vessel inspectors or AVIs for short, will be explained on a new website devoted to the CMID AVI community,” says Chris Baldwin IMCA’s Technical Adviser. “This initiative is being collaboratively delivered by IMCA and the IIMS and will radically alter the vessel inspection expectations of all stakeholders as the AVI badge will become the ‘industry standard’ symbol of quality for CMID reports.

“We wanted to announce the launch date where the industry was, for the evolution of the CMID has so much to do with us listening to the needs of the industry that we want to be able to answer questions on it at a public forum, and publicly thank so many who have helped steer us towards this important step in our efforts to continuously improve the CMID system.

“Now we have recognized the critical element of inspector competency and IMCA and IIMS will be working together to deliver CMID training and workshops for the benefit of the marine vessel inspector community.” Chris Baldwin added: “The changes to IMCA’s CMID itself in the shortly to be released version 9 are significant and extensive”.

“The new version is designed to be more useful than ever as an audit tool, and will see the return of the vessel supplements, which were withdrawn when version 7 was introduced in 2011. These 16 supplements will cover the common offshore vessel types, and are designed to be added to the general section of the document. The ability to add more photographs to the document will be included and we intend to ensure that the inappropriate generation of findings is reduced. We are planning to introduce the new version in July and will let the users get familiar with the new version before we commence the international workshop program in September.”

IMCA will also be launching an App at the same time, which has been designed for Android and Apple devices, and links users directly to the eCMID database.

The AVI scheme, being run and managed by MSA, a subsidiary of the accrediting body IIMS on behalf of IMCA, will be established on a worldwide basis with initial and refresher training courses being made available in all major regions where IMCA members operate. Having gained accredited status, vessel inspectors/auditors will be issued with an identify card embossed with both an IIMS logo and a declaration that the accreditation is recognized by IMCA. They will be able to get free download of the App and a comprehensive Vessel Inspectors’ manual.

Commenting on the launch of the AVI scheme, Mike Schwarz, IIMS Chief Executive Officer said: "We are thrilled to have been appointed to run the accreditation scheme for IMCA's CMID Vessel Inspectors. The scheme is the result of more than 12 months discussion and careful planning with IMCA.

“It is an important and challenging piece of work that will resolve a clearly defined industry need. Furthermore, it will put IIMS firmly at the heart of the international marine and maritime industry. We have already put in a great deal of effort behind the scenes and I look forward to our hard work bearing positive results for all involved as the scheme is unveiled and develops."

The next step for those eager to become AVIs is to download an application from the IMCA CMID Vessel Inspector website and complete their application. IMCA’s partners at IIMS are keen to ensure that applications meet the criteria demanded and will be able to offer regional support hubs to provide applicants with advice and guidance on completing the application form.

A program of workshops will be held around the world to explain the new features. Dates and venues will be published on the IMCA website, www.imca-int.com, and in the regularly published CMID update. Further information on workshops will be available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: +44 (0)20 7824 5520; Fax: +44 (0)20 7824 5521.

CMID: the background

The Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID), published by IMCA, is a globally recognized vessel safety audit system that has done sterling work since 1999, meeting the aim of reducing the number of audits carried out on individual marine vessels by adoption of a standard format for inspection. It was joined in 2009 by the eCMID, along with a secure online database for the CMID reports, which are ‘living’ documents that can be kept and updated onboard a vessel.

In all nearly 2,600 users (operators, clients and inspectors) have made use of the eCMID database, with 887 vessels on the system by 1 December 2014. “However, we know that on average only 10% of downloaded CMID report forms are then uploaded onto the eCMID database when completed,” explains Chris Baldwin. “This data appears to support anecdotal evidence that the CMID user community is much broader than appears at first sight.”

Naturally, over the years CMID has been regularly reviewed and updated in the light of regulatory and technical developments. This year (2015) will see the release of version 9 reflecting that the current version, and the status of vessel inspectors, needed further revision to meet the demands of modern work practices and recent regulatory amendments in the maritime domain.

The revision re-emphasizes the need to make the CMID an integral part of the process of the ship safety and environmental protection management system, which is a requirement of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. This places legally binding responsibilities on companies, owners, contractors and vessel masters and crew for safety, and environmental protection management.

CMID is there to assess three measures of vessel assurance – the safety of personnel; the protection of the environment; and to visually inspect the internal integrity of the vessel’s hull (i.e. its watertight integrity). The ownership by the Master and crew of the safety management system (SMS) cannot be stressed enough, and it is very apparent to vessel inspectors when the crew are properly engaged with the safety management system employed onboard. The inspector effectively acts as the Master’s independent observer with a responsibility to make an objective assessment of their vessel’s SMS, the top priority being to assure the safety of the Master and crew in the operation of the vessel.

The CMID applies to vessels 24m and over as well as the +500GRT, with the Marine Inspection Document for Small Workboats (MISW – IMCA M 189) applying to vessels less than 500GRT and 24m in length. The MISW has also been part of the review and will also employ the use of vessel supplements (though not as many as the CMID).

Further information on all aspects of the CMID and the inspection process is available from IMCA at www.imca-int.com and the IIMS at www.iims.org.uk.

On Thursday 9 April, the official naming ceremony took place for IRM (Inspection Repair and Maintenance) light construction vessel the Olympic Bibby, at the Kleven Shipyard, Norway.

The ceremony saw the vessel’s official Godmother Mrs. Connie Brown, wife of recently appointed Chairman of Bibby Offshore Mike Brown, christening the NORSOK compliant, 4,500 ton vessel in front of a crowd of 250.

Commenting on her experience, Mrs Brown said: It’s been a great honour and privilege to christen the Olympic Bibby. During my tour of the ship, it was wonderful to see the developments in technology and how beautifully turned out the vessel is, she’s magnificent.”

IRM (Inspection Repair and Maintenance) light construction vessel the Olympic Bibby

Bibby Offshore, leading provider of subsea installation services to the offshore oil and gas industry, signed a charter agreement with Olympic Shipping in March 2014 for the newly built Olympic Bibby. The agreement for the subsea support vessel is for a three year period, with options to extend for an additional two years.

Howard Woodcock, Chief Executive of Bibby Offshore, commented: “Norway is a very important marketplace for us, and we are dedicated to expanding our presence and existing services in line with regional industry demand. The Olympic Bibby is a cost efficient vessel with capabilities that will help us achieve these objectives by further aligning the business going forward during the current environment.”

Arne Lier, Managing Director of Bibby Offshore AS, said: “We aim to further grow our capacity and presence in Norway by providing a superior service for our clients.

“By making our NORSOK compliant vessels available to the Norwegian market, we are working to ensure we have a range of assets capable of operating in this important new area, and becoming a partner of choice in the region.”

Bjorn Kvalsund, Executive Vice President for Olympic Shipping said: “We have developed a strong relationship with Bibby Offshore over several years. The name of our latest vessel is a true reflection of this relationship and we look forward to further strengthening our ties now and in the future.”

Fugro took delivery of the Fugro Americas, a new-build shallow draft survey vessel, on March 18th 2015. Custom designed to Fugro's specifications, the vessel is fitted with the latest geophysical survey equipment and houses some of the most advanced instrumentation in the field.

The Fugro Americas is optimised for working in the Gulf of Mexico, but she is also suitable for other geographical areas, being permanently mobilised and available for rapid deployment to locations throughout North and South America as well as the Caribbean.

The 59 metre-long vessel is capable of carrying out a wide range of offshore services including high resolution geophysical and light geotechnical surveys in water depths of up to 4,500 metres. Fugro Americas is built to operate Fugro's new 4,500 metre-rated Hugin 1000 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), Echo Surveyor VII, which was delivered in December 2014. Specialist equipment on the new survey vessel includes a dynamic positioning system and state-of-the-art survey systems, including a deep water EM302 multibeam echosounder to be used for gas seep surveys.

The Fugro Americas meets stringent industry safety and environmental standards and was built by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors in Louisiana, with supervision by Fugro Marine Services.

Ceona, SURF contractor with heavy subsea construction capabilities, has secured a Letter of Intent (LOI) for the company's flagship field development vessel, the Ceona Amazon. This will be Ceona's first rigid pipelay project in the Gulf of Mexico for well-established US independent oil & gas operator, Walter Oil & Gas Corporation.

The Ceona Amazon will be deployed for the Coelacanth Export Pipelines project with the scope of work encompassing the installation of an oil and a gas export line tying the new Coelacanth Platform into existing pipeline infrastructure. Each 10" line will be approximately 11 miles, totaling 22.6 miles (approximately 36 km). The pipelines will each be terminated by two pipeline end termination (PLETs) structures installed by the Amazon. All work will be undertaken in one single mobilization.

Project Management and Engineering work has started in Ceona's Houston office with support from the corporate offices in London and Aberdeen.

Mark Preece, Ceona's Executive VP Commercial and Business Development, said: "We are extremely pleased that the Amazon has secured her first contract, with final vessel delivery on time and within budget. This will also be her first rigid pipelay project and we look forward to demonstrating the Amazon's capabilities in this area.

"As such, we would like to thank Walter Oil & Gas for having such confidence in the Amazon and her distinctive, cost-effective capabilities which is a huge endorsement of Ceona's vision for designing a vessel that takes subsea construction and installation into a new era. The project will be managed from Ceona's Houston office and the team will ensure Walter Oil & Gas is highly satisfied by the quality of our project execution and vessel performance."

Janelle Pence, Ceona's VP Commercial Americas, said: "The award of Coelacanth is a milestone for Ceona and fully demonstrates our commitment to the region. We look forward to working closely with Walter Oil & Gas to deliver a safe and successful project."

Shipbuilding specialist Lloyd Werft successfully delivered the Ceona Amazon less than two years after the letter of intent for its construction was signed. Last month, the Amazon was equipped with her inclined multi-lay VLS with a top tension of 600te, and with two 400te Active Heave Compensated (AHC) masthead cranes able to work in tandem. The two 18m (59 ft) diameter wheels on the top tower and deck are also being installed. All deck installation work has been carried out at the Huisman yard in the Netherlands.

The Ceona Amazon will represent the second new vessel – after the Polar Onyx – that Ceona has brought to the market on time and budget. The Ceona Amazon is 199.4m (655 ft) long and 32.2m (106 ft) wide, drawing 8.0m (25 ft) with a gross tonnage of 33,000te. She is due to enter service in March 2015.

Africa-focused proprietary investment firm L.A.T Cleveson (LATC) has signed an order with Damen Shipyards Group for the supply of two PSV 3300 Platform Supply Vessels and two FCS 5009 Fast Supplier Vessels. This landmark transaction will bring next generation Damen PSVs to the offshore industry of Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea for the first time.

The purchase is being made by LATC Marine Ltd, a subsidiary of L.A.T Cleveson, which has quickly established a positive reputation by providing state of the art marine vessel supply and offshore operation support services to leading Oil & Gas operators in Nigeria. The company’s aim is to set new standards in the West African offshore oil sector through acquiring modern and technologically advanced assets to serve international & local clients operating in the region. Vessels servicing the offshore industry in the Gulf of Guinea, and specifically Nigeria, typically are substantially older than those operating elsewhere in the world – until now.

The purchase has been financed by Fidelity Bank Plc, a progressive and reputable Nigerian bank, with a dynamic Transport & Shipping division which is poised to support value-adding projects and new/efficiently run companies in the industry, in particular those with a strongly local content status.

Mr. Gbolahan Shaba, COO of LATC Marine comments: “Our aim is to redefine the concept of quality tonnage in the Gulf of Guinea and particularly in Nigeria. We plan to locally develop the necessary skill sets that will sustain our quality service to the most demanding clientele who run very complex operations in the most challenging environments. Ultimately, our strategy is to attain the capacity to build and maintain quality tonnage in Nigeria. We anticipate strong demand for repair and docking services in our region and we plan to create the facilities to meet that demand, professionally and safely”.

Fidelity Bank’s Head of Transport & Shipping Division – Mr Mike Nnaji agrees heartily: “This agreement and acquisition further marks our support toward professional development of Offshore Oil & Gas marine support in Nigeria within the local content framework. The quality of the assets speaks for itself and the professional management is evident from the positive reaction of the Oil & Gas companies whose operation they already support and will be supporting. These vessels will show the value and effectiveness of assets that are built to UK North Sea standards which are efficient, environmentally-friendly and economic to operate. Fidelity Bank will continue to stimulate and support this development in line with the Nigerian Government’s local content initiative”.

Advising on the agreement was RS Platou Africa (RSP), a global organisation with an in-depth knowledge of the industry and the region particularly. Dedicated to creating productive relationships between shipbuilders, operators & end-users, RSP has been a trusted advisory party to LATC and Damen. Advising on the agreement was RS Platou Africa (RSP), a subsidiary of Clarksons the world’s largest shipbrokers, a global organisation with an in-depth knowledge of the industry and the region particularly. Dedicated to creating productive relationships between Shipbuilders, operators & end-users, RSP has been a trusted advisory party to LATC and Damen. Mr Simon Pethick, Head of RSP’s Offshore Support Vessel & Drilling Units division, comments: “For some years now, we have seen the need for Innovation in Vessel Designs of Higher Quality & Efficiency and especially sustainable services throughout Africa’s west coast operations. Hence, new - and newly built – tonnage is needed. At the same time, both businesses and governments need long-term stability to grow.

This can only happen if the region develops the right skills and focuses on long-term relationships between owners, operators, suppliers, governments and financial institutions for the development of long term sustainability. We are proud to be the ‘enabling advisor’ in this project, which does exactly that – taking steps to enable long-term commitment and growth.” The Platform Supply Vessels and Fast Suppliers Vessels acquired by LATC Marine will have the full support of the Damen Service Hub in Port Harcourt, as well as the Damen Regional Office in Lagos. An additional Service Hub in Ghana is being planned.

Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has announced the release of printed versions of its 2015 Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships. ClassNK regularly reviews and revises its technical rules and guidance in order to ensure that they are relevant and up-to-date.

The 2015 edition’s amendments, made between 1 March 2014 and 31 December 2014, reflect the latest R&D findings, feedback from damage investigations, changes made to international regulations, as well as industry requests and include requirements related to:

• Guidance for Temperature Gradient ESSO Tests and Double Tension Tests

• Structure of Bilge Keels

• Dangerous Chemical Substances

• Strength Calculations for Gears

• Black-out Tests in Special Surveys

PDF files of the updated Rules and Guidance will be available to download free of charge from early May for ClassNK “MyPage” users. Registering for this service is easy. Simply go to ClassNK’s website and click on the “My Page Login” button. Printed versions are currently available for purchase from the ClassNK website with CD-ROM versions scheduled to be released in early May.

In addition to the above, printed versions of the newly established Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, Part CSR-B&T as well as revised versions of both the Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers, Part CSR-B and the Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers, Part CSR-T (all dated 27 February 2015) are scheduled to be made available in late May.

Following its inauguration ceremony in Rotterdam on 27th February 2015, Allseas' Pioneering Spirit will start its first job offshore Norway this summer with an integrated Dynamic Positioning (DP) and maneuvering system based on state-of-the art Kongsberg Maritime technology. The Kongsberg Maritime delivery includes forward and aft bridge systems in addition to an extensive automation network and the HiPAP subsea position reference system.

Eight years in the making, Allseas' Pioneering Spirit single-lift vessel is the largest construction vessel in the world. Kongsberg Maritime has been involved with this ground-breaking project from near the very start, having been selected by Allseas to provide the Dynamic Positioning system for Pioneering Spirit (then Pieter Schelte) early in 2008.

Allseas' Pioneering Spirit single-lift vessel is the largest construction vessel in the world. Image courtesy of Allseas.

Pioneering Spirit's role as a platform installation, decommissioning and pipelay vessel demands the most comprehensive, reliable and feature rich DP and maneuvering system available. With sea trials already completed in summer 2014, Kongsberg Maritime's Class 3, fully redundant DP system and other vital systems will next be put through their paces this summer, when Pioneering Spirit starts its first and particularly challenging project, the removal of the 'Yme' platform topsides in the North Sea.

The Kongsberg Maritime integrated Dynamic Positioning and maneuvering concept for Pioneering Spirit relies on a distributed and open system design, which employs a fully backed-up system-wide standardized communication network. The communication network integrates the K-POS Dynamic Positioning, K-Thrust thruster control, K-Bridge Navigation and K-Chief machinery automation systems, into a complete solution with unique positioning and maneuvering capabilities required for Pioneering Spirits complex operations.

Pioneering Spirit features two fully equipped redundant Kongsberg Navigation bridges with Multi Function Displays (MFD); forward and aft (in separate fire zones). The K-Bridge system utilizes new Radar Transceiver interface technology distributing radar signals from the eight radar transceivers on a Local Area Network (LAN). This enables the possibility for long cable runs (500m) allowing for locating two radars in each 'corner' of the Pioneering Spirit. The K-Bridge system is delivered with innovative new features such as the ability to combine radar images from multiple radar transceivers and display them as a single composite picture. This eliminates blind sectors and provides a 360 degree view around the vessel.

Kongsberg Maritime has also provided subsea position reference systems to ensure the accuracy of the Kongsberg Maritime DP, including the industry standard HiPAP high precision acoustic positioning system.

Statoil (U.K.) Limited has awarded a contract to Sentinel Marine Limited to provide a new multi role  Emergency Response & Rescue Vessel (ERRV) to support operations on the Mariner field on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

Mariner Sentinel illustration. (Illustration: Sentinel Marine)

Sentinel Marine is an Aberdeen-based company, owning and operating offshore support vessels in the oil and gas marine industry. The new 65 meter ship, to be named "Mariner Sentinel", will be custom built for Statoil and provide emergency cover, oil spill response preparedness and tanker assist capabilities for the Mariner field.

The ERRV contract with Sentinel Marine has a fixed duration of five years, commencing in July 2016, and also includes five one-year extension options.

"This is an important contract award in our preparations for safe and efficient operations on Mariner," says Gunnar Breivik, managing director of Statoil Production UK.

"The emergency and rescue vessel plays a key role in our safety and emergency preparedness plan. We are pleased with the flexible and cost-effective solution Sentinel Marine is offering, and we are looking forward to working with them as a partner in the operational phase. "Mariner Sentinel" will carry mechanical oil spill response equipment and contribute to a strengthening of the emergency preparedness capacity also on a regional basis," Breivik says.

The Mariner field, located approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles, is currently under development, with production start-up planned for 2017. Hook-up and commissioning is expected to start in 2016.

"Mariner Sentinel" is expected to be delivered early in 2017. From the summer of 2016 and until the new vessel is ready for operation, Sentinel Marine will provide another ERRV for emergency cover on Mariner.

Statoil is the operator of the Mariner field with 65.11% equity. Co-venturers are JX Nippon Exploration and Production (U.K.) Limited (28.89%) and Dyas Mariner Ltd. (6%).

Facts:
The Mariner Field is located on the East Shetland Platform of the UK North Sea, approximately 150 kilometers east of the Shetland Isles.

The Mariner heavy oil field consists of two shallow reservoir sections – the deeper, Maureen Formation at 1492 meters and the shallower Heimdal reservoir at 1227 meters.

The development of the Mariner field will contribute more than 250 million barrels reserves with average plateau production of around 55,000 barrels per day.

The field will provide a long-term cash-flow over a 30-year field life. Production is expected to commence in 2017.

The concept chosen includes a production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform based on a steel jacket, with a floating storage unit (FSU).

Drilling will be carried out from the PDQ drilling rig, with a jack-up rig assisting for the initial years.

The Mariner field development entails a gross investment of more than USD 7 billion.

Following the final investment decision in December 2012, Statoil in 2013 established an office an Aberdeen.

Statoil's new UKCS operations center is currently under construction on the Prime Four business park at Kingswells west of Aberdeen.

Ceona, SURF contractor with heavy subsea construction capabilities, has entered into a significant Joint Venture (JV) with Seaweld Engineering which will act as a strategic partner for offshore deepwater construction projects in Ghana.

The JV allows Ceona to extend its operations in West Africa and build upon the success it has already achieved in the region. The agreement will see Seaweld Engineering supporting Ceona in delivering its full line of products and expertise in Ghana. The companies have been working together since late 2014 and the JV was officially registered by the Petroleum Commission in Ghana in March 2015.

As part of Ceona’s growth plans, the company has opened an office in Accra as well as taking on a further office and yard space in Takoradi.

Mark Preece, Executive VP Commercial and Business Development at Ceona, said: “It was important for us to find an experienced and respected partner to support our move into Ghana as we increase our growing geographical footprint across West Africa.

“Seaweld Engineering is well known in the country and has a well-earned reputation for the high quality of its work in oil & gas. The JV will complement both companies as we offer our combined strengths to clients requiring specialist support in deepwater construction operations.”

Seaweld Engineering is headquartered in Takoradi and is a specialist in steel fabrication for the oil & gas industry. Established in 1979, Seaweld provides a flexible and well-resourced inspection, repair and maintenance service. The company has over 20 years of experience in the fast developing oil & gas production fields of West Africa and other areas of the world. Last year, the company received the prestigous Indigenous Oil & Gas Company of the Year 2014 at the Ghana Oil & Gas Awards.

The news comes as Ceona’s flagship vessel, the Amazon, nears completion at Huisman’s yard in Schiedam, Netherlands. The Amazon, specifically designed for deepwater markets including West Africa, is a unique field development vessel built with the capability to operate in multiple pipelay and operational modes, changing from rigid to flexible pipelay within a week. Designed to operate independent of spoolbases, the Amazon is ideal for projects in Ghana where spooling operations create long transit requirements and increased costs.

The Amazon is due to finish construction in Schiedam in the coming weeks, and will have her firing line fitted before heading to Gulf of Mexico for her first rigid pipelay project for Walter Oil & Gas this year.

Among the company’s state-of-the-art fleet of vessels are The Polar Onyx and the Normand Pacific. The Polar Onyx is a high-capacity new-built flexible pipelay and construction vessel designed to the highest standard for dynamic positioning, DP3 (Operations+), and equipped with a 250te AHC offshore crane and a 275te vertical lay system. Like the Ceona Amazon, it is capable of installing pipeline and umbilicals to water depths of 3,000m (10,000 ft). She is chartered for 5 years from GC Rieber Shipping, with option for 5 additional years.

The Normand Pacific, built in 2010, is a DP3 offshore construction vessel equipped with a 200te knuckle boom crane. She has been chartered by Ceona for one year and fitted with a 75tem vertical lay tower, a reel drive system and two new high-specification work class ROVs for deepwater flexible pipelay and subsea construction in deep and ultradeep waters.

Four models of ADCPs are available for individual rental, or as part of a package with auxiliary communication and flotation equipment.

Okeanus Science and Technology, LLC (Okeanus) announces the addition of four models of Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) to its available selection of oceanographic and marine scientific rental equipment.

With a variety of working depths ranging from shallow coastal waters to over 1500 meters, Okeanus' selection of ADCPs, now available for rental, are ideal for any project demanding accurate current measurement. In stock are the 55 kHz Nortek Signature 55 ADCP, used for long-range water column measurement to a 1,000 meter range; the 75 kHz RDI Long Ranger ADCP for long-range water column current speed and direction measurement; and the 300 kHz and 600 kHz Rowe Technologies Seawatch ADCPs, which feature long range measurements and lesser resolution, or mid- to low-range measurements and higher resolution, respectively.

Each model in the fleet is available for standalone rental, or as part of a custom equipment rental package tailored to suit customers' individual and project needs. Okeanus can provide complementary communication equipment including an acoustic release and universal deck box, as well as any necessary buoys and flotation items to accompany each ADCP model.

"We are very excited about the addition of this fleet of ADCPs to our current equipment portfolio. Okeanus' ability to offer ADCPs that can work anywhere from shallow coastal waters to deepwater environments has positioned us to better serve our customers who are actively engaged in any metocean survey and research situation," said Benton LeBlanc, Vice President and General Manager of Okeanus. "Providing these items for lease further strengthens our value proposition, enabling our customers to better allocate their capital to completing projects in a cost-effective manner."

Okeanus Science and Technology, based in Houma, Louisiana, was established to cater to the science and technology rental and equipment integration market. Okeanus provides the latest technology as well as tried-and-true industry standards to all regions of the globe to support and accomplish clients' goals.

AAL, one of the world's leading global breakbulk, project cargo and heavy lift shipping operators, today announced that AAL Galveston will join its fleet on long-term time charter and add capacity to its Tramp and Projects division; providing worldwide trade for customers, with a specific focus on EU and US trades.

AAL Galveston is a multipurpose, heavy lift 'Super A-Class' vessel, which AAL has re-classified under its own fleet classification criteria, to 'G-Class'. At 160 meters in length and 25,800 dwt, she is highly versatile and robust, with a combined lifting capacity of 240 mt and large, strengthened cargo holds. This latest long-term charter for AAL follows a recent announcement that it will grow its fleet to over 500,000 dwt in 2015; a fleet that is already the youngest and most advanced in the breakbulk sector.

"The AAL Galveston increases our service capabilities and options, in support of a highly diversified customer base and our strategy to continue to build it even further," said Namir Khanbabi, Managing Director of AAL's Tramp and Projects Division.

"We have seen growth in some core industry sectors, particularly renewables, where logistics challenges have become greater, as components get larger and more complex to transport, and ports of loading and discharge more globally widespread. These factors demand solutions than can ensure cargo safety and project efficiency; expertise which AAL has a 20-year reputation of providing."

iSURVEY Pte Ltd, Singapore, has been awarded a marine construction support contract by Solstad Offshore Asia Pacific to provide positioning and survey support for its 2015 platform installation program in Thailand, on board the DLB 'Norce Endeavour' (photo).

iSURVEY will provide services including positioning and monitoring during jacket setting, together with final positioning, levelling and survey assistance during pile cut-off. Subsea positioning is to be provided to integrate IKM Subsea's Merlin work-class ROV into installation operations.

iSURVEY Singapore's managing director Bill Petrie said: "The first few months of 2015 are proving to be extremely positive for iSURVEY's business in the Asia Pacific region, which has been reinforced by this contract award.

"We are pleased to have been selected to handle this work by Solstad Offshore Asia Pacific, and look forward to working closely together over the coming months."

iSURVEY Group is a leading provider of survey and positioning services to the global oil and gas, telecommunications and offshore renewable energy sectors. The Group is headquartered in Norway with bases in Singapore and Aberdeen.

BMT Nigel Gee (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group, is pleased to announce the successful completion of sea trials for Njord Odin, the first of a series of advanced 26m windfarm support vessels (WSV) for Njord Offshore. Developed from BMT’s well-established range of WSVs, these are the largest BMT designed vessels built to date.

Built by Strategic Marine, Njord Odin is also the first to be fitted with a quadruple installation of the Volvo Penta IPS system, with the forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers and individually steerable pods under the hull. The IPS system offers high propulsive efficiency combined with excellent manoeuvrability, dynamic positioning, as well as excellent bollard pull which is of paramount importance on a windfarm.

Tom Mehew, Director at Njord Offshore comments: “Our clients demand efficiency and redundancy in our service and comfort for their technicians whilst operating in tougher, more inclement conditions. We believe Njord Odin will deliver on all fronts. BMT and Strategic Marine have done an excellent job and we’re delighted with the performance and sea trials results.”

The vessel is 26.3m in length with a beam of 9.3m with each of the four Volvo IPS900 units delivering 515 kW. The vessel is specifically designed for working further offshore with a fuel capacity of 29,000 litres and fresh water capacity of 2,900 litres. Njord Odin achieved a speed of in excess of 27 knots with 20 tonnes of deadweight and with the same deadweight will cruise at 25 knots with the engines running at 85% of their maximum continuous rating.

The vessel has extremely low noise levels thanks to the resiliently mounted superstructure and selection of propulsion machinery. Noise levels in the main accommodation are 60 dBA and 54 dBA in the wheelhouse whilst operating at 25 knots.

The accommodation is extremely spacious with excellent visibility from all seating areas. Utilising the patented Active Fender System, the vessel also benefits from significantly reduced impact forces when docking with boat landings.

Ed Dudson, Technical Director at BMT Nigel Gee comments: “Our designs are well proven with an excellent reputation for seakeeping and fuel economy. It is great to be providing these vessels together with Strategic Marine to Njord Offshore. Njord Odin is the first of our quad IPS designs and we are looking forward to seeing this new fleet of Njord Vessels joining the current fleet which includes 8, 21m BMT designed vessels.”

Netherlands-based Palfinger Boats has launched the first of two Damen-designed FRSQ 1200 fast-rescue/oil response vessels. Built in Harderwijk, Netherlands, the 12-meter (40-foot) vessel is powered by dual 440-horsepower (hp) Yanmar diesels mated to twin NAMJet TJ431 HH waterjets.

Designed to be carried aboard larger ships as a "daughter-craft," the 9.6-ton vessel's primary mission is oil spill response, which will make exceptional use of the vessel's 4.1-ton bollard pull capacity. The boat's Brazilian owners, OCEANPACT, cite swift acceleration and top-end speeds as mission-critical performance characteristics at sea, making the vessel's 35-knot top speed and 31-knot cruise speed an ideal match. To better fit its rescue parameters, the vessel also serves as a dive platform for launch and recovery of divers.

Palfinger partnered with NAMJet to customize one of the waterjet manufacturer's unique "Twin Pak" designs, which simplifies installation of the vessel's twin TJ431 HH waterjets by turning the jets at an angle and welding them directly into the hull to become part of the vessel's structure. The design eliminates the need for transition ducts or transom plates while greatly improving its overall performance.

Builder: Palifnger Boats, The Netherlands
Design: Damen Gorinchem
Length: 12M (40 feet)
Beam: 2.3M (7.5 feet)
Weight: 9.58 Tons (Full fuel, 8 crew, tow gear)
Top Speed: 34.8 Knots
Cruise Speed: 31.1 Knots
Bollard Pull: 4.1 Tons (freshwater conditions)
Engines: Twin Yanmar 6LY2A-STP (440hp @3300 rpm)
Waterjets: NAMJet TJ431 HH Twin Pak

assNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has just announced its official registration figures in addition to Clarkson's data which reveals that it is once again the world's largest classification society. The Society made the announcement at its annual Japanese press conference held in Tokyo on 17 March.

The latest figures show that over 366 million deadweight tons are now registered with the leading classification society, some 21% of the world's entire classed fleet, more than any other classification society in the world according to Clarkson's. Despite a global decline in new orders, the number of newbuildings joining ClassNK continues to grow, with the Society welcoming newbuildings totaling over 16 million gross tons to its register in 2014, or more than 25% of all newly built tonnage last year.

Speaking on the occasion, ClassNK Chairman and President, Mr. Noboru Ueda said: "At ClassNK, we believe that nationality is not relevant to our customers. Shipowners and operators around the world select their classification society on the basis of the services delivered. These figures represent not only the growth of our organization, but also the trust we have gained from the maritime industry through consistently providing quality services."

As ClassNK's register grows increasingly international, so does its R&D activities. With significant contributions towards maritime R&D, ClassNK is working with industry partners throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas on a wide variety of joint R&D projects focusing on the safety of ships at sea, protecting the marine environment, and developing technologies that enhance efficiency for the benefit of the entire maritime community.

"As an independent, non-profit organization we are able to invest all of our profits back into improving our services and providing the maritime industry with innovative solutions. We respond to our clients' needs and when these needs change, our strategy is to adapt and invest to meet that change. We are always looking for ways to address new challenges, as well as enhance and expand our existing range of services and the maritime community has responded to this by continuing to choose ClassNK."

MacArtney Underwater Technology and Sea-Bird Scientific have joined forces to deliver no less than four state-of-the-art complete oceanographic instrumentation solutions to research vessel operators in Turkey.

The package
A key common denominator for the type of oceanographic package procured by these Turkish research clients is the powerful combination of highly versatile MacArtney CORMAC Q winches and cutting-edge Sea-Bird Scientific CTDs and water sampling systems. In addition to this, clients have opted to mix-and-match a multitude of different instrumentation options including the broad range of optical and water quality sensors from WET Labs and Satlantic offered by Sea-Bird - to form complete turnkey CTD packages corresponding with their specific scientific measurement needs. In extension of this, all installation, commissioning and training, performed by MacArtney specialists, was also included in the packages.

A MacArtney and Sea-Bird CTD package, complete with CORMAC Q winch and sampler carousel - seen onboard the ARAMA 1

The vessels
The first of four Turkish research vessels to take delivery of the MacArtney and Sea-Bird CTD solution was the R/V TUBITAK Marmara built by CEKSAN shipyard for the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. The second and third Turkish research vessels to benefit from a turnkey MacArtney and Sea-Bird package was the R/V Seydi Ali Reis - a brand new scientific vessel operated by the Sinop University and the ARAMA 1 - a newly built vessel operated by the Mediterranean Sea and Fishery Institute based in Antalya. Finally, a fourth system procured by an undisclosed Turkish client, for installation on a new research vessel, has been delivered, with commissioning planned to take place during 2015.

Complete solutions and mutual success
The recent Turkey-bound CTD package orders grant tangible testimony to the strength and vast potential of the cooperation between MacArtney and Sea-Bird Scientific. "We are certainly very happy with the recent order flow and I guess one can say that we have become the preferred supplier of this type of solution within the Turkish market. This is definitely a product of two companies combining their strengths to persistently grow a market by offering a truly competitive product boasting unmatchable quality - and with more system orders in the pipeline, MacArtney is delighted to work even closer with Sea-Bird Scientific in the future" - says MacArtney Sales Manager Hans Jørgen Hansen. This opinion is shared by Casey Moore, President of Sea-Bird Scientific who states that "the systems delivered to the Turkish research vessels give testimony to the unique total-system capability and user-friendliness achieved when the systems and expertise of Sea-Bird Scientific and MacArtney are united: By joining forces, we are able to provide complete solutions - from surface to seabed - assuring our clients that the best solutions for their system requirements are also the most convenient for them to implement. This is a definite win for our customers. We look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with MacArtney to provide full service turn-key solutions to clients for years to come."