Two recent events have highlighted how the International Marine Contractors Association and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES) are working closely to promote the importance of hydrographic and civil engineering surveying in the marine environment and the competency of their respective members.

Under the terms of the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by both organizations, offshore survey personnel who have completed competence portfolios based on the IMCA framework can use this as a demonstration of their competence for membership of ICES. Likewise IMCA will promote recognition of the competence of ICES members to its international offshore contractor membership where companies have competence management schemes in place based on the IMCA model.

“Working together to improve levels of competence, a vital step to ensuring there are enough trained and competent people to undertake important projects, was a major factor in the signing of the MoU. Indeed, it provides members of each of our organizations with something of a win:win situation. We are now taking things a step further,” explains IMCA’s newly appointed Technical Director, Richard Benzie (photo)

“We have recently seen two important milestones in the cementation of the IMCA:ICES relationship. On 2 September, ICES spoke about its professional qualification route for offshore surveyors at the IMCA Competence & Training Seminar in Aberdeen; and in early October an ICES representative addressed IMCA’s Offshore Survey Committee in Aberdeen. We are also exploring a number of other areas where there may be opportunities for further fruitful cooperation.”

ICES Chief Executive Officer Bill Pryke commented: “I am delighted that both organisations have already acted on our MoU. ICES has tremendous respect for the work IMCA does in promoting standards and competence in the offshore survey industry. By working together to support individuals and contractors, we can ensure all those involved in offshore survey are competent and operate within a professional environment that recognises and nurtures their skills.”

Although the MoU talks primarily about surveyors, as Richard Benzie explains, other roles covered within IMCA’s competence frameworks are not excluded. “Typical examples would be those of geophysicists and data processors. Ed Danson, a much respected offshore survey industry figure, a former member of our Offshore Survey Committee and former president of ICES, has mapped IMCA’s survey competence frameworks against the requirements for technical membership of ICES and has found a positive level of synergy between each organization’s approach to competence assessment.”

RigNet, Inc. (NASDAQ: RNET), a leading global provider of remote managed offshore communications solutions, telecoms systems integration services and collaborative applications to the oil and gas industry, announced that it has signed an agreement with Inmarsat to offer Fleet Xpress, the maritime version of its Global Xpress service, to the oil and gas maritime sector. The agreement will enable RigNet to extend high-speed communications to offshore service and supply vessels within the oil and gas industry across the globe.

“RigNet differentiates itself in the oil and gas industry by providing fit-for-purpose technologies to help our energy customers operate remotely in a more productive, efficient and safe manner,” said Mark Slaughter, RigNet’s CEO and President. “The addition of Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress to our energy maritime offerings will enable RigNet to deliver a high degree of service and functionality to this important sector of the oil and gas market.”

“We are continually looking to strengthen our partner network through working with organizations that have the length and breadth of experience, industry knowledge and commitment to best service the market”, commented Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime. “With the launch of Fleet Xpress, the world’s first hybrid Ka/L-band mobile satellite system, we are committed to driving innovation and bringing a new high-speed broadband service that will re-define maritime connectivity. By working with organizations such as RigNet, we can extend our market reach and open up new possibilities to the maritime community, offering competitive and innovative solutions.”

At the World Port Days 2015 in Rotterdam, Imtech Marine has signed for a prolonged stay at the RDM Innovation Dock. The signing was done by Mark Linde (Global Director Design Technology & Engineering Imtech Marine) and Angelien Sanderman (Member of the Board University of Rotterdam). Traditionally the city of Rotterdam has an important position in the global maritime market. This is why Imtech Marine finds it is the perfect place to invest in a greener future and also raise interest of technical talents to come and work in the maritime sector.

Imtech Marine signed during the World Port Days 2015 in Rotterdam for a prolonged stay at the RDM Innovation Dock. From left to right Mark Linde (Global Director Design Technology & Engineering) on behalf of Imtech Marine and Angelien Sanderman (Member of the Board) on behalf of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences.

Energy & Automation Lab

Part of the RDM Innovation Dock is the Imtech Marine Energy & Automation Lab, a collaboration with among others the University of Rotterdam. At this location talented technical students are working on innovative maritime technologies. With the Lab, Imtech Marine works on the realization of its ambition to be a frontrunner in maritime innovations.

A new future-oriented project is the construction of a Smart Energy Systems Demonstrator. This demonstrator will show a fully adjustable, and safe, energy distribution network that is based on direct current (DC). This demonstrator ensures a better overview of all the energy generation and distribution on board through a newly designed human-machine interface. The result is an advice for the ships crew which will improve efficient and economic sailing.

One of the previous projects was Aquabots; a race between two student teams with scale boats that sailed completely autonomous and emission-free, following the vision of Imtech Marine. Students also built two underwater robots. These open source robots, part of the Knowledge Centre RDM, were built based on OpenROV and are taking part in underwater soil research. Due to this success there will be a demonstration in collaboration with the Dutch Government, planned February 2016.

Workboats are built for a wide range of purposes. But, they all share the need for trouble-free bushings and bearings. Vesconite offers a line of low-friction, long-lived polymers that thrive in a dirty, marine environment.

The company's flagship product, Vesconite is a self-lubricating, low-wear material that is able to carry high loads at slow speeds. It doesn't swell in water or need to be greased, and offers up to ten times the usable life of bronze. The polymer is ideal for rudder necks and pintles. On deck, it excels when used with winches, sheaves, rollers and pulleys, and in dockyards for slipway bogies and syncrolifts.

Vesconite Hilube offers even lower friction and longer life. It provides no stick slip and will run dry. It's particularly effective for high-speed underwater applications like propeller shaft bearings and spindle pump supports. It's commonly used in deck cranes and davits for pivot points and slew bearings.

Hitemp 150 is highly abrasion resistant and ideal for high temperatures. It performs in the dirtiest of conditions where maintenance is difficult and a long service life is required, such as in grabs and mud pumps.

All are easily machined and non-toxic. Hollow bar, solid rod and plate stock shapes are available in a broad range of dimensions and thicknesses from the company's Texas office. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; www.vesconite.com.

The World Ocean Council (WOC) is bringing together the shipping industry’s sustainability and environmental performance initiatives at the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS), Singapore, 9-11 November, to explore possible synergies for better serving the shipping industry and better delivering results.

At this session, the shipping industry will have an unprecedented opportunity to provide input and drive improvements in the cost-effectiveness, efficiency and delivery of results that could be achieved through increased synergies, coordination, communication and collaboration among the programs.

The SOS 2015 session on “Shipping, Sustainability and Synergies: Engaging Green Shipping Initiatives with Each Other and with Other Ocean Industries” will be chaired by INTERMEPA and the panel of programs includes, to date:

‬Other sustainable/green/environmental shipping initiatives and programs are invited to participate in the panel as well.

This unique gathering will address:

The updated Sustainable Ocean Summit program is now available.

Conference space is becoming limited, so register for SOS 2015 to not miss the opportunity to participate in this 2-yearly gathering of the ocean business community to address leadership and collaboration in “Corporate Ocean Responsibility”.

About the Sustainable Ocean Summit (SOS ) 9-11 Nov 2015, Singapore

The SOS is the only international ocean business community gathering dedicated to industry leadership and collaboration in developing solutions to ocean sustainable development challenges. The SOS 2015 theme is “Sustainable Development and Growing the Blue Economy - the Next 50 Years”. This event brings together a wide range of ocean industries, including: shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, renewable energy (wind, wave, tidal), ports, dredging, cables, seabed mining, the maritime legal, financial and insurance communities, and others.

Willard Marine, global leader in the manufacture of mission-proven boats, was awarded a contract to provide the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with three aluminum Hydrographic Survey Launch Ships.

The three 28-foot Hydrographic Survey Launch Ships (HSLs) will be used on the coastal waters of the United States to conduct oceanographic surveys with hull-mounted and towed sonar units. A Cummins QSC8.3 engine capable of 510 HP with a ZF Marine 305-2 transmission will be used to power the boats. Outfitted to support traditional manned survey operations, the HSLs will offer additional flexibility to add unmanned autonomous capability. Two Willard Marine HSLs will be built for the 208-foot NOAA ship Thomas Jefferson, and an additional Willard Marine HSL will be built for the 231-foot NOAA ship Rainier, reported by NOAA to be one of the most modern and productive hydrographic survey platforms of its type in the world.

Using advanced sonar technology, the crews of the Thomas Jefferson and Rainier conduct hydrographic surveys for the primary purpose of updating NOAA’s suite of nautical charts. Commercial shipping, commercial fishing and recreational vessels all rely on accurate NOAA nautical charts for safe navigation of coastal water in the United States.

“For 35 years, Willard Marine has built dependable, mission-proven vessels for American and international government agencies around the world,” said Ulrich Gottschling, president of Willard Marine. “NOAA has been procuring fiberglass SOLAS rescue boats from Willard Marine since 2004, and we are proud to continue serving them with larger, aluminum survey ships to support their very important charting responsibilities,” Gottschling added.

The customized HSLs for NOAA are derived from a former SeaArk Marine commercial boat design that Willard Marine acquired the licensing rights to last year. The HSLs are scheduled to be delivered to NOAA in Fall of 2016.

Safe and cost-efficient marine access for oil and gas industry

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2610 workboat, named AOS SWIFT for the Atlantic Maritime Group on 20 August 2015. This is the first Damen Twin Axe vessel to be used in the Middle East for safe passenger and crew transfer as well as for the transport of industrial persons, materials and equipment to unmanned offshore platforms in the Strait of Hormuz. Within less than 3 months, and this includes the vessel’s transportation from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, Damen has customised, commissioned and delivered the stock vessel. Damen signed the contract with Atlantic Maritime Group, in the United Arab Emirates, on 1 June 2015. The vessel is going to be chartered to a Norwegian oil and gas company for its platform operations Offshore Oman.

Atlantic Maritime Group FZE ordered this workboat because it is reliable in rough water conditions with a high operational speed of 25 knots maximum.

Up to 35 industrial persons are transported to and from the platform daily. Although there is a heliport on the unmanned platform, it is much more efficient and less costly to do personnel transfer by sea. “Damen specialises in broader marine access in the offshore wind and oil and gas industries. We see a large potential in this marine access market to reduce costs and improve logistics as well as to partially replace helicopter flights which can be expensive and less efficient. And some unmanned platforms are without heliports and only have marine access,” explains Damen Business Development Manager David Stibbe.

The vessel was shipped from Damen Shipyards Gorinchem to Damen Shipyards Sharjah for further customisation and outfitting. The 25.75 metre long workboat’s twin hull design features robust fendering. A gas detection has also been installed and extra air-conditioning units were needed for the Middle East climate zone. This FCS workboat is also equipped with an additional hydraulically-operated 2200 kg crane with a reach of 8.6 metres and has deck space for two 20ft containers. The vessel is also equipped with a GPS Plot self-managed Man Overboard system and a Jason cradle for emergency personnel recovery. The workboat houses a total of 35 passengers plus crew, with accommodation ideally situated at the aft of the vessel for comfort.

Three of these Damen FCS 2610 workboats are used for the oil and gas industry worldwide; the other two are employed in the North Sea. In addition to personnel transfer, these vessels perform safety standby and logistics services.

Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary Jensen Maritime today announced the development of two new, liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge concepts that can be fully customized to meet a customer’s unique needs.

The first concept involves outfitting an existing barge with an above-deck LNG tank. The concept can be further modified to accommodate more than one type of product, if a customer has a need for multiple liquid transfers. Advantages of this design include a fast turnaround and a reduced need to invest in specialized assets if a customer has short-term LNG requirements.

The second concept is for a purpose-built, new bunker barge. Offering greater carrying capacity and improved visibility, the design features a larger LNG tank that is nestled inside of the barge. This new barge will also feature the latest safety features and efficiencies.

“We understand that customers have very different needs when it comes to LNG,” said Johan Sperling, vice president. “Whether LNG is required for the long or short term, or in larger or smaller quantities, Jensen has a bunkering solution. We are proud to continue leading the way with LNG marine solutions.”

In addition to offering customers maximum flexibility and top safety features, all Jensen designs are developed using the company’s proprietary production engineering capabilities, which makes the outfitting, construction and assembly more efficient.

Bunker barges offer an innovative solution for the maritime industry, which is currently struggling with the decision over which to develop first – LNG infrastructure or vessels. These barges are an ideal resource for those who have LNG needs at ports not located near an LNG terminal or as an alternative to over-the-road transportation.

About Jensen Maritime


Seattle-based Jensen Maritime Consultants, Inc., is a naval architecture and marine engineering firm owned by Crowley Maritime Corporation. The company offers a diverse range of consulting, design and engineering services developed from more than 50 years of experience working around the world. Jensen is a recognized leader in the design of all types of vessels - particularly workboats, fishing boats and fireboats – and has built a favorable reputation on a long history of successful designs and conversions with close attention to engineering basics. The company's services include detail and conceptual design and engineering, lofting, regulatory and shipyard liaison as well as on-site consulting services and on-location assistance anywhere in the world.

Classification societies are changing their monitoring rules for seawater-lubricated propeller shafts in line with the rules governing the inspection and withdrawal of oil-lubricated stern tube systems.

China Classification Society (CCS) announced in July that if certain condition monitoring criteria are met, shaft withdrawal for inspection may be extended to 15 years.

The rule change follows recent revisions by Lloyd’s Register and Bureau Veritas which published amended SCM and MON-SHAFT rules in January 2013 and January 2014, respectively. DNV GL, the world’s largest classification society, with a registered fleet of 266.9mgt, is expected to publish new rules in 2016.

Thordon Bearings’ seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system meets classification society rules for extended shaft withdrawal periods

“Changes to classification society rules represent a significant breakthrough for manufacturers of water-lubricated shaft bearing systems,” said Andy Edwards, Commercial Director of market leader Thordon Bearings.

“A major stumbling block to the wider take-up of the more environmentally efficient seawater-lubricated system has been the requirement to withdraw the shaft for inspection every five years. So the changes are very welcome as they are more representative of the advancements made in polymer bearing technologies and corrosion-resistant shaft coating systems.

“We expect the revision will be highly welcomed by those shipowners looking to comply with the stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency vessel general permit (VGP) regulations, which are now in force to impose strict limits on operational oil discharges for vessels operating in US coastal waters and the Great Lakes,” Edwards added.

The revised CCS notation stipulates that certain shaft condition and monitoring protocols have to be verified at each annual survey in order to benefit from extended shaft withdrawal periods.

The rules state that a shaft condition monitoring system may be used in place of conventional shaft withdrawals, such as the retention of water sampling results for class surveyor review. It also stipulates that a water-lubricated shaft has to be protected with a corrosion resistant material, protective liner or a coating and that wear and tear be assessed. Shaft seals also have to be designed so they can be replaced without having to withdraw the shaft, while bearing clearances and shaft coating measurements need to be retained onboard.

Vessels operating seawater-lubricated systems also need to be fitted with a water filtration, separation or conditioning system capable of removing particles greater than 80μm, with samples taken under service conditions. Two independent sensors are also required to monitor water flow to the stern tube bearing, with any alarms recorded.

Craig Carter, Thordon Bearings’ Head of Marketing and Customer Service, said: “Our Thordon Water Quality Package and Thor-Coat shaft protection system satisfy all of these new requirements, meaning that shipowners no longer need to worry about the costs associated with having to withdraw the shaft every five years. With classification societies now changing their shaft condition monitoring rules in view of the technological advancements we have made over recent years, we expect more shipowners will see merit in converting from oil to seawater-lubricated systems.”

As offshore oil exploration and production expands, the need for high speed spill response vessels has increased. G.M. Penman is Rozema Boat Works' newest skimmer boat. The 65' vessel depends on Twin Disc QuickShift® transmissions and EC300 Power Commander® electronic control system with Express for the critical task of remediation. "The G.M. Penman is like a fire truck," said Jason Rozema, Rozema Boat Works operations manager. "It'll run high speed at 26 kts to the incident, but when it arrives at the spill it has to maneuver carefully around piers and other boats. Twin Disc provides complete control at slow speed."

The oil spill recovery vessel (OSRV) is equipped with a pair of Twin Disc QuickShift MGX-6620 RV transmissions. With the EC300 Power Commander electronic propulsion control system, the boat is capable of instantaneous shift response from neutral to full ahead to full reverse. "It has fantastic maneuverability," noted Rozema.

Operating at 1–1.5 kts with its QuickShift transmission, the boat utilizes 1,500' of Kepner ocean boom and dual Lamor three brush skimmers. It has an on board storage capacity of 215 bbl of recovered oil and crude. The vessel is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

The G.M. Penman is the boatbuilder's fifth 65' OSRV. The company also produces a 47' skimmer; all 14 builds have included Twin Disc QuickShift transmissions.

Since 1955, three generations of the Rozema family have built a wide variety of commercial and recreational vessels used throughout North America. The Puget Sound, Washington-based company's website is www.rozemaboatworks.com

Twin Disc is a global manufacturer of engineered commercial and recreational marine propulsion equipment. Its innovative products are in use on countless vessels worldwide.

OEG Offshore, a leading global provider of cargo carrying units (CCUs) and A60 modules to the oil and gas industry announces the merger of its US business with leading Louisiana based oilfield equipment provider Cameron Rental and Tank Inc (CRT).

The multi-million dollar merger positions the enlarged combined businesses with a full geographic network of locations across the Gulf of Mexico region, together with enhanced engineering and service capabilities and a wider range of equipment to support their customers’ full range of requirements.

OEG Offshore-John Heiton

“This merger connects CRT to one of the biggest names in the industry and we are excited to be able to support our customers and the wider offshore oil & gas industry with the additional resources, products and services that we will now be able to deploy. I look forward to working with OEG to really accelerate our growth and provide our high quality service to a wider range of customers across the Gulf of Mexico and beyond,” said Cameron Rental and Tank President Thomas McDaniel.

CRT has been servicing the Gulf coast oilfield industry since 2000 and has operations in key Gulf locations including Port Fourchon, Venice and Cameron. CRT provides a range of cargo carrying units including baskets and containers certified to the internationally recognized standards of DNV 2.7-1/EN 12079/IMO 860/SEPco OPS0055 and API RP 2A as well as DNV 2.7-1/EN12079 certified cutting boxes and DNV/MPT portable chemical tanks for rental alongside pumps and operated vacuum services.

“This merger provides an ideal platform for the OEG Offshore group to significantly expand its presence across the Gulf of Mexico region. We are pleased that Thomas and Chuck McDaniel, as former owners of CRT, as well as all of the company’s other employees will remain with the business as we move forward together,” said OEG Offshore Chief Executive John Heiton. “We intend to work with the CRT team to develop their already strong service offering, at the same time as investing in growing the range and size of the fleet. We strongly believe that current and future customers of both OEG and CRT will benefit from a wider local base network and an enhanced product and servicing offering to support their production and drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico.”

OEG Houston’s recent relocation to a larger office facility in Houston’s energy corridor and the merger of CRT marks the next step in the development of OEG Offshore’s offering to the Gulf of Mexico region. 

OEG Offshore’s range of DNV 2.7-1 containers, baskets, cutting boxes, waste compactors, offshore tanks as well as standard and customized A60 engineering cabins are available across the Americas. They offer the same varied range of equipment for sale as well as rental, alongside a bespoke design service.

OEG Offshore continues to develop its geographic spread and global product offering as it expands across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Caspian and Asia, as well as the Americas. The business has operations in 25 countries worldwide, with further expansion and fleet investment ongoing through 2015 and into 2016. OEG benefited from investment from world renowned investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) during 2014.

The Coastal and Marine Operators (CAMO) group has announced it has successfully completed the first step in rolling out a major initiative to protect the safety of mariners, the environment and hydrocarbon pipelines from being damaged. The CAMO group began transmitting Automatic Information System (AIS) safety messages directly to mariners in two charted pipeline corridors in Port Fourchon, significantly improving their situational awareness by providing immediate alerts for vessels in close proximity to submerged pipelines. These vessel safety messages use existing AIS technology that is already deployed on most commercially operated vessels.

“Pipeline protection is increasingly important, with the typical incident costing an average of at least $1 million to repair, not counting the incalculable costs of injury, death, or environmental impact,” said Ed Landgraf, director of CAMO. “This AIS-based safety broadcasting system culminates several years of hard work on a solution that enables vessel and pipeline operators to collaborate on protecting mariners from the risk of pipeline strikes. The system makes it easier for mariners to know where and when to take protective measures as they transit or operate near submerged pipelines, and we look forward to a successful roll-out here and in other ports nationwide.”

The first phase of CAMO’s AIS-based pipeline damage prevention and awareness program is being launched in partnership with the Greater Lafourche Port Commission (Port Fourchon) and Oceaneering®, a global provider of engineered services and products primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry. Oceaneering’s PortVision® AIS-based vessel-tracking service is being used to monitor vessel activities in the two charted pipeline corridors north and south of Port Fourchon that pass under its main navigable channel. When the PortVision service detects a vessel operating at a speed less than 0.5 knots for three minutes or more within one of these corridors, an addressed, one-time AIS Safety Related Message (also known as message 12) is immediately transmitted directly to the vessel’s wheelhouse that says, “PIPELINE BELOW.”

Depending on the equipment installed on the receiving vessel and its equipment configuration, there may be visual and audible variations in how the AIS safety alert is received. Mariners capable of receiving and displaying the CAMO AIS messages are encouraged to provide feedback and report any anomalies to Oceaneering, Global Data Solutions support at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or by calling 713-396-8644.

About the CAMO Initiative

CAMO initiated its joint pilot project for marine pipeline damage prevention and awareness in August 2012 with the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The pilot system was developed using Oceaneering’s PortVision AIS-based vessel monitoring service through a grant partnership with Port Fourchon and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The transmission of AIS safety messages has been approved by the FCC and USCG as part of an experimental AIS transmission. The safety message transmission will be operational for 250 days following the USCG notification to mariners recently issued earlier this month. A decision about continuing the transmission will be made after an assessment of how well it has increased vessel operator awareness of subsea infrastructure while reducing the threat of pipeline damage when vessels stop, anchor, drop a spud, or push aground inside one of the designated corridors.

About CAMO

The Coastal and Marine Operators (CAMO) group was developed with a goal to diminish the gap between onshore and offshore spills, releases, and pipeline damage prevention initiatives. A key component of this group’s mission is to educate marine stakeholders and the public about the risks that damage to offshore utilities and pipelines can pose to personal safety and the environment. Although pipeline operators have vigorous inspection and maintenance programs to insure the integrity of their assets, the risk of third-party damage to a pipeline is a continual threat. For more information about CAMO, visit http://www.camogroup.org/ or follow CAMO at https://www.linkedin.com/company/coastal-and-marine-operators-camo-.

About Oceaneering’s PortVision Service

PortVision web-based enterprise software and services help oil companies, marine terminal operators, fleet owners/operators and other maritime users improve business operations through instant, continuous visibility into vessel and terminal activities. Based in Houston, Texas, PortVision is a service of Oceaneering International Inc. (NYSE: OII), a global oilfield provider of engineered services and products, primarily to the offshore oil and gas industry, with a focus on deepwater applications. For more information about Oceaneering visit www.oceaneering.com. For more information about PortVision, visit http://www.portvision.com, or follow PortVision on http://www.linkedin.com/company/portvision.

About the Greater Lafourche Port Commission/Port Fourchon

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission, a political subdivision of the state of Louisiana, facilitates the economic growth of the communities in which it operates by maximizing the flow of trade and commerce. We do this to grow our economy and preserve our environment and heritage. The Port Commission exercises jurisdiction over the Tenth Ward of Lafourche Parish, south of the Intracoastal Waterway, including Port Fourchon and the South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport. For more information about Port Fourchon, visit www.portfourchon.com.

Fugro Scout, the new 83-metre geotechnical drilling vessel, has completed its maiden project in the Middle East. Since its maiden project in the Persian Gulf it has been successfully deployed in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, completing several geotechnical and geophysical survey scopes for various clients. The vessel is currently in transit to The Netherlands to execute a geotechnical survey for an offshore windfarm in the Dutch sector of the North Sea.

The new vessel is specifically designed to address the varied demands of both the shallow and deep water survey markets. With a twin tower drilling derrick over a centrally located moon pool, the Fugro Scout supports automated pipe and tool handling equipment to promote safe drill floor operations. A large soil laboratory provides a unique open plan working environment for geotechnical operators; other equipment includes both downhole and seabed sampling and testing systems rated for 3,000 meters water depth. The vessel is equipped with a dynamic positioning station holding capability (DP2) and is built to Comfort Class COMF-V(3) standards with quarters for up to 60 operational staff.

Like the Fugro Voyager drillship, the new Fugro Scout vessel represents a further advancement in marine technology and enables Fugro to standardize its global operations. A range of specialist equipment and subject matter experts enables Fugro to help customers reduce the risks associated with wells and subsea infrastructure.

On Friday 11 September, the Wei-Li crane ship slipped her lines at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque to make the short trip up to Rotterdam after 10 days of maintenance and repairs. The 141-meter, 18,330 DWT crane ship required special dock bed arrangements, not least because of the 3,000 ton crane mounted on her stern and her unconventional hull form.

A total of 225 blocks were required, along with an additional 56 steel pillars of up to 7 meters in length to support the stern. Wooden wedges also had to be added to the lateral blocks to take account of the unusual hull shape and to ensure complete stability in the drydock.

The scope of work over the 10 day period included, along with the standard work for class survey, blasting and painting the hull and the overhauling of the internal and overboard valves. The scope of the electrical works was extensive given the tight time frame, with a large number of motors removed and transported back to workshop for overhaul before being returned and refitted. The last ones were fitted and tested on the same day of the vessel’s departure.

The starboard propeller blades were also rebuilt. This required re-welding tips onto each of the blades followed by a full polish for both propellers. Six generator coolers were also removed for overhauling, as were their bearings, and some major repairs were made to the accommodation.

Cooperation with the project team from owner Shanghai Salvage was excellent; thanks in part to the assistance of a local Chinese national attending a nearby university who helped smooth the language differences.

“Ensuring that the Wei-Li was properly supported in the drydock was a complex project in itself,” commented Khalil Benjelloul, head of marketing and sales at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque. “With all the blocks and pillars, plus the positions of the vessel’s thrusters, it was not easy to position her in the centre line of the dock. Once accomplished, however, the work proceeded smoothly and after 10 days of hard work around the clock she was on her way again. It was a pleasure to work with Shanghai Salvage and its representatives.”

The Wei-Li was built by Zhenhua Heavy Industries in 2010 and this summer was involved in the installation of the 11,000 ton jacket for the Ivar Aasen project in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

All Coast, LLC, the largest liftboat operator in the Gulf of Mexico, christened its new Class 250 Liftboat, the Great White, on August 20 at C and M Marina in Lafitte, La. Christening sponsor was Erin Allemand. The ceremony was attended by guests from the industry, media and local government, as well as company employees and management.

The Great White is a 250-foot leg liftboat with state-of-the-art design, comfortable accommodations, and modern features, such as a beautiful combination conference room and movie theatre.

The liftboat was designed and built by SEMCO, a well known and highly regarded liftboat builder. It is equipped with two 175-ton leg mounted cranes and a large open deck to assist in carrying equipment and supplies in support of various offshore activities. The vessel can accommodate 50 people, including private rooms dedicated for customer representatives.

"SEMCO's name is synonymous with quality construction of the safest, most reliable liftboats and we are proud to announce that the Great White is unparalleled to any other 250 class currently serving our market," said John Nesser, All Coast Co-CEO and Manager.

The Great White's self-elevating and self-propelled liftboat design operates in a maximum working depth of 185' of water. It features nearly 9,000 sq. ft. of deck space for cargo storage with a maximum deckload capacity of 800,000 lbs. to accommodate heavier equipment loads.

All Coast's newest vessel is one of the few 250+ class liftboats operating in the Gulf of Mexico market. All Coast is the only provider with a fleet of liftboats ranging in size from the 105 class to the 250 class.

"The Great White is emblematic of our investment in our customer's experience and overall satisfaction," said John Powers, Co-CEO and Manager of All Coast. "With this new addition, no other fleet in the Gulf can match our ability to cost effectively meet the specific needs of our customers by having vessels in nearly every class."

The complex program of work comprises geophysical, geotechnical and environmental surveying of the proposed pipeline route to shore and will be undertaken using a multi-vessel approach. Bibby HydroMap’s own vessels Chartwell and Eagle will perform the geophysical and environmental scope, acquiring multibeam bathymetry, side scan sonar data, sub-bottom profiler and magnetometer data, alongside benthic grab samples and visual inspection. For the geotechnical aspect of the work, Bibby HydroMap will perform vibrocores to 5m and CPTs to 5m and 20m.

Bibby HydroMap Project Manager Daniel Jenkins comments “Working to improve the UK LNG network on this interesting and complex project is something that we are delighted to be a part of.”

Bibby HydroMap's survey vessel MV Chartwell Credit: Ronnie Roberts

Located in Morecambe Bay, offshore Barrow-in-Furness, Port Meridian Energy is developing an LNG receiving and offloading facility designed to accommodate Höegh LNG’s FSRU (floating storage and regasification unit) vessels. Conventional LNG transportation vessels will offload LNG to the FSRU via ship-to-ship transfer; with the FSRU converting liquefied natural gas (LNG) into a gaseous state suitable for transportation to shore via a subsea pipeline.

Transfer to shore comprises of a 26” diameter high pressure gas pipeline, commencing at the FSRU location approximately 43½ km’s southwest of Barrow and landfalling on the western beach of Walney Island. From the landfall, the pipeline traverses approximately 5½ km’s through agricultural fields and crosses Walney Channel to the mainland to the site of the proposed Above Ground Installation where the gas will connect into the existing National Transmission System.

Port Meridian Construction Manager Nigel Kirk comments “PMEL have contracted Bibby HydroMap because they offered a comprehensive onshore and offshore survey package, with established onshore subcontractors and dedicated offshore and nearshore vessels”