McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) (“McDermott” or the “Company”) announces that John T. McCormack, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has advised the Company of his intention to retire, effective in the fourth quarter of this year. Mr. McCormack (age 66) has been with McDermott for ten years and has held his current role since 2011.

“I would like to thank Jack for his decade of contribution to McDermott,” said Stephen M. Johnson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDermott, “His commitment and knowledge of the business have earned him the respect of employees and customers around the world, and we extend our best wishes to Jack for his retirement.”

An internal and external search effort is underway for a successor, whom the Company expects to name in the near-term to provide for a smooth transition

Wood Group Mustang names Bob Lindsay CEng MIMechE president of the Offshore Business Unit, leading its global strategic direction and development.

A native of Australia, Lindsay brings to the table 35 years of management experience in international offshore business operations, having held various senior and executive management roles. His expertise includes design, construction, project management and business development of oil & gas production facilities that have included assignments in the UK, Brazil, Korea, South Africa, US and Australia.

Lindsay holds a Master of Business Administration from The Open University in the UK, a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Western Australia Institute of Technology and an Associateship in mechanical engineering (Bachelor of Science equivalent) from Western Australia Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Institute of Petroleum, the Institute of Engineers (Australia) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Wood Group Executive Vice President Michele McNichol shared, "Bob's personable and team-focused style, combined with his depth of offshore business operations, makes him a natural fit at Wood Group Mustang. It was of paramount importance to find a leader who not only has the technical and international business talent required for the job, but who also embodies our people-oriented culture."

Seatronics do Brazil, an Acteon company, announces the appointment of Thiago Montanari as sales manager.  Montanari is based in Rio de Janeiroand will report directly to Seatronics vice president, Fabio D’Agostino.

Montanari has six years of experience in the offshore industry, working extensively in the Caspian (Kasakhstan), Mediterranean, Adriatic and Caribbean (Cuba) seas, as well as in Angola, Patagonia and Libya.

Montanari will be responsible for maturing existing relationships while growing and developing global business opportunities with existing and potential clients.

Before joining Seatronics, Montanari worked at Ambipetro, where he was an operations supervisor and party chief for its offshore operations. Prior to this role, he spent four years at GASITALY as an offshore surveyor, responsible for MBES, Side Scan Sonar and Sub-bottom profiling data acquisition and positioning.

Montanari holds a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography from Vale do Itajai University in Brazil.

“This is a key role at Seatronics, and I am pleased to have Thiago join the team,” said vice president Fabio D’Agostino. “Thiago’s international expertise and industry knowledge will provide guidance and leadership to our Brazilian sales team while enhancing customer relations in the region.”

Coastal Energy Company (the "Company" or "Coastal Energy") (TSX:CEN) (AIM:CEO), an independent exploration and production company with assets in Southeast Asia, today announces an operations update.

Malaysia

Following completion of the current drilling program at Bua Ban North, expected in late July, the Manta drilling rig will mobilize to Malaysia to begin the development program at the Kapal field. All requisite permits to commence the Kapal field development have been received. The mobile offshore production unit ("MOPU") refurbishment is expected to be complete by September. Therefore, Coastal is well placed to commence development in Malaysia once the current program in Thailand is complete.

Bua Ban North

As announced previously, the two horizontal wells which were drilled and completed with the new swelling packer technology encountered production issues during the second quarter. Consequently, the Company elected to recomplete and reperforate these two wells using more conventional completion techniques.

The Company has recompleted the first of the two wellbores and the well is now producing approximately 1,500 bopd. The Company will drill one additional development well at Bua Ban North and recomplete the other horizontal swelling packer well before mobilizing the rig to Malaysia. 

Production Update 

 NorSea Group, Norway’s leading supplier of base services and integrated logistics systems to the oil and gas industry, has appointed Kim Christensen as its first UK General Manager to lead the group’s future developments in Scotland.

 He will head up NorSea Group (UK) Ltd, a new company within the Group, which has been established to reinforce the Group’s commitment to enhance its business activity in the UK. To support this, NorSea Group will open its first UK office in Aberdeen.

 The move follows NorSea Group’s recent announcements that it had signed an agreement with the Scrabster Harbour Trust in Caithness and formed a strategic working partnership with local logistics firm Hugh Simpson (Contractors) Ltd to develop Scotland’s most northerly mainland port as a one-stop supply base servicing the oil and gas industry.

 Mr Christensen’s initial focus will be to build on the existing Scrabster relationships and to move proposals forward to establish a base which will particularly benefit offshore operators and developments in the northern North Sea andEast/West of Shetland. He will do this through working closely with the local community to maximise benefits for the area.

 Alongside that, he will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities in the UKCS with an emphasis on North-East Scotland right up the coast to Orkney and Shetland.

 “NorSea Group (UK) Ltd anticipates expanding operations in Scotland by establishing a presence in additional strategic ports within the next two years.Many of the Norwegian companies we work with already have existing relationships with companies operating in the UK North Sea sector so there is already a good fit there,” says Knut Magne Johannessen, director of international and project operations in NorSea Group.

Jon Holvik has taken over as President of the Houston headquartered Kongsberg Maritime Inc.; the US subsidiary of the world’s leading supplier of Dynamic Positioning (DP) and Automation/Control systems for offshore vessels, rigs and merchant shipping.

Norwegian born Jon, an electronics graduate from the Technical College in Kongsberg, Norway has been a Kongsberg Maritime employee since the late eighties. Starting his career as a Service Engineer he became part of Kongsberg Maritime when it acquired his then employer, Shipmate Norway. Jon became a DP Hardware and Software Engineer in 1990, and in 1993 through 1995 served as Service Manager for KONGSBERG in Singapore, responsible for service of all KONGSBERG products in SE Asia.

 He moved into sales in 1996 upon returning to Norway. As Sales Manager for Kongsberg Maritime his responsibility was for Scandinavia,  Middle East and Brazil from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Jon moved to Houston to become, Vice President of Sales for Kongsberg Maritime Inc.. After 10 years, he had an 18 month guest appearance as VP Rig Broker for RS Platou in Houston from July 2008 until February 2010 but returned to Kongsberg Maritime Inc. as Vice President of Sales in February 2010. As of June 24, 2013, he became President of Kongsberg Maritime Inc. in Houston.

“I’m delighted to takes the reigns at Kongsberg Maritime Inc. during an exciting period of industry growth,” comments Jon. “Kongsberg Maritime’s Integrated DP and Automation/Control Systems, Safety Systems and Navigation Systems feature on over 90% of all deepwater MODUs ordered over the past 3 years and are a mainstay of critical exploration and production operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. We are key partner to a large number of operators in the region and I am keen to strengthen and expand on our existing customer relationships.”

In addition to managing sales of the diverse and highly regarded KONGSBERG portfolio of technology for offshore applications, the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. Houston HQ is also home to the largest Dynamic Positioning and Automation Training center in the USA. Over 1400 students took courses in 2012, and with new instructors on board, this number is expected to increase in 2013.

“Through our position as a leading Dynamic Positioning training organization in North America, Kongsberg Maritime Inc. in Houston is providing a vital service to the offshore industry, where demand for skilled DP operators is higher than it has ever been,” continues Jon.

As company President, Jon also takes responsibility for the US Customer Support and project office, located in the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. New Orleans office, which celebrates its 10 year anniversary in August 2013.

The office is positioned to support Kongsberg Maritime customers in the burgeoning offshore industry in GoM and Mexico and has recently become part of a world-wide Customer Support revamp that has made it a major point in a new Kongsberg Maritime follow-the-sun approach to global support.

Follow-the-sun means that whilst supporting customers in the region, support staff at the Kongsberg Maritime Inc. New Orleans office also handle global customer requests, ensuring they have a human to deal with even if it is out of office hours in their location.

CSA Ocean Sciences, Inc. are currently seeking an Applications Developer and a Database Administrator for the GIS group, a Marketing Associate, and a Ph.D. Marine Biologist/Biological Oceanographer. Check out the postings on the www.csaocean.com careers page.

The Board of Royal Dutch Shell plc has announced that Ben van Beurden will succeed Peter Voser as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 January 2014.

Peter Voser will leave Shell at the end of March 2014, marking the end of 29 years with the Company.

Van Beurden, 55, has been Downstream Director since January 2013.

“I am delighted to announce Ben van Beurden as the next Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell,” said Chairman Jorma Ollila. “Ben has deep knowledge of the industry and proven executive experience across a range of Shell businesses. Ben will continue to drive and further develop the strategic agenda that we have set out, to generate competitive returns for our shareholders.” 

“Van Beurden’s selection came after a comprehensive assessment and review of internal and external candidates led by the Board Nomination and Succession Committee,” Ollila added.

Van Beurden joined the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies in 1983 and has held a number of technical and commercial roles in both the Upstream and Downstream businesses. He has worked in The Netherlands, Africa, Malaysia, USA and, most recently, the UK.

Van Beurden, a Dutch national, graduated with a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. He is married and has four children.

Blade Offshore Services have opened an office in Macaé, the centre of the oil industry in Brazil. The Company wishes to establish a permanent administrative base in Brazil to take advantage of the fast expanding energy market, and the growing demand for the Company's services in the region.

John Swingler, Drilling Services Director, is a Brazil resident and is delighted to oversee the latest BOS development. 'The move demonstrates the company's commitment to the region and it will help enormously to manage our activity in Brazil, which has expanded rapidly over the last few years to become a significant part of our global business. We are definitely now ''open for business'' in Brazil and look forward to developing our relationships with existing clients and partnering with new ones'.

Blade Offshore Services Brazil: Adress: Avenida Rui Barbosa, 1725 – 2nd Floor, Loja44F, Alto dos Cajueiros – Macaé/RJ Phone: +55 22 2765 7344

Fugro Chance Inc. recently performed non-typical acoustic metrologies on four proposed jumpers in the Gulf of Mexico. By industry standards the measurements were completed in a substantially short time frame.

A typical metrology takes approximately 12 hours for one measurement, resulting in an anticipated operational time of around 48 hours in total. However, these non-typical acoustic metrologies were completed with accurate results in just 33 hours.

Two standard Sonardyne Compatt 6 transponders and two Sonardyne Lodestar GyroCompatts (LGCs) were used to acquire tilt magnitude and direction from manifold pressure caps to wellhead casings. Four Compatts were used to ensure repeatable results.

The LGC technology integrates acoustic positioning, attitude and heading reference, and sound velocity technologies all in one instrument. It provides wireless updates and extremely accurate measurements of attitude, heading, heave, surge, sway, pressure and acoustic positioning of any subsea object. By utilizing these LGCs, Fugro saved the client both time and money while providing highly accurate data.

Acteon has completed the acquisition of J2 Engineering Services Ltd, which is based in Aberdeen, UK.

J2 Engineering is involved in the rental, maintenance and repair of ROV manipulator arms and associated tooling and equipment. Over the past five years, the company has forged a reputation within the ROV and underwater survey industries for outstanding service quality, fast turnaround times and the ability to deliver highly reliable customized engineering solutions.

J2 Engineering’s service offering runs along very similar lines to that of well-established Acteon company Seatronics, a world leader in the provision of subsea electronic equipment to the offshore and ocean industries. Indeed, J2 Engineering and Seatronics have already collaborated successfully on a number of projects. Bringing these two companies together will benefit Acteon and enhance their combined ability to add value to customers’ operations.

The J2 Engineering team will continue to operate from its premises in Torry, Aberdeen, and will take advantage of Seatronics’ established distribution and service network covering Europe, North America, Brazil, South East Asia and the Middle East.

Acteon’s legal advisor for the J2 Engineering Services acquisition was Burness Paull & Williamsons.

A HIGHLY-EXPERIENCED figure in the subsea sector has been appointed Managing Director of DOF Subsea UK.

Giovanni Corbetta (Photo), who was most recently Managing Director with Hallin Marine, will lead the company’s transformation from vessel operator to provider of integrated subsea solutions for the market from its headquarters in Aberdeen.  

Falmouth Scientific, Inc. (FSI), a global leader in precision oceanographic instrumentation and marine systems integration, is pleased to announce the addition of Unique System, L.L.C. to its family of manufacturer’s representatives.

Unique System has office locations in New Iberia, Louisiana and Houston, Texas. The company has achieved significant success over the years specializing in the supply of equipment for sale and rental to the diving and offshore industries in the Gulf of Mexico region. Unique System also extends the capabilities of the global Unique Maritime Group to companies operating within the North American subsea oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.

The partnership allows Unique System to expand their product portfolio and capabilities in these marketplaces, and will give FSI a local presence in the area. “We are excited to partner with Unique System as we grow our technology portfolio and customer base in these important segments” said an FSI spokesman.

Falmouth Scientific offers sensor based products such as portable low frequency seismic systems; current, wave, and tide meters; solutions for drilling & vortex induced vibration monitoring; portable sidescan sonar system; and other acoustics-based underwater instrumentation. Service areas include custom design, development, integration, and production of marine systems and acoustic transducers; and manufacturing services such as prototyping, product assembly, encapsulation (potting), calibration, and pressure testing.

BMT Group Ltd, a leading international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, is pleased to announce that Wendy Barnes has joined the Board of Directors as a Non-executive Director.

Wendy is presently a Non-executive Member of the main Board of OFWAT, the economic regulator of the water industry in England and Wales, a Non-executive Director of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Services and a Non-executive Director at the Met Office.

She was Interim Chief Operating Officer for the UK Government’s Department of Energy & Climate Change with responsibility for corporate services and nuclear decommissioning and security policy until December 2012.  Wendy was also previously a member of the main Board of the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Equipment and Support organisation (DE&S) and a Non-executive Director of two Government security departments.  Prior to this, Wendy spent eleven years with United Utilities and previously ten years with British Nuclear Fuels in a wide range of roles including customer service, marketing and business development.

On her appointment, Wendy commented: “I am delighted to be joining BMT at a time when the business is enjoying significant success and growth.  I am looking forward to the challenge of contributing to a group that is diverse in both its geographical spread and in its markets.  Having served on a number of boards, I am keen to use my past experience to the benefit of the group.”

Neil Cross, Chairman of BMT Group said: “I am very pleased to welcome Wendy to the Board of BMT.  She will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company and will help drive our continued growth and development.”

Black Elk Energy Offshore Operations, LLC, an independent oil & gas company, has teamed up with Bright Light Foundation to host a second special tribute sporting clay shoot called the West Delta 32 Fall Fundraiser. The event will be held on September 26th at American Shooting Centers in Houston, TX and includes a sporting clay tournament, BBQ cook-off, live auction, music, games and more. Proceeds will assist the families affected by the incident that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico on November 16, 2012.

"We are excited to work with the Bright Light Foundation for our Fall event", says John Hoffman, President and CEO of Black Elk Energy. "We held our first West Delta 32 Fundraiser in March with Oilfield Helping Hands and had a tremendous response. I am confident with the help of Bright Light this event will be another success. Please join us on September 26th in Houston to honor the victims of this tragic incident. We deeply appreciate any and all support."

"We are extremely happy to team up with Black Elk on this meaningful event", says Kirk Trascher, President of the Bright Light Foundation. "We know how important it is to assist those in need and how impactful contributions are for these families. We are honored to be a part of this event for the families of West Delta". Those interested in offering their support should visit:  http://www.brightlightfoundation.org/west_delta_clays.cfm or contact Leslie Hoffman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Ferguson Group Singapore, specialists in the rental of containers, refrigeration/chiller containers, accommodation modules and engineering modules to the offshore energy industry, announces a new 6m accommodation module to its fleet at the 14th Asian Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Engineering (OGA) Exhibition and conference in Malaysia from June 5, 2013.

Ferguson Group Singapore is exhibiting at stand 7040 at the event taking place from June 5-7 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with members from Ferguson Group Singapore to learn more about the new 6m accommodation module and gain an update on its existing range of offshore containers, tanks, baskets and reefers available throughout Asia Pacific.

Steven Ferguson, Chairman and CEO of the Ferguson Group, said: “Exhibiting at OGA 2013 will provide the opportunity for us to showcase our fleet and introduce the 6m accommodation module and recently launched dual zoned refrigeration container to delegates.”

Ferguson Group Singapore has grown its fleet size to include a range of new products. A new 6m accommodation module designed specifically for southern hemisphere conditions along with a 6m dual zone refrigerated/chiller container from IceBlue Refrigeration Offshore, a member of the Ferguson Group.

Simon de Koning, General Manager at Ferguson Group Singapore commented “The increase in our product range and the recent move to larger facilities in Singapore will further enable us to respond quickly to meet customer requirements. There has been a great deal of interest in Ferguson Group’s products and services in the Asia Pacific region. By exhibiting at this important Oil and Gas event we have the ideal opportunity to meet with clients to better understand their needs.

The Ferguson Group employs more than 185 people worldwide serving the offshore container rental and accommodation modules markets. The group, headquartered in Scotland, has operations in all major global oil and gas locations.