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16th Volume, No. 65 1963 – “52 years tugboatman” – 2015 Dated 16 August 2015
BUYING, SALES, NEW BUILDING, RENAMING AND OTHER TUGS TOWING & OFFSHORE INDUSTRY NEWS
TUGS & TOWING NEWS
INYALAZI
Transnet National Ports
Authority Durban harbour
tug Inyalazi makes her
way back to the tug basin
after an overhaul at
TNPA’s Shop 24 ship
repair yard. Built in 1984
and named after a former
Transnet (SATS)
mechanical engineer, Piet
Aucamp, the tug has been
based in Durban for almost
its full career. Post 1994 a
renaming process was introduced with the Durban-based tugs receiving names of KZN rivers, the
Inyalazi being a river in Zululand near Lake St Lucia. (Source: Ports & Ships; Photo: Ken Malcolm)
Advertisement
HARLEY MARINE NAMES SECOND RAMPARTS 2400 AFTER
INFLUENTIAL W IFE OF FOUNDER
In June 2015, Harley Marine Services (HMS) took delivery of the second “enhanced” RAmparts
2400, christened the Lela Franco. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and built by Diversified Marine
Inc. (DMI) in Portland, Oregon, the new tug is a sister ship to the Michelle Sloan delivered earlier
this year. Named after another strong female influence to the HMS organization, the Lela Franco is
named in honour of the wife of founder Harley Franco, who helped shape the company’s core
values, commitment to the environment and the design of the new and significant HMS world
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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headquarters in Seattle,
WA. The Lela Franco is
the sixth tractor tug HMS
has added to its fleet in
under two years,
improving its ship assist
and tanker escort
capability and bringing
more horsepower to the
US West Coast. Like its
twin sister the Michelle
Sloan, it is an
enhancement of HMS tugs
the Tim Quigg and John Quigg, built in 2004 also by DMI. These enhanced designs developed by
Robert Allan Ltd. feature a wider hull, increased Bollard Pull performance, improved crew
accommodations, and a modified skeg. Particulars of the Lela Franco are as follows: Length overall: -
80’-0”; Beam, moulded, extreme: - 36’-0”; Depth, moulded (hull): - 16’-8”; Maximum draft: - 17’-5”;
Gross Tonnage: - <200 GRT (US Tonnage). The tug was designed and constructed to satisfy all
applicable Rules and Regulations of USCG and meet or exceed the minimum scantling requirements
of any Classification Society. Tank capacities are as follows: Fuel Oil: - 32,800 Gals.; Potable Water: -
2,900 Gals.; Main Engine Lube Oil: - 410 Gals.; Sludge Tank: - 890 Gals.; Grey Water: - 830 Gals.;
Emergency Black Water: - 275 Gals. Trials results were as follows: Bollard Pull, ahead: average -
69.0 maximum 71.3 Short tons; Bollard Pull, astern: average - 65.4 maximum 67.4 Short tons; Free
running speed, ahead: - 12.5 knots. The vessel has been outfitted to the highest standards for a
normal operating crew of 2, with accommodations for up to six persons. The Master's cabin is
located on the main deck, with two additional double crew cabins located on the lower
accommodation deck. There is also a galley and mess room located on the main deck. The deck
machinery comprises a Markey DEPC-48 render-recover type ship assist hawser winch on the bow,
spooled with 500’ of 9” line, and a Markey DEPC-32 towing winch aft with a capacity of 250’ of 6-
1/2” line. In addition, a capstan is installed on the fore deck to facilitate line handling operations.
The raised forecastle and elevated wheelhouse ensure good all-round visibility of the working decks
and when handling large barges with high freeboard. This higher freeboard feature also provides a
high standard of sea-keeping when working in exposed waters, but is also configured so as not to
impede the ability of the tug to work closely under the flare of the newer generation of large ships.
Main propulsion for each tug comprises a pair of CAT 3516C diesel engines, each rated 2,575 bhp at
1600 rpm, and each driving a Rolls-Royce US 205 Z-drive unit, with a 94.5” diameter fixed pitch
propeller. The electrical plant consists of two (2) identical CAT C6.6 diesel gen-sets, each with a
power output of 125 ekW, 60 Hz. Ship-handling fenders at the bow consist of one tier of 36” OD x
18” ID cylindrical fender at the main deck level, with 12” loop type Schuyler fenders between the
main deck and the knuckle, 11” laminated bow fenders below, and 12” hollow D style fenders along
the stem and skeg. Tires and 8” hollow “D” fender provide protection at the main and forecastle
sides and sheer lines, and 12” loop type fendering is used at the stern. (Press Release Robert Allan)
LAGOS PORTS TUGS
Another recently acquired Lagos tug is OTUOKE (269-gt, built 2012), a Damen Stan 2909 tug owned
and operated by the Nigerian Ports Authority. According to Equasis the current status of this tug in
terms of the classification society Lloyd’s Register is ‘suspended for other reasons’. The port of Lagos
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now boasts a series of
dredged channels with a
draught of 13.5 metres,
according to the Nigerian
Ports Authority.
Augmenting the port
services are two newly
acquired tugs each with a
bollard pull of 60 tons,
considerably more
powerful than earlier tugs
in service at Lagos. The
acquisition of the new tugs
came under the direction of
the Lagos Channels
Management Limited (LCM) which is a public/private enterprise established in 2005 to maintain the
Lagos Channels and Ports in order to enhance efficiency and viability for safe and accessible
navigation. The new tugs UROMI and MAJAIYA have already entered service and bring the Lagos
Pilotage fleet to 15 vessels. Although not brand new, having been built in 2010, they provide better
styling with narrower wheelhouses and slimmer hulls than some of the earlier model tugs in service
at Lagos, of which the most powerful has a bollard pull of 45 tons. With a 60t bollard pull both
Uromi and Majaiya will be able to handle the larger size ships now calling at West African ports.
Lagos Ports now boast a fleet of eight tugs, three pilot cutters and four mooring boats. (Source: Ports & Ships)
Advertisement
NEW TUG FOR K ILLYBEGS
Sinbad Marine Services of Killybegs on the North West Coast of Ireland have just taken delivery of
the 2004 built 18m 30TBP Monaco registered twin screw tug “Chambon Biso” ex (SANMAR XVII). This investment in a more powerful tug by Sinbad Marine Services is a significant boost to the port
of Killybegs. Year on year vessels calling at the port are getting bigger and bigger, this year alone
seen the largest vessel yet to enter Killybegs Harbour, P&O Cruises “Oriana” at 260m LOA.
“Chambon Biso” will replace Sinbad Marine Services existing Damen 1906 Stan Tug “SMS Leah”
(formally “Willpower” of Williams Shipping and “Karin S” of Stemat Marine services) which at
13TBP was becoming under powered for the larger vessels calling at Killybegs. “Chambon Biso” was
originally built for Sanmar Towing of Turkey in 2004 and subsequently sold onto “Compagnie
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Chambon Maritime” of
Marseille in 2005. For
the past 10 years the
vessel has served the
French Riviera’s towage
requirements, most
recently based around
the prestigious harbours
of Monaco. Delivery of
“Chambon Biso” from
Nice to her new home
port of Killybegs was
handled by Mr Jan te
Siepe of “Star Class
Yacht Transport”. The
tug was loaded as deck
cargo on the geared
vessel “Atlantic” in the
French port of Nice. The vessel was subsequently discharged at Killybegs Harbour after a 6 day
steam. The vessel will be transferred from the Monaco to British Registry under the UK workboat
code and renamed “SMS Cian” after Sinbad Marine Services Managing Director, Mr Jim Parkinson’s
grandson. Classification is held with BV who just recently carried out the 10 year special survey of
the vessel. “SMS Cian” will primarily serve the towage requirements of Killybegs Harbour but will
also be available for coastal towage and emergency towage. The vessel will also get a passenger
Licence to allow her carry out crew transfers / medical repatriations and spare part delivery at sea.
She is fitted with 2 x Caterpillar 3508-B engines capable of developing a max output of 1,471 KW
(2000HP). Propulsion is through 2 Reintjes gearboxes with fixed pitch propellers. The combination
easily gives a bollard pull of 30T ahead and a cruising speed of 10 knots (Max 12 Knots). The vessel is
also available for firefighting duties coming complete with a Skum firefighting monitor capable of
delivering 650 m3 Per Hour. (Press Release Sinbad Marine Services of Killybegs)
FLUIDMECANICA PERFORMED EQUIPMENT AT PELLA SHIPYARD
During July 2015, Fluidmecanica
has performed at the Pella
Shipyard in St. Petersburg The
supply of Anchor/towing windlass
245 T; Towing winch 245 T;
Crane 280 T m; Towing hook 65
T; Bow thruster 200 kW and
Hydraulic drive 480 kW for two
sister tugs project PS45 MB-121
Grechukhin Yuriy Borisovich and
MB-123. The MB-121 is the first
vessel of a new project. The series
of this type is constructed under
the order of RF Navy for a wide
range of tasks. (Press Release)
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Advertisement
COMPLICATED DOUBLE TOWAGE FROM ALGERIA TO MOROCCO
The end of July marked the completion of a complicated multiple vessel tow brokered by DSB
Offshore. A total of seven distinct units were towed by two tugs from two separate European owners
from Djen Djen, Algeria to Safi Port, Morocco. These units were intended for work on a port
construction project. 2011 built 63.8t bollard pull tug, Sea Dream, operated by Oromare, completed
2 double tows. In voyage #1 she double-towed a barge (40 x 16m) and a tug (23.9 x 5m), while in
voyage # 2 she towed a floating crane (45 x 17m) and a flattop barge (50 x 18m). Sea Dream towed
nearly 2300 tonnes in her two double tow voyages. Almost simultaneously, in order to facilitate
customs clearance and planning constraints, 1988 built MTS Vengeance (30t bollard pull), managed
by Marine & Towage Services, also left from Djen Djen in Algeria with her first cargo in tow, a 40 x
16m grab dredger. Her second voyage involved towing a flattop barge (45 x 15m) and a tug (22.9 x
8m). Juggling a number of logistical balls in the air, DSB Offshore shipbrokers acted on behalf of the
tug owners. Considerations of towing capabilities of vessels, weather and the operational schedules
of the end charterers had to be considered carefully. (Press Release DSB Offshore)
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MASSIVE MOTOR VESSEL MISSISSIPPI DOCKS IN NASHVILLE
What's 241 feet long, 52 feet high
and weighs 2,823 tons? A towboat.
And not just any towboat. It's the
Motor Vessel Mississippi — the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers’ largest
diesel towboat to navigate the
Mississippi River. On Wednesday
morning the colossal boat stopped
by Music City Riverfront for the
first time. The 6,300-horsepower
vessel, which docked along the
Cumberland River shoreline just
after dawn, is flagship to the
Mississippi River Commission,
which is inspecting Corps of
Engineers projects along the river that flows through downtown Nashville as part of the
commission’s annual low-water inspection trip. The presidentially appointed Mississippi River
Commission, which consists of Corps officers, a member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and three civilians, including two civil engineers, holds two meetings each year in
the region as it tours the Corps of Engineers Memphis District, Commissioner R.D. James said. The
meetings provide an opportunity to hear public comments on water resources, promoting commerce
and reducing flood risks. Carrying about 70,000 gallons in fuel, the boat departed Memphis on July
29 for a four-week approximately 1,000-mile trek, eventually making its way to Chattanooga where
the commissioners boarded the boat on Saturday and departed for Nashville. "It's beautiful," James
said Wednesday after the boat docked under a sun-splashed sky. Here, he said, the Cumberland
River is at midstage (not too high and not too low) so it's not having a negative impact on
commerce. James said a few items commissioners will address this trip include flood control and the
lack of upkeep on the river's four locks and dams. "We're getting behind on maintenance because of
lack of funding from the administrative budget and Congress," he said. During the Nashville stop,
several commissioners deboarded for a walking tour to learn about the city's 1937 and 2010 floods.
Captain Lee Hendrix said the boat, which consists of five decks and can reach speeds topping 20
miles per hour with a good
wind and current, was slated
to visit Nashville in 2011 but
did not because the river's
waters were too high. While
its primary purpose is to
move barges in support of
bank stabilization work on
the lower Mississippi River,
Hendrix said the Mississippi
also houses 22 staterooms, a
dining room that seats 85
and a conference room
capable of seating 115. The
commission and the boat's 38
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crew members will travel the Tennessee, Cumberland and Ohio rivers through Friday. Future stops
include Kentucky Lock and Olmstead Lock. The tour ends in Baton Rouge, La., on Aug. 27, Hendrix
said. (Source: The Tennessean; Photo: Shelley Mays)
Advertisement
KEPPEL VEROLME TO UPGRADE SEMISUBMERSIBLE FOR REPEAT
CUSTOMER
Keppel Verolme BV (Keppel
Verolme), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Keppel Offshore
& Marine Limited (Keppel
O&M) in the Netherlands, has
secured a contract from repeat
customer Stena Drilling Ltd.
The contract is the repair and
upgrade of STENA DON, a
harsh environment
semisubmersible (semi) for
Stena Drilling Ltd. Part of the
yard’s work scope for this
project is a midlife upgrade for
the fourteen year old vessel,
which includes maintenance and renewal of the drilling equipment and accommodation. The rig
will undergo its regular Special Periodic Survey (SPS) as well as maintenance works, thruster
overhauls and a painting program The vessel was docked in Keppel Verolme’s large dry-dock no. 7
on 12 August, 2015. The rig was moved from the Rotterdam Europoort to the Keppel Verolme
shipyard by tugboats of Kotug. (Photo: Willem Holtkamp)
APPEALS COURT AWARDS $7 MILLION IN CHARTER TUGBOAT DISPUTE
A Lafourche Parish shipping company must pay $7 million plus interest after a federal appeals court
concluded it violated a non-compete clause with a rival business in Houma. The ruling by the court
against International Marine of Larose reduces the initial amount of $8.25 million awarded to FDT,
formerly Delta Marine, over a charter tugboat deal the two companies worked out. The U.S. 5th
Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Monday found that International Marine failed to
uphold its end of an agreement with FDT, a charter boat company, after it purchased two tugs —
called TEAM and SKIPPER — from the company in 2006. The sale took place even though the two
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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companies were in the same line of work. The dispute centers on International Marine’s obligation
under a contract to notify FDT when it had offers to charter the two boats. If FDT declined an
opportunity to take the charter, International Marine could do so, but remit 10 percent of the fee to
FDT. The agreement also included a non-compete clause designed to stop International from
chartering TEAM and SKIPPER without FDT’s knowledge. International stopped making the
payments in 2007 after previously making the payments on five charters. FDT accepted those five
payments without notifying International of any breach of the agreement. International also quit
notifying FDT when it accepted charters for the two boats. That move prompted FDT to seek an
audit of International’s books, an allowable request under the purchase and non-compete agreement
between the two companies. After that, International submitted two payments to FDT, both of
which the Houma company declined to accept. The two companies sued each other in 2010 —
International saying it hadn’t violated the agreement and FDT saying it was owed $9 million for the
breach of the contract. The appeals court upheld FDT’s claim of breach of contract. “We conclude
that the noncompete clause unambiguously required International to consult with Delta about each
individual charter in advance,” Judges Patrick E. Higginbotham, James L. Dennis and Catharina
Haynes wrote in an 18-page opinion. U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon awarded FDT $8.25 million
for the 33 times he concluded International violated the non-compete agreement. The appeals court,
in an unsigned ruling, concluded that Fallon erred in his calculations. Because International made
five payments that were accepted, the amount of damages should be reduced to reflect those,
Higginbotham, Dennis and Haynes said. The appeals court sent the case back to Fallon for a new
judgment reflecting that five payments were made. (By Brett Barrouquere-Daily Comet)
TUG AND BOAT STOPPAGE ON RIVER PLATE UPSTREAM FROM BA,
MONTEVIDEO
THERE has been another boat and tug
stoppage at La Plata San Lorenzo, Argentina
on Thursday 13 August due to a union
meeting at River Plata and Parana River
upstream from Buenos Aires and
Montevideo, reports Inchcape Shipping
Services (ISS). Vessels affected will include
tugs, pilots and mooring boats. To ensure
safety, tugs will provide a service for
tankers leaving port and LNG tankers
calling at the LNG terminal at Escobar, said
its reports from agents on the ground. ISS
Argentina is working with its clients to
minimise impact where possible. The company will continue to monitor developments and keep its
clients updated. (Source: SeaNews)
YESTERYEAR TUGS AT WORK WANDERER
Towing car floats astern on the hawser was not very common on the East Coast. One notable
exception was on the Cape-Charles-to-Little-Creek run at the mouth of the Chesapeake. On the
West Coast, however, tugboats almost always towed their floats astern. This is the tugboat
Wanderer, towing a car float from port Townsend, Washington, to Seattle in the 1930’s It was on
this runthat the Milwaukee, the last working Northwest Coast steam tug, ended her career in 1955.
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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Actually, the Wanderer was not a
railroad tug at all, being owned by
the Merrill and Ring Lumber
Company. As elsewhere in the
United States, West Coast railroad
car float operations have just about
ceased, with the exception of the
Alaskan Hydro-Train, which runs
between Seattle and Whittier,
Alaska. (Source: On the Hawser by Steven Lang and Peter H. Spectre)
Advertisement
View the youtube film of the Alphabridge for tugboats on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQi6hFDcHW4&feature=plcp
ACCIDENTS – SALVAGE NEWS
S IX DEAD IN OFFSHORE HELICOPTER ACCIDENT IN NIGERIA
Bristow Helicopters (Nigeria) Limited today confirmed that six people have been killed in an
offshore helicopter accident in Nigeria. Bristow Helicopters said that the aircraft, that was involved
in an accident in Lagos, Nigeria, on August 12, 2015, carried 10 passengers and a crew of two. The
company now confirmed that there were six survivors and six fatalities. According to Bristow
Helicopters, the Bristow flight crew was among the fatalities, comprised of Captain Joseph “Jay”
Wyatt of Oklahoma, U.S., and First Officer Peter Bello, of Nigeria. The company said that Captain
Wyatt joined Bristow in 2006 and has spent his entire career flying with Bristow Helicopters out of
Africa. First Officer Peter Bello joined Bristow in 2014 after graduating from Bristow Academy’s
helicopter flight school. Bristow noted that both crewmen were experienced and qualified. “We are
shaken and deeply saddened by this tragic accident,” said Bristow’s Regional Director Africa,
Duncan Moore. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends and loved ones of all those
on board.” According to its press statement, Bristow has mobilized the full resources of its response
team and is working closely with authorities on the investigation, including at the accident site to
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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recover the aircraft. Medical
treatment is being provided to
those who are injured and
trained coordinators have
been assigned to the families
of the crew members and
passengers to support them
with their every need and
ensure that they receive the
most current information and
assistance. “Bristow Nigeria
would like to express its
appreciation for the help and
support it has received from
the NCAA, the NAIB, NEMA
and other industry
stakeholders. The company
would also like to thank the
Lagos State Government and the traditional ruler and people of the community where the accident
took place,” the company noted in the statement. (Source: Offshore Energy Today)
BULK CARRIER J IA Y ING 6 CAPSIZED OFF ZHOUSHAN
The bulk carrier Jia Ying 6
capsized and sank off
Zhoushan, China. The
accident happened after the
vessel was hit by strong winds
on board and capsized after
cargo on board shifted. Jia
Ying 6 with 6 crew members
on board was carrying rocks
from Dinghai to Shanghai.
After capsizing 5 of the crew
succeeded to evacuate, but
one is went missing, probably
put in a water trap after
capsizing. The local coast
guard sent a patrol boat, which rescued to other crew members and started search and rescue
operation for the missing one. The local authorities started investigation for the accident and SAR is
still ongoing. The bulk carrier Jia Ying 6 has overall length of 54.00 m, moulded beam of 9.00 m and
maximum draft of 2.50 m. The deadweight of the vessel is 960 DWT. (Source: Maritime News)
GOM RESTORATION COUNCIL STARTS ALLOCATING DEEPWATER
HORIZON COMPENSATION FUNDS
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, a new U.S. federal entity created by the RESTORE
Act consisting of six federal agencies and the five Gulf of Mexico states, released its first list of
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projects to restore the Gulf
in the wake of the BP
Deepwater Horizon oil
disaster. Paid for with civil
penalties from a settlement
with Transocean, the
owner of the Deepwater
Horizon rig, these projects
total USD 183.2 million
and range from land
acquisition to construction
of living shorelines. This is
the first funding allocated
under the RESTORE Act,
which directs 80 percent
of Clean Water Act civil
penalties related to the BP oil disaster to the Gulf Coast for environmental and economic restoration.
Pending the finalization of a separate USD 18.7 billion settlement with BP, the council is expected to
receive an additional USD 1.32 billion for ecosystem restoration across the Gulf region. ”The Council
appears to have put politics aside, choosing to focus on prioritizing projects by watershed rather than
by political boundary, but have unfortunately left out any consideration of the offshore waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. The success of coastal restoration is intrinsically linked to a healthy marine
ecosystem. We encourage the Council to extend their comprehensive approach beyond the salt
line,” said Bethany Carl Kraft, Director of Ocean Conservancy’s Gulf Restoration Program. ”We are
pleased to see the Council leverage projects to ensure that their collective impact is greater than the
sum of their individual parts. At the same time, we recognize that the work to restore the Gulf is
only beginning. As this first set of projects moves toward implementation, the Council must focus on
shoring up its science and project selection processes and updating its Comprehensive Plan to reflect
a renewed commitment to thoughtful and science-based approaches to project selection.” (Source: World Maritime News)
Advertisement
SALVAGE OF VESSEL GROUNDED IN THE PHILIPPINES BEGINS
Salvage operations have begun to free a supramax bulk carrier that ran aground off the coast of
Candon Ilocos Sur, Philippines on July 17. Singapore-based Semco Salvage & Towage has been
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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contracted to help free the Alam Manis (55,700 dwt, built 2007), which is operated through Manis
Shipping, part of Malaysian Bulk Carriers’ subsidiary New Johnson Holdings. The vessel was
carrying 53,795 metric tonnes of bulk nickel ore when it began listing to starboard during bad
weather, around 225 nautical miles off Taiwan, while en route from Loreto Dinagat, Philippines to
Lianyungang in China. Henry Libo-on, the ship’s first mate, reportedly died of a heart attack shortly
after the vessel ran aground. The rest of the vessel’s 20 Filippino crew and captain were rescued. A
salvage tug, the Salviscount, has also been employed in the operation from POSH Terasea Offshore,
and will escort the bulker towards the nearest port of refuge, San Fernando in north Luzon. (Source: Splash24/7)
OFFSHORE NEWS
FLEX CREW BOATS EMBARK ON MARATHON DELIVERY VOYAGE
On the 14th August, two of
the popular Penguin Flex 40
SL Crewboats set sail from
Singapore on their maiden
voyage of some 8,300NM to
their new home port. Sailing
in company, these departures
represent the 37th and 38th
delivery voyages that Global
Ship Delivery Company,
International Maritime Services (IMS) has secured in
2015, and are under the
watchful command of a
European crew. IMS
Australian and European
offices collaborated to quickly respond to the owner’s needs with a tailored solution and rapid
mobilisation, without compromising the implementation of safety and quality processes required for
such vessels and voyages. Having recently secured the Delivery and Management of a 97 metre Incat
Catamaran, the IMS has team have continued to demonstrate their unmatched, and proven past
performance in delivering and operating these specialised, lightweight aluminium vessels to and
from any sea ports in the world. (Press Release IMS)
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Advertisement
PSV VOS PARADISE HANDED OVER TO VROON
We are pleased to announce that last
week, Tuesday 4 August 2015, we
took delivery of VOS Paradise. The
vessel was handed over to Vroon
during a ceremony held at Cosco
Guangdong Shipyard in China. VOS
Paradise is the second of six PX121-
type PSVs being built at the
Shipyard. The vessels will be
delivered to the company during
2015 and 2016. The Ulstein PX121,
with 850 m2 deck space, is an X-
bow design which ensures reduced
and smoother vessel movements in
harsher conditions. This provides
better operational and fuel-efficiency advantages to the charterer, in combination with high crew-
comfort standards. VOS Paradise left the shipyard earlier today, Tuesday 11 August 2015. We wish
VOS Paradise and her crew safe and successful voyages. (Press Release Vroon; Photo: Eric Timmermans)
DEEP SEA SUPPLY LOOKING TO EXPAND FLEET IN WEAK OSV MARKET
Deep Sea Supply, the Oslo Børs-listed supplier of offshore support vessels, painted a bleak picture
when it comes to the sector’s outlook, but it also hinted it was looking around for potential
acquisitions. The vessel supplier reported its net income for the second quarter of the year was $1.2
million, versus $4 million in the second quarter of 2014. Revenues fell to $35.6 million, compared to
$39.6 million a year ago. Providing an insight into the OSV market, Deep Sea Supply said it
experienced a continued weakening of the global OSV markets. “In Brazil, there is an increased
uncertainty related to contract awards and extensions of existing contracts with Petrobras. The
North Sea spot market still sees weak utilization and rates below operating expenses,” the company
said. Providing the outlook, the company said it didn’t expect the situation would improve in the
short to medium term, as the oil prices are low, consequently causing a drop in the industry activity.
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As per end of the second
quarter of 2015, Deep Sea
Supply had 14 AHTS vessels
and 25 PSVs in operation, in
total 39 vessels, with no
vessels under construction.
Stacking and buying? Talking about challenges,
Deep Sea Supply said its
main challenge is to secure
increased contract coverage
for 2016 and onwards. “As a
consequence of the weak
market, Deep Sea Supply
will consider lay-up of
vessels that do not have any
activity the next months,”
the company said, adding it
will also see to reduce operating costs of the vessels in operation. The company currently has three
platform supply vessels laid up, with fourth, the Sea Springer, facing the same destiny upon its
contract expiration in late 3Q 2015. While looking to stack vessels in order to cut costs, Deep Sea
Supply could also look at its fleet extension. Namely, the company said that with a continued weak
market there could be interesting distressed opportunities for acquisitions of vessels and companies.
“The Board and management will closely monitor such opportunities,” Deep Sea Supply said in a
statement. (Source: Offshore Energy Today)
P IPE LAYER SEVEN RIO ON SEA TRIALS
Royal IHC has informed
that the pipelaying vessel
Seven Rio has started its sea
trials following the
installation of a 550mt
pipelay tower. The vessel
was built by Royal IHC for
Subsea 7, a subsea
engineering, construction
and services company
serving the offshore energy
industry. It was launched in
late November 2014 at
Royal IHC’s shipyard in
The Netherlands and
named by Anelise Lara, Petrobras Executive Manager for the giant Libra project. The Seven Rio has
an overall length of 146 metres, a beam of 30 metres and a Class-2 dynamic positioning system. The
vessel is equipped with a vertical (tiltable) lay system – with a 550t top tension capacity – and twin
ROVs. It is fitted with two under-deck storage carousels, with a capacity for 2,500t and 1,500t of
product respectively. The Seven Rio will support Petrobras’ offshore operations in Brazil as it is the
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second of four vessels ordered specifically for operations in Brazilian waters. (Source: Offshore Energy Today)
Advertisement
OCEAN INSTALLER AND BARAKAH IN MALAYSIA SUBSEA ALLIANCE
BOcean Installer and
Barakah in Malaysia
Subsea Alliancearakah
Offshore Petroleum
Berhad’s. wholly-
owned subsidiary,
PBJV, has signed a
Memorandum of
Collaboration (MOC)
with a Norwegian
subsea service provider,
Ocean Installer to
exclusively work
together in Malaysia to
provide deepwater
installation of subsea
umbilicals, risers and
flowlines (SURF) and
related services.Under
the MOC both
companies will share expertise, resources and develop business for the offshore oil and gas market
jointly in Malaysia and also identify prospects for suitable oil and gas-related projects to be pursued
and tendered jointly and on an exclusive basis. Encik Nik Hamdan Daud, Deputy Executive
Chairman of Barakah, said: “This collaboration will allow us to serve the full spectrum of subsea
installation market for Malaysia’s O&G industry and a step up for Barakah to be involved in
deepwater segment. Together, we hope to provide good value for money solutions to our
existing/potential clients. We are optimistic that the co-operation will support Barakah’s ambition to
move up the value chain.” According to Barakah, the collaboration is a good fit for both PBJV and
OI to widen the range of services and market reach for the Malaysia’s O&G industry. PBJV
currently provides mainly shallow water (up to 200m water depth) installations of subsea
infrastructures involving rigid pipelines and fixed platform structures while Ocean Installer focuses
its attention in the deep water (200m to 3000m depth) segment. (Source: Subsea World News)
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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OMS BOLSTERS CABLE LAYING FLEET
Optic Marine Services
Group (OMS), a provider of
integrated submarine cable
installation project
solutions, has launched the
Malaysian-flagged subsea
cable installation barge the
‘Cable Orchestra’.
Reportedly, the $15-million
cable laying barge is
purpose-built for cable
installation in water depth
of up to 40 metres. Cable
Orchestra is the latest barge
to join OMS’ fleet and it’s
equipped with a 5-meter burial tool, the Dragon Sledge. It can accommodate up to 50 crew members
and is equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System. The barge has an overall length of 66 meters
with breath of 20.5 meters. It has the capacity to carry 700 tonnes of cables that equate to about
200km. According to reports, Cable Orchestra will be put to work next month on a segment of the
SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable system. (Source: Subsea World News)
DETROIT SHIPYARD DELIVERY PSV 4500 TO STARNAV
The Detroit Shipyard
recently delivered the PSV
4500 Starnav Draco (Imo
9715749) to Starnav. The
vessel was chartered by
Petrobras in the fourth
round of Prorefam in 2013
and has start-up scheduled
for April 2016. Located in
Santa Catarina, the yard
has another ten PSVs 4500
commissioned by Starnav
who were hired through
Prorefam. According to the
schedule of Petrobras, ships
should start operations
between 2016 and 2018.
With Starnav Draco, reach
40 support vessels delivered in Prorefam. The program, which provides for the chartering of 146
ships built in Brazil, hired 121 units to date. Petrobras planned to hold the eighth round of hiring in
the first quarter, but it did not because the company is reviewing its demand for support vessels.
(Source: Brazil Energy; Photo: Jan Plug)
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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WINDFARM NEWS - RENEWABLES
RECTIFICATION INSTALLATION DOLWIN BETA PLATFORM
In the last Tugs Towing &
Offshore Newsletter it was
reported that “ABB has
installed DolWin beta, the
world’s most powerful
offshore wind converter
station, in the North Sea”
However the company ABB
is a main contractor but has
with the real tow out and
installation nothing to do. It
was a good and close
cooperation between sub-
contractor Aibel (which has
arranged the construction
and conversion) and subs-
sub contractor Boskalis (that the full implementation of preparation of seabed/ready for tow and
finally tow-out and installation with full Boka commitment and main fleet implementation has
arranged). Sorry for this inconvenience. Photo show the Boka fleet after the job moored in
Rotterdam. (Photo: Willem Holtkamp)
Advertisement
DALBY ACQUIRES OZ VESSEL
Dalby Offshore have acquired a high specification Damen 2610 mark 2 Twin Axe vessel from
Bhagwan in Australia, where the vessel was operating since delivery in 2013. The vessel has
completed upgrade and warranty work in Damen’s yard in Ostend, Belgium where it was also
renamed the ’Dalby Ribble’ registered in Whitby, Yorkshire and painted in the now Dalby red
colours. Dalby crew and engineers have also received extensive training from the Damen team. The
Dalby Ribble has all the normal features you would find on a 2610, but is configured for 24
passengers, Dalby have also upgraded the vessel with a new crane and fuel transfer system. Stuart
McNiven owner and Managing Director of Dalby Offshore said: “The Dalby Ribble further enhances
our growing offering to our key clients and is yet another significant milestone in Dalby’s history.
The Dalby Ribble is of a very high specification and after inspecting the vessel in Singapore in
February, I had no qualms about adding a 2610 to the Dalby fleet. This is a deal in the making of
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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over 6 months and it had been a pleasure working with the Bhagwan team and Damen in Ostend,
who have made this whole process of sale and upgrade seamless. A special thanks must go to Jon
Parslow from MTS/ Bhagwan in the UK for his considerable support.” The vessel arrived in Great
Yarmouth on Monday 10th August and is now completing final preparation in respect of flag
requirement for the UK. The vessel is expected to be ready for full service in the coming weeks.
(Source: OffshoreWind; Photo: Dalby Offshore)
NEW JERSEY BPU TO HIRE OFFSHORE W IND EXPERT
New Jersey Board of
Public Utilities (BPU) is
planning to hire an
outside consultant to
advise on offshore wind
development. The
expert would consult on
state regulation, four
year in delay from being
adopted, needed for
offshore wind
development, writes
New Jersey Spotlight.
The regulation would
define financing
mechanism through
which utility customers
would fund the projects.
New Jersey has set goals
to develop 1.1GW of offshore wind capacity by 2020, which is, due to delay, unlikely to be
achieved. (Source: OffshoreWIND; Photo: Jeff Grybowski)
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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Advertisement
FIRST US OFFSHORE W IND WORKBOAT BUILD UNDERWAY
Atlantic Wind Transfers,
Blount Boats and Deepwater
Wind welcome key US
offshore wind supply chain
players to official Ribbon
Cutting Ceremony. Atlantic
Wind Transfers, the
commercial wind support
services arm of Rhode Island
Fast Ferry, today joins local
boat builder Blount Boats and
offshore wind developer
Deepwater Wind for an official Ribbon Cutting ceremony and to tour the first offshore wind farm
crew transfer vessel in the US currently under construction. The event at the Blount Boats yard in
Warren, Rhode Island, will bring together local supply chain businesses to celebrate the economic
benefits of the Block Island Wind Farm project to US firms. Attendees, including US Senators Jack
Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and US Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, will also
have the opportunity to see the development of the first US offshore wind crew transfer vessel to be
built for the market, and gain an overview of how such vessels are already employed in the
European offshore wind markets. With the first two jacket foundations for the Block Island project
already in the water and on site, preparations for the construction phase of the first US offshore
wind farm are well underway. Yet, while Deepwater’s project will provide much-needed impetus
for the development of a North American offshore wind supply chain, it is crucial that the offshore
wind farm development is recognized as the first of many more projects to come. As such, this
Ribbon Cutting ceremony also serves as a catalyst for other US supply chain businesses in Rhode
Island to look at the ways in which they can become involved in the fledgling US offshore wind
industry, and demonstrate the opportunities created by the market. According to a Navigant
report[1], the US offshore wind industry could be worth up to $2.2billion by 2020, with half of this
value spread along the Atlantic coast. In order to fulfill this growth potential, however, the entire
market will require greater clarity from the US Government regarding its future offshore wind
development intentions. “Today’s event is a timely reminder that, providing the US offshore wind
industry is given the right support, we could be on the cusp of a significant domestic investment,
manufacturing and employment success story,” said Charles A. Donadio Jr, President, Atlantic Wind
Transfers. Donadio added, “With only the Block Island project currently confirmed, we’ve already
seen a number of supply agreements signed with local firms - ranging from vessel construction, and
its associated supply chain, to foundation structures. Building a strong domestic US supply chain
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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increases the chances of being able to secure economic benefits in conjunction with a low carbon
energy supply. But unless this initial momentum is maintained and supported by federal policy, we
won’t see these wider benefits for many years to come.” Marcia Blount, President of Rhode Island-
based vessel manufacturing firm, Blount Boats commented: “Today’s event in an opportunity for the
emerging US offshore wind industry to see up close another key element of the construction process
– that is, the means by which to transfer engineers and technicians to site. By building this vessel
for Atlantic Wind Transfers, Blount Boats will alone secure employment for 70 Rhode Island
workers.” US Senator Jack Reed added, “It’s encouraging to see firsthand the economic momentum
that renewable energy projects like this are helping to generate. As our nation reduces its
independence on fossil fuels, Block Island is demonstrating the tangible benefits of the emerging
offshore wind industry and setting a benchmark. By working together, we can build a local green
energy industry here in Rhode Island that protects our environment, reduces long-term energy
costs, and helps local businesses create sustainable jobs.” Atlantic Wind Transfers’ first vessel will be
launched in April 2016 for early sea trials. It will be active and fully operational on the Block Island
project beginning on May 1, 2016 (Press Release)
YARD NEWS
KLEVEN GEARS FOR EDDA FREYA LAUNCH
Norway’s Kleven has informed
that BN 373, offshore
construction vessel, Edda Freya
will be launched from the
slipway at Kleven Verft,
Saturday August 15 at 12:00.
Edda Freya is designed by Salt
Ship Design (304 OCV) in
cooperation with Østensjø
Rederi and DeepOcean. With a
length of 149.8 metres, a width
of 27 metres and 2300 square
metres of total deck space the
vessel is expected to boost
DeepOcean’s competitiveness in
the offshore construction market. Edda Freya is scheduled to join the DeepOcean fleet in the first
quarter of 2016 and execute the company’s SURF installation contract for Statoil. The vessel will be
equipped with a 150 tons dual tensioner vertical lay system (VLS) located in the moon pool, a 3000
tons carousel below deck and a 400 tons active heave compensated (AHC) knuckle boom main crane
that can lift 600 tons in double fall mode. The ship will be delivered with a new Siemens
BlueDrive+C diesel electric hybrid propulsion system, developed by Siemens in cooperation with its
owner Østensjø Rederi. (Source: Subsea World News)
BALTIYSKY ZAVOD COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF FORE BODY OF LEAD
NUCLEAR-POWERED ICEBREAKER ARKTIKA
Construction of the fore body of the lead nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika, Project 22220, is
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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nearing completion at slipway
A of the Baltiysky Zavod
shipyard. According to the
shipyard’s press center, section
1101 destined to break through
the ice of the Northern Sea
Route was installed on August
6, 2015. The statement says
“this 75.5-tonne part of the
icebreaker will take over the
full ice load while the 160-mm
wide cast stem will press and
break ice”. “As of today, 70% of
hull assembly works has been
fulfilled. We comply with the
general schedule,” says Project
Manager Sergey Chernogubovskiy. The construction of the hull nears the final phase – assembling of
the aft body and the launching. Lead nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika was laid down on
November 5, 2013. The icebreaker will be powered by two RITM-200 reactors of 175 MWt. This
will be the largest and most powerful icebreaker in the world. Ship’s characteristics: LOA - 173.3 m,
beam - 34 m, draft at DWL- 10.5 m, minimum loaded draft - 8,65 m, displacement - 33.54 thou
tonnes. Under the contract, the construction of the flagship is to be completed in December 2017.
Double-draught structure of the ship will enable her to operate in both Arctic waters and in
estuaries of polar rivers. The icebreakers will escort vessels carrying hydrocarbons from the fields of
the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas and the Kara Sea to the markets of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Baltiysky Zavod OJSC (Saint-Petersburg) specializes in construction of rank 1 surface-crafts, ice class
vessels with nuclear and diesel-electric propulsion plants, nuclear floating energy units, floating
distilling plants. The backlog of orders of Baltiysky Zavod-Sudostroyeniye LLC is currently valued at
about RUB 150 bln. The largest orders are: three 60-MWt nuclear icebreakers, 25-MWt diesel-
electric icebreaker, floating power unit of the world’s first floating nuclear heat and power plant,
engineering products. In 2014, the Company’s revenue totaled RUB 7.07 bln, net profit – RUB 208.3
mln, current assets – RUB 34.1 bln. (Source: PortNews)
Advertisement
FOULING RELEASE THAT BOOSTS HULL PERFORMANCE WITHOUT TOXINS
TO FEATURE AT MARINE MAINTENANCE
A silicone coating that keeps hulls free of marine growth while boosting the vessel’s performance
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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and fuel economy will be
featured on the Fujifilm Smart
Surfaces stand at Marine
Maintenance in Antwerp
(Stand No 4075). The Duplex
fouling release system was
developed by the US Navy as
an alternative to the toxic
antifouling products that had
been polluting US ports for
many years. Now
manufactured by part of the
giant Fujifilm Corporation
Duplex not only prevents
marine flora and fauna from
sticking to a ship’s hull but its
water repellent characteristics
also reduce hull drag to give measurable improvements in hull speed and fuel consumption.
Although organisms may colonise a Duplex coated hull that remains stationary, as soon as the vessel
moves through the water at speeds as low as 8 knots they become unable to retain their grip and are
simply washed-off. Notable among the statistics that confirm the performance of Duplex are the
results of tests that found it to be the most durable and hard wearing of any silicone fouling release
product on the market today. Because its performance does not involve the release of heavy metals
or toxins to eliminate marine growth its effectiveness does not diminish with time and it has no
need for renewal. With a life of at least five years a single coating of Duplex can be expected to
maintain the same level performance as on the first day. This creates dramatic savings in
maintenance costs which existing users have found remarkable. Over the past three years Duplex
has already proved successful in the US market where it has been used on a wide variety of vessels
ranging from bulk carriers to tugs and patrol boats. The predicted legislation against toxic
antifouling is consequently expected to increase its importance as an effective alternative hull
treatment. New licensing agreements now make it available throughout Europe where it is predicted
to provide valuable savings for vessel operators. (Press Release)
ALPHATRON MARINE APPOINTS REGIONAL MANAGER
Alphatron Marine announced it has appointed Erik van Boom
as country manager for the Euro border region
Scheldemonden. With recent changes in Belgium, where
Alphatron Marine has taken over the sales and service
activities of maritime navigation and communication
equipment of Astron NV, expansion in the region was
required, the company said. In his new role, van Boom will
leverage more than 25 years of experience in the maritime
navigation and communication sector to help support the
growth of Alphatron Marine. (Press Release)
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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Advertisement
RESTRUCTURING TO STAY PROFITABLE IN FUTURE
Havyard Group ASA is
taking further measures
to adapt to the market
situation and maintain
the Group's
profitability, thereby
securing jobs for the
future. All business
areas in Havyard Group
have been affected to a
varying degree by the
general downturn in
the market in the oil
industry. The Group
has been working over
time on rationalisation
and restructuring in order to adapt to the new framework conditions. As a result of recent market
developments and expectations of continuing low demand, the Group is now implementing further
measures. Among other things, this will entail cutting the workforce by around 100 full-time
equivalents. These job cuts are the result of both rationalisation of the operation of the company and
an adjustment of the total production capacity. From boom back to 'normal' Like most companies in
the maritime cluster, Havyard Group ASA has grown and increased its capacity in recent years. An
extraordinary boom in the offshore industry since 2005 has been the biggest driver behind this
growth. In addition to growing as a result of the general growth in the market, Havyard Group ASA
has also grown by winning greater market shares and developing new products and market
segments. 'This extraordinary boom has now become a market with little demand and extreme
pressure on prices, especially as regards offshore vessels,' says Geir Johan Bakke, CEO of Havyard
Group ASA. 'The downturn in the market is expected to last for a while, and we don't expect the
next upturn to be as big as the last one either. That is why we are continuing the process of
restructuring and rationalising the business areas in the Group. Our goal is to ensure our
profitability in the long term and secure jobs by adapting to the market and improving our
competitiveness. We are far from the only company in Norway that is facing this challenge. The rest
of the world had to take action in order to adapt to the situation after the financial crisis in 2008,
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
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while Norway has to some extent been shielded from its effects by high oil prices and political
measures. The drawback is that our competitiveness has been weakened in relation to the countries
we compete against, and when the market falls, we are extra vulnerable. It is not too late to do
something about this, and I strongly believe that Havyard, the maritime industry and other
industries in Norway that are exposed to competition will restructure and become competitive
again. In Havyard, these processes have long been ongoing and we see opportunities as a result of
our having gained a foothold in other markets than the offshore market. Fish, aquaculture and
windfarm service vessels are markets where there is still demand and where Havyard's business
areas that have products aimed at these markets are in a more favourable position. We also believe
that the offshore market will bounce back and are optimistic on behalf of both Havyard and the
industry in the longer term,' concludes CEO Bakke. New focus areas: Havyard hopes that other
markets, such as fisheries, aquaculture and renewable energy, will help to compensate for the
downturn in the offshore market. Here represented by a Havyard 832 SOV that is operated by
ESVAGT on Siemens windfarms. Restructuring is demanding The upcoming downsizing of the
workforce will involve all business areas in Havyard Group, but the biggest cuts will be in Havyard
Ship Technology and Havyard Design & Solutions. The number of employees will be reduced in
most of Havyard's locations. 'Extensive restructuring measures of this kind are difficult for both the
company and the workforce,' says Frank Levi Kvalsund, HR Director of Havyard Group ASA. 'It is
particularly difficult for those directly affected by the cutbacks, of course. We nonetheless hope that
people will understand that these measures are necessary to ensure the company's profitability and
to secure jobs going forward. We will do our utmost to ensure that the restructuring process is
carried out in the best possible way, both for those who have to leave and for those who will remain
with the company.' 'The reduction in the number of employees is being carried out in close
cooperation with the trade unions and through both natural wastage and redundancies. The process
of specifying how many and who will be made redundant is currently ongoing, and those affected
will be informed in the near future. In cooperation with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare
Administration (NAV), Havyard will offer help with job seeking, further education and other
measures,' says HR Director Kvalsund. (Press Release Havyard; Photo: Siemens AG.)
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Last week there have been new updates posted:
1. Several updates on the News page posted last week:
Tug ‘En Avant 9’ put into service by Muller Dordrecht – Netherlands
Fratelli Neri orders first Damen ASD 3212 Tug with Render Recovery winch in
Mediterranean
IRSHAD receives Damen Shoalbuster 2308 for SPM buoy maintenance
South African Navy’s second Damen ATD 2909 Tug in production
Three more vessels head for Jordan
16TH VOLUME, NO. 65 DATED 16 AUGUST 2015
25/25
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