Offshore SeisNews©


••• 08.03.21 Dolphin Geophysical - one of the new market leaders in the seismic arena.
The fast growing business, which only began operations in 2011, has quickly established itself as a top five major player in its sector, with a cutting edge fleet of four vessels (with two more due to be delivered this year) providing contract and multi-client acquisition and processing activities for the oil and gas industry.
In the latest developments, Dolphin has secured a three year call-off agreement with super-major Shell in Europe, a 3D survey for Genel in Morocco, a 3D assignment in the North Sea with Centrica and a further 3D project in Tanzania for Norwegian-based multinational Statoil. In addition, OMV Petrom Romania has agreed a framework agreement with the firm to provide Offshore Marine Services.
Dolphin’s capacity to service its growing client base will be boosted in the coming year by the arrival of two new high-end 3D seismic vessels – the Sanco Swift in July and the Geo Atlantic, from GC Rieber Shipping, in the final quarter of 2013.
The Sanco Swift, a 3250-ton newbuild, can accommodate 14 to 16 streamers and boasts a bollard pull capacity of approximately 200 tons, allowing it to tow huge configurations. GC Rieber’s Geo Atlantic, built in 2002, will be upgraded to a 14 streamer vessel at a yard in Singapore prior to delivery. It is being provided on a fixed term contract of three years and six months, with additional options for 2+2 year extensions.
In addition, Dolphin has reached a further charter agreement with GC Rieber for a top-end 22-streamer 3D seismic newbuild vessel, with the highest ice-class. This will be constructed at Kleven yard in Norway, with delivery expected in March 2015.
Source: Dolphin Geophysical

••• 07.03.21 Brent Pipeline System restarts after 5-Day Shutdown.
TAQA Bratani reported late Thursday morning (UK time) that the Brent pipeline system in the UK North Sea has restarted after a temporary shutdown March 2. The company said that it has begun the process of restoring the flow of an estimated 80,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) into the Brent pipeline system.
The pipeline system, operated by TAQA, was shut down Saturday after what the company described as a "small hydrocarbon release" was detected within one of the Cormorant Alpha platform's legs. Soon afterwards, TAQA removed 71 non-essential personnel from the platform as a precaution.
The leak was the second such incident to involve a particular leg of the Cormorant Alpha platform. In mid-January the Brent Pipeline System was shut down for several days after hydrocarbons were detected in the leg.
But TAQA said Thursday that investigations have found that there is no connection between the pipeline system and the pipeline involved in the release.
Cormorant Alpha usually handles approximately 90,000 bopd, feeding the Brent Pipeline System. According to Oil & Gas UK the fields that use the pipeline system account for around 10 percent of UK production.
Source: Rigzone

••• 07.03.21 SeaBird: Contract extension.
SeaBird Exploration Plc announced that the company has negotiated an early termination of the current contract on the Harrier Explorer against a fee, and that the vessel has been contracted to MultiClient Geophysical ASA (MCG).
The contract is a completion of the Barbados multi client survey started in 2012. Duration is estimated to 30 days with an option to extend approximately 25 days. Total contract value for the firm period is about USD 3.8 million, including payment for the work carried out in 2012. Estimated contract value for the optional period is USD 1.9 million.
Source: SeaBird

••• 07.03.21 TGS announces two Multi-client 3D Seismic Surveys in Norwegian Barents Sea.
TGS will commence the Europe 2013 acquisition season with two 3D multi-client surveys in the Norwegian Barents Sea; Finnmark Platform 2013 (FP13) covering 3,500 km2 and the Hoop to Fingerdjupet 2013 (HF13) covering 8,600 km2.
Both 3D seismic surveys cover areas of complex geology and are designed to address specific customer imaging requirements. Data from both surveys will be processed utilizing TGS' proven Clari-FiTM broadband processing technology. The HF13 survey will also tie-in TGS' successful Hoop 3D in the east.
The FP 13 survey is scheduled to commence during March 2013 and will be acquired by the M/V Geo Barents towing 8 streamers. The HF13 survey is scheduled to commence in early Q2 2013 and will be acquired by the M/V Oceanic Challenger with 12 streamers. Data processing for both surveys will be performed by TGS and initial data will be available to clients during Q3 2013.
These surveys are supported by industry funding.
Source: TGS

••• 07.03.21 MCG recommences Barbados multi-client 2D survey.
MultiClient Geophysical (MCG) announced that will recommence Barbados multi-client 2D survey in mid-March 2013. The remaining program is 3,020 km and will be acquired by SeaBird's Harrier Explorer.
About 3,900 km was acquired in spring 2012 and the processed data is currently available to oil companies.
Source: MCG

••• 06.03.21 Potiguar Basin Multi-Client Seismic for Brazil Round 11.
Spectrum ASA announced today that they have completed the processing on the final phase of their Equatorial Margin long offset 2D campaign for Round 11 offshore Brazil. The data for the 4,133 km Potiguar Basin survey is complete and available for immediate use to evaluate the six blocks being offered in the Potiguar Basin for Round 11.
With the completion of the Potiguar Survey, Spectrum now has in excess of 38,000 kilometers of new long offset 2D data available to assist industry in evaluation of the blocks on offer for round 11 offshore Brazil.
Source: Spectrum

••• 06.03.21 New Polar-Orbit Satellite under NOAA Control.
These satellites are critical for advanced warning of severe weather including tornado outbreaks, heavy snowfall, hurricanes, heat waves, floods, & wildfires.
Data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite will continue to strengthen NOAA’s ability to predict severe weather days in advance. Suomi NPP data are also used to generate dozens of environmental data products, including measurements of clouds, vegetation, ocean color, and land and sea surface temperatures.
The Suomi NPP mission is a bridge between the current fleet of polar-orbiting satellites and NOAA's upcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), scheduled to launch in 2017. Suomi NPP is operating new, sophisticated Earth-observing instruments that NOAA is using to support improved weather forecasts.
"The future is now for NOAA satellites," said Kathryn Sullivan, Ph.D., assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction, deputy administrator and acting chief scientist at NOAA. "The handover marks the dawn of the JPSS era. It also signals the effective teamwork between NOAA and NASA to launch and operate environmental satellites has worked for more than 40 years and will last well into the future."
"Satellites like Suomi NPP are critical to the National Weather Service mission and improved decision support services," said Louis Uccellini, Ph.D., director of NOAA's National Weather Service . "These polar satellites provide an important dataset for the global earth observing system and will lead to improved forecasts out to three days in the future and beyond."
Source: MarineLink

••• 05.03.21 Keel laid for Aarhus University’s new Research Vessel Aurora, Denmark.
The keel has been laid, the course has been set and the Aurora is taking shape at the shipyard. The new ultra-modern research vessel will be ready to embark on expeditions by summer 2014.
Aurora is the Roman goddess of the dawn. She renews herself every morning. Her brother is the sun and her sister the moon. Four of her sons are the four winds – north, south, east and west.
Aarhus University’s new research vessel is being named after the Roman goddess. As of summer 2014, the Aurora will sail to all four corners of the world seeking the light – enlightenment.
"The keel has just been laid on the 28-metre-long vessel, and the construction is going according to plan," says Torben Vang, who will be the skipper of the new research vessel.
It is the first newbuilding of a Danish research vessel since the Dana was built more than thirty years ago. The new vessel will provide better opportunities for studying and understanding marine ecosystems, and it will benefit all Danish marine researchers and numerous new students. It can set sail with fourteen people on board for up to ten days.
The builders are Hvide Sande Skibs- & Baadebyggeri, and the hull is being assembled in Szczecin, Poland. The hull will be transported to Hvide Sande in June to be fitted out and have a range of scientific equipment installed. The total price is DKK 40 million, of which the Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation is providing DKK 30 million. The vessel will be delivered to Aarhus University on 17 February 2014.
Source: SubseaWorldNews

••• 05.03.21 Spectrum ASA : Spectrum's acquisition of Carmot Seismic and Carmot Processing now formally closed.
Company refer to notification dated 13 February 2013 regarding Spectrum's acquisition of Carmot Seismic AS and Carmot Processing AS.
The acquisition has now been closed with no changes to the agreed compensation.
Source: EMGS

••• 05.03.21 Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) provides the following update on the vessel schedule.
BOA Thalassa following transit from the Gulf of Mexico to Singapore and subsequent equipment upgrades and sea trials, the BOA Thalassa is currently in the final stages of mobilizing for a confirmed contract in Brunei worth approximately USD 35 million. Data acquisition will commence within the next few days and is expected to be completed by mid-August 2013.
EM Leader - the vessel owner has completed the scheduled dry dock in Singapore according to plan, and the EM leader is currently in transit to Myanmar where it will undertake a contract worth approximately USD 7 million for new customer CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation). The vessel will subsequently perform a 3D EM survey worth approximately USD 5 million for new customer JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration in Malaysia. This survey is expected to be completed in the first week of May 2013.
BOA Galatea will complete its ongoing multi-client program in Brazil by mid-March. Details of its next project will be announced as soon as the company has received formal commitment from the client.
Atlantic Guardian has been standby in Bergen at no cost to EMGS during January and February 2013. EMGS has chartered the vessel for a firm six months from 1 March with two optional three-month extensions. The Atlantic Guardian has since 1 March been equipped with the company's new source system Deep Xpress and will, after sea trials, mobilise for a multi-client survey lasting approximately 5 weeks in production license 527 in the Norwegian Sea. This is the third phase of a proof of concept, basalt mapping program; the two first phases were conducted in the West of Shetland area and Production License 598 in the Norwegian Sea during October and November 2012. The basalt mapping program has to date generated revenues amounting to USD 8.2 million, of which USD 3.7 million were recognized in the fourth quarter and USD 4.5 million have been secured in the first quarter 2013 (the latter amount was included in the USD 10 million of multi-client sales announced on 28 February). EMGS expects that the vessel will mobilize for a multi-client campaign in the Barents Sea in mid-April.
Source: EMGS

••• 04.03.21 WHL Energy gets Australian Government nod for La Bella seismic survey.
WHL Energy has begun planning for a 3D seismic acquisition program to begin over its VIC/P67 (La Bella) permit in late 2013 after receiving a positive referral decision from the Australian Government.
Around 811 square kilometres of 3D seismic is to be acquired over the La Bella permit, offshore southeast Australia, with WHL able to acquire it between 1 November 2013 and 31 December 2013.
Importantly, WHL could potentially "piggyback" off a nearby seismic program to reduce costs.
The company is currently in discussions with an oil and gas company with nearby assets to potentially share the use of the seismic contractor.
Source: Proactive Investors Australia

••• 04.03.21 Drifting ship Lyubov Orlova may have sunk 700 miles off Irish coast.
MV Lyubov Orlova which has been drifting across the Atlantic towards Ireland since Jan 24 is believed to have sunk 700 nautical miles off the west coast.
The ship, which had been seized by Canadian authorities in 2010 as part of a lawsuit, was being towed from Canada to a scrap yard in the Dominican Republic when the tow cable snapped. The ship then began drifting toward an offshore oil patch and a recovery vessel was sent to divert it away from that location. However, due to bad weather the ship could not be brought under control and it drifted out into international waters.
A spokeswoman for the Irish Coastguard said they only got formal notification that the ship was heading towards Ireland on Feb 14.
Then in the last few days, a signal from the Russian' vessel’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) confirmed that it was 700 nautical miles off the Kerry coast and still in international waters.
The EPIRB only signals when it hits the water. It normally acts as a distress signal. The coast guard spokeswoman said a satellite was sent over the location of the last signal from the Lyubov Orlova’s EPIRB but there was no sign of the ship. That lead officials to the conclusion that it had probably sunk.
The air corp is expected to continue to monitor the region to ensure the ship is no longer a threat to Irish waters.
Source: Maritime-connector/Irishexaminer

••• 01.03.21 North Energy ASA - agreement with seismic survey company TGS.
North Energy has entered into a four-year collaboration agreement with TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company concerning the purchase of seismic data and services. This represents a natural progression from an earlier collaboration agreement with Rex Oil & Gas on the purchase of virtual drilling (VD) services for prospect evaluation, which calls for access to substantial volumes of seismic data.
"The agreement with TGS gives us access to large volumes of seismic data from the market leader in the Barents Sea," says Erik Karlstrom, chief executive of North Energy. "TGS has ambitious plans, not least for a continued commitment to the Barents Sea. Through this deal, we have reinforced our position in the far north. The combination with Rex fits like a glove."
The collaboration with TGS includes a credit facility of up to NOK 200 million for the purchase of seismic data and services. These purchases will be made in line with North Energy's requirements for seismic input in connection with work on applications in licensing rounds and the like. The conditions of the loan are eight per cent annual interest and a four-year term during which repayments may be made but are not mandatory. TGS has an annual right but no obligation to convert the net amount of the loan which has accumulated over a 12-month period to shares in North Energy at a price of NOK 8.00 per share.
In parallel with the agreement, the collaboration with Rex is being expanded to include a credit facility of up to NOK 100 million over four years for the purchase of VD services. Interest and conversion terms correspond to those in the TGS agreement. The bulk of VD service purchases will be based on North Energy's requirements. See otherwise the notice of the extraordinary general meeting for further details of the terms.
"These credit facilities of up to NOK 300 million strengthen our balance sheet ahead of the awards under Norway's 22nd licensing round," comments Karlstrom. They also provide opportunities to fill our drilling programme with more firm wells. And the collaboration puts us in a unique position to make applications in the 23rd licensing round."
Source: North Energy

••• 01.03.21 China Shipyards take the Lead from Korea.
Korean shipbuilders outperformed by their Chinese competitors in 2012 exports, 11 years after Korea in turn overtook Japan in 2001.
The Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry analysis of data from the Korea International Trade Association puts exports by Korean shipbuilders at US$37.8 billion in 2012, compared to China's $39.2 billion. The change is due to the fact that Korea was more affected by the global downturn than China, reports "The Chosunilbo".
Korean shipbuilders saw exports decrease around 30 percent on-year in 2012 while their Chinese and Japanese rivals posted drops of only 10.3 percent and 14.6 percent.
The shipbuilding industry has been one of Korea's mainstays. Since the mid-2000s, it enjoyed a boom and grew to post $54.1 billion in exports in 2011, but according to industry analysts, China has lately been putting up strong fight aided by government support.
Source: MaritimeAndEnergy

••• 28.02.21 Shell pauses exploration drilling in offshore Alaska Arctic.
Royal Dutch Shell will pause its exploratory drilling offshore Alaska in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas for 2013 to prepare equipment and plans to resume at a later date.
Shell completed top-hole drilling on two wells in 2012 in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, marking the industry’s return to offshore drilling in the Alaskan Arctic after more than a decade. After the drilling season ended, however, one of Shell’s drilling rigs, the Kulluk, was damaged in a maritime incident related to strong weather conditions. The Kulluk and the second drilling rig, the Noble Discoverer, will be towed to Asia for maintenance and repairs.
'We've made progress in Alaska, but this is a long-term program that we are pursuing in a safe and measured way," said Marvin Odum, director, Upstream Americas. "Our decision to pause in 2013 will give us time to ensure the readiness of all our equipment and people following the drilling season in 2012."
Source: Offshore-mag

••• 28.02.21 PGS has completed its 6th MC3D survey offshore Lebanon, in preparation for the upcoming license round.
On February 19, PGS completed its 6th MC3D survey offshore Lebanon, The 2,200 sq km PGS MC3D LEB2013 survey will be available for the upcoming license round.
The survey, acquired in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, is the first 3D to be acquired in Lebanon using GeoStreamer technology.
The results are expected to yield improved imaging compared to acquisition using conventional streamers.
The survey is located along the southern half of the Lebanese coastline, and covers gas-prone Tamar sand structures in the Levantine Basin in addition to potential oil-prone Mesozoic features on the Levant Margin.
The dataset ties with other PGS MC3D surveys in Lebanon. Preliminary data deliverables will be ready for the 1st Offshore License Round in Lebanon, opening in May 2013.
Fully processed PSDM (Pre-Stack Depth Migration) products will be available towards the end of the license round.
February 20, seismic vessel Atlantic Explorer commenced acquisition in the northwestern offshore Lebanon, on the 7th PGS MC3D survey since 2006.
Source: PGS

••• 28.02.21 EMGS secures multi-client sales worth USD 10 million.
Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA (EMGS) announced that it has secured multi-client late sales worth approximately USD 10 million.
These sales stem from a combination of the company's 3D EM data library in Brazil, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea.
The revenues will be recognized in the first quarter of 2013.
Source: EMGS

••• 28.02.21 NPD: new resource figures for the southeastern Barents Sea and Jan Mayen.
The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate’s (NPD’s) mapping of the southeastern Barents Sea and the area surrounding Jan Mayen will result in an approximate increase of 15 per cent in the estimates of undiscovered resources on the Norwegian shelf.
This corresponds to about 390 million standard cubic metres (Sm3) of oil equivalents (o.e.).
The new resource figures were presented at an open meeting in Alta on 27 February. The mapping of these petroleum resources is a step in the authorities’ process to open these areas for petroleum activity.
The mapped area in the southeastern Barents Sea along the Russian border constitutes about 44 000 square kilometres. The NPD’s calculations show... read more.
Source: NPD

••• 28.02.21 UK-listed Thalassa Holdings Ltd gets Supplemental Contracts in Ecuador.
Further to the Company announcements on 18 January and 6 February 2013, the Board of Thalassa announced that its subsidiary, WGP Energy Services Ltd, has entered into supplemental contracts with Joint Stock Company Sevmorgeo (URL: www.sevmorgeo.com), the Russian geological sea survey company.
The supplemental contracts are to supply additional services and a vessel as part of seismic data acquisition surveys being conducted by SMG in Ecuador. The supplemental contracts will increase the revenue to the Company by in excess of US$500,000 to at least $5.6 million in aggregate.
The work has commenced and these surveys in Ecuador are scheduled to last until 15 June 2013.
Source: Thalassa Holdings Ltd

••• 27.02.21 Nigeria wants $500,000 Bail for Russian Ship.
Nigeria is dragging its feet on the turnover of 15 Russian sailors accused of arms smuggling and demanding a $500,000 bond for their ship, Moscow's ambassador to Lagos told RIA-Novosti.
"The court order freeing them on bail is not being carried out, because new bureaucratic hurdles are being erected. The sailors remain in their jail cells," Alexander Polyakov said on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the Nigerian government is demanding a $500,000 bond in return for the ship, the Myre Seadiver, which is currently under arrest, Polyakov said.
Nigerian law enforcement seized the Myre Seadiver in October and arrested the crew after discovering firearms and 8,500 rounds of ammunition onboard. The crew was charged with arms smuggling and illegally entering the country. On Monday, a Lagos court granted a request to turn the sailors over to the Russian Embassy on bail.
Under the terms of their bail, the sailors are required to stay on the territory of the Russian Embassy and are not permitted to leave Nigeria until the legal process is over.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 8.
Source: Maritime-connector

••• 27.02.21 Statoil issues Letter of Intent to WGP to provide Permanent Reservoir Monitoring Services.
WGP announced it has received and executed a letter of intent with Statoil ASA to provide long-term seismic acquisition services for permanent reservoir monitoring of the Snorre and Grane oil fields in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.
The seismic acquisition contract shall be for an initial fixed term until the end of 2017, with Statoil’s option to extend by two further terms of two years each.
The first survey is scheduled to commence on 1 October 2013 over the Snorre field. The total seismic acquisition contract value, excluding any extensions, is approximately USD$32 million and up to approximately USD$65 million if Statoil exercises the options to extend the contract by a further four years.
The letter of intent also covers Statoil’s purchase of a bespoke dual portable modular source system (D-PMSS™), which WGP shall maintain and operate throughout the duration of the acquisition contract. The value of this contract is approximately USD$19.8 million and delivery of the system is anticipated to occur by 1 October 2013.
The procurement process for the D-PMSS™ has commenced and Statoil has agreed to meet all costs incurred by WGP in the event that final contracts are not executed.
It is anticipated that both contracts will be executed imminently.
"With 2013 marking WGP’s 10th anniversary of involvement with containerised source systems for Permanent Reservoir Monitoring (PRM) and frontier exploration projects WGP is delighted to commend this decade with such a prestigious contract with Statoil. During these 10 years the market for containerised source systems has developed, Statoil awarding this work to WGP is a major milestone for the company and all our efforts, it validates our strategy of using PMSS™ for PRM and continues to build on the experience we have gained working with BP for their Valhall and CARSP operations. WGP intends to remain at the forefront of this technology with continuous development and ensure the provision of the best and future-proofed equipment solutions", - said Mark Burnett, WGP, CEO.
Source: WGP

••• 27.02.21 Borders & Southern Petroleum plc operations update - 3D Seismic Acquisition.
Borders & Southern, a London based independent oil and gas exploration company, provides an update on its activities in the South Falkland Basin.
The PGS vessel Ramform Challenger has commenced the Company's 3D seismic programme, located approximately 140 kilometres south of the Falkland Islands. Covering an area in excess of 1,000 square kilometres, the survey is situated in Quad 61, adjacent to the Company's 2007/2008 3D survey. It is anticipated that acquisition will take approximately six weeks to complete.
The 3D programme has been designed to evaluate a number of fault/dip closed structures similar to the Darwin discovery, tracking the high quality shallow marine sands that comprise the Darwin reservoir. Additional objectives are to further investigate the Early Cretaceous slope fan system and to identify new prospects in areas where current data coverage is low.
Borders & Southern Petroleum plc operates and has a 100% interest in three Production Licences in the South Falkland Basin covering an area of nearly 10,000 square kilometres. The Company has acquired 2,862 km of 2D seismic, 1,492 square kilometres of 3D seismic and drilled two exploration wells, making a gas condensate discovery with its first well.
Source: Borders & Southern

••• 27.02.21 Statoil launches in Amenas Investigation.
Norway’s Statoil announced that it was launching a security investigation into January’s terrorist attack on the gas plant at In Amenas in southeastern Algeria, where several dozen oil workers were killed.
Statoil said that the objective of the investigation will be to help it make further improvements to its security, risk assessment and emergency preparedness.
The firm has appointed retired Lieutenant General Torgeir Hagen, the former head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, to head the investigation.
The team will deliver its final report by mid-September 2013, when it will be made public.
"Many people from different countries became victims of brutal international terrorism at In Amenas. In Statoil we lost five of our cherished employees. The terrorists, and no one else, are responsible for the attack. They stand guilty of causing all the anguish and suffering. Our responsibility is to learn and do what we can to further strengthen the safety of our employees for the future," Statoil Chairman Svein Rennemo commented in a statement.
"We will investigate to determine the chain of events before, during and after the terrorist attack in order to learn and further improve within the areas of security and emergency preparedness. It has been important for us to obtain external expertise on terrorism and security that will contribute to this work. In addition we will utilise the investigation expertise found in the company."
Source: Rigzone

••• 26.02.21 Dolphin Geophysical: fourth quarter and preliminary full year 2012 results.
Dolphin Geophysical saw profits increase further in the fourth quarter, reversing a year-earlier loss, as productive contracts with supermajors fuelled revenue.
Dolphin recorded net income of $13.9 million in the period, compared with a $3 million loss a year ago, as quarterly earnings have risen steadily this year in line with strong demand in the buoyant seismic market.
Reflecting this trend, its revenue surged to $75.5 million in the latest quarter from $30.1 million a year earlier while full-year turnover was up 127% at $221.3 million on 2011, leaving Dolphin with a net profit for the year of $32.7 million versus a $900,000 loss a year earlier.
The company’s quarterly revenue was driven by the strong performance of high-capacity vessels on charter to Shell and Statoil, as well as high utilisation of its current four-vessel fleet and improved contract margins.
Dolphin is looking to expand its fleet of vessels on long-term charter with delivery of four more high-end 3D units over the next two years.
It recently signed charter deals with GC Rieber Shipping for the Geo Atlantic, which will be upgraded to a 14-streamer vessel, and for 22-streamer newbuild Super Duke, due for delivery in March 2015.
Dolphin recently raised a total of $111 million through bond and equity issues to finance both multi-client and processing work, and fleet expansion.
Source: Upstreamonline

••• 26.02.21 Russia starts Arctic NSR Surveillance Flights.
Russia to patrol the Arctic on a regular basis, overflying international waters above the Arctic Ocean & along the Northern Sea Route.
Russia will now be patrolling the Arctic on a regular basis. The aircraft take off from Northern Fleet airbases in the Murmansk and Vologda regions, reports the Barents Observer.
The Russian Navy patrol aircraft monitor the pack-ice near the Northern Sea Route to assist navigation for civilian ships in Arctic regions, and the flights are conducted according to international regulations and without infringing the borders of other nations, according to a Northern Fleet spokesman, as reported by Ria Novosti.
Source: Marinelink

••• 26.02.21 Gazprom Marketing & Trading signs HOA outlining main terms of LNG offtake from Tamar FLNG project in Israel.
Gazprom Marketing & Trading Switzerland AG and Levant LNG Marketing Corporation executed the Heads of Agreement (HOA), outlining the main terms of an exclusive offtake arrangement from Tamar floating LNG project for a 20 year period. The aim of the future deal is to expand Gazprom's LNG marketing and trading portfolio.
The agreement follows an earlier Letter of Intent signed between the two parties in March 2012.
The Tamar FLNG project is based on feed gas from Tamar and Dalit gas fields offshore Israel, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, being developed by the Tamar upstream consortium (Noble Energy Mediterranean, Delek Drilling, Avner Oil Exploration, Isramco Negev-2 and Dor Gas). In November 2011 Tamar Partners signed an agreement with DSME, NextDecade and D&H Solutions to initiate joint development and implementation of a floating LNG facility scheduled for commissioning in 2017 with an estimated annual output of 3mtpa. Shortly after the midstream project company, Levant LNG Marketing Corporation, was established to conduct discussions with potential LNG offtakers.
The signing took place at the DSME headquarters in Seoul, South Korea.
Vitaly Vasiliev, CEO of Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited, said: "This is an important milestone for strengthening Gazprom’s position in the global LNG market. We are excited to work on making this project a success alongside our partners. We are confident that this deal will not only help strengthen and diversify Gazprom’s LNG portfolio, but also help GM&T build on our success in the Asia-Pacific region, where we have recently closed long and medium-term deals with numerous counterparties in India and North East Asia."
Source: Gazprom Marketing & Trading

••• 26.02.21 USA: Crowdsourcing Data to provide efficiencies in Hydrographic Surveying.
Many of the 25,000 miles of inland, intracoastal, and coastal waterways that link thousands of ports and harbours in the U.S. have never been completely surveyed.
In those areas that have been surveyed, approximately half of the depth sounding data shown on U.S. nautical charts are from before 1940, collected by antiquated leadline soundings and wire drags. To survey the 500,000 square nautical miles of the most navigationally significant waters would require over 100 years based on the current capacity of governmental agencies and using modern conventional methods.
Crowdsourcing data can significantly enhance the accuracy and efficiency of standard hydrographic surveying efforts conducted primarily by governmental entities. Crowdsourced data will often be the only data available in an area because charting authorities may not have the resources or mandate to conduct surveys. While traditional surveys are done infrequently, crowdsourced data is being collected all the time and can provide up-to-date information. When crowdsourced data indicates areas of concern, authorities can prioritize those areas thus maximizing efficiency by saving valuable ship time and the associated resources.
In 2010, SURVICE Engineering started testing ARGUS, a system that can use recreational and commercial vessels for the collection and processing of crowdsourced bathymetry data. ARGUS interfaces with existing GPS and depth sounding equipment on the vessels, and uses wireless technology (i.e. WiFi, cellular, and satellite) for automatic offloading to a centralized server. The system works with CARIS Bathy DataBASE and Spatial Fusion Enterprise for data correction, processing, managing and distributing via the internet. To date, ARGUS pilot testing has processed more than 70 million crowdsourced bathymetry soundings.
Source: Subsea World News

••• 25.02.21 GC Rieber Shipping - Board approval of agreements.
GC Rieber Shipping's agreement with Kleven Verft to build a new seismic vessel and charter agreements with Dolphin Geophysical ("Dolphin") has been turned into firm agreements, following by approval of the Board of GC Rieber Shipping.
With reference to notice on 13 February 2013, GC Rieber Shipping announced that they have entered into an agreement with Kleven to build a 3D high end seismic vessel and additionally entered into charter agreements with Dolphin, concerning the new vessel, lease of the seismic vessel "Geo Atlantic" and extension of the existing contract for the "Polar Duchess". The only condition for these agreements was that the Board of GC Rieber Shipping approved the agreements. The firm agreements are in line with the description in the GC Rieber Shipping's notice on 13 February 2013.
Source: GC Rieber Shipping

••• 25.02.21 Otto sees successive full year loss amid contract cancellations.
Otto Marine – an offshore marine group specializing in the building of offshore support vessels, ship chartering and offshore services operation – posted Friday a full year loss, ended Dec. 31, 2012, of $73.7 million, citing termination of three contracts and fewer number of vessels deployed by its geophysical segment as factors responsible for the company's dismal results.
Throughout 2012, Otto was grappling with a drop of orders in its shipyard and lower utilization rate of its seismic vessel. The company was also plagued by rising administrative and selling expenses.
Otto also suffered a net full year loss of $52.2 million in 2011.
Otto noted that the rest of this year will remain difficult for the company.
"Global economic conditions as well as the general environment of the shipbuilding industry remain challenging. Additionally, the shipyard is under-utilized due to lower order intake," Otto said in its earnings statement Friday.
Otto also revealed Friday that its subsidiary, Reflect Geophysical, applied for an order Thursday with the Singapore High Court for it to be placed under judicial management as creditors seek money. Reflect is unsuccessful in obtaining the order for a short to medium term standstill of claims from its creditors, and the company is at present seeking legal advice for its next course of action.
Source: Rigzone

••• 25.02.21 Damen introduces anti-fouling foil.
Damen Shipyards (Gorinchem, Netherlands) and the Port of Amsterdam are launching a pilot project to test Thorn-D®, a relatively new antifouling film that is applied to ships’ hulls below the water line. The film has an expected lifetime of five years. That is much longer than conventional antifouling coatings, which need to be replaced every six months on average. Dr Rik Breur, the founder of supplier Micanti, developed the film and tested it extensively on trial surfaces and work vessels. That attracted the attention of the Port of Amsterdam, which is concerned about the safety and sustainability of its vessels. "The film is an excellent additional application."
Damen is applying the antifouling film to one of the Port’s patrol vessels today, and will complete the work on Tuesday. "We’re using two boats in the pilot project: one with the film and the other with a conventional antifouling coating," says Willem Spoelstra of the Port of Amsterdam’s Nautical Division. "The pilot will run for a year and we've agreed with Micanti that the film has to remain problem-free for at least two years. They've given us certain guarantees concerning durability and so on, in any event. We can now assume that the film will not come off. The great thing about this test is that the two vessels will be operating in precisely the same area. That’s ideal for a pilot project." The film is being marketed internationally under the brand name Thorn-D®. Breur, the managing director and owner of Micanti, and Eric Pieters, the firm's commercial director and co-owner, can already point to their product's proven performance.
Two vessels – one a tug belonging to Dutch company BMS Towing and another located in Florida – have already been operating for some time after application of the antifouling film. The film has so far been tested up to 30 knots.
"We can now say that we've achieved a breakthrough with our application: we’ll be applying our film to a fleet of approximately fifteen work vessels and crew vessels in the months ahead," says Pieters. "They include boats run by towing companies in the Netherlands, the Middle East and a tug owned by the Port of Los Angeles."
It’s no surprise that Damen is involved in this innovation. The Dutch shipyard has shown itself to be in the vanguard when it comes to environmentally friendly, innovative and cost-efficient shipbuilding. It will no doubt be using the Thorn-D® antifouling film on more of its vessels.
Source: Damen

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