Unique Maritime Group (UMG), one of the world's leading integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solutions provider has recently held its annual strategic board meeting in Dubai, UAE from the 8th to 10th of October. At the meeting, the Group has formally announced the joining of a new member to its family – Steve MacMillan (photo) as the Global Project Director for its Diving Division and the Global QHSE Director. He will be based at UMG's head office in Sharjah, UAE.

Steve's main responsibilities will focus on managing and coordinating large and complex Diving related projects through all phases of design, permitting and construction. He will also provide leadership for the regional site project management teams by managing, coordinating and developing UMG staff. Steve will also be responsible for developing and driving the companies QHSE culture in his role as Director of QHSE.

Steve started his early career in the Diving industry in 1981 as an air diver, working out of Singapore. He then rapidly progressed on to becoming a saturation diver and onwards as a Saturation supervisor. In 1995, Steve joined McDermott as an operations manager and ultimately became the Director of International Diving for McDermott as well as Director of HSES for the Subsea Group. Steve's focus on Health & Safety has always been at the forefront of his leadership style.

Steve has played an active role in the Diving Industry; he is currently the IMCA Far East Chairman, the IMCA Diving Division Chairman and a Vice Chairman on the OGP Diving Industry Workgroup.

On this occasion, Harry Gandhi, CEO @ Unique Maritime Group commented, "We @ UMG are profoundly delighted to have Steve on board. Steve brings with him a wide array of experience, energy and knowledge of the diving industry. This move will further bring in significant amount of positive changes in UMG's diving division. We would now look at undertaking new, challenging and complex projects for customers across the globe. We also look forward to further develop the QHSE culture at all our offices under Steve's apt guidance."

Steve MacMillan affirmed, "I am very excited to take up my new role at Unique Maritime Group as it is a renowned name in the diving sector for offering world-class products and services to customers globally. I look forward to value add and contribute to the company's overall growth and strategic plans and achieve its objectives successfully."

Unique Maritime Group offers a wide range of diving equipments, some of these include commercial diving equipment, saturation diving systems, decompression chambers, daughter craft systems, breathing air compressors and Hyperbaric Rescue Facility.

The Miami-based ocean engineering and naval architecture firm of Henderson & Associates, Inc. has merged with Sea3 Systems, Inc. to form Henderson, Hanes & Associates, a full-service engineering firm that brings a groundbreaking, holistic approach to underwater intervention and project management services to the marine industry worldwide.

The new firm, headed by Shawn Henderson, P.E. and Dan Hanes, P.E., both of South Florida, draws on the deep experience base of its founders and specializes in quick turnaround refit and repair projects that may span multiple technical disciplines and trades.

Shawn Henderson, P.E., a former Navy Diver who served active duty during the Gulf War and with over 20 years of underwater experience, has spearheaded complex, multi-faceted industrial projects around the country. In January 2014, he served as Dive Superintendent on a 5-year overhaul of an ABS classed semi-submersible drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico oil field. Dan Hanes, P.E., a graduate of Duke University, also has extensive offshore oil and gas experience as well as a unique electrical and computer systems background that includes high-level work with private firms including Motorola and PPG Chemicals. Dan managed his own engineering business for over 20 years while creating technical solutions for superyachts, offshore oil, and government agencies including the U.S. Navy.

According to Henderson, "Dan and I see a tremendous demand for the expertise and skill set our entire team brings to the table. Our capabilities with electrical systems, underwater intervention, naval architecture and structural engineering combined with over 100 years of underwater experience mean that clients are guaranteed a complete suite of services for almost any marine project imaginable. This is an exciting time for our firm and we look forward to what the future holds."

Aberdeen-based wireline and well intervention technology specialist Wireline Engineering has further expanded its operations in South East Asia, initially investing over £150,000 in a new service base in Kuala Lumpur, and significantly increasing its personnel in the region.

The new 1600 square foot storage and maintenance facility will be managed by Jimmy Chong, who has joined the local team as Service Manager in Kuala Lumpur. Jimmy has a wealth of experience in well intervention equipment and services, as well as wireline field operations.

Wireline Engineering Chairman Bill Petrie said: "South East Asia is seen as a key development opportunity for the company and we are currently enjoying significant regional growth. The ongoing investment in new premises and personnel will greatly improve the support we are able to offer our customers as our activities expand.

"Having our own facility will also allow us to introduce and support new technologies that we have previously been unable to offer in Malaysia. That is good for us and good for our customers across the region.

"We have also been increasing our technical sales team based in Malaysia. We currently have five staff located in KL and, for the first time, we also have a sales manager based in Miri to provide closer support to our customers in East Malaysia."

Wireline Engineering has plans to increase its staff by three over the next year and is currently preparing to move into larger office premises in KL to facilitate this growth.

Wireline Engineering develops original well intervention and completion technologies for the oil and gas industry worldwide.

The company was established in 1998 and its headquarters are located in Aberdeen, Scotland. It has international offices in the Americas, Middle East and Far East and employs 40 people worldwide.

Patricia Vega is the new president and CEO of GE Oil & Gas (NYSE: GE) for Latin America. She will be responsible to maintain the prominent position assumed by the company in the oil and gas market, contributing to the development of customized solutions that meet the specific demands of customers and partners in the region.

Patricia has 20 years of experience in the oil industry, including technical, operational and leadership positions in the United States, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. Based in Rio de Janeiro, she will lead the 5,400 employees of GE Oil & Gas in Latin America and will be responsible for developing regional capabilities.

"The big challenge is to further increase GE Oil & Gas market share in the region. Today the company is the leading provider of solutions for the oil and gas industry and the goal is to keep the strong partnerships with our customers and to continue developing technologies that complement the portfolio and meet the market needs," said Patricia Vega. GE Oil & Gas provides solutions ranging from drilling to production, as well as power generation, transportation, storage, refining, processing systems and pipeline inspection.

Previously, Patricia held leadership positions at various companies in the oil and gas sector, including a role as vice president of operations and director of human resources for Latin America.

Patricia has a degree in Petroleum Engineering at University of Santander, a Master degree in Technology Development & Engineering Management at Oklahoma State University and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Patricia will assume the role of João Geraldo Ferreira, who leaves the company after seven years. GE Oil & Gas is the world leader in advanced technology equipment and services for all segments of the oil and gas industry. The energy division is focused on technological innovation and, through strategic acquisitions, strengthening its local presence to continuously improve the performance of the oil sector and its productivity.

The Louisiana Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, recently honored Danos with the Pro Patria Award in recognition of the company's extraordinary support of employees who serve in the Louisiana National Guard and Reserve.

The annual Pro Patria Award is the highest honor bestowed by a state ESGR committee to a civilian employer. According to Louisiana ESGR Vice Chair Larry Jones, the committee selected Danos to receive the Pro Patria Award because of the company's leadership practices, including adopting personnel policies that make it easier for employees to participate in the National Guard and Reserves.

Each year, guard and reserve employees, have the opportunity to nominate their employer for the Freedom Award. Danos was a semi-finalist on a national level and one of only three employers recognized from Louisiana.

"I am so proud to receive this award on behalf of Danos," said Hank Danos, president. "What makes this award so special is that we were nominated by one of our employees – Doug Kunkle, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. I have tremendous respect for the men and women who serve in the armed forces, and Danos is honored to have veterans and reservists as part of our team."

In addition to the Pro Patria Award, Danos has also received the Department of Defense's Above and Beyond Award, Seven Seals Award, and was a finalist for the national Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for their outstanding support of employees serving in the Guard and Reserve. In 2013, two Danos employees – Reed Pere, production services division manager, and Eric Danos, executive vice president –received the ESGR's Patriot Award.

The subsea sector is reportedly set to quadruple in size, with projected annual revenues of £85bn by 2020. Currently 45% of the UKCS (United Kingdom Continental Shelf) production comes from subsea wells and with an increased focus on maximising economic recovery, one of the key challenges is to increase the use of subsea tie-backs to existing installations.

To increase our ability to react to this growth a new DNV GL subsea team has been created. Martin Fowlie, Head of Section for the new unit, says: "DNV GL is very much looking to the future by bringing together the best of our technical expertise in this area. For many years, DNV GL in Aberdeen has been involved in the certification of subsea equipment and components. We have, over time, been privileged to call practically the entire procurement chain our customers, for certification or verification services. This puts us in a very strong position in understanding the challenges facing the subsea market."

He continues: "We have a great local team and a strong network within the new DNV GL organisation to really support the customer regardless of the size of the development, or the novelty of the technology."

The creation of the new subsea section comes on the back of the announcement earlier this month by DNV GL at Offshore North Seas (ONS) when a new 'Standard for certification of subsea equipment and components' was launched. It is thought that major efficiencies will be the resultant benefit of the standard, by means of streamlined quality control and manufacturing processes.

The new standard is complementary to the verification documents already in existence, and is a welcome addition to the portfolio for the subsea sector. DNV GL also has a number of Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) underway to standardise and streamline efficiency issues in the subsea industry. A recent cooperation project related to subsea documentation seeks to present a minimum unified set of documentation requirements for all major subsea components. Another current project addresses common specifications for steel forgings.

Bert Droy, Business Development Lead for Subsea and Floaters in Aberdeen concludes: "Having a dedicated section for subsea, with clear guidelines from which they can draw, is good news. Meetings are planned with our DNV GL peers globally, and the outcome will reinforce how we drive this forward. Of course, the most important task is to ensure that we communicate the content to the various subsea stakeholders, so we will be engaging with the industry to communicate the content of the standard in the near future."

To meet the growing demand in the region, DNV GL has now opened a new office in Malaysia. The official opening of the office coincided with the company's celebration of a double milestone: 150 years of proud history as a world leader in classification and technical assurance services and its first year as a newly merged company.

"According to the OECD, growth in the Emerging Asian economies (South East Asia, China and India) is expected to be a robust 6.9% for the 2014-18 period. Registering a 6.4% growth in Q2 of 2014, Malaysia has a well-diversified economy, with major contributors coming from export-driven service and manufacturing industries as well as the mining and agricultural sectors. The country is a key driver of offshore investments and is building substantial offshore infrastructure. Adopting strategies for sustainable development, the Malaysian government plans to develop an energy-efficient, diversified and sustainable energy mix for the future. All of which offers a very positive outlook for DNV GL.

We've been in Malaysia for over 30 years and our commitment stays firm," said Elisabeth Tørstad, CEO DNV GL Oil & Gas.
DNV GL Malaysia's move of its merged entities into its new Malaysian headquarters is evidence of this commitment. The new eco-friendly office over three floors will house DNV GL's four core business areas – Maritime, Oil & Gas, Energy and Business Assurance - under one roof. This will create greater synergies and provide more integrated service offerings to customers. The new location in Menara Prestige, at the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle, accommodates 250 employees from both legacy DNV and legacy GL.

As part of the 150th anniversary celebrations and the official opening of its office, DNV GL held a dialogue with key industry players on the technologies that are transforming Malaysia's energy landscape.

"One important industry trend is the drive towards a sustainable energy future. DNV GL has always been at the forefront of technology. We're constantly working with our partners in joint industry projects, gathering industry stakeholders to work together and support the industry in transforming technology into solutions for a safe and sustainable future," Tørstad said at the event.

Rowan Companies plc ("Rowan" or the "Company") (NYSE: RDC) announces that J. Kevin Bartol, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, has decided to leave the Company to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Bartol will continue to serve until a successor is chosen and a smooth transition is completed. The Company is conducting a search and intends to name Mr. Bartol's successor in short order.

"We greatly appreciate Kevin's dedication and many contributions to Rowan's success over the past seven years," said Thomas Burke, Rowan's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Kevin has been instrumental in shaping the Company's asset and capital markets strategy, from spearheading the sale of the Manufacturing and Land Drilling divisions and acquiring Skeie Drilling to positioning the Company for the future with our solid balance sheet, strong financial condition and investment grade ratings. We wish him well in his future endeavors."

The Company also announced today that Melanie M. Trent has been promoted to Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer and will assume responsibility for the Legal function, as well as retain responsibility for the Human Resources, Information Technology and Communications departments. Ms. Trent succeeds John L. Buvens, Jr. who is retiring from Rowan after more than 30 years with the Company.

"John has been an important contributor to Rowan's evolution over the past thirty years and we will miss his expertise and judgment. We wish him all the best in retirement," Mr. Burke stated.

Ms. Trent joined the Company in 2005, served as Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Company Secretary since 2011, and served as Vice President & Corporate Secretary prior to that time.

In order to more effectively align and leverage CGG's strength in potential field and electromagnetic geophysical methods, effective January 1st, 2015, a Business Line named Multi-Physics will be established in the Acquisition Division. This Business Line will combine all of the current Airborne Business Line with the GravMag Solutions business that is presently in the Marine Business Line. The Multi-Physics Business Line will be led by Gregory Paleolog.

The distinct brand identities of GravMag Solutions and Airborne will be retained with each of these business units continuing to trade under these names. Emily Farquhar will continue to lead GravMag Solutions, now reporting to Greg, and the Airborne management structure and reporting relationships will be unaffected.

The term Multi-Physics is commonly used in both the scientific community and the marketplace to describe solutions derived from the integration of multiple physical parameter measurements or datasets. In CGG, the use of the descriptive term Multi-Physics will replace the informal term "Non-Seismics", previously used to describe alternative geophysical and remote sensing techniques. The two specialized teams also performing non-seismic techniques in Massy (General Geophysics) and Rio de Janeiro (Ground Geophysics Brasil) will remain in the Land Business Line due to their tight integration with the commercial and operational teams in Land. However, processes will be developed to ensure effective commercial coordination as we strive to increase the awareness and acceptance of a Multi-Physics solutions approach towards answering our customers' geological questions.

CGG has world-leading positions in the application of potential fields methods to oil & gas exploration and in the ability to provide geoscience solutions utilizing a combination of geological and geophysical techniques. The Multi-Physics Business Line will reinforce the market understanding of these capabilities and allow us to further develop in these areas by concentrating our similar resources and expertise.

As part of its ongoing growth and development strategy, flexible pipe specialist FlexTech has invested £500,000 into a new manufacturing and fabrication base in Lincolnshire.

Since its inception in March 2013, the Aberdeen based company has achieved turnover of £1milllion, and it is on track to reach £2.5million by the end of year two.

With existing research and development and manufacturing premises in Aberdeen, and an R&D facility in Lincolnshire, FlexTech's new Grimsby base will help to expand its presence across the UK, with plans to extend its capabilities and offerings into the renewables sector.

FlexTech Engineering Director, Craig Keyworth, said: "Since start-up, the company has been performing successfully within the oil and gas industry. The new investment in Grimsby is strategic due to the region emerging as a key player in the renewable energy industry, with potential to become the UK capital of the offshore wind industry.

"With such clear synergies between our services and equipment offerings within the oil and gas and renewables sectors, and the renewables developing at such a significant rate, the placement of our R&D facility in the region positions us well for an advance into the sector."

The newly acquired one and a half acre facility, with 3,000 sq. ft. office and workshop, currently employs seven skilled personnel, with a further five to be recruited over the next 12 months. It will provide FlexTech with an excellent base in the region both now, and as it increases staff numbers and service offerings in the future.

Mr Keyworth continued: "The companies that we have worked with in the region to develop the new base have been fantastic, and incredibly thorough, responsive and reliable, helping the development to progress in a smooth and successful manner."
The new facility will support the delivery of projects worldwide, with the team in Grimsby supporting FlexTech's increased presence in the region. With direct access to the world's biggest offshore wind farms, and Quayside access to the UK's largest port, it will also allow FlexTech to offer its range of products and services to a wider market and breadth of companies operating within the area.

FlexTech's core business is the successful delivery of flexible pipe and riser engineering projects, marine offloading systems and integrity management and inspection. It also has a range of innovative products designed to facilitate ease of installation, ensure operational integrity and prolong the life of the flexible in field.

FlexTech currently has a team of 12 subsea and marine specialists. Its management team boast more than 50 years' experience in the oil and gas industry among them.

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) and Seiche Measurements are offering a 5-day Protected Species Observer (PSO) and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course for individuals seeking professional certification and training for visual and acoustic monitoring of protected species. The course offered by the Seiche/CSA team adheres to current Bureau of Ocean Energy Management/Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BOEM/BSEE) mitigation requirements and standards.

Day 1 (classroom)
Introduction to Marine Mammals & Sea Turtles
Legislation within the Gulf of Mexico & Global Oceans
Introduction to Seismic Surveys
Permitting Requirements
Role of the PSO
Data Collection & Reporting

Day 2 (classroom)
Clues & Search Methods for Marine Mammals & Sea Turtles
Species Identification
Testing & Certification

Day 3 (classroom)
Sound In Water
Marine Mammals
Anthropogenic Noise in the Sea
Effects of Anthropogenic Noise on Marine Mammals
Local Mitigation Guidelines
PAM Principles and the Role of the PAM Operator

Day 4 (classroom)
PAM Hardware & Operations
PAM Software
PAMGuard Workshop

Day 5 (on a vessel)
Set up and deployment of PAM systems and visual observer stations
Troubleshooting
Real-time mitigation and reporting

For more details, please contact Sarah Hancock at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Alex Imperial has taken over as DNV GL Oil & Gas's regional manager for South America just as the company is creating a dedicated research unit in Brazil.

Mr. Imperial recently left Singapore, where he was Director for DNV GL's Deepwater Technology Centre, to take over DNV GL's Oil & Gas Division in South America. Experience from his last position will benefit his new role as the new dedicated Research unit means that research will be one of the DNV GL's focus areas in Brazil.

"With the vast pre-salt offshore developments ongoing and planned in Brazil, and other opportunities in South America, I'm delighted to have taken on this role in what is a very exciting time for both the region and DNV GL. We have a total of 130 local technical experts, but also draw on the deep and broad expertise of our 5,500 employees globally," says Mr Imperial.

In the company's annual industry outlook published in 2014, in which 430 senior oil and gas professionals were asked about the prospects for the near future, Brazil was ranked as the second most attractive investment destination for 2014. Yet the year has brought challenges for the industry, "We have experienced a slowdown in the industry, with rising costs, tough competition and signs of weaker performance in the Brazilian economy," he explains.

"In this environment, I believe DNV GL has a valuable role to play as an independent partner, combining deep industry expertise in challenging operating conditions with a focus on how to work smarter. This is also one of our reasons for investing 5% of our revenue in research and development - our ultimate goal is to develop solutions that enable the industry to become safer, smarter and greener. The establishment of the new Research unit is one step towards this goal and in line with the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) research scheme in Brazil," says Mr Imperial.

"The new unit allows us to focus on joint industry projects (JIPs) where we work closely with oil companies and suppliers to address concrete and pressing challenges by finding innovative cutting-edge solutions with a focus on deepwater operations. And, equally important, we share the results and our experience with the industry. We have many ongoing JIPs, but just to mention one - Petrobras, Repsol, and Vallourec have signed up as potential partners for our Collapse JIP. In this, we will work on a standard for pipelines in ultra-deep waters," he continues. He adds that the combination of cooperating with local partners and DNV GL's existing global network of labs and technology centres creates a truly "global execution, local delivery" R&D model.

Alex Imperial started as an intern in DNV GL 23 years ago, and has since gained extensive experience from a variety of roles in Brazil and Asia within the Maritime and Oil & Gas divisions, as both a technical expert and leader. He started his management career as a Station Manager in Macaé while also being rig coordinator for Petrobas. He has also served as the global Key Account Manager for Petrobas as well as driving business development in South America and South East Asia Pacific.

Mr. Imperial has an academic background as a Mechanical Engineer from the Universidade Gama Filho in Rio de Janeiro, supplemented by postgraduate training in Safety Engineering from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro and Environmental Engineering from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

Ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist Optimarin has established itself as "the supplier of choice" for offshore vessels, with over 50% of its system orders now placed for PSVs, AHTS and associated, advanced service vessels. According to CEO Tore Andersen, the last six months alone have seen 16 new agreements signed, pushing the number of offshore system orders beyond the 160-unit mark.

Norway's Golden Energy Offshore is the latest firm to opt for Optimarin's market proven system, with units ordered for two ULSTEIN designed PX121H PSVs currently under construction at the Nantong Rainbow yard in China. This agreement mirrors recent contracts with Gulf Offshore (three vessels), EMAS (four vessels) and Island Offshore, for two advanced OSVs from Vard Braila in Romania.

"We secured our first offshore order in 2008 and carried out the market's first ever offshore retrofit in 2009, onboard the MV North Mariner" comments Andersen. "So we've spent years developing our expertise in a sector defined by its specialist vessels, high utilization rates, and intense competition.

"It's a unique environment, with unique demands," he continues, "and suppliers that don't appreciate that won't prosper. With this recent surge of orders I believe we're seeing our investment, experience and sector understanding really pay off."

Optimarin's simple, flexible and reliable BWT solution is favored by offshore operators and yards for its space saving nature and low maintenance requirements, minimizing operational downtime. Its modular nature ensures it can be installed within the tight constraints of any offshore vessel – with components housed in, for example, pump rooms or between cargo tanks – while the sole UV lamp most Optimarin offshore-optimized systems require compares favorably to the multiple lamps (sometimes up to 15) employed by competing solutions.

"In some ways it's a case of less is more in this market," Andersen explains. "The less components, the less replacement parts you need and the less that can go wrong. But, in addition, these vessels don't undertake regular ballasting and, when they do, their complex cargo offloading duties mean they have significant time to perform the procedure. So, they don't need large pumps and high capacity systems and we can downscale our solution to offer them optimal efficiency, price and performance.

"That solutions-orientated approach demonstrates our understanding of their requirements."

Alongside its BWT technology, Optimarin has put equal emphasis on building lasting relationships with key yards, both at home in Norway – such as Vard Langstein, Vard Brevik and Ulstein – and further afield, like Damen of the Netherlands, where eight units were supplied in 2012/2013 for state-of-the-art newbuild World Wide Supply PSVs.

"We get perhaps 90% of newbuild business through the yards," Andersen notes, "so it pays to have excellent working relationships. A recent collaboration with Vard epitomizes our approach, as we worked with their design office to make a new skid – very compact and sleek – for easy system installation. That shows how we'll go the extra mile to deliver optimum service and solutions."

Thanks to industry demand for advanced vessels, and an increasing adoption of DNV GL's CLEAN DESIGN classification, which necessitates BWT system installation, newbuild business is booming. Retrofit activity currently only takes up around 15% of Optimarin's offshore orderbook, but, as Andersen stresses, this is set to change:

"So far we've completed retrofits for companies of the caliber of Technip, Bourbon, Gulf Offshore and PGS," he says, "with excellent results. But there's a huge global fleet that still requires systems, perhaps up to 3000 vessels, and closer to home, we estimate that there's maybe 550 offshore ships under Norwegian ownership that will need reliable BWT systems with proven operational success.

"With our specialism and experience – Optimarin now boasts 95 offshore systems installed and in operation – we believe we can offer the market something unique, building on our now established position as the offshore BWT supplier of choice."

Optimarin's environmentally friendly system, utilizing filtration and high doses of UV irradiation to inactive marine organisms, is fully IMO and USCG approved (AMS), with certification through DNV GL, BV, RMRS and CCS. The company has received over 300 system orders for vessels up to 60,000dwt, with 180 systems now installed worldwide.

Deep Sea Mooring (DSM), a leading provider of mooring solutions, is expanding its international footprint with the opening of a new office in Perth, Australia. The facility, which will officially open 8 October, will provide sales and technical support to customers across Australasia.

To support its mooring operations, the company has also secured a 13,000m² yard in Karratha, 1500km north of Perth, which is a main access point to major oil and gas developments offshore Western Australia.

DSM CEO, Åge Straume, says the company has confidence in Australia's future as a key global player in the offshore oil and gas industry.r and size of developments offshore Australia has created a steady market for drilling rigs," he explains, noting, "and with the local industry's increasingly stringent standards we believe there's now a strong foundation for long-term growth and success.

"Companies operating in Australia are very QHSE oriented," Straume adds, "so they understand the benefits of quality mooring equipment, smarter mooring solutions and performing pre-laying in order to maximize uptime. This fits our profile and our offer is tailored to meet that market demand head on."

Testament to this conviction is the 7000 tons of mooring equipment in transit to the Karratha yard. The company has already procured most of the equipment heading for Australia, which has a value of USD 30m, bringing the total value of its rental pool up to more than USD 125m. The equipment used in DSM's Australian operations will be optimized for local hard-rock geological formations.

"We will also bring our unique combination of planning tools, logistics systems and patented RFID electronic marking on all equipment," Straume states. "These proven innovative systems reduce operational time, impacting positively on safety and efficiency standards."

Expansion into the Australian market comes off the back of a track record of success on mooring projects around the world and in particular in the North Sea, where the company honed its advanced technology and harsh environment experience. Recent DSM developments of note include project wins with Repsol and Maersk Drilling.

The Australian subsidiary, Deep Sea Mooring Australia Pty Ltd., will initially employ nine people, led by Managing Director, Barry Silver, who brings over 16 years of experience in the mooring industry.

"Our regional contacts report that they see a real need for increased competition in the Australian market and welcome our arrival. We bring proven expertise, innovative technology and a fresh perspective to the industry here, and we believe that's a compelling business proposition for this exciting, dynamic marketplace," states Silver.

Greene's Energy Group, LLC (GEG), a leading provider of integrated testing, rentals and specialty services, has introduced Mission Zero as a company-wide safety process with a key focus of eliminating at-risk behaviors.

Encompassing office and field personnel, Mission Zero engages the company's workforce to embrace a culture of safety that achieves zero incidents and benefits customers, the company and employees.

Not only does Mission Zero demonstrate GEG's efforts toward a zero incident rate, but it includes measureable and practical checkpoints for employees to keep safety at the forefront such as recognition and awards, a mentoring program, posted safety data, sub-contractor management, accurate reporting and drug and alcohol testing.

GEG will engage the Zero Injury Institute® (ZII), to conduct internal evaluations of the safety program content, process and culture. ZII's team will also visit various operating areas and conduct confidential interviews to target topics for discussion at an upcoming Mission Zero workshop.

"Mission Zero changes our safety value forever – we are a zero injury company with the core value of 'Safety First and Foremost'," said Robert Vilyus, CEO of GEG. "As a whole, we pledge to stop at risk behavior through involvement, recognition, appreciation and mentoring. Management is committed to the success of this continual process, and worker participation is crucial. We've already seen an overwhelmingly positive response, and we look forward Greene's Energy Group becoming the safest company in the industry."

PMI Energy Services, a Superior Energy Services company, has opened a shorebase in Morgan City, Louisiana, focused on supporting shelf, coastal and inland waters production and drilling activities.

PMI's shorebase is centrally located on the Louisiana coast and provides better protection from weather events than ports located directly on the Louisiana coastline. It maintains a close proximity to established fuel docks, mud docks, 29-B waste transfer stations, rental and supply companies, fabrication yards, shipyards, repurpose facilities and other industry and civil infrastructure to support offshore or inland oil and gas properties.

The 12.5 acre site with a 600 foot bulkhead dock can easily accommodate the necessary services expected for a first class shorebase facility. It includes ample acreage for material handling and temporary storage, both open and enclosed, for dry goods and sensitive equipment; secure short-term and long-term parking; marine and aviation crew changes; meeting rooms; a safety training facility; customer office space; and satellite offices for logistics coordinators.

"As the demand for resources in Louisiana's deepwater port has increased with projections for deepwater drilling activities continuing that upward trend, PMI is providing an alternative solution for operators that are experiencing inefficiencies supporting their operations," said Don Mehrtens, PMI vice president. "The lower demand on resources at our new base will create value to operators with more efficient uses of their marine assets, lower equipment and personnel transportation costs into and out of this port."

Jamie Holt, general manager of PMI's Gulf of Mexico business unit, said, "We will focus on safe material handling and minimizing marine vessel port time to lower an operator's LOE and AFE expenses. We have created a first class facility in the birthplace of the offshore oil and gas industry to provide shorebase support for production facilities, drilling programs and well work, as well as construction projects and decommissioning activities."