SpeedCast International Limited (SpeedCast), a leading global satellite telecommunications service provider, today announced that it has been awarded a multi-year communications contract from Gulf Marine Services (GMS). The new dual-beam Ku-band satellite service will provide high-performance broadband connectivity for client office applications and voice services across nine GMS barges.

GMS is one of the largest providers of self-propelled, self-elevating accommodation jack-up barges in the world. The vessels work in offshore oilfields, often in harsh weather conditions, and therefore require a reliable and high-quality connection between the vessels and the land-based operations.

“We have a modern fleet that enables us to serve our clients’ needs, which require sophisticated communications systems,” said Simon Cook, COO of Gulf Marine Services. “Not only does SpeedCast achieve this, but they are also able to deliver an advanced, globally accessible communications solution that is reliable and has a proven operational deployment record.”

SpeedCast’s solution will initially deliver MBR 2048/512 CIR 512/256 links for each vessel, with scope to upgrade as necessary depending on client requirements. With SpeedCast’s strong global network and support capabilities the vessels will benefit from enhanced communications and VoIP services for operations and crew welfare. SpeedCast will deliver principle support for GMS from its Dubai, U.A.E. sales and support center, backed by its global support network.

“We are delighted that we can support the modern, innovative and sustainable solutions that GMS provides its partners in the offshore oil sector,” said Pierre-Jean Beylier, CEO of SpeedCast. “Our Ku-band service is unrivaled, providing seamless connectivity and a powerful business solution to enable GMS to maintain its focus on providing its clients with efficient and cost-effective solutions.”

“The Middle East is a critically important market for the offshore oil sector,” said Piers Cunningham, VP of Maritime Services, SpeedCast. “SpeedCast has continued to invest in its network and infrastructure to service the demanding requirements of its offshore customers. Likewise, SpeedCast has continued to invest in products and services, for both FSS and MSS, that allow us to serve as a one-stop-shop for our maritime and energy customers’ critical communications.”

This announcement follows SpeedCast’s successful acquisitions of Hermes Datacomms, Geolink Satellite Services, and most recently SAIT Communications, which have further enhanced SpeedCast’s products and services tailored for the energy and maritime sectors.

Ceona, SURF contractor with heavy subsea construction capabilities, has expanded its West African reach after entering into a strategic partnership with Interoil Angola Lda.

The partnership will see Interoil Angola, which is a key player in offshore support vessel management in West Africa, support Ceona’s plans to expand into Angola.

Ceona is already active in West Africa through its Ceona-Seaweld joint venture in Ghana as well as the company’s strategic partnership with Marine Platforms Limited in Nigeria.

Bill Hickie, Ceona’s VP Business Development, said: “Interoil Angola is a well-established company and an approved supplier by the major operators in the region. It is also one of the few Angolan organizations that has a license for vessel management. Partnering with them enables Ceona to officially enter the Angolan market, where our flagship Ceona Amazon vessel is highly suited for work offshore, and at the same time continue to grow our strong footprint across West Africa.”

Headquartered in Luanda and with a yard in Sonils, Interoil Angola’s core business is managing support vessels in-country. The company, which is registered with Sonangol, offers oil and gas services in strategic alliance with reliable and proven technical partners.

Ceona is a SURF and heavy subsea construction contractor in the deepwater market, specializing in full-service engineering, pipelay and construction project management and execution. The company has already established an impressive track record which has seen it expand into West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico and Brazil.

The ground-breaking Ceona Amazon is a powerful, purpose-built hybrid vessel that can execute complex logistical projects in remote, harsh and deepwater territories. Designed to deliver full flexible or full rigid pipelay, she can change easily and quickly between each mode and is extremely weather resilient. With a deck area of 4,600m2 and the ability to carry 9,500te of pipe on deck and in her two holds, the Amazon is custom designed for full deepwater field development needs.

Her two 400te cranes, which have been designed to operate in tandem to support work in water depths of up to 3,000m (10,000 ft), enable her to easily install large manifolds and heavy subsea structures. This combined with the vertical-lay pipelay system featuring a top tension of 600te, capable of laying rigid pipe to 3,000m (10,000 ft) water depth make her a vessel of choice for all deepwater field development needs.

Ceona, which is backed by majority shareholder Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, has offices in London, Aberdeen and Houston, with strategic partners in Brazil and West Africa.

Ceona is certified by DNV to ISO 9001, 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. FPAL supplier number: 10053050 – Achilles ID: 29319

In 2005, Bourbon becomes the 1st offshore operator to adopt an inverted bow vessel, the Bourbon Orca. A look at this innovative design, dubbed the X-BOW®.

In 2006, the Bourbon Orca joined the BOURBON fleet, the very first inverted-bow AHTS designed by the Norwegian ship designer ULSTEIN. The main feature of this vessel: a slender hull water line and a smoother volume distribution in the foreship, particularly suited to the navigational conditions in the North Sea. The payoff: better handling and reduced pitching in rough seas. "While a traditional bow vessel rises on the waves and then drops violently onto the surface of the water, an X-BOW® vessel, less subject to the vertical motions induced by the waves, continues on course more smoothly, while maintaining its speed. And because it uses less fuel to get through the waves, it also helps to save energy," says Tore Ulstein, Deputy CEO and Chief Market & Innovation Officer in Ulstein Group.

The Bourbon Orca in operation

So we can understand why this type of vessel also offers more comfortable working conditions for the crew. "Less shaking, it also means less vibration, less noise and less splashing,"says Arnkjell Brandal, who was the first officer to command the vessel, until May, 2015. This seafarer, used to traditional bows tells us of his first impressions on board. "It was like a shock, paradoxically. This vessel was nothing like what I had experienced before! But I soon felt the difference, especially in traction situations: fluidity, strength and stability!"

Propelled By Bourbon

The Bourbon X-BOW® story starts in 2004, when ULSTEIN was working with BOURBON and several industry players on a project to improve the safety of anchor handling operations. "Trond Myklebust, who at the time was Marketing Director of Bourbon Offshore Norway, challenged us: to rethink the design of parts of the vessel, including the bow," explains Tore Ulstein. For the Norwegian designer and shipbuilder, all the ingredients required to design tomorrow's offshore vessel were assembled: the encouragement of a customer who is a leader in its market, a constant search for innovation, and a strong partnership with leading players. "BOURBON asked us to dare... and together we did it!" Ulstein Deputy CEO and Chief Market & Innovation Officer.

The advantages of the X-BOW® design were revealed late in 2004 and the start of 2005, when tested in a towing tank. As Tore Ulstein explains: "We conducted these tests with scale models, but in real situations, with waves from different directions to analyze the vessel's behavior. The very positive results encouraged us in this direction." In April 2005, BOURBON would go on to acquire its first X-BOW® vessel!

One Innovation Includes

Others If the X-BOW® design remains the flagship innovation of the Bourbon Orca, this vessel is also equipped with a new anchor-handling system and diesel-electric propulsion. "With very good energy efficiency, it is also equipped with azimuth thrusters which allow it to rotate 360° for quick direction changes," says Arnkjell Branda, former captain of the Bourbon Orca.

On June 11th, 2015, Fugro’s premier geophysical survey vessel, the Fugro Americas, successfully completed data collection for a geochemical coring campaign in the Caribbean. The project marks the maiden voyage of the new-build vessel.

Mobilisation for the campaign immediately followed the vessel’s departure from the construction shipyard in Louisiana in April. Her stable design and experienced, dedicated crew enabled efficient and intelligent data collection to enhance survey results beyond expectations. The integrated project comprised 141 piston cores and 7 heat flow measurements that yielded over 1,500 biological and geochemical samples. In an article discussing the campaign, Caribbean Port Agencies, Inc. asserted, “It was a very successful project, both for the vessel owner and the oil major that contracted her for the work.”

The Fugro Americas represents a pivotal advancement in multi-purpose geophysical survey operations and, together with Fugro’s comprehensive understanding of the dynamic objectives and constraints of deepwater operations, supports the company’s global commitment to exceeding client expectations.

For more information:
Melissa Wood; Sales & Marketing Manager, Fugro GeoServices, Inc.; e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HARKAND has successfully completed the $10.5million (USD) upgrade of its Gulf of Mexico based dive support vessel (DSV) Swordfish. Originally built in 2007, the Swordfish is the youngest DSV in this region and has been upgraded to the highest safety standards in the offshore industry.

The fully International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) compliant, ABS classed, 104 m long, DP2 DSV features a newly upgraded 15-man saturation diving system with a three-man bell along with a new 165’ surface diving system.

The vessel comes fitted with a new build 18-man self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL) for evacuation of the divers under saturation in case of an emergency. This SPHL can be coupled with a newly built and dedicated portable hyperbaric rescue facility (HRF) to ensure safe decompression of divers.

Following the upgrade work being carried out at the Port of Galveston, Mike Brown general manager of diving operations for North America and Africa, said: “Our commitment to establish industry standard in safety is exemplified by this recent investment to upgrade the Swordfish ensuring that the vessel not only meets but surpasses the required IMCA safety standards.

“The Swordfish with its new surface diving system, the upgraded saturation diving system, dual 70 and 150 Te active heave compensated (AHC) cranes, heavy duty work-class XLS ROV and its own dedicated SPHL and HRF will be the most advanced DSV in this region and enable us to tackle the most challenging IRM and light construction projects for any operator.“ Harkand provides offshore vessels, ROVs, diving, survey services, project management and engineering to the oil and gas and renewables industries. Headquartered in London with operations bases in Aberdeen, Houston, Mexico Nigeria and Ghana, Harkand aims to be the leading subsea IRM and light construction contractor globally.

Sea Trucks Group ("Sea Trucks") is pleased to announce the recent award of a charter for the Jascon 31 in the Gulf of Mexico. The state of the art DP3 Accommodation Construction vessel will start sailing soon from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea Trucks will provide accommodation support services, lifting operations and installation work to Permaducto S.A. de C.V. for works on the KMZ68/69 project from Pemex for a period of 95 days plus options.

Jascon 31 is a DP3 accommodation construction vessel for both shallow and deep-water operations. The vessel is equipped with a 400 mT, heave compensated, main crane, enabling the vessel to provide extensive subsea support services. The multipurpose vessel also features accommodation facilities for 469 persons, a heave compensated gangway and 1300 m2 of unobstructed deck space.

The work will commence in September 2015.

Harlingen-based SeaZip Offshore Service has entered into a partnership agreement with Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC). HMC, the world’s market leader in transporting, installing and dismantling offshore oil and gas installations, has contracted service vessel SeaZip 4 for its annual project activities in the North Sea for the coming summer months. SeaZip Offshore Service is thus getting off to a successful start in the international oil and gas industry.

Delivered early this year, SeaZip 4 is the fourth Damen Fast Crew Supplier 2610 in the SeaZip Offshore Service fleet. She is one of the first ‘Twin Axe Bow’ service vessels to be deployed in the offshore oil and gas industry. All other vessels of this type provide services for the offshore wind industry.

Robust audits passed

HMC praise the performances of both the vessel and its well-trained crew. Mr Jan Reier Arends, Managing Director of SeaZip Offshore Service, said: ‘In the build-up to this project we passed all the audits that were required. I am proud to learn that a leading market participant such as HCM has indicated that we have also managed to perform the practical test in 24/7 services properly’.

Since late May, SeaZip 4, which was designed for the transport of passengers and small freight, has provided logistic services to support operations in the North Sea, which HMC carries out for various international clients. The leading part is played by SSCV Thialf, the largest crane vessel in the world, which is fitted with two 95-meter high cranes. SeaZip 4 performs logistic services for Thialf and various HMC vessels.

Highest conceivable quality and safety requirements

HMC are committing themselves to the most feasible operational quality and safety and, thus, they place high demands on their partners. ‘Our compliance with the international oil and gas industry standards brings about considerable opportunities for our organization. This first assignment fits well with our ambition to add value to the innovative offshore energy industry with the help of excellent vessels and management services’, said SeaZip Managing Director Mr. Arends.

CGG vessel utilization for the second quarter 2015:
The vessel availability1 rate was 74%.This compares to a 84% availability rate in the first quarter of 2015 and a 94% rate in the second quarter of 2014.

This vessel availability rate this quarter is the consequence of:

• a 10% high steaming rate to reposition vessels this quarter, from APAC and West Africa to NALA, for large tenders won recently.
• a 13% high fleet standby rate mainly due to delays in permitting in Latin America.
• and a 3% yard time.

The vessel production2 rate was 94%.This compares to a 92% production rate in the first quarter of 2015 and a 92% rate in the second quarter of 2014.

Fleet allocation update for the second quarter 2015:
During the second quarter of 2015, our vessels were allocated 42% to multi-client programs (vs 52% in Q2 2014 and 35% in Q1 2015).

Fleet coverage for the third and fourth quarter 2015:
Following the recent award of a large project in Latin America occupying two vessels until the end of the year, the fleet coverage as of July 1st stands at 91% in Q3 and 71% in Q4.

- The vessel availability rate, a metric measuring the structural availability of our vessels to meet demand; this metric is related to the entire fleet, and corresponds to the total vessel time reduced by the sum of the standby time, of the shipyard time and the steaming time (the “available time”), all divided by total vessel time;

2 - The vessel production rate, a metric measuring the effective utilization of the vessels once available; this metric is related to the entire fleet, and corresponds to the available time reduced by the operational downtime, all then divided by available time.

The renowned French research vessel, Marion Dufresne II left Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (part of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion) in northern France on 28 July having recently undergone sea trials and a complete renovation. Delivered on time, the oceanographic research vessel set sail for the Port of La Réunion where she will resume her logistic and scientific journey to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

“The excellent cooperation between the yard and the vessel’s crew was important in this project’s successful planning, coordination and execution. We rebuilt a large part of the vessel within 4 months to extend her life by 20 years. The client was satisfied with our performance, cooperation and the end result,” explains Head of Marketing & Sales at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque, Khalil Benjelloul.

Mr. Benjelloul sums up the work carried out by the yard. “We replaced the vessel’s most important scientific apparatus, the multi-beam sonar. We scrapped the existing equipment, rebuilt the hull and installed a new gondola and control room. Furthermore we completely renewed the ILOT capstan, a system used to take sea water samples, and installed new equipment. The hull has been blasted and repainted as well as some of the ballast tanks. The vessel’s accommodation areas have been redone in cooperation with the client’s subcontractor, this included laboratory facilities used by IPEV scientists. Marion Dufresne II can accommodate 114 passengers or scientific researchers and 46 crew.”

The multi-purpose vessel owned by French administration “Les Terres australes et antarctiques françaises” (TAAF) and managed by CMA CGM, supplies French southern islands 4 months a year, and carries out oceanographic research 217 days per year under the responsibility of the Institut Polaire Paul-Emile Victor (IPEV). Operating out of the Port of La Réunion, the vessel transports passengers and supplies to the French islands of the Indian Ocean and performs scientific works in all ocean conditions, but for iced covered. Marion Dufresne II is now returning to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands to continue her logistic work and scientific research.

Besides her research and scientific capabilities, this multi-purpose vessel has a heli-deck and can be used as a supply vessel to transport containers and fuel to remote areas.

The client selected Damen Shiprepair & Conversion following a competitive tendering process. After careful consideration of the vessel’s requirements, Damen decided to have the Dunkirk yard in northern France undertake the project.

Horizon Geosciences has announced the addition of a new vessel to its fleet, primed for work in the North Sea and West Africa.

Horizon Geosciences Business Development Manager Matthew Suchley commented:

“Demand for Horizon Geosciences’ geophysical survey services has been such that we sought an additional specialist vessel to complement the Horizon Geobay.

We are delighted to announce the introduction of the Kommandor Stuart, a multi-disciplinary, geophysical survey vessel with a proven track record in the North Sea and Arctic.”

A multi-disciplinary IMCA and OVID approved DP1 survey vessel with a proven track record in the North Sea and Arctic, Kommandor Stuart was added to Horizon’s fleet to meet growing demand for Geophysical Survey services.

Rebuilt in 2006, the vessel has a large working deck and excellent features including a comprehensive survey laboratory with offshore data processing facilities.

Permanently fitted with a high resolution 500m range Multibeam Echosounder, a low frequency 3000m range Multibeam Echosounder, a hull mounted sub-bottom profiler as well as side scan sonars and magnetometers, this vessel is ideally suited for site surveys and cable or pipeline route surveys.

In addition to these bathymetric and geophysical survey spreads, this vessel can also be mobilized with shallow sampling geotechnical equipment including vibrocorer, dropcorer or seabed CPT.

The vessel also benefits from having in built compressors for digital 2D high resolution geophysical surveys and an ROV can be quickly mobilized as required.

The Kommandor Stuart is primarily dedicated to the North Sea and West Africa region.

Bugsier Reederei can look back on a history that spans over a century. The company, with the largest tug fleet under German flag, will celebrate their 150th anniversary in 2016, and will also mark the delivery of the newly purchased Damen ASD 2411. The tug, to be delivered from Damen Shipyards Sharjah, will be named Bugsier 22 and serve as a harbour tug in German ports.

A basic balance

With a strong tug fleet, Bugsier has been catering to the offshore oil and gas industry for decades as well as the thriving offshore wind energy market. “We operate tugs, which are commonly known to work in both ports and offshore – consequently we enjoy a high degree of utilisation. However, in an effort to decrease our daily balancing act of what tug to assign to which job and strengthen our port operation, we decided to order a standard harbour tug,” states Bugsier Business Development Manager Sven Schroeder.

This brought them to Damen. “We had previously delivered four ASD 2411 units to Hamburg, so we could quickly fulfil their requirements. This, in combination with the proven performance and efficiency of the ASD 2411, solidified the purchase,” states Damen Sales Director Frank de Lange.

Purchase premier

This will be the first purchase agreement between Bugsier and Damen. Mr. Schroeder explains the reasons behind the contract: “Value for money was one determining factor,” he says. “We were on the lookout for a swift fleet addition for harbour towage and, from our point of view, the Damen ASD 2411 is a logical addition to our fleet of highly sophisticated and manoeuvrable vessels and meets all our requirements.” The ASD 2411 incorporates a state-of-the-art hull and skeg design with recent developments in fender, fairlead and winch design, as well as excellent sea-keeping features and towing characteristics.

The truth is in the numbers

Complying with Bugsier requirements, the Bugsier 22 will be 98% standard with minor modifications and specific German flag requirements. Damen having already delivered 90 vessels of the ASD 2411 design was an additional benefit. “One simply cannot ignore the fact that Damen builds many tug boats – thereby gaining competitive advantage over other shipyards with respect to design and operability,” states Mr. Schroeder. “We are looking forward to serve our harbour clients with our first Damen product in the future.”

Fugro’s dynamically positioned multi-purpose drilling, well intervention and geotechnical vessel, Fugro Synergy, is proving her capabilities on a multi well intervention campaign which recently started in the Gulf of Mexico. The campaign involves utilisation of a top tensioned 6 5/8” riser and coiled tubing, and fieldwork for the contract is being undertaken jointly by the Cross Group Inc and Fugro. It employs the expertise of both organisations, providing a safe, efficient and cost-effective field-proven MODU (mobile offshore drilling unit).

The vessel was designed and built specifically for well intervention services, and with her impressive technical specification, Fugro Synergy truly complements MODU-based operations. Complete with a top tension riser system, this allows through-riser intervention activities. “The tower on Fugro Synergy allows us to run pipe, as opposed to either using a crane over the side, or running riser-less well intervention equipment,” explained Kevin Bosley, Managing Director at Fugro Drilling and Well Services.

“In the current industry climate ‘added value’ is of paramount importance, and Fugro Synergy certainly adds significant value to such client operations, together with our ability to deliver a flexible contracting strategy,” he continued. “The Cross Group’s 7-inch work-over riser packages are being run from Fugro Synergy, with both of our organisations focused on providing joint capabilities for a total light well intervention solution.”

Built in 2009 Fugro Synergy has a successful track record that includes a 2013 well abandonment campaign for Cairn Energy in Greenland where four exploration wells were permanently plugged and abandoned; and a deep water well de-risking campaign in 2014 which involved geotechnical and associated pilot hole (drilling and logging) services at drilling locations and field developments offshore Mexico.

Crowley Maritime Corp.’s global ship management group continues the support work it is providing the U.S. Government with the announcement today of a new technical management contract for six Military Sealift Command (MSC) Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS). Services provided by Crowley will be full turnkey operation and management of the fleet, including crewing, and scheduled and unscheduled repair and dry-docking. The turnover phase will begin in late September.

“Crowley is honored to have been selected to provide technical management for such an elite government fleet,” said Crowley’s Mike Golonka, vice president, government services. “This contract is a perfect fit for Crowley, and would not be possible without the hard work and determination of our remarkable government team and the tremendous support we received from MSC.”

These ships are used to preposition U.S. Marine Corps vehicles, equipment and ammunition throughout the world. Prepositioned ships in each squadron have sufficient equipment, supplies and ammunition to support about 17,000 personnel for 30 days, and are self-sustaining with cranes that enable them to unload their own cargo.

The Crowley contract covers five of MSC’s 14 Bobo Class ships – including the MV 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, MV Pfc. Dewayne T. Williams, MV 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, MC Sgt. William R. Button and MV 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez – and the USNS Gunnery Sgt. Fred W. Stockham.

“Vessels in the Bobo Class are named after recipients of America’s highest military recognition, the Medal of Honor,” said Crowley’s Sam Ailes, program manager. “It’s humbling and rewarding to provide service to this distinguished fleet as it fulfills its military duties. This is yet another critical government program and we realize what a privilege it is to serve it.”

The Bobo Class is named in recognition of USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo, a Vietnam War hero who was killed while saving the lives of his fellow marines during an ambush in 1966. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Crowley’s ship management group provides all phases of commercial ship management, along with full technical management and government contracting.

On Thursday July 23rd, senior representatives of Maersk Supply Service, DeepOcean UK and the Damen Shipyards Group gathered at Damen Shipyards Galati, Romania to witness the launching of subsea support vessel Maersk Connector. The vessel is owned and operated by Maersk Supply Service and is built to contract for a seven year charter agreement with DeepOcean.

Maersk Connector is the second of a new generation of cable-laying vessels developed by the Damen Shipyards Group. Equipped with survey and trenching capabilities, she will extend DeepOcean’s capabilities in the larger cable-laying end of the market, representing a new focus on interconnector projects in addition to oil and gas sector and renewables work. Her 7,000 tonne carousel will make her well suited for installation and burial projects from land-fall to deep water and also for operations in remote geographical locations. The vessel is designed to meet the high standards demanded by North Sea oil and gas customers.

Launch-of-Maersk-Connector

Pierre Boyde, Commercial Director at DeepOcean, said; “We are delighted to see the positive progress being made on this high quality Damen vessel and are very pleased with the working relationships with our partners. Last week we signed our first project for the Maersk Connector - on the Bligh Bank Wind Farm - and look forward to finalising further contracts elsewhere in the near future.

“This new vessel will be a critical part of our growth strategy, delivering production efficiencies that will contribute to the lowering of costs in the offshore wind sector. In particular it will play an important part in the roll-out of the next generation of interconnectors that will contribute so much towards maintaining the UK’s energy security and lowering the wholesale cost of electricity.”

Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at Maersk Supply Service, Søren Karas, stated, “We are naturally very pleased to see that our long-term customer DeepOcean has already assigned the vessel to its first project, and we look forward to providing superior marine operations to enable DeepOcean’s continued success.”

Developed as a flexible platform for both transport and installation work offshore, the DOC 8500 is 138 metres in length and has a beam of 27.5 metres. The 9,300 dwt vessel features 2,200 square metres of unobstructed deck with a loading capacity of 20t/m2 and ro-ro capability. Top speed will be 12 knots.

Speaking at the launch, Remko Bouma, Sales Manager at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, commented, “We are very pleased that the project is meeting all its milestones precisely on time, and the co-operation with the clients has been excellent. We are confident that the rate of progress will continue up to delivery in February 2016.”

Following the launch, the Maersk Connector is now berthed at Damen Shipyards Galati and installation is getting underway on the helideck, cranes and bridge, as well as the fitting-out of the interior. Sea trials are expected to commence by the end of this year.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has published its annual safety and environmental statistics. Drawn from 264 IMCA contractor members and based upon 798 million man-hours of work overall (558 million man-hours relating to offshore work) the 2014 dataset shows that the overall ‘flat line’ tendency in lagging safety indicators has continued in the longer term.

“Direct causes of Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) continue to be the ‘usual candidates’ – with struck by moving/falling objects the highest accounting for 110 incidents (26%); falls on the same level (including slips and trips) in second place with 88 incidents 21%) and struck against, entrapment, and falls from height accounting for 37 (9%), 34 (8%) and 33 (8%) incidents respectively. In all there were 424 LTIs recorded by IMCA members,” reports IMCA’s Technical Director and Acting Chief Executive, Jane Bugler. 

“We actively continue to urge members, and non-members alike to make good use of our extensive collection of safety posters, pocket cards and DVDs all designed to increase awareness and lower incident levels as we continue to strive for the ‘holy grail’ of zero incidents.

“There were fewer fatalities (six rather than nine the previous year). Causes were cardio/respiratory failure; crewman hit by a blind flange and died of injuries; vessel master swept overboard by a parting rope and drowned; crewman hit in neck and fatally injured by snapping taut wire; man overboard – drowning; and crewman killed when nearby crane boom struck by lightning.

“We continue to work closely with our members and other trade associations to ensure that all marine contracting industry work-place fatalities are properly recorded, our focus remains on lessons learnt and information sharing to ensure that these incidents never recur. To this end we publish brief and anonymous information on each of the fatality incidents reported each year.

Useful insight

“Safety and environment statistics remain a useful insight into the performance of a company and industry sector in the areas of health, safety and environment,” she adds.

“The purpose of these statistics is to record the safety and environment performance of IMCA contractor members each year and to enable IMCA members to benchmark their performance. Statistics were provided by 264 companies and organisations, representing around 60% of the contractor membership, excluding drilling contractors and contractors who report as part of a greater group with 62 contractors taking part for the first time. IMCA would like to thank all those who took part in this important annual benchmarking exercise.

“For the purposes of comparison, the safety statistics recorded by IMCA members are consistent with those of other main industry trade associations, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP) and International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC).”

Downloadable report in preparation

This year, IMCA will publish a short summary leaflet or downloadable report summarising the 2014 statistics, whilst continuing to publish a detailed statistical analysis of the safety data as a separate information note for members. As in previous years, data are separated into offshore and onshore activity to improve consistency in the data collected. The offshore statistics cover offshore work only, whereas the inclusion of onshore work covers such areas as fabrication yards and office work. For the purposes of these safety statistics, “inshore” work (for example in the renewables sector) is considered to be offshore rather than onshore.

Environmental data

The statistics also include environmental data of one form or another that was provided by 59% of members. This is the third year that IMCA has collected information from contractor members on their environmental performance. Listed or publically traded companies are in many cases required to provide annual information of this sort for their stockholders.

The information IMCA has sought to collect has been broadly based on IMCA SEL 010 – Guidelines for the use of environmental performance indicators and covers:

• Number of oil spills per million man-hours worked;

• Litres of oil spilt per million man-hours worked;

• Bunkers used (either in tonnes or in cubic metres) per million offshore man-hours worked;

• Megawatt-hours (not kilowatt-hours) electricity used per million onshore man-hours worked;

• Tonnes (not kilogrammes) of non-hazardous waste per million overall (offshore and onshore) man-hours worked;

• Tonnes (not kilogrammes) of hazardous waste per million overall (offshore and onshore) man-hours worked.

Harvey Gulf International Marine (HGIM) announces it is launching a new affiliate, Harvey Shipyard Group, to manage its shipbuilding assets. Harvey Shipyard Group is acquiring Gulf Coast Shipyard (Gulfport, MS) and Trinity Yachts (New Orleans, LA). HGIM Chairman and CEO Shane J. Guidry said, “These shipyard acquisitions will position Harvey Gulf as America’s only builder, owner, and operator of dual-fuel (diesel/LNG) offshore supply vessels and allow us to pass along the savings of lower operating costs and environmental protection to the Marine Transportation industry.”

Building on Gulf Coast Shipyard’s success in constructing the nation’s first LNG OSVs for the offshore market and building top of the line tank and hot oil barges, HGIM and its affiliates will catapult the Gulf Coast Shipyard into a state-of-the-art builder of world-class vessels. HGIM alone is investing $350 million to construct its dual-fuel fleet.

This July, HGIM will be opening its first of its kind marine fueling station at Port Fourchon, LA to bring LNG as a marine fuel to the offshore and inshore industry. HGIM’s $25 million Phase I construction will be capable of fueling Harvey Gulf’s fleet of dual-fuel offshore supply vessels and will accommodate America’s growing fleet of over-the-road vehicles operating on safe, efficient LNG.

Harvey Gulf is the only American shipbuilder to meet the stringent requirements of the ABS “ENVIRO+, Green Passport Gas Fueled Ships” certification and will continue building and operating the most environmentally–friendly vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. “The duel-fuel vessels we’re building and our LNG bunkering facility are indicative of HGIM’s commitment to develop and utilize the safest, most environmentally-friendly vessels and fuel technology available today,” said Guidry.

Harvey Gulf expects its shipyard acquisitions will result in an expansion of operations in Gulfport and New Orleans as it continues to bring innovative dual-fuel ship design, engineering and construction to its marine transportation industry clients. Companies interested in ship construction or converting presently owned vessels to cost-saving duel-fuel power can contact Wayne Bourgeois, Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Coast Shipyard; Robert Gwinn, President of Harvey Gulf; or Shane J. Guidry, Chairman and CEO of Harvey Gulf and its affiliates.