Surveillance & Maritime News for March 2024

In just two weeks, the highly anticipated 18th edition of Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) is set to herald the largest gathering of the global maritime value chain in Southeast Asia. Networking and delegation visits From 13 to 15 March 2024, over 1,400 global brands will be present at the conference and exhibition, spanning 17 pavilions across six expansive halls of Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.   From closed-door networking sessions and delegation visits to product launches and busines...

Neste and Netherlands-based startup Circularise have announced a partnership to bring Circularise’s traceability software into circular polymers and chemicals supply chains. The companies are collaborating in establishing digital solutions to trace renewable and recycled material flows, providing increased transparency along the value chain. The companies will use Circularise’s blockchain-based supply chain traceability software, which creates a digital twin for the physical materia...

The Seafarers’ Charity has been shocked at the findings of new research published by the University Of Nottingham Rights Lab which reveals evidence of poor treatment and lack of decent working conditions for some migrant workers on UK fishing vessels. The research report 'Letting Exploitation off the Hook? Evidencing Labour Abuses in UK Fishing' has been published this week by the University of Nottingham Rights Lab. The researchers sought out views of fishing crew and heard directly fro...

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has developed an approach to integrate human factors into its activities. A core human factors principle in support of the company’s focus on reducing risk is the acceptance that people make mistakes and that mistakes become more likely under conditions that make work difficult. Crises such as the current conflict can have a direct and indirect impact on the well-being of personnel. Emotions such as uncertainty, fear, anxiety or sadness...

As a response to increased customer demand in the Baltic Sea South region, Stena Line will launch its two new E-Flexer vessels on the route between Karlskrona and Gdynia. The E-Flexers are modern, fuel-efficient ferries and a vital part of Stena Lines strategy for expansion as well as the company’s aim to develop sustainable shipping. Stena Line will launch two E-Flexer ferries on the route between Swedish Karlskrona and Polish Gdynia in 2022. The first E-flexer will commence operations i...

The recent decision by the OCIMF Executive Committee to separate Submitting Company rights from OCIMF membership status necessitated the creation of a new set of requirements for becoming a Submitting Company. This is to ensure that OCIMF maintains sufficient governance control over its programmes. The attached document sets out the criteria for a company to be considered for approval as a Submitting Company in SIRE, BIRE and OVID. It also sets out the requirements which all new and existing Su...

“The pandemic has in many cases made crew repatriation difficult, posing challenges to the mental health of seafarers working and living in relatively confined spaces for extended periods,” said Georg Smefjell, Head of Maritime Management Systems (MMS) Services, DNV Maritime. “With the support of experts throughout DNV, we have established a separate audit protocol addressing challenges to crew health and well-being.” ILO’s deep concern The International Labour O...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that it has signed with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) the Letter of Intent for a 22.5-year lease and operation contracts of FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão. The unit will be deployed at the Mero field in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil, approximately 160 kilometres from Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro state, in Brazil. The Libra block, where the Mero field is located, is under a Production Sharing Agreement to a Consortium comprised of Petrobra...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that The Crown Estate has confirmed an intention to move forward with the lease process for two 100MW floating wind test and demonstration sites in the Celtic Sea to Llŷr Floating Wind Limited. The formal award will be subject to a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), following which, the Llŷr project will progress with environmental assessments and surveys in line with the regulatory consent processes. Key UK markets The newly based joint venture be...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce it has signed contracts with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for the 26.25-year lease and operation of FPSO Almirante Tamandaré. These contracts follow the signing of the binding Letter of Intent as announced on February 25, 2021. FPSO Almirante Tamandaré FPSO Almirante Tamandaré will be deployed at the Búzios field in the Santos Basin approximately 180 kilometers offshore of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. SBM Offshore is...

SBM Offshore has reached a new milestone in its digital transformation program: ABS has issued New Technology Qualification (NTQ) to SBM Offshore’s artificial intelligence-powered Intelligent Agent Mooring Line Integrity Tool, allowing the technology to be integrated into offshore systems for the first time. This tool is built on SBM Offshore’s unrivalled mooring expertise and FPSO lifecycle management, combined with the advancement in machine learning capabilities. It enables the d...

SBM Offshore is committed to playing a key role in supporting the energy transition by both investing in renewable energy solutions and innovating to develop cleaner forms of fossil energy. SBM is tackling this challenge through several initiatives, such as the emission ZERO™ program, and is delighted to share another great example of commitment; a current project with Carbon Collectors.  Imodco’s CCS Tower Loading Unit This project, undertaken in conjunction with Imodco, par...

On 1 February 2020 Stena Line opened a new ferry route between Halmstad and Grenaa. After a challenging first year with COVID-19 Stena Line concludes it was the right decision. Freight volumes increased by 15 %, exceeded expectations on the new route. About a year ago, on 1 February 2020, Stena Line celebrated the opening of the new ferry route between Halmstad in Sweden and Grenaa in Denmark with inaugural celebrations on both sides, with thousands of people visiting. The geographical positio...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) together with Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for a 26.25-year lease and operate contract for the FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, to be deployed at the Búzios field in the Santos Basin approximately 180 kilometres offshore Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. FPSO installation, and operation Under the contract, SBM Offshore is responsible for the engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and op...

The signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between CULines, COSCO SHIPPING Specialized and CHINT took place at the COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Headquarters – Guangzhou Ocean Plaza. Leaders and guests present included the following: President Zhang Zhihuan and Vice President Zhang Wanli of CHINT, Chairman Chen Wei and Assistant to General Manager Gu Weidong of COSCO SHIPPING Specialized, Deputy General Manager Song Xiaoming of Guangzhou Port Group, General Manager Xi Yu and...

China United Lines Ltd. (CULines), through its logistics investment division, CULines International Shipping Agency Co., Ltd. Guangzhou Branch – has reached in-depth partnership with PUTBOX, a leading Internet platform for the road transportation of containers in China, and completed strategic investment in the latter. The two sides aim to jointly build up an industrial Internet platform and develop the financial transaction market for the container truck industry in the Greater Bay Area,...

SBM Offshore’s first Fast4Ward® hull takes onboard topsides modules at Singapore yard. Progress picked up pace when the yards in Singapore re-opened earlier this year. The mooring and riser system integration, as well as other work scope, were completed in the dry dock at Keppel FELS.  The Fast4Ward® Multi-Purpose Floater (MPF) hull has now moved to the integration quayside in Keppel TUAS, where the topside integration phase started with the progressive lifting of the to...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce that Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL), an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, has confirmed the award of contracts for the next phase of the Payara development project located in the Stabroek block in Guyana. Under these contracts, SBM Offshore will construct, install and then lease and operate the Prosperity FPSO for a period of up to two years, after which the FPSO ownership and operation will transfer to EEPGL. The award follows th...

For its 7th edition of the Monaco Solar & Energy Boat Challenge, the Yacht Club de Monaco went online with the event with virtual presentations made to the jury and an online prize-giving ceremony on July 8, 2020. Sustainability was at the core of the project from the SBM Offshore E-Racing Team, in terms of the lifecycle of the cockpit, the use of different materials, as well as the propulsion system, which comprises standard components that can all be reused. Reuse and recycling...

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce the closure of a US$600 million bridge loan facility for the financing of the construction of FPSO Sepetiba. The facility was secured by the special purpose company owning FPSO Sepetiba and was agreed upon with a consortium of four international banks. SBM Offshore is the majority owner of this special purpose company (with 64.5% equity ownership), together with Mitsubishi Corporation (20%) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (15.5%). Construction of...

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the globe, SBM Offshore has been adapting to this unprecedented situation, protecting its workforce and putting in place business continuity measures. SBM Offshore’s priority remains the health and safety of its staff, contractors and their families, ensuring safe operations across the Company’s activities at the same time. A dedicated task force continues to monitor the situation at all Company locations across the globe, on a daily basis....

SBM Offshore is pleased to announce a EUR 150 million (c. US$165 million) share repurchase program, effective from February 13, 2020. The objective of the program is to reduce share capital and, in addition, to provide shares for regular management and employee share programs. Share repurchase program The Execution of the share repurchase program will be done under the terms of an engagement letter with a third party The repurchase program is expected to be completed within the year 2020, an...