Every day, the world uses around one hundred million barrels of oil. The term “big oil” is used pejoratively to describe the industry’s lobbying power. But is big always better? This week, we look at both the biggest and the best, and the biggest and the worst of the oil industry. Big finds:...
Commercial Mariner – Offshore
New York’s South Brooklyn Marine Terminal to be upgraded under US$612 million project
Swedish construction company Skanska has been awarded a contract for the upgrade of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Brooklyn, New York, The project, which has an estimated value equivalent to US$612 million, will transform the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal into one of the largest dedicated...
Chouest Group acquires UK ROV operator
US-based the Chouest Group has acquired ROVOP, a UK company specialising in the provision of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services to customers in the energy sector. ROVOP said the deal will bring greater resources and subsea expertise to the Aberdeen-headquartered business. ROVOP will now...
Who’s Who: Maritime Movements for March/April 2024
WORK BOAT WORLD: Dennis Tetzlaff will take over as the new Chief Operating Officer Fleet of Stena Line in addition to becoming part of the group’s management team. Tetzlaff worked in various professions within the shipping and cruise industry over the past two decades. Most recently, he comes from...
COLUMN | On the edge? McDermott, Petrofac, The Metals Company and Cadeler [Offshore Accounts]
Lady Gaga famously sang that she was “on the edge of glory”. This week, we look at four companies on the edge of….well, something. Let’s check in on two construction companies, a subsea mining venture, and our favourite wind turbine installer. McDermott on the edge Finally, a judge in the UK has...
US marine robotics firm unveils multi-role USV
US marine robotics company Sea Machines Robotics has unveiled a new model of unmanned surface vehicle (USV) capable of operating in various industries. The 22.9-foot (seven-metre) craft is fitted with Sea Machines’ proprietary autonomous command and control system and can be used for duties...
USVs deployed for seafloor mapping mission in Gulf of Maine
US unmanned systems specialist saildrone has deployed two of its unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) to conduct an ocean mapping mission on the US East Coast. The USVs will return to the area where they spent two months in the summer of 2023 mapping in the north-central Gulf of Maine in support of...
Eighth offshore wind farm in US waters secures government approval
The US Government, through the Department of the Interior, has given its approval of the New England Wind offshore wind project, making it the eighth approval of a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project in US waters. With the approval, the Department of the Interior has approved more than...
COLUMN | Reaping what you sow: McDermott, Seatrium, Gunvor and Trafigura [Offshore Accounts]
It seems appropriate to get all biblical this week, just after Easter. When Saint Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians that “a man reaps what he sows,” he probably wasn’t thinking about corruption in the oil and gas industry two millennia later. But the last month has seen no less than four...
COLUMN | Quick updates: PSVs changing hands; subsea newbuilds; Guyana booming; rigs fixing higher [Offshore Accounts]
Money is being made in offshore once again, but tragically lives are also being lost unnecessarily. Earlier this week, we examined how Perenco’s dysfunctional safety culture in Gabon, leading to six people dead or lost in an explosion. This is a sad backdrop for an industry booming at last. Stop...