MPA defers rise in port dues

The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore has announced plans to delay the scheduled increase in port dues on old bunker tankers to help shipping companies through the current financial crisis.

‘The deferment will help more than 100 bunker tankers MPA said. As part of an effort to grow a younger, more efficient and greener fleet of tankers in Singapore’s port, in March this year, MPA intended to introduce a 5% increase in the duties on tankers that have been in operation for 16 years or more to 15% – originally intended to take effect from 1 Jan 2009. This duty increase is aimed at discouraging the operation of older tankers on the premise that they are a higher risk to the marine environment and also less efficient. This has now been deferred a year to Jan 1, 2010. ‘We hope this deferment will contribute towards helping the industry adjust to the changing business climate,’ MPA’s group director (Hub Port) Captain M Segar said.

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Remedial launches first ESV at COSCO Nantong Shipyard

Remedial Offshore marked the launch of its first Elevating Support Vessel on December 16 when the ESV unit was skidded onto a quayside barge at the COSCO Nantong Shipyard.

‘The launch ceremony celebrated a major milestone in construction of the world’s first ESV vessel, the “Remedial ESV Solutions.” The innovative ESV design is optimized for well intervention in water depths to 325 feet (100 meters). Each ESV unit (two are under construction) combines capabilities of a jackup platform, an ocean-going vessel, a workover drilling rig, heavy-lift cranes and an offshore accommodations platform in a single package. Launching the vessel onto the barge allows its three 3,500-HP thrusters to be installed and further commissioning work to continue prior to moving the unit downstream to another COSCO shipyard where the remaining sections of its 425-foot (130-meter) legs can be installed. These are the last steps before the vessel enters sea trials for an expected March 2009 delivery. Elevating Support Vessel (ESV™) units are self-propelled jack-up well intervention vessels rated for service in 325 ft (100m) water depths, carrying a dedicated electric workover rig. Remedial Offshore’s innovative ESV™ concept offers offshore oil & gas operators a unique way to combine the capabilities of jack-up rigs with the self-contained efficiencies of ocean-going vessels.

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Subsea damage leaves Galoc unplugged

Australia’s Otto Energy has confirmed that production at the Galoc project off the Philippines will be delayed until late next month due to damage to the oilfield’s subsea production system.

‘Otto said in a statement that part of the detachable mooring and riser system had been damaged when the field’s floating production, storage and offloading vessel Rubicon Intrepid had disconnected earlier this month. Otto said the vessel had been disconnected from the field “due to a combination of events including adverse weather conditions”. Tropical Cyclone Billy passed through the area earlier this month. However, the company had said at the time it had lined up a remotely operated vehicle to inspect the subsea equipment while the FPSO was disconnected. Otto said a subsea survey by the floater’s owner, Rubicon Offshore International, had found a “partially detached” component that would need to be repaired before production can recommence. It said the Rubicon Maverick would sail from Singapore to undertake the work and was expected to start the remedial work by early next month, The Galoc field lies on Service Contract 14C off the west coast of the Philippines’ Palawan Island. Otto operates the Galoc project with a 31.38% interest in the Galoc Production Company (GPC) and a 58.29% working interest in the SC14C licence.

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