Flex LNG delays FID for world’s first floating LNG plant

OSLO: The joint venture behind what was touted as the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant have decided to postpone the final investment decision (FID) on the project, which was due by the end of December 2008.

‘The joint venture decided to review the FID timeline due to the “complicated nature of structuring the world’s first floating LNG project,” Oslo-listed Flex LNG said in a statement. Peak Petroleum and Mitsubishi Corp.are partners to the LNG project originally planned to develop the Bilabri, Owaneri and Orobiri gas fields off Nigeria. The FLNG plant was granted approval from the Nigerian Department of Petroleum Resources in November. Flex LNG had awarded Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (SHI) a contract worth about US$600 million for the engineering procurement construction installation and commissioning work on a FLNG unit earlier this year. SHI is commissioned by Flex LNG to build the hulls of three FLNG units. The first hull is due for delivery in September 2011.

Read More

Tank Vessel Touches Bottom, San Pablo Bay

The Coast Guard responded to a report of a tank vessel which grazed the bottom of the channel on Dec. 19. No pollution was reported or sighted by response personnel.

‘At 5 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a report that the Marshall Islands-flagged Tank Vessel Cape Brasilia had touched the muddy bottom of the Pinole Shoal Channel. The 577-foot tanker immediately moved back into deeper water without incident, assisted by two tugs. The Coast Guard immediately launched vessels from Coast Guard Station Vallejo and Coast Guard Station San Francisco to search the area for signs of pollution. At first light, an HH-65 Dolphin Helicopter from Air Station San Francisco conducted a thorough overflight of San Pablo Bay, with negative sightings of pollution. Notifications were also made to state and local response agency partners. The Cape Brasilia was escorted to Anchorage 9 in San Francisco Bay by a 41-foot boat from Station San Francisco, with no sightings of pollution enroute from San Pablo Bay. Marine Inspectors, Coast Guard Investigators, and a boarding team are currently onboard the vessel looking for any sign of structural damage. The crew was tested for alcohol consumption with negative results. A thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident will be conducted by the Coast Guard.

Read More

Japan mulls sending ships to Somalia coast

Japan is considering sending military ships to fight pirates off the coast of Somalia, officials said Wednesday.

‘“We have to do something against pirates. We are considering various options, including sending Self-Defense Force ships or patrol vessels,” said Foreign Ministry official Mitsuhiro Kobayashi. The Japanese military is known as the Self-Defense Force. Japan is considering the deployment of military ships after the U.N. Security Council in early December extended for another year its authorization for countries to enter Somalia’s territorial waters, with advance notice, and use “all necessary means” to stop acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea, Kobayashi said. Piracy has taken an increasing toll on international shipping, especially in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest sea lanes. Pirates have made an estimated $30 million hijacking ships for ransom this year, seizing more than 40 vessels off Somalia’s 1,880-mile (3,000-kilometer) coastline. Japan’s government said no Japanese ships have been hijacked this year, but pirates fired at three Japanese vessels. No one was injured. There are over a dozen warships guarding Somalia’s waters. Countries as diverse as Britain, Iran, America, France and Germany have naval forces off the Somali coast or on their way there. China was also to send warships on Friday to protect its vessels and crews from pirates. The warships are armed with special forces and helicopters and China plans to share information with other countries working in the area. Somalia, a nation of about 8 million people, has not had a functioning government since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991 and then turned on each other. The current government, formed in 2004 with the help of the U.N. and backed by Ethiopia, has failed to protect citizens while it battles a growing Islamist insurgency.

Read More