Offshore Support Journal September 2017 - Potential Opex Costs Due To Cabotage and Low Supply of Trained Locals in Mozambique PDF
Offshore Support Journal September 2017 - Potential Opex Costs Due To Cabotage and Low Supply of Trained Locals in Mozambique PDF
Offshore Support Journal September 2017 - Potential Opex Costs Due To Cabotage and Low Supply of Trained Locals in Mozambique PDF
com
“Vessels colliding with a platform have long been considered a major risk for
offshore oil and gas installations and better training can help to avoid it”
Michael Cowlam, technical director, Seacroft Marine Consultants, see page 19
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© 2017 National Oilwell Varco | All Rights Reserved
September 2017
volume 20 issue 7 contents
05
Regulars
15 5 COMMENT
32 IMCA NEWS
35 BEST OF THE WEB
News focus
6 Mozambique is emerging as a potential sweet spot for OSV owners
8 Hybrid battery propulsion is being specified by charterers such as Statoil
23 Area report
11 West Africa: expectations that the market had begun to recover came to
nought mid-year
Offshore access/walk-to-work
15 The latest addition to the growing range of offshore access systems is not a
gangway but a lifting platform
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COMMENT | 7
B
P confirmed in late July that it had sanctions in the whole of 2016, which be retired, Rystad believes.
returned to profit in Q2, helped saw 12 FIDs and 8.8bn boe of reserves As in the jack-up market, overcapacity
by firmer oil prices and what chief approved. “These are positive signs that is still the spectre at the feast in the OSV
executive Bob Dudley said would the upstream industry is continuing on market. Using VesselsValue’s offshore
be a “tight focus on costs, efficiency and the road to recovery and that the more mapping service VV@, the company’s
discipline in capital spending.” That the oil competitive conventional projects are senior offshore analyst Charlie Hockless
companies have begun to make money moving down the cost curve sufficiently to has put together a snapshot showing the
at US$50 oil was one bit of good news. attract new investment,” said the analyst. percentage of the offshore vessel fleet
Another is that conventional oil and gas So much for the good news. The oil currently laid up. Across all offshore types,
producers are approving new projects at companies’ relentless focus on cost cutting 28% of the fleet is currently laid up, with
the fastest rate since the oil price crash has put them in a position to make money platform supply vessels topping the table
three years ago and are “fighting back” at US$50 oil, but there is still a hell of a lot with 36% of the fleet currently laid up. Here
against competition from shale and low of work to be done in the supply chain, as then, as elsewhere in the supply chain,
crude prices. A third piece of good news is analysis by Rystad Energy and VesselsValue there is much work to be done, and it is
that offshore vessel owner Tidewater has suggests. After an all-time high level, with important that, as the market improves, too
exited bankruptcy proceedings. Another 409 rigs contracted in 2014, demand for many vessels are not brought out of layup
leading player in the market, GulfMark, is jack-ups plunged 25% to 308 units in 2016. and back into service too quickly, which
said to be close behind, and fourthly, over With 100 newbuilds either completed and would depress rates.
the summer, a number of leading OSV not delivered or yet to be completed with For its part, Westshore, the well known
owners have restructured. delivery scheduled during the next few broker, says vessels are coming out of
According to a recent Wood years and only 63 units so far retired, the layup faster than you might imagine and
Mackenzie report, A big year for jack-up market remains oversupplied, that, one by one, work is being found in
FIDs: 2017 marks a turning point, the resulting in low utilisation and depressed the North Sea and other parts of the world.
number of upstream projects reaching rates. Although contracting activity appears However, some owners are choosing to
final investment decision (FID) in 2017 to be on an upswing, only a small number take the vessels out speculatively, which
could double to 25 compared to only of contracts are long-term deals. For might not be such a great idea. Westshore
12 last year. In the first half of the year, the market to improve, the duration of says that, compared to January/February
the industry has witnessed 15 project contracts needs to improve. Otherwise, 2017, when there were more than 150
sanctions, which equates to about 8 jack-up contractors could find themselves platform supply vessels and anchor
billion barrels of oil equivalent (bn boe) of on a short-term contract treadmill. For the handlers laid up in the North Sea, that
reserves, mostly in brownfield projects. oversupply situation to begin to correct number is now around 108 – a near 30%
This is almost comparable to project itself, a minimum of 110 more jack-ups must reduction. OSJ
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for more
editor's
comment
videos
INVESTING IN LOCAL
CONTENT IN MOZAMBIQUE
COULD PAY DIVIDENDS LATER
The East African country of Mozambique has
been in the press often in the last five years as
large gas reserves have been discovered offshore
– reserves that could provide much-needed
opportunities for owners of offshore vessels
by Philip Woodcock*
I
n 2012, Mozambique became a household name in the offshore standards within the East African market.
industry when a country whose GDP is ranked 124th in the world Célia André, general manager of ROTC Pemba, said market
by the CIA World Factbook was found to have the 14th largest proven conditions are very challenging with delays in investment decisions in
gas reserves. The opportunities for the offshore industry and the the gas industry resulting in ROTC expanding into onshore industrial
country seemed boundless, at least until the global oil crash came and training. Ms André expressed frustration that international companies
oil majors Eni and Anadarko applied the brakes on E&P spending. As a are looking to external training providers rather than looking at
final investment decision (FID) has yet to be reached, this puts pressure opportunities within Mozambique to use a local training company to
on both the government who were relying on the tax revenues and train local workers. “It’s like they don’t know we exist,” Ms André said.
suppliers looking to make investments.** “We have a new fire-fighting training module delivered to add to our
One thing what will be certain is that Mozambique will be a positive wide range of courses, but companies are using training companies
place for operators of offshore support vessels to work, although it is from their home markets.” Ms André further explained that training
uncertain when that will occur. As Block 4, the Coral Field, is a deepwater outside the country for internal projects may not be the best option.
exploration, development and production will require the support of “Mozambican authorities often do not recognise certificates of
the worldwide fleet of large anchor handlers, platform supply vessels competency issued by entities that are not locally accredited, not to
and subsea construction and support vessels. Onshore development of mention the high costs that training outside the country adds to the
terminals, reliquefaction plants and general infrastructure will be tug and projects,” she said.
barge based, providing opportunities for West African, Asian and Middle The Mozambique workforce is caught in a Catch 22 situation
Eastern operators of smaller equipment. with the delay in tax revenues restricting the government’s ability
Despite having a long coastline and its ports of Maputo, Beira and to sponsor training and the oil companies not yet investing in
Pemba providing access to its many interior neighbours, Mozambique developing local content. This could result in two negative scenarios
does not have a large merchant navy or a deep pool of maritime for operators of offshore support vessels as the market develops: very
professionals. According to the World Factbook, 81% of the population high opex as operators fight over the few locals who are trained or a
is employed in the agriculture industry, so there are huge challenges for reduction in offshore safety as untrained personnel are rushed in to
Mozambique to capitalise on the gas industry by enforcing local content fill vacancies. Companies serious about operating in Mozambique
requirements. Operators of offshore support vessels have seen the waters will be well advised to start training locals and using them in
dramatic opex inflation that can occur when strict local content rules are their fleets in order to be ahead of the market if local content rules
applied in a market where insufficient investment has been made. are enforced. OSJ
Mozambique currently has only one STCW training institution
certified by the government body INAMAR – ROTC Pemba *Philip Woodcock, general manager, Workships Contractors BV
Bay. This institution is a joint venture between local Mozambique **A final investment decision for the Coral FLNG project was taken in
investors, STC BV, the large Dutch maritime training provider, and late May and announced early in June 2017. ENI has signed a US$8Bn
companies in the offshore and port infrastructure industries, with the deal to develop the Coral South field, giving a green light to the long-
objective of being able to provide internationally accepted training awaited, 3.4 million tonnes a year floating LNG project
Operating over 40
vessels and able to
serve you better with
one of the youngest
multipurpose fleets
R
based on SLFP technology
ecent weeks have Searcher (Solstad Farstad), optimum working range. Also, and are intended to provide
seen Statoil fix term and Skandi Flora and Skandi batteries smooth the load by maintenance-free energy
charters for several Mongstad (DOF). Three compensating for peaks and storage in a reduced volume,
offshore vessels vessels were awarded three- troughs, as well as enhancing combining high operational
that will be upgraded with year firm contracts with three safety and reliability by reliability over thousands
hybrid battery propulsion as further one-year options: providing back-up in the event of cycles with outstanding
a condition of the contract. Juanita (Ugland); and Havila of blackouts. energy efficiency
All of the vessels in question Charisma and Foresight The increased adoption “Compared with other
will be equipped with hybrid (Havila Shipping). of hybrid propulsion systems Li-ion chemistries,” says
battery operation, with As highlighted by our sister relies on developments in Mr Vir, “SLFP technology is
the possibility for shore journal Marine Propulsion & battery technology, namely particularly well suited to
power connection. This will Auxiliary Machinery, batteries the ability to offer ever- civil marine applications as it
allow them to reduce fuel in a hybrid arrangement greater energy density, delivers reliable performance
consumption while working benefit vessels in a number power and performance while over a wide temperature
in dynamic positioning mode. of ways. The overall power- maintaining safety. range, has high tolerance
Four vessels were awarded generation requirement can As things stand, lithium- to electrical and mechanical
five-year firm contracts with be downsized by removing a ion (Li-ion) technology leads abuse, and has a high inherent
five further one-year options: genset, while other gensets the way. Lithium-ion is in level of safety.”
Sjoborg (Skansi Offshore), Far can be loaded in their fact a generic term: there SLFP cells are incorporated
in a number of high-profile operation in harbour. Project the battery room.” Mr Crocker concluded:
applications. They are Zoza is one of the first yachts Orca ESS passed the “Some of the design
present in the two specialised in the world with this capability. Norwegian Maritime Authority features—in particular those
Seanergy battery systems A more recent entrant to this (NMA) thermal runaway for thermal management and
that Rolls-Royce Marine is market is Corvus Energy’s Orca propagation Test 1. The electrical safety—also result
integrating in the hybrid ESS. Introduced in June last NMA requires tests to verify in overall system cost-savings
propulsion systems for the year, the Orca also uses lithium- that when safety systems due to faster installation,
polar research vessel RRS ion technology in its batteries. are deliberately defeated and lower expenditures on
Sir David Attenborough. The In fact, Orca uses cells with an and thermal runaway of a the battery room and fire
new vessel, one of the most extremely high energy density, battery module is induced extinguishing system.”
advanced ever, has been producing 1.6MWh. by overcharging, the thermal Vancouver, BC-based
commissioned by the UK’s Orca offers a number of runaway is limited to a single Plan B Energy Storage
Natural Environment Research safety-orientated innovations, module and does not spread (PBES) recently opened
Council for operation by the including thermal runaway to other modules in the a manufacturing facility
British Antarctic Survey. protection. This problem can battery pack. Mr Crocker said: in Norway and appointed
The diesel electric generally be prevented, of “Corvus demonstrated that Arnstein Andreassen to
propulsion system will be course, by selecting a high- Orca was designed with a develop its marine energy
powered by new Bergen quality cell manufacturer and higher level of fault tolerance storage markets. The company
B33:45 engines that will designing the battery system by eliminating the possibility says it took a “blank sheet”
operate in combination with with a sophisticated battery of thermal runaway spreading approach to designing a
the two Li-ion batteries. Fully monitoring system, hardware to neighbouring cells within a marine battery and has
integrated into the vessel’s safeties, and good integration single module.” designed a brand new battery
control and automation with the energy management Thermal management with a particular emphasis on
system, the batteries provide a system. In the highly unlikely is another area where the safe operation.
combined 1,450kWh capacity event that a cell fails and system succeeds. “The Orca “We have been validated
with a maximum voltage of its temperature spikes, it ESS design is optimised for and audited by and are
1,011V. They will help deliver the is important that adjacent heat-shedding to maintain a currently a supplier to
peak power required by the cells do not also experience uniform temperature across Siemens, ABB, Wärtsilä,
vessel, such as when operating thermal runaway. the cell,” said Mr Crocker. “This GE and Norwegian Electric
in a dynamic positioning mode, Speaking at Nor-Shipping, enables the cell to operate Systems,” Grant Brown, vice
and have been sized to enable Geoff Crocker, director of at its maximum capability. president brand and marketing
the vessel to be self-sufficient product management and The design incorporates at PBES, told OSJ in an
in fuel during voyages of up to technical sales at Corvus integrated rack fans and interview last year.
19,000 nautical miles. Energy, said: “The Orca active temperature monitoring “We have a number of
The Li-ion batteries will also energy storage system between cells, which improves innovations that are related
help to push the vessel through design achieves true cell-level reliability and reduces to performance and safety
ice up to 1m thick, while towing thermal runaway isolation, maintenance costs in the long that we believe make our
equipment over the side, with meaning that adjacent cells run,” he explained. system the only one in the
extremely low underwater stay cool without the need Improved thermal world able to stop thermal
radiated noise, avoiding for expensive active cooling. management also means runaway from occurring
disturbing marine mammals Further, the Orca ESS module that, typically, air-cooling is after it has already started,”
and fish shoals or interfering is designed with internal all that is required to satisfy although as highlighted above,
with survey equipment. ventilation pathways to marine demands, and less other suppliers have recently
On a rather different vent gases generated by battery room infrastructure is brought new solutions to
scale, Saft SLFP batteries will thermal runaway, and needed—both of which reduce market too.
form part of an innovative prevent gas from entering system costs. The solutions that the
propulsion system for Project For electrical safety, company has developed
Zoza, the working name the design of the Orca ESS are known as CoolCell and
for the mega yacht under module-and-rack leaves no Thermal-Stop. These thermal
construction by Benetti in exposed cables for increased runaway protection systems
Livorno, Italy. As one of the safety during installation reduce the explosion risk
largest and most advanced and operation. Even the and risk of cascading thermal
private hybrid luxury yachts optional air- or liquid-cooling runaway in batteries that are
in the world, Project Zoza
“The Orca energy systems are integrated into overcharged or overheated.
will feature six main engines storage system design the rack, resulting in actively Another new concept, E-Vent,
and an electrical power plant achieves true cooled connections. Fewer provides gas extraction from
including two battery systems connections, a shorter the battery space, allowing
with a total capacity of 3MWh. cell-level thermal conductive path, and cooled any flammable or explosive
The batteries will enable silent runaway isolation” connections lead to higher gases produced by a battery
propulsion, as well as peak reliability and performance, in failure to be removed and
shaving and zero emission addition to improving safety. dispersed safely. OSJ
EXPECTATIONS THAT THE WEST AFRICAN MARKET HAD BEGUN TO RECOVER CAME
TO NOUGHT MID-YEAR AS THE NUMBER OF RIGS WORKING IN THE REGION BEGAN TO
FALL AGAIN, BUT SOME COMPANIES STILL SEE OPPORTUNITIES THERE
B
roker Chart Shipping said that,
after five months of continuous
increase in the number of rigs
working in Africa, it began to look
like the market might be starting its long
awaited, if fragile, recovery. The working rig
count rose from 17 units in December 2016
up to 24 rigs in May.
“However, the rally was largely driven
by a number of oil independents’ short
programmes, while the oil majors have
been staying out of the water. Sadly, the
momentum has now flagged, and the
working rig count fell to 22 units in June.”
With precious few new campaigns
slated for the remainder of 2017, the broker
believes that the market is destined for a
double dip. In fact, the effects of the decline
in momentum are already apparent.
Chart Shipping said that, although
spot rates for mid-sized platform supply
vessels (PSVs) may have held up, they are an
anomaly, with rates for all other classes of
offshore support vessels falling in most cases
back to Q4 2016/Q1 2017 levels.
At the same time, average monthly
availability for all classes of vessels trended
upwards, with the exception of large
anchor-handling tug/supply (AHTS)
vessels. Small AHTS vessels had the biggest
increase – five units. DeepOcean says acquiring Searov will allow it to expand its operations from Ghana into
“Sentiment among owners is rock countries such as the Republic of the Congo, Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire
bottom and term rates, already hovering
at unsustainable levels for most, declining
further in Q2,” Chart Shipping said. “This
is bleak news for owners and charterers
alike. With no prospect of reprieve, for bottom in terms of rates.” requirement for three PSVs to support
owners, the trend to lay up will continue, Peter Döring, a broker at Mercers drilling work. He said he was inundated with
ultimately reducing elasticity in the market Offshore, estimates there are approximately 50 vessels, some of which were in warm layup,
and eventually killing the regional spot vessels in layup in West Africa. In the warm others not. The status of some vessels being
market. This in turn will necessitate periodic waters there, hull fouling is going to be a bid for the contract was unclear.
requirements having to be filled by dedicated major problem when it comes to reactivation. If a vessel has worked recently, it stands
vessels. It is therefore clear that we are at the Mr Döring cited an example of a a much greater chance of picking up a
fixture, but a lot of owners have turned off make the most of its management expertise
the lights and walked away. and draws on the extensive experience
Mr Döring says some owners have and knowledge held within the business.
“given up.” Vessels known to be in the The base offers all the facilities businesses
region have their beacons turned off and would expect to find at a successful port and
cannot be found on AIS. He says a two-tier provides options for safe storage.”
market has developed in which a number Searov, which was established in 2008,
of vessels that are trading regularly are is a provider of ROV services with a strong
available at short notice with many others focus on West Africa. The company owns
that have not worked recently unlikely to and operates 10 ROVs from its operating
pick up work. bases in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the
There is no sign of improvement Congo, and Port-Gentil, Gabon. It has
yet, he says. It’s a desperate situation a track record of delivering inspection,
for owners, but he suggests that, when maintenance and repair and construction
the market eventually picks up, rates support services to international oil
for offshore vessels in the region could companies in West Africa.
skyrocket. By the time the recovery Speaking about DeepOcean’s acquisition
comes, fewer and fewer vessels will be of Searov, Henk van den IJssel, DeepOcean’s
active and available, an effect likely to be managing director for Africa, said “This
compounded by the fact that there are acquisition will allow DeepOcean to expand
only two drydocks in the region that can its West Africa operations from its current
handle vessels that need to be reactivated. operations in Ghana into other countries in
Although the market offshore West West Africa such as Republic of the Congo,
Africa may be in the doldrums, some parties Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire.
evidently still see potential in it, among “Africa is a key region for DeepOcean,
them ABIS Holdings Energy Services Ltd, and building a platform for the provision
which has signed an agency agreement to ABIS Holdings Energy Services Ltd has of life-of-field subsea services to our
support the development and operation of signed an agency agreement to support customers is one of our main strategic
an offshore supply base serving West Africa development of an offshore supply base objectives. We are excited that Searov’s
on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria, and serving West Africa president Maxime Cerramon has decided
DeepOcean, which recently acquired West to join DeepOcean.”
African remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
specialist Searov.
The UK-based energy services provider RECENT VESSEL
will act as the agent for Gran Canaria MOVEMENTS
Subsea and Offshore Base (GCSB), an • Royal Boskalis Westminster’s anchor-
organisation that operates in the Port of handling tug Union Sovereign has
Arinaga, in attracting and negotiating mobilised from Côte d’Ivoire to the
with clients looking to use the port. The Netherlands. The 2003-built vessel has 180
facility is described as an ideal location for tonnes bollard pull, dynamic positioning
operators requiring port facilities ahead class 2 and is FiFi 1.
of work in West Africa and across the • Swire Pacific Offshore’s Pacific Leader has
mid-Atlantic Ocean. It is inside the Canary departed West Africa and has sailed back to
Islands Special Zone, is tariff free and Aberdeen following a recent cargo run for
incorporates corporate tax levels of just 4%. Kosmos Mauritania. The 5,000dwt PSV was
The site includes 20 acres of laydown and built in 2014 and is DP2 and FiFi 1 classed.
storage facilities. The base will offer a suite The partners in the project believe that • The 2009-built J Keith Lousteau has
of services to support the marine industry GCSB would be an optimal location for mobilised to West Africa from the Far East.
with repairs, refurbishments and general operations all over the world. The base offers The Tidewater AHTS vessel has a bollard
maintenance while also being in the centre a wide range of services adapted to the pull of 155 tonnes and was built in 2009.
of Atlantic activity, making it opportune for subsea and offshore sector. These include • SBM Installer has left Côte d’Ivoire for
project mobilisation. facility support services, port and harbour Las Palmas following conclusion of a
Francis Kiernan, chief executive officer of facilities, ships agent services and access to work programme on the Espoir field for
ABIS Energy, said “The base provides all the full technical and project support services. CNR. The inspection, maintenance and
benefits of political stability within the EU Odd Are Tveit, chairman of GCSB, repair vessel is fitted with a 275 tonne
and is easily accessible for businesses serving said “Our vision is to create the preferred crane and DP3.
all areas of West Africa, from Luanda to offshore and subsea hub located centrally in • Mossalem Tide recently departed
Morocco. Full laydown and storage facilities mid-Atlantic with strategic connections to Dubai and is mobilising to Nigeria. The
are accompanied by full technical and project Europe, Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and 2011-built Tidewater AHTS vessel has
support services with a high-quality trained South America. Bringing ABIS in to support a bollard pull of 60 tonnes and 355m2 of
and certified local workforce.” with the port’s development allows us to clear deck space. OSJ
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R
arely a month has gone by in
the last couple of years without The OPTS is based on a lifting platform
a manufacturer unveiling a rather than a motion compensated
new offshore access system or gangway and uses a ‘platform basket’
bringing an enhanced version of existing that is fully compensated
equipment to the offshore oil and gas and
offshore wind markets.
That trend continued into Q3 2017, when
a newly formed Dutch company, Lift2Work,
confirmed that is building the first six
examples of a new type of unit, the offshore
personnel transfer system or OPTS, and
Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth installed
another new walk-to-work system on Vroon
Offshore’s vessel VOS Start. Another well
known manufacturer, Uptime in Norway,
unveiled a new, larger motion compensated
gangway not long after Ampelmann mobilised
its first N-type Icemann access system.
Rotterdam-based Lift2Work will build,
service, sell and rent the OPTS, which it
describes as “an innovative way to transfer
people and/or tools and equipment offshore.”
Unlike the other walk-to-work systems
highlighted above, the OPTS is not a gangway designed to be easy to integrate onto a deck. compensated gangway. Launching
but is fully motion compensated. It was “Installation is very easy,” said the company. the gangway on 21 June at Boxtel, the
designed to provide access to offshore oil “The OPTS weighs approximately 15 tonnes Netherlands, Barge Master chief executive
and gas platforms, offshore wind structures and is easy to transport in an ISO container. It Martijn Koppert explained that the gangway
and other vessels and structures. It has the is easy to operate after introductory training will be mounted on a pedestal that holds an
ability to move freely through 360 degrees and provides accurate and stable lifting of integrated elevator, used to transport both
and has a reach of 24m horizontally and more loads.” The company says it can transfer up people and pallet trolleys from ship deck and
than 20m vertically above deck level. It can to six people at an outreach of 18m or four levels below to the level of the gangway. It
also drop to 6m below the level of the deck, people at a 24m outreach. “can be literally any height”, he said.
for example, for rescue purposes. As highlighted above, another new motion Bosch Rexroth sales manager offshore
Originally developed by Offshore compensated gangway has been developed projects Boy Biermans described the
Cooperation (OFFCO) in the Netherlands, by Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth. It has gangway’s telescopic sections, which
it is based on a lifting platform rather been installed on Vroon’s offshore support allow its length to be adjusted to the
than a conventional walk-to-work motion vessel VOS Startand where it will be used situation offshore by an electric winch
compensated gangway. It uses a platform to transport personnel and cargo to offshore system. “This next-generation gangway is
basket that is fully compensated and windfarms but is equally suited to applications equipped with extremely fast sensors and
controlled by an operator. in the offshore oil and gas sector. control technology,” he said. “Because of
With an arm length of 10m and a basic The Netherlands-based companies this, the system is able to compensate for
footprint of 2,440mm x 2,440mm, it was also worked closely to create the motion wave heights of up to 3m, resulting in an
operating window that can be up to four off Venezuela. The walk-to-work system has been fitted with a telescopic access
times higher than other available systems in was deployed on Bumi Armada’s 2010-built bridge (TAB) by the Netherlands-based
the market, making it truly unique.” offshore support vessel Armada Tuah 85 SMST. The TAB-M includes a flat rack and
Uptime’s new, larger offshore access to provide access for the workforce to the pedestal elevator system and will be used
system, the Uptime 30m active motion Perla platform. for work at the Walney Extension offshore
compensated gangway, has what the The A-type system is a full active windfarm in the UK.
company says is “a totally new design” motion compensated access gangway, After training by SMST, the crew of
that the company believes will be a “game designed to transfer personnel safely Aeolus completed the first connection
changer” in the offshore oil and gas and and efficiently to offshore structures. on 24 June in significant wave heights
offshore wind industries. Cardon IV has chosen Ampelmann as its of 1m and wind speeds of 20m/s. The
The walk-to-work system is being partner in this long-term project for the Walney Extension project requires the
offered with several different setups: on a next two years, said Ampelmann business transition pieces to be installed in DP2
fixed pedestal, on an adjustable pedestal, development manager for Latin America mode so needs a compensated gangway.
with elevator tower amidships or in the Andres Garcia. The telescopic pedestal will assist with
centre of the vessel, as an add-on system Uptime International has won a the high tide differences, enabling height
on existing elevator towers and on a skid. contract from Cemre Marin to deliver one compensation of up to 6m.
“This gives optimal, customised workability of its walk-to-work systems to a service
for different projects,” said Uptime. The operation vessel that is being built at the
gangway will be operated from the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey. The vessel is
wheelhouse wing or from the gangway being built for French vessel owner Louis
itself. “Our Uptime 23.4m will still be Dreyfus Armateurs for delivery in 2018.
offered and may of course still be the best The vessel will provide service support for Walk-to-work offers
option for some projects and setups,” the
company concluded.
four offshore windfarms off the German
coast. These are the Borkum Riffgrund 1
owners better rates
Ampelmann and Uptime International
have both recently won contracts for their
and 2 and Gode Wind 1 and 2 windfarms
operated by Dong Energy.
than subsea market
walk-to-work solutions in the offshore The Uptime system will be an active
oil and gas and renewables markets. motion compensated gangway and an The subsea vessel market is showing signs of
Ampelmann secured a contract in adjustable pedestal integrated with an recovery, but a number of owners have long
Venezuela that will spread the use of its elevator tower. The vessel was designed been securing work for subsea vessels above
gangway technology into the Caribbean. by Salt Ship Design for personnel and water, rather than below, by fitting them with
The Cardon IV group ordered an A-type cargo transfer to these offshore windfarms walk-to-work systems.
system for its operations on the Perla field Van Oord’s installation vessel Aeolus Broker Fearnley Offshore Supply AS
(FOSAS) said there has been significant
subsea vessel activity above the surface
and noted that active heave compensated
gangways have had an important impact on
the subsea vessel market as a whole.
Van Oord’s installation vessel Aeolus has been fitted In a July 2017 report, FOSAS said
with a telescopic access bridge from SMST high-end subsea vessels such as Boa Sub C,
Polar Queen, Normand Jarl, Normand Jarstein,
Acergy Viking, Edda Fauna and Stril Server
have been supporting topside work, either in
the offshore wind market or in the offshore
oil and gas segment.
“The trend is almost, if not quite without
exception, that most operators are securing
modern vessels, in part due to Special
Purpose Ship regulations and requirements
but also because vessel owners are attracted
to walk-to-work campaigns because they
typically offer longer charter periods and
slightly better margins than the current
subsea market,” said FOSAS.
“This trend has a positive impact on the
supply overhang for this segment albeit a
moderate one that, at best, is only part of
a solution. For short-term and spot subsea
scopes, however, the competition is fiercer and
the income potential is lower while the vessel
options are numerous. Rates reflect this.” OSJ
cat.com © 2017 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT, their respective logos, ”Caterpillar Yellow,” the ”Power Edge”
trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.
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MARINE CONSULTANT
LAUNCHES TRAINING
PROGRAMME FOR 500M ZONE
AN ABERDEEN, UK-BASED MARITIME SPECIALIST HAS LAUNCHED 500M ZONE
MANAGEMENT TRAINING COURSES TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RAISED AROUND
OFFSHORE INSTALLATION SAFETY ZONES
S
eacroft Marine have led to increasing concern essential, along with awareness
Consultants, which from the UK Health & Safety of both good and bad practices
provides advice and Executive and other industry by vessels. This is where we
assistance to offshore organisations about the can help, and we would urge
operators in all aspects of potential risks involved. any company looking into this
offshore marine operations, “Seacroft is able to advise aspect of their operations to
is aiming to raise awareness on the responsibilities of get in touch with us and find
of the need to control marine an offshore installation’s out more.”
operations inside the 500m operator and provide training With a team of 15 staff
zone as the UK Health & to improve safety levels and and more than 80 consultants,
Safety Executive (HSE) best practice. The industry the company has built its
highlights concerns around has also recently published reputation in the marine
the control and monitoring of more robust guidance, which assurance and consultancy
vessels attending installations. would also make a difference sphere. Its expertise includes
With 97% of collisions to all stakeholders and oil marine assurance packages,
occurring within the 500m companies to give assurance inspections, dynamic
zone involving vessels there against the risk of a major positioning (DP) assurance, rig
on legitimate business, the catastrophic incident, loss of Michael Cowlam: “vessels move services, International
company can offer guidance, production and costly damage colliding with a platform Safety Management audits,
recommendations and training to their facilities.” have long been considered safety audits and incident
courses on how to improve The safety zone is the area a major risk for offshore oil investigation as well as
existing practices and safety. extending 500m from any and gas installations” simulator training in ship
Michael Cowlam, part of an offshore oil and gas handling and bridge team
technical director at Seacroft installation and is established management and specialist
Marine Consultants, said automatically around all recovery and rescue
“Vessels colliding with a installations that project above consultancy services.
platform have long been the sea at any state of the tide. The company also recently
considered a major risk Subsea installations may appointed a new marine
for offshore oil and gas also have safety zones to protect engineering and DP manager
installations, and there has of them, which are created by the starting point and not as it looks to develop more
course always been a focus on statutory instrument. They exist the solution to preventing specialised offshore marine
having procedures in place to to protect both the safety of incidents. It is crucial to projects. Richard Pearce has 16
address this and try to avoid the people working on or in the consider monitoring and years’ experience in engineering
it occurring. vicinity of the installation and auditing how installations are and technical disciplines of the
“While collisions are the installation itself. managing their 500m zones marine and offshore industry,
relatively rare occurrences, Mr Cowlam added “The and marine operations. including spells at some of
there have been a number of completion of 500m zone “As well as this, planning the sector’s most prominent
incidents in recent years that pre-entry check lists is only and communication is names. OSJ
W
This is the first time divers
hen Haifa have been able to train to
University in a top-calibre international
Israel acquired standard outside the standards
a Seaeye body’s home country.
Leopard remotely operated “There are huge
vehicle (ROV) recently, it opportunities in commercial
realised that it needed more diving around the world,
knowledge in maintaining and but also risks – which is a
operating the system and sent dangerous combination,” said
four candidates to attend The Mr Ham. “Too many divers are
Underwater Centre’s ROV dying because of insufficient
pilot technician course. Part training. Partly this is down to
of the course was delivered cost, but another important
at the training company’s Fort NIOT ROV operators training at The Underwater Centre in Fort William barrier is the fact that divers
William, Scotland, base and are unable to get the best
part on site in Israel. possible instruction because
However, Haifa University of where they are in the world.
isn’t the only academic client With the ITE scheme, we are
to have undertaken ROV focused on specific operational to deliver the three-week removing that barrier.
training with The Underwater experience of using the launch ROV pilot technician course “The oil and gas industry is
Centre in recent months. Staff and recovery system and to candidates from the Royal just picking up from the bottom
from the National Institute of tether management system on New Zealand Navy. As the of its cycle, and more projects
Ocean Technology in India the work-class ROV training instructor was on hand at are coming online. The
came to The Underwater vessel at the centre’s Fort their site, he was also able to offshore wind industry is taking
Centre in early 2017 for a William site and incorporated provide expert advice on the off, and decommissioning will
two-week bespoke ROV use of the centre’s simulator. ongoing maintenance of their need a lot of divers too. There
operations course in order As Steve Ham, commercial Seaeye Falcon system. are busier times ahead for the
to gain practical operational director at The Underwater Mr Ham said that, with the sector, and the ITE scheme
experience of flying a work- Centre, explained, the content wide range of organisations will help divers around the
class ROV, which will be used and duration of courses it now investing in ROV world be part of that while
in their research work. offers aren’t limited in any systems, the centre has been maintaining the highest
Limerick University in the way. Clients can also choose attracting an increasingly standards of safety.”
Republic of Ireland also asked to have training delivered diverse client base. The ITE partnership
The Underwater Centre to at a home base if their Singapore’s SSE scheme works by allowing
create and deliver a tailored facilities are suitable. This Training Centre Pte Ltd existing diver training
ROV operations course to ensures that the training recently became the first establishments to partner
equip their academic team is even more specifically partner in another of The with The Underwater Centre,
with the skills they need to targeted to their needs and Underwater Centre’s area Tasmania, which has a unique
operate and maintain their equipment. Personnel from of expertise, diving, when agreement in place with
recently purchased Comanche The Underwater Centre the UK centre announced ADAS allowing it to deliver
and smaller observation-class recently travelled to New its new International accredited training outside
ROV. The bespoke training Zealand for a second time Training Establishment (ITE) Australia. OSJ
511
industry attendees
36%
shipowner/operator
Despite the challenging conditions in the global offshore support industry, Offshore Support
Journal’s Conference continues to be by far the largest event in the OSV sector.
Last year saw more than 500 delegates attend and, despite oil remaining at about US$50
a barrel, delegates – including many CEOs of the world’s largest OSV owners – continue to
attend every year. Gold sponsors
As the industry changes so too does the event, covering not just the equipment and
technologies that enable smarter, most cost-effective business but also looking at the future
needs of the industry, global demand trends, finance, rates and vessel designs.
If you want to hear first-hand about the challenges, issues – and opportunities – confronting
OSV owners in the coming years, exhibiting at the event gives you an excellent opportunity for
face-to-face discussions with the people who make the decisions.
Email: andrew.green@chesterfieldcylinders.com
www.chesterfieldcylinders.com
0503 TTS Offshore Support Journal advert March 16.indd 1 08/03/2016 14:49
LIFTING & HANDLING | 23
LIFTING SEMINAR
HIGHLIGHTS ADVANTAGES
– AND CHALLENGES – WITH FIBRE ROPES
Ever greater use is being made of fibre rope, such as here on the Hywind project, but there are technical issues that need to be addressed
E
ighty-five members and guests workshops designed to review the status on fibre slings, even though they are
attended the International and issues surrounding the use of fibre highly cut-resistant.
Marine Contractors Association’s rope technology. “Proper sling protection is essential,” he
(IMCA’s) lifting and rigging Seaway Heavy Lifting’s principal said, noting that the cost for fibre was still
seminar, an event that, like earlier engineer Dirk-Jan Mattaar provided a higher than steel. Another concern about
workshops, focused on defining the issues presentation on the company’s experience fibre ropes is high-temperature operations.
related to high-value subsea construction in moving from steel to synthetic fibre When used in high temperatures in
ropes and on the performance slings and slings. “Why do we use them?” he asked. some parts of the world, strength loss
grommets used for subsea construction. “Because manual operation with fibre due to high temperatures need to be
The title – ‘Slings and rigging – the soft rope slings is safer, faster and requires borne in mind, he said. Over time, in
revolution’ – indicated strongly the steady fewer riggers. It only takes a few seconds high temperatures, the safety factor of
move over the last four to five years from to attach. It saves an awful lot of time fibre rope can reduce. Other issues that
wire to high-performance fibre-based when it comes to connecting slings need to be addressed include the fact that
rigging. After a welcome and introduction to hooks,” he explained. However, the certification of fibre ropes has not yet
from the seminar chairman, there company hasn’t stopped using steel slings been standardised, guidance on inspection
followed a number of presentations and altogether, primarily because of damage and when to discard is not clear cut and
connection of steel slings to fibre slings lift under different lifting configurations. guide, which has been developed as a result
should not be undertaken due to internal Another difficulty was that the single hook of many tests. Data-driven strength models
torques and twists. became completely filled with rope. It was for fibre rope are important, he said, and can
IMCA Lifting and Rigging Committee important to ensure that the ropes did not provide assurance that they can be used at
member Caspar Berends, who works become crossed whilst on the hook. the designed factor of safety and satisfy end-
for TechnipFMC, gave a presentation Saipem UK’s chief operating officer user risk tolerance requirements.
on engineering with fibre slings and the Vince McCarthy gave a presentation on Cortland’s business unit leader Luis Padilla
challenges this can bring. This included the use of fibre rope on Statoil’s Hywind said it was important that the industry works
bending effects over crane hooks (especially floating offshore wind project. This involved together to create standards to help the end
DIN hooks, which could damage both fibre lifting the upper structure of a wind user. He noted that industry recertification
and wire slings), reuse of slings, load test turbine (complete with blades attached) guidelines were weak. “Nothing beats a well
requirements and how to determine correct and mounting it on a floating spar-type informed customer,” he told delegates. “There
skew factors. foundation. The upper structures were lifted is a need to build trust with the customers, and
Reuse of fibre slings had been from the bottom, so the lift was potentially customers need to know what to ask for and
undertaken, he explained. However, very unstable. He explained that contractor define. Standardisation can help with this,”
the company thought it wise to involve Franklin Offshore had to manufacture Mr Padilla said.
the manufacturer for inspection before the slings to particularly tight tolerances, Lankhorst’s project manager Rui Pedro
reuse, especially after reconfiguration or and the slings were pre-stretched to bed Faria said realistic load testing that looked
resplicing. Damage to protective jackets in splices against the actual load that they at each part of a subsea lift was important.
can easily happen. This leads to questions would see. This was to ensure that the Realistic testing could help justify the use
about whether it is possible or advisable to variation in the lifting slings was acceptable. of lower safety factors, he said, noting that
undertake repairs on a vessel. “Clients could This was important because, when the the company is working with DNV GL on
be concerned with damage to protective turbine was lowered onto the spar, it would technology qualification for both new and
jackets. We needed guidance on how to deal sink by approximately 11m. used slings.
with this,” he said. Samson’s application engineering Bridon-Bekaert’s fibre technology
Mr Berends said fibre slings can be manager Justin Smoak noted that standards manager Tim Hunter said that, for use and
beneficial for deck handling. Technically, for steel wire had evolved over many years. reuse of fibre slings, it was important to get
they are fit for purpose, but if they pick Fibre rope has only been around and in the original specification right. “Knowing the
up a lot of sand and grit when ashore at a regular use for a few years. Fibre ropes retirement point is critical,” he said, “[but]
storage yard, damage could occur and fibre behave in the same way as steel, but there some users give it a lot of attention in the
rope could be deemed too high risk to use. are significant differences between fibre specification, others very little.” The lack of
“We really want to use them, but this is a ropes due to the use of differing materials standardisation described by other speakers
challenge,” he said. and weave. Under IMCA guidelines, is apparent in testing, which means that
Jumbo’s project engineer Sita Verburg manufacturers are required to guarantee the interpretation of results is being performed
and senior port engineer Dries Stommen maximum breaking load (MBL) of a sling, in different ways – even down to MBL and
gave a presentation on issues involved with but Samson believes that the whole rope how it is defined. “The biggest challenge
complex rigging work during the lifting needs to be broken, not just strands. Mr in the industry is certification,” he said.
and transportation of two 1,000 tonne pile Smoak discussed retirement considerations “Standardisation is not a set of laws, it’s about
clusters. This required an asymmetrical and demonstrated Samson’s visual retirement consensus in the industry,” he concluded.
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26 | WELL INTERVENTION VESSELS
WELL INTERVENTION
– A BAD NAME FOR A GOOD ACTIVITY?
WHETHER A RIG OR A VESSEL IS USED, they are almost all associated with remedial action. Something
noticeable has happened or is happening, and this forces the
COULD WELL INTERVENTION DO A expenditure decision. Leading activities at present include
LOT MORE TO MAXIMISE ECONOMIC mechanical repair (such as valve repair, choke change-out or seal
RECOVERY ASKS ANDREW PATERSON, failure) and relatively little in the way of true proactive well servicing,
be it data acquisition or performance-related wireline or coiled
MANAGING PARTNER, OFS PARTNERS tubing interventions (zone isolation, scale squeeze and stimulations).
Instead, if we were to think creatively about all of the proactive
production enhancement measures that could be undertaken on
a field-wide basis, we might be able to find reasons to justify a
I
different set of activities at different times in the life of the field.
f you’re intervening, generally something’s wrong and it’s only Here, the decision would be to invest and grow to improve and
going to get worse unless you do something about it. Is there achieve excellence rather than spend money only to solve a
something in the very name and nature of well intervention problem – stimulated by the pressure of being branded reckless
that is undermining its true potential in the North Sea and the for doing nothing. We are currently a little too focused on
wider global market? Let’s explore why interventions typically take ‘catastrophe aversion’ instead of thinking in terms of ‘proactive
place, what is done and what could be done differently. production enhancement’, that is, reaction, rather than action.
If we look at a list of specific triggers for well intervention activity, For a well known global operator, the average lifting cost per
barrel across the portfolio sits at around US$30. When there is and evidence base for the solution as well as the quality of support
already enough evidence to suggest incremental barrels brought that can be given to drive the business case within the operator, on
on stream as a result of well intervention activity sit at around US$5 behalf of the direct contact.
or less, the argument should be compelling to undertake well There are plenty of ideas as well as plenty of early stage but
servicing and proactive performance measures more frequently. proven techniques that make the efficiency and effectiveness
The reasons for not doing this are numerous and partly due to of well intervention operations all the greater. Some methods
a shareholder emphasis on new fields and discoveries above and – and vessel solutions – are somewhat predicated on a highly
beyond what could be dismissed as less than newsworthy tinkering active drilling market, meaning using a heavy drilling asset (a full
on older well stock. However, as the British cycling team proved, capability semi-sub or jack-up) is so expensive that it creates an
a lot of small tinkering can sum up to great gains overall. Can we incentive to explore a lighter alternative (a monohull dedicated well
apply the same ‘marginal gains’ logic across a field and portfolio of intervention vessel).
producing assets? The result would then be an emphasis on overall While that incentive may have been reduced in this lower-for-
performance improvement rather than star results of individual fields longer oil price environment, there are still benefits to be found in
or new discoveries boosting production. using nimbler alternatives. For those who will always want the full
There is a dated argument that says any given intervention on well control capability of a rig, the technology is there to enable
a specific well is no more than 50% likely to succeed. While it is interventions cheaper than ever. In the current market, general
certainly true that not all given intervention activities are guaranteed cash constraints make the case for doing anything a big challenge,
to succeed, conditions downhole being so complex and variable, it so the main focus needs to be proving the case for doing anything
still isn’t fair to judge the merit of interventions on a well-by-well basis. at all, by any means, according to alignment with the operators’
Building the business case for a given campaign is often based on a needs and preferences.
remediation, as already described. However, if we expand the picture Across the whole oil field services value chain, there are many
to a whole field basis, it becomes possible to design and justify a repeating principles that work in terms of winning work. One is
proactive programme across multiple wells over a longer timeframe hassle reduction and reducing interfaces. Another is security of
that dramatically increases the chances of a favourable return. supply – offering something no one else has at a given moment
Where given actions on specific wells don’t succeed, a capable in time. Finally, perhaps the most compelling of them all is offering
contractor can use the well access to log, survey and sample such a net saving proposition. Somehow, what you are doing saves
that the programme is dynamic and adapted accordingly based on measurably more money elsewhere – thus creating a very happy
the new information coming out of the experience. Put simply, if at client and reducing the focus and scrutiny on your own margin.
first you don’t succeed, use the data acquired to perfect the action For well intervention, some of these dynamics apply – bringing
and location, ever increasing success rates, and try, try again. together multiple services would be of perceived value and proving
Fundamentally, the opportunity for supply chain companies is the case for doing the work in the first place against not doing it or
there. However, this opportunity will not be realised if development waiting (the net saving angle) would be the leading principles.
is undertaken in isolation. The reactive approach so often seen in So in summary, this intervention is twofold: firstly, to raise the
the past is not fit for purpose in the current climate. profile and perceived value for proactive programmes of well
To turn talk into RFQs, any investment or development needs to interventions such that there is as much pull from operators to
be anchored to the specific needs of a given operator or range of consider these as there is push from the supply chain to offer them,
operators. There needs to be a very careful assessment of operator and secondly, to realise the benefits of actually doing the work,
needs against company capability, and when that’s done, the decision bringing the incremental barrels on stream and conducting late-life
of who to invest in a relationship with for both parties becomes easier. operations in the most efficient way possible.
There is no ‘slam dunk’ technique or technology or even light or When we can see proactive diagnostic interventions directly
heavy vessel solution for well intervention out there. Winners and driving actual well performance improvement work on an industry-
losers will be separated based on the strength of the relationships wide basis, we will know the market is finally coming to maturity
that can be established, the level of understanding of the situation and the efforts of all to intervene have been successful. OSJ
As the market recovers Asian owners are beginning to exploit new opportunities and expand into new regions.
Companies such as Vallianz are doing especially well in the Middle East, where long-term contracts are helping them
to win business and make a profit. Pacific Radiance says utilisation is increasing; newcomers such as Tasik Subsea
have secured long-term contracts; and Singapore’s government continues to provide help to the industry.
To find out how you can find new business, and where the opportunities are, attend the Asian Offshore Support
Journal Conference, 20-21 September 2017, Singapore.
Book now!
Book your place online today or by contacting Kym Tan on +65 6809 3098 or at kym.tan@rivieramm.com
www.offshoresupportasia.com
Book now at
www.offshoresupportasia.com
Hyde
GOLD
®
Official publication
Organised by
Sugiman Layanto Thom Payne
President Director Director
Wintermar Offshore Marine Group Westwood Global Energy Group
OFFSHORE
TA K I N G FA S T C R E W V E S S E L S T O A N E X T L E V E L
The FCS 7011 brings a new long-distance class capable of servicing large platforms
over 100 nautical miles from port. Its size and capacity will enable it to exchange large
volumes of personnel quickly, efficiently and in a very broad weather window.
WWW.DAMEN.COM
INNOVATIONS | 31
D
eveloped by The service provided advantages of OSVfinder. It to company and that it would
former broker by OSVfinder is accessible started trialling the system in be possible, to an extent, to
Rémy Ausset, anywhere in the world. It only February to find out if it really customise the web application
OSVfinder requires an internet connection could meet its needs and to meet their needs.
combines the ability to to be able to connect and use invited the owners with whom As the platform has
locate ships anywhere in the application. it already worked to register. developed, so new features
the world with an advanced OSVfinder’s goal is to Since then, it has been have and will be added. These
search engine and internal modernise the offshore oil sending out tenders through include flag state and local
communications system that, and gas industry by offering OSVfinder. “Leading players contents requirements and the
Mr Ausset believes, will make a digital service that creates in the market have been compliance requirements of
chartering simpler, faster and a new working environment responding to the tenders EPCI companies, national oil
less expensive. that saves time and reduces they have issued through companies and independent
Speaking to OSJ in early charterers’ and shipowners’ OSVfinder, and we are now oil companies. It is also
August, Mr Ausset said the new costs. Rather than a system talking to Saipem about how possible to add important
company already has more of fees of the type that many licences they might data such as when a vessel
than 70 shipowners registered companies are used to paying, need,” said Mr Ausset. Other last went through an OVID
to use it and a database of Mr Ausset’s company is engineering, procurement, (Offshore Vessel Inspection
more than 110,000 vessels. subscription based. There is contracting and installation Database) inspection, and
Mr Ausset says many no commission involved. (EPCI) companies have also where a cabotage regime
leading vessel owners in the Mr Ausset said that, been following the progress applies, the system can tell a
offshore support vessel market although Saipem already had of the system. Mr Ausset says charterer whether a vessel is
– including Bourbon, Tidewater, its own platform that it used he recognises that the way compliant, such as with the
Solstad, Boskalis, Seacor, when contracting support that charterers work may requirements of the Jones
Swire and Smit Lamnalco – are vessels, it recognised the differ a little from company Act in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr
registered with OSVfinder. Ausset said the company
“The concept behind also plans to add market
OSVfinder is quite simple, but reports to OSVfinder so that
revolutionary too,” Mr Ausset charterers can track day rates
said. “We provide charterers in a region. In due course, he
with the location of a vessel says, OSVfinder might be able
and its particulars. They can to provide charterers with the
see the location of a suitable ability to share assets and
vessel in a region and can further reduce costs.
send an enquiry through “What I would say to
OSVfinder direct to the owner. charterers is that using
Shipowners can track the OSVfinder will be less
position of the vessels and expensive than using your own
indicate availability. Once system,” Mr Ausset concluded.
they have established contact “There will be no commission
through the platform, an owner payable to brokers, and
can send an offer through it. charterers will have a much
The application also generates OSVfinder puts charterers and vessel owners in touch with greater level of control over
market reports with statistics one another directly, saving time and reducing costs the offers they receive and
based on customer activity.” how they receive them.” OSJ
www.osjonline.com/knowledgebank
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NORTH SEA SPOT AVERAGE NORTH SEA AVERAGE RATES: JUNE 2017
UTILISATION: JUNE 2017
CATEGORY MINIMUM MAXIMUM
MED LARGE MED LARGE
MONTH
PSV PSV AHTS AHTS supply duties
£3,500 £13,425
PSVs <900m2
Jun 2017 69% 77% 49% 61%
supply duties
May 2017 67% 75% 50% 47% £3,694 £13,500
PSVs >900m2
Apr 2017 67% 86% 54% 65%
supply duties
Mar 2017 69% 87% 65% 78% £5,500 £12,500
AHTS <18,000 bhp
Feb 2017 78% 82% 30% 53%
supply duties
£6,000 £46,185
Jan 2017 73% 77% 22% 59% AHTS >18,000 bhp
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
100% $60
90% $55
$54.89 $55.49
$54.07
$53.06
78.4% $51.97
80% 75.1% 77.6% 76.8% 76.0% 75.6%
$50.87 $50
74.3% 74.8% 74.4% 74.3% 74.2% 73.5%
73.3%
$48.48 $49.73
70% $46.14 $46.19 $46.44 $47.65
$45
$45.07
66.3%
60% 64.6% $40
60.5%
57.4% 57.7%
55.0% 54.6%
50% 51.6% 52.3% 53.3% 53.0%
51.5% 52.7% $35
30% $25
Jun16 Jul16 Aug16 Sep16 Oct16 Nov16 Dec16 Jan17 Feb17 Mar17 Apr17 May17 Jun17
£15,000 £16,000
£10,000
£6,627 £6,404
£5,000 £5,998
£5,397
£0
PSVs <900m2 PSVs >900m2 AHTS <22,000 bhp AHTS >22,000 bhp
Just visit
www.osjonline.com
MARKET DATA | 39
Values have remained stable in the anchor-handling tug supply/anchor-handling tug and platform
supply vessel sector this month.
PSVs Armada Tuah Satu (5,200 bhp, December 2006, Nam Cheong) was
Values remained stable. sold by Bumi Armada Berhad to an undisclosed buyer.
Selat Hope (4,960 bhp, July 2003, Nam Cheong) and Swissco
There were no PSV sales this month. Opal (3,200 bhp, November 2013, Xin Yue Feng) were sold as part
of a larger en bloc deal to Selat Marine Services from Swissco.
AHTS Asso Ventitre (16,800 bhp, November 2000, Orskov) were sold by
AHTS and AHT values remained stable Augusta Offshore to World Carrier.
10 AHTS/AHTS sales were concluded in July. Shergar (5,150 bhp, August 2009, Jiangsu Zhenjiang) was sold to
Stril Commander and Stril Challenger (16,300 bhp, January/June an unnamed UK buyer by Global Offshore Services
2009, Havyard Leirvik) were acquired by Siem Offshore for US$8.25 DJM Fortune (4,750 bhp, May 2004, Yuexin Shipbuilding Co) was
million each compared with VesselsValue’s value of US$8.57 million bought by a Vietnamese buyer from MMA Offshore.
and US$8.94 million respectively.
Armada Tuah 20 and Armada Tuah 22 (5,000 bhp, September 2004/
July 2005, Nam Cheong) were sold to an unspecified US buyer. Source: VesselsValue.com
US$470
Bulker Tanker Cont
US$400
US$220
US$1,098
US$193
ainer
US$38
US$35 • Tanker transaction values are 5 times lower this July 2017
Gas
US$15
compared to July 2016 with Panamax and Sub Panamax containers
being the most sold vessels.
• Only 1 Gas vessel sale price was disclosed.
0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 • 10 OSV sales took place, with only two prices disclosed.
Value (US$M)
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(certified to DNV 2.7-1)
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