Best of 2015

Subsea World News brings you the most popular articles from 2015.

The Best of 2015 represents the readers’ choice, based on the monthly statistics and general interest in the articles.

Subsea 7 to Axe 11 Vessels and 2500 Jobs

Subsea 7 has implemented a programme of cost reduction measures including a re-sizing of the fleet and workforce, and the restructuring of its corporate organisation.

It is envisaged that the overall reduction in the global workforce would be approximately 2,500 by early 2016, down from the 13,000 reported at the end of 2014.

Ceona Amazon Up for Sale, Over 100 Jobs Lost

SURF contractor Ceona has fallen into administration, Ernst & Young (EY) informed on September 17.

Stuart Gardner and Alan Hudson of EY were appointed Joint Administrators of Ceona Holding Limited and Ceona Crewing Limited and Alan Bloom, Alan Hudson and Colin Dempster of EY were appointed Joint Administrators of Ceona Investments Limited and Certain UK Group companies (the Group).

Pieter Schelte Renamed to Pioneering Spirit

Swiss-based offshore company Allseas has announced that the largest vessel in the world ‘Pieter Schelte’ is being re-named to ‘Pioneering Spirit’.

The company has made a decision to rename the vessel after fierce criticism.

The name of the vessel reflects what she stands for: a new technological step in platform installation and decommissioning, the company said in a statement.

Reef Subsea Goes Under

Norwegian offshore wind and oil & gas services player, Reef Subsea, has filed a bankruptcy petition to Bergen District Court despite company’s efforts to restructure and cut costs in order to stay afloat in today’s challenging market.

Chairman Mel Fitzgerald said that the fierce competition is one of the main reasons why the company now goes to probate.

Saipem Dropped from South Stream Contract

Italy’s Saipem has lost a major contract related to the pipe laying activities under the Black Sea.

Russian gas giant Gazprom, has through its South Stream Transport BV, informed Saipem to terminate the contract for the construction of the first line of the offshore section of the pipeline, signed in the framework of the project South Stream in 2014.

Technip Receives Norway Boycott Notice

Norway’s offshore union, Industri Energi, has warned Technip Singapore PTE about a boycott starting October 23 because the company, reportedly, refuses to conclude a collective agreement.

Namely, Industri Energi’s association chairman Leif Sande and area manager Ommund Stokka delivered on September 30 a boycott notice to Technip Singapore PTE Ltd, at the company’s premises in Singapore.

Ex-FMC Men, DeepOcean Found Optime Subsea Services

A group of ex-FMC employees have teamed up with subsea installation player DeepOcean to found Optime Subsea Services, whose multi Completion System (mCS) can install subsea trees at up to 80% the time and cost of traditional solutions.

Optime Subsea Services has set up offices in Houston, USA, and the city of Notodden, which is part of the ‘Subsea Valley’ industry cluster in Norway.

Chiyoda Bites into EMAS AMC

Singapore’s Ezra Holdings and Japan’s Chiyoda have signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Chiyoda to invest in Ezra’s subsea services business, EMAS AMC, to form a 50:50 joint venture EMAS CHIYODA Subsea.

The transaction implies an aggregate deal value for EMAS CHIYODA Subsea of approximately USD 1.25 billion.

Technip Buys Out DOF Subsea in Skandi Arctic JV

DOF Subsea’s subsidiary has entered into an agreement with Technip for the sale of DOF Subsea’s ownership in the joint venture vessel Skandi Arctic.

The Skandi Arctic is a 157 meters long purpose designed and built diving support and heavy construction vessel.

The company did not disclose the value of the contract.

Fugro to Cut 500 More Jobs

Fugro lays off around 500 employees as it feels the pressure of deteriorating market and anticipates even more challenging times ahead.

The Dutch offshore services provider, reporting a headcount of 1054 at the end of Q3 2015, said it expects non-cash impairments in the range of EUR 250 to 300 million in the fourth quarter, mainly related to its subsea services division, which is under most pressure.

Subsea World News Staff