Editor’s Picks for 2016

The editors of Subsea World News have selected a few among many worth remembering articles from the previous year that received exceptionally high attention from our readers.

In no particular order, here are some of the news to look back on, in case you missed them last year. Enjoy.

South Stream Transport B.V. awarded the Swiss-based Allseas a contract to lay the first line of the TurkStream offshore gas pipeline in the Black Sea, with an option for laying the second line.

According to the contract, Allseas is to lay more than 900 km of pipes on the seabed. Allseas will engage the world’s largest construction vessel Pioneering Spirit for the job.

Saipem in April 2016 said it had beed awarded a new contract regarding the offshore section of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline project.

The EPCI contract (Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Installation) involves the installation of a gas pipeline between the coastlines of Albania and Italy, across the Adriatic Sea.

In March 2016, NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) launched a campaign for public to name its new GBP 200 million polar research ship.

The most popular name chosen by the public was RRS Boaty McBoatface. The new research vessel, being built at Cammell Laird is set to sail in 2019.

Japan’s ECS player Chiyoda and Ezra’s subsea service business EMAS AMC launched a joint venture EMAS CHIYODA Subsea, following the completion of the announced transaction.

The 50:50 joint venture will start operations effective from April 01, 2016. The companies signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August 2015 when it was agreed that Chiyoda would invest in EMAS AMC.

During Aker companies investor day 2016 at Fornebu, Det norske CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik revealed that the oil company has awarded a subsea contract for christmas trees to Aker Solutions for Alvheim field, Det norske’s core area of production.

In addition, Subsea 7 has been awarded a contract for SURF services. Hersvik told that the contracts for Aker Solutions and Subsea 7 are worth over NOK 2.7 billion (approximately $333 million), and will cover a firm scope of the already decided subsea tie-ins on Alvheim, as well as the frame contract for the next 4 years.

Norway’s offshore union, Industri Energi (IE), believes that Subsea 7 operates with diver contracts that violate the Norwegian Working Environment Act.

In January 2016, IE carried out inspection on Subsea 7’s diving vessel Seven Falcon in Haugesund, Norway, and found what it believes to be illegal work contracts. IE claimed that staffing agency in Singapore for divers on work contracts with Subsea 7 does not have protection against discrimination, no clear lines in HSE issues and lack of rights in care and parental leave.

OneSubsea, a Schlumberger company, is said to be considering to close up shop in Leeds next year which could lead to loss of up to 600 jobs.

The company that has over 900 employees at its base in Stourton, Leeds, said its order intake was significantly impacted by the downturn in the oil and gas industry leaving a good deal of its plants “underutilised”.