Africa
Importance of VDR Data Undermined
Failure to preserve Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) data in the event of an incident can compromise the owner’s position in the event of a claim, according to the London P&I Club. The club said that there have been instances where masters have failed to perform the steps required to preserve VDR data, or
Ophir adds two new blocks off Gabon
Ophir Energy plc has expanded its footprint offshore Gabon by signing exploration and production sharing contracts for two additional blocks. The new blocks, A3 and A4, are located outboard of Ophir’s existing acreage in the North Gabon basin. Block A3, which will be called the Nkouere PSC, covers a
BG Group looking to join forces with BP in Egypt
BG Group entered talks with BP to try and come to a deal that would link their two gas developments offshore Egypt. Sources close to the matter say that LNG player BG is looking to inject a spark into its Idku export facility, reports Reuters. The facility has been struggling with gas supply due to
IMO Approves Third GHG Study 2014
IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) approved the Third IMO GHG Study 2014 providing updated estimates for greenhouse gas emissions from ships at its 67th session from 13 to 17 October 2014, at IMO Headquarters in London. The Third IMO GHG Study 2014 estimates that international ship
New Guidelines to Protect Health and Safety of Seafarers
The ‘Meeting of Experts on Maritime Occupational Safety and Health’ held in Geneva, October 13-17, resulted in a set of guidelines to assist governments to implement occupational safety and health provisions previously set down in the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006). Intended to provide
Hyproc Turns to Hyundai Heavy for LNG Newbuilds
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (South Korea), has received an order for two newly built LNG tankers with an option for a third tanker from Hyproc, the marine transportation subsidiary of Algerian state-owned hydrocarbon company Sonatrach. The newly built LNG tankers will be of the 170,000 cubic
PIRA: LNG supplies grow, spot volumes demand unenthusiastic
NYC-based PIRA Energy Group believes that demand for spot volumes remains tepid amid growing supplies while a modestly higher build was revealed in the U.S., but faster stock deficit reductions ahead. Accounting for around 61% of all Atlantic Basin spot exports to Asia, Nigeria has the most to lose
Chariot abandons ‘risky’ Namibian licence
Chariot Oil & Gas Limited has opted not to apply for a new exploration licence in the Northern Blocks 1811A&B, offshore Namibia, with the current licence due to lapse on the 26 October 2014. In a statement issued today, the company said that its team has analysed significant amounts of proprietary s
Angola LNG restart pushed back to late 2015
After a major rupture on a flare line shut the facility down after less than a year of operation, Angola LNG facility’s restart has been pushed further back to late 2015. A company official said the repairs will continue into next year with plant’s restart being anticipated in late 2015, reports Reu
Clyde and Co: Ships with Fatigued Crew Unseaworthy
If a ship’s crew doesn’t receive enough rest while trying to keep up with a ship’s schedule, there should be a regulatory framework under which the ship could be considered unmanned or unseaworthy, Law firm Clyde and Co claims. However, there have been no reported judgments to form a precedent in or
Shell hits gas offshore Gabon
Shell made a frontier exploration discovery offshore Gabon, West Africa. The well Leopard-1 encountered a substantial gas column with around 200 metres net gas pay in a pre-salt reservoir. Leopard-1 is located around 145 kilometres off the Gabonese coast, west of Gamba. It was drilled in water 2,110
Oil Theft in Nigeria Subsiding?
A steep decline has been recorded in oil theft in Nigeria, according to a Nigerian Navy’s flag officer. At the moment Nigeria loses 800,000 barrels of crude oil, a drastic fall from 2.6 million barrels recorded in January 2014, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral Charle