Mandatory audits and other amendments enter into force on 1 January 2016

A number of important amendments to IMO treaties enter into force on 1 January 2016, including new requirements for verification of compliance, making audits mandatory under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

Other amendments entering into force include SOLAS amendments to require inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above; the latest amendment to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; requirements for stability instruments on tankers and new testing requirements for life-jackets.

Audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme become mandatory
Amendments to a number of treaties covering safety, training, prevention of pollution, load lines, tonnage measurement and collision prevention make the audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme mandatory for all IMO Member States from 1 January 2016.

Up to 25 Member State audits per year are expected under the audit scheme, which aims to provide a mechanism by which Member States can be assessed, … Continue Reading

Wärtsilä integrated solution and expertise chosen for chemical tankers to be built in Vietnam

Three new 21,800 dwt chemical tankers, under construction at two different shipyards in Vietnam owned by Triyards Holdings Limited, will feature integrated Wärtsilä propulsion and power generation systems. These ships are being built for Swiss-Canadian Maritime Ltd and will be managed by Switzerland based ABC Maritime A.G. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in November, and there are options for three more vessels.

This contract represents the largest ever scope of supply that Wärtsilä is to deliver to a shipyard in Vietnam. Wärtsilä’s capability for providing a total solution package and to be responsible for the engineering and integration of the solutions provided, is cited as being a key factor in the award of this contract.

“Wärtsilä is a global leader and their propulsion and power generation systems are among the best in the world. We are therefore confident that the technology of their systems will enhance the capabilities and performance of the chemical tankers we are building,” says Chan Eng Yew, Chief Executive Officer of Triyards Holdings Limited. … Continue Reading

Eni and Sonangol strengthened the cooperation for the Lobito refinery and for the upstream development activities

The Chairman of Sonangol, Francisco de Lemos Maria, met today Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi. During the meeting, they signed the commitment to upgrade the current plans for Lobito Refinery of Sonangol with Eni’s expertise and know-how in the downstream sector including the potential synergies deriving from Eni’s existing refineries. The meeting offered also the opportunity to agree on which instruments are needed to increase demand on investments into the upstream sector and particularly in the operated block 15/06, where Eni is carrying out the activities for the development of West Hub and East Hub.
Luanda, December 19, 2015 – The Chairman of Sonangol, Francisco de Lemos Maria, met today Eni’s CEO, Claudio Descalzi. During the meeting, they signed the commitment to upgrade the current plans for Lobito Refinery of Sonangol with Eni’s expertise and know-how in the downstream sector including the potential synergies deriving from Eni’s existing refineries.

The meeting offered also the opportunity to agree on which instruments are needed to increase demand on investments into the upstream sector and particularly in the operated block 15/06, where Eni is carrying out the activities for the development of West Hub and East Hub. In addition, … Continue Reading

New breakthrough in seawater based fracturing fluid

A breakthrough field application developed by Saudi Aramco scientists, researchers and engineers will help preserve the Kingdom’s precious groundwater reserves during water intensive hydraulic and acid fracturing jobs.

Hydraulic and acid fracturing treatments involve the use of relatively large volumes of groundwater. The fracturing fluid incompatibility and flow assurance issues of seawater has prevented Aramco from using it as an alternative to fresh, low so-called toal dissolved solids (TDS) groundwater currently being used in hydraulic fracturing operations.

A major challenge of using raw seawater instead is maintaining a viscosity comparable to the one generated from fresh water-based fracturing fluids. This viscosity is important to create the fracture and carry the proppant particles that keep the fracture open.

Aramco research teams have now designed the company’s first raw seawater-based acid fracturing treatment, utilizing the in-house developed seawater-based fluid. Results of this research and the first field application concluded that seawater is a reliable and compatible alternative. … Continue Reading