Oil And Gas

US Spending $7 Million a Year to Maintain Yacht Seized from Russian Oligarch

The U.S. government said it is spending more than $7 million a year to maintain a superyacht it seized from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, and urged a judge to let it auction the vessel before a dispute over its ownership is resolved.Authorities in Fiji seized the 348-foot (106-meter), $300 million Amadea in May 2022, pursuant to a U.S. warrant alleging it was owned by Suleiman Kerimov, a multibillionaire sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2014 and 2018 in response to Russia's activities in Syria and Ukraine.Efforts to auction the yacht are being challenged by Eduard Khudainatov…

Meet SHADOWLARK: The $10M Personal Vessel Plus Submarine Package

SHADOWCAT and Triton Submarines have collaborated to develop and introduce a new Launch and Recovery Craft (LARC) dubbed SHADOWLARK. Designed by Incat Crowther, SHADOWLARK is a package priced under $10m for delivery in less than 14 months, a package that includes a 24-m LARC designed to carry a Triton 3300/3 MKII submersible, a submersible designed to comfortably seats three people (pilot and two guests) and dive to depths as great as 1,000m (3,300 ft.) for up to 12 hours.“The submersible market targeting yachting was essentially created by Triton.

Dubai's Highest Court Rejects Superyacht Seizure Appeal in Mammoth Divorce Battle

Dubai’s highest court has rejected an appeal by the ex-wife of a Russian billionaire to seize a £350 million ($460 million) superyacht in one of the world’s costliest divorce battles, a court ruling last week said.The Dubai Court of Cassation rejected an appeal by Tatiana Akhmedova, ex-wife of oil and gas billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, to seize the yacht as part of a 453 million pound divorce bill imposed by London’s High Court.The vessel, the M.V. Luna, was built for Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich before Akhmedov bought it in 2014.

Amels Launches New 180 Yacht

Dutch yard Amels has launched the 23rd model in its Amels 180 Limited Editions range, which has been named Papa.The 55-metre Amels 180 superyacht was the first of many new Amels superyachts nearing completion for their owners before the summer season begins.For the yacht’s crew, the launch is a milestone bringing the maiden voyage closer after many months working together with the Amels team. Captain Paul Bessant commented: “The teamwork here, the way that you feel so involved with everything, the relationship with the project managers.

Fairline Yachts Names Huntley as Head of Design & Engineering

Fairline Yachts, has announced Wayne Huntley as its new Head of Design and Engineering. Wayne will be responsible for overseeing the Fairline Yachts Design Studio in Oundle, Northamptonshire and will work alongside Head of Concept Design, Andrew Pope.Formerly Head of Design at Oyster Yachts and Head Designer at Southampton Yacht Services, Huntley has been passionate about naval architecture from a young age and brings with him over 22 years of maritime knowledge over a wide range of vessel types and industries – including military, oil and gas rigs and mega yachts.

New VR Technology to Transform Yachting, Shipping Industries

The global yachting and shipping industries are queuing up to adopt the very latest in immersive virtual reality visualization, mapping and design technology developed at The Landing, MediaCityUK. VR solutions designed specifically for the yachting industry, as well as for the merchant shipping sector, have been developed by Sam Slater and Richard Hooson, from Manchester, the flagship being their ground breaking Digital Twin application which is set to revolutionize the marine industry.

New Owner Takes Over at WESMAR

Bruce H. Blakey, founder and President of WESMAR (Western Marine Electronics), has sold his company to local businessman Roger Fellows, effective November 1, 2017. Blakey has sold the company to a new innovator whom he says is poised to take the company and its products to new heights. The name of the company will remain the same. Headquarter operations will remain in Woodinville, Wash. and employees will remain with the company, says its new owner and president Fellows. “WESMAR is impressive,” Fellows said.

Ty-Met Cable Ties Help Maintain Position in High-vibration Applications

Ty-Met stainless steel retained-tension ball-lock cable ties, new from Thomas & Betts (T&B), a member of the ABB Group, feature specially formed spring crimps that help maintain consistent tension on the tie after installation. Consistent tension enables the cable tie to remain in position, even under high-vibration conditions. “Ty-Met retained-tension cable ties won’t slide down the bundle of cables after installation,” said Ralph Donati, product marketing director, Installation Products, at ABB Electrification Products.

Emerald Marine Products' MOB Protection

It's not easy putting a price on safety. But Emerald Marine Products' ALERT Man-Overboard system delivers unmatched protection to marine professionals for a mere $1 per day—less than a cup of coffee. Built for commercial use, the ALERT system consists of a light, compact transmitter that's worn on a life jacket and a receiver installed in a wheelhouse or work office. Over the course of its three-year warranty, the cost equals $1 per day. By adding additional transmitters, this figure is reduced. The ALERT system is ideal for anyone who makes a living on or around water.

Dometic Debuts Engineering Team for Ship-wide Ventilation

Dometic Marine, a division of Dometic Group, a global provider of leisure products for the marine, truck, caravan, motor home and automotive markets, has unveiled its new, dedicated team of ship-wide ventilation experts, who specialize in providing customized design, engineering support and consultation services to the global marine industry. Led by Dometic application engineers Neil Norton and Nelson Frolund, the Dometic Marine ship-wide ventilation team will focus exclusively on designing and implementing installation of smoke and fire dampers, axial fans and blowers, mist eliminators and accessories for boat builders, integrators and owners.

GAC Pindar Expands Bishop's Role

GAC Pindar has expanded the scope of the role filled by Murray Bishop, its Superyacht Services Manager, to serve as a single point of contact for logistics and shipping support for the global luxury yachting community. Murray’s role will centralize and simplify contact and invoicing for superyacht clients, and he will coordinate the unique package of GAC solutions for the world’s superyachts. Murray’s colleague Mimi Maniati will continue in her role as yacht fuel trader. “We have…

KVH Boosts Mini-VSAT Capacity in S. America

KVH Industries, Inc. announced major capacity increases for its mini-VSAT Broadband network at the OilComm conference in Houston today. The capacity upgrades on key South American beams have resulted in as much as three times the forward and return link capacity for KVH’s maritime VSAT customers in the area. One upgrade has boosted coverage and performance for several key markets in Brazil: the oil and gas industry, whose major production and exploration activities are centered offshore…

Henderson, Hanes & Associates Opens Doors in Miami

The Miami-based ocean engineering and naval architecture firm of Henderson & Associates, Inc. has merged with Sea3 Systems, Inc. to form Henderson, Hanes & Associates, a full-service engineering firm that brings underwater intervention and project management services to the global marine industry. The new firm, headed by Shawn Henderson, P.E. and Dan Hanes, P.E., both of South Florida, draws on the deep experience base of its founders and specializes in quick turnaround refit and repair projects that may span multiple technical disciplines and trades.

Westport Shipyard sold, no changes anticipated

Representatives of Westport Shipyard, Inc. (Westport, WA), the largest yacht builder in North America, announced today that the company’s assets have been acquired by Westport, LLC, an ownership group that includes members of the Louisiana-based Chouest family. Celebrating 50 years of business in 2014, Westport maintains three locations in Washington state, as well as a marina and sales office in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Employing over 400 skilled employees, Westport has completed more than 120 yachts since 2000. And one of those customers was Gary Chouest.

A New Standard in Marine Communications

KVH provides and Harvey Gulf employs possibly the most sophisticated on-board SATCOM and related service package on the water. That’s no accident. If quality service, high tech hardware and quality personnel are the common bonds shared by marine communications provider KVH and its customer Harvey Gulf International Marine, then the relationship is probably a match made in heaven. Harvey Gulf, already a long-time user of the KVH suite of services and equipment, is today converting every vessel in their rapidly expanding 60+ fleet to the latest and greatest equipment standard. From where they sit, that means KVH.

KVH Expands Mini-VSAT Broadband Network in Brazil and Africa

In the latest stage of its ongoing expansion of the global mini-VSAT Broadband network, KVH Industries, Inc. has more than doubled the network’s capacity in the Brazilian and African regions. The ongoing global network upgrade involves deployment of Variable Coding, Spreading, and Modulation (VCSM) technology provided by ViaSat, Inc., KVH’s partner in the mini-VSAT Broadband network. This is the third major capacity increase in less than five months, following upgrades in the Caribbean and EMEA regions in late 2012.

Sustainable Ocean Summit 2013

The Sustainable Ocean Summit 2013 (SOS 2013), organized by the World Ocean Council (WOC), is an international ocean business community gathering dedicated to industry leadership and collaboration in developing solutions to ocean sustainability challenges. Washington D.C. The theme of SOS 2013 is “Oceans 2050–The Ocean Business Community and Sustainable Seas.” The SOS is designed for the diverse range of ocean industries: shipping, oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewable energy…

Ready for Launch: MTN Nexus Targets high-volume Cruise Market

MTN Satellite Communications launched MTN Nexus, a next-generation comms network billed as a hybrid that integrates it with new terrestrial wireless technologies as well as sophisticated computing, powerful processing and specialized optimization. Targeting the high volume cruise sector, MR thought an apt time to sit down with CEO Errol Olivier to discuss Nexus and its relevance to communications at sea. We understand you are a maritime satcom industry veteran. Can you give our readers a briefing on your background serving this market?

A USV Franchise Grows Strong in Abu Dhabi

As the evolution and integration of robotics in maritime vehicles continues to reshape missions and capabilities inland, near-shore and at sea, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News last month was on hand in Abu Dhabi for the unveiling of a new Unmanned Surface Vessel family. If it delivers as designed, it will revolutionize marine robotic vehicle applications for both military and commercial purposes. Robert J. Murphy is certainly no stranger to the world of autonomous robotic marine vehicles, having worked in the field for more than a quarter of a century, dating to the mid-1980s.