Tag: Norway

Melting ice in the Arctic due to global warming has opened the region for exploration Norway said Wednesday it has begun preparations for oil and gas exploration in an uncharted section of the Barents Sea after solving a long-running demarcation row with Russia.'We will start charting the previously disputed area as soon as the demarcation treaty comes into effect,' Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said.The foreign ministers of both countries on Tuesday exchanged documents on the new delimitation agreement, earlier approved by the parliaments of both countries. The treaty enters into force July 7.Melting ice in the Arctic due to global warming has opened the region for exploration. The Barents Sea region is believed to host rich oil and gas reserves. There was also potential for new shipping routes.Norway and Russia last year agreed on the demarcation of the area off northern Norway. The talks opened in 1970.Stoltenberg said he envisaged closer cooperation with Russia, both between government agencies and businesses.The Norwegian government has reserved 29 million dollars for seismic tests of the seabed in the Norwegian section of the Barents Sea.The tests were necessary to assess the potential finds in the area, said Ole Borten Moe, minister of petroleum and ...

At Nor- Shipping 2011 May 24-27 The Norwegian and Japanese governments have signed a co-operation agreement on maritime technology at Nor-Shipping.Norwegian state secretary Rikke Lind and the Japanese transport minister Hideo Kubota signed the agreement in a special ceremony at the the week-long maritime technology exhibition in Oslo.The two countries have agreed to co-operate in technology areas such as LNG, offshore wind technology, ship recycling and environmental technologies.At the ceremony were representatives from Wilh. Wilhelmsen, Grieg Shipping, Statoil, the Norwegian Shipowners Association and the Norwegian research institute, Marintek. From Japan there were representatives from Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan Marine Science and the Japanese National Maritime Research Institute.Source : Seatrade Asia

Further extend its global reach Classification society ABS announces the opening of an office in Stavanger, Norway to further extend its global reach and provide dedicated support to its growing Norwegian client base.Known for its leadership in offshore classification and technology, the societys Stavanger office will be staffed with a professional team of offshore engineers and surveyors focused on delivering premium class service to the region.The opening of this office is part of ABS ongoing commitment to deliver uncompromising service to our clients, says Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chief Executive Officer and President. Given the dynamic operating environment, our clients want us more integrated into their operational and safety program and to do that effectively, we need this local presence.For ABS it is an opportunity to better serve the industry and build upon our strong ties with the Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD).In 2009, the NMD extended its authorization to ABS to include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) in its scope as a Recognized Organization (RO).Country Manager for Norway Egil Legland says he and his team look forward to building and expanding the relationships ABS has in Norway. Its not just the office ABS just released several new services and programs ...

Norwegian government aquitted in Rocknes case A district court verdict that ordered the Norwegian government to pay close to NOK 23 million in damages for having failed to mark the ground that the bulker Rocknes hit in January 2004 in the chart, has now been overturned by a higher instance.The original claim by the companies was for NOK 580 million. The Borgating lagmannsrett has now dismissed the claim in a verdict that states that although the ground was not marked in the chart, this had no significance for the sinking of the Rocknes when 18 seafarers lost their lives. According to the court, the accident was caused by a navigational error in poor visibility, strong currents and a low tide.The verdict might be appealed.Source: Norwegian News

MARPOL Annex I Oil Pollution The NMD has delegated to Bureau Veritas, for applicable types of BV classed ships engaged in STS operations, the approval of the STS operations Plans on behalf of the Administration, within the scope of the new Chapter 8 to MARPOL Annex I.Please refer to the text of Instructions to Class, regarding the approval of STS Operations Plans.Source: Norwegian Maritime Directorate (NMD)