Proserv Names Erntsen as CTO
Controls technology company Proserv said it has promoted Tore Erntsen to the position of chief technology officer (CTO), Subsea Controls, based at the firm’s Trondheim facility.Prior to taking on his new role, Erntsen was vice president, engineering and technology, within the subsea team. He joined Proserv in 2012 when the firm took over the subsea controls business of Weatherford and he has been at the forefront of the core commitment to technological innovation, and its application, providing leading edge solutions for global customers.Erntsen holds an MSc in engineering and ICT
Equatorial Guinea Punishes Subsea 7
Equatorial Guinea has ordered energy operators to stop doing business with oil and gas service firm Subsea 7 for failing to comply with local laws aimed at creating more jobs for locals, the oil minister said on Thursday.In September, an oil ministry source warned that Schlumberger, Subsea 7 and FMC faced bans from working in Equatorial Guinea if they did not commit to local content laws.The move was part of a crackdown by the African country to enforce local content laws that have been in place since 2014. Petroleum operators were told in July to cancel contracts with Canadian-based CHC Helicopter.
MacArtney Hires Behrens as CCO
Michael Behrens has been named chief commercial officer of subsea technology provider MacArtney Underwater Technology from November 1, based at the company's headquarters in Esbjerg, Denmark.Behrens joins MacArtney from the largest steel and technical sales company in Denmark. He has a HD(O) in Organizational Leadership from the University of Southern Denmark, and is currently finishing an MBA in Business Administration. Behrens' career began in international sales, and over the years he has taken sales director and business management roles with leading technology companies from Saab to ABB.
UTEC Makes Two Key Appointments
Surveying company UTEC, part of subsea services group Acteon, has appointed Jon Beatty to lead its Geomarine business unit and long-term employee Greg Hammond to head its StarNet business unit.Beatty joins UTEC Geomarine as managing director and is responsible for its range of geotechnical services, which, when combined with UTEC’s geophysical survey offering, provides a one-stop solution for seabed characterization and sampling. He has more than 25 years of international experience with Schlumberger, having served in technical and management positions spanning reservoir characterization, well
Consolidated Ship Repair Hires Sappington
Consolidated Ship Repair has hired marine industry veteran Brent Sappington as Marine Manager.In his new role, Sappington will oversee the execution of a diverse range of projects from ship repair and fabrication, to decommissioning and systems integration testing, to subsea and offshore construction at one of the largest waterfront shipyards in Texas.Sappington’s experience in the industry began at a young age, working on a boat off the Oregon coast with his fisherman father. A 28-year marine industry professional, he has worked at industry leading marine equipment OEM's and offshore
UTEC Names Rahmatullah Middle East Director
UTEC, a global survey company in subsea services group Acteon, has appointed Nadir Rahmatullah as the commercial and strategy director of its Middle East and Caspian operations.Rahmatullah was most recently managing director of UTEC StarNet, a specialist division of UTEC providing survey, inspection and data management services to the oil and gas, telecommunication, renewables, civil engineering and nuclear sectors. He joined UTEC's parent company, Acteon Group, under its Pacer Program, which is designed to attract high-achieving, driven individuals. The program gave Rahmatullah the opportunity to
IMCA's Freelance Personnel Competence Portfolio Goes Live
for offshore survey roles in April 2018, provides competence assurance to contractors and their clients. Similar material for ROV personnel is being prepared for release before the end of 2018, and there is considerable interest in extending the concept for use by diving personnel.Steve Benzie of Subsea 7 and Chairman of IMCA’s Competence & Training Committee said: “The need to demonstrate competence, in addition to experience, means that CVs are no longer enough for IMCA members, or their clients. There is far greater emphasis now on the need for evidence clearly demonstrating that
Rovco to Double Its Workforce
U.K.-based Rovco has announced plans to double its workforce as it prepares for further global expansion following a robust year of growth for the company.The subsea ROV and hydrographic company has secured inspection and survey projects across the globe in industries including oil and gas and renewables (wind and wave), as well as securing its first environmental survey using detailed 3D modelling. Over this period, the company has grown from 3 to 19 staff and is on course to double its headcount by the end of 2019.To accommodate its rapidly expanding team, the firm recently relocated to larger
Xodus Appoints Dr. Tao Zhao
Xodus Group, an energy consultancy, appointed Dr. Tao Zhao as its new advanced engineering lead.With more than 15 years’ experience in subsea pipeline and riser design and analysis, Dr. Zhao joins Xodus from Heerema Marine Contractors. Throughout his career, he has provided a range of analysis for offshore contractor and engineering consultants in both Thailand and the UK.The appointment of Dr. Zhao follows the recent additions of David Livermore and Gareth Jones.Livermore joins as a technical safety and human factors consultant, who specializes in the human element of risk. Joining as a principal
N-Sea Hires van Peet as Survey Lead
U.K.- and Netherlands-based subsea provider N-Sea has appointed Hans van Peet as the company’s survey authority.Hans van Peet, who joins the organization from Heerema Marine Contractors, brings more than 30 years of specialist experience in survey, positioning and ROV intervention to the role. He previously led subsea services for a variety of leading offshore companies, including the technical management of major frame agreements for ROV and survey and positioning services.Based in the Netherlands, van Peet will be responsible for overseeing all survey activities within N-Sea, as well as
Kreuz Subsea Names Liew CFO
Subsea services business Kreuz Subsea has appointed Thomas Liew as the group’s chief financial officer.Liew has more than 20 years’ experience in senior financial positions, leading multi-entity organizations in the Asia Pacific region and has been instrumental in driving growth and profitability through the implementation of key operating structures. His previous roles include VP Finance at ALSTOM Grid where he was CFO for ALSTOM’s EPC business in the Asia Pacific region. Prior to ALSTOM, Liew also held key finance and strategy positions with SONY Electronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Closed Bell Diving Courses Relaunched at The Underwater Centre
A subsea training and trials center has become the world’s only commercial diving school to offer a closed bell saturation diving system with a self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL), following a major refurbishment.Thanks to significant investment and support from the global oil and gas sector, The Underwater Centre relaunched its three-week closed bell diving course in June. The first course was fully subscribed and applications are open for future courses.Subsea 7 and TechnipFMC have provided technical support, site supervision and conducted the refurbishment work on behalf of The Underwater
Heyman Joins Tymor Marine
. Tymor Marine is a UK- and USA-based independent marine and naval architectural consultancy with offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Lafayette. Tymor delivers a range of design and analysis functions, such as vessel and rig stability and modifications, seafastening of cargo and equipment, subsea deployment analysis, mooring analysis and offshore equipment design and modification. Tymor also provides MetOcean analysis.
ASA hosts Response Training for Houston Authorities
maintained by U.S. salvage companies and the logistical expertise required to mount an effective response to wide variety of marine casualty events. Some of the equipment on display included: -Oil lightering and dewatering packages-Portable marine firefighting equipment-Commercial diving and subsea equipment-Heavy lift cranes and barges-Oil spill response equipment In addition to ASA member resources, attendees were also provided with the opportunity to tour the Port of Houston’s Mobile Command Center and the Port of Houston Fire Department’s FIREBOAT 2 which also gave a spectacular
Aker Solutions Upgrades Aberdeen Site
Aker Solutions today officially opens its upgraded Aberdeen services facility to help capture subsea sector growth in the UK and elsewhere. Demand is increasing globally for services at oil and gas fields offshore, including in the UK. Energy companies are seeking to maximize production and returns from existing assets and infrastructure amid tighter budgets. "Our investment in the Aberdeen services base demonstrates our commitment to the North Sea, a mature basin where we see opportunities," said Sian Lloyd Rees, Aker Solutions’ UK country manager. "It’s
Fugro to Train Saudi Students in Marine Technology
Red Sea, large tracts of which remain unexplored due to extreme depths, temperature and salinity.“This close working relationship with Fugro will greatly increase KAUST's capabilities in marine research, enabling access to the extreme environments of the Red Sea and advancing the development of subsea research technologies,” explained Jean M.J. Fréchet, KAUST’s senior vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development. “The Red Sea is of great importance to Saudi Arabia's economy, and we need to further our understanding of its resource-rich environment
The Underwater Centre Under New Ownership
The Underwater Centre, a subsea training and trials center located in the Scottish Highlands, has turned a corner after receiving industry support to secure its future.Industry and public bodies including Oil & Gas UK, Subsea 7, TechnipFMC, Premier Oil and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have collaborated to support The Underwater Centre and ensure that the industry continues to have access to critical, world-leading underwater training and can undertake vital subsea equipment trials.The company will now operate as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, which will be funded and
