BREAKBULKONE

Breakbulk Events & Media’s biweekly BreakbulkONE newsletter keeps the industry connected between issues of Breakbulk. Here’s a selection of recent subscriber favorites.

MAERSK TO ACQUIRE MARTIN BENCHER GROUP

Also Announces Launch of Maersk Project Logistics

A.P. Moller - Maersk has reached an agreement to acquire project forwarder Martin Bencher Group, as the Danish shipping giant seeks to strengthen its project logistics handling capacity.

The deal, worth US$61 million post-IFRS 16 lease liabilities, is subject to regulatory approvals, and would likely close by the end of this year or first quarter of next, Maersk said.

Aarhus-headquartered Martin Bencher, founded in 1997, is an assetlight logistics provider focusing on project logistics for oil and gas, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, renewables, power and other industries.

The company is present in 31 offices worldwide in 23 countries and boasts a 170-strong workforce.

“Martin Bencher will be an excellent fit to Maersk and our integrator strategy, strengthening our ability to provide project logistics to our global clients,” said Karsten Kildahl, regional managing director in Europe for Maersk.

Peter Thorsoe Jensen, CEO of Martin Bencher, said the company was “thrilled” to become a part of Maersk and an “ideal fit” for its clients.

“Together with Maersk, we will have the scale, commitment and capabilities to handle the entire logistics scope of work for clients around the world – as well as expand into new industries,” Jensen said.

The purchase is subject to regulatory approvals.

CREDIT: MARTIN BENCHER

PROJECT LOGISTICS SERVICES

Maersk also said it has launched a new product, Maersk Project Logistics. MPL would add to Maersk’s existing project logistics services, and would focus on solution design, special cargo transportation and project management services.

“Together with the proposed acquisition of Martin Bencher, this will enable Maersk to significantly accelerate its project logistics capabilities and develop an unparalleled integrated offering to serve existing and future customers, also within new industries,” Maersk said. BBONE

Both Maersk and Martin Bencher will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2022, Sept. 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. (https://www.xpressreg.net/ register/BATC0922/landing.asp)

BREAKBULKONE

FOX BRASIL, DAKO WORLDWIDE DELIVER BLADES

Forwarders Join Forces for Enel’s Windpeshi Project

Sao Paulo-based forwarder FOX Brasil and Germany’s Dako Worldwide recently teamed up to deliver a set of 12 turbine blades for the Windpeshi wind project in Colombia’s northernmost La Guajira department.

The 74-meter blades were loaded at the Port of Pecem in Brazil’s northern Ceara department and shipped to the Port of Brisa in La Guajira. FOX was responsible for the loading, securing and sea freight at Pecem, while Dako was responsible for sea freight, discharging the components and delivering to the Windpeshi site.

Murilo Caldana, project director at FOX Brasil, told Breakbulk the two forwarders had been cooperating on different projects for the last 10 years.

“Both companies are quite experts on their activities, so all went well and as planned,” said Caldana, who is also president of the international Heavy Lift Group.

The Windpeshi project is one of three Colombian wind farms being developed by Enel Green Power, a division of Italy’s Enel Group. The 205-megawatt project will comprise 41 turbines, manufactured by Germany’s Nordex Group.

Power generation in Latin America is among the topics to be discussed in a series of main stage panel sessions at Breakbulk Americas 2022, Sept. 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. BBONE

Register for the conference at https://www.xpressreg.net/register/ BATC0922/landing.asp.

For the lowdown on all of this year’s sessions in Houston, go to https://americas.breakbulk.com/ Articles/breakbulk-americas2022-agenda-unveiled.

Loading at the Port of Pecem in Brazil’s northern Ceara department.

CREDIT: FOX BRASIL

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BREAKBULKONE

TECHNIPFMC SECURES SUBSEA CONTRACT IN GUYANA

Building Pipelines Connecting FPSOs Back to Shore

TechnipFMC has been awarded another contract by ExxonMobil for a gas-to-energy project offshore Guyana.

The “significant” contract, subject to final sanction, is for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of subsea risers and pipelines connecting production from the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production, storage and offloading vessels back to shore.

For TechnipFMC, a significant contract is between US$75 million and US$250 million, it said.

The infrastructure will deliver associated gas from the Liza oilfield, part of the prolific 6.6 million-acre offshore Stabroek Block, to a gas-fired power plant that will supply electricity to the local community.

“The gas-to-energy project is another example of how we are helping deliver the energy the world needs, and we are thrilled to be supporting another project in Guyana,” said Jon Landes, president of subsea at TechnipFMC. “We remain proud of our dedicated Guyanese employees and are committed to the continued development and expansion of local capabilities.”

In just a few years, Guyana has emerged as the world’s most exciting hotspots for E&P.

The Liza Destiny and Liza Unity floating production storage and offloading vessels, or FPSOs, supplied by Dutch vessel builder SBM Offshore, are producing about 340,000 barrels of oil per day. With more wells slated for start-up, ExxonMobil is targeting output of 800,000 b/d by 2025.

In November 2021, TechnipFMC won a “large” contract – deemed to be between US$500 million and US$1 billion – to deliver the subsea production system for ExxonMobil’s Yellowtail development, also part of the Stabroek Block.

Pumping at Yellowtail is expected to begin in 2025.

TechnipFMC, with its operational headquarters in Houston, operates a fleet of 18 vessels, including diving support vessels, construction support vessels and pipelayers. The company is organized into two segments – subsea and surface technologies.

TechnipFMC and ExxonMobil are members of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, a worldwide network of shippers involved in the engineering, manufacturing and production of project cargo.

A reception will be held for network members on Sept. 27 at the BGSN Lounge at Breakbulk Americas 2022, taking place Sept. 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. BBONE

To register for this year’s conference, go to https://www.xpressreg. net/register/BATC0922/landing.asp.

To find out more about the BGSN, go to https://breakbulk.com/page/ bgsn.

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC’S ESG EFFORTS SHOW PROGRESS

Boosts Renewable Energy Usage by 10%

Franklin Electric Co. Inc., which produces systems and components for moving water and fuel, released its third annual Sustainability Report in an effort to provide transparency, insight and data related to the company’s environmental, social and governance, or ESG, initiatives and goals.

This year’s report provides details related to product advancements, employee health and wellness programs, and manufacturing initiatives. For example, Franklin Electric increased its power usage from renewable energy sources by 10 percent, through its operational efforts and global process standardization.

Franklin Electric reported significant investment in its global Goal Zero safety campaign, spending more than 24,000 hours training employees on health and safety best practices with the goal of zero work-related injuries. In addition, from a product standpoint, several product advancements are helping customers become more sustainable, including its MagForce High Efficiency Motors that significantly lower customer energy usage and related operating costs.

“I am proud of the progress that we have made in offering transparency to our environmental impact,” said Franklin Electric CEO Gregg C. Sengstack. “The results in our 2022 report speak to the combined efforts of our employees around the globe, whose work creates the products that allow for safe and reliable access to water, the filtration and treatment of water, the safe and effective movement of wastewater, and for environmentally safe and sustainable handling of liquid fuels.”

Franklin Electric produced the report following the guidelines set forth in the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards and the Institutional Shareholder Services Environmental and its Social Disclosure QualityScore Framework. These standards creates a common language for organizations to report on its sustainability impacts in a consistent and credible way.

Franklin Electric said its commitment to its initiatives and goals resulted in Newsweek naming the company to its 2022 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies. BBONE

BREAKBULKONE

EXXONMOBIL MAKES TWO NEW OIL FINDS IN GUYANA

South American Country a Leading Crude Hotspot

ExxonMobil has made another two major oil discoveries off the coast of Guyana, taking the total number of finds at the prolific offshore region to more than 25.

The discoveries at Seabob-1 and Kiru-Kiru-1, part of the 6.6 million-acre Stabroek Block, are ExxonMobil’s sixth and seventh in Guyana this year, the U.S. energy giant said in a filing.

Some 131 feet of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing sandstone was encountered at the Seabob-1 well during drilling in 4,660 feet of water by the Stena Carron drill ship.

Another 98 feet of similar-quality sandstone was encountered at the Kiru-Kiru-1 well during drilling in 5,760 feet of water using the Stena DrillMAX. Drilling operations at Kiru-Kiru are still underway.

ExxonMobil, alongside partners Hess and CNOOC, made its first offshore Guyana discovery – Liza-1 – in 2015. The well began producing in late 2019.

“ExxonMobil and its partners continue to accelerate exploration, development and production activities for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the people of Guyana,” said Liam Mallon, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Co. “The resources we are investing in and discovering offshore Guyana will provide safe, secure energy for global markets for decades to come.”

In little more than a decade, Guyana has emerged as one of the world’s most exciting hotspots for offshore crude exploration, with estimated recoverable resources of more than 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

With the likely start-up of the Payara and Yellowtail projects in 2023 and 2025, respectively, crude oil at the Stabroek block could be flowing at a rate of more than 800,000 b/d within three years.

Additional exploration wells are also planned for this year, ExxonMobil said.

The company, which last month reported a record second quarter net income of US$17.9 billion, is also the operator of offshore Guyana’s Canje and Kaieteur blocks.

ExxonMobil is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network, a worldwide network of shippers involved in the engineering, manufacturing and production of project cargo.

A reception will be held for network members on Sept. 27 at the BGSN Lounge at Breakbulk Americas 2022, taking place Sept. 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. BBONE

Register for this year’s conference at https://www.xpressreg.net/register/ BATC0922/landing.asp.

Learn more about the BGSN at https://breakbulk.com/page/bgsn.

MARAD GRANTS $20 MILLION TO SMALL US SHIPYARDS

Federal Funds to Strengthen Domestic Maritime

The U.S. Transport Department’s Maritime Administration, or MARAD, has dished out grants worth US$19.6 million to help small shipyards in the U.S. invest in infrastructure and equipment and boost productivity.

The funds, drawn from the Small Shipyard Grant Program and allocated to 24 shipyards across 19 states, will also help expand employment opportunities and strengthen the domestic maritime industry, MARAD said.

According to the administration, more than 100,000 people are employed in small U.S. shipyards.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in America’s maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,” Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

“These grants will help modernize small shipyards in communities across the country, creating and protecting local jobs, strengthening America’s maritime industry and securing our economic future.”

Among the beneficiaries are Bay Marine Boatworks in Richmond, California, awarded US$875,968 to support the acquisition of a 100-tonne marine travel lift and a 60-tonne selfpropelled vessel transporter.

In Newport, Virginia, Fairlead Boatworks was allocated US$900,000 to help it acquire a new 160-tonne rough terrain crane.

In Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Fincantieri Marine Group will receive US$1.2 million to support the modernization of a 1970s-era graving dock pump system at its Bay Shipbuilding facility.

A spokesperson for Fincantieri told Breakbulk the upgrade would improve productivity and reliability of the pump system, while saving time and reducing energy consumption by up to 248 tonnes of CO2.

“The graving dock at our Sturgeon Bay facility is a national asset, critical in the repair and construction efforts for the Great Lakes commercial Jones Act fleet, as well as portions of vessels for the Department of Defense. This year we are using the graving dock to construct the largest LNG barge ever built in the U.S.,” the spokesperson said.

Since 2008, MARAD’s Small Shipyard Grant Program has awarded more than US$282 million to nearly 300 shipyards across 32 U.S. states and territories. BBONE

The administration will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2022, Sept. 27-29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. You can meet the team in Hall A&B, Stand H01.

Register for the conference at https://www.xpressreg.net/register/ BATC0922/landing.asp.