The distinguished guests from CEPPOL and Bourbon Offshore were given a demonstration onboard YAG Louhi, Finland’s and the Baltic Sea’s most efficient offshore multi-purpose oil and chemical spill vessel equipped with Lamor’s newest oil spill recovery (OSR) technology and solutions. YAG Louhi began operations in the Gulf of Finland in mid-2011.

Commissioned by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the €48 million YAG Louhi is based at the Port of Upinniemi approx. 40 kms west of Helsinki in the archipelago. The vessel is operated by the Finnish Navy and YAG Louhi is equipped to sail in the Baltic Sea all year round and it can reach a speed of 15 knots and penetrate 50 cm (20 in) thick ice sheets, travelling at 7.5 knots.

CEPPOL is in charge of preparing the French Navy for its environmental responsibilities and providing support and expertise to the maritime authorities and response operation coordinators.

It is a unit of the French Navy under the authority of the commander of the Atlantic maritime area (CELCANT), and is commissioned as the interdepartmental authority for pollution response within the Navy and is answerable to the Maritime Headquarters.

Bourbon offers the offshore oil and gas industry a full spectrum of marine services based on a range of innovative, latest-generation and highly productive vessels. The company has two principal activities, marine and subsea services.at by their very nature insist on the most rigorous standards, a full spectrum of marine services based on a range of

One vessel with multi-functions

Lamor’s Regional Manager Europe, Christoffer Wallgren explains: “The multipurpose vessel YAG Louhi has been fitted with several of our newest OSR technologies such as our in-built skimmers that are capable of collecting 1,200 tons of spilled oil during a deployment,” he says.

“The vessel has four different types of Lamor brush skimmers,  in-built brush conveyor belt-type skimmers, bucket skimmers mounted on cranes, free floating offshore skimmers with umbilical hose reel systems and so called ice brushes mounted on the aft deck,” Wallgren highlights.

YAG Louhi is designed to be capable of recovering spilled oil and chemicals in both open water and ice conditions, extinguishing shipboard fires and emergency towing of ships operating in the Gulf of Finland. The new vessel also has sufficient icebreaking capability to assist oil tankers. In addition to environmental duties, YAG Louhi will be used as a support ship for underwater operations by the Finnish Navy.

Hands-on cooperation

CEPPOL’s Commandant Jean-Pierre Inizian is highly appreciative for the liaison visit to garner information about OSR equipment from Lamor and familiarization with YAG Louhi. “The aim of our visit was to get a hands-on introduction to the latest multi-purpose OSRV and its equipment. The patented Wave Dampening Channel for oil recovery in high seas and stormy conditions coupled with in-built Lamor Free Floating Offshore skimmer, the LFF100, were very impressive,” he stated.

“Moreover, I want to thank Captain Markus Santasalo together with his crew on YAG Louhi who made our visit onboard a positive and unforgettable memory for all of us!” Commander Inizian stated.

“I want to express my appreciation and extend my thank you for the technical information regarding the Lamor offshore LFF100 skimmer,” says CEPPOL’s Bruno Lesven, Technical Engineer.

“The demonstrations and implementation of the oil spill response equipment onboard YAG Louhi was perfect and very enriching. Christoffer you arranged a perfect liaison visit that was not only informative but fun,” says CEPPOL’s Jean-Luc Antoine, Technical Engineer.

Bourbon Offshore’s Project Manager, Eitel M. Boka stated: “The in-built Lamor OSR equipment was highly interesting and I enjoyed observing the equipment demonstrations onboard. That said, another interesting and unique feature to see onboard, and a novelty I might add, was the in-built sauna. We do understand and respect the need for a sauna in arctic conditions such as in Finland, so I must conclude that YAG Louhi is truly a multi-purpose vessel with multi functions in multi scenarios for multi-talented people,” he says with a broad smile.

Jean-Pierre Mortreux, Office Director at Lamor France stated: We value the cooperation and expertise of CEPPOL and Bourbon Offshore since we have a common goal, specifically oil spill recovery operations. Collectively we need to work together when tackling incident’s that have both long and short-term effects on the environment. Thus, such visits are important for all involved.

Text: Thomas Barbieri

Countries in the region are increasing their lobbying efforts and activities providing their perceptions of evidence and justifications to UNCLOS to determine who will eventually gain the rights to legally acquire the riches from the seabed of the Arctic.

The UNCLOS replaced the 17^th Century rule known as ‘Freedom of the Seas’ that was developed by a Dutchman utilizing what was coined as the ‘canon shot’ to determine the national boundaries of a country with coastal territorial waters. The waters beyond the ‘canon shot’ were considered mare liberum (free seas).

Countries that border the Arctic region are Russia, Norway, Denmark (Greenland), Canada and the US and they are disputing who owns what of the continental shelf. Tensions and verbal diplomatic spats have escalated between the nations. Under international law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it and those countries bordering it are limited to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ). UNCLOS allows foreign vessels including naval vessels the right of innocent passage in the EEZ.

The Arctic nations have a vested interest in pursuing their rush to claim these oil and gas resources because under the Arctic Ocean there is estimated to be 25% of the world’s current oil and natural gas resources. The question that remains is who has the rights to drill where and who will profit from these natural resources. To settle this dispute, UNCLOS has set out, with the expertise of geologists and other specialist scientists, to determine if the continental shelf is part of the seabed that can be proven that it belongs to any single country.

Trying to bridge the ridges scientifically

In mid-2009 Russia’s President Medvedev stated in a television interview: “Our main goal is to transform the Arctic into a resource base for Russia in the 21^st Century”.  In 2007, Russia made the first move by planting a flag on the ocean floor beneath the North Pole. This caused additional tensions. That said, Neil Armstrong placed an American flag on the moon in 1969. And Norwegian Roald Amundsen placed a flag on the geographic South Pole in 1911.

However, scientists from Russia have also been busy trying to prove that the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1,240-mile underwater mountain range that cuts across the Arctic Ocean, is geologically part of the Russian mainland coupled with Mendeleev Ridge that are extensions of the Eurasian continent.

Denmark (via Greenland), also has its interests in claiming the ridge, stating it is an extension of Greenland, which is a self-governing province of Denmark. This is followed by Canadian scientists submitting a paper to the respected Journal of Geophyiscal Research claiming proof that the Lomonosov Ridge is part of the North American land mass. Former Canadian Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn stated: “We will be reaffirming our commitment about defending and protecting our sovereignty in the Arctic”.

The Arctic coastal nations are submitting their claims to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for evaluation whilst the dispute of ownership and sovereignty continues. Currently all nations are trying to solve this issue through the umbrella organization UNCLOS, however, in accordance with article 287, any nation can opt to settle the dispute via the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas, to date this has not happened.

A new geopolitical battleground

In early 2011, at an Arctic conference held in Tromsö, Norway, U.S. Rear Admiral Dave Titley stated: “We believe that sometime between 2035 and 2040, there is a pretty good chance that the Arctic Ocean will be essentially ice-free for about a month.” These longer periods of ice-free waters will likely mean more vessels trying to navigate the narrow straits and channels of the Northwest Passage, a series of waterways along the US coast that wind through Canada’s Arctic archipelago of 36,000 islands, including commercial shippers looking for shortened trade routes.

By linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans greatly reduces transit times for ships that have relied on southern route through the Panama Canal. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising faster than anywhere else in the world, making the Arctic region easier to navigate. For shipping companies hoping to shorten trade routes through the Arctic Ocean that provides them quicker access to economic dynamos such as China and India.

That said, the Arctic Ocean causes more diplomatic rows pursuant to the usage of waterways. Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia and the US all regard parts of the Arctic seas as “national waters” i.e. territorial waters out to 12 nautical miles. There also are disputes regarding what passages constitute “international seaways” and rights to passage along them e.g. the Northern Passage.

Beyond profits and sovereignty

As the need for energy continues to rise and while onshore oil reserves dwindle, the search for oil offshore continues to surge. This increases the risks for accidents. The harsh climatic conditions in the Arctic Ocean make the exploration and extrapolation very dangerous.  The waters of the Arctic are particularly extreme for drilling because of the punishing cold, long periods of darkness, dense fogs, and hurricane-strength winds.

Lamor’s knowledge, expertise and commitment in providing the most advanced oil spill clean-up solutions with equipment, training, and a dedicated response team known as the Lamor Response Team (LRT), is unparalleled with a global reach in any climatic conditions and regions. “We have expertise and equipment for tackling hazardous accidents such as oil spills in all terrains and climates,” says Fred Larsen, CEO of Lamor Corporation.

The Arctic Ocean’s ecosystem is considered to be one of the most vulnerable to oil spills in comparison to other regions. “The cold weather, the thick ice cover together with slow turnover of eco-systems mean that toxic oil spills could last longer and expose multiple generations of organisms to contamination,” he says. “An Arctic oil spill could set off irreversible chain-reactions of contamination. The lack of sunlight also impacts the breakdown of spilled oil and other chemicals. Therefore, it is essential for both corporations and governments to be responsible and take the necessary steps by investing in training and equipment to reduce a catastrophic environmental disaster, and this is where we can help,” Larsen says confidently and categorically.

Text: Thomas Barbieri

Lamor’s new and updated product catalogue, ProductReel, has been published in pdf format and hard copy.

“The financing enables us to meet the demand for larger scale projects where we take a more central role in providing turnkey oil spill response solutions to our clients,” says Fred Larsen, CEO Lamor Corporation.
“Given the publicity surrounding the large scale oil spills during the recent years, increases in exploration activity in the arctic as well as in off shore areas and the tightening regulations, the oil spill response industry is expected to grow significantly during the next few years. We are warmly welcoming the new investors to enjoy this exciting ride ahead, and are convinced that this is going to be a beneficial cooperation,” Larsen adds.

“Most recently we were awarded a significant three-year contract with Qatar Petroleum (QP) responsible for operating and maintaining all of QP’s Oil Spill & Emergency Response Department (OS&ERD) oil spill recovery equipment. Moreover, the contract included oil spill man-power, management and training. That said, we were also awarded another major contract in recent days with Australian Maritime Safety Authority for equipment,” Larsen highlights.

”We want to be involved in developing and financing this significant Finnish cleantech company. Lamor has a strong market position globally and specialist expertise in the Arctic areas. Because of its growth potential and sector, the company is a good match with our investment strategy,” says Director Antti Kummu from Finnish Industry Investment.

“Finland needs good export companies in order to meet the challenges of today’s global economy and I am excited to be a part of a transaction where Finnish institutional investors invest in a Finnish company whose exports comprise over 90 % of its revenue,” says Pekka Ahlajärvi, Portfolio Manager in Etera.

Company profiles

Finnish Industry Investment Ltd is a government-owned investment company that promotes Finnish business, employment and economic growth through venture capital and private equity investments. Finnish Industry Investment invests in funds and directly in growth companies in all sectors. The investment focus is on growth, internationalisation, spin-offs, major industrial investments, and sectoral and corporate restructurings. The investments of Finnish Industry Investment amount to € 690 million.
www.industryinvestment.com

Etera’s primary mission is to provide pension cover and secure well-being at work. It offers companies, societies, self-employed persons and households efficient earnings-related pension insurance and related services. In 2011 Etera insured 214,000 employees, 5,800 entrepreneurs and paid pensions worth of ca. 1 billion euros to 150,000 pension recipients. Etera’s investments are worth of approx. € 5.3 billion.
www.etera.fi

Lamor NewsReel 1/2012 has been published in English and Turkish and is available in pdf format online. To receive a hardcopy of the magazines (English or Turkish), please send an email to: info@lamor.com.

Lamor NewsReel can be downloaded from our NewsRoom.

On January 7, severe weather broke MSC M/V Rena in two with the bow section firmly wedged on the reef. By January 10, the stern section stayed perched on the edge of the Astrolabe Reef with about 95% submerged, including the bridge, and a few days later slid off the reef and submerged totally. Aerial observation flights confirmed on January 12 a dark metallic sheen of around 600m by 200m within a larger lighter sheen stretching for about ten kms from the wreck. Observers noted these patches of oil appeared to be breaking down naturally in the swells and churning seas. The oil trajectory modelling predicted it was likely to reach beaches at Little Waihi and Pukehina that said, these modelling predictions change with the currents and weather conditions.

Three months earlier, on October 5, 2011 at 02:20, the M/V Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef whilst sailing from the New Zealand’s North Island port city of Napier to Tauranga. Onboard the stricken vessel was 1,368 containers of which twenty contained hazardous materials such as cryolite, a toxic chemical used as a pesticide, insecticide etc. and is a colorless material that disappears in water due to the proximity of their refractive indices. The M/V Rena also was carrying 1,700 tons heavy fuel-oil and over 200 tons of marine diesel fuel. The initial accident revealed that the vessel had sustained significant damage with large cracks in the hull that eventually split the vessel in two.

The weather in early October continued to hamper rescue and oil spill clean-up operations and a large, approx. five km, oil slick was visible. Six days later, on October 11, New Zealand’s Minister for the Environment and Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues, Hon. Dr. Nick Smith declared the M/V Rena to be New Zealand’s worst ever maritime environment disaster. On January 8, the vessel split in two, leaving a separation distance of approx. 30 meters between the fore and aft of the vessel, the water surrounding was murky due to powder milk being spilled from a container.

Maritime New Zealand (MNZ), formerly Maritime Safety Authority, is the lead agency for the coordination of clean-up efforts and salvage in the M/V Rena grounding and subsequent spill. Overall MNZ’s responsibilities include maritime safety, security and marine environment protection for the country.

MNZ alerted all rescue, salvage and clean-up operators in the area including the New Zealand Defence Forces. Support also came from Australia (AMSA) and Singapore to name a few. Lamor was the only oil spill equipment supplier on-scene in Tauranga to assist MNZ and the many outside agencies that responded to this incident.

Lamor’s VP Global Business, Steve Reilly, was on scene and filed this report:

”We were there soon after it happened and worked with the various responders on the water in Tauranga harbor and in the staging areas to ensure all the Lamor equipment and vessels were ready to go. The weather was very difficult for the first week and the response was focused on  several key areas and along the beautiful beaches of Bay of Plenty. Two of the Lamor JBF 420 vessels that MNZ acquired several years ago were in great condition and worked mostly in the harbor area every day.” (READ FULL ARTICLE IN NEWSREEL 1/2012)