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O ur Offshore Annual focuses largely on new oil spill response technologies developed before, during and in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As we approach the one year anniversary of the explosion, the loss of 11 lives and the spill from the Macondo well, MarineNews takes a look at technology designed to stop an accident of this magnitude from ever happening again; or, more likely when an acci- dent of this magnitude inevitably happens again, to clean it up as quickly and efficiently as possible. In our Market section (starting on page 40) we review a number of technologies such as new skimmer vessels, oil slick tracking radars and a submarine for clean-up of mate- rial settled on the ocean floor. Our GOM-area correspondent, Susan Buchanan, covers the adoption of containment systems designed to control blowouts on oil rigs. She describes two separate consortia of pri- vate companies that have pooled their resources to develop systems that can satisfy the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement ‘s (BOEMRE) requirement to demonstrate the capacity to contain a sub- sea blowout. These containment systems are operational now, but the technology continues to be improved. BOEM- RE began issuing permits in late February and early March, mostly projects that had been previously approved before the Macondo well spill. However, in late March the agency approved a permit for a new deepwater well operated by Shell Offshore Inc. in Garden Banks Block 427, about 137 miles off the coast of Louisiana. It also issued approval for oil and natural gas production at Petrobras America’s Chinook-Cascade project using a floating production storage offloading (FPSO) facility, the first time this technology will be used in the Gulf of Mexico. Although the Gulf of Mexico’s economic engine is undoubtedly compromised, some offshore support vessel operators are still experiencing a healthy workload. In our pages this month, Shane Guidry, CEO of Harvey Gulf International Marine, says his fleet is fully employed, although he has had to deploy some of his assets internationally to keep it that way. SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to the print or electronic edition of MarineNews at www.marinelink.com/renewsubscr/Renew04/subscribe.html or e-mail Kathleen Hickey at mrcirc@marinelink.com DAILY NEWS via E-MAIL Twice every business day we provide breaking news, tailored to your specification, delivered FREE directly to your e-mail. To subscribe visit http://maritimetoday.com/login.aspx POST & SEARCH JOBS Job listings are updated daily and help match employers with qualified employees. Post a position or keep abreast of new employment opportunities at http://www.maritimejobs.com ADVERTISE MN offers a number of print and electronic advertising packages. To see our editorial calendar and advertising rates, visit www.marinelink.com/AdvRates/Rates.asp Raina Clark, Managing Editor, rainaclark@marinelink.com Want to hear more from behind the editor’s desk? Visit the MarineNews Notes blog at www.MaritimeProfessional.com. Online Resour ces 6 MN April 2011 EDITOR’S NOTE rainaclark@ marinelink.com
