Cork Group wins contract with oil major in the Caspian Sea
The Mainport Group of Monahan Road, Cork, has just been awarded a contract to provide two superbarges to oil major Agip for use in one of the world’s largest oil and gas fields, the Kashagen oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea. Servicing existing producing platforms in the Kazakhstan area, the barges will be used to transport drill cuttings from the platforms. The contract is worth over US$ 7 million to the Cork company.
Dave Ronayne, Chief Executive of The Mainport Group told us: “We are delighted with this contract which is a culmination of 16 months of careful planning and negotiation. It is our first contract in the Caspian Sea, which holds several exciting opportunities for our Group. The barges, at 71.5m X 14.5m, are the equivalent in width to a football pitch! While this is a one-year project, we are also presently at bid stage for the provision of 4 new, larger superbarges for a 10 year contract in the area. These barges will be custom-built to facilitate the unique shallow nature of the waters of the Caspian Sea and the specialist design requirements of Agip.” Mr. Ronayne further stated that the barges must have all-weather capabilities, and be ice strengthened for the frozen winter months.
“Working with Agip, the lead oil major in a consortium of oil companies in the Caspian and tapping into that vast market presents outstanding opportunities, and our experience in the provision of barges, supply vessels and tugs in Ireland and the North Sea means we are well positioned to handle and indeed grow our involvement in this lucrative area. Our advance team are now in Baku (Azerbaijan) to re-fit the barges to specification, working with a reputable local firm already operating in the oil industry in that area on an on-going basis, and we will operate from Bautino in Kazakhstan.”
The cargo (called ‘cuttings’ in oil-drilling parlance) being transported is comprised of oil-contaminated shale and rock which is the result of the drilling process, necessitating recovery, transportation and disposal in a controlled, environmentally-friendly fashion to protect the fragile marine life in the Caspian Sea.
Established in 1957, The Mainport Group is Ireland’s leading ship agency, employing 82 people in the ship management, stevedoring, and off-shore services sector in Ireland. Headquartered at Monahan Road, Cork, the Group has offices in Dublin, Limerick, Foynes, South Africa and Norway.
With a turnover in excess of 45 million euro expected in 2006, the Group is also involved in joint ventures with major shipping and shipping services groups in Norway (with Sartor Shipping), South Africa and other projects in the seismic support, safety-standby, salvage & wreck removal, warehousing and storage sectors.
www.mainport.ie