When were Kanoo’s offshore operations launched?
The Kanoo Group began operating offshore craft following the inception of our Fujairah office in the mid-1980s. The importance of Fujairah became apparent during the Iraq/Iran war when vessels could safely anchor there at lower insurance rates before and after their transit through the dangerous Straits of Hormuz.
In peacetime the Fujairah anchorage remained a favourite location for shipowners and a huge offshore industry grew there as a result, offering everything from high quality bunker fuel to repairs and re-supply.
Kanoo Shipping provides offshore support for our client’s at Fujairah by operating a fleet of high speed, high capacity and long range launches that shuttle run to and from their base inside Fujairah port. The launches are backed up by quality shore side services that include:
- Crew logistics - meet and assist airport services, transport, visas, hotel bookings.
- Crew travel services – ticket bookings in association with Kanoo Travel Agency.
- On site fuel and cargo sample testing through BSI.
- Warehousing services - tracking and storage of spares and landed equipment.
- Coordination of bunkering and de-slopping operations.
- On site office, communication and accommodation facilities for superintendents.
- On site cold storage and close ties to major ship chandlery companies.
We are also on hand 24 hours a day to attend emergencies/spills and our launches will always be available to the authorities if required should the need arise.
Kanoo Shipping has a number of launches covering other Arabian Gulf countries, notably Bahrain and Saudi Arabia where prominent clients include McDermott and NPCC.
In order to diversify Kanoo’s interests in the offshore market, we have decided to make our expanded fleet available for longer term charters within the region. Target markets where our launches would be suitable include oil rig support, chase boat work for pipe or cable laying projects, personnel transportation for offshore projects and so on.
What is Kanoo Shipping’s operating principle for protecting the marine environment? Have you taken any measures for combating marine pollution?
The Kanoo Group has always been committed to protection of the environment both on and off the water, as it is keeping with our corporate social responsibility policy. Kanoo Shipping is certified to the highest standards of ISO quality, and a large part of Kanoo health and safety policy revolves around correct inter-action with our working environment.
For example our launches use only high quality fuel to maximise the clean burn effect and we operate on a “slow steaming” basis to conserve fuel wherever possible. We also keep clean up kits on board in case of oil and chemical spillage. In addition our hulls are painted in the very latest tin-free anti fouling paint and all waste oil and wash-water is disposed of under proper waste management procedures.
In addition our staff have undergone basic oil spill response training and are familiar with our client’s in-house emergency plans.
Oil Spill Intelligence Report ranks the Arabian Gulf as the fourth highest oil spill hot spot; one of the reasons cited is persistent leakage from ships, pipelines and terminals. Is there anything Kanoo is doing or participating in to prevent or control this?
All countries in the Arabian Gulf take marine pollution very seriously and most, if not all, are coordinated through a central response agency known as MEMAC. Ports with a high level of shipping traffic, such as Fujairah, hold regular training exercises involving all parties concerned from operators, to agents and also the owners themselves.
My personal opinion is that a ranking of only fourth on the “hot spot” list shows that most vessels, owners and authorities operating in the Gulf do take the environmental issue seriously. Given the incredibly high number of vessels carrying oil at any given time in the region incidents of pollution are very rare indeed.
Taking Fujairah as an example once again, the authorities have recently introduced new regulations to meet international standards relating to restrictions on older single hulled vessels, and the Coastguard are continually monitoring the anchorage by sea and air to clamp down on any illegal discharge by ships.
For our part Kanoo Shipping Agencies does not handle any vessel that would be considered as sub-standard or non-compliant with international standards. Through interaction with our clients and the authorities we do our best to ensure that our operations do not have any adverse effect on the marine environment.
Steve Blackney is Shipping Manager UAE, Iraq and Oman, Kanoo Group
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