Press release

Skifter flagg på M/T Tordis Knutsen og M/T Helene Knutsen 28.05.2009

Med virkning fra høsten 2009 vil M/T Tordis Knutsen og M/T Helene Knutsen skifte fra Norsk Ordinært register til UK Register.

M/T Helene Knutsen går av langsiktig tidscerteparti med Norske Shell og dermed i all hovedsak ut av norsk fartsområde.  Dette innebærer at skipet vil bli registrert i UK Register og skipets bemanning vil bli lagt om til å møte internasjonale konkurranseforhold.  Dette medfører at samtlige underordnede mannskaper vil bli sagt opp.

M/T Tordis Knutsen vil også i økende grad bli brukt i markeder utenfor Norge og Nordsjøen og skipet registreres derfor også i UK Register utfra at våre rammevilkår også her krever at kostnader knyttet bl.a. til bemanning må reduseres. Dette innebærer at samtlige underordnede mannskaper vil bli sagt opp. 
Denne omleggingen er ledd i tilpasning til skjerpede konkurransekrav samt det forhold at norske lønnskostnader har økt betydelig de senere årene.  Endringen i fartsområdet for ovennevnte skip og derved inntekter bestemt i internasjonale markeder leder til at inntektsforholdene  ikke forsvarer ett fullt norsk kostnadsnivå.  Oppsigelsene omfatter ca . 35 ansatte. 

   
Knutsen OAS Shipping AS sysselsetter p.t. på vår flåte ca. 400 normenn, hvorav 31 personer er i opplæringsstillinger.  Rederiet anser samtlige av våre ansatte som en viktig del av vår virksomhet og beklager at det ikke lenger er mulig innenfor de rammer vi arbeider å opprettholde sysselsettingen av underordnede mannskaper på skip i internasjonal fart.  Rederiet vil fortsette å satse på den kompetansen våre norske offiserer besitter.  

M/T Vigdis Knutsen changes flag 14.01.2009

Knutsen OAS Shipping AS has decided to change flag on the shuttle tanker Vigdis Knutsen about 1st of March 2009.   Vigdis Knutsen was delivered i 1993 on a 15-year timecharter to Saga Petroleum (later Norsk Hydro), and has been a long term workplace for 40-50 crew and officers. After redelivery, the ship has been employed on short-term contracts, and she is presently under contract to Teekay Navion Shuttle Tankers until 1st of May 2009.   Future contracts and operational costs now necessitates a flag change. During earlier flag changes, We have managed to avoid lay-offs by re-organisation and normal retirement, but unfortunately this is not possible in this instance, and Knutsen OAS Shipping AS will now have to lay off 25 crew. This is done in understanding with the Union for Seamen. On the other hand, it is positive that the market generally is in need of this type of competence.   We are of course very sorry for this, but seen in the light of the challenges we are facing in the future, this is a necessary move.

Major breakthrough for KVOC 21.08.2006

A contract for reduction of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from crude oil tankers during loading has been signed between Knutsen OAS Shipping and The VOC Industry Cooperation VOCIC using Knutsen OAS Shipping’s proprietary KVOCÒ technology.

The VOC Industry Cooperation consist of all oil companies performing offshore loading of crude oil from the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Knutsen OAS Shipping has entered into a contract for delivery of 2 new KVOC systems. The first KVOCsystem was installed on Tordis Knutsen in June 2006 and the second KVOC system will be installed on Vigdis Knutsen in September 2006. The contract also give the VOCIC the right to use the KVOCsystem installed on M/T Sallie Knutsen in April 2005. In addition VOCIC has option for several more installations. For the oil companies, KVOCwill be a cost efficient supplement to the systems in use to comply with the Norwegian Pollution Authorities emission reduction requirement.

The KVOC technology owned and developed by Knutsen OAS has proved to have a significant VOC reduction capability during loading and transit. The technology implies modification to the traditional loading arrangement, and can easily be installed on existing and new vessels. The operating cost for KVOC is zero. The system has up to now been installed on 7 of Knutsen OAS Shipping’s own vessels. The prototype was installed on M/T Ragnhild Knutsen in 2002 that has been using the KVOC system ever since. The first commercially installation on behalf of a Charterer was made on M/T Siri Knutsen chartered by DONG as operator of the Siri Field on the Danish Sector in 2003. A similar system has also been decided to be installed on M/T Gijon Knutsen, that will be serving Petro-Canada on the De Ruyter Field on the Dutch Sector of the North Sea, starting its oil production later this year. KVOC technology is commercially available in the market, and has proved to function on any kind of volatile products. In addition to be an easy way of reducing emissions to the environment, it also represents an economic attractive solution since more cargo can be delivered to the receiving party. The Contract between Knutsen OAS Shipping and the major oil companies organising the VOC reduction on the Norwegian part of the Continental Shelf is a major breakthrough and recognition of the KVOC technology and the thinking behind the development.

For further information, please contact: Per Lothe Knutsen OAS Shipping +47 91 17 40 35 or +47 52 70 40 81 pel@knutsenoas.com