Offshore East Africa: Deep Water Natural Gas Bonanza

Offshore reports the trend of continued success in locating gas in the deep waters off East Africa: Mozambique, Tanzania emerging as prolific deepwater gas plays. How big? Anadarko's Chairman says:

“This could be one of the most important natural gas fields discovered in the last ten years,with significant long-term benefits for Mozambique.”

Benefits? From the Offshore report:

Mozambique's government was anxious for work on the project to start, he said, both for the incoming tax revenue in the longer term and for the near-term impact on jobs creation in the area. At peak, he forecast that construction of the initial LNG plant would involve 7,000 workers, with more employment opportunities for the second train.

***

Following meetings with local villagers, fishermen and farmers, Anadarko has filed an application for land to build the onshore reception and process facilities. The port of Ofungi is the chosen site for the LNG plant. "The nearby city of Palma only just received electric power for the first time last year, so there is potential for this project to change the area significantly," Vardeman observed. "Also, an aircraft landing strip will be built of sufficient size to land a 747 at least." At the coastal location, materials offloading and LNG loading facilities will be constructed. The proposed beach front site is large enough to accommodate LNG carriers turning, he said, although when the tide goes out a large area of flat sand appears.

Assuming the final investment decision is taken toward the end of 2013, first gas could flow in 2018. But this is a very competitive market, Vardeman noted, "and we must convince buyers that this will be a reliable source of LNG. Also, this will be our first LNG plant, so they need to count on us to be there a long time." On the other hand, Vardeman explained, having Bharat Petroleum, Videocon, and Mitsui as partners was helpful for marketing the Area 1 gas to India and Japan. "It's an optimal location, close to India, and the distance to Japan is the same as to Europe," Vardeman said.

Oh, those horrible oil and gas companies, applying their technology in such a way as to benefit the poor of Africa.

LNG for Japan and Europe.

Another blow to the former gas monopolists in Russia.

Too bad the world is running out of energy . . . not.

Of course, there are those Somali pirates to deal with.



All illustrations credit Anadarko.

Somali Pirates: Seychelles asks China for counter-pirate "presence"

UPDATE here.

Perhaps reflecting a shift in the currents of international sea power or perhaps just an extension of an existing relationship, the Chinese have been invited to extend some power to an island cluster in the the Indian Ocean bothered by Somali pirates.

As reported by AFP as "Seychelles invites China to set up anti-piracy presence":

"We have invited the Chinese government to set up a military presence on Mahe to fight the pirate attacks that the Seychelles face on a regular basis," Adam said.

"For the time being China is studying this possibility because she has economic interests in the region and Beijing is also involved in the fight against piracy," he explained.
***

"Together, we need to increase our surveillance capacity in the Indian Ocean... as Seychelles has a strategic position between Asia and Africa," Michel said in a statement, adding that China had given its army two light aircraft.

The two countries signed a military cooperation agreement in 2004 that has enabled some 50 Seychelles soldiers to be trained in China. They renewed their agreement Friday, with China to provide further training and equipment.

If the Chinese military presence goes ahead, "it won't be the first foreign military presence here because the Americans already have a small drone station here that they use in the fight against piracy," Adam said.

After warships started deploying in the Gulf of Aden in 2008 to thwart attacks on vessels, Somali pirates enlarged their field of operations into the Indian Ocean, including towards the Seychelles.

Somali Pirates: Shipping Alerts

Arrows point to areas of interest (NATO Shipping Center map, my arrows) (updated 28 Nov 11)

NATO Shipping Center alerts found here:

UPDATE: (Blue arrow) Alert 241 - Suspicious Activity 27/11/2011 17:00 -1.33
49.58 Suspicious Activity Alert 241 - Suspicious Activity A piracy alert has been raised by the Maritime Security Centre.
Date of alert : November 28, 2011
Alert type : Suspect Vessel
Location : [241] SOMALIA BASIN 01 20 S 049 35 E
Latitude : 01 20 S
Longitude : 049 35 E
---WARNING WARNING WARNING---
Alert number 241/2011
At 1700 UTC / 27 NOV 11 / a Pirate Attack Group consisting of am other vessel and 4 skiffs was reported in position 01 20 S 049 35 E.

(Yellow arrow) alert 240/11 26/11/2011 10:10 -2.87 48.62 Approached Alert 240/11 A piracy alert has been raised by the Maritime Security Centre. Date of alert : November 26, 2011
Alert type : Suspect Vessel
Location :
Latitude : 02 52 S
Longitude : 048 37 E

---WARNING WARNING WARNING---

Alert number 240/2011

At 1010 UTC / 26 OCT / a Pirate Action Group consisting of one whaler and one skiff was reported in position 02 52 S 048 37 E.

Vessels are advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating within 100 nautical miles of the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.
***
(Red Arrow)NSC 14/11 Suspicious Approach 26/11/2011 06:00 12.62
43.43 Approached NSC 14/11 Suspicious Approach
NSC has received reports of a single skiff approaching a vessel in the Bab al Mandeb, in position 12 37N 043 26E. it approached to 0.5nm before breaking off and is believed to be loitering in the area. The skiff is reportedly white with a red stripe, and is carrying 6 persons on board.

Somali Pirates: End of October Brings Out the Pirates

End of October Somali pirate attacks reported by the NATO Shipping Center:

NSC 7/11 - INDICATION OF MOTHERSHIP 02/11/2011 08:30 17.5 57.43 Suspicious Activity NSC 7/11 - INDICATION OF MOTHERSHIP

***UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE***

This mother ship is now heading back to the Somali coast and is assessed as no longer being a threat.

NSC 8/11 - WARNING: APPROACH 01/11/2011 09:35 -1.35 52.35 Approached NSC 8/11 - WARNING: APPROACH There has been a suspicious approach on a vessel in position 0121S 05221E at 0936Z on 1st Nov. The vessel was approached by two skiffs. On board security repelled the attack and the vessel evaded hi-jacking. VESSEL IS SAFE and continuing on its original journey.

Additionally the master saw a possible mother ship in position 0130S 05226E (yet to be confirmed).

Vessels transiting in or around this area should proceed with extreme caution.

NSC 6/11 - WARNING: ATTACK 31/10/2011 20:30 -8.17 46.1 Attacked NSC 6/11 - WARNING: ATTACK A Vessel came under fire from an unknown number of skiffs in position 0810S 04606E at 2028Z on 31/10/11. Vessel was fired upon aft of bridge bulkhead, port and starboard side accommodation and portholes. On board security team returned fire and after 30 mins pirates left the vicinity of the vessel.

VESSEL IS SAFE. Master is unable to give any further details as it was dark at the time of the incident.

Vessels transiting in or around this area should exercise extreme caution.

NSC 5/11 - WARNING: APPROACH 31/10/2011 14:15 -2.38 49.48 Approached NSC 5/11 - WARNING: APPROACH A vessel was attacked by three white skiffs in position 0223S 04929E at 1415Z on 31/10/11. Vessel protection detachment was onboard aboard and managed to evade hijacking. VESSEL IS SAFE.

Vessels transiting through this area are to take extreme caution.

Alert 234/2011 31/10/2011 11:50 12 45.55

Pirated Alert 234/2011 A piracy alert has been raised by the Maritime Security Centre. Date of alert : October 31, 2011 Alert type : Attempted Attack Location : [234] GULF OF ADEN 1200N 04533E Latitude : 12 00 N Longitude : 045 33 E

---WARNING WARNING WARNING---

***This vessel has been hijacked***

At 1152 UTC / 31 OCT 11 / a merchant vessel has been hijacked by 1 skiff in position 1200N 04533E

The Pirate action group is still in the area.

 ***

Alert 233/2011 30/10/2011 00:55 -4.33 43.68 Attacked Alert 233/2011

A piracy alert has been raised by the Maritime Security Centre. Date of alert : October 30, 2011 Alert type : Attempted Attack Location : [233] Somali Basin- Indian Ocean 0420S 04341E Latitude : 04 20 S Longitude : 043 41 E

---WARNING WARNING WARNING---

Alert number 233 / 2011. At 1254 UTC / 30 OCT 11 / a merchant vessel was reported under attack by 1 white skiff with 4 or 5 POB in position 0420S 04341E.

***This vessel managed to evade hijack***

***Vessel is SAFE***

***The Pirate action group is still in the area.***

It is believed that the hijacked vessel is a Greek-owmed chemical tanker nabbed by the pirates as it exited the Red Sea following a transit through the Suez Canal, according to this Reuters report:

ShipSpotting.com

Liquid Velvet

© HenkR

Somali pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned chemical tanker with 22 people on board in the Gulf of Aden and are taking the vessel towards the Somali coast, a regional maritime expert and a pirate said on Tuesday.

The Marshall Islands-flagged Liquid Velvet was seized on Monday in the Gulf of Aden en
route to India. The 11,599 DWT vessel is owned by the Greek firm Elmira Tankers, according to the firm's website.

***

A pirate who gave his name as Khalif confirmed the attack.

"We have hijacked the tanker and it is due to anchor near the shores of Garad," Khalif told Reuters by telephone from the pirate haven of Dhanane.

Company fleet website.

Somali "Pirates attack drillship offshore Tanzania"

Somali pirates involved as "Pirates attack drillship offshore Tanzania":

According to a report from Reuters, Somali pirates have attacked an oil and gas drillship in the Indian Ocean offshore Tanzania.

Seven Somali pirates have been arrested after they attacked the Ocean Rig Poseidon drillship operating for Brazilian major Petrobras offshore Tanzania, reported Reuters.

Seven pirates attacked the drillship from a small boat using weapons, but security aboard the rig and the Tanzanian Navy returned fire, captured and arrested the men.

Full Reuters report here:

"In the incident, seven pirates in a small boat attacked the ship with weapons. Security personnel on the ship with the help of the Tanzanian navy returned fire and managed to subdue and arrest the pirates."

The incident, which officials said occurred late on Monday about 82 nautical miles from the capital Dar es Salaam, brings to 18 the total number of pirates arrested in Tanzania following attacks in its Indian Ocean territorial waters.

Tanzania in April ordered its army to escort ships searching for oil and gas off its coast to protect them from Somali pirates, who are suspected of kidnapping expatriate workers on exploration ships for hefty ransoms.

Analysts had warned Somali pirates were likely to turn to softer targets, such as tourists in Kenya, in response to more robust defense of merchant vessels by private security guards.

Somali Pirates: Ship Under Attack

 
UPDATE from the NATO Shipping Center:

The attack on the merchant vessel 20 Sept 2011, in position 0447S 04435E, has been averted through the use of recommended self-protection measures as detailed in BMP4.

The crew is safe.

Vessels are still advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating within 100 nautical miles of the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.

You can get your own pdf copy of BMP4 here. End UPDATE.

An alert from NATO Shipping Center:

Alert 218 / 2011 20/09/2011 10:00 0447S 04435E Attacked
At 0734 UTC / 20 SEP 2011 / a merchant vessel is currently under attack by 2 skiffs in position 0447S 04435E.

Vessels are advised to exercise extreme caution when navigating within 100 nautical miles of the position given in this report and maintain maximum CPA with any ship acting suspiciously.

More from NATO:

At 0734Z today, an attack against a merchant vessel by 2 skiffs in position 04 47S 044 35E took place. Details can be found under Alert Details at Alert 218. It is believed that the group in this area may be operating from a Jelbut dhow. The high level of activity off the Somali/Kenya Border indicates this as an area of great concern to vessels, and as improved weather conditions allow, increased piracy activity is expected.

At 0734Z today, an attack against a merchant vessel by 2 skiffs in position 04 47S 044 35E took place. The weather in the north Somali Basin remains less favourable however, in the next few weeks the weather is expected to improve.

Somali Pirates: Hijacking, Attack and Counterattacks

Red=Hijacking, Orange=Attack (click on map to enlarge)

A report of a hijacking of a ship and an on-going attack on another, from the NATO Shipping Centre :

MAY 01 2011
Latitude 02 47S Longitude 043 03E
Alert Number 166/2011
---WARNING---WARNING---WARNING---
At 0733 UTC 01 MAY 11. A merchant vessel was reported hijacked by pirates in the above position.Two skiffs seen on board the vessel.
______________________________________
April 30th 2011
SOMALI BASIN
Latitude 07 01S Longitude 041 22E
Alert Number 165/2011
---WARNING---WARNING---WARNING---
At 0403 UTC April 30th A merchant vessel is currently under attack by pirates in the above position.

UPDATE: Report of a Singapore chemical tanker being taken off Kenya here:

The tanker, Gemini, was headed to Mombasa, Kenya when the incident took place, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said in a statement. A distressed call was received at about 0350 GMT.

The ship owners report the cargo of the ship is palm oil:

Glory Ship Management Pte. Ltd. said in a statement Sunday that pirates are believed to have seized the Singapore-registered MT Gemini and its more than 28,000 tons of crude palm oil.

Glory said the ship was en route to Mombasa, Kenya, from Indonesia when it was believed to be hijacked and is now likely headed to Somalia.