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CINEC Maritime Campus launches first course

'Introduction to Offshore Oil and Gas systems':

CINEC Maritime Campus, being the leader in maritime training in South Asia, is launching a three day Study programme "Introduction to Offshore Oil and Gas systems" for the first time in Sri Lanka. The first course will be held from May 15-17 at the CINEC Maritime Campus in Malabe.

This introduc tory course is focused on accelerating the learning and productivity of non-technical managers, support staff, technical staff and seafarers who are new to the offshore industry.

Participants will be provided with basic understanding of offshore exploration, production systems and the field support operation levels of HSSE, in line with international standards.

The course will present an overview of the history, the basic equipment and processes used to find and produce oil/gas reserves and the emerging technology being used for the development of new offshore fields.

"As the public is aware, Sri Lanka is already into oil and gas exploration work offshore in the Mannar basin, and the Petroleum Resource Development Secretariat (PRDS) is regulating, coordinating and guiding the stakeholders for the implementation of the plans for drilling in the identified areas.

Be ready for the new era in Sri Lanka offshore petroleum industry that teams up with PRDS and CINEC", CINEC Maritime Campus sources said.

The Offshore drilling and producing process, is a very complex and expensive way of accessing Oil and Gas reserves, particularly in deep water and ultra-deep water exploration activities. While presenting the industry with its biggest challenges, deep water exploration and development yields the greatest potential rewards and healthy profit margins to the oil service companies and other stakeholders.

To be ready to face the challenges of this new industry, and open new opportunities testing the capabilities, long term commitments, higher efficiency and growing reliance on technology in order to reduce uncertainties; CINEC, together with the PRDS, strongly believe and foresee the need to educate the stakeholders on the knowledge to get involved either directly in the operational process or by way of providing the supporting logistics.

Leslie S. Wijayapala, who is the Principal Lecturer (Offshore Studies), Department of Tanker and Offshore Studies at Cinec Maritime Campus will coordinate on all matters related to the course with the PRDS. (SJ)

Cruise company tries to efface shipwreck with new vessel

A tragedy like the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise liner "will not happen again," the shipping line's boss said, as he unveiled a new luxury vessel to the public.

A huge public relations exercise marked the entry into service of the 114,500 tonne Costa Fascinosa, sister-ship of the ill-fated Costa Concordia which ran aground and capsized off northwest Italy on January 13 with the loss of 32 lives.

Weeks later another ship from the Costa fleet, the Allegra, was disabled when a fire broke out in the engine room in the Indian Ocean and had to be towed to the Seychelles.

Owners Costa Crociere, owned by US giant Carnival Corp., are being sued by scores of the 3,200 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia while prosecutors are investigating nine people including the captain and three executives.

Cruise operators saw their bookings drop after the disaster and have tightened up safety measures.

The Costa Concordia accident "should never have happened and will not happen again," Costa Crociere boss Pier Luigi Foschi said Saturday, adding that the company was at the "full disposal" of Italian authorities. Work on refloating the Costa Concordia will take nine to 12 months before it can be towed away from the Tuscan island of Giglio, a protected maritime area.

Announcing the award of the contract to US-owned Titan Salvage, Foschi said last month that environmental protection would have top priority. AFP