U.S. ethanol producers will ask the Trump administration to intervene in a trade dispute with Brazil as tensions between the industry and foreign competitors continue to escalate. The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council -- all Washington-based lobbying organizations -- said in a statement Thursday that the government should “take immediate... Continue Reading →

Norwegian offshore shipping company Solstad Farstad has sold three of its anchor handlers to the Brazilian Navy in a deal worth approximately $24 million.  Norway’s newly-formed OSV provider has participated in a public auction in Brazil for the sale of three anchor handling tug and supply (AHTS) vessels to the Brazilian Navy, whereby the Brazilian... Continue Reading →

The former finance minister under Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday accused the ex-president of receiving bribes from contractor Odebrecht [ODBES.UL], adding to a list of corruption accusations that threaten Lula’s ability to run in 2018. Lawyers for former Finance Minister Antonio Palocci said he told prosecutors that Lula accepted Odebrecht’s purchase of... Continue Reading →

Brazil’s central bank slashed interest rates to a four-year low on Wednesday to spur an incipient economic recovery, but said the pace of monetary easing would probably be reduced next month as the bank prepared to gradually stop cutting rates. The bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee, known as Copom, cut its benchmark Selic rate BRCBMP=ECI... Continue Reading →

Siemens has developed Topsides 4.0, a solution aimed to facilitate offshore production transition to a fully digital operation. Siemens said on Tuesday that the solution was designed to reduce project cycle time, minimize unplanned downtime, and reduce offshore manning for operations and asset monitoring. According to the company, the Topsides 4.0 offers a holistic digital... Continue Reading →

Shell has confirmed that it no longer uses the Port of Açu to tranship oil because of environmental issues. "The interruption of the ship-to-ship transfer operations of Shell's cargoes in Açu effectively led to the suspension of payments related to this activity, since the port failed to comply with contractual security clauses," the company said... Continue Reading →

Brazil’s top prosecutor on Tuesday charged former Presidents Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff along with fellow Workers Party members with forming a criminal organization, the latest accusations in Brazil’s sprawling corruption scandal. The prosecutor, Rodrigo Janot, alleged that eight members of the Workers Party, including Lula and Rousseff, committed a series of... Continue Reading →

France will stop granting new exploration permits next year as it seeks to end all oil and gas production by 2040, according to a draft bill presented at a cabinet meeting Wednesday. The move would allow the government to turn down more than 40 exploration requests already made, while some existing permits may be extended... Continue Reading →

Offshore services provider Emas Offshore has started restructuring process in Singapore and entered into an agreement with potential investors who will put in $50 million into the company as part of its financial restructuring.  The restructuring application was filed at the end of August. Read more