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Drydocks World, Aker Solutions to Upgrade Production at UK Rosebank Field

Part of the sinings ceremony - WAM
Part of the sinings ceremony - WAM
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Drydocks World, Aker Solutions to Upgrade Production at UK Rosebank Field

Part of the sinings ceremony - WAM
Part of the sinings ceremony - WAM

Drydocks World, a DP World Company, and Aker Solutions have formed a joint venture to upgrade a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Rosebank oil and gas field in the UK.

The new joint venture combines the complementary strengths, resources, and experience of Drydocks World’s leading marine and offshore services with Aker Solutions’ integrated solutions, products and services to cater for the needs of the global energy industry, state news agency WAM reported.

The joint venture signed its first contract with Altera Infrastructure, a global energy infrastructure services group, to upgrade, refurbish and electrify the FPSO, the Petrojarl Knarr. The vessel will be redeployed at Rosebank field, with the upgrades allowing it to be kept in the field for 25 years without drydocking.

The contract was officially signed in Dubai at DP World’s Head Office by Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World and Chairman of Drydocks World; Sturla Magnus, Executive Vice President, Topsides and Facilities at Aker Solutions; and Arne Hygen Tørnkvist, EVP of Altera Infrastructure.

Aker Solutions will handle the detailed design and procurement of equipment in Norway, while Drydocks World will be responsible for the fabrication and construction work at their yard in Dubai.

Commenting on the cooperation, Bin Sulayem said: “This joint venture between Drydocks World and Aker Solutions will deliver world-class maritime engineering and construction solutions to the global energy industry. The sector needs smart, collaborative partnerships like this to ensure sustainable production and to successfully transition equipment and vessels for the future. Today’s announcement is an important step forward.”

Capt. Rado Antolovic PhD, CEO of Drydocks World-Dubai, said: “Based on our strong prior working relationship and the aligned cultures of each partner, the new joint venture between Drydocks World and Aker Solutions will bring the shared strengths and values of both companies and provide a range of solutions including engineering, procurement and construction to a global market.”

Kjetel Digre, CEO of Akers Solutions also said that “collaboration and partnerships are at the core of how we work. In Drydocks World-Dubai, we have a world-class partner in developing solutions, and we look forward to continuing our long-term relationship by delivering jointly towards the Rosebank oil and gas field development project.”

Tørnkvist, for his part said: “I am very pleased to sign this contract on behalf of Altera - being the owner of the Petrojarl Knarr FPSO. The FPSO will operate for up to 25 years in the most challenging environment on the planet. I see this as a start of a strong and long-term relationship with Drydocks World.”

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US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
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US Job Growth Surges in September, Unemployment Rate Falls to 4.1%

A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
A woman enters a store next to a sign advertising job openings at Times Square in New York City, New York, US, August 6, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo

US job growth accelerated in September and the unemployment slipped to 4.1%, further reducing the need for the Federal Reserve to maintain large interest rate cuts at its remaining two meetings this year.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 254,000 jobs last month after rising by an upwardly revised 159,000 in August, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its closely watched employment report on Friday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising by 140,000 positions after advancing by a previously reported 142,000 in August.
The initial payrolls count for August has typically been revised higher over the past decade. Estimates for September's job gains ranged from 70,000 to 220,000.
The US labor market slowdown is being driven by tepid hiring against the backdrop of increased labor supply stemming mostly from a rise in immigration. Layoffs have remained low, which is underpinning the economy through solid consumer spending.
Average hourly earnings rose 0.4% after gaining 0.5% in August. Wages increased 4% year-on-year after climbing 3.9% in August.
The US unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% in August. It has jumped from 3.4% in April 2023, in part boosted by the 16-24 age cohort and rise in temporary layoffs during the annual automobile plant shutdowns in July.
The US Federal Reserve's policy setting committee kicked off its policy easing cycle with an unusually large half-percentage-point rate cut last month and Fed Chair Jerome Powell emphasized growing concerns over the health of the labor market.
While the labor market has taken a step back, annual benchmark revisions to national accounts data last week showed the economy in a much better shape than previously estimated, with upgrades to growth, income, savings and corporate profits.
This improved economic backdrop was acknowledged by Powell this week when he pushed back against investors' expectations for another half-percentage-point rate cut in November, saying “this is not a committee that feels like it is in a hurry to cut rates quickly.”
The Fed hiked rates by 525 basis points in 2022 and 2023, and delivered its first rate cut since 2020 last month. Its policy rate is currently set in the 4.75%-5.00% band.
Early on Friday, financial markets saw a roughly 71.5% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction in November, CME's FedWatch tool showed. The odds of a 50 basis points cut were around 28.5%.