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Fifty-eight workers tested positive for COVID-19 at an oil production facility run by Tullow Oil off Ghana's Atlantic coast, the company said in a statement on Friday,Fifty-seven workers tested positive on a support vessel for a floating production and storage (FPSO) unit. Another worker tested positive on the FPSO itself, but production remains unaffected, the company said.All infected personnel have been brought onshore for isolation and treatment, it said.Ghana has reported more than 7,600 cases of the new coronavirus and 34 deaths, the second highest number of cases in West Africa after Nigeria, although it has conducted far more tests than any other country in the region.

A flurry of tentative bookings to export U.S. crude oil from the Gulf Coast suggests demand is edging up after the coronavirus slammed energy consumption worldwide.BP, Trafigura and Equinor have all tentatively fixed vessels this past week to carry U.S. crude to global destinations over the coming month, according to Refinitiv Eikon data and shipping sources.Commodities merchant Trafigura and Occidental Petroleum are among companies looking to book vessels to ship crude from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Asia, one shipbroker said. The U.S. Gulf export market was particularly active last week, with around six ships confirmed with June loading dates, another shipping source said.

Turkish tug building specialist Sanmar Shipyards followed up on recent deliveries of the two Sirapinar class ASD tugs to Oman's Port of Sohar with the delivery of the first of a three part order of the larger and more powerful Bigacay class ASD tugs. The arrival of this tug to the Port of Sohar, alongside its two sisters due shortly, will conclude the fleet development aims of the operator Svitzer and Port of Sohar; agreed as part of the 15 year renewal of the former's marine services contract, awarded in early 2019. It is expected that the remaining two Bigacay class units will be mobilized to Sohar port together once the third unit completes sea trials in June.

Turkey may begin oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean within three or four months under a deal it signed with Libya that was condemned by others in the region including Greece, Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.Libya's internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) signed the maritime delimitation deal last year. Turkey says it creates an exclusive economic zone from its southern coast to Libya's northeast coast, and protects rights to resources.Greece, Cyprus and others oppose the accord and call it illegal, an accusation Ankara has rejected.

Bollinger Quick Repair, LLC, a Bollinger Shipyards LLC company, has taken delivery of a new 3,400 ton dry-dock.Built at Bollinger Shipyard’s Amelia, La. facility, the dock is now in service and measures 219’7” X 84’, with a wing wall depth of 15’, and is rated for 3,400 tons, said Bollinger President & CEO, Ben Bordelon.The dry-dock is named in honor of long-time Bollinger employee Eddie Barnes, Jr., who joined Bollinger Shipyards on June 29, 1972 and during his tenure with the company has held various key production positions such as Dockmaster, Foreman and Superintendent. "I want to congratulate Mr. Eddie Barnes, an outstanding Bollinger employee of 47 years," Bordelon said.