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It is getting near the end of another year, I find it hard to put dates to areas and blocks so I am reading through last years Log 'n Talk to get going. Last December our concerns were driven by delays, mainly caused by weather. We can relax now as all those issues turned out to be minor challenges that we overcame.
2007 has been a very fast paced year, budgets have been written and in most cases achieved, production targets set and exceeded. I have no recollection of anything that we really missed this year. It would be a lie to say we achieved all our targets and goals, but we came close.
Toquart is almost complete, Cataract has about 4 months to go plus some heli that we will do when our aircraft return home from Australia. TFL54 is progressing well. 2008 has the making of a great year.
Our industry continues to change. Logging costs are being driven down by aggressive entrepreneurs but I think more fail than succeed. It is tough to adhere to new safe work practices, ISO and environmental requirements and reduced costs as well. Not to mention that the current weak US housing market is having a very dramatic effect on the work place. There will be fewer faces next year. Production curtailments are mounting.
I believe our CEO has this company configured in such a way that we will be able to maneuver through the tough times. Those of us that have been around for a few years, come to expect the constant transition we here at Coulson go through. This year the most memorable was the Martin Mars purchase, but I believe the one to watch is the TFL54 partnership. It will be a challenge but that is why we are here. The future looks good.
Thanks to all crews for the effort again this year. We have had a few minor differences but we go forward at all times. We have a very committed core group with a nice mix of new faces and room for more.