Nord Stream 2 AG submitted third permit application and EIA to DEA

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May 17, 2019

Nord Stream 2 AG submitted a third permit application and an EIA to the DEA on 15 April 2019 in order to secure the interests of our shareholder and financial investors, despite our legal reservations. This south-eastern route runs through an area that was previously disputed between Poland and Denmark, and therefore not available for any project developer.

The permit application and EIA were submitted following a decision made by the DEA on 26 March. Nord Stream 2 AG, however, appealed the DEA’s decision on 17 April as we consider its request for a third permitting and consultation procedure disproportionate and illegal.

Nord Stream 2 AG already has two other separate route applications pending with the DEA. The first, applied for in April 2017, is based on the guidance received from the Danish authorities for the existing Nord Stream Pipeline and crosses Danish territorial waters. The second application, applied for in August 2018, is an alternative route in Danish EEZ passing north-west of Bornholm. At this time, the north-western route was the environmentally preferred route within the Danish EEZ.

In accordance with the permits already granted in four countries, work on the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline is ongoing in Russia, Finland, Sweden and Germany. More than 1,200 kilometres of the two lines – more than half of the total distance – have already been laid.

Source:portnews

Unmanned surface vessels deployed for Shell hydrographic survey

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May 17, 2019

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Shell has awarded Australian marine survey company Guardian Geomatics with a large hydrographic project utilising its fleet of unmanned surface vessels. The project is to acquire hydrographic data over an area in excess of 800km2.

The project will utilise up to 3 unmanned surface vessels, Guardian Geomatics said.

American seabed contractor Ocean Infinity will support the project as a partner with its 'Seabed Constructor' acting as a mother ship.

"By using unmanned surface vessels instead of a conventional vessel, Shell is able to reduce the onsite data acquisition time by a factor of 3. Using Guardian’s Seabed-Cloud technology the data is able to be presented to the users with a much quicker turnaround. The fuel usage on the project is estimated to be reduced by a factor 10,"…explained Steve Duffield, Commercial Director of Guardian Geomatics.

The project is planned to start in June 2019.

In March 2019, Ocean Infinity agreed terms for the acquisition of a 25% stake in Guardian Geomatics.

Source;safety4sea

COSCO plans several Arctic shipments for 2019

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May 17, 2019

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COSCO confirmed its plans to increase transit shipments on the Northern Sea Route. The shipping giant aspires to operate in the Polar Silk Road and serve international trade between the North Atlantic region and the far east.

Explaining why COSCO chose the Northern Sea Route, Chen Feng, General Director of COSCO Marketing and Sales, said that this route is smooth and fast. He did not reveal how many voyages will be made, as much will depend on weather and ice conditions, as well as demand, but he noted that the transits will several.

Mr. Feng also highlighted that, this Route can save up to ten days on a shipment between Asia and Europe, thus reducing fuel energy, avoiding at the same time piracy incidents.

According to sources, the west-bound shipments will take place mainly from China, but also South Korea and Japan.

COSCO has an experience in Arctic voyages as it has made a total of 22 trans-Arctic shipments. The first two occurred in 2013, while 8 more took place in 2018.

This confirmation comes as China wants to strengthen its position in the Arctic. Its Polar Silk Road is considered a key part of the Belt and Road initiative. However, waters in the area are still highly complicated for vessels.

Despite the rough area, during 2018 a total of 491,000 tons of cargo was shipped on the route, most of it by COSCO’s eight ships.

MSC Cruises funds Cayman Islands’ cruise berthing project

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May 17, 2019

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MSC Cruises announced it will provide funding for the construction of a new cruise berthing facility in the Cayman Islands’ George Town Harbour. The announcement was made from Premier Alden McLaughlin after the Cayman Islands Government had received a formal financial commitment from the cruise company.

MSC Cruises is the 4th company to financially commit to the cruise berthing project, following Royal Caribbean, Carnival Corporation and Disney Cruise Line.

Mr Alden McLaughlin noted.."These agreements, coupled with the finance to be provided by whichever entity is eventually selected as the preferred bidder on the project, ensure that no public funding will be required to build the cruise berths and enhanced cargo facility."

Moreover, the project is in the sixth year of operation, aiming to build the berthing facility within a design, build, finance and maintain framework.

The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands will continue to own, operate and manage the facility as it does today.

Mr MLaughlin added that cruise companies' investment reflects their commitment in boosting the islands.

The project is estimated to be conducted at 30 to 36 months; It will include a dredged berthing area and piers providing berths for four large cruise ships, with additional reclaimed land for landside facilities.

After the completion of the project, cruise ships will no longer have to transfer cruise passengers between ship and shore using small vessels.

Source:safety4sea

Shipping industry faces technological advances

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May 17, 2019

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The Global Maritime Forum focuses on emerging technologies arising in the shipping industry, along with the explosion of data sources, from weather systems, ship movements and supply chains to Augmented Reality navigation for very large crude carriers. With the technology, shipping provides new insights concerning the benefits but also the dangers in the shipping industry.

Elliott Gotkine, Director of Communications,Windward, commented"The maritime industry can potentially become safer, cleaner, more secure and efficient. But it depends on whether leaders understand the risks and rewards that new technologies represent and adopt a new technological mindset."

According to the Forum, autonomous vessels will boost crew and fuel saving, as well as maintenance in the future.

In addition, maritime security is another 'hot' issue; Technology by using satellite data, ship ownership, vessel activities and beyond, play a significant role in understanding when a vessel is under illegal operations, as trafficking arms, people or drugs. However, due to technology development, transponders, as AIS, can be manipulated.

Concluding, the technological highlights is the efficiency of supply chains. For instance, Nautilus Labs raised $11M in a Microsoft-led funding round to further develop AI to help fleet operators reduce fuel consumption and optimize performance – reducing costs and emissions.

Source;safety4sea

PSA Singapore, ONE inaugurate Magenta Singapore terminal

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May 17, 2019

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PSA Singapore, terminal operator, along with Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced the inauguration of their joint terminal dubbed the Magenta Singapore Terminal in the Lion City earlier this week.

The joint venture terminal has been named the Magenta Singapore Terminal after ONE’s distinctive branding.

The fourth berth, which has a 4 million TEU capacity, annually, at PSA’s Pasir Panjang Terminal in Singapore was announced in December last year.

Among those present at the inauguration were ONE ceo Jeremy Nixon, Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) chief executive Quah Ley Hoon, and PSA group ceo Tan Chong Meng.The latest joint venture terminal by PSA represents an important step in locking in the Japanese container line joint venture ONE to using Singapore as its transhipment hub in Southeast Asia.

Other lines with joint venture terminals in Singapore include Pacific International Lines, MSC and CMA CGM and in November last year Cosco Shipping Ports and PSA joint venture Cosco-PSA Terminal announced it would be increasing annual capacity from 3m to 5m teu.

Maersk orders five 2,200 teu feederships at Jiangnan Shipyard

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May 17, 2019

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The world’s largest container shipping company AP Moller – Maersk has signed a contract five 2,200 teu feederships with Chinese shipbuilding company CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard.

The feeders vessels will be172 metres in length and 32.2 metres beam.

All the five vessels are ordered through a financial leasing arrangement with China’s ICBC Leasing and will be classified by CCS. The ships will be deployed for Asia market after the delivery in the first half of 2021.

Jiangnan Shipyard currently has 13 feeder vessels in its orderbook.

Source;seatrade-maritime

7 Reasons why shipping is in the news

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May 17, 2019

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Sadly, shipping appears in the news mostly when it comes to noisy debate issues and warnings, while casualties and/or major agreements are the topics that attract readers the most, generate clicks and get shared. Which are these topics though and why?

1. Casualties

Allianz says that 75% of shipping insurance losses are caused by human error: miss-labeling, miss-classifying, improper fire-fighting, temperature and stow, etc. Of course, the nature of shipping, as well as the environments in which the industry operates, make casualties more and more common. Ether caused by human error, or by technical failure, vessel accidents have been always hitting the headlines.

“Barges and oil tanker collide in Houston Ship Channel” was the latest one. Such stories are usually human centric while also bring to light ship handling in heavy weather, oil spills, engine breakdowns and/or fire fightings.

2. IMO Special Days

Each year IMO Maritime Days and Special Events are being spread around the world in order to spread awareness on critical issues concerning the industry. For example, the World Maritime Day theme for 2019 has been proclaimed to be "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” stressing out the importance of gender equality, in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and to the important contribution of women in shipping.

In view of the World Maritime Day, the 3rd International conference on Empowering Women in the Maritime Community at the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden brought the attention of media while even more special events being on the agenda as well.

3. Maritime Security Incidents

Sunday, 12 May; International media are sharing the announcement-warning of The United Arab Amirates (UAE), that four oil vessels were “attacked” or “sabotaged” at the mouth of the Persian Gulf near Fujairah Emirate, just outside of the Strait of Hormuz. Almost one week later the event remains the “ talk of the town” being reported by posting updates and discussing the severity of the incident.

4. Regulations

The global shipping regulator, IMO, has set the first step in shipping’s quest to become more eco – friendly by heavy regulating the sulphur emissions. Media worldwide are discussing the challenges of changing from heavy oil with a sulfur content of 3.5% to cleaner mixes with 0.5% sulfur in 2020. Besides, according to Drewry, IMO’s 2020 may result to a major carrier bankruptcy.

5. Bankruptcy Scenarios

For instance, the big bankruptcy of the ocean shipping carrier Hanjin hit the headlines back in 2016. The incident along with the recent Aegean Marine bankruptcy this November, verify that financial struggles and mega-huge losses always draw the attention of the readers.

6. Cyber Security Issues

June 2017 was marked by, the non-Petya malware attack to Maersk as part of a national attack. The virus stopped the company’s operations in Rotterdam, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Auckland, and many more ports around the world, going viral both in social and digital media as well as in the news broadcast world wide.

7. Important agreements

Last but not least, vessel sales and purchase agreements generate clicks under the “name recognition”. A good example is the recent ExxonMobil sales and purchase agreement with Zhejiang Provincial Energy Group for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply. In light of the agreement, Zhejiang Energy is expected to receive 1 million metric tonnes per annum of LNG over 20 years.

DEME Offshore seals Hornsea 2 double

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May 17, 2019

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DEME Offshore has won a €200m contract to transport and install turbines and foundations at Orsted’s 1386MW Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.

The work will include transport and installation of 165 monopiles and transition pieces, as well as providing scour protection.

The company’s new DP3 offshore installation vessel Orion, entering the fleet by the end of the year, will carry out the work.

Sea Challenger and Sea Installer will transport and install the Siemens Gamesa 8.4MW turbines.

The job should be completed in early 2022, DEME said.

DEME Offshore general manager Bart De Poorter said: “We are delighted with this major contract award from Orsted, which once again highlights our vast track record and technical expertise in providing innovative solutions for the offshore wind industry."

We look forward to working with Orsted and to leverage our joint expertise to successfully and safely deliver this major project.

Source;renews

Secretary General of IMO to outline future of ocean regulations at Nor-Shipping 2019

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May 17, 2019

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Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will be taking the stage at Nor-Shipping 2019’s Ocean Leadership Conference on 4 June to talk about the future of maritime regulations. Kim will join an elite group of global thought leaders at the Thon Hotel Arena Lillestrøm, adding to a programme designed to deliver insights on issues ranging from cyber security, to economic strategy, sustainable development, geopolitical forces, future energy demands, and much more.

Nor-Shipping has refined its traditional opening conference this year to create a new format. The event week, which runs from 04 to 07 June 2019 across a series of venues in Oslo and Lillestrøm, is bringing together high profile individuals from diverse spheres of influence to give attendees a ‘bigger picture’ perspective of maritime and ocean industry development.

Comments Nor-Shipping Director Per Martin Tanggaard:

“For anyone interested in the future of the ocean space, the IMO is arguably the principal stakeholder to follow, engage with and learn from”… With 173 member states and the mandate to define the regulatory framework of our ocean space, the role the body has in serving business, society and the seas themselves is both unique and critically important.

“Kitack Lim, an immensely respected individual, will lead the organisation through to 2024 and this is a rare chance to hear him talk about his vision for the future and how the IMO, and its rules, will help shipping chart a successful, sustainable path forwards. We’re delighted to have him on board for Nor-Shipping’s first ever Ocean Leadership Conference.”

Lim joins a group of speakers and panellists that includes Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Nobel Laureate (Economics) prize winner Paul M. Romer, Admiral Michael Rogers, the former director of the National Security Agency (NSA), Geir Håøy, KONGSBERG CEO, Ann-Kristin Andersen, TechnipFMC’s Chief Digital Officer, DNV GL CEO Remi Eriksen, and Lise Kingo, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), amongst others.

“The potential for commercial development of the ocean space is huge, but the challenges, with the need for sustainable solutions most paramount, are also significant,” states Tanggaard. “To find the optimal route ahead there’s a pressing need to engage with diverse stakeholders, share knowledge and, crucially, work together to enable greater progress, understanding and a uniformity of purpose."

“This conference reflects that need and, we hope, will play a role in provoking the discussion, action and collaboration that will help us access the opportunity that lies ahead. This will be a unique event, for our unique industry, not to mention an excellent way to get Nor-Shipping 2019 underway. I look forward to seeing everyone there.”

Nor-Shipping has now sold around 75% of the available Ocean Leadership Conference tickets, while its entire 21,000m2 exhibition space is booked up. In total over 30,000 key decision makers are expected to attend the international event week, with around 1000 exhibiting companies showcasing the very latest products, services and innovations.

Nor-Shipping 2019 takes place in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway, from 04 to 07 June 2019.

Source:portnews