MacGregor introduces first fibre-rope crane to the offshore market

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May 1, 2019

MacGregor has completed the construction of the first fiber rope offshore crane on the market. The company says that its new FibreTrac crane is able to use its full lifting capacity because fiber rope weighs virtually nothing in water, so no additional load is experienced by the crane, no matter the length of the line paid out. Steel wire rope cranes have to support the extra weight of every foot of cable.

"In practical terms, this means that a smaller crane and vessel can be used for more assignments, and owners are able to bid on a wider range of contracts," said Høye Høyesen, VP of advanced offshore solutions for MacGregor. "The ability to use smaller vessels for deep-water projects will also drive down the cost of these operations and give our customers a stronger competitive edge."

The FibreTrac crane has a 150-tonne capacity and incorporates an advanced rope monitoring and management system. MacGregor says that it is a combination of existing, proven technologies, and will give offshore operators a new edge.

"The project to build, certify and validate the MacGregor FibreTrac crane is the result of our confidence in its potential," says Høyesen. "We strongly believe in the advantages that it will deliver to our customers."

Eckerö Line Deploys 3D Ship Display for Situational Awareness

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May 1, 2019

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Finnish cruise ferry operator Eckerö Line will soon be using a new bridge display technology that shows a sensor-generated visualization of the ship and its surroundings. The system – ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision – is intended to help increase situational awareness, particularly during docking and in busy waterways. It will soon be installed on the ferry MS Finlandia, which makes three runs per day between Helsinki, Finland and Tallinn, Estonia.

“Our goal is to improve environmental performance and safety, and we worked with ABB to achieve greater efficiency in docking and high traffic situations. Our customers demand high levels of safety in all conditions,” said Daniel Olsén, technical manager, Eckerö Group.

ABB says that with Marine Pilot Vision, a virtual model of the ship is superimposed on real surroundings measured using multiple sensor technologies. This allows for monitoring the ship and its surroundings from a birds-eye view (and other views as well). ABB believes that this makes it easier to predict vessel motion relative to actual surroundings, and gives the bridge team new visibility for what would ordinarily be hidden obstacles.

In addition to the technology itself, ABB says that it is providing training for the crew to help them get the most out of the system and integrate its use into their operations.

“Computer vision has advanced significantly in recent years. With this new solution, ABB is leveraging that in order to present the ship and its environment in ways beyond ordinary perception. Crucially, we can do this in real-time in an intuitive fashion, which does not distract the crew from their work. In this sense, Ability Marine Pilot Vision extends the capabilities of the human senses,” said Mikko Lepisto, SVP of Digital Solutions at ABB Marine & Ports, at the system's launch earlier this year.

NSW government gives the nod for first gas terminal

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April 30, 2019

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Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Government announced it has awarded Development Consent to Australian Industrial Energy's (AIE) Port Kembla Gas Terminal (PKGT).

The decision by the NSW Minister for Planning, Rob Stokes, comes after a thorough review of the Project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The gas terminal could supply more than 70% of NSW’s natural gas needs, while creating up to 150 jobs during construction and around 40-50 ongoing roles during operation, AIE said.

Meanwhile, located within Port Kembla’s industrial precinct and in close proximity to existing gas transmission infrastructure, the arrival of a local source of gas could assist in attracting additional industries and gas users to the region.

The terminal is on track to deliver first gas to customers in late 2020.

The PKGT could also support a major injection to NSW’s power network with AIE proposing an 800MW gas-fired power station as a second phase of work.

The power station, to be located in the Illawarra, would be fueled by gas from the PKGT.

AIE’s power station proposal was recently shortlisted as part of the Commonwealth Government’s energy solution, the Underwriting New Generation program.

Source:safety4sea

Orsted commits to 900MW Changhua

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April 30, 2019

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Orsted has taken a final investment decision to build the 900MW Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farm in Taiwan.

The company said prior to the FID, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs approved Orsted’s local supply chain plan, and subsequently Orsted has signed a power purchase agreement with Taipower at the feed-in-tariff level announced on 30 January 2019.

Changhua 1 and 2a will be located 35-50km off the coast of Changhua County.

It will be constructed in 2021 and 2022, Orsted said.

Orsted chief executive of offshore Martin Neubert said: “Over the last couple of months, we have been working intensively to obtain establishment permit, renegotiate contracts, get our supply chain plan approved and sign the power purchase agreement."

Thanks to a close and strong collaboration with our supply chain partners, Taipower and decision-makers in Taiwan, we have achieved all these milestones and can now take the final investment decision on this landmark project, which will be Taiwan’s largest offshore wind farm and demonstrate offshore wind’s potential to decarbonise energy systems in Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region.

Orsted Asia-Pacific president Matthias Bausenwein said: “With the Changhua 1 and 2a offshore wind farm, which is the first under the localisation rules to take final investment decision, Orsted will invest significantly in Taiwan’s transition to renewable energy with substantial impact on local job creation and industrial development."

We are proud that we have secured a very high level of local content on the project, and we will start the initial onshore works already next month.

Siemens Gamesa is the preferred turbine supplier for the project to deliver 112 8.0-167 machines.

Orsted has contracted Taiwanese outfit Sing Da Marine Structure Corporation to supply 56 of the jacket foundations for the wind farm, while Formosa Heavy Industries and CSBC Corporation will supply pin piles for the foundations.

Taiwan Congeneration Corporation has an engineering, procurement and construction contract for two onshore substations for Changhua 1 and 2.

Source:renews

SHI Built LNG-Fuelled Ship with In-house Tech

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April 30, 2019

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South Korea shipbuilding major Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announced that it has successfully built its first LNG-fuelled vessels with its own technology, proving itself to the eco-friendly shipping industry for its construction competencies and technological prowess.

SHI announced on April 29, 2019 that the two LNG-fuelled 113,000 dwt oil tankers delivered to an Asian shipowner early this year just completed the first bunkering at the port of Rotterdam in Netherlands and now begin its operation as ecofriendly vessels.

The shipbuilder stated that the two oil tankers are the first LNG-fuelled vessels SHI built at its yard. The order was awarded at the end of 2015, and they were delivered this January and February, respectively.

One of the main features of the two LNG-fulled oil tankers is that in comparison with conventional vessels using diesel oil as fuel, they are fitted with a LNG supply system, ‘S-Fugas’, developed on SHI’s own that can eliminate Sulphur Oxide (Sox) emissions by 99%, Nitrous Oxide (NOx) emissions by 85% and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 25%.

The S-Fugas is a core technology necessary to be applied to the engineering and construction stage due to its feature that vaporizes LNG at the temperature of -163? to supply the gas to the main engines and generators.

An additional feature is an integrated smart ship solution, INTELLIMAN ship software, which helps further increase operational safety of the vessels with its real-time monitoring function that shows changes in temperature and pressure, fuel level, etc. in a LNG fuel tank not only on-board but on-shore.

Currently, LNG as fuel is considered as a cheaper and more eco-friendly alternative than low sulfur oil and scrubber in the long run to meet the IMO 2020 regulations that require the reduction of Sulfur content in fuel to 0.5%.

SHI’s own LNG propulsion technology has helped it secure orders for 10 LNG-fuelled ships from international shipowners to date this year.

In preparation for the most stringent maritime environmental regulations in history, the IMO 2020, since 2012, SHI has made numerous attempts to ensure the quality of LNG-fuelled vessels by applying different shapes and materials to a LNG fuel tank system and different engines (high pressure/low pressure: MEGI, X-DF).

“SHI’s competences have been proven when it comes to the fabrication of the entire LNG value chain from Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facilities, LNG carriers, LNG bunkering vessels, to LNG-fuelled vessels” said Dr. Yong-Lae Shim Vice President of Ship & Offshore Research Institute in SHI. “SHI will continue working towards even better quality and costs by using more local vendors for materials and equipment and upgrading the system performance”.

Source:marinelink

Vietnamese Coast Guard Cutter Collides with Indonesian Warship

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April 30, 2019

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On Sunday, Indonesia's government alleged that a Vietnamese coast guard cutter rammed an Indonesian Navy ship as it attempted to apprehend a Vietnamese fishing vessel.

Video from the scene appears to show a Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance cutter overtaking the Indonesian Navy ship on the port side, then closing in and colliding. In an unredacted version of the video, the crew of the Indonesian vessel can be heard cursing at the Vietnamese ship as it backs away.

According to a statement from the Indonesian Navy, the fishing vessel sank after an accidental collision. The Indonesian vessel apprehended a dozen fishermen, and two more were rescued by the Vietnamese coast guard ship, according to the Indonesian account.

Indonesia's government summoned Vietnam's deputy ambassador to express its displeasure over the encounter. Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir asserted that the Vietamese vessels' actions endangered the safety of the Indonesian vessel's crew and violated international law.

It is the second incident this year in which Indonesian forces have had a tense encounter with Vietnamese government vessels within the Indonesian EEZ. In February, the Indonesian Navy chased off two Vietnamese government ships on suspicion of "hostile intent," according to Indonesian fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti.

Pudjiastuti announced Monday that her ministry will soon sink dozens of foreign fishing boats that it has confiscated for fishing in its waters illegally. “On the 4th we will be sinking 51 boats, mostly from Vietnam,” she said in a Twitter update.

Source:maritime-executive

UK Coastguard Tests Drones for Coastal Search and Rescue

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April 30, 2019

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The Essex Police, the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are launching a year-long trial to test the use of drones in search and rescue applications.

The trial, which kicks off today, will provide HM Coastguard's rescue teams with more aerial search assets. Essex Police’s Drone Unit will provide the drones as a service, and the partners expect that the new tool will give SAR teams a better way to search hazardous coastal areas and evaluate risks before sending in human rescue teams.

"The increased situational awareness that drones provide could play a significant role in helping us locate casualties as quickly as possible. When lives are at risk, the speed at which our crews can locate and reach a casualty is vital," said Will Roberts, Senior Innovation Manager at the RNLI. "Being able to see the impact that drones can have in helping our lifeboat crews search and then reach casualties through this pilot will be extremely useful."

At the end of the year-long pilot, the impact that drones have had on coastal search and rescue will be assessed, and that information will help inform the MCA and RNLI’s ongoing work to explore the role that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can play in future search and rescue activity.

Six HM Coastguard Teams and six RNLI lifeboat stations along the Essex coastline will be taking part in the trial.

"Thanks to the Essex Police Drone Unit, we are able to trial this innovative technology to help rescuers on the front line with more accurate aerial vision, conduct searches in hard to reach or hazardous areas, assist with night time thermal imagery searches and relaying messages from rescuers to casualties," said Phil Hanson, Aviation Technical Assurance Manager at the UK MCA. "One thing we need to stress is that the drones will not replace our Coastguard helicopters, Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI or independent lifeboats. However, it is entirely possible that they could be an additional tool to use in search and rescue and enhance our existing capabilities."

NAPA and ChartWorld partner to provide artificial intelligence- driven voyage optimization

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April 30, 2019

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NAPA, the leading maritime software, services and data analysis provider and ChartWorld, the leading digital chart agent, have announced their partnership to provide revolutionary artificial intelligence-driven voyage planning and optimization.

Oliver Schwarz, ChartWorld’s Business Development Director, commented, “In today’s era of constant regulatory change and cost volatility, vessel efficiency and safety are more important than ever. Through the integration of ChartWorld’s industry-leading voyage planning with NAPA Fleet Intelligence, shipping’s most powerful software for optimized vessel operation, we have created a solution that reliably gives owners and operators the information they need to make the most cost effective and time efficient choices for their fleets.”

Schwarz continued, “With the adoption of ECDIS, voyage planning has become increasingly complex. Best-practice risk management requires ‘four eyes’ on voyage planning, with the master verifying the second mate’s plans. Onshore personnel can use the MyRouteAppraisal (MyRA) solution to pre-check onboard navigation planning for additional certainty, as well as comparing different route alternatives for the same voyage.”

The solution developed by NAPA and ChartWorld includes modules for evaluating the operational efficiency of past voyages, and then using this data to optimize the efficiency of future transits where there are similar variables and trends. Past voyages are automatically evaluated via datasets collected from ChartWorld’s route network to find improved routes the vessel could have taken. These voyages are also automatically analyzed by NAPA’s algorithms for operational efficiency, taking into account wave conditions, weather, and other factors that affect the voyage.

Risto Kariranta, Director of Services, Shipping Solutions at NAPA, commented, “As a former mariner I know all too well how laborious voyage planning can be even on a clear day with calm seas. Our partnership with ChartWorld provides a solution I could only dream of having available when I was on the bridge. Additionally, by using our AI-based algorithms operators are able to reduce the cost of each voyage, execute it more safely and with far less work for the crew onboard.”

Under this partnership, ChartWorld has signed a re-seller agreement with NAPA allowing for a range of NAPA services to be provided as an integral part of ChartWorld’s MyRouteAppraisal (MyRA) platform. MyRA, combined with NAPA’s vessel performance enhancements provides charterers, ship operators, and onboard personnel with a range of advanced tools related to voyage planning. Charterers, for example, will be able to evaluate the cost of voyages for different destinations with different schedules. They also can share these plans in real-time with ship operators and onboard crew.

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Two Diamond ultra-deepwater drillships to work for Woodside off Senegal

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April 30, 2019

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Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc. has issued an update on its drilling rig fleet.

Offshore Senegal, Woodside has awarded the ultra-deepwater drillships Ocean BlackHawk and Ocean BlackRhino well based contracts plus options. The Ocean BlackHawk’s estimated contract duration is 1Q 2022 to 1Q 2023. The Ocean BlackRhino’s estimated contract duration is 4Q 2020 to 4Q 2023.

The Ocean BlackHawk is currently under contract to Anadarko in the US Gulf of Mexico. This contract is estimated to end in mid-April 2021.

The Ocean BlackRhino is under contract to Hess in the US Gulf of Mexico. This three-year contract term is estimated to end in late May 2020.

Offshore Australia, BP has awarded the semisubmersible Ocean Apex a one-well contract. The estimated contract duration is early October 2020 to late December 2020.

In the UK North Sea, an undisclosed operator has awarded the semisub Ocean GreatWhite a well based contract, which is expected to run from late July 2019 to mid-October 2019.

Source:offshore-mag

Macquarie pays $1.78bn for OOCL’s Long Beach terminal

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April 30, 2019

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Amid a crowded field Cosco has picked a consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners to buy out a terminal in Long Beach belonging to subsidiary Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL).

The Chinese shipping giant had to sell the terminal as part of US authorities agreeing the takeover of OOCL last year. Long Beach Container Terminal is one of the most advanced box handling facilities in California and Cosco was not short of offers for the prime site, eventually accepting Macquarie’s $1.78bn bid.

As part of the sale, OOCL has committed to call at the terminal for the next 20 years.

Commenting on the sale, Andy Tung, co-CEO of OOCL, said: “Over the past 30 years, we have developed Long Beach Container Terminal into the safest, most efficient and lowest-emission terminal in the United States. We are confident of the future prospects of the terminal under the ownership of MIP and its co-investors, and we look forward to being a long term strategic customer of Long Beach Container Terminal and the Port of Long Beach.”