Siemens Gamesa replaces GE on 1GW French offshore duo

By

-

April 16, 2019

Siemens Gamesa is to supply EDF with turbines totalling up to 1GW for two French offshore wind farms after GE Renewable Energy pulled out of the projects.

The German-Spanish manufacturer has signed a framework agreement with the developer to deliver 7MW units to a pair of as-yet unknown wind farms, subject to a final investment decision on the project.

GE, which had been exclusive supplier to all three of EDF’s French offshore wind farms, will supply 6MW turbines to the first of the schemes that secures all permits and clears all ongoing appeals.

The three projects are the 498MW Fecamp, 480MW Saint-Nazaire and 450MW Courseulles wind farms.

GE said “the cumulative excessive delays since 2012…have significantly impacted the financial characteristics of those projects” for the manufacturer.

“GE has therefore decided to review its engagement in the implementation of all these projects,” it said.

The Siemens Gamesa turbines, which will be manufactured in Le Havre, will come with a 15-year service deal.

“We thank EMF and its shareholders for their trust. This agreement again confirms Siemens Gamesa’s position as leader of the offshore wind market in France and allows us to strengthen our medium-term prospects as part of the development of the industrial project in Le Havre,” said chief executive Markus Tacke.

“Siemens Gamesa remains fully committed to meeting the needs of all its customers and ensuring that these projects are a success for the sector and for France.”

Source:renews

Major lines establish Digital Container Shipping Association

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

Four major lines – AP Moller-Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and ONE – have jointly established Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) to drive standardisation, digitalisation and interoperability in the industry.

The neutral and non-profit DCSA officially started operations on 12 April in its headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, after it gained regulatory approval from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) last month.

“For the first time in 20 years, the container shipping industry has come together with a common goal to move the industry into the digital era. With regulatory approval in place, we look forward for the association to take up work and to begin to collaborate with multiple stakeholders from the entire value chain,” said Andre Simha, chief information officer of MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) and chairman of the supervisory board of DCSA.

To create value quickly and to overcome some of the biggest pain points in the industry, one of DCSA’s first projects is focusing on standards to overcome the lack of a common foundation for technical interfaces and data.

Additionally, to develop another cornerstone for the foundation of the future of shipping, the association is creating an industry blueprint for processes. The work undertaken will be for the benefit of the entire industry, as all standards will be openly published and free of charge.

Thomas Bagge from Maersk has been appointed ceo and statutory director of DCSA. Bagge has been involved in various transformation activities in Maersk covering people, process and technology, over the past 12 years.

In addition to Bagge and Simha, two other members of the DCSA supervisory board are Martin Gnass, managing director information technology from Hapag-Lloyd, and Noriaki Yamaga, managing director of corporate and innovation from ONE (Ocean Network Express).

At present, DCSA is in discussions with multiple other container shipping lines globally who are interested in joining the association, and preparations for membership of two companies are already ongoing.

Source:seatrade-maritime

Green light for Indo-Danish offshore tie-up

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

India’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved a cooperation agreement with Denmark to work more closely together on renewables, focusing on offshore wind.

Modi’s cabinet signed off on the agreement between Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India and the Ministry for Energy, Utilities and Climate of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Areas of cooperation include enhancing India’s technical capabilities for managing offshore wind projects, measures to ensure quality of wind turbines, components, certification requirements as well as offshore wind forecasting and scheduling.

A Letter of Intent has also been signed recently that will establish an Indo-Danish Centre of Excellence for renewable energy in India.

The Indo-Danish Centre of Excellence in Integrated Renewable Power will focus on renewable energy resource assessments with focus on onshore and offshore wind, hybridisation of wind, solar, hydro and storage technologies, integration of wind at higher penetration levels, testing, research and development, skills training and workforce capacity building.

Wärtsilä continues to invest in a 100% renewable energy future by providing seed funding to Soletair Power Oy

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

The technology group Wärtsilä has agreed to provide EUR 500,000 in seed funding to Soletair Power Oy, a Finland based startup company operating in the field of Power-to-X. Soletair Power Oy has developed a unique concept to improve air quality in buildings by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) and converting it to synthetic renewable fuel.

Soletair Power’s concept represents an important step towards carbon neutral societies and supports Wärtsilä’s strategy in leading the energy sector’s transformation towards a 100% renewable energy future.

“As an energy systems integrator, Wärtsilä understands, designs, optimises, builds and serves complex power systems enabling our customers to create sustainable energy for the future. To achieve this, we build strategic partnerships, innovate with startup companies, and actively recruit new talent to strengthen and support our expertise in new business areas. Our funding for Soletair Power Oy is a concrete example of this philosophy, and it takes us one step closer to 100% renewable world,” commented Matti Rautkivi, Director for Strategy and Business Development in Wärtsilä’s Energy Business.

While hydrogen can be produced from renewable energy sources, the Soletair Power concept captures the CO2 from the air and utilises synthesis to combine these into hydrocarbons suitable for synthetic renewable fuel. Wärtsilä sees great value in the Soletair Power concept and will provide global support in the development and commercialisation of the technology.

“The Soletair Power solution represents an important stepping stone towards a sustainable future. We are excited to be working with Wärtsilä, a global technology leader and innovator, in bringing this solution to the market,” added Petri Laakso, newly appointed CEO of Soletair Power Oy.

Building a sustainable future for the energy industry is the basis of Wärtsilä’s Smart Energy vision. This involves maximised renewable generation, which is enabled by integrating flexible energy generating assets together with intermittent renewables. In the 100% renewables world, the majority of the energy produced will be from solar PV and wind power. The required operational flexibility will be provided by flexible gas assets using synthetic renewable fuels, by the extended use of energy storage technology, and by optimising the lifecycle of the existing installations.

Caption text: Anja Frada, Vice President, Business Development, Finance and Control, Wärtsilä Energy Business and Ari Piispanen, shareholder, Soletair Power Oy, signed the seed funding contract between the companies on 12 April 2019.

Hyundai Heavy Sells Oil Stake to Saudi Aramco

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

South Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries sells its share of oil refinery Hyundai Oilbank to Saudi Arabian oil giant Saudi Aramco.

According to a press release, Saudi Aramco’s subsidiary, Aramco Overseas Company B.V (AOC) will purchase a 17% stake in South Korea's Hyundai Oilbank, a subsidiary of Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings.

The investment is valued at approximately $ 1.25 billion, it said.

AOC’s’s investment in South Korea’s Hyundai Oilbank will support Saudi Aramco’s crude oil placement strategy by providing a dedicated outlet for Arabian crude oil to South Korea.

Abdulaziz Al-Judaimi, Saudi Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Downstream, said: “Saudi Aramco continues to strengthen its position in the downstream sector. This acquisition demonstrates our investment in the highly complex refining sector in Asia, and continuous commitment to the region’s energy security and development.”

Judaimi added: The investment supports Saudi Aramco’s broader downstream growth strategy, as well as providing long term crude oil placement supply options and product offtakes as part of our trading business.

Hyundai Oilbank is a private oil refining company established in 1964. The Daesan Complex, where Hyundai Oilbank’s major facilities are located, is a fully integrated refining plant with a processing capacity of 650,000 barrels per day. The business portfolio of Hyundai Oilbank and its 5 subsidiaries includes oil refining, base oil, petrochemicals, and a network of gas stations.

AOC is a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco. It provides support services to Saudi Aramco and, through its investments and joint ventures, forms an integral part of the global Saudi Aramco oil, gas, and chemicals enterprise.

Source:marinelink

MPA Singapore, Wärtsilä collaborate to improve digitalization at the port

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

As the Port of Singapore’s ambitions continue to become clearer with the construction of Tuas Mega-Terminal, a combination of technologies and innovations will increase the efficiency and safety of operations at the world’s busiest container transhipment hub. Wärtsilä responded to this by opening up a Wärtsilä Acceleration Centre (WAC).

Namely, MPA Singapore and Wärtsilä agreed to jointly focus on developing intelligent vessels, connected smart port operations, cyber-physical security, and digital acceleration with start-ups.

Now, the first project to be co-produced at the Centre is the Wärtsilä IntelliTug. By partnering with PSA Marine and MPA, Wärtsilä has started a venture to improve the capabilities of the harbour tug.

With over 90,000 towage jobs in each year, the PSA Marine tug operations are important for Singapore. To meet the demands of the expanding port, the collective is cooperating to bring to life a smarter tug that will perform a range of routine missions in order to further improve tug safety and efficiencies, while also reducing operator workload and pressures in the port.

Specifically:

Smart navigation assists the Tug Master with passage planning by plotting an optimized route while dynamically maintaining safe distances during navigation, detecting and preventing potential collisions.
The sensor fusion technology behind the IntelliTug will also provide the crew with an extra set of eyes, enhancing situational awareness and improving visibility in challenging conditions.
Virtual Anchoring will help to relieve the Tug Master from executing manual standby manoeuvres, making it possible for the master and his crew to focus on other tasks at hand. The Guard Circle will alert the Tug Master should anything enter his safe zone.

"With IntelliTug we are creating a technology that will find a real application in the commercial maritime market. We want to help the industry improve by leveraging the use of automation technologies on ships to boost safety and efficiency, while at the same time augmenting the human’s role within the loop. This solution will empower Tug Masters by actively assisting the crew in different situations, allowing them to focus on critical tug operations whilst dynamically maintaining safe distances during navigation and preventing potential collisions." Marco Ryan, Chief Digital Officer and Executive Vice President, Wärtsilä Corporation, commented.

For his side, Peter Chew, Managing Director of PSA Marine, said that MPA and Wärtsilä will explore and testbed new technologies, in order to improve the Tug Masters’ situational awareness so that they can navigate the busy port waters in Singapore more safely.

Tunisia stevedores to strike between 16-18 April

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

The National Union Chamber of Port Services in Tunisia announced on April 3 that they have planned a strike from 16 to 18 of April. In the meantime, the Union urged their affiliates to observe the work stoppage during this period.

Specifically, the Union decided on the strike to express their complaints on the lack of interest from the Department of Transport and the Merchant Marine and Ports Board in resolving outstanding issues and reviewing the port company records.

In the meantime, the Expanded Executive Board met to discuss all the issues relating to ships’ mooring men, ships’ watchmen and other services provided by the port authorities.

Brittania P&I advises all its members to contact their local agents and correspondents for more precise information about how this might impact their operations.

Source:safety4sea

Vår, Shell mobilize for offshore Norway drilling, workover campaigns

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority has approved well programs at three offshore fields.

Vår Energi has permission for a long-term campaign of production drilling, completions and workovers at the Ringhorne field in the North Sea.

Work is under way at the Ringhorne quarters, drilling and wellhead platform, part of the Balder field complex in the central Norwegian North Sea, 160 km (99.4 mi) west of Haugesund.

Norske Shell’s consent covers use of the Island Constructor vessel for operations at the Knarr and Ormen Lange fields in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea.

Source:offshore-mag

Rosneft conducting site studies for Barents Sea well

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

Rosneft commissioned surveys last year in the Russian sector of the Barents Sea ahead of a planned well on the West-Prinovozemelsky license.

The company is using the results for well engineering and environmental protection measures and to counter any risks that may arise during drilling.

In 2018, the company also continued to process and interpret seismic data acquired in 2016-2017 at locations in the Pechora Sea, on Sakhalin Island, and in the Black Sea region of the Caucasus.

Source:offshore-mag

Mitsui and MOL to participate in financing of FPSO charter project of MODEC for Area 1 Block offshore Mexico

By

-

April 16, 2019

0

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. jointly announce that Mitsui and MOL have participated in a long-term charter business operated by MODEC for the purpose of providing a floating production, storage, and offloading system for use in the Area 1 block offshore Mexico and a loan agreement for the Project was entered into on April 12, 2019.

Mitsui and MOL invested in Area1 Mexico MV34 B.V. ("MV34"), a Dutch company established by MODEC, which will engage in FPSO leasing, operations and maintenance services. In December 2018, MV34 concluded the charter agreement with Eni Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., the operator of Area 1 block and a subsidiary of Eni S.p.A. The charter contract initially runs for 15 years, with options for extension every year thereafter up to 5 additional years.

The loan agreement on a project finance basis was signed by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (lead arranger), MUFG Bank, Ltd., Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, Société Générale, BNP Paribas, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Clifford Capital Pte. Ltd.　and Crédit Industriel et Commercial. This is the first project finance for the FPSO project in Mexico.

Mexico has seen numerous significant discoveries of expansive offshore oil fields in recent years, thereby giving rise to expectations of fresh demand for additional FPSO in the region. Area 1 block is owned by a consortium of two companies including Eni Mexico as operator and Qatar Petroleum. Construction of the FPSO is planned to be completed in 2021, and the FPSO will be deployed for the development of the Area 1 block at water depths of about 32 meters.