Digitalization at the top of IUMI agenda

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April 3, 2019

Data and digitalisation will become an even more important issue for shipping and will be one of top priorities for the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), was the key message of IUMI President Richard Turner, after setting the Union's priorities for his term of office.

"In the longer-term we see fundamental changes to the way we conduct our business in terms of risk evaluation, claims handling and other underwriting processes. We will continue to build on the work already done and invest time and resources in assisting our members through the change,"…said Mr. Turner.

Another key area of focus for IUMI will be education, with the aim to ensure quality. Over the past two years we have made solid inroads into delivering an education programme to encourage new talent into the sector, and to develop existing talent. Our aim is to continue to grow our breadth of education services whilst ensuring quality is maintained. Uptake has been good and our task this year is to see continual growth in participation.

These issues, and others, like IUMI advocacy and membership, will be discussed at IUMI annual conference in Toronto in September. "Marine insurance is in a state of flux and the challenges we continue to face will also be under the spotlight. To reflect this, we’ve settled on the provocative conference theme “Confronting the chaos for a sustainable future?”

NOVATEK and Repsol sign Heads of Agreement for LNG supply from Arctic LNG 2

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April 3, 2019

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Novatek Gas&Power Asia, a trading subsidiary of PAO NOVATEK announced at the International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas in Shanghai, that it has signed a non-binding Heads of Agreement for the supply of LNG with Repsol.

The Heads of Agreement envisages concluding a 15-year contract with annual supply of one (1) million tons of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project as well as other NOVATEK’s projects. The LNG will be delivered ex-ship primarily to markets on the Iberian Peninsula.

“The agreement for the sale of LNG would allow us to increase our market presence on the Iberian Peninsula where Russian pipeline gas is not supplied,” noted NOVATEK’s First Deputy Chairman of the Management Board Lev Feodosyev. “Expanding our supply geography and diversifying our long-term contract customer base is consistent with the Company's strategy to ramp up LNG production in the Russian Arctic.”

The Arctic LNG 2 project envisages constructing three LNG trains at 6.6 million tons per annum each, using gravity-based structure (GBS) platforms. The Project is based on the hydrocarbon resources of the Utrenneye field. As of 31 December 2018, the Utrenneye field’s 2P reserves under PRMS totaled 1,138 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 57 million tons of liquids. Under the Russian classification reserves totaled 1,978 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 105 million tons of liquids. OOO Arctic LNG 2 owns an LNG export license.

ExxonMobil confirms multi-billion Singapore expansion, underscores commitment to marine customers

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April 3, 2019

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ExxonMobil has confirmed a multi-billion expansion of its integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore, which in part will meet the demands of marine customers for low sulphur fuels to comply with IMO 2020.

The oil and gas company made the final investment decision today on the expansion of the Singapore facility to convert fuel oil and other bottom-of-the-barrel crude products into higher-value lube base stocks and distillates.

“The demand for high-quality fuels and lubricants will increase as the global economy expands,” said Bryan Milton, president of ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants Company.

Speaking to Seatrade Maritime News, Luca Volta, marine fuels venture manager, marine fuels and lubricants for ExxonMobil, stressed the commitment that the investment showed to its marine and land transportation customers. “This is tangible commitment to the industry, backed by significant capital investment to satisfy the needs and growing demand of our customers."

The expansion will increase production of cleaner fuels with lower-sulphur content by 48,000 barrels per day, including fuels for customers to meet the IMO’s 0.5% sulphur requirement

“It is also addressing a number of needs that the world will have/has… specifically part for the marine industry cleaner products that will meet the needs of IMO 0.50% sulphur regulation in the years to come,” Volta explained.

Construction will start in the second half of this year and engineering, procurement and construction activities have already begun, and start-up is expected in 2023.

Trial proves autonomous ROV deployment capability

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April 3, 2019

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L3 Technologies has demonstrated its C-Worker 7 autonomous surface vessel (ASV) deploying, operating, and recovering an inspection-class ROV for vertical and horizontal subsea inspection.

The trial was staged over two weeks in Cawsand Bay in Plymouth, southwest England.

The system was developed for offshore tasks such as jacket and hull inspections, and pipeline and cable surveys for oil and gas and renewable energy projects.

James Cowles, commercial technical sales manager for L3 Unmanned Maritime Systems UK, said the autonomous approach could provide significant reductions in the cost and time spent at sea for both operators and vessels.

It followed completion of phase one of an Innovate UK part-funded project – the Autonomous Robotic Intervention System for Extreme Maritime Environments (ARISE) – supported by BP and with the University of Exeter acting as an academic partner.

“BP continually looks at ways to take people out of hazardous environments, and the autonomous capability being developed by L3 Technologies can enable us to do that,” said Peter Collinson, senior subsea and environmental specialist at BP.

Phase two of the project will involve further development of the ROV launch and recovery capability, including additional proof of concept demonstrations.

The system will be demonstrated at Ocean Business in Southampton on the English south coast from April 9-11.

Source:offshore-mag

McDermott, Zamil JV to provide integrated MMO services in Saudi Arabia

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April 3, 2019

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McDermott International Inc. has signed a joint venture agreement with Zamil Offshore to target the maintenance, modifications, and operations (MMO) market in Saudi Arabia.

The companies will work together on an exclusive basis to provide Saudi Aramco with comprehensive offshore brownfield EPCI solutions and asset maintenance services. The new joint venture will be positioned to offer integrated, cost-effective MMO services, to address the rising market demand in Saudi Arabia.

Zamil is the largest offshore and marine services provider in the Middle East. The partnership with Zamil, McDermott said, will provide it access to a new revenue stream in the maintenance, turnaround, inspection, and asset integrity services market in Saudi Arabia.

The joint venture is said to bolster McDermott’s long-term growth plans in Saudi Arabia and is expected to contribute to the in-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program and local content commitments, ultimately supporting Saudi Vision 2030.

Source:offshore-mag

Neptune, TechnipFMC form subsea project alliance

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April 3, 2019

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Neptune Energy has entered into a global alliance agreement with TechnipFMC for delivering subsea projects.

The alliance agreement has been signed for an initial five-year term with options for further extensions. It covers the full project lifecycle from early concept work, through engineering, procurement, delivery of subsea production systems, and installation of subsea equipment and infrastructure, and continues into life of field support.

The first developments to be executed under this contract model are the Duva and Gjøa P1 projects in the Norwegian North Sea. Both fields will be developed as fasttrack subsea tiebacks to the Neptune-operated Gjøa semisubmersible platform.

TechnipFMC has secured a contract covering the subsea equipment from the wellheads to the riser hang-off at Gjøa. This includes subsea templates, xmas trees, manifolds, production and gas lift pipelines, umbilicals, subsea structures and control systems, plus installation activities.

The engineering and fabrication works have started, and the first template is expected to be installed on the Duva field in 3Q 2019. Most of the installation scope will be in 2020 with first oil targeted for 4Q 2020.

Mark Richardson, Vice-President Projects in Neptune Energy said: “The global alliance agreement establishes a long-term relationship, based on common goals, shared values and mutual trust, supported by a commercial model where collective positive performance is rewarded.”

The Ocean Cleanup System Needs to Speed Up

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April 3, 2019

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In September last year The Ocean Cleanup launched its first ocean plastic cleanup system after completing hundreds of scale model tests – only to find that while it collected and concentrated the garbage, it was not retaining it.

The system, named System 001 or Wilson, should have been able to retain debris for several weeks or even months, since that will be the expected timeframe between collection trips.

A root cause analysis showed that the relative speed differential between the plastic and the system occasionally shifts from positive to negative. For the system to effectively retain plastic, it must consistently travel faster than the plastic.

The solution that the system's engineers have arrived at is to open the U-shape about 60-70 meters wider. Doing this should, theoretically, have two effects on the speed of the system; firstly, it will increase the surface area of the system exposed to the wind and waves, which are the driving forces of the system. Secondly, widening the span could also reduce the propulsive force caused by the undulating ends, because it would not be directed straight into the motion direction of the system anymore.

Whilst in the the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the system also suffered a structural failure, causing an 18-meter end section to disconnect from the rest of the system, just before the end of 2018. This proved to be a fatigue issue, relatively easy to fix compared to the garbage retention issue.

However, many aspects of the technology were validated:

• The U-shape configuration (and the system's ability to retain the U-shape). Once the system was arranged in its operational shape, it maintained this configuration without any challenges.

• System 001's ability to orient with the wind. To be able to effectively catch plastic, the concave side of the system must always point in the direction the system travels (relative to the plastic). Hence, the system was designed to be able to passively orient itself away from the wind, and it did exhibit this self-orienting behavior.

• Plastic concentrations in and around the system were much higher than in any other location in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch; and, although the periods the plastic was retained in the system were not yet of sufficient length, the system did capture and concentrate plastic.

• Due to the heterogeneity of ocean conditions, System 001 was built to follow the varying movements of the water, rather than respond against the forces. The system's stability in operational configuration and response to following the waves were in line with design expectations.

• Plastic was not witnessed to have been lost due to over-topping.

• During its time offshore, the electronics and the satellite connection were strong, crucial for a system that will ultimately be fully autonomous.

• During its deployment, no environmental impact issues were observed.

The system was demobilized in Hilo Bay, Hawaii, on March 23, 2019, and the team hopes to be ready for a relaunch within a matter of months.

Source:maritime-executive

NYK Enters Geophysical Survey Market

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April 3, 2019

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NYK has entered the geophysical survey market through it joint ownership of Ocean Geo-Frontier (OGF).

OGF has signed an agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) for geophysical surveys in the sea areas around Japan. NYK teamed up with Hitachi and PGS Geophysical for the tender.

PGS finalized the sale of seismic vessel Ramform Sterling to JOGMEC in January. OGF will use JOGMEC’s vessel for geophysical data acquisition as part of the agreement, which will continue for up to 10 years through annual renewals.

In 2018, Japan’s Cabinet Office approved the Third Basic Plan on Ocean Policy for the development of domestic resources, and NYK sees demand for survey services for new oil and gas fields.

This year, NYK celebrates its 134th year of business. The company has flexibly adjusted its business for diversity and globalization, and there are 897 NYK affiliated companies around the world.

Ramform Sterling

Year of Built: 2009
Length Overall: 102.2 meters (335 feet)
Breadth: 40 meters (131 feet)
Draft: 7.4 meters (24 feet)
Gross Tonnage: 13,721 tons
Crew Capacity: 70
Maximum Speed: 18 knots

Source:maritime-executive

Royal Navy Gets Robotics Boost

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April 3, 2019

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The U.K. Defence Secretary has announced a £75million ($98 million) funds injection for robots and autonomous mine-hunter vessels for the Royal Navy.

The funding will be spent on two new autonomous mine-hunter vessels with sonars to enable remote mine-hunting at higher range, speed and accuracy as well as NavyX, a new joint military and industry hi-tech accelerator. NavyX will look to change the way the Royal Navy buys technology, streamlining the process and creating a new facility where industry, military and academia can test and purchase new equipment.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Today’s announcement will not only allow the Royal Navy to rapidly harness dynamic, cutting-edge equipment at speed, but also ensure they can outpace adversaries both on the water and the sea floor.”

Late last month, the U.K. Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) awarded £2.5 million ($3 million) to a consortium led by Blue Bear Systems Research to develop drone swarm technology. The “Many Drones Make Light Work” project is the largest single contract awarded by DASA to date. A drone swarm could boost situational awareness, medical assistance operations, logistics resupply, explosive ordnance detection and disposal and aid in confusion and deception.

Currently, operational systems require one or more operators to pilot the drone or to closely manage the flight mission. This is manpower intensive and consumes time and resource to train operators. The U.K. Armed Forces are actively seeking robotic solutions to provide a “Force-Multiplier” effect where greater military capability is delivered by fewer people and equipment. The swarm system is one possible solution to this as it will cover larger areas of battlespace more quickly at lower cost and reduced man hours. It also removes the operator from potentially harmful situations.

Source:maritime-executive

China Navigation Buys Hamburg Süd’s Dry Bulk Subsidiaries

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April 3, 2019

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Hamburg Süd and The China Navigation Company (CNCo), a subsidiary of the Swire Group, have completed the sale of Hamburg Süd’s dry bulk shipping business, which includes Rudolf A. Oetker (RAO) and the bulk activities in Furness Withy (London and Melbourne) and Aliança Navegação e Logística, to CNCo.

The sale, first announced in January 2019, comes after receiving regulatory approval.

The RAO Tankers business unit is not included in the agreement and will remain part of the Hamburg Süd Group.

The affected dry bulk shipping units with offices in Hamburg, London, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro have a chartered fleet of approximately 45 vessels in the handysize, supramax/ultramax and kamsarmax/panamax segments. CNCo plans to keep the offices and staff.

“With this strategic step, Hamburg Süd – as part of the Maersk family – will now be focusing on the container shipping business,” said Dr. Arnt Vespermann, CEO of Hamburg Süd.

Calling the acquisition a strategic fit for CNCo, James Woodrow, Managing Director of CNCo, said: “We are delighted to receive regulatory approval and to welcome on board a very talented and highly experienced team. The natural synergies between the businesses, skills and expertise of the new teams will complement those we have at CNCo. This will in turn help to develop our strategic expansion in the larger segments.”

Source:maritime-executive