DOE: $28M Available for Floating Offshore Wind

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February 5, 2019

The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $28 million in funding for a new Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, Aerodynamic Turbines, Lighter and Afloat, with Nautical Technologies and Integrated Servo-control (ATLANTIS). ATLANTIS projects will develop new technologies for floating, offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) using the discipline of control co-design (CCD).

“The United States has 13,000 miles of shoreline, which is a huge opportunity to lead the world in capitalizing offshore wind,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in a press release. “The ATLANTIS projects will help advance American offshore wind production and the accompanying job, manufacturing, and investment growth for the nation.”

Control co-design methodologies bring together diverse engineering disciplines to work concurrently while designing a device, instead of in sequential steps. The CCD approach enables project teams to develop new ways to build FOWTs that would not be possible using a traditional design approach.

Much of the United States’ best offshore wind resources are found in waters too deep for traditional offshore wind turbines, which are fixed to the sea floor. Floating turbines introduce a new set of technical challenges, however. To be successful, ATLANTIS projects will require design approaches that maximize power to weight ratios while maintaining or increasing turbine efficiency.

The ATLANTIS funding opportunity encourages collaboration, calling on scientists, engineers, and practitioners from different disciplines, technology sectors, and organizations to form diverse and experienced project teams. ARPA-E projects are intended to facilitate scientific and technological discoveries that a single group alone would not be able to achieve.

Source:marinelink

Russian Navy Deploys Nausea-Inducing “Dazzler” on Frigates

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February 5, 2019

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The Russian Navy is deploying a new class of nonlethal weapon that "dazzles" opponents with "visual optical interference," making it difficult or impossible to take aim with small arms or other weaponry.

Ruselectronics' new 5P-42 Filin ("Eagle Owl") dazzler will be mounted on two frigates, the Admiral Gorshkov and the Admiral Kasatonov, and two more frigates now under construction will be similarly fitted out. Each vessel will receive two units.

Testing on Russian volunteers reportedly shows that the system can interfere with eyesight – temporarily and reversibly – at a range of up to three miles. In testing, half of the volunteers reported dizziness and nausea after exposure, and another 20 percent said that they saw a "ball of light" moving in front of their eyes. The Filin system weaponizes these effects in order to "deprive criminals of an opportunity to provide accurate fire," according to Ruselectronics.

Russian state media reports that the device works by modulating the brightness of the light emitted with "low-frequency oscillations." In another mode, which incorporates high-frequency oscillation of infrared light, the system can reportedly interfere with night vison, infrared laser rangefinders, anti-tank missile guidance systems and other sensor devices.

Ruselectronics is building a smaller, portable version to support ground troops and special operations. The U.S. and UK militaries have deployed smaller rifle-mounted laser dazzlers for special nonlethal circumstances, including vehicle checkpoint enforcement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Source:maritime-executive

Siemens cleared for Veja Mate takeover

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February 4, 2019

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The European Commission has approved Siemens Project Ventures plan to take sole control of the 402MW Veja Mate offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

According to the Commission the acquisition would raise no competition concerns given that Siemens already jointly controlled the project prior to the deal.

The project's shareholders are Highland Group, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Siemens Financial Services.

Veja Mate features 67 Siemens Gamesa 6MW turbines and has been operational since 2017.

Source:renews

CWind fleet makes smart move

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February 4, 2019

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CWind has implemented CrewSmart’s digital management support service across its fleet of 21 crew transfer vessels and team of offshore wind technicians.

The cloud-based system provides control over personnel and fleet administration, optimising the overall efficiency of the operations team, CWind said.

CrewSmart is an end-to-end management platform giving access to information for CTV fleet, crew and technician requirements, including personnel records, operational data and commercial and financial information.

It has been integrated with CWind’s existing vessel monitoring platform, BareFLEET, to provide a single point of access to all performance data from across the fleet, the company said.

CWind director of operations Joshua Brennan said: “Investing in digital CrewSmart technology provides distinct advantages for CWind’s fleet and operations team."

As a result, we are ensuring that we can continue to deliver excellent service to our offshore wind clients, globally.

Zohr offshore Egypt building to peak gas capacity

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February 4, 2019

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Gas produced from the deepwater Zohr field in the Egyptian sector of the Mediterranean Sea totaled 12.2 bcm last year, according to partner Rosneft.

During the second half of the year, output increased almost fourfold compared with H1, when production amounted to 3.1 bcm.

Over the course of 2018, the treatment capacity was increased in stages from 11.3 MMcm/d (400 MMcf/d) to the current 56.6 MMcm/d (2 bcf/d), in line with the development plan and the gas sales agreement.

Rosneft expects gas output to reach the design capacity of 76 MMcm/d (2.7 bcf/d) by the end of 2019.

Zohr holds estimated in-place volumes of 850 bcm. Other partners are Eni, BP, and Mubadala Petroleum.

Source:offshore-mag

Petrobras brings onstream ninth Lula field platform offshore Brazil

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February 4, 2019

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Petrobras has started production through the P-67 FPSO in the Lula Norte area of the presalt Santos basin offshore Brazil.

The location is roughly 260 km (161 mi) from the coast of Rio de Janeiro in a water depth of 2,130 m (6,988 ft).

This is the ninth production platform on the BM-S-11-block. It has capacity to process up to 150,000 b/d of oil and up to 6 MMcm/d of gas.

The FPSO will be connected to nine production wells and various injection wells, with oil offloaded to shuttle tankers and gas exported through the existing presalt gasline network.

According to Petrobras, the Lula field, covering the Lula and Cernambi reservoirs, is now the largest producer in Brazil and should eventually deliver 1 MMb/d this year: commercial production started in October 2010.

Other platforms operating on the block are the FPSOs Cidade de Angra dos Reis (Lula Pilot), Cidade de Paraty (Lula Nordeste Pilot), Cidade de Mangaratiba (Iracema Sul), Cidade de Itaguaí (Iracema Norte), Cidade de Maricá (Lula Alto) Cidade de Saquarema (Lula Central), P-66(Lula Sul) and P-69 (Lula Extremo Sul).

Partners in the BM-S-11 concession are Shell Brasil Petróleo and Petrogal Brasil.

Source:offshore-mag

Vigor Picks Vancouver Site to Build Army’s New Landing Craft

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February 4, 2019

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Vigor Industrial has picked the former home of Christensen Yachts in Vancouver, Washington as the location to build the U.S. Army's new Maneuver Support Vessel (Light), or MSV(L). The MSV(L) contract represents the largest award in Vigor’s history with a total value of nearly $1 billion over 10 years.

MSV(L) is an aluminum-hulled vessel, and the site will be absorbing the production of the other aluminum product lines – the Combatant Craft Medium (CCM) for the U.S. Navy and overseas allies, the Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) for the U.S. Coast Guard and export market, Vigor’s Fast Interceptor, aluminum fast ferries and commercial workboats. The current production sites for these craft are in Seattle and Clackamas, Oregon, and these will be closed as the work is shifted to Vancouver.

“While we’ve had operations in Vancouver since 1980, this move represents a substantial increase in the number of Vigor employees who will be living and working here," said Frank Foti, Vigor's president and CEO. “Our Vigor team looks forward to getting to know the Vancouver community better and being a force for good through our remarkable people and the economic activity associated with our work.”

Vigor says that it will eventually employ 400 workers at the site, and it will be investing millions in capital upgrades and equipment. The company picked the Vancouver yard out of many potential options in the Northwest, and the final selection came down to several factors: the possibility of bringing all its aluminum fabrication operations together in one location; the livability of the community; the proximity to existing Vigor facilities, notably Vigor's large shipyard and headquarters in Portland; and the suitability of the Christensen yard for the work.

“Vigor’s decision to keep and grow jobs in Washington State is a testament to the great quality of life and workforce we have available here,” said Washington governor Jay Inslee in a statement. “Our team worked intently with Vigor to find a competitive solution to keep these jobs in Washington and I’m glad to see the continued success of one of our great corporate citizens contributing to our economy by creating living wage jobs in Vancouver.”

Vigor plans to begin production at the facility in May with its existing aluminum vessel classes, followed by the beginning of construction of the MSV(L) prototype in the summer. Once the prototype is completed and testing and refinements have finished, the schedule calls for four vessels in the Low Rate Production phase, followed by 32 vessels once Full Rate Production is underway.

Source:maritime-executive

Singaporean Aframax tanker seized by military in Cameroon

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February 4, 2019

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The vessel 'Barents Sea', a Singapore-flagged Aframax tanker was seized by private military with k-47 machine guns in Cameroon. The vessel along with 26 crewmembers was seized at the Sonara refinery in Limbe, according to Singapore-based ship management company Eastern Pacific Shipping.

Mainly, the company supports that the action was conducted by local charterer DSC Marine in clear violation of the law.

According to the company's statement the action is a reflection of unprovoked aggression towards the company.

In addition, Eastern Pacific Shipping urges the Cameroonian government to enforce its security forces to o safely and immediately release the vessel and the 26 crew on board in accordance with international law.

Moreover, the company stated that their priority is the safe release of their crew, which includes nationals from India, Ukraine, China, Philippines and Turkey.

Concluding, no reports of physical injuries have been reported up to now.

Source:safety4sea

Maersk clarifies situation regarding its participation in the UK flag

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February 4, 2019

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After reports last week that Maersk would remove its remaining vessels from the UK flag and end the training of UK cadets, the shipping giant came to make clarifications regarding the situation. Maersk explained that it does not have any container ships carrying the UK flag since 2015 and it aims to fulfil its commitment under the UK Tonnage Tax.

According to Nautilus' General Secretary, Mark Dickinson, Maersk will be taking their remaining vessels off the UK Ship Register. Moreover, amongst Maersk's decision is to end the training of UK cadets.

Indeed, there will be a significant reduction of cadets that Maersk recruits from countries such as South Africa and UK. However, the company mentioned that all Cadets will be given the opportunity to complete their contractual training period to qualify as an Officer of the Watch.

In addition, Maersk addressed reports that it would remove its remaining vessels off the UK flag and exit the UK Tonnage Tax. It said that it does not have any container ships flying the UK flag since 2015, while Maersk Supply Services does not have any offshore supply vessels carrying the UK flag. As for the UK Tonnage Tax, it clarified that it will continue to fulfil its statutory commitment.

After the Brexit announcement, from November 2018 there were 1,306 vessels of over 500 GT (gross tonnage) per ship registered with the British flag, down from 1,317 in 2017, 1,328 in 2016, 1,330 in 2015 and 1,327 in 2014.

The possibility of a 'no deal Brexit' arises, since earlier in January, Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal had been rejected by 230 votes. This is the largest defeat for a government in history. Namely, MPs voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject the deal, which describes how the UK willl exit from the EU on 29 March.

In addition, ECSA noted that without a deal the consequences on the fluidity of trade between the EU and UK will be huge, as they will affect shipowners, logistics partners, passengers and consumers.

Concluding, ECSA added that if the withdrawal agreement is voted through, the implementation period will give the UK and EU time to prepare and there will finally be the needed certainty for shipping operators to prepare, in order to ensure a frictionless trade.

World’s first Singapore-based MaritimeTech accelerator launched

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February 4, 2019

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Eastern Pacific Shipping and Techstars announced that they are to launch the world's first global MaritimeTech startup accelerator, 'EPS MaritimeTech Accelerator Powered' by Techstars. This start-up accelerator, that will be based in EPS's headquarters in Singapore, collaboration will be the first of its kind to target the maritime industry. The 'EPS MaritimeTech Accelerator Powered' aspires to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs in the industry.

Specifically, from April 2019, the start-up accelerator will be accepting applications from startups, from a global range. Overall, EPS will opt for ten companies, that will also include Singapore's most promising and regional early-stage ventures, to take place in the first round.

Following the first run, in November 2019, the class will take part in an intensive three-month program of research and development, mentorship and collaboration.

The accelerator will end in February 2020 with a demo day, where every startup will display its new business to an audience of venture capitalists, corporate innovation leaders and industry experts with the goal of facilitating investment in the companies while broadening and energizing the local entrepreneurial community.

Gil Ofer, Business Development Manager of EPS, commented that the merchant maritime industry is one of the modest globally, that's why developments are slowly coming, making the industry lack technological growth.

Both companies urge entrepreneurs that seek to make changes with the help of technology in the maritime industry, related to regulations, fuel efficiency, operating a vessel, digitalization, navoigation and other matters, to apply.

Concluding, Will Robinson, VP of Asia-Pacific Sales at Techstars, stated… "We’re excited to further expand the Techstars brand and network in the APAC region and look forward to working with EPS to support entrepreneurs in their journey to transform this enormous industry."

Source:safety4sea