China Navigation Buys Bulk Shipping Arm of Hamburg Süd

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January 22, 2019

German shipping group Hamburg Süd announced that it is selling its bulk shipping business to Singapore’s China Navigation Company (CNCo), part of the Swire Group, as it focusses on its liner business with its two container shipping brands, Hamburg Süd and Aliança.

The agreement includes Hamburg Süd subsidiaries Rudolf A. Oetker (RAO), Furness Withy Chartering and the bulk activities in Aliança Navegação e Logística (Aliabulk).

A.P. Møller – Maersk acquired the bulk shipping, tanker and container liner businesses of Hamburg Süd in November 2017.

The bulk shipping business in Hamburg Süd operates from Hamburg, London, Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro with a chartered fleet of approximately 45 vessels in the segments: Handysize, Supra/Ultramax and Kamsarmax/Panamax.

Whereas liner shipping activities in Hamburg Süd involves transporting cargo in containers, bulk shipping involves flexibly transporting dry goods – such as agricultural raw materials, ore and steel – in bulk carriers from port to port worldwide, depending on the customer’s requirements.

Dr. Arnt Vespermann, CEO of Hamburg Süd. “As part of Maersk, the world’s largest liner shipping company, this clear focus is a logical step. At the same time, CNCo, is an established and well-respected company in bulk shipping that is on a growth course in this segment and therefore constitutes a good new home for RAO, Furness Withy and Aliança Bulk.”

CNCo, headquartered in Singapore, is the wholly owned deep-sea ship owning and operating division of the multinational Swire Group. The company today employs around 2,500 employees globally and owns and operates about 135 vessels consisting mainly of dry bulk carriers and multipurpose liner vessels.

Swire Bulk, its dry bulk trading business, was established in 2012 and trades a modern fuel-efficient fleet of over 100 Handysize and Supra/Ultramax vessels comprised of owned, long term and short term-chartered tonnage. The business is focused on being a leading provider of sustainable and innovative shipping services and being partner of choice to its’ long-term charterers and industrial customers.

“CNCo is excited to have successfully signed this acquisition” commented James Woodrow, Managing Director of The China Navigation Company. “There are some very natural synergies between the businesses and we are delighted to acquire such an experienced and high-quality team and business that complements our own modern eco fleet and helps to develop our strategic expansion in to the Supra/Ultramax segment. We share a strong corporate culture with a rich history spanning close to 150 years between Hamburg Sud (1871), The China Navigation Company (1872) and Furness Withy (1891) that demonstrates a shared vision and long-term commitment to the Maritime Industry.“

Closing of the agreement is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approval. The parties have agreed not to disclose the sales price. The RAO Tankers business unit is not included in the sale and will remain part of the Hamburg Süd Group.

Source:marinelink

2 ships on fire in Kerch Strait + Video

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January 21, 2019

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According to Russia's transport ministry, at least 11 crewmembers were killed Monday when two vessels caught fire near the Kerch Strait, the contested waterway connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Azov.

The Russian Maritime and River Transport Agency (Rosmorrechflot) said that the two ships were involved in a cargo transfer at the time of the casualty. One of the two vessels exploded, and the fire then spread to the second ship. 14 crewmembers escaped by jumping over the side and were rescued from the water. Six more are still officially listed as missing, including three whose bodies have been sighted but not recovered from the water.

The ships have been identified as the LPG tanker Venice and the LPG tanker Maestro, both Tanzanian-flagged and both owned by firms at the same post office box number in Anguilla. AIS data confirms that both vessels were operating in the Black Sea region within the past month.

The 1990-built Maestro's last PSC inspection found 13 deficiencies, according to her Equasis record: In October, Russian inspectors noted concerns regarding corrosion of her bulkheads and decks.

Traffic through Kerch Strait was not affected by the casualty, according to officials in Russian-occupied Crimea. There have been no indications that the incident is related to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the area.

In recent months, the Kerch Strait has been a flashpoint in the simmering conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On November 25, Russian forces fired on and seized two Ukrainian gunboats and one tug after the Ukrainian vessels tried to pass under the Kerch Strait Bridge. The Russian authorities detained 24 Ukrainian sailors in connection with the seizure, and several have been charged with "breaching Russia's borders," according to state media. Three sailors sustained "soft tissue injuries" and received treatment in Russian-occupied Crimea.

ADNOC project reduces fleet fuel consumption and emissions by 23%

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January 21, 2019

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The shipmanagement and logistics arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has announced it has reduced the fuel consumption and emissions of its 27 shipping vessels and 122 offshore vessels by a remarkable 23%.

The reduction is the result of the 2013 initiative of ADNOC L&S, the shipmanagement and logistics arm of ADNOC, called the Al Daffah Energy Efficiency Project which has produced a reduction of CO₂ emissions by 1M tonnes and saved around 325,000 tonnes of heavy fuel oil.

ADNOC L&S chief executive Captain Abdulkareem Al Masabi, said “The Al Daffah Energy Efficiency Project is a powerful example of what we can achieve by embracing the ADNOC values and by harnessing our industry expertise and partnerships to deliver greater value for our customers.”

According to ADNOC L&S, the five-year project heavily leveraged digitalisation to improve energy performance, including to aid route planning, improve fuel monitoring and optimise engine speed.

Upgrades – such as installing more efficient propellers and high-performance hull coating – improved vessel thrust.

The company also took advantage of favourable market rates to charter an additional LNG vessel, ensuring that slow steaming could be adopted across the fleet without affecting delivery schedules.

ADNOC L&S senior vice president, ship management, Captain Mohamed Al-Ali, said “Together, with our industry partners and classification societies, we have constantly re-assessed, challenged and developed our capabilities to deliver more for less, in a challenging market. As the results show, the level of dedication towards achieving our ambitious targets has been unfaltering throughout this project.”

Source:marinemec

Port of Oakland hails shipping lines, terminal for clean air work

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January 21, 2019

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Two shipping lines and a marine terminal operator are leading the clean air charge at the Port of Oakland. The Port this week honored ocean carriers MSC and Hyundai Merchant Marine for 100 percent deployment of shore power-ready vessels. It recognized Oakland International Container Terminal for connecting more than 750 ships to shore power in 2018, Port of Oakland said in its release.

“Shore power is the best way to meet the Port’s clean air goals and reduce the impact of global containerized trade on our neighbors,” said Environmental Planner Catherine Mukai, who presented awards to the three organizations at the Port’s annual State of the Port address.

Ms. Mukai said the two shipping lines connected 165 of their Oakland-bound vessels to landside power during 2018. Using shore power lets ships switch off auxiliary engines at port, thereby eliminating diesel exhaust. The result is a reduction in emissions of diesel particulate matter and greenhouse gases.

The Port has made increased shore power use a centerpiece of its emission reduction efforts. According to the most recent data, shore power reduced Oakland diesel particulate emissions 56 percent in 2017. Greenhouse gas emissions declined 28 percent.

Container ships connect to shore power via heavy cables. Terminal workers affix the cables to dockside electrical vaults. The Port praised Oakland International Container Terminal for coordinating vessel arrivals to maximize shore power use. The terminal is Oakland’s busiest.

GeoSea salutes turbine triumph at Horns Rev 3

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January 21, 2019

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Marine contractor GeoSea has completed turbine installation at Vattenfall’s 407MW Horns Rev 3 wind farm off Denmark.

The final MHI Vestas V164-8.3MW turbines was put in place over the weekend, according to the Belgian company.

GeoSea deployed Fred Olsen Windcarrier jack-up Brave Tern on the job.

Commissioning of the 49-turbine wind farm, which is ongoing, will be completed later this year.

Vattenfall is developing two other wind farms off Denmark, the 604.8MW Kriegers Flak and 344.4MW Vesterhav North and South.

The latter is due online in 2020 with the former expected to be operational in 2021.

Both wind farms will feature Siemens Gamesa 8.4MW turbines.

Source:renews

Wilhelmsen: Training tips to prevent cyber attacks

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January 21, 2019

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Hyper-connected systems that integrate human, physical and digital environments, carry risk of potential compromise. And one of the simplest ways to break a secure force field is human weakness. That's why, Wilhelmsen launched a cyber security training for the crew, that focuses on limiting the risks of being cyber-attacked.

Specifically, cyber security training for crew is a mandatory and a high focus area to mitigate human error that may lead to cyber security breach.

The training program that aims to prevent cyber attacks should is comprised of:

Raising the awareness of cyber security;
Kinds of threat that could breech cyber security and how it works;
Password policies to build a strong password;
What to avoid and look out for;
Preventive measure, best practices.

Moreover, in order to make seafarers keen on cyber attacks,Wilhelmsen sends IT specialists to visit vessels onboard in order to pass the right message for the importance of cyber security.

It is of a great importance to closely collaborate with ship owners and build a strong cyber protection.

In addition, a robust cyber security framework can be easily compromised by end user vulnerability. Therefore, it is crucial to build a culture on board and on shore focusing on protecting it.

As the seafarers' vulnerability opposes a great risk to cyber security, Wilhelmsen supports that the crew should have motivation to learn. As a result, the company lowered the threshold and language that was used in training materials in order for seafarers to identify and properly understand the risk.

Wilhelmsen also carries out IT Penetration Tests and Security Assessments on board.

Also, the communication ashore is constant and security measures are enforced to drill in the importance of creating a safe digital environment.

In conclusion, Wilhelmsen's cyber security training is also based on IMO's Information Security Management Code.

Source:safety4sea

US judge halts Atlantic seismic oil permitting due to gov shutdown

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January 21, 2019

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A federal court judge issued, on January 18, that the federal government can not process seismic testing permits for offshore drilling during the ongoing government shutdown, according to Reuters. The decision was ruled in response to motion filed by a range of conversation and business groups that are opposed to the administration’s efforts to expand U.S. offshore drilling.

Specifically, the Justice Department noted that it didn't have the resources it needed in order to proceed to court because of the government shutdown.

The Judge added that he couldn't grant permission for seismic operations until the government's re-opening.

Also, as stated by Reuters, the Interior Department has recalled employees, including those at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), to keep on working on permitting for onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling and testing despite the shutdown, drawing criticism from Democrats and environmentalists.

Judge Richard Gergel stated that "The Court hereby enjoins the federal defendants, BOEM, and any other federal agency or entity from taking action to promulgate permits…or take any other official action regarding the pending permit applications for oil and gas surveys in the Atlantic."

Concluding, Trump administration plans to open up offshore drilling along the eastern seaboard has riled state governments, including Republican-leaning South Carolina, who believe seismic testing and offshore drilling will harm their tourism industries.

Source:safety4sea

Watch: The goals of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW)

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January 21, 2019

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A team of almost 30 global companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain launched the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) earlier in January, committing over $1 billion to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste, mostly in the ocean environment. In this video, Martin Brudermüller, CEO of BASF, one of the co-founding companies, explains why the alliance is so important for managing plastic waste and promote post-use solutions.

Research by the Ocean Conservancy shows that plastics in the ocean predominantly originate from litter on land. Most of the plastic waste is spread through rivers and can be traced back to ten major rivers around the world, mainly in Asia and Africa. Once in the environment, it becomes difficult to capture.

In this regard, the companies have committed over $1.0 billion with the goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to develop, deploy and bring to scale solutions that will minimize and manage plastic waste and promote post-use solutions, which may vary from recycling to reuse and repurposing of plastic to keep it out of the environment.

In this interview, Mr. Brudermüller answers the following questions:

What are the goals of the AEPW?
Why does BASF join the Alliance to End Plastic Waste?
Why is the Alliance important to you?
How/What will BASF contribute to the Alliance to End Plastic Waste?

BASF in particular actively supports the four focus areas of AEPW:

Infrastructure development to collect and manage waste and increase recycling
Innovation to advance and scale up new technologies that make recycling and recovering plastics easier and create value from post-use plastics
Education and engagement of governments, businesses, and communities to mobilize action;
Clean-up of concentrated areas of plastic waste in the environment, particularly the major conduits of waste, such as rivers, that carry land-based waste to the ocea

Lucky €13m for European marine

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January 21, 2019

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The EU has launched a €13m funding programme to support the deployment of wave and tidal devices at test centres in the northwest Europe.

The Ocean Demo project will issue a first call for applications this year for installations between 2020 and 2022.

The €12.8m scheme backed by the Interreg North West Europe programme is targeted at four test sites: the European Marine Energy Centre in Scotland, the Dutch Marine Energy Centre, SEM-REV in France and SmartBay in Ireland.

Ocean Demo is the successor to the Foresea programme, which assisted 19 technologies deployed and more to come this year.

EMEC commercial director Oliver Wragg said: “We’re delighted to be able to continue the work we started with Foresea."

“With Ocean Demo, we will be able to scale up technologies to pilot farm scale.”

Source:renews

Schottel Merges Tidal Units to Sustainable Marine Energy

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January 21, 2019

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Schottel, the manufacturer of propulsion and steering systems for ships and offshore applications, has made a strategic decision to merge its tidal energy businesses into Sustainable Marine Energy (SME), including UK subsidiary TidalStream Ltd and Canadian subsidiary Black Rock Tidal Power Inc (BRTP).

"Following the successful collaboration between SME, Schottel Hydro and Black Rock Tidal Power to develop and demonstrate the PLAT-I floating tidal energy system, with deployments in Scotland and in Canada, Schottel has made a strategic decision to merge its tidal energy businesses into SME," said a press statement from Sustainable Marine Energy.

The provider of tidal energy technology anchor solutions for marine current turbines said that Schottel has transferred all its tidal energy assets, including UK subsidiary TidalStream Ltd and Canadian subsidiary Black Rock Tidal Power Inc (BRTP), to SME in return for equity, becoming SME’s largest shareholder. BRTP’s name has been changed to Sustainable Marine Energy (Canada) Ltd.

SME will be commercialising the tidal turbine technology developed by Schottel, in-conjunction with its platform and anchoring solutions, to offer an integrated solution to the market. SME will also be continuing the development of projects in Nova Scotia, Canada that will be used to prove up its products, including the 5MW berth at the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) that was awarded to Schottel in 2014.

SME’s management and engineering teams are based in Edinburgh. The Schottel Hydro team responsible for the design and delivery of the instream turbines will continue to be based in Spay, Germany; co-located with Schottel GmbH, who will continue to provide engineering and technical support alongside manufacturing of power take-off systems. Sustainable Marine Energy (Canada) Ltd, based in Halifax, is leading the delivery of projects in North America.

Jason Hayman, Managing Director of SME said: “This is a very exciting time for SME, and this deal crystalizes the strong relationship that we have built with Schottel over the past five years, initially as a supplier and then as a development partner and investor."

Source:marinelink