All American Marine and ABB to collaborate on new hybrid-electric ocean sampling vessel

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November 15, 2024

ABB has secured an order with the shipbuilding company All American Marine to supply a hybrid-electric propulsion system for the new ocean sampling catamaran for the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) in California.

In addition to the comprehensive scope of technologies, All American Marine will draw on ABB’s extensive expertise in the supply, engineering, and systems integration of hybrid-electric vessels. The vessel is expected to be delivered to OC San in 2027.

The 19.2–meter (63 foot) vessel has been designed to support OC San’s Ocean Monitoring Program that has run for over 40 years in support of wastewater collection, treatment, disposal, and recycling services for 2.6 million residents in the county. The program, which operates around 90 days each year, verifies that the ocean remains safe for swimming, marine life, and fisheries.

The ABB hybrid-electric propulsion system on board the new vessel will support OC San’s commitment to environmental stewardship, while also aligning with ABB’s efforts in supporting the decarbonization of maritime operations. The vessel will be built to meet California Air Resources Board’s annual equivalence requirements for Zero-Emission Capable Hybrid Vessels1 which mandate that at least 30 percent of total annual power must come from zero-emission power sources.

“This project represents a significant new investment by OC San in protecting public health and the environment and has also been designed with sustainability at its heart,” said Ron Wille, President & COO, All American Marine. “We are delighted to work with ABB, whose hybrid-electric propulsion system will help optimize the vessel in a safe and energy-efficient manner.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with All American Marine on this new ocean sampling vessel,” said Drew Orvieto, Head of Sales, Marine Systems, US at ABB Marine & Ports. “Our hybrid-electric propulsion technology is an ideal choice for a broad range of vessel types, including environmental monitoring and research vessels. ABB takes great pride in working together with vessel operators and shipyards in the United States and around the world looking to decarbonize their operations.”

EPS uses DeepSea AI to significantly improve accuracy of fuel consumption forecasts

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November 14, 2024

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DeepSea Technologies has delivered weekly fuel consumption forecasts accurate to within 1% after a transformative 6-month project with Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).

Measured against a baseline of standard data inputs, improved data quality reduced the inaccuracy of weekly fuel consumption forecasts to 0.8%.

Across the business, EPS teams were able to benefit from highly accurate vessel behaviour models, supporting improved vessel operations and maintenance scheduling, enabling chartering teams to provide more reliable speed and consumption warranties to customers.

The transformation was made possible by the provision of real-time sensor data from EPS’s vessels, coupled with DeepSea’s AI-driven Cassandra platform, which provides highly granular, real-time insights to help EPS streamline fuel consumption, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce environmental impact.

Working together, EPS and DeepSea have driven technical advancements in the EPS fleet and developed innovative approaches to model validation that support EPS’s strategic roadmap for digitalisation and decarbonisation. The fleet owner has prioritised developing a robust data pipeline and rigorous validation process to improve fleet optimisation approaches.

Over six months in 2024, DeepSea and EPS built and implemented advanced digital twins, offering an accurate, up-to-date understanding of vessel behaviour, validating them through a combination of empirical and statistical observations and methods to confirm model accuracy.

Deploying DeepSea’s Cassandra technology, EPS can now evaluate vessel performance with extraordinary precision, generating predictive insights that inform performance-based decision-making across its 300-ship fleet of tankers, bulk carriers, PCTCs, containerships, and gas carriers. Using the AI technology, EPS expects to enhance vessel and fleet performance monitoring, improve reaction time to inefficiencies and drive forward its decarbonisation efforts.

“This result is testament to the fact that the technology now exists to model vessel behaviour incredibly accurately. We can finally say that it’s a solved problem. The industry is quickly realising that the availability and quality of data is now the limiting factor.” said Dr. Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos, CEO and Co-founder of DeepSea Technologies. “For EPS, understanding the value of data is embedded in their organisational DNA, and they were uniquely prepared to leverage high-frequency sensor data to achieve next-level efficiency.”

“Performance is not the work of a single department – it’s about giving the entire organisation the tools to make data-driven decisions. Good information enables good business,” said Pavlos Karagiannidis, Fleet Optimisation Manager at Eastern Pacific Shipping.

RWE, Siemens Energy anticipate delays in US offshore wind projects under Trump

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November 13, 2024

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Renewable energy companies, including Germany’s RWE and Siemens Energy, have expressed concerns about the future of the US offshore wind sector under President Donald Trump. Both companies anticipate potential delays and regulatory challenges, according to a Reuters news report.

RWE CFO Michael Mueller and Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruch warned of increased risks to project schedules, particularly for US offshore wind projects planned through the late 2020s and early 2030s.

Siemens Energy, which has plans to supply 4.2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind to the US, and RWE, which is partnering in a 3 GW joint venture, highlighted potential delays in permit approvals.

Michael Mueller specifically pointed to concerns about the 2026 approval timeline, which may be altered due to potential policy changes from Trump.

Investors are wary of regulatory changes, fearing that Trump’s policies could weaken support for clean energy, especially offshore wind and hydrogen. Gilles Guibout of AXA Investment Managers mentioned that the growth potential for offshore wind in the US could decline under Trump.

Source: Evwind

SAFEEN Group’s fully electric tug achieves Guinness World Record

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November 13, 2024

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The record was set by measuring the bollard pull of Damen RSD-E Tug 2513 Bu Tinah. With an average high peak pull of 78.2 tonnes, the vessel demonstrated performance unprecedented for a fully electric tug.

The vessel, which Damen delivered to SAFEEN Group earlier this year, is the first fully electric tug to operate in the Middle East. The record-breaking performance took place at Khalifa Port, AD Ports Group’s flagship facility and announced during ADIPEC, the world’s largest energy event.

It was a fitting moment as the event is placing great emphasis on the energy transition. The RSD-E Tug 2513 is designed with a keen focus on sustainability. Offering zero emissions from tank to wake, the vessel is playing a significant role in reducing emissions.

CEO – Maritime & Shipping Cluster, AD Ports Group, Captain Ammar Mubarak Al Shaiba, said,

“This Guinness World Record™️ achievement demonstrates that the transition to alternative energy does not come at the cost of performance. We are very proud that the first electric tug in the Middle East is also making waves on a global level with this accolade and the fact that in parallel it is improving the sustainability of our operations alongside cost efficiencies in terms of overall fuel saving is extremely important. This vessel is now a key component of our Marine Services fleet and our electrification strategy.

The RSD-E Tug 2513 builds on the already efficient design of the diesel propulsion RSD Tug 2513. With its fully electric propulsion arrangement, the RSD-E Tug paves the way for zero emissions operations. The vessel can undertake a minimum of two towage operation on a single charge and can be rapidly recharged in just two hours.

To support SAFEEN Group’s purchase of the vessel, Damen Financial Services (DFS) provided a lease agreement. This DFS service is designed to facilitate wider access to efficient, environmentally conscious solutions as Damen works towards its goal of becoming the most sustainable maritime solutions provider.

Silverstream and Yiu Lian Dockyards sign MoU to drive Silverstream® System installations

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November 13, 2024

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Silverstream Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou) Ltd, one of the largest ship repair yards in China and part of China Merchants Group.

Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou) operates repair yards in Shekou, Shenzhen. The shipyard accepts all major vessel types but is well known as the leading repair yard in China for LNG carriers (LNGCs). LNGCs have a scheduled dry docking every five years after delivery; a time window that presents an ideal opportunity to retrofit clean technologies and enhance vessel energy efficiency without any loss of hire.

The dockyard has serviced 734 vessels in the past three years from all segments, and so far in 2024 alone, it has dry-docked 28 LNGCs. As part of the agreement, the companies will collaborate on installations of the Silverstream® System for vessels dry docking at Yiu Lian (Shekou), ensuring efficient delivery, tailored to customers’ needs.

Noah Silberschmidt, Founder & CEO, Silverstream Technologies commented:

“Collaborating with leading shipyards is key to ensuring that more shipowners can benefit from our air lubrication technology, which enhances fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. With the most retrofit experience of any air lubrication technology provider, we’re committed to facilitating access to our Silverstream® System and contributing to a more sustainable and efficient shipping industry. We’re excited to sign this new agreement with the team at Yiu Lian Dockyards, enabling even more vessels to take advantage of our innovative solution.”

Xu Rong, Vice GM, Yiu Lian Dockyards (Shekou) Limited:

“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and saving fuel have become top priorities for shipowners and operators. Each year, we see growing interest from owners in retrofitting clean technologies on the vessels that visit our yards. The Silverstream® System, a market-leading air lubrication technology, is the ideal solution for these ships – particularly the LNG carriers we regularly service. We’re excited to now offer our customers the ability to facilitate installations of this innovative system.”

The Silverstream® System reduces frictional resistance between the water and the hull surface, reducing net fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 5-10%. The system is unique in that it is the only proven air lubrication technology that can be retrofitted in 10 days or less, as well as being applicable to newbuilds.

The system is fuel agnostic, effective in all sea states, and is applicable to all shipping segments.

Van Oord completes major dredging project in Egypt

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November 13, 2024

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Van Oord has finished dredging two new port basins in Ain Sokhna Port, successfully completing a project that forms part of a port expansion programme meant to improve and develop the Suez Canal Economic Zone and harness the enormous potential of the Suez Canal as a global hub for maritime transport.

The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Egypt awarded Van Oord the contract to dredge approximately 21 million cubic metres of soil to create two new port basins. To be able to dredge the hard soil, Van Oord deployed its self-propelled cutter suction dredger Artemis and trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Amalia, along with a versatile fleet that supported them in achieving a high level of productivity. The dredged material was deposited in a designated zone approximately 9.5 kilometres offshore. Van Oord completed the project within 14 months.

Ain Sokhna Port is located on the western coast of the Gulf of Suez, about 120 kilometres east of Cairo and 40 kilometres south of Suez. Thanks to this strategic location and extensive investment, the port is growing rapidly into a major industrial hub. It will soon be the largest port along the Red Sea and serve commercial shipping between Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Expansion plans include new container, dry bulk, general cargo, and liquid bulk terminals, as well as logistics, warehousing, distribution centres, and a dry port. A further aim is to establish Africa’s first green hydrogen port. A high-speed electric railway will connect the port and Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, and New Alamein, boosting supply routes and New Cairo’s development.

Martin Smouter, Director Dredging & Infra at Van Oord, said:

‘After our involvement in the second Suez Canal in 2015, Van Oord is extremely proud to have once again contributed to the economic growth of Egypt and the transformation of Ain Sokhna Port into the largest hub in the Red Sea.’

McDermott awarded Harriet Alpha decommissioning contract by Santos

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November 13, 2024

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McDermott has been awarded a large engineering, procurement, removal and disposal (EPRD) contract by Santos for the decommissioning of the Harriet Alpha platform and associated infrastructure, located offshore Western Australia.

The contract follows the successful execution of the Campbell decommissioning project for Santos in Australia.

Part of the Harriet Joint Venture (HJV) assets, the Harriet Alpha platform is one of the largest facilities slated for decommissioning.

McDermott will provide EPRD services, including engineering, procurement and fabrication of specialized equipment, as well as the removal and transportation of the platform structure to an onshore facility for dismantling and disposal. The contract scope also includes the removal, transportation and disposal of a flare tower, exploration well and subsea development system comprising of two subsea template wells.

“This is our largest decommissioning project to date, reflecting our continued commitment to delivering bespoke solutions for the timely, safe, and environmentally responsible removal of infrastructure at the end of its operational life cycle,” said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott’s Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities. “McDermott’s growing decommissioning portfolio in Australia also underscores the commitment we share to continue supporting circularity efforts in a lower carbon economy.”

Project management and engineering will be executed by McDermott’s team in Perth, Australia, with support from Batam, Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

New FuelEU Maritime module added to Fuelink platform to support compliance

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November 9, 2024

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Fuelink, a maritime technology provider, has added a new module to its digital platform, supporting FuelEU maritime compliance.

The Fuelink platform, which provides a one-stop shop for bunker data management and fuel supply optimisation, now enables users to calculate voyage emissions in line with FuelEU Maritime legislation and access sufficient credits to address any deficits and achieve compliance.

Effective from 1st January 2025, FuelEU Maritime is a regulatory framework that requires each vessel to attain a required greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity index, starting with a 2% decrease by 2025 and reaching up to an 80% reduction by 2050. These reductions in GHG intensity will only be possible using alternative fuels: biofuels, LNG, or sustainable forms of methanol and ammonia. Not complying with FuelEU Maritime will mean fines much higher than those incurred from non-compliance with the EU ETS, with a penalty of €2,400 per tonne VLFSO energy equivalent.

FuelEU Maritime requires more complex calculations than EU ETS because it uses a well-to-wake approach rather than a tank-to-wake approach. This means that combustion emissions and the lifecycle emissions of the fuels, from production to distribution, are considered. Companies must evaluate the GHG intensity of different fuels, which becomes even more challenging when blending multiple fuel types. This added complexity necessitates a more detailed analysis for compliance.

Fuelink already supports EU ETS compliance and inventory management of EUAs. Users can upload voyage schedules and calculate ETS costs instantaneously, simulating EUAs at different prices before buying through the platform at the optimum time and automatically keeping a record of all those purchased in a standalone inventory system.

Now, users can quickly calculate the GHG intensity of each voyage in accordance with the Fuel EU Maritime framework. Fuelink provides emissions reports for every vessel and determines which vessels are compliant and have a deficit. It then enables internal or external pooling, allowing the user to access sufficient credits to achieve compliance.

Konstantin Bronetskyi, General Manager, Fuelink, said:

“Fuelink users want an end-to-end service from planning and scheduling a voyage, to creating the fuel strategy, and calculating the carbon intensity of that voyage, plus after sales support. The platform supports compliance with EU ETS by calculating how many EUAs are needed for each voyage and allowing users to purchase and allocate them accordingly. With the introduction of FuelEU Maritime in January 2025, users need even more support, from calculating the carbon intensity of voyages to the internal and external pooling of verified credits to ensure all vessels are compliant.”

Bronetskyi concluded:

“Fuelink brings together real-time data and complex regulatory formulas, allowing machine learning to support accurate and transparent GHG emissions management. The platform supports confident and informed decision-making that aids regulatory compliance for both EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime while also saving time and money.”

Fuelink acts as a central repository for all bunker-related information. The platform records and tracks all deliveries, hosting bunker delivery notes (BDNs), invoices, surveyor reports, Certificates of Quality (CoQs), ISCC information, bunker sampling and analysis reports, statements of facts, and claims handling documentation. This improves auditing, benchmarking, and automated reporting for operational and legal teams and supports increased transparency and accountability in global marine fuel supply.

Babcock awards milestone recycling contract in UK’s Submarine Dismantling Project

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November 9, 2024

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As part of the UK’s demonstrator project, Babcock has recently awarded the recycling contract to KDC Veolia Decommissioning Services UK Ltd (KDCV).

Swiftsure will be the first decommissioned UK nuclear-powered submarine to be fully dismantled and disposed of. It will lead the way, providing a proven approach for recycling of the current UK decommissioned fleet of submarines.

This milestone builds on work already completed by the teams to remove the submarine’s reactor systems and low-level radioactive waste. The waste has been processed for removal from site through Rosyth’s state-of-the-art active waste management facility.

Swiftsure remains on track to be dismantled by 2026, ahead of the wider programme to fully dismantle all decommissioned Royal Navy submarines, which will free up space and capacity that can be used in delivery of programmes enabling submarine availability.

Harry Holt, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Sector, said:

“This is a world first. We are bringing together our experience of supporting the entire UK submarine fleet, our nuclear expertise and our ability to bring the best of industry together on this programme to spearhead the approach for the safe disposal of all ex-service nuclear submarines.”

Veolia’s John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer – Industrial, Water & Energy for UK, Ireland and Nordics, said,

“Working with the Ministry of Defence and Babcock on this unique and complex project will mark a new sustainable way of decommissioning and recycling this type of vessel. By using Veolia’s global skills, we will deliver this world-first project as part of our GreenUp strategic programme designed to depollute, decarbonise and preserve resources.”

SDA CEO, Sir Chris Gardner KBE, said:

“The Babcock appointment of KDC Veolia as the recycler for Swiftsure marks a significant strategic milestone in the UK Submarine Dismantling Project. As the demonstrator for the project, Swiftsure will be the first UK nuclear powered submarine to be dismantled. Lessons learned will be applied to improve the process for dismantling of all future submarines, ensuring all boats can be safely and efficiently recycled with cost savings where possible applied.”

FPSO Prosperity purchase by ExxonMobil Guyana completed

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November 9, 2024

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SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil Guyana Ltd, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, have completed the transaction related to the purchase of FPSO Prosperity, ahead of the maximum lease term, which would have expired in November 2025.

The transaction comprises a total cash consideration of c. US$1.23 billion. The net cash proceeds will primarily be used for the full repayment of the US$0.98 billion project financing and as such will decrease SBM Offshore’s net debt position.

The FPSO Prosperity has been on hire since November 2023 and has and will continue to be operated through the integrated operations and maintenance model combining SBM Offshore and ExxonMobil’s expertise and experience delivering outstanding operational performance.

The impact of the transaction will be included in the update of the Company’s 2024 guidance as part of the Third Quarter 2024 Trading Update, scheduled for November 14, 2024.