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New Ships Destined for Cruise Hotspots

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The latest travel trends survey from Travel Leaders Group reveals that the Caribbean remains the top international destination for U.S. travelers, followed by European river cruises and then Mediterranean cruises. As the global cruise fleet continues to grow, so to do the options, globally.

Celebrity Cruises officially took delivery of Celebrity Edge from the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France this week. The 2,900-passenger vessel is the first of four vessels from Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Class. On November 6, Celebrity Edge will begin her transatlantic voyage to her home port at T25 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her inaugural season will be spent sailing alternating seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruise itineraries, with her Maiden Western Caribbean voyage departing on December 9, 2018, and her Maiden Eastern Caribbean voyage departing on December 16, 2018. Then, in spring of 2019, Celebrity Edge crosses the Atlantic again to the Mediterranean with a range of seven- to 11-night sailings visiting iconic cities, including Barcelona and Rome.

The Travel Leaders Group survey found that active and adventure travel, along with culinary and wine-focused journeys, are currently among the most popular specialty travel choices. Tapping into the active market is Virgin Voyages, and this week the line ordered a fourth ship from Fincantieri. This means that Virgin will have four consecutive years of ship debuts starting in 2020. The new vessel will be a sister to the others, with Scarlet Lady the  first in the series. She will be 110,00 gross tons, 278 meters long and accommodate 2,770 passengers.

Last week, KfW IPEX-Bank and Commerzbank announced financing for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' third expedition ship. The Polar Class 6 vessel will sail the polar regions along with other destinations such as South America. She will have a length of 139 meters and accommodate up to 230 passengers and 175 crew members. 

Hurtigruten also ordered a new expedition ship last week, from Norway’s Kleven Verft. This will be the line's third hybrid powered expedition cruise ship, and her design is based on  Hurtigruten’s MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, currently under construction at the yard. She will have a high ice class, be able to accommodate 530 guests and is expected to be delivered in 2021. With a growing fleet of 17 custom built expedition ships, Hurtigruten explores destinations including Antarctica, South America, Norway, Svalbard, Greenland, Northwest Passage and other Arctic destinations.

Meanwhile, One Ocean Expeditions has recommissioned its newest vessel, RCGS Resolute, destined for sailings to remote and pristine destinations including Central and South America and the North Atlantic Islands. The line already sails vessels to Canada’s East Coast, the Canadian High Arctic and Antarctica. RCGS Resolute’s inaugural voyage will be to Antarctica.

More than two-thirds of professional travel agents participating in the Travel Leaders Group survey say consumers are spending more per trip in 2019 versus the current year. According to Ninan Chacko, Travel Leaders Group CEO: "The cruise industry excels at providing an exceptional experience and level of convenience that keeps repeat cruisers coming back year after year and entices the new-to-cruise with amazing new ships and less traditional options such as river and expedition cruising that are continually driving increased interest."

Source:maritime-executive

Spinning Blockchain, Getting Paid

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I will admit to being a little bit puzzled and more than intrigued upon hearing the news over the summer that Diamond Offshore Drilling had launched its Blockchain Drilling Service. Until that point in time, blockchain had, in my mind, equaled cryptocurrency trading, and that conjured up visions of a person decked out in their jammies and fuzzy bunny slippers sitting behind their laptop screen mining for bitcoins while dreaming of their bit-riches.

Was Diamond Offshore adding bit mining to its portfolio of services, I pondered. The answer is no, but what the company did do by embracing digital technologies was add the ability for its clients to reduce their total cost of ownership.

So what is blockchain, and how does it apply to making hole?

Matt Higginson of McKinsey & Co. in a Digital McKinsey podcast described blockchain as a database or “distributed ledger” shared across a number of network participants, and at any moment in time, each member of that network simultaneously holds an identical copy of that blockchain database on their computer.

Speaking at the 2018 IADC Advanced Rig Technology Conference & Exhibition, William Fox, chief product officer for Data Gumbo Corp., explained that blockchain enables all parties in a transaction to have one version of the truth in the distributed ledger. Sitting on top of those ledgers are “smart contracts” that automatically execute the terms of a contract without human intervention, Fox noted.

“Automating execution of contracts eliminates accounting expenses, time delays, inaccuracies, legal fees, mistrust and disputes. At the same time, it increases audibility and profitability,” he said in his presentation. “It aligns incentives of all participants within the drilling industry toward a common goal.”

One example he hears quite often is how long it can take to see payment of a field ticket for services.

Source:epmag

Digitalisation is reality with a new great milestone done at the Port of Le Havre

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Last October 29th, the giant of the seas MSC MIRJAM owned by MSC, the second largest liner shipping company of the World, is on operation at Terminal de Normandie Port 2000. Prior to her arrival on Le Havre waters and until she was docked, the Harbour master has monitored in real time the entire process and has anticipated all the operations related to the movement of the ship within its S-WING software.

The effectiveness of interoperability with SOGET’s Port Community System has allowed to a fully dematerialized processing of imported cargo, in direct partnership with French Customs. In the presence of a press & TV media audience, the Deputy Harbor Master, Alexandre Guyot demonstrated from the Harbor HQ Tower the 3D S-Wing vessel traffic management tool in full interconnection with the Port Community System S)ONE and praised “an exceptional collaborative work that allows digital seamless connectivity between all the stakeholders in the transport logistics chain, for better predictability”. According to Antoine Berbain, Delegate General Manager of HAROPA, the future is in the digitization of port services to bring ever faster, more efficient, intelligent and secure flow of goods.

These new generations of port IT tools, interconnected and developed along with the supply chain stakeholders, are encompassed into the “Smart Corridor” approach promoted by HAROPA: “the modernization of the Port Community System is part of this initiative. Our common ambition, throughout the Seine axis, is to provide a better service to our customers by offering a 100% digital call and paperless procedures”. The attractiveness of the Seine corridor is thus constantly increasing: these forward-looking solutions are being developed with major customers such as MSC, from the ship to the final consignee. Hervé Cornède, Chairman of SOGET Executive Board, emphasizes about digital innovations available: “On a mobile or a pad, from their individualized S)ONE account, our customers manage the procedures related to the import of goods in an agile and predictive environment.”

As a Gold Microsoft partner, SOGET has the opportunity to deploy its innovative solutions on the latest technologies in artificial intelligence and BIG DATA with the opportunity of a secure data hosting in the Azure Cloud. Because most of the Western Europe ports are advocating about being ever smart, the Le Havre community stands out in front of an ever more digitalized ecosystem with the support of the French customs, a partner from the very beginning of the digital and logistical experimentation in Le Havre. The interoperability of the different IT systems makes it possible to optimize an ever more intelligent and secure predictability of ever-increasing data flows. Hervé Cornède adds: “This new generation of PCS, interconnected to customs information systems, contributes to the same ambitions as those of customs: the efficiency of port passage in a fluid and secure way for France’s attractiveness. 

For the second largest container shipping line in the world, the indisputable quality of the port infrastructures is combined with the reliability of the services offered in Le Havre. “As a major user of the port and a promoter of technology and innovation, we are delighted to support our local partners in this initiative, which definitely improves the service we offer to our customers,” says MSC France. The dwell time tends to decrease despite ever-increasing volumes handled. Paul Sax, Chairman and CEO of Terminaux de Normandie, commented: “The implementation of S)ONE has been gradual after a series of successful tests. Real-time tracking allows us to continuously improve our productivity to the greatest satisfaction of our customers.” And the Smart Port of tomorrow is already well anticipated by the community of Le Havre with the analysis of technological and strategic opportunities related to the development of Big Data, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence in a cybersecure business environment.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

Saudi Aramco signs wide-ranging MoUs

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Saudi Aramco has signed 15 memoranda of understanding and strategic/commercial collaborations with 15 international companies from eight different countries.

Total value of the contracts is more than $34 billion.

The MOUs will support Aramco’s forward plans, including offshore and engineering. Some will assist the In-Kingdom Total Value Add (IKTVA) program, Aramco’s initiative to improve the domestic Saudi supply chain and employment potential through greater engagement with local businesses.

Its aim is to achieve 70% of locally supplied goods and services by 2021.

Among the MOUs are:

  • A collaboration with Hyundai Heavy Industries concerning the latter’s potential investments in the King Salman International Maritime Complex for Industries and Services at Ras Al Khair
  • MOUs with Baker Hughes GE, Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Oilfield Supply Center
  • MOU with Flex-Steel to invest in an RTP reinforced thermoplastic pipe facility
  • MOU with NPCC (National Petroleum Construction Company, UAE) to invest in a fully integrated fabrication yard and marine base
  • MOU with SeAH Changwon Integrated Specialty Steel Co to invest in localization of engineering steel
  • MOU with GumPro (India) to invest in a drilling chemicals facility.

Source:offshore-mag

Contship looks to expanded La Spezia terminal for 20,000 teu ships by 2022

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Italy’s La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) in southern Europe will be ready to handle 20,000 teu ultra-large containerships (ULCs) by 2022, stepping up from its present capacity of accommodating 16,600-teu boxships.

LSCT, operated by asset-based intermodal firm Contship Italia Group, is considered by the group to be the southern gateway port called at by major lines and alliances, with four Asia-Mediterranean services every week, backed by robust trade between Asia and Italy as both import and export volumes remain strong.

“LSCT was able to handle 14,000-teu containership back in 2011 before it was expanded to handle 16,600-teu containership today,” said Daniele Testi, marketing and corporate communication director of Contship Italia.

The upgrades are scheduled to start between end-December to early-January 2019, with an aim for completion by end-2022. Testi said the upgrading timeline has been stretched so that existing services and operations will not be interrupted.

The group has set aside approximately $230m for the developments, including the expansion of its annual throughput capacity from the current 1.4m teu on 343,000 m² of terminal area to 2m teu on 423,000 m² of terminal area. By then, about 50% of the throughput will be handled by rail.

The rail connections allow cargoes to move from the southern gateway to the north to cities like Basel, Munich and Zurich, all within one day. Rail connections to Switzerland and Germany are deemed important as the European Commission wants 30% of road freight over 300km to shift to rail/inland waterways transport by 2030, Testi pointed out.

The rail connections are also useful in helping to ease congestion in the busy northern ports.

Asian-based cargo owners and freight forwarders can benefit from getting their cargoes delivered to Italy and central Europe, via LSCT, with shorter transit times and lower inventory cost through better risk management within their supply chain.

“Our growth stems not purely from just relying on lines calling at LSCT, but also from increasing cargo movement from LSCT to different catchment areas beyond Italy,” Testi said.

Source:seatrade-maritime

2020 sulphur cap: ‘Non-compliance not an option’

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The arrival of the global sulphur limit in 2020 will pose multiple challenges to ship operators, Lloyd’s Register principal consultant on fuels Tim Wilson told a Technical Forum session on environmental matters, co-organised by IMarEST UAE Branch, held at the Seatrade Maritime Middle East event in Dubai this week.

Firstly “the choice of fuel supplier will not be [as simple] as it was before,” Wilson said, explaining that one of the prime safety concerns surrounding low sulphur fuel was the risk posed by “opportunistic blending”. Future strategies for sourcing 0.5% sulphur fuel should be based on “a knowledge base of the supply chain,” he advised.

Then there will be the problems of verifying and enforcing compliance, he continued. “Sniffer technology already exists” to detect ships burning higher-sulphur fuel than they are meant to, he warned, and the limit will be 0.5% on the dot without any leeway.

However, cases of involuntary non-compliance – for example through fuels not conforming to their spec or technical misadventure – were liable to be treated more leniently, for which reason he suggested record-keeping and total transparency with port state inspectors were the best course of action.

Meanwhile, port states are likely to develop ‘blacklists’ singling out ships suspected of breaching the rules, with such information exchanged between states. Those vessels will then be prioritised for checking at subsequent port calls, he said, just as with port state control inspections.

The EU will be leading the way on such a tough enforcement strategy with its THETISEU database overseen by EMSA (the European Maritime Safety Agency), informed Wilson, who sits on the Air Emissions from Ships Committee of the European Shipping Sustainability Forum (ESSF), with other countries and regional blocs likely to follow suit.

Session moderator Kathi Stanzil, md of Intertanko, summarised thus: “From a shipowner’s perspective, non-compliance is not an option. If anyone cheats, yes they should be penalised.”

Source:seatrade-maritime

Ocean energy demos lifted by €8m tide

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The Oceanera consortium partners have announced €8m in funding for eight marine energy research and demonstration initiatives.

The projects will test and validate new technologies for wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy generation. 

The results of the Joint Call 2017, funded by Oceanera and the European Commission, were publicly announced by Scotland Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse.

Scottish Enterprise team leader in energy and clean technologies Jan Reid said: “Oceanera is an EU-funded project that aims to support demonstration projects which will address the current challenges in the ocean energy sector and support the development of the first commercial devices and arrays.”

We are delighted to announce eight of the projects selected under the co-funded Joint Call. 

The companies involved represent leading developers in ocean energy and supply chain companies who, working together, aim to demonstrate a range of solutions which will have potential application across the sector, said Reid.

She added: “We would like to thank all the Oceanera partners and the Scottish government for their support in bringing together this exciting suite of projects.”

European Commission research policy officer Matthijs Soede said: “It is great to see national and regional funding organisations working together to help the ocean energy sector.”

In this way developers can work easier together with international suppliers and research institutes. Cooperation is important to bring the sector to the market.

The total grant funding approved for companies and research organisations involved in projects is €7.8m with €2.6m coming from the European Union as co-funding with the national and regional funding organisations.

These include Scottish Enterprise, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, the Swedish Energy Agency, Region Pays de la Loire, Region Bretagne and Centro Para el Desarrollo Technologico Industrial, in Spain.

Out of all the projects, five involve Scottish partners, with total grants of £2.7m made up of funding from the European Union and Scottish government.

The eight projects are:

Systematic evaluation and analysis of blades for a 2MW floating tidal energy converter (SEABLADE): Irish company EireComposites, working with Scottish tidal developer Orbital Marine Power, is leading the project that will accelerate the development of a commercial-ready, cost-effective tidal blade product by testing on 2MW Orbital turbine. Gathering sufficient test data to validate a 20-year design life for the blades will result in more reliable blades that will lead to reduced maintenance and increased productivity and revenue.

Targeted optimal pitch module for floating tidal energy (TOPFLOTE): Led by Scottish tidal energy developer Orbital Marine Power in partnership with Swedish supply chain company AB SKF, the project will design, fabricate and test a blade pitch regulation module for floating tidal generation units.

Two units will be incorporated for performance testing into Orbital Marine Power’s upcoming floating 2MW tidal turbine. Integration of a two-bladed pitch system module will enable optimal performance of the drive-train and deliver a number of direct and indirect cost benefits.

Resource characterisation to reduce the cost of energy through coordinated data enterprise (RESOURCECODE): Led by the Orkney based European Marine Energy Centre, with the University of Edinburgh and partners in France and Ireland, the project will create an integrated marine data toolbox that will enable developers of ocean energy devices and arrays, and their suppliers, to make optimised technical and commercial decisions.

Competitive Foundation for Tidal Turbine (CF2T): Brittany-based tidal company Sabella is leading the project with partners in Spain and Sweden, which will investigate ways of reducing capital expenditure costs and improving reliability of the foundation structure for a tidal turbine, to reduce overall cost of energy. It will have three main components – hybrid material, modular foundation and monitoring frameworks – to improve reliability of the foundation.

Innovative Thermal Exchangers (INNOTEX): Led by French company Naval Energies, with a Spanish partner, the project will validate the performance a heat exchanger technology that will contribute to future development of ocean thermal energy conversion plants.

Wave energy converter for offshore small power applications (SPhorcis): Spanish company Smalle Technologies, working with SmartBay Ireland, is developing a technology that will harvest wave energy from two axes instead of just one, to give new scope for off-grid low power production, which has many applications, including supplying energy for offshore equipment.

Universal mooring, anchor & connectivity kit demonstration (UMACK): Led by Swedish wave energy developer CorPower Ocean with Scottish partners Sustainable Marine Energy, TTI Renewables, European Marine Energy Centre and the University of Edinburgh, the project will develop and demonstrate a technical anchor for multiple sea-bed types.

The project also includes a quick connect solution, alongside the CorPower power take-off system, to de-risk the overall demonstration of full-scale devices ahead of full system demonstration of the CorPower device.

Wave+ Energy Project (WEP): Neureus Technologies from Spain is working with partners from France, the Canary Islands and Scotland to deliver smoothed and code compliant power to an established electrical grid through the operation of the point absorber wave energy technology in conjunction with a newly designed energy storage system.

The consortium has also announced that it will be running a second joint call for projects, due to open in early 2019.

Source:renews

Gaslog Mulls Buybacks, Extra Dividends as Rates Soar

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Gaslog, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, said on Thursday it was considering extra dividends or a share buyback after reporting record profit due to soaring shipping rates, which are expected to remain elevated for the next year or two.

The U.S.-listed company is the world's largest independent owner of LNG shipping vessels with long-term charters with Royal Dutch Shell, a major LNG trader, and Cheniere Energy , a new U.S. LNG producer and trader, amongst others.

LNG shipping spot rates have more than doubled since August thanks to rising volumes needing to be shipped as new plants come on stream, longer journeys made and an expected reduction in availability that has prompted charterers to lock in contracts.

Gaslog reported revenue of $158.4 million in the third quarter compared to $131.2 million a year ago with net profit rising to $39.3 million compared to $24.2 million.

Gaslog Chief Executive Paul Wogan said the recent upturn in rates should continue, reflecting expectations of a large addition in supply next year, mainly from new U.S. plants starting up and continued robust demand for LNG.

"We believe that if we're correct in our assumptions … we'll be able to return capital to shareholders through share buybacks or special dividends," Wogan told Reuters.

The LNG industry is emerging from a multi-year downcycle thanks in part to demand in China as it switches to gas from coal for its energy generation but the concern for many players is timing their investment correctly in the upcycle.

Wogan said while there will be a tightness in the LNG vessel market for next few quarters, which is good for Gaslog's prospects, companies should be wary of over-ordering newbuilds.

For now, he said utilisation rates of LNG carriers is likely to be over 90 percent for the industry, consistent with shipping rates rising rapidly once the global fleet usage stands over 85 percent.

The frenzy to lock in charters for vessels as winter sets in in northern Asia and Europe has been such in recent weeks that several carriers are now full of supply but stranded around Singapore with nowhere to go.

Chief Financial Officer Alastair Maxwell said this was partly due to the LNG market developing more akin to the far more traded oil market, with a curve making it profitable to store LNG on carriers now and sell it at a higher price later.

Source:marinelink

Fully-electric Schottel Propelled Vessels to Operate in Canada

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SCHOTTEL has signed a contract with Damen Shipyards equip the first fully-electric vessels to operate in Canada.

The new Amherst Island and Wolfe Island ferries will be propelled by four SCHOTTEL Twin Propellers STP 260 FP, each with an input power of up to 550 kW. The main propulsion is provided by batteries with a diesel engine as backup to ensure mobility. The propulsion concept implies a power intake increase up to 650 kW due to an enhanced draught provided by the batteries. In accordance with their field of operation in the Lake Ontario/St. Laurence River of the Canadian province of Ontario, the thrusters will fulfil the requirements of Ice Class 1A.

Common concept for future innovations
“There has been close cooperation with SCHOTTEL in this project that aimed at identifying high efficient future innovations and green technologies for sustainable power solutions. SCHOTTEL’s international network and propulsion knowledge that we have relied on for decades and we already have supported, made this project a comprehensive solution for the customer”, says Damen Shipyard’s Leo Postma, Area Manager Canada.  

The two new double-ended ferries will be operated by MTO, the ferry service of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. Damen’s full electrification concept for the ferries serving Kingston and Wolfe Island, as well as Millhaven and Amherst Island, will reduce emissions by the equivalent of 7 million kg carbon dioxide per year.

Propulsion performance equals conventional concept
The Amherst Island ferry is due to be delivered in 2020. With a length of 68 m and width of 25 m, it will accommodate up to 300 people and 42 cars. The Wolfe Island ferry, scheduled for delivery in 2021, will have a length of 98 m and a width of 25 m for transporting up to 399 passengers and 75 cars. Both will operate at speeds up to 12 knots that equals the speed of conventional propulsion.

Source:marinelink

SIMEC Atlantis Energy Plans ‘Europe’s Largest Tidal Project’

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The developer of tidal energy projects SIMEC Atlantis Energy announced the formation of a joint venture company with Development Agency for Normandy (AD Normandy) for the purpose of developing a large-scale project in Raz Blanchard, Normandie.

The joint venture company, Normandie Hydrolienne, will establish an operational presence in Normandy and Atlantis will hold a majority stake, said a press release. AD Normandy is the regional ageTidncy for economic development in Normandy and regional investment fund Normandie Participations

Normandie Hydrolienne has been established with the intention of eventually harnessing up to 2GW of power from the Alderney Race, the eight-mile strait that runs between Alderney and La Hague, France, as well as more than 1GW of resource from adjacent concessions under the control of the States of Alderney.

Combined, Normandie Hydrolienne has the potential to provide more power than the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station in Somerset, England and at a lower cost.

The administrator for all required consents for deployment, operation and construction for tidal power in France is ADEME and the team built within Normandie Hydrolienne looks forward to working with ADEME to seek to secure all of the necessary consents required to build out a tidal power project of scale in Normandy.

The administrator for all required consents for deployment, operation and construction for tidal power in Alderney is the Alderney Commission and whilst no commercial negotiations have commenced with the States of Alderney at this time, Normandie Hydrolienne looks forward to being afforded the opportunity engage in constructive dialogue with the States of Alderney to harness the considerable natural resource surrounding the island

Normandie Hydrolienne will be incorporated in Normandy where it will immediately establish a commercial presence and commence work on identifying a suitable site for turbine assembly, production and commissioning in Normandy.

Tim Cornelius, CEO of SIMEC Atlantis, commented: “Raz Blanchard is sitting on a huge amount of renewable, predictable energy and we wish to bring our project development, financing and power production expertise to help the region of Normandie create jobs and attract a substantial amount of investment into the Region."

"Our techno-economic feasibility study plans for the delivery of an initial 1GW of operational capacity by 2025, which could be quickly expanded to 2GW by 2027, at a Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) competitive with offshore wind farms currently in construction in France," he added.

“Raz Blanchard will be delivered in stages to allow the supply chain to grow in line with our expansion plans. We look forward to working with ADEME, RTE, AD Normandy and Normandie Participations to make tidal energy a reality in Normandy,” Tim concluded.

Source:marinelink

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