3.2 C
New York
Home Blog Page 1280

Petrobras sets out on UK offshore mission

By
-
0

A delegation from a Brazilian multinational oil and gas firm Petrobras is visiting north-east England to consult with leading supply chain companies in the offshore wind sector.

Petrobras is involved in developing Brazil’s fledgling offshore wind industry and has sent a team on a fact-finding mission to study how the north-east region has been able to position itself as a global leader in the offshore wind industry.

During the visit, hosted by Durham-based NOF Energy, the delegates will visit sector specialists including Wilton Engineering, PD Ports, DeepOcean, Osbit and Smulders Projects UK. Members of the Department for International Trade Brazil will accompany the delegation.

The visitors include member of the team involved in the implementation, engineering and research of an offshore pilot project, which Petrobras aims to have up and running in Rio Grande do Norte state by 2022.

NOF Energy Deputy chief executive Joanne Leng said: “The supply chain cluster in the North East is considered an exemplar within the industry and I’m confident Petrobras will gain a valuable insight into why it is a global leader in offshore wind energy.”

“The fact the delegation has chosen to visit this region is an exceptional vote of confidence in the outstanding levels of expertise, knowledge and innovation based here.”

Petrobras recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Norwegian firm Equinor (formerly Statoil) to evaluate a joint business development to establish offshore wind generation in Brazil.

Source:renews

Atlantis makes Scots tidal splash

By
-
0

Simec Atlantis Energy has redeployed two Andritz Hydro tidal turbines at its 6MW MeyGen Phase 1A array in the Pentland Firth off Caithness in Scotland.

The company said the two 1.5MW machines had restarted generation at full capacity following maintenance at its Nigg Energy Park base in Easter Ross.

Atlantis has meanwhile retrieved an Atlantis 1.5MW turbine for ancillary systems maintenance at Nigg with reinstallation slated for a December tidal window.

The offshore operations were completed within time and budget by Atlantis Operations UK, a division of SIMEC Atlantis Energy, the company said.

A third Andritz Hydro unit retrieved in August is also scheduled for redeployment in December following completion of its scheduled inspection and maintenance programme.

Atlantis has meanwhile appointed Andy Richardson to the post of chief operating officer, joining its senior management team based in London.

Robinson was formerly head of asset management and engineering manager at Alstom Power Service UK and director of thermal generation at EDF and was most recently COO of Australian energy company Stanwell.

Source:renews

LOOP-Ports Project To Facilitate Introduction Of Circular Economy Initiatives At EU Ports

By
-
0

The Kick-off meeting of the European Project “LOOP-Ports – Circular Economy Network of Ports” took place in Valencia. This project is coordinated by Fundación Valenciaport and funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) through the EIT Climate-KIC initiative.

The main goal of the LOOP-Ports project is to facilitate the transition to a more circular economy in the port sector, where products, materials and resources are maintained in the economy for as long as possible, and the waste generation minimised.

This project will contribute to the transition of the European economy towards closed-loop systems through the creation of a circular economy network of ports, which will provide an innovation ecosystem around the port activity and stimulate circular economy initiatives in ports. The network will focus on high-emitting materials, mainly metals, plastics, cements and biomaterials.

This network of ports will facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices, provide policy recommendations and foster the training as well as new business opportunities both in port clusters and other industries related to this environment.

In particular, the main expected results from the project are:

• Mapping of EU ports showing their suitability to launch initiatives linked to the circular economy according to different criteria as well as the selection of relevant use cases.

• Analysis of the main drivers (legal, policy, regulation, market structures, finance, etc.) that can boost the development of circular economy activities at port ecosystems.

• Elaboration of training materials and development of training pilots to improve skills, knowledge and innovation capacities both within and among different port clusters.

• The organisation of workshops/round-tables on circular economy with key stakeholders to collect their interests, points of view and expectations.

• Development of business models – real use cases selected during the project -, analysing their replicability in other ports with similar characteristics.

• Identification of financing opportunities to promote circular economy in the port sector.

• Creation of a tailored web tool on circular economy showing the project results, enabling the exchange of information among the members of the network, stakeholders and general public.

LOOP-Ports involves 13 partners from 6 EU Member States (Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands): Fundación Valenciaport (coordinator); EIT Climate-KIC S.L.; Climate-KIC S.r.l.; Climate-KIC GmbH; Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU); NTU International A/S; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek (TNO); Università di Bologna; Universität Hamburg; Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Universitat de València; Eco Environnement Ingenièrie (2EI) and Veolia Innove.

The project will be run for just over 2 years (26 months), ending in November 2020.

Press Release

MSC Cruises Enters Ultra-Luxury Segment; Orders Four More Ships From Fincantieri

By
-
0

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri announced the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of four ultra-luxury cruise ships for a total value in excess of EUR 2 billion.

The ships, the first of which will be delivered in Spring 2023, will have a gross tonnage of approx. 64,000 GRT and feature 500 cabins. The remaining three ships will come into service one per year over the following three years.

The ships will feature, amongst others, the best and latest environmental technology and other cutting-edge maritime solutions at sea. They will also showcase highly-innovative design as well as introduce ground-breaking options for guest comfort and relax.

Pierfrancesco Vago, MSC Cruises’ Executive Chairman, said: “It is off the back of the great success of our ship-within-a-ship luxury concept that our guests asked us to enter into the ultra-luxury segment, as a natural evolution of the MSC Yacht Club. These ships will be able to offer unique itineraries, thanks to their size, and the guest services will be taken to another level, including our personalised MSC Yacht Club butler service, available 24/7.”

Mr Vago continued, “I am especially pleased to be able to further extend our partnership with Fincantieri through this new order. The award-winning Seaside and Seaside-Evo class have already been recognised as ground-breaking and innovative designs. We are now introducing another new class, which will establish a new standard of ultra-luxury at sea with ships that will showcase the quality and highest standards that are associated with Made in Italy.”

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, stated: “It is with pride that two great brands – an Italian one and one with a strong Italian DNA -, well-known all over the world, today announce an important construction program.”

We are extremely satisfied that, to launch a new class of ships in the luxury segment, MSC Cruises has recognized that our design will help them create a new generation of ships that will be cutting edge both in terms of safety and technological content and with particular attention paid to passenger comfort. With this project Fincantieri can count on 53 cruise ships in its order book, confirming its position as absolute market leader.

Source:fincantieri

Port of Piraeus: Investment plan should be approved soon

By
-
0

The Port of Piraeus wants the Greek government to approve an investment plan for the attraction of more business to the port, as soon as possible. Cosco owns the majority of the Piraeus port.

The Port of Piraeus is currently waiting Greece to continue with mandatory investments, Reuters informed. The Port wants this to happen soon, as in case of delay there will be legal means, such as clauses in the concession agreement.

China wants to make Piraeus its gateway to Europe, under the Belt and Road initiative. For this reason, Cosco bought a 51% stake in the Port in 2016, in order to transform it to a transhipment hub for trade between Asia and Europe. Cosco will also buy an extra 16%, when it completes mandatory investments of 300 million euros to upgrade infrastructure.

Cosco will be running the port, which incorporates passenger ferry, car, container and cruise ship terminals along a 37 kilometre coastline, until 2052. In addition, the Port has contacted stakeholders in the hotels industry, in order to develop four hotels.

Namely, Piraeus wants to make two warehouses into hotels and transform an exhibition centre into a luxury facility. The fourth hotel will be crated at a new terminal for new generation cruise ships.

Finally, the Port of Piraeus wants to become a major port for cruise ships and receive a share of the Chinese cruise market.

Source:safety4sea

DP World, UAE Region wins Terminal Operator of the Year at Maritime Standards Awards

By
-
0

Regional trade enabler DP World, UAE Region has been recognised for its industry leading services and practices at this year’s Maritime Standard Awards, winning the Terminal Operator of the Year category, the company said in its press release.
 
The award was received by Joost Kruijning, SVP & COO, Ports and Terminals Division, DP World, UAE Region on behalf of the company during a gala ceremony attended by industry leaders from shipping companies, ports, terminal operators and others in the sector.
 
Abdulla Bin Damithan, Chief Commercial Officer, DP World, UAE Region presented The Maritime Standard Personality of the Year Award to Ali Shehab, Deputy CEO, the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company.
 
DP World’s flagship Jebel Ali Port is one of the most technologically advanced ports in the world and has been rated as the most productive globally. It has a handling capacity of 19.3 million twenty-equivalent units (TEU) a year and has become the preferred destination for cargo entering the MENA region, serving as a major transshipment hub for cargo on one of the busiest trade lanes in the world. 
 
Its semi-automated Terminal 3 is the largest container terminal of its kind in the GCC and one of the few that can berth new age Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) with capacities over 20,000 containers

The Maritime Standards Awards are one of the most prestigious events in the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent regions, recognising the most innovative and successful players in the industry.
 
The award highlights Jebel Ali’s role as a premier trade hub for goods moving through the region and its position as a preferred destination for businesses looking to tap into DP World’s extensive global network that reaches out to over 2.5 billion people in North and East Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and the GCC. 
 
In 2017, Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World UAE Region, was named the TMS Personality of the Year.

Source:portnews

Korea to restructure policy for shipbuilding industry

By
-
0

Despite the fact that shipbuilding orders awarded to Korean dockyards have seen an increase, local media informed that the need to confirm whether the increase is temporary or sustainable over the long term remains.

As Choi Jong-koo, chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), said Korea's orders have increased from 29.8% in September of last year to 45%, during a wider increase in global shipbuilding orders. However, he added that it is not sure if this is temporary or if it will be permanent over the long term.

According to Dr. Yang Jong-seo of the Global Economy Research Institute, this increase happened due to a rise in LNG carriers and a big order from Hyundai Merchant Marine. In total, Mr. Jong-seo estimated that Korean shipbuilders' would receive orders of 11 million CGTs, up 50% from last year. The value will be US$25.4 billion, up by 48% from 2017.

In addition, Mr. Jong-koo added that FSC will change its restructuring policy for the shipbuilding industry, in order to achieve a more efficient ecosystem.

What is more, there is the need to assess new opportunities for the Korean shipbuilding industry that may arise from new regulations to reduce shipping emissions, as well as for ballast water. For this reason, the restructuring policy will be based on a review of the shipbuilding's innovation capabilities for ICT-powered and smart vessels.

Earlier this year, South Korea's oceans ministry informed that it will support the building of more than 200 ships during the next three years to improve the troubled maritime industry. The country will assist in building these ships through the Korea Oceans Business Corp. (KOBC). In addition, South Korea wants local shipbuilders to build eco-friendly ships to comply with IMO regulations in 2020.

Source:safety4sea

LNG Flexibility Increasing, But Market Remains Uncertain

By
-
0

Global natural gas markets are being reshaped by the development of major emerging LNG buyers led by China, and the rising production and exports form the U.S., according to the third annual edition of the International Energy Agency’s Global Gas Security Review.
 
China’s supply shortfall over the last winter, which triggered ripple effects around the world, highlighted the pivotal role of LNG in enhancing global gas security and flexibility of supply, and the analysis finds that, while there have been real improvements in LNG flexibility that can contribute to easing supply shortages, uncertainties remain for the future evolution of gas markets. This includes a risk of tightening from insufficient investment in production and infrastructure capacity, or questions surrounding future shipping capacity growth, a pre-condition for LNG market flexibility. These uncertainties could have an impact on price volatility and hurt consumers – especially the most price-sensitive emerging buyers – and cause additional security concerns.
 
The report also states that the risk of a lack of timely investment in the LNG carrier fleet could pose a threat to market development and security of supply. Once considered as a non-flexible complement supporting long-term sales and purchase agreements, the LNG carrier fleet is being affected by changes in the LNG market, with increasing demand for flexibility in supply and contracts of shorter duration. Such changes challenge the traditional LNG shipping business model, with greater uncertainty in medium-term fleet development and availability, and potential impacts on shipping price levels and volatility.

The wave of liquefaction projects development from investment decisions taken in the first half of this decade led to a strong level of new vessel deliveries, which ebbs after reaching a peak in 2018. The absence of further growth of the LNG fleet poses a limit to future trade development both in terms of volume and flexibility delivery.
Supply flexibility remains a key prerequisite to ensure further global gas trade development and security, states the report. Yet the priorities in terms of flexibility differ for long-term traditional buyers who seek the removal of destination clauses, and new emerging buyers whose priority is more focused on procuring short-term supply, usually for prompt execution.

Source:maritime-executive

Work Recommenced on Titanic II

By
-
0

The Chairman of Blue Star Line Clive Palmer has confirmed that work has recommenced on the construction of Titanic ll.

The vessel is expected to be put into service on the London – New York route across the Atlantic in 2022. She will replicate the Titanic in length (882 feet, 269 meters) but will be a few meters wider to provide additional stability.

Palmer last announced progress on the Titanic ll project in 2015 when work was suspended due to his flagship company, Mineralogy, being in dispute with Chinese Government owned Citic Limited over the non-payment of hundreds of millions of dollars. This caused the Titanic II project to be suspended, but, late in 2017 the Western Australian Supreme Court ordered that Citic pay the money and work has recommenced.

“Blue Star Line will create an authentic Titanic experience, providing passengers with a ship that has the same interiors and cabin layout as the original vessel, while integrating modern safety procedures, navigation methods and 21st century technology to produce the highest level of luxurious comfort,’’ Palmer said.

“The ship will follow the original journey, carrying passengers from Southampton to New York, but she will also circumnavigate the globe, inspiring and enchanting people while attracting unrivaled attention, intrigue and mystery in every port she visits,” says Palmer.

Palmer remains one of Australia’s wealthiest citizens with the Australian Financial Review estimating his personal wealth at approximately $3 billion in 2018.

Source:maritime-executive

Canada Chooses BAE Type 26 for Next Generation Warships

By
-
0

The Canadian government has announced that BAE Type 26 design has been chosen for its $60 billion Surface Combatant project to replace the navy's aging fleet of frigates.

The new 150-meter (492-foot) vessels will replace the Iroquois and Halifax-class warships and provide air defense, anti-submarine warfare and anti-shipping capability. Lockheed Martin Canada is partnering with BAE Systems, and Irving Shipbuilding has been nominated as shipbuilder.

Other bids were received from Alion Science and Technology with its proposal based on the Dutch De Zeven Provinciën Air Defence and Command frigate and Navantia/Saab/CEA Technologies with their proposal was based on the Spanish Navy F-105 frigate.

Lockheed Martin Canada and BAE Systems must now go through a due diligence process which includes negotiations with the government on intellectual property rights, an assessment of combat systems performance and an assessment of the companies' financial capability to deliver the project.

A contract award is expected this winter, with construction beginning in the early 2020s. The Canadian Surface Combatant project is the largest, most complex procurement ever undertaken by the Government of Canada. 

The announcement follows the decision made by the Australian Government in June 2018 to select the Type 26 for its Future Frigate program.

The Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia notes:

1. This step in the project was not a contract award. It was selection of the “preferred bidder” and design. There are details including cost to be worked out. It will take time before a contract is awarded (“winter 2019” is mentioned as date for the award which is understood to mean before end March 2019).

2. Testing needs to be done of what is being offered, and that will take time. If problems arise then there will be more negotiations. If negotiations with the preferred bidder do not lead to resolution of issues, then government will turn to the second bidder. Who the second bidder has not been announced and likely will not be due to negotiations.

3. It will take more time before steel is cut. Cutting of steel is an evident but by far not the first step in shipbuilding. But there is a sense of urgency, particularly as the shipbuilder is emphasizing the potential for a shipbuilding gap between the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship project and Canadian Surface Combatant project. Project management staffs are surely considering options. And timings have to be considered within the Canadian political calendar.

4. There is need for some “Canadianization” of the design and that will take time. (As an aside, whether there is a lot of Canadianization or not, there should be avoidance of calling the ships Type 26 or even Canadian Type 26. That naming convention is Royal Navy. The ships are being built under the Canadian Surface Combatant project and should be known by their first-of-class name, just as the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels are.)

5. A focus on intellectual property (IP) access and rights is appropriate. The Canadian government needs come control over IP to support the operation and maintenance of the ships so at least not to be held hostage to a particular manufacturer’s availability and price. Control is particularly important what with the Canadian practice of operating ships for 30 plus years with often a major mid-life refit and significant change to the ships' equipment. IP security has not been an issue in past Canadian shipbuilding projects. It would set a very bad precedent otherwise.

6. Intriguing is the possibility of a Type 26 “users group” with the U.K. and Australia who have chosen the Type 26. Even more intriguing would be what could happen if the U.S. decides to base their next frigate design on the Type 26.

Source:maritime-executive

1...1,2791,2801,281...1,329Page 1,280 of 1,329
Premium Content

© 2025 SeaWanderer. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Maritime.Studio