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U.S. Announces Offshore Wind Auctions

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U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has announced three major developments in the nation's offshore wind energy industry development:

1. a wind auction in federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts;
2. the environmental review of a proposed wind project offshore Rhode Island; and
3. the next steps to a first-ever wind auction in federal waters off of California.

“I'm very bullish on offshore wind, and harnessing this renewable resource is a big part of the Trump Administration's made in America energy strategy,” said Zinke.

NOIA President Randall Luthi says Zinke is bringing the future vision of U.S. offshore wind to reality.  “NOIA has worked with this Administration to encourage and support efforts to bring increased and more diverse offshore energy to the American people. We are gratified that the announcements made by Secretary Zinke mark significant milestones in the race for American energy security. Coupled with the possibility of increased offshore oil and natural gas in the future, this is truly good news for U.S. workers and consumers.”

Wind Auction Offshore Massachusetts

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold the next offshore wind auction – to include nearly 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts – on December 13, 2018. 19 companies have qualified to participate in the auction for the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area, demonstrating continued strong commercial interest in the U.S. offshore wind market, says Zinke.

“The Massachusetts sale has a lot of potential for both energy and economic activity,” he said. “If fully developed, the wind auction could support approximately 4.1 gigawatts of power to supply nearly 1.5 million homes. This is just one example of the importance of fostering wind energy as a new American industry.”

Environmental Review of Wind Project Offshore Rhode Island

BOEM has published a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the construction and operation of the South Fork Wind Project offshore Rhode Island. If approved, the plan would allow construction and operation of up to 15 turbines that connect via a transmission cable to a grid in East Hampton, New York. The project is approximately 19 miles southeast of Block Island. 

Call for Information and Nominations Offshore California

In what could result in the first West Coast offshore wind auction, BOEM has published a call for nominations to identify companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within three proposed areas off central and northern California. This is the first step towards offering a location for wind leasing. The three Call Areas include 85 whole Outer Continental Shelf blocks and 573 partial blocks and together comprise approximately 1,073 square miles (687,823 acres).  

Currently, through BOEM, the Department of the Interior manages 12 active commercial wind energy leases off the Atlantic covering nearly 1.4 million acres.

Source:maritime-executive

U.S. Navy Christens Two Submarines

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The U.S. Navy christened the future USS Delaware (SSN 791) and the future USS Vermont (SSN 792) in separate ceremonies on Saturday. Both vessels are Virginia-class submarines built to operate in the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operation forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare and mine warfare missions. 

Characteristics

Propulsion: One nuclear reactor, one shaft
Length: 377 feet (114.8 meters)
Beam: 34 feet (10.36 meters)
Displacement: Approximately 7,800 tons (7,925 metric tons) submerged
Speed: 25+ knots (28+ miles per hour, 46.3+ kph)
Crew: 132: 15 officers; 117 enlisted
Armament: Tomahawk missiles, twelve VLS tubes (SSNs 774-783) or two VPTs (SSNs 784 and beyond), MK48 ADCAP torpedoes, four torpedo tubes.

The future USS Delaware was christened at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Virginia. The submarine is the 18th Virginia-class attack submarine and the eighth and final Virginia-class Block III submarine. The ship’s construction began in September 2013, and she is expected to be delivered in 2019. 

The submarine is the seventh ship to bear the name of “The First State.” The first Delaware served in the American Revolution, the second in the Quasi War with France. The third was burned to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Confederate Navy. The fourth served blockading duties through the end of the Civil War. Little is known about the fifth, other than she was a screw steamer that began life with another name before being renamed Delaware on May 15, 1869. The sixth Delaware was a battleship commissioned Apr. 4, 1910, that served in the Atlantic and Caribbean. During World War I, she provided convoy escort and participated in allied naval exercises. She was decommissioned Nov. 10, 1923.

The U.S. Navy also christened the future USS Vermont at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut. She is the 19th Virginia-class attack submarine and the first of 10 Virginia-class Block IV submarines. The ship’s construction began in May 2014, and she is expected to be delivered in the fall of 2019. 

The future USS Vermont, designated SSN 792, is the third U.S. Navy ship to bear the name of the “Green Mountain State.” The first Vermont was one of nine 74-gun warships authorized by Congress in 1816. The ship spent her early life laid up, but was put into service as a store and receiving ship during the Civil War. She continued in that service until struck from the Navy list in 1901. The second Vermont (Battleship No. 20) was laid down in May 1904 and commissioned March 4, 1907. She was a member of The Great White Fleet that conducted a world cruise during the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Later she participated in the American occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico. During World War I, she served as an engineering training ship before being converted to carry out her final missions as a troop transport, returning about 5,000 World War I U.S. service members from Europe. She was decommissioned June 30, 1920.

Source:maritime-executive

CMA CGM ups stake in CEVA Logistics to 33%

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French container line CMA CGM has increased its stake in Swiss-headquartered CEVA Logistics after the latter rejected a takeover offer last week.

CMA CGM has increased its stake in CEVA to 33% from 24.99%. CMA CGM bought a 24.99% stake in CEVA earlier this year and last week indicated it might increase its investment after the logistics company rejected an unsolicited takeover offer from DSV.

The 33% stake takes CMA CGM just shy of the 33.3% shareholding that under Swiss law it would be required to make a mandatory takeover offer.

CMA CGM is keen to grow the integrated logistics offerings between the two companies. Two weeks ago it was announced that Serge Corbel, cfo of APL, a subsidiary of CMA CGM would be moving to CEVA to become its cfo.

Source:seatrade-maritime

Port of Hamburg as digital networking pioneer

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Underwater drones, autonomous trucks and paperless Customs clearance – the future is already buzzing in the Port of Hamburg. The ‘Digital Networking’ conference run by Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) showed just how far the port has progressed. “In respect of digitalization, the Port of Hamburg is a worldwide beacon offering many USPs,” emphasized Axel Mattern, HHM’s Joint CEO.

Dr. Sebastian Saxe, CDO of Hamburg Port Authority, presented an impressive picture of the digital future in his keynote speech. The port’s rail, road and inland waterway traffic is already digitally guided. Experience from the port is of importance for the entire city and applicable to its complex traffic system. Artificial intelligence in guiding traffic will already be a major topic next year, said Dr Saxe. The ‘Green4Transport’ project should be networking vehicles with traffic lights and guiding truck columns through intersections. The introduction of 5G in the port as a testbed will facilitate implementation of further visionary projects. This infrastructure offers a superb way of enabling all players in the port to head into the future together.

Drones will also be an indispensable feature of the port. Hamburg Port Authority can envisage using underwater drones to monitor quay walls and Elbe sediment in future. Airborne drones could be used, for example, to inspect the load-bearing cables of the Köhlbrand Bridge. HHLA is already successfully deploying drones – some of these autonomous – at its terminals. Jan Bovermann, Head of Corporate Development at HHLA, stressed that further automation is only attainable through networked thinking. “The digital culture of a company cannot be measured by the number of block chain projects it launches. Vision, culture and cooperation are the three crucial factors. That also means involving staff, customers, service providers and suppliers to just the same extent,” said Bovermann.

Ulrich Wrage, CEO of the IT provider Dakosy that specializes in logistics, focussed his statements on digital culture in the Port of Hamburg. The port has now achieved a digitalization rate of 95 percent. Around 2000 companies are connected. The primary reason for attainment of this result is trust. To network procedures and speed up processes, competing operators, service providers and customers are giving insights into their data. “Dakosy’s secret is involvement of all players,” said Wrage. That also involves slipping into the role of facilitator. Among other changes, that has led to Customs paperwork increasingly becoming a thing of the past, and clearance already being digitally triggered as the container approaches Hamburg.

The Hamburg Vessel Coordination Center (HVCC) is one example of just how well networking between the variety of companies and institutions is functioning. Gerald Hirt, HVCC’s CEO, proudly recalls the last two years. Shipping companies, the Nautical Centre, competing terminals and – just recently – inland waterway shipping are profiting from this interface. Data from all those concerned, pilots, the Kiel Canal, Elbe Lateral Canal and from Rotterdam are constantly making vessel handling even smoother.

“Other ports are not waiting,” emphasized Saxe. In recent years the tempo of technological developments has constantly speeded up and is still accelerating. “Shippers are dictating the pace,” added Wrage. Global trading groups like Amazon or Alibaba “examine very precisely what a port a port can do, or cannot.”

Digital Hub Logistics Hamburg aims to provide further momentum for ‘Port 4.0’ or ‘Hafen 4.0’. This is the first port of call for the digital business transformation of the logistics industry on land, water and in the air. CEO Johannes Berg hopes that the next significant innovation in logistics – comparable with the success of Wirecard in the financial world – will originate in Hamburg.

Ingo Egloff, Joint CEO of Port of Hamburg Marketing, sees the key to success as being cooperation between all those involved in the Port of Hamburg. “Successes from cooperation between companies and institutions are abundantly apparent and can form the basis for a joint international success story,” said Egloff.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

MOL’s Newbuilt LNG Carrier “MARVEL EAGLE”

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Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced the delivery of the LNG carrier Marvel Eagle. Before the delivery, on September 5, a naming ceremony was held at the Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. Sakaide Shipyard before a large crowd of onlookers and representatives of the companies involved.

The vessel is the first of three newbuilding LNG carriers, for which MOL and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. signed charter contracts in September 2014 and January 2015. Its main assignment will be transporting LNG from the Mitsui & Co.-backed Cameron LNG project in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

The Marvel Eagle is the first vessel equipped with the high-performance ship operation data collection device, which serves as the foundation of the FOCUS project that MOL recently announced and started putting into action. Detailed voyage and engine data on actual voyages will be collected from the vessel during operation and stored in a cloud-based data platform to develop applications.

Leveraging its accumulated experience and knowledge as one of the world’s leading LNG carrier owners and management companies, MOL continues to fully meet customer needs in LNG procurement, offering a safe, high-quality and efficient LNG transport service.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

Japan firms try out China’s ‘Belt and Road’ cargo transport to Europe

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Japanese and Chinese logistics firms are paving the way for an alternative route to ship cargo from Japan to Europe faster than by sea by exploiting China’s “Belt and Road” initiative designed to improve regional cooperation and connectivity.

Major Japanese logistics firm Nissin Corp. and Sinotrans, China’s largest integrated logistics service provider, joined hands this summer to undertake a sea-and-rail shipment trial from the Far East to Western Europe via China and Central Asia.

The trial aims to build a new option besides sea and air transport between the two regions, with cargo from Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest port, taking 28 days to reach Hamburg,Germany, about a week less than marine transport.

Nissin said it measured changes in temperature, humidity and shakiness in containers through the trial to assure customers of viable services.

The containers were shipped to Lianyungang port in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu and transported westward on a freight train to Khorgos, a border town and transshipment point in China’s Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region adjacent to Kazakhstan. The train passed through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland en route to Hamburg.

Part of the trans-Eurasian railroad is called China Railway Express, operated by state-owned China Railway.

Under Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” cross-border infrastructure initiative, the Chinese railway firm is taking the lead to boost cargo volume. Chinese local governments subsidize part of the shipment costs, according to Nissin.

The number of freight trains between China and Europe surged nearly twelvefold to 3,673 between 2014 and 2017, with two-thirds bound for Europe.

For the first eight months of this year, the number topped that for the whole of 2017, according to data cited by Nissin and Sinotrans Japan Co., a local unit of the Chinese company, at an industry forum in Tokyo on Sept. 14.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission has set a target of operating 5,000 freight trains a year between China and Europe by 2020.

This is the third option for major shippers in Japan and South Korea, Makoto Ozeki, a Nissin general sales manager, said in his speech at the forum.

“For business continuity plans, large corporations believe that an alternate route from Japan is crucial in case of a rise in geopolitical tensions in the Middle East” that could hamper the sea route via the Suez Canal in Egypt, Ozeki said later in an email interview.

Currently, the shipment cost is three to four times higher than that of marine transport, said Ozeki. But “in the future, we could shorten the duration to 21 days. Also, sea transport fees from Asia to Europe have been on the rise,” he added.

Cargo from Japan includes auto parts and daily necessities, Gao Chen, vice president of Sinotrans Japan, said at the forum.

Nippon Express Co., Japan’s largest logistics firm, also has continued similar trial shipments since last year, transporting cargo such as car components and electrical precision parts upon request by a number of clients.

Some of the customers have experimented with it several times, Yasuo Edo at the International Business Headquarters in Tokyo told in an email interview.

The company also began participating in an experimental trial from September through next March for Eurasian railroad shipments initiated by Japan’s economy ministry.

Jialing-Honda Motors Co., a general-purpose engine manufacturer of the Japanese automaker in Chongqing, central China, uses China Railway Express to deliver its products to Belgium. Nippon Express handles Honda’s cargo and takes 17 days for delivery.

The engines are used for mowing machines and cultivators, among other equipment, said Toyofumi Fukushima, general manager of both the sales division and the logistics division. “Railway transport enables us to deliver (our products) in a timely manner” to cater to seasonable demand in spring and summer, he added.

Trade volume between China and the European Union was worth €573 billion ($657 billion) in 2017, according to the European Commission.

Eurasian railway shipments make up a tiny fraction of the value, but a sharp increase in railway freight volume is stirring hopes of economic benefits in landlocked countries along the routes.

Resource-rich Uzbekistan plans to develop railways connecting with China and Kyrgyzstan to enhance the country’s goods exports, including mineral resources and farm produce, while attracting investments and revitalizing its economy.

“Railway transportation takes 15 days to ship goods from China to Europe, only half the time of marine transport,” Bakhriddinov Mansur, representative director of the Japan Uzbekistan Silk Road Foundation, said in his speech at the forum. “Cargo volume expansion could lead to low-cost logistics.”

In May, Japan and China signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Japan-China Forum on Third Country Business Cooperation joined by a wide range of private companies and relevant ministries.

The forum’s kickoff meeting will be held in time for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to China later this month, with the Japanese leader and his Chinese counterpart to attend the event.

The cooperation includes Japanese companies’ expansion in logistics with the use of railways between China and Europe, according to the Japanese government.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

Dril-Quip secures frame agreement for Sea Lion subsea production systems

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Dril-Quip (Europe) Ltd. has entered into a front-end engineering and design contract and frame agreement with Premier Oil Exploration and Production Ltd. to provide the subsea production systems for the Sea Lion Phase 1 developmentoffshore the Falkland Islands.

The frame agreement replaces the previously announced letter of intent.

The current estimated value of the equipment portion of the scope of work is $207 million which includes plans for up to 30 subsea production systems, including wellheads, horizontal trees, tubing hangers, control systems, associated production and injection manifolds and subsea umbilicals.

Under the frame agreement, it is envisaged that Dril-Quip will provide vendor financing for up to 30% of the equipment portion of the contract.

Formal contract award will be subject to agreement of a definitive contract and Premier taking a final investment decision.

Blake DeBerry, president and CEO of Dril-Quip, said: “We are excited that Premier has chosen Dril-Quip to be their trusted provider of subsea equipment for Sea Lion and that Dril-Quip’s scope of work for the project is progressing according to plan. We will continue to support Premier as they work towards FID and sanctioning for this project…”

Source:offshore-mag

Euro cash floats WindFloat boat

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The Windplus consortium has secured a €60m loan from the European Investment Bank for the 25MW WindFloat Atlantic project off Portugal.

Cash will part-finance the construction of the three-turbine scheme off Portugal, which is being developed by consortium companies EDPR, Repsol and Principle Power.

The deal was sealed today at a signing event between EIB vice president Emma Navarro and EDPR chief executive Joao Manso Neto.

The loan is supported by the InnovFin Energy Demonstration Project facility, which comes under the EU’s Horizon 2020 scheme.

An additional €29.9 of NER300 cash has also been allocated to the project as well as up to €6m from the Portuguese Government.

“Through this agreement, the EU bank is financing cutting-edge energy technology that will be deployed in Portugal and that will make it possible to install wind farms in locations that were not feasible until this moment, contributing to Europe’s leadership in developing innovative responses to the climate change challenge,” said Navarro.

“Windfloat explores new promising technology and once again positions EDP as the world's leading wind power company, now pioneering a project in the offshore industry,” added EDP chief executive António Mexia.

“This new technology, suitable for deep waters such as those of Portugal, has already proved successful in its first phase under demanding conditions, and this new phase marks a steady transition to an ambitious commercial stage.”

Three MHI Vestas 8.4MW turbines will sit atop Principle Power floating foundations at the project, which is expected online in 2019. 

Source:renews

Irish back 500MW Greenlink

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Irish electricity regulator the CRU has given its backing to Element Power’s 500MW Greenlink interconnector between Ireland and Wales.

The 205km wire between County Wexford and Pembroke is in the public interest and should be supported by a new regulatory regime, the CRU has concluded after a public consultation process. UK counterpart Ofgem has already ruled the project is in the public interest.

Element said the decision paves the way for private capital financing of interconnectors.

The CRU will now hold a consultation starting in the first half of 2019 on the proposed ‘cap and floor’ regulatory regime to support the line.

Project director Simon Ludlam said the decision puts Greenlink in line to be Ireland’s next interconnector.

“The Irish Government has already published positive national policy on interconnection, recognising that projects like Greenlink will improve energy security, support decarbonisation and put downward pressure on consumer prices.

“We therefore welcome the CRU’s decision that Greenlink passes the public interest test and I am delighted that the regulators on both sides of the Irish Sea will now collaborate to help bring the project to fruition in 2023.”

Greenlink chairman Mike O’Neill added: “It is a clear vindication of our decision to develop the project and our shareholders’ ongoing support, which is rooted in fundamentals of the significant benefits that Greenlink brings as we move to a decarbonised world.

“This has enabled us to bring the project to an advanced stage of maturity, including the commencement of marine surveys and tendering for construction, which will create inward investment and jobs.”

MMT vessel MV Franklin (pictured) begun survey work on the cable route earlier this year.

Source:renews

US focuses on offshore wind with three key projects

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US Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced three developments in American offshore wind energy spanning from coast to coast. The Secretary announced a wind auction in federal waters off the coast of Massachusetts; an environmental review of a proposed wind project offshore Rhode Island; and the next steps to a first-ever wind auction in federal waters off of California.

Wind Auction Offshore Massachusetts

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold the next offshore wind auction, which will include almost 390,000 acres offshore Massachusetts, on December 13, 2018. Nineteen companies have qualified to participate in the auction.

Environmental Review of Wind Project Offshore Rhode Island

BOEM will publish a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operations Plan for the South Fork Wind Project offshore Rhode Island.

If approved, the plan will allow the construction and operation of up to 15 turbines that connect via a transmission cable to a grid in East Hampton, New York.

The project is approximately 19 miles southeast of Block Island. The notice will be published on October 19 and will have a 30-day public comment period closing on Nov. 19.

Call for Information and Nominations Offshore California

BOEM will publish a Call for Information and Nominations to identify companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within three proposed areas off central and northern California. This is the first step towards offering a location for wind leasing.

The three Call Areas include 85 whole Outer Continental Shelf blocks and 573 partial blocks and together comprise about 1,073 square miles (687,823 acres).  The Call will be published on October 19 and will have a 100-day public comment period closing on January 27, 2019.

Source:safety4sea

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