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Singapore plans to tighten controls in maritime fuel industry

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Singapore plans to apply stricter control measures to the marine fuels sector, a move that industry sources say could boost transparency in a notoriously opaque industry.

Singapore was the first port to mandate the use of mass flow meters (MFMs) in 2017 for marine, or bunker, fuel oil sales from barges to the end-user vessels. The proposed measures would extend the use of MFMs to fuel transfers from oil terminals to the bunker barges.

Singapore is the world’s largest marine refuelling, or bunkering, hub and the city-state has implemented some of the industry’s strictest rules and standards. It reported record sales of marine fuels in 2017 of 50.6 million tonnes.

“The Technical Committee for Bunkering has submitted a proposal to the national standards body, Enterprise Singapore, for a new standard on quantity, measurement and sampling requirements for transfer of bunker fuel from oil terminals to bunker tankers using Mass Flow Metering,” Enterprise Singapore said in a statement on Thursday.

“This proposed standard complements existing standards to ensure transparent and fair trade in the bunkering ecosystem,” a spokeswoman said.

From July 1, 2019, Singapore will extend the mandatory use of MFMs to bunker barges delivering distillate fuels ahead of an expected pick-up in the demand for distillate fuels to meet global caps on sulphur content in bunker fuels which will come into effect from 2020.

The measures are all aimed at bringing more transparency to a notoriously opaque sector which has had its fair share of scandals, including illegal short-selling of fuel as well as large-scale fuel theft.

More recently, a wave of contaminated fuel has clogged and damaged engines on hundreds of oil tankers and container vessels in the past months, with no one yet held accountable. That has pushed shippers to demand stricter controls around the world.

The proposed measures could enhance transparency and accountability in a meaningful way, two trade sources said on Thursday.

For instance, mass flow meters at oil terminals would ensure the right quantities of fuels are transferred between buyers and sellers while taking oil samples at terminals could help prevent the spreading of contaminated fuels once they are detected and enhance accountability if quality disputes arise, the sources said.

The sources declined to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the media.

“The proposal will undergo a one-month public notification to seek views of stakeholders on the scope of the standard at the end of this year,” the Enterprise Singapore spokeswoman said.

Source:hellenicshippingnews

How newbuildings, scrappings formed world fleet in 2017

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In its 2018 edition of Maritime Transport Review, UNCTAD informed that in 2017, total newbuilding delivery amounted to 65 million gross tons, equivalent to 5.2% of the start-of-year fleet in 2017. Meanwhile in 2017, 23 milion gross tons were scrapped leading to a net growth in world fleet of 42 million gross tons, equivalent to a growth rate of 3.3%.

The dry bulk sector saw the largest tonnage of newbuilding entering the fleet with more than 20 million gross tons reported delivered. This sector also saw the highest level of scrapping activity at more than 8 million gross tons leading to a net growth in dry bulk fleet of 2,9%.

Oil tankers saw less newbuilding activity but also less scrapping, resulting in greater net growth in the fleet, at almost 5%. General cargo ships recorded more scrapping than newbuildings, leading to a negative growth rate in this sector.

The largest shipbuilding countries continued to be China, Republic of Korea and Japan, which togethet accounted for 90.5% of gross tons delivered in 2017. China has the largest market shares in dry bulk carriers and general cargo ships. The Republic of Korea is strongest in oil tankers, container ships and gas carriers. Japan has its largest market share in chemical tankers and bulk carriers. The rest of the world, comprising mostly countries in Europe, is strongest in offshore vessels and passenger ships, including cruise ships.

Ship demolitions in 2017 were almost one quarter less in gross tons than in 2016, an indicator of improved market optimism. Bulk carrier and container ship scrapping slowed in line with improved market conditions but tanker recycling increased. The most ship scrapping continued to take place in India, followed by Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The tonnage on order for all main vessel types further decreased in 2017-2018. Compared with the peaks in 2008 and 2009, the current tonnage on order has decreased by 62% for container ships, 66% for oil tankers, 76% for bulk carriers and 85% for general cargo vessels.
Source:safety4sea

EIB approves €195 million funding for Italian port projects

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The European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a €195 million (USD224.7 million) financing to the Centre-North Tyrrhenian Sea Port Authority for the expansion of the port of Civitavecchia, in the Italian capital, and the building of a ferry terminal in the port of Fiumicino.

According to data provided by the Port Authority of Civitavecchia Fiumicino and Gaeta, the project in Civitavecchia eyes construction of infrastructure, such as the completion of works on the ferry docks, the extension of the breakwater, and related road connections.

Meanwhile, the project in Fiumicino foresees building of the new fishing dock and the first phase of the development of a new commercial port serving ferries, RoRo and cruise ships.

The total expenditure for the projects is estimated at €515 million (USD593.4 million), while the funding consists one of the largest EIB grants in a port authority in the last years.

Source:safety4sea

Finnish LNG icebreaker tests oil recovery capabilities

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State-owned Finnish polar services company Arctia has tested the oil-recovery capabilities of its LNG-powered icebreaker Polaris at sea for the first time.

Integrated equipment tested in the exercise, which forms part of Arctia’s autumn testing schedule of its icebreaker fleet, included Polaris’ skimmer and collection booms.

Built at Arctech Helsinki shipyard in 2016, Polaris was the first LNG-powered icebreaker in the world when it entered service in 2017. It has an ice class of PC4.

The vessel measures 110 m in length by 24 m in breadth with an operational draught of 8 m. It has a Wärtsilä package of two 6,000 kW, two 4,500 kW and one 1,280 kW dual-fuel engines and is fitted with three ABB Azipod propulsion units. The Lamor oil recovery system means Polaris can collect 1,015 m3 of oil at a rate of 200 m3 per hour in bad weather and ice conditions.

Polaris’ LNG propulsion can support the slow speeds – usually close to 2 knots – required for successful oil recovery in open sea. The vessel’s manoeuvrability also helps, as sideways operation enables the entire side of the vessel to be used to direct oil into the collection tank in rough water.

Arctia’s communications manager Eero Hokkanen explained the logic behind equipping icebreakers to work as oil recovery vessels, noting that such preparations “would be sensible in order to safeguard a sufficient level of oil recovery preparedness in the Gulf of Finland and the entire northern Baltic Sea.”

Source:osjonline

Global Maritime Forum ‘breaks new ground’ for the shipping industry

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The Global Maritime Forum’s Annual Summit took place in Hong Kong on 3-4 October 2018. This high-level meeting gathered maritime leaders to discuss industry-wide, long-term challenges and opportunities. Under the theme 'Breaking New Ground, Digitalisation',  the forum discussed about decarbonisation, gender cap and the future of the industry in an environment characterized by fast-paced changes.

What is the Global Maritime Forum

The Global Maritime Forum is an international non profit foundation, aiming to boost the potential of the global maritime industry. It tries to shape the future of global seaborne trade in order to increase sustainable long-term economic development and human well-being.

The Forum, comprised of 14 founding partners, is considered the succession of the Danish Maritime Forum and took place for the first time outside Denmark. The Forum was created as there was a need for a common platform for high-level leaders from the entire maritime spectrum to drive positive change for the industry and society.

Johannah Christensen & Michael Soested, Directors of the Global Maritime Forum, explained that the Global Maritime Forum has two main activities. The primary vehicle is an annual summit which will bring together senior figures from across the maritime industry with other influential stakeholders to discuss industry-wide, long term challenges. In between meetings, the Forum will also serve as a broader platform for dialogue and collaboration on topics of major significance for the maritime community.

What's on the agenda

The Global Maritime Forum’s annual summit addressed global challenges that are particularly important to the maritime industry. The agenda was developed in close collaboration with the industry and other key stakeholders to make sure the best discussions and outcomes.

Johannah Christensen & Michael Soested stated:"We intend to present the first results on a number of initiatives, including subjects like decabonization, digitalization and protectionism."

More specifically, the Forum focused on the following key items:

  • How will global economy affect the maritime industry?
  • How can protectionism impact international trade?
  • How will digitalisation change the maritime industry?
  • Risks and opportunities for the industry;
  • How the maritime industry provide a safer working environment?
  • How can the maritime industry attract new talent?
  • What can be done to bridge the gender gap?
  • How can the industry tackle the climate challenge and meet environmental demands?
  • What will it take to shift to the low/zero carbon fuels of the future?
  • What is the role of finance in driving this transformation?

Decarbonisation

It is no doubt that the IMO 2020 sulphur cap dominates every agenda. The Global Maritime Forum tried to practically address this issue as 34 CEOs and industry leaders from across the maritime value chain signed a call for action in a bid to lead the maritime industry in a transition towards a new decarbonized future.

The signatories believe the industry needs to accelerate both technological and business model innovation, further improve operational and technical energy efficiency, and mark transition to zero-carbon fuels and new propulsion systems.

As Richard Turner, President of IUMI, highlighted:"The development of non-fossil fuels and alternative propulsion technologies is a prerequisite if the maritime industry is going to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050 as stated in the IMO’s initial climate change strategy."

Digitalization

What is more, digitalization and new technologies were in the spotlight as well. New digital technologies are challenging conventional business models and are opening up new opportunities for the global maritime industry.

However, they do also lead to new risks such as cyber-attacks and data theft, which are one of the industry's biggest cons. According to the executives that took part in the Forum, the industry is not prepared enough for the digital era and the risks that come with it. The possible impact of cyber crimes is significant to the maritime industry, as experts include it in the top three 'most likely to happen', behind only 'global economic crisis'and 'energy price fluctuations'. This is outlined by recent cyber attacks on Maersk, Cosco and the Port of San Diego.

Economic crisis

In addition, the Global Maritime Forum analyzed the consequences of a 'global economic crisis'. This issue could significantly impact the seaborne trade over the next ten years.

According to the Forum's 'Global Maritime Issues Monitor 2018' report, the industry should be better prepared to withstand a global economic crisis. The lack of appropriate preparation may be explained by the fact that the difficult market conditions that the industry is facing make it difficult to build up the financial resilience.

Nonetheless, it must be noted that while global economic crisis can have the greatest impact, the likelihood of this occurring is relatively low, as it just made it in thee top 10 'most likely issues' out of the 17 assessed.

Commenting on this finding, Hong Kong's government Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, gave emphasis on the impact on the container industry:"Container-shipping clients have expanded from large-scale manufacturing companies to numerous small- and medium-sized enterprises. Maritime business must adapt to new business models, offering such smart solutions."

New talent

Another key issue that the maritime industry should keep an eye on is attracting new talent. Innovation and technology will surely advance the industry, but new talent is necessary to manage the expansion of global trade and the world's shipping fleets.

In order to attract new talent in the industry, connectivity will play a major role. This is confirmed by a recent Inmarsat report, which found that concluded that reliable connectivity has a 'fundamental importance on mental wellbeing, operational efficiency and safety, as well as its critical role in attracting new talent to the industry.'

Nevertheless, experts that took part in the discussions to make the industry more attractive to young people, found out that maritime has a branding problem. Often associated with unsafe environment, piracy, pollution and disconnection from loved ones, the industry is not an attractive choice for new talent.

In order to reverse this image, a set of measures including speaking in the youth's language, ensuring reliable connectivity on board and present a clear career development path through maritime were discussed.

The next Global Maritime Forum will take place in Singapore.

Source:safety4sea

UK Coast Guard Wins Grant to Study Autonomous Ship Regulation

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The British government is making an investment in a much-needed area of autonomous shipping research: regulation. The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and two other British agencies have secured a grant of $1.3 million from the UK Department of Business in order to study the best ways to regulate autonomous and "smart" shipping. 

The funding will underwrite the launch of a new Maritime Autonomy Regulation Lab, where regulators from the MCA and the UK Department for Transport will work with industry and academia to investigate the best ways to oversee the new sector. The lab will also promote on-water testing and flagship projects and help the UK grow its presence in the autonomous vessel marketplace.

“Emerging technology will help the UK’s maritime sector evolve to be more efficient, safer and greener," said Shipping Minister Nusrat Ghani. "This £1 million funding will support us to work alongside industry and researchers to ensure our approach to the regulation of autonomous shipping is informed and aligned with developments in technology.”

The MCA expects that autonomous shipping will take off and grow into a $130 billion industry by 2030, and it believes that UK businesses will play a key role.

“We have already seen an extraordinary demand for this regulatory work and we are confident that we can drive forward future-ready regulations, to be best placed to respond to the challenges and opportunities this fast-moving industry will bring," said Sir Alan Massey, CEO of the MCA. 

Funding comes from the Department of Business' Regulators’ Pioneer Fund, which is intended to ensure that the UK's regulatory system "keeps pace with the innovation and technological advances needed to power [Britain's] economy."

Source:maritime-executive

Huntington Ingalls Closes on Sale of Avondale Shipyard

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Defense shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries has closed on the sale of the historic Avondale Shipyard site in New Orleans. The buyer is Avondale Marine, a joint venture between terminal operator T. Parker Host and Hilco Redevelopment Partners, a specialist in real estate projects on brownfield sites.

Over nearly eight decades in business, the Avondale yard completed over 2,400 vessels and offshore modules, from warships to icebreakers to container ships. Among other noteworthy projects, it built several of the well-known "LASH" barge carriers; a prison barge for New York City; the Coast Guard medium icebreaker Healy; and a wide variety of warships and naval auxiliaries. At its peak it was the largest employer in Louisiana, with a total of 26,000 workers. It completed its last vessel for the U.S. Navy and closed its doors in late 2014. 

HII announced the sale of the site in August 2017, but did not disclose the price or the buyer at that time. Avondale had been on the market since 2015, and HII dropped the asking price from $125 million to $95 million prior to the sale. 

“We are very proud of our legacy at Avondale and the many contributions that generations of its shipbuilders made to our national security,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “We are pleased that Avondale Marine plans to put the facility back into commerce and look forward to its success.”

The sale paves the way for the site's reuse as a "logistics hub." Avondale Marine is expected to redevelop the site’s crane, dock and terminal assets, leverage the former shipyard's rail connections to six major rail carriers and provide space for commercial tenants. T. Parker Host has not released the details, but it said in a statement that the JV will begin a planning process with stakeholders in the coming months. 

“Our goal is to place Avondale into the supply chain as a multimodal, global logistics hub that not only moves goods but actually adds value on-site. We are grateful for the steadfast support and leadership of the governor, parish president and council, as well as our partners in the project, including the Port of New Orleans, the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, JEDCO, GNO Inc., the Jefferson Business Council and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.”

T. Parker Host and Hilco have previously partnered on the reuse of the Bethlehem Steel Mill in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2012, that site became Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,000-acre multimodal port with a large rail yard, a roro facility and a sprawling complex of distribution centers and manufacturers. T. Parker Host holds a 10-year lease for Tradepoint's marine cargo operations. 

Source:maritime-executive

Aker Solutions to Supply Subsea Production System for Mero 1

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Aker Solutions said it has secured an order from Petrobras to provide a subsea production system and related services for the Mero 1 project, the first full production project within the major Mero field development, one of the largest oil discoveries in Brazil's pre-salt area.

The ultra-deepwater Mero field is located in the northwestern area of the original Libra block, which is about 180 kilometers south of Rio de Janeiro. First oil was produced in November last year.

Petrobras is the operator of the consortium developing the Libra area. Shell, Total, CNPC and CNOOC Limited are partners. Pre-Sal Petróleo S.A (PPSA) manages the Production Sharing Contract.

The subsea production system will be hooked up to the first full-scale floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for Mero, known as the Guanabara FPSO, which is currently under construction and scheduled to come on stream in 2021 and will have capacity to process up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day and 12 million cubic meters of gas a day.

The FPSO will be chartered for 22 years under an agreement with MODEC-led MV31 signed in December 2017. MV31 is backed by Mitsui, MOL, Marubeni and Mitsui E&S.

The subsea production system will consist of 12 vertical subsea trees designed for Brazil's pre-salt, four subsea distribution units, three topside master control stations for the Mero 1 Guanabara FPSO and spare parts. The order also includes installation and commissioning support services.

Aker Solutions said work on the subsea production system has already started, with deliveries scheduled for 2020 and installations between 2020 and 2023. The company's subsea manufacturing facility in São José dos Pinhais and its subsea services base in Rio das Ostras are performing the work.

Aker Solutions and Petrobras have not disclosed the value of the contract. The order will be booked in the third quarter of 2018.

Source:oedigital

UK prepares 3.4GW offshore wind extension party

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The UK Crown Estate has revealed the eight proposed offshore wind farm extension projects totalling up to 3.4GW that have now satisfied its application criteria.

On the east coast, applications have been filed for extensions at the up to 317MW Sheringham Shoal, 402MW Dudgeon, 573MW Race Bank, 504MW Greater Gabbard, 353MW Galloper and 300MW Thanet wind farms.

Off the west coast, the seabed landlord has received filings for an extension to the 576MW Gwynt y Mor (pictured) and an extension is also proposed to the 400MW Rampion off southern England.

The eight projects, located in the waters around England and Wales, will now be subject to a plan level Habitats Regulations Assessment, which will assess any possible impacts on relevant nature conservation sites of European importance, said the seabed landlord.

This process will last between six and nine months.

Agreement for lease could be granted in 2019 subject to the outcome of the HRA.

Successful developers would then commence project specific environmental assessments and seek consent for their projects through the statutory planning process, added the Crown Estate.

“It is really positive to see such a strong response to the opportunity for extension projects,” said Crown Estate head of energy development Will Apps.

“In parallel with our Habitats Regulations Assessment, we will continue to work closely with the applicants and our stakeholders to ensure careful consideration of any environmental impacts and existing users of the seabed, ahead of any award of rights.”

Source:renews

Parkwind fills Northwester 2 coffers

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Parkwind has reached financial close at its 219MW Northwester 2 offshore wind farm off Belgium.

The developer will invest a total of €700m in the project with €481m coming from commercial Belgian and European banks, including €210m from the European Investment Bank.

Just over half of the EIB funding will be guaranteed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, with the Danish EKF guaranteeing the remainder.

EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell commented: “The importance of renewables in the energy mix must not be underestimated and will be key in meeting ever rising demand for low carbon electricity as well as targets set under the Paris climate agreement.”

“I am proud to say that the EIB has played a key role in developing the offshore across Europe and has been a strong partner for Belgium from very beginning.”

Northwester 2 will feature 23 MHI Vestas 9.5MW turbines.

Jan De Nul is the installation contractor for turbines, foundations, cabling and the substation. Bladt and Semco will supply the latter.

Parkwind partners at Northwester 2 include Colruyt, InControl and TTR. The wind farm is scheduled to be up and running in the first quarter of 2020.

Waters at the site located about 48km off the Belgian coast are up to 40 metres deep.

Source:renews

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