Austal Vietnam launches 66 metre high-speed catamaran for french Polynesia

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May 4, 2023

Austal Vietnam has successfully launched a new high-speed catamaran built at the company’s shipyard in Vung Tau for the Degage Group of French Polynesia.

The 66 metre ‘Apetahi Express’ (Austal Hull 425) is undergoing final fit-out, prior to sea trials which are due to commence in May.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the new catamaran is a striking, yet practical design that adds further value to the company’s extensive portfolio of high-speed commercial ferries.

“Austal’s latest catamaran design offers operators an impressive looking vessel that is both highly efficient and flexible, with multiple indoor and outdoor decks for passengers and a large cargo space accommodating up to 16 tonnes for high-speed inter-island transportation.

“I know that The Degage Group, who have bought five ferries from Austal over the past couple of decades are excited about adding Apetahi Express to their fleet and introducing a superior service to their customers in French Polynesia; and we’re delighted to be partnering with them on this project.”

Austal Vietnam President Mark Dummett congratulated his team on the launch of Apetahi Express which is the 3rd vessel constructed at the shipyard since opening in 2018.

“The Austal Vietnam team have worked exceptionally hard to launch this new catamaran, for one of our most loyal commercial customers, The Degage Group and I congratulate them all on a job well done – the ship looks fantastic.

“We’re looking forward to delivering the 6th ship from Austal to the Degage Group and seeing Apetahi Express sailing the beautiful waters of French Polynesia, soon.”

The new Austal ‘Passenger Express 66’ catamaran features a length overall (LOA) of 66.4 metres, beam of 15.2 metres and draft of 1.8 metres. Over two passenger decks, the vessel can accommodate 574 passengers, with an additional 80 seats available on an external sun deck. Crew accommodation includes 7 two-berth cabins and 2 single-berth cabins. The vessel has four passenger access ramps and can carry up to 16 tonnes of cargo loaded via two cranes.

Fitted with four diesel engines and four waterjets, as well as Austal’s renowned Motion Control System (including active interceptors and T-foils) and the latest MARINELINK-Connect program, the new ferry will have a contracted top speed of 35.8 knots and a range of up to 360 nautical miles (excluding a long-range tank, fitted).

Austal has previously designed and built five vessels for The Degage Group, comprising two 69 metre monohull cruise ships (Austal Hulls 172 and 173), a 56 metre vehicle passenger catamaran ferry (Austal Hull 266), an 80 metre vehicle passenger catamaran ferry (Austal Hull 201) and a 49 metre vehicle passenger ferry (Hull 421).

The new ferry is anticipated to commence operations between Pape’ete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia in July 2023.

Damen delivered two RSD Tugs 2513 to the Fairplay Towage Group

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May 4, 2023

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Damen signed the contract for the Shoalbuster with its customer in December 2021. Closer to completion of the vessel, the shipbuilder was able to deliver the pontoon within a month after contract effectiveness thanks to its practice of building vessels in series and keeping them in stock for short lead times.

The combination of the Shoalbuster and the Stan Pontoon will soon leave the Damen construction yard in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, to work in the marine contracting business in the Southern Caribbean. With the industry around the construction of roads, hotels, shore bases and other buildings booming in Guyana, the vessels will have no time to loose to get to work.

With the hull of the Shoalbuster already constructed, Damen was able to accommodate all wishes from the customer in a relatively short time span. The electrical network has been adapted to be better suited in the region that the vessel will operate. The large working deck, alongside the heavy duty crane and winch, will provide the perfect working tools for the rough work required. Also, the vessel can fulfil her duties offshore as a Fire Fighting 1 system including spray has been fitted.

As part of ship delivery support, Damen Services provides a contact person who is available round the clock to provide any information that the customer may require. Additionally, Damen handles contact with the carrier, export documentation, drawings and calculations, transfer to location and all lashing and loading operations.

Damen sales manager for Germany Joschka Boddeling said:

“Starting with the Fairplay 37, the company has ordered a total of seven Damen vessels over the last eighteen months. It’s an honour to see the relationship between our two companies continue to develop in this way and I’m looking forward to continuing our collaboration.”

Philip-Alexander Harmstorf, Managing Director of Fairplay Towage said:

“These tugs will help to increase the commonality of our fleet, increasing the efficiency of our operations. Throughout our previous orders with Damen, the communication and response has been excellent; they have always done what they have said they will do. Furthermore, we really value the local presence they have established in Hamburg for both sales and service.”

Port of Virginia announces over EUR 130 million investment in 36 cranes

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May 4, 2023

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Konecranes will provide 36 state-of-the-art Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs) to The Port of Virginia® for a major capacity expansion investment that is part of the port’s ongoing drive to improve operational efficiency, capacity, and competitiveness in the global shipping market.

The order’s value is over EUR 130 million and it will be booked in Q2 2023. The ASCs are for the Norfolk International Terminals North Terminal project and will be delivered in two batches of 18 units, with the initial batch planned for delivery by mid-2025 and the subsequent batch anticipated to arrive by mid-2027. By placing this latest order, the Virginia Port Authority – owner and operator of The Port of Virginia’s five general cargo terminals – is once again showing its unwavering trust in the capabilities of Konecranes to deliver dependable and effective terminal solutions.

The Port of Virginia is a multipurpose port serving global markets. Its modern infrastructure, strategic positioning, and commitment to efficiency make it a vital gateway for international trade, benefiting various industries and economies throughout the country. The port is a longtime Konecranes customer, having received its first delivery of 30 ASCs in 2007 and subsequently ordering a further 86 in 2016.

Subsea Integration Alliance awarded contract offshore Egypt

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May 3, 2023

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The contract scope is for a two-well tie-back in the West Nile Delta block and includes the engineering, procurement, transport and installation of approximately six kilometres of flexible pipes, umbilical, and associated subsea structures in water depths of around 800 metres.

Project management and engineering have commenced and will be managed from Subsea7 offices in France, the UK and Portugal.

Olivier Blaringhem, Subsea Integration Alliance Chief Executive Officer said:

“This award further solidifies our ongoing partnership with bp in Egypt. Through our early collaboration on this project, bp and Subsea Integration Alliance, have worked together to develop an optimised solution for the Raven field, showcasing our effective teamwork.”

Franck Louvety, Africa, Middle East & Caspian Vice President, Subsea7 said:

“We are excited to strengthen our presence in Egypt and continue to build on our longstanding and successful relationship with bp. We look forward to working with bp to deliver the project successfully and safely while maximising the client’s production objectives.”

Vitol partners with ZeroNorth to optimise maritime operations

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May 3, 2023

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Technology company ZeroNorth has today announced it has signed a long-term strategic partnership with energy and commodity leader Vitol. The deal will see Vitol gain full access to the ZeroNorth platform, and ZeroNorth customers will in turn gain access to Vitol’s carbon reduction solutions and bunkering services, through the subsidiary Vitol Bunkers.

The announcement means that Vitol will use the ZeroNorth platform to optimise operations in a number of key business areas, including voyage, vessel, bunker and emissions optimisation, vessel reporting, and vessel selection. Holistic access to the ZeroNorth platform’s full suite of capabilities will benefit profit and planet, improving Vitol’s bottom line and delivering better environmental outcomes.

In the near term, ZeroNorth will use learnings from the collaboration to support the rollout of its new global electronic bunker delivery note (eBDN) solution. The deal will also support Vitol’s continued regulatory compliance with maritime environmental regulations, and help the organisation manage its EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) exposure by ensuring verified data quality and consolidation for more accurate emissions reporting.

The reciprocal agreement will enable ZeroNorth to tap into Vitol’s experience to the benefit of all customers using the platform, both as a prominent vessel charterer and owner, as well as an experienced provider of high quality carbon reduction solutions, establishing a new deep collaboration as the industry manages the energy transition. By improving operational transparency between cargo owners and shipowners, ZeroNorth will be able to strengthen the platform’s ability to support emissions reductions in a wider scope.

Speaking on the announcement, Søren Meyer, CEO at ZeroNorth, said:

“Firstly, we are once again able to prove our platform’s pedigree to key industry players and bring them into our ecosystem, to the benefit of their business and the planet. Secondly, and more importantly, it enables us to deepen our collaborative ties with true commodities experts, powering up our teams and capability to deliver the products and services needed for a profitable and decarbonised maritime industry.”

Ian Butler, Head of Energy Transition for Shipping at Vitol, added:

“Driving efficiencies is key to addressing emissions in shipping. As a major participant in shipping markets, we are exploring a range of solutions to facilitate the company’s management of the energy transition.

“Our partnership with ZeroNorth will enable us to optimise our vessels, access valuable data, provide critical insight and allow us to evolve new, more efficient ways of working.”

SMC awarded Sofia Offshore Resources and Services contract

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May 3, 2023

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Specialist Marine Consultants (SMC) have been awarded a contract from RWE’s Sofia Offshore Wind Farm to deliver Offshore Resources and Services for the duration of the project’s offshore construction, commencing in 2023.

The turnkey package of works is inclusive of a range of services, including above water offshore balance of plant works which includes statutory inspection and general maintenance of the TP, marine coordination resourcing, delivery of vessel inspections, project PPE management, specialist offshore construction resourcing, project consultancy support, and all associated project management.

SMC Managing Director Ian Coates commented:

“We are extremely proud to win the Sofia construction services contract. It is a major achievement for the company and testament to the entire SMC team who work onshore and offshore.

SMC following on from the success of the Triton Knoll project, where SMC undertook similar works on behalf of RWE, have taken great care to ensure we continued to develop our offering and to cement our position as a ‘best in class’ supplier of our respective services.

Our recent achievements in this area, with solutions delivered to a range of clients globally, have allowed SMC to build and retain a strong team of specialists, focusing on local content and personnel development, something we know to have been a key priority for Sofia”.

Sofia’s General Site Manager (Offshore) Rob McLauchlin said he welcomes SMC to the project and is pleased to have a respected and experienced service provider join the Sofia team as it nears its next key phase of activity, offshore construction.

The 1,400MW Sofia offshore wind farm is located 195 kilometres from the UK’s coast on Dogger Bank in the central North Sea and is one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world, as well as one of the farthest from shore. It will comprise 100 14MW turbines across a 593km2 site, which is roughly the same size as the Isle of Man.

Cunard celebrates the float out of Queen Anne with milestone ceremony in Italy

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May 3, 2023

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The world’s most iconic luxury cruise brand celebrated a momentous construction milestone with the float out of Queen Anne at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice, Italy.

The 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag, Queen Anne officially touched water for the first time exactly 365 days before she will set sail on her maiden voyage to Lisbon on 3 May 2024.

Steeped in tradition, the float out is marked by a special ceremony where a ‘Madrina’ is named to offer blessings and best wishes for the ship, celebrating the flow of water into the ship’s dry dock.

Carnival UK President, Sture Myrmell, said:

“We are delighted to celebrate this important milestone in the construction of Queen Anne. The float out ceremony marks the ship’s transition from her building dock to where she truly belongs – in the water. Today marks a significant moment for Queen Anne as we recognise the dedication by the master ship builders at Fincantieri to build a ship that reinforces our position as a world-famous luxury brand.”

Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager Merchant Ships Division of Fincantieri, stated:

“Queen Anne is the third ship we have the pleasure to build for Cunard, a pillar in the history of British seafaring, with whom we share a real commitment to excellence. Building a liner for this shipowner takes us back to our roots yet, at the same time, spurs us forward to the future in a spirit of determination to bring together tradition and innovation and further strengthen our longstanding relationship”.

The float out, completes the first comprehensive phase of construction for Queen Anne, which now transitions to focus on building the luxury ship’s interiors.

The design concepts for Cunard’s newest ship have been founded on heritage, craftmanship, style, storytelling, and innovation, and the 113,000-ton, 3,000-guest Queen Anne, which spans 14 decks, will offer travellers several breath-taking moments, including the largest curated art collection at sea.

For more than 180 years, Cunard has constantly refined the definitive experience of ocean travel, and Queen Anne will be bursting with Cunard’s signature experiences, including world-class dining, exceptional entertainment, and luxurious accommodation.

Entering service in May 2024, Queen Anne will make up a remarkable quartet for Cunard alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. It will be the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service.

Nauticus Robotics completes live testing of its AI-enhanced mine countermeasure vehicle

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May 3, 2023

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Nauticus Robotics has announced its successful completion of a live offshore demonstration with the U.S. Navy of its AI-enhanced mine countermeasure vehicle.

The achievement advanced Nauticus to the next phase of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (“DIU”) Autonomous Explosive Ordinance Disposal (“EOD”) Maritime Response Vehicle (“AEMRV”) program. The AEMRV represents one of two Nauticus programs with the DIU – a Department of Defense organization that strengthens the national security by accelerating the adoption of leading commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base.

In February 2022, DIU commissioned Nauticus to transform an existing mine countermeasure platform into an untethered autonomous drone to remotely identify and neutralize subsea mines and other targets of interest and take U.S. Navy EOD divers out of harm’s way in the process. Mine warfare is a global threat and can disrupt supply chains, logistics, and critical subsea infrastructure.

The Company integrated its software package, toolKITT, into a subsea vehicle used in an existing program of record. The AI-enabled software allows untethered vehicle operations while adhering to open architecture principles. The heavily modified remotely operated vehicle will allow U.S. Navy EOD divers to safely perform previously life-threatening duties by identifying and neutralizing underwater mines at greater stand-off distances than previously thought possible. To demonstrate the remotely operated vehicle’s enhanced capabilities, Nauticus completed a live testing event in San Diego and successfully progressed to the next stage of the program.

“Our premier software platform, toolKITT, will enable the U.S. Navy to use an enhanced, autonomous vehicle with state-of-the-art adaptive functionality. We are honored to have been given the opportunity and deliver on providing the U.S. Navy with a revolutionary underwater vehicle behaviors that optimizes both functionality and safety,” said Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Nauticus. “We are committed to supporting DIU to bring autonomy to the forefront of defense problem-solving.”

The new capabilities Nauticus brings to the DIU program include the following:

Untethered Operations: Integration of onboard power, acoustic communications, and edge processing hardware enables operators to supervise the vehicle remotely, providing enhanced safety and operational capability for the warfighter.
Autonomous Operations: AI technology allows the unit to classify objects and execute tasks without direct human commands, including precision vehicle positioning and EOD tool placement.
AI at the Edge: Computer vision automatically detects objects of interest on the ocean floor and in the water column.
Open Architecture: Maximization of modular, open architecture to optimize the vehicle’s functionality.

Wärtsilä partners with Veracity by DNV to streamline Anglo-Eastern’s reporting

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May 3, 2023

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Technology group Wärtsilä and DNV’s industry cloud platform Veracity have entered a partnership, creating secure and seamless connectivity between Wärtsilä’s Fleet Optimisation Solution (FOS) and Veracity.

With the integration, Wärtsilä will send real-time operational data with customer consent to Veracity, where it is quality assured and made ready for DNV’s verification services, making emissions compliance reporting more efficient for the partners’ common customers.

Wärtsilä has, since 2019, partnered with global ship management company Anglo-Eastern to digitalise its fleet operations. More than 500 vessels in Anglo-Eastern’s fleet have been fitted with Wärtsilä’s Fleet Optimisation Solution, a decision-support software platform for voyage planning, charter-party compliance, fuel efficiency, and fleet performance management. Many of the Anglo-Eastern vessels use DNV as their appointed verifier to get accreditation for regulatory emissions reporting.

With the digital connection to DNV’s Veracity in place, Anglo-Eastern’s Fleet Performance Centre can now make the reporting processes towards their principal owners more streamlined.

Bjorn Hojgaard, CEO of Anglo-Eastern, says:

“Wärtsilä has invested heavily in new digitally enabled strategies, and by partnering with them, we gain capabilities that assist us and our shipowner clients to be the leaders in digitalisation, safety, and sustainability. The agreement between Wärtsilä and Veracity by DNV further extends the benefits derived from our cooperation.”

Mikkel Skou, Managing Director of DNV Veracity, says:

“Today’s shipping industry is increasingly in need of emissions data that can be trusted and securely used across the value chain. Veracity by DNV supports this trend by making it easier for industry players to enrich, verify and gain consented access to emissions data, making companies more efficient and future-proof. We are delighted to partner with Wärtsilä to make the service available to major fleet operators, such as Anglo-Eastern.”

Ben Chng, Global Director of Sales for Wärtsilä Voyage Services, says:

“Through the partnership with Veracity by DNV, we are able to help Anglo-Eastern and other major fleet managers and owners take a step closer to achieving end to end optimization by streamlining and improving the efficiency of their operations. We now have a truly seamless data link from vessels reporting to the shore offices of FOS users. In addition, they can now utilise Wärtsilä’s CII offering to collect, report, and analyse their environmental performance. This agreement strengthens our commitment to supporting the decarbonisation of shipping.”

Wärtsilä’s FOS solution provides a unique infrastructure that includes Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) connectivity, cloud computing power, machine learning and big data analytics, as well as mobile applications both on board and ashore.

Subsea7 awarded project offshore US Gulf of Mexico

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May 2, 2023

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Subsea7 has announced an award by LLOG Exploration Offshore, LLC as project manager for the Salamanca development project, which includes the Leon and Castile fields, in the US Gulf of Mexico. The award is defined as sizeable.

The contract scope includes the installation of three infield subsea pipeline systems, as well as the design and fabrication of subsea structures. Subsea development will consist of two pipeline systems for the Leon field, located in Keathley Canyon 686, and one pipeline system for the Castile field, located in Keathley Canyon 736. The infield pipelines will produce and flow from wellsite PLETs to the Salamanca FPS in water depths ranging from 1,800 to 2,000 metres.

Additionally, the scope includes the installation of oil and gas export pipelines which depart from the Salamanca FPS and tie into existing pipeline transport systems approximately 48 kilometres away.

Project management and engineering will commence immediately at Subsea7’s office in Houston, Texas, with offshore activity expected to begin in 2024.

Craig Broussard, Vice President for Subsea7 US said:

“We are excited about the opportunity to work closely and openly with LLOG on this fast-paced, greenfield development. Our strengths as a collaborative partner and the versatility of our fleet will be instrumental in ensuring predictable, safe, and timely project delivery.”