Spark, Simply Blue, Subsea7 to pursue floating wind projects off NSW

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March 23, 2023

The recently declared Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra Renewable Energy Zones offer good opportunities to support the development of floating wind alongside the potential future Commonwealth offshore wind zones, including the proposed Hunter offshore wind area. The consortium has come together because it brings complementary expertise from world-leading companies, ensuring the deliverability of the projects proposed.

Australia’s emerging offshore wind industry provides a potential pathway for the thousands of jobs expected to transition from existing industries into renewable energy. This is a critical opportunity for workers in New South Wales, as the state seeks to decarbonise its energy supply.

Subsea7, a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services, has already partnered with Simply Blue Group on the Salamander floating offshore wind project in Scotland.

Darren Cormell, Subsea7, VP Floating Wind, said:

“There is a great potential to enable an offshore wind energy solution for the New South Wales population, and achieving a cleaner energy mix for the future. With more than a decade of successful delivery of large-scale offshore wind developments, group capabilities that span early development phases through to delivery, and a successful track record of more than 40 years in offshore projects in Australia, we are excited to bring our capabilities and experience to making floating wind in New South Wales possible.”

Sam Roch-Perks, Group CEO, Simply Blue Group, said:

“With a long coastline and stable continental shelf, we see huge potential for offshore floating wind projects off New South Wales. The State Government of New South Wales has announced key Renewable Energy Zones making it clear that it’s committed to a diverse, affordable, modern energy system, with wind energy firmly in the mix. I’m looking forward to meeting again personally with local stakeholders over the coming weeks to further progress our plans.”

Head of Spark Renewables, Anthony Marriner, said:

“The consortium will investigate the suitability of areas for developing an offshore wind farm within the proposed Hunter offshore area and the foreshadowed Illawarra offshore area. Community-wide and stakeholder-specific consultation with ecological agencies, Traditional Owners, Australian maritime, aviation and defence must inform any site identification process before we proceed to determining specific projects. As a NSW-based company, we understand the community issues, and this is a key focus for us on all our projects.”

Cochin bags order for construction of zero-emission feeder container vessels

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March 21, 2023

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Cochin ShipyardLimited (CSL) has received a prestigious international order from M/s. Samskip Group, Norway, a global logistics solution provider for the Design and Construction of Two Zero Emission Feeder Container Vessels with an option for two more vessels.

The project is one of the world’s first Zero Emission Feeder Container Vessel that will be powered using Hydrogen Fuel Cells ultimately, with Green Hydrogen.

This is an ambitious project under the Norwegian Government green funding programme aimed at emission-free transport solutions by adopting sustainable path breaking future technologies. These ships can carry abt. 365 Nos. of 45-feet long high cube containers and are intended to serve the European Market where sustainable transportation solutions are in high demand.

In zero emission mode, each vessel is expected to achieve around 25,000 tons of CO2 reduction per year. They will achieve zero emission operations in ports also by using green shore power at the port of call. The vessel’s deliveries are scheduled from Q3 2025 onwards. The vessels are equipped with Hydrogen Fuel cells in a Hybrid power system with Diesel Generator back up for longer endurance. It will have an onboard storage facility for Hydrogen fuel and will be fitted with Azimuththrusters for propulsion and high maneuverability.

CSL has also recently bagged contracts for construction of 2 Nos.Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV) for the European renewable offshore wind-farm segment. These vessels also employ emission reduction technologies with large capacity Li ion batteries and methanol fuelled generators.

Port of Antwerp-Bruges joins forces with Routescanner

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March 21, 2023

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With Routescanner, a shipper or freight forwarder can easily find and compare possible routes for its container shipments on a neutral platform. Direct Connections shows all available connections to Antwerp and Zeebrugge.

Routescanner’s Direct Connections plug-in will replace the connectivity platforms on the Port of Antwerp-Bruges website and will primarily show options via Antwerp and Zeebrugge. The user enters an origin and/or final destination, and then receives an overview of all available connections to Port of Antwerp-Bruges, including transit times, distances, mode, CO2 emissions and service providers offering that route.

Routescanner is actively and continuously fed information on transport services in the foreland and hinterland and also enables the shipper or freight forwarder to immediately request a quote from the service provider.

It is an existing, user-friendly platform that is now very well known in the world of transport. There are already more than 10,000 users worldwide, who can choose from over 730,000 transport services.

Greet Van Wesemael, Mobility Manager at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, says:

“Shippers and freight forwarders using the platform will also see options they might not initially have thought of themselves. For hinterland transport, all transport modes are shown and can be compared at a glance. This should give a push to the modal shift towards more sustainable transport such as railway transport and inland navigation.”

As it is a universal platform, transport providers only have to enter their data in one place in order to reach shippers and freight forwarders all around the world. Thus, nearly 200 inland navigation & railway operators, short sea & deep sea shipping companies are already on board, and over 4,500 terminals are connected.

Chantal Gouka, Managing Director of Routescanner, says:

“As the initiator of Routescanner, I believe that working together to provide global insight into container transport routes contributes to the transparency, sustainability and efficiency of the logistics sector. Direct Connections will make the network to and from Antwerp and Zeebrugge transparent and will also simplify planning and orientation for its clients. Thanks for the vote of confidence. Let’s rethink supply chains together!”

Wärtsilä 31 engine gets a power boost

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March 21, 2023

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Wärtsilä 31 diesel engine is being upgraded for higher power output than ever before. The upgraded version delivers an increased power to size ratio within the same physical footprint. The Wärtsilä 31 has the highest power per cylinder for engines of this bore size. Having fewer cylinders for the same power reduces the total cost of ownership, while maintenance costs are also lowered.

The Wärtsilä 31 was originally introduced in 2015 and was recognised by Guinness World Records as being the world’s most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. In addition to its exceptionally high efficiency, the engine’s economic fuel consumption in turn results in lower levels of exhaust gas emissions.

“With this power upgrade we are delivering significant added value to our customers,” explained Lars Anderson, Director of Product Management at Wärtsilä. “The Wärtsilä 31 is already the best engine in its class, and this development widens its market advantage even further. By extending its performance, we are making a real contribution to greater sustainability and supporting our commitment to a decarbonised future.”

The first deliveries of the upgraded engine are taking place during the first half of 2023. Already, seven higher power output Wärtsilä 31 engines have been contracted.

Ronald Ervik, Managing Director of Herøyhav, a Norwegian fishing company and one of the first recipients of the upgraded engine said: “For our new vessel we opted for the Wärtsilä 31 engine because it is the most modern and most efficient medium-speed marine diesel engine on the market. Not only will it give us the power we need and with dimensions that fit our engine room design, but it will also lower fuel consumption.”

The power upgrade will result in the current output range of 4.9 to 9.8 MW, being increased to a range of 5.2 to 10.4 MW with 650 kW per cylinder. The power increase gives customers the option to select fewer cylinders, thereby reducing the required engine room space, as well as lessening maintenance requirements.

Peel Ports expands into East Coast with acquisition of HES Humber Bulk Terminal

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March 20, 2023

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Peel Ports Group has completed the acquisition of HES Humber Bulk Terminal for an undisclosed sum.

Peel Ports now operates across eight key locations in the UK and Ireland, with the ports of Liverpool, Heysham, Manchester Ship Canal, London Medway, Clydeport, Great Yarmouth and a container terminal in Dublin already within its portfolio.

The new bulk terminal, situated on the South Bank of the Humber Estuary, will be operated by Peel Ports Logistics, a division of Peel Ports Group that specialises in ‘One-Stop-Shop’ logistics solutions.

The acquisition marks Peel Ports Logistics’ third UK presence and its first on the East Coast. Its other operations are located in the North West, at Runcorn and Ellesmere Port respectively. The division is led by Managing Director, Sebastian Gardiner.

The terminal has an open storage capacity of 6,200 m2 and a covered storage facility of 275,000 m3. With an automated conveyor-fed import and export system, the terminal delivers safe and efficient handling and storage of a variety of dry bulk products.

Bulk customers in key industries including agriculture, construction and energy, will be able to benefit from the expertise, experience and streamlined operations with the expansion of Peel Ports Logistics’ ‘One-Stop-Shop’ solutions to the region.

The HES Humber Bulk Terminal currently employs 29 people, all of whom will be retained as part of the acquisition.

Claudio Veritiero, CEO of Peel Ports Group, said:

“The acquisition of HES Humber Bulk Terminal is an important investment for Peel Ports Group, expanding our presence into the East of England and bringing Peel Ports Logistics’ ‘One-Stop-Shop’ service to the East Coast.

“The modern facilities at HES Humber Bulk Terminal guarantee fast and efficient loading and unloading of vessels and trucks, while the excellent water and road connections enable quick and smooth operations. This, combined with trans-shipment and extensive storage capabilities, will make the site a key addition to Peel Ports Logistics, helping us to deliver efficient and cost-effective port services for our customers.”

Cees van Gent, CEO of HES International, said:

“We would sincerely like to thank all HES Humber Bulk Terminal employees for their ongoing commitment and valuable contribution to the company. Peel Ports has a long and outstanding history in the safe handling of cargo from across the globe and plays an integral role in customer supply chains.

“They are a reputable market player in the UK and we are confident that they will support HES Humber Bulk Terminal to build on its successful history. Proceeds from the sale will be reinvested in energy transition related projects that are pivotal for the long-term, sustainable growth and transformation of HES.”

VIKAND partners with MHG to provide medical services for the restart of Peace Boat

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March 20, 2023

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Global healthcare specialist VIKAND is partnering with Maritime Holdings Group Inc (MHG) to provide medical services to Japan Grace, operator of Peace Boat ethical cruises aboard the vessel Pacific World.

Under this agreement, VIKAND will provide global healthcare support and medical guidance to the doctors and nurses onboard the Pacific World. VIKAND also setup and organised the onboard medical centre and is involved in reviewing crew Pre-Employment Medical Examinations, calibrating biomedical equipment, conducting a medical audit, checking and supplying formulary for crew and vetting onboard medical staff.

“Working with MHG on this project has been a great experience and we support Peace Boat’s ethical approach to cruising, which gives passengers a more meaningful understanding of the countries they visit,” said Peter Hult, CEO of VIKAND. “I’m also pleased to further expand our presence in the Asian market by partnering with Japan Grace. The Pacific World is the largest ship in Peace Boat’s 40-year history, and we are honoured to provide her crew with ongoing medical advice and support.”

Based in Tokyo, travel agent Japan Grace has operated Peace Boat’s global and regional cruises since 1995. These journeys offer passengers a series of unique programmes designed for more meaningful experiences at each port of call, such as homestays with local families, cultural exchange programmes, and even programmes built around the country’s social, environmental and historic concerns.

“Choosing the right medical partner was important for the ongoing success of Peace Boat,” said Yoko Izutsu, Managing Director of Japan Grace. “VIKAND has extremely knowledgeable professional teams who all have seafaring experience, so they understand the unique issues around medical services at sea. We are confident that the policies and procedures they have implemented will ensure smooth operation of our onboard medical facility. VIKAND’s global experience was critical in our decision to partner with them, as they understand the diverse range of health issues that can affect different people in destinations worldwide.”

A.P. Moller Holding to acquire Maersk Supply Service

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March 20, 2023

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The ambition is to establish a leading offshore marine company servicing the offshore wind industry by building on the solid and extensive capabilities and assets, which Maersk Supply Service today offers mainly to the offshore oil & gas industry.

In 2016, A.P. Moller – Maersk established a new strategy to become a focused transport and logistics company. Subsequently, new ownership solutions were pursued for Maersk Tankers, Maersk Oil & Gas, and Maersk Drilling. We are pleased that A.P. Moller – Maersk now has found a long-term ownership solution also for Maersk Supply Service.

Over the last years, A.P. Moller Holding has pursued several initiatives and investments to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the transition to green energy. We have invested in recyclable plastics, wind turbines, cooling solutions, geothermal energy, and supported our companies’ transition to green fuel in shipping.

Acquiring Maersk Supply Service and accelerating the transition from solely servicing the oil and gas energy sector to also serving the growing offshore renewable energy market, including offshore and floating wind, is a natural strategic priority for A.P. Moller Holding.

Martin Larsen, CFO at A.P. Moller Holding, said:

“The capabilities and vessels Maersk Supply Service have built over more than 50 years supporting the oil and gas energy industry are much needed within offshore renewable energy, especially in the wind industry. As new owners we will drive a transition of Maersk Supply Service to over time become a leading offshore marine company servicing the offshore wind industry. At the same time, we are pleased that this concludes the separation of energy related activities from A.P. Moller – Maersk as initiated in 2016.”

Patrick Jany, CFO at A.P. Moller – Maersk, said:

“We are very pleased to see Maersk Supply Service will be able to continue to further develop new solutions for the green transition of the offshore sector under a new long-term ownership. This transaction validates the excellent work done by the team in the last years. At the same time it marks the completion of our initial decision to divest all energy related activities and focus on truly integrated logistics.”

The transaction is subject to certain customary regulatory approval and is expected to close in Q2 2023.

Lhyfe and Centrica to develop offshore renewable green hydrogen

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March 20, 2023

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The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that could accelerate green hydrogen as part of the energy transition in the UK.

Under the agreement, Lhyfe and Centrica will explore combining their expertise to collaborate on a pilot green hydrogen production site in the Southern North Sea.

The pilot will aim to combine Lhyfe’s expertise on green hydrogen production and Centrica’s experience of gas storage and infrastructure to ensure that the hydrogen produced can be safely stored and utilised in the UK. The end result would be proof that an end-to-end hydrogen production, storage, and distribution system is possible in the country.

The energy firms will also examine an additional partnership to deploy the technology at commercial scale alongside offshore wind electricity production.

Renewable green hydrogen coupled with offshore wind power is expected to play an increasingly important role in the UK’s energy mix, particularly with rapid expansion expected in both of these areas over the next 5-10 years.

Colin Brown, UK and Ireland country manager of Lhyfe, said:

“We are pleased to announce this agreement with Centrica, which represents an exciting opportunity to drive forward the clean energy transition through large-scale offshore green hydrogen production. Offshore electrolysis coupled with hydrogen storage will maximise the huge potential of offshore wind around the UK. The UK can become a global leader in the production of renewable green hydrogen, moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels and improving our homegrown energy security, while delivering net zero and boosting local economies.”

Martin Scargill, Managing Director of Centrica Storage, said:

“Hydrogen is going to play a key role in decarbonising the UK’s power supply by 2035 and our long-term ambition is for Rough, our gas storage site, to be the world’s largest hydrogen store, offering up to 16TWh of storage capacity. This pilot will show how green hydrogen can be produced, moved and stored in the UK market; all while supporting the UK on its net zero journey.”

The UK Government has doubled its low-carbon hydrogen production target from 5GW to 10GW by 2030, with at least half of this coming from green hydrogen. Hydrogen production is expected to initially support decarbonisation of industrial clusters, like the Humber cluster with further use cases developing with a growing hydrogen economy.

A recent report by the Climate Change Committee confirmed the essential role of hydrogen production, storage and use in achieving the goal of a net zero electricity system in the UK by 2035.

Jan De Nul starts working on two German offshore wind farms

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March 20, 2023

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Jan De Nul Group announces that it has officially started the T&I contract for the construction of Ørsted’s 242 MW Gode Wind 3 and 900 MW Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm in Germany.

A first batch of 3 monopile foundations has left Steelwind’s yard in Nordenham (Germany) to Eemshaven (The Netherlands), which is part of Groningen Seaports.

Jan De Nul’s scope includes the transport and installation of 106 wind turbine monopile foundations and one offshore substation foundation, including associated topside.

Subcontractor Wagenborg has deployed its Wagenborg Barge 8 for the transport of the monopiles foundations from Steelwind’s yard in Germany to marshalling harbour Eemshaven in The Netherlands.

In Summer, Jan De Nul’s brand-new Heavy Lift Vessel Les Alizés will arrive on site and install the first monopile foundation offshore, simultaneously the baptism of fire for this brand-new vessel.

Les Alizés was delivered by the CMHI Shipyard in China in January 2023 and is currently sailing to Eemshaven in The Netherlands. This vessel investment is a response to the global trend within the offshore wind energy sector to design and install increasingly larger wind turbines.

Thanks to her dimensions and impressive lifting and loading capacities, Les Alizés will be able to load out, transport and install multiple units of the largest and heaviest wind turbine foundations. In addition, as a crane vessel that floats, she will be able to install heavier and larger foundations into deeper waters and in more challenging seabed conditions. She will mainly be used for the construction of offshore wind farms, but with her impressive crane she is also extremely suitable for decommissioning offshore oil and gas platforms.

Les Alizés is fitted with a highly advanced exhaust filtering system by means of a Selective Catalytic Reduction system and a Diesel Particulate Filter, making it the very first seagoing installation vessel of its kind to be an Ultra-Low Emission vessel (ULEv), moreover Stage V-certified.

Both wind farms will use 11-MW Siemens Gamesa turbines and are located in the German North Sea. The Borkum Riffgrund 3 more particularly will be located adjacent to Ørsted’s existing offshore wind farms Borkum Riffgrund 1 and Borkum Riffgrund 2. Gode Wind 3 will be close to Ørsted’s Gode Wind 1 and 2.

For the first time, Ørsted will be using monopiles with secondary steel components instead of a transition piece for connecting turbine and foundation.

Delivery is foreseen to be completed in 2024. Once in full operation in 2024 and 2025, respectively, these wind farms will generate enough electricity to power approx. 1.2 million German households every year.

TX Logistik, duisport and Samskip establish joint operating company

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March 20, 2023

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Samskip, duisport and TX Logistik AG will jointly operate the CT terminal at logport III in Duisburg-Hohenbudberg in the future. For this purpose, the three partners have founded the new company “Ziel Terminal GmbH”. Samskip will hold 49.8 percent of the shares, duisport and TX Logistik each will hold 25.1 percent respectively. The terminal will be leased on a long-term basis by duisport to the joint venture.

The terminal partnership signed by the three owners is currently still subject to approval by the European competition authorities. Approval is expected in the next few weeks.

Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO Mercitalia Logistics, says:

“TX Logistik is on course for growth. In order to continue this development and to be able to shift even more transports to rail in the future, the company needs terminal capacities that it can safely fall back on.”

Currently TX Logistik, which is responsible for international rail freight transport within the Mercitalia Group (Gruppo FS Italiane), already operates two round trips per week between Duisburg and Katrineholm in Sweden for Samskip.

Gianpiero Strisciuglio says:

“The Duisburg terminal is located in a strategic geographical position, in the heart of Germany, in an important industrial zone, along the main trade interchange axis of Europe. Being part of the shareholding structure that will manage it means guaranteeing customers an expansion of geographic targets, improved service quality, synchronization of traction and access slots to terminal areas, and greater transport efficiency, all activities preparatory to a door-to-door service.”

duisport CEO Markus Bangen says:

“The long-term partnership not only strengthens our location, but also paves the way for sustainable growth and the expansion of our business model. By jointly exploiting the potential of the three strong players duisport, Samskip, and TX Logistik, we can continuously develop the terminal and be successful together. This will create additional handling capacities at the Duisburg location.”

Samskip CEO Kari-Pekka Laaksonen:

“We are delighted with the idea of taking our long-standing partnership with TX Logistik and the Port of Duisburg to a new level. The decision is clearly a win-win-win scenario as the benefits for all parties is substantial. As Samskip is extremely committed to deliver its sustainability targets, this will also further cement the usage and the growth of rail modality in the location.”

The 140,000-square-meter terminal facility in Duisburg-Hohenbudberg has seven transshipment tracks, each 720 meters long, two shunting tracks and two high-performance gantry cranes for transshipment between road and rail. The annual handling capacity is up to 250,000 loading units.

In addition, terminal operations can rely on modern IT and communications technology such as a control tower system for the pre-planning of terminal activities and exception management. Other high standards include high-tech gate functions, OCR scanning for registration, security, order prioritization and truck parking allocation. In addition, various facilities are available, such as cross-docking or railcar repair.

Gianpiero Strisciuglio:

“This offers us opportunities to offer further services in the future – for example, a photo lock can be used to generate data on the condition of truck tarpaulins or tires, which can then be transmitted to customers in terms of preventive maintenance management.”

To enter the shareholding structure of the terminal in Duisburg is in line with the provisions of the Fs Italiane Group’s Business Plan, presented by CEO Luigi Ferraris last May, Mercitalia Logistics envisages investments of 2.9 billion over the next ten years to foster a major operational and commercial development of the sustainable logistics asset around rail freight traffic both in Italy and Europe.