Lineage Logistics to expand at Port of New Orleans

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April 9, 2021

One of two major Lineage facilities at the Port of New Orleans, the cold-storage complex at Jourdan Road along the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal will grow from 160,000 square feet to 304,000 square feet.

The company will retain 188 existing Louisiana jobs with the new project, while creating an estimated 50 new direct maritime and warehousing jobs with an expected average annual pay of $61,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 56 new indirect jobs, for a total of more than 100 new permanent jobs in the region.

Gov. Edwards said:

“The value-added exports of Lineage Logistics will continue to strengthen Louisiana’s $1.6 billion poultry industry, including nearly 300 commercial broiler producers throughout 11 parishes.”

Shipments from the existing and expanding cold-storage facilities of Lineage Logistics draw upon multiple Louisiana poultry producers, including hatcheries, feed mills, broiler complexes and processing plants. In 2020, Lineage facilities in New Orleans partnered with the Port of New Orleans to export 380,000 tons of poultry to global markets. The expansion will support imports of fresh produce as well.

Lineage represents the largest network of temperature-controlled warehouses globally, with more than 340 strategically located facilities offering over 2.1 billion cubic feet of capacity and spanning 15 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and South America. In New Orleans, the company operates two cold-storage and blast-freeze facilities that have the capacity to blast-freeze 2.8 million pounds of product to zero degrees in 24 hours.

To secure the expansion project, the State of Louisiana is providing $10 million in capital outlay funds, while the Port of New Orleans is providing $2 million and Lineage Logistics is investing the remaining $30 million in capital for the cold-storage project. The company also is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Quality Jobs Program.

Port President and CEO Brandy Christian said:

“Port NOLA is elated to see this project move forward. Poultry exports have traditionally been a strong segment of our cargo portfolio and, due to worldwide demand, we see poultry and other temperature-sensitive cargoes as critical to Port NOLA’s future.”

In 2020, Lineage acquired New Orleans Cold Storage as part of its acquisition of Emergent Cold. The port and New Orleans Cold Storage opened a new 140,000-square-foot, blast-freeze facility in 2012 at the Henry Clay Avenue Wharf upriver, adding 1.25 million pounds of daily blast-freeze capacity and 38 million pounds of storage capacity for frozen goods. That capacity is in addition to the Jourdan Road site.

Commissioner Mike Strain of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, said:

“The benefit of this project cannot be overstated. Between 30 percent and 40 percent of the poultry exported through this facility is produced and processed at Louisiana commercial broiler farms, and the Lineage project is critical not just for Louisiana’s poultry industry, but for our soybean farmers as well. Soybeans feed our poultry industry, and our poultry industry feeds the world.”

Lineage’s expansion project, which will generate an estimated 150 construction jobs, is projected to be complete in the second quarter of 2022, and the company will begin hiring for its new jobs in early 2022.

Al Gihaz Holding completes investment in Enshore Subsea

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April 9, 2021

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Al Gihaz Contracting, part of Al Gihaz Holding has announced its acquisition of assets, Intellectual Property and the management systems of Enshore Subsea Ltd, a leading UK based subsea trenching company, providing seabed intervention services to mega-projects across industry around the world.

The acquisition will see the creation of a new joint venture with the aim of forming a leading seabed intervention and construction management services provider. The joint venture will rely on the acquired specialized assets of the company, the skilled team and the company’s successful track record of completed projects to aid the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s drive to generating 58.7GW of clean energy by 2030 as part of the powerful Saudi Vision 2030.

Sami Alangari, Group Vice Chairman, Al Gihaz Holding said of the deal:

“With this acquisition, Enshore Subsea will benefit from the technical and financial expertise of Al Gihaz Contracting, which for many years has been a leading power and manufacturing services provider locally and internationally. We will be able to provide competitive, resilient and diverse services to cover projects globally, and in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This investment is in line with the Vision 2030 of the Kingdom and will pave the way for a strong involvement of the Group in this field.”

Enshore Subsea will be based out of the existing operational facility in the United Kingdom’s Port of Blyth, which is ideally located to serve the buoyant Northern European offshore wind market and is supported by a skills base that facilitates the supply of services into the global offshore seabed intervention market. Services will include subsea engineering and construction management, skilled manpower supply and equipment rental for subsea trenching, seabed intervention, development of seabed tooling technology and submarine flexible product installation.

The expertise of the existing management and operational teams from Enshore Subsea Ltd will remain with this Joint Venture.

Pierre Boyde, Managing Director of Enshore Subsea, said:

“I am delighted that through this cooperation with Al Gihaz, we are able to take the company forward with a sustainable cost base, renewed energy and focus on our areas of expertise. We aim to be the Contractor’s contractor of choice, supporting seabed intervention projects worldwide.”

Port of Blyth Chief Executive Martin Lawlor, said:

“The Port welcomes this news and is looking forward to working closely with the leadership team at Enshore Subsea to support them to achieve their objectives. The investment from Al Gihaz Holding comes at an important and exciting time for the Port as developments such as the Bates Clean Energy Terminal come to fruition.”

This latest acquisition from Al Gihaz Holding further supports the strategic ambitions of the Group to be at the forefront of new and clean technologies and follows multiple investments in solar and wind power plants in different regions of the world. The Group has also been active in smart meters, IoT and energy efficiency projects in the Kingdom in recent years.

Austrian passenger vessels upgraded with SCHOTTEL PumpJet

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April 9, 2021

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Several passenger vessels from Austrian operator WolfgangseeSchifffahrt were recently fitted with a SCHOTTEL PumpJet type SPJ 30, including the new CoaGrid.

With the SPJ 30 (100 kW), which is driven by an electric motor with a battery storage device, the ship owner benefits from zero-emission propulsion power and low-loss power electronics. The manoeuvrability of the vessels is further increased by means of the two previously installed SCHOTTEL RudderPropellers, which are used as the main propulsion units.

Mario Mischelin, Operations Manager of WolfgangseeSchifffahrt:

“We have relied on SCHOTTEL products and services for several decades now and work closely with the German manufacturer of propulsion systems. Thanks to this partnership, we have been able to develop tailored solutions that really match our individual requirements. In the course of this upgrade project, SCHOTTEL was once again an excellent partner in terms of cooperation, organization, and implementation.”

The SPJ is now available with a new feature: the SCHOTTEL CoaGrid. This takes advantage of the Coandă effect, which describes the tendency of a fluid to stick to a curved surface.

In combination with in-house CFD optimizations a new streamlined geometry below the pump jet housing has been developed. This allows the water flow to be better directed into the inlet of the SPJ, leading to higher efficiency and lower noise emissions.

SEA-LNG welcomes Puget LNG to coalition

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April 9, 2021

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The addition of Puget LNG strengthens SEA-LNG’s membership base on the North American west coast and underlines the increasing accessibility of LNG as a marine fuel across the globe.

The investment made by Puget LNG in its quay-side facility in the Port of Tacoma recognises that LNG is commercially competitive now and offers financial risk mitigation to shipowners choosing this lower-carbon marine fuel. The facility will have a shared function, providing LNG for Puget LNG’s commercial customers as well as providing necessary domestic supply back-up for Puget Sound Energy’s customers.

Peter Keller, Chairman, SEA-LNG, commented:

“The operational launch of Puget LNG’s port of Tacoma facility is yet another positive step down the decarbonisation pathway. In environmentally sensitive areas, such as the waters surrounding the Port of Tacoma, it is essential to remember that LNG protects oceans, creates a healthier environment in terms of air quality, and is proven safe. Tackling climate challenge is a shared responsibility and must start now – waiting is not an option.”

LNG’s pathway to a carbon-neutral future through the transition to bio and synthetic LNG is gaining recognition and the availability of bio-LNG is accelerating. The uptake of bio, and eventually synthetic, LNG is made simple through the use of existing engine technology and infrastructure.

Blake Littauer, Director of Business Development, Puget LNG said:

“As the leading supplier of LNG in the Pacific Northwest, Puget LNG is building out infrastructure within the State of Washington to enable a safe, reliable and economic source of LNG with various end uses. The Port of Tacoma is well-placed as a port of call for LNG-fuelled ships and we are committed to supporting shipowners who want to lower their carbon footprint today, while also creating future potential for bio and synthetic LNG to a fully decarbonised future for shipping.”

The Puget LNG facility is another step in how its sister company, Puget Sound Energy, is committed to working together to create a clean energy future for all, while setting an aspirational goal to be a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company by 2045.

SEA-LNG and SGMF will shortly announce the results of the 2nd Lifecycle GHG Emission Study on the use of LNG as a Marine Fuel from Sphera (formerly thinkstep). The peer-reviewed study revisits Sphera’s 2018/2019 research, using the latest available engine and supply chain data to bring the study fully up to date.

Jan De Nul successfully installed 36 wind turbines for the Kriegers Flak OWF

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April 9, 2021

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All together, these turbines will produce enough green electricity for the annual needs of approximately 600,000 Danish households. Today, Jan De Nul is halfway: 36 windmills to go.

On 27 January, Jan De Nul, Siemens Gamesa and Vattenfall successfully installed the very first wind turbine for the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm. The last turbine is scheduled to be installed in mid-June, approximately 4.5 months after the start of this installation campaign.

This offshore wind farm will become the largest in Denmark and will increase Denmark’s offshore wind production by no less than 16 percent.

Bert Reynvoet, Project Manager of Jan De Nul Group for the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm:

“We are proud that we can tick off this milestone nicely on schedule. All 72 wind turbines must be installed within a period of 4.5 months. Our customer’s wishes are paramount and despite the challenging winter weather conditions in the Baltic Sea, COVID-19 and challenging soil conditions for our jack-up installation vessel, we have managed until today to strictly adhere to the installation schedule. Thanks to the commitment, flexibility and professionalism of our co-workers!”

For the first time since its expansion in 2018, the port of Roenne on the Danish island of Bornholm is serving as marshalling harbour for the construction of an offshore wind farm.

The components of the Siemens Gamesa wind turbines are delivered from Denmark’s mainland. In Roenne, the various parts are assembled. In sets of four wind turbines, they are loaded on board Jan De Nul’s jack-up installation vessel Vole au vent, after which the vessel sails to the offshore installation site off the Danish east coast.

Bert Reynvoet:

“When a large installation vessel like the Vole au vent enters a port for the first time, it is always a bit exciting. Moreover, it was new for everyone involved, but thanks to the top service of the port and our local partners, Roenne turns out to be a perfect marshalling harbour. An absolute boost in these challenging times.”

In 2017 and 2018, Jan De Nul Group already designed, built and installed two large Gravity Based Foundations for the offshore high-voltage substations of this new offshore wind farm.

Jan De Nul built both concrete structures of 8,000 and 10,000 tonnes on a floating pontoon in the port of Ostend (Belgium) and then tugged them to Denmark. In the Baltic Sea, the crane vessel Rambiz installed both foundations on the seabed with the utmost precision.

About the Kriegers Flak offshore wind farm

600 MW will be the total production capacity, which equals the annual electricity needs of about 600,000 Danish households.
72 wind turbines of 187 metres high will cover an offshore area of 132 km² at 15 to 40 kilometres off the Danish East coast.
About 170 kilometres of subsea cables will be installed to connect the offshore wind farm to the Danish grid.
The wind farm is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2021.

Aker Arctic completes full-scale ice trials of icebreaking bow Saimaa and tug Calypso

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April 8, 2021

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The test program was successfully completed in co-operation with Turku Repair Yard, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, Alfons Håkans and Danfoss in sunny spring weather shortly after the Saimaa Canal had been opened for traffic after the annual winter closure. Aker Arctic’s scope of work included vessel instrumentation, ice property measurements, performance trials, analysis and reporting.

During the ice trials, the Ice Load Monitoring System (ILMS) delivered by Aker Arctic provided valuable information in form of real-time thrust and torque data from all four propellers of the combination. In addition, the connector pins used to couple Saimaa and Calypso are also instrumented and connected to the ILMS.

The world’s first self-propelled detachable icebreaking bow Saimaa was built by Turku Repair Yard and delivered to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency in December 2020. In addition to the ILMS system, Aker Arctic also designed and delivered two complete 600 kW shaft lines to the detachable icebreaking bow and ice-strengthened bronze propellers to the tugboat. The concept’s ice model tests were also conducted at Aker Arctic’s ice laboratory.

Fincantieri to build 3 operation service vessels

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April 8, 2021

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Vard, one of the major global shipbuilders of specialized vessels, has signed a contract for the design and construction of 3 Service Operation Vessels (SOV) for the Scottish company North Star Renewables, which has preferred the project of Fincantieri subsidiary to those of several competitors.

The vessels, developed in close cooperation with the customer, will be built at the Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam, and will be delivered in 2023. They will be deployed in the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, located more than 130 km off the North East coast of England in the North Sea, which, once completed, will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Some of the leading players in the sector, including SSE Renewables, Equinor and Eni, operate in the farm.

The largest vessel, based on Vard 4 19 design and specifically designed for controlled maintenance, will be 85 meters long and accommodating 78 persons in single cabins. The other two, based on the Vard 4 12 design, has been developed for corrective maintenance, being 78 meters long and accommodating 60 persons in single cabins. They will have a height adjustable wave-motion compensated gangway with elevator system, a height adjustable boat transfer system, and a 3D-compensated crane for cargo transfer.

The projects have been designed for an extreme marine environment such as the one of the North Sea, with special attention to safety, comfort on board and environmental footprint, with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion including battery solution for carbon-neutral operations in the future.

This achievement allows Vard to strengthen its position in this particular segment of the offshore market and in the one of specialized high-performance vessels, even in the most challenging environmental conditions. The offshore renewable energy sector is in a transition phase, shifting from a European-only industry to a global market. Having already developed several concepts of this type of vessels, Vard will be able to take advantage of the sector growing trend, with important activities being started both in Asia and North America, and large investments being made in Europe, as demonstrated by the result achieved today by the Norwegian company.

Stena Bulk unveils decarbonisation plan to become net zero emissions business by 2050

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April 8, 2021

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Tanker shipping company Stena Bulk has announced a set of five dated decarbonisation targets which form a comprehensive roadmap for the company to become a net zero business by 2050.

The first of these milestones was achieved in 2020, when Stena Bulk began offering customers low-carbon shipping options with up to a 100% reduction of CO2 emissions. These options are based on the use of biofuels and an internal carbon emissions offsetting program, which allows the organisation to offer low-carbon options on any voyage, regardless of ports and specific ships used.

As part of the net zero milestones, Stena Bulk has underlined the requirement to start transitioning to a more sustainable fleet. In a demonstration of progress already being made in this area, next year Stena Bulk will launch the first of three planned carbon neutral-ready, methanol fuelled vessels in collaboration with Proman. This methanol fuelled vessel will also be able to be operated on VLFSO and is aimed to come into service 18 years ahead of Stena Bulk’s ambition to become one of the first carbon neutral vessel operators in the world by 2040.

The Proman collaboration will directly support the achievement of Stena Bulk’s second organisational milestone, which will require every new ship in the Stena Bulk’s fleet from 2030 to come with a roadmap to be upgraded to carbon neutral status, either by retrofitting new technology or switching to carbon neutral fuels. That roadmap should be fully realisable, achievable and pre-planned from day one.

The third milestone in Stena Bulk’s decarbonisation’s journey comes hand in hand with the recently unveiled vessel design InfinityMAX concept, which is the company’s take on zero emissions, self-sufficient and flexible seaborne transportation. Stena Bulk aims to have a ship with a similar design to the InfinityMAX concept operating on the water by 2035 at the latest.

By 2040, Stena Bulk aims to achieve the fourth target in its decarbonisation plan by becoming a fully carbon neutral tanker operator. This will be achieved with a combination of measures: some of the company’s vessels will be zero emissions, some will run on carbon-neutral fuels, and there will be carbon emissions offsetting programs in place to fully achieve the carbon neutral operations goal.

The company will achieve its final milestone in 2050, when it is targeting becoming a fully net zero emissions business. This means that Stena Bulk will not only take accountability for its operations and the indirect emissions connected to the business, but also for the cargo carried by its vessels.

By 2050, all cargo carried by the Stena Bulk fleet will need to be climate neutral, which will become a shared responsibility between Stena Bulk and its customers. This exemplifies the partnership approach that Stena Bulk embraces and believes is vital if the industry is to tackle the decarbonisation challenge.

Speaking on the announcement, Erik Hånell, President & CEO, Stena Bulk, said:

“The shipping industry collectively faces a challenge where we must consider how we alter our entire energy needs. In order to decarbonise, the maritime community must take risks, push sustainability boundaries, and embrace a partnership approach that enhances collaboration between industry partners and customers.

“The set of decarbonisation targets and wider roadmap that we are presenting today is another example of Stena Bulk’s commitment to a sustainable shipping future, and we are immensely proud to be one of the first industry players to propose a plan that makes our own net zero journey tangible, achievable, and measurable. This is a challenging and demanding path ahead of us that we remain prepared and eager to explore, and we look forward to working across the sector to achieve our goals.”

Global Offshore completes cable installation campaign at Danish Kriegers Flak OWF

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April 8, 2021

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The initial phase of work, completed last year, saw Global Offshore utilise their multi-purpose PLP240 pre-lay plough, mobilised on the Havila Jupiter, to carry out route clearance totalling approximately 158km.

The second phase, which commenced in September 2020, included the installation of 72 inter-array cables, utilising Normand Clipper, and the jet trenching of 72 routes using the Q1400 aboard sister vessel, Normand Cutter. Following the cable installations, the PLP240 returned to site to conduct backfilling operations, the first operation of its kind on an inter-array grid.

Prior to the commencement of the second phase, Global Offshore upgraded the Normand Clipper for power cable work. With the addition of a 4,000 tonne cable carousel, two 15-tonne cable tensioners, a 25-tonne quadrant deployment frame and a fully integrated control system, the 127.5m cable-laying vessel enables Global Offshore to continue providing a flexible, efficient and reliable service for their clients despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with the extensive operational challenges this has created.

Mike Daniel, Managing Director of Global Offshore, said:

“We are delighted to report the successful installation of all 72 inter-array cables at Danish Kriegers Flak Offshore Wind Farm. Despite COVID-19 restrictions and the associated challenges, extreme weather, and complex seabed conditions, our expert teams have met client expectations and completed this project safely, in under six months.”

Ian Bremner, Project Director at Vattenfall, said:

“Global Marine Group has shown professionalism in their operations and solution-oriented thinking, delivering a high standard of engineering to deal with the technical challenges during work execution. Our partner has worked safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic alongside other ongoing site operations, contractors and the Vattenfall project team.”

Global Offshore continues to see increased demand for their services, which is testament to their operational delivery teams and extensive track record of successful offshore renewables project completions.

Bolidt supplies for world’s most advanced research vessel

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April 8, 2021

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Following extensive rebuilding work at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, OceanXplorer is regarded as the most advanced exploration, research and media vessel at sea.

The 87-metre former offshore survey vessel is the new flagship for Dalio Philanthropies’ initiative OceanX, whose mission is “to explore the ocean and bring it back to the world”. OceanXplorer will serve simultaneously as a launch pad for deep-sea exploration, a marine life laboratory and a broadcast studio for audiences around the globe.

Bolidt installed its industry-leading decking solutions throughout the vessel. For areas including the main deck, submarine hangar, wet lab and first-deck walkway, Bolideck® Select Hard was chosen for its durability, impermeability and resistance to impact and chemicals, among other characteristics. Bolideck® Helideck was applied to the helicopter deck, while the galley was fitted with the anti-skid, shock-proof Bolideck® 700 RF, along with integrated electrical heating. Finally, the versatile and luxurious Bolideck® Future Teak was selected for decks 3 and 4.

Roger Mayer, Chief of Staff, OceanX, says:

“OceanXplorer was built to explore the farthest reaches of our planet and brave some of its harshest conditions. We are pleased to have Bolidt’s decking solutions integrated into a wide array of facilities across our vessel, as they will support our ability to withstand the extreme stresses of the ocean world.”

While OceanXplorer can be considered a unique and groundbreaking ship, Bolidt was able to rise to the task thanks to its considerable experience supplying vessels destined for challenging missions and extreme environments. To date, the Netherlands-based company has delivered cutting-edge decking products tailored to the requirements of navy vessels, arctic expedition ships, hydrographic survey vessels and more.

Jacco van Overbeek, Director Maritime, Bolidt, says:

“OceanX has made scientific breakthroughs, discovered new species and aims to inspire the next generation of marine scientists and ocean advocates. Its work aligns with our own principles regarding sustainability, protecting the ocean and driving positive change – and for this reason, we are extremely proud to be part of OceanXplorer’s story, which will no doubt be a very exciting and illuminating one.”