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Saipem awarded new offshore contracts for a total amount of approximately 720 million USD

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Saipem has been awarded new contracts in Middle East and Guyana for a total amount of approximately 720 million USD.

The first contract encompasses the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) activities for the repair of damaged subsea pipelines for a major client in Middle East. 

The duration of the project is expected to last 3 years and it emphasizes the growing importance of the maintenance of existing offshore fields, which is an integral part of Saipem portfolio complementing the EPCIC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation & Commissioning) and EPRD (Engineering, Preparatory works, Removal and Disposal) business.

The second contract is a Limited Notice To Proceed (LNTP) by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, pending necessary government and regulatory approvals, and involves the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of subsea structures, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) for the production facility and gas export system of the proposed Hammerhead oil field development project, located in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana at a water depth of around 1,000 meters.

The LNTP allows Saipem to start early work activities, namely detailed engineering and procurement, to ensure an earliest possible project startup in 2029, should the project receive the necessary government approvals. The performance of the remaining activities (i.e., construction and installation) provided by the contract is subject to government and regulatory approval as well as project sanction by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and its Stabroek Block coventurers.

Saipem will perform the operations by using a variety of construction and support vessels, including Saipem FDS2. The logistics will be entirely executed and managed in Guyana through the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI) yard, generating employment and Local Content opportunities for Guyanese. The duration of the project is expected to last 4 years.

Port Houston orders 16 new hybrid Konecranes RTGs

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Port Houston is adding to its large Konecranes RTG fleet with an order for 16 hybrid Konecranes RTGs. The deal was booked in Q1 2025 and delivery is scheduled for H1 2026.

Located on the U.S. Gulf Coast, Port Houston is a key hub for international trade and industry. It handles more container traffic than any other port on the Gulf and ranks among the busiest ports in the United States.

Port Houston has long counted on Konecranes RTGs to handle its high-volume traffic. With these new orders, the port will be operating a fleet of 163 Konecranes RTGs – including 73 hybrid models.

The 16 new hybrid Konecranes RTGs, designed for 1-over-6 stacking capacity, will be equipped with advanced Smart Features such as Auto-steering, Stack Collision Prevention and Truck Lift Prevention. Their hybrid power units enable the port to reduce emissions and save on fuel costs.

The eight retrofits will add the same Smart Features, as well as Gantry Collision Prevention, Auto-Steering and new E-Chains. Carried out by Konecranes Port Services, the retrofits will extend the lifetime of an important part of the port authority’s existing Konecranes RTG fleet and align them with the latest technology and safety standards.

“The trust we’ve built with Konecranes played an important role in our decision to make these investments. We work in partnership with the skilled labor who work at our container terminals to determine the best equipment for the operations at Port Houston and Konecranes RTGs keep our operations running safely and smoothly. We value the consistent support we receive from Konecranes Port Services and are confident the team is always on hand to help us when needed,” says Nathan Fabian, Director, Port Cranes at Port Houston.

By investing in Konecranes’ proven hybrid power technology and modernizing part of its existing container handling equipment, Port Houston is preparing for long-term growth. The high performance of Konecranes RTGs and the technical expertise provided by Konecranes Port Services enable the port to efficiently scale operations as demand increases.

“We’re very happy to continue supporting Port Houston with these new RTG deliveries and advanced retrofits. The orders reflect the industry-leading strengths of our hybrid RTG technology and the incredible skills of our Port Services team,” says Jussi Sarpio, Director Regional Sales Americas, Konecranes, Port Solutions.

Cruise Port Rotterdam shore power installation commissioned

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The official inauguration was performed by Robert Simons, Alderman for Port & Economy, and Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority. This makes the ms AIDAnova the first cruise ship to use shore power in Rotterdam. With the commissioning of the shore power installation, Cruise Port Shore Power is staying ahead of European law, which stipulates that all cruise ships in European ports must use shore power by 2030.

The shore power installation was built by Danish company PowerCon in collaboration with Port of Rotterdam Authority, the municipality of Rotterdam, STEDIN, IGUS and project partners J.P. van Eesteren, Heijmans, Royal HaskoningDHV and Xylem on behalf of Cruise Port Shore Power. The Rotterdam installation is innovative and one of a kind. In addition to the shore power installation, a 230-meter-long cable duct has been installed in the quay, along with a new type of connection vehicle. The cable duct provides a flexible connection point along the entire 230 meters. Because the location of a shore power connection differs for each ship, this is a very practical and innovative solution.

The composite, flexible-use support vehicle is small and therefore easy to use. The cable duct ensures that there are no obstructions or disruptions from cables on the quay. The cooling system of the shore power installation, like the cooling system of the cruise terminal, is cooled using water from the river Maas. The installation involved installing a separate 1.5-kilometre sustainable electricity grid connection from Maashaven to Wilhelminakade.

Robert Simons, Alderman for Port & Economy: “Cruise ships are a valuable source of income, and by disconnecting them from the power grid, we are improving the air quality and reducing noise pollution. That is good for the quality of life and our economy. I am proud of this result and would like to thank everyone who worked towards this.”

Boudewijn Siemons, CEO Port of Rotterdam Authority: “We are proud and delighted that the shore power installation has been put into operation today. After an intensive construction period, we are today taking an important new step in making the port of Rotterdam and the city more sustainable. Shore power for cruise ships is a crucial and necessary part of this.”

In Rotterdam, people are working hard to make the city and port more sustainable. The shore power installation for cruise ships is a unique sustainability project realized at the interface of city and port. Innovation, planning, cooperation and safety were central to the realization of the project. The project was carried out while the cruise terminal was operational and cruise ships were docking at the quay on a weekly basis. Cruise Port Shore Power expects to be able to connect 75 percent of the cruise ships in Rotterdam to shore power in the first year. Using shore power reduces not only CO2, but also nitrogen and particulate matter emissions. On top of that, noise levels from docked cruise ships also decline significantly.

Vestas wins 495 MW offshore order with V236-15.0 MW turbines in Taiwan

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The order includes 33 V236-15.0 MW turbines as well as a long-term comprehensive service agreement designed to ensure optimised performance of the assets. This order marks Vestas’ first firm order for its industry-leading V236-15.0 MW turbine in Taiwan.

“We are honored to deepen our partnership with CIP on the Fengmiao I project, our inaugural venture in Taiwan featuring the V236-15.0 MW turbine. This project marks the start of construction for Taiwan’s first Round 3 offshore wind project and reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative clean energy solutions and supporting Taiwan’s ambitious renewable energy goals. By leveraging our world-class technology and operational expertise, we aim to contribute significantly to the region’s sustainable energy infrastructure and drive the growth of offshore wind energy in Asia Pacific,” said Purvin Patel, President of Vestas Asia Pacific.

“We are proud to collaborate with Vestas for the third time in Taiwan, and even more so to be the first to deploy their cutting-edge V236-15.0 MW turbine,” said Mark Wainwright, Fengmiao I Project CEO. “This milestone reflects our ambition to lead with innovation and set new benchmarks in performance, reliability, and sustainability. We are confident that, together, we will deliver the Fengmiao I project on schedule, safely, and to the highest standards. We look forward to playing a key role in supporting Taiwan’s energy transition and long-term renewable energy goals”.

The construction of the Fengmiao I offshore wind farm is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027, contributing significantly to Taiwan’s renewable energy infrastructure.

Vestas’ flagship offshore wind turbine, the V236-15.0 MW is built on proven, world-class technology and received its type certification in 2023, ensuring safety and quality. Since its launch, Vestas has secured more than 7 GW of firm orders globally, proving the turbine variant’s competitiveness across offshore markets.

SPIE seals contract with Van Oord

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SPIE Global Services Energy announces that its wind power high voltage specialised entity, SPIE Wind Connect, has secured a contract with global marine contractor, Van Oord for the termination and testing of inter-array cables on the Ecowende wind farm.

The project scope involves the termination and testing of 52, 66kV inter-array cables on the Hollandse Kust (west) lot VI in the Dutch North Sea, where the Ecowende wind farm will be constructed.

As Ecowende’s official marine contractor, Van Oord is responsible for transporting and installing various components of the wind farm: from the foundations and scour protection to the inter-array cables and turbines.

Sam Dowey, Managing Director at SPIE Wind Connect, commented: “We are delighted to secure our first major contract with Van Oord, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with them into the future. This award highlights SPIE Wind Connect’s significant role in the offshore wind sector and reaffirms our position as a trusted termination and testing contractor in the global offshore market.”

The works are due to commence in April 2026, with the project mock-up scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.

A sustainable future for offshore wind that positively contributes to the North Sea’s ecology; this is what Ecowende hopes to bring about by collaborating with partners and research institutes and utilising progressive innovations.

The Ecowende wind farm will be located approximately 53 kilometres off the Dutch coast, near Ijmuiden, and have an operational capacity of 760 MW, making 3% of the current Dutch electricity demand greener.

Gianluca Petraccia, Wind Power Business Unit Director, commented: “This project is set to incorporate a range of measures to protect and enhance biodiversity, and reducing its impact on marine life. This represents a key milestone in the advancement of wind farm projects in the North Sea, further strengthening our commitment to sustainability and expanding our company’s GreenShare. We are proud to contribute to this initiative.”

Ecowende plans to have the wind farm fully operational and commissioned end 2026.

Cadeler takes delivery of its latest next-generation wind installation vessel, Wind Pace

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Delivered safely, on time, and within budget, Wind Pace becomes the seventh vessel in Cadeler’s growing portfolio of wind turbine installation vessels, further strengthening the company’s capacity to meet the increasing global demand for large-scale renewable energy solutions.

Wind Pace was officially named at a naming ceremony on the 12 March at the COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry (COSCO) shipyard in Qidong, China, where she was built.

After her delivery, Wind Pace will be deployed in the U.S. under a contract from Q2 2025 to Q1 2026, supporting a project at an offshore wind farm in the region, Cadeler’s second project in American waters.

Her sister vessel, Wind Peak, the first of Cadeler’s two newbuild P-class vessels, was delivered in August 2024, and has just embarked on her first installation project, the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, off the Yorkshire coast of the United Kingdom – one of the largest single offshore wind farms in the world.

Wind Pace is specifically designed to handle the increasing size, scope, and complexity of next-generation wind farm projects as well as the most challenging offshore conditions.

The P-class vessels are capable of transporting and installing up to seven complete 15 MW turbine sets per load or five 20+ MW turbines, reducing the number of roundtrips required and significantly accelerating installation time while improving energy and cost efficiency. An advanced hybrid power system and cyber-secure operational infrastructure ensure high efficiency and enhanced safety.

“The P-class vessels set a new benchmark in offshore wind installation technology. With advanced crane capabilities, enhanced transit effectiveness, and reduced energy intensity, these vessels unlock new levels of efficiency for our customers. Wind Peak, the first P-class vessel, has already fully demonstrated this since her delivery last year. Likewise, we expect Wind Pace to play a key role in supporting our clients in the necessary expansion of offshore wind,” says Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler.

Being the largest vessels in the Cadeler fleet today, both Wind Peak and Wind Pace boast a deck space of 5,600 m², a payload capacity of over 17,600 tonnes, and a main crane capable of lifting 2,600 tonnes at 47 meters. Additionally, each vessel can accommodate up to 130 crew members and installation technicians.

“Cadeler has always looked for new ways to provide better solutions for our customers whilst remaining conscious of the increasing need for sustainability in our industry. The P-class vessels exemplify this commitment with a design prepared for future dual-fuel green-methanol operations and an electrical system that captures and stores excess energy for re-use,” Gleerup noted.

The P-class vessels are the result of close cooperation between Cadeler and its key partners on these newbuildings, including COSCO, GustoMSC, NOV, Kongsberg, Huisman, and MAN Energy.

Stena Line develops new concept vessel

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One of Stena Line’s central goals is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The path to this goal involves a range of activities across many areas, not least the decarbonization of the vessel fleet. This is being done both by improving the efficiency of the existing fleet and by developing a new generation of vessels with optimized features and new technologies.

Stena Line’s latest concept for the new generation of vessels is Stena Futuro, a 240-meter-long RoRo vessel intended for transporting semi-trailers and cars.

“The mission is to develop the most efficient and competitive vessel possible for a specific cargo capacity, using today’s available technology. The goal is for the vessel to have the lowest fuel consumption on the market,” says Nicolas Bathfield, Project Manager at Stena Teknik, who has been involved in developing the concept.

The hull and superstructure have been optimized to achieve the most efficient use of cargo space possible. At the same time, low weight and optimized hydro- and aerodynamics are central to achieving low fuel consumption. Stena Futuro’s low and streamlined design is a result of these ambitions.

In addition to the vessel’s design, Stena Futuro will be equipped with technology to limit its environmental footprint. The vessel will have hybrid propulsion, batteries and engines with low fuel consumption that can run on several different fuels. The battery system makes it ready to partly operate the vessel on electricity alone, for example, when entering and leaving ports. Solar panels will also contribute to the ship’s electricity needs.

The hull of Stena Futuro will also be equipped with an air lubrication system, where small air bubbles are released beneath the waterline to reduce friction between the vessel and the water. A waste heat recovery system will make it possible to reuse the hot exhaust gases from the ship’s engines to meet other onboard heating needs as well as supporting electric power generation.

The developed concept for Stena Futuro also includes four 40-meter-tall wing sails, which can be retracted when needed — for example, when passing under a bridge. Recently, Stena’s developers, together with the Swedish research institute RISE, have conducted tests and simulations of the sails’ usage to document both energy savings and how the sails affect the ship’s maneuverability and safety.

“The tests showed that Stena Futuro’s sails could potentially result in as much as 15 percent fuel savings. We also confirmed that the vessel meets all requirements for stability and maneuverability in scenarios such as sudden wind shifts or quick course changes,” says Nicolas Bathfield.

The ship design will play a vital part for Stena Lines future tonnage planning the coming years. Currently, there is no finalized plan for the production of Stena Futuro.

“We aim to help lead our industry in achieving the global climate goals. We work toward this every day in our ongoing operations, but we also need to be at the forefront in developing tomorrow’s vessels. The Stena Futuro concept is an important step in that direction,” says Niclas Mårtensson, CEO of Stena Line.

Another sulphide deposit, “Gygra”, discovered on the NCS

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“A sulphide sample was collected during an expedition along the Knipovich Ridge in December 2024. Further mapping of the area was conducted in March of this year, and we are now certain that we’ve discovered a new sulphide deposit,” says Hilde Braut, Assistent director of the new industries in the Norwegian Offshore Directorate.

Both expeditions were carried out by the RV Kronprins Haakon research vessel. The expedition that collected the sulphide sample was conducted on scientific survey licence 905/2024. The expedition that confirmed the “Gygra” sulphide deposit is part of scientific survey licence 911/2025.

Data collected by the Norwegian Offshore Directorate in previous surveys formed the basis for the survey of these selected areas.

The objective of the surveys was to acquire additional knowledge about the deep sea, and data concerning both geology and the environment was collected.

The inactive sulphide deposit known as “Gygra” was discovered as part of a broader survey in the area surrounding the previously proven “Jøtul” sulphide deposit. “Gygra” is located just over a kilometre southeast of “Jøtul”.

The “Gygra” deposit is situated at 2800 metres below sea level.

Geological samples were taken from “Gygra” in both expeditions, using the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Ægir 6000.

On the discovery expedition, a sample was collected using a grab sampler. On the delineation expedition, 53 samples were collected using the grab sampler. All sampling has been documented by video of HD quality or better.

To date, the collected material has only been analysed using handheld XRF (x-ray fluorescence) on board the ship. These analyses indicate that the material contains between 2 and 30 per cent copper. The presence of the mineral atacamite confirms a high content of copper.

Mud Army 2.0 urged to check with home owners before tossing things out

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What are the major parties in the lead-up to SA’s state election?

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