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Nigerian dredging company Oretol purchases Beaver® 65 DDSP from Royal IHC

December 11, 2020

The cutter suction dredger (CSD) and additional equipment will be delivered within four months, and deployed on various sand excavation and land reclamation projects, with a view to developing real estate in the Lagos Lagoon. The Beaver® will be assembled at IHC’s yard in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands.

With a strong track record in dredging, Oretol Nigeria intends to upgrade its fleet and further professionalise its operation by partnering with IHC. The powerful Beaver® 65 DDSP is the largest of IHC’s standard series of CSDs and offers the highest volume of production at the lowest cost.

With an increased dredging depth of 25 metres and the ability to pump soil over great distances, the vessel will be a powerful addition to Oretol’s dredging fleet. Combined with the booster station, it will ensure that Oretol can work efficiently on land reclamation projects to the benefit of its real estate business.

The Beaver® series of standardised dismountable CSDs has proved highly successful for more than 50 years. One of the benefits of the vessel type is that it can be customised with standard or bespoke options to meet individual requirements.

IHC’s Sales Manager, Bas Kockmann, says:

“We are proud to have been awarded this contract by Oretol during these challeging times. Oretol is a new customer to us, and we greatly appreciate the mutual respect between our two companies and the trust placed in the quality of our products. We look forward to building what we hope will be a long-term partnership with Oretol by working collaboratively on this project and in the future.”

ORETOL’s Executive Chairman Adewale Oladapo says:

“ORETOL selected IHC based on the high levels of innovation and integrity it offered. We were delighted by the sense of teamwork displayed by IHC and look forward to the end result.”

Equinor awarding contracts for supply vessels

December 10, 2020

Both contracts include four one-year options and have a total framework of close to NOK 800 million. The total framework includes options and costs related to Havila Charisma modifications.

Peggy Krantz-Underland, Equinor’s chief procurement officer, says:

“We have received safe and efficient deliveries from Havila Shipping for several years and look forward to continuing our cooperation with the shipping company. Long-term contracts bring predictability to both Equinor and our suppliers, and form the basis of continuous improvement.”

The vessels are part of a fleet of supply vessels supporting Equinor’s operations on the entire Norwegian continental shelf (NCS). Havila Charisma will also be modified to support seismic services in the form of permanent reservoir monitoring. This includes increased accommodation capacity. The vessel’s capacities for supply duties will remain unchanged. Havila Charisma will sail from the supply base in Florø when it is not on seismic assignments.

Morten Sundt, who is leading Equinor’s supply vessel activities on the NCS, says:

“The supply vessels along the entire Norwegian coast are the vital nerve of the more than 40 fields we operate on the NCS. By modifying Havila Charisma to provide seismic services in addition to supply services, we are utilizing our scale advantage to achieve higher efficiency and flexibility in our operations.”

Havila Foresight has its home base at Equinor’s supply base at Mongstad. With the new contract Havila Foresight will have supplied Equinor’s installations from Mongstad for 15 years.

Both vessels have previously been fitted with a battery and adapted for shore power, which increases safety and reduces CO2 emissions. All vessels on longer-term contracts for Equinor (approx. 20 vessels) have, or will have, a battery and a shore-power system within 2021. The two Havila vessels are among the most fuel-efficient vessels in Equinor’s fleet of supply vessels. Previously the vessels have been modified to ensure safer operations on board, such as heightened cargo rail on Havila Foresight’s loading deck.

Study: Seaweed-munching crabs could help save coral reefs

December 10, 2020

Coral reefs are facing a steep decline today for many reasons, including climate change, overfishing, pollution, disease, and more. What’s taking their place is lots and lots of seaweed. But researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on December 10 now have some encouraging news: native crabs can help to combat the seaweed and restore the reef.

Mark Butler of Florida International University says:

“Experimentally increasing the abundance of large native, herbivorous crabs on coral reefs in the Florida Keys led to rapid declines in seaweed cover and, over the course of a year or so, resulted in the return of small corals and fishes to those reefs. This opens up a whole new avenue for coral reef restoration.”

Butler and colleagues, including study first author Angelo “Jason” Spadaro, have been studying the coral reef and other habitats in the Florida Keys for more than 30 years. Butler’s familiarity with the place helped his team to recognize the under-appreciated role of a little-known, mostly nocturnal Caribbean king crab to coral reef dynamics. This crab eats an impressive amount of seaweed at rates that rival all other Caribbean species of fish and invertebrates. They also eat seaweed that other species avoid.

Photo: Angelo Spadaro

The only trouble? Caribbean king crabs aren’t naturally present in large enough numbers to keep the seaweed under control. But, the researchers wondered, what if it were possible to boost their numbers? Could the crabs restore balance on the reef?

The researchers put the idea to the test for the first time in 2014-2015 within 12 isolated patches of coral reef. The reefs were split into three groups: unmanipulated control reef, reefs stocked with crabs, and reefs on which divers scrubbed the reef to remove seaweed and algae before adding crabs.

At the start, 85% of the reef was covered with seaweed and that didn’t change a year later on the reef they left alone. The addition of crabs put a big dent in the seaweed, dropping it to less than 50% cover. And, in the final treatment in which reefs were scrubbed first, seaweed cover dropped by about 80%; scrubbing the reefs alone also reduced seaweed cover, but the effect was only short-term unless crabs were also introduced.

The repeat experiment showed similarly impressive results. Crabs alone reduced seaweed cover by about 50%. By scrubbing the reef first, seaweed declined by about 70%.

The findings show that herbivorous crabs can be used as another tool for coral reef restoration, augmenting the common approach of transplanting coral fragments onto degraded reefs, according to the researchers. In essence, they say, the crabs improve the habitat conditions for corals and fishes.

Already coral nurseries have been established to help restore the reef, Butler says. To put the new findings into action will require setting up nurseries to raise large numbers of crabs. The researchers report that they are now trying to find the needed resources to do exactly that.

Photo: Angelo Spadaro

S’hail Shipping adds their sixth vessel to the Baumarine by MaruKlav Pool

December 10, 2020

The MV S’hail Lusail (Oshima 84.5k) was delivered late November as the latest addition of S’hail Shipping to the Baumarine Pool managed by Klaveness and Marubeni.

Michael Jørgensen, MD in Baumarine by MaruKlav, says:

“With this addition the Baumarine pool now consists of 33 vessels, making up the world’s largest Panamax Pool – Having been able to assist one of our members to build their fleet ground up is significant for our strategic journey as a partner and enabler of earnings optimization.”

S’hail first joined the pool in 2017 with their first acquired Panamax and with this sixth addition, since then they have grown to become a reputable dry bulk player in the global shipping area.

Ignacio Pizarro, Senor Manager Strategy & Innovation at MaruKlav, shared:

“The close collaboration with S’hail has enabled us to support the growth and expansion of their fleet over the past few years. The journey of expanding from one to six vessels has been truly inspiring. Having been able to add value to S’hail during the S&P phase, including vetting of vessels for potential procurement I believe has brought us even closer. Furthermore, the monthly status meetings discussing their overall portfolio management and exposure, combined with mutual update on commercial and operational matters, really make a difference – the two organizations are now very much synced.”

Michael Jørgensen, MD of Baumarine by Maruklav, added:

“We are very pleased to strengthen our collaboration with S’hail further with this sixth addition and believe that the key to success is through empowering our owners. Instead of waiting for vessel redelivery at the market lows as we have traditionally seen from the standard structure of period deals. We believe that it is essential to provide each owner with the right optimization tools and enabling them to deliberate about timing in converting between fixed and floating rates.”

IEnova begins operations at Veracruz terminal

December 10, 2020

Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. (“IEnova”), began the commercial operations of its new marine terminal for the receipt, storage and delivery of refined products in the New Port of Veracruz. The project represented an investment of more than US$300 million and the creation of more than 5,500 direct and indirect jobs.

With a capacity of more than 2 million barrels, whose main client will be Valero — one of the most important hydrocarbon refiners worldwide — the terminal will store gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and oxygenating additives, fostering more competitive prices and enhancing energy security of the Gulf-Center region. This infrastructure will allow access to international sources of supply of refined products that will meet the growing demand for fuels contributing to the regional energy integration and will help position Veracruz as a reference in this market. This terminal is part of a logistics project in the central region that includes two other land terminals in the Puebla and Mexico City areas, which will be linked by railroad and tank trucks.

Tania Ortiz Mena, CEO of IEnova, said:

“We are very proud of the beginning of operations of our refined products terminal in Veracruz, which will allow us to benefit the local economy, as well as helping to ensure energy security for the development, competitiveness and well-being of the country, providing reliable, efficient and safe supply of fuels.”

This project was awarded to IEnova through a public tender by the Integral Port Administration (“API”) of Veracruz. IEnova worked together with regulators, the Veracruz government and other stakeholders to complete an energy infrastructure work with cutting-edge technology and international best practices in safety and environmental care.

On Dec. 1, Valero’s first tanker was received with 330 thousand barrels of Regular and Premium Gasoline from one of its refineries in the Gulf of Mexico, as part of the testing period.

Carlos García, Executive Director, Mexico Commercial Operations of Valero indicated:

“We are very excited to be able to work with IEnova to supply the market through this important infrastructure. The beginning of operation is a new milestone in the company’s long-term pledge and commitment to Mexico.”

This is IEnova’s first terminal to start commercial operations and it is part of a portfolio consisting of six other refined product receipt and storage terminals under development, located in Baja California, Colima, Jalisco, Puebla, Sinaloa and the Valley of Mexico. These projects reaffirm the company’s commitment to Mexico’s development, well-being and energy security through investment in energy infrastructure, as well as the resilience of its business model within a challenging environment.

RWE chooses Van Oord for foundations and array cables at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm

December 10, 2020

Van Oord has been selected by RWE as the preferred supplier for the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of the monopile foundations and array cables for Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, one of the world’s largest offshore wind projects.

The 1.4 GW Sofia is sited on Dogger Bank in the central North Sea 195 kilometres from the North East coast, where Van Oord, through its UK branch MPI Offshore, will create a logistics hub to deliver the comprehensive scope of work. Van Oord will deploy its offshore installation vessel Aeolus to install the 100 extended monopile foundations without transition pieces, while the 350 kilometres of array cables will be installed by cable-laying vessel Nexus. Van Oord will sub-contract the fabrication of the foundations and array cables.

Sven Utermöhlen, Chief Operating Officer Wind Offshore Global of RWE, said:

“On Dogger Bank, we are realising one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms. Van Oord is a well-known partner to us, with Sofia the fifth and largest UK offshore wind farm that we have worked on together. This gives us a wealth of experience to draw on as we progress the project through its construction phase. Sofia is a flagship for RWE Renewables in terms of technology and innovation, and for the UK through regional supply chain opportunities and as a major contributor to the nation’s net zero ambitions.”

Van Oord worked closely with RWE on the construction of the Rampion, Humber Gateway, Robin Rigg and London Array offshore wind farms. Sofia presents the opportunity to further develop UK supply chain relationships, evolve construction techniques, and optimise the design of the foundations, which will be supporting some of the largest turbines currently on the market.

Pieter van Oord, CEO of Van Oord, said:

“We are extremely proud to be working together with RWE Renewables as the EPCI contractor for the permanent works of the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm. By contributing to the realisation of one of world’s largest offshore wind farms, Van Oord is again at the forefront of projects that contribute to the transition to renewable energy. Sofia will make a major contribution to the UK’s climate goals. The project will be executed by MPI Offshore from our Stokesley office in Teesside and will deliver excellent opportunities for the local supply chain and labour market and to support the industry’s UK Sector Deal ambitions.”

Onshore construction will get underway at Sofia’s converter station site in Teesside early next year. Work on the foundation and array package is set to begin after the project’s financial investment decision in Q1 2021, with installation scheduled for 2024.

MPCC invests in Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 ballast water treatment systems

December 10, 2020

MPC Container Ships ASA (MPCC) owns and operates 65 container vessels, more than 15 of which are equipped with connected Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 ballast water treatment systems. Soon even more vessels will receive systems with data-driven PureBallast Connect services.

Over the past year, MPCC has successfully installed PureBallast 3 ballast water treatment systems with PureBallast Connect. Based on the positive experience, the company has decided to install a large number of PureBallast 3 systems with the same connectivity solution.

Philipp Niesing, Managing Director at MPCC Verwaltungs GmbH, who has been responsible for overseeing both previous and upcoming PureBallast Connect projects, explains:

“For new equipment like ballast water treatment systems, the possibility to remotely access the systems provides several benefits. It was important for us from the start that Alfa Laval could access and troubleshoot the systems remotely, in order to avoid deploying service technicians to cater for small needs. We want to have our systems ready for use and compliant at all times, so as to prevent issues with port state officers and interruptions to our customers’ routes and operations.”

While Niesing sees PureBallast Connect as a smart way to prevent downtime and reduce service costs, he also stresses the benefits for the crews on board MPCC vessels.

He says:

“The crews are well trained, but we want to facilitate immediate crew support to the extent possible. Crews are challenged to handle a range of sophisticated technologies on board, and connectivity provides an opportunity for prompt support in troubleshooting.”

Using PureBallast Connect’s secure online portal, superintendents can support vessels by following the parameters, conditions and alarms of connected ballast water treatment systems.

Inmarsat announces its webinar about power cyber resilience at sea

December 10, 2020

Join Inmarsat’s webinar on 14 December as its team present how you can prepare for the IMO 2021 regulation, and power cyber resilience at sea.

The webinar will cover what the new IMO 2021 regulation means for Ship Owners and Managers, the five functional elements of IMO 2021, and real stories of cyberattack experience and results.

Speakers:

Mark Warner, Marketing & PR Director, Inmarsat Maritime;
Peter Broadhurst, Senior Vice President Safety, Inmarsat Maritime;
Laurie Eve, Retail Director, Inmarsat Maritime.

DATE: December 14th, Monday

TIME: 3:00 pm (GMT)

Registration is open now.

Also, you can download Inmarsat’s white paper: Cyber security requirements for IMO 2021.

The white paper includes the following:

Cyber risk management.
IMO 2021 in practice.
IMO 2021 compliance.
Fleet Secure Endpoint (FSE).
FSE – supporting IMO 2021 compliance.
FSE – installation and use.

Speedcast launches next generation IoT Platform

December 10, 2020

Speedcast International Limited has launched a next generation Internet of Things (IoT) platform designed to simplify connectivity, provisioning, and device management through a single console. Designed for onshore and offshore customers, the next generation Speedcast IoT Center is deployed on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to increase computing power and interoperability with a variety of customer applications required by IoT solutions.

At a time when travel and movement of personnel are restricted, a unified IoT platform that can monitor remote assets has become ever more critical to a company’s successful operations. The Speedcast IoT Center is a feature rich, configurable IoT platform that allows customers to select enhanced, reliable, and cost-efficient connectivity options tailored to their needs.

Customers can choose from cellular, satellite, and low-power wireless options, managing everything from a single interface. Once devices are deployed, Speedcast IoT Center monitors the health and status of all key elements of the IoT ecosystem, including the devices, the communications network, the IoT platform, and the end user application. IoT Center is protocol-agnostic and able to ingest real-time data from any device, then applying cloud-based translation and normalization of device data.

By leveraging IoT data analytics, customers can improve operational efficiency and create new business models, such as “pay for use”, where usage can be charged by the hour. Customers can monitor their devices and manage their assets for optimal performance, while developing predictive maintenance routines to minimize downtime as well as creating financial forecasts with confidence.

Jeffrey Irwin, Vice President, Product Management at Speedcast, said:

“Speedcast currently manages over tens of thousands IoT devices on our network and the IoT Center will add further scale and depth to this growing part of the company’s product portfolio. The Speedcast IoT Center helps customers maximize scale and minimize per-device labor required for IoT and M2M networks over the full product or project lifecycle.”

Abu Dhabi Ports and MAI to cooperate on trade enhancement

December 9, 2020

Abu Dhabi Ports and the Manufacturers Association of Israel (MAI) today signed an agreement to enhance trade, investment and technology cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opens a dialogue between Abu Dhabi Ports’ subsidiaries KIZAD and ZonesCorp, which are under its Industrial Cities and Free Zone portfolio, and MAI to contribute to the reciprocal expansion of trade, investment, and technological development, as well as improve research and development (R&D), innovation and cooperation in technology.

Abu Dhabi Ports, part of ADQ – one of the region’s largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi’s diversified economy, will also hold a webinar later this month for members of the MAI, to apprise them of the opportunities available in the emirate and specifically within the Industrial Cities and Free Zone.

The Manufacturers Association of Israel is the representative body of the country’s industrial sectors including private, public, kibbutz and government industries. With a membership of over 2,000 organisations and industrial plants, MAI members are responsible for more than 95% of the industrial production across Israel.

The MoU was signed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports and Dr. Ron Tomer, President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel at Khalifa Industrial Zones Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) to agree on the cooperation and trade enhancement.

This is the first agreement signed by Abu Dhabi Ports with an Israeli trade organisation since the ratification of the peace agreement between the UAE and Israel, in Washington DC in September, and provides a clear, effective, and efficient framework for industrial cooperation, knowledge transfer and trade facilitation.

His Excellency Falah Mohamed Al Ahbabi, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Ports, said:

“The UAE leadership’s vision for the region and the subsequent signing of the peace agreement sets a great precedent for industrial cooperation and offers a wide range of opportunities to businesses to enhance their networks of trade and manufacturing. Abu Dhabi Ports is well-positioned to offer Israeli industrial manufacturers the best solutions for their businesses within KIZAD and ZonesCorp. We look forward to engaging with our friends from Israel and welcoming them to experience our leading-edge services and facilities.”

Dr. Ron Tomer, President of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, said:

“This initial agreement is the start of the new and warm trade relations that are emerging between Israel and the United Arab Emirates following the signing of the peace agreement. We plan to continue in this important path and promote cooperation between Israeli industry and high-tech to the business sector in the United Arab Emirates, and create new areas of trade that will open the economy, employment and society between the two nations, and beyond. “

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, said:

“KIZAD and ZonesCorp offer the Israeli industry a unique opportunity to scale their businesses exponentially in a cost-effective, timely, clearly defined and efficient manner. Through Abu Dhabi Ports, KIZAD and ZonesCorp act as a catalyst for business by opening the door to more than 100 markets through the UAE’s Free Trade and bilateral agreements for Israeli manufacturers. We are committed to providing the means necessary for businesses to reach markets faster, more efficiently, and at low cost.”

Besides opening an ongoing dialogue to explore ways and means for the reciprocal expansion of trade, investment and technology development, the agreement paves the way for exchange of trade missions.

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