5.7 C
New York
Home Blog Page 74

Wärtsilä engines selected as South American vessel operator targets 25% emissions reduction

By
Chief Editor
-
0

The vessels are owned by ADM Naviera Chaco (ADM). The vessel modifications and new engine installations will be carried out in Asuncion-Paraguay. The orders were booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 and Q4 2024.

The new engines will enable a reduction of the environmental impact and increase the efficiency of the tug pushers. ADM’s stated target is to reduce emissions by 25 percent by 2035, and the advanced Wärtsilä engine technology is an important opportunity to advance that effort in South America.

“The Wärtsilä engines selected for this project have the fuel flexibility that we seek, especially as we look to the potential of alternative future fuels. At the same time, the project will help us to improve operational reliability and lower our maintenance costs,” says Raul Valdez, Logistic Director – ADM NAVIERA CHACO S.R.L.

The two vessels covered by this contract are the Decatur Lady and the Tendota. Each will be refitted with three Wärtsilä 20 engines. Delivery of the engines to the shipyard took place earlier this year. The Wärtsilä 20 is a well-proven compact, lightweight marine engine, offering fuel flexibility and reliable performance in genset and main engine applications.

“We are delighted that Wärtsilä engines have been selected for this important project, which highlights the marine industry’s shift to greater sustainability and increased efficiency. ADM’s vision to be the provider of choice to meet the demand for low-carbon intensity feedstocks is very much in line with Wärtsilä’s own commitment to supporting the industry’s decarbonisation efforts,” comments Hanno Schoonman, Director of Sales for AMER region – Wärtsilä Marine.

ADM is a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, with a transportation and logistics network that includes 2,500 barges and more than 160 boats.

WinGD delivers exceptional results in full-load X-DF-A ammonia engine test

By
Chief Editor
-
0

Swiss marine power company WinGD has confirmed key parameters for its X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine design after full-load testing at its Engine Research and Innovation Centre in Winterthur, Switzerland. The performance and emission measurements deliver timely assurance as the first users prepare their vessels and auxiliary systems for ammonia fuel.

The tests confirm engine performance data that WinGD has published in its General Technical Data (GTD) software, available online, and guaranteed to customers. Operation on ammonia achieved the same thermal efficiency as for diesel fuel, with pilot oil consumption at the targeted 5% of overall fuel consumption at full load. 

Emissions data was also encouraging, with ammonia emissions below 10ppm and N2O below 3ppm. NOx emissions for ammonia operation were well below those generated during diesel use. Crucially, the low emissions were achieved without the use of exhaust gas after-treatment, allowing WinGD to confirm that no ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) will be needed to operate the engine with ammonia fuel.

WinGD Vice President Research & Development Sebastian Hensel said: “Our well-structured development approach has paid off. After intensive efforts to understand the principles of ammonia injection and combustion, we are the first two-stroke engine designer to demonstrate 100% ammonia operation with 5% pilot fuel consumption and such low emissions.”

WinGD’s ammonia combustion investigations began in 2021 and have since progressed through several carefully planned stages. These include the use of proprietary technology such as the unique, full-scale Spray Combustion Chamber that enables combustion parameters to be observed under realistic two-stroke engine conditions. Performance predictions based on this and later rig testing have now been confirmed at full-load during engine testing.

The first engines will be delivered from mid-2025 for ammonia carriers owned by Exmar LPG, and bulk carriers operated by CMB.Tech, deploying 52- and 72-bore engines respectively, to be built in Korea and China. These ammonia engines will be the first low-speed ammonia engines to be delivered for commercial ships, marking the beginning of a new era for the shipping industry. 

WinGD has already secured nearly 30 orders for X‑DF‑A engines in the bulk carrier, containership, tanker and LPG/ammonia carrier segments.

2.5 GW Mareld floating offshore wind farm in Sweden granted Natura 2000 permit

By
Chief Editor
-
0

Freja Offshore, a joint venture owned by Hexicon and Mainstream Renewable Power, has received the Natura 2000 permit for the Mareld offshore wind farm, located approximately 40 kilometres west of Lysekil, within Sweden’s exclusive economic zone.

The County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland has granted a Natura 2000 permit for Freja Offshore’s Mareld offshore wind farm, planned off the coast of Bohuslän. This decision marks a significant milestone for the project’s continued development. Now, only the government’s approval remains.

Mareld is expected to produce up to 12 TWh annually, enough to power around two million households. With electricity demand in West Sweden projected to double by 2030 as the region’s industries undergo energy transitions, Mareld will play a crucial role in meeting the growing need for renewable energy.

“The Natura 2000 permit is a welcome decision and reaffirms our commitment to developing a sustainable wind farm that respects high natural values. We are now carefully reviewing the additional conditions outlined in the permit,” said Marcus Thor, Chairman of Freja Offshore.

Natura 2000 is a network of protected areas across the EU established to achieve the convention’s goals for preserving biodiversity. Bratten, which borders the area where Mareld has been granted permission, hosts a unique ecosystem that plays a vital role in supporting marine species and habitats. The permit demonstrates that the project can be carried out with respect for the area’s high natural values and that offshore wind power can coexist with protected environments.

“Mareld, which would be one of Sweden’s largest offshore wind farms, is a key piece of the puzzle in addressing West Sweden’s growing electricity demand. We now look forward to receiving the government’s approval for the remaining permits so we can deliver electricity in time to meet the region’s needs,” added Marcus Thor.

The Natura 2000 permit is one of three permits required to build the wind farm. The next step is to secure government approval for the remaining two permits, according to the Act on the Swedish Economic Zone (SEZ) and the Continental Shelf Act (KSL), which have already been recommended by the County Administrative Board and the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU).

New map of landscape beneath Antarctica unveiled

By
Chief Editor
-
0

Known as Bedmap3, it incorporates more than six decades of survey data acquired by planes, satellites, ships and even dog-drawn sleds. The results are published this week (12 March) in the journal Scientific Data.

The map gives us a clear view of the white continent as if its 27 million cubic km of ice have been removed, revealing the hidden locations of the tallest mountains and the deepest canyons.

One notable revision to the map is the place understood to have the thickest overlying ice. Earlier surveys put this in the Astrolabe Basin, in Adélie Land. However, data reinterpretation reveals it is in an unnamed canyon at 76.052°S, 118.378°E in Wilkes Land. The ice here is 4,757 m thick, or more than 15 times the height of the Shard, the UK’s tallest skyscraper.

Bedmap3 is now set to become an essential tool in the quest to understand how Antarctica might respond to a warming climate, because it enables scientists to study interactions between the ice sheet and the bed.

Dr Hamish Pritchard, a glaciologist at BAS and lead author on the study detailing the new map, says:

“This is the fundamental information that underpins the computer models we use to investigate how the ice will flow across the continent as temperatures rise. Imagine pouring syrup over a rock cake – all the lumps, all the bumps, will determine where the syrup goes and how fast. And so it is with Antarctica: some ridges will hold up the flowing ice; the hollows and smooth bits are where that ice could accelerate.”

Bedmap3, as the name suggests, is the third attempt to draw a picture of Antarctica’s rock bed that began in 2001, but this new effort represents a dramatic refinement. It includes more than double the number of previous data points (82 million), rendered on a 500 m grid spacing.

Big knowledge gaps have been filled by recent surveys in East Antarctica, including around the South Pole, along the Antarctic Peninsula and West Antarctic coastlines, and in the Transantarctic Mountains.

The outline of deep valleys is better represented. So too are those places where rocky mountains stick up through the ice. The latest satellite data have also more accurately recorded the height and shape of the ice sheet and the thickness of the floating ice shelves that push out over the ocean at the continent’s margin.

The map also records a comprehensive new, continent wide view of grounding lines – the places where ice at the edge of the continent meets the ocean and and  begins to float.

The landscape of the rock bed under Antarctica’s ice is sensed by a variety of techniques, including radar, seismic reflection (sound waves) and gravity measurements.

Subtracting this topography from the shape and elevation of the ice above provides some fascinating statistics on the polar south.

  • Total volume of Antarctic ice, including ice shelves: 27.17 million cu km
  • Total area of Antarctic ice, including ice shelves: 13.63 million sq km
  • Mean thickness of Antarctic ice, including ice shelves: 1,948 m. (Excluding ice shelves: 2,148 m)
  • Potential global sea-level rise if all ice melted: 58 m

Peter Fretwell, mapping specialist and co-author at BAS, says:

“In general, it’s become clear the Antarctic Ice Sheet is thicker than we originally realised and has a larger volume of ice that is grounded on a rock bed sitting below sea-level. This puts the ice at greater risk of melting due to the incursion of warm ocean water that’s occurring at the fringes of the continent. What Bedmap3 is showing us is that we have got a slightly more vulnerable Antarctica than we previously thought.”

Liza Unity becomes world’s first FPSO to receive ABS SUSTAIN-2 notation

By
Chief Editor
-
0

The ABS-classed Liza Unity has become the first FPSO in the world to receive the SUSTAIN-2 notation from ABS.

The notation is the next level in the vessel sustainability program developed by ABS to help fleets meet the environmental and human elements requirements contained in the strategic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the United Nations.

Liza Unity was the first FPSO to receive SUSTAIN-1 in 2021, recognizing sustainability-related aspects like pollution control and waste management. SUSTAIN-2 recognizes additional attributes such as the usage of low-carbon fuels and human-centered design.

“ABS continues to work closely with our clients to develop innovative solutions for new market challenges. With the award of SUSTAIN-2, we are proud to continue to support SBM Offshore and their comprehensive strategy to address sustainability considerations,” said Miguel Hernandez, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Offshore.

Alex Glenn, COO at SBM Offshore stated: “We are very proud that Liza Unity has become the first FPSO to be awarded the advanced SUSTAIN-2 notation by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). This achievement highlights SBM Offshore’s commitment to protecting the environment by adhering to stringent standards for emissions reduction, pollution management and life cycle sustainability.”

The Liza Unity FPSO is owned by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and operated by SBM Offshore. It was the second FPSO built for ExxonMobil’s Stabroek Block development in Guyana. It was also the first FPSO delivered under SBM Offshore’s Fast4Ward® program and has an installed production capacity to produce approximately 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

BAE Systems secures contract for naval gun to support the Colombian Navy

By
Chief Editor
-
0

BAE Systems has received a contract from Damen Naval for a Bofors 40 Mk4 naval gun system to be installed for anti-aircraft and anti-surface operations on the PES frigate of the Colombian Navy – a Damen Naval SIGMA-class ship.

With more than 70 systems sold to eight countries since 2015, Colombia is the second Latin American customer to adopt the highly versatile and multi-target naval gun. Brazil also selected the Bofors 40 Mk4 as their standard primary gun system for small- to medium-sized vessels.

“We continue to be a trusted partner in Latin America, providing world-leading capabilities in the region to support future growth,” said Stefan Löfström, marketing & sales director at BAE Systems Bofors. “We are delivering cutting-edge solutions that include advanced firepower and the lightening quick response that the Colombian Navy requires.”

The Bofors 40 Mk4 is a compact and lightweight naval gun system designed for anti-aircraft and anti-surface warfare operations. It can switch seamlessly among ammunition types, which delivers versatile targeting of air, land, and sea-based threats. The programmable 40 mm Bofors 3P ammunition provides the naval gun system with the highest possible combat flexibility, as it can be programmed in six different function modes to provide optimized effect. The proven 40 mm gun, together with the latest in munitions technology, forms a platform ready to meet both the expected – and the unexpected.

“Damen Naval is very pleased that BAE Systems Bofors will strengthen the versatile combat capabilities of the SIGMA 10514 based PES frigate with their Bofors 40 Mk4 for the Colombian Navy,” said Damen Naval Project Director Jasper Oreel. “As this is the first (direct) procurement contract between BAE Systems Bofors and Damen Naval, we are looking forward to further establishing our business relationship and the PES project execution.”
 

Fincantieri delivers Norwegian Aqua to Norwegian Cruise Line

By
Chief Editor
-
0

Fincantieri announced the successful delivery of the Norwegian Aqua, the first ship in the expanded Prima Plus Class, built for Norwegian Cruise Line.

The delivery ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, attended by executives from both companies, including Fincantieri Chairman Biagio Mazzotta, CEO Pierroberto Folgiero, and General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division Luigi Matarazzo, as well as Harry Sommer, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and David J. Herrera, Brand President of Norwegian Cruise Line.

Following this delivery, Fincantieri is preparing for the launch of Norwegian Aqua’s sister ship, the Norwegian Luna, scheduled for Friday, March 14. The Norwegian Luna is set to debut in Spring 2026.

With a gross tonnage of 156,300 and a length of approximately 322 meters, the Aqua is 10 percent larger than the first two Prima Class ships, the Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva.

ABS approves Hanwha Systems’ advanced cybersecurity solution

By
Chief Editor
-
0

Hanwha Systems’ SecuAider® is a software solution that offers protection to a vessel’s data and networks from advanced cyberattacks, such as ransomware and malware.

The ABS E27 certification is part of the ABS Cyber Resilience Program that evaluates a range of digitally enabled systems and equipment, looking at the security controls implemented at the design, construction, commissioning and operational life of a vessel, to support the vessel owner’s cyber resilience program.

“Our cyber evaluations support equipment vendors by evaluating compliance with IACS and ABS Cyber Resilience requirements. We look forward to continuing our work with Hanwha Systems where together we are helping owners and operators assess digital vulnerabilities in maritime computer systems,” said Gareth Burton, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Engineering.

Myeong Seob Cho, Naval Business Division Leader and Vice President for Hanwha Systems, said:

“Hanwha Systems’ SecuAider® is a cybersecurity solution that protects data and networks.  It is installed in the ship’s network and linked to on-board systems and equipment. With SecuAider®, ships would have enhanced cyber resilience to protect against advanced cyberattacks, such as ransomware, DDoS attacks or malicious code infections, which have been rapidly increasing in recent years. It analyzes and controls cyber situations in real-time without degrading performance of legacy on-board systems and equipment of a ship. Hanwha Systems’ cutting-edge cybersecurity system integration (SI) technology, featuring SecuAider®, not only provides solutions to ensure ships comply with E26 requirements but also significantly enhances cyber resilience to a defense standard.”

Removal of contaminated sediment begins along Portland Waterfront

By
Chief Editor
-
0

The first phase of the $25 million Portland Harbor dredging project — construction of a 9-acre confined aquatic disposal pit, or CAD cell — was completed early in March, wrapping up after 40 days despite bad winter weather, said Bill Needelman, Portland’s waterfront director. 

“It went exactly as planned,” Needelman said. “The CAD was constructed just as it was designed, and aside from a few routine maintenance shutdowns, everything went very smoothly. Now we can move on to the kind of routine dredging that should be normal for an urban harbor like ours.”

The CAD was dug in a shallow, little-used South Portland cove just downstream from Casco Bay Bridge, near Coast Guard Station South Portland. The trapezoidal, 9-acre burial site is 50 feet deep at its deepest, with sloped sides that run about 800 feet long and 425 feet wide.

The excavated silt, marine clay and glacial till removed to make the hole was dumped 7 miles off Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth.

The early finish gives the contractor, Cashman Dredging of Massachusetts, enough time to start filling the excavated pit with an estimated 31,780 cubic yards of sediment from the first three dredge sites: Maine State Pier and Ocean Gateway in Portland and Turners Island in South Portland.

These are among the 47 piers, marinas, boatyards, boat launches and barge landings in Portland Harbor that are participating in the project, which will deposit an estimated total of 245,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment into the CAD pit. Cashman required two transport barges to carry the excavated CAD materials to the open ocean disposal site, but it will only need one to carry the dredged Portland Harbor material to the CAD pit for disposal. But operations are still likely to run round-the-clock. The first three sites were chosen because they are easily accessible, have little or no complicating infrastructure present, and are big enough to be dug out with the large dredge that Cashman used to dig the CAD pit, Needelman said. The soils being removed have also been thoroughly tested.

The navigation channel linking Portland Harbor and the Gulf of Maine is dredged every 15 years or so — most recently in 2014, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But it has been many decades since the sediments have been dredged along the waterfronts. It is up to the owners or the city to remove sediment that shoals up between piers, wharves, marinas or boat launches. And that work has been prohibitively expensive because the sediment requires special handling and disposal.

The sediment deposited in Portland Harbor’s working waterfront by three-quarters of a century of industrialization is too contaminated to be dumped at sea. Tests found it high in remnants of fossil fuels, heavy metals like zinc, mercury, copper and lead, and pesticides. Hauling it to a hazardous waste disposal landfill was too costly for any individual property owner to bear. Local officials have been trying to secure grants for a waterfront dredge for years. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place in January 2024, when the state released $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that state lawmakers had earmarked for the project.

CIMC Raffles delivers the new wind turbine installation vessel “Huaxia Honghu 01”

By
Chief Editor
-
0

On 6th March, the “Huaxia Honghu 01,” a self-elevating and self-propelled wind turbine installation vessel constructed by CIMC Raffles that a subsidiary of CIMC Group for Huaxia Financial Leasing, was delivered in Yantai. 

This marks the addition of a powerful tool for the development of offshore wind farms in China, which will inject new vitality into promoting the transformation of the energy structure and the marine economy development. This vessel is the second wind turbine installation ship delivered by CIMC this year and the first delivery in the Year of the Snake.

The “Huaxia Honghu 01” is the fourth-generation of self-elevating and self-propelled wind turbine installation vessels which is more advanced in China. The vessel is 139M in length, 50M in width, with a molded depth of 10M, and a cruising speed of approximately 8 knots. It is equipped with a DP-2 dynamic positioning system, which can flexibly cope with the challenges of offshore wind power construction in waters depths below 70M. The vessel is outfitted with a 1500-ton full-revolving pile-guide crane and has the capability to install various types of offshore wind turbines of 15MW and above.

Its overall technical indicator are leading in China and advanced in the world, particularly in terms of lifting capacity, hoisting height, and operational water depth, which elevates the technical level of China’s self-elevating wind power operation platforms to a new height.

1...737475...1,329Page 74 of 1,329
Premium Content

© 2025 SeaWanderer. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Maritime.Studio