Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Energy Resources News

17 Mar 2024

Esgian Week 11 Report: New Discoveries in UK and Namibia

Source: COSL

Esgian reports that drilling contracts have been announced this week for operations in Brazil and the Philippines, and new discoveries have been confirmed in the UK and Namibia in its Week 11 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.ContractsCOSL Drilling has emerged as the winner for Petrobras' moored semisubmersible tender with the 4,600-ft Nanhai 8 (also known as Nan Hai Ba Hao).Noble has secured a high-dayrate drillship contract with Prime Energy in the Philippines.Drilling Activity andā€¦

13 Feb 2024

Oil Industry, Green Groups Challenge Biden Offshore Drilling Plan

Ā© Lukasz Z / Adobe Stock

Oil and gas companies and environmental groups on Monday filed dueling legal challenges to the Biden administration's five-year plan to offer drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico.The petitions to a U.S. appeals court come four months after the Interior Department unveiled a congressionally-mandated plan for offshore leasing that included just three sales, the lowest since the government began publishing the schedules in 1980.The American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas trade groupā€¦

18 Jan 2024

Three New England States Extend Offshore Wind Solicitation Due Date

Ā© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock

Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island extended on Thursday the date bids are due in the states' next offshore wind solicitations from Jan. 31 to March 27.Offshore wind is expected to play a critical role in U.S. President Joe Biden's and several states' plans to decarbonize the power grid and combat climate change.But offshore wind industry had a tough time in 2023 with some developers cancelling contracts to sell power in several states because their proposed projects were no longer economic due to soaring inflationā€¦

07 Dec 2023

DEME, FARIA to Explore Offshore Wind Farms in Greece

Copyright adobedesigner/AdobeStock

DEME and Greek renewable energy developer and independent power producer FARIA Renewables have signed a cooperation agreement to explore opportunities and co-develop offshore wind farms in Greece. Offshore wind technology is viewed as crucial for achieving global goals towards zero emissions. In support of these goals, the Greek government recently announced the draft ā€˜National Offshore Wind Farms Development Programā€™ which is overseen by the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA).

27 Nov 2023

Study Calls for 'Liberation of Data' in Shipping Shift for Decarbonization

Interconnection of disparate shipboard systems is seen as necessary to drive digitalization for enhanced operational efficiency. Image: BV

Siloed data systems represent a ā€œrecipe for duplicative and multiplicative cost inside a company and across companiesā€, an OrbitMI-hosted panel at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US was told, as a Bureau Veritas-backed study highlighted this as a big barrier to data collaboration for digitalization of shipping to cut emissions.Vast amounts of data are generated from ship operations - such as from sensors onboard or vessel performance management systems - as well as fromā€¦

09 Nov 2023

US Shipbuilding: Policy and Progress

Ā© Maxim Khalansky / Adobe Stock

When asked about the top issues facing shipbuilders, executives at the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) listed a number of topics and concerns. SCA is the only national trade association representing U.S. shipyards engaged in the building and repairing of military and other government and commercial vessels, and companies providing goods and services to the shipbuilding industry.Shutdowns have consequencesMatthew Paxton and Paula Zorensky are, respectively, SCA President and Vice President. Their top federal concern at the end of September? A U.S.

20 Sep 2023

Byrne to Spearhead Equinor's US Offshore Wind Operations

Samuel Byrne - Credit: Equinor

Norwegian energy industry giant Equinor has appointed of Samuel Byrne as Vice President of Operations at Equinor Renewables Americas to lead Equinor's offshore wind operations in the U.S.Bryne most recently served as Vice President responsible for Operations & Maintenance at maker Vestas Wind Systems in Asia-Pacific for both onshore and offshore wind farms, as well as solar and battery storage sites. His responsibilities covered 13 countries and approximately 15GW of wind farms either in operations or being commissionedā€¦

15 Sep 2023

Bidenā€™s Offshore Wind Target Slipping Out of Reach as Projects Struggle

Credit:Cavan/AdobeStock

President Joe Bidenā€™s goal to deploy 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind along U.S. coastlines this decade to fight climate change may be unattainable due to soaring costs and supply chain delays, according to forecasters and industry insiders.The 2030 target, unveiled shortly after Biden took office, is central to Biden's broader plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050. It is also crucial to targets of Northeast states hoping wind will help them move away from fossil fuelā€¦

05 Sep 2023

How Serious a Problem is the Cost Issue in U.S. Offshore Wind?

Credit: mark_gusev/AdobeStock

Much has been written recently about the challenges facing U.S. offshore wind projects, resulting in requests to terminate or renegotiate contracts to sell power to states. Examples of these challenges can be found from Massachusetts to Virginia. Coming on top of last weekā€™s somewhat disappointing events of the Gulf of Mexico lease auction, speculation has mounted around the longer-term prospects for U.S. wind. But how serious is this problem, and what does it mean to the longer-term goals of the federal administration to deploy 30 GW of offshore wind by 203 and 110 GW by 2050?Belowā€¦

28 Aug 2023

14th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium to be Held Nov. 14-16 at SUNY Maritime

The 2023 Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS) will be held Nov. 14-16, 2023, as an in-person event, hosted by Maritime College, State University of New York (SUNY) at the Maritime Academic Center. The theme of the 14th annual event is ā€œManaging Impacts of Supply Chain Disruptors, Renewable Energy, Emerging Technology on the Maritime Transportation System (MTS)ā€ with a focus on offshore infrastructure risk and disruptors. Founded in 1874, Maritime College is the oldest maritime college in the United States, providing mariner training for 150 years.

25 May 2023

Lloyd's Register Drops Ships of Top Indian Carrier of Russian Oil

Ā© komi$ar / Adobe Stock

Lloyd's Register has told India's Gatik Ship Management, which has become a major carrier of Russian oil since the Ukraine war, that it will withdraw certification of 21 of its vessels by June 3, the maritime services company told Reuters.It is the latest setback for Gatik, which was also been forced to find new flags for 36 of its ships after they were deflagged by the St. Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry."Lloyd's Register is committed to facilitating compliance with sanctions regulations on the trading of Russian oil," it said in an email to Reuters.

28 Apr 2023

Protecting Offshore Energy Sources via USV

Photo courtesy Mr. Dave Meron

When most people discuss energy sources such as fossil fuel and green energy, it is from an ā€œeither-orā€ perspective. Some favor the former while others advocate for the latter. However, what is often lost in the arguments on both sides is that regardless of the type of energy being extracted or generated, those platforms that are offshore, especially oil rigs, oil and gas pipelines, and wind farms, are incredibly vulnerable to anyone who wants to attack these sources in wartimeā€¦

20 Mar 2023

Lukoil-backed Congo Project to Start Producing LNG in December

Tango FLNG - Credit: Exmar

A senior executive at Russia's Lukoil energy company said a project in the Congo in which it is involved would begin producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) in December, Russian news agencies reported. Lukoil Vice President Ivan Romanovsky said the initiative would produce around 600,000 tonnes of LNG per year, and that Lukoil plans to boost total LNG output at the Marine XII oil and gas project in the Congo to 3 million tonnes by the end of 2025.Lukoil acquired a 25% stake in Marine XII in 2019.

24 Feb 2023

Pushing the Envelope: A H2 Project Highlights French Teamwork on Alt-Energy

Copyright Parradee/AdobeStock

At the Sea Tech Week Maritime Transport conference this past September, held in Brest, France, there was no shortage of big-picture, creative ideas pertaining to maritime shipping and alternative energy.One such project, called Seaguel, was presented as part of a larger discussion on hydrogen (H2) as maritime fuel. The full session was titled ā€œDistributing Hydrogen from Offshore Wind Farms as a Fuel for Ships.ā€ The topic was developed by France Energies Marines (FEM), a public-private R&D collaborative focused on offshore renewable energy.Right nowā€¦

13 Jan 2023

Gusting Forward: U.S. Gov't to Simplify Offshore Wind Rules to Meet Climate Goals

Ā©mark_gusev/AdobeStock

The U.S. Department of the Interior will reform its regulations for the development of wind energy facilities on the country's outer continental shelf to help meet crucial climate goals, it said in a statement on Thursday.The proposed rule changes would save developers a projected $1 billion over a 20-year period by streamlining burdensome processes, clarifying ambiguous provisions, and lowering compliance costs, the statement said. "Updating these regulations will facilitate the safe and efficient development of offshore wind energy resourcesā€¦

11 Jan 2023

Jones Act Uncertainties Persist in US Offshore Wind

Ā© pauws99 / Adobe Stock

The Jones Act is a single sentence long, and yet somehow that reservation of U.S. domestic maritime commerce to qualified U.S.-flag vessels has spawned numerous complications with respect to offshore wind energy projects. Although not supported by prior experience, maybe 2023 will bring some clarity.U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary source of guidance for how the Jones Act applies. CBP issued its first two offshore wind rulings in May 2010 and February 2011 in the heady early days of U.S. offshore wind.

25 Oct 2022

World's First Coal Carrier Equipped with Wind Challenger Sail Marks Maiden Call in Australia

Shofu Maru, the worldā€™s first coal carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger - a hard sail wind power propulsion system - this week made the maiden port of call in Newcastle, Australia. Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) held a ceremony on October 24 to mark the occasion. "The Australian government has set a decarbonization policy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and local port officials in Newcastle have high expectations and interest in the Shofu Maru, which contributes to decarbonization while transporting energy resources that support people's lives," MOL said.

05 Oct 2022

Crowley Wraps Salem Harbor Acreage Buy to Create Offshore Wind Port Terminal

Credit: Crowley

Crowley has completed the purchase of 42 acres in Salem, Massachusetts, the latest milestone toward the development of the stateā€™s second major offshore wind port terminal.The Salem Harbor Wind Terminal is a public-private partnership between Crowley and the City of Salem, with AVANGRID serving as the portā€™s anchor tenant through its Commonwealth Wind and Park City Wind projects.The terminal will be a logistics and operations center for turbine pre-assembly, transportation, staging activities and storage of assembly components.

18 Aug 2022

Next US Energy Boom Could Be Wind Power in the Gulf of Mexico

Ā© Mosto / Adobe Stock

With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains US$370 billion for climate and energy programs, policy experts are forecasting a big expansion in clean electricity generation. One source thatā€™s poised for growth is offshore wind power.Today the U.S. has just two operating offshore wind farms, off of Rhode Island and Virginia, with a combined generating capacity of 42 megawatts. For comparison, the new Traverse Wind Energy Center in Oklahoma has 356 turbines and a 998-megawatt generating capacity.

28 Jun 2022

Baker to Head BOEM's Office of Renewable Energy Programs

Ā© Fokke Baarssen / Adobe Stock

The United States' Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Tuesday announced Karen J. Baker will lead its Office of Renewable Energy Programs (OREP).BOEM, an agency within the Department of the Interior, manages U.S. offshore energy resources.As Chief of BOEM's OREP, Baker will oversee the development of renewable energy resources on the Outer Continental Shelf through planning, stakeholder engagement, environmental analysis and technical review.ā€œWeā€™re very excited to add Ms. Baker to our team at such a pivotal time in offshore wind development,ā€ said BOEM Director Amanda Lefton.

07 Jun 2022

Israel-Lebanon Sea Boundary Row Obstructs Energy Development

Credit: wavemovies/AdobeStock

A dispute between Israel and Lebanon over their maritime boundary has obstructed energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and risks exacerbating tensions between two foes.After months of deadlock in U.S.-mediated talks, Beirut on Sunday warned against any activity in the disputed area, responding to the arrival of a vessel to develop a field for Israel. Lebanon has said the field in question, Karish, is in disputed waters. Israel denies this.Here's what you need to know about the standoff:WHAT'S AT STAKE?Gas - potentially a lot of it.Lebanon and Israel are located in the Levant Basinā€¦

25 Mar 2022

Ukraine Seeks Tougher Restrictions at Russian Ports Over Oil

Ā© OlegKachura / Adobe Stock

A top economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on the White House to block American companies from all trade in Russian oil and urged Western oil and gas companies to stop handling the commodity, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.In an interview with the U.S. news outlet overnight, Oleg Ustenko said the companies should hire independent accountants to verify no Russian oil is loaded onto their ships, the Times said."We need a full embargo, a full boycott.

10 Mar 2022

Ørsted, Maersk in 'Record-breaking' Green Fuels Deal, with US Power-to-X Plant Planned

File image
 - Ā©Maersk

Wind power giant Ørsted said Thursday it had signed an agreement with shipping giant Maersk to develop Power-to-X-facility on the US Gulf Coast to fuel Maerskā€™s newly ordered fleet of 12 methanol-powered vessels.As part of the agreement, Ørsted said that two companies have signed a letter of intent (LOI) on "record-breaking" offtake agreement for green fuels in the maritime industry."Over the past two decades, greenhouse gas emissions from the global maritime industry have risen sharply to account for around 2 % of global energy-related emissions.

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week