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Nordic Countries News

27 Nov 2023

Nordic Countries Agree on Joint CCUS Initiatives

Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, first left, Kadri Simson, second left, Lasse Frimand Jensen, Mayor of the City of Aalborg, third right, HRH Crown Prince Frederik, second right. (Source: European Commission)

Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands have signed the Aalborg Declaration that aims at joint European cooperation on CO2 capture, use and storage (CCUS).CO2 capture, use and storage must be scaled up, both nationally and at European level, the countries agreed at the signing which occurred at the EU's CCUS Forum this week, hosted in Aalborg, Denmark."Today shows that there is European will, both among us decision-makers and among the industry - and with the Aalborg declaration we are moving closer to a common European market for CO2 capture, use and storage.

17 Dec 2021

Ship Design: Zero-Emission Cruise Ship Concept Unveiled

Artist illustration of Northern Xplorer zero-emission cruise ship. (Photo credits: Northern Xplorer)

Northern Xplorer AS (NX) announced itszero-emission, luxury cruise concept, designed to feature 'clean' technologies including fully electric propulsion, battery energy storage, hydrogen fuel cells and auxiliary renewable energy supply (wind and solar power). Northern Xplorer will provide opportunities to travel ‘off the beaten track’, connecting passengers with unique locations in the Nordic countries in a personal way,” said Rolf André Sandvik, the company's founder and CEO. Sandvik is a master mariner with extensive experience with cruise lines NCL and Crystal Cruises.

14 Jan 2021

Energy Storage Systems Continue to Expand in North American Maritime Markets

Corvus Orca Energy, the world’s most widely deployed maritime ESS, is versatile for a wide range of applications and scalable from 80-10,000 kWh. (Photo: Corvus Energy)

North America is increasingly adopting energy storage systems (ESS) to use in combination with combustion engines or as the sole energy carrier in fully electric-powered systems.We clearly see a transition from ‘consideration’ to ‘execution’ of hybrid and all-electric maritime projects. Stakeholders want to explore how to make vessels more energy efficient and less polluting. Corvus Energy has deployed over half of the ESSs aboard vessels globally, totaling over 300 megawatt hours (MWh).In North America, Corvus has deployed 24 MWh of energy storage capacity, and there are 13 vessels under U.S.

21 Nov 2019

Interview: Boriana Farrar, Ship Owners Claims Bureau

Boriana Farrar is a familiar face in maritime circles, the Vice President and Counsel and a Senior Claims Executive and Business Development Director for the Americas at the Ship Owners Claims Bureau, Inc. managers of the American P&I Club.

Boriana Farrar is a familiar face in maritime circles, the Vice President and Counsel and a Senior Claims Executive and Business Development Director for the Americas at the Ship Owners Claims Bureau, Inc. managers of the American P&I Club. We met with her in her NYC office to discuss her path from her native Bulgaria to a top maritime professional position.When Boriana Farrar moved from her native Bulgaria to the United States in 2001, she did so to be close to family, her mother and her sister who had already established a life in the U.S., some 5,000 miles from her homeland.

13 Nov 2019

Gasum on an Acquisition Spree

Finland-based integrated gas company Gasum takes steps forward in its growth strategy by acquiring AGA’s Clean Energy business and Nauticor’s Marine Bunkering business from Linde AG."These acquisitions will enhance the development of the Nordic gas market and create a platform for Gasum to provide a broader offering to meet the increasing demand for low-emission energy solutions from customers in industry, maritime and road transport," said a press note.The transaction will improve access to competitive natural gas and biogas, multiply the available LNG logistics capacity and expand Gasum’s Nordic gas filling station network.Gasum is acquiring AGA’s Clean Energy business and Nauticor’s Marine Bunkering business from their current owner, Linde AG.

30 Oct 2019

Changes to Volvo Penta Executive Group Announced

Ron Huibers, President Volvo Penta Americas

After 26 years with Volvo and 7 as President of Volvo Penta Americas, Ron Huibers has decided to retire from his current role and move to another role within Volvo Penta. Succeeding Ron will be Martin Bjuve, currently CFO and SVP Business Office Volvo Penta. Planned transition date will be January 1, 2020. Bjorn Ingemanson, President and CEO Volvo Penta, today announced that Ron Huibers, President Volvo Penta Americas, has decided to retire from his current role and take up a new role within the company. "The team, customers and industries we serve here have been exciting and rewarding.

26 Jul 2019

Europe Installs 1.9 GW Offshore Wind Capacity in H1

Europe added 1.9 GW of new offshore wind was installed in the first half of 2019, up from the 1.1 GW added in the same period in 2018, according to figures released by WindEurope.The UK (931 MW), Denmark (374 MW), Belgium (370 MW) and Germany (252 MW) accounted for these installations. This includes Hornsea 1 in the UK which, when completed, will be the world’s largest wind farm with 1.2 GW.In the first half of 2019 Europe invested €8.8bn in the construction of future wind farms, €6.4bn in onshore wind and €2.4bn in offshore wind. These investments will result in 5.9 GW being installed and grid connected over the next two to three years. France and the Netherlands led investments.WindEurope Chief Policy Officer Pierre Tardieu said: “It was a good start to the year for offshore wind growth.

03 Jun 2019

Gothenburg Port Strengthens Biogas Bunkering

Bunkering liquefied biogas (LBG) at the Port of Gothenburg will become easier for the shipping sector with a new agreement signed between FordonsGas and Swedegas."The new agreement between FordonsGas and Swedegas will ensure access to this renewable fuel, a move that has been sought by both shipping companies and their customers," said a press release.Shipping needs to make the transition from oil to environmentally smart alternatives. Liquefied natural gas, LNG, is currently the cleanest marine fuel available due to lower emissions of carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide, nitric oxide, and particulates.With renewable liquefied biogas, LBG, climate benefits will increase even further with the addition of net-zero carbon emissions.

09 Apr 2019

Gothenburg Port Intros New Bunkering App

The Gothenburg Port Authority launched a digital solution designed to make bunkering at the Energy Port easier and more efficient.The new ‘Bunkering App’ is one of the first in the world to offer this range of functionality, said a press release from the  largest port in the Nordic countries.The Port of Gothenburg Energy Port is the largest open access energy port in the Nordic region, handling over 2,500 calls and more than 23 million tonnes of energy products each year. The Energy Port is also one of the world's larger bunkering hubs. In an effort to make the bunkering procedures easier and more efficient, the Gothenburg Port Authority has developed the new ‘Bunkering App’.The app is available to all bunkering operators at the Energy Port.

07 Feb 2019

Polaris Refuels in Finland

World’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) icebreaker Polaris refueled for the first time at the Nordic countries’ largest LNG terminal in Tornio in the icy Röyttä Harbour.As of yet, LNG is the world’s most environmentally friendly ship fuel. It does not contain sulphur, and its combustion generates approximately 87% less nitrogen oxides in comparison to regularly used Marine Diesel Oil (MDO). Furthermore, LNG’s particulate matter emissions are nearly non-existent.From the outset, Polaris was designed as an icebreaker that combines efficiency with environmental friendliness.“This is the third winter in the demanding, icy conditions of the northern Baltic Sea for the world’s first LNG-powered icebreaker.

16 Dec 2018

Gasum Consolidates Nordic LNG Market

The Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) company Skangas is renamed Gasum (See MarineLink report ). The Scandinavian distributor and producer of small-scale LNG claimed that the name change will strengthen the Gasum brand in the Nordic countries and the position of Gasum as the leading provider of LNG in the region. Gasum operates under one strong brand in the Nordic countries.The energy company Gasum increased its shareholding in Skangas from 70% to 100% in October 2018. The acquisition is part of the Gasum strategy, a core element of which is to develop the Nordic gas market and LNG infrastructure.“We want to lead the way and take the Nordic countries towards a cleaner tomorrow under one strong brand.

26 Nov 2018

Skangas Becomes Gasum

Skangas, the leading Scandinavian distributor and producer of small-scale LNG, said it is changing its name to that of its owner, Gasum.The Finland-based integrated gas company Gasum increased its shareholding in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) company Skangas from 70% to 100% in October 2018. The acquisition is part of the Gasum strategy, a core element of which is to develop the Nordic gas market and the LNG infrastructure.The name change will strengthen the Gasum brand in the Nordic countries and the position of Gasum as the leading provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the region. All Skangas companies will be renamed to Gasum.The companies Skangas AS…

12 Nov 2018

Danish Shipyard Orders Equipment Package from Rolls-Royce

BĂśrkur  (Photo: Rolls-Royce)

The Danish yard Karstensens Skibsværft is set build and design two new vessels for trawl and purse seine fishing ordered by two Icelandic ship-owning companies. Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine has been selected to deliver an extensive package of ship equipment to both ships.The two fishing vessels of 88 meters will be outfitted with engines, propulsion, steering gear, rudders and winches together with connected control systems from Rolls-Royce. The equipment will be delivered from four of the company’s eight production facilities in the Nordic countries…

11 Oct 2018

Gasum Acquires Skangas

Energy company Gasum has increased its shareholding in Norwegian liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider Skangas to 100%. The acquisition strengthens a key element of Gasum's strategy and will further enhance the development of the Nordic gas market and LNG distribution network.According to a press release from  the Nordic energy company the increase in shareholding consolidates Gasum's position as the leading Nordic LNG provider and the gas market forerunner.Nordic energy company Gasum has purchased the remaining shareholding in the Norwegian liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider Skangas from the Lyse Group. In 2014, Gasum became Skangas's majority shareholder with a 51% holding…

19 Jun 2018

Goliath Gantry Crane Delivered to Meyer Turku

Photo: Meyer Turku Oy

The largest gantry crane in the Nordic countries was delivered to Meyer Turku shipyard by Finnish Konecranes. The goliath crane will be used to build increasingly large cruise ships at Meyer Turku shipyard with an even higher degree of industrialization.“Normally we are the ones delivering large high tech products to our customers, but this time we are the customer. The new crane is an essential part of our €200m ($231m) ramp-up investment program, as it will triple our daily lifting capacity.

20 Nov 2017

Finland's Manga LNG Terminal Gets First Cargo

The first shipload of liquefied natural gas (LNG) arrival to the LNG import terminal in Tornio, Finland, on Sunday November 19, 2017. The Manga LNG natural gas import terminal in Röyttä Harbor, Tornio, is a joint venture of the industrial companies Outokumpu and SSAB Europe, the energy company EPV Energy and the LNG company Skangas. LNG was shipped to the terminal by Coral Energy, a time-chartered LNG carrier operated by Skangas. Once completed in summer 2018, the import terminal will be the largest LNG terminal in the Nordic countries and the second LNG terminal in Finland. Northern Finland’s gas and fuel market will be diversified as a new fuel – LNG – enabling deliveries to industry…

06 Oct 2017

Nexans Sets a New World Record in Submarine Cable in Norway

While the Nordic countries are among the most advanced in terms of clean electricity generation, their consumption of energy per capita is also among the highest in the world due to cold climate and a sparse population distribution. To meet growing electricity demand and accompany increased energy production, BKK Nett AS, one of Norway’s largest power companies, decided to install the Kollsnes-Mongstad power line to strengthen the electrical grid in Western Norway. After the manufacturing and installation of two submarine cables for Kollsnes-Mongstad connection, BKK Nett AS has awarded Nexans with a contract worth approximately 37 million euros for delivery of the third and last submarine cable to complete the Modalen-Mongstad connection.

06 Sep 2017

MAN Cryo to Supply LNG Bunkering for Swedegas

Photo: MAN Cyro

MAN Cryo, MAN Diesel & Turbo’s marine-LNG fuel-gas-system manufacturer, has signed a contract with Swedish infrastructure company, Swedegas, to deliver an LNG bunkering facility within the Port of Gothenburg. The new facility will enable vessels to bunker LNG from trucks or containers while simultaneously loading/unloading cargo at two jetties at the port’s Energy Port, dispensing with the need to make a separate refuelling stop. The solution offers increased flexibility for customers and LNG suppliers, and will be open for multiple suppliers.

02 Aug 2017

Oil Spill Response: SCOPE 2017

(Image: SCOPE)

Later this year a major oil and chemical protection exercise dubbed SCOPE 2017 will be carried out in Norway. A joint project including major European and Scandinavian stakeholders, the simulated response to a combined oil and chemical spill aims to foster clearer communication and coordination of spill response across agencies and physical country boundaries. Stig Wahlstrøm, Project Manager SCOPE 2017, Norwegian Coastal Administration and Johan Marius Ly, Director, Department for Emergency Response, explain.

01 Jun 2017

Nordic Countries Partner for Chemical Protection Exercise

A joint oil and chemical protection exercise between the Nordic countries will involve more than 300 personnel and 30 vessels, making for one of the largest projects of its kind in European history. An increasing level of shipping traffic has led to a growing fear of accidents and an adverse risk picture. The accident involving M/V Full City in July 2009 on the coast of Langesund illustrated the crucial need for preparedness in dealing with accidents across national borders. To meet this aim, the Nordic countries will arrange a joint oil and chemical protection exercise September 25-29 in Langesund. Code-named SCOPE 2017 (Skagerrak Chemical Oilspill Pollution Exercise)…

12 May 2017

Arctic Council Meeting Stirs Hidden Tensions

Photo credit: Arctic Council Secretariat / Linnea NordstrĂśm

As foreign ministers from countries with territory in the far North celebrated an agreement on fighting climate change this week, one topic seethed below the surface: growing competition for Arctic resources and sea lanes as the ice melts. Russia, one of eight members of the Arctic Council which includes the United States, Canada and the Nordic countries, has been pouring money and missiles into the Arctic as well as reopening and building bases there. This is bringing its Arctic military presence to the highest level since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union.

18 Apr 2017

Volvo Penta Names Bjuve VP, Customer Support/Training

Martin Bjuve (Photo: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta of the Americas has appointed Martin Bjuve as vice president for customer support and training. In this position, he will provide strategic direction and management for support and product training for dealers and customers across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Bjuve has served as vice president and chief financial officer at Volvo Penta of the Americas since 2013. In addition to his responsibilities in the finance department, Bjuve has led key manufacturing investment projects in the Americas.

10 Feb 2017

Wärtsilä joins battle against ocean plastics

The Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has signed an agreement with the Seabin Project to join their global pilot programme, which addresses the worldwide littering problem affecting our oceans. The project aims at approaching the challenge from multiple angles with a key emphasis on education, research and technology. Wärtsilä will work in cooperation with Seabin Project for the next three years and has sponsored both the city and port of Helsinki's involvement with the programme. The Wärtsilä - Seabin partnership aims at dynamic and versatile actions using Wärtsilä's experience, established technologies, and know-how in environmental product development. The partnership with Seabin is part of Wärtsilä Corporation's Finland 100 year centennial programme.