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Manufacturing Capacity News

21 Feb 2024

Biden Executive Order Targets Cybersecurity at US Ports

© Brian E Kushner / Adobe Stock

President Biden on Wednesday signed an Executive Order aiming to strengthen cybersecurity at U.S. ports amid growing threats to America's vital maritime supply chains.The directive bolsters the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to address maritime cyber threats, including through the creation of new standards to ensure the security of networks and systems throughout the nation’s marine transportation system (MTS), which supports $5.4 trillion in economic activity each year."Most critical infrastructure owners and operators have a list of safety regulations they have to comply with…

12 Feb 2024

Victaulic Acquires Utility Coatings & Fabrication

(Photo: Victaulic)

Victaulic, manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining, fire protection, and flow control solutions based in Easton, Pa., announced it has acquired Utility Coatings & Fabrication, Inc. (UCF) located in West Jordan, Utah.“This acquisition represents Victaulic’s fourth consecutive investment in the last four years, highlighting the company’s strategic vision for ongoing growth,” remarked Rick Bucher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Victaulic. “Victaulic remains dedicated to…

06 Feb 2024

Austal USA Plans New Facility and Shiplift in Mobile

(Image: Austal USA)

Shipbuilder Austal USA announced it is planning to boost capacity at its Mobile, Ala. shipyard with the addition of a new manufacturing facility.The infrastructure expansion, which will be to the south of Austal USA’s current waterfront facility, will include a new assembly building, waterfront improvements, and a new Pearlson-designed shiplift system. Start of construction on the project is planned for summer 2024.The construction of this new building and waterfront support area continues the expansion Austal USA began in March 2021 with the groundbreaking of the steel panel line.

23 Jan 2024

Advanced Polymer Coatings Starts Factory Expansion

Advanced Polymer Coatings President David Keehan. Image courtesy APC

Protective tank coatings manufacturer Advanced Polymer Coatings (APC) announced an expansion of its factory, an investment central to its plans to increase its market share of the chemical and product tanker markets.APC President David Keehan said the renovation of its Avon, Ohio factory will almost double its size to 42,000 sq. ft., and a new automated manufacturing system will start production later this year, quadrupling manufacturing capacity of its MarineLINE protective cargo…

10 Oct 2023

Naval Maritime Autonomy Company Raises $55 Million

A prototype Saronic Spyglass ASV completes a full mission profile in its first open water exercise with the US Navy. (Source: Saronic)

Saronic, a maritime autonomy company focused on surface vessels, has announced a $55 million Series A funding.The round was led by Caffeinated Capital, with participation from 8VC, U.S. Innovative Technology Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Point72 Ventures, Silent Ventures, Overmatch Ventures, Ensemble VC, and Cubit Capital.With this raise, Saronic will accelerate research and development while expanding in-house manufacturing capacity for rapid production.The need for these autonomous surface vessels is clear, says Saronic.

13 Apr 2023

Markets: The Challenges of Developing Floating Wind at Scale

Hywind Scotland, the world.s first floating wind farm, operated by Equinor. (Credit: Signal Film / ©Equinor)

Tens of gigawatts of floating wind projects are slated for development in this and the next decade, but many obstacles remain.There has been much focus on the emerging floating wind market of late.The U.K. is forging ahead with commercial scale floating wind developments through the Scotwind and INTOG awards of at least 24 gigawatts (GW) of floating wind capacity representing close to 1,500 floating turbines that will come on stream through 2030. And this will be soon followed by the award of at least 4 GW of capacity through the Celtic Sea floating wind auctions. The U.S.

03 Apr 2023

US Working to Address Challenges in the Way of Offshore Wind Goals

© Cavan / Adobe Stock

A number of recent actions in the United States will better position the nation to meet its short- and long-term offshore wind energy targets, as outlined in the April 2023 U.S. Offshore Wind Report from Intelatus Global Partners.April brings with it the news that the U.S. federal government is seeking to accelerate and incentivize investment in offshore wind technologies and the supply chain, whether it be for bottom-fixed or floating wind projects, for the transmission of large amounts of electricity from offshore to an onshore grid that was not designed with this scenario in mind…

08 Feb 2023

Frontiers Extend as Developers Eye Floating Wind Potential

CREST Wind, a joint venture between Crowley and ESVAGT, has selected Fincantieri Marine Group to build a service operation vessel for operations in the U.S. offshore wind sector. (Image: CREST Wind)

America may have only entered the offshore wind sector recently, but it is wasting no time in playing catch-up. The White House has set targets of 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 110 GW by 2050. The focus so far has centred on bottom-fixed installations, but the prospect of higher energy yields in deeper waters where the wind blows stronger and longer now beckon. The White House has also set a floating wind deployment target of 15 GW by 2035.From a standing start, there are immense challenges in America’s offshore wind development.

14 Jan 2022

Prysmian Group Wins MidEast Submarine Cable Contract

Prysmian Group entered into a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) for the supply of power cables in the context of a landmark  HVDC submarine cable project in the Middle East, worth around $252m. The LNTP was awarded to Prysmian by Samsung C&T as part of its EPC consortium with Jan De Nul Group. The new link, part of the strategic HVDC transmission system for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) Lightning Project, will allow bulk-power energy transmission between the converter station in Al Mirfa…

06 Jan 2022

Fairbanks Morse Acquires Federal Equipment Company

(File photo: Jon Saadey / U.S. Navy)

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) announced it has acquired Federal Equipment Company (FEC), expanding its product capabilities and service solutions for shipyard, defense, and industrial customers – with emphasis on its support for and offerings to the U.S. Nuclear Navy.The transaction includes FEC Military, a global leader in designing and manufacturing mission-critical components and systems for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, including its advanced cargo elevators, engineered doors and specialized material handling equipment.

09 Aug 2021

Shipbuilding: International WTIV Market Represents a $14B Opportunity

WER's forecast identifies a demand of more than 35 optimal WTIVs and foundation vessels are required to meet international turbine and foundation installation demand through 2030 amounting to over $10 billion of capex. The Chinese market demand will be met with around 25 additional WTIVs and foundation vessels for close to $4 billion of capex. Photo © Zacharias/AdobeStock

As of end-June 2021, more than 100 turbine and foundation installation and maintenance vessels will be required for offshore wind projects planned over this decade.More than 100 turbine and foundation installation and maintenance vessels will be required for offshore wind projects planned over this decade. Almost all of the current fleet of international wind turbine installation vessels will be technically redundant as installation vessels by 2025 as a consequence of the rapidly growing wind turbine sizes, greater water depths and increase in foundation size.

25 Mar 2020

Corvus Energy Invests in Canadian Battery Production

Photo: Corvus Energy

Corvus Energy is moving forward with plans to invest in its Canadian operations by expanding its Richmond, B.C. facility and increasing manufacturing capacity.As reported in early 2018, Corvus Energy is rolling out plans for expanded maritime battery manufacturing facilities in both Bergen, Norway and Richmond, B.C., Canada. A new automated battery factory in Bergen began producing energy storage systems (ESS) in Q4 2019. Corvus has signed a contract for investment in new production line equipment in the Richmond, B.C.

03 Mar 2020

Vestdavit Acquires Tritec Production

The acquisition covers the Tritec Production steel fabrication, engineering and construction facility in Redzikowo, Poland, which has been supporting Vestdavit as its principal davit assembly partner for more than a decade. (Photo: Vestdavit)

Boat-handling systems supplier Vestdavit announced the acquisition of Tritec Production. The acquisition covers a complete steel fabrication, engineering and construction facility in Redzikowo, Poland, from where Tritec has been supporting Vestdavit as its principal davit assembly partner for more than a decade.“With 65 dedicated employees specializing in steel-structure manufacturing, hydraulic and mechanical assembly, and the factory-acceptance testing required for davits from 1 to 16 tons, Tritec is a worthy addition to our enterprise,” says Vestdavit Managing Director Rolf Andreas Wigand.

14 Oct 2019

Wärtsilä and Norsepower Sign Agreement

The agreement between Wärtsilä and Norsepower will promote the use of Rotor Sails and support sustainable shipping. (Photo: Wärtsilä)

The technology group Wärtsilä and Norsepower, a provider of low maintenance, software operated, data verified auxiliary wind propulsion systems, have signed a service cooperation agreement. This will enable Norsepower to order service work from Wärtsilä, while Wärtsilä can pursue and sell Norsepower Rotor Sail projects with support from Norsepower. The agreement was signed in Q3 2019.With the growth of Norsepower’s manufacturing capacity and the anticipated increasing demand for its Rotor Sails…

27 Jul 2018

Evergas Rolls-out Largest Ethane Carrier in the World

Evergas announced that the first 85.000cbm very large ethane carrier (VLEC) was successfully undocked in China and will be delivered in the first quarter of 2019.Following the successful undocking of the first VLEC, the steel cutting of the second vessel was celebrated in the workshop of the leading Chinese shipyard, DSIC and shows our strong commitment to the emerging ethane market.These two VLECs will be delivered to INEOS Trading & Shipping to add to their existing fleet of eight Dragon class vessels, which will enable INEOS to grow their global ethane delivery capability. These VLECs will be managed commercially and operationally in-house by Evergas…

20 Jun 2018

HEECO Eyes New Markets for Expansion

Photo: HEECO expansion and development

The Humber Electrical Engineering Company (HEECO) in the United Kingdom has consolidated its marine presence and developed into new oil and gas markets.The Hull-based electrical manufacturing business is known for the design and build of switchboards, motor control centers (MCCs) and control panels for the marine and energy sectors as well as the programming of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and the provision of electrical design solutions.Celebrating its 110th anniversary this year…

11 Apr 2018

Shipping Fuel Costs to Spike 25% on Sulphur Cap

Costs to rise from roughly $100 bln today; just 2 pct of global fleet to have scrubbers in 2020. Global shipping fuel costs are likely to rise by a quarter, or $24 billion, in 2020 when new rules limiting sulphur kick in, consultants Wood Mackenzie said on Wednesday. The ballooning costs will come as the change in regulations forces a portion of the world's fleet to switch to lower sulphur, but higher cost, fuels such as marine gasoil (MGO) and ultra low sulphur fuel oil. The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) rules targeting air pollution will cut the maximum amount of sulphur emissions that ships worldwide can burn to 0.5 percent of fuel content by 2020, from 3.5 percent currently.

11 Apr 2018

PBES Inks Manufacturing Deal with Elpro

PBES and Elpro Solutions AS announced that they have entered a manufacturing agreement for PBES battery systems. The agreement with Elpro provides PBES with the ability to meet the demand for its product with greater manufacturing capacity, agile and flexible factory set up, and the quality standard demanded by our customers.“After nearly two years of manufacturing in Norway, it became apparent that our customers would be better served by a more streamlined process.” said Brent Perry, CEO, PBES. “The most important thing was making sure our customers can rely on delivery of product and the highest quality service. The combination of…

27 Mar 2018

Maritime to Get Biggest Bang for VW Settlement Bucks

© tarasov_vl / Adobe Stock

Imagine a settlement over falsifying emission levels in another transportation sector dropping money onto your deck. Who knew? But it’s true. The $2.9 billion settlement fund Volkswagen agreed to capitalize for distribution across all 50 states, tribal lands and Puerto Rico, as a result of “dieselgate,” its criminal dodging of required auto emission levels, presents an unparalleled opportunity to maritime companies that want to move their noxious diesel engines up a couple of EPA notches, and stick someone else with close to half the bill or more.

27 Nov 2017

Brunswick: Ramping up Quality for the Long Haul

As Brunswick Commercial & Government Products expands its capabilities and product line, the Florida-based boatbuilder is positioned to safely provide increased efficiencies, and an expanded, multi-mission product line. When Brunswick Commercial & Government Products (BCGP) broke ground on a facility expansion at the company’s Florida headquarters in early May, it served notice that this well-known boatbuilder had ramped up both its delivery capabilities, and an expanded array of new hulls. With a new large-boat building that includes added manufacturing space and other facility improvements, the 10,500-square-foot facility increases the company’s manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.

19 Jun 2017

ICS Urges IMO to Set Ballast Water Implementation Dates

© tempakul / Adobe Stock

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to back a proposal from a broad coalition of governments concerning the implementation dates for installing new ballast water treatment systems. “If this pragmatic proposal is agreed, this would allow shipping companies to identify and invest in far more robust technology to the benefit of the marine environment,” said ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe. ICS says that this IMO decision on dates…

30 Aug 2017

Container Equipment Leasing Rates Under Pressure

Leasing companies are tightening their stranglehold over container equipment ownership as ocean carriers cut back on new purchasing and sell older inventory for leaseback, Drewry's report said. But the lessors’ rapid expansion has come at a price as the combination of low borrowing costs and competitive pressures has had an adverse impact on lease rates and accompanying investment returns. Lease rates slumped to a new low in 2015 and although the improved market climate since has prompted some recovery, they remain well below the long-term average. The pressure on hire rates is not just confined to the dry sector, as reefer and tank leasing rates have suffered in a similar way.

03 Oct 2017

Suez Canal Orders Two Cutter Suction Dredgers

(Image: Royal IHC)

The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has placed an order for two custom-built 29,190kW heavy-duty rock cutter suction dredgers (CSDs). The vessels will have an overall length of 147.4 meters and provide a maximum dredging depth of 35 meters. In addition, they will offer accommodation facilities for 73 people. Equipped with one submerged – and two inboard – dredge pumps, the installed cutter power will be 4,800kW. A standardized IHC Beaver 45 CSD will also be built by IHC at SCA’s shipyard in Egypt…