Rem Offshore Places Order for Next-Gen Subsea Construction Vessel
Norway-based offshore vessel owner Rem Offshore and shipbuilder Myklebust Verft have signed a contract for the construction of an Energy Subsea Construction Vessel (ESCV) with a 250-tonne crane.The vessel will be delivered in 2026 and will be the first of its kind that can perform heavy construction work in both offshore wind and subsea with net zero emissions, according to Rem Offshore.The contract also contains an option to build one more vessel, the company confirmed.The vessel will be equipped with dual-fuel methanol engines in combination with battery packs.
INEOS FPS Picks Liebherrâs RL 650 Offshore Crane for Unity Platform
INEOS Forties Pipeline System (FPS) has selected Liebherr for the supply of a new Ram Luffing (RL) series offshore crane for its Unity Platform in the UK North Sea.After more than 30 years of service, the currently installed RL crane on the Unity Platform has run its course, and will be replaced by Liebherrâs RL 650 technology.The RL 650 crane, said to be particularly suitable for a Not Permanently Attended Installation (NPAI), will fulfil all material handling for the offshore platformâŚ
Hapo Acquires 1,200-Ton Cranes from Cadeler's Wind Installation Vessels
Hapo International Barges has acquired cranes recently removed from Cadeler's Wind Orca and the Wind Osprey offshore wind installation vessels from Cadeler.These 1,200-ton cranes had to be replaced with even larger cranes for Cadeler to be able to install the next generation of wind turbines. The cranes are each capable of lifting 1200 t with a boom length of 115 m."For Hapo [this is] an excellent opportunity to further strengthen its position in the heavy-lift barge market.On November 1, 2023, the second crane was handed over on the bridge of the Wind Osprey following a technical inspection.
Enclosed Spaces: Engineering Solutions
If you think the human element is the only cause of enclosed space deaths, think again.Enclosed space incidents are cited as the largest cause of on-duty fatalities in commercial shipping. The risks canât simply be engineered out, but thereâs a powerful coalition wanting action nonetheless.Thereâs a tendency to blame failure to follow procedures, they say. Investigations seldom focus on the practicality of those procedures or the influence of the operating environment and vessel design, they say.
Jones Act Uncertainties Persist in US Offshore Wind
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.
MARAD Awards $19.6 Million in Small Shipyard Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportationâs Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced $19.6 million in grant awards to 24 small shipyards in 19 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program.The funds will help awardeesâmany of which being family-run businessesâmodernize, increase productivity and expand local employment opportunities while competing in the global marketplace, MARAD said.âSmall businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy, and small shipyards play a critical role in Americaâs maritime industry, helping us get the goods we depend on every day,â said U.S.
Aibel's Yard in Thailand Wraps Work on Dogger Bank A Topside
Norwegian engineering and construction firm Aibel's yard in Thailand has completed the construction of the Dogger Bank A wind farm substation topside, in what is the first ever HVDC converter platform exported from Thailand.Loaded on a BigLift heavy transportation vessel, the topside is now en route to Haugesund, Norway where further equipment will be installed ahead of the installation at its final offshore location at what will be the world's largest offshore wind farm, the Dogger BankâŚ
Liftal Acquires Damen Hoisting
Liftal Hijstechniek has acquired Damen Hoisting. The agreement will be effected on October 1, and the organization will be incorporated into the full-service specialist in lifting and hoisting technology.Damen Hoisting was established five years ago as a business unit of Damen Anchor & Chain Factory B.V., located on the premises of Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam in Schiedam. The hoisting division serves customers from various markets such as the maritime, offshore, industrial andâŚ
Tech Files: Breathing New Life into Old Port Cranes
Retrofits of new features into existing ports cranes can produce operational efficiency and safety gains not included on cranes delivered 15-20 years ago, including Ship-to-Shore (STS) Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) and Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) types. Here, Dmitry Lapin, Knowledge and Development Manager, Port Services, Konecranes, looks at retrofit options proven in applications internationally.Sooner or later, the owners of ports cargo handling equipment are going to face a number of technical and organizational questions about the future.
Fincantieri to Open Ship Repair Yard in Mexico
Fincantieri is teaming up with the Mexican government to open a new shipyard that will provide repair, conversions and maintenance cruise ships, large cargo vessels and oil and gas vessels.The Italian shipbuilding giant revealed Tuesday that it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with the Ministry of Economic Development and Labor of the Yucatán State (Mexico) to participate in the design and construction of the new facility, located within the expansion and modernization of the Port of Progreso, the main port of the state, approximately 35 kilometers from the capital Merida.
Argentinian Shipyard to Build First Domestically Produced Dredger
SPI Servicios Portuarios Integrados for Mar del Plata port in Argentina has acquired a DOP Dredger component package from Damen Shipyards Group. The Argentinian shipyard will build major components and assemble the dredger. The DOP Dredger 250 will be used to dredge underneath a floating dock, which the shipyards wants to keep operational full-time. The trick is that the dock will remain in place during the dredging activities.The Argentinian ship builder SPI has an extensive yard in the bay of Mar del Plata, located on the South Atlantic Ocean.
Van Aalst Group Launches Nortek Services AS
To provide preventive and predictive maintenance services, combined with workshop services for clients operating worldwide in the offshore oil, gas, marine and renewables industry, the Dutch Van Aalst Group recently set up Nortek Services AS in Kristiansand, Norway.According to Wijnand van Aalst, CEO of the Van Aalst Group and Safeway, the initiative to launch Nortek stems mainly from the rapid growth currently taking place at a number of Van Aalst companies. Safeway from the Netherlands has achieved success with its motion-compensated gangways and Techano in NorwayâŚ
Mammoet Helps Austal Philippines Float Its Largest Ferry Build
Dutch heavy lift and transport specialist Mammoet was hired to help shipbuilder Austal Philippines carry out a full scope load-out and float-off of its largest ever high speed catamaran ferry launched earlier this year.During its conceptualization phase, Mammoetâs engineers proposed a revised methodology that reduced the volume of heavy lifting equipment required to complete the maneuver, helping to bring down costs for the operation. With this, there was not a need to include a long list of equipmentâŚ
A&P Refits Wight Light
UK-based A&P Group its shipyard in Falmouth is refitting the Wightlink RO-RO ferry Wight Light. Wightlink is a passenger and vehicle ferry company operating routes between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.Wight Light visited A&P Falmouth for its two-yearly refit period. Vessels from the Wightlink fleet have been visiting A&P Falmouth since the early 2000s for dry-dockings and maintenance work.During Wight Lightâs recent refit, a new engine was fitted and commissioned, leak and dye penetrant testing was carried out on its forward and aft Voith blades, along with deflection testing of its aft Voith propulsion unit.Additional works include replacing hydraulic pipework on the shipâs garage deckâŚ
Van Oord, Hendrik in Lifting Equipment Deal
Dutch maritime contracting company Van Oord is partnering with compatriot company Hendrik Veder Group for the management of heavy lifting equipment for offshore wind turbines.Rotterdam-based company active in steel wire and fibre rope products and services said that under the terms of the two-year agreement, Van Oord will outsource its hoisting and lifting equipment management to the Hendrik Veder Group, with a focus on sustainable lifting.According to Michiel Pieterman, Offshore Wind Operations Manager at Van Oord: "This partnership enables us to use lifting equipment in a sustainable way. The high-quality lifting equipment has a longer lifespan, because it is either reused or converted into new raw materials, while guaranteeing 100 percent compliance at all times.
Konecranes to Supply RTG Cranes to Tangier Port
Finnish manufacturer of cranes and lifting equipment Konecranes Oyj has won an order to supply a terminal at Tangier Med Port II with 16 Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes.The cranes will be delivered in batches with the last ones arriving by mid-July 2020. The order was booked in May 2019.The 16 Konecranes RTGs will go into service at the new container terminal TC3, Tanger Med 2, in the Port of Tangier. They will be the first Konecranes container cranes in Morocco. Tanger Med 2 is the second phase of development of the Tanger Med port complex.Mr. Said Asbaai, Chairman of the Executive Board of Tanger Alliance said: âKonecranes is known for the excellence of its technology and high-performing cranes.
Konecranes Appoints New CEO and President
Konecranes, which specialises in the manufacture and service of cranes and lifting equipment, has appointed a new president and CEO, Rob Smith, who will take over his new role as of February 1, 2020.As of today, the Finnish company's CFO, Teo Ottola, who also serves as Deputy CEO, will be acting as the interim CEO until Rob Smith starts in the position."Konecranes has concluded the integration following the MHPS acquisition that took place almost three years ago. The company is now ready for the next phase in its development, and for that I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to Rob Smith, who is a global leader with a track record in achieving market leadership positions through innovative business strategiesâŚ
Konecranes Rolls-out 3 Innovative Products
Finland's Konecranes, which specialises in the manufacture and service of cranes and lifting equipment for the ports and terminal industry, has announced the launch of three new lifting products that refresh its portfolio.The additions to their portfolio include the innovative new S-series, which uses a synthetic rope to delivers enhanced lifting performance and longer-lasting use. S- and M-series cranes will offer real-time data and insight via the yourKONECRANES customer portal to improve usage visibility and help anticipate maintenance needsâThe launches reflect the strength and depth of our expanded portfolio following the MHPS acquisitionâŚ
Tideworks Joins with Liebherr Container Cranes
The provider of terminal operating system (TOS) solutions Tideworks Technology announced cooperation activity with Liebherr Container Cranes Ltd. (LCC), a manufacturer of container cranes, regarding their solutions to the container handling industry.According to a press note, this is Tideworksâ first cooperation with an equipment manufacturer and demonstrates a progression of its efforts to provide the global supply chain with next-generation TOS solutions and innovative options that include both software and hardware in a harmonized approach.The cooperation will allow terminal operators to leverage tightly integrated TOS and lifting equipment in future offerings.âWe are excited to collaborate with LiebherrâŚ
SHORTSEA CRANE OPERATIONS: Lifting a Port to Prosperity
A Liebherr LHM 420 Crane is at the heart of a rapidly expanding shortsea shipping success story. Reliability is the key for a port thatâs turned the corner, with nowhere to go but âup.âWay back in January of 1996, I moved to Richmond, Virginia from Houston, Texas. Still very much in the maritime business as a cargo surveyor and ship expeditor, the Port of Richmond intrigued me, every time I drove past it on I-95. Eventually, I got a tour of the struggling port, courtesy of then port director and retired USCG Captain Marty Moynihan. Moynihan, an energetic executive, was keen to expand the portâs horizons.Back then, as much as half of the portâs meager business was tobacco shipping to and from Philip Morris, just across the street.
Konecranes Cranes for Winning Int'l Group
A fleet of specially-designed, durable and productive Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes is enhancing supply chain efficiency for Winning International Group.The cranes play a critical role in Winning International Groupâs supply chain, by loading 30,000 tonnes per day of bauxite from feeder barges onto a mother vessel, ready for shipment between China and West Africa.âOur Konecranes Gottwald Mobile Harbor Cranes have proven themselves in a rough open-sea environment. They have been custom-tailored to our bauxite handling applicationâŚ
DLBA Partners with Champion's Auto Ferry
DLBA has announced a partnership with Championâs Auto Ferry for the development of a new 84ft x 31ft double-ended ferry. The design is compliant with USCG regulations for commercial passenger Subchapter T operation in Michigan and has been ruggedized for rigorous all-weather operation. Designed to fit three car lanes by integrating a lightweight deckhouse design for the local river operation, the vessel provides an optimal platform for roll on / roll off service enhanced by Championâs proprietary ramp design.The vesselâs all steel construction hull has been designed to ABS SVU90MâŚ
New Research Vessel for Virginia Institute of Marine Science
A new research vessel for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has completed sea trials and is transiting to its home port in Virginia.The new vessel, the R/V Virginia, will support the institutionâs fisheries research projects and greatly expand VIMSâ capability to perform general oceanographic research in the Chesapeake Bay as well as mid-Atlantic coastal waters. Interest in the new research vessel is already growing rapidly as next season is almost fully booked with science cruises.The 93-foot vessel was built by Meridien Maritime Reparation.