Alpha Tankers News

New rules coming into force from 2020 to curb pollution produced by the world's ships are worrying everyone from OPEC oil producers to bunker fuel sellers and shipping companies.The regulations will slash emissions of sulfur, which is blamed for causing respiratory diseases and is a component of acid rain that damages vegetation and wildlife.But the energy and shipping industries are ill-prepared, say analysts, with refiners likely to struggle to meet higher demand for cleaner…

SNAME announced its seventh technical meeting for the 2013-2014 season, during which Dr. Panagiotis Zacharioudakis, Senior Researcher at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), will speak on the subject of “The Financials of LNG.” The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. in The auditorium of Maran and Alpha Tankers, Kallithea, Athens. The use of LNG as marine fuel is a very promising alternative for compliance with environmental regulations, compared to other solutions such as scrubbers and MGO. In the presentation, a brief description of the Costa Project (CO2 & ship transport emissions abatement by LNG), funded by the TEN-T, will be given.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) will host its sixth technical meeting for the 2013-2014 season Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Maran and Alpha Tankers, 354 Syngrou Ave., Kallithea, Athens. During the meeting, Dr.-Ing. Ioannis Vlaskos, Global Market Sector Director- Marine, Director – Large Engines & Gas Engines at Ricardo, Deutschland will speak on the subject of ‘‘Waste Heat Recovery in Marine Propulsion Systems’’. Recovery of waste heat from marine engines is an important option for reducing the environmental footprint of ships.

More LNG Carriers employing 51/60DF engines. MAN Diesel & Turbo has won the contract to supply the engines for two Greek LNG carriers (LNGCs). The installation of the MAN 51/60DF dual-fuel engines aboard the newbuildings represents an important first such reference for the company in the segment. The configuration for the new order covers 2 × 9L51/60DF + 2 × 8L51/60DF engines, a total of 34 MW installed power per vessel. All of the engines are IMO Tier II-compliant in diesel mode and will have lower exhaust-gas emissions in gas mode than IMO Tier III stipulates – fuel-sharing mode will be applied to each unit. The customer is Athens-based Alpha Tankers and Freighters International Ltd. Both newbuildings will be 160,000 m³ carriers and are DFDE (dual-fuel diesel electrical)-driven.

MAN Diesel & Turbo wins contract to supply the engines for two Greek LNG carriers (LNGCs). The configuration for the new order covers 2 × 9L51/60DF + 2 × 8L51/60DF engines, a total of 34 MW installed power per vessel. All of the engines are IMO Tier II-compliant in diesel mode and will have lower exhaust-gas emissions in gas mode than IMO Tier III stipulates – fuel-sharing mode will be applied to each unit. The customer is Athens-based Alpha Tankers and Freighters International Ltd. Both newbuildings will be 160,000 m³ carriers and are DFDE (dual-fuel diesel electrical)-driven. An option for further vessels and engines exists. Due for construction at STX Offshore & Shipping Co. Ltd.

At the recent ABS Council meeting, 31 prominent members of the shipping and offshore industries were elected as new members of the prominent international classification society. The ABS Council also elected seven new members to the society’s Technical Committee. “Our strength as a classification society is the breadth of experience and depth of wisdom of our membership,” said ABS Chairman & CEO Robert D. Somerville. Zamil A. Thomas J. Angiolino, Senior Vice President, Willis of New York, Inc. Commodore R. Balasubrmaniam, IN (Retd.), Director, Rajapur Shipyard Pvt. Ltd. Dong-Su Choi, President & CEO, SLS Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Robert G. George A. Cupstid, Senior Vice President and General Manager, LeTourneau Technologies, Inc. Tim E. Steven Durrell, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

Tony Allen has taken over the management of the North of England P&I club's successful Greek office. He replaces Mike Salthouse, who set up the office three years ago and has now returned to the club's headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne, England as a Greek area director. Allen (42) started work in the Greek office last year. He formerly worked in Piraeus on P&I and FD&D matters with international maritime law firm Norton Rose before moving to the North of England in 1998, becoming involved with a wide range of P&I issues including container operations, cargo claims and oil pollution matters. He originally trained in the insurance and marine law litigation department of London law firm Simmons and Simmons.

Rutter Technologies has won contracts to supply its Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) to the Norwegian Kristian Gerhard Jebsen (KGJS) fleet and to the Greek shipping group comprised of Kristen Navigation Inc., Anangel Maritime Services Inc, Alpha Tankers & Freighters International Ltd. Under two separate contracts KGJS will order 24 VDRs and the Greek fleet owners 56, for a total of 80 units. The VDR Market - International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations require certain classes of vessels to carry a voyage data recorder and Rutter estimates that there are 1,500 such vessels being built each year. Additionally, the IMO is requiring existing cargo vessels greater than 3,000 GT and travelling in international waters to be retrofitted with a VDR by 2010.