Wind Propulsion: Kite System Trialed on Transatlantic Voyage
An innovative kite system is being put through its paces on board a cargo ship crossing the Atlantic as wind propulsion takes off for commercial shipping as a means to reduce fuel burn and harmful environmental emissions.The system, called Seawing, has been developed by France-based Airseas, and is currently being trialed on the 154-meter ro-ro vessel Ville de Bordeaux, which is operated by Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and chartered by Airbus, Airseas' minority shareholder and launch customer.As the ship transports aircraft components between Europe and the United States…
Shell, Inpex Race to Export Aussie LNG
Shell aims to start exports from Prelude LNG this year; Inpex hopes to commence shipments from Ichthys LNG. Shell and Inpex are on the final stretch of a years-long race to export gas from offshore northern Australia, where both have spent billions of dollars building the world's biggest maritime vessels to grab a slice of Asia's booming LNG market. Anglo-Dutch energy major Royal Dutch Shell and Inpex, Japan's biggest oil and gas producer, are vying for first gas from two overlapping fields after delays and cost overruns that have plagued both projects. The pair have spent billions on offshore facilities, including Shell's 490 metre (1,600 ft) long Prelude floating liquefied natural gas unit and Inpex's Ichthys Explorer semi-submersible platform, both the world's largest of their class.
Kongsberg Upgrade Simulators for UiT, Norway
Kongsberg Maritime says that UiT, The Artic University of Norway, has contracted them to provide cutting-edge upgrades and extensions of existing ship's bridge simulators for navigation and DP training including human factor studies. UiT's strong focus on maritime and offshore training, human factor studies and R&D projects strengthens knowledge and competence in Advanced Operations in the polar environment. Kongsberg explain that the Arctic is of increasing global importance and is very much in focus within the offshore and shipping industries. Climate change, the exploitation of Arctic resources and environmental threats are topics of great public concern, and which the UiT takes special interest in.
