Cent More Energy News

Australia's Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) is continuing to progress its renewable energy initiatives, with a tidal turbine deployed at its Barney Point Terminal in Gladstone.It is part of a six month trial aimed at demonstrating how tidal flows at the Port of Gladstone can be harnessed to produce electricity, according to a press release from the Queensland's largest multi-commodity port and the fifth largest multi-commodity port in Australia.GPC has partnered with MAKO Turbines Pty Ltd for the demonstration, which is the first of its kind in Australian tropical waters using port infrastructure.Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said it is an exciting day to see the turbine in action at one of Queensland’s largest trading ports.“GPC may be best known for facilitating trade, but this is

The first purely battery-driven car and passenger ferry Ampere has won the Ship Efficiency Award in the category Environmental Technology. The award recognizes innovative solutions which have contributed to reducing the environmental impact of shipping operations. The 80 metre long DNV GL classed vessel is one of three ferries operated by the Norwegian shipping company Norled between Lavik and Oppedal and is able to carry 120 cars and 360 passengers. “Ampere is trading in Sognefjord with 100 per cent regularity and consumes 50 per cent less energy compared with a traditional diesel ferry on the same route. It has proven to be a huge success for Norled,” said Claes Skat-Rørdam of award sponsor Hempel on behalf of the judges.

Classification society DNV GL recognised that E.R. Schiffahrt has retrofitted seven ultra large container vessels to meet the highest energy efficiency standards and improve its cargo capacity through the DNV GL Modification Excellence Award. Jörg Lampe, Senior Project Engineer Risk & Safety and Systems Engineering at DNV GL, presented the award to Jürgen Kudritzki, Technical Director at E.R. Schiffahrt, in Hamburg. The German shipping company is the first to receive this award. “E.R. Schiffahrt has made a sustained and intensive commitment to increasing the efficiency of its operations. Our analysis shows these ships use 15 per cent less energy – resulting in annual savings of approximately 3.8 Million USD”, said Jörg Lampe. E.R.

* BHP Billiton is now targeting US$4 billion of annualised productivity gains in its core portfolio by the end of the 2017 financial year, a US$500 million increase on previous guidance. * Improved capital productivity will allow planned investment to be reduced from US$14.8 billion to US$14.2 billion in the 2015 financial year and to US$13 billion in the 2016 financial year with no change to expected production growth. * In Copper, productivity initiatives including low cost debottlenecking projects are expected to offset grade decline over the medium term. * In Coal, we have re-established our competitive advantage by closing high-cost capacity and sustainably reducing costs.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won new contracts that will see electrically-driven versions of its mooring systems fitted to two new tender assist drilling rigs for Thailand-based Mermaid Maritime Public Company Limited. The Self-Erected Drilling Tender (Hull No. CMHI (JS)-151-1 and Hull No. CMHI (JS)-151-2) are under construction at China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co Ltd with delivery planned for 2016. The order was booked into third quarter 2014 order intake. MacGregor will provide each rig with an electrically-driven eight-point mooring system with a 95-tonne line pull, a 460-tonne brake holding capacity and a 1,400m x 64mm diameter wire drum capacity. MacGregor equipment deliveries are scheduled for June 2015.

On Thursday 22 May 2014, STX Finland Oy’s Turku Shipyard handed over the first newbuild to TUI Cruises. Mein Schiff 3 is a sophisticated and highly innovative cruise ship, designed for the German premium-class cruise market. With the production started in November 2012, the environmentally friendly Mein Schiff 3 was floated out in November 2013. The ship provided some 5,500 man-years of labour to the shipyard and the network. Mein Schiff 3 will start operating on 13 June 2014, with the maiden voyage starting from Hamburg and heading for Palma de Mallorca.

The results show that high fuel costs will result in a drive towards more energy efficient ships ahead of the EEDI regulatory timeframe. Fuel choices up to 2020 will be driven by the time spent in an Emissions Control Area (ECA), but distillate is a more likely option than scrubbers for most ships towards 2020. By 2020, it is expected that new tankers, bulkers and container vessels will be up to 30 per cent more energy efficient than today’s newbuildings. DNV predicts that one-third of the reductions will be cost effective for shipowners.

The Neptune TLP, which is located approximately 120 miles off the Louisiana coastline, was scheduled to start up first oil and natural gas production by the end of March and the company is currently assessing all the options in order to re-commence start up activities. The schedule for first production will be updated. BHP Billiton is designated operator of the field with a 35 per cent interest. Partners include Marathon Oil Company (30 per cent), Woodside Energy (USA) Inc. (20 per cent), a subsidiary of Woodside Petroleum Ltd., and Maxus (U.S.) Exploration Company (15 per cent). Neptune is a single-column TLP and was installed in 4,250 feet (1,300 meters) of water on Green Canyon Block 613.