Energy Division News

Somerset, N.J. based Mack Boring & Parts Co. has promoted Christopher Ponnwitz to the role of Chief Commercial Officer of Mack Sustainable Energy, a new division for the company.“I am very happy to announce that Chris has moved into this new role, where he will be leading our efforts to further expand and grow the electric marine market, particularly with the ePropulsion product line,” said Patrick McGovern, President and CEO of Mack Boring. “Chris has been an exemplary leader for our company, and he’s a fast learner who has been working relentlessly to promote electric propulsion.

NYK Stolt Tankers, a joint venture between NYK Line and Stolt Tankers, has placed an order with Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard in China to build six 38,000 deadweight tonne stainless steel chemical tankers for delivery between late 2026 and 2029.The newbuilds will be sisters to a series of six vessels Stolt Tankers ordered at Wuhu Shipyard in November. The ships feature 30 cargo tanks, offering a range of cargo flexibility and are designed to maximize fuel efficiency using a wide range of energy savings devices and shore power connection, Stolt Tankers said.

Offshore installation services company Jan De Nul has ordered an extra-large cable-laying ship with an "unrivaled" cable-carrying capacity from China's CMHI Haimen shipyard.The vessel, to be named Fleeming Jenkin, will have a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tons, and will serve the renewable energy and subsea cable industry in installing cables over longer distances and in deeper waters. The vessel will be delivered in 2026. "Offshore wind farms go deeper and further offshore, and the interconnectivity between countries and regions become essential for the economy and energy security.

U.S. shipyard General Dynamics NASSCO has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Navantia Seanergies, the green energy division of Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia, in pursuit of opportunities in U.S. offshore wind.The partners will explore opportunities to manufacture components and assemble floating foundations for offshore wind projects in the U.S., leveraging Navantia's near decade of experience in offshore wind and the capabilities of the San Diego shipyard, as well as nearby port facilities and other locations for future offshore wind projects on the U.S.

Offshore services firm James Fisher and Sons has appointed Neil Sims as its new Head of Energy. Sims will report to Chief Executive Officer, Jean Vernet, as part of the James Fisher executive team.Sims joins James Fisher from Expro, where he most recently served as Product Line Vice President and was responsible for their well flow management portfolio and sustainability and ESG transitional strategy.

Dutch dredging and marine services firm Boskalis on Thursday slightly raised its 2022 profit outlook after a half-year earnings beat, as the West seeks to replace Russian gas with other energy sources.The group, which offers marine services and contracting for the oil and gas sector and offshore wind industry, reported core profit (EBITDA) of 292 million euros ($297 million) in the first six months of the year, against analysts' average estimate of 279 million euros. Russia's…

Dutch marine and offshore energy services firm Boskalis said Monday it would convert vessels within its Offshore Energy division into hybrid vessels through the retrofitting of Energy Storage Systems, or ‘power packs’. "The conversions, which entail a sizable capital investment, will reduce the vessels’ fuel consumption and associated carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by an average of up to twenty percent. The systems also provide a power supply and energy storage facility while the vessels are docked and contribute to quieter and more efficient operations offshore…

As the maritime industry collectively struggles to chart the course toward decarbonization, Crowley today committed to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across all scopes by 2050, pursuing a path aligned with the latest climate science to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.What this means is an overall reduction of 4.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year for the maritime and logistics giant.“Crowley is on a mission to become the most sustainable and innovative maritime and logistics company in the Americas,” said Tom Crowley, chairman and CEO.

Crowley Maritime Corporation on Thursday opened a new Rhode Island office for its New Energy division, to advance the development and operation of offshore wind energy installations.The new office, the opening of which was announced by Crowley and Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, is located at CIC Providence in the Innovation and Design District.Crowley's plan is to provide landside and marine logistics solutions during all phases of the offshore wind lifecycle to customers throughout the United States.

Crowley Maritime Corporation has promoted Alisa Praskovich to vice president of sustainability to orchestrate Crowley’s environmental, social responsibility and governance (ESG) activities. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., she reports to chief operating officer Ray Fitzgerald.Sustainability responsibilities under Praskovich include supporting Crowley’s continuing commitment to cleaner, environmentally friendly technologies and operations, such as the company’s New Energy Division…

U.S.-based Crowley and Danish shipping company ESVAGT are teaming up to build and operate purpose-built, Jones Act vessels to support the emerging U.S. offshore wind energy market.As the U.S. offshore wind industry continues to gain momentum at pace, a large number of Jones Act compliant vessels will be needed to build, service and eventually decommission America's significant pipeline of to-be-developed offshore wind farms. The joint venture (JV) between Crowley and ESVAGT announced Tuesday brings together two leading maritime solutions providers to help address the current vessel shortage.

The U.S. is going to need a fleet of Jones Act-compliant vessels to support its budding offshore wind industry. The good news is that several of these vessels are currently operating or on order. Even better, there are plenty more in the pipeline.In 2016, Rhode Island-based Atlantic Wind Transfers (AWT) put into service the U.S.’ first-ever vessel purpose-built for offshore wind services. The 21-meter crew transfer vessel (CTV) Atlantic Pioneer was constructed by Blount Boats to serve America’s first commercial offshore wind project…

Two U.S.-based maritime & offshore services and logistics companies Crowley and Watco, are teaming up in the space of the emerging offshore wind industry in the country.In a statement on Tuesday, the two firms said they'd create a single-source terminal and supply chain management solution to support the emerging offshore wind industry."With the growing number of wind projects planned for U.S. waters, the partnership brings together industry-leading project management and logistics experts who can provide a “one-stop-shop” for owners…

Crowley Shipping announced Wednesday it has formed a New Energy division to focus on offshore wind and liquefied natural gas (LNG) services in the U.S. and adjacent regions.The Jacksonville, Fla.-based maritime transportation and services firm, a longtime supporter of the oil and gas industry, said many of its U.S.-flag vessel assets, engineering and logistics services could quickly and easily pivot to support the emerging energy sectors.“At Crowley, we have a strong company culture of environmental stewardship and sustainability in not only our own operations…

Japanese shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) said that its bulk Shipping division recorded lower profit than previous year.In the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019), its revenues from the bulk shipping  amounted to 195.1 billion yen registering -11.3 decrease compared to the same period last year. The profit is down by -1.2 at 9.2 billion yen"Energy and Car transport is robust but lower dry bulk market due to production stoppage in Brazil and Western Australia," it said.However, its container liner profitability improved by ONE’s increasing Liftings/Utilization…

SENER has hired Luis García Jiménez as its Director of Corporate Development. This post is essential to the growth and development of the SENER Group, and reports directly to the CEO, Jorge Unda.From his new position, Luis García will be in charge of analyzing, organizing and coordinating medium- and long-term opportunities involving mergers, acquisitions and investments. He will also participate, together with the CEO and the directors of SENER's different divisions, in defining…

Spanish engineering and technology group SENER has appointed Alvaro Lorente, former Operations Manager in the energy division as Managing Director.He graduated in Industrial Engineering from the Pontificia Comillas University (ICAI), majoring in Electrical Engineering, and joined SENER in 1991. Among other posts, he has been head of SENER's Mechanics Section, Operations Manager for Renewables, Power, Oil & Gas and International General Manager at SENER.He was also appointed General Manager of Torresol Energy (a company in which SENER holds a 60% stake) and General Manager for the Energy and Environment Business Area of the SENER Group.In Energy…

German conglomerate Siemens AG said it will spin off and give up its majority stake in its energy division and merge it with separately listed wind turbine supplier Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), creating a new multi-technology global energy powerhouse. The company’s supervisory board announced the spinoff on May 7 as part of its Vision 2020+ strategy concept. The board said the move would help Germany-based Siemens meet medium-term growth and profit targets by “clearly focusing its portfolio on dynamic growth markets and efficiency gains.”"Siemens’ Gas and Power (GP) – comprising the company’s oil and gas, conventional power generation…

Danish conglomerate A.P. Moller – Maersk informed that Claus V. Hemmingsen steps down as Vice CEO of the group. The company's energy division, which was headed by him, will also be shut down."The Energy division will close down latest by the end of June 2019, and Claus Hemmingsen will subsequently leave A.P. Moller – Maersk,  after nearly 40 years in service," said a company statement.The Group has successfully concluded the separation of Maersk Tankers, Maersk Oil and Maersk Drilling as part of the transformation initiated in 2016 to focus A.P. Moller – Maersk on becoming the global integrator of container logistics.The Board of Directors acknowledges Claus Hemmingsen’s dedicated and significant contribution to A.P.

Oryx Energies, a provider of oil and gas products and services, has acquired the majority stake in South African Marine Fuels (SAMF), a bunkering company in Algoa Bay, Eastern cape, South Africa.Founded in 2016, SAMF is a woman-run enterprise with 100% South African staff operating at the only port in South Africa that has licensed offshore bunkering and ship service operations targeting both port calling ships and general passing traffic in this strategic location on the busy East-West routes."Thanks to its integration into Oryx Energies, SAMF will foster its active contribution to the local industry development and will pursue investing in local talents…

The world's largest container shipping company A.P. Møller – Mærsk A/S announced that its Board of Directors has decided to retain full ownership of Maersk Supply Service.The offshore support vessel industry, which Maersk Supply Service operates within, has over the last three years exhibited clear signs of distress, reducing company market capitalisations and lower asset values, negatively impacting the ability to find a sustainable ownership structure for Maersk Supply Service outside of A.P. Moller - Maersk.The industry continues to be characterised by oversupply, financial restructurings and consolidation and the market outlook for…

Despite notable breakthroughs in technology and an overdue increase in conversations regarding safety at sea, the very nature of the marine industry means that risk is inevitable.Piracy remains a prominent concern in certain regions, for example, around the Gulf of Aden. According to statistical data provided by ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) , 107 ships were hijacked or were subject to attempted attacks by pirates between January-June 2018. This figure has risen by 20 per cent in comparison to data collected in 2017 and only further highlights the need for adequate safety measures. Even if your organizations’ activities aren’t near to one of the affected regions…

Like all businesses, maritime organisations must strike a balance between managing operations with the right number of employees at the best possible price. But where they differ is that these businesses require specialist and highly trained workers– and getting them to where they need to be usually depends on circumstances that can rarely be taken for granted.Travel costs for crew make up the second-highest outgoing for most vessels, and without clear oversight costs can easily spiral out of control.