Back to the Drawing Board: Analyzing Social Impact of Sustainable Energy
The future could be bright for small island nations. Cheap sustainable energy is the core component of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Engineers like making things, but rarely think of the social impact that flows from their creations. Today, while we are standing at the threshold of sustainable energy, we should take a moment to reflect on the social impact of sustainable energy. Access to sustainable energy puts us at the threshold of massive social change and…
Maritime's Push Toward "Net Zero Carbon"
IMO’s 2050 deadline to reduce GHG emissions 50% from 2008 levels has set off a gold rush to develop Zero Emissions SolutionsClimate change is the biggest issue facing [all aspects of] the maritime industry, said Kitak Lim, IMO secretary general, in an interview earlier this year with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. He predicted that shipping could experience as much change in the next 10 to 20 years as it has in the last 100 years, as the industry races to meet a number of challenges…
Jan De Nul Acquires Jack-up Heavy Lift Vessel
The dredging and maritime management company Jan de Nul Group signed the acquisition of the offshore facility vessel Vidar, which previously worked for the German company Hochtief. The facility vessel Vidar, which is less than two years old, was specially built for installing offshore wind farms at sea and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. “With the Vidar in our fleet we considerably extend our specialized services for the installation of offshore windparks,” says Peter De Pooter, Manager Offshore Renewable at Jan De Nul Group.
Australia's Victoria state may sell two biggest ports
Australia's Victoria state government said it may sell Port of Melbourne, the country's largest container and general cargo port, continuing a rush by states to sell major assets to fund new infrastructure projects. Victorian Treasurer Michael O'Brien said the government will commission a scoping study into the potential sale of Port of Melbourne and a second port, in a deal local media said may net about A$5 billion ($4.5 billion). The study will be completed before the May state budget. State governments are selling ports, power stations and roads to fund billions of dollars worth of new infrastructure. New South Wales state sold Port Botany and Port Kembla a year ago for A$5 billion and hopes to sell Port of Newcastle in 2014 for an expected A$700 million.
Almarin Provides Navigational Aids for BIMEP
Almarin, manufacturers of Aids to Navigation (AtoN), has supplied the maritime beaconing for Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BIMEP) in Bizkaia, Spain. Almarin supplied seven G3000TL buoys with 11m3 hull volume, sufficient capacity to handle the sturdy moorings in 90m depth. Equipped with self contained beacons, radar reflectors and AIS systems (providing real time data for ships equipped with ECDIS), these buoys ensure that the perimeter of the BIMEP area is well marked. BIMEP is an initiative of the Basque Energy Entity (EVE) to promote the development of offshore alternative energies.
Bulk Carrier Wind Project Concluded
Zodiac’s bulk carrier Cape Flamingo was the focus of a wind energy monitoring project, as the project partners investigated the potential to improve fuel efficiency. In 2012 Lloyd’s Register’s Strategic Research Group joined forces with Totempower Energy Systems to support Zodiac Maritime Agencies in assessing the potential for wind-generation devices to be placed onboard commercial ships. Last year, a fully autonomous wind-monitoring system, designed and assembled by Totempower, was installed on the Zodiac-managed bulk carrier Cape Flamingo. Sensors were installed in locations where the best wind conditions and the most relevant environmental data (wind speed…
