Expertise And Technology News

Taiwan's homegrown submarine programme will remain on track, the defence minister said on Wednesday, after the head of the programme resigned due to what he said were unfair attacks against him and the military.Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has made the submarine programme a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert sovereignty claims Taipei rejects.Taiwan unveiled the first of eight new submarines in late September, though it won't enter service until next year.

Big data, advanced computers and AI are allowing vessel designers to prepare models that leave essentially nothing to chance.“Lastly, it may be of considerable importance to form from the draught a block model of the vessel from which a still more accurate judgment may be formed of the fitness and beauty of the body. And should any defect be discovered, farther alterations must still be made, till the draught and the model are perfectly approved of. These different alterations and repeated calculations may appear very tedious…

Taiwan unveiled its first domestically developed submarine on Thursday, a major step in a project aimed at strengthening the island's defense and deterrence against the Chinese navy, though it won't enter service for another two years.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wen…

Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two new, domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles, to strengthen deterrence against the Chinese navy and protect key supply lines, the head of the program said.Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous sub program a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty.President Tsai Ing-wen…

Supermajor Shell anounced its subsidiaries in Switzerland, the UK, US and Sweden have entered into agreements to acquire the environmentally considerate lubricants (ECLs) business of the PANOLIN Group.The transaction includes the PANOLIN brand, ECL product formulations, intellectual property, technical expertise and technology, international customer base and portfolio of products – for hydraulics, gears, universal tractor transmission oils, biodegradable engine oils (HDEO), turbine oils…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has appointed Chakib Abi-Saab to its newly created role of Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO). Abi-Saab, who was previously with Bahri (formerly known as the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia) as their Chief Technology Officer, joins LR with considerable expertise in technology and digital enablement from both maritime and the oil and gas industry. Before his time with Bahri, Abi-Saab held executive roles at ship management company OSM, offshore energy provider Bumi Armada and Oil and Gas Services provider Baker Hughes.

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…

French firm CGG, best known for its seismic data services for oil and gas exploration, has now launched a maritime pollution monitoring solution named SeaScope."Combining expertise in remote sensing science, Earth observation data, machine learning and high-performance computing, SeaScope provides critical sea surface slick intelligence for a range of industries to strengthen situational awareness of the interaction between offshore assets, coastal facilities, local vessel activity and the natural marine environment…

Turkey's Sanmar Shipyards said it has won contracts worth $33.46 million to supply four new tugs and two new pilot boats for the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in Pakistan. The tugs are scheduled to be delivered in 12 months and the pilot boats in 10.The contracts were awarded following an international tendering process during which Sanmar championed its new Kocacay range of escort and harbor tugs, based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar RAstar 3200SX design from Canada-based naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.

Classification society ClassNK said it has released new guidelines that specify the technical requirements for evaluating structural strength using finite element analysis when designing membrane-type liquefied gas carriers.As with the society’s other guidelines for structural strength evaluation, its new Guidelines for Liquefied Gas Carrier Structures – Membrane System are based on ClassNK’s expertise evaluating technology for the wave load acting on the hull, and outline the…

Mathieu Philippe has been appointed to the new position of Commercial Director – Marine at classification society Bureau Veritas. Returning to Paris, where he started his career in shipping, Philippe brings extensive experience in commercial ship operations, markets and management to Bureau Veritas. He reports to Marine & Offshore President Matthieu de Tugny, and leads the marine markets team, providing expertise and technology leadership across all major ship types, ship fuel and propulsion technology.With growing compliance requirements and demands for transparency…

Paris-based geophysical firm CGG announced that Total has renewed its contract to operate the oil major’s Dedicated Processing Center (DPC) in Pau, southwest France, for five years from January 2020.The two companies have been working in close collaboration at the DPC since 2006, said a press release from the global geoscience technology firm.Through this long-term relationship and CGG’s timely delivery of its innovative technologies and tailored workflows for a variety of environments around the world, the DPC has established a reputation for excellence, especially in 4D processing.Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO, CGG, said: “As a result of our strong partnership, the Pau DPC is fully integrated into Total’s production cycle.

Kongsberg Maritime AS has signed an agreement to sell its underwater technology subsidiary company Hydroid, Inc. for $350 million to shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). In conjunction with the transaction, HII and Kongsberg Maritime are also establishing a strategic alliance to jointly market naval and maritime products and services to the U.S. government market and potentially to global markets.Kongsberg Maritime acquired Hydroid for USD 80 million in 2007 and is now selling this US subsidiary for USD 350 million on a debt-free and cash-free basis and as adjusted off an agreed upon working capital."Kongsberg Maritime has driven technology development and created considerable value during the 12 years it has owned Hydroid, and we are capitalizing on this now.

Independent wind asset operations management specialist OutSmart BV has selected Kongsberg Digital AS to provide an integrated management system on the innovative Kognifai digital platform and ecosystem. The sophisticated digital solution will be used to manage OutSmart’s extensive onshore and offshore wind turbine portfolio. OutSmart provides services to wind farm owners, fund managers, and wind project companies in Northwestern Europe to maximize the revenues of their wind assets. Part of Deutsche Windtechnik Offshore and Consulting GmbH, OutSmart currently operates more than 400 onshore and offshore wind and solar assets (1.8 GW in total) in Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed agreements with Total of France, awarding them stakes in two of Abu Dhabi’s new offshore concessions. Under the terms of the agreements, Total has been awarded a 20% interest in the Umm Shaif and Nasr concession and a 5% interest in the Lower Zakum concession. Total is ADNOC’s largest and one of its longest international partners, active in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas sector since 1939. Today, the French super-major collaborates with ADNOC across the value chain, from offshore and onshore exploration, development and production, to processing, products and shipping. Total contributed…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that MOL, Tohoku Electric Power Co and Namura Shipbuilding have jointly earned an Approval in Principle (AIP) from Lloyd's Register for the design of an liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered coal carrier. The three companies have moved ahead with this project and recently conducted a Hazard Identification Study (HAZID), and finished the basic design. MOL noted that the AiP marks Japan's first jointly obtained by three companies - a shipping company, cargo owner, and shipbuilder - for a vessel powered by LNG. The vessel design ensures sufficient cargo capacity without making the hull larger by installing the LNG fuel tank at the stern, the partners say.

HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, Chairman of Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and Sheikh Ali bin Jassim bin Mohammad Al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Navigation (Milaha), today witnessed the signing of an agreement between Mwani Qatar and Milaha to establish a new company, QTerminals, to manage Hamad Port. As per the agreement, the new company will be co-owned by Mwani Qatar; 51%, and Milaha; 49%, and will manage operations at Hamad Port as an independent company with its own board of directors, executives and staff. The deal was signed by Mwani Qatar CEO Captain Abdulla Al Khanji and Milaha President & CEO Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai.

GE unveiled today its new GE Marine organization which cumulates several GE businesses and will be led by Tim Schweikert, vice president, GE Marine. The new organization brings together GE’s commercial and technological expertise in the marine sector from gas turbines and diesel engines to motors and generators, variable speed drives and drilling systems to automation and control systems and all the electrical equipment in between. GE Marine combines this with system integration capabilities and a global infrastructure—including training and service facilities.

A water monitoring network that helps keep port traffic moving is the responsibility of the Conrad Blucher Institute (CBI) for Surveying and Science at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. CBI, in partnership with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, has received the federal contract from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue to operate and maintain the water level and ocean monitoring network along the Western Gulf of Mexico. CBI, as a subcontractor, will operate in the Houston/Galveston and Lake Charles, La.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) announced a significant investment in global services company Senergy to create an industry-leading offering - from the reservoir to refinery and beyond. The deal will see LR and Senergy provide a unique and comprehensive portfolio of services to the upstream sectors of exploration, production and transportation through to refinery and beyond. The combined business will also provide life of field services from inception to decommissioning and offer unparalleled…

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has signed contracts to build some of the world’s largest and greenest container ships, and all will be classed by DNV. Hyundai Heavy Industries, Korea (HHI) is to build the five 18,000 TEU ships. In addition, there will be an option for one more. The contracts between UASC and HHI also include 5 + 6 ships of 14,000 TEU, also to DNV class. “I’m pleased and proud that DNV has been selected as the preferred class for these huge and advanced ships,” says Henrik O. Madsen, DNV Group CEO. “We have actively supported the owner and yard up to the contract signing.

Fugro has been awarded a major hydrographic survey project in the Middle East region which has an estimated value in excess of USD 80 million. The survey will commence in October 2013, utilising a combination of vessels and aircraft and is expected to take 14 months to complete. According to Fugro this is one of the largest commercial hydrographic survey projects to combine both airborne and vessel based techniques ever undertaken. The Netherlands' based Fugro provides the people…

Energy services company Senergy added a number of appointments to its senior management team with to consolidate its position for future growth. The company, which provides fully-integrated project and asset development services across the energy industry, anticipates creating up to 80 new positions by the end of May, as a result of increasing demand for its services. Senergy applies its expertise and technology to develop and manage oil and gas fields and alternative energy projects in partnership with its clients.