Friendly Energy News

The Windward Offshore consortium said Monday it had ordered two state-of-the-art Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV) from VARD to "establish a sturdy basis for its maritime asset services focusing on bolstering the burgeoning offshore wind industry."Winward Offshore is a consortium currently under establishment and is led by SeaRenergy Group in collaboration with Blue Star Group, Diana Shipping Inc., and SeraVerse GmbH."Windward Offshore will play a key role in the energy transition by providing integrated offshore wind service solutions.

ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively. Both vessels will be operating between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of approximately 700 nautical miles.

Korean Register (KR) granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 200,000cbms ultra-large ammonia carrier fueled by ammonia created by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). The design was unveiled at Gastech 2023 in Singapore.The carrier is a green ship designed to carry large quantities of ammonia, using the cargo as fuel, and has zero carbon dioxide emissions during operation.Ammonia, known for its distinctive odor that aids quick leak detection is also relatively lightweight, allowing effective control of leaking gases. It also offers the benefit of low explosive properties.

Laser systems quickly remove corrosion and scale from metal surfaces with less preparation and mess than traditional techniques.In the maritime industry, corrosion and scale (where rust penetrates a metal surface) can quickly become an issue in an outdoor, salt sea spray laden environment. When sea spray evaporates, it leaves salt behind, leading to saltwater staining and accelerated corrosion.So, most shipbuilders as well as those responsible for maintenance and repair understand the value of treating metal surfaces to remove corrosion…

A group of partners in South Korea has set out to develop, demonstrate and commercialize vessels powered by small modular reactors (SMR).Nuclear power for ships has been gaining interest amid stricter greenhouse gas emissions regulations in the international shipping sector.Nine participating institutions, including KAERI, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongju-si, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO), Korean Register (KR), H-Line Shipping Co., Ltd., HMM Co., Ltd., Wooyang Shipping Co., Ltd., Sinokor Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.

Classification society Korean Register (KR) and Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) have signed an MOU to support methanol-fueled ships and establish the South Korean port as a low-carbon, eco-friendly energy hub.The agreement was made in response to the low-carbon energy transition underway in the shipping and port industries. Methanol is a clean burning marine fuel which produces 99% less sulfur oxides (SOx), 80% less nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 25% less greenhouse gases compared to conventional…

Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA has awarded NOK150 million (€15M) in funding for SeaShuttle, a project for the construction of two hydrogen-powered, remotely controlled, and autonomous-ready containerships for delivery by 2025.The project, led by multimodal transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity, envisages two SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, with each powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.The…

Belgium-based marine contractor DEME, on Wednesday, announced "a first" in Flanders, a region in the northern part of Belgium.Namely, its dual fuel trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) ‘Scheldt River’ is currently carrying out maintenance dredging work on the Scheldt river and during this work, the vessel is operating on LNG.In another milestone, DEME said that the ‘Scheldt River’ last week became the first dredger to be bunkered with LNG in the Port of Antwerp, near the Kallo lock.

Uniper Energy DMCC (UED) and Neutral Fuels will collaborate to provide maritime biofuel in Fujairah, UAE.The companies will blend UED’s VLSFO and Neutral Fuels biofuel, creating a maritime fuel that meets IMO standard under their ISO8217:2010 RMG380 specification, cutting emissions of carbon dioxide.“The collaboration is aimed to address climate protection, the predominant social issue in the world today," said Lars Liebig, Managing Director of UED. "UED’s mission is to help countries…

Plans to launch the world’s first all-electric autonomous container vessel Yara Birkeland have been shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic and uncertain market conditions, said Yara International, the Norwegian company behind the project."Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the changed global outlook, Yara has decided to pause further development of the vessel and will assess next steps together with its partners," the company said.In 2017, Yara partnered with technology company Kongsberg to build the fully battery-powered container vessel…

Bangladesh has employed its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal with the beginning of operations of floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) 'Summit LNG' offshore Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal.According to Excelerate Energy, the FSRU completed commissioning of the LNG terminal, owned by Summit LNG Terminal, on April 29, 2019. The terminal has a send-out capacity of 500 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of natural gas.In August 2017, Summit entered into a 15-year charter agreement with Excelerate for the FSRU Summit LNG. In addition to providing the FSRU, Excelerate acted as the Owner's Engineer for Summit in regards to the fixed infrastructure components of the terminal…

Soil Machine Dynamics (SMD) announces that a deep-sea Quasar Work Class Remotely Operated Vehicle (WROV) has successfully completed sea trials.The 6000-meters-rated WROV, complemented with an electric drive dual-purpose winch and launch and recovery system (LARS), reached the seabed at 5,760 meters during the trials.The complete turnkey solution was recently delivered to Shanghai Salvage and has undergone extensive testing at various depths. The system was supplied with interchangeable winch drums which can be changed out on deck to achieve operational service at depths up to 3000m or 6000m when required.By making use of electric motors powered via a Low Harmonic Variable Speed Drive application…

South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries(SHI) has won a new order to build two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from Copenhagen-based Celsius Tankers.The shipbuilder said the first order for two 180,000 cbm LNG Tankers is worth 419 billion won (USD376mln). The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2021.The LNG carriers will be fitted with SHI's developed eco-friendly and Smart ship technologies : SAVER Air and INTELLIMAN Ship. This will help to respond to the upcoming environmantal regulations and significantly increase energy saving, thereby further increasing the operational efficiency of vessels.SAVER Air, one of SHI's flagship eco-friendly technologies…

Philippines fuel retailing firm Phoenix Petroleum said it won government approval to build the country’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in partnership with China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC).The Department of Energy (DOE) has granted notice to proceed (NTP) to their joint venture firm Tanglawan Philippines LNG Inc. to build an LNG terminal in Batangas.Phoenix Petroleum said in a stock exchange annoucement that it plans to break ground on the facility within the year. The facility has a capacity of 2.2 metric tons per annum, with commercial operations targeted to start in 2023.Phoenix does not say how much the project will cost…

Nordlaks is ordering another live fish carrier with gas / battery hybrid propulsion, to reduce the diesel consumption for transporting live fish from 2020. The first live fish carrier is already under construction. Vessel number two originates from the same design by NSK Ship Design."Technology development means that we get to choose out of range of solutions the ones that can be efficient both for the environment and the business at the same time. Another example is the use of electricity at our fish farms…

China would like to compete with South Korea in the field of building liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers building.South Korea has won 86 percent of the world's total orders or 52 orders for LNG carriers so far in 2018, according to Clarkson Research. The remaining nine orders were shared by companies from China, Singapore and Japan.Though China leads offshore engineering products and mega container vessel shipbuilding sectors, the country is a laggard in LNG shipbuilding.A recent report in the country's official media China Daily quoted Tan Naifen, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) as saing: "The global demand for LNG carriers will continue to surge in the long term…

Japanese shipping and logistics giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has signed long-term contracts with Diamond Gas International Pte. Ltd. (DGI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) located in Singapore, for DGI to charter from NYK three newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.Previously, NYK concluded long-term time-charter contracts for three new LNG vessels for MC’s Cameron LNG project, so these most recent contracts bring the total to six carriers for MC.The NYK Group will be responsible for ship management for the three ordered LNG carriers, one which is scheduled to be delivered in 2020. For about 18 years, that ship will transport LNG from the U.S.

NYK Line has signed a contract with Total Gas & Power Chartering Limited (TGPCL), a subsidiary of Total, a leading oil and energy company headquartered in France.The contract calls for TGPCL to charter from NYK a newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for seven years, with an optional extension period of one year. The new vessel will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in Korea and is due to be delivered in 2021.The LNG carrier will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine (i.e., X-DF diesel engine) that has superior fuel-consumption efficiency and can operate on marine gas oil or boil off gas stored in the cargo tank.The cargo tank will be a 174…

Nitin Gadkari, India's Union Minister of Shipping will be on an official visit to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from today (9 April 2018). During the 4 day visit, Shri Gadkari will focus on taking forward the bilateral cooperation between India andKorea in shipping, ports, inland waterways, highways, river interlinking and infrastructure sectors. An Undertaking on Mutual Recognition of Certificate of Competency of sea-farers will be signed during the visit. Known for maritime technology prowess, Republic of Korea (RoK) had partnered with the Ministry of Shipping in the Maritime India Summit held in Mumbai during April 2016. This visit will further promote the bilateral cooperation.

Antwerp Port Authority is to acquire Nationale Maatschappij der Pijpleidingen (NMP) from its current shareholders Ackermans & van Haaren and Electrabel. With the takeover Antwerp Port Authority will gain ownership and control of 720 km of pipelines, 90% of which serve the chemical and petrochemical companies in the port of Antwerp and its hinterland. The Port Authority is paying 44 million euros for the NMP shares. “Pipelines are the ideal mode of transport for the chemical industry and oil refining,” explains Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren. “By giving them access to a pipeline network that is open to all users we gain on at least two fronts: we help to reinforce the presence in the port of this sector which is so important for the economy of Belgian and Flanders…

Japan's shipper giant Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) and Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha (K Line Kinkai) will work on a joint study for what would be Japan’s first LNG-powered ferry. "K Line Kinkai and K Line) have agreed to work on joint study for K Line Kinkai’s newbuilding passenger ferry being fueled by LNG, whose study includes specifications, engine types and any related technical verifications for LNG handling," said a statement from the company. K Line Kinkai has been studying introduction of a ferry fueled by LNG, an environmentally-friendly energy that could almost completely eliminates SOx emissions and also minimizes NOx and CO2 emissions to certain level…

Kawasaki Kinkai Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line Kinkai) and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) have agreed to work on joint study for “K” Line Kinkai’s newbuilding passenger ferry being fueled by LNG, whose study includes specifications, engine types and any related technical verifications for LNG handling. “K” Line Kinkai has been studying introduction of a ferry fueled by LNG, an environmentally-friendly energy that could almost completely eliminates SOx emissions and also minimizes NOx and CO2 emissions to certain level, and the recent collaboration with “K” Line will accelerate this study in order to introduce Japan’s first passenger LNG-fueled ferry.

As part of the international trade conference "Making LNG Happen: Combining Forces for Sustainable Shipping," 80 representatives from the fields of business, politics and science visited the cruise ship AIDAprima in Rotterdam on Thursday, January 26, 2017. The guests included Dirk Brengelmann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Netherlands and his Norwegian colleague Martin Sørby. Hosting the event onboard AIDAprima was symbolic and significant, AIDAprima was the first cruise ship in the world that uses a dual-fuel engine to produce its energy from LNG while docked at port.