Belgium's Elia Presents Plans for 'World's First' Artificial Energy Island
Belgium's transmission operator, Elia, has presented its draft plans for what is expected to be the world’s first artificial energy island. The energy island, called the Princess Elisabeth Island, will be located almost 45 km off the Belgian coast and will serve as the link between the offshore wind farms in the second offshore wind zone (which will have a maximum capacity of 3.5 GW) and its onshore high-voltage grid. Elia, which presented the plans in the presence of federal ministers Tinne Van der Straeten (Energy) and Vincent Van Quickenborne (North Sea)…
Excelerate to Manage FSRUs In-house
Houston-based Excelerate Energy’s unit, Excelerate Technical Management (ETM) has been authorized to operate as ship manager for its parent company’s entire fleet of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs).The Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Government of Belgium have awarded Interim Documents of Compliance (DoC) under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code to ETM.The Interim DoC is the result of an audit of ETM’s safety management system, confirming compliance with ISM standards which ensure the safe operation of its crew and vessels.“Excelerate has achieved a company milestone with the successful launch of our ship management services. The Compliance certification is tangible evidence of the forward-thinking, dedicated effort of our team.
IMO Progressing in Global Climate Action
The UN Climate Action Summit in New York (23 September) is giving global leaders the chance to show the world concrete proposals and tangible actions being taken in the fight against climate change.IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim has been reporting on the solid progress being made by the Organization to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping, in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular SDG 13 on Climate change.Lim delivered a keynote address at the opening of the World Economic Forum event on decarbonizing shipping. He then delivered a presentation at the launch of the Sustainable Ocean Principles, under the banner of the UN Global Compact.
Belgium Ratifies MLC 2006
The Government of Belgium deposited with the International Labor Office the instrument of ratification of the Maritime Labor Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) on 20 August 2013, a highly symbolic day marking the entry into force of the Convention. Belgium becomes the 46th ILO Member State and the 19th European Union member to have ratified this historic agreement which constitutes the fourth pillar of the international maritime legal regime, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and providing decent working and living conditions for seafarers as well as conditions of fair competition for shipowners.
LNG Bunkers in Europe – DNV Leads Discussion
Recognising that LNG is one of the best solutions for complying with upcoming emission regulations for ships, DNV is currently conducting a feasibility study for the Flemish Government relating to the provision of LNG bunkering facilities in three Belgian ports. The annual Process & Asset Risk Management Conference (PARC) focused on LNG opportunities in addition to debating the future of energy supply. The conference, which was hosted by DNV in Brussels, brought together EU regulators, industry experts and port representatives. Antwerp, Zeebrugge and Ghent add to the list of European ports making an investment in LNG bunkering facilities, which includes ports in the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland and Poland.
U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative Forging Ahead
The U.S. Customs Container Security Initiative (CSI) is a program launched by Commissioner Robert Bonner, on January 17 in a speech given at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSI secures an indispensable, but vulnerable, link in the chain of global trade: the oceangoing sea container. Customs plays a unique role in processing maritime trade, an ever-expanding stream of commerce, while continually protecting America from terrorism and crime. · The volume of trade moving through the nation’s 102 seaports has nearly doubled since 1995. · In 2001, U.S. Customs processed more than 214,000 vessels and 5.7 million sea containers. · Approximately 90 percent of the world’s cargo moves by container. · Globally over 200 million cargo containers move between major seaports each year.
