Green Building News

Orsted Taiwan Ltd announced that it has signed a 20-year wharf lease with Taiwan International Ports Corp (TIPC) for the development of its offshore wind farms (OWF) off Changhua County.The global offshore wind leader announced the signing of a wharf lease and a 20-year operations and maintenance (O&M) lease with the Port of Taichung, managed by Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) and TIPC Marine Construction, respectively.The Ørsted leased wharfs at the Port of Taichung will be upgraded and utilized for the construction of the Greater Changhua offshore wind farms, and the O&M site will serve as the O&M base for Ørsted‘s Changhua offshore wind farms from 2022 onwards.Ørsted’s Greater Changhua wind farms are located approximately 35-60 kilometers off the coast of Changhua County.

UAE-based Grandweld Shipyards said that it has closed a number of deals, as part of its landmark milestones achieved during 2018.Grandweld’s latest achievement was highlighted with the signing of two new contracts; One with Wesal Shipping, and the second with Mars Marine Services, said a press release from the company. Both companies are long term clients of the company.The contracts entail the delivery of two more GW42M Aluminum Crew Boats. The highly advanced design of the GW42M Crew Boats has proven to be a huge success, and therefore has stimulated the demand for this class of vessels from new and repeat clients.Jamal Abki, General Manager of Grandweld Shipyards said: “We have sold more than 60 Crew Boats of GW42M design; it is one of our bestselling boats.

The Port of Angeles has expanded its commitment to sustainability by issuing $35.2 million in green bonds as part of a larger debt refinancing successfully completed this week. The move marks the first time a U.S. port has entered the growing sustainability bond market where investors support projects and companies making positive social and environmental change. “Running a competitive and environmentally responsible port permeates every facet of our operations,’’ said Marla Bleavins, the Port’s Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer. The green bonds are part of an overall $201.6 million bond issue that will net the Port a record present value savings of $32.5 million, an average of $1.9 million annually through 2040.

Two new landmarks at the Port of Ngqura, which are part of ongoing developments to position the port as a container transhipment hub for Sub-Saharan Africa, were officially launched by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) today. The new landmarks are the port’s state-of-the-art administration building and an administration craft basin for pilot boats and tugboats, including office facilities for operational staff working on these craft. Also included in TNPA’s latest R700 million investment into the port is the vacuum based automated mooring technology pioneered at Ngqura last year.

Four structures at the Port of Long Beach’s newest marine terminal recently earned the coveted “gold” status in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, which encourages the use of Earth-friendly features that save energy, conserve water and use recycled materials. Located at Long Beach Container Terminal’s new Pier E facility at Middle Harbor, the four buildings function as administrative offices and meeting space, an information technology center, and maintenance and operations structures. They range in size from 10,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet and were completed last year in preparation for this spring’s opening of the new terminal. The LEED awards are for the first phase of the new terminal.

After more than 92 years of operating from various locations in Wilmington, Calif., Nautilus International Holding Corp., along with its subsidiaries Metro Ports, Metro Cruise Services, Metro Shore Services and Metro Risk Management, is moving its headquarters into a new Long Beach facility on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. The new address is 3806 Worsham Ave., Long Beach, Calif., 90808. The post office box address is P.O. Box 93121, Long Beach, Calif., 90809-3121. General phone number is 310.816.6500310.816.6500 FREE. The new 40,000-square-foot headquarters is located on 2.57 acres at Pacific Pointe at Douglas Park. The company will shift approximately 65 executive and administrative personnel (with capacity to exceed 120) for the holding corporation and each of its subsidiaries.

Seaspan hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today to announce it has officially started construction on a new head office in North Vancouver. The 7,800 square metre (84,000 square foot) corporate headquarters, scheduled for completion in late 2017, will be constructed at the foot of Pemberton Avenue on the south western spit of the property. Once complete, the building will be four storeys high and include state-of-the-art office space, meeting rooms, expanded bike storage, electric vehicle charging stations, a full-service cafeteria, as well as panoramic views of the Vancouver Harbor front. It will house 350 Seaspan staff (up from the current 130) from across its various companies.

101 Crowley Vessels Honored with Environmental Awards in Recognition of 984 Combined Years of Safe Operations. More than 100 Crowley Maritime Corporation-owned and -operated vessels were honored with Certificates of Environmental Achievement for years of safe operations during the recent 12th-annual Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) awards ceremony, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C. Each of Crowley’s honored vessels received the certificates for having worked at least two consecutive years without an environmental incident.

GE Oil & Gas today celebrated the ground-breaking of a new facility that will further expand its presence in the UAE in Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza). Scheduled to open in 2015, the new facility spreads over an area of 22,700 sqm and can accommodate over 300 employees. A milestone in the expansion of GE Oil & Gas in the country and the region, the new facility will offer services by GE Oil & Gas’ various business units, thus strengthening customer service standards. Housed in a customized state-of-the-art facility developed by Jafza, the new GE Oil & Gas Manufacturing & Technology Center will offer tailored training programs, and also feature a dedicated repair center that will help improve the speed of service delivered by being closer to the customers.

PPG Industries announced that it has renewed or updated 17 American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) registered programs covering architectural coatings, glass and paint. Six of the PPG course offerings focus on sustainability and their participants are eligible for Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) credit. They include: Cool Coatings for Metal Roofing; Glass Production, Processing and Performance; How Low-E Coatings Improve Building Performance; Protecting Surfaces from Corrosion; Paint Specification and the Effects of Green Building; and What Makes Paint Sustainable: VOCs and Beyond. Architects can take four courses online at Hanley Wood University: Architectural Applications for Liquid and Powder Fluoropolymer Coatings…

Gary Lee Moore, who has served as Los Angeles City Engineer and General Manager of the city’s Bureau of Engineering for the past decade, has started his duties as interim executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “Gary is a trusted public servant, with a 28-year track record with the City,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who appointed Moore to the position last month. “The port is a critical economic engine for the city and region,” said Moore. Moore replaces Geraldine Knatz…

Dubai Maritime City LLC (DMC), the world-class mixed-use maritime cluster, announced the signing of long term partnership agreement with Mubarak Marine LLC. The agreement is for the development of an industrial complex project for maritime services, shipbuilding and repair worth AED 130 million. This complex will enable Mubarak Marine to establish their headquarters as well as a major marine workshop and maintenance facility. The agreement is in keeping with the overall promotion…

Siemens plans to build a new, state-of-the-art wind turbine service training facility in Orlando, Florida. The demand for skilled wind service technicians is increasing as more wind projects come online in the Americas, thereby requiring long-term service and maintenance. Siemens is designing this new 40,000-square-foot center, which will be located close to the global headquarters of Siemens’ Energy Service division in Orlando, to be among the most advanced wind training facilities in the world. Siemens’ initial investment will be approximately $7 million and the company plans to create 50 new full-time jobs and host approximately 2,400 trainees annually from the U.S. and the Americas.

Projects Advance Modernization of the TraPac Container Terminal. The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved construction contracts totaling more than $127 million for two major projects that advance modernization of the marine container terminal operated by longtime tenant, TraPac, Inc. With work due to begin in January, the projects are key elements of the Port of Los Angeles’ overall capital improvement program. The Port is investing more than $1.2 billion over five years to remain competitive in the global economy. “Redevelopment of the TraPac terminal reflects the Port’s larger commitment to retaining its global position as America’s premier seaport,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Geraldine Knatz, Ph.D. Approved Nov.

Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approve $127-million construction contracts for two major projects. Both projects are part of a $365 million expansion of the marine container terminal operated by longtime tenant TraPac, Inc. due to be completed in 2016. With work due to begin in January, the projects are key elements of the Port of Los Angeles’ overall capital improvement program. The Port is investing more than $1.2 billion over five years to remain competitive in the global economy.

Completely Integrated Shipyard, Interior Design and Build Services Under One Roof. Clear Yacht Interiors and Ocean Marine Yacht Center announce the formation of a strategic alliance to position Ocean Marine’s Portsmouth shipyard as one of the only U.S. facilities to offer complete yard and interior design/build services. Joyce Clear, owner of Clear Yacht Interiors, remarks, “This is an exciting time for us. Our philosophy has always been to offer clients a full service experience.

Grandweld Shipyards' new facility inaugurated in a ceremony at its location in Dubai Maritime City. Over the years, the company has experienced a rapid growth necessitating expansion to a larger facility. In 2011, Grandweld  invested approximately AED 100 million to expand its manufacturing and production area to double its annual capacity. Spreading over 55,000sqm, Grandweld new state of the art facility offers a modern shipbuilding infrastructure; featuring 13,500sqm covered and insulated shipbuilding yard with overhead cranes…

The ACP guideline launches environmentally sustainable practices. The Panama Canal will implement more sound “Green Building” practices with regards to future constructions in order to improve compatibility with the environment. Green Construction, also known as Sustainable Building, refers to designing building structures using processes and materials that are environmentally responsible and efficient during the life cycle of the building. This concept includes the process from design and construction to operation, maintenance, renovation and demolition of buildings.

Two undergraduate students, Andrew Lachtman and Lidia Mouravieff, at the Webb Institute in Glen Cove, N.Y. were awarded Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial scholarships for their community service and academic achievements. Retired U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Robert C. Olsen, Jr., president of Webb Institute, presented Mouravieff and Lachtman with Crowley scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year. The Crowley scholarship, which was established at Webb in 2008, is awarded to students who demonstrate leadership in academics and the community and have an interest in the maritime industry.

Dubai Maritime City, the world’s first purpose-built maritime centre and part of the Dubai World Group of companies, continues to achieve major development milestones and confidently progresses towards its 2012 completion date. Infrastructure for the Industrial Precinct of the unique maritime development is set to continue significantly during 2009 making it fully operational ahead of schedule with 85 per cent of the work complete. Groundwork for the Commercial Precinct is at 65 per cent, while roadwork is in the final stages.

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to open its first Landfill Gas Renewable Energy Center on April 22, at the Coast Guard Yard, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, Md., as part of its Earth Day Celebration. "As America's Maritime Guardians, not only do we protect the environment through our operations, but we strive to protect the environment in the way we carry out our missions as an organization and as individuals," said Rear Adm. Thomas P. Ostebo, the Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Engineering and Logistics and Environmental Executive. The Coast Guard is seeking to improve the environment by reducing its environmental footprint. Ten years ago the Coast Guard's environmental policies were focused on basic compliance and restoration.

DNV announced the formal opening of its new 90,000 square-foot eco-friendly building in Katy, Texas that will house many of the global organization’s North American businesses. The new facility is another step in DNV’s increasing presence in U.S. and Canada, with business offerings in energy, healthcare, climate change, food safety, maritime and transportation. DNV’s new Houston-area headquarters are designed to meet Gold Level LEED certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the national standard for green buildings. DNV is in the final phases of LEED certification for both the shell and the interior of the new building. More than 270 employees occupy the new DNV office in Katy, a suburb of Houston.

Crowley Maritime Corporation Chairman, President and CEO Tom Crowley, elected area officials and business leaders gathered at the company's corporate headquarters in Jacksonville to commemorate the completion of Crowley's office building renovation project and its United States Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Award Designation. The Crowley building is only the second building in Jacksonville to attain the LEED Silver award for commercial interiors.