Markets Energy News

Maritime classification society DNV on Tuesday unveiled its latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 report with a new focus on how to overcome the “ultimate hurdle” of fuel availability.The 84-page forecast is the sixth edition of its kind, and this year it considers the comprehensive production, distribution and bunkering infrastructures required to enable the maritime industry’s shift to carbon-neutral fuels.The report also presents an updated outlook on regulations, drivers, future technologies, and costs for decarbonizing shipping.

Voith has won the award for the best PR picture of the year at the “PR Bild Award 2014” (renowned award for PR pictures). Yesterday, on Thursday, the photograph of a Voith turbine runner was declared the winner of the “PR Bild Award”. The presentation ceremony took place at the Nugloss Gallery Stilwerk in Hamburg during a festive evening event. The “PR Bild Award” is a prestigious competition headed by the dpa subsidiary News Aktuell. In 2014, the prize, which is much coveted among PR and image experts, was awarded for the tenth time. “Exceptionally beautiful. Even more: pure aesthetics,” was the jury’s verdict on this photo of the Voith turbine runner. The shot by photographer Marius Hoefinger shows work being done on a Voith turbine runner for the Bratsk hydropower plant in Siberia.

Mexico’s state-owned petroleum company PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos) invests in a modern tug fleet. Voith was awarded to supply the propulsion for nine new Voith Water Tractors (VWT) which are to enhance the safety of oil tankers entering and clearing port at several terminals as of 2016. During an extensive selection process, the vessels powered by two Voith Schneider Propellers (VSP) stood out with regard to their low susceptibility to debris. The Spanish Shipyard ARMON (Astilleros Armón) will provide the project with it’s own in-house design using VWT configuration, project management, technical advice on location and the supply of all main equipment.

In South Africa’s largest local shipbuilding contract Transnet National Ports Authority has ordered nine new Voith Water Tractors (VWT) for use in several ports across the country. This is also the largest order in the history of Voith marine technology. The VWT will be built by South African Shipyards in Durban over the next 42 months. Eight of the tugs will be identical in construction with a length of 31 meters and a beam of 12.5 meters. Propelled by two Voith Schneider Propellers VSP 32R5/265-2 with a power of 2 x 2,650kW they will have a bollard pull of 70 tons. The VWT will be utilized for harbor towage in the ports of Saldanha Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Richard’s Bay.

In April, the new Voith Water Tractor (VWT) "Ilan" underwent its official sea trial achieving a speed of 13.5 knots and a bollard pull of 73.5 tons. The Haifa port authority decided in favor of the VWT due to its precise maneuvering capabilities. Each of the two diesel engines supplies the Voith Schneider Propellers with an input power of 2 640 kW. design of the tug in cooperation with the shipyard. Four other VWT equipped with Voith Schneider Propellers already operate successfully in the port of Haifa, one of the largest ports in Israel. The "Ilan" has been designed for a bollard pull of 70 tons whereas those of the other VWTs range between 30 and 55 tons. In recent years, the amount of goods to be handled and thus the shipping traffic in the port of Haifa have been on the increase.