Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Norwegian Government News

01 Mar 2024

Cochin Shipyard Cuts First Steel for SAMSKIP's Zero-emission Containership

(Image: Samskip)

Indian shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard has cut first steel for the first vessel in Samskip's new series of zero-emission, autonomous ready shortsea containerships.The first of two contracted vessels, Samskip SeaShuttle, will also be among the world's first zero-emissions short sea container vessels fueled by green hydrogen.The 135-meter-long containerships were ordered by marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity for scheduled delivery in 2025 and will be operated under long-term charter by Rotterdam-based shipping company Samskip on its west European routes.

17 Dec 2023

Emissions-Focused AI Project Secures Funding

Source: Navtor

A project, GASS, led by Navtor, with six other Norwegian research, innovation and industry partners, has been awarded 44 million Norwegian kroner to develop new commercial AI-enhanced technology and services to optimize the energy usage of vessels and ships.Navtor, Grieg Star, Maritime CleanTech, Scandinavian Reach Technologies, Simula Research Laboratory, SinOceanic Shipping and Sustainable Energy are partnering on the project which will enable vessel owners and operators to…

27 Nov 2023

Environmentalists Ask Court to Block Development of Three North Sea Fields

© Igor Hotinsky / Adobe Stock

Environmental groups on Tuesday will ask a Norwegian court to block the development of three North Sea oil and gas fields, citing insufficient assessment of global climate impact from future petroleum use.The lawsuit filed by Greenpeace and its partner Nature and Youth concerns the Equinor-operated Breidablikk and Aker BP's Yggdrasil and Tyrving fields, which hold combined reserves of some 875 million barrels of oil equivalent.The two NGOs in 2020 lost a case against Arctic drilling at Norway's top court…

06 Nov 2023

World's First Ammonia-powered Containership Planned

(Image: Yara)

A new containership planned for operations in Europe is set to become the world's first to use pure ammonia as fuel.Yara Clean Ammonia and NorthSea Container Line are establishing a joint venture, NCL Oslofjord, to operate the ammonia-powered ship Yara Eyde on routes between Norway and Germany from 2026.The project has been awarded just over NOK 40 million (US$3.6 million) from Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting clean energy technologies.Ammonia is one of several alternative fuels gaining traction in commercial shipping to help cut emissions.

10 Jul 2023

Deep-sea Mining: A New Gold Rush or Environmental Disaster?

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2019 Southeastern U.S. Deep-sea Exploration

In the depths of the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii, trillions of potato-shaped rocks are scattered across the seabed - containing minerals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese vital for new green technologies in the global energy transition.In this ocean region - the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) - an abundance of the rocks, known as polymetallic nodules, is increasingly fuelling debate about the mining of metals needed to produce technology such as batteries for electric…

11 Sep 2023

Northern Lights CCS: Trailblazing the Path to Europe’s Net Zero Emissions

Image © Equinor

In the global quest for achieving net zero emissions and slowing down global warming, carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology has emerged as an important solution. Among the notable projects being developed in the field is the Northern Lights offshore carbon capture and storage project in Norway, a country with long experience with offshore CO2 storage.The transition to a sustainable energy future requires innovative solutions that go beyond simply halting fossil fuel projects.

20 Jun 2023

Norway Moves to Open Its Waters to Deep-sea Mining

© idea_studio / Adobe Stock

The Norwegian government on Tuesday proposed opening its waters to deep-sea mining despite opposition from green campaigners and some countries, as it seeks to shift from a reliance on hydrocarbons to new sources of economic activity.Norway, whose vast oil and gas reserves made it one of the world's wealthiest countries, has taken a leading role in the global race to mine the ocean floor for metals that are in high demand as countries transition away from fossil fuels."We need minerals to succeed with the green transition…

16 May 2023

Skarv Gets Enova Funding for Three Ammonia-fueled Ships

This is what one of Skarv Shipping Solutions' ships could look like. The vessels will potentially have a 90 per cent reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships. Ill. NORTHWEST3D

The Norwegian government is providing financial support for the construction of three cargo ships that will run emissions-free along the Norwegian coast.Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting the use of clean energy, said it is providing NOK 130 million to Skarv Shipping Solutions AS for the acquisition of three cargo ships that will run on batteries, ammonia engines, rotor sails and energy-saving hull design. The vessels will potentially have a 90% reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships."Enova supports those who go ahead.

16 May 2023

Purus Wind Orders Two Offshore Wind Vessels from VARD

Credit: VARD

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has won a contract for the design and construction of two offshore wind Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) from UK-based Purus Wind. Purus Wind will have the option to order two more vessels.The two CSOVs are of VARD 4 19 design developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway. Together with Purus Wind, the design is upgraded, and tailor-made to give environmental benefits with a hull design optimized for low fuel consumption and resistance,…

12 May 2023

REM Purus' New CSOV Named in Aalesund, Norway

Photo credit: Olav Thokle/Fotomaritim

Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) REM Power was named at a ceremony in Aalesund, Norway on Friday.The Rem Power, owned by Rem Purus, designed to offer services and maintenance operations at offshore wind farms, was named in the center of Ålesund in front of shipbuilder VARD’s headquarters.This is the first of two CSOVs VARD is delivering to Rem Purus.The REM Power is a CSOV of the VARD 4 19 design, developed by Vard Design. The vessel is equipped to provide services during both construction…

21 Mar 2023

Samskip to Operate 'Zero-emission' Hydrogen-powered Containerships

(Image: Samskip)

Shipping and logistics company Samskip said it is “venturing into zero-carbon, emissions-free shipping” through the operation of two hydrogen powered, autonomous-ready vessels from Indian shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Ltd.The containerships were ordered by marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity for scheduled delivery in 2025 and will be operated under long-term charter by Samskip on its west European routes. Once commissioned for service between Oslo and Rotterdam, the 500 TEU…

03 Mar 2023

PowerCell to Deliver World’s Largest Marine Hydrogen Fuel Cells

(Image courtesy PowerCell)

Hydrogen fuel cell supplier PowerCell announced it has signed an agreement to deliver hydrogen fuel cells to two ships operating on Norway's longest ferry route. The order has a value of €19.2 million, and represents the largest non-combustion fuel propulsion project to date in the global marine industry, the company said.PowerCell will work to deliver the solution with Norwegian systems developer and integrator of low- and zero-emission marine solutions SEAM, who will be responsible for the electrical installations on the ferries. Final delivery is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2024.

17 Feb 2023

Norway: Project Launched to Develop Offshore Charging Solutions for Offshore Wind Vessels

©Vard

A project aimed developing a solution to charge offshore vessels' batteries in the offshore wind farms was officially launched at a kick-off ceremony in Ålesund, Norway on Thursday.The project, called the Ocean Charger will be lead by Vard, with its sister companies Seaonics and Vard Electro, and partners Rem Offshore, Solstad Offshore, SINTEF Energi, SINTEF Ocean, DigiCat, Sustainable Energy, Equinor, Source Galileo Norge, Corvus Energy, Plug, Shoreline, Sustainable Energy, University of Bergen…

21 Dec 2022

Norwegian Government Backs Project to Develop Offshore Charging Solutions

SOV design by Vard, who leads the Ocean Charger project. (Image: Vard)

The Norwegian government awarded Maritime CleanTech partner Vard Group and the Ocean Charger project partners 38 million NOK (approx. US$3.9 million) for the development of offshore charging solutions that would support zero-emissions operations at offshore wind farms.The Norwegian support scheme (The Green Platform Initiative) aims to accelerate the growth of green businesses in Norway. Today, Norwegian Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Jan Christian Vestre, launched the new project at a press conference in Oslo.

01 Nov 2022

'Carbon Free' Platfom Supply Vessel Firm Launched in Norway

Credit: Amon Maritime

Norway-based company Amon Maritime has launched Amon Offshore - a new company focused on the offshore oil and gas market – with plans to operate carbon-free platform supply vessels. The ship has already received approval in principle from DNV and preliminary flag approval from the Norwegian Maritime Authority, Amon Maritime said. Amon Offshore has been created to build, own and operate a fleet of ammonia-powered supply ships for the Norwegian Continental Shelf. "The ships have been developed to meet oil companies’ current and future offshore logistics needs…

03 Oct 2022

Norway Posts Soldiers at Oil, Gas Plants after Nord Stream Leaks

Credit; Norway Armed Forces

Norway's military said on Monday it had posted soldiers to help guard major onshore oil and gas processing plants, part of a wider effort to boost security amid suspicion that sabotage caused leaks in the Nord Stream gas pipelines last week.Russia's Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines burst on Sept. 26, draining gas into the Baltic Sea off the coast of Denmark and Sweden. Seismologists registered explosions in the area, and police in several countries have launched investigations.Norway…

08 Sep 2022

New Research on Combined Use of Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Batteries in Vessel Propulsion

ionn Iversen, Chief Scientist at NORCE and Svenn Kjetil Haveland, VP of Development Projects at Corvus Energy, discuss the research project “Optimized Hydrogen Powered Maritime Mobility” or “OptHyMob” for short, to coordinate the operation of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries for optimum lifetime and lower total cost of ownership. (Photo: Corvus Energy)

Corvus Energy announced it has been selected to lead an IPN project – a program funded by the Research Council of Norway to promote innovation in the industry. Corvus Energy joins forces with research institute NORCE and other partners for the project which has been awarded 13,9 million NOK in funding.The industrial project, titled “Optimized Hydrogen Powered Maritime Mobility” or “OptHyMob” for short, will improve operations of hydrogen-driven marine vessels in order to reduce costs and extend the lifetime of both the hydrogen fuel cells and the batteries in hybrid configurations.

11 Aug 2022

Johan Castberg FPSO Suffered Minor Damage in Fire, Equinor Says

Johan Castberg arriving at Aker Solutions Stord yard in April 2022 - Credit - Jan Arne Wold & Roar Lindefjeld - Copyright - Equinor

Equinor's Johan Castberg floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel suffered only minor damage during a fire on Wednesday, and the project's timeline will not be affected, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.The vessel is under construction at a shipyard in western Norway. Workers were evacuated during the fire, and there were no reports of injuries. "With the exception of a small area, which is still closed-off, work on the project continues as normal," Equinor…

10 Aug 2022

Fire Breaks Out Aboard Equinor's Castberg FPSO at Norway Yard

The Johan Castberg FPSO arrives at Aker Solutions' yard in Stord earlier this year (Photo: Equinor)

A fire broke out on Wednesday aboard oil major Equinor's Johan Castberg floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is under construction at a shipyard in Norway, public broadcaster NRK reported.Workers were evacuated and there were no reports of injuries, according to the report.The Arctic Johan Castberg oilfield is scheduled to come onstream in the fourth quarter of 2024, the Norwegian government said last year.Equinor was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.(Reuters - Reporting by Terje Solsvik, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

03 May 2022

Edda Wind's Newbuild CSOV Sets Off for Sea Trials

Credit: Gondan Shipbuilders

Edda Wind's Edda Breeze Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) started sea trials over the weekend, Gondan Shipbuilders, the Spanish shipyard that built the vessel, said Tuesday.The CSOV left the Eo estuary to set course for the Port of Gijón, where it will remain for the next few weeks to complete its sea trials program.The vessel built for the Norwegian shipowner Edda Wind AS has a length of 88,3 m and a beam of 19,7 m. It has been designed by Salt Ship Design, and it is prepared for the installation of zero-emission hydrogen technology.

26 Apr 2022

Norway Arrests Activists Blocking Tanker from Unloading Russian Oil

 Greenpeace activist Andreas Randoy - Credit: Greenpeace - Free Use License

Norwegian police said they had arrested 20 Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion campaigners who on Monday blocked a tanker from delivering Russian oil to an Exxon Mobil terminal.In a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, activists had fastened their red rubber dinghy to the Ust Luga's anchor chain, Greenpeace said, as they sought to prevent it offloading an estimated 95,000 tonnes of oil."Oil is not only at the root of the climate crisis, but also of wars and conflicts.

25 Apr 2022

Greenpeace Blocks Ust Luga Tanker from Delivering Russian Oil to Norway

Credit: Greenpeace

Greenpeace activists sought to block a tanker on Monday from delivering Russian oil to Norway, chaining themselves to the vessel in a protest against the war in Ukraine, the advocacy group said.The Ust Luga product tanker is currently anchored outside Exxon Mobil's Slagen oil terminal some 70 km (43 miles) south of the capital Oslo, according to vessel tracker Marine Traffic.Activists arriving in a small boat chained themselves to the tanker's anchor chain as they sought to prevent the offloading of a cargo estimated at 95…

07 Feb 2022

Berge Named SVP Global Regulatory Affairs at Corvus Energy

Kolbjørn Berge (Photo: Corvus Energy)

Energy storage systems (ESS) supplier Corvus Energy has appointed Kolbjørn Berge as senior vice president global regulatory affairs effective February 1.Previous to joining Corvus Energy, Berge worked for the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), responsible for the decarbonization of shipping. Berge’s focus has been safety and regulations for green solutions and the design of current national and international maritime regulations. He has been involved in numerous projects and a driving force in developing the regulations for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG)…

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week