Optimum Solutions News

After being very much on the margins of the offshore wind industry, floating offshore wind now appears to be ready to hit the mainstream. With gigawatt scale developments already on the horizon, what will the infrastructure needed to build and support them look like? Over the past 12 months, the floating offshore wind sector appears to have had a major dose of adrenaline. While the largest development, to date, is the relatively small-scale 50MW Kincardine project off northeast Scotland (which will be outdone by the 88MW Tampen project in Norway later next year [2022])…

As the maritime industry settles in on a COVID-19 induced ‘new norm,’ and long-range planning is dramatically shortened,, Nick Brown, Marine and Offshore Director, Lloyd’s Register, said that while much deserved focus must be paid to the current crisis, the industry cannot lose sight of another one looming just as large: climate change. “We strongly maintain that the climate emergency is an event of the same magnitude, just with a different time domain to COVID-19," Brown told Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently.

Japan-based Yanmar has delivered two 6EY26DF dual-fuel commercial marine engines with the ability to use both heavy fuel oil (HFO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuels for the LNG tugboat. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) will take delivery of the vessel once construction is completed in February 2019 with the tugboat expected to commence operation in April 2019.Yanmar has also received orders for the LNG fuel tanks, buffer tanks, and gas combustion devices that make up the LNG fuel feed systems for the engines.The MOL-owned vessel will be manufactured by Kanagawa Dockyard Co., Ltd. and operated by Nihon Tug-Boat Co., Ltd. with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. providing the LNG fuel.

At a signing ceremony on June 1 at the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Norway, engines manufacturer MAN Diesel & Turbo signed a cooperation agreement with ship equipment supplier MM-Offshore. The impetus for the agreement stems from industry efforts to enhance ship performance. These have resulted in highly efficient propulsion and maneuvering systems with both now optimized – individually – essentially to perfection. He added, “A number of recent projects have already documented how beneficial such a combined optimization could be for ship designers…

DNV GL has published a report assessing the potential for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction from shipping towards 2050, based on a new computational model. The model can evaluate various scenarios for both individual ship segments and the industry as a whole. It can also evaluate the effectiveness of various solutions for reducing GHGs. “Despite the challenges facing our industry, we believe it is technically possible for shipping to achieve substantial GHG reductions, provided a viable strategy is developed and adopted from within the industry itself,” says Christos Chryssakis, Group Leader Energy Efficiency & Fuels at DNV GL.

Materials handling specialists J D Neuhaus (JDN) are set to present their concept study of a new stainless steel air hoist at the CeMAT 2016 international exhibition. This is the world’s leading trade fair for supply chain management and intralogistics, which takes place in Hannover, Germany on 31 May to 3 June. Exhibiting as part of the Cranes Pavilion in Hall 27 (Stand D68), the company will also be promoting its class-leading service capabilities, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about JDN’s industry-proven project planning and maintenance expertise. Manufactured under the company’s mantra ‘engineered for extremes’, thousands of JDN pneumatic and hydraulic hoists and crane systems are in service worldwide…

AET takes delivery of a second 'eco-design' VLCC that is fully compliant with the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention. Named Eagle Varna, this 320,000dwt vessel is fitted with a range of innovative technology that significantly reduces its fuel consumption and associated emissions. In addition, the new vessel is fitted with the Techcross BWM system that disinfects ballast water using electrolysis technology. Enviro innovations include a pre-swirl stator, rudder bulb and propeller boss cap fins. Taken together, these additions produce a tangible reduction in overall fuel use.

Bureau Veritas says continuing pressure on environmental emissions, coupled with rising oil prices, puts a new focus on operational efficiency. Writing in the Bureau Veritas Marine Business Review 2011 Bernard Anne, managing director of BV’s Marine Division said, “Efficiency has to take on a new meaning. To be efficient means more than optimising a ship to burn less fuel when loaded and at its design service speed. It must burn less fuel and cleaner fuel across a wide range of loading conditions and a wide range of speeds. “To be efficient means more than saving fuel, it means burning the right fuel in the right place, making a pathway for the use of gas, nuclear and fuel cell solutions.

LEADING international classification society Bureau Veritas says continuing pressure on environmental emissions, coupled with rising oil prices, puts a new focus on operational efficiency. Writing in the Bureau Veritas Marine Business Review 2011 Bernard Anne, managing director of BV’s Marine Division says, “Efficiency has to take on a new meaning. To be efficient means more than optimising a ship to burn less fuel when loaded and at its design service speed. It must burn less fuel and cleaner fuel across a wide range of loading conditions and a wide range of speeds.

The SMM exhibition in Hamburg has once again proven that it is the cradle of marine technology and the grand-daddy of all marine exhibitions. On display in 12 separate halls were more than 1,300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, launching new products and discussing business with an estimated 37,000 visitors. More telling that sheer numbers, in this case, is the feeling of the exhibition and the ubiquitous marine technology theme. The quality of attendee and exhibitor is always high, but this edition of the bi-annual exhibition seemed especially charged due to the many positives currently running throughout the full spectrum of the maritime market.

J. Ray McDermott, S.A. and Keppel FELS Limited. are in the process of forming a new joint venture company, to be named FloaTEC, LLC, to provide deepwater and ultra deepwater oil and gas development solutions. To add to the Joint Venture’s offerings, J Ray and Keppel FELS plan to draw upon the purchased patent rights previously owned by ABB for the Extended Tension Leg Platform (ETLP) and Single Column Floater (SCF) designs. Combined with J Ray’s existing SPAR technology and Keppel FELS’ semi-submersible expertise, FloaTEC, LLC will be in a unique position to provide a wide range of solutions for deepwater developments. “We believe that the timing could not be better for this cooperation with our colleagues at Keppel FELS and the establishment of this exciting joint venture…