Rob Stewart News

Shift Clean Energy (Shift), Ecomar Propulsion and Aluminium Marine Consultants have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate and develop a retrofit package to electrify and transform existing crew transfer vessels (CTVs) and workboats into environmentally friendly marine vessels.With the use of Shift’s energy storage systems (ESS), Aluminium Marine Consultants' shipyard capabilities and Ecomar Propulsion's propulsion systems, the partnership aims to introduce "plug and play" solutions that will lower emissions…

Zephyrus Marine has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Japanese shipyard Mirai Ships to build the Zephyrus Zero Carbon Offshore wind service vessel. Ad Hoc Marine Designs Ltd. (Ad Hoc) will be providing the design for the zero-emission Crew Transfer Vessel (“CTV”), which will incorporate Shift Clean Energy's  PwrSwäp technology. The class NK-approved energy storage system will allow crew transfer vessels to swap their modular battery systems with ease while providing a zero-emission service to the Japanese offshore wind sector, Zephyrus Marine said.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society announced it has acquired the MV Sharkwater, a storied vessel with a long history of conservation. SSCS took possession of the ship 12 miles off-shore of San Diego, on July 8, 2022.Built in 1997, the 48 x 7.4 meter ship will be the largest in the SSCS fleet, weighing in at 287 gross tons. Throughout August and September it will be refitted for Sea Shepherd’s missions in protecting the vaquita in the Upper Gulf of California and in fighting against IUU in the Pacific Ocean.

Wight Shipyard Co Ltd (WSC) boss Peter Morton has purchased a stake in Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) and takes his place on the board, securing the Isle of Wight boat build business well into the future. AMC Commercial Director, Rob Stewart, said, “We are looking forward to working together, having been neighbors for some time. With a healthy order book, the future for AMC, the Isle of Wight and U.K. Stewart added that AMC will remain separate and continue to trade under the same name but will benefit from Wight Shipyards Co Ltd’s experience, backing and support going forward.

The International Energy Agency states that 2.5% of global electricity demand is today provided by wind power—and that figure is set to grow by 42% through to 2021. In Europe alone, according to the 2016 report from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), 754 new offshore turbines in 15 wind farms were grid-connected from 1 January to 31 December 2015, representing a connected capacity increase of 108% over 2014. By 2020, EWEA expects 192 GW of wind turbines to be installed, representing an investment of between €UR90 billion and €UR124 billion. The leading markets are Germany, France, the UK, Poland and Italy, and by 2020 354,000 people—up from 253,000 today—will be employed in the sector.

Naval Architect John Kecsmar of Ad Hoc Marine Designs is now working with Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) to offer a range of uniquely designed, versatile SWATH workboats. Kecsmar possesses many decades of experience working and designing in shipyards in all things high-speed and is a proven designer of high-speed passenger ferries, patrol boats, SAR, CTVs and more. “For many years John has been conducting research on aluminum, fatigue and welding and now AMC can benefit from his expertise,” said Rob Stewart, commercial director at AMC.

Specialist aluminum boatbuilder, Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC), has added a new surface effect ship (SES) design to its portfolio which is designed by Norway’s Espeland and Skomedal Naval Architects (ESNA) and geared toward the crew transfer vessel market. The new ESNA Tern SES CTV is a next generation high performance crew transfer vessel, offering turbine access in up to 2.5m significant wave height, with a maximum speed above 40 knots and greatly reduced speed loss in high seas.

Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) celebrated its acquisition of ISO 9001 quality management certification in June by placing four High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) under build simultaneously in its new Isle of Wight UK building hall. By mid-June, the hull of the first 21-meter vessel for wind farm industry service provider Cwind was up to the gunwales, plating was underway on a second 21-meter craft and work had just started on both 23-meter HSSVs in the four vessel order. Concurrent wheel house and cabin production was also underway.

Offshore wind farm support vessel specialists OWPMS has partnered with The Brook Henderson Group to provide a bespoke package for offshore wind farm operators, focusing on vessel supply during construction and operation & maintenance phases throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Brook Henderson is committing it substantial financial resources, equity of over $44.4m, to building a fleet of up to 60 Vessels over the coming 24 months. Eddie Ward, Co-Founder of OWPMS, said "Due to recent events within the banking sector it's made raising funds to build new vessels very difficult and was preventing us from expanding to allow us to tender for new work.