Stakeholder Groups News

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has set out plans to invest $4.75 million to establish a new national center of excellence to accelerate offshore wind deployment across the United States.The Academic Center for Reliability and Resilience of Offshore Wind (ARROW), led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst with approximately 40 partners, will focus on workforce development, targeted research, and partnerships and strategies to advance offshore wind development.As offshore…

WinGD has concluded a four-party agreement underwriting Belgian bulk carrier operator CMB.TECH’s order of X72DF-A ammonia-fueled engines.CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding (QBS) and engine builder CSSC Engine Co (CSE) were the other signatories in the joint undertaking to power a series of 210,000dwt bulk carriers to be delivered from Qingdao through 2025 and 2026.Following confirmation of the engine order, the agreement advances the project between WinGD and CMB.TECH announced in January to develop the 72-bore ammonia-engine.

Inland waterways, sometimes called ‘nature’s superhighways’ provide a strategic advantage related to security, economics, and trade for any nation whose geography, topography, and climate enable this natural infrastructure. Economic benefits are realized in small rural areas through large urban communities that utilize the system for efficient transportation and improved markets. However, deliberate operational, resource, and policy efforts, along with broad stakeholder integration, are required to maintain and operate such a system.

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is overhauling its Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) by introducing tablet-based inspections, a more comprehensive inspection process, and enhanced policies and procedures from Q2 2022. The new program, SIRE 2.0, will facilitate a risk-based approach to assessing the safety and quality of a vessel and its crew on an ongoing basis, but will require a “change in mindset” from industry, OCIMF has warned.Under SIRE 2.0, accredited inspectors will complete a Compiled Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (CVIC) in real-time using a tablet device.

NOAA on Wednesday announced two new coastal condition forecast models intended to help enhance decision making for mariners along the West Coast and Northern Gulf of Mexico. The models provide continuous quality-controlled data on water levels, currents, water temperature and salinity out to 72 hours.Forecasts from both models are used by commercial and recreational mariners, fisherman, emergency managers, search and rescue responders, and National Weather Service marine weather…

Bureau Veritas (BV) says it has launched the BVS eAcademy to provide online learning for marine and offshore energy markets across the globe.Led by BV Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS M&O), BVS eAcademy offering more than 25 maritime courses developed from BV’s own internal training academy which, since 2016, has delivered more than 20,000 training sessions to more than 1,500 BV staff.Delivered online and on-demand, the course are suitable for maritime professionals, or students looking to develop their awareness and understanding of specific areas of expertise…

Classification society DNV GL launched a new guidance on vessel recycling to help shipowners navigate a regulatory environment that is becoming increasingly complex.With the IMO Hong Kong Convention not yet in force, strict enforcement of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR) and the EU Waste Shipment Regulation (EU WSR) means shipowners must carefully plan for the end of life of their vessels amid a much stricter and more complex set of international, regional and national requirements than in the past.

“Driving the maritime transition”: In times of the global climate debate and the digital transformation, SMM 2020 will once again be the focal point for decision-makers in the maritime industry.Topics that are currently high on the industry's agenda are highlighted in the new issue of the SMM Maritime Industry Report: Shipping, shipbuilding and supplier companies are especially interested in alternative propulsion technologies and attractive niche markets.The year 2020 marks a major turning point in international shipping: On January 1…

Extensions, type approvals and next steps were all prominent on the agenda.September’s Ballast Water Management and Technology North America conference saw USCG staff from the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards and the Marine Safety Center giving conference attendees an update on various aspects of the Coast Guard’s ballast water program. Following is a recap of those presentations for our readers who were unable to attend:Ms. Regina Bergner and Mr. Matthew Reudelhuber with the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, and Lt.

Late last year, the Transportation Research Board released a major study that was undertaken “in response to the rapid development of domestic sources of energy and questions about the safest ways to move these products.” The Study Committee examined the operational responses of the three primary modes impacted by the fracking revolution – rail, pipeline and maritime. A primary observation of this work was that that the “Marine Transportation System Offers a Model for Robust Safety…

MISC Berhad (MISC) today announces the publication of its 2015 Sustainability Report, covering the Company’s commitment, strategy and performance for the year ended 31 December 2015 and progress towards its sustainability goals. President / Group Chief Executive Officer Yee Yang Chien said that sustainability remains an integral part of MISC’s operations, from the way business is conducted, to how employees are managed, environmental impact reduced and positive impact is created for local communities. “Our systematic and structured approach in managing MISC’s sustainability performance over the past few years involves a continuous endeavour to conduct our business operations in a responsible and sustainable manner…

Companies operating in the North Sea require a cultural shift to make the most of the its potential, according to a new report from Deloitte, the business advisory firm. The report, which gauges the oil and gas industry’s reaction to Sir Ian Wood’s Maximising Recovery Review, calls on the new regulator – the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), the Government and companies operating in the North Sea to adapt to a new reality in the basin. Thought closer collaboration between companies would help drive efficiency and cut costs related to extraction, while tax incentives and possibly different ownership models could encourage the sharing of infrastructure.

Trident Alliance, the shipping industry initiative for robust enforcement of maritime sulphur regulations, will hold an exploratory meeting in Copenhagen on May 28. Initially introduced at the Economist’s World Ocean Summit earlier this year, the Trident Alliance initiative has garnered significant interest from ship owners and operators around the world, as well as from other members of the ocean community. Interested parties are now invited to take part in an exploratory meeting with a view to formally establishing the Trident Alliance. The meeting will include setting out the terms of reference and formally defining the objectives for the alliance. Over the past years, significant steps have been taken to implement regulations to limit sulphur emissions from shipping.

Commercial seaborne shipping is regulated by international, EU and national authorities and is subject to a number of commercially oriented constraints. The long history and large number of organizations associated with regulation has led to a high level of complexity in managing the development of regulations, their implementation by transport operators, and their enforcement by authorities. The complexity of the situation is further aggravated by the long lifetime of ships, the different phases of ship operations…

The International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) has announced that it will be working with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to develop a Bunkering code of practice for the supply of fuel from offshore barges. Offshore bunkering is currently banned in South Africa, but SAMSA is taking steps to open the market to offshore providers. SAMSA has granted provisional permission to Aegean Marine Petroleum Network Inc to deliver intermediate fuel oil (IFO) in Algoa Bay OPL area. The agreement is subject to Aegean Marine meeting the terms of Act 6 Section 21 (1) (b) of the Marine Pollution (Control and Civil Liability Act 1981).

A new three-year European Research Project, partly funded by the EU has been launched to help increase efficiencies in regulation compliance and enforcement for the maritime sector. e-Compliance will facilitate tighter integration and cooperation in the fragmented field of regulatory compliance. It will closely align with the EU e-Maritime initiative of which a key priority is supporting authorities and shipping operators to collaborate electronically in regulatory information management. The maritime sector is, by necessity, heavily regulated.

For the third consecutive year, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) was recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. According to the Ethisphere, this recognition highlights companies that outperform industry peers by embracing ethical business practices and demonstrating industry leadership. The 2013 World’s Most Ethical Companies list features 145 companies from 36 industries in areas including retail, business services, energy and utilities, electronics, transportation and logistics. The Panama Canal Authority was one of the two Latin American companies honored with this award. Other companies receiving this recognition included: American Express…

Tanker owners continue to be deeply concerned that the current tanker market is seriously jeopardizing the sustainability of the tanker industry. Speaking recently to Intertanko’s Council in London, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Koji Sekimizu, pointed out just how much the tanker industry contributes to the world economy. “Without the tanker industry, the world cannot survive - this is fact and reality,” he emphasized. Intertanko’s Managing Director Katharina Stanzel, went on to say, “The sustainability of the tanker industry is a balancing act between economics, tanker safety, the environment, and the demands of our global society which depends on the safe transportation of liquid energy for its way of life.

In recent the management of P+S WERFTEN have been involved in discussions with the representatives of the German Federal State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the German Federal Government, and with its customers, suppliers, employees, the trade union IG Metall Küste and with banks to find a way towards an economic future for P+S WERFTEN. Rüdiger Fuchs, CEO of P+S WERFTEN since 7 August 2012, said, “In recent days we have explored all options in our attempts to reach a solution. We have provided open and honest information about our problems and tried to prevent insolvency. For this reason, the management of P+S WERFTEN GmbH has filed for insolvency before the insolvency court of the local court of Stralsund.

Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded a £5.2m contract involving major improvements to the port entrance and for widening and deepening the navigation channel. Harbour Board chief executive, Colin Parker said: “As the centre of activity for the energy industry’s marine operations in North-west Europe, the importance of targeted investment and development has been a top priority and, with the energy industry evolving, we have worked hard to ensure we stay ahead of the game. ”Once…

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), in coordination with the Georgia Ports Authority, will host the seminar Communicating the Importance of Infrastructure Investment, June 21-23, at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Ga. Targeting public and government relations professionals throughout the freight transportation industry, the conference will focus on effectively communicating with policymakers, and those who influence policy, on the benefits of freight infrastructure improvements. “We appreciate the work the AAPA does on behalf of our seaports and look forward to this informative communications seminar that will help those who advocate for freight,” said GPA’s Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz.

BOEM Director Michael R. Bromwich delivered a keynote address at the International Regulators Forum (IRF) Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. During his visit, Director Bromwich met individually with his counterparts from the offshore regulating agencies from Australia, Canada, Norway and the United Kingdom to discuss issues of mutual interest. “Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today. “I am the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement – the agency responsible for regulating oil and gas exploration and development on the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States. “Let me begin by thanking our Conference host, Canada’s Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and in particular Mr.

An independent committee of the National Research Board tasked with reviewing a re-structured navigation and environmental study of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers today issued a mixed initial review of the study, suggesting that the 12-year, $67 million study be extended again beyond the current six-year extension, while at the same time urging action to move forward: "at some point, scientists and managers must decide that existing data are sufficient to allow for management actions to be implemented" (page 21). One of the committee's criticisms concerned grain export projections, citing them to be too high. "Everyone understands that grain export projections are a moving target," said S. Richard Tolman, Chairman of MARC 2000 and CEO of the National Corn Growers Association.