Uk Coast News

Offshore services firm Swire Energy Services (SES) said it has been awarded a contract from wind farm operator Ørsted for a routine maintenance campaign off the U.K. coast for Summer 2022.The new contract will see SES provide services including blade maintenance and the provision of service operation vessel (SOV) and crew transfer vessel (CTV) logistics for two of Ørsted’s wind farms off the coast of Cumbria.The contract is one of the first major blade service scopes SES has won since it acquired wind service company ALL NRG in August of 2021…

A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet pilot died in an accident Monday after crashing into the North Sea, off Flamborough Head, UK.Immediately after the crash, a search and rescue operation was launched for the pilot of a United States military aircraft from RAF Lakenheath base.However, on Monday evening local time, the U.S. Airforce 48th Fighter Wing division said the pilot had been found and confirmed deceased, and the UK coast guard said the SAR had been called off. The coast guard…

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Østensjø has said it is assisting in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) after a fighter jet crashed off the UK coast on Monday."Østensjø's offshore wind vessel “Edda Mistral” and her autonomous workboat “Mistral Worker” were in the vicinity of the fighter jet crash off the UK coast. Both vessels are engaged in the ongoing search and rescue SAR operation," the company said Monday.The vessels are reporting to UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency who is coordinating the SAR-operation.

ABB technology allowing integration of batteries receives major vote of confidence as Louis Dreyfus Armateurs orders second wind farm service vessel featuring a wide scope of ABB’s solutions.Maritime transportation group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) will add a second 83 meter windfarm service operation vessel (SOV) to its fleet, featuring an extensive range of ABB’s technology, with the award-winning power distribution system Onboard DC Grid at its core. The vessel will support operations at Hornsea Project Two off the UK coast…

Dong Energy has installed the first of the world's largest wind turbines, which are taller and wider than the London Eye, at its Burbo Bank windfarm off the coast of Britain in the Irish Sea, it said on Thursday. The 32 turbines, made by Vestas, will each be able to generate 8 megawatts (MW) of electricity, stand 195 metres tall from sea level and have a rotor diameter of 164 metres. "This will be the first commercial deployment of the world's largest wind turbines," Benj Sykes, Dong's UK country manager for wind power, told Reuters.

Thales is set to play a key role in a major U.K. Royal Navy exercise later this year to understand how unmanned systems might add real innovative operational capability in a military maritime environment. Exercise Unmanned Warrior will bring together the Royal Navy and 40 organizations from defense, industry and academia in October, representing the largest exercise of its kind. More than 50 vehicles, sensors and systems from across defense and industry will be deployed the Ministry of Defense exercise centered around the U.K. coast of Scotland and West Wales.

UK-based Cummins Darlington is celebrating its 50th anniversary during 2015. Since opening, around 1.5 million engines have been built in the factory for customers worldwide, providing power for vessels as well as land vehicles. Work began in 1963 on the £8.5 million plant with engine production commencing in 1965, having more than 400 employees’ onsite. The production line assembled Cummins range of Small Vee V6 and V8 engines, named VAL and VALE. With cubic capacities of 5.7 and 8.3 liters, they had a capability of up to 111 kW, suitable for a range of boats at the time.

Today’s planning approval for offshore wind energy at Dogger Bank takes the total of consented projects in the North Sea zone to 4.8 gigawatts (GW), almost equal to all the offshore wind capacity now in operation in the U.K. The consented development, Dogger Bank Teesside A&B is part of the Dogger Bank Zone, the largest of the Round 3 zones and the farthest from shore, but also one of the shallowest, with high wind speeds and seabed conditions ideally suited to offshore wind development.

In a landmark case, two divers today have been made to pay a total of £63,500 in fines and costs for not declaring valuable items from shipwrecks off the U.K. coast. David Knight and Edward Huzzey, both from Sandgate, had previously pleaded guilty to 19 offences between them, contrary to section 236 and section 237 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Knight was fined £7,000 and Huzzey £6,500. They were each ordered to pay £25,000 in costs. Items were taken from shipwrecks off the Kent coast, with the first known objects removed in 2001.

A shipbuilder has invested more than $1.7million (£1million) at its headquarters, including upgrading a slipway which is now capable of accommodating vessels up to 2,000 metric tons. MCTAYS, the shipbuilding subsidiary of HS Ocean Group of Companies, opened the upgraded slipway at its yard in Birkenhead on the banks of the River Mersey to coincide with its 40th anniversary. Peter Breslin, Managing Director of MCTAYS, said the slipway will enable the shipyard to accommodate vessels up to 90 meters in length: “Over the last 40 years, MCTAYS has built 120 specialist ships and marine structures.

A shipbuilder is celebrating its 40th anniversary by staging an open day to coincide with the International Festival of Business Mersey Maritime and Shipping Innovation event. MCTAYS, the shipbuilding subsidiary of HS Ocean Holdings (HSOH) is hosting the open day on Friday 13th June at its yard in Birkenhead on the banks of the River Mersey. Peter Breslin, Managing Director of MCTAYS, said the open day will provide an opportunity for customers and suppliers to see the shipyard’s extensive facilities and learn more about the services it provides.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that two divers from Kent have pleaded guilty to not declaring valuable items from shipwrecks off the U.K. coast. David Knight and Edward Huzzey, both from Sandgate, admitted to 19 offences between them, contrary to section 236 and section 237 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. Items were taken from shipwrecks off the Kent coast, with the first known objects removed in 2001. The shipwrecks targeted included German submarines from World War I and an unknown 200 year old wreck carrying English East India Company cargo.

The Royal Navy’s 'fleet ready' escort HMS Dragon, a Type 45 destroyer, pinpointed and monitored the movement of the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov as it transited past the UK coast. Dragon deployed from Portsmouth last week to pre-position well north of Scotland in good time to respond to the Udaloy-Class destroyer’s deployment. She made contact with the Kulakov and is keeping an eye on the Russian ship’s transit south. The Royal Air Force was also involved recently with its Russian counterparts when RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft were launched from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that were approaching the Nato air policing area north of Scotland.

Offshore wind developer Forewind’s second of two planned meteorological masts was erected at Dogger Bank during the weekend using the innovative suction installed Bucket Foundation and a “human free” technique for the steel tower placement. The latest mast to be installed – Dogger Bank Met Mast West - will provide essential wind, wave and other weather information, as well as marine traffic data for the Dogger Bank offshore wind energy development. It is located approximately 150 kilometres from the U.K. coast. Installed by Fred.

E.ON Exploration & Production's (E&P) Tolmount gas discovery in the UK North Sea could contain significantly higher volumes than originally estimated, making it one of the largest discoveries made in this part of the North Sea for several years. The recently completed appraisal well reached its targets within time and budget on 6th July. A 855 m side-track was completed on 30th July, 2013. "This successful discovery in UK is an important step for our growing upstream business. Tolmount will significantly contribute to the implementation of our business strategy," said Jørgen Kildahl, member of the E.ON Board of Management. The Tolmount gas accumulation is situated near existing gas infrastructure in the UK North Sea.

Essex-based CTruk said it topped off a busy first day at Seawork International by signing an agreement with a new client, Paul Knight, for their now proven composite 20T multi-purpose catamaran design. Isle of Mull-based Paul started his own shellfish export business at the age of 18 and has always had a head for opportunities. Later adding a commercial fishing arm to PDK Marine, Paul bought his first vessel seven years ago and has owned several since. It was in 2010 that his attention turned to the progress of offshore wind farm construction around the U.K.…

Wildlife conservation charities are calling for an urgent review of the marine hazard classification of the chemical (Polyisobutene) PIB. Timed to coincide with the recent IMO MEPC meeting, leading wildlife conservation charities, animal welfare charities and the UK Chamber of Shipping, supported by the wider industry body MaritimeUK, came together as a single voice to call for an urgent review of the hazard classification status of  (PIB). The move follows two incidents off the UK coast that killed some 4,000 sea birds.

The latest addition to the Brazilian Navy’s fleet departed the UK in the snow for her new home in Rio de Janeiro where she will strengthen Brazil’s maritime security. Apa is the second of three Amazonas Class Ocean Patrol Vessels being delivered to the Brazilian Navy by BAE Systems. Her sister ship, Amazonas, completed the crossing last year, while the final ship, Araguari, will be handed over in June. BAE Systems employees and the Brazilian Navy support team, who are working in partnership to deliver the class of ships, gathered on the dockside at HM Naval Base Portsmouth where she departed.

Today His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway will officially open the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm built off the coast of Norfolk by owners Statoil and Statkraft. The Crown Prince will open the wind farm at an official ceremony at historic Holkham Hall in North Norfolk with support from UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey; Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Ola Borten Moe; Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske; and the owners’ presidents and CEOs, Helge Lund from Statoil and Christian Rynning-Tønnesen from Statkraft. Sheringham Shoal is owned equally by Statoil and Statkraft through the joint-venture company Scira Offshore Energy Limited.

Fairmount Marine’s ocean going salvage tug Fairmount Expedition, accompanied by tugs Anglian Sovereign and Carlo Magno, have safely delivered container vessel MSC Flaminia in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, after a hair-raising adventure lasting seven weeks. abandoned by her crew at the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. disabled vessel to render assistance. severe risk of explosions. from UK’s J.P. carrying additional salvage experts. the fire. permission to enter a Western European port. Expedition and MSC Flaminia through the English Channel. headed for Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Vessel has been towed closer to the UK coast, but adverse weather prevents boarding of safety experts. MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying tug boats FAIRMOUNT EXPEDITION (Fairmount Marine) and ANGLIAN SOVEREIGN (L.P. Knight) have arrived on the southwestern coast of the UK. The planned safety inspection [regarding pernission to pass through the English Channel & other European waters en route towards Wilhelmshaven, Germany] will be conducted as soon as weather conditions make possible a secure transfer of the experts onboard the vessel.

A team of Royal Navy aviators rescue an injured man from his yacht 70 miles offshore UK coast in Sea State 8 & a 40-foot (12m) swell. The duty crew of 771 Naval Air Squadron, based at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Helston, Cornwall, carried out the risky operation following a 'scramble' to a lone sailor in difficulties. Having conducted a visual search of the area for over an hour, 70 miles (113km) out at sea, in very poor visibility, the team located the sailor when he lit a flare.

'MSC Flamlinia' under tow, listing 11 degrees, heads for UK coastal water at 4 knots. MSC FLAMINIA and its accompanying group of tugs is currently located 170 nautical miles off the coast of the UK and progresses at a speed of four knots. Due to damaged cargo and extinguishing water, the vessel is listing by 11 degrees. After the prevailing fog of the last days lifted, a team of firefighting experts was able to board MSC FLAMINIA yesterday. However, a closer inspection of the cargo holds was not possible due to the ongoing generation of heat. The ship’s own firefighting system was switched off. Overall, the situation onboard MSC FLAMINIA has improved. The emission of smoke from cargo holds 4 and 5 has declined significantly.