Ocean Development News

The words “blue economy” will soon shape the future of Canada’s oceans, from the fiords and straits of British Columbia to the rugged coastlines of the Atlantic to the vast seascapes of the Arctic. The transformation of Canada’s ocean economies will be felt throughout the country and will set an example for nations around the world.But what is a blue economy? And what makes it different from business as usual?The term blue economy was first championed by small-island developing countries, including Fiji, Bahamas and Palau, to bring more local benefits from ocean industries.

South Korean Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) reported its third-quarter net loss of 583.2 billion won (US$ 503.8 million), compared with a KRW80.30 billion loss in the same quarter a year earlier, staying in the red compared with a year ago.The loss widened sharply in the wake of a cancelled shipbuilding deal. Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Co. (MODEC) was recently selected as the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit supplier for the Barossa Project in Australia. The FPSO part of the project alone is estimated at US$1.5 billion.Earnings were also hurt as Transocean Ltd. (RIG) said in September a pair of its…

The collaboration of Commonwealth and Nekton Foundation  and other partners, First Descent will launch a multidisciplinary exploration of never-before-accessed ocean territory.The expedition ship, a floating research station, will set sail from Seychelles in March equipped with cutting-edge subsea technologies, including a submersible capable of descending hundreds of metres into the ocean, and some of the world’s top scientists on board to test the health of the ocean.A launch of the initiative will take place at Marlborough House, the Commonwealth headquarters in London, on Wednesday, 6th of February. More than a hundred people, including Commonwealth High Commissioners…

Global trade enabler DP World has become the first company in its sector to join the World Ocean Council (WOC) as part of its leadership journey to actively engage in the protection of the world’s oceans. By becoming a member of the growing international multi-industry alliance on “Corporate Ocean Responsibility” DP World will commence, enhance and advance our role as a responsible leadership company. The WOC is a global, cross-sectoral business leadership alliance with a network of over 35,000 stakeholders addressing corporate ocean responsibility. Developed by and for the private sector, it addresses issues affecting ocean sustainable development, science and stewardship.

Key figures from Maersk Group, Statoil and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development have signed up to discuss future ocean business opportunities, demands and strategies at Opening Oceans Conference 2018 (OOC). The event, Nor-Shipping’s first outside its Norwegian home, will see c-level executives gather in Copenhagen on May 2nd and 3rd  to examine how to responsibly realise the huge potential of the ocean, gaining the understanding, partners and tools to equip businesses for the way ahead.

Today the first unit of a new bulk carrier developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) was delivered to Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) of the U.S., following its completion at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. of Nagasaki, an MHI licensing partner. The newly delivered bulk carrier is the first of three vessels, designed to serve as grain carriers, ordered by ADM in 2011 from Sumitomo Corporation. The vessel was constructed by Oshima Shipbuilding with MHI providing the conceptual design and various green technologies, including MALS.

The first unit of a new bulk carrier developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), a vessel offering superlative energy efficiency and environmental performance, was delivered today to Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) of the U.S., one of the world's foremost grain processors, following its completion at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. of Nagasaki, an MHI licensing partner. The incorporation of a wide spectrum of innovative technologies - including MHI's proprietary Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS), which reduces frictional resistance between the vessel hull and seawater using air bubbles produced at the vessel bottom - has enabled a 27% reduction in CO2 emissions, as verified, compared to conventional bulk carriers, exceeding the target figure of 25%.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has entered into an agreement with Odense Maritime Technology A/S (OMT) of Denmark, a provider of ship design services, on collaboration in ship engineering business. The companies said they plan to combine abundant track records in shipbuilding business to target speedy development of diverse ship types in a quest to expand their licensing business. Under the newly agreed collaborative arrangement, MHI will primarily take charge of developing propulsion performance aspects, including hull form design, model testing, and development of energy-saving devices and propellers. OMT will be responsible largely for the conceptual and basic designs based on MHI's hull form designs.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has concluded an agreement with Odense Maritime Technology A/S (OMT) of Denmark, a provider of ship design services, to collaborate in expanding their licensing business. Under the newly agreed collaborative arrangement, MHI will primarily take charge of developing propulsion performance aspects, including hull form design, model testing, and development of energy-saving devices and propellers. OMT will be responsible largely for the conceptual and basic designs based on MHI's hull form designs.

With oceans considered by many as one of the last frontiers, the American Bar Association's new book “Zoning the Oceans: The Next Big Step in Coastal Zone Management’’ is intended to help experts and government planners use zoning as a vehicle for ocean development and management. It is claimed to be the first book to focus on new and emerging state ocean zoning programs in the context of recent developments in offshore coastal zone regulation at the state and federal levels, say the publishers.

Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) president Takao Tanaka delivered a New Year message in which he comments on future market directions and developments as related to MES as well as the industry as a whole. Tanaka outlined his company’s approach to stabilizing profits across each market segment in which it is present, highlighting a company-wide focus on expansion and balanced growth. Tanaka said the present business environment sees global increases in energy demand and the progression of structural changes in the industry resulting from the shale gas revolution…

Westlawn Institute of Technology, the not-for-profit educational affiliate of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), welcomed RADM Gordon G. Piché USCG (Ret.) as Dean of Naval Architecture. Piché was also elected to Westlawn’s Board of Directors. Piché is a graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, with a BSE in general engineering. He holds an MSE in naval architecture and marine engineering and an MSE in engineering mechanics from the University of Michigan. “Gordon has already contributed highly important technical reviews to Westlawn’s new general structural engineering text as well as to a new aluminum text that is in the drafting phase, and to the student technical reference manual,” said Dave Gerr, Westlawn Director.

With oceans considered by many as one of the last frontiers, a new American Bar Association book will help experts and government planners use zoning as a vehicle for ocean development and management. “Zoning the Oceans: The Next Big Step in Coastal Zone Management’’ is the first book to focus on new and emerging state ocean zoning programs in the context of recent developments in offshore coastal zone regulation at the state and federal levels. The timely and relevant book delves into a wide range of coastal zone management issues…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. has determined to shift to a new business structure by consolidating and reorganizing its current nine business segments into just four business domains: "Energy & Environment," "Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems," "Integrated Defense & Space Systems" and "Machinery, Equipment & Systems." The reorganization initiative is intended to leverage commonly shared customers, markets, core technologies and business strategies. The first phase, slated to take effect October 1, calls for the reorganization of operations in the four segments of Shipbuilding & Ocean Development, Power Systems, Nuclear Energy Systems and Aerospace Systems…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) began construction today at its Nagasaki Shipyard and Machinery Works on the first of two new generation cruise ships for AIDA Cruises, the German cruise company part of Costa Group, Europe's largest cruise company member of Carnival Corporation & plc. MHI said the two new ships, which will incorporate an array of the world's leading-edge environmental technologies, are scheduled for delivery in the spring of March 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) joined the World Ocean Council (WOC), an international non-governmental organization (NGO) and the sole international, cross-sectoral industry leadership alliance on responsible ocean use. MHI is the first Japanese entity to join the organization, and through participation in the WOC's activities, MHI aims to acquire firsthand knowledge of policy and practical issues affecting the future of ocean industries, deepen exchanges with responsible ocean companies and organizations and proactively engage with other sectors on areas of mutual value.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Hakata Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, have agreed to collaborate in the joint development of a 1,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container carrier. The two companies have received the first order for the carrier, for two vessels to be used for time chartering by Korea Marine Transport Co., Ltd. (KMTC) of Korea. Going forward the two companies intend to establish a framework advantageous for competing in the international feeder container ship market as a way of expanding their businesses. Under the collaborative agreement, MHI will be responsible for hull form development and conceptual design of the container carrier…

Construction begins of First "Sayaendo" New-generation LNG CarrierAt Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works For Osaka Gas and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) began construction of the first ship in its "Sayaendo" Series, which it has developed as a new-generation liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, at the company's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. The LNG carrier is one of two ships ordered jointly by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) in October 2011.

Designed to Achieve 30% Reduction in Fuel Consumption Per Car. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), jointly with Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., has received an order to build two next-generation pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) for Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line). Formal contract signing will take place soon. In building the two vessels, MHI will provide Imabari with design information on PCTC incorporating advanced ship technologies, including installation of various devices and systems to reduce environmental burdens, such as the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System (MALS).

MHI to launch new Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering & Services Private Ltd. (MIES) in Singapore, integrating three local afiliated companies. Effective October 1st 2012 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will launch a new company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering & Services Private Ltd. (MIES), to supersede the current MHI Industrial Engineering & Services Private Ltd. (also abbreviated as MIES) after taking over various business functions of two other MHI subsidiaries in Singapore. Going forward the new company will handle a broader range of MHI business areas and will also serve as a global business center to support expansion of MHI's worldwide operations. Through this initiative MHI looks to further expand business in each of its product segments.

MHI announces outline of FY 2012 first 3-month financial results
 ended June 30, 2012 (consolidated). Overall, orders declined from a year ago, reflecting decreases in Power Systems and Machinery & Steel Infrastructure Systems, where orders were strong in the previous fiscal year. Orders received : Up ¥10.7 billion YoY, although the orders environment for new commercial ships remained difficult, orders increased from a year ago, thanks to the order for a new-type LNG carrier. Backlog of ship orders: 32 (6 LNG carriers, 3 LPG carriers, 2 cruise ships, 2 pure car carriers, 2 container ships, 2 ferries, 2 seismic vessels and others. MHI delivered a total of 9 vessels in the quarter, including 3 ferries, 2 pure car carriers, 2 patrol vessels, 1 roll-on/roll-off vessel and 1 ore carrier.

High Transport Efficiency and Environmental Compatibility Recognized. TØNSBERG, the world's largest roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship*, built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), has been awarded the "Ship of the Year 2011" by the Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers (JASNAOE). Every year JASNAOE selects what it considers to be the most technologically, artistically and socially superior ships and marine structures built that year, and the TØNSBERG was chosen for its highly evaluated transport efficiency and environmental compatibility.

MHI will provide technological support to Sinopacific in the area of commercial vessel construction. MHI is currently promoting expansion of its engineering business mainly through licensing of technology, while Sinopacific is taking steps to strengthen its shipbuilding business through introduction of technologies from advanced shipbuilders. The respective aims of the two companies thus coincide. As their first collaborative work, the two firms will jointly develop an 82…