World Energy Reports: Gas Supply Fears Drive Interest in FSRUs in Europe
Fears of gas supply interruptions due to Russian gas export constraints are driving interest and demand for floating regasification terminals, with contracting activity for oil and gas floaters also being quite active, World Energy Reports said in April 2022 Floating Production Systems Report. Tensions in East Europe and Covid outbreak in China continue to rattle the energy sector. Oil prices remain above $100, despite efforts to lower prices by releasing crude from strategic reservesâŚ
Brix Marine Delivers New Water Taxi
Aluminum boatbuilder Brix Marine said it has delivered the newest installment of its PAXCAT portfolio, a 32â x 12â catamaran GOAT 1 to the Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, located on Cortes Island, B.C., Canada. The corporation, whose activities include forestry, aquaculture, tourism and retail, operates the 12-passenger vessel as a water taxi.The vessel was delivered in September 2021, and a traditional cedar brushing ceremony marked the vesselâs arrival at Klahoose Wilderness Resort.
Brix Marine Building Water Taxi for QXMC
Boatbuilder Brix Marine (formerly Armstrong Marine USA) is currently constructing the 32â x 12â catamaran for the Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC). QXMC is the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, located on Cortes Island, B.C, Canada. The corporation, whose activities include industries such as forestry, aquaculture, tourism, and retail, will operate the twelve-passenger vessel as a water taxi. Completion is slated for Fall 2021.Power and propulsion are twin Volvo Penta D4 270hp engines with Aquamatic DPI outdrives.
Hidrovias do Brasil Orders Electric Pushboats
South American logistics operator Hidrovias do Brasil S.A. has ordered a fleet of diesel/battery electric pushboats from Belov Engenharia Shipyard, in Salvador, Brazil. Construction has commenced, and the first vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2022.Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, the innovative vessels are expected to be the worldâs first battery electric shallow draft pushboats when they begin operating to provide terminal assistance in the Amazon River system.The new vessels are of the RApide 2000-E designâŚ
Interview: John Waterhouse, EBDG - âBe Bold in Thinking but Cautious in Applicationâ
John Waterhouse is a ubiquitous character in the U.S. maritime industry, a deep-thinker, a signature bow tie and more than three decades of naval architecture and marine engineering experience and success as co-owner of the Seattle-based Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG).While growing up, John Waterhouse spent some time in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and it was as a young boy standing on the shores of English Bay, watching ships come in from around the world to load and unload their cargos, when he realized that a maritime career could be his future.
Corvus Energy Invests in Canadian Battery Production
Corvus Energy is moving forward with plans to invest in its Canadian operations by expanding its Richmond, B.C. facility and increasing manufacturing capacity.As reported in early 2018, Corvus Energy is rolling out plans for expanded maritime battery manufacturing facilities in both Bergen, Norway and Richmond, B.C., Canada. A new automated battery factory in Bergen began producing energy storage systems (ESS) in Q4 2019. Corvus has signed a contract for investment in new production line equipment in the Richmond, B.C.
PortX, Helm Ink Strategic Partnership Pact
PortX (Rotterdam, Netherlands) and Helm Operations (Victoria, BC, Canada) announced that they have signed a new strategic partnership agreement to combine PortXâs cutting-edge AI-based port dispatching system, OptiPort, with Helm CONNECT, a leading harbor dispatching and operations software.Already used in a number of ports around the globe, OptiPort dramatically improves the scheduling of harbour towage operations by using artificial intelligence to optimize vessel dispatch based on crew working hours, currents, tides, vessel characteristics, fuel consumption, and availability. Until now, it has been difficult for companies to manually calculate and account for these factors in a live environment.
Martin Bencher expands in North America
Scandinavian based Shipping and Freight Forwarding company Martin Bencher expands in North America with an office in Vancouver, BC, Canada.A press release from the project logistics company quoted Peter Thorsoe Jensen, CEO MB Group as saying: âNorth America is a very important project market for the Martin Bencher Group and with an office in Vancouver, BC, Canada, we are in a better position to service existing and new customers in the Pacific North West and throughout Canada.ââAfter 10 years of successful operation in the USA, it has been a natural next step for us to expand into Canadaâ, said Morten Olesen, President Martin Bencher North America.
Wärtsilä Donates Engine to Texas A&M University
Wärtsilä has donated an 8-cylinder Wärtsilä 20 engine and generating set, to the Marine Engineering Technology Department at Texas A&M University at Galveston. The donation represents a continuation of Wärtsilä's ongoing industry support programme aimed at helping future maritime sector leaders to acquire detailed understanding of marine technologies. The donation includes specialty tools and will provide students with valuable hands-on experience for expanding their knowledge of engine repairs, emissions and fuel economy. In addition to the equipment, Wärtsilä will also offer engine training to the Texas A&M Galveston engineering professors through the Wärtsilä Land and Sea Academy based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "Wärtsilä is a future oriented company.
Wartsila's 2nd Edition Encyclopedia Launch at Nor-Shipping
The second edition of Wartsila's Encyclopedia of Ship Technology is to be launched at the Nor-Shipping exhibition and conference being held in Oslo, Norway from June 2 to 5. The publication provides definitions to the current terminology used in the marine industry's technical vocabulary. It is intended as a means to pass on Wärtsilä's experience and know-how in this field, not only to the current community of experts but also to future generations of maritime professionals. It is being offered free of charge. The encyclopedia is part of Wartsila's ongoing industry support programme aimed at helping current and future marine engineers, architects, and other industry specialists.
Kvichak Delivers 2 Boats to West Coast Launch
Kvichak Marine delivered two all-aluminum 36.6â crew/pilot boats to West Coast Launch, Ltd. (WCL), which operates year-round as a water transportation company in Prince Rupert, B.C., Canada. The new vessels, Lelu and Kitson, will join the five vessels already operating in the West Coast Launch fleet, as the company prepares for the growth of Prince Rupert and the demands for transportation with the LNG industry. Lelu and Kitson are powered by twin Volvo D11 diesel engines rated for 510 bhp and ZF 205 marine gears. The engines are coupled to Hamilton 322 waterjets providing a speed of 35 knots.
Biofouling Foiled: UV Light Harnessed for Biofouling Control
Since the first deployment of in-situ monitoring instrumentation, biofouling has been a problem. Without an effective solution, people have historically had to accept the limits biofouling imposes on ocean sensing work, with significant repercussions. When instrumentation is deployed in-situ, the value of the data taken during the deployment corresponds with the longevity: information gleaned from a longer deployment is often more useful than information from one of a shorter term.
Krill Supplies VFMMS to Island Tug and Barge
Krill Systems Inc., a producer of Vessel Fuel Measurement and Monitoring Systems (VFMMS), announced delivery, installation and successful sea trials of three more systems to Island Tug and Barge Ltd. of Richmond B.C. Canada. The newly fitted vessels, Island Scout, Island Brave and Cindy Mozel, bring to a total six vessels fitted in the Island Tug and Barge fleet with Krill VFMMS, the others being Island Crown, Island Defender and Island Monarch, which were fitted about three years ago. The Krill VFMMS systems installed on these vessels will measure and transmit fuel consumption data from two main engines and two generators on each vessel and transmit that data to a Krill Vessel Operations Center (VOC) installed at Island Tug and Barge headquarters.
Shaw Joins Capilano Maritime Design
Capilano Maritime Design Ltd., a naval architecture design firm based in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, announced that John Shaw has joined the firm as Manager of Engineering. For the last six years, John was employed at Seaspan Shipyards where he played a role in the shipyardâs successful bid for a $2.6 billion contract for the construction of several nonâcombat ships for the Government of Canada. He has served as Technical Director for Thordon Bearings Inc. for many years during the development of their highly successful waterâlubricated bearing products.
Corvus Energy Systems Get More Scandline Hybrid Ferry Orders
Corvus Energy informs it has again been selected as the Energy Storage System (ESS) of choice by Scandlines for their next three hybrid ferries. Based on successful operation of Scandlineâs first hybrid, the 'MF Prinsesse Benedikte', the next 3 hybrids will use a 2.7MWh ESS consisting of Corvus Energy AT6500 advanced lithium polymer batteries integrated with Siemens drive systems. Corvus add that the ferries M/V Deutschland, M/V Schleswig-Holstein and M/V Prins Richard, in operationâŚ
Naval Architects 3GA Marine Open Victoria BC Office
3GA Marine, a growing naval architecture and marine engineering firm has announced the opening of their new office located in View Royal, a suburb of Victoria, BC. Company founder and president David Stocks is a naval architect with over 40 yearsâ experience leading teams of experts in maritime and offshore vessel projects. He established 3GA Marine in 2012, in response to a need from the commercial marine sector in Canada and across the Pacific Rim for high-quality, responsive consulting services.
Robert Allan Highlight Sanmar's Bogacay Series Tugboats
So far two BoÄaçay series RAmparts 2400SX tugs have been delivered. The 'Bogacay I' was delivered to new owners Gemport in Turkey and renamed Zeycan Y. The second hull of the series, 'Bogacay II' has entered into service in Sanmarâs fleet. In late 2011, Sanmar A.S. contracted with Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., Canada to provide a design for a new tug series to add to Sanmarâs expanding product portfolio. The design is called the RAmparts 2400SX and is a customized version of Robert Allan Ltd.âs RAmparts 2500W designâŚ
Innovative Tugboat Delivered to Columbia
Tugboat 'Cabo de la Vela' an AVT 3000-Class Voith Schneider vessel designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for Carbones del Cerrejón delivered by Uzmar Shipyard, Turkey. This is the second of a two boat order from Carbones del Cerrejón for the AVT 3000 Class Tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Cabo de la Vela will join her sister vessel, the Media Luna, in Puerto de Bolivar. The AVT 3000 tugs for Cerrejón were designed to meet Cerrejónâs requirements for performance, propulsion equipment, accommodations, tank capacities and outfit.
AAPA Cruise Seminar to Explore, Assess Industry Issues
The American Association of Port Authoritiesâ (AAPA) 2013 Cruise Seminar in San Francisco, April 24-26, will kick off with a candid look inside the cruise industry from the perspective of four key cruise line executives and end with a tour of the Port of San Francisco to see the impact of the Americaâs Cup on port operations. In between these bookend sessions, seminar participants will be treated to a host of presentations ranging from new international regulations on ship air emissions to itinerary planning, cruise facility design, financing and joint-use terminal opportunities.
Robert Allan Designed Tugboat Delivered to Colombia
New AVT 3000 Class Voith Schneider tugboat for Carbonnes del Cerrejón completes delivery voyage from Turkey to Colombia. The new tugboat, Media Luna, sailed into Puerto de Bolivar, Colombia to be welcomed by other Cerrejón towing vessels providing fire monitor displays. Media Luna was constructed at Uzmar Tug and Work Boat Factory in Izmit, Turkey. This is the first of a two boat order for the AVT 3000 Class Tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The Media Luna will replace the Riohacha as part of a Cerrejónâs fleet renewal program.
Seaspan Preps for $8B Contract
Seaspan is an association of Canadian companies primarily involved in coastal and deep sea transportation, bunkering, ship docking/ship escort, ship repair and shipbuilding services in Western North America. Seaspanâs three shipyards are located in Vancouver and Victoria, British Columbia (BC), Canada. Seaspan has served a variety of customers, including the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard, with construction, conversion, repair and maintenance projects on deep sea vessels and container shipsâŚ
Corvus Batteries For New Hybrid Tugboats
New hybrid tugs for Australian Gorgon Gas Field Project will use Canada-based Corvus batteries to reduce operational and environmental costs. More than two megawatts of batteries designed and manufactured by Corvus Energy will be at the heart of four new 542 kWh hybrid tugboats now being built for the Gorgon Project. One of the world's largest natural gas projects, Gorgon is currently under construction 130 km off the west coast of Australia. Once complete, it will become the largest natural resource project in Australiaâs history. Since the Gorgon Gas Project is located in an environmentally sensitive area, project operators are endeavoring to create a world-class example of environmental management where conservation and development can successfully co-exist.
Trawlercat Marine Announces Interest in JV
Trawlercat Marine Designs (TMD) a power catamaran design company in New Westminster, BC Canada has announced that they are interested in exploring a Joint Venture Partnership with an established East Coast USA Fiberglass Boat Builder and a Financial Investor(s) to jointly build their MKlll Hull Carbon-Cat catamaran work-boats. TMD has been approached by US and UK Maritime Security Companies with an urgent need to provide up to nine of their purpose designed armed and armored Anti-Piracy Personal Escort Vessels (PEVs).