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Possible Solution News

11 Aug 2023

Rapid Charging Systems: Current Technology for the Future of Ferries

3mar (Mobimar) offers a ramp-mounted autonomous bow charging system, NECTOR, that can establish a rapid connection to the vessel, easily activated via push button from the bridge. Image courtesy 3mar

As the devotion to more sustainable shipping expands and regulations become more stringent, the demand for lower emissions operations continues to increase. As a result, the marine industry is confronted with the challenge of large-scale electrification as an alternative energy solution.For electric ferries, one developing technology is Rapid Charging Systems (RCS), which transfer electrical power from the shore to a vessel at a high rate. These charging systems establish a ship-to-shore connection quickly…

06 Sep 2022

Europe Must Invest in LNG Terminals to Secure Long-term Supplies- RWE

RWE Chief Executive Andree Stracke (Photo: RWE)

RWE, Germany's largest power producer, said Europe needed more investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals on land to secure shipped fuel supplies from global gas producers in the long term.But RWE Chief Executive Andree Stracke told the Gastech conference in Milan that he did not think Europe would abandon Russian gas forever because of the cost to industries and households.Europe is facing its worst gas supply crisis ever, with energy prices soaring and German importers…

13 Apr 2022

The New 'New York'

(Photo: Sandy Hook Pilots Association)

When it came time to replace their 50-year-old station vessel New York, the Sandy Hook Pilots Association thought long and hard, weighing their options to determine the best possible solution. They traveled the country, to Houston, San Francisco and up to the Columbia River, and even to Europe—the Elbe River in Germany and Rotterdam in the Netherlands—to ride with other pilots in search of an answer.“We looked at everything from SWATH (small-waterplane-area twin hull) boats to helicopters to big boats in Europe…

06 Apr 2021

VARD to Build North Star's Dogger Bank SOV Fleet in Vietnam

Credit: VARD

Norwegian shipbuilder VARD has won contracts to build three Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for the UK-based North Star Renewables. The vessels, to be built in Vietnam, will operate on the Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea, the world's largest.The shipbuilding contract announcement comes three weeks after North Star said it had won a deal worth around $375 million to supply SOVs for the giant wind farm off the UK. The 3.6 GW Dogger Bank wind farm is being built  in three phases in the North Sea by joint venture partners SSE Renewables…

14 May 2020

Flow Batteries Tested For Zero-Emission Marine Propulsion

Photo courteys of  Houlder

A new project, FLO-MAR, has attracted funding from MarRI-UK’s Clean Maritime Call to assess the feasibility of using flow batteries in vessels to enable zero-emission marine propulsion and auxiliary power. Four UK organizations will work together on the project to investigate how the design of electric and hybrid ships, from ferries through to tugs and wind farm vessels, can be optimized to accommodate flow batteries and to assess the advantages this technology offers in comparison with existing lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel-cells.

29 Jan 2020

World’s First: Wärtsilä Hybrid Propulsion for Bulkers

The technology solutions provider for the marine and energy markets Wärtsilä has been selected to provide the complete system design and full equipment scope for two new 9300 DWT self-discharging bulk carriers featuring hybrid propulsion.The Finnish corporation announced that the ships will be the first of their kind to be fitted with a hybrid propulsion solution. They are being built for Norway’s Aasen Shipping at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands. The yard has also designed the vessels. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in December 2019.Wärtsilä was contacted to determine whether a hybrid installation would be beneficial for these new ships.

24 Mar 2019

DSGC Joins Forces with Maersk for Biofuel Project

A group of Dutch multinationals including FrieslandCampina, Heineken, Philips, DSM, Shell and Unilever, all members of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition (DSGC), will join forces with A.P. Moller - Maersk on a pilot testing the use of second-generation biofuel.The test is part of an effort by Maersk to reach its net zero CO2 target by 2050 as a tangible step towards the decarbonization of ocean shipping.A pilot, using up to 20% sustainable second-generation biofuels on a large triple-E ocean vessel will sail 25.000 nautical miles from Rotterdam to Shanghai and back on biofuel blends alone, a world’s first at this scale, saving 1…

05 Jul 2018

Damen's Danish Electric Public Transport Project Kicks Off

5xDamen Ferry 2306E3 (Photo: Damen Shipyards)

Damen Shipyards Group recently signed a contract with leading multinational public transport company Arriva Danmark for five fully-electric ferries, known as the Damen Ferry 2306 E3. Damen E3 vessels are designed with the philosophy of being environmentally friendly, efficient in operation and economically viable. Arriva will operate the ferries for its client, Danish public transport agency MOVIA, in the country’s capital city Copenhagen. Both Damen and Arriva share a common vision of reducing the environmental footprint of public transportation via utilization of innovative technology.

26 Oct 2017

Astomos and Elgas to Study LPG as Shipping Fuel

Tokyo-based Astomos Energy Corporation and , Australia’s leading LPG marketer and distributor have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) for the further study of LPG as a ship bunker fuel(LPG bunkering). LPG bunkering is a possible solution to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO) shipping fuels SOx limit of 0.5% from 2020. This MOU will enhance cooperation between Astomos and Elgas across all aspects of LPG bunkering including the sharing of information, research and development and collaboration in securing global supply sites for LPG bunkering within the Asia Pacific. Over the past few years Astomos and Elgas have developed a strong business relationship in the field of seaborne LPG trading.

29 Mar 2017

ClassNK Publishes LH2 Carrier Guidelines

Classification society ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) Carriers for the safe constructions and operation of LH2 carriers based on provisions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Interim Recommendations. As a low carbon energy source, the use of hydrogen as a fuel is seen as a major possible solution to environmental problems caused by fuel emissions, the classification society said. As only water is discharged at the time of power generation, and can be manufactured from many different feed materials such as fossil fuel, water and others, hydrogen is a candidate for the “fuel of the future.” However…

21 Sep 2016

Hamburg Süd is Ocean Supplier of the Year

In August 2016, CEVA Logistics honored Hamburg Süd with the Ocean Supplier of the Year award for 2015. CEVA is one of the world’s leading non-asset-based supply chain management companies. Hamburg Süd was recognized for its strong global relationship with CEVA in combination with its dedication to ongoing operational excellence. “This award is in recognition of Hamburg Süd’s exceptional carrier services at a global and local level. The line has reinforced CEVA’s commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the mutual goal of delivering exceptional global service standards for our customers,” says CEVA’s Chief Operating Officer Air and Ocean, Helmut Kaspers. Michael Britton, General Manager Region Asia Pacific for Hamburg Süd: “We are delighted with the award from CEVA Logistics.

28 Jul 2016

A Sea Change in Waterjet Technology

Longtime waterjet propulsion equipment provider NAMJet introduces key advancements for the workboat sector. Back in 2011, when boat builder Birdon went looking for a propulsion system that they could utilize in the bid phases of a multi-boat contract with the U.S. Army, they landed on NAMJet propulsion systems and its TRAKTOR Jet line of high-thrust marine jets. Subsequent to that, and because their Army Bridge Erection boat (BEB) concept, powered by NAMJet, performed so well, Birdon went ahead and purchased the company. Since then, NAMJet has gone on to blaze its own trail for propulsion solutions over a wide range of workboats. Denver-based NAMJet provides waterjet technology designed for a wide variety of commercial…

06 Jul 2016

DNV GL Recommendations for Adopting LNG as Ship Fuel

As air emission requirements are becoming more stringent, one possible solution for reduced emissions is to use LNG as fuel for shipping. However take-up of LNG as ship fuel in Europe is still at an early stage. DNV GL has provided a report for the EU1 providing recommendations on how to address barriers to wider adoption. By November 2016 all member states have to submit national policy frameworks for the implementation of the EU alternative fuels Directive; the report’s recommendations are a useful aid in this. Two key barriers to take-up of LNG as ship fuel are the gaps in the legislative or regulatory framework, and the lack of harmonized standards.

23 Nov 2015

Largest Underwater CO2 Release from Pipeline - DNV GL

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is gaining momentum to meet stringent climate change goals and secure energy supplies for the future. To fully understand the environmental and safety implications associated with the development of CO2 pipelines, DNV GL is conducting the oil and gas industry’s largest ever controlled release of carbon dioxide from an underwater pipeline at its full-scale Spadeadam Testing and Research Centre, located in Cumbria, UK. The planned underwater release, scheduled to start in January, is part of an international Joint Industry Project (JIP) ‘Sub-C-O2’ to develop safety guidelines on the use of offshore CO2 pipelines.

23 Mar 2015

The (Welding) Tools of the Trade

Photo courtesy of The Lincoln Electric Company

The fast-paced marine industry faces constant demands for efficiency and productivity – both from its workers and the equipment they use. That’s why, five years ago, MetalCraft Marine embarked upon a much-needed welding equipment upgrade when it discovered that the machines spent more time in repair mode than in active production. The Kingston, Ontario-based integrated designer and builder of custom, high-performance, aluminum workboats, which also operates a U.S. facility in Cape Vincent…

02 Feb 2015

Greece to Go Quiet on Shipping Tax

The New Leftist government in Greece is expected to avoid tax clash with shipping tycoons, reports Reuters. Many owners in Greece’s important shipping sector were in fear that the new government led by Syriza party of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will levy higher taxes that the industry can’t afford. Before election the party had promised to take on ship-owners and their generous tax allowances. Though Syriza has confronted fellow EU governments with radical plans to renegotiate Greece's debts, overturn austerity policies and cancel privatizations, its stand on ship-owners, by contrast, has been decidedly conciliatory. The Economy Minister George Stathakis, who is in charge of shipping portfolio, confirmed that his government has come to power to solve problems, not to create new ones.

11 Nov 2014

Design (R)Evolutions

ReVolt The unmanned, battery powered vessel ReVolt is envisioned by DNV GL to revolutionize short-sea shipping.  (Image: DNV GL)

While the maritime industry is widely labeled ‘conservative’ in its adoption of new technologies to make operations more efficient and cost effective, recent years have seen a decided uptick in the level and sophistication of design, external and internal, across the maritime spectrum. Following are some recent revelations that could work their ways onto a waterway close to you in the near future. While investment in short-sea shipping generates plenty of debate and little action…

03 Nov 2014

Carnival to Update Entire Fleet's Internet Service

Photo courtesy of Carnival

WiFi@Sea high-speed network will combine land-based systems and advanced satellite connectivity designed to give passengers faster, more stable and powerful internet service at sea. With connectivity speeds that can be roughly 10 times faster than ever before, passengers will be able to share their cruise experience via Internet, email and social media in real time. Carnival Corporation & plc has unveiled a hybrid wireless network – a high-speed service to eventually be rolled out to all 101 of its ships on all nine of its brands.

11 Sep 2014

Look No Hands! Concept Short-sea Trader

DNV GL say that the increasing stress placed on land based logistic networks is driving the search for alternatives, and one of the most promising is short sea shipping. In response their researchers  have developed “ReVolt”, a vessel they claim is greener, smarter and safer than conventionally fuelled and operated vessels. Autonomous, fully battery powered and highly efficient – “ReVolt” is a new shipping concept that offers a possible solution to the growing need for transport capacity. Instead of using diesel fuel, “ReVolt” is powered by a 3000 kWh battery. This reduces operating costs by minimizing the number of high maintenance parts such as rotational components. The vessel has a range of 100 nautical miles, before the battery needs to be charged.

13 May 2014

Hydrex Cleaning and UWILD for the Offshore Market

Photo courtesy of Hydrex

Following is a typical case study of Hydrex in-water cleaning and UWILD services for offshore vessels and units. In this case, Hydrex carried out a full inspection and removed all fouling from three drilling vessels in the Gulf of Mexico owned by Transocean. This was done to reduce the weight and drag of the vessels and increase their available deck load. Hydrex had carried out repairs on other offshore units belonging to the same owner and he knew that the company could offer the required services without having to take the vessels to drydock.

27 Dec 2011

Statoil Mulls FPU for Skrugard Discovery

The Polar Pioneer drilling rig at Skrugard in the Barents Sea. (Photo: Harald Pettersen/http://www.statoil.com)

Statoil and its partners are considering developing the Skrugard discovery in the Barents Sea by means of a floating production unit with the additional capacity to process and transport from other prospects in the area. A feasibility study has identified a technical and commercial solution for the Skrugard field in the Barents Sea. The solution involving a floating production unit will result in the rapid and cost-efficient development of the discovery. The production unit will have separate oil storage and offshore loading capability with a production capacity of 95…

01 Jun 2012

Greek VLCC Ballast Water Treatment Contract Goes to OceanSaver

Greek oil tanker operator, Almi Tankers S.A. has chosen OceanSaver Ballast Water Treatment solutions for its VLCCs currently under construction at Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. The 320,000 dwt vessels will join Almi’s fleet in July 2013 and November 2014 and are designed to exceed high environmental standards, reflecting client demand for clean & green operation. Almi Tankers currently manages two Aframax LR2 vessels and three newly-built Suezmax Crude Oil Carriers and is expecting the delivery of seven more Suezmaxes and two VLCCs by November 2014. Almi confirms the decision to choose OceanSaver follows a thorough evaluation of the company’s Mark I and Mark II BWT technology and competing suppliers.

09 Jan 2014

Marine Infrastructure Challenges Demand Engineering Solutions

Infrastructure renewal and engineering combine to provide an obscure, often under-appreciated, but nevertheless critically important aspect of marine operations. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, the waterway abundant geography provides engineering and specialized moving company Omega Morgan with all sorts of challenges that involve bridges spanning rivers. Whether crossing or moving these spans, West Coast-based Omega Morgan, faces particularly unique engineering challenges.