New Ground News

British satellite communications company Inmarsat said on Wednesday it is nearing an agreement to move some of its ground communications systems from the Netherlands to Greece, resolving a conflict over 5G bandwidth use.The systems based in Burum, Netherlands, use the 3.5Ghz frequency range for emergency communications with sea traffic. Their location has been in doubt for years as the Dutch government plans to use the 3.5Ghz range for 5G telecommunications.Inmarsat said it received…

Hornblower Energy LLC, in partnership with the Port of San Franciso, the U.S. Department of Energy and six corporate partners, including Air Liquide and Glosten, is leading a project to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of using hydrogen (H2) as a maritime fuel.The project is located at Pier 68 in San Francisco. DOE selected the project for funding in 2020. It’s supposed to be completed in 2025 but there are important decision dates before then. So far, project activities have concentrated on planning and modeling.

By now, it is a well-known fact that the marine industry contributes significantly to the greenhouse gasses causing climate change—and the impact is predicted to rise as the demand for shipping by sea increases. Action is needed now, and the majority of ship operators are adopting or planning zero-emission solutions to accommodate upcoming emission reduction targets.A key zero-emission technology that will be a critical enabler for decarbonizing the marine industry—now and in the future—is hydrogen fuel cells.Today…

ABB on Wednesday introduced what it said was a concept representing "revolutionary propulsion system breaking new ground for efficiency in the marine industry, inspired by the dynamic motions of a whale’s tail." The innovative concept is called ABB Dynafin.The new propulsion concept features a main electric motor that powers a large wheel rotating at a moderate 30-80 rounds per minute. Vertical blades, each controlled by an individual motor and control system, extend from the wheel.

The path to decarbonization is defined by partnership and fueled by government funding. This month we examine the players, partnerships, and evolution of Hydrogen Hubs in the Gulf of Mexico.The Green Shipping Challenge, organized by the United States and Norway at COP 27 held in late 2022, brought about dozens of announcements on maritime decarbonization. Among these was a joint statement from the Blue Sky Maritime Coalition (BSMC) – a consortium of North American shipowners and…

A new, first-of-its-kind ferry that runs on liquid hydrogen has entered service for Norwegian operator Norled, breaking new ground for cleaner vessel operations.The 80-car ferry MF Hydra in recent weeks has been undergoing tests and sea trials, officially entering service with approval from the Norwegian Maritime Authority on March 31. The vessel services a triangular route between Hjelmeland, Skipavik and Nesvik in Norway, using 4 tonnes of liquid hydrogen, two 200 kW fuel cells, a 1.36—1.5 MWh battery, and two 440 kW diesel generators.

Inmarsat’s I-6 F1 satellite has connected to new ground stations in Perth and Merredin, Western Australia, as it aims to provide an upgrade in communications availability for the region.I-6 F1 launched in December 2021 and spent seven months travelling to geostationary orbit above the Atlantic. The spacecraft is now at its final orbital slot above the Indian Ocean, and the company will begin increasing its capacity and transition services to the new satellite throughout 2023,…

A hydrogen-fueled research vessel commissioned by the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography will be built to ABS Class.Designed by Glosten, the vessel will feature a new hydrogen-hybrid propulsion system that integrates hydrogen fuel cells alongside a conventional diesel-electric power plant, enabling zero-emission operations. The design is scaled so the ship will be able to operate 75% of its missions entirely using hydrogen. For longer missions…

Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, awarded a contract to Maersk Supply Service for charter of its newbuild wind installation vessel (WIV). This vessel, together with US constructed barges and tugs built and operated by Kirby Offshore Wind, will be used for the installation of the project’s Vestas V236-15MW turbines.The newbuild offshore wind turbine installation vessel is planned to be ready for operation for Empire Wind I and II in the mid-2020s. Maersk…

Steelworker union members at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division have voted in favor of a new labor contract, HII announced on Tuesday.After rejecting an initial agreement in November 2021, United Steelworkers Local 8888 agreed on a new deal that took effect Monday and will run through February 7, 2027.The agreement contains over $22,000 in new money based on a 40-hour week. It also features a first-time $2,000 Essential Pay bonus; a new Domestic Partner benefit…

Classification society ABS announced it has appointed digital product veteran Paul Sells to lead its global digital solutions development.“Paul joins our team to continue building on ABS’ strong track record of digital innovation to support our clients in all aspects of their business: improved safety, operational excellence, and sustainability,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS chairman, president and CEO. “Paul’s visionary leadership will solidify our position as industry leaders by providing strategic direction to enhance and expand our existing digital and decarbonization capabilities.

The 15,000 TEU Brussels Express is the first large containership in the world to have been converted to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion, German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said on Monday, as operators look to LNG fuel to reduce their environmental footprint.In September 2020, the ship went into the Huarun Dadong Dockyard in Shanghai where the conversion was performed. MAN Energy Solutions converted the ship's MAN B&W 9S90ME-C engine, which was previously operated with heavy fuel oil (HFO)…

Russian oil and gas shipping giant Sovcomflot said Friday it had on March 15, together with Shell, "broke new ground," with the completion of the "first-ever Aframax tanker fuelling using LNG in the USA."Sovcomflot’s Gagarin Prospect tanker, on long-term charter to Shell, was en-route from Corpus Christi to Europe. It received 1,075 cubic metres of marine LNG from the Shell NA LNG LLC chartered Q-LNG 4000 outside the Port of Canaveral, Florida. "This represented the first ever ship-to-ship LNG fuelling of a large capacity Aframax tanker in the USA…

Hapag-Lloyd's efforts to obtain financing for six of its highly efficient containership newbuilds according to the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association (LMA) are being supported by classification society DNV.The German shipping company announced in February it concluded two debut transactions according to the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association (LMA), and DNV said Wednesday it has provided a second party opinion to confirm compliance with the requirements as an independent expert.

Back in 2017, Ocean Infinity made a novel move; deploying six autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), instead of just one, from a single vessel, vastly increasing the ground that could be covered in a single survey. Now the firm is taking the use of remote, robotic systems a significant step further.Back in 2017, Ocean Infinity made a novel move; deploying six autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), instead of just one, from a single vessel, vastly increasing the ground that could be covered in a single survey.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has joined the shift to green financing, securing funds for six liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered, 23,500 TEU containerships it ordered in December 2020.The firm said it concluded two transactions according to the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association (LMA), as verified by independent secondary party DNV GL, as the shipping industry increasingly turns toward financing linked to measurable sustainability targets."Our first green financings are a major milestone for us…

The inland waterway system, flowing through the United States heartland, is a microcosm of all that has been happening in 2020: trade tensions, infrastructure issues, shifting trends in fuel consumption and the pandemic that has gripped us since the winter months. Shortly after the initial coronavirus outbreak here in the U.S., maritime workers were deemed to be “essential”, paving the way for cargo flows to recover from their springtime nadir. As COVID-19 infections turned up on U.S. shores, the boats continued plying the waterways, albeit with reduced volumes in some cases.

A new notation and new guidance launched by ABS amid the COVID-19 pandemic aims to help marine and offshore operators reduce transmission of disease, the classification society said Tuesday.The ABS Guide for Mitigation of Infectious Disease Transmission On Board Marine and Offshore Assets details how the physical arrangement of a marine or offshore asset can act to mitigate transmission of infectious diseases, and, in an industry first, introduces a new notation indicating compliance…

A new ground-breaking study by University College London (UCL) Energy Institute, Imperial College and the University of Oxford shows how satellite tracking could be used to monitor compliance with the upcoming IMO 0.5% sulfur emission regulations and Emission Control Areas (ECA).Research conducted by their own researchers, UCL Energy and the University of Oxford and published today in Geophysical Research Letters, has unveiled discoveries that appear important on many levels for they describe the impact of shipping emissions on the climate: because fossil fuel emission particles from ships affect the air including by releasing sulfur…

Vessel operators working in the towage and CTV markets on the Atlantic Coast are taking advantage of new, more cost-effective technologies as they pioneer a digital approach to small vessel and fleet monitoring. This investment will support these businesses in driving operational improvements and maximizing quality of service.That is according to Reygar Ltd, the firm behind the innovative advanced remote monitoring platform, BareFLEET, which is seeing growing demand from US operators.Despite an increase in the digitization of operating practices throughout the maritime sector…

As Maritime Partners LLC built out its modern fleet of new tank barges, quality coatings and responsiveness to last-minute color changes supported that fleet expansion. Sherwin-Williams was there to meet the challenge.The hulking silhouette of a tank barge is instantly recognizable to anyone who has spent time on the shores of an inland waterway in the United States. These massive flat-bottomed vessels help to maintain the healthy functioning of the domestic economy, transporting vital commodities such as agricultural products, chemicals and petroleum products.

Turkey’s leading tug builder Sanmar Shipyards was selected by Caterpillar Marine to build the first tug to incorporate its hydraulic hybrid propulsion system. Construction is currently under way with delivery scheduled for October 2019. Furthermore the two companies, from different continents, are joining together to present their collaborative efforts at the Tugnology 19 Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to be held in Liverpool, England, May 14-15, 2019.Tugs represent some of the more power dense and cost competitive vessels…

Italian shipyard Perini Navi said its first motor yacht launch since the company’s rebranding, and its first ever planing motoryacht, the Eco-tender is effectively a mini superyacht tailored to the requests of her experienced Perini Navi owners.The project grew out of initial discussions with the owners for a bigger sailing boat. It emerged that the owners were very happy with their existing 52m Perini Navi sailing yacht, but their needs had evolved over the years and what they really wanted was not a bigger boat, but more flexible cabin space to accommodate single guests or children.As they prefer to anchor offshore, they also wanted to explore closer inshore in something more substantial than a conventional RIB.The answer was a vessel with the same graceful looks…