CTO in Focus: Henrik Stiesdal, Wind Power Pioneer
Wind power pioneer Henrik Stiesdal built his first wind turbine in 1978. It was one of Denmark’s first step towards becoming a wind energy powerhouse, with Stiesdal regularly at the helm. He’s now got wider climate initiatives in his sights, including industrializing floating offshore wind. He reflected with OE’s Elaine Maslin.By 2021, a total of 35 GW of offshore wind had been installed across the world.
Fincantieri Offers New Apprenticeship Program in Wisconsin Shipyards
Fincantieri Marine Group began accepting applications for a new paid Industrial Shipbuilding Apprenticeship program this week. This program, which was approved by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, is designed to increase the quality and quantity of skilled technicians trained and equipped to succeed in the maritime sector of the manufacturing industry. Fincantieri will select its first group of apprentices in July…
Sea Mines Float Between Ukraine’s Grain Stocks and the World
As the United Nations tries to broker a path for grain from Ukraine and temper worries about a global food crisis, hundreds of mines laid along the Black Sea present a practical nightmare that will take months to resolve even after any agreement.The Black Sea is crucial for shipment of grain, oil and oil products. Its waters are shared by Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Turkey, as well as Ukraine and…
US Announces $59 Million to Spur Biofuels Usage
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $59 million to accelerate the production of biofuels and bioproducts to reduce emissions in industries such as maritime.The department said it is focused on applied research, development and deployment to improve the performance and reduce the cost of biofuel production technologies and scale-up production systems in partnership with industry. "By reducing costs and technical risks…
Thyssenkrupp Acquires MV Werften's Wismar Shipyard
Thyssenkrupp's defense division hopes to start building for the German navy from 2024 at a shipyard in Wismar, northern Germany, once owned by insolvent MV Werften, its head said on Friday after it bought the site.Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a policy shift after decades of attrition of Germany's armed forces, pledged in February after Russia invaded Ukraine to sharply increase defence spending, including an initial 100 billion euro ($106 billion) fund.Thyssenkrupp Chief Executive Martina Merz sai
Holland Shipyards Delivers Hybrid Ferry Wik to SFK
Holland Shipyards Group announced it has handed over a third hybrid ferry, Wik, for Schlepp- und Fahrgesellschaft Kiel (SFK) in Germany.After the previous delivery of the hybrid ferry Gaarden in July 2020, Holland Shipyards Group was awarded a contract to build three additional similar hybrid vessels: Friedrichsort, Wik and Schilksee. With both the Friedrichsort and the Wik now in service in the Kieler Fjord…
US Names New Members to Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this week announced the appointment of 25 new members to the Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC). The MTSNAC Charter will advise the Secretary, through the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Administrator, on ways to identify and address impediments hindering the effective use of short sea transportation. The MTSNAC’s counsel…
Disney Cruise Line Takes Delivery of Disney Wish
Disney Cruise Line has taken delivery of the 144,000 GT Disney Wish, its first new cruise ship in more than a decade.The fifth ship in the Disney fleet, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessel was built by German shipyard Meyer Werft and officially handed over during a ceremony in Bremerhaven on Thursday. Disney Cruise Line president Thomas Mazloum and Meyer Werft managing director Jan Meyer…
Indonesia Investigating Report Navy Asked for Payment to Release Tanker
Indonesia's head of the armed forces said on Friday that he is investigating a Reuters report that navy officers asked for a payment of $375,000 to release a fuel…
Lebanon's Hezbollah Says Could Disrupt Start-up of Energean's Karish Gas Field Over Maritime Dispute with Israel
The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday that his group could stop Israel from extracting gas from a maritime field that Beirut says lies in disputed waters, adding Hezbollah is "not afraid of war."Lebanon warned Israel on Sunday against any "aggressive action" in disputed waters where both states hope to develop offshore energy, after a vessel operated by London-based Energean arrived off…
2050 Not Achievable Without Carbon Capture, says ABS' Wiernicki
“Carbon capture is going to be a key transformational technology for shipping to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It will be critical to addressing the challenge before us, which is the sheer gradient of the curve. At the moment we can only see the outline of a solution to get us to 2050. But it is clear already that net zero cannot realistically be delivered without efficient carbon capture and storage technology,” said Christopher J.
Keel Laid for Seaway 7's Offshore Wind Installation Vessel 'Seaway Ventus'
A keel-laying ceremony was held earlier this week for Seaway 7’s new offshore wind turbine installation vessel Seaway Ventus.The ceremony was held on Monday, June 6, at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) Haimen facility, Nantong.The GustoMSC NG-14000XL-G jack-up vessel was originally ordered by OHT, with which Seaway 7 merged in 2021."This is a very important and satisfying milestone for the Seaway Ventus construction project…
PHOTO: Pioneering Spirit Brings Decommissioned Valhall Facilities to Stord for Recycling
Allseas giant Pioneering Spirit offshore construction ship is back in Stord, Norway, to deliver several decommissioned platform facilities removed from the Aker BP's Valhall field complex, located in the North Sea offshore Norway. The facilities will be recycled.The Pioneering Spirit, dubbed the world’s largest vessel, arrived in Stord on June 9, with the entire production and compression (PCP) platform topsides…
UAE and Morocco to Boost Trade Via Faster Shipping
The United Arab Emriates wants to bolster trade with Morocco to reach $7 billion within 10 years from $800 million in 2021, UAE Economy Minister Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri said on Thursday in Rabat.For that purpose, the two countries will speed up container shipping to seven days from 40 days, Al Marri told Reuters before a visit to Africa's largest port in Tangier, northern Morocco.The UAE is one of the largest investors in Morocco…
Baltic Dry Index Hits Six-week Low
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index extended its slide on Thursday to hit the lowest in more than six weeks, hurt by falling rates across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 68 points, or 2.8%, to 2,342 points.The capesize index fell 88 points, or about 3.6%, to 2,369 points.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, fell $737 to $19,643.C
Biden Urges Congress to 'Crack Down' on Shipping
U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Congress to “crack down” on ocean carriers that have raised shipping prices significantly and helped drive up the cost of goods in the country.“One of the reasons prices have gone up is because a handful of companies who control the market have raised shipping prices by as much as 1,000%,” Biden said in Twitter post. “It’s outrageous—and I’m calling on Congress to crack down on them.”“We’ve got to change this.
Maritime Risk Symposium 2022: The Importance of Inland Systems to the MTS
The theme of Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS) 2022 is “The Importance of Inland Systems to the MTS.” The global MTS consists of numerous inland networks that connect the major transnational and inland ports. The United States has more than 25,000 miles of navigable waters, which can carry around 630 million tons of cargo annually. Barges carry the bulk of the commodities on the inland river networks while freighters carry the commodities on the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway.
US Approves $120 Million Sale to Maintain Taiwanese Warships
The United States has approved a possible $120 million sale of parts to help Taiwan maintain its warships, which the island's defense ministry said would help ensure combat readiness in the face of China's "frequent activities" near the island.The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it had delivered the required certification notifying Congress following State Department approval for the sale…
Freeport LNG Plant Suffers Explosion
A explosion occurred on Wednesday at the Freeport LNG liquefied natural gas plant on the Texas Gulf Coast, according to police, and prompting an evacuation of nearby residents in Quintana, Texas.The plant can process up to 2.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day into a supercooled liquid for export.Freeport LNG acknowledged an incident occurred around 11:40 a.m. local time with providing further details.
Iran Expects Confiscated Oil Cargo to be Returned in Full
Iran expects an oil cargo confiscated by the United States off the coast of Greece to be returned in full, Tehran's ambassador to Athens said on Thursday, following a Greek court ruling quashing the original decision to confiscate it.The case arose when Greece in April impounded the Iranian-flagged Lana, formerly Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the island of Evia due to European Union sanctions.The ship was released due to complications over its ownership.
