Acciona Gets DNV GL Certification
Acciona Energia, the biggest global operator exclusively in renewable energies, received the first ever prototype certificate for a grid-scale energy storage solution by DNV GL, the worldâs largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body. The handover of the certificate took place at the American Wind Energy Associationâs 2018 Windpower Conference in Chicago. To explore the possibilities of grid-scale storage, Acciona Energia started up a hybrid plant for storing electricity in batteries as part of its grid-connected wind farm at Barasoain in Navarra, northern Spain. The plant in Barásoain is equipped with a storageâŚ
Naviera Armas Buys Trasmediterranea from Acciona
Acciona has reached an agreement to sell its 92.7% stake in Trasmediterranea to the Naviera Armas Group. Acciona's stake is being sold for 260.4 million euros, and the buyer will assume 127.3 million euros of debt owed by Trasmediterranea to Acciona group companies. The final price could increase by up to 16 million euros as a function of the combined group's future EBITDA performance. This transaction sets the company's enterprise value (100%) at between 419 and 436 million euros. The deal will foreseeably be completed in the first quarter of 2018, once it has been approved by the Spanish competition authorities. The disposal responds to Acciona's goal of concentrating on its core strategic lines of business: sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy.
Damen Pumps for Brazilian Harbor Construction
Damen delivered two complete DOP packages to Acciona Infraestructuras, S.A., a Spanish construction company. The DOP submersible dredge pumps are being used in a large harbour construction project in Brazil. The DOP pumps empty concrete caissons to be able to reposition these as a breakwater. This is a job perfectly suited to the DOP, which fits into confined spaces. The harbour construction project, at Sao Joao de Barra, 150 miles North of Rio de Janeiro, started a few years ago. Acciona was awarded the contract for the engineering, design and construction of two artificial breakwaters. Acciona decided to use its pioneering system of concrete caissons built in an auxiliary dock.
Port of Barcelona: Leader in Vehicle Shipping
The automotive industry developed during the 20th century in Barcelona, Spain's principal industrial city and the center of one of Europe's four key development driving regions. The Port of Barcelona claims a leading role in the development of this sector throughout its history, and today it is one of its main factors of competitiveness, both for finished vehicles and containerized part traffic. When the industry began to develop in Catalonia, with manufacturers like Hispano Suiza and ElizaldeâŚ
Passenger Ferry Ablaze in the Mediterranean
Spanish emergency services safely evacuated around 150 people from a burning ferry crossing the Mediterranean from the island of Mallorca to the Spanish port of Valencia, government and port authorities said on Tuesday. The Sorrento ferry, belonging to the Italian company Atlantica di Navigazione although operated by Trasmediterranea-Acciona, sent out distress signals, the Ministry of Public Works said in a statement. Spanish newspaper websites showed pictures of the ferry belching out great clouds of black smoke. Although the captain did not initially want to evacuate the ferry, passengers and crew eventually left the burning vessel in lifeboats, the ministry said. The port authority said 170 passengers were rescued. Sea rescue services could not confirm the number.
Keel Laid in S. Korea for 1,200-passenger Vessel
The keel of the 1,200 passenger vessel designed by the engineering and technology group SENER was recently laid in the Factory No. 2 of POSCO PLANTEC, in Ulsan, South Korea. SENER said its representatives attended to the keel laying ceremony, which was presided by members of the Zanzibarâs Government, the owner of the vessel. The ship will operate in Northern Mozambique, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tanga and Mombasa. On behalf of the owner assisted to the ceremony the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communications, Dr. Juma Malik Akil; the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Khamis Mussa Omar; the Principal Secretary of the Second Vice President Office, Dr.
Shipbuilder OSX Brasil Restructuring Plan Suspended by Court
Reuters â A Brazilian court has suspended the deadline for shipbuilder OSX Brasil SA to present its restructuring plan under bankruptcy legislation until a new judge is appointed to the case, the company said in a statement. The 60-day deadline to file the plan was already suspended in January while another court reviewed a challenge to OSX's Nov. 11, 2013, bankruptcy protection filing. The new deadline will be set once the case is formally transferred to a new judge. Spanish construction company Acciona asked a court to prevent OSX's bankruptcy from being handled by the same judge responsible for the bankruptcy of sister oil company Oleo e Gas Participações SA. Oleo e Gas, formerly known as OGX, filed Latin America's largest ever bankruptcy on Oct. 30.
e-Compliance: Revolutionizing the Efficiency of Compliance for Maritime Regs
Commercial seaborne shipping is regulated by international, EU and national authorities and is subject to a number of commercially oriented constraints. The long history and large number of organizations associated with regulation has led to a high level of complexity in managing the development of regulations, their implementation by transport operators, and their enforcement by authorities. The complexity of the situation is further aggravated by the long lifetime of ships, the different phases of ship operationsâŚ
EU Project Aims to Improve Efficiency of Maritime Regulations
A new three-year European Research Project, partly funded by the EU has been launched to help increase efficiencies in regulation compliance and enforcement for the maritime sector. e-Compliance will facilitate tighter integration and cooperation in the fragmented field of regulatory compliance. It will closely align with the EU e-Maritime initiative of which a key priority is supporting authorities and shipping operators to collaborate electronically in regulatory information management. The maritime sector is, by necessity, heavily regulated.
Panama Canal Issues Notice to Proceed to Build Bridge
On January 8, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued the notice to proceed to VINCI Construction Grands Projets to build a bridge on the Atlantic side of the Canal. The company has 1,274 construction days to complete the bridge. The contract was awarded in October 2012. VINCI Construction Grands Projets, a French company, offered the lowest price, below the official budget, in a public tender. The Brazilian-Korean joint venture Odebrecht â Hyundai and the Spanish-Mexican consortium Acciona â TRADECO also participated in the tender process. All the documentation presented was thoroughly analyzed by an evaluating committee formed by Canal specialists. They reviewed the technical aspects and previous experience, as well as the financial capacity of the winning company.
Wind Energy Generation Beats Gas Turbines
Ernst & Young conducted a study that presents an integrated analysis of the value creation potential of wind energy. The study was commissioned by Acciona and EDP Renováveis and compares two energy technologies, Combined Cycle Gas Turbines (CCGT) and wind, to analyze the impacts of microeconomic factors such as direct costs as well as macroeconomic factors including job creation, Gross Domestic Product contribution, energy security, grid integration costs, CO2 and the impact of wind power on electricity pool prices. Wind energy has a higher impact on tax revenues than other technologies. In addition, wind energy creates a positive effect on the wholesale market by lowering the electricity spot prices which in turn, compensates for the premium tariff received.
Offshore Wind Investment Survey â Summit Planned
âExperience of the teamâ was recently named as the principal trait to accumulate capital for current offshore wind projects as found in Wind Energy Updateâs survey on offshore wind investment and finance. Further to this, survey participants also saw that: âthe use of proven technologiesââ and the âsite characteristicsââ also played a major role in the acquisition of finance. As explained by Marios Papalexandrou of Mott MacDonald, âexperienced teams have greater risk awareness which allows them to predict hazards and respond to them in a quick and efficient mannerâ. The two fellow speakers (Matthew Tilbrook of Mizuho CorporateâŚ
Panama Canal Receives Statement from Consortia Vying to Build New Bridge
Panama City - Two consortia and one company presented documentation to pre-qualify for the bid to build the bridge on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. Representatives from each of the following internationally renowned companies/consortia handed in their proposals: Odebrecht â Hyundai Joint Venture (Brazil â Korea); Acciona Infraestructuras â Tradeco (Spain â Mexico); Vinci Construction Grands Projets (France). The pre-qualification process is the first of two stages to determine which company or consortium will be tasked with building the bridge on the Atlantic side. The evaluation process is based on best-value criteria. This entails qualifying participants based on technical criteria, experience and financial capability.
New GL Garrad Hassan Representative in India
GL Garrad Hassan has appointed Mr Rajsekhar Budhavarapu as the new Country Manager of GL Garrad Hassan India. Mr Budhavarapu will be based in Bangalore, India and will develop local services and support for designers, manufacturers, developers and investors of renewable energy projects. Budhavarapu has 19 years of experience providing technical, operational and strategic leadership for the renewable energy industry. Before joining GL Garrad Hassan he worked for TERI, Asian Wind Turbines (NEG-Micon, India), ECN â the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands, Enercon India Power Development Ltd and Acciona Energy India. At ECN, as an Engineering ScientistâŚ
Interferry Specialist to Fuel Debate on Eco-issues
Emissions control and alternative fuels will be among the headline topics at Interferryâs 36th annual conference â providing a high-profile platform for the trade associationâs newly appointed specialist on maritime policy and regulations. The conference takes place in Barcelona from October 3-6, just a month after Stena group director of sustainability Johan Roos starts work as Interferryâs executive director of European Union and IMO affairs. Up to 300 top-rank delegates areâŚ
Port Receives First International Ship of The Season
PORTAGE, Ind. (March 29, 2010) - The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor celebrated the opening of its 41st international shipping season with the arrival of the âM/V Avonborg.â Port and local officials boarded the vessel for a brief ceremony, presenting the shipâs captain, Capt. Gert J.K. Mol, with gifts including an Indiana state flag and a vintage Port of Indiana South Shore poster. The first ship signifies the start of the shipping season, the arrival of vital materials for local business and the start of another work season for longshoremenâŚ
Interferry Seeks Ro-Ro Recruits to boost IMO Voice
Trade association Interferry is mounting a membership drive with ro-ro operators among key targets in a further move to strengthen its representation at the International Maritime Organization. Interferry, which has had IMO consultative status since 2003, recently became an associate member of the influential International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and has just set up a regulatory committee to direct safety and environmental submissions by its newly expanded delegation. Now the association â formed 35 years ago by passenger sector interests - is aiming for more ro-ro members after becoming increasingly involved in issues that also affect freight-only ferries.
Cargo Traffic up at Port of Algeciras Bay
The Port of Algeciras Bay handled a total Cargo Throughput volume of 60.8 million tonnes (+ 10.06%) in 2003 â double the figure of a decade ago. As for the evolution of the various traffic-types in the Port of Algeciras Bay, the increase in Container throughput (+12.61%) is especially evident, breaking through the 2.5-million-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) barrier and, in this case, trebling the figures recorded a decade ago. Import and export container throughput grew extraordinarily by 39% and 31% respectively.
Panama Canal Requests Proposals For New Locks Construction
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) released its Request for Proposal (RFP) Friday on the "design-build" contract for the new locks under the Canal's Expansion Program. Four global consortia will now move forward with their bids on what will be the largest and most important project under the $5.25b expansion. The Expansion Program will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, doubling capacity and allowing more traffic and longer, wider ships. The ACP will meet with consortia representatives in February 2008 regarding the content of the RFP for the construction of the new set of locks. Proposals are due August 2008.
Australian Ferries Set for Japan
Incat recently signed a contract for two 112m high speed vehicle-passenger catamarans for a ferry operator in Japan, the Libera Corporation. Due for delivery in June 2007, the first Evolution One12 112m vessel will operate at around 40kts, with the capacity to carry up to 800 persons and 412 cars or 520 lane meter of trucks and 286 cars. The second vessel will follow twelve months later. Incat is also currently fulfilling an order for delivery of a 98m vessel to European client, Acciona Trasmediterranea who already has three Incat vessels in service. (Source: http://www.ferret.com.au)
Incat Delivers Milenium Tres
Incat recently delivered a new 321-ft. (98 m) wave piercing catamaran to one of Spainâs largest shipping companies, Acciona Trasmediterránea. Milenium Tres is the sixth Incat high speed catamaran to join an Acciona Trasmediterránea fleet which already includes the 314-ft. (96 m) Milenium and the 321-ft. Milenium Dos, both of which have been operating on the Spanish mainland-Balearic Islands links since 2000 and 2003 respectively, and also the 96 metre Alborán on the Gibraltar Straitâs busy Algeciras â Ceuta crossing. In addition, this summer saw Incatâs K-class catamaran Incat K3 in operation on the new route from Alicante to Palma and Ibiza.
Leadership Award for Incat's Clifford
Making the Tasmanian Award for Export Leadership at the 2007 Tasmanian Export Awards at the Launceston Country Club, Tasmaniaâs Deputy Premier Steve Kons said Clifford was recognized not only for this significant contribution to industry, but also to the economy, the Tasmanian brand, and to Tasmaniaâs reputation around the world. âAs founder of catamaran builder Incat, Robert has been an important part of our export industry for more than 40 years and Tasmania has benefited greatly from his passion and commitment. âHis world-class catamarans are being developed and produced here in Tasmania and are recognized the world over. In the past 13 months Incat has delivered two of its largest vessels to date to opposite sides of the world.