Alternative Marine Technologies News

Many problems in our “New World” can be solved more quickly than ever due to the speed at which information now travels. Gone are the countless long days of research, because often our questions can be answered instantaneously at a computer terminal or on a handheld mobile device. Traditional investment, research, science and industry have all attempted to reconfigure their business practices to accept that information speed. Unfortunately, government regulation and bureaucracy have not…

The results of fortunes and failures are often described as a “perfect storm”. The COVID pandemic, domestic inflation, labor issues and current geopolitical events have brought that description to a peak. A promise of a “new normal” emerged post pandemic, with a vision of alternative energy, alternative fuels and alternative supply chain logistics to help toward solving some of the problems, heralding a world of change with reduced emissions, government support and the end of fossil fuels as we know them in energy and marine operations.With those promises came big movements in the U.S.

Bob Kunkel needs no introduction to Marine News readers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Logistics Professional magazine and of course, Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy…

Nor is it getting any easier to understand when, how and why to comply. Whether your marine operation is a major corporation or a family “mom and pop” company, the type of fuel you now burn or for that matter what emanates from your stack each day after the burn has now become a major source of confusion. As Kermit the Frog once said, we will now know what its like to be green. Some believe the discussion is a new subject. It is not. Those of us that work the oceans, rivers and sounds for a living always had a concern of how much fuel we burn and what the quality of that fuel was.

Bob Kunkel needs no introduction to Marine News readers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Logistics Professional magazine and of course, Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy…

Mapping and shaping the growth of marine hybrid means many things to different stakeholders. The journey leads us all to the same place. If you follow the advancements in automotive design, the term or tag “hybrid” has come to define the alternative energy movement on our roads and highways. HEV autos have moved past Ford and GM in Detroit and into the hands of contemporary entrepreneurs and inventors the likes of Tesla’s Evan Musk or Dr. Victor Wouk. BMW, Ferrari, Bentley and…

Norwegian ballast water treatment (BWT) specialist Optimarin said it has secured a two-system contract with Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. The agreement, which Optimarin said comes ahead of its imminent USCG approval, will see two 500 m³/h capacity Optimarin Ballast Systems (OBS) fitted on a single clean products barge. “The ability to trade in U.S. waters is key to global shipowners who want flexibility for their fleets,” comments Optimarin CEO Tore Andersen.

Marine News contributor Robert Kunkel asks: Are we ready to support the farms? On August 19, 2016, we watched as the fifth tower and associated nacelle was raised on the Deepwater Offshore Wind Farm approximately 3 miles offshore of Block Island, Rhode Island. This is the first Offshore Wind farm erected in the United States and, without a doubt, a huge step forward for this controversial project and alternative energy supply. The Block Island Wind Farm has a total generating capacity of 30 megawatts and is projected to produce approximately 125,000 megawatt hours annually.

Established in 2007, Alternative Marine Technologies (Amtech) has been a leader in design and construction of alternative energy propulsion solutions aboard several series of vessels, built both domestically and abroad. With 23 employees, the firm continues to grow. Alternative Maine Technologies has been employed as the construction manager for myriad cutting edge marine technology projects. For example, AMT delivered the first Hybrid propulsion research vessel, is currently building the first LNG bunker vessel in the United States and is also now building six 25…

Louisiana-based Karl Senner widens its propulsion solutions toolkit with two options, both designed to provide economics, efficiencies and lower emissions. In the increasingly competitive marine propulsion markets, workboat operators now have many choices from which to select an appropriate, long term solution for their propulsion needs. Paramount in that process is the need to meet regulatory requirements without breaking the bank. In response, propulsion distributor Karl Senner LLC offers two different electrical system arrangements; both of which will allow operators to remain tier compliant without the use of after-treatment. Way back in 1967, Karl H. Senner sold the very first Reintjes Gearbox in the North America to Dickie Gonsoulin of LeBeouf Towing.

LNG? Methanol as fuel? Hybrid systems? Tier 4? Reducing noise? Cutting emissions without crushing fuel economy? Marine News readers have questions and Bob Kunkel has answers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Professional and Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Kunkel sailed as a licensed engineer and eventually continued his career in ship construction at NASSCO, San Diego, Hyundai Heavy Industries, S. Korea, Chengxi Shipyard and Dalian New Shipyard in China.

Arriving at the Farmer’s Market this morning I made the decision to grill some hand cut rib eye with fresh vegetables and potatoes later that evening. I searched several of the local farm kiosks to find the mix I wanted and then reached into my pocket to pay for my choices. The price for all this local fare is not competitive with Cosco or Walmart, but I know the vegetables are organically grown without chemicals and the local beef is grass fed. The price point may not be right but the effort supports local business and the farmers who work hard to provide us sustainable products and quality.

Short sea shipping is alive and well on America’s East Coast. In the United States, counties and states directly on the shoreline constitute less than 10 percent of the total land area (not including Alaska), but account for 39 percent of the total population. From 1970 to 2010, the population of these counties increased by almost 40 percent and are projected to increase by an additional 10 million people or 8 percent by 2020. Coastal areas are substantially more crowded than the U.S. as a whole, and population density in coastal areas will continue to increase in the future.

Amtech specializes in ship design integration and construction supervision dealing with new propulsion technologies, niche trades and operational efficiencies. Its South Korea office and staff have delivered over 250 ships and the U.S. offices are well versed in U.S. construction, Jones Act applications and the domestic workboat markets. Amtech boasts $450 million of ships under construction in Korea until 2017. Closer to home, the company has successfully delivered the first…

Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel, probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Professional Magazine and of course, MarineNews.

The last piece of the LNG infrastructure puzzle, in the form of North America’s first LNG bunker barge, falls into place at Conrad’s Orange, Texas Shipyard. With continued debate over new emissions standards and compliance dates hanging over the heads of operators in the Emission Compliance Zones like the Sword of Damocles, WesPac Midstream LLC, a provider of liquefied natural gas solutions, and its affiliate Clean Marine Energy, a facilitator of solutions for emission compliance…

The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk christened a larger, “greener” new research vessel on Friday, September 26 in preparation for launching a new era in examining, monitoring and teaching about Long Island Sound. The $2.7 million environmentally friendly research vessel, Spirit of the Sound, was christened and officially named during a ceremony at the Aquarium dock. Breaking a bottle on her hull was godmother of the boat, Astrid Heidenreich of Greenwich. The boat will reportedly be the first research vessel in the U.S. running on hybrid-electric propulsion.

Stamford CT. Alternative Marine Technologies (AMTECH) was developed to provide technical support to Owners in Shipping; Private Equity, Banks and Financial Institutions – firms requiring a better understanding of construction issues, vessel condition and daily commercial operations. Founded in 2007, AMTECH provides construction supervision, third party ship inspection, ship repair supervision, integration and design. Completing over 30 successful new building projects and design reviews in the past 7 years…

Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. He is a past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, a contributing writer for many maritime and technical trades publications, including Maritime Professional Magazine and MarineNews.

BAE Systems joined with Mid Ocean Tanker Company (MOTC), Mid Ocean Marine and Alterna Captial Partners earlier this year to commission the American Phoenix, a U.S. Flag/Jones Act-qualified product-chemical tanker. Measuring 616 x 105 ft. with a laden draft of 36 ft. and a cargo capacity of 49,000 dwt, American Phoenix is the largest vessel ever built and launched in the State of Alabama. BAE Systems was contracted to complete construction of the American Phoenix and prepare it for use. The vessel is owned by MOTC, a joint venture between Mid Ocean Marine and private equity firm Alterna Capital Partners. The vessel will conduct trade initially in the Gulf of Mexico.