Biotechnology News

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) announced a pair of initiatives aimed at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, including the start of a biodiesel testing project and the launch of the next phase in the construction of the Government of Canada’s first hybrid electric vessel.Earlier this month, following the award of a contract to procure biodiesel from Windsor, Ontario based Sterling Fuels, CCG became Canada's first government agency to trial a 20% biodiesel blend in one of its vessels, the navigation aids tender CCGS Caribou Isle.

Canada is one of 20 markets to be featured at the Discover Global Markets: The Blue Economy export forum September 20-22, 2022The growing demand for marine technologies is generating new export possibilities for U.S. companies. To help American businesses pursue these opportunities, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) is hosting Discover Global Markets: The Blue Economy, in Providence, Rhode Island, Sept. 20-22, 2022. Based at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa, Canada Senior Commercial Specialist Tracey Ford is leading a delegation with a Canadian buyer to the event.

Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai on Monday pledged to exclude some Chinese imports from tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while pressing Beijing in "frank" talks over its failure to keep promises made in Trump's trade deal and end harmful industrial policies.Tai said the United States would keep all options open as it continues to push China to stop pouring billions of dollars of state subsidies into its semiconductor, steel and other industries that Washington says harm U.S.

The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy and the United States Navy announced a new partnership to accelerate the adoption of novel ideas and technologies, marking a unique chapter in the historic relationship between the two nations.A newly established London Tech Bridge—with both nations as full partners—will serve as a command post for innovation for the two Navies as they work toward interchangeability in everything from technology development to deployment and operations.Royal Navy Second Sea Lord Vice Adm. Nick Hine, and the Hon. James “Hondo” Geurts, U.S.

Biodiversity can be threatened by organisms which can build up on ships' hulls and other marine structures, a process known as biofouling.A press note from International Maritime Organization (IMO) said that during a workshop in Arraial do Cabo, Brazil (5 August), experts on biofouling and invasive species and others took the first steps towards setting up a national task force to tackle the issue.According to the UN body, Brazil is one of 12 lead partnering countries in the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloFouling Partnerships project, which aims to protect marine biodiversity by addressing biofouling.Each lead partnering country's national task force…

Over eight out of ten leading voices in Ireland’s marine industry are confident about the future growth potential for Ireland’s marine economy, according to a PwC and the Irish Marine Institute joint survey.The research reveals a number of interesting points that are on the minds of leaders in the marine industry, including the use of offshore technology to further develop wind energy, the fact that sustainability is high on their agenda, that regulation and licensing are proving challenging, and that talent and funding are vitally important for future viability.There is also a call for Government and the industry to work together to prioritise environmental sustainability.PwC partner Declan McDonald said…

The blue economy can be the engine of economic growth, the basis of socio-economic development and industrialization for many African countries, if well utilized.The maritime industry, for example, is estimated at over $1 trillion, and there are other related and emerging sectors of tourism, offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive industries, marine biotechnology and bio prospecting.Said Adejumobi, Southern Africa Director, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said that  the Economic Commission for Africa is fully committed to supporting the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and member States to…

For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission is proposing EUR 6.14 billion under a simpler, more flexible fund for European fisheries and the maritime economy. The new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund will continue to support the European fisheries sector towards more sustainable fishing practices, with a particular focus on supporting small-scale fishermen. It will also help unleash the growth potential of a sustainable blue economy towards a more prosperous future for coastal communities. For the first time, it will contribute to strengthening international ocean governance for safer, cleaner, more secure, and sustainably managed seas and oceans.

As global water temperatures increase, global ‘biofouling hotspots’ in subtropical/tropical areas are intensifying, exposing newbuildings at the world’s major shipyards to greater risk of hard fouling during the outfitting process. The effects of intense hard fouling on idle newbuilds can have great impact on a newly applied hull coating and on a vessel’s performance in sea trials. In response to this problem, a new antifouling coating specifically targeting hard biofouling prevention during the outfitting period was brought to market by Danish marine coatings specialist Hempel in late 2017. GLOBIC 9500S includes the unique antifouling…

European Commission invests over €7.5 million under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to boost innovation, growth and jobs in the marine and maritime sectors. The European Commission is investing over €7.5 million to boost innovation and create jobs in the marine and maritime sectors. The money is available under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and divided in calls for proposal focusing on the key areas where the European Union can have the biggest impact: skills, creativity and technology.

Following the approval of Selektope under the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation, developer I-Tech reports extraordinary uptake for antifouling coatings that include the industry’s first pharmacological means of combatting barnacle settlement. In the first month of 2016, orders amounted to double the volume achieved during the whole of 2015, with antifoulings including Selektope being applied for complete hull coating projects. I-Tech CEO Philip Chaabane says that the higher than anticipated demand from shipowners and acceptance by major coatings suppliers of performance claims for the biotechnology solution represent a decisive movement in the marine paints industry.

SulNOx Fuel Fusions Plc. (SulNOx), the leading global producer and supplier of fuel emulsion technology, and Lloyd’s Register (LR), a leading technical, business services organisation and maritime classification society, today signed an agreement that will see LR provide verification, testing, technical support and consultancy services throughout the process of SulNOxEco Fuels’ commercial deployment. The agreement will see LR provide a stringent technical assessment of SulNOxEco Fuels, verifying its operational suitability for users of hydrocarbon fuels and providing recommendations on the most effective application of the technology to secure optimum fuel and environmental savings.

The U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) last week adopted a formal resolution to develop a legally-binding treaty for the conservation of marine biodiversity on the ‘high seas’. The new ocean regulations are proposed to include: area-based management tools, such as marine planning and marine protected areas; environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements; the transfer of marine technology; and a regime for managing marine genetic resources, including benefit-sharing. These developments have potentially significant implications for ocean economic activities, such as shipping, oil and gas, cruise tourism, fishing, marine mining, biotechnology, submarine cable, as well as for related sectors, such as maritime law, insurance and investment.

After a year resting in Long Beach, the Hydroptere returns to sailing. French and American sponsors are joined by a new partner: Finesse Solutions of Santa Clara (California), a manufacturer of measurement and control solutions for life sciences process applications. The Hydroptere - called "the flying boat" - is the fastest hydrofoil trimaran in the world, averaging more than 51 knots over 500 meters and exceeding 50 knots over one nautical mile. The crew of Hydroptere intends to set a world speed record across the Pacific Ocean from Los Angeles to Hawaii.

Foster Wheeler AG announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group’s Environmental and Industrial division has been awarded a contract by Longview Power, LLC to rehabilitate and optimize the wet flue gas desulfurization system at their existing 700 MWe (net megawatt electric) Longview Power facility in Maidsville, West Virginia, USA. Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the contract value will be included in the company’s third-quarter 2014 bookings. Foster Wheeler will provide new components as well as engineering and installation services to optimize the performance of the existing dewatering and forced oxidation systems with the fuel currently being used by Longview.

Foster Wheeler AG announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has signed an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCm) services agreement with BOC, a member of the Linde Group, for the installation of replacement heat exchangers at BOC’s Teesport facility, Teesside, in northeast England. The Foster Wheeler contract value was not disclosed and was included in the company’s first-quarter 2014 bookings. Under this agreement, Foster Wheeler will provide project management, front-end engineering design, detailed engineering design, procurement services, construction supervision and quality assurance for the replacement of existing aluminium plate fin exchangers in the 1,300 tons per day air separation plant.

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq: FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract by Turun Seudun Energiantuotanto Oy (TSE) for the design, supply and erection of a retrofit-selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for TSE’s Naantali unit 3 in Finland. Foster Wheeler has received a full notice to proceed on this contract. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the contract value will be included in the company’s bookings for the second-quarter of 2014. Commercial operation of the SCR system is scheduled for October 2015. Foster Wheeler will design, supply, erect and commission the selective catalytic NOx reduction system for the Naantali 125 MWe pulverized coal fired boiler (unit 3).

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and financial sponsors, including American Shipping Company and funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, create pure play Jones Act shipping company, Philly Tankers. Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA (OSE: AKPS) is pleased to announce the planned establishment of Philly Tankers AS, a Norwegian limited liability company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Philly Tankers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (together “Philly Tankers”). Philly Tankers…

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq:FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Engineering and Construction Group has been awarded a contract by Marubeni Corporation for the engineering and material supply of a new Terrace Wall steam reformer heater, including an air preheating system, for the KazMunayGaz oil refinery located at Atyrau, Republic of Kazakhstan. The value of Foster Wheeler’s contract was not disclosed and was included in the company’s first-quarter 2014 bookings. The steam reformer will be part of a hydrogen production unit with a capacity of 24,000 normal cubic meters per hour to be built at the refinery. The hydrogen plant is based on Foster Wheeler’s hydrogen technology. Foster Wheeler’s scope of work is scheduled to be completed in April 2015.

Strategic European hub location offers fastest transits from France to U.S. Gulf. CaroTrans announced a new, weekly LCL export service from Le Havre, France to Houston which will commence April 5. This direct service shortens shipping time by 5-11 days for freight moving from France to the U.S. Gulf region including: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Laredo Austin, New Orleans, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, as well as Los Angeles on the West Coast. The Le Havre departure point eliminates the congestion, delays and additional handling associated with routing via Antwerp and Rotterdam.

XPRIZE announced that team registration is open for the $2 million Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE, a competition to incentivize breakthroughs in ocean pH sensor technology that will radically transform our understanding of ocean acidification. Teams are expected to come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from nanotechnology and biotechnology to industrial chemistry and marine science -- from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and small and medium enterprises. Or…

Registration for the largest-ever Oceanology International (ExCeL London, March 11-13, 2014) is now open at oceanologyinternational.com. With 520 exhibitors from 35 countries taking up over 8,000 m2 net of space, the biennial global forum is where industry, academia and government come together to share knowledge and connect with their peers in the marine technology and ocean science community, thus improving their strategies for measuring, exploiting, protecting and operating in the world’s oceans. “It is not only the exhibition that is record-breaking, we have an impressive series of eight conferences and three highly topical panel discussions planned by the industry for the industry,” explained Event Director, James Coleman of Reed Exhibitions.

UniversalPegasus International (UPI) is a company with a global reach in engineering, project management & construction management for the energy industry, headquartered in Texas. Brown has more than 30 years of experience in the engineering and construction sectors. He comes to UPI from Jacobs Engineering where he held the position of Global Vice President, Inside Sales and Marketing. He was responsible for downstream, upstream, chemicals and pharmaceuticals/biotechnology business unit sales, with regional focus on North America, India and the Middle East.