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Biscay News

16 Aug 2022

Bombora Wraps Up Tank Testing of Floating Hybrid Energy Platform

Credit: Bombora

Wave energy converter developer Bombora Wave Power (Bombora) has completed tank testing of a floating foundation system suitable for the InSPIRE solution, where Bombora's mWave technology is combined with a wind turbine onto a single floating offshore platform.An adapted version of the semi-submersible INSPIRE platform, developed in partnership with TechnipFMC, underwent tank testing evaluations to confirm the system loads and dynamics at the FloWave test facility at the University of Edinburgh.Head of Loads and Modelling at Bombora…

17 May 2022

VIDEO: Anchors and Mooring Lines in Place for Saitec's DemoSATH Floater

Maersk Mariner vessel at Punta Sollana quay in the port of Bilbao - Credit: Saitec Offshore Technologies

Danish offshore vessel company Maersk Supply Service has installed six mooring lines and six anchors for the DemoSATH floating wind project at the BIMEP open sea test site in the Biscay Bay off the coast of Armintza, Spain.SATH Technology is based on a concrete platform concept with a plug-and-play Single Point Mooring, the same technology used for FPSOs. This anchoring system allows an easy connection so the platform can be disconnected and taken ashore for O&M. The platform can rotate freely around this single point like a weathervane…

13 Apr 2022

Edward Heerema – Dutch Courage with Single-minded Focus

“A new challenge is the installation of big windmills. Big windmills today are 13 MW, 14MW. They are going up to 15 MW and people talk about 20 MW, so we have developed a system that can handle up to 20 MW. By weight it’s nothing, but in terms of technical challenge, it’s very interesting because the windmills are very big, the blades are extreme sizes and installation is at enormous heights. We think Pioneering Spirit is a big vessel, but if you take the biggest windmill of the future, she is t

Edward Heerema is founder and president of Allseas, which brought the world’s largest construction vessel, Pioneering Spirit, to the market. The company, which also brought innovation to the pipelay sector, has added its latest trick to Pioneering Spirit – its jacket lift system. But Allseas is also targeting deepsea mining and has its sights on the offshore wind market. Elaine Maslin caught up with Edward Heerema to find out more.The first time I met Edward Heerema was at the company’s offices in Delft, in the Netherlands.

03 Aug 2021

SPACEWHALE: Space Tech, AI meet to Monitor Whales from the Heavans

Two Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from aerial view in the arctic (photo: Michael Schauer)

Modern space technology and artificial intelligence have combined to enhance the conservation of marine animals: the new service, “SPACEWHALE”, developed by a team of creative scientists in Germany and the UK, detects whales from space. Supported by funding from the European Space Agency (ESA) Space Solutions program, this research enables whales and other large marine megafauna to be surveyed at an unprecedented scale. Earth Observation from satellites is developing fast and within a few years, space technology companies aim to provide daily high-resolution images of the whole globe.

26 May 2021

Damen Launches Trawler for Rederij Long Ships

(Photo: Damen)

Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam reached a milestone in its construction of a 38-m trawler for Belgium-based Rederij Long Ships, with the hull  launched into the water in Poland and transported to Stellendam for further outfitting.Rederij Long Ships owner Eddie Cattoor said, “I expect a lot from Franson. First and foremost to bring in food from the wide seas. Food that will supply a growing world population. She will also play an economically important role, contributing to…

26 Apr 2021

Finnlines' First New Hybrid RoRo Launched

(Photo: Finnlines)

Finnlines’ first of three new hybrid ro-ro vessels was launched at the Nanjing Jinling Shipyard in China on Monday. The vessel, Finneco I, will start sailing on the Finnish shipping company’s Biscay–North Sea–Baltic Sea service at the turn of the year. The series’ second and third vessels, Finneco II and Finneco III, will be delivered in 2022.The new vessels are 238 meters long with a cargo capacity of 5,800 lane meters. Additionally, car decks have a capacity of 5,800 square meters and about 520 TEU on the weather deck.

09 Sep 2020

List: Major Oil Spills from Ships

The Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, March 23, 1989 spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

The Sri Lankan navy said on Tuesday an oil slick had been spotted a kilometer from a loaded supertanker carrying roughly 2 million barrels of oil that has been engulfed in intermittent fires since an explosion on September 3.Oil from the engine room of the 20-year old New Diamond tanker “appears to have leaked out to the sea” following regular bouts of water-dousing by fire-fighting vessels, the navy spokesman said.The oil slick has raised concerns about the potential of further leakage from the cargo holds…

06 Aug 2020

Container Losses in the Rolling Seas

The APL England lost at least 50 containers in heavy seas off the coast of Australia in May 2020. (Photo: Australian Maritime Safety Authority)

Cargoes have come off ships at sea it seems like forever. Some years ago a ship suffered a casualty transiting the English Channel in a storm. Much of its cargo of lumber and other floating items washed ashore on the southwest English coast. Before the authorities could arrive, enterprising local residents gathered it up.Nowadays, the majority of non-bulk cargo is carried in containers. Container ships have gotten larger and are capable of carrying thousands and thousands of containers. The ships have greater length, greater breadth, and greater draft. They also have greater air draft.

15 Jul 2020

Total Shipping Losses Are Declining, But Challenges Persist -Report

The car carrier Golden Ray sits capsized in St. Simons Sound, Ga. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Brian McCrum)

The record low 41 large shipping losses worldwide in 2019 represents a 20% improvement year-on-year and almost 70% over a decade, but the coronavirus crisis could endanger the long-term safety improvements in the shipping industry for 2020 and beyond, as difficult operating conditions and a sharp economic downturn present a unique set of challenges, according to recent report from marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Consequences of coronavirus and a sustained…

08 Jun 2020

ABB Lands Software Deal with Roll Group

BigRoll Biscay (Photo: ABB)

ABB announced Monday it has won a contract to supply the digital solution ABB Ability Marine Advisory System – OCTOPUS to Roll Group’s recently delivered vessel, BigRoll Biscay.BigRoll Biscay is the eighth vessel in Dutch heavy lift specialist’s fleet to rely on ABB marine software, which improves the safety and efficiency of ship operations by optimizing the route based on weather and forecasted vessel motions.Vessel motion monitoring and forecasting is critical for heavy lift vessels that need to move safely when in transit.

08 Jan 2020

Roll Group Adds a Module Carrier to Its Fleet

Artist impression of the BigRoll Biscay (Image: Roll Group)

Roll Group announced it has added another module carrier into its fleet as the Netherlands-based company eyes growing prospects in the oil and gas and offshore wind markets.On January 6, 2020, the firm took ownership of a 2015-built vessel, soon to be painted in Roll Group livery and renamed as BigRoll Biscay.With a length of 146m, a width of 32m and 12,285t deadweight, the module carrier is smaller than the others in the Roll Group fleet – BigRoll Bering and BigRoll Beaufort – but has a wider deck space than the RollDock dock type vessels…

24 Dec 2019

Ferry Stena Estrid Completes Sea Trials

Image Credit: STENA

Stena Line’s "next-generation" ferry Stena Estrid has arrived in Holyhead after completing sea trials and a five-week, 10,000 mile journey from China to the Irish Sea where she will begin service early next year on her inaugural route from Dublin to Holyhead.Designed by Deltamarin and constructed at the China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding Weihai Shipyard in China, Stena Estrid is the first of Stena RoRo’s nine next-generation E-Flexer Ro-Pax vessels in a series which include five for Stena Line and several additional vessels that will be on long-term charter for other ferry operators.

18 Dec 2019

Rederij Long Ships Taps Damen for Trawler

Photo courtesy of Damen Maaskant Shipyards

Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam to build a new 38-meter long Beam Trawler for Rederij Long Ships. Damen Maaskant has designed the new vessel, Z91 Franson, within the maximum length and gross tonnage permitted by the Belgian Maritime Inspectorate. Furthermore, the shipyard has carried out research with propeller developers and manufacturers SIP Marine with the aim to realize fuel consumption reductions in relation to current hull forms working in the Belgian fishing fleet.

02 Dec 2019

Stena Estrid Begins 10K Mile Journey from China Shipyard

European ferry operator Stena Line announced that its newest ferry Stena Estrid has departed the AVIC Weihai Shipyard in north-western China, bound for its new home on the Irish Sea between Britain and Ireland.Manned by a much-reduced crew of 27, with no passengers on board, the ship will travel on a journey of well over 10,000 miles, taking just over one month and making a number of stops on the way.Stena Estrid is the first of five next generation Stena Line RoPax vessels to be completed at the shipyard and is now en route to Wales from where it will start service in January on the Holyhead to Dublin route.The first stage of the voyage is a week-long 2…

12 Sep 2019

Jan De Nul Enters French Offshore Wind Market

Luxembourg-headquartered maritime contractor Jan De Nul Group has signed its first offshore wind construction contract in France.Sodraco International SAS, a French subsidiary of Jan De Nul Group, has signed a contract to transport and install 80 offshore wind turbines on the Saint-Nazaire offshore wind farm (OWF).The contract was awarded by Parc du Banc de Guérande, a joint venture between the French renewable energy company EDF Renewables and the Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge.“We are excited to contribute to the further development of renewable energy, and offshore wind in particular, in France. Next to that we are…

23 Apr 2019

Salvors Survey Grande America Wreck

(Photo: Ocean Infinity)

Seabed survey and ocean exploration company Ocean Infinity said it has conducted urgent subsea search, inspection and operations on the wreck of the MV Grande America, which sank in the Bay of Biscay on March 12.Grande America capsized and sunk last month after its cargo of containers and vehicles caught fire during a voyage from Hamburg to Casablanca.Having entered into an agreement with marine services and salvage company Ardent, Ocean Infinity deployed its fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) to locate the wreck.

28 Mar 2019

Queens of the Oceans Come for Hamburg's Port Anniversary

Four magnificent tall ships  will come to Hamburg for the 830th Hamburg Port Anniversary from 10 to 12 May – Alexander von Humboldt II, Kruzenshtern, Sedov and Mir.The Queens of the oceans will participate in the grand arrival and departure parades in the heart of the city, on the Friday and Sunday respectively, and invite visitors to look around on board, said a press release from Germany's largest port.Alongside these amazing tall ships, the Hamburg Port Anniversary will be a meeting place for some 300 vessels of all kinds, including many classic sailing vessels that will also be open to visitors.The Alexander von Humboldt II is currently Germany’s largest operational sail training ship, with length overall 66 metres.

12 Mar 2019

ConRo Ablaze in the Bay of Biscay

(Photo: Royal Navy)

Twenty-seven people have been rescued from an Italian-registered cargo ship that caught fire Monday night in the Bay of Biscay, about 150 miles southwest of Brest. The Grimaldi Group owned combination container roll-on/roll-off (ConRo) vessel Grande America was sailing from Hamburg to Casablanca when its cargo of containers and vehicles caught fire around 8 p.m.After attempts to battle the flames proved unsuccessful, the entire crew of 26 and one passenger disembarked into heavy seas aboard a single enclosed lifeboat and were rescued by the crew of British Royal Navy frigate HMS Argyll…

13 Sep 2018

BorWin Gamma Platform Sails Away

The offshore converter platform, BorWin gamma, has now safely set sail from Dubai and begun its journey to  its offshore site in the German part of the North Sea.Through the Gulf of Oman, the 18,000 ton ‘topside’ will pass into the Red Sea before going through the Suez Canal onto the Mediterranean and past Gibraltar. The journey then moves through the Bay of Biscay, to the English Channel and into the North Sea where it will be integrated with the ‘jacket’ nearly 130 kilometres off the German coast.Along with BorWin3, a 900-megawatt connection for two offshore wind farms will go into operation next year and be able to supply more than one million households.It will be one of the world’s heaviest and largest HVDC platforms…

21 May 2018

Unda Named CEO of SENER Group

Jorge Unda (Photo: SENER Group)

Jorge Unda, until now the Managing Director of the Engineering and Construction area of the SENER Group, has been appointed CEO for the entire Group, replacing Jorge Sendagorta, who previously combined the positions of President and CEO. Unda becomes the top executive of the company, and Sendagorta remains as President of SENER’s Board of Directors.An industrial engineer in the field of Mechanics from the Higher School of Industrial Engineering of Bilbao (Spain), University of the Basque Country…

29 Mar 2018

New Rescue Vessel Delivered to Sentinel Marine

Biscay Sentinel (Photo: Sentinel Marine)

Aberdeen headquartered Sentinel Marine said it has taken delivery of the latest in its fleet of multi-role emergency response and rescue vessels (ERRVs). Biscay Sentinel was delivered at the Cosco Guangzhou shipyard in China this month and is expected to arrive in Aberdeen in early May. She will immediately join Sentinel Marine’s fleet of ERRVs providing support and lifesaving services to the oil and gas industry in the North Sea. The 62-meter British-flagged vessel is the seventh of Sentinel Marine’s new breed of ERRVs…

30 Jan 2018

French Coastguard Searches for Quiksilver Boss Missing at Sea

The French coastguard on Tuesday searched for Pierre Agnes, the chief executive of U.S. surfwear retailer Boardriders Inc, after his 36-foot (10.97 m) sailboat was found washed up on the country's Atlantic coast. Rescuers were scouring the Bay of Biscay waters off Hossegor, a surfing resort from where the 54-year-old Agnes set sail early in the morning, the Landes prefecture said. Agnes sent a message to port authorities indicating that he was delaying his return because of thick fog. His beached boat was later found empty not far from Hossegor. "An air and sea search operation is underway," the Landes prefecture said in a statement, adding that two helicopters and two boats were involved in the rescue operation.

01 Apr 2016

This Day In Naval History: April 1

USS Marvin Shields (FF 1066) (U.S. Navy photo by PH2 John Cross from the DVIC)

1893 - Navy General Order 409 establishes the rank of Chief Petty Officer. 1899 - A landing party of 60 men from USS Philadelphia (C 4) and a force of 100 friendly natives join 62 men from HMS Porpoise and Royal Isle in Samoa to establish order over Samoan throne. 1943 - USS Shad (SS 235) torpedoes and damages the Italian blockade runner Pietro Orseolo, shortly after the Italian ship reaches the Bay of Biscay and her escort of four German destroyers. 1945 - Under heavy naval gunfire and aircraft support, U.S. Army and U.S.