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Chemical Energy News

26 Dec 2023

Shipwrecks Teem with Underwater Life, from Microbes to Sharks

© Erik / Adobe Stock

Humans have sailed the world’s oceans for thousands of years, but they haven’t all reached port. Researchers estimate that there are some three million shipwrecks worldwide, resting in shallow rivers and bays, coastal waters and the deep ocean. Many sank during catastrophes – some during storms or after running aground, others in battle or collisions with other vessels.Shipwrecks like the RMS Titanic, RMS Lusitania and USS Monitor conjure tales of human courage and sacrifice, sunken treasure and unsolved mysteries.

21 Sep 2023

ABB's Power, Propulsion, and Automation for Samskip's Hydrogen-powered Container Ships

Image credit: Naval Dynamics

ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively. Both vessels will be operating between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of approximately 700 nautical miles.

23 Feb 2022

The Path to Zero: ABB, Ballard Progress Work on High-power Fuel Cell Concept

Photo courtesy ABB/Ballard Power Systems

ABB and Ballard are progressing to decarbonize marine transport and have received an AiP from DNV for their high-power fuel cell concept, the development of which was launched in 2018. The high-power fuel cell unit is designed to be a flexible solution that will support the energy needs of a diverse range of vessels requiring multiple 3 MW blocks of power. A cruise vessel operating in coastal areas could either run entirely on fuel cell power or switch to it when operating in environmentally sensitive areas or emission control zones


16 Sep 2021

CIMAC World Congress: The Place Where the Large Engine Industry Meets

© spyrakot/AdobeStock

Every three years, the large engine industry meets for the CIMAC World Congress. Next year, after Helsinki in 2016 and Vancouver in 2019, Busan in South Korea will host the CIMAC Congress from June 13 -17, 2022. Shipbuilding is dominated by Asia with South Korea as key player for decades. So, there is good reason for the Congress to meet there.But, to first address the question that is currently being asked the most: Against the background of the pandemic, will the congress really take place? No one can know for sure, and there is certainly no guarantee.

08 Apr 2020

ABB Building Fuel Cells to Power Large Ships

Concept illustration of a large vessel powered by fuel cells. Image credit: ABB

ABB signs Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hydrogène de France to jointly manufacture megawatt-scale fuel cell systems capable of powering oceangoing vessels.The MOU between ABB and hydrogen technologies specialist Hydrogène de France (HDF) envisages close collaboration on the assembly and production of the fuel cell power plant for marine applications.Building on an existing collaboration announced on June 27, 2018 with Ballard Power Systems, a global provider of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell solutions


16 Mar 2020

The National Freight Strategic Plan and the Inland Waterways

© Gerard Corprew / Adobe Stock

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act was enacted in December 2015. The FAST Act required the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan to address multimodal freight transportation. In the Federal Register of December 27, 2019, DOT requested information from the public, including industry trade groups, to aid development of the National Freight Strategic Plan.This article summarizes certain of the comments that were submitted by Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) in response to DOT’s request.

21 May 2019

World-First: Hydrogen-powered Push Boat

Concept illustration of a push boat powered by fuel cell system (Image: ABB)

A new vessel being built to operate along the Rhône river in France will be the world's first push boat to run entirely on hydrogen fuel cells.The newbuild for the France-based Sogestran Group subsidiary Compagnie Fluviale de Transport (CFT) is due for delivery in 2021 and will feature a fuel cell based power and propulsion solution from ABB through its role in FLAGSHIPS, the EU-funded initiative to deploy commercially operated zero-emission vessels for inland and short sea operations.

12 Mar 2019

Fuel Cells: industry examines options in race to zero emissions

Image Credit: Elliott Bay Design Group

A maritime consortium, including ABS and Sandia National Laboratories, recently proved the viability of a hydrogen fuel cell ferry designed for operations in the environmentally sensitive San Francisco Bay area. The IMO’s mandate to cap the sulfur content in marine fuel at the start of next year may be the biggest regulatory change in shipping since the requirement for double hulls, but the challenge will fade in comparison to its future goals to reduce green-house gases (GHG).A year ago (April 2018)


27 Jun 2018

MOU to Develop Zero-Emission Fuel Cell Power Plant

Photo courtesy of ABB

ABB and Ballard Power Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on developing the next-generation fuel cell power system for sustainable marine e-mobility.The fuel cell power system, to be jointly designed, developed and validated by ABB and Ballard Power Systems, is anticipated to play a significant part in accelerating the industry-wide adoption of sustainable solutions for marine e-mobility, and help ship-owners meet the increasing demands for clean operations.ABB


17 Nov 2016

Mouvex Celebrates 110 Years

Mouvex, part of PSG, a Dover company and manufacturer of positive displacement pumps, is celebrating its 110-year anniversary in 2016. Headquartered in Auxerre, France, Mouvex was founded in 1906 by engineer André Petit when he identified the challenges that gear and lobe pump users were facing in optimizing their process and invented the eccentric disc pump as a result. Since that time, Mouvex has become a worldwide leader in positive displacement pumps and compressors for the transfer of liquids and dry bulk products within the hygienic, chemical, energy, military and transport industries. Mouvex became part of PSG in 2008, and now has operations on five continents with a global network of distributors and original equipment manufacturers.

11 Jan 2012

ÅF AB selects AVEVA for Engineering Design

Significant cost and time savings achieved on projects using AVEVA PDMS. AVEVA, a provider of engineering design and information management solutions for the plant, power and process  industries, announced ÅF AB, one of Sweden’s  leading contractor and industry groups, will use AVEVA Plant as its principal design portfolio. ÅF AB has realised major cost and time savings using AVEVA PDMS for 3D design since it was first deployed in 2000. Under the terms of the new agreement, ÅF AB will now roll out AVEVA Plant across all new large and medium sized design projects.

07 Dec 2011

ONR: From Science Fiction to Science Fact

Dr. Larry Schuette, Director of Innovation, ONR

As Director of Innovation, Dr. Larry Schuette is one of three portfolio directors at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). His counterparts are the director of research (discovery and invention) and director of transition. The Office of Innovation promotes, fosters, and develops innovative science, technology, processes and policies that support the Department of the Navy. “I manage the ‘leap ahead’ portfolio here at the Office of Naval Research,” he says. Schuette leads both technological innovation in as well as the business of innovation.

03 Aug 2011

Mike Toohey Named President and CEO of WCI

Today, Waterways Council, Inc.’s (WCI) Board of Directors unanimously elected Mike Toohey as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Toohey will assume his duties effective August 14. With more than 30 years of federal government expertise, Toohey most recently served as Consultant with The Livingston Group’s Transportation, Shipbuilding, Shipping and Ports practice area. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Ashland Inc., a chemical, energy and construction company.

22 Jul 2011

Mike Toohey Tapped to Lead Waterways Council, Inc.

Washington, DC – It was announced today that Mike Toohey has been selected to become President and CEO of Waterways Council, Inc. by the organization’s Search and Executive Committees. A special meeting of the WCI Board of Directors has been called for August 2, 2011 to formally consider his election to the organization’s presidency. With more than 30 years of federal government expertise, Mr. Toohey most recently served as Consultant with The Livingston Group’s Transportation, Shipbuilding, Shipping and Ports practice area. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Government Affairs for Ashland Inc., a global chemical, energy and construction company. During his 19 years with the Ashland, Mr.

06 Mar 2009

New Fuel Cell Guidelines for Shipping

International classification society Bureau Veritas has developed new guidelines covering the safe application of fuel cells on ships which could have important environmental and commercial advantages for shipowners and operators. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which convert the chemical energy of a fuel, for example hydrogen-rich gases, into Direct Current power. Until now, their application in shipping has been limited to a few pilot projects, and BV product manager


11 Sep 2008

Pick Your Power

The inherent diversity of the multitude of vessels plying rivers, lakes, harbors and oceans around the world extends past size and shape and type of service - at the heart of each vessel is a propulsion system. Although propulsion systems may often be considered unique, a variety of typical solutions for most types of vessels already exist. In some cases, it may be preferable to simply specify the duplication of an existing propulsion system, allowing a degree of harmonization in the number of required spares, trained mechanics, and maintenance. It would seem, however, that ship owners and operators are placing an increased premium on designs and solutions both unique and innovative, in order to reduce costs and maximize performance.

02 Apr 2008

ACL Acquires Remaining Interest in Environmental Services Firm

American Commercial Lines Inc. announced that it has acquired the remaining 70% of the environmental and civil engineering services firm, Summit Contracting, LLC (""). ACL had previously acquired a 30% share of in May 2007. The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed and are not material to the Company. 's offerings include emergency response, environmental remediation, and industrial and civil construction services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACL, will continue serving its established customer base of major transportation, chemical, energy and construction customers, as well as providing value-added services to ACL's existing and future customers.

09 Sep 2002

Optimal Electric Ship Propulsion Solution

Throughout the history of shipbuilding, the key challenge too often has been how to build the right ship around a given propulsion system, rather than creating tailored propulsion system for the ship. That was true when the best propulsion "engines" available were sails, and it is also true for today's diesel, gas turbine and electric hybrid systems as well. The ideal, of course, is to allocate cargo space, cabin space, the shape of propulsion units, and even the shape of the ship's itineraries around the needs of the marketplace rather than around the limitations imposed by the ship's propulsion system. Factors that remain in the path of that ideal include the underlying efficiency across a broad operational range with which chemical energy is turned into mechanical energy


16 May 2007

ACL Acquires Interest in Environmental Firm

American Commercial Lines Inc. (ACL) has invested in a 30 percent stake in a newly formed entity with environmental services contractor Summit Contracting, Inc. The financial terms of the investment were not disclosed but are not material to the company. The new company, Summit Contracting, LLC will provide emergency response, environmental remediation, industrial and civil construction services. In addition to continuing to service its established customer base of major transportation, chemical, energy and construction customers, Summit will provide value added services to ACL's new and existing customers.