CSOV IWS Skywalker Delivered
Integrated Wind Solutions (IWS) announced its IWS Fleet subsidiary has taken delivery of the new commissioning service operations vessel (CSOV) IWS Skywalker from shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd. (CMI).After transit to Europe, the vessel will commence the first out of three charter contracts at the world's largest offshore wind farmâDogger Bank, in the U.S.âin the first quarter of 2024.The purpose-built IWS Skywalker is the first of a series of six identical sister vessels, with the remaining five vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025.
IWS Fleet Strikes Deal to Put Off Yard Payments for Offshore Wind Service Vessels
Integrated Wind Solutions' subsidiary, IWS Fleet AS, has agreed with the shipyard China Merchants Industry Holdings to postpone equity yard installments of a total of 36 million euros on IWS Seawalker, IWS Starwalker, IWS Moonwalker, and IWS Sunwalker offshore wind service vessels up to one year, to strengthen the companyâs liquidity position. The delivery schedules for IWS Windwalker, IWS Seawalker, and IWS Sunwalker vessels are unchanged, while IWS Moonwalker and IWS Sunwalker are moved forward by one month.
Offshore Wind: IWS Fleet Orders Two More CSOVs from Chinese Shipbuilder
IWS Fleet AS has ordered two more Walk-to-Work commissioning service operations vessels (âCSOVâ) from China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd.The company said Tuesday that the two newbuilds would be delivered in the second quarter of 2025. Following the delivery, the offshore wind vessel owner will have a fleet of six identical Skywalker class vessels designed specifically to support commissioning works during the construction of wind farms, as well as supporting operations and maintenance during the lifetime of offshore wind farmsâŚ
CMI Inks Licensing Deal with GTT for Membrane Technologies
French engineering firm GTT said it has signed a technical assistance and license agreement with China Merchants Heavy Industries-Jiangsu (CMHI-Jiangsu), a subsidiary of shipbuilding group China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMI), enabling the yard to construct vessels using GTT membrane technologies.GTT and China Merchant Industry Holdings have been cooperating for a decade, with a first Technical Service Agreement signed in 2013 for the maintenance and repair of LNGCs. A cooperation agreement has also been initiated in 2016 for the evaluation of CMHI to implement GTT technologies.
Tech File: OATECH Fish-Farming "Superyacht" Earns RINA AIP
A fish-farming superyacht developed by Ocean Ark Tech of Chile (OATECH) and its strategic ally, London-based Ocean Sovereign, is one step closer to delivering fish to market after winning a key approval from marine classification society, RINA.Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) announced the Approval in Principle (AiP) of the new-concept offshore fish-farming system, Ocean Ark. The vessel delivers a new approach to aquaculture and looks set to disrupt by dramatically improving fish healthâŚ
Ørsted Picks Seaway 7 for Offshore Wind Installation Works in Germany
Offshore wind installation contractor Seaway 7 has been selected as a preferred contractor by Ørsted for the transport and installation of wind turbine generators for part of the Gode Wind 3 and Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farms in Germany. Under the contract, the first since the last week's merger between OHT and Seaway 7, the company will use its jack-up installation vessel VIND1, currently under construction in China.The two offshore wind projects are expected to be fully commissioned in 2024 and 2025.
New Offshore Wind Service Firm Looking to Raise up to $89M via Private Placement
Integrated Wind Solutions, a newly formed offshore wind service company owned by Norway's Awilhelmsen investment group, is eyeing a private placement of new shares in the company in connection with a listing on Euronext Growth Oslo, aiming to raise up to $89 million.Integrated Wind Solutions describes itself as a company that aims to be a leading offshore wind service player by integrating service operation vessels with engineering and manpower services in the windfarmâs construction and operations phase.
OHT's Shipbuilding Deal for Offshore Wind Installation Vessel Now 'Effective'
OHT, the Norwegian offshore heavy transport firm, and soon to be offshore wind installation contractor has said that its shipbuilding contract for its first offshore wind turbine installation vessel has become effective."The shipbuilding contract for OHTâs first WTIV (Wind Turbine Installation Vessel) âVind 1â has reached contract effectiveness following i.a. the issuance of a Refund Guarantee by China Merchants Industry Holdingsâ bank and OHTâs payment of the first yard installment for the vesselâŚ
SBM Orders Two More Fast4Ward Hulls
SBM Offshore announced it has signed contracts with Chinese shipyards for the construction of the companyâs fourth and fifth hulls under its purchase program for Fast4Ward newbuild multipurpose floating production, storage and offloading unit (FPSO) hulls.The contracts were signed with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding and Offshore Co., Ltd. (SWS) and China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH). Both yards are also progressing the construction of SBM Offshoreâs first three hulls whichâŚ
Jan De Nul Orders Floating Installation Vessel
Luxembourg-based Jan De Nul has ordered a second mega offshore installation vessel, Les Alizés, from the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.Together with the Voltaire, the new floating installation crane vessel will be in a super-size class of its own, capable of building the newest generation of offshore wind farms.Les Alizés, that will be ready in 2022, is equipped with a crane having a lifting capacity of 5,000 tons and equally impressive lifting heights. Les Alizés will mainly be used for the construction of offshore wind farms, but with her impressive crane she is also extremely suitable for decommissioning offshore oil and gas platforms."Thanks to her dimensions and impressive lifting and loading capacitiesâŚ
Jan De Nul orders Offshore Installation Vessel
Six months after the offshore installation vessel Voltaire, Jan De Nul Group orders Les Alizés, a floating installation crane vessel from the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.Together with the Voltaire, this new vessel will be in a super-size class of its own, capable of building the newest generation of offshore wind farms. Les Alizés, that will be ready in 2022, is equipped with a crane having a lifting capacity of 5,000 tons and equally impressive lifting heights. Les Alizés will be able to load out, transport and install multiple units of the largest and heaviest wind turbine foundations.
Saga Dawn Gas Trials Success for LNT Marine
LNT Marine has successfully completed gas trials of its novel LNTA-BOX containment system aboard Saga Dawn, a mid-size LNG carrier due for delivery from China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) shipyard.Saga LNG Shipping and China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) signed a contract for the 45,000m3-capacity LNG carrier in late 2015, with the yard subsequently entering into a license agreement with Singaporeâs LNT Marine for the game-changing LNT A-BOX containment system.Due for delivery in JulyâŚ
Huge Semisub Crane Vessel gets AIP
China Merchants Offshore Technology Research Center (CM-OTRC), the R&D center for China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMI) of Shenzhen, China, have completed the basic design of the OOS Zeelandia a new semisubmersible crane vessel (SSCV) that, when built, will have the largest lifting capacity in the world. Designed in close collaboration with OOS International B.V. (OOS) of the Netherlands, it is being classed by American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), who have recently granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to the vessel design.With a total lifting capacity of up to 25âŚ
Arctic (& Wind) Operations: Hands Across the Water
As the North American offshore wind model evolves, it is clear that fit-for-purpose, Jones Act compliant and Arctic ready tonnage will need to be part of the equation. If so, weâve got that box checked, with a little help from Europe.As of September 2018, the Walney Extension off the United Kingdom is the largest offshore wind farm in the world at 659 megawatts. There are at least 70 major wind farms, each with hundreds of wind turbines, each generating as much as 10 megawatts in offshore England, the North Sea, Russia and China.
Expedition Cruising: Full Speed Ahead in China
Talk of trade wars and politics aside, attention should be paid to a growing relationship between U.S.-based SunStone Ships, Inc. and Chinese shipyard China Merchants Heavy Industries in Haimen, China, as the pair is quietly growing a cruise shipbuilding business in China. Sunstone announced that on June 12, 2018, the keel was laid for the first Infinity Class vessel Greg Mortimer, the first in a series that could eventually total 10 high-spec expedition cruise vessels.Greg MortimerâŚ
SunStone Orders Third Expedition Ship from China
SunStone Ships, Inc. announced it has finalized an agreement with shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings Co. Ltd. to build a third Infinity class expedition cruise vessel, to be named Ocean Victory. The newbuild is scheduled to be delivered in March 2021.SunStoneâs President & CEO, Niels-Erik Lund, commented, âWe are pleased with the rapid adoption of the Infinity-class vessels. It seems our European design and technology, combined with lower overall operating costs ticksâŚ
Adventure Bound: Sunstone Ships Climbs to New Heights
Niels-Erik Lund began his passenger ship career in 1969 as a trainee in a Danish passenger shipping company, DFDS. In the nearly 50 years since, the passenger and cruise shipping industry has changed many times over, with consistent growth being the only similarity between then an now. Today Lund, President & CEO of Sunstone Ships, Inc., has an unfettered view of the expedition cruise sector that he helped to create. With the expedition and luxury cruise segments set for fast growth, Maritime Reporter spoke to Lund to help put the market in better perspective.
Jumbo Orders LNG-powered Heavy Lift Ship
Dutch transportation and installation contractor Jumbo said it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) for the construction of a new heavy lift crane vessel (HLCV) scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2020. The DP2 vessel will feature dual fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and will be built to serve the offshore wind and the offshore oil and gas industries. âDespite the current offshore climate, we are committing to this industry long term,â said Jumbo managing director, Michael Kahn.
Worldâs Largest Crane Vessel under Development
Holding OOS International Group B.V. said it is working with China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) to design and build what will be the worldâs largest semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV), OOS Zeelandia. OOS unveiled the OOS Zeelandia during the EU-China Blue Industry Cooperation Forum in Shenzhen on December 8, but revealed the basic design has been in progress since a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed with the China Merchants Group subsidiary CMIH in July. According to OOS InternationalâŚ
Four New Expedition Cruise Vessels Ordered
SunStone Ships, Inc. and China Merchants Industry Holdings Co., Ltd. (CMIH) have signed a framework agreement for the construction of four expedition vessels with options for an additional six vessels. The new vessels will be part of the SunStone Fleet and chartered to new and existing clients. CMIH has entered into an agreement with Ulstein Design & Solutions, who will supply the vesselâs design and equipment package, as well as the supervision for the building of the vessels.
Mermaid Terminates Newbuild Drilling Rigs Contract
Mermaid Maritime and China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) have mutually agreed to cancel the construction contract for the construction of tender assist drilling rigs to be named âMTR-3â and âMTR-4â respectively. All pre-paid installments and associated costs were already recorded as asset-impairments in Mermaidâs 2015 Financial Statements. No further payments are due to the Builder. The contract price for each of the Rigs (which is inclusive of rig equipment spares) was USD 149 Million). This is equivalent to USD 298 Million for both Rigs. The Owners had made a pre-paid installment of US$ 44 Million for both Rigs pursuant to the Construction Contracts.
Mermaid Maritime Bags Subsea Contracts, Delays Newbuilding
Thailandâs Mermaid Maritime said it has been awarded a number of subsea contracts in the Middle East with a total worth of $11million. It has also reached an agreement with builder China Merchants Industry Holdings to postpone the delivery dates for its new assets currently under construction. Off Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Mermaid's western hemisphere business unit won seven subsea projects with an estimated aggregate value of US$11 million. The subsea projects involve survey, inspection, repair and maintenance and light construction in various offshore fields including Manifa, Safaniya, Zuluf and Tanajib in Saudi Arabia. Most projects will be completed by the end of August, Mermaid said.
OSD Develops New Vessels for Austin Offshore
OSD-IMT, the U.K. division of Netherlands-based Offshore Ship Designers (OSD), is designing two 120 m IMT9120 Riserless Light Well Intervention / IMR vessels for Austin Offshore Pte Ltd, the shipping arm of Upstream Drilling Pte Ltd, Singapore. The diesel-electric propulsion vessels are intended to carry out riserless light well intervention, light construction, subsea installation, inspection maintenance and repair of subsea installations. They can deploy three ROVs, and have a 250-metric-ton-capacity AHC crane as well as a traveling gantry well intervention tower system.