Components And Services News

The Navy wants, and needs, more ships; but it can’t build them fast enough.While the U.S. Navy aims to achieve a 355-ship fleet, it is decommissioning older (and some not so old) ships at about the same rate it's adding new ones.A Congressional Research Service report stated that, as of April 17, 2023, the Navy included 296 battle force ships. "The Navy projects that under its FY2024 budget submission, the Navy would include 293 battle force ships at the end of FY2024 and 291 battle force ships at the end of FY2028."But there is progress…

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the “North Extension” (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.

Fincantieri Marine Systems North America (FMSNA) has been awarded the maintenance contract for the U.S. Navy’s “Avenger”-class minesweepers. The program has a combined value up to more than $78 million.The Navy operates eight “Avenger”-class vessels, which are homeported in Bahrain and Japan. All of the vessels have diesel engines produced by Isotta Fraschini Motori, another Fincantieri’s subsidiary, of which FMSNA technicians are experts. All of the “Avenger”-class vessels were made in Marinette and Sturgeon Bay…

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) said it has received an order from Armscor – the acquisition agency for the South African Department of Defense – for three Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV), 62 x 11 meters. The new vessels – the first of a Damen Sea Axe design to operate in South Africa – will form part of the South African Navy’s Project Biro. The project aims to develop South Africa’s maritime security, ensuring that the country has the capability to respond effectively, rapidly and cost-efficiently to maritime threats such as illegal trafficking and fishing.

Bureau Veritas (BV) said it has signed a framework agreement with LM Wind Power, a supplier of components and services to the wind industry, to cover the certification of wind turbine blades to international standards. The contract follows a collaboration between both companies, sharing knowledge and working together to fully understand the requirements and needs. This engagement and shared commitment are now cemented with the framework agreement and the first certification assignments are being undertaken, BV said. LM Wind Power’s VP Business Development & Strategic Alliances, Frank V.

BAE Systems pilot initiative in conjunction with UK business sector agencies will train 50 engineering apprentices for companies in NW England. Interested supplier companies attended a conference at the firm’s Apprentice Training Centre in Preston where the 50 young people will be trained. The successful candidates will receive a sought-after three-year apprenticeship in engineering from BAE before joining a company which supplies components or services to our military aircraft  business in Lancashire or our submarine design and building facility in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The Market - Global Floating Production Capex to Double. Douglas-Westwood (DW) forecast that between 2013 and 2017 $91bn will be spent on floating production systems (FPS) – an increase of 100% over the preceding five-year period. This growth is driven by factors such as a larger proportion of newbuilds and conversions compared to redeployments, a greater degree of local content resulting in increased costs and general offshore industry cost inflation. Floating Production is firmly established as a cost-effective method of developing oil and gas fields around the world. In water depths beyond 500m floating production systems become one of the few options open to operators, an increasingly important factor as production moves into deeper waters.

GE (NYSE: GE) Oil & Gas has announced that its Wellstream business, acquired in March, has been awarded a long-term, flexible pipe and subsea equipment logistics services contract by Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), one of the largest companies in Latin America which also controls significant energy assets in 18 countries worldwide. The long-term contract is initially valued in excess of $200M. To perform the long-term contract, GE will build a dedicated 55,000 sq. meter, $90M investment Wellstream flexible pipe and subsea equipment Logistics Base in Niterói, a commercial hub located 14 kms outside Rio de Janeiro. Petrobras will use the new facility to support its development of pre-salt oil and gas field projects in the Campos and Santos basins offshore Brazil.

The SMM exhibition in Hamburg has once again proven that it is the cradle of marine technology and the grand-daddy of all marine exhibitions. On display in 12 separate halls were more than 1,300 exhibitors from more than 50 countries, launching new products and discussing business with an estimated 37,000 visitors. More telling that sheer numbers, in this case, is the feeling of the exhibition and the ubiquitous marine technology theme. The quality of attendee and exhibitor is always high, but this edition of the bi-annual exhibition seemed especially charged due to the many positives currently running throughout the full spectrum of the maritime market.