Electrical Infrastructure News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).The investments—part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history, nearly $17 billion through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are intended to help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland…

As the devotion to more sustainable shipping expands and regulations become more stringent, the demand for lower emissions operations continues to increase. As a result, the marine industry is confronted with the challenge of large-scale electrification as an alternative energy solution.For electric ferries, one developing technology is Rapid Charging Systems (RCS), which transfer electrical power from the shore to a vessel at a high rate. These charging systems establish a ship-to-shore connection quickly…

Belgium's transmission operator, Elia, has presented its draft plans for what is expected to be the world’s first artificial energy island. The energy island, called the Princess Elisabeth Island, will be located almost 45 km off the Belgian coast and will serve as the link between the offshore wind farms in the second offshore wind zone (which will have a maximum capacity of 3.5 GW) and its onshore high-voltage grid. Elia, which presented the plans in the presence of federal ministers Tinne Van der Straeten (Energy) and Vincent Van Quickenborne (North Sea)…

Danish offshore energy industry services firms Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime have been awarded a contract to deliver substations for Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project in the U.S.The contract comprises three 880 MW offshore substations, which will be established in 2021-2025 and commissioned in 2026."The three substations will constitute the backbone of the electrical infrastructure for the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The contract is Bladt Industries’ and Semco Maritime’s third offshore substation project in the U.S.

“30 by 30” is the rallying cry for all concerned with the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind business. In Spring 2021, the Secretaries of Energy, Interior and Commerce resolved to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of electricity generated from offshore turbines by 2030. Consultants McKinsey, in a recent article frame the value proposition for this clean fuel source, writing: “During the industry’s 30-year evolution, costs have fallen so sharply that offshore wind now compares favorably with competing energy sources.” For vessel owners, renewable energy brings opportunity.The thrust of near-term U.S.

UK-based HydroWing and Dutch tidal energy developer Tocardo are working on a solution that will convert tidal energy into hydrogen, store it and offload it - similar to an FPSO in the oil and gas industry - to overcome the intermittency as well as the transportation issues.The concept called the THyPSO (Tidal Hydrogen Production, Storage and Offloading) includes a floating platform housing 1 – 6 conventional bi-directional tidal turbines converting the tidal flows into electricity…

Marine energy storage and battery company PBES and power generation company Sterling and Wilson have has announced a strategic partnership agreement. The agreement, which involves Sterling and Wilson acquiring a significant portion of PBES equity, provides a vehicle to stabilize PBES and move the company forward in its marine electric and hybrid energy storage business, while providing a critical and strategic component in Sterling and Wilson’s portfolio.The PBES energy storage system has been engineered to the highest standards of performance and safety and is designed to seamlessly integrate with virtually any electrical infrastructure.

The marine energy storage and battery company Plan B Energy Storage (PBES) and power generation company Sterling and Wilson have announced a strategic partnership agreement.The agreement, which involves Sterling and Wilson acquiring a significant portion of PBES equity, provides a vehicle to stabilize PBES and move the company forward in its marine electric and hybrid energy storage business, while providing a critical and strategic component in Sterling and Wilson’s portfolio.“Sterling and Wilson is an exceptional strategic partner for PBES,” said Brent Perry, CEO at PBES.“Their outstanding organization and understanding of large power systems make them an ideal partner strategically, as well as financially, in supporting us in taking PBES to the next level.

Tekmar Energy, a provider of protection systems for subsea cable, umbilical and flexible pipes and offshore engineering services, said that it has secured a contract by Boskalis to provide cable protection systems (CPS) for the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm (OWF) in the UK.Triton Knoll is located 32 kilometres off the coast of Lincolnshire and consists of 90 turbines in water depth of 15-21m. The project will provide a total of 860 MW providing sustainable renewable energy to over 800,000 homes in the UK when complete.Russell Edmondson, Managing Director of Tekmar Energy said: “We are delighted to continue our trusted relationship with Boskalis following many years of success together.

The subsea cables and engineering services provider Tekmar Energy announced that international marine contractor Van Oord has selected the patented Tekmar Cable Protection System (CPS) TekLink Mechanical Latch for the Borssele 2 (site III and IV) offshore wind farm.According to a press release from the offshore wind cable protection systems company, Borssele 2 consisting of 77 turbines and a total of 731.5 MW, will go into construction off the coast of Zeeland, the Netherlands in 2020.James Ritchie, CEO of Tekmar Group plc, said: “We are delighted that Van Oord has chosen Tekmar for Borssele 2. This continues our trusted relationship together following the successful award from Van Oord for Deutsche Bucht and BorWin3 earlier in 2018…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, a family-owned and operated shipbuilder that is involved in both government and commercial vessel construction and repair, is focusing on helping its employees recover from the effects of Hurricane Michael.The company’s two major shipyards are based in Bay County, FL, which was declared a major disaster area in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.“The damage caused by Hurricane Michael has affected our community and our lives. As a family-owned business, we consider our employees part of our family and they are our first priority,” said President Joey D’Isernia. “We remain committed to doing everything we can to help them through this difficult time.”ESG and its network of suppliers are currently supporting ESG employees with meals on-site as well as water…

Three European Commission co-funded initiatives – Poseidon Med II, CYnergy and Elemed – are driving forward the uptake of alternative fuels in the Eastern Mediterranean region.Poseidon Med II: Creating a comprehensive and sustainable supply chain for LNG bunkeringThe Poseidon Med II project is a practical roadmap that aims to promote wide adoption of LNG as a safe, environmentally efficient and viable alternative fuel for shipping and help the East Mediterranean marine transportation propel towards a low carbon future.The project, which is co-funded by the European Union, involves three countries: Greece, Italy and Cyprus, six European ports (Piraeus, Patras, Lemesos, Venice, Heraklion, Igoumenitsa) as well as the Revithoussa LNG terminal.

The new LPS 420 E is the latest extension of the Liebherr mobile harbour crane product range. The newly designed machine is a purely electric driven portal crane. All crane movements like luffing, hoisting, slewing and travelling are done by electric motors. As the LPS 420 E is a member of the LHM series, it is also characterised by high modularity. Therefore, it is a universal all-rounder and a key asset for handling every type of cargo, from containers to bulk, general cargo and heavy lifts up to 124 t. The forwardlooking machine is designed for ports and terminals with an electrical infrastructure. Equipped with two winches, each with a powerful 190 kW electric motor, the LPS 420 E provides a maximum load capacity of up to 124 tonnes.

PBES and NORIS Automation GmbH have partnered on the hybrid drive systems for Europe’s first battery hybrid patrol vessel. The 45m long vessel is being built at Baltic Workboats Shipyard in Estonia and will be delivered with 273kWh of PBES Power 65 battery modules. “PBES batteries provide hours of low speed propulsion with reduced sound and heat signature as well as greatly increased efficiency,” said Brent Perry, PBES Chief Executive Officer. “The vessel is first of many that we will be seeing in law enforcement.

The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved a $1.17 billion fiscal year (FY) 2016/17 annual budget for the Port of Los Angeles. As in years past, budget allocations closely align and support the four key objectives of the Port’s 2012-2017 Strategic Plan, which include: development of a world-class infrastructure that promotes growth; implementation of an efficient, secure and environmentally sustainable supply chain; improved financial performance of Port assets; and strengthened relationships with Port stakeholders. “Our Port Strategic Plan has been a great tool to keep us consistently focused and committed to our infrastructure and operational priorities,” said Ambassador Vilma Martinez, Harbor Commission President.

Fugro and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, have signed two contracts to investigate the Borssele wind area, off the Zeeland coast. The workscope includes measuring meteorological and oceanographic conditions and performing geophysical investigations of the seabed. Fugro will measure wind speeds at the future wind farm locations using its Seawatch Wind LiDAR , a device that uses laser beams to collect meteorological data from a floating buoy. This information is crucial for wind farm developers who use the data to calculate as accurately as possible the anticipated yield from the planned wind farms in the Borssele wind farm zone.

The Port of Felixstowe has taken another step to improve both its operational and environmental efficiency with the introduction of its first electric-powered Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs). The four machines, originally manufactured by ZPMC in Shanghai, have been converted from diesel to electric primary drive in the first project of its kind in Western Europe. The work was undertaken by Kalmar, part of the Cargotec group. Commenting on the initiative, Paul Davey, Head of Corporate Affairs, Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd, owners of the Port of Felixstowe, said, "The Port of Felixstowe is fully committed to providing the highest levels of operational performance whilst at the same time reducing the impact of its operations on the environment.

Van Oord is holding a two-day event along the Rotterdam Wilhelminakade quay to mark the entry into service of Aeolus, its first transport and installation vessel for the construction of offshore wind farms. Today, business relations have the opportunity to inspect the vessel. On Saturday 21 June, Mrs K. Aboutaleb-Erahoutan, wife of the Mayor of Rotterdam, will be naming the vessel in the presence of guests and Van Oord staff. The vessel was built at Sietas, a German shipbuilding yard in Hamburg. The innovative and advanced transport and installation vessel has a length of 139 m, 38 m in the beam, a design draught of 5.7 m and a cruising speed of 12 knots. The vessel is equipped with a crane that can lift more than 900 tonnes and has accommodation facilities for 75 crew.

Today, Gov. Bobby Jindal joined Chiquita Brands International Inc. Senior Vice President Mario Pacheco to announce the company will relocate its shipping operations from the Port of Gulfport in Mississippi to the Port of New Orleans. Chiquita plans to ship 60,000 to 78,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs, per year at the Port of New Orleans, representing a roughly 15 percent increase in current container volumes there. Chiquita’s shipping operations will return to New Orleans after a nearly 40-year hiatus.

Imtech Marine Canada (IMC) has been awarded its first subcontract of the extensive Canadian government National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) Program for the engineering of an Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel. Imtech Marine takes responsibility for the ships’ platform automation, electrical solutions, electric propulsion and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and has started the first engineering activities. In October 2011, Imtech Marine announced its involvement in the realization of the extensive NSPS program as a technology partner of Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards.

Alewijnse Marine Systems celebrated their involvement in the success of the award-winning 'LNG Greenstream' waterway tankship at the recent 16th KNVTS Maritime Awards Gala held in The Netherlands. Alewijnse say that the 110m 'Greenstream' is the first commercial inland vessel to use LNG‐electric propulsion. The vessel was built by Peters Shipyards, Kampen, and Alewijnse was responsible for the entire electrical installation on board, including the systems that control and regulate the LNG‐fuelled generators.

Alewijnse’s International Switchboard Production division will have a stand at this year’s 25th Netherlands Industries for Defense & Security symposium and exhibition. This follows work by Alewijnse in recent years on a number of naval projects, including the electrical installation for the 28,000-metric-ton Joint Support Ship, currently being fitted out at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, Vlissingen. Experience gained on this vessel plus on other projects including the supply of Combat Management Consoles directly to the Dutch navy has given Alewijnse valuable insights into the demands and high level specifications required by naval shipyards when it comes to building switchboards and other mission-critical electrical infrastructure.

As operator, Statoil has awarded two contracts to Siemens plc for the engineering, supply, assembly, commissioning and service of 67 wind turbine generators for the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project. The wind turbine generator (WTG) supply contract will cover engineering, procurement, assembly and offshore commissioning. Each turbine (6 MW) consists of a tower section, a nacelle and three separate rotor blades (154-meter rotor diameter). The engineering work will commence in…