Electricity Power News

International trade by sea has long been a key part of the world economy and approximately 90% of traded commodities is reliant on shipping. Once wind-propelled in the days of sail, the current generation of ships now heavily rely on fossil fuels. Fossil fuel propulsion contributes to global warming with carbon emissions approximating 940 MtCO2e per year and also has health implications for communities surrounding ports through the release of air pollutants. The environmental impact of fossil-fuelled engines is further compounded by their use in port infrastructure…

The “new normal” is a phrase tossed around often in offshore energy circles today as those servicing and operating in the sector grapple with the harsh realities of the prolonged industry downturn. Operators, service companies and equipment suppliers have been forced to adjust to oil selling at prices well below the $100+ per barrel mark seen in years past. As of this writing, Brent oil was hovering around $62 per barrel, and analysts expect prices will remain in this range for some time into the future.On top of this…

London Offshore Consultants (LOC) has clinched its first ever windfarm project work in the Asia Pacific region. LOC in Korea has been jointly appointed by reinsurers Swiss Re and Korean Re as the marine warranty surveying service provider for the Tamra Wind Farm project. This is the first offshore wind farm project in Korea located off the coast of Jeju Island about 0.5 – 1.0km from the shore. “We are delighted to have a chance to work closely withTamra Offshore Wind Power Co., Ltd., a local developer which is owned by Korea South East Power Co., Ltd., and the respected local manufacturer of wind turbine generators, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.,” said Jonathan Walker, Regional Director of LOC.

Following the reorganization of Eni’s Gas and Power activities, approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Business Unit Optimization and Trading will be renamed Business Unit Midstream and a new Business Unit Downstream Gas and Power has been created. The Business Unit Downstream Gas and Power, of which Eni’s Chief Executive Officer, Paolo Scaroni, has been appointed interim head, will be responsible for the development in Italy and abroad of commercial retail and mid gas & power as well as the generation of electricity power. The Business Unit Midstream, headed by Marco Alverà, will oversee commodity trading activities, supply and oil & gas portfolio optimization, sales on wholesale gas and power markets, midstream LNG commercial activities and commodities transport.

Ship onshore power alternative provision to take several years, but clean fuel requirement by 2014. It will take several years for the government to introduce onshore electricity power facilities at the Kai Tak cruise terminal but a law requiring ocean-going vessels berthing at the city to use cleaner fuel can be in place next year at the earliest, reports the South China Morning Post. According to the think tank Civic Exchange, vessels visiting Ocean Terminal emitted 252 tonnes of sulphur dioxide in 2007 - comparable to the 286 tonnes of vehicle emissions in Hong Kong in 2010. Hong Kong Government's Undersecretary for the Environment…

The world’s largest power ship lies anchored off Pakistan’s energy-starved port city of Karachi, just one of its 19 chimneys puffing smoke into the sea air, reports Haris Amwar in  Blooberg Business Week news item. The Kaya Bey and a sister vessel, whose furnace-oil generators could halve the city’s peak 600-megawatt energy shortfall, has been largely idle since the Supreme Court suspended its license amid an anti-corruption probe. Karachi’s 18 million people face another summer without the power they need to cool homes or run businesses. The Turkish floating power station dropped anchor in November 2010 as part of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s bid to curb a nationwide power deficit that widened to 6,000 megawatts this month, or 30 percent of demand.

Hong Kong based SpecTec Asia Pacific East Ltd has entered into an agreement to supply SpecTec AMOS software and related services to Kuang Ming Shipping Corp. head office and its 14 bulk cargo ships. Kuang Ming Shipping Corp. was established in May 1990 in Taiwan. In the beginning, the Company acted as the booking agent to handle the import and export of container shipments for Yang Ming Line in Taiwan. In November 1999, the Company bought two container ships to launch the Intra-Asia liner service.

Bureau Veritas is launching a fully updated set of classification rules for yachts and megayachts. The Rules cover design approval, material and equipment certification and construction surveillance at the yard for single yacht building or for production in large series following an alternative survey scheme. Motor and sailing yachts of mono or multi hull type, built in steel, aluminium alloys or composite materials are covered. A major addition to the new Rules is a set of standards applicable to very large charter yachts and yachts with over 12 passengers. These standards bridge the gap between international conventions applying to passenger ships and yacht industry standards.