Cavotec Shore Power in First for European Tanker
The Swedish port of Gävle recently became one of the first in the world to successfully connect a tanker vessel to a shoreside electricity system. The shore power connection solution was provided by Cavotec.The system, based on new standards drawn up in co-operation with other ports and operators, is set to pave the way for other tanker berth operators to reduce emissions, says Cavotec.The test sequence, during which no electrical current was supplied to the vessel, was conducted earlier this year with the Tern Fors…
Merchant Vessel Loses Power in Somali Waters
A merchant vessel was towed to safety after losing power in heavy seas off the coast of Somalia.On July 19, the EU's counter-piracy forces EU NAVFOR ATALANTA received a request for assistance from the Somali Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation after the Tanzania-registered merchant ship Anatolian suffered a complete propulsion and power plant failure, and was without food or fresh water. At the same time, ATALANTA assets were granted permission to enter Somali territorial waters.For about a week…
Meyer Turku Delivers Costa Smeralda
Finish shipbuilder Meyer Turku delivered liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled Costa Smeralda to Italian owner Costa Cruises, a brand of Carnival Corporation.The brand's new flagship Costa Smeralda becomes Carnival Corporation's fourth new ship of 2019 and its second LNG-powered ship.Costa Smeralda is the first of two new sister ships for Costa Cruises that can be powered in port and at sea by LNG. The second vessel, Costa Toscana, is currently under construction at Meyer Turku and scheduled to be delivered in 2021.In total, following the delivery of Costa Smeralda and the launch of AIDAnova at the end of 2018 as the world's first cruise vessel to be powered by LNG…
Tax Sops for Shore-Side Electricity Supply for Ships in EU
The Transport committee of the European Parliament supported yesterday the removal of tax barriers for the uptake of shore-side electricity supply (OPS) in ports for ships at berth.The Ertug report on the deployment of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the EU which was voted by the Transport committee, pointed out that taxation has a major impact on the price competitiveness of alternative fuels and underlined that disparities in energy taxation for shore-side supply for ships should be addressed.European ports welcome the vote in the Parliament and believe that energy taxation on electricity has been a significant barrier for the uptake of shore-side electricity for ships…
Energy Island: Europeans Mull North Sea Hub
A plan set in motion by three European transmission system operators (TSO) aims to develop mammoth offshore wind farm infrastructure in the North Sea supported by at least one manmade island. First unveiled in June 2016, plans for the North Sea Wind Power Hub project will now press ahead to develop a large offshore renewable European electricity system following the signing of a trilateral agreement by TenneT TSO B.V. (Netherlands), Energinet.dk (Denmark) and TenneT TSO GmbH (Germany) in Brussels on March 23, 2017.
Ignore the Bluster – Wind Farm Power is Effective
A UK Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) research paper dismisses illusions about wind power as an energy resource. Much opposition to wind power appears to be based on the belief that it is an ineffective technology, inefficient or unreliable. This claim is untrue and it is important to get ‘beyond the bluster’ in assessing the effectiveness of wind power. • Is wind power an effective way of reducing carbon emissions? • Is wind power a secure and reliable source of energy for the UK? It shows unequivocally that wind power can significantly reduce carbon emissions, is reliable, poses no threat to energy security, and is technically capable of providing a significant proportion of the UK’s electricity supply with minimal impact on the existing operation of the grid.
Snake Causes LNG Facility Blackout
Just when you think all safety measures are in place, a stray snake enters the picture to muck up the works. A natural gas facility in southern Thailand was brought to a standstill by a blackout blamed on a snake. A plant pumping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the southern Thai province of Songkhla to Malaysia had to suspend operations after its electricity system was downed by a stray boa constrictor. The reptile caused a short circuit in the system by wrapping around an electricity transmission line and clamping down on a high-voltage transformer. (Source: RIA Novosti)
