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English Channel News

27 Dec 2023

Prysmian Commissions Inter-Array Cable System at French Offshore Wind Farm

Cable laying vessel Ariadne (Credit: Asso.subsea)

Prysmian Group has commissioned the inter-array cable system for the Fécamp offshore wind farm, located in the English Channel, offshore France.The Fécamp offshore wind farm is composed of 71 wind turbines with a total capacity of nearly 500MW.It will be able to generate clean electricity equivalent to the power needs of over 770,000 people.Prysmian had secured this project in 2020 with a contract awarded by EDF Renewables and its partners.Asso.subsea was contracted by Prysmian Group to execute the seabed preparation, installation and protection works for the cables.

29 Nov 2023

Royal Navy to Help Defend Undersea Cables

Source: UK Government

A Royal Navy task force of seven ships will deploy with allies early next month to jointly patrol areas with vulnerable undersea critical infrastructure, following an unprecedented agreement by ministers of the 10 Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations.The UK contribution to the deployment will include two Royal Navy frigates, two offshore patrol vessels and mine countermeasures vessels, as well as a Royal Fleet Auxiliary landing ship – supported by a Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon…

06 Nov 2023

DFDS Commits to Battery-electric Vessels on the English Channel

© julien leiv / Adobe Stock

Danish shipping company DFDS announced it has committed to investing in battery-powered vessels to help decarbonize the maritime traffic across the English Channel.Following a meet between French Minister for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Olivier Becht and CEO of DFDS, Torben Carlsen, in October, DFDS said it will invest in the innovation and technology necessary to and deploy a fleet of battery-powered vessels in the English Channel by 2030.“We have…

12 Jul 2023

SeaARCTOS: New ECAs Need New Approach to Emissions Monitoring

Source: SeaARCTOS

Flag and port state control authorities will need new tools to monitor compliance within the next wave of Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) if compliance is to meet minimum standards, according to emissions management start-up SeaARCTOS.“There is a risk that as the industry focuses on carbon, that sulfur emissions fall into the background, but they continue to present a serious public health risk and a compliance challenge,” says Michael Kougellis, SeaARCTOS CEO. “Growth in the ECA network means that demand for emissions monitoring and compliance management will continue to increase…

19 Apr 2023

New Sensors Expected to Reduce Illegal Immigration Across English Channel

Source: HGH

French and British authorities have ordered infrared panoramic detection systems from French company HGH to help reduce illegal immigration across the English Channel.The two countries have previously signed a “smart border” agreement worth 72.2 million euros for the period 2022-2023. The aim is to use advanced technologies to secure the coastline and prevent people drowning onboard makeshift boats.HGH will provide its SPYNEL solutions which allow for permanent and continuous surveillance.

27 Dec 2022

Racing to the Bottom: Seabed Warfare Brings Threats, Opportunities

Image courtesy Voyis

In the early morning hours of September 26, 2022, seismologists located throughout northern Europe detected two disturbances originating in the Baltic Sea that were consistent with underwater explosions. Within hours, an aerial image captured by a passing Danish F-16 showed an expanse of frothy seawater, suggesting that the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines had experienced a catastrophic event. Within days, an investigation by the Swedish Security Service concluded that both pipelines had sustained extensive damage due to an act of gross sabotage.

14 Nov 2022

UK Navy Rescues Four From Sinking Yacht

HMS Diamond (Photo: UK Royal Navy)

A U.K. Royal Navy warship assisted in the rescue of four people from a yacht that was taking on water and at risk of sinking in the English Channel near the Isle of Wight.Last week, the Portsmouth-based Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond answered a Mayday call from a civilian yacht that was taking on a significant amount of water while sailing from Beaulieu River in the New Forest toward Honfleur in France.Diamond was in the area after leaving its home port and coordinated and conducted the rescue operation…

31 May 2022

UK Cancels P&O Ferries Contract Over Job Cuts

©Pixavril/AdobeStock

Britain says it has canceled a contract with P&O Ferries "with immediate effect" in its latest action against the DP World-owned company following its decision to axe hundreds of staff earlier this year.The Home Office (interior ministry) said it was ending its agreement with the firm to provide contingency travel services to "juxtaposed ports" where British staff operate border controls in Belgium and France to check passengers and freight destined for Britain.It comes after P&O Ferries…

16 May 2022

Brittany Ferries Inks Bunkering Deal with Titan LNG

Artist rendering of Brittany Ferries' newbuild ferries (Image: Brittany Ferries)

Brittany Ferries and Titan LNG have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquified bio methane (LBM) to two new LNG-fueled hybrid Ro-Pax vessels that Brittany Ferries will operate between England and France from 2025.The ferries will serve established routes connecting Portsmouth with Saint-Malo, and Portsmouth with Ouistreham. Titan said it will aim to supply fuel to both vessels during usual cargo operations alongside (SIMOPS) to avoid delays to sailing schedules.The two 194.7 meter…

03 Mar 2022

Ukraine Invasion: What Can Be Done at Sea?

© muhor / Adobe Stock

The closure of the Turkish straits to all warships has drawn attention to the maritime dimension of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.From a tactical and operational perspective, Russian naval forces have already contributed, albeit in a limited way, to the current invasion of Ukraine, notably with missile strikes and amphibious assaults. But from a strategic and political perspective, there are other important maritime elements to the conflict, for both Russia and Nato.Russia is not…

28 Feb 2022

Ship Seized in France, Suspected of Violating Russia Sanctions

France on Saturday seized a car cargo ship in the English Channel that Washington says was linked to the son of a former Russian spy chief, in one of the first visible displays of the West enforcing sanctions on Moscow over its Ukraine invasion.The "Baltic Leader" was headed to St. Petersburg but was diverted to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. (0200-0300 GMT), Captain Veronique Magnin of the French Maritime Prefecture told Reuters.The vessel was "strongly suspected of being linked to Russian interests targeted by the sanctions," she said.The United States Treasury Department has issued blocking sanctions against the vessel because…

02 Feb 2022

British Navy Rejects Plan to Push Back Channel Migrant Boats

© Wirestock / Adobe Stock

Britain's navy has rejected a plan to turn away boats illegally carrying migrants to its shores when it takes over responsibility for trying to stop people crossing the English Channel in small dinghies.The government said last month that it will hand the navy responsibility for policing small boats crossing between France to England, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.Home Secretary Priti Patel approved plans last year for border officials, who have been dealing with the crossings, to be trained to force boats away from British waters using jet skis.So far, the controversial tactic has

26 Nov 2021

UK, France Trade Blame as 27 Migrants Die While Trying to Cross Channel to Britain

Credit: OSORIOartist/AdobeStock

British and French officials traded blame on Wednesday after 27 migrants died when their dinghy deflated as they made a perilous crossing of the English Channel.The accident was the worst disaster on record involving migrants in the narrow seaway separating the two countries.The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong. Human traffickers typically overload the dinghies, leaving them barely afloat and at the mercy of waves as they try to reach…

07 Sep 2021

Young Children Among Migrants Rescued from English Channel

© staoist520 / Adobe Stock

Two small children were among the dozens of migrants rescued from the English Channel on Tuesday after a summer that has seen record numbers attempt the dangerous journey from France.This year, hundreds of boats carrying migrants have attempted the dangerous crossing from France to England, often in small, inflatable dinghies that get into difficulties in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.On one day in August, at least 482 migrants crossed the Channel by boat, a record daily number.Reuters witnesses on Tuesday saw two boats arrive at the headland of Dungeness in Kent…

25 May 2021

P&O Ferries and DFDS Ink Space Charter Agreement

(Photo: P&O Ferries)

Two ferry operators on the English Channel on Tuesday announced a deal to make freight space on their Dover-Calais ships available to one another to maintain customer service levels on the route and ensure its continued resilience.Under the space charter agreement between P&O Ferries and DFDS, freight drivers can arrive at either the Port of Dover or Port of Calais and board the next available sailing, irrespective of whether the ferry is operated by either company.David Stretch…

03 May 2021

Titan LNG to Build New Bunkering Barge

(Image: Titan LNG)

The Netherlands-based marine fuel supplier Titan LNG launched a tender for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering barge to service the Zeebrugge and English Channel regions. The first delivery is expected to be fulfilled in 2023.The 4,200 cubic meter capacity vessel, to be named Krios, was designed by HB Hunte Engineering. It will operate with multiple tanks to segregate streams of LNG and bio-LNG, the sustainable carbon neutral fuel produced from biological waste streams.

27 Oct 2020

UK Police Questioning Stowaways Involved in Tanker Incident

British police were granted more time to question seven men arrested after hostile stowaways aboard an oil tanker in the English Channel prompted special forces to storm the vessel on Sunday.“Officers have been granted more time by Southampton Magistrates Court to question seven men as we continue to lead the investigation into the maritime security incident on board the Nave Andromeda off the coast of the Isle of Wight on Sunday 25 October,” police said in a statement.The seven men, who are all Nigerian nationals, were arrested on suspicion of seizing or exercising control of a ship by use of threats or force, and will remain in custody until the evening of Wednesday, October 28.Reporting by William James, Editing by Paul Sandle

26 Oct 2020

Tanker Operator Thanks UK for Storming Vessel after Stowaways Turned Hostile

The operator of an oil tanker stormed in the English Channel by British special forces thanked the authorities on Monday for their timely response, saying help was requested after seven stowaways who boarded in Nigeria turned hostile.Troops from the Special Boat Service, Britain's elite naval special forces unit, boarded the Greek-operated Nave Andromeda near the Isle of Wight off southern England after the master of the ship said he was concerned about the safety of his crew.Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized the armed forces to board the tanker "to safeguard life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking", the defense ministry said.Sources with knowledge of the situation aboard the vessel said it was not a hijacking or hostage-taking.

26 Oct 2020

UK Special Forces Storm Oil Tanker, Detain Stowaways in English Channel

British special forces stormed a Greek-operated oil tanker in the English channel on Sunday to wrestle control of the vessel from seven stowaways who had threatened the crew in a suspected hijacking.Troops from the Special Boat Service, a navy special forces unit whose headquarters in just a few miles away from where the vessel began showing signs of distress, boarded the Nave Andromeda near the Isle of Wight off southern England.Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel authorized the armed forces to board the ship “to safeguard life and secure a ship that was subject to suspected hijacking”, the defense ministry said.“Armed forces have gained control of the ship and seven individuals have been detained,” the ministry said.

22 Oct 2020

Wärtsilä to Supply Engines for P&O Ferries' Newbuilds

P&O Ferries’ new series of ‘super ferries’ will be powered by Wärtsilä 31 engines fitted with the latest Wärtsilä Data Communication units. (Image: P&O Ferries)

Finnish tech company Wärtsilä revealed Thursday that it booked an order in Q1 2020 to supply engines for British ferry operator P&O Ferries' two new hybrid electric ferries on order at China's Guangzhou Shipyard International.P&OF has stated that the new hybrid-electric vessels, to be powered by powered by the Wärtsilä 31 four-stroke diesel engines, “will be the most sustainable ships ever to sail the English Channel, setting new standards for reliability and cost efficiency.”The double-ended RoPax ferries will operate between England and France.

17 Sep 2020

Damen Launches Dredger for Hanson

(Photo: Damen)

On September 11, Damen Shipyards Group launched a Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 3500 at its Galati yard in Romania. Damen is building the MAD for UK-based Hanson, who will use the vessel to conduct offshore aggregate extraction in water depths up to -55 metres in the North Sea and English Channel.Following the launch, Damen will complete work on the vessel, to be named Hanson Thames, and afterwards undertake commissioning, including of dredge equipment and screening installation…

06 Aug 2020

Container Losses in the Rolling Seas

The APL England lost at least 50 containers in heavy seas off the coast of Australia in May 2020. (Photo: Australian Maritime Safety Authority)

Cargoes have come off ships at sea it seems like forever. Some years ago a ship suffered a casualty transiting the English Channel in a storm. Much of its cargo of lumber and other floating items washed ashore on the southwest English coast. Before the authorities could arrive, enterprising local residents gathered it up.Nowadays, the majority of non-bulk cargo is carried in containers. Container ships have gotten larger and are capable of carrying thousands and thousands of containers. The ships have greater length, greater breadth, and greater draft. They also have greater air draft.

15 Jul 2020

Total Shipping Losses Are Declining, But Challenges Persist -Report

The car carrier Golden Ray sits capsized in St. Simons Sound, Ga. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Brian McCrum)

The record low 41 large shipping losses worldwide in 2019 represents a 20% improvement year-on-year and almost 70% over a decade, but the coronavirus crisis could endanger the long-term safety improvements in the shipping industry for 2020 and beyond, as difficult operating conditions and a sharp economic downturn present a unique set of challenges, according to recent report from marine insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Consequences of coronavirus and a sustained…

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