Environmental Systems News

Meyer Turku has outlined some of the highlights of its environmental policy developments, noting that it has used only certified carbon neutral electricity since 2018. Starting from 2023, also all district heating used the shipyard has been carbon neutral.“We are lucky to partner with Turku Energia who is able to supply up-to-date electricity and heating solutions. The impact we make together is big and encourages us further with our sustainability ambitions. This decision showcases our deep-rooted values and our forward-thinking approach and commitment to embracing cleaner energy solutions.

U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) inspectors and engineers last week carried out an offshore regulatory pre-production inspection of Murphy Oil’s King’s Quay floating production system (FPS) platform. The facility, a semi-submersible FPS, is now currently moored in Green Canyon Block 433 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, about 175 miles south of New Orleans.“The first offshore follow-up inspection is a very crucial time in the installation of a new production platform in the Gulf,” said BSEE Houma District production supervisor Micah Charpentier.

In a typical year, the waters surrounding British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver host approximately 3,000 deep sea commercial vessels and 19 of the 35 ferries operated by BC Ferries, one of the largest ferry operators in the world. These waters are also home to a wide variety of aquatic wildlife, including the southern resident killer whales (SRKW), which have been listed as endangered in Canada since 2003.With vessel-generated acoustic disturbances identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as one of four key threats to the SRKW…

The oil giant Saudi Aramco has competed the rehabilitation and upgrade project of the Yanbu South Terminal (YST), which adds an extra three million barrels per day of crude oil to its West Coast export capacity.Yanbu South Terminal, which is located south of Yanbu City on the West Coast of Saudi Arabia, consists of a tank farm and offshore facilities to receive, store and load Arab Light (AL) and Arab Super Light (ASL) crude oil.The facility’s integration with the existing crude oil supply network adds 3 million barrels per day to Saudi Aramco’s export capacity through the West Coast, thereby reinforcing the reputation of Saudi Aramco…

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply an extensive range of products and solutions for six new 1160TEU container feeder vessels to be built at the Fujian Mawei shipyard in China. The project has been developed by MarLink Project Management GmbH in Germany together with various investors. This series of state-of-the-art container ships has been designed by German design office abh Ingenieur-Technik GmbH. There are options for a further six vessels. The order for the exhaust scrubbers and BWMS was booked in May 2017, while the order for the remainder of the supply was booked in December 2016. The full Wärtsilä scope for each vessel comprises the main propulsion unit featuring a controllable pitch (CPP) propeller plant including the shafting arrangement with a step up tunnel gear…

The CTG Sea Sentry is a wash water monitoring system which monitors both the sensor inlet and outlet of wet exhaust gas scrubber systems. CTG has to date supplied monitoring systems globally to the marine industry’s leading providers of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems and announced the recent installation of the new improved Sea Sentry on board a major bulk carrier to monitor a newly installed SOx Scrubber system. To comply with International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations, global shipping is required to meet specific exhaust gas emission levels.

Today Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), a Group company overseeing the business of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) in North America, commenced full-scale operations at its newly relocated Head Office in Houston, Texas, following a move from its previous base in New York. MHIA held a reception at Rice University today to mark the occasion in the presence of guests including The Honorable Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas. Present at the reception, MHI President & CEO Shunichi Miyanaga offered the following remarks: "I am delighted that we have been able to set up a new base in Houston to better serve our customers and oversee our Group operations in North America.

The Alfa Laval Test & Training Center in Aalborg, Denmark will soon be expanded to five times its current size. This development, focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other alternative fuels, aims to address new challenges and possibilities for marine customers as they strive to meet environmental and energy targets. Alfa Laval  said the expansion will create the world’s most advanced test center for environmental and combustion technology – regardless of fuel type. Alfa Laval describes its Test & Training Center as a cornerstone of customer-focused technology development.

Northern Australia’s largest general cargo port, the Port of Townsville, will today sign a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with PT Pelabuhan Indonesia II (Persero) or the Indonesia Port Corporation (IPC). The agreement will be signed at the Indonesian-Australian Business Forum in Canberra, witnessed by the Australian Government’s Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Minister for Trade and Investment, H.E. Ms Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Maritime and Fisheries Affairs Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Mr Nadjib Riphat Kesoema, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for Australia. IPC is a state-owned corporation responsible for the governance…

American Cruise Lines, operator of the newest cruise ships in the United States, announced today that it has begun construction on a new coastal cruise ship, yet to be named. The news of this addition is the most recent in a series of announcements pertaining to American Cruise Lines’ continued expansion of their all-American made fleet. The ship is scheduled to begin cruising in spring of 2017. With a capacity of 170 guests, this new, slightly larger ship will maintain the exclusive signature design and intimacy of the line’s current, highly-popular coastal cruise ships, designed to deliver a superior cruising experience. The new ship will be fully stabilized with Rolls-Royce stabilizers providing the most comfortable and smoothest coastal cruising journey imaginable.

Mindful that fish farming has the potential to help meet an expanding  population's need for protein in a world with increasing water constraints, Pentair announced the opening of its Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems' World Aquaculture Technology Engineering & Research Center of Excellence in Apopka, Florida. The center, which consists of 12,400 square feet of laboratories and fish culture systems, will be used for demonstration, research and teaching activities. Built to allow full connectivity to the Internet, customers and educational institutions will be able to monitor online the progress of fish culture trials, including water quality, feeding, feed conversion ratios, growth rates, energy consumption and harvesting activities.

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq:FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has finalized the acquisition of the Siemens Environmental Systems and Services business that supplies and services clean air technologies for use in power plants and industrial facilities. The transaction was closed April 30, 2014. The Siemens Environmental Systems and Services purchase includes assets of the former Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Advanced Burner Technology Company located in Branchburg, New Jersey. Foster Wheeler is in the process of integrating the assets into the global environmental and industrial product offerings of its Global Power Group.

On Earth Day, Norwegian Cruise Line NCL) celebrated key achievements from the past year that, as a part of its Eco-Smart Cruising program, help preserve the world's oceans. The company says that for more than four decades, it has committed to the protection of the oceans through sustainable environmental practices, investments in technology and a commitment to exceed regulatory requirements, fulfilling its core company value of Environmental Protection. NCL considers that its Eco-Smart Cruising program is leading the cruise industry with many innovative environmental policies and technologies, from garbage, waste and recycling programs to reducing the operational impact on the environment.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal, officials from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), Department of Economic Development and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) joined leaders from the City of Baton Rouge, The Water Institute of the Gulf, Louisiana State University and other coastal research institutes to unveil plans for the establishment of The Water Campus in Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge Area Foundation has taken the leadership role in master planning a world-class Water Campus to be built just south of the Mississippi River Bridge in downtown Baton Rouge.

Heeding the call to join “An Ocean in Common,” authors flooded the Oceans ‘13 MTS/IEEE San Diego technical program committee with a record number of abstracts in a single day. Special topics include an Ultra-deep track discussing current and prospective robotic technologies, plus a panel of scientists to consider research questions. Oceans2013 Chair Bob Wernli, and Co-Chair Kevin Hardy, developer of the unmanned landers for James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge Expedition, will be the session conveners. “James’ intention is to be certain the door remains open to other explorers,” Hardy said.

A plant system that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gas emissions developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 39th Outstanding Environmental Systems Awards hosted by the Japan Society of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers (JSIM). The system was highly evaluated for its superlative reliability and economy achieved through ongoing technology improvements carried out over many years, for its abundant delivery track record in commercial applications…

The new ship will be named 'Seven Seas Explorer' and is to be built in Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard with delivery scheduled for summer 2016. The contract for the 54,000 gross tonnes and 223 metres in length cruise ship with accommodation for 738 passengers,  is worth approximately USD 450-million, say the shipbuilders. "This new ship order represents an exciting time of growth for our company as we build the next generation of cruise ships for the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line," said Frank J. Del Rio, Prestige Cruise Holdings Chairman and CEO.

Hosted by the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, Metric Systems Corp. carried out Beta-testing of its 'White Space' spectrum wireless networking systems with successful results. The trial was a tough, real-world application showcasing the superior propagation capabilities of the newly opened unlicensed TV bands, called White Space spectrum, says Metric Systems. Using the production RaptorX (VHF/UHF Network Radio) continuous high-definition broadband wireless video communication was established and maintained over a rugged…

Following the arrival of the Royal Netherlands Navy Joint Support Ship 'Karel Doorman' at Vlissingen, Alewijnse Marine Systems say they are now on the second stage of a four year project to install the electrical systems on this exceptionally sophisticated vessel. The contract was awarded by Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding at the end of 2010 and is for the installation of the ship-wide electrical systems including those for command and control, environmental systems and power distribution and monitoring systems.

ABS has certified the first Evergreen Marine Corporation (Taiwan) Ltd. containership to the IMO’s International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) The International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) is the first of what is expected to be a fleet-wide conformance to the Code’s provision well in advance of the July 2004 implementation date. The ISSC was issued by ABS to Evergreen’s 1,164 teu, Hong Kong flag container ship the MV Uni Accord. According to Capt. Hemant Juneja, Division Head for Safety, Environment & Security Certification for ABS Pacific, the MV Uni Accord is not only the first container ship in the Evergreen fleet to achieve certification to the new security standards…

SEATTLE-CDM has been selected by Carnival Corporation to develop computer-based training (CBT) for each level of operations personnel. The training will enable each operating line to fulfill environmental compliance requirements in accordance with Carnival's Environmental Compliance Plan. Specifically, CDM is developing shipboard and shoreside training for Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Cunard Line, and Costa Cruises. Improved training is an important tool for maintaining superior environmental systems performance and reducing operations and maintenance costs, and the CBT method enables streamlined training of a large number of employees and ensures all staff receive consistent training.

The Coast Guard Marine Industry Training Program offers incredible opportunities for Coast Guard employees to intimately learn specific facets of the marine industry. Participants of the program work directly for industry partners for up to 1 year. In addition to building superior government/industry working relationships, the program affords industry sponsors an opportunity to share detailed business considerations and limitations, so that Coast Guard regulatory activities most effectively promote safety, while limiting undue burden on the maritime industry.

The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, has announced that the Navy will progressively change the color of its surface fleet to meet modern war-fighting and regional environmental conditions. While not normally apparent to the bystander, the recent International Fleet Review with 17 international ships visibly demonstrated that color schemes do vary significantly between nations. These are mainly due to the regional environmental conditions faced by national navies such as the percentage of cloud cover or sunlight.