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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Neptune News

26 Mar 2024

Ukraine Strikes Russian Warship and Reconnaissance Vessel

Konstantin Olshansky (Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine)

A Ukrainian missile attack struck a Russian naval reconnaissance vessel and a large landing warship that Moscow captured from Kyiv during the annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, Ukraine's navy said on Tuesday.Ukraine hit the vessels during an attack on Crimea at the weekend, the navy said.

24 Mar 2024

Esgian Week 12 Report: New Finds in Guyana, China and Norway

© bomboman / Adobe Stock

Esgian reports fresh finds confirmed in Guyana, China and Norway in its Week 12 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report Outline:ContractsDolphin Drilling has announced the award of a $154 million drilling contract from India's exploration and production company, Oil India Limited (Oil India), to the 6,000-ft semisub Blackford Dolphin.Malaysian offshore drilling firm Velesto confirmed Friday it had recently secured long-term contract extensions for three of its jackup rigs with Petronas Carigali…

11 Mar 2024

HD Hyundai Marine Solution Partners with Accelleron on Ship Engine Optimization

Source: Accelleron

HD Hyundai Marine Solution has signed an agreement with Greek operator Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises SA to provide Engine Part Load Optimization (EPLO) services for four car carriers.HD Hyundai Marine Solution partnered with Accelleron to launch the EPLO service, receiving the first order for one ship in October last year.Most marine engines are built to provide optimal fuel efficiency and performance for the speed and environment for which the ship is designed.

24 Feb 2024

First LNG Carrier Arrives at New German Mukran Terminal

LNG terminal at Lubmin. Image copyright Deutche ReGas

The first vessel carrying LNG for Germany's Baltic Sea terminal of Mukran arrived on Saturday for a test operation as the country steps up its quest to replace Russian pipeline gas.Private company Deutsche ReGas said that Energos Power, a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), had moored at the terminal on Ruegen Island, having received approval from local authorities.Germany has intensified its quest to increase LNG capacity for regasification on its shores, as European countries seek to reduce their heavy reliance on Russian gas following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.The tests will

22 Feb 2024

SAAM Towage’s First Electric Tugs Arrive in Canada

(Photo: SAAM Towage)

The first electric tugs of the SAAM Towage's fleet, built by SANMAR Shipyards, have reached the Port of Vancouver in Canada. The vessels are named Saam Volta and Chief Dan George."We continue to make progress on this milestone for SAAM Towage, which is part of our strategy to drive innovation and development for increasingly sustainable operations. These tugs, which are the result our alliance with Teck and Neptune Terminals, show our commitment to seek alternatives in our industry to reduce the carbon footprint and support the fight against global climate change…

30 Jan 2024

TDI-Brooks' New Vessel Ready for Work

(Photo: TDI-Brooks)

TDI-Brooks' newest vessel R/V Nautilus (formerly known as Nautical Geo) is ready to go to work following a 6-month retrofit period in Las Palmas.The DP2 vessel is currently enroute to the U.S. East Coast to provide support for offshore wind operations. It is expected to be fully prepared for the first offshore wind program by early March.Built in 2000, the 75-meter-long vessel is equipped with the newly-acquired Geomiil Manta-200 CPT, which can be deployed through the mid-ship moonpool.

23 Jan 2024

Chemfleet to Fit 3 More Ships with Berg Upgrade for Fuel Efficiency

(Credit: Chemfleet)

Turkish specialized ship manager Chemfleet has confirmed it would equip three more ships with an in-service Berg Propulsion upgrade after verifying 10% fuel savings with chemical tanker trials.According to Chemfleet, an in-service Berg Propulsion upgrade to control systems onboard the tanker YM Miranda yielded fuel savings of around 10%.Trials following the installation of Berg MPC800M control system onboard the 12,933 dwt IMO II chemical tanker have persuaded Chemfleet to upgrade three additional 6…

02 Jan 2024

Germany Builds up LNG Import Terminals

© JET-PIX / Adobe Stock

German utility RWE on Jan. 1 handed over floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure at Brunsbuettel on the North Sea to state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) as agreed when first imports arrived 10 months ago, it said.DET is now the sole operational manager and markets the capacity of the Brunsbuettel Elbehafen LNG project.Germany's quest to increase LNG capacity for regasification on its shores has intensified as it seeks to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas…

18 Dec 2023

Two Electric Tugs Built for SAAM Towage in Canada

(Photo: SAAM Towage)

The first electric tugs for SAAM Towage's fleet are ready to sail from the Port of Tuzla to Vancouver, Canada, where they will join the fleet operating in that country.SAAM Towage's Engineering and Development Manager, Pablo Cáceres, said, "We are one step closer to having our electric tugs operating, which for us represents the way to advance towards more sustainable operations and move our business into the future."The Sanmar-built vessels have successfully completed their final seaworthiness trials and will soon be loaded onto the cargo ship BBC Emerald…

17 Dec 2023

Esgian: Rigs on the Move in Asia and Europe

Source: OMV

This week Esgian’s Week 50 Rig Analytics Market Roundup notes developments in the semisub sector including that Shell has decided to exercise its option on Stena Don in the North Sea but not on Deepsea Bollsta in Namibia. Meanwhile, a new contract for the Transocean Barents will see it operate in the Black Sea, and jackup Shelf Drilling Perseverance will move to Vietnam.ContractsShelf Drilling has secured a contract award for the 400ft Shelf Drilling Perseverance jackup rig with PetroVietnam Domestic Exploration Production Operating Company Limited (PVEP POC).

05 Dec 2023

Drilling Roundup: New Contracts and New Carbon Storage Activity

West Vela courtesy of Seadrill

Esgian has published its Week 48 Rig Market Roundup highlighting that new contract awards were revealed for a Velesto Drilling jackup, two Seadrill drillships and a Dolphin Drilling semisub. Meanwhile, Wintershall Dea is planning to drill a new carbon storage well in Norway.ContractsMalaysia’s Velesto Drilling has agreed on an extension of a contract with Carigali Hess Operating Company for another year and six months.Seadrill has secured a short-term contract for 12,000ft drillship West Vela in the US Gulf of Mexico with QuarterNorth Energy…

11 Sep 2023

Norwegian Offshore Firm DOF Completes Transfer of Skandi Neptune Vessel

Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has completed the sale of the Skandi Neptune construction support vessel.DOF had agreed to sell the 2001-built vessel to an unnamed "international buyer," in September 2021. It, at the time, said the 104.2 meter-long vessel, would be delivered to the new owner "after completing its current commitments."The vessel, at the time, worked in the Brazilian offshore sector.Skandi Neptune's AIS indicates that the ship arrived in Shanghai, China on Sunday after departing from Cyprus on August 1, 2023.

05 Sep 2023

Neptune Lines Orders Two Car Carriers from China's Fujian Mawei

(Image: Neptune Lines)

Greek shipping company Neptune Lines announced the order of two next generation car carrier vessels, specially designed for its short sea trades. Fujian Mawei shipyard in China will build the 4,200 CEU DF PCTC vessels for scheduled delivery in 2026.The new vessels, under the Genesis Project, are the first two of a new series which reflects Neptune’s strategy to supplement its fleet over the next decade, increase relevant cargo capacity by 36% from current core fleet vessels, and reduce emissions to remain well ahead of global targets.

15 Aug 2023

PD Ports Orders New Hopper Dredge from Neptune

(Image: PD Ports)

PD Ports in the U.K. has ordered a new dredging vessel from Dutch shipbuilder Neptune Marine.The 71-meter-long hopper dredge, which has already been named the Emerald Duchess following a competition among PD Ports employees, was ordered for £23 million and will arrive at Teesport next summer.Currently under construction at a shipyard in Poland for commissioning, ahead of trials in the Netherlands in 2024, the Emerald Duchess will replace the Cleveland County, which had served…

14 Aug 2023

Neptune Lines Taps Maindeck to Digitize Dry Dock Project Management

Greek shipping company Neptune Lines will trial Maindeck's digital project management solution to plan and execute dry-docking projects.Neptune Lines provides transportation and shipping solutions for manufacturers and shippers of cars and high and heavy cargoes. Its fleet comprises 22 pure car and truck carrier vessels with loading capacities ranging from 1,500 to 6,500 vehicles.During the upcoming drydocking of Neptune Galene, Neptune Lines will trial Maindeck's platform to optimize its project management and enhance efficiency across all project phases. Features of the solution include advanced tendering, tracking and reporting capabilities.“We are proud to be working with Neptune Lines, one of the leading Greek ship managers.

10 Aug 2023

TDI-Brooks Adds 75m DP2 Ship to its Fleet

Image courtesy TDI-Brooks

TDI-Brooks increases its vessel capacity by adding a 75-meter DP2 vessel,  R/V NAUTILUS to its fleet, a ship that can offer a variety of offshore assistance with subsea services, construction aid, exploration, production, ROV and diving support, and scientific marine research and survey mapping, along with military support.This vessel is currently about 60% through its retrofit period in Las Palmas, scheduled to complete its shipyard period in late September 2023 and then transit to Trinidad for several geotechnical coring projects.

05 Jul 2023

TDI-Brooks Awarded Geotechnical Coring Project Off US East Coast

(Photo: TDI-Brooks)

Avangrid has awarded TDI-Brooks a shallow water geotechnical site investigation survey at block OCS A-0508, also known as Kitty Hawk Wind. The data collected will inform the design of the export cable and inter-array packages.The scope of work includes utilizing a TDI-Brooks’ owned Datum Neptune 5K (pCPT) at 155 sites and a newly-designed TDI-Brooks pneumatic vibracorer (pVC) at 80 sites. The pVC is a light weight (4,600-lb in air), high power vibracorer and has been successfully deployed on the US East Coast >200 times for offshore wind farm (OSWF) projects.

06 Jun 2023

Group Set Up to Study Onboard Carbon Capture Technologies for Shipping Industry

©Dmitry Kovalchuk/AdobeStock

Ship classification organization ABS said Tuesday it had joined an elite working group comprised of global maritime leaders to study onboard carbon capture technologies.The collaborative project brings together ABS, Diana Shipping Services S.A., Equinor ASA, GasLog LNG Services Ltd., Maran Gas Maritime Inc., Minerva Gas Inc., Neptune Lines Shipping and Managing Enterprises S.A., Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), Prime Tanker Management Inc., Solvang ASA, Springfield Shipping Co.

01 Jun 2023

Equinor's Arctic LNG Plant to Resume Production Next Week After Gas Leak Shutdown

Melkøya plant - Image: Ole Jørgen Bratland/Equinor

Norway's Equinor plans to restart production at its Arctic liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Hammerfest on June 8 after it was shut down on May 31 due to a gas leak, the company said in a market message on Thursday. The facility will be unavailable until 2100 GMT on June 8, according to a message posted via the transparency page of Norwegian gas infrastructure operator Gassco. Equinor halted production after it detected a gas leak on a cooling circuit valve. The leak had been plugged late on Wednesday.

16 May 2023

Germany's LNG Import Terminals Tackle Challenges

A German government-backed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Mukran on Ruegen island in the Baltic Sea, near existing LNG reception facilities delivering into the mainland port of Lubmin, will be downsized.The quest for alternative imports intensified as the country sought to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.Apart from gas, industry and the government are anticipating increased use of hydrogen, which when produced using renewable energy can help the transition to a lower carbon economy.Germany would need to import much of its hydrogen needs and the low density of the gas makes transportation over long distances complicated unless a carrier…

05 May 2023

Equinor's Hammerfest LNG Plant Offline after Outage

©The Hammerfest LNG facility (Photo: Einar Aslaksen / Equinor ASA)

Equinor's Hammerfest LNG plant in Arctic Norway suffered a compressor failure on Thursday and is expected to remain offline until May 19, Norwegian gas system company Gassco said in a regulatory note on Friday. The outage was caused by a technical problem with a heat exchanger that occurred during a restart of the plant following a one-day maintenance outage, an Equinor spokesperson said. The plant will remain offline until repairs have been carried out, the spokesperson added.

02 May 2023

Germany's LNG Import Terminals Tackle Challenges

Germany's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Stade said it would in the coming weeks begin testing market appetite for ammonia as a way to transport hydrogen, as the country's efforts to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas gather pace.The quest for alternatives has included focusing on hydrogen, which when produced using renewable energy can help the transition to a lower carbon economy.Germany, however, would need to import much of its hydrogen needs and the low density of the gas makes transportation over long distances complicated unless a carrier…

20 Apr 2023

OSV to be Converted for Human Space Flight Launches

(Image: Space Perspective)

Space tourism company Space Perspective is converting an offshore support vessel (OSV) to function as the world’s first "marine spaceport". The Florida-based company in November 2022 announced it had acquired the 292-foot-long vessel from Edison Chouest Offshore as the first in its planned global fleet of converted spaceport vessels to support the mobile launch of its balloon-driven passenger spacecraft.The 2003-built Jones Act vessel C Challenger has been renamed Voyager and is currently being converted by Conrad Shipyard following preparatory work by Gulf Ship.