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Friday, April 19, 2024
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19 Apr 2024

Simulators Track our Changing Relationship with Technology

Kongsberg Digital has integrated NORBITā€™s oil spill detection system with its K-Pos DP system for simu-lation-based training of offshore professionals at Equinor.
Image courtesy Kongsberg Digital

Simulation-based training has its whole-of-ship/whole-of-team scenarios, but zooming in, the industry is now working on more specific targets.We have a close relationship with technology, evidenced by, for example, the phones we are estimated to unlock around 50-80 times a day. It has changed us. Half the people surveyed in a 2022 Kingā€™s College London study said that they feel like their attention span is shorter than it used to be. They are wrong, though, if they think that the average attention span of adults today is just eight seconds, one second less than goldfish.

19 Apr 2024

When Efficiency Does Not Help Sustainability

Copyright Andriy Sharpilo/AdobeStock

My brother and I had a discussion about methanol where we concluded that methanol is a promising sustainable liquid fuel for transportation devices when batteries cannot do the job. While Methanol is initially not carbon zero, as long as we focus on developing zero carbon electrical energy, eventually we can produce zero carbon green methanol. Once there is plentiful green methanol, existing methanol vehicles will automatically become zero carbon transportation.The core argumentā€¦

19 Apr 2024

DNV Awards Certificates for Fortescueā€™s Dual-fueled Ammonia-powered Vessel

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, DNVā€™s Regional Manager South East Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime, handed over class and statutory certificates to Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals CEO, for the dual-fueled ammonia-powered vessel Green Pioneer (Photo: DNV)

Classification society DNV presented Australian green technology, energy and metals company Fortescue with class and statutory certificates for its dual-fueled ammonia-powered vessel Green Pioneer. This marked the culmination of a project that began in 2021, when DNV was engaged by Fortescue to work on the feasibility study and 'Fuel ready (Ammonia)' notation for the vesselā€™s conversion. DNV's Technology Qualification process provided the framework for the qualification and assurance of the engine modifications, where industry rules were yet to be developed.

18 Apr 2024

Helm Operations and Spinergie Partner on Fleet Optimization

Paul Cyr (left), Manager of Partnerships, Helm Operations; and Patrick Sanguily, General Manager ā€“ Americas, Spinergie. (Photo: Spinergie)

Maritime technology companies Helm Operations and Spinergie announced they are teaming up to create a fully integrated fleet optimization platform and centralized source of record keeping.The partnership will integrate vessel management system data from Helm Operations' Helm CONNECT into Spinergie's Smart Fleet Management, including logbook entries, engine room readings, and other essential sources. When combined with Spinergieā€™s data streams, including AIS, GPS, custom GIS Mapsā€¦

18 Apr 2024

Marine News' 2024 US Shipbuilding Report

ECO Edison, the first U.S.-built wind farm service operations vessel (Photo: Ƙrsted)

If nothing else, building vessels in the U.S. is a complicated business.In a session on the domestic shipbuilding marketplace, at Marine Moneyā€™s late-November 2023 conference held in New Orleans, Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards (with more than a dozen facilities, in Mississippi and Louisiana), described his companyā€™s architecture as a ā€œthree-legged stool approach: commercial newbuilds, government newbuilds and repair/conversion capabilitiesā€.On the same panelā€¦

18 Apr 2024

Damen Naval to Equip ASW Frigates with Kongsbergā€™s Propellers

Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigate (Credit: Damen)

Damen Naval has selected Kongsberg Maritime Sweden to deliver controllable pitch propellers and shaft lines for the four Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) frigates for the Netherlands and Belgium.As part of this contract, Kongsberg will supply four shipsets of its controllable pitch propeller systems and associated equipment including blades, hubcaps, hubs, and shaft lines.The four ASW frigates will replace the current Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigates. They will be deployed for a wide variety of tasks, with anti-submarine warfare as their main purpose.

17 Apr 2024

U.S. Department of Energy Advances Zero-Emissions Targets

Source: DOE

This week at Singapore Maritime Week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is advancing ambitious decarbonization targets for the maritime transportation sector, both domestically and internationally.DOE is teaming with over 15 government and industry partners in Singapore to foster partnerships and collaborate on clean energy solutions aimed at achieving net zero-emissions in the maritime sector by 2050. Domestically, DOEā€™s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is joining with ABS to create opportunities for data and information sharing to strengthen U.S. shipping. The U.S.

17 Apr 2024

Taiwan Submarine Project Chief Quits, Ministry Says Plans to Proceed

Ā© Norman Chan / Adobe Stock

Taiwan's homegrown submarine programme will remain on track, the defence minister said on Wednesday, after the head of the programme resigned due to what he said were unfair attacks against him and the military.Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has made the submarine programme a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert sovereignty claims Taipei rejects.Taiwan unveiled the first of eight new submarines in late September, though it won't enter service until next year.

16 Apr 2024

Consortium Forms North Pacific Green Corridor

Source: Oldendorff Carriers

Global industry leaders from North America, Asia and Europe have announced the formation of the North Pacific Green Corridor Consortium (NPGCC) whose members and partners will work together to decarbonize the value chain for commodities between North America and Asia.The NPGCC will apply its collective expertise to develop a corridor for the decarbonized transportation of multiple commodities, including agricultural products, metal concentrates and steelmaking coal.The members of the NPGCC are committed to establishing the consortium as a catalyst for decarbonization effortsā€¦

17 Apr 2024

Maritime Risk Symposium 2024 ā€“ Great Power Competition and Gray Zone Engagement

Copyright Grispb/AdobeStock

For 15 years the Maritime Risk Symposium (MRS), an annual three-day event, has brought together government and maritime industry leaders, port representatives, international and domestic researchers and solution providers to examine current and emerging threats to maritime security. World events highlight that maritime security is increasingly at risk during the current period of great-power competition and ongoing conflicts. The active competition between nations who are notā€¦

16 Apr 2024

Sea Machines Unveils SELKIE Uncrewed Surface Vessel

Graphical rendering of SELKIE 7 USV (Image: Sea Machines)

Marine technology company Sea Machines Robotics has unveiled a new uncrewed surface vessel (USV) geared for industries ranging from hydrographic surveying, offshore asset inspection, and persistent on water operations such as security and environmental studies.The first model, SELKIE 7, is a 7-meter USV built on a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) hull and powered by the company's flagship SM300 Autonomous Command and Control system, unlocking autonomous capabilities for any taskā€¦

16 Apr 2024

Ocean Charger for Offshore Wind Vessels Proves a Success

(Credit: VARD / Screen media)

The industry consortium behind the Ocean Charger project, led by Vard, has completed the demonstration of the charging solution in a port as well the connection solution offshore, proving the technology designed to supply clean power to offshore wind vessels is ready for the market.By connecting vessels to the power grid in the wind farm and charging batteries regularly, the Ocean Charger solution is securing availability of emission-free vessel operations.The Ocean Charger has proved through the tests that it can power operations at the field without using any additional energy sourcesā€¦

16 Apr 2024

Allseas Makes Progress on Santosā€™ Barossa Gas Export Pipeline in Australia

Audacia pipelay vessel on Barossa assignment (Credit: Allseas)

Offshore installation contractor Allseas has made progress on the installation of the pipeline for Santosā€™ Barossa Gas Export Pipeline (GEP) project offshore Australia.Allseasā€™ Audacia pipelay vessel has installed her largest ever PLET in S-mode, concluding several years of in-house engineering, fabrication and testing, the Swiss-based contractor said.Due to the weight of the pipeline end termination structure, Allseasā€™ production crew had to install it separately to the connector head.Audacia vessels is being supported with four other vessels - Fortitudeā€¦

15 Apr 2024

Thordon Delivers Rudder Bearing to Research Ship

Source: Thordon Bearings

Thordon Bearings, the pioneer in water-lubricated bearings, secured a new order for a rudder bearing that was fitted to a 77.1m (253ft) research ship that frequently operates in ecologically sensitive marine environments.The 38-year-old Ocean Endeavour, operated by the UKā€™s Gardline, a multi-disciplinary marine survey company which operates a fleet of 13 multi-role survey ships, was recently fitted with Thordonā€™s SXL rudder bearing at UK Docks Marine Servicesā€™ Teesside drydock.Bruntons Propellersā€¦

15 Apr 2024

FBI Opens Criminal Probe Into Deadly Baltimore Bridge Collapse

(Photo: Ronald Hodges / U.S. Coast Guard)

The FBI said on Monday it opened a criminal probe into the collapse of a Baltimore bridge in March when a ship crashed into a bridge support, while local officials confirmed the recovery of a fourth body from the incident.FBI agents boarded the cargo ship Dali to conduct court-authorized law enforcement activity regarding the crash, an FBI spokesperson said. The spokesperson said there was no other public information available and the bureau will have no further comment.The bodyā€¦

15 Apr 2024

Bert Hernandez Named President of Royal Caribbean's Silversea

Bert Hernandez (Photo: Royal Caribbean Group)

Royal Caribbean Group announced to has tapped Bert Hernandez to succeed Barbara Muckermann as president of its Silversea brand.Most recently serving as senior vice president, international, Hernandez has been with the Royal Caribbean Group for the past 20 years. He previously served as president of China operations for Royal Caribbean International and was chief operating officer for the groupā€™s former luxury cruise line, Azamara.Muckermann is departing Royal Caribbean Group after 14 years with Silversea to pursue other opportunitiesā€¦

14 Apr 2024

Esgian Week 15 Report: South America Remains Vital

Ā© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

Esgian reports on new contracts for Borr Drilling and Shelf Drilling (North Sea) jackups in its Week 15 Rig Analytics Market Roundup. Additionally, Energean has selected a drillship for its upcoming drilling campaign offshore Morocco. South America remains vital to the floating rig market, with ExxonMobil moving ahead on a sixth development on the prolific Stabroek block offshore Guyana and Petrobras reporting a new discovery in Brazil's Potiguar Basin.Report Outline:ContractsBorr Drilling has announced new contract commitments for three of its premium jackup rigsā€¦

12 Apr 2024

Due Diligence Needed for Maritime Tech Adoption to Minimize Risk with Digital Transformation, Says OrbitMI

OrbitMI CEO Ali Riaz (Photo: OrbitMI)

Rapid technological change, complex regulation and competitive pressures are driving digital transformation in the shipping industry. But navigating a confusing software landscape can be difficult, and sound decision-making is essential to minimize innovation risk, according to OrbitMI.Industry spending has soared in recent years on intelligent process automation solutions geared to boosting efficiency, reducing costs, curbing emissions and improving safety for shipping companiesā€¦

11 Apr 2024

Kongsberg Maritime Celebrates 50 Years of Ship Design

The IWS Skywalker is the latest Kongsberg Maritime vessel design. The state-of-the art windfarm commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) will soon start operations in the North Sea. (Source: Kongsberg Maritime)

2024 marks 50 years of ship design work for Kongsberg Maritime. From setting the benchmark that set the standard for offshore supply vessels in the 1970s, to advanced anchor handlers that transformed the oil and gas industry, and a growing reference list in fishery and merchant ships, Kongsberg Maritimeā€™s range of ship designs has continued to evolve over the past five decades.The early 1970s, at the dawn of the offshore oil and gas industry, saw the very first vessels, designedā€¦

11 Apr 2024

JSI Alliance Completes Scope of Work in Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project

Source: JSI Alliance

On 11 March, MV Svenja discharged her cargo of nine modules, marking the completion of the JSI Allianceā€™s scope of work in the Basrah Refinery Upgrading Project in Iraq for JGC Corporation.The Alliance dedicated two vessels to the project: the Jumbo Kinetic with her two 1,500t cranes, and the MV Svenja with two 1,000t cranes. Together, the vessels undertook transport of 84 modules using JCG's specially designed lifting frame. The two vessels were selected due to their having the required capabilities for lifting and transporting the modulesā€¦

11 Apr 2024

Ukrainian Seafarers Experiencing Increased Levels of Depression and Anxiety

Ā© Genya / Adobe Stock

Ukrainian seafarers are experiencing increased levels of loneliness and depression amid fears of conscription if they return home as the war enters its third year, seafarer charity Stella Maris warns.Stella Maris regional port chaplains for Southampton and Southern ports, Charles Stuart and Gregory Hogan, who make multiple daily ship visits report Ukrainian seafarers are under increasing strain.ā€œThe initial stresses have been replaced by something else,ā€ Hogan says. ā€œAt firstā€¦

11 Apr 2024

US Investigators Interview Ship Personnel in Maryland Bridge Collapse

(Photo: Brandon Giles / U.S. Coast Guard)

U.S. National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy said at a Senate hearing Wednesday that investigators had conducted interviews with key cargo ship personnel in the investigation of the March 26 Baltimore bridge collapse.The Dali cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, sending it crashing into the harbor and killing six people. Work to clear the wreckage and restore traffic through the Mid-Atlantic state's shipping channel is ongoing.Homendy said investigators remained on site and had interviewed the pilotsā€¦

11 Apr 2024

Insights: Jennifer Carpenter, President & CEO, American Waterways Operators

Jennifer Carpenter, President & CEO, American Waterways Operators (Photo: AWO)

Jennifer Carpenter joined The American Waterways Operators (AWO), the national trade association representing the inland and coastal tugboat, towboat and barge industry, in August 1990 and became its president and CEO in January 2020. She highlights some of the greatest focus areas for the 80-year-old trade groupā€”simultaneously looking at both the present day and the road ahead.The towboat, tug and barge industry is in a period of rapid evolution. How is AWOā€”now in its 80th yearā€¦