Autonomy on Trial
When discussing the arrival of autonomous workboats, many – especially those developing the technologies that enable them – say it’s is not a matter of if, but when. In fact, autonomous harbor tugs are already being put to the test in Singapore, where authorities hope to establish the technological infrastructure to enable fully autonomous ship operations. In the U.S., an autonomous vessel was shown to be able to respond to marine oil spills.But is autonomy really the future?
Trump Says USNS Comfort Will Return to Virginia
The U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will soon return to Norfolk, Va., President Trump said Tuesday, less than a month after the ship was deployed to New York to support COVID-19 response efforts."I’ve asked [New York Governer] Andrew [Cuomo] if we could bring the Comfort back to its base in Virginia so that we can have it for other locations, and he said we would be able to do that," Trump said in a coronavirus task force press briefing.
Greensea Expands, Again
Greensea recently added key personnel to its engineering team in its Plymouth, Mass., office to support their hull robotics program. James Truman, Senior Robotics Engineer, is leading the development of Greensea’s latest technology, a hull crawling robot with precise hull-relative navigation and autonomy capabilities. Assisting James on the hull robotics program is Sam Fladung, Robotics Engineer.“James is one of the best engineers I know.
Injured Tug Captain Medevaced Near Key West
The U.S. Coast Guard medevaced the captain from the tugboat, Capt. Beau, after he reportedly sustained a fall near Long Key, Fla., Wednesday.Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders launched a Coast Guard Station Marathon 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boat crew who embarked the captain and transferred him to local emergency medical services at Conch Key Marina. The 52-year-old patient was taken to Fisherman's Hospital.Watchstanders received a medevac request from the Capt.
Sparrows Accelerates Growth in US
Sparrows Group has become the first authorized external service provider for Dana’s Brevini winch and hoisting products in the USA.The agreement will see the engineering and equipment specialist sell and service Dana’s hydraulic and winch product lines and is a further step in Sparrows’ long-term growth strategy for the industrial and marine sectors.Dana currently operates in 34 countries with 149 major facilities globally.
CYSEC SA Wins Maritime Cyber Security Contract
CYSEC SA, a cybersecurity company from Switzerland, has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop a solution mitigating the cyber risks related to ship tracking using satellite communications.The digital revolution also impacts the shipping industry by integrating automated navigation, cargo-tracking systems and digital platforms which facilitate operations, trade and the exchange of data.
DOF: Several OSVs Might Go in Layup
Norwegian offshore vessel operator DOF has warned that several of its vessels might be laid up after the end of their current contracts, citing lack of new work opportunities amid the oil price rout and COVID-19 pandemic effects. On a positive note, Equinor has chartered one of its vessels on a long term deal."There has been a sharp decline in the tender activities, with few new contract opportunities and less projects to bid for.
Partners Studying Ammonia as a Marine Fuel
Ammonia has been gaining attention in the maritime industry as owners and operators seek out new fuels to help their ships comply with emissions regulations and reduce their environmental footprint. A group of companies has come together to develop a better understanding of the practical realities involved in using ammonia as a fuel for ships, with a specific focus placed on addressing relevant technical…
Oil Traders Chase Storage Space in World Awash with Fuel
Oil traders are struggling to find enough ships, railcars, caverns and pipelines to store fuel as more conventional storage facilities fill up amid abundant supply and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis.Dozens of oil tanker vessels have been booked in recent days to store at least 30 million barrels of jet fuel, gasoline and diesel at sea, acting as floating storage, as on-land tanks are full or already booked…
CWind Expands Offshore Vessel Fleet
UK-based offshore support services provider CWind has signed a long-term charter deal with Dalby Offshore for several offshore vessels that will support offshore wind farms in the UK North Sea.The deal will see CWind immediately add four new vessels to its fleet with the option of an additional two vessels later in the year.Also, CWind said it that supported throughout negotiations by vessel procurement advisor Colebrook Offshore…
Trump Tells Navy to Destroy Iranian Gunboats 'If They Harass Our Ships At Sea'
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, a week after 11 vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to U.S. ships in the Gulf.Close interactions with Iranian military vessels were not uncommon in 2016 and 2017. On several occasions, U.S. Navy ships fired warning shots at Iranian vessels when they got too close.While the Navy has the authority to act in self-defense…
Costa Cruise Ship Docked in Japan Grapples with Coronavirus Cluster
More than 30 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan's Nagasaki prefecture have tested positive for the new coronavirus, raising concern about the impact on the local community.The cluster of infections found on board the Costa Atlantica follows the case of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 were found to be infected, although…
Ruby Princess Crew Begins Debarking in Australia
The first group of Ruby Princess crew members has debarked the coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Sydney, Australia and began the process of repatriation to their home countries Tuesday, authorities said.At least 49 crew members from six countries disembarked the Carnival Corp owned cruise ship on Tuesday, and a further 115 crew members from nine countries disembarked on Wednesday.So far, 22 of the disembarked…
Innogy Sells Offshore Wind Installation Vessel
Germany-based energy firm innogy has sold its offshore installation vessel ‘Seabreeze II’ to Hong Kong-based firm SPIC Ronghe International Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. Richard Sandford, Director of Offshore Investment & Asset Management at innogy SE explained that ten years ago innogy had decided to acquire and operate its own installation vessels so to eliminate an important bottleneck in the construction of offshore wind farms."However…
Danish Base for German Offshore Wind Farm Service Workers
EnBW Baltic 2 one of Germany’s largest offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea will soon be serviced from the Danish port of Klintholm on the island of Møn, EnBW said Tuesday. The company has so far had its service team of up to 25 people travel from Rostock to a hotel vessel close to the EnBW Baltic 2 offshore wind farm. A hotel and a service building are now being constructed in Klintholm [Denmark]…
Qatar Books Chinese Shipyard Capacity in LNG Carrier Fleet Expansion Push
Qatari state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Petroleum has signed a deal to reserve LNG ship construction capacity in China in a deal potentially worth more than $3 billion.QP said that the reserved LNG carrier construction capacity would be used for QP’s future LNG carrier fleet requirements, including those of its ongoing expansion projects of the giant offshore gas field North Field.Qatar Petroleum struck a deal with and Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group Co.…
Viking RIBs for Greek Navy
Danish company Viking Life-Saving Equipment has won an order for eleven METIS Rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) from the Greek Navy.The new RIBs will be deployed mainly to support search and rescue operations on delivery over the summer of 2020. They will replace craft currently used onboard larger vessels in the Hellenic Navy’s fleet, including its ΜΕΚΟ-type frigates.John Georgiadis Managing Director…
Australia Joins U.S. Ships in South China Sea Amid Rising Tension
An Australian frigate has joined three U.S. warships in the South China Sea near an area where a Chinese vessel is suspected to be exploring for oil, near waters also claimed by Vietnam and Malaysia, officials said on Wednesday.The warships arrived this week close to where the Chinese government survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 has been operating, which is in turn near where a vessel operated by Malaysia’s Petronas state oil company is conducting exploratory drilling…
Aker BP Brings Norwegian Sea Project Online 3 Years Early
Norwegian oil firm Aker BP has started production from the first Ærfugl phase 2 well in the Norwegian Sea, which is, according to the company, three years ahead of the original plan. The Ærfugl field produces via Skarv FPSO approximately 210 km west of Sandnessjøen. According to the operator, it is one of the most profitable development projects on the Norwegian shelf with a break-even price of around USD 15 per barrel (converted from gas).
Oil Prices Hit 1990s Low
Oil prices slumped again on Wednesday, with Brent falling to the lowest since 1999, as the market struggled with a massive crude glut amid a collapse in demand for everything from gasoline to jet fuel caused by the coronavirus outbreak.Brent crude, which fell 24% in the previous session, touched $15.98 a barrel, its lowest since June 1999. It was trading down $2.37, or 12%, at $16.96 at 0511 GMT.West Texas Intermediate was down 51 cents…
