Greenpeace Settles Charges After Blocking Port of Houston in 2019
Environmental activists who shut the largest U.S. energy export port for a day to protest climate change agreed to pay police, fire and court costs to settle state criminal charges, officials said on Friday.Greenpeace members halted shipping in September 2019 by dangling on ropes from a bridge over the Houston Ship Channel to bring attention to climate change concerns during a presidential debate in…
Maersk's Svitzer to Develop Methanol Fuel Cell Tug
A.P. Moller - Maersk’s towage operator Svitzer has signed an agreement with naval architect company Robert Allan Ltd to design the world’s first fuel cell tug for harbor operations, running on green methanol.The project aims to explore the combination of methanol fuel cells, batteries, storage/handling systems, electric drives and propulsion units as a carbon neutral alternative to the conventional fossil fueled propulsion train.Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard…
Tech File: Wärtsilä Voyage Bridge Tech for National Geographic Resolution
Wärtsilä Voyage delivered its integrated bridge and navigation solution for polar cruise vessel National Geographic Resolution. Built at Ulstein Verft shipyard, Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. took delivery of the National Geographic Resolution in September 2021. Along with its sister ship National Geographic Endurance, this is the second vessel in a series of two explorer vessels to have Ulstein signature X-BOW…
Watch: Barge Master's Motion-compensated Solution for Offshore Wind Feeder Vessels
Dutch company Barge Master earlier this year said it had developed a motion-compensated feeder solution for the next generation of offshore wind turbines, called BM-Feeder.The company at the time said that its motion-compensated platform could be placed on an offshore vessel or barge and ensure that the components are kept completely stable for the hook-on and lift-off by the installation jack-up, and that…
Ocean Infinity Aims to Deliver Ammonia Fuel Propulsion Package for Armada Fleet
Ocean Infinity won The Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, enabling it and its partners to build a Marine Propulsion Test facility, with an integrated Ammonia Marine Propulsion System (AMPS). The test facility is intended to demonstrate clean-fueled technology eventually capable of powering Ocean Infinity’s Armada fleet, using an innovative ammonia based fuel cell system.“Winning The Clean Maritime…
Emission Reduction: Eidesvik, Aker BP, Alma to Test Ammonia Fuel Cell Tech on Offshore Vessels
Eidesvik Offshore, a Norwegian offshore support vessel owner, has signed a deal with oil firm Aker BP and Alma to investigate the possibility of using Alma's fuel cell technology to accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping.Alma is a venture under establishment by Aker Group's recently formed platform for venture capital in industrial technology Clara Venture Labs. Under the agreement, the…
Sunstone's Fifth Infinity-class Cruise Ship Launched in China
SunStone Ships announced the successful launch of itts fifth, Infinity-Class Vessel, Ocean Odyssey.The series is an interesting one as it was started wiith the goal of melding European design and Chinese shipbuilding.“We are very pleased with the high quality, design solutions and equipment packages," said Niels-Erik Lund, SunStone CEO. "We are looking forward to continuing the relationships with all…
Tech Files: HydroComp Releases PropExpert 2021
HydroComp released its latest version of PropExpert with new Windows “visual styles” option and other technical updates.During 2021 HydroComp has undertaken a significant in-house initiative to enhance product “look-and-feel” for contemporary themes available in Windows 10/11. The overall workflow process remains unchanged and will be familiar to users, but new controls and graphs now support Windows “visual style”.
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, NYK collaborate to create Large Liquefied CO2 Carrier
With all eyes on carbon neutrality, a pair of Japanese maritime titans -- Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) -- have agreed to jointly develop a large-scale liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier. To facilitate the development of technologies for transporting CO2 using large vessels, this project will combine Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s gas handling technologies with NYK Line’s knowledge in operations of not only small and medium-sized vessels…
U.S. Republicans in Push to Sanction Nord Stream 2 Gas Pipeline
A group of U.S. Senate Republicans said on Monday they had introduced legislation that would impose mandatory sanctions on Nord Stream 2, a Russian-backed natural gas pipeline that opponents believe would be harmful to U.S. allies in Europe.The six lawmakers, led by Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, offered the measure as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act…
Solstad Offshore, DOF Sell Construction Support Vessels
Norwegian offshore vessel owners DOF and Solstad Offshore on Tuesday each announced construction support vessel sale deals.DOF Subsea said it had agreed to sell the vessel “Geosund” to an international buyer. The estimated delivery of the vessel to the new owner is in Q1, 2022, the company said, without sharing details on the identity of the buyer. Geosund (Ex-Far Swan) was built in 2001 as a platform supply vessel and rebuilt to a construction support vessel in 2006.Separately…
First of Four New Coastal Cruise Ships Delivered to Havila Voyages
Norwegian cruise shipping company Havila Voyages said it has taken delivery of its first newbuild, Havila Capella.The 124-meter ship will soon begin sailing from Tersan Shipyard in Turkey toward the Norwegian coast ahead of its first sailings on the traditional coastal route from Bergen from December 1.Havila Voyages CEO, Bent Martini, said, "We are many who have waited a long time for this, and now…
Kotug to Install Shift's PwrSwäp Batteries
KOTUG International B.V. and Shift Clean Energy announced the formation of a partnership to use Shift’s new PwrSwäp clean energy service—which uses swappable batteries on a pay-as-you-go basis—on KOTUG’s E-Pusher vessels.The signing of the MoU coincides with COP26 in Glasgow, where reducing global greenhouse gases (GHGs) is at the top of the agenda. The combined services support the maritime industry in reaching this goal today…
Biden to Visit Port of Baltimore, Discuss Infrastructure Deal
U.S. President Joe Biden will visit the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday to discuss how the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed by the U.S. Congress helps the American people by upgrading ports and strengthening supply chains, the White House said on Sunday.Biden on Saturday called the bill a once-in-a-generation investment.
Inland Waterways: A Crucible of Issues
As 2022 appears on the not-so-distant horizon, we asked inland waterways executives to reflect on the major issues impacting their industry. Just how those issues evolve – and whether they present as challenges or opportunities – is, of course, unknown. Answers to some future questions will be relatively straightforward, confidently based on industry knowledge and experience. Other outcomes remain hazier…
ClassNK Grants First CybR-G Notation for Cyber Secure Ship Design
Classification society ClassNK said it has granted Cyber Resilience-Guideline (CybR-G) notation to Tateshina, a new oil tanker built by Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co.…
Viasat Buys Inmarsat for $7.3 Billion
Viasat agreed to buy British rival Inmarsat on Monday in a $7.3 billion deal to broaden the U.S. based company’s satellite and land-based communications services.The takeover of London-based Inmarsat comes just two years after it was taken private in a $3.4 billion deal by a consortium of British-based Apax partners, U.S.-based Warburg Pincus and two Canadian pension funds.While Viasat offers connectivity and communications services to residential…
MOL Bulk Carrier to Trial Rotor Sails
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) said it has entered into an agreement with mining company Vale International SA to install and trial rotor sail wind propulsion units on one of its a 200,000-ton class in-service bulk carriers in an effort to study levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction while underway.The rotor sail produces propulsive force as the wind generates differential pressure around the slewing rotor while the vessel is underway.
Scandlines Orders Zero-emissions Ferry from Cemre
Denmark-headquartered Scandlines said it has entered into a contract with Turkey's Cemre Shipyard to build an emissions-free freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route. The ferry will enter service in 2024.With a crossing time of one hour, the ferry is emissions free. It can also be operated as a hybrid ferry like the current passenger ferries on the Scandlines routes between Germany and Denmark.
US Navy Oiler Harvey Milk Launched
San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO christened and launched the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the second ship for the U.S. Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.In 2016, General Dynamics NASSCO was awarded the contract by the U.S. Navy for the detailed design and construction of the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205). The contract calls for the design and construction of six 742-foot-long oilers with a full load displacement of 49,850 tons.
