Self-driving 'Roboats' Ready for Testing on Amsterdam's Canals
Visitors to Amsterdam may soon spot a self-driving watercraft the size of a small car cruising silently through its ancient canals, ferrying passengers or transporting goods or trash.It will be the electric-powered "Roboat", a catchier name than "autonomous floating vehicle" for a project shortly due to start test journeys aimed at improving the crowded city's transport options."We have a lot of road traffic and congestion…
Baltic Dry Index Drags
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell to a one-and-a-half month low on Wednesday and posted its biggest daily percentage fall since January, weighed down by weak demand across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize vessels, fell by 248 points, or 6.1%, to 3,808, its lowest since Sept. 9.The capesize index shed 476 points or about 9% to 4,828, a trough since Aug.
Damen Wins Repeat CSD Order from Vale Verde
Brazilian company Constructora Vale Verde has placed a repeat order for a cutter suction dredger, type CSD350, with Damen Shipyards. This dredger is a sister vessel to the Amsterdam, which was delivered in 2019. The first CSD350, Amsterdam was delivered and transported just before the global outbreak of COVID-19. In a world where the pandemic had fortified frontiers and created nearly unsurpassable barriers…
Chinese Coal and Iron Ore Imports Down from Last Year-BIMCO
Despite the very strong freight rates and the apparently tight market, the all-important driver for dry bulk shipping, China, has in fact seen imports of its two largest dry bulk commodities shrink year-on-year so far this year. The two largest imported commodities for China, iron ore and coal are however, interestingly on two different trajectories, as the latter could be ending the year with higher…
Japanese Trio Connects on Project to Reduce Methane Slip by 70%
As the global shipping industry is under the microscope to reduce emissions, three Japanese leaders in the maritime space: Hitachi Zosen, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.(MOL) and Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), have targeted methane slip as an area of study via its "Development of Methane Slip Reduction Technology from LNG Fueled Vessels by Improving Catalysts and Engines", with Hitachi Zosen serving…
LA, Long Beach Announce Fees for Lingering Boxes
America's top container ports Los Angeles and Long Beach are cracking down on ocean carriers whose containers linger on terminals as clogged U.S. seaports struggle to keep up with record box volumes.Under the new policy, developed in coordination with the Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, U.S. Department of Transportation and multiple supply chain stakeholders, and set to take effect November 1…
Two-year Charter for Havila Subsea Vessel with Reach Subsea
Subsea services firm Reach Subsea has awarded a contract extension for Havila Shipping's Havila Subsea IMR, survey, and construction vessel.The contract is for a…
ABB Unveils Automation Solution for Ships
ABB’s newly launched C-CAMs marine automation solution applies to vessel systems, power management, cargo control and tank gauging, designed to improve efficiency and safety by enabling faster troubleshooting and maintenance as well as enhanced situational awareness. It also features a mobile application overview of system data, with the ABB Ability Edgenius Operations Data Manager providing access…
TotalEnergies and Columbia Shipmanagement Partner on Green Shipping
TotalEnergies and Columbia Shipmanagement (CSM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore various collaborative opportunities to foster energy transition, especially in transportation, with a focus on shipping.The parties are developing in partnership a lube oil monitoring, optimization and supply platform utilizing the existing capabilities of CSM’s Performance Optimization Control Room (POCR).
U.S. Offshore Wind Expansion: Here’s How Officials Decide Where Turbines May Go
The Biden administration has announced ambitious plans to scale up leasing for offshore wind energy projects along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. In an announcement released on Oct. 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior stated that it will “use the best available science as well as knowledge from ocean users and other stakeholders to minimize conflict with existing uses and marine life.” University of Massachusetts Boston public policy scholar David W.
Dutch Offshore Service Firm Designs Renewables-powered Semi-submersible Mussel Farm
OOS Group, a Dutch-based offshore services company, known to Offshore Engineer readers for its semi-submersible heavy lift crane and accommodation vessels, has developed a semi-submersible mussel farm (SMF) to grow mussels in the North Sea. The SMF will also feature solar panels, wind turbines, and tidal turbines."Mussels are traditionally grown in sheltered waters such as the Oosterschelde and the Waddenzee.
Mighty River to Muddy Trickle: South America's Parana Rings Climate Alarm
Gustavo Alcides Diaz, an Argentine fisherman and hunter from a river island community, is at home on the water. The Parana River once lapped the banks near his wooden stilt home that he could reach by boat. Fish gave him food and income. He purified river water to drink.Now the 40-year-old looks out on a trickle of muddy water.The Parana, South America's second-largest river behind only the Amazon…
Nord Stream 2 is Not a Threat to Gas Supply to EU - German ministry
Allowing Nord Stream 2 to pump Russian gas to Germany will not threaten supplies to the European Union, the German Economy Ministry said on Tuesday, clearing a major hurdle for the disputed pipeline.While the pipeline is ready to start operations, it still needs to be certified by Germany's Federal Network Agency and the ministry's supply analysis is a key requirement for the regulator to continue that process."In its analysis…
Liza Unity FPSO Reaches Guyana
Exxon Mobil Corp's second floating production system for Guyana, the Liza Unity, arrived early on Tuesday in the South American country's waters, the U.S. oil company said.The production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility is expected to add 220,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil capacity to Guyana's current 120,000-bpd output when it reaches maximum capacity. Its startup is expected for early 2022.Exxon's first FPSO…
FarSounder, Navtor Partner
FarSounder and Navtor announces a new partnership, with FarSounder now including support for NAVTOR official ENC chart data in itsbase software package.Navtor is centered on creating e-Navigation tools that are safe, simple and efficient. Similarly, FarSounder’s Argos 3D Forward Looking Sonar is designed to provide safe navigation by detecting many ocean obstacles via an easy-to-understand user interface.
Shipbuilding: DSME Delivers another LNG Carrier to Nakilat
Nakilat has taken delivery of a newbuild LNG carrier dubbed Global Sea Spirit, a ship to be commercially and technically managed in-house by Nakilat Shipping Qatar Limited (NSQL). Built by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea, this is the third of four LNG newbuild carriers to be delivered to Global Shipping Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Nakilat (60%) and Maran Ventures Inc. (40%).
Wärtsilä Forecasts Q4 Surge in Demand, Shares Jump
Finnish engineering group Wärtsilä forecast a surge in demand for its products in the final three months of the year, sending its shares sharply higher, as its CEO said prospects were strongest for its marine business.The ship technology and power-plant maker struggled with slumping orders, especially from the marine sector, in 2020 after curbs linked to COVID-19 restrictions caused Royal Caribbean…
Vard Electro Batteries for Siem Offshore's Subsea Construction Vessel
Vard Electro will deliver its largest battery package to date as part of a vessel retrofit deal with the Norwegian offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore.The contract covers Vard Electro’s SeaQ Energy Storage System (ESS) with two battery packs and a DC link, which will be installed in the first quarter of 2022 on one of Siem Offshore’s subsea construction vessels lined up for work in the wind sector.The…
NYK and Partners to Develop Ammonia-fueled Vessels
Japan's Nippon Yusen KK (NYK) and its partners said on Tuesday they will conduct a demonstration project to develop commercial vessels equipped with ammonia-fueled engines to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions to tackle climate change.The shipping industry is examining a range of technologies as it looks to meet a target set by the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions from ships from 2008 levels by 50% by 2050.Ammonia is used in making fer
Baltic Dry Index Extends Losses
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell for a fourth straight session Tuesday, weighed down by weak demand across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax, supramax and handysize vessels, fell by 201 points, or 4.7%, to 4,056, its lowest since Sept. 10.The capesize index fell 478 points, or 8.3%, to 5,304, its lowest since Sept.
