'World Largest' Offshore Converter Station Debuts in China
The installation on what is reported to be the world’s largest offshore converter station is being hailed by China Classification Society (CCS) as ‘a significant milestone’ in the development of deep-water wind power. CCS provided authentication and survey services for the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) Rudong offshore converter station, which is also an Asian first.CCS says the facility effectively…
Siemens Gamesa, GRI Renewables Invest in NE England Offshore Wind Production
Siemens Gamesa and GRI Renewables Industries will invest more than $360 million into offshore wind manufacturing facilities in northeast England.Siemens Gamesa will invest a total of $258m to expand its blade manufacturing site located near Hull - Britain's largest offshore wind manufacturing facility - readying it for the next generation of offshore wind turbines and blades greater than 100 metres…
China Goes from Driver to Brake for Crude Oil, Iron Ore and Copper
China has switched from driving global demand for major commodities to being a drag on growth, with July's customs data confirming the weakening trend for imports of crude oil, iron ore and copper.The exception to the trend was coal, but the sharp gain in July's imports of the polluting fuel are more a result of China having to go the seaborne market because of domestic policies that curbed local output.China…
Oil Slides 4% on China Virus Curbs, Climate Warning
Oil prices fell by 4% on Monday, extending last week's steep losses on the back of a rising U.S. dollar and concerns that new coronavirus-related restrictions in Asia, especially China, could slow a global recovery in fuel demand.A United Nations panel's dire warning on climate change also added to the gloomy mood after fires in Greece have razed homes and forests and parts of Europe suffered deadly floods last month.Brent crude futures fell by $2.82…
Haifa Port Sale Expected to Fetch $600m or More, Bidders Line Up
Four investment groups are looking to acquire the Israeli port of Haifa estimated to be valued as high as $600 million with formal bids expected towards October, sources with knowledge of the matter said.Israel is selling its state-owned ports and building new private docks in an effort to encourage competition and bring down costs. At the same time, warming ties with neighboring Arab countries are…
New Telemedicine Services Launched
Workplace health and safety services company Remote Medical International (RMI) announced the launch of two new services RMI Access Telemedicine and Case Management to address health and safety challenges found in demanding industrial environments. Suited for oil and gas, renewables, construction and other industries with worksites in remote locations, the new services provide direct anytime, anywhere…
Seaspan Forward Fixes Five-year Contracts for 10 Containerships
Seaspan Corporation announced it has forward fixed contracts for 10 containerships with a "major liner customer", bringing the company's total 2021 forward fixtures to 58 vessels, or approximately 50% of its time chartered fleet.The vessels, representing approximately 100,000 TEU in aggregate, were previously scheduled to have four charters expire in 2022, four charters expire in 2023, and two charters expire in 2024, Seaspan said.
China's Export, Import Growth Seen Moderating in July
China’s robust export growth likely moderated in July amid an acceleration in COVID-19 cases globally and continuing severe pressure on global supply chains, a Reuters poll showed on Friday.Although there are signs China’s strong industrial recovery in the first half of the year may be losing some momentum, overseas demand has remained strong in recent months even as factories in many countries return…
Eastern Completes First Ollis Class Vessel for Staten Island Ferry
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) announced it has completed the first of three new Staten Island “Ollis Class” ferries for the City of New York Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Staten Island Ferry Division. The MV SSG Michael H. Ollis, Hull 219, departed ESG’s Port St. Joe, Fla. facility fully certified and passenger ready.Dann Ocean Towing’s Colonel is towing the ferry on a 12-dray trip to New York City.
Shell Places 10 Tankers in Signal Maritime's MR Pool
Shell Tankers (Singapore) Private Limited will contribute 10 medium-range product tankers (MRs) to the Signal Maritime MR pool.In line with the shipping industry’s decarbonization efforts, Shell and Signal have also agreed to collaborate on carbon emissions reduction initiatives.Shell’s partnership in the MR pool comes after Shell became an early adopter of the Signal Ocean platform in product tankers.
Prysmian Extends Solstad CSV Normand Pacific
Solstad Offshore ASA announced that Prysmian Powerlink Srl has exercised its option to extend the firm contract for construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Pacific with one year.The firm period will expire on December 31, 2022, Solstad Offshore said, adding that Prysmian has the option to extend the contract with two years beyond the firm period.The 122.4-meter-long Normand Pacific has been on charter with Prysmian since August 2016. The ST 257 L CD design vessel was built in 2010.
Egypt Finds Ancient Military Vessel, Greek Graves in Sunken City
Divers have discovered rare remains of a military vessel in the ancient sunken city of Thônis-Heracleion—once Egypt's largest port on the Mediterranean—and a funerary complex illustrating the presence of Greek merchants, the country said on Monday.The city, which controlled the entrance to Egypt at the mouth of a western branch of the Nile, dominated the area for centuries before the foundation of…
ESVAGT to Convert Two PSVs to Battery-hybrid ERRVs
ESVAGT and Ulstein have entered into a contract for the conversion of two platform supply vessels (PSV) to hybrid battery-powered emergency response rescue vessels (ERRV).The two PX121 design PSVs Hermit Fighter and Hermit Prosper, designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, originally built at Ulstein Verft and delivered in 2012, will return to the Norwegian shipyard for a six-week stay to undergo conversion to ERRVs and battery power.
Norwegian Cruise Line Posts Bigger Loss, Sees Demand Improving
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd , whose Encore ship is set to mark the company’s return to sailing from U.S. ports over the weekend, reported a bigger quarterly loss on Friday as the pandemic had brought the cruise industry to a standstill.An over yearlong suspension imposed by U.S. health officials forced cruise operators to raise billions of dollars, with some of them even pledging ships and private islands to stay afloat.Cruise operators have been sailing from U.S.
Russia Starts Operation to Lay Undersea Fiber Optic Cable through Arctic
Russia on Friday begins laying its first undersea fiber optic communications cable through the Arctic as part of a state-run project to bring high-speed internet to its remote hydrocarbon-rich north after a private-led initiative stalled.Moscow is aiming to improve patchy communications and infrastructure in its far north where it has expanded its military presence and is developing the Northern Sea Route to become a major shipping lane.The cable link…
Petrobras Charters Solstad CSV in Brazil
Norwegian offshore service and supply ship shipping company Solstad Offshore announce it has secured a new contract for one of its construction support vessels (CSV) with Petrobras offshore Brazil. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The 2002-built CSV Normand Flower will be contracted with the state-owned Brazilian multinational oil and as company from April 2022 for a period of three years firm…
Q&A: Inside the Scienco InTank Ballast Water Treatment System
Rudy Mes and Giles Candy of Scienco/FAST discuss advantages for ship owners and shipbuilders with the Scienco InTank Ballast Water Treatment System.How doest the InTank system stand out?Rudy Mes We found that most vessels have issues (when) treatment is being done during the intake of ballast water or during de-ballasting, as it puts a strain on power consumption and pump capacity. So we decided we’re not going to treat the water while we’re in port, we’re going to treat it during the voyage.
Mariner Medevaced From LNG Carrier Near Corpus Christi
An ailing mariner was medevaced from a Norwegian-flagged tanker approximately 18 miles offshore near the Corpus Christi Anchorage, Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard…
Thruster Tech: Capturing Performance Data for Design of Unmanned Vehicles
Conducting a sea trial is a necessary step upon delivery of a ship. This activity not only documents and validates anticipated ship speed and power, but if done correctly also provides performance data that can be useful for design purposes. The same holds true for underwater vehicles in general and thrusters in particular. However, while gathering data may seem easy, extracting useful trial data for…
VARD Inks $118m Deal for Pair of CSOVs
Rem Offshore and VARD signed contracts for the design and construction of construction service operations vessels (CSOV).Two CSOVs with an option for two additional vessels were ordered by Rem Offshore with VARD. Two firm contracts for the firm two vessels have an indicative total value of $118 million.The CSOVs are tailor-made for world-wide services and maintenance operations at offshore wind farms.
