The tides of the New Jersey shore have enough energy to power 200,000 homes says a new study released by Natural Currents Energy Services, LLC, a company focused on developing tidal power generation. The report identifies 417 MW of tidal power off New Jersey’s coast, which recently rated tidal power as the number-one renewable energy source in their Energy Master Plan.

“At about $5 million per Mega Watt installed, that’s a $2 billion investment opportunity to create jobs and provide clean energy," says Roger Bason, president of the Highland, NY-based company.  “Full installation of systems to harness the tides’ energy would provide over 2,000 jobs in New Jersey for 10 years.”

Over the last 10 years, Bason's company has developed patented designs for tidal turbine systems, which have been tested both onshore and offshore.

The Georgia Tech Research Corporation estimated 357 MW in New Jersey in its nation-wide assessment of tidal power last year. Natural Currents identified additional sites in cooperation with the NJ DOT Office of Research and Office of Maritime Resources.  These sites, including rivers and shoreline locations throughout the state, add at least an additional 60 MW from near shore locations not included in the broad national study by Georgia Tech.

“Tidal energy is clean, renewable, and highly predictable,” says Bason. “If tidal technology is installed along the reach of the shoreline, constant power will be produced as the tides change, unlike the intermittent power from solar and wind." It's that predictability that makes tidal power very attractive to utility companies.

While the overall number of installations is still small, some studies predict a 700% increase in installations over the next five years.

While the future may look bright to tidal energy developers worldwide, the issues of regulation and public acceptance in New Jersey are major factors in the overall speed of ocean renewable growth.

Adding tidal incentives is critical to success, just as it has been for solar energy. At this time, Nova Scotia and UK utilities buy tidal power at rates 7 to 10 times what NJ now offers.

“All tidal energy companies are competing for a place in those markets, just as the solar incentives brought companies from around the world to New Jersey,” says Bason. “To keep pace with the global marketplace and the green jobs that go with it, New Jersey needs tidal incentives for economic growth.”

March 14, 2012

SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 — Bollinger Marine Fabricators, L.L.C., Amelia, La., a Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. company, has delivered the Ocean Wave, the first of four Ocean class tugs, to Crowley Maritime Corporation.

The Ocean Wave is one of two 10,880 BHP tugs in the series that are DP1 capable. The two others will be DP2 capable.

The Ocean Wave is twin screw with controllable pitch propellers (CPP), in nozzles with independent high lift rudders. The hull is welded steel construction and is outfitted for long range ocean towing, dynamic positioning, firefighting, rescue and salvage towing, as well anchor handling. The vessel is designed and outfitted with all tanks containing oil and oil traces inboard of the side shell to create a double hull and designed for zero discharge of any machinery cooling water, gray or black water, further safeguard the environment.

Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar C-280-12 Tier II diesel engines. Designed to operate on Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel, each is rated at 5,440 BHP @ 1000 RPM. The 153.5 inch diameter CPP Propellers are driven through Reintjes LAF 5666 reduction gears. The bow thruster is a Berg VFD 850 HP unit.

Electric power is provided by two 1,475 kVA shaft generators, one 340 kW Caterpillar C-18 Tier II auxiliary generator (Harbor Generator), and one (1) 125 kW Caterpillar C-6.6 Tier II emergency generator system.

The towing and deck equipment includes an Intercon DW275 hydraulic winch with upper drum capacity for 3,000 ft of 2.5 in wire and lower drum with 4,200 ft of 2.75 in wire, Triplex tow pins, Triplex shark jaws and an open stern roller.

The vessel is U.S. flagged and complies with all applicable rules and regulations for unrestricted ocean towing, International Load Line Certificate, SOLAS and ABS DP1, Green Passport classification.

"Taking delivery of this first ocean-class tug is a significant milestone for Crowley and our customers who will benefit from its use on their projects," said Tom Crowley, company chairman, president and CEO. "These Jensen Maritime-designed towing vessels – three of which are under construction at Bollinger – are a new generation of powerful, high-tech and environmentally friendly workhorses for Crowley that will further solidify our standing as an industry leader in ocean towing, salvage and offshore marine support for the upstream energy industry." 


"We are extremely proud of our Ocean Class team and the delivery of the first in class tug, Ocean Wave," said Chris Bollinger, executive vice president of Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. "Our partner, Crowley and Jensen, as well as our numerous vendors, have worked hard to develop and deliver a premier vessel into the international marine market and we look forward to future deliveries of sister Ocean Wind and DP2 vessels Ocean Sky and Ocean Sun."

OCTOBER 23, 2012 – Brazil's Bravante Group has awarded Rolls-Royce a GBP 24 million (about $38.5 million) order to design and equip four UT 775 SE platform supply vessels (PSVs) that will be built at its Estaleiro São Miguel shipyard and chartered to Petrobras.

Located at the Port of Gradim in the municipality of São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, the São Miguel Shipyard was recently remodeled to meet new market demands for the construction, repair and modernization of offshore vessels. It has two dry docks and facilities capable of delivering up to six vessels the size of a PSV 4500 per year.

Following the successful delivery of the Rolls-Royce designed Mar Limpo II on schedule to Petrobras in August, Bravante Group now has eight Rolls-Royce vessels under construction at the São Miguel shipyard.

Anders Almestad, Rolls-Royce, President-Offshore says the latest contract consolidates Rolls-Royce's strong support of the growth in Brazil's offshore oil and gas industry.

"We are very pleased that Bravante Group has again chosen these technologically-advanced Rolls-Royce PSVs to meet the challenges of deepwater operations off the coast of Brazil," he said.

In addition to the design, Rolls-Royce will supply a wide range of onboard equipment including Azipull and bow thrusters, deck machinery, a bulk handling system, Active Front End (AFE) frequency converters, automation and control systems and a dynamic positioning system.

JANUARY 30, 2012 — Damen Shipyards Group has introduces the latest addition to the Damen Offshore Series. Its newly designed Damen AHTS 200 is a versatile deepwater anchor handling tug supply vessel able to operate in water depths in excess of 3,000 m.

Looking to increase its market share in the offshore sector, Damen is investing heavily in designing state of the art vessels for several offshore markets, notably the offshore support, offshore wind, (seismic) research and transport and installation.

The latest addition to the company's offshore line up, the AHTS 200, follows theDamen design philosophy, featuring values like safety, functionality, standardization, modularisation, ease of maintenance and overall quality. An extensive research analysis was executed on hull optimization, sea keeping qualities, noise and vibration reduction, fuel oil consumption reduction, changing rules and regulations and client-needs and  lessons-learned from other Damen designs.

Though the AHTS market has traditionally been dominated by low pressure hydraulic winches, Damen teamed with Huisman Equipment to develop an innovative, electrically driven winch arrangement that has had a major impact on setting the overall dimensions and layout of the vessel. Damen says the electrically-driven winches provide a clean, green, economical, functional and safe solution for the anticipated operations.

The vessel is suited to generate 200-250 t Bollard Pull and is fitted with engines in a father-son layout, featuring twin-in single-out gearboxes driving CP propellers in a nozzle. High performance flap-type rudders fitted to rotary vane steering gears facilitate a high degree of maneuverability supported by ample side thrust capacity, including tunnel thrusters as well as retractable thrusters in the fore and aft ship.

Forward of the winches ample space has been reserved for the fitting of a high-end ROV system with the possibility of launching through a side door. The high beam AHTS could serve as a suitable platform for mounting a subsea construction crane. The design can easily be upgraded with dedicated anti-heeling systems, moon pools and sophisticated diving systems.

The comfortable accommodations can house up to 45 persons in single and double cabins fitted according to the Damen Business or Executive Line comprising modern and durable materials. Special attention has been paid to providin natural lighting through maximum-sized windows. State-of-the-art infotainment systems, offering multiple levels of data communication, support the functionality and comfort of the vessel.

Although driven by its standardization philosophy Damen offers ample opportunities to include owner’s standards and component choices for maximal support of their operations. The vessel is designed following an extensive DNV-class notation, although other class societies may be considered as well.

Length OA 89.10 m
Beam mld. 22.00 m
Summer draft 7.00 m
Speed 15.5 kn (@ summer draught)
Propulsion power 2 x 3,840 kW + 2 x 2,880 kW
Side thrusters (tunnel) 2 x 900 kW
Side thrusters (retractable) 2 x 900 kW
Deadweight 3200 ton
Deck area 670 sq.m
Bollard pull 200 ton