Somali pirates hijack chemical tanker

Early this morning, Nov.11, the MV HANNIBAL II was pirated whilst on route from Malaysia to Suez. Eu Navfor says the 24,105 tonne chemical tanker, a Panamanian-flagged vessel ,was carrying vegetable oils

New inland waterways clean ship concept

Called the “M-factor,” the vessel is powered by Volvo Penta marine diesel engines both for propulsion and for the bow thruster.

The ship is 85 meters long, 9.6 meter wide and has a load capacity of 1,500 tons, and is a relatively small ship with a very large cargo hold.

The size of the ship and its limited height enables it to sail in almost all European inland waterways. As it is mainly designed for the smaller channels and rivers it will use a 750 hp Volvo Penta D16-750 hp as propulsion engine. Usually this size of ship would be equipped with an engine producing at least 1,000 hp.

Mercurius has been searching for the most fuel efficient engine at part load. In this application, the engine will be operating at part load for at least 80-90 percent of running time.

On part load, the Volvo Penta D16 outperforms the competition in this power range and was thus selected as main propulsion engine.

To reduce emissions, the engine will be equipped with the STT Emtec SCR and POC filter system as a standard even though this is still not required by legislation. The SCR system cuts NOx by 70 to 90 percent and the POC filter reduces the PM by 40 percent.

The prototype will be built at Mercurius Shipping’s own shipyard in Begej and will be ready in May 2011. The plans are to build at least 4-6 ships yearly, depending on the success of this unit. A contract for the second ship has already been given to the Volvo Penta Center Terlouw in Rotterdam. It will deliver the main propulsion engine D16-750, Twin Disk gearbox TD-5170 and SCR system as a complete package to the Mercurius Shipping Group.

A Volvo Penta D12-400 will be installed as a thruster engine. The thruster will be delivered as a complete package including engine from the local manufacturer, Verhaar thruster systems.

 

Seadrill orders two drillships at Samsung

The first two drillships are firm orders with deliveries from the South Korean shipbuilder set for the first and second quarter 2013.

Seadrill says the total project price per rig is estimated to be less than $600 million, which includes a turnkey contract with the yard, project management, drilling and handling tools, spares, capitalized interest and operations preparations.

In a regulatory filing, Samsung valued the contract for the first two ships at $1.08 billion.

The contract further includes a fixed price option, to be declared during the first quarter 2011, for further two drillships

The dual derrick drillships are of an improved design compared to the three previous drillships Seadrill has taken delivery of from Samsung, with further enhanced capacity related to water depth, technical capabilities as well as increased accommodation capacity.

The new dynamically positioned drillships will be capable of operations in water depths up to 12,000 feet with a hook load capability of 1,250 tons, suiting them for operations in challenging areas such as the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and West Africa.

The drillships will be the first newbuilds to be outfitted with seven ram configuration of the BOP (Blow Out Preventer) stack.

Seadrill says its decision to add another two ultra-deepwater newbuilds to the existing fleet is based on the continued strength of the offshore drilling market, the return that these investments are expected to deliver and the financial flexibility generated by the company’s contract backlog.

Ordering new drillships is considered financial superior to other alternative investments.

Alf C Thorkildsen, Chief Executive Officer of Seadrill Management AS, says: “Our commitment to establish Seadrill as a leading drilling contractor through investing in new high specification offshore drilling units built by quality yards has been well received by our customers and investors. With the most modern drilling fleet in the world and a total contract backlog of $11.5 billion, we have created a solid platform for further growth and a continued high return to our shareholders. These orders confirm our positive view on the market outlook as well as our good experience with this design and the Samsung shipyard.”

DOI IG says White House changed drilling moratorium report

Ms. Browner is Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. A Department of the Interior Inspector General’s report says changes to the executive summary of a “30 Day Report” that followed the Deepwater Horizon incident made it appear that a group of industry experts had “peer reviewed” and approved a recommendation that a drilling moratorium be imposed.The version of the report made available to the public says an unnamed member of Ms. Browner’s staff made the misleading changes.

Eight experts made it very public, and very clear that they did not support the moratorium. A number of Senators and House members asked the IG report.

You can read the IG report HERE

 

November 10, 2010

MTU Detroit Diesel opens new Gulf Coast center

The new facility is dedicated to the growth of engine sales in the commercial marine industry. The center also houses parts and serves as a logistics hub for MTU’s marine defense customers.

The nearly 8,000-square-foot facility is located in the St. James Industrial Park just west of New Orleans.

“MTU is one of the world’s major providers of diesel engines and propulsion systems for ships, ferries, tugs, river push boats and offshore supply vessels,” says Jeff Sherman, marine sales manager for MTU Detroit Diesel. “This new location puts us closer to both new and current customers in the Gulf of Mexico and Inland Rivers.”

The new facility is in addition to a network of 25 MTU distributors and a dedicated marine service center near Alameda, Calif.

MTU Detroit Diesels is a Tognum Group subsidiary. Its marine power solutions include the Series 60, Series 2000 and Series 4000 Iron Men engines, specifically designed to meet the unique demands of workboats.

For the higher power needs of commercial and military vessels such as the U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship or U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, MTU offers its Series 8000 and Series 1163 engines. The MTU marine product line up covers a power range from 350 to 12,200 bhp. MTU also offers complete marine control systems.

Suisun Bay ships to be recyled at Mare Island

 

They cover the cleaning and recycling of two Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet ships, the SS Solon Turman and the SS President. The two ships are scheduled to be towed from Suisun Bay to the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard facility in December.

The award is the first made to Allied Defense,which has long been trying to resurrect Mare Island’s closed dry docks.

The two Suisun Bay ships could be delivered to two of the former naval shipyard’s dry docks as early as next month. But the Mare Island Strait must be dredged first.

The Reporter, Vacaville, Calif., quotes Jay Anast, Allied Defense Recycling business operations director as saying that dredging will begin soon after the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission grants a project permit,

The Reporter says the company received its overall environmental permits in recent months. It also signed a lease with dock owners Lennar Mare Island in August, and was qualified to bid on ship recycling contracts at the end of September.

The Maritime Administration offered Allied Defense Recycling a “no-bid” contract, citing delays and funding issues in its partnership with a Bay Area ship-cleaning facility that prepares ships for dismantling outside the area, according to The Reporter.

“The Obama Administration is running full-speed ahead in its commitment to cleaning up the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These contracts will help the local economy while advancing our mission of maintaining the Fleet in a safe and environmentally-sound manner.”

In October 2009, the Obama Administration called for expedited cleanup of the fleet site and improved protection of the unique marine environment and surrounding bayside communities, setting a goal of removing 57 ships by September 30, 2017. Eleven ships were removed in the past year, surpassing the planned schedule of removing 10 ships in 2010.

“This is further evidence of our commitment to clean up Suisun Bay,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “The Mare Island recycling facility will bolster our efforts to remove obsolete ships and reduce environmental risks to the Bay.”

MARAD currently cleans the hulls of obsolete ships before towing them nearly 5,000 miles through the Panama Canal to recycling facilities on the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic coasts. Using the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard site will enable the ships to be recycled while avoiding the lengthy tow to ship recyclers in other areas.

In the past MARAD has sent ships for disposal to recyclers as far away as the U.K. provoking protests and headlines about “ghost ships” and “toxic ships.”

November 10, 2010

Maersk revenues rebound

“We are ready to take more territory, especially in emerging markets,” he adds.

Maersk Group revenue for the nine month period ended September 30, 2010 increased by 17 percent to $41.4 billion, primarily as a result of higher container shipping freight rates and higher oil prices. The net result for the period was a profit of $4.2 billion compared with a loss of $0.7 billion in the same period last year

“The result is exceptional, and we are very satisfied,” says Group CEO Nils S. Andersen. ‘Markets have been favorable, but first of all, our businesses are in excellent shape. Especially our container business has improved and is ahead of competition on profitability. We have moved from defense to the attacking zone, and we are ready to take more territory, especially in emerging markets.”

Container shipping and related activities turned a profit of $2,254 million (against a loss of $1,590 million in the equivalent period last year). The result reflected an increase in average freight rates of 34 percent, an increase in transported volumes of 7 percent and substantial savings per unit.

APM Terminals’ segment result was $668 million ($340 million), helped by gains on sale of an ownership interest in Sigma Enterprises Ltd. The number of containers handled increased by 3 percent despite discontinued activities at six terminals. The remaining terminals had an 8 percent increase in volumes.

Oil and gas activities turned in $1,339 million ($958 million), primarily due to a 35 percent increase in oil prices to an average of $77 per barrel. The increase more than compensated for a 17 percent decline in the Group’s share of oil and gas production to 103 million barrels. The Group’s exploration costs were $346 million ($466 million). Exploration activities led to two new discoveries in Norway in the third quarter. Planned maintenance of platforms in the North Sea was completed in the third quarter.

Maersk Tankers’ segment result was a loss of $103 million in the first nine months of 2010 (same period loss last year was $193 million). Maersk Tankers incurred impairment losses of $107 million in the third quarter of 2010.

Maersk Drilling’s segment result increased to $300 million ($168 million), positively affected by delivery of new rigs and a continued high level of contract coverage at attractive rates.

Group] free cash flow increased by $6.3 billion in the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009. Cash flow from operating activities was $7.4 billion ($4.1 billion), while cash flow used for capital expenditure was negative by $3.2 billion (negative by $6.3 billion). Net interest bearing debt was reduced by $4.4 billion to $13.7 billion.

Group competitiveness was enhanced by further cost reductions and activity adjustments with an expected full-year effect of between $500 million and $1 billion.

Outlook for the full year 2010

The group is now expecting a result for the full year in the order of $5 billion, excluding an expected gain from Dansk Supermarked A/S’ sale of Netto Foodstores Limited, UK. That transaction is not expected to be completed until the first half of 2011.

November 10, 2011

Tide power innovator seeks shipbuilder

Neptune, based in North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, England, has successful completed a series of rigorous in-water tests on the full-scale demonstrator of its Proteus NP1000 tidal stream power generator, it is now seeking a trade partner, which could be a shipyard or heavy engineering concern, who can demonstrate the capability to fabricate and build future production devices.

NEPTUNE PROTEUS IN WATER

Weighing more than 150 tonnes and 20 m in length with a beam of 14 m, the Proteus NP1000 consists of steel buoyancy hulls, a vertically mounted turbine with a 6 m x 6 m rotor, and computer controlled flow vanes within a venturi duct.

Despite its size, the floating pontoon design means that the Proteus is largely unobtrusive when deployed, with more than 80 per cent of its bulk always hidden from view under the water. This low environmental footprint has now been approved by the U.K. Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Test data indicate that when optimized for the tidal stream the Proteus NP1000 will be able generate at least 1,000 MWh/year. To put this into context the projected output would be enough to meet the energy needs of more than five hundred homes.

The recent tests included the powering-up and generation of electricity as proof of the commercial potential of the device’s power curve. Tow testing was carried out in three phases during August, September and October in Hull’s Albert Dock. The third set of experiments provided the final, critical, “proof of concept” hurdle and the device will now be prepared for commercial deployment in early 2011 at Sammy’s Point in the Humber.

Commented Nigel Petrie, Chairman, Neptune Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL): “We are delighted to have successfully come through the in-water testing phase for the Proteus Demonstrator which paves the way for the device to be commissioned shortly and installed, with the first electricity delivered in 2011. Having reached this key milestone, at Neptune we are now looking to identify a trade partner who is able to demonstrate that they have capability to work with us to manufacture and deliver future devices.”

Mr. Petrie said the company is also seeking equity providers to work with in order to help fund a series of arrays of the tidal stream power generators which are planned for the Humber in 2011 and 2012.

You can email Neptune at enquiries@neptunerenewableenergy.com

Bourbon reports increased offshore segment revenues

Paris-headquartered Bourbon reported today that third quarter revenues came to EUR 222.2 million, up 6.4 percent compared with the same period in 2009 (two percent at constant exchange rates).

Although bickering between Brazilian bureaucrats delayed import of some vessels for a Petrobras contract, activity in the Americas is expanding, accounting for 11 percent of revenues in the first nine months of the year, compared with 6.4 percent in the same period last year.

“In a market environment that continues to be difficult, Bourbon can today report third-quarter 2010 revenue growth of 6.4 percent,” said Chairman & CEO  de Chateauvieux. “This confirms the upturn in our offshore activity, announced previously and already in evidence in the second quarter. It also confirms our strategic choices and reflects our unique positioning on the market. Our clients are enthusiastic about the new Bourbon vessels which are proving to be more innovative, safer and capable of keeping their operating costs down.”

“Bourbon predicted a gradual recovery in the oil companies’ activity in the second half of 2010 and more substantial growth in 2011,” he contnued. “The activity of the third quarter confirms this trend.”

Bourbon says that in the first nine months of 2010, revenues for its offshore business segment totaled Euros 624.9 million euros, up 1.6 percent compared with the same period in the previous year. Revenues from Bourbon vessels were 8.4 percent higher thanks to the major expansion of the fleet in unfavorable market conditions. Revenues from chartered vessels were down by nearly 37 million euros. Activity on the American continent is expanding and Bourbon earned 11 percent of its revenues there in the first nine months of 2010, compared with 6.6 percent over the same period in 2009. As well as growth in activity in Mexico and Brazil, the buyout of 50 percent of Delba Maritima Navegacao at the end of 2009 also made a significant contribution.

Compared with the second quarter of 2010, revenues from Bourbon vessels increased by 4.1 percent despite a slight reduction in the fleet’s utilization rate, largely due to administrative difficulties encountered on importing the vessels to Brazil.

A delay in implementing the contracts for the eight Bourbon Liberty vessels and five crewboats chartered by Petrobras resulted from a disagreement between the Brazilian Ministries of Finance and Petroleum concerning exemptions from import duty for foreign vessels.

For the last seven quarters, Bourbon has been steadily reducing the number of vessels it charters in.

Compared with the third quarter of 2009, revenues from Subsea Services were up 13.1 percent totalling 45.4 million euros, largely due to better performance of owned vessels and the full effect of the IMR vessel commissioned at the beginning of 2010.

In the first nine months of 2010, revenues from Subsea Services were up 13.8 percent at 124.7 million euros compared with the same period of 2009, due to the Bourbon vessels’ improved performance (contract renewals at higher rates and a greater range of services) and the full effect of the IMR vessel that joined the fleet at the beginning of 2010.

Compared with the second quarter of 2010, revenues from Subsea Services were up 3.9 percent reflecting the significant improvement in Bourbon IMR vessels.

November 9, 2010

Boost for Maryland offshore wind

Governor Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Energy Administration yesterday joined BOEMRE to announce that the federal government has accepted the planning recommendations of the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force and yesterday. Yesterday it issued both a Request for Interest (RFI) and a map of an offshore wind leasing area in federal waters adjacent to Maryland’s Atlantic Coast. Maryland is the second state in the U.S. to reach this point in the process.

“Today’s announcement marks another step forward for Maryland’s new economy,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “By harnessing the outstanding wind resources off of Maryland’s coast, we can create thousands of green collar jobs, reduce harmful air pollution, and bring much needed, additional clean energy to Maryland.”

Governor O’Malley has made offshore wind a priority in Maryland’s efforts to generate 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2022, citing the potential for job creation and the abundant wind resources available. A one gigawatt offshore wind farm off of the Maryland coast could create as many as 4,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction during the five year development period, with an additional 800 permanent jobs once the turbines are spinning.

Yesterday’s announcement follows nearly two years of planning. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked with the Maryland Energy Administration, the Maryland Offshore Wind Task Force, and other outside partners like the University of Maryland’s Center for Integrative and Environmental Research, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the various environmental and stakeholder concerns that would impact any proposed offshore wind development. The result was a draft marine spatial planning area that represented the collective input of federal, state, and local stakeholders and formed the basis for the map released by BOEMRE.

The western edge of the RFI area for proposed wind generation is located approximately 10 nautical miles from the Ocean City coast and the eastern edge is approximately 27 nautical miles from the Ocean City coast.

Maryland offshore wind advocates say the state’s proximity to planned wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as the deep water port and manufacturing infrastructure in Baltimore, position it to be a leader not only in offshore wind energy generation, but also in ongoing construction and maintenance.

This summer, Governor O’Malley and Delaware Governor Jack Markell wrote to President Obama proposing a federal-state partnership for the development of a power purchase agreement for offshore wind energy. The development of one gigawatt of wind energy in the mid-Atlantic region could lead to the creation of thousands of clean energy jobs.

Also this summer, Governor O’Malley formally entered Maryland into a formal partnership in the newly formed Atlantic Offshore Wind Consortium. The group, comprising states along the Atlantic coastline and the United States Department of the Interior, will work to coordinate regionally prominent issues surrounding the development of off shore wind along the Atlantic outer continental shelf.

“Thanks to Governor O’Malley’s leadership Maryland is exceptionally well positioned to become leader in the emerging offshore wind industry, which has the potential to create or secure thousands of jobs and keep Maryland Smart, Green, and Growing,” said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.

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