PUBLISHED SEP 30, 2021 6:08 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

A consortium of Japanese companies is working together to build a new generation hybrid propulsion system, which will be installed on a limestone carrier operating in coastal Japan. The Global Environment Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of the Environment and the Maritime Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are supporting the project to promote the introduction of advanced technologies that will simultaneously achieve social innovation and decarbonization.

The hybrid propulsion for the vessel, which will be owned by NS United Naiko Kaiun Kaisha, will be composed of Japan’s first gas-only engine combined with a 2,847 kWh lithium-ion battery. The propulsion power and the onboard electric power during sailing will be generated by the gas-only engine developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Natural gas will only be used for power during long-distance and long-duration navigation. The propulsion power and the onboard power while entering, leaving, and berthing in port will be provided from the battery to achieve zero-emission operation.

The companies said CO2 emission will be reduced by nearly a quarter (about 30 percent at normal load operation) from introducing the propulsion system when compared to conventional vessels of the same type. Using LNG as its only fuel, the vessel’s exhaust gas will contain almost no SOx, and NOx, with overall emissions far below Tier III standards.

Another unique feature in the design of the vessel will be in its LNG fuel tank. They plan to use seven percent nickel steel plate developed by Nippon Steel Corporation for the first time as a marine tank.

Construction for the new vessel will be carried out by Japan’s Tsuneishi Shipbuilding and is scheduled to start the operation in February 2024. It will be 5,560 dwt with a length of 308 feet. Once in service, it will be jointly chartered by Nippon Steel Corporation and Nippon Steel Cement transporting limestone, which is the auxiliary raw material for steelmaking and the main raw material for cement, between Shiriyamisaki and Muroran, Japan. Like NSU’s prior vessels, the new ship will be fitted with a self-unloading system.

The vessel will be a replacement for the Shimokita Maru, built in 1994 with a conventional fuel propulsion system.

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PUBLISHED SEP 30, 2021 7:54 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

In a move that is seen as an attempt to counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific and especially in Sri Lanka, India’s Adani Ports announced a long-term deal to build and operate a new terminal in the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The new West Container Terminal will compete with the Colombo International Container Terminal and the southern port of Hambantota, both of which are operated by China Merchants Port Holdings.

Previously, India and Japan had been working on an agreement to develop a terminal at Colombo, but that collapsed early in 2021 under domestic pressure as well as political considerations. India however was unhappy over China’s growing influence directly off its coast at neighboring Sri Lanka and based on its long ties with Sri Lanka was offered the opportunity to develop the West terminal. Sri Lanka issued an official letter of interest in March 2021.

Adani will join with John Keells Holdings, a local Sri Lanka conglomerate, becoming the largest foreign investor in Sri Lanka’s ports.

In a letter to the Colombo Stock Exchange, John Keells said that a Build, Own, Transfer Agreement was executed on September 30. The partnership will build and operate the terminal for 35 years before it transfers to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. Adani will own a controlling 51 percent of the new company, with Keels holding 34 percent, and the remainder held by the SLPA. The total cost of the project will be approximately $650 million topping the estimated $500 million invested by China in buildings its facilities in Colombo.

The new West Container Terminal-1 will be a deep-water terminal with approximately 4,500 feet of dock at a depth of 65 feet. The terminal will have an annual capacity of 3.2 million TEUs. Construction is due to begin in 2022 with the first section opening within 24 months and completion within 48.

Opened in 2014, the Colombo International Container Terminal is operated by China Merchants Port Holdings Company, which owns 85 percent of the terminal company. They also have a 35-year lease on their facility. The Chinese promote the terminal as the “first and only deep-water terminal in South Asia capable of handling the largest vessels afloat.”

India’s concern over China’s influence dates back to 2014 when Chinese warships docked at the terminal. Sri Lanka has since barred the warships from its ports, but Sri Lanka remains a critical spot due to its strategic location on major shipping lanes and midway between Asia and the Middle East. China is pursuing a strategy of building economic and strategic outposts across Asia as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

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PUBLISHED SEP 30, 2021 8:28 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

Researchers in Australia and China have developed a prototype technology that they believe can double the power harvested from ocean waves. In laboratory tests they report that they have been successful at increasing the power drawn from the ocean with a design that is simpler and less cost-intensive to deploy. If successful in a full-scale model test, the researchers believe that their technology could be the key to the commercialization of power generation from ocean waves.

“Our prototype technology overcomes some of the key challenges that have been holding back the wave energy industry from large-scale development,” said lead researcher Professor Xu Wang at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. “With further development, we hope this technology could be the foundation for a thriving new renewable energy industry delivering massive environmental and economic benefits.

According to Professor Wang and his collaborators from Beihang University in China, the challenges of developing technologies that can be efficient extracting the natural power and withstanding the harsh environment have “kept wave energy stuck at the experimental stage.”

Most of the concepts being explored for wave energy generation use a buoy-type device that harvests energy by moving up and down with the waves, but need to be synchronized with the wave movement. This involves a series of sensors, actuators, and control processors.

The RMIT prototype naturally floats up and down without the need for sensors. It uses counter-rotating dual turbine wheels. Two turbine wheels are stacked and rotate in opposite directions. They are connected to a generator through a shaft and belt-pulley driven transmission system. The generator is inside a buoy above the water to keep it out of corrosive seawater.

“We know it works in our labs, so the next steps are to scale this technology and test it in a tank or real-life ocean conditions,” said Wang. During the lab tests, the RMIT-created wave energy convertor was twice as efficient at harvesting power as any similar technology developed to date.

According to RMIT, wave energy could play a significant role in renewable power generation. They reported that it has been estimated that each year power from coastal waves around the world is equivalent to annual global electricity production.

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PUBLISHED SEP 30, 2021 3:45 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

A court in Singapore has convicted and sentenced to jail nine individuals involved in a bunker fraud scheme. According to the authorities, the charges stemmed from a scheme discovered in 2019 that cheated shipowners out of $336,930.63 worth of marine fuel oil while bunkering in the port.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and the Police Coast Guard discovered the scheme in April 2019 during a routine inspection of a bunker vessel operated by Southernpec. The company, which was ranked as a mid-sized fuel supplier in the world’s largest bunker market, was operating a fleet of bunker vessels.

One of the cargo officers aboard the bunker vessel was discovered to be tampering with the mass flow meter (MFM) during a spot check. The authorities found an industrial strength magnet attached to the meter and in an attempt to conceal it the cargo officer had covered it with duct tape that was the same color as the meter.

The subsequent investigation identified a total of five additional cargo officers working aboard the bunker vessels Southernpec 6 and Southernpec 7 participating in the scheme. Three additional individuals were identified as the masterminds of the scheme having developed the idea of using the magnets. They were charged with organizing and managing the scheme and recruiting the five cargo officers, and one of the cargo officers recruited the sixth who was later caught in the act.

The magnets caused the MFM to registered a high quality of fuel than was delivered to the vessel. After the bunkering operation was completed the cargo officers reportedly texted the mastermind with the amount of fuel that had been “saved.” The authorities reported that the fuel supplier paid the masterminds of the scheme “a sum based on the fuel saved.” The three masterminds shared in the profits and paid the cargo officers a monthly “commission.”

The MPA said that to uphold the integrity of the bunkering process in the Port of Singapore, it had mandated the use of MFMs for the delivery of marine fuel start in 2017. They highlighted that the process provides assurance to both buyers and suppliers on the delivered quantity of the fuel, and enhances transparency in the bunkering process.

The nine individuals, which the authorities called “members of a criminal syndicate” were convicted in 2020 and 2021 for offenses under the Computer Misuse Act. The three masterminds of the scheme were sentenced to between 34 and 35 months each in jail. Five of the cargo officers were each sentenced to between seven and 19 months in jail, while a sixth officer was sentenced to two weeks in jail.

The bunkering company, Southernpec had its bunkering craft operator and bunker supply licenses revoked by the MPA in May 2019. In 2021, Singapore’s High Court granted orders to wind down the business.

“The authorities take a serious view of such criminal activities and will not hesitate to take firm action against those who commit offenses that undermine Singapore’s international reputation as a trusted shipping and bunkering hub, the MPA said in a joint press statement with the Singapore Police Force and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

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NED-Project, a Poland-headquartered naval architecture and ship design company with an office in the US, has developed a new wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), which features a hydrogen-ready set-up and has the capability to install 15-20 MW wind turbines as well as to load and transport monopiles vertically.

The vessel design, NP20000X ULAM, which is intended to be Jones Act-compliant, has been awarded Approval in Principle (AIP) by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

The design is hydrogen-ready with the engine rooms able to be converted into fuel cell compartments accommodating polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, making it possible to rely solely on liquefied hydrogen (LH2) to meet its energy demands.

The vessel features an 8,000 square-metre deck on which monopiles could be loaded vertically, eliminating the need to rotate them to the vertical position at sea. The NP20000X ULAM design also incorporates a leg-encircling heavy cargo crane with a working load of 3,500 tonnes capable of handling turbines of 240-metre rotor diameter and 150-metre tower height.

NED-Project Inc. is working with GPZ Energy to develop ULAM WTIV projects for the US market.

The first Jones Act-compliant WTIV set to serve the US market is Dominion Energy’s Charybdis, also being built to ABS Class. The vessel is expected to be sea-ready by late 2023 and will first be deployed out of New London harbor in Connecticut to support the construction of Revolution Wind and Sunrise Wind, both under joint development by Ørsted and Eversource.

The two offshore wind developers have also already chartered the first US Service Operations Vessel (SOV), also Jones Act-compliant and classified by ABS, which will be operated by Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO).

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NED-Project introduces hydrogen-ready, Jones Act-compliant offshore wind installation vessel

Norway’s cleantech company TECO 2030 has been granted up to NOK 5.4 million (around $630,000) in indirect government support for developing its first production line for hydrogen fuel cells at its new fuel cell factory in Narvik.

As disclosed, the project that has been granted tax relief involves the development of a new production line for hydrogen fuel cells, with a total annual production capacity of 400 MW. The project will be completed at its new fuel cell giga factory and innovation center in Narvik, which was established a few months ago. The tax relief has been given for two years, 2021 and 2022.

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TECO 2030 wins tax relief grant to develop hydrogen fuel cell production line

Croatian shipping company Atlantska Plovidba has placed an order for up to four 82,000 dwt bulk carriers at Chinese shipyard Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry.

Under the agreement, the shipping company ordered two firm Kamsarmax vessels with the possibility of exercising an option for two more ships.

The contract between the two parties was signed on 21 September 2021. The value of the contract is $137 million, the bulker owner stated in its official statement.

The ships will be equipped with the latest green technologies, to meet the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) zero-emission targets.

They are also designed to meet the requirements of Energy Efficiency Design Index related to greenhouse gas, EEDI Phase 2. The bulkers are scheduled for delivery in 2023.

The acquisition of the new vessels is part of Atlantska’s fleet renewal policy. A few days ago, the firm completed the refinancing plans for its 75,213 dwt bulk carrier AP Libertas.

The ship was built in 2008 and is currently sailing under the flag of Malta.

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Atlantska Plovidba orders up to four eco-friendly bulkers in China

Dutch transport group Samskip has decided to acquire Lithuanian shortsea specialist Sea Connect, broadening its Baltic operations.

The Klaipeda-based shipping company, which will be renamed Samskip Sea Connect, offers shortsea services connecting Russia, Lithuania, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands.

Sea Connect operates three 1A Ice Class container vessels calling twice a week at St. Petersburg and Rotterdam, weekly at Hamburg and at Aarhus sub inducement.

“This acquisition strengthens our position in Russia, in the Netherlands and across a range of key Baltic ports in between,” Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, Chief Executive Officer, Samskip, commented.

“It enhances services for Samskip’s shortsea customers focusing on growth opportunities in Russia and adds opportunities for importers and exporters within the region to secure cost-efficient and sustainable multimodal connections farther afield.”

The newest acquisition consolidates Samskip’s commitments to the Baltic region, following its acquisition of Norlines in 2017 and the founding of a separate Finnish entity earlier this year.

Laaksonen anticipates particular growth in unitized volumes connecting Russia and the Baltic states through Rotterdam by rail, barges, vessels all over Europe, and also greater deployment of Samskip’s expert refrigerated cargo services in St Petersburg.

“Russian exporters and importers are likely to be attracted by new possibilities to penetrate markets to the west and south using Samskip’s network of shortsea, rail, inland barge and road services,” he added.

Sea Connect’s feeder links with deep sea carriers would also remain.

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Samskip acquires Sea Connect to expand Baltic Sea footprint

Classification society DNV and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) have awarded approval in principle (AiP) to South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and its parent company Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering CO. (KSOE) for a new 40,000 cbm liquified CO2 carrier design.

The handover of the AiP certificate took place during the Gastech trade fair in Dubai.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is gaining traction as a technology to reduce the impact of CO2 emissions. Maritime transport will play an essential role in the CCS value chain, which is expected to lead to increasing demand for liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers.

HHI’s and KSOE’s 40,000 cbm LCO2 carrier design is said to be a milestone in this emerging vessel segment. The new design would be the largest in its class, with current carriers limited to less than 2,000 cbm.

The 40,000 cbm class LCO2 carrier is 239 meters long, 30 meters wide, and has a depth of 21 meters. The vessel will be equipped with seven IMO type-C cargo tanks with a total capacity of 40,000 cbm. It is designed to carry LCO2 cargo only, but multi-cargoes such as LPG or ammonia can also be considered.

“Obtaining the AiP for this innovative large scale LCO2 carrier is a meaningful technological milestone. We believe our self-developed LCO2 carrier will contribute to global decarbonization efforts by providing tailor-made designs according to each ship owner’s specific requirements,” Won-Ho Joo, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer at HHI, commented.

“This is a ground-breaking project that is key to meeting the maritime industry’s greater goals of energy efficiency and decarbonization. I am proud to have had Liberia working so closely alongside our partners at DNV and HHI on this project,” Alfonso Castillero, Chief Operating Officer of LISCR, said.

“This project will be very important for the design and capabilities of the LCO2 fleet of the future. We are pleased to be at the forefront of this development,” Thomas Klenum, Senior Vice President of Maritime Operations, who led LISCR’s review and approval process, pointed out.

Also at Gastech 2021, KSOE and its unit Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) won AIP for LCO2 carrier designs.

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HHI’s 40,000 cbm LCO2 carrier secures AIP from DNV, LISCR

Tallink Grupp’s cruise vessel Silja Europa will provide accommodation during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) taking place in Glasgow, Scotland on 31 October – 12 November 2021.

The Estonian shipping company recently signed a charter agreement for the Tallinn-Helsinki route cruise vessel for the period 17 October to 17 November 2021.

During the charter, the 1993-built vessel will be berthed in Scotland between 21 October and 14 November and will provide accommodation and catering services to approximately 1500 charterer’s personnel and guests.

Silja Europa has been chartered via specialist company Landry & Kling Global Cruise Services with full technical and service crew from Tallink Grupp for the duration of the charter.

„Our team helped the G7 Cornwall summit organising team achieve a great outcome in June this year, two of our vessels and technical crew are performing well in the Mediterranean at present and I am sure we will rise to the challenge also at COP26 in Scotland,” Paavo Nõgene, Tallink Grupp’s CEO, commented.

„The charter agreements offer a boost to our business during these continuing challenging times when passenger numbers are still not increasing fast enough and we will continue to work to identify other short-term and long-term opportunities for our vessels,“ he explained.

Silja Europa will be replaced on the route during the charter period on 29-31 October and 11-13 November by the group’s vessel Victoria I. The cruise ship is expected to return to Tallinn-Helsinki route and its normal schedule on 18 November 2021.

In 2020, the vessel underwent maintenance and renewal works that made Silja Europa more environmentally friendly. The vessel is also equipped with onboard shore power systems.

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UN climate change summit to use Silja Europa as accommodation ship