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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel have gained immensely from a training exercise off the Kuantan coast recently with Japan Coast Guard’s (JCG) training vessel “Kojima”, especially in handling emergencies involving foreign vessels.

The Search and Rescue Communication Exercise (SARCOMEX) on July 6 was crucial in view that Malaysian waters are an important passage for economic transportation to the Southeast Asia region, according to the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia.

SARCOMEX was made possible through JCG joining hands with MMEA’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Putrajaya (MRCC), it said in a statement today.

The exercise was conducted at the MRCC Putrajaya with “KOJIMA” off Kuantan at sea with both parties contacting one another as a communication exercise for the rescue operation.

“This exercise improves MRCC personnel’s confidence level in handling emergency situations involving foreign vessels,” he told Bernama today.

“Coordinated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), SARCOMEX improved my communication skills and gathering information techniques when conducting a search and rescue mission,” he added.

The Embassy of Japan said the training vessel “Kojima” departed from Japan at the beginning of May this year and navigated through the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco, Honolulu, and Singapore to provide training for cadets of the Japan Coast Guard Academy.

SARCOMEX was carried out during Kojima’s return journey to Japan from Singapore and the exercise improved the capabilities of Search & Rescue (SAR) activities for maritime safety and deepened the mutual relationship between JCG and MMEA.

All these have been made possible largely due to Japan’s move to expand cooperation with Malaysia beyond bilateral relations and further promote security and maritime safety cooperation as well as capacity building.

Mohd Ridhaudden said: “SARCOMEX prepares MRCC personnel to stay ready and vigilant to any call that requires assistance, locally and abroad.”

“This is because the call can originate from Malaysia or even other countries, which is why it requires MRCC personnel to enhance their communication skills capabilities in handling emergency calls.”

Providing details of the exercise, another participant, Sub Lieutenant Maritime Rezzal Muhammad Hazmi, also from MMEA, said the training simulated MRCC Putrajaya receiving distress alerts from a Japanese vessel My Umimaru, in which one crew member needed immediate medical assistance.

‘Kojima’ coincidently is nearby the location given and hence MRCC Putrajaya requested JCG to join the SAR operation on the scene.

He said the purpose of the exercise was to oversee the coordination between MRCC Putrajaya and the JCG vessel in rescuing the victim. This exercise involved 4 JCG officers and 4 MRCC personnel.

Commander Ryosuke Tateishi, a JICA expert dispatched to MMEA from JCG, said that the exercise would certainly upskill the capabilities in preparation ahead of any calamity at sea, especially in Malaysian waters, which is an important passage for economic transportation to the Southeast Asia region.

“Our cadets together with MRCC Putrajaya had undergone a ‘role play’ for distress at sea exercise, where we had focused on maintaining the communication lines to synchronise with the movement of people involved in the rescue, an integral part of any rescue exercise,” he said.

Japan has supported the capacity building of Malaysian coast guard officers since MMEA was established in 2005, where Japan’s coast guard officers now serve as instructors to provide training.

Former Japanese Prime Minister the late Shinzo Abe, who visited Malaysia in March as a special envoy of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, had said it would be

meaningful for both countries to further promote security and maritime safety cooperation as well as capacity building.

He had said that this would contribute to the realisation of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’ and the ‘ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP)’ to secure peace and prosperity in the region and the international community. – Bernama

Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/07/814114/mmea-personnel-gain-valuable-experience-kojima-training-vessel

Fosnavaag, Norway, headquartered Olympic Subsea ASA has placed a firm contract with Ulstein Verft for two offshore wind Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs). Deliveries are planned for the spring and summer of 2024 and the contract includes options for two further vessels.

The CSOVs are being built to the Ulstein Design & Solutions SX222 design with a Twin X stern. With a length of 89.6 meters and a beam of 19.2 meters, they will accommodate 126 people in 91 cabins.

The vessels are prepared for future requirements at offshore wind farms and will have a variable speed diesel-electric propulsion system in combination with large battery energy storage systems. They will be prepared for methanol fuel and have available space for additional battery capacity for full-electric repowering when the necessary infrastructure is available.

The hull shape and hybrid propulsion system are designed to deliver high operational performances and seakeeping with a substantially reduced environmental footprint.

LONG-TIME CUSTOMER

An important player in the maritime cluster on the northwest coast of Norway, Olympic has previously built six vessels at Ulstein Verft and was the first customer of Ulstein Design & Solutions.

“For us, it will be crucial that the vessels are delivered on time and at the right quality, and this is what Ulstein Verft is known for,” said Olympic Group CEO Stig Remøy. “This means we can meet our customers’ demands and get the vessels into operation at the agreed time. The Twin X stern is a smart concept, optimized for low energy consumption. During operation, the offshore wind service vessels stay positioned at the turbines most of the time, and with the main propellers fore and aft, these vessels will reduce the energy requirement to a new level when on DP.”

“We are excited to be working with Olympic again, an important and innovative player in the Norwegian maritime cluster and a company that we have had the pleasure of working with for many years, through many complex and successful projects,” said Ulstein Group CEO Cathrine Kristiseter Marti. “With the current challenging economic and political climate, these contracts are a result of a pragmatic and good cooperation between the parties, where both parties have gone to great lengths to find good and viable solutions.”

“We have cooperated closely with Olympic in the details of this project and are very eager to start the newbuild project,” said Lars Lühr Olsen, managing director of Ulstein Verft. “We are very happy for the trust Olympic has placed in us and will do our utmost to deliver the vessels according to the agreed quality and timeline. The vessels are planned for delivery during spring and summer 2024.”

The contracts for the CSOVs are also an important milestone for Ulstein Power & Control AS, which is contracted to deliver an extended power and automation package, including a large battery supply, for the vessels.

Singapore-based dry bulk owner Berge Bulk is accelerating its use of wind-assisted propulsion technology by contracting with Anemoi Marine Technologies to supply rotor sails for two vessels in its fleet.

Just days after Berge Bulk agreed to equip its Newcastlemax bulker Berge Olympus with BAR Tech WindWings, supplied by Yara Marine Technologies, the company announced that Anemoi Marine will supply wind-assisted propulsion technology for two of its bulkers.

UK-based Anemoi Marine builds rotor sail propulsion systems for commercial vessels, a technology that is fast gaining traction as the global maritime industry pursues a lower-carbon future. Anemoi and competitor Norsepower have a growing number of vessel references as shipowners look for new ways to save on fuel and reduce emissions.

According to Berge Bulk, Berge Neblina – a 388,000 dwt Valemax ore carrier built in 2012 – was made ‘wind-ready’ earlier this year with the structural integration required prior to installing the rotors. The work was carried out during a scheduled drydocking.

Four of Anemoi’s large folding deployment rotor sails will be installed to improve vessel performance. Folding rotor sails can be lowered from the vertical to mitigate the impact on air draught and cargo handling operations.

The flexible ‘wind-ready’ approach has been taken to align with vessel availability and Anemoi’s production slots. The same approach has been taken with the second vessel, Berge Mulhacen, a 2017-built 210,000 dwt Newcastlemax bulker which will also receive four folding rotor sails. Plan approval has been obtained for both ships from DNV.

Anemoi predicts that the four-rotor system will save Berge Bulk 1,200-1,500 tonnes of fuel per vessel annually.

“Wind propulsion is an option we have explored previously in other formats, and we firmly believe it can help achieve our decarbonization commitments,” said Paolo Tonon, Berge Bulk Technical Director.

He added that the partnership with Anemoi commenced with in-depth engineering simulations to find the best possible technical and commercial solution culminating in the rolling out of the rotor sail technology for the two vessels.

Berge Bulk, which owns and manages a fleet of over 80 vessels equating to more than 14 million dwt, believes that investing in wind-assisted propulsion technology will cement its position in the dry bulk industry in terms of efficient ship design and operations and forms part of its committed to developing and deploying commercially viable deep-sea zero-emission vessels by 2030. The company has committed to be carbon neutral by 2025 at the latest.

“Forward-thinking shipowners are turning to wind-assisted propulsion to help them achieve their environmental objectives – and it proves, once again, that rotor sails are a realistic and workable solution that results in significant carbon savings,” said Kim Diederichsen, Anemoi Marine CEO.

Wind-assisted propulsion has emerged as a strong contender as the maritime industry explores decarbonization options to achieve the International Maritime Organization’s greenhouse gases reduction targets for 2030 and 2050.

To date, most of the shipping industry’s installations of wind-assisted propulsion have focused on Flettner rotor technology with several companies attaining meaningful fuel savings and reductions in emissions.

Source: https://maritime-executive.com/article/berge-bulk-adds-rotor-sails-to-two-giant-bulkers

Kongsberg Maritime (KM) has been contracted to supply waterjet propulsion and control systems for what has been dubbed ‘the world’s most technically advanced and environmentally friendly Search and Rescue (SAR) vessel’.

The SAR vessel with the project title “Smart Saver”, being built for Redningsselskapet, Norway’s Sea Rescue Society, has prime focus on innovation of future-oriented solutions within digitalization and sustainability. A donation from the Tom Wilhelmsen Foundation has funded the project and it is hoped that the build of this first in class vessel will start a new generation of SAR vessels for the future that will help reduce climate pressures with advanced powertrain and onboard technologies.

Bård Eker, Managing Director of the Eker Group, will be responsible for the design and construction of the SAR vessel with project title “Smart Saver” through subsidiaries Eker Design and Hydrolift. The Smart Saver will be manufactured at Hydrolift in Fredrikstad.

The vessel will use a new hull design which will make the maximum benefit of the highly efficient twin Kamewa Steel-series waterjets managed through the latest JCS-E control system. It will also employ semi-autonomous technologies to conserve energy and relieve pressure on the crew.

KONGSBERG’s Kamewa Steel series mixed flow waterjets provide the best pump efficiency on the market offering superior efficiency over the whole speed range matching the increased demand of vessels even below 30 knots. This translates into reduced fuel consumption for a given workload and consequently reduced CO2emissions.

KM’s JCS-E (Jet Control System Extended) is an advanced and compact control system for operating fast craft main powertrain equipment providing performance optimisation in all circumstances in mission critical operations. The system provides accurate operation combined with advanced options, such as remote access servicing.

JCS-E’s intuitive helm station joystick control and built-in optional functions, such as Auto positioning, Anchor point, Auto heading, Interceptor steering, Trim assist and Park mode, will provide easy and reliable operation and reduce the manual burden on busy search and rescue crews for whom multitasking is a critical part of the job.

Tommi Viiperi, KM’s Sales Director of Kongsberg Maritime, Kamewa Waterjet Propulsion said: “The Smart Saver project is all about selecting the most durable, energy efficient equipment and integrating it all into one vessel to make the most efficient and advanced SAR vessel ever built. We are delighted to be involved, and to have the opportunity of proving, once again, the efficiency of our waterjets and associated systems and that Kongsberg Maritimes’s technologies can help vessels with even the toughest of duties meet the requirements of the energy and technology transition.”

Source: https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/konsberg-maritime-supply-waterjets-for-smart-saver-a-search-and-rescue-vessel-of-the-future/

In a swift SAR mission, the Indian Coast Guard was able to save the lives of 15 mariners from Syria. These mariners were on a foreign-flagged ship named MV Princess Miral that had run aground on Tuesday, off New Mangalore. The ship was loaded with about 8000 tons of steel coil.

The SAR mission had been coordinated by ICG ships Amartya and Vikram. These braved poor weather conditions during the rescue mission. The crew members of the grounded ship had abandoned the vessel owing to a breach in the hull. There was water ingress in the holds. DIG S B Venkatesh, the commander and Coast Guard of Karnataka mentioned that the vessel had set sail for Malaysia from Lebanon.

Venkatesh added that the successful rescue operation has once again reaffirmed the capability of the ICG as a nodal agency for M-SAR.

(NEW YORK) — Americraft Marine on Monday announced the acquisition of St. Johns Ship Building, a full-service marine facility specializing in constructing and repairing Jones Act-compliant vessels, including those used to service offshore wind turbines.

Based in Palatka, Fla., near Jacksonville, St. Johns Ship Building specializes in the construction and repair of a wide variety of steel and aluminum vessels, including ferries, tugboats, deck and tank barges, landing craft, and general cargo vessels. It is also one of the few U.S. shipyards that builds vessels that support and service offshore wind farms.

Americraft Marine is a subsidiary of the Libra Group, a privately owned international business group whose subsidiaries own and operate assets in more than 50 countries. The announcement comes at a time of significant need for Jones Act-compliant vessels. The production of vessels in the United States has declined in recent years. In addition, significant shipbuilding capacity will be needed over the next 10 to 15 years to support the upcoming demand for vessels that construct and service renewable energy infrastructure.

On June 6, President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to address the urgent need for clean energy technologies made in America. This acquisition, long in the works, leverages the capabilities of St. Johns Ship Building in constructing offshore wind servicing vessels, along with Libra Group’s global experience in renewable energy and its maritime heritage.

With facilities including a storm-protected 100-acre inland campus with a 850-ton floating dry dock, St. Johns Ship Building is positioned to accelerate production of Jones Act-compliant vessels, particularly the construction and maintenance of offshore wind supply and support vessels. Americraft Marine intends to further bolster capacity at St. Johns Ship Building through workforce training, leveraging the yard’s expertise with the goal of creating a best-in-class, future-focused shipyard.

“As a group that has over 45 years of maritime heritage through our original subsidiary Lomar Shipping, as well as significant renewable energy experience through four global clean energy subsidiaries, we are proud to invest in the future of U.S. competitiveness and energy security,” said Libra Group Chairman and CEO George Logothetis. “With seasoned leaders who have decades of experience in the maritime industry and existing client relationships, Americraft Marine and St. Johns Ship Building will build upon and bolster the U.S. fleet, meeting government and customer needs while supporting the nation’s economic and clean energy future.”

The shipbuilding sector is critical to America’s strong industrial economy and provides economic opportunity to coastal communities through long-term jobs. It is also vital to U.S. energy independence, which has become more crucial due to ongoing trade tensions, the geopolitical landscape and economic climate.

“Americraft Marine is proud to acquire St. Johns Ship Building, which has the right leadership and skilled workforce to accelerate the future of U.S. shipbuilding and advance the urgent need for Jones Act-compliant, future-focused U.S. vessels,” said Omear Khalid, CEO of Americraft Marine. “Our goal is simple: to build a best-in-class, Jones Act-compliant shipyard. Americraft Marine will provide stable industrial jobs, invest in workforce training, and leverage St. Johns’ proven expertise as well as the historical maritime heritage of the Libra Group.”

The acquisition is the first for Americraft Marine, which anticipates future organic and acquisition-based growth that addresses the dire need for modern, state-of-the-art vessels, including those that are eco-friendly as more Jones Act-compliant vessels age out of work. The company expects future expansions to prioritize investments that are sustainable and position the U.S. for leadership in the clean energy future by building and maintaining vessels that support renewable energy projects.

– Americraft Marine

Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles on Wednesday delivered the ConRo ship Baltic Enabler to shipowner Wallenius Sol.

The newbuild, together with sister ship Botnia Enabler delivered earlier this year, are considered to be the world’s largest ice-rated ConRo vessels with multi-fuel operation.

“It’s fantastic that we can soon put both sister ships in regular traffic. Not only will we have a huge capacity increase on the container and RoRo sides, but we will also take a giant stride toward a future-oriented fleet that will reduce emissions and have a major impact on industry in the Gulf of Bothnia,” says Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director at Wallenius Sol.

The newly built vessel, which has Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A, an LOA of 242 meters and a beam of 35.2 meters, is sailing under the Swedish flag.

In addition to their size, the Enablers are characterized by their high environmental performance and a design specially suited to the shipping requirements of the Swedish and Finnish base industry. According to Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) estimates, the vessels will be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 63 per cent, NOx by 96 per cent and SOx and particulates by 99 per cent. With regard to the socio-economic effects of the reduced CO2 emissions, IVL expects Wallenius Sol will be able to reduce society’s costs by many millions of kronor every year, thanks to the generation shift the vessels represent.

Now that Baltic Enabler is beginning her maiden voyage, she will call at a number of ports in Asia before heading toward Belgium and Europe. She will then begin trafficking her regular Zeebrugge-Antwerpen-Kokkola-Skelleftea-Oulu-Kemi-Travemünde route.

“Finally having both vessels in our possession is a great feeling. It’s been a long process, what with the pandemic and the challenges it brought. In spite of this, the team at CIMC Raffles in Yantai has done a fabulous job,” Johansson said.

Wallenius Marine in collaboration with Knud E Hansen led the design work and the construction project for the two sister ships. Wallenius Marine will also be responsible for manning and technical operation of the new vessels.