ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a large-scale liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) carrier developed through the Research and Development Project from NEDO by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL).
MOL has launched research and development (R&D) on the adoption of a large-scale liquefied CO2 carrier in response to a call for proposals by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to complete the conceptual design, under a project entrusted by NEDO to Japan CCS Co., Ltd. (JCCS).
The vessel design is one element of NEDO’s “CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project/Large-scale CCUS Demonstration Project in Tomakomai/Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation”. The large-scale liquefied CO2 carrier developed by MOL is intended as a practical solution to the need for long-distance transport of CO2 on a scale of 1 million tons a year, based on NEDO’s vision to implement CCUS technology by 2030.
Image of a LCO2 Carrier (Courtesy of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines)
ClassNK carried out the design review of the LCO2 carrier developed by MOL based on Part N of Rules for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships incorporating the IGC Code. Upon confirming the conformity to the relevant rules, ClassNK issued the AiP for the design concept of the said carrier.
ClassNK will actively continue to take part in advanced initiatives toward decarbonization and also support the decarbonization of the entire maritime industry by incorporating the knowledge gained through collaboration with front runners into rules and guidelines.
Approval in Principle (AiP):
At the initial stage of designing or before the specific target ship to be implemented is decided, the design is examined based on the existing regulations such as international conventions and ship classification rules, and an Approval in Principle (AIP) is issued as proof of conformity with requirements. It also prevents the rework of regulatory aspects in the post-process, shortens the examination time at the time of class registration, and can be used as a technical basis for the external appeal of the design status.
Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MHB) has signed a strategic agreement with Bureau Veritas (BV) Solutions Marine & Offshore (M&O) to support industry-wide efforts to progress shipping’s decarbonisation.
This partnership, signed through MHB’s wholly owned subsidiary, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn Bhd (MMHE), offers vessel owners and operators a wide range of vessel improvement opportunities and services. These services are targeted to increase vessel performance, thus enhancing the energy efficiency of vessels and contributing to the reduction of their carbon emissions. The collaboration also offers vessel improvement services and related services for Energy Efficiency eXisting ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) compliance.
MMHE West Yard – Malaysia’s Largest Fabrication Yard by Area and Annual Production Capacity. It is located in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. [Image credit: Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Berhad (MHB).]
MMHE, one of the most prominent liquefied natural gas carrier (LNGC) repair yards in Asia is the main contractor to provide the modification works on the vessels in its yard in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. BV Solutions M&O, the marine and offshore independent technical advisory component of Bureau Veritas Group – a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, will provide technical and consultation services on vessel improvements such as bow modification, vessel lengthening, vessel life extension, hull roughness, propeller modification assessments and other related advisory services.
Pandai Othman, MD & CEO of MMHE, said: “We are delighted to sign this agreement with BV Solutions M&O, a renowned marine consulting and service provider. Together, it allows us to bring the powerful combination of MMHE’s retrofit and conversion technical expertise, and BV Solutions M&O’s maritime technical advisory to market in supporting our customers’ decarbonisation strategies, thus accelerating the industry’s transition to cleaner shipping. Equipped with top-notch marine repair and conversion facilities and with more than 45 years’ experience in delivering energy and marine solutions, MMHE is set to become a hub for energy efficiency solutions in the maritime industry.”
Paul Shrieve, President of BV Solutions M&O, said: “We are very pleased to announce our collaboration with MMHE, a world-class shipyard with an exceptional history in marine repair and conversion services. By working together, we aim not only to raise awareness among our combined customer base of BV Solutions M&O’s advisory and technical expertise in the maritime and offshore industry, and MMHE’s role as one of the leading repair and conversion shipyards, but also to encourage adoption of energy efficiency technologies more widely in the industry as an essential step in shipping’s decarbonisation journey.”
Earlier this year, MMHE signed a strategic partnership with Silverstream Technologies (UK) Limited for air lubrication system retrofit opportunities for vessel owners and operators. These strategic collaborations signify MMHE’s initiative in supporting the maritime decarbonisation agenda that will take a significant step forward in January 2023 with the enforcement of the EEXI and CII regulations.
As discussions regarding the development of Chabahar Port gain significant momentum, India and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) recognizing the certificates of competency in the voyages of seafarers from these two nations on Monday.
The MoU signing aims at easing the movements of seafarers from both countries, India’s ministry of ports, shipping, and waterways mentioned.
Image for representation purpose only
Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Union Minister, is on a four-day trip to Iran. He wants to see the progress on Chabahar Port’s Shahid Beheshti terminal development, a critical cog in the path-breaking International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
The seafarer agreement, along with the handover of six new mobile harbour cranes to the port authority, is the first-ever tangible development following years of dormancy resulting from Covid restrictions as well as the unfulfilled potential of the port.
Until now, Sonowal has met the VP of Iran, Mohammad Mokhber, and its minister of roads and urban development, Rostam Ghasemi, with discussions between the latter and Sonowal on a long-standing agreement for the improved growth of the Chabahar Port.
Per Iranian media reports, Ghasemi expects the negotiations to become fruitful in the next two months after executing technical and legal processes.
Last week, Business Standard reported that the discussions were on the minister’s plan and Iran’s proposal to extend the port’s lease by 18 months.
The Chabahar Port is slated to be the Indian gateway for trade with European and central Asian countries, along with other engagement with Russian forces, once its potential is fully leveraged by linking it to the INSTC. It was developed with India’s aid and is now operated by India Ports Global.
The Brazilian government and Sok Denizcilik Tic. Ve Ltd.Sti (SOK) of Aliaga, Turkey, the buyer of the Aircraft Carrier SÃO PAULO, was sent scrambling on August 9, when Turkish authority Eyüp Karahan General Director of Environmental Management, on behalf of Minister Çevre Yönetimi Genel Müdürü, sent a letter to the Brazilian agency IBAMA, Competent Authority for the Basel Convention, requiring a new Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) to be conducted prior the export:
“… As a result of the Supreme Court’s interim injunction, news in the press, and the hazardous materials notices made to our Ministry, it has emerged that a new Inventory of Hazardous Materials for the ex-naval vessel in question should be prepared while the vessel is in Brazilian territorial waters before it comes to our country.”
Image for representation purpose only
Claiming for weeks that the export of the ship from Brazil to Turkey is illegal under the Basel and Barcelona Conventions and that the current IHM is not credible, environmental, and labour rights groups working on this matter in Turkey, Brazil, and internationally praised the Turkish action.
“Turkey is to be applauded for asking for a true and accurate survey and inventory. The current one is simply not believable based on what we know about older aircraft carriers. We have real concerns that the provided inventory grossly underestimates the hazardous and radioactive materials on board the São Paulo.” – Nicola Mulinaris – Senior Communication and Policy Advisor – NGO Shipbreaking Platform
It must be noted that Grieg Green, the survey company that issued the IHM for SOK, :
– admitted they had access to only 12% of the ship;
– did not have access to the IHM prepared by the Brazilian Navy;
– concluded there were no radioactive materials onboard;
– did not compare with the IHM issued by Bureau Veritas for the vessel’s sister ship CLEMENCEAU;
– did not adequately test (only six samples) Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) concluding there were none;
– concluded that there might be more asbestos onboard the aircraft carrier than the estimated 9 tons; and
– recommended further sampling during dismantling operations.
The SÃO PAULO’s sister ship CLEMENCEAU was estimated to have at least 760 tons of asbestos, a figure which was later confirmed by Bureau Veritas upon the dismantling of the CLEMENCEAU at the scrap yard ABLE UK.
IBAMA has responded to the Turkish request by saying the ship had already left Brazil so therefore it was not possible to fulfil the request that a new inventory is made in Brazilian territorial waters.
Indeed, just a few hours following the court injunction on August 4, the ship was hastily towed out to sea, and instead of following the towage plan which projected it sailing along the Brazilian coast, the tow train made an easterly heading to leave Brazilian territory as rapidly as possible.
Despite the federal injunction which is now considered out of force and the new demand for a new IHM by Turkey, neither IBAMA, the Brazilian Navy, nor SOK has made any move to turn the ship back to Brazil. It is currently moving at its top speed just off the coast of Mauritania and is just a few days away from the Strait of Gibraltar. Meanwhile, neither Spain, the UK nor Morocco have been notified or given consent for it to pass through their waters at Gibraltar as is required by the Basel Convention.
While IBAMA seems unwilling to respect the request by Turkey that the new survey be conducted in Brazil, they, nevertheless, wrote to the exporting company working with SOK, known as Oceans Prime Offshore Agenciamento Maritimo Ltda., to remind them that it is within the rights of the importing country to amend their import consent with new conditions. They suggested that a new IHM may be required “upon arrival” and would need to be paid for by SOK. However, doing the job in Turkey instead of Brazil is likely to be illegal.
“Under no circumstances should Turkey agree that the new survey be conducted in Turkey or any other country other than Brazil. Under the Basel Convention, a proper inventory of hazardous materials can only be conducted prior to export.” – Jim Puckett – Director – Basel Action Network (BAN)
“The rush by the Brazilian government to get out to sea without checking to see if Turkey has laws against such import, to alert transit countries, and before a court injunction can be properly served, is not an excuse for Turkey to ever allow this ship into our territory. It must go back now. It should not even be allowed to pass into the Mediterranean Sea.” – Asli Odman – Academic – Istanbul Health and Safety Labour Watch
Viking® named its newest river ship, the Viking Osiris, with a celebration in Luxor, Egypt. As part of the intimate event, the company’s first ceremonial godfather, George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship—an evolution of the naval tradition that dates back thousands of years. Designed specifically to navigate the Nile, the state-of-the-art ship was built at Massara shipyard in Cairo and will sail Viking’s bestselling Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary.
The naming of the Viking Osiris comes as Egypt marks several key events this year, including the highly anticipated opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum outside of Cairo on the Giza Plateau and the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb by the world’s most famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor and co-explorer, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
Credits: Viking
“Egypt has always drawn curious explorers for its rich history and ancient antiquities, and ever since we first began operating on the Nile River in 2004, our guests continue to be amazed by the country’s many cultural treasures. Today we are pleased to officially welcome the Viking Osiris to our growing fleet on the Nile River, which allows us to welcome even more curious explorers to this incredible destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “During this milestone year for Egypt, we are also very grateful for the continued close friendship with the Carnarvon family, and that Lord Carnarvon has honoured us by serving as the first godfather in our history.”
“It is a great honour to be asked to be godfather to the Viking Osiris, one of the most beautiful river vessels to have ever graced the Nile. This is especially the case in the centenary year of my great-grandfather’s discovery of the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and no doubt he and my great-grandmother, Lady Almina, would have been delighted to board the Viking Osiris had it been sailing in their day,” said Lord Carnarvon. “The 5th Earl of Carnarvon was one of the great explorers and excavators of his time, and today you may join in his love of the glories of ancient Egypt, all in the exceptional comfort and style of the Viking Osiris.”
The 8th Earl of Carnarvon, Godfather of the Viking Osiris
The 8th Earl of Carnarvon is the son of Henry Herbert, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, and Jeanie Margaret Wallop (1935–2019). His mother was born in Big Horn, Wyoming, to Oliver Wallop, who was the brother of the 8th Earl of Portsmouth. The 8th Earl of Carnarvon was educated at Eton College and St. John’s College, Oxford. He succeeded to the title of Earl of Carnarvon when his father passed away on September 11, 2001.
He lives at Highclere Castle with the 8th Countess of Carnarvon, and they run the estate and business together. He is a keen horseman and sits on the board of the Historic Houses Association (HHA). He also takes a considerable interest in conservation and farming and has been an investor in start-up technology businesses. Together, the Carnarvons are Viking’s first “godparents,” as Lady Carnarvon is the godmother of Viking’s newest ocean ship, the Viking Mars®, as well as the river ship, the Viking Skadi.
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon and the Discovery of King Tut’s Tomb
Nearly 100 years ago, in November 1922, the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter was considered the first global media event and has provided a legacy of understanding, knowledge and insight into a remarkable civilization. In her newest book, The Earl and the Pharaoh: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun, the Countess of Carnarvon tells the behind-the-scenes story of this discovery and explores the unparalleled life of the 5th Earl.
Among many talents, he was an avid amateur photographer with an artistic eye for composition. His photographs are at Highclere Castle currently, stored in photo albums in the Library, and show the process of discovering and excavating the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as scenes of daily life in Egypt of the period. With kind permission, the Carnarvons have allowed Vikings to share this private collection with guests sailing on board the Viking Osiris.
Viking and Highclere Castle
For years Viking has offered a variety of ways for its guests to experience life at Highclere Castle, which is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and the historic estate best known as the filming location of Downton Abbey. Viking became a household name during its sponsorship of the celebrated MASTERPIECE series through the years Downton Abbey aired on PBS. Karine Hagen, Viking Executive Vice President, worked closely with the Carnarvon family to develop the Privileged Access Pre/Post Extensions that feature the estate, including the highly-rated Oxford & Highclere Castle and Great Homes, Gardens & Gin extensions.
Both are available for guests on select river and ocean voyages. For guests sailing the Pharaohs & Pyramids Nile River itinerary, Viking offers a five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt Pre Extension, which gives guests an introduction to Egyptian antiquities in preparation for their Nile experience, including retracing the steps of Howard Carter and the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.
Guests experience Privileged Access to archives and museum exhibits not normally accessible to the public, including a private, early morning tour of the Egyptian Collection at the British Museum, as well as visits to Sir John Soane’s Museum, the Petrie Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and Oxford University’s Griffith Institute, which houses Carter’s archives. At Highclere Castle, guests also have the opportunity to view the Earl’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artefacts.
The Carnarvon family has also welcomed viewers to Highclere Castle on Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, Viking.TV (www.Viking.tv). In the ongoing series, At Home at Highclere, Lady Carnarvon offers virtual Privileged Access to the historic home and its grounds during which she is joined by Lord Carnarvon, who shares his memories and a look inside his ancestral home.
The Viking Osiris & Viking’s Growing Egypt Fleet
Hosting 82 guests in 41 staterooms, the new, state-of-the-art Viking Osiris is inspired by Viking’s award-winning river and ocean ships with the elegant Scandinavian design for which Viking is known. The vessel features several aspects familiar to Viking guests, such as a distinctive square bow and an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
The Viking Osiris joins the Viking Ra, which launched in 2018. Additionally, in response to strong demand, the Viking Aton, an identical sister ship to the Viking Osiris, will join the fleet in 2023. During today’s naming event in Luxor, Hagen also announced that two more sister ships, the Viking Hathor and the Viking Sobek, are already under construction and will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Viking’s Pharaohs & Pyramids Itinerary
During the 12-day, Pharaohs & Pyramids itinerary, guests begin with a three-night stay at a first-class hotel in Cairo, where they can visit iconic sites such as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the necropolis of Sakkara, and the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Beginning in late 2022, guests will also be able to visit the new Grand Egyptian Museum.
Guests then fly to Luxor, where they visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak before boarding a Viking river ship for an eight-day, round-trip voyage on the Nile River, featuring Privileged Access to the tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens and the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, and excursions to the Temple of Khnum in Esna, the Dendera Temple complex in Qena, the temples at Abu Simbel and the High Dam in Aswan. Guests also visit a colourful Nubian village, where guests can experience a traditional elementary school. Finally, the journey concludes with a flight back to Cairo for a final night in the ancient city.
AAL Shipping (AAL) has undertaken a salvage operation to remove two tugs from the Mersey River in Devonport on the northwest coast of Tasmania that had been sunk by a cement carrier in January. Chosen for the job was the 31,000DWT 700 tonnes heavy lift vessel, the AAL Melbourne, which involved the lifting of the tugs and their onward shipment along the East Coast to Brisbane. New South Wales-based emergency response, salvage and environmental support specialist, United Salvage, engaged AAL to supply a vessel from its longstanding ‘Asia to Australia East Coast Liner Service’.
The first tug, the 420-tonne York Cove, was carefully pulled out of the Mersey on Sunday 7th August by the AAL Melbourne using her two port-mounted cranes working in tandem – the tug having had large holes cut into her hull to allow trapped water and sediment to drain. The second tug, the 455-tonne Campbell Cove, was recovered and loaded onto the AAL Melbourne a few days later. Both tugs were securely lashed to the weather deck of the ‘mega size’ vessel in preparation for their onward shipment to Brisbane and utilising specifically designed cradles loaded previously in Burnie.
The first tug, the 420-tonne York Cove (left), was carefully pulled out of the Mersey on Sunday 7th August
Chris Yabsley, Chartering Manager at AAL Australia, commented, “United Salvage originally planned to use a floating crane and barge to recover these tugs. However, once we demonstrated that our A-Class vessel could not only recover the tugs but also transport them back up the East Coast for delivery to Brisbane, it was clear that AAL would be the perfect partner.”
Nicola Pacifico, Head of Transport Engineering at AAL, explained, “The recovery was carefully planned and modelled over several months and involved collaboration with several key stakeholders including United Salvage, TasPorts and cargo insurers. Even the Australia Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) was required to confirm our calculations with our ship’s class (DNV). Lifting took time as the tugs weighed significantly more than expected, due to trapped water and fuel. Working throughout the evening on the second tug, the full weight of the tug stayed on our ship’s cranes overnight – awaiting the salvage company to pump out whatever was still trapped inside her.”
Yabsley added, “As the proposed position of our vessel during the salvage operation impacted the swing basin for critical port operations needed to keep Tasmanian supply chains open, we worked closely with the Harbour Master and Pilots to avoid impacting other port movements. The removal of the sunken tugs allows Devonport to return to normal operations.”
TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald estimated that more than 100 people worked on the project. “We not only had the significant challenge of tide and weather but also the natural eddies in the area and potential marine pollution,” he said. “TasPorts worked closely with EPA Tasmania, which had representatives on-site to advise on environmental management. The insurers and salvors, that have extensive international experience, say it was one of the most complex salvage activities they have ever undertaken. The salvage itself was slow and deliberate and reflects the detailed and collaborative planning that was required to complete the operation successfully.”
Frank Mueller, General Manager of AAL Australia, concluded: “This operation would not have been possible with either a container or ro-ro vessel, which is ironic as in this period of extended port and terminal congestion across Australia, those vessels are being prioritised over MPP and general cargo vessels for port entry slots and our resulting waiting times are severe and imbalanced. It not only showcases the versatility of our modern heavy lift fleet and engineering capability but also demonstrates AAL’s commitment to the Australian market as, unlike other operators, we have serviced the region nonstop for over 25 years – making AAL an easy and obvious choice for United Salvage.”
A Foss tug based in San Francisco has received approval from ABS for the use of an autonomous navigation and enhanced situational awareness system. The Rachael Allen, the newest ship-assist tug in the Foss fleet, is fitted with Sea Machines’ SM300 autonomous and remote navigation suite. Her crew will use the system during transits and loitering, and Foss plans to try out remote piloting from a shoreside control station as well.
“As part of our ‘Always Safe, Always Ready’ culture, Foss is pleased to be providing the SM300 system for additional crew and vessel safety through the enhanced situational awareness it will bring to our operations,” said Dan Cole, Foss project manager.
The SM300 is capable of autonomous navigation for a wide variety of operations (if not just yet for linehandling). Sea Machines suggests that it could be used to combat crew fatigue during long transits or idle periods, either by taking off some of the workload or by augmenting situational awareness.
ABS previously approved the company’s SM200 remote-control system for ATB tug applications, where it is used as a man-portable “bridge wing” control station to maneuver the tug in and out of the notch.
Autonomous solutions are increasingly finding their way into the workboat world, including select applications for tugboats. Keppel O&M and ABB recently trialed an autonomous system aboard a tug in Singapore’s busy anchorage, testing out its responses in complex collision-avoidance scenarios. Crowley’s future electric tug, the eWolf, will deliver with an ABB autonomous navigation system. And last year, Sea Machines conducted a 1,000-mile autonomous tug voyage in Germany and Denmark, the first trip of its kind; the vessel was overseen remotely from Boston.
A general cargo ship inbound for Port Arthur, Texas, and an outbound bulker collided on Sunday, August 21 causing significant damage to both vessels. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the accident occurred in the Sabine Pass, a narrow shipping lane along the Texas-Louisiana border leading between Port Arthur and the Gulf of Mexico.
The 18,000 dwt general cargo ship Damgracht was inbound from Italy transporting a cargo of cement. The 13- year-old vessel sailing under the flag of the Netherlands had been authorized to move from the anchorage where she had been for several days into the port. During the inbound maneuver, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson reports that an engine alarm sounded on the vessel, and the engine shutdown causing a loss of steering.
Outbound from Port Arthur was the 38,700 dwt bunker AP Revelin. The bulker registered in Croatia had loaded a cargo of wood chips and was departing for the Immingham port in Great Britain.
Caught in the confines of the shipping channel the two vessels collided. The Coast Guard reports the bow of the Damgracht came in contact with the port quarter of the AP Revelin. The bow of the cargo ship suffered significant damage and the vessel took on water, although the Coast Guard reports her pumps have been able to handle the water.
AP Reveling sustained structural damage in the collision. Her owners, Atlantska Plovidba based in Dubrovnik, reported in a stock exchange filing that the vessel sustained “significant material damage,” and that they believed it will result in a significant loss in “usable ship time,” while repairs are undertaken. A news outlet in Croatia carried unconfirmed reports that a water tank on the bulker was damaged and her rescue boat destroyed.
There was no loss of life or injury in the accident to the crew aboard either vessel and no pollution in the waterway. Both the U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board have begun investigations into the circumstances leading up to the collision.
Both vessels remain in the Sabine Anchorage undergoing damage assessments according to a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson.
The Port of Tema has been significantly transformed by the Tema Port Expansion Project, a Build, Operate and Transfer (BoT) Project between Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and Meridian Port Services Ltd. With the completion and operationalization of the 1st phase and the commencement of the 2nd Phase of the Project, there has been a significant increase in the capacity of the Port of Tema with Four (4) New Berths at Terminal 3 offering the opportunity for vessels with a draft of up to 16 meters berthing at Terminal 3.
The 24 hours services rendered at Terminal, 3 backed by the well-organized Truck Appointment System (TAS) have significantly enhanced the ease of doing business in Terminal 3 and further boosted the efficiency and image of the Port of Tema.
Security of transactions at Terminal 3 has been reinforced by the introduction of E-Invoicing, E-Payments, Access Control Systems, License Plate Recognition Systems, CCTV Cameras, X-Ray Scanners for both Imports and Exports, and Radio Frequency Identification Systems.
Indeed, many were those who doubted that the introduction of these systems would work in Ghana. But they have been pleasantly surprised as the stakeholders of Truckers, Customs Officials, Clearing and Forwarding Agents, Immigration Officers, among many others have all been successfully onboarded onto these systems and are using same with ease. The integration of all these systems with the ICUMS system to enhance the Paperless Port Processes have been very successful at Terminal 3.
MPS has also handed back to GPHA the 2 berths of over 11 meters draft and a sizable yard capacity stretching over 247,000 m2 of fully paved area at Terminal 2. This has given GPHA the opportunity to transform Terminal 2 to a multi-purpose Terminal to handle deeper drafted vessels with many different kinds of cargo including general cargo vessels, bagged cargo, RoRo, dry bulk, liquid bulk etc.
Undoubtedly, the port of Tema is recognized as one of the burgeoning hubs within the West African sub-region.
In its quest to secure Tema Port as the Hub of West Africa, Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS) continues to invest into the development of the Tema Port with additional facilities and infrastructure.
The company has commenced the construction of a Harbour Craft Jetty alongside preparations for the operationalization of the yard behind its 4th new berth.
The Chief Executive Officer of MPS, Mr. Mohamed Samara emphasized the need for the developments being undertaken.
“We are excited to note that the Ministry of Trade has launched a National Policy Framework Plan for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and announced an action plan to boost Ghana’s trading prospects.
As the government focuses on its policy framework, MPS’ continued investments in the Port of Tema will complement Government’s efforts to position the Tema Port to become more competitive in the sub-region. Again, MPS anticipates an increase in volumes (both gateway and transhipment) as such, we have committed to increasing the yard storage and handling capacity to complement gearing up the 4th New berth with the latest gantry cranes.
Moreover, the development of the jetty to provide a docking place for harbour craft at Terminal 3 will allow the Pilots and Tugboats to respond in record time upon completion of the vessel operations. It is expected that the reduction in response time will provide a better turnaround time for vessels at berthing and departure and enhance security at Terminal 3.”
Transhipment Trade Highlights
Following a resumption in the transhipment trade with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) between the Far East and South America, MPS has handled a total of 16,038 TEUs discharged from 8 different vessels from the Far East and loaded on 3 different vessels to Brazil.
With the combined strength of the various departments, MPS has from 25th June 2022 to 31st July 2022 continuously improving productivity levels as evidenced on the transhipment vessel with a productivity in the range 125 Moves Per Hour.
The month of July also saw the unique occurrence of having 3 MSC vessels that were handled simultaneously on all the three berths.
MPS through its shareholders has since 2017 invested over 1.2 billion USD in the areas of infrastructure, technology, human resource development and other areas resulting in increased cargo volumes and positioning of the port as the most preferred in the West African sub-region.
Crown Estate Scotland has opened up lease areas for three more applicants from the giant ScotWind leasing round completed earlier this year. The “clearing” process awards lease agreements for floating wind mooring to three applicants who did not receive the areas they bid on during the initial lease auction.
The lease areas are located east of the Shetland Islands and total some 2.8 gigawatts in overall scale. They will bring in a total of about $65 million in option fees for the Crown Estate, plus local investment commitments of about $1.4 billion per gigawatt of capacity. Notably, all three would focus on green hydrogen production rather than grid supply.
“These projects have significant potential to really boost Scotland’s progress towards its net zero targets, including in relation to the opportunity around green hydrogen,” said Colin Palmer, Director of Marine at Crown Estate Scotland. “Taking these three into account, the 20 ScotWind projects now total up to 27.6 gigawatts.”
ScotWind was the largest single offshore wind lease auction ever conducted, and it continues to expand with clearing leases. Since Scotland already gets almost all of its electricity from renewables, some of the power will go towards the manufacture of green hydrogen, accelerating the UK’s energy independence. It is also a vital part of Scotland’s plan to transition the economy of its northeastern coast from its longtime focus on offshore oil and gas to a new industry in offshore wind.
“The importance of accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources, including hydrogen, has been brought into sharp relief by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the cost of living crisis,” said First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in a statement. “The Scottish Government sees offshore wind – and the hydrogen production which we hope will be enabled by offshore wind – as one of the most important economic and environmental opportunities we have.”
All of the projects awarded in the ScotWind round are still subject to permitting reviews, financing and final investment decision before steel goes in the water.
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