German dry bulk owner and operator Oldendorff Carriers and Canadian mining company Teck Resources Limited have signed an agreement to employ energy-efficient bulk carriers for shipments of Teck steelmaking coal from the Port of Vancouver to international destinations.

The partners aim to reduce CO2 emissions in the steelmaking coal supply chain.

As informed, the initiative is expected to achieve a CO2 emissions reduction of 30 – 40 per cent for shipments handled by Oldendorff. The estimated savings can be of up to 45,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to removing nearly 10,000 passenger vehicles from the road.

Oldendorff’s fleet of ‘Eco’ bulk carriers achieve significant fuel savings, owing to their energy-saving design, fuel-efficient engines, maximizing cargo size and utilizing advanced voyage optimization. Oldendorff’s fleet of approximately 700 bulk carriers from Handysize to Capesize gives Teck shipping flexibility and reduced carbon intensity on each voyage.

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Oldendorff to help reduce CO2 emissions in bulk supply chain

Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding has ordered the tank design for a new LNG carrier from French LNG containment specialist GTT.

Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group)  is building this new LNG carrier on behalf of the leasing entity of the Chinese CSSC Group.

GTT will design the tanks of the vessel as part of this order. The tanks will offer a capacity of 174 000 cubic metres.

In addition, the LNG carrier tanks will include the GTT NO96 L03+ membrane containment system.

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Hudong-Zhonghua orders GTT tank design for new LNG carrier

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has taken delivery of methanol-fuelled methanol carrier Capilano Sun from South Korean shipyard Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.

As disclosed, the 186-meter long vessel can run on either heavy oil or low-environmental impact methanol fuel. The vessel will be chartered from Hisafuku Kisen K.K. and Canadian shipping company Waterfront Shipping Company Limited will charter the vessel from MOL under a long-term contract, the company revealed.

The ship adopts the advanced technology that adjusts the combustion temperature by mixing water into methanol fuel and is expected to meet International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Tier 3 NOx regulations without a scrubber.

“These methanol dual-fuel vessels can reduce emissions of sulfur oxide (SOx) by up to 99%, particulate matter (PM) by up to 95%, nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 80%, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) by up to 15%, compared to vessels using conventional fuel oil,” the company explained.

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MOL takes delivery of methanol-powered methanol carrier

There is a burning need for maritime professionals to receive training in environmentally friendly skills and technologies, second engineer Allan Dickson told the Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) Green Skills Forum at COP26 in Glasgow.

“We need to look at how we retrain the existing workforce with the skills of the future, and don’t just resign generations of highly skilled seafarers to the scrap heap,” he said.

Dickson called on the UK government to develop policies to maximise the employment of British seafarers in the UK to avoid a repeat of the HGV crisis in the maritime sector.

“The impact would be even more profound if similar issues were to occur among seafarers,” he stressed.

Speaking on his own training experience, Dickson noted the lack of training he received on new fuels and technologies.

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Now is a great time to invest in maritime workforce of the future

PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2021 7:12 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

North Sea Port, the cross-border port area that spans the North Sea coast in the Netherlands and Belgium, has unveiled an ambitious development plan that aims to transform it into one of the top ports in Europe.

Currently ranked ninth in terms of cargo volume in Europe, the port has released a four-year strategic plan dubbed “Connect 2025” that is anchored on a commitment to economic development and employment, sustainability and a sound financial foundation.

North Port Sea believes that Connect 25 will enhance its competitiveness, particularly in seven key sectors – chemicals, steel, building materials, energy, automotive, food and feed, and value-added logistics.

The port intends to focus on investing in circular value chains, energy projects, and a strong logistics chains. Other key focus areas will be future-proof infrastructure, digitization, and data community, working with local stakeholders and acting as the connector between cooperating parties.

“With specific choices, support and ambitious goals, we want to achieve concrete results with social added value by acting as a connector towards 2025,” Daan Schalck, North Port Sea CEO.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/north-sea-port-aims-to-become-top-port-in-europe-with-connect-2025

PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2021 7:04 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

After several delays, Havila Voyages has taken delivery on the first of its hybrid vessels which will be used to start a new service along the Norwegian coast next month. The new service is part of the Norwegian government’s efforts to encourage competition on the route which had been maintained for over 125 years by Hurtigruten.

Delivery of the Havila Capella was completed yesterday at Tersan Shipyards’ facility in Yalova, Turkey. The vessel is currently preparing for its voyage to Bergen, Norway where it will undergo final preparation before entering service. The ship will start sailing on the traditional coastal route from Bergen to Kirkenes on December 1.

Havlia won a contract early in 2018 from the Norwegian government for the service. For the first time, the Norwegian government decided to split the service between two competing companies. The plan called for Havlia to initiate its service in January 2021 in competition with Hurtigruten. Havlia, however, encountered numerous delays starting with a failed agreement with Spain’s Barreras Shipyard that resulted in the cancelation of the first construction contract. A new contract was awarded in September 2018 to Tersan calling for the delivery of two vessels late in 2020. The contract was later expanded with two additional sister ships due for delivery in late 2021.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/havlia-takes-delivery-on-its-first-norwegian-coastal-vessel

PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2021 8:09 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

After a tumultuous year that saw the Suez Canal blocked by a large container ship and then a fight to recover fees before releasing the Ever Given, the Suez Canal Authority has now announced plans to implement a rate increase for nearly all vessels using the canal in 2022. The announcement of the increase in fees comes as the canal has been experiencing record traffic.

Rates for vessels transiting the canal will be increased by six percent beginning in February 2022. While the canal has benefitted dramatically from the increase in shipping volumes and the transit of new larger vessels, it has nonetheless also found itself facing increasing competition. During the spring blockage shipping lines elected to send some of their vessels around Africa while Russia heavily promoted the advantages of its North Sea Route. The Panama Canal has also been seeking to increase traffic offering increasing the competition with its tolls.

Admiral Osama Rabea, Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, said in considering the rate increases they carefully followed and scrutinized all the variables related to the shipping market, global economic indicators, and global trade movement. He said that they seek to apply a balanced and flexible marketing and pricing strategy that fulfills the authority and its clients’ interests and takes into account the global economic conditions. The rate hike was balanced with International Monitory Fund and World Trade organization projections for global economic growth while allowing them to provide navigational services for transiting through the canal. He also compared their services to other competitive routes.

The Canal Authority, however, said that it would exempt both LNG carriers and cruise ships from the increase in tariffs. The canal has seen a continuous seaborne trade for LNG but it is a very competitive market. During October, 84 LNG carriers transited the canal up from 46 the prior year with an 87 percent increase in tonnage. Going forward, the Authority is modifying rates for LNG carriers from 25 percent to 15 percent starting this month.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/suez-canal-announces-toll-increase-for-2022-despite-record-traffic

PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2021 2:31 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

The world’s largest cruise ship was quietly delivered to its owners last week and is scheduled to depart the shipyard tomorrow, November 5. Unlike the past where the events were met with great fanfare, the new cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas will wait four months for its maiden voyage as the cruise industry continues to ramp up after the long pause in operations.

At 236,857 gross tons, the new cruise ship is nearly five percent larger than the first Oasis class cruise ship that Royal Caribbean introduced more than a decade ago and even slightly larger than the fourth ship of the class that was introduced three years ago. The Wonder of the Seas, which is 1,188 feet in length, also has an increased passenger capacity with a maximum of 6,988 passengers in addition to 2,300 crew.

Like all modern cruise ships, the new ship will have a broad range of amenities for its passengers. As with the prior ships of the class, she will have different zones for entertainment, accommodations, and dining with features including a water slide, outdoor theater, and a zip line. New to the Wonder of the Seas is a cantilevered pool bar as well as a special zone for suite passengers complete with a lounge, restaurant, and private outdoor deck space

Construction for the Wonder of the Seas began at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard with the first steel in April 2019 and the first block was placed in the drydock in October 2019. The delivery of the ship however was delayed while the shipyard was closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The floating out was completed in September 2020 and the sea trials were in August 2021.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/world-s-largest-cruise-ship-delivered-and-departing-shipyard

PUBLISHED NOV 4, 2021 5:44 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

Efforts to launch what may become one of the first wind farms off the coast of California are proceeding forward. In late October, the California State Lands Commission took steps to begin the next milestone in a permitting process for the pilot offshore wind energy project.

The 40 MW pre-commercial floating wind project will be installed off Vandenberg Space Force Base (formerly Vandenberg Air Force Base), located in Santa Barbara County, California. The upcoming environmental assessment comes just over two years after BW Ideol’s initial lease application submittal. It is a key element of a standard approval process and the result of extensive collaboration with the California State Lands Commission’s staff as well as extensive stakeholder outreach by the Commission.

“We are pleased with the progress on the project at a time when both the Biden Administration and the State of California have made strong statements in favor of offshore wind development in California,” said Paul de la Guérivière, the CEO of BW Ideol. “This pilot project will provide local stakeholders with exposure to and reassurance of the impacts and benefits of floating offshore wind.”

The project development plan calls for the use of  BW Ideol’s concrete hulls while also minimizing long-distance shipping and logistics by using local labor. It would rely on the supply chain and infrastructure in California to reduce the carbon footprint and maximize local content contribution.

In 2019, BW Ideol conducted an in-depth review of all major California ports and identified at least five suitable sites for the construction and launch of concrete hulls for commercial-scale wind farms (50 units or more). Two of these were considered immediately suitable without any upgrades. In addition, the review singled-out four sites suitable for wind turbine assembly and eight harbors capable of storing mooring lines as well as hosting operation and maintenance bases.

California began efforts more than five years ago with a task force focusing on the development of sites offshore for wind energy. Authorities said that they believed especially along the northern California coast that conditions were best suited to the use of floating wind turbines. In May 2021, the Biden administration announced the selection of the first sites for offshore leases and in July 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced the next steps designed to advance the development of offshore wind on the Pacific Coast off California.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/california-starting-environmental-assessment-for-offshore-wind-site