MOU Archives - Page 2 of 4

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha’s K Line Wind Service (KWS) and compatriot Penta-Ocean Construction (POC) have signed an MOU for future collaboration on vessel management in the offshore wind construction and maintenance fields.

Japan is currently seeing a surge in momentum for offshore wind construction as part of the country’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.

POC is planning to own three offshore installation vessels, as well as an additional vessel under a joint venture with Belgium’s DEME Offshore. It also plans to expand into cable laying vessels, and other vessels necessary for future offshore wind construction work.

Under the MOU, POC will outsource to KWS the management of vessel operation, maintenance works, and crewing and will also utilise offshore support vessels owned by KWS. The companies will also investigate the construction and co-ownership of a service operation vessel (SOV) and other vessels required for maintenance work after the start of wind farm operations.

NYK Line, Nihon Shipyard (NSY), ClassNK, and IHI Corporation (IHI) have signed a joint agreement to research and develop the world’s first ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB).

The barge would receive ammonia that has been transported by ship as a liquid and then regasify it for the gas to be sent to an onshore pipeline. NYK would provide the project management and decide on the base design; NSY would work on hull design and layout; ClassNK verification of safety and guidelines; and IHI on the discharging process.

“The parties will promote R&D with the aim of becoming a solution for introducing ammonia fuel mixed combustion to coal-fired power plants that domestic electric power companies are currently working on,” a joint statement said.

Meanwhile Singapore’s Jurong Port has come together with , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Asia Pacific (MHI-AP) and JERA Asia in inking a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly explore establishing a 100% ammonia direct combustion power plant on Jurong Island.

MoU involves conducting a study into 60MW class gas turbine combined cycle plant fueled by 100% ammonia is planned to be set up to produce carbon-neutral electricity, as well as provide ship fuel for bunkering.

“We feel this MOU could help pave the way for encouraging the adoption of hydrogen in Singapore through aggregation of demand across multiple sectors, mainly the power sector and the maritime sector, thereby addressing the chicken-and-egg conundrum of infrastructure versus demand needs for maritime and domestic power generation,” Ooi Boon Hoe, Chief Executive Officer, Jurong Port.

Jurong Port is also a member of the Castor Initiative which is aiming to develop ammonia-fuelled vessels by the middle of the decade. The other members of the initiative are MISC, Lloyd’s Register (LR), Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), MAN Energy Solutions, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and Yara International.

MISC plans to invest in an ammonia-fuelled vessel as part of the initiative while Singapore’s MPA aims to develop the ability to fuel such a vessel in two – three years.

As Seatrade Maritime News reported last week Singapore shipyard group PaxOcean Engineering and bunker vessel operator Hong Lam Marine have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bureau Veritas (BV) to develop an ammonia bunker tanker design.

Some in the industry, however, have expressed concern over the safety of handling ammonia as marine fuel and its toxicity if there is a spill.

Source: https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/sustainability-green-technology/ammonia-fuel-gains-momentum-asia

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, on research and training towards enhancing maritime safety and security in Nigeria.

The Director General NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, and his counterpart at the NITT, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, signed the MoU over the weekend in Zaria, which is hinged on research and training, with a view to enhancing local content and boosting the quality assurance of the institute. This is a follow up on earlier agreements reached between both Agencies of government in their quest to further domesticate specialized training programmes at management cadre in the maritime sector.

Dr. Jamoh described the MoU between both parties as a mutually beneficial partnership, aimed at supporting the core mandate of the NITT, while also in line with his administration’s commitment to capacity building for NIMASA staff.

According to him, “the MoU is to formalize and strengthen the existing relationship between NIMASA and the NITT in terms of research, training and capacity development in general. We appreciate your visit to NIMASA sometime ago and we are glad that much progress is being made in terms of our collaboration”. We hope that your institute willconduct detailed research to determine gaps in the implementation of our core mandate and develop training programs to close such identified gaps.”

On his part, the NITT Director General, Dr. Bayero Salih Farah, thanked NIMASA for its longstanding support to the institute through direct financial assistance and by utilizing the training services provided for the Agency’s staff over the years.

He added that the NITT would work closely with NIMASA to ensure that the Institute provides training and research services that are of globally acceptable standard.

NITT provides trainings to personnel employed in all modes of transport, leading to the award of various certificates; Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Postgraduate Diploma and Masters in Transport and Logistics.

NIMASA has continued to embrace capacity building as a tool to enhance maritime development in Nigeria, while also engaging in all forms of viable collaborations towards achieving its mandate, which cuts across shipping development, maritime safety and maritime security.

Source: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nimasa-nitt-sign-mou-on-research-training-on-maritime-safety/

THE Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, has said that the growth potential and high expectations of maritime stakeholders for the industry will only be realized through the development of a system of harmonized Port State Control inspection procedures for West and Central Africa.

He made the assertion while addressing Chief Executives of all Maritime Administrations signatory to the Abuja MoU at the International Maritime Organization, IMO, organized workshop on Port State Control for West and Central African Region.

The IMO partners the Memorandum of Understanding, Abuja MoU, in organizing the regional workshop for heads of maritime administrations in Lagos.

Jamoh, who was represented by the Agency’s Executive Director, Operations, Shehu Ahmed, identified the importance of effective Port State Control systems to the efficient running of member states’ Maritime Administrations.

According to him, “As we all know, Port State Control provisions are featured in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provision under the duties and responsibilities of Flag states, Coastal states and Port states and it is also highlighted under enforcement in all major IMO and some ILO conventions.

This function entails the enforcement of applicable conventions of the IMO and ILO that have been cascaded down to us as signatory states for domestication through our national laws.”

“It would interest you to know that NIMASA executes four legal instruments in keeping with our international obligations – The Merchant Shipping Act; the NIMASA Act; the Cabotage Act and the most recent being the SPOMO Act for the suppression of piracy and other maritime offences,” he added

While declaring NIMASA’s unflinching commitment to Abuja MoU in its focus for reduction of substandard ships, curbing marine pollution and ensuring good working conditions of crew members onboard ships within member states waters Jamoh urged 22 member countries of the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU) to improve on their financial contributions to the organisation

Also speaking at the event was the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Magdalene Ajani, who represented the Vice Chairman of Abuja MoU and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, commended the organisers of the training/workshop for their commitment to developing the most critical resource of all, that being the human element.

On his part, the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Captain Sunday Umoren, identified the need for continuous capacity building and networking initiatives in order to gain the support of top maritime administrations, MARADS, thereby promoting productive working relationships which would in turn, benefit the maritime industries in member states as well as collectively.

Umoren, disclosed that only 14 countries are presently conducting inspections in the region, and called for a campaign for effective inspection regime with focus on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, STCW. He said detentions are not the best parameters to measure port state control efficiency.

The Abuja MoU is one of the 9 Regional MoUs and 1 national MoU established pursuant to IMO Resolution A.682(17) of 1991. The organization operates under a Cooperative Agreement with the IMO and was established on 22nd October 1999 as an inter-governmental body comprising maritime administrations of countries abutting the Atlantic coast of Africa.

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The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) improved its ranking in the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control’s white list, moving from sixth place to fourth this year.

The Bahamas is now below only Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.

The Bahamian ship register also maintained its US QUALSHIP 21 (Quality Shipping for the 21st Century) status for the tenth consecutive year. The BMA said that certification serves as an industry performance indicator of quality and The Bahamas is proud to have achieved this recognition every year since 2012.

“Ensuring the excellence of our fleet is a priority for The Bahamas and every stakeholder plays their part in us meeting our quality aspirations. With quality comes safety and uninterrupted operation and it is thanks to everyone involved that Bahamas-flagged ships continue to be safe places to live and work,” BMA managing director and chief executive officer, Captain Dwain Hutchinson said.

The Paris MoU is an administrative agreement between more than two dozen maritime authorities around the world, to eliminate the operation of sub-standard ships by conducting annual inspections to ensure ships meet international safety, security and environmental standards, and that crew members have adequate living and working conditions.

“We very much appreciate that the excellent quality of the Bahamas fleet is the result of the combined efforts of the BMA team, its recognized organizations, nautical inspectors and the owners and managers of the ships, who work together to ensure that their vessels are compliant at all times with the international requirements,” BMA Assistant Director of Inspections & Surveys Department Alessandro Lo Piccolo said.

“Equally important is the contribution of seafarers onboard our flagged ships who, despite the challenges of COVID-19, have shown great dedication and commitment to maintaining and operating the vessels to the highest possible standards, with their efforts being demonstrated through these excellent results.”

The Bahamas was also designated as having low-risk ships.

There are 1,510 ships registered in The Bahamas under the BMA.

Source: https://thenassauguardian.com/bma-improves-ranking-in-quality-and-safety-list/

Kongsberg Digital’s suite of simulation systems provides efficient and realistic training for maritime students and crew so building vital skills promoting safety, cost-efficiency, and sustainability in operations at sea. MARINA is a leading maritime authority, representing the largest number of seafarers in the world. Partnership with Kongsberg Digital means that MARINA can provide simulation technology for research, operations and training, increasing the knowledge and competency of their workforce.

MARINA aims to bring the Philippines to the forefront of transformation in the maritime sector. Kongsberg Digital will contribute to this endeavour with its extensive experience in simulation studies related to autonomous shipping, digital twin and vessel insight. This MOU aims to contribute towards the realization of the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) through the use of innovative and modern simulation technologies and the two partners will cooperate on several areas.

“With this MOU, MARINA and Kongsberg Digital will work together to adopt and leverage more advanced methodologies and tools within the maritime education and training segment as well as forming best practices. This will lead to a more competent and agile seafaring workforce, prepared to adapt to the everchanging maritime landscape,” says VAdm Robert A. Empedrad AFP (Ret), Maritime Industry Authority in the Philippines, MARINA.

“We are very pleased to announce this MOU, which signals the start of a mutually beneficial partnership with MARINA. This forward-thinking organization shares Kongsberg Digitals´ understanding of the significance of maritime education and training, and the recognition that it is only feasible to secure highly qualified crew through innovative and high-quality training methodologies,” says Andreas Jagtøyen, Executive Vice President Digital Ocean, Kongsberg Digital.

Source: https://workboat365.com/commercial-marine-news/training/kongsberg-digital-signs-prestigious-mou-with-maritime-industry-authority-in-the-philippines/

Korean Register (KR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KLCSM and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to jointly research and approve the application of autonomous navigation systems for mid- to large-sized vessels.

The agreement, which was signed on 23 June at this year’s Korea Ocean Expo in Incheon, Korea, will accelerate the commercialization and international competitiveness of domestic autonomous ship equipment and technology by establishing an actual ship-based autonomous operating system that is jointly developed between domestic shipping companies, shipyards and KR.

The announcement comes as an increasing number of shipowners integrate artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, Big Data and sensor systems into their vessels in order to assist vessel crews.

According to the MOU, SHI’s autonomous navigation system, known as the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS), will be applied to KLCSM’s fleet of operating ships to perform risk assessments, develop and certify cyber-security systems, and review the conformity of various agreements and standards for future domestic approval.

In addition, SHI will conduct a comprehensive collaboration for the commercialization of autonomous navigation systems through the certification of ship equipment and Marine Equipment Directive (MED) for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) modules.

“KR will provide technical support for this project in order to further the development and operation autonomous navigation systems,” said YEON Kyujin, Head of Plan Approval Center at KR.

“With this latest joint cooperation, more autonomous navigation systems will be successfully applied to ships, which will further increase the efficiency of ship management,” said KWON Ohgil, Managing Director of KLCSM.

“We also expect to improve vessel safety and improve the environment of ship operations amid a current shortage of sailors.”

KIM Hyunjo, Director of the Marine Shipbuilding Research Center of SHI, said:“SHI is focusing its capabilities on the research and development for the commercialization of autonomous navigation technologies for ocean and coastal navigation, including conducting practical ship operations based on the maritime demonstration of our own SAS autonomous navigation system.”

In addition to this MOU, KR has been building up its related classification certification performance and autonomous navigation ship technology by applying its rules, cyber-security certification and risk-based approval in accordance with its ‘Guidance for Autonomous Ships’ which was published in 2019.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/shipping-news/kr-enters-into-a-mou-with-klcsm-shi-for-collaborative-work-on-autonomous-navigation-technologies/