Marine & Maritime Gazette February '21 (v2) by BL Journals

MARINE & MARITIME

GAZETTE Commercial Marine & Renewables Worldwide

ISSUE 72

FEBRUARY 2021

INSIDE: 10

ISO 9001: 2015 accreditation

Approvals: ABS, GL, DNV, RINA & LRS

I N T R O D U C T I O N

W E L C O M E

Is 2021 now kicking into gear... So, now we all face many differing challenges, is this year really starting to happen?

Editor

Welcome to the February 2021 issue of Marine & Maritime Gazette the monthly magazine aimed at Worldwide coverage of the commercial marine, shipping and waterbased renewables markets. As 2021 maritime business really starts to kick into gear companies worldwide are adjusting to cope whilst obviously still being severely ‘Pandemic affected’. We are all having to learn new ways to survive work-wise whilst personally still remaining safe. Inside this issue, we are, as usual, covering a vast amount of topics, from ‘Underwater, Subsea & Diving’ on page 20, to the ‘ins and outs’ of ‘Tugs, Workboats & OSVs’ from page 28. There is also a quick look at ‘Pollution Clean-up & Control’ on page 42 and from page 34 we also have a Commercial Ma rine & Renewabl es Worldwide ‘peek’ at ‘Marine Civils & Construction’. Anyway, happy reading and if you have any news, reviews, product launches or absolutely anything else of interest across the whole marine market, please email it to me at info@bljournals.plus.com for future consideration in our forthcoming issues.

MARINE & MARITIME

GAZETTE

Arthur Peaches - Editor

ISSUE 72 FEBRUARY 202 1

INSIDE: 10

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C O N T E N T S

Cover story Land & Water delivering effective works to maintain and improve some UK’s coastal, canal and river networks.

p18 Fugro OYO Fugro and NYK team up with OYO Corporation for Japan’s offshore wind industry.

p15 Asset assessments

C O N T A C T S

Leading company provides offshore wind funding update

Magnomatics, the UK based world leader in magnetic gear technology, is pleased to announce the recent grant funding of £363,460 secured has allowed the company to work on the Winder project. The acclaimed project will de-risk technology required for the manufacture of large generators for offshore wind to the UK. As part of the project, new instrumentation, including Magnomatics’ Pseudo Direct Drive (PDD®), has been installed in the 500kW CHEG generator and extensive dynamometer testing is due to be undertaken by ORE Catapult between January and March 2021. The testing aims to create a better understanding of the behaviour of the Pole Piece Rotor (PPR) under wind turbine loads and cycles.

Robotic inspection specialists, Global Drone Inspection, introduce use of ROVs for inspection of in water ship assets.

p16 Remontowa tugs Polish shipbuilder Remontowa Shipbuilding delivers fourth in series of six tugs to Polish Navy.

p33

EDITORIAL Arthur Peaches - Editor Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com

SALES & PROMOTIONS David Peters - Publisher Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com

Brian Wakefield - Advertisement Director Tel 01622 682667 Mob 07973 139959 Email brian_wakefield2003@yahoo.co.uk

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David Latimer CEO Magnomatics

The PPR is a cylindrical structure comprising multiple axial steel pole pieces within a nonmagnetic composite structure. In operation these pole pieces are subject to massive forces and complex cyclical loads. The ORE Catapult testing will capitalise on the previous testing carried out during the Demo Wind project. On completion of the testing, Magnomatics will develop sophisticated computer-based modelling software to aid the design of robust PPRs including dynamic modelling of the pole piece loads to predict wear and possible erosion of the composite structure. These methods will be validated using the test data from ORE Catapult. Proving this technology provides a credible route to UK construction of direct drive generators for offshore wind, leading to annual sales of £1.2bn and dramatically increasing the proportion of UK content in offshore wind farms. The technology can also apply to rail, marine propulsion and industrial drives, improving efficiency and reducing CO2 emissions. Magnomatics has a wealth of experience supporting the renewables sector having already designed and manufactured magnetic gear technology for multiple applications worldwide. Their Pseudo Direct Drive is a key component in the efficient production of wind generated energy thanks to its ability to achieve a step-change in continuous torque density compared to equivalent gear systems and it’s extremely reliable characteristics thanks to the no meshing of gear teeth. www.magnomatics.com

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Damen Shiprepair & Conversion carries out maintenance and repair to seven CMA CGM vessels Damen Shiprepair and Conversion (DSC) has recently carried out a series of works on seven vessels owned by CMA CGM, a world leader in shipping and logistics. The projects took place between June and December last year at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam (DSAm) in the Netherlands and Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque (DSDu) in France. The last vessel is scheduled to leave DSDu this month. In a continuous operation running between June and August, DSAm performed back-to-back maintenance and repair works on CMA CGM Cayenne, CMA CGM Saint Laurent and CMA CGM Marseille - identical 190 metre, 2,100 TEU container sister vessels. The three ships underwent similar programmes, centred around their five year surveys. Additional works included the vessels being reinforced with 11,000 kilograms of steel welded to the bow section. Each ship had its cargo cranes maintained and five annual load tests were performed. The yard also repainted the vessels. At DSDu, the vessel Africa Three, Africa Four, Africa Two and Africa One (in that order) arrived for backto-work programmes between July and December 2020 for maintenance and repair works this time centred on the vessels’ ten year surveys, including offloading all hatch covers, hull painting and cell guide repairs. At the same time, DSDu successfully installed ballast water treatment systems to each vessel. Damen sales manager Alexandre Richerd said, “On behalf of Damen I would like to thank CMA CGM for entrusting our repair yards with these projects. The work has not been without its challenges, particularly coming, as it did, during the coronavirus pandemic, which certainly added a layer of complexity. However, working hard, with a keen focus on the safety and wellbeing of all involved and in close cooperation with CMA CGM, we’ve been able to get the work done.” www.damen.com

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P O R T

Q U A Y S I D E

N E W S

Strong growth for Port of Tanjung Pelepas Despite the pandemic, the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) experienced a growth of 8% during 2020 as it continues to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading transshipment hubs.

Berth expansion at Manila International Container Terminal

Its volume totalled 9.8 million TEU and Dato’ Sri Che Khalib Mohammed Noh, PTP’s chairman, credited the traffic in part to its substantial infrastructure investment. “Last year, PTP invested more than $172.9 million to improve its container handling capacity, capability and reliability by procuring additional eight Super Post Panamax Quay Cranes, 10 Electrified Rubber Tyred Gantries (ERTG) and the dredging of our navigation channel to ensure new generation of Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCV) ships can safely navigate to our port,” Noh commented. “By investing in our assets, we are further establishing our terminal as one of the best equipped and most technologically advanced terminals in the region and will ensure that PTP

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has completed a berth expansion project at one of its major terminals that effectively raises annual capacity to over 3.3m TEUs. The project at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) included a number of crucial works, foremost of which is the berth expansion that adds another 150 metres to Berth 7, creating a 600 metre contiguous berth together with the adjacent Berth 6 to accommodate over 8,000-TEU capacity vessels. The two berths currently have five quay cranes, with a design for up to six quay cranes. The berth expansion is complemented by the extension of the container yard by about another 5.5 hectares - three hectares designated for laden containers and 2.5 hectares for empties. This redounds to added capacity for the terminal of an estimated 200,000 TEUs for laden containers and 150,000 TEUs for empties. Christian R. Gonzalez, ICTSI executive vice president, said: “The added berthing capability and yard space will enable the country to easily handle added volume that is expected as the country gears up for an economic reboot following last year’s trade flow facilitation complications. Moreover, this will enable us to continue performing our tasks as frontliners to move critical goods that are still badly needed.” To keep improving service levels, the MICT, under its equipment replacement programme, plans to acquire next year another eight environmentally friendly hybrid rubber tired gantries to add to the 32 hybrid RTGs acquired starting in 2018. Part of the replacement program includes the dismantling of the MICT’s first quay crane this year which will be replaced over the next three years by three new quay cranes all capable of servicing larger vessels of over 12,500-TEU capacity. Meanwhile, the MICT is also refurbishing Berths 1 to 5 and their back up areas in preparation for the next 25 years of operation. These include the installation of an additional 450 reefer plugs for 40 footers expected to be operational by April this year, refurbishment of Berths 1 to 4 by September this year, and the upgrade of the yard infrastructure of Berths 1 to 5 by the end of 2022. The MICT will also upgrade the entire terminal this year to the newest and more environment-friendly LED lighting system. This is expected to eliminate light spills and glare while lowering energy consumption by as much as 75%. The new lighting system will also provide a safer traffic environment with improved lux levels of 5 to 8 times. By April this year, an additional truck ingress, equipped with optical character recognition, will be operational with additional automation to further improve gate service.

can keep up with the rapid changes in the port and shipping industry and subsequently meet the growing demand of our customers.” Marco Neelsen, Chief Executive Officer explains that the trajectory growth derives at the back of the surge in extra transhipment calls volume receives by the port due to the increase demand in Asia and Europe as well as requests from customers to increase their throughput in PTP. “Despite some challenges during the second quarter of 2020, the 2nd half of the year went very positive for PTP with an upsurge of volume due to the opening of countries’ borders and the reviving of the global trade economy for China, Transpacific and Europe regions,” Neelson added. “PTP’s readiness and proactive drive to handle these demands have definitely cushioned the downside scenario and impact of sluggish global trade saw earlier as a result of COVID-19 outbreak and the measures taken by countries to halt the pandemic” he continued. PTP recorded a string of record-breaking terminal performance throughout 2020 including accomplishing the latest all - time highest record for TEU handling in a month with 967,783 TEU as well as the highest moves in a single shift with a total of 12,411 moves in December.

www.ictsi.com

www.ptp.com.my

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Damen delivers RSD Tug 2513 to Tug Malta

Recently Damen Shipyards Group handed over a new, next-generation, Damen RSD Tug 2513 to Tug Malta, Malta’s leading tug operator. Named Senglea, after the nearby, historic city of the same name, she joins a fleet that already has a number of Damen ASD tugs, but is the first RSD tug to operate in the region. First introduced in 2018, the RSD Tug 2513 represents a radical new design. Based on extensive industry consultation it is compact, for operations in and around harbours and terminals, yet it also has the power and flexibility to manoeuvre even the largest vessels safely, quickly and efficiently within restricted waters. The design is special in that it combines elements of both tractor and ASD tugs to create a class of vessel that effectively has two bows, making it equally effective at both bow and stern assists. The Senglea will have an important role to play in manoeuvring container vessels safely in and out of the harbour. Tug Malta, which is owned by Rimorchiatori Mediterranei Spa (Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group), placed the order for the vessel in November 2019. Built at Damen’s Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam, she has an impressive bollard pull of 80 tonnes. The design features Damen’s revolutionary Twin Fin skeg to enhance directional stability and provide higher indirect towing force. Other characteristics are IMO Tier III readiness, Damen Safety Glass and a glued superstructure to minimise noise and vibration. The RSD Tug 2513 also features Damen Triton – a digitalised remote monitoring system that collects data from sensors throughout the vessel. The system is directly related to Damen’s goal of becoming the most sustainable and digital shipbuilder. Damen Triton reports such things as fuel, oil and water levels on board as well as performance indicators such as power, RPM and fuel consumption. It paves the way for more efficient sailing, reducing both fuel consumption and emissions, and for maximising uptime via preventive maintenance. In addition to the many innovations that are standard on the RSD Tug 2513 the Senglea has been equipped with Fi-Fi 1 firefighting equipment and is fully compliant with local Maltese regulations. “We are very happy to have completed this order and delivered the Damen RSD Senglea to Tug Malta,” said Antonio Marte, Area Manager North, West and South Europe at Damen Shipyards. “It wasn’t easy to execute this project right in the middle of a pandemic, but we took special measures related to logistics and production, whilst ensuring the safest possible working environment. As a result of these measure, we were able to secure a continuous workflow at the yard, leading to the on-time delivery of the vessel and the well-being of all involved in the project. “This delivery can be credited to the European show-case tour that we conducted in 2018. This gave prospective clients including Tug Malta the opportunity to see and sail the RSD in their own ports. Our thanks go to Tug Malta and Rimorchiatori Mediterranei for placing this latest order with Damen and we wish Senglea and her crew many uneventful operations, fair winds and following seas!” Mario Mizzi, CEO of Tug Malta expressed his great satisfaction with the outcome of the tug stating “We are proud that Sengela has joined our fleet and presently Tug Malta can boast to have one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the Mediterranean thanks to the continuous investment undertaken in recent years”. He further stated that, “The new addition of the RSD Tug 2513 is another milestone in the Company’s quest to better respond to the needs of our customers delivering the highest service quality level.” Mario regards tug Senglea as a special tug which is compliant with Class and local statutory requirements and exceeds the technical specifications contracted for. In his view the design, construction, innovative equipment and other safety features of the RSD Tug 2513 renders Senglea as the jewel in the crown and takes the fleet reliability, performance and safety attributes for the company’s harbour towage to another level. Mario underlined that the new ‘tractor concept’ tug combines versatility of operations, power and manoeuvrability which are important requisites for local coastal towing and terminal support, the latter often rendered in restrictive waters.” “The RSD Senglea is the ninth Damen tug bought by Rimorchiatori Mediterranei in the last few years and a further acknowledgement, if any was needed, of our appreciation of the inner qualities of Damen tugs,” said Alberto Dellepiane CEO of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei. www.damen.com

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Global Drone Inspection to take on specialist demand for drone and ROV services from RIMS BV David Knukkel, CEO, GDI

RIMS (Robotics in Maintenance Strategies) BV, an established class approved supplier of UAV inspections in the maritime industry have created Global Drone Inspection (GDI), to focus on the drone and ROV element of the business. GDI will sit alongside RIMS, but with a different service portfolio offering. GDI will provide all the services around inspections of assets by drones and ROVs, including 3D modelling, while RIMS will continue to support clients with the development and integration of new technologies within their maintenance strategies. David Knukkel, CEO, GDI & RIMS said: “With GDI, we aim to provide a centre of expertise in remote inspection technology which can be easily found by clients who need a specialist in this domain. “GDI will build on the experience and success of RIMS which was set up in 2015. In last five years RIMS has brought the drone service to a professional level, and were the first maritime Class Approved service provider, supporting surveyors with the inspection of ship structures, mobile offshore units and confined spaces using Remote Inspection Technology, and it is our intention to replicate this level of success for GDI.” GDI will be looking to strengthen its portfolio in line with future trends through partnership creation with well recognised partners and service suppliers, offering a total solution for inspections, NDTmeasurements (non-destructive testing), presentation of information and repairs. www.drone-inspection.global www.marineandmaritimegazette.com

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Dales Marine Services to expand workforce to support a major

new contract

Dales Marine Services Ltd, a leading ship repair and maintenance company based in Scotland, announces a new 4-year contract with Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) for 19 vessels. Utilising the best in dry docking services, engineering and management capabilities, Dales Marine’s certified technicians will be undertaking vessel upgrades and afloat maintenance across the 19 CalMac vessels with the majority of the work being carried out at the Dales Marine Greenock dry dock facilities. Greenock will provide a 24-hour service and berth space for the afloat maintenance and repair work. The last eight months have seen significant improvements in the Greenock facilities by way of over a £1m investment in the yard. To support the new contract, Dales Marine Services has pledged to expand its current apprenticeship programme, which to-date stands at 46 apprentices across the group, undertaking to employ a further four apprentices, for every year of the CalMac contract. Michael Milne, Dales Marine Managing Director, said: “The contract represents a commitment from CalMac to Dales Marine Services, providing stability in workflow and even further investment and employment at our Greenock site. Our other yards in Aberdeen, Leith and Troon will also see additional work as a result of the contract.” www.dalesmarine.co.uk www.marineandmaritimegazette.com

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Fugro wins multidisciplinary contract on Germany’s SuedLink renewables powerline Vössing Engineers have awarded Fugro a geotechnical and water consulting contract to support the route planning, permitting and installation of 106 km of underground power cables on Section 2 of Germany’s new Suedlink powerline. Approximately 700 km long and due to be completed by 2028, the new Suedlink powerline is the country’s largest energy infrastructure project and will effectively transport electricity generated by offshore wind in the north of Germany to meet demand in the south. Fugro‘s multidisciplinary consultancy services on this wind-energy project include site investigation supervision, hydrogeological expertise and environmental support. Vössing Engineers will then use Fugro’s comprehensive Geo-data acquisition, and ground and environmental risk mitigation advice, to optimise the cable route layout to reduce costs, accelerate the schedule and ensure the successful implementation of Section 2. Wido Schmidt-Heck, Vössing Engineers Project Director, said: “Vössing’s challenge on Section 2 of the Suedlink project is to combine approximately 150 staff from different companies into one exploration, design and permitting team. This consultancy contract with Fugro facilitates that strategic cooperation and we look forward to a successful delivery.” Dirk Brinschwitz, Fugro’s Project Manager, said: "I am proud to be managing this important energy transition project. At Fugro, our knowledge and services are the foundation of the carbon-neutral and safe energy supplies contributing to a safe and liveable world. Our comprehensive consulting package, which allowed Vössing to form a single multidisciplinary team, was a major factor in Fugro winning this contract award.” www.fugro.com

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Danes propose World’s first Energy Island The VindØ consortium - which comprises two of Denmark’s largest pension funds, PensionDanmark and PFA, and Denmark’s largest utility company, Andel - recently revealed its vision of the world’s first energy island.

Manufacture Design and Manuf acture Buoys of B uoys and Beacons Beacons

www.grupolindley.com www.grupolindley.com

The artificial island, which will be constructed from submersible concrete boxes, is to be built in the Danish part of the North Sea, around 100 kilometres from the mainland. The Consortium state that the island will be fully established by 2030, at the latest, and will supply 3 GW of offshore wind. Over time, the island will then connect 10 GW offshore wind and host energy storage and Power-to-X as well as accommodation, O&M facilities, and HVDC converters for transmission and interconnectors. The consortium is assisted by the green infrastructure investment company, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). Denmark plans to develop two energy islands, one in the Baltic Sea and one in the North Sea. This second energy island in the Baltic Sea would gear up to a capacity of 2 GW by 2030. Feasibility studies have started to determine if the artificial energy island in the North Sea could be located in an area at least 60 kilometres west of Thorsminde on Denmark’s west coast. The final decision on the location of the energy island and the accompanying wind farms is expected soon, hopefully before end of Spring this year. The Danish Energy Agency and Energinet have begun preparations for the detailed studies of the seabed and the impact of the islands and offshore wind turbines on the environment. The studies are expected to be completed in 2024. Prior to that, the government had issued an offshore wind map identifying the zones where the wind farms which would be connected to the energy islands could be developed.

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Valeport introduces new SWiFT CTD profiler Designed with the intention of a seamless workflow, the new SWiFT CTD is the next generation of Valeport’s popular SWiFT profiler range and delivers enhanced accuracy and versatility for those requiring CTD measurements. The SWiFT CTD profiler from Valeport, a leading oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation manufacturer, provides surveygrade sensor technology coupled with the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable battery and an integral GPS module to geo-locate each profile. Using Valeport’s world-leading high accuracy sensor technology to combine sensors for multiple profiles in a single drop, the SWiFT CTD features a new fast response temperature probe and operates down to 500m as standard, delivering directly measured Conductivity, Temperature and Depth. In addition to the directly measured CTD, computed Salinity, Density and Sound Velocity is calculated using the UNESCO international standard algorithm and the Chen and Millero equation. Data can be quickly and easily downloaded wirelessly, and uses Valeport’s new Ocean software for iOS, Android and PC platforms. Data can be instantly shared in industry standard data formats. Ease of use is at the heart of the SWiFT range and the new SWiFT CTD not only makes any problematic battery changes a thing of the past and delivers fully automated data transfer with no user input required, it also features Valeport’s signature SWiFT magnetic switch ring. The switch ring is easy to operate even with cold hands, it simply turns through 90 degrees and reassuringly clicks into position. The end cap features user-friendly LED status indications for GPS, battery and communications. With an operational battery life of up to five days and the convenience of charge via USB, the SWiFT CTD is intended for offshore, coastal, harbour and inland environmental and hydrographic survey use. “Developed for those who need precise CTD data for scientific applications, this is the first time that measured CTD has been available with all the benefits of our SWiFT profiler; ease of use, Bluetooth connectivity, rechargeable battery and GPS. The new SWiFT CTD delivers the highest quality CTD profiles in a compact, robust and portable package.” commented Guy Frankland, Valeport head of marketing. Constructed from titanium to provide unmatched durability, the CTD sensors are housed in a strong acetal sensor guard. An optional deployment cage is also available to bolt onto the instrument to help get the SWiFT CTD to depth in fast flowing currents. www.valeport.co.uk

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SEABLY TAKES NEXT STEP IN TO BLENDED MARITIME TRAINING

Tomas Lindberg

Andrea Lodolo

The maritime industry has taken a further step into online and blended training with the appointment of Andrea Lodolo as the new CEO of Seably – the marketplace for maritime training. The online platform has already reached more than 20,000 maritime professionals. Andrea Lodolo replaces Tomas Lindberg, who steps up to become Seably’s new President. Seably is a training marketplace, created by seafarers for seafarers, that offers online courses in the maritime industry, accessible 24/7 globally. The launch of Seably was a significant step forward in digitalising maritime training and Andrea sees this as the new template for training in the maritime sector. “The global pandemic has shown the shipping sector that remote operations are the way forward. Seably is the first maritime digital marketplace that brings together content and teaching skills from seafarers, educationalists, industry specialists, insurers, surveyors and a whole range of other related service providers. We offer anyone associated in the maritime sector the opportunity to learn at their own pace and with easy access, via a laptop, tablet or even a smartphone.” Seably is owned by the Swedish Shipping Association. With Andrea at its helm, this latest maritime training marketplace promises an inspiring and exciting future, with projects underway that will deliver much more in the form of blended learning. “The real strength of Seably is that we are adding new content every week. We are allowing companies to better manage their crew training with smarter tools and ongoing access to an open platform for all of their needs. This has been very favourably welcomed by the industry. Being online 24/7 means there is no delay in pushing out the latest information that will benefit anyone working on land or at sea in what is a vital sector of global business.” Tomas has even higher hopes for Seably, a platform designed with the seafarer in mind which started its development in 2017 and launched in 2020. “I am not surprised Seably has grown so quickly. This is the perfect time for us to expand our services and help shipping companies and seafarers gain easier access to their training. It is also very timely to have Andrea join Seably as our new CEO, with his knowledge, network and business experience”. www.seably.com

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Damen Marine

Components wins

steering gear contract

for four new French

Logistical Support Ships

Damen Marine Components (DMC) has been awarded a contract by the Chantiers de l'Atlantique for the supply of rudders and steering gear systems for the future French Navy Logistic Support Ships of the class “Jacques Chevallier”. For each Logistical Support Ship, DMC will supply two Van der Velden® TIMON flap-type rudders including extended trunk and steering foundations, and two Van der Velden COMMANDER™ Rotary Vane steering systems along with the Integrated Logistic Support. The rudder design is carried out by DMC’s engineers in Hamburg and will be CFD optimised for the ship’s operational profile, with special focus on cavitation behaviour, course-keeping and manoeuvring, essential attributes for naval vessels of all types and particularly for support vessels transferring fuel and supplies at close quarters whilst underway. This capability is due to their open flap linkage mechanisms and side bar flap systems with a 90degree angle. They also emit minimal noise and vibration. The Van der Velden COMMANDER™ Rotary Vane steering systems are also ideal for high performance, oceangoing operations. Designed and manufactured wholly in the Netherlands, they generate an equal high torque in all possible steering angles, and with only one rotating part is both highly safe to operate and relatively low maintenance. The systems being supplied to Chantiers de l'Atlantique will be fully compatible with the performance requirements of the TIMON rudders. With a fuel and freight capacity of 13,000 m³, the ships will provide logistical support to combat vessels of the French navy – in particular the Charles de Gaulle carrier group - and its allies. “We are very pleased to have won this prestigious steering gear contract for these strategically vital vessels,” said Mr. Wim Knoester, Director of Sales and Marketing at DMC. “They will underpin the global reach of the French navy for many years to come and we are confident that our TIMON rudders and COMMANDER™ steering systems will deliver the performance and reliability required of them.” www.damen.com

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Fugro and NYK team up with OYO Corporation for Japan’s offshore wind industry

Following the recent announcement of Fugro and NYK forming a partnership to provide offshore geotechnical services in Japan, the two companies have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading Japanese geoscience specialist OYO Corporation (OYO). The addition of OYO to the team will further strengthen Fugro and NYK’s position as leading service providers for the growing offshore wind site characterisation market in Japan. Fugro, NYK and OYO will provide a comprehensive service for the offshore wind energy industry in Japan through the combination of the joint operation of an offshore geotechnical investigation vessel by NYK and Fugro, Fugro’s global knowledge and experience in site investigations for offshore wind farms, and OYO’s insights into the Japanese geoscience market. Jerry Paisley, Fugro’s Marine Site Characterisation Director for Asia-Pacific, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome OYO to the team alongside Fugro and NYK and view this as another positive step forward for the Japanese offshore wind industry. OYO’s mission to contribute to the creation of a safe and secure society blends perfectly with Fugro’s vision to create a safe and liveable world, and increasing the proportion of renewable energy generated in Japan is our joint investment in Japan’s greener future.” www.fugro.com

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Damen Group subsidiaries join forces for race to get P&O Ferries’ Pride of Canterbury back to work Late last year, a team of Damen group subsidiaries completed a challenging project to replace one of the twin rudder stocks on P&O Ferries’ Pride of Canterbury. The 180-metre, 30,635 GT RoPax vessel operates on the Dover-Calais crossing, the busiest shipping lane in the world. The nearly 30-year old vessel is equipped with twin Van der Velden® BARKE rudder systems engineered and made by Damen Marine Components (DMC). Replacing the stock on the starboard rudder enables the ferry to extend its already long life in such a demanding role. The project involved three Damen companies working closely together. Damen Verolme Rotterdam (DVR) hosted the vessel while DMC coordinated the project and managed assisting service engineers from DVR and Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam (DSR). The works began with the removal of the rudder and its stock taking placing in DVR’s no. 5 drydock. The rudder together with its worn stock was then transported by road to nearby DSR where it was disassembled and the parts cleaned. Meanwhile, DMC had designed and supplied the new rudder stock and delivered it also to DSR, ahead of installation. The most technically exacting part of the project was the fitting of the new stock to the rudder. This had to be done to the finest tolerances using techniques including bluefit to ensure optimal performance, and it had its risks. Any errors in the machining that affected the positioning and finish, and the stock would have to be discarded and refabricated, with a high cost in time and money. The fitting took place at DSR and to ensure that the process went perfectly, experienced service engineers from the sister companies teamed up under the guidance of DMC and used the old rudder stock for a trial fit. This determined the exact values that the replacement stock would need to meet in order to fit the rudder blade perfectly. Tests took place during the machining in order to ensure that the process continued on track. With the new rudder stock fitted to the correct values, the blade was hung vertically and the new stock inserted to confirm that it fitted. The two parts were then transported to DVR and mounted in the vessel where the gap between the rudder stock and blade was measured and determined to be exactly as specified. Finally, the rudder and steering gear were then prepared for operations and a swing-test was performed to confirm that everything worked perfectly. “We completed the entire project on time and without any delays by bringing together skills and resources from across the Damen Group,” says Walter Treffers, area manager service sales at DMC. “For the ship owner it was crucial to have the ship out of the dock on schedule, and this was achieved thanks to the excellent cooperation and daily meetings between the yard, DMC, DVR and DSR. We wish the Pride of Canterbury safe journeys.” A short video is available at youtube.com - https://youtu.be/r0GA9OtTn-k www.damen.com

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Vulcan mobilises cable laying offshore Vulcan Offshore Ltd. has put cable lay vessel mobilisation at the centre of its multifaceted offshore service offering. Southampton, UK-based Vulcan is a specialist in fabrication, welding and computer numerical control (CNC) machining for the marine and subsea industries. It principally works for cable lay companies that own or charter vessels for laying offshore wind farm or fibre optic cables for the telecommunications industry. When a vessel, barge, or workboat prepares for an upcoming project, Vulcan’s clients typically have to modify and fit out the deck with winches, launch and recovery systems (LARs), cable engines, steps, ladders, and access platforms, etc. As the vessels perform different functions depending on the job, equipment needs to be fabricated or welded to the deck of the ship. Chris Scrutton, managing director at Vulcan, said: “We offer a comprehensive welding and fabrication service, which can be delivered in our workshop, on- and offshore. It’s proved to be a differentiator that we’re ideally located [near the Southampton port] on the south coast and we have personnel skilled in MMA [manual metal arc], MIG [metal inert gas], and TIG [tungsten inert gas] welding; we also have welders who are CSWIP 3.2 certified.” As Scrutton explained, this breadth of welding expertise is important because of the varied requirements within the industry. For example, MMA or MIG welding might be used onsite, while TIG is specifically related to stainless steel, most commonly in the Vulcan workshop. Non-destructive testing (NDT) via magnetic particle inspection (MPI) or dye penetration is also integral to many scopes of work. He added: “The sector is apparently buoyant as we move through 2021 and we are keen to align ourselves with continued activity in the renewable energy sector, especially around wind farm installation. Meanwhile, as internet usage continues to grow, we have a long-term role to play in fibre optic cable laying.” www.vulcanoffshore.co.uk

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New projects for Land & Water Leading wet civil engineering experts, Land & Water, specialises in projects where land meets water, delivering effective works to maintain and improve some of the UK’s coastal, canal and river networks. The firm also has an ongoing commitment towards safeguarding the future of our planet by driving environmental enhancements and future-proofing some of the most sensitive habitats with its sustainable and innovative solutions. Most recently, Land & Water has been constructing a new hydropower station at Caversham Weir in Reading on behalf of client Reading Hydro CBS Ltd. The project, which is due to complete in February this year, will harness the power of the River Thames through the construction of a structure that will house low-head hydro turbines. This will help to create a renewable source of energy, within the Reading area that should generate around 46kw of renewable electricity to the National Grid. Using its specialist plant, Land & Water has installed sheet piles to create a water tight cofferdam for turbine structures to be built, replacing excavated alluvium and soft gravels with imported stone to create suitable foundations. Andy McBride, Contracts Manager at Land & Water says, “Creating a positive impact for the environment is at the forefront of any Land & Water project as we aim to leave the areas in which we work, in a better condition than when we started. “The works at Reading Hydro has allowed us to be part of a scheme which is investing in the development of new resources that will result in the use of carbon neutral solutions. “The project so far has been quite challenging due to high water river levels and fast flowing water during the months of October and November. However the team prides itself on having the expertise to overcome difficult situations. “With this in mind, a pontoon bridge has been installed to ease access to the site and a flood action plan has been implemented to consider any potential flooding that could occur.” As part of Land & Water’s commitment towards enhancing and protecting the habitats of the UK’s wildlife in the areas in which it works, the firm has also erected a fish pass to ensure fish and eels have a safe means of passage past the turbines. This structure will help protect the declining fish populations and enable aquatic life to continue its migration. Undertaking essential works, such as the Reading Hydropower project, that will offer environmental, economic and operational benefits has been demonstrated by Land & Water at sites across the UK. Another being Peel Marina in the Isle of Man on behalf of the Isle of Man Government. The wet civil engineering specialist has been completing dredging works at the Marina since January 2020, and will be removing 32,000m3 of silt to re-establish its efficiency and futureproof it for years to come. The scheme, which is due to continue until summer 2022, promises to ease pressures put on the marina, ensuring it is restored to its correct level for access and operation, bringing real economic benefits to the Harbour. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic and government guidelines which have been implemented, the Land & Water team has continued to adapt and commit to passionately delivering each construction and marine civils project. www.land-water.co.uk

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Fugro partners on ‘4S’ global

satellite

observation seafloor mapping

innovation

Fugro is participating in an EU co-funded research and innovation project to develop a remote solution for global satellite derived seafloor mapping. The 3-year project, named ‘4S’ (Satellite Seafloor Survey Suite), will develop an online cloud-based solution that will use highly automated earth observation algorithms and workflows to remotely map and monitor seafloor habitats, morphology and shallow water bathymetry. Fugro will lead the project’s business and integration actions, and their hydrographers and Geo-data specialists will evaluate the solution via several use cases around the globe. 4S will leverage artificial intelligence, physics models, and satellite and airborne data to derisk marine site characterisation activities in the shallow water zone by quickly analysing seafloor properties using less personnel and equipment. The 4S consortium includes experts from the fields of satellite data analytics, hydrography and biology, and is being led by EOMAP, the world’s leading company for optical remote sensing of aquatic environments. Other project partners include the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, QPS, Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten, CNR ISMAR, the Hydrographic Institute and Smith Warner International Ltd. Dr. Knut Hartmann, 4S Project Coordinator and COO of EOMAP, said: “The aim of 4S is to achieve a seamless integration of satellitedata analytics into marine and coastal workflows. We’re combining recent advances in satellite sensors, data analytics and cloud infrastructure to benefit marine reporting, monitoring and surveying methods.” Dhira Adhiwijna, Fugro’s 4S Project Manager, said: “Fugro is honoured to be part of an exciting EU innovation that could result in faster and safer Geo-data insights for our energy and infrastructure clients. Upon completion, 4S will be integrated into our high-speed hydrography offering and provide innovative solutions that will also derisk marine site characterisation activities.” This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004221. www.fugro.com

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Global Drone Inspection launches ROV in water asset assessments Global Drone Inspection (GDI), the new subsidiary company of robotic inspection specialists RIMS BV, have introduced the use of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) for the inspection of in water ship assets.

Hull, thruster and stern tube seal inspections Picture courtesy Blueye Robotics

Building on the experience gained by sister company, RIMS BV, who are now an established, class approved supplier of UAV inspections in the maritime industry, GDI can now offer customers fast, flexible and safe inspections of stern tube seals, bow thrusters, hull land markings, as well as in use tanks, which are often unable to be emptied for inspections. The condition of the coatings, anti-fouling, deformations, damages, leaking seals, rudders and propellers require regular inspections, so there is a real need for fast, real-time, safe, and cost-effective inspections of floating assets and internals of tanks. GDI can now offer this service, operating the ROVs safely following the same procedures used currently for RIMS UAV inspections. Using leading technology from Blueye Robotics, their small ROV provides high definition video recordings and images to clients. This high-tech equipment is also able to stream live video, enabling real time decision making with regards to repairs and future maintenance. David Knukkel, CEO, Global Drone Inspection: “In water inspections present significant challenges and safety concerns, with incidents and accidents occurring during diving, in what have appeared to be straight forward inspections. These challenges are similar to that of confined spaces, so this was the natural next step for us to add this service for our customers through our new venture, GDI. “Our policy is to only use divers when there is no other alternative and leave the humans safely onboard or ashore, while the ROV is in the water taking the risks. With our extensive experience in the flight/sail of that beyond the visual line of sight, as most of our drones are in tanks/cargo holds, our knowledge and experience in the maritime world, means we are familiar with the ship construction underwater, and know what to expect. Our experience teamed with the use of ROVs allow us to offer our customers with the assurance that these inspections can be executed in a safe and cost-efficient way.” www.drone-inspection.global

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Subsea Techâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ROV

Tortuga for Saudi

national oil company

The Saudi national oil company ARAMCO has chosen the Tortuga ROV for underwater inspections and NDT operations on its offshore infrastructures. Subsea Tech delivered a unique multi-sensor Tortuga unit fitted with Blueprint Subsea Oculus M750d imaging sonar and SeaTrac USBL positioning system, Cygnus Instruments Ltd FMD and thickness probes, Buckleys (UVRAL) Ltd CP probe, altimeter, 2-function grabber, cleaning brush, laser defect sizing tool and launch/recovery davit. The high payload capacity of the Tortuga allowed simultaneous integration of most sensors and tooling, which is a real performance on such compact and lightweight ROV. The crisp dual screen console offers optimzed comfort to the operator by displaying simultaneously the ROV videos and the sensor data - sonar image, positioning information, etc. The light davit supplied to ARAMCO can also be adapted on vessel freeboards, piers and platforms to ease launch and recovery operations. www.subsea-tech.com

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Leaking seal assembly fixed underwater in Antwerp Recently one of the experienced Hydrex diver and technician teams carried out an underwater stern tube seal repair on a 300-metre container vessel berthed in Antwerp. The ship was suffering from an oil leak, making an immediate repair necessary. Using a Hydrex flexible mobdock the team was able to carry out the entire operation on-site and underwater, saving the owner an expensive and time-consuming trip to drydock. Once the operation was confirmed all preparations were handled swiftly and the lightweight equipment was mobilized immediately from the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters in Antwerp. After arriving on-site, the diving team first set up a monitoring station next to the vessel. The operation then started with the removal of the rope guard and a thorough underwater inspection of the stern tube seal assembly. After the inspection the divers cleaned the assembly and installed the flexible mobdock. By doing this they created a dry underwater environment so that they could work in drydock-like conditions. The split ring was then removed and brought to the surface to be cleaned. After cleaning the entire assembly, the divers removed the first seal and replaced it with a new one which was bonded. The procedure was repeated with all the other seals. This hugely successful operation was concluded with leakage tests, the removal of the flexible mobdock and the reinstallation of the rope guard. Working together with the OEM allowed Hydrex to provide the customer with original spare parts which guarantees the best quality material. A technician of the seal manufacturer was also present during the operation. By organizing everything from start to finish the owner did not have to worry about making any arrangements for the repair. After the seals had been successfully replaced he could sail his vessel to her next stop free of oil leaks. https://hydrex.be www.marineandmaritimegazette.com

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Damen signs with Svitzer for ASD Tug 3212 Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Svitzer for the delivery of an ASD Tug 3212. The vessel, to be named Svitzer Thames, will operate in the Port of London. She will be the fourth Damen ASD Tug 3212 in the company’s UK fleet. Damen and Svitzer signed the contract for the vessel in December last year. Thanks to Damen’s practice of building proven, standardised vessels for stock, Svitzer is able to take delivery of its new tug in Q1 2021. Kasper Karlsen, Svitzer Europe COO said, “We already operate a number of Damen ASD Tugs 3212, including four in the south of the UK so operational synergies are obvious. We’ve been impressed by the model’s ability to handle large container vessels and by its reliability. When we were looking to expand our fleet, it made sense to approach Damen.” Damen sales manager Martin Verstraaten said of the order, “I’m very pleased that Svitzer’s experience with the ASD Tug 3212 has brought them once again to Damen. Coming at the end of 2020, with various lockdowns and travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, the contract was not without its challenges. However, thanks to the excellent relationship we enjoy with Svitzer and to the clear channels of communication between Svitzer in the UK & Denmark and Damen, we were able to make this happen digitally.” Damen’s ASD Tug 3212 exhibits excellent seakeeping characteristics, superb manoeuvrability and, with 80 tonnes bollard pull, the outstanding towing characteristics required to handle the large container vessels Svitzer Thames will encounter in the Port of London. The state-of-the-art vessel includes the latest hull and skeg designs and the most recent developments in fender, fairlead and winch design. Heavily built, the ASD Tug 3212 features rigid foundations, extra plate thickness, brackets and fenderings, going above and beyond class requirements. www.damen.com

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Sanmar delivers 30 tugs during challenging year Sanmar Shipyards has reported a record year of all times of delivery of 30 tugs during 2020. Thirteen of these were for overseas clients with ten more delivered to Turkish tugboat operators. Seven of these joined to Sanmar’s own fleet. Overseas operators from UK, Canada, Italy, Germany, Latvia, Oman, Seychelles, UAE and Panama took delivery of Sanmar-built tugs during 2020, while four domestic operators added Sanmar-built assets to their fleet. Tug deliveries during 2020 included both repeat orders from existing clients and orders from customers new to Sanmar. The vessels were all designed by world renowned Vancouver headquartered naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, and range from 30 to 85 tonne bollard pull tugs. Sanmar builds technologically advanced tugs at its modern state-of-the-art purpose-built Shipyards at Tuzla and Altinova in Turkey. The tugs vary from 18 to 32 meters and based on RAscal 1800, RAmparts 2200SX, 2400SX, TRAktor 2500SX, RAstar 2800E, RAstar 2900SX and RAstar 3200SX as well as smaller power and sized twin screw conventional RApport 1900SX. Total bollard pull of delivered tugs is just under 1700 metric tons. Ali Gurun, Vice President of Sanmar, said: “The year 2020 has been like none other in living memory. The pandemic has impacted on all our lives. It has brought heartbreak and loss for many and dramatically changed the way we all live our lives. At Sanmar we have gone to great lengths to ensure that our work can continue, with the safety of our team a top priority. I would like to thank everyone at Sanmar who has worked so hard and been so flexible to enable us to achieve this remarkable success.” He continued: “I am always delighted when existing customers return to Sanmar. It shows that they have had good experiences with our tugs and our aftersale services. It is also, of course, gratifying to welcome new friends and start new long-term business relationships. We are looking forward to another successful year in 2021, when hopefully the Covid-19 crisis will ease and we can get back to at least near normal. These are exciting times for our industry, with rapid technological advances being achieved in the design, performance and efficiency of tugs. At Sanmar we are proud to be at the forefront of these advances.” www.sanmar.com.tr

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Your partner for Ship Maintenance, D

Over thirty years of specialist service With roots dating back to 1987, Dales Marine has been servicing the shipping, oil and gas, chemical, and power generation industries with bespoke engineering services, within the shortest lead time to the highest standard. Providing specialist shipping solutions in dry dock and steelwork, maintenance and ship repair, Dales Marine is located within major Scottish ports and provides unrivalled access for clients 24/7, 365 days a year.

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First Robert Allen tug for the port of Shanghai Robert Allan Ltd. recently announced that Shanghai Harbour Fuxing Shipping Service Company Sanlin Shipyard has successfully completed the 3680 kW RAmparts 3200-W tug Hai Gang 501 which will provide service at Shanghai Port. This will be the first Robert Allan Ltd. tug to operate in China’s busiest port which has also been the world’s busiest container port for the last decade. As part of the RAmparts series, this new tugboat is designed for berthing and unberthing large vessels in harbour and is also capable of coastal towing services due to its exceptional sea keeping performance. This design was altered slightly to suit the selected machinery and equipment and the accommodation arrangement that the crews are familiar with. The entire tug fleet owned by Shanghai Harbour Fuxing Shipping Company are named Hai Gang which translates as “harbour” in the Chinese language. Sanlin Shipyard had built more than ten Robert Allan Ltd. designed tugs for its domestic and international clients before building Hai Gang 501 for its mother company. The vessel’s accommodations are outfitted to MLC compliant standards for a crew of up to ten personnel. There are six single cabins and two of 2-crew cabins arranged in the deckhouse and lower accommodation deck. Main propulsion for the tug comprises a pair of Niigata 6L28HX main engines, each rated at 1840 kW at 750 rpm, driving a cardan shaft system to a Niigata ZP-41A Z-Peller propulsion unit with a 2,600 mm diameter fixed pitch propeller. Ship handling fenders at the bow consists of an upper 800 x 400 mm cylindrical fender with a lower course of W type fender. A 300 x 300 hollow “D” fender provides protection at the main deck sheer line and along the knuckle, and W type fender is used at the stern. The deck machinery comprises a Karmoy hawser winch on the bow, spooled with 250 m line on each drum. With twin anchor windlass at bow beside hawser winch and a Karmoy towing winch provided on aft deck. https://ral.ca

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Active- RTE and Passive Radar Reflectors ECHOMAX ACTIVE-XS dual band RTE with multiple visual and audible alarm functions and now with optional waterproof control box for RIBS or exposed mounting - Meets ISO 8729-2 - NATO stock No 5741-99269-3512 - Our Actice RTE have been fitted to the Clipper Around the World Yachts for the last 5 years. Active XS, EM230 and EM230i were all mandatory fits on the 2018 Golden Globe Race Yachts.

Polish Navy choose six tugs from

Remontowa

Polish shipbuilder Remontowa Shipbuilding has recently delivered the fourth in a series of six tugboats for the Polish Navy.

The vessel, H-12 Semko, was built in Gdansk and sailed to Swinoujscie for the handover to the 8th Vice Admiral Kazimierz Porebski Coastal Defense Flotilla. The contract for the design and construction of six tugs was signed back in June 2017 and has been ongoing since. The vessels will be used by the Polish Navy for military and logistics operations support at sea and in ports, as well as for technical evacuations, personnel transfers, search and rescue operations and oil spill recovery. FSIC IA ice class reinforcement enables the vessels to be deployed in the Baltic Sea at any time of the year. Each vessel's propulsion system consists of two ice-classed Schottel rudderpropellers type SRP 360 with 2.0 m fixed pitch propellers. Each thruster is driven by an MTU 12V 4000 engine delivering a power of 1,193 kW. This arrangement gives the tugs a bollard pull of up to 35 tonnes and a free-running speed of 12 knots. In addition to the recently delivered H-12 Semko, Remontowa has already delivered tugboats Bolko, Gniewko and Mieszko in January, March and July of last year. The shipyard has also started port trials on the fifth tug, H-3 Leszko, which should now be reaching completion. The series' final tug, H-13 Przemko, was launched in December of last year. www.remontowa-rsb.pl

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C O N S T R U C T I O N

Dredging spoils transform into new terminal at the Port of Gothenburg 180,000 cubic meters of dredged material are currently being reused as filling material in the construction of the Port of Gothenburg’s next major investment. When the masses have been stabilized and solidified and further surface work have been completed, 140,000 square meters of new, long-awaited terminal space, will be available in the Port of Gothenburg. The largest port expansion in Gothenburg since the 1970s is underway at the Port of Gothenburg. The terminal will be 140,000 square meters in size (equivalent to approximately 20 football pitches) and will be directly adjacent to other major terminals at the port. “The terminal is a crucial aspect of the port’s long-term expansion plans and will further strengthen Gothenburg as the Nordic logistics capital. By almost exclusively using recycled material in the project, we are also able to expand with environmental consideration” said Joakim Grenmarker, Project Manager at the Gothenburg Port Authority. Construction of the brand-new terminal at the Port of Gothenburg got under way in autumn 2018. Since then, 1,500 piles have been sinked into the bedrock, and the Arendal bay has been embanked with blasting stones from an adjacent hill. The embanked bay will constitute the coming terminal area. But first, the embanked bay will be filled with about 180,000 cubic meters of contaminated dredging spoils, and that work is currently underway. When the material fills the basin, water is forced out and needs to be purified and checked before it is returned to the sea. “This is done by adding carbon dioxide to the water from the backfill basin, which lowers the PH value so that pollutants can precipitate. The water is then pumped on to a sedimentation basin and on to a sand and active carbon filter. We examine and send water for analysis once a week to ensure that the water is ready to be pumped into the sea,” said Kristina Bernstén, Environmental Engineer at the Gothenburg Port Authority. The terminal is expected to be completed by 2023, although certain sections might be brought into use before then. www.portofgothenburg.com

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NMDC awarded lucrative $163.4m lake expansion contract in Egypt Abu Dhabi based, National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC), which provides dredging, reclamation, and marine construction projects in the Middle East, has been awarded a $163.4m contract for the expansion of Lake Manzala in northeastern Egypt. The project will be implemented in partnership with Al-Tahadi EgyptianEmirati Co, and is expected to be completed in two years. NDMC posted a 53.7% year-on-year increase in net profits to around $28.18m (USD) during the first half of 2020 and disclosed the value of the award recently in a letter to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. Previously, NMDC was awarded a design-and-build contract by Aldar to complete ongoing works at the existing beach at Yas Island. NMDC was also awarded the Corniche Beach development project by the Abu Dhabi Municipality, which included construction of a 3.5km long beachfront, and dredging approximately 3.5 million cubic metres of materials for the reclamation of the new beach. www.nmdc.com

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Progress for Malin Group’s new Scottish Marine Technology Park

The dynamic new vision for the marine technology hub on Scotland’s River Clyde at Old Kilpatrick is fast gathering pace.

The Scottish Government’s Clyde Mission to West Dunbartonshire Council has announced confirmation of £1,980,000 funding, thus enabling the Malin Group to progress to stage 2 in the development of its Scottish Marine Technology Park (SMTP). Malin managing director, John MacSween, commented: “We are delighted at the support the park has received in this latest step. We are excited about the potential that the Marine Technology Park offers Scotland’s marine industry, as well as for local residents and the wider economy.” Tel: +44(0) 2392 472710 Mob: +44(0) 7850 473713 This latest step, which will allow redevelopment of the quayside, builds on the E-Mail: info@fdsukltd.com first phase announced earlier. Once complete, the SMTP will include several Web: www.fdsukltd.com large fabrication facilities, room for a large number of smaller suppliers and a deep-water jetty with an 1,100 tonne ship hoist . This will find fame as the largest of its kind in Europe. Diver R.O.V. & Crane Operated Dredging Systems. Multipurpose & The SMTP, due to be completed in 2024, is anticipated to become a centre of Mini dredging systems for the removal of fines, silt, mud’s, drill cuttings, excellence for marine engineering and complex marine manufacturing. Malin sand, grit, gravel, shingle, shale & general debris. Suitable for confined Group said it already has a number of industry partners strongly considering space operations or locations where access is a problem. All on-shore relocating to the park. civil applications. Shallow & deepwater offshore support operations. Renewables. Complete ready to use self operational systems available A recent economic impact study found that the SMTP will result in almost for use worldwide. Stillage packed or deepwater offshore containerised 1,000 new jobs for the area when fully populated and operational. units. Long & short term rentals. Sales. Wide scope of operations. A ‘20-minute neighbourhood’ for the local community, will also be created, Lightweight, road & air transportable environmentally friendly units. offering a space which aims to attract a range of employment opportunities. EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR RENTAL WORLDWIDE. www.malingroup.com

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Damen completes work on German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) diving bell ship Damen Shipyards Group has completed construction and outfitting of a diving bell ship for client FMSW Koblenz (Department Machinery Southwest) / operator WSA Rhine (Waterways and Shipping Office) according to schedule. Following her completion, the vessel has recently undertaken successful river trials. Following the trials, Damen sales manager Remko Bouma said, “We are very pleased to have completed construction of this iconic vessel on schedule and to the satisfaction of the customer. This is the result of a very constructive collaboration between all parties, including FMSW Koblenz and Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld. This close cooperation and hard work has led to an efficient project execution and a beautiful vessel.” The on-time completion of the ship comes despite the challenging conditions posed by the coronavirus outbreak. Putting in place robust safety measures, Damen was able to continue work on the project throughout the year. Project manager newbuild at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld Marius van Wijngarden said, “Although much of the work has taken place against the challenging backdrop of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the excellent cooperation between all parties has made this project a success. I am very proud of the team for the way they rose to this challenge.” Gerald Rose, project manager from FMSW said, “In 2018, we awarded the contract for the replacement of the TGS Carl Straat to Dutch shipbuilder Damen. Due to the unique nature of the vessel, this is a particularly challenging project. Both parties would like to build an excellent vessel for the operator – WSA Rhine – and I think this has been successful up to now. The Dutch not only live by the water, the work with it and this is impressively confirmed by this vessel.” There has, however, been an impact on the project; due to the pandemic, the delivery of the diving equipment to Damen has been delayed. As a result, the diving bell ship will now commence operations next summer. Until that time, the ship will wait at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem in the Netherlands. Here, Damen will provide the vessel’s crew with familiarisation training in the meantime. The vessel will succeed the existing Carl Straat, which has been performing her duties since 1963. The successor vessel will draw significantly on the proven design of her predecessor. The new diving bell ship will operate on the Rhine and its tributaries. She will provide dry conditions, in a pressurised atmosphere, in which personnel can work below the water. Her main scope of work will be the search and recovery of lost cargo and wreckage as well as inspection for construction projects. The vessel will also be capable of providing barrel anchors in gravelly and rocky areas in order to perform sampling activities. Damen has applied the latest technology to the new vessel to ensure her suitability for future operations. She features high-performance diesel-electric propulsion compliant with EU Stage V standards, guaranteeing a constant cruising speed of 13 km/h. www.damen.com

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U.S. Coast Guard

type approval for

previous-generation Alfa Laval

PureBallast 2 systems

At the very end of last year, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued its type approval for Alfa Laval PureBallast 2. Most owners of Alfa Laval’s secondgeneration ballast water treatment systems can now opt to continue operating in United States waters, even when their Alternate Management System (AMS) approval expires.

Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast

Firm commitment to

PureBallast customers

RECYCLE

REVIVAL

The PureBallast 2 system generation, launched a decade ago, was developed long before the USCG presented its testing regime. As a result, certain technical modifications were needed before PureBallast 2 could undergo USCG testing. With the modifications in place, a PureBallast 2 system with a Boll & Kirsch filter completed the tests in April 2020, and the solution has now received USCG type approval. “We are proud to bring USCG type approval to owners who selected PureBallast early on” says Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast. “A ballast water treatment system should last as long as the vessel, and we are committed supporting PureBallast customers throughout that lifetime. No matter when they made their purchase, Alfa Laval is behind them.”

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Owners who wish to take advantage of the USCG type approval will need to perform a minor upgrade of their PureBallast 2 systems, comprising the necessary adjustments to meet USCG requirements. After upgrading, PureBallast 2 systems will be approved for operation in both seawater and brackish water. “The transition to USCG type approval will be a simple service option for shipowners,” says Sahlén. “Alfa Laval’s global service organization focuses not only on securing uptime, but also on bringing customers maximum benefit from their equipment choice. With the USCG type approval upgrade for PureBallast 2, we provide yet another way to keep ballast water treatment systems optimized over time.” www.alfalaval.com

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Researchers develop new system for measuring ship-generated underwater noise Strathclyde researchers have developed a novel way of measuring underwater noise created by ships which poses a danger to marine life. Human-generated underwater radiated noise (URN) from the military, the oil and gas industry and shipping traffic can interfere with the ability of marine animals to hear, navigate, communicate and catch prey. The problem was recognised by the United Nations at its Convention of Migratory Species in 2018 where it called for more research on the impact of URN and for countries to mitigate ocean noise where possible. Professors Patrick Fitzsimmons and Mehmet Atlar of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME), have adapted off-the-shelf equipment to deploy the HyDrone, a waterproof aerial drone fitted with a SoundTrap hydrophone recorder to measure the URN generated by the propulsion systems of marine craft. The HyDrone is capable of landing on the sea, powering off and floating while the SoundTrap hydrophone is suspended below it. The HyDrone is then flown back to the boat it operates from. This novel configuration minimises extraneous background noise from tidal current cross-flow which affects traditional weighted-line systems, where a hydrophone is tethered to a buoy or support vessel. Professor Atlar, said: "Like carbon emission, increasing emission of URN from ever-growing commercial shipping traffic in the world's ocean has become a life-threatening danger to living mammal and fish whose communications, feeding, breeding and day-to-day affairs are adversely affected by URN emission. "The international and EU regulatory authorities like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the EU have started campaigns and launched research programmes to mitigate and prevent this harmful environmental impact.” Professor Fitzsimmons adds "Within this context, technology like the HyDrone can simplify the practical measurement of the URN from ship propellers and other sources. The unit can operate wherever the target ship is operational and so can measure noise levels in shallow waters." The aerial platform provides a cheaper, more versatile deployment system since it can be launched quickly to sites from 5m to 1.5km from the target vessel and can be recovered in minutes, without requiring the vessel to stop to recover the alternative, heavier in-water drone or buoyed systems. The HyDrone also has an on-board, low-light camera augmented with a more deeply immersed lightweight camera, which can measure temperature and salinity. The system will allow observation of ship propeller's tip vortex cavitation - the creation of vapour filled cavities in the water - and measure near-field noise adjacent to the propeller and at increasing distances behind the vessel. This type of cavitation is caused by increased speed at the propeller tips that can reduce the nearby water pressure at a level of the critical vapour pressure. This induces so-called cold-boiling or “cavitation” which is a nuisance for propellers resulting in blade erosion, vibration and noise when those cavities implode. Such data will be used to validate more advanced computational fluid dynamics simulations of cavitation induced noise, which are being developed within NAOME. The HyDrone may also be adapted to record wave motions. Proving trials were recently conducted off Blyth in Northumberland where the target vessel was the 'Princess Royal', a ship which had been designed by Professor Atlar and students in his previous post at Newcastle University. The HyDrone was tested at 10m immersion against a standard vertical array of tethered hydrophones. The trial confirmed the ability of the HyDrone to minimise background noise, with little cross-flow experienced on the line between the drone and the Soundtrap hydrophone. Strathclyde has started student projects involving a series of further trials in the Clyde estuary which will gather a body of URN and video data on a variety of vessels travelling at service speeds and at approach and departure speeds in shallow and deeper waters. The system will also be available commercially. www.strath.ac.uk

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Sameer Kalra, President, Alfa Laval Marine Division

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Maritime industry players join forces to realize the decarbonization potential of solid oxide fuel cells Alfa Laval, DTU Energy, Haldor Topsoe, Svitzer and the Maersk Mc-Kinney Müller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping are entering into a joint project to accelerate the development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. Funded by a grant from Danish EUDP (Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program), the partners will pursue a high-efficiency solution with the scalability to support marine industry decarbonization.

Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping

The project, SOFC4Maritime, will target optimal utilization of future green fuels via application of SOFCs for power production on marine vessels. When based on fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen or bio-methane, SOFCs hold great promise as a replacement for today’s fossil fuels. Such alternatives are needed in the maritime industry, which must transition to greener power over just a few decades. By electrochemically converting fuel into electricity, SOFCs can potentially produce power with higher efficiency than internal combustion engines running on the same fuel - without creating polluting emissions or particulates. Ammonia-based SOFCs are especially attractive, since ammonia can be produced in large scale using renewable electricity and no biomass resource. The research will therefore have ammonia-based SOFCs as its starting point. Alfa Laval, a marine supplier with more than a century of expertise, will head the development initiative. Haldor Topsoe will provide the underlying SOFC stack technology, while DTU Energy will support in system layout and component testing. Svitzer will bring a shipowner perspective and the Maersk McKinney Müller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping will ensure a broad industry overview, end-to-end analysis of various energy pathways and a detailed techno-economic analysis. “Addressing shipping’s environmental challenges - and climate change in particular - will require a diverse range of strong technologies. By partnering with fellow marine industry experts, we can investigate the possibilities and bring them to fruition in time to make a difference.” Sameer Kalra, President, Alfa Laval Marine Division “We are proud to contribute with our competences within SOFC technology and ammonia as a marine fuel in order to reduce carbon emissions from shipping. This is an urgent goal in combatting climate change.” Kim Grün Knudsen, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer, Haldor Topsoe “Our know-how in the performance and testing of SOFC technology and components will be utilized well in this important project aimed at a carbon-free shipping industry.” Soren Linderoth, Head of Department, DTU Energy “We are eager to pursue this project, which will provide essential information and enhance the feasibility of future pathways to zero carbon shipping based on SOFCs.” Bo Cerup-Simonsen, CEO, Maersk Mc-Kinney Müller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping Global shipping accounts for around 3% of global carbon emissions, a share that is likely to increase as other industries tackle climate emissions in the coming decades. Achieving the long-term target of decarbonization requires new fuel types and systemic change within the industry. Shipping is globally regulated, which provides an opportunity to secure broad-based adoption of new technology and fuels. However, new legislation will be needed to enable the transition. To accelerate the development of viable technologies, a coordinated effort within applied research is needed across the entire supply chain. Industry leaders play a critical role in ensuring that laboratory research is successfully matured to scalable solutions that match shipping needs. www.alfalaval.com

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Rope and Sling opens new Plymouth UK depot

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) has opened its eighth facility, in Roborough, Plymouth, UK. The 5,000 square-foot site joins six other lifting and rigging depots and the recently acquired Gemmak Engineering business, the manufacturing division within the RSS engineering services department. Having last opened a site in Warrington, this expansion represented an opportunity to move into a newbuild in a prime location close to Plymouth and the surrounding area. RSS worked closely with the developer, RJM Property & Development Consultants Ltd., to ensure that the Broadley Park Industrial Estate site was both fit for purpose now, but also able to accommodate what the company is hoping will be significant long-term demand in the region for engineering, hire and sales, initially upheld by Ministry of Defence (MoD) contracts. The location currently sits under Matthew Rogers, engineering services director, but RSS is recruiting for a dedicated depot manager; each of the company’s facilities is the responsibility of a single person. David Homeyard has been recruited as head of projects and programme for MoD work, while a project coordinator and three multi-skilled engineers complete the team. RSS has also invested in a suite of machining equipment including a new 60t capacity tensile test bed and a wire rope press, both of which will be installed in March. Perhaps more notably, with a nod to the aquatic nature of the region, the company has invested £35k on a boat - a Humber Defender RIB - or swift and safe delivery of personnel and small product to marine sites. Rogers said: “The MoD is providing an immediate focal point for the business but we are strategically located to support the whole south-west region of the country. The marine industry is naturally of primary interest - Plymouth has a strong history in ship-building - and the geography generally will produce demand for our full range of lifting and rigging services. We’ll also leverage Gemmak’s engineering capabilities.” In addition to the core lifting and rigging product offering, and the aforementioned engineering services, the Plymouth site will also showcase the company’s collaborations with a number of leading brands. It is nationwide distributor of JD Neuhaus’s (JDN) Profi air hoist range, and has more recently formed partnerships with MSA Latchways, a provider of innovative fall protection systems, and FAAC, a manufacturer of automatic commercial and industrial doors. www.rssgroup.co.uk

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