EU makes poor progress on milestones to deliver a healthy ocean by 2030

At an EU Ocean Week event in early June, six NGOs published their assessment of the EU’s progress to secure a healthy ocean by 2030 — the goal set by the Blue Manifesto. The analysis reveals that the EU made little progress in the last year to achieve the necessary targets outlined in the Blue Manifesto.

Out of eight policy milestones due for achievement by the end of 2021, only one was fully met; three were not met, two were only partly delivered and two others had insufficient progress to establish a score. Worse, three 2020 milestones were downgraded in light of further policy developments in 2021, making the revised overall outcome for 2020 more negative than initially reported. Scarce political ambition and delays in the policy process — partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic — were found to be the key reasons for poor progress.

“Despite the poor performance scored for two years in a row towards the goal of making the ocean healthy by 2030, the EU can still make up for lost time by stepping up in the eight coming years. The EU faces a challenge where failure is not an option. The ocean supports all life on Earth. And there is no Ocean B,” said Adam Weiss, Head of ClientEarth Ocean programme. He added: “We call on the European Commission to seize the opportunity to restore and protect our seas and ocean, by keeping ambition high in the upcoming Nature Restoration Law.”

In light of the findings and in anticipation of the upcoming EU Nature Restoration Law, due to be published on June 22, the NGOs behind the analysis — Birdlife Europe & Central Asia, ClientEarth, Oceana, Seas at Risk, Surfrider Foundation Europe and WWF — call on EU decision makers to commit to restore and protect the ocean. Speaking at the event, Grace O’Sullivan, Member of the European Parliament (Greens), said: “We are running out of time to turn the tide on ocean degradation. 2022 could be a pivotal moment for ocean conservation and restoration. We need to be ambitious and bring the ocean to the core of the political agenda, following through on the promises of the European Green Deal, while also being effective in implementing the legislation that already exists. Member States must be held to account over their failure to act on the climate and biodiversity crises, before it is too late.”

Alexandra Cousteau, senior advisor, Oceana and co-founder, Oceans 2050 said: “Despite a six-fold increase in the Natura 2000 surface at sea in the last 20 years, most threatened marine habitats and species in the EU remain in poor conservation status. This, along with the climate crisis, require urgent action. The European Commission proposal later this month that will put forward legally binding targets to restore biodiversity and degraded ecosystems must be ambitious enough to offer the much-needed nature-based solutions to both help reverse this biodiversity loss and contribute to mitigating climate change.”

Barbara Rodenburg-Geertsema, small-scale fisher, Goede vissers said: “Good policy making starts with respect for our seas as part of the planet that bares us and nourishes us together with all other living beings. Our waters are a common source of life, beauty, food and wealth. The sea is imponderable, unpossessable, and can’t be taken away from the local communities who live with the sea.

“My generation and the generations to come are in the front line facing the consequences if we don't act to protect the ocean and our climate.” Visit us! bauma, Munich, Germany October 24– 30, 2022 Hall B2, Stand 413

SOME THINK THAT RAW MATERIALS TRANSPORT REQUIRES TRUCKING. WE THINK DIFFERENT.

Proven ABB technologies which deliver significant improvements in bulk carrier propulsion efficiency are rising to the challenges set by escalating fuel prices and IMO regulation under the EEXI scheme.

A new application of a proven technologies is set to achieve remarkable efficiency gains in bulk carrier performance, in a development which calls for a re-evaluation of ship propulsion options.

International Maritime Organization goals envisage cutting carbon emissions from ships by at least 40% by 2030, with ships also needing to join an EEXI (Energy Efficiency of an Existing Ship Index) and provide CII (Carbon Intensity Index) calculations from 2023. Alongside soaring marine fuel prices, the new regime is making owners receptive to innovation where energy saving is concerned, but few are willing to be ship propulsion pioneers.

Now, a fresh approach from ABB that combines two technologies already acknowledged in maritime circles for the efficiencies they deliver is reviving consideration of shaft generator systems as an impactful and practical replacement for conventional shaft line technology, in a solution fit for EEXI 2023 and beyond.

ABB shaft generator systems with permanent magnets at their core will be a key feature of the propulsion trains driving twelve 210,000dwt bulk carriers owned by the Bermuda-based Himalaya Shipping when they enter service from 2023 onwards. Built at New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu, China, the Capesize vessels will also include low voltage drives and transformers from ABB.

Shaft generator systems are acknowledged as offering the potential to cut ship fuel costs by 15–16% when compared to conventional shaft line technology because the set up allows ship operators greater flexibility to change engine loads when underway without starting up auxiliary engines. However, to date, higher upfront costs have proved insurmountable.

ABB says an extra 4% gain that can be squeezed out of the set up by factoring in its latest ACS880 single drive systems in combination with permanent magnets has decisively moved the goalposts.

The Himalaya Shipping order for a shaft generator application has been a true market breakthrough.

Jan Andersson from SeaQuest, Himalaya Shipping consultant, commented: “ABB’s latest series of shaft generators support our initiatives to ensure optimized ship efficiency, reduce CO2/NOx emissions and deliver maximum performance using less power in a package that is compact, robust and easy to maintain.”

Michael D. Christensen, VP and Global Segment Manager Dry Cargo, ABB Marine & Ports explained that other owners had not been slow on the uptake. “With the first bulk carrier order including permanent magnet shaft generator systems using PM machine technology in hand, more orders are expected before the end of 2022. The solution has also been selected by MSC for installation on six large container vessels,” he said.

Within a more compact frame and by dispensing with the need for an excitation unit, the shaft generator system with permanent magnets is also around 20% lighter than a conventional shaft line set up and saves about 20% of space on board, he said.

Furthermore, at current fuel prices, Christensen suggested the solution offers payback within four years, with subsequent 20% efficiency gains then falling straight to the bottom line. The same gains would be available to bulk carriers of all sizes, he said, while alternative fuel types might make the payback period even shorter. Maintenance costs would also be lower due to the absence of the excitation units which

require carbon brush replacement.Michael D. “Any kind of efficiencyChristensen, VP improvement to a vessel also providesand Global a benefit where emissions are Segment concerned,” he added, “but the shaft Manager generator system gives a very Dry Cargo, concrete, here and now savings andABB Marine demonstrable gains that can be added& Ports. to the CII calculation. As one of the intentions of the new IMO rules is to compare performance between the same types of vessels, bulk carrier owners demonstrating energy savings are likely to benefit when bidding for charters.” The capabilities of the new solution were also more flexible in operations and ‘more future-proof’ against evolving requirements on ship emissions, said Christensen. “The ACS880 drive system ensures greater responsiveness for the changing power needs of an in-line shaft generator. The drive’s DC-Link also provides intelligent control of energy consumers such as auxiliary engines or thrusters, and energy sources such as batteries and fuel cells — with electrical power needs all distributed on a single DC buss. The power control and distribution gains available to shaft generator systems with permanent magnet will therefore continue to make a decisive contribution to shipping’s more sustainable future further down the line.” Part of ABB’s role in the Himalaya Shipping project is to provide engineering, project management and commissioning services to the New Times Shipbuilding. With Hyundai Heavy Industries confirming that the shaft generator/permanent magnet combination would be part of the MSC container ship order in May 2022, Christensen drew attention to specific advantages for builders when permanent magnets become part of the project. “With permanent magnet machines, there is no need to arrange for rotor magnetization because this is done by the permanent magnets: this means there are fewer items to install when compared to synchronous excitation machines,” he said. With no path in sight towards relieving pressure on ship fuel prices, however, Christensen also emphasized that fleet managers overseeing existing vessels could also consider their options on propulsion. “In today’s market, very few owners and operators are likely to disregard a proven technology which offers an efficiency gain of up to 20%,” he said.

WinGD and Hyundai Heavy Industries collaborate on ammonia two-stroke engine development

WinGD and Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Engine Machinery Division (EMD) are to collaborate on delivering the first WinGD engine capable of running on ammonia, providing a vital step in shipping’s progress towards decarbonization.

Under an MOU (Memo of Understanding) signed during the Posidonia exhibition on 7 June, the two parties will aim to deliver a first engine by 2025, in line with WinGD’s previously announced timeframe for bringing ammonia engines to market. The project will explore ammonia concepts for both diesel-fuelled WinGD X-type engines and dual-fuel LNG X-DF engines.

Dominik Schneiter, VP R&D, WinGD said: “This project will give WinGD and HHI an important advantage in the development of ammonia-fuelled marine engines. It will set the path for a new generation of two-stroke engine technology applicable to a wide range of cargo vessels in the coming decades.”

Kwang-Hean An, President COO, EMD said: “There is strong market demand for commercialized ammonia-powered vessels in the near future. This collaboration with WinGD will ensure that EMD is ready to support that demand with the required engine technologies.”

The project will include developing relevant safety, emissions abatement and fuel supply solutions for ammonia engines targeting the local market.

Ammonia is a hydrogen based zerocarbon fuel that can be produced with no greenhouse gas emissions using renewable electricity. It is likely to have an important role in the decarbonization of shipping, particularly in deep-sea shipping where net-zero carbon fuel options with the required energy density for feasible onboard storage are limited.

Ammonia-fuelled engines will join WinGD’s solutions ecosystem designed to help ship owners and operators decarbonize their vessels. Alongside its multi-fuel engines WinGD has developed a range of optimization solutions, including hybrid power system integration and stateof-the-art digital optimization systems, to minimize fuel costs and provide operational flexibility.

WINGD IN BRIEF WinGD advances the decarbonization of marine transportation through sustainable energy systems using the most advanced technologies in emissions reduction, fuel Barbara Graziano, Ammonia Technology WinGD Project Manager in the combustion lab. efficiency, hybridization and digital optimization. With their two-stroke low-speed engines at the heart of the power equation, WinGD sets the industry standard for reliability, safety, efficiency and environmental design, backed by a global network of service and support. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland since its origin as the Sulzer Diesel Engine business in 1893, today it is powering the transformation to a sustainable future.

WinGD is a CSSC Group company.

Wilhelmsen enters into agreement to acquire Stromme to join forces on cargo hold cleaning and create an even better offering for customers

Wilhelmsen has entered into an agreement with Seven Seas to acquire 100% of its shares in its subsidiary Stromme. When established in 1971, Stromme became the first specialized cargo hold cleaning company in the marine industry. Today, it is a major global player with extensive specialized experience within the field, providing customers with high quality solutions and innovations for cargo hold cleaning, withstanding the roughest conditions at sea.

Wilhelmsen will acquire the company in Norway from parent Seven Seas including operations in Germany and Singapore, as Stromme will transfer all of its people, business and assets into Wilhelmsen Ships Service. Stromme will retain its brand and operate as a fully owned subsidiary of Ships Service. Combining Stromme’s strong knowledge, experience, and ways of working with Wilhelmsen’s global maritime network enables the combined companies to provide customers with an even better cargo hold cleaning offering going forward. Completion of the transaction is subject to predetermined conditions and is expected to happen in the third quarter of 2022.

Wilhelmsen will continue to invest and build on both its current and future cargo hold cleaning business, offering both existing and future customers even better solutions for their cargo holds.

“Stromme was the first specialized cargo hold cleaning company, and their leading position in the marketplace is a solid proof of what this team has built. We want to strengthen and broaden our offering to customers, making Stromme a really good match within cargo hold cleaning, so we are really looking forward to completing this transaction,” says President Wilhelmsen Ships Service, Kjell André Engen.

“At Seven Seas we decided to divest Stromme as it was not core business and we chose Wilhelmsen Ships Service as the best possible owner for the business to continue its positive path. Seven Seas thank all Stromme employees and wishes them and all stakeholders the very best going forward,” says CEO and Chairman Seven Seas, Søren Nørgård.

“Stromme has been focusing on cargo hold cleaning only, we have a good concept and have decided to stick to it. Coming from a small and agile organization, we have had the opportunity to take fast decisions and to rapidly change to key customers’ requirements and put focus where needed. It has resulted in steady and nice growth in revenue and results over the previous years. I see benefits of being a part of WSS with expertise, knowledge, and experience within our segment. The opportunity of utilizing the strengths of both organizations will benefit our customers and partners. We will continue to have a strong customer focus and high service level, it’s a people industry after all,” says Stromme General Manager, Ane Fosseng.

ABOUT WILHELMSEN SHIPS SERVICE With the most extensive global maritime supply network, Wilhelmsen Ships Service is active in 2,000 ports, in more than 100 countries worldwide. Supplying highquality marine solutions, including the Unitor brand of products, Timm ropes, Unicool refrigerants, and Unitor and Nalfleet marine chemicals, it handles over 200,000 product deliveries every year. The maritime industry’s trusted partner in port, onboard and offshore, Wilhelmsen’s marine products portfolio and innovative solutions are available for every conceivable vessel type in every market and region. Wilhelmsen Ships Service keeps global trade running and delivers dependable support for continued vessel operations. Wilhelmsen Ships Service is part of the Wilhelmsen group.

ABOUT STROMME Stromme was established in 1971 as the first dedicated cargo hold cleaning company in the marine industry. The company is headquartered in Norway and has offices in Oslo, Hamburg and Singapore. From its Norwegian roots Stromme has become a global player in the marine industry and its cargo hold cleaning segment.

Shipping industry suffering from ‘Long Covid’ says INTERCARGO

The shipping industry is facing its own version of ‘Long Covid’ says INTERCARGO, following warnings received from members.

“Seafarers worldwide continue to face major issues with crew change, port entry and changing vaccination requirements,” says Dimitrios Fafalios, Chairman of INTERCARGO.

“New waves of infection continue to affect ports, and once again we are seeing local authorities creating their own interpretation of the rules.

“This is happening today at ports around the world, and governments and administrations seem not to have learned the lessons of the past two years, as they move to a post-COVID agenda.”

INTERCARGO is concerned that the crisis in Ukraine has distracted from the very real shockwaves that are still affecting the maritime sector as a result of the pandemic. In a number of ports globally seafarers are finding access to shore leave restricted, and in some cases are finding it difficult to access non-emergency medical assistance.

The Association urges consideration by national governments at the highest level for the issue to remain at the top of their agenda.

Fafalios says: “The situation is ongoing and requires pan industry commitment. Our efforts to highlight the plight of the seafarer must not stop, and the industry must never consider what is happening to seafarers today in any way normal.”

IS YOUR CARGO COVERED?

CYGNUS HATCH SURE ULTRASONIC HATCH COVER TESTER

• Reliable Solution For Hatch Cover Weathertightness Tests • Accepted By P&I Clubs And ABS Type Approved • Powerful And Robust Transmitter

SCAN QR CODE FOR A FREE QUOTE OR CALL US ON +44 (0) 1305 265 533