UPDATES

Halter Marine and TAI are finalizing the PSC design along with ABB, Trident Marine and other suppliers.

Halter Marine Awarded $555.2 Million for Polar Security Cutter

THENAVAL SEA SYSTEMS COMMAND, Washington, D.C., has awarded Pascagoula, Miss., shipbuilder Halter Marine Inc. a $552,654,757 contract modification that exercises an option for the detail design and construction of the second Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC).

Halter Marine says that initial efforts under this option will target the purchase of long lead-time materials, specifically the generator sets, necessary to support production while ensuring commonality across the first two PSCs.

The PSC program is a multiple year Department of Homeland Security Level 1 investment and a U.S. Coast Guard major system initiative to acquire up to three multi-mission PSCs to recapitalize the Coast Guard’s fleet of the vessels.

“By building the second Polar Security Cutter, Halter Marine will continue its mission in delivering a national priority to the U.S. Coast Guard,” said Halter Marine president and CEO Bob Merchent. “Our talented workforce here at Halter Marine is proud to be part of such an important endeavor.”

Design Details

Halter Marine is teamed with Technology Associates Inc. (TAI) as the ship designer. The ship design is based on the German “Polarstern II” design.

The Halter Marine and TAI teams are finalizing the PSC design along with the suppliers, who include ABB and Trident Marine for the icebreaker’s Azipod propulsion and power distribution system, Raytheon for command and control systems integration, Caterpillar for the main engines, Jamestown Metal Marine for joiner package, and Bronswerk for the HVAC system.

The vessels are 460 feet in length, with a beam of 88 feet overall, a full load displacement of approximately 22,900 long tons at delivery. The propulsion will be diesel electric, developing over 45,200 horsepower and readily capable of continuously breaking ice between six to eight feet thick. The vessel will accommodate 186 personnel comfortably for an extended endurance of 90 days.

RFP Out for New Governors Island Ferry

ELLIOTT BAY D E SIGN GROUP (EBDG) reports that its design for a 190foot passenger/vehicle ferry for the Trust for Governors Island is out for bid.

The ferry will operate between Lower Manhattan and Governors Island, a 172acre island in the heart of New York Harbor that is now open to the public year round.

Sustainability solutions are at the heart of the island’s development and the new ferry is on track to be the first-ever hybrid vehicle and passenger ferry in New York Harbor and will be designed for future all-electric operation.

According to documentation in the RFP package, “the vessel will be equipped with a battery hybrid diesel electric propulsion system. Propulsion will be provided by two variable speed, reversing permanent magnet motors rated for 540 kW at 670 rpm. Drive will be through two Voith Schneider Propellers, one at each end of the vessel. The hybrid propulsion system shall be optimized for fuel consumption, engine hours, and to minimize exhaust gas generation.

“The vessel shall be configured for future all electric operation with increased battery capacity and a future addition of shore power charging facilities.

“Installed hybrid equipment shall be all electric ready including for connection of the necessary additional batteries and the higher capacity shore power transformer. Space allocation for additional batteries to be provided in battery rooms, though HVAC and cooling upgrades will be necessary at time of battery installation.”

Proposals are due on February 14, 2022.

The ferry will operate between Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

The replacement ship will be procured through a competitive construction process, the first phase of which will be completed in a 10-12 month period.

Alaska to Move Ahead on New Ferry

ALASKA’S STATE FERRY SYSTEM, the Alaska Marine Highway, is set to at long last get a replacement for its 57-year-old ferry Tustamena, which is now costing the state $2 million a year in repairs.

The state received a final design and specifications package for the replacement vessel from Glosten in February 2016.

On December 4, 2021, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson finally announced a plan to “re-energize” the Alaska Marine Highway System that includes the Tustamena replacement.

The marine highway serves 35 communities in Alaska and transports goods, vehicles and passengers between communities. The ocean highway also links coastal communities to Alaska’s highway and rail network.

Ferry Costs

The replacement vessel is estimated to cost $200 million to $250 million and will be competitively bid. The new ship is expected to begin service in 2027. Its vehicle and passenger capacity would increase by 40% over the Tustumena, from 34 to 52 vehicles and from 160 to 250 passengers.

“The new vessel will make the fleet more resilient and responsive to the needs of coastal communities—through more passenger and vehicle space, but also more fuel efficient engines, diesel and electric propulsion systems, and an efficient design to move through the water easily,” said Anderson. “It will be built to serve coastal communities throughout our system, allowing flexibility to move our ships around during annual layups.” The functional design of the ferry is complete.

The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities will fund the vessel over multiple years using federal funds. Those funds are expected to come from the massive just-passed infrastructure act. The bill creates a new program for “essential ferry service” for rural areas. The eligibility criteria are that the ferry has to serve at least two rural communities that are at least 50 miles apart. Most U.S. ferry systems travel much shorter distances and observers believe that provision is in there thanks to U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

The replacement ship will be procured through a competitive construction management process/general manager process, the first phase of which will be completed in a 10-12 months period.

It is exit is expected that the new ship will be placed in service in early 2027. Meantime, the Tustamena will get $8 million in upgrade and replacement work, with an estimated return to service date of June 30, 2022.

BIZ NOTES

CHINA TO IMPORT U.S. LNG FROM PLAQUEMINES TERMINAL

Arlington, Va.-headquartered Venture Global LNG has signed 20-year sales and purchase agreement with CNOOC Gas & Power Group Company Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

This is the first LNG supply agreement signed by a U.S. exporter with CNOOC, China’s largest importer of LNG. Under the deal, Venture Global will supply 2 million tonnes per annum of LNG on a free on board basis from its Plaquemines LNG export facility, in Plaquemines Parish, La.

In addition, CNOOC Gas & Power will purchase 1.5 million tonnes of LNG from Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG facility for a shorter duration.

“Venture Global is pleased to announce the expansion of our footprint in Asia through two new deals to supply the Chinese market with clean, low-cost U.S. LNG,” said Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global LNG. “China is critical to global climate efforts, and LNG supplied by Venture Global will serve as an important addition to their low carbon energy mix for decades. This new long-term partnership with CNOOC builds on our company’s continued momentum in a very active 2021.”

“As China’s largest LNG importer, CNOOC is committed deeply not only to the mission of securing China’s gas supply, but also to the climate goals of building a carbonneutral China by 2060,” said Shi Chenggang, chairman of CNOOC Gas & Power. “We are pleased to announce our long-term LNG cooperation with Venture Global. By signing the SPAs with Venture Global, CNOOC will be able to further improve its ability to meet China’s increasing gas demand, whilst provide solid support for China’s energy transition pathway to build a more ‘beautiful China.”

Solstad Offshore Going Greener with Innovation Norway Grant

U.S. OFFSHORE SERVICE VESSEL operators often point to Norway as a country that has gotten energy policy right, by continuing offshore oil and gas production while providing operators with incentives and support to ensure that those activities are as green as possible.

One example of this policy in action is provided by Norway’s largest offshore service vessel operator, Solstad Offshore ASA. It is targeting a 50% global fleet emission reduction by 2030. Over the next three years, the company will be investing more than NOK 300 million (about $34 million) in battery hybrid conversion projects, supported by an Innovation Norway grant of NOK 87 million (almost $10 million).

Solstad plans to upgrade a total of 11 vessels over the next three years. They will undergo battery hybrid conversions and will be able to connect to shore power in ports and harbors. After completion of this program Solstad will have a total of 21 battery hybrid vessels in its fleet.

Zero By 2050

The planned upgrades will lead to an annual reduction of 12,000 tons of CO2 emissions and will play an import party in hitting company’s target of a 50% emission reductions by 2030 and ultimately zero emissions by, at latest, 2050.

In 2021, Innovation Norway introduced a scheme to support the removal of older vessels from the market and at the same time fund upgrades of existing vessels with green technology. In October, Solstad announced plans to recycle seven vessels, and this work will be performed at specialized yards in Norway.

“This major grant from Innovation Norway allows us to step-up up our green technology investment program,” says Tor Inge Dale, chief sustainability officer at Solstad Offshore. “The list of vessels includes some of our largest construction vessels that will after conversion contribute to considerable CO2 emission reductions.”

“Innovation Norway is pleased to see that this funding arrangement can assist on speeding up both the needed work to recycle older offshore vessels as well as provide considerable contributions to fund important decarbonization projects in this segment,” says Sigbjørn John Huun, Special Advisor, Innovation Norway.

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New Rule on Fire Safety of Small Passenger Vessels

IN RESPONSE TO THE DEADLY Conception dive boat fire, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued an interim rule as the first step to implementing statutorily mandated requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels.

“The Coast Guard’s interim rules addressing the recommendations the NTSB issued following its investigation of the deadly Labor Day 2019 fire aboard the Conception are a welcome step towards improving the safety of passengers and crew on small passenger vessels,” said National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy. “Although there is more work to be done, including the implementation of safety management systems for passenger vessel operations, we are encouraged by the Coast Guard’s actions and look forward to reviewing the interim rules”

This interim rules add requirements for small passenger vessels that include fire detection and suppression systems, avenues of escape, egress drills, crew firefighting training, watchmen monitoring devices, and the handling of flammable items such as rechargeable batteries.

Section 8441 of the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 (2020 CGAA) amended Title 46 of the United States Code (U.S.C.), section 3306, which now directs the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prescribe fire safety regulations for certain “covered small passenger vessels,” defined as small passenger vessels (SPVs) with overnight accommodations for passengers or operating on Oceans or Coastwise routes, excluding fishing vessels and ferries.

The 2020 CGAA added a new paragraph to section 3306 which requires the Secretary to issue interim requirements to cover the following eight provisions: • Marine firefighting training programs to improve crewmember training and proficiency, including egress training for each member of the crew; • Interconnected fire detection equipment and additional fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment in all areas on board where passengers and crew have access; • Installation and use of monitoring devices to ensure wakefulness of the required night watch (for covered SPVs with overnight passenger accommodations); • Increased fire detection and suppression systems in unmanned areas with machinery or areas with other potential heat sources; • No less than two independent avenues of escape for all general areas accessible to passengers, that are constructed and arranged to allow for unobstructed egress, located so that if one avenue of escape is not available, another avenue of escape is available, and not directly above, or dependent on, a berth (for covered SPVs with overnight passenger accommodations); • Handling, storage, and operation of flammable items, such as rechargeable batteries, including lithium-ion batteries; • Requirements for passenger emergency egress drills (for covered SPVs with overnight passenger accommodations); and • Providing all passengers a copy of the emergency egress plan for the vessel (for covered SPVs with overnight passenger accommodations).

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