Ensuring maximum vessel efficiency and reduced emissions with sustainable propulsion systems.
BRIEFS
Vard wins ECV build
Vard will deign and build an energy construction vessel (ECV) for Wind Energy Construction, which is partly owned by the founders and owners of Norwind Offshore. This is the sixth vessel for Norwind Offshore that VARD has supplied since October 2021, the previous five being CSOVs. The ECV is a new vessel category of VARD 3 11 design, tailormade for the offshore wind and subsea market.
Battery ferries for San Francisco
Swedish marine battery firm has signed a deal to supply battery systems to San Francisco’s Bay Ferry company. The batteries are LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) batteries, which, Echandia says, are known for their ‘superior safety, fast charging and long cycle life’. Three 150-passenger ferries will be introduced to the waterfront neighbourhoods, along with two 400-passenger ferries to serve ferry routes in Oakland and Alameda.
Deep water data sub successfully trialled
An autonomous underwater vehicle has completed a spiral behaviour deep-water trial off the coast of Madeira, providing vertical profiling of the water column down to 2,000 metres. The ecoSUBm25-Science AUV weighs 12kg and is depthrated to 2,500 metres. Unlike traditional deeprated large and expensive AUVs, the ecoSUB platform is priced in the tens of thousands. Equipped with a conductivity, temperature and depth sensor and a Chelsea Technologies TriLux sensor, the AUV collected comprehensive measurements.
NEW BLOW FOR HARLAND & WOLFF AS CONTRACT TERMINATED
A contract initally won by Harland & Wolff to build four floating pontoons for the Falkland Islands has been pulled.
The project, known as FIPASS, would have involved the build, transport and installation of four 90m-long floating pontoons.
Announced preferred bidder in March this year, then CEO John Wood said it built on an ‘already great legacy’ with the Falklands, where 40 years ago it built the six linked barges that make up the islands’ port facility. Wood has been fired and a new board and interim executive chair Russell Downs helicoptered in.
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) said it had been unable to reach ‘a mutually acceptable commercial position’ with Harland & Wolff.
Blow after blow The blow comes after the new
UK government refused to stand by a £200 million loan guarantee that had been agreed under the previous government.
The following day, a lifeline loan totalling £19.5 million was secured from Riverstone Credit Opportunities Income (RCOI), part of Riverstone Investment Group, which brings the total loans from
Riverstone to £140 million, according to RCOI’s statement.
The £19.5 million is ‘part of a larger effort to stabilise the liquidity of Harland & Wolff and help facilitate a long-term capital solution’, it says.
AMAZON FUNDS WORLD-FIRST OFFSHORE FARM WITHIN A FARM
The world’s first commercialscale seaweed farm in Europe is about to be opened within the confines of an offshore wind farm, funded by retail giant Amazon.
Under Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, the farm will be operated within an offshore wind farm about 18km off the coast of the Netherlands.
The issue of crowding in the North Sea because of offshore wind farms and associated subsea infrastructure has led to
the Netherlands addressing issues surrounding safety, as Maritime Journal reported in July.
Now a scheme to use the area within wind farms otherwise unavailable for conventional use, such as fishing and commercial shipping, is being developed by Den Haag-based non-profit foundation North Sea Farmers. It involves a floating seaweed farm located between the turbines of the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm off Scheveningen.
Seaweed cultivation will be tested and improved and include scientific research investigating the potential of seaweed farms to capture carbon.
North Sea Farmers says there is more than enough space in current and planned North Sea projects to scale up production to one million tons of fresh seaweed a year by 2040, which could contribute to the capture of millions of tons of CO2.
JAN DE NUL CALLED IN TO OPEN ASIAN BOTTLENECKS
Dutch maritime construction giant Jan De Nul is playing its part in opening up Central Asian ports to trade along the ‘Middle Corridor’, known as part of the ‘New Silk Road’.
Also known as the TransCaspian International Transport Route, the route is being viewed as a more reliable alternative to the Suez Canal route or northern route through Russia.
Two of its ports, Anaklia, Georgia
and Kuryk in Kazakhstan, will get the Jan De Nul treatment to make the route more viable still.
At Anaklia, a new deep-water port will be built, expanding cargo capacity by 600,000 containers. A breakwater will be built along with access channels and turning points.
At Kuryk, capital dredging work will be carried out by Jan De Nul’s vessel Filippo Brunelleschi, a 142.5m trailing suction hopper
dredger built in 2003 that can dredge to a maximum of 77 metres.
As well as the need to expand ports, dropping sea levels have made the work more necessary, says Business Development manager Stefan Muntolu.
Unlike in many other areas where sea levels are said to be rising because of climate change, in this case they are falling for the same reason, he says.
■ Harland & Wolff’s famous cranes at the Belfast shipyard
BRIEFS
ABP appoints chairman
Associated British Ports has appointed Jon Lewis to replace Phil Nolan as chairman after Nolan decided to stand down. Currently a non-executive director at energy firm Equinor, Lewis will take the helm in September.
ABP is the UK’s leading ports group, its 21 ports handling a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade, which is worth more than £150 billion to the UK economy.
Boskalis completes Smit buy-out
Dredging and infrastructure giant Boskalis has finally completed its buy-out of towage operator Smit Lamnalco, bringing the company ‘full ownership of Smit’s diverse range of harbour and terminal tugs and offshore support vessels, on top of its 600-strong fleet of vessels and equipment, including 54 dredgers, 87 offshore vessels, two pontoons and barges and one cable-layer’. The deal has taken a while to be finalised, with Boskalis already owning 50% of the shares in a joint venture with Rezayat Group, which owned the rest.
Bibby boosts finance offer
Bibby Financial Services has appointed six new staff to help boost its lending provision for the maritime sector, it says. BFS Marine Finance, which was only launched last year, says it wants to grow its support for the maritime sector across a wide range of vessel types, including wind farm service vessels, general purpose workboats, passenger vessels and ferries, survey vessels, tugs and barges, coastal ships, charter boats and hire boat fleets.
WORKBOAT ASSOCIATION CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Congratulations to the Workboat Association on their 30th anniversary year from all at Maritime Journal and Seawork, the commercial marine and workboats exhibition that celebrated its 25th edition in 2024.
The Workboat Association has collaborated with Seawork since the inaugural event in 1998. We celebrate this long-standing alliance with the greatest respect for the work achieved over the last 30 years in this critical area of the maritime industry.
Andrew Webster, CEO, Mercator Media, organisers of Seawork, said: “The Workboat
Association plays a key part in representing the commercial marine business and the vital role it plays in facilitating trade, the maintenance of our coastlines, ports and harbours, security, and
safety on the water is invaluable.” All at Seawork wish them a fantastic anniversary celebration this year.
STORMS HAMPER GROUNDED VESSEL SALVAGE
Storms have hampered salvage of a cargo vessel off the coast of South Africa.
Resolve Marine and Smit International were called in to salvage the vessel, which had 500 tons of low sulphur fuel, hydraulic oils and fertiliser.on board, before
she broke up into four sections.
On 9 July 18 crew on MV Ultra Galaxy were picked up after she began severely listing, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The vessel then ran aground and salvors were called in to
prevent the cargo spill.
Resolve Marine built a platform on the vessel to heat and pump the oil from it, and Smit International was also called in, says SAMSA, before storms started causing havoc.
“At one stage, 6.8-meter swells struck the wreck every 15 seconds, and the massive force of this constant battering caused the accommodation section to first break off, which then led to a number of larger cracks on the hull,” SAMSA said.
More than 100 people are now mopping up coastal areas under South Africa;s Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
UK TOPS UP OFFSHORE ENERGY POT BY £500m
The UK government has increased its budget for the 6th auction round of renewable energy projects by £500 million (€593 million).
For offshore wind it means another £300 million, for floating wind, tidal stream and others, it means another £268 million. Onshore wind is increased by £65 million, to £120 million.
According to ORE Catapult head of analysis Tom Quinn, if all the budget is used up through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) procedure, another 4.2GW of bottom fixed wind, 362MW of floating wind and 20MW of tidal
stream projects could go ahead.
“An important caveat is that history tells us the capacities of projects to progress don’t always add up to these theoretical maximums,” said Quinn.
“The decision to significantly raise these budgets is both welcome and necessary to support the sector on the path to achieving 2030 targets of 60GW of offshore wind, and 5GW of floating wind specifically."
However the outcome is far from certain as it depends on the bids being made.
Last year’s auction did not receive a single bid from offshore
wind developers, and the government has so far refused to say how many were received this year, although the bidding closed some weeks ago.
The UK government has set a target of 60GW of offshore wind by 2030, including 5GW of floating wind. Longer-term, legally-binding 2050 targets will likely require more than 100GW of offshore wind to be deployed.
Reacting to the plan, the British Hydropower Assocation said that the government fails to support sub-5MW power generation, such as hydropower, which it says is critical for the energy mix.
■ The Workboat Association pavilion at Seawork 2024
■ Grounded cargo vessel MV Ultra Galaxy
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Hall B7 Booth 228
SILVER SEAWORK 2024
Seawork, the commercial marine and workboats exhibition that celebrated its 25th edition in 2024, celebrated with Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opening the event.
More than 7,500 visitors from 45 countries visited the show, whose Speed@Seawork event was held on the Isle of Wight the day before, giving an opportunity for operators and builders to showcase the faster, smaller boats used in commercial marine.
As usual, awards were presented to the winners of several categories in the European Commercial Marine Awards and
Innovations Showcase, with Lifetime Achievement going to Robert Glen, of boatbuilding firm E. P. Barrus, who has ‘lived and breathed’ the industry for 65 years.
The Spirit of Innovation prize went to Lifting Gear and Safety, for 100% recycled slings that are used across the board in marine civils and commercial marine.
Announcing the award, which was presented by Tom Chant MBE, Maritime Journal editor Debbie Mason said the product had won ’for being sustainable, reducing waste and above all, for safety’.
■ Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opened Seawork’s silver event this year
■ Lifting Gear & Safety won the Spirit of Innovation award, presented by Tom Chant MBE
A great commercial show for networking and developing new contacts
This year's Seawork exhibition was attended extremely well and the quality of visitors was exceptional, producing actionable leads and new connections
Bartech
Halyard
SEAWORK 2024 BOOTH DROP-IN
After a Royal opening this year, with Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal cutting the ribbon, Seawork’s silver anniversary show got off to a glittering start. Debbie Mason talked to some of the exhibitors in the halls and on the quayside.
■ Thomas Jakobssen, MD Powertrain Sweden
“We are exhibiting our small diesel outboard. Fourteen horsepower, designed by us in Sweden together with an Italian company. It’s diesel, which makes it special because there aren’t many diesel outboard producers in the world, especially not the small ones.
“I’m very happy to be here and we’ve had a lot of interest.”
■ Williams Shipping, Philip Lewis
“I think we’ve been to every one, and there’s always something special at them – they’re always slightly different. We’re very happy here on the quayside, it’s the biggest stand we’ve had.
The team is growing, we’ve got a Castrol stand as well as a Williams Shipping stand, because we look after Castrol, and on that stand they’ve brought some really exciting equipment that monitors oil permanently through telemetry, and they’ve even brought a model of that so that customers can come and see how that works. So it’s more touchy-feely than it’s been in the past, as far as we’re concerned. We’ll be here for another 25 years, definitely.”
■ National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), Ian Whalley and Tom Scrimgeour
“This is the fourth time we have been to Seawork and thank you very much Mercator Media for putting it on. NCI is a charity and we’re here to engage with sponsors and supporters and look for new ones because money is difficult to come by these days.
“We have been exceptionally busy for the last
two days with lots and lots of interest and lots of people visiting us or coming to renew the engagement with us. We will be back next year.”
■ Kongsberg, Fredrik Appel
“A couple of years back we launched the JCS extender the JCS compact control system for waterjets. They were at that time intended for waterjets up to medium size – up to approximately 25 metres. Now we’re launching it so we can benefit from the same system for a larger range of vessels so all the waterjet series that we have can now benefit from the JCS extended system that we have nowadays.
“The benefit is that it’s highly standardised with limited options that makes it a lot easier for the yard to install, commission and operate. It’s the next-generation control system with a lot of high-tech features that are now becoming quite standardised in their business, and we need to make sure that we can offer them to customers in the larger ranges.
“Seawork has been even better than last year, in general a lot more visits and discussions.”
■
“We are here already for many years in a row because it’s a very important show for us, the
CTV and workboat segment – they are spot on for oure products. We are here with several products we have now the launch of the D8 IMO III package which is especially for the smaller workboats, smaller planing boats. They have less space in the boats but they need to comply to IMO III as well so we have a solution for that.
“And on top of that we have a very nice demonstrator at the berth, the MHO Boreas, where we are showcasing our full electric Volvo Penta IPS system. We have scheduled several tours a day going out on her.
“Volvo Penta has received lots of interest, lots of positive remarks as well, on the vessel and the performance, on the on the silence of the operation, on the manoeuvrability which we of course expected already but still it’s nice to get the confirmation from the market. And we see that the CTV market, which is a green energy business, they want to go for full electric in the future.
“We need to change so we are in the middle of the transformation from fossil fuel-driven boats or whatever, so we’re preparing for alternative fuels, which we already have on board, like HVO, but we are looking at other alternative fuels or electrification.
“The only challenge with driving an electric boat is not the driving it but how to charge it.”
■ Caudwell Marine, Tom Bettle
“We’re displaying our axis 300D diesel outboard motor. We’re displaying rather than launching it because we’re not actually quite ready yet so we’re having a bit of tongue-incheek introduction to who we are. We’re almost ready.
“Seawork has been excellent, with customers from all over Europe – in fact all over the world – great interest and we’re looking forward to selling it to them when we are ready to launch.”
Volvo Penta, Jan Willem Vissers
■ Damen, Frederik van der Linde
“Seawork is a very important exhibition for Damen, and this is already the 25th time here – we’ve been here from the beginning actually and the UK market is enormously important for Damen. I think we delivered already around 300 vessels to UK clients since the 1960s.
“This year is very special because we have built a ship locally together with Coastal Workboats in Exeter. It’s a landing utility vessel, which we managed to sell to the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, and it was a display yesterday and the day before, so local content provided by Damen Shipyards.
“It’s been very, very busy and we’re building two additional vessels on speculation, and those units will be delivered or will be ready in a couple of months’ time.”
■ SeaRegs, Simon Chapman
“Commercial marine is not all about selling products, we are very keen to promote not just the conventional career routes, but we offer apprenticeships across different sectors the boat master’s licence, small commercial vessel crew member, port operatives – we’re now offering the deck rating apprenticeships.
“But more importantly for us now we have the new technology, the USVs, which we’re gaining experience operating ourselves, putting in place a training package for new operators. We’ve brought one to the quayside and it’s proved to be a real draw for visitors to the show, they’re very interested what it does and how it works, and we’re there to talk training opportunities, which is critical at the moment.
“We also offer training in compliance regulations and master’s responsibilities and the legal aspect of being a mariner, which lots of companies are aware of the perhaps don’t quite know how to fulfil.
■ Sleipner, Russ Chadwick
“It’s been great, we’re here mainly to exhibit our new electric stabiliser, which is a game-changer, ground-breaking technology. With the foil technology it generates lift but uses a lot less force, so it makes the actuator more energy efficient, even at full power using less than one kilowatt. It’s got state-of-the-art gearing which is strain wave gear, so can take high loadings designed to slip, which gives you redundancy so you won’t get any backlash so when operating and changing direction from stroke to stroke you hear no noise – the direction change is silent.
“It’s taking the market by storm and we’ve actually been overwhelmed with the vine of interest – people come in here wanting to talk to us about this technology.
“It’s a three day show, it’s on weekdays, not over the weekend, not during school holidays – we’ve all got busy schedules and people were here taking time out of their busy schedules with a purpose. The footfall is real high value yeah and it’s been overwhelming.”
■ Dywidag, Andreas Ramsauer
“We supply specialist materials for the ground-engineering and marine market, we have a unique bar that is able to couple together for the construction of harbour walls. Our background is mainly geotechnical elements such as ground anchoring, soil nailing and we also have a monitoring part of the business whereby if you need your harbour wall to be monitored over time, time we have a unique solution.
“Our bars have a continuous thread element that you are able to cut at any point and couple it, unlike say a reinforcing bar, which gives you flexibility when you’re constructing your harbour wall.”
■ NAV, Sam Fisk
“I’m PR manager for NAV and this week we are showing off our latest CTV design. We actually launched the company in September last year with a 26-metre design, and now in the last couple of weeks we have just announced a new 35 metre design.
“We’ve been getting a lot of interest, and it’s very exciting times for us.”
■ Fender Innovations, Sylvia Ruizendaal
“Seawork has been like always, a really great exhibition for us. We have sealed a big order here, and we have already booked for Seawork for next year.
“What we like about Seawork is that it isn’t a suits affair, it is for everyone, like you and me. They come here if they have a problem and we can help them to solve it here on the stand.
“I think this year’s been a very busy one, so we’ll definitely see you again next year.”
MHO BOREAS: A ‘NEW GENERATION OF CTV’
One of the many vessels on show at Seawork’s 2024 Silver Anniversary event was MHO Boreas. The 35.89m x 11m Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) has four electric drivelines as opposed to the previous two, driven by diesel and batteries.
With extra inputs to the grid it will also be able to use power from methanol or hydrogen. On board the vessel when Maritime Journal joined for a quick trip were MHO owner Mik Henriksen and Jan-Willem Vissers, director, Marine Commercial at Volvo Penta, and they talked to us about the vessels, working together and the future.
“What makes this vessel unique is that we have worked together with Danfoss and provided a completely integrated driveline solution, and the captain only needs to look at one screen to see the whole system – the status of the batteries, the generators, all the drivelines,” said Vissers.
“That’s quite unique – that we have the collaboration with Danfoss and it acts as one solution.”
As well as working on what Vissers calls an evolution, having doubled the number of drivelines and made other improvements, Vissers says this is a new way of going to market for Volvo Penta.
“Normally we go to market when we are completely finished, but now we are jointly developing it with our clients, to speed up and learn more from the live process,” he said. “You can do a lot of things in a test cell, in a lab, but in real life it might act completely differently.”
Future proofing
With the number of alternative fuels swirling around at the moment and no clear frontrunner, how can the uncertainty be approached?
MHO’s Mik Henriksen is leaving the door open.
“The whole world is now looking at becoming sustainable, and we think the way ships and boats in the world can transition to the new fuels, whatever they might be – hydrogen, methanol – whatever’s going to come out – I think one of the reasons we’ve gone with the electric is we don’t know,” he said.
“I think methanol looks as if it’s a little bit easier to manage, maybe not for ships, but for boats at least. So CTVs and boats of that size, smaller ferries, I think could use methanol.
“Offshore charging is definitely going to be a game changer. That's why electric propulsion is a little bit more safe and secure in the future because we can put more batteries on or we can put dual-fuel gensets or methanol or hydrogen fuel cells.”
And with a vessel of MHO Boreas’ size, with a load capacity of 70 tons and six fuel tanks, two of which have already been prepared, the extra space needed to accommodate them won’t cause so much of a problem as for smaller vessels.
“Hydrogen is not so heavy on its own, but the tanks and the equipment to handle it takes space and is heavy,” said Henriksen. “So that's also a big advantage when you have a bigger boat compared to a small boat, where you're already a little bit squeezed for space.”
As well as new fuels, new technologies brought about by AI are swiftly emerging. While Henriksen doesn’t see crews being replaced with automatons, certain operations – like monitoring sea states and so on – are of course already using these systems.
“We will have something like auto0docking on a wind turbine, or in port, like park assist – the same will come out in boats and combine with the systems already in place,” he said.
“Seafarers are very conservative, so you can’t change things very quickly – but there’s a lot of good satellite communication equipment coming out that’s going to help a lot with these automated systems because they can be monitored and controlled from anywhere.
“It’s just a question of whether you want to see your technicians in the hands of automated systems, and I think it will take a long time for the conservative industry to accept that.”
Energy demand
“To reach the capacity of energy that the world is consuming is not going to be possible from wind turbines because the amount of energy consumed is growing so fast that even if we put in all the wind turbines we can produce, it wouldn’t be enough,” said Henriksen.
“I would really like to have a nuclear-powered boat, and there are some developments being talked about, like molten salt, and small-scale nuclear plants. So I don’t see why we shouldn’t be using that in 20-30 years’ time, with electric propulsion.”
Henriksen has 14 vessels in his fleet, and says that while he works with other parties he has good co-operation with Volvo Penta and the way this vessel has been produced collaboratively, with a step-by-step approach, is a pattern he
“It’s going to be scalable, so it could be used in yachts and it can be used in bigger boats and in ships,” he said. “And it’s really nice to be involved in these things from scratch. It
■ MHO Boreas
■ Mik Henriksen (left) and Jan-Willem Vissers
BRIGGS MARINE’S NEW VESSEL TAKES TO THE WATER
The latest chapter in the story of Briggs Marine’s new maintenance support vessel has been celebrated with its launching ceremony in Spain, before she goes to be fitted out.
In 2022 family-owned, Burntisland, Fife-based Briggs Marine turned to Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain and sealed the contract to build its new vessel, since when construction has made steady progress with what is to be called Forth Constructor. She will be a notable addition to the UK-based fleet of a company that offers a wide range of vessels for the marine services sector.
The 40m long, 12.4m breadth and 2.5m design draught vessel has been specifically configured to support the owner’s ongoing contracts with UK government, offshore wind contractors and commercial ports, and its range of duties will include inspection, servicing and replacement of Aids to Navigation and heavy inshore moorings in the UK and overseas.
The relatively recent growth of offshore wind energy has demanded new abilities for supporting craft of all sizes but Briggs Marine’s traditional markets are still catered for, with multi-purpose capabilities that will include ROV deployment, survey work, diving, subsea investigation, seabed preparation and other marine project activities.
Future proofed
Virtually every sector of the shipping industry is facing the challenges of coming to terms with strict local and international emissions regulations, not only aimed at improving air quality but also benefiting from operating efficiencies that can be gained in the process, not to mention improving the owner’s corporate image.
The
ship captures the combined expertise of Briggs and Freire, who have partnered closely to build a vessel that is genuinely innovative and that underscores Briggs’ intent to bring additional levels of safety and efficiency to meet our customer’s evolving demands
Small service vessels including tugs and workboats are included here and are also now choosing their own pathway, be it in alternative fuels including batteries, or mechanical innovation adding a premium element to attract the attention of charterers.
Briggs Marine’s own pathway for Forth Constructor involves diesel-electric propulsion to offer ‘the best fuel efficiency possible in a wide range of applications as well as compliance with the latest and proposed future emissions standards’. The pathway is wide, with various potential diversions, and the nature of the vessel’s machinery installation will allow it to be “future proofed” to embrace emerging technologies and use transitional fuels, including drop-in battery capacity
allowing zero carbon operation in some circumstances with DP2 capability specified in its design.
Four 350eKW gensets will provide electrical power for two 640eKW azimuth thrusters, manoeuvrability enhanced by two 315eKW fixed-pitch bow tunnel thrusters. Maximum speed will be 11kn and Forth Constructor will have an endurance of 15 days.
The wide range of capabilities planned for the vessel demand extensive deck equipment provision, including a moonpool, detachable A-frame and a four-point mooring system via two windlasses on the forward mooring deck and two winches aft. A survey project office will be provided and as offshore wind farm activity will require working with Crew Transfer Vessels, a demountable CTV boarding ladder will be included.
A telescopic knuckle-boom crane with maximum lift of 25t at 4.4m is included, along with two hydraulically-powered 40t anchor-handling winches, each with capacity for 250m of D38 wire. Retractable shark jaws with pop-up pins at stern and side locations each with an SWL of 40t and a 40t SWL stern roller and 10t SWL side roller of 8m and 6m width respectively complete the deck equipment specifications.
Technical collaboration with the builder examined the hull shape with the intention of providing excellent sea-keeping properties and weather resilience, particularly important for crew welfare. “Comfortable continuous operations” will be possible for a permanent crew of six along with 10 additional project personnel in well-appointed cabins.
Forth Constructor’s keel was laid in September 2023, the vessel now having taken to the water for the first time with delivery due in 2025.
“This ship’s launch is an exciting event,” said Briggs Marine director of Port and Marine, Iain Ross. “The ship captures the combined expertise of Briggs and Freire, who have partnered closely to build a vessel that is genuinely innovative and that underscores Briggs’ intent to bring additional levels of safety and efficiency to meet our customer’s evolving demands.”
■ Forth Constructor has taken to the water for the first time in Spain
Source: Briggs Marine
VARD TAKES ON 3rd CSOV
DESIGN FOR REM OFFSHORE
Vard will build another Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for Norwegian fleet owner REM Offshore.
Rem Offshore already has 19 vessels, most of them Platform Supply Vessels, plus a Subsea Construction Vessel, a Seismic Survey Vessel, Construction Support Vessel and four CSOVs. Two of the CSOVs, REM Power and REM Wind, were delivered by Vard.
The latest CSOV on order, a 4 19 design, will be equipped with a diesel-electric and battery hybrid propulsion system ‘designed for highly flexible and fuel-efficient operation’, Vard says.
“Substantial volumes in the vessel are set aside for future upgrades or conversion to zero-emission energy sources,” it says.
These ships were developed and built in close and good cooperation between us and Vard, and it is only natural for us to return to Vard when we now want to expand the fleet with a new CSOV
Vard says the Vard Electro SeaQ integrated bridge system will be part of the onboard equipment, a bridge integration system with extended architecture that will have a Kongsberg decision support system.
“The vessel is also equipped with Metizoft’s Life Cycle Assessment system, which measures the vessel’s environ-
mental impact through each step of its life cycle, from raw material extraction to disposal,” says Vard. “By analysing all relevant Environmental Product Declarations, a complete assessment of the total environmental impact is made.”
“These ships were developed and built in close and good cooperation between us and Vard, and it is only natural for us to return to Vard when we now want to expand the fleet with a new CSOV,” said Rem Offshore CEM Lars Conradi Andersen.
The 85m x 19.5m vessel can accommodate 120 people, including 93 wind turbine technicians and 27 crew. It is scheduled to be delivered in 2026.
New Kongsberg underwater thruster boosts vessel efficiency
Kongsberg Maritime has introduced the UUC PM 355, a new underwater mountable azimuth thruster with a 3.7-metre propeller and 4.2-megawatt power output, enhancing vessel efficiency and responsiveness.
Designed for a variety of vessels, including drill ships, windfarm vessels and production vessels, the UUC PM 355 features a permanent magnet (PM) motor that delivers 81 tonnes of bollard pull.
“Our UUC range of underwater mountable thrusters remains a popular choice across a range of offshore applications where minimising downtime is a priority,” said Pasi Villanen, product line manager at Kongsberg Maritime.
“With this new UUC PM 355 thruster, we can offer increased thrust and simple installation while reducing the amount of
space required inside the vessel. The permanent magnet motor, common across much of our propulsion portfolio, is ideal for Dynamic Positioning operations due to its responsiveness and efficiency.”
Simple exchange
This innovative thruster boasts a compact design, requiring less space in the machine room due to its integrated PM motor, making it ideal for vessels where space is at a premium.
Kongsberg Maritime said that the UUC PM 355 can be exchanged without the need for drydocking, with installations possible at depths of up to 50 metres. This minimises operational downtime and maximises efficiency.
Additional features include low noise operation, reduced lubricating oil volume and no oil-to-sea interfaces, highlighting the thruster’s environmental benefits.
The UUC PM 355 should help enhance operational performance and environmental sustainability for a wide range of maritime customers.
■ Vard-designed CSOVs for Rem Offshore
Source:
■ The UUC PM 355, is a new underwater mountable azimuth thruster with a 3.7-metre propeller and 4.2-megawatt power output
The US, Canada and Finland have struck an ’ICE Pact’ to build polar icebreakers for security, economic and commercial maritime reasons.
The ‘Ice Collaboration Effort’ (ICE) is a trilateral collaboration to produce polar icebreakers to strengthen the shipbuilding industry and industrial capacity of each country.
It also aims to build closer security and economic ties through information exchange and mutual workforce development focused around building the vessels, as well as other Arctic and polar capabilities.
“Due to the capital intensity of shipbuilding, long-term, multi-ship order books are essential to the success of a shipyard,” says a statement from the Biden-Harris administration. “The governments of the United States, Canada, and Finland intend to leverage shipyards in the United States, Canada, and Finland to build polar icebreakers for their own use, as well as to work closely with like-minded allies and partners to build and export polar icebreakers for their needs at speed and affordable cost.”
As well as building the vessels for their own needs, ‘allies and partners’ will be encouraged to buy from the three countries at reduced cost as the business scales up.
US, CANADA AND FINLAND FORM ICE PACT
The pact has been made shortly after various media reports signalled a Chinese/ Russian partnership in building logistics capacity in the Arctic region.
According to US Coast Guard data, Russia has the most icebreakers in the world, with 46, 11 under construction and another four planned.
■ US Coast Guard icebreakers
Canada has seven, with two under construction and five planned; China has three, with one planned; and the US has five, with three planned.
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A Steerprop’s custom propulsion system will enhance environmental performance and manoeuvrability for the world’s largest cable-laying vessel, set for delivery in 2026.
Steerprop’s fit-for-purpose propulsion system aims to revolutionise operations in deep offshore power projects, ensuring Jan De Nul’s newbuild FleemingJenkin meets stringent maritime environmental regulations and customer requirements.
“This is a milestone project for us and not just because of the technology; we showed that we were able to adapt to various end-customer requirements and be flexible in terms of CMHI’s needs in order to ensure that the building and commissioning phases occur seamlessly,” said Juho Rekola, director of sales and project management at Steerprop.
Better manoeuvrability
The FleemingJenkin , built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Haimen (CMHI) and owned by Jan De Nul Group, will feature four azimuth thrusters for main propulsion, along with three tunnel thrusters and two retractable ones for enhanced manoeuvrability.
The contract also includes an additional full main thruster and an extensive spares package. Jan De Nul is simultaneously
STEERPROP MANOEUVRABILITY FOR MILESTONE CABLE-LAYING VESSEL
constructing a second identical vessel, each capable of carrying 28,000 tonnes of cable.
Jan Van de Velde, director of newbuilds at Jan De Nul, added: “This vessel and the technologies on board are designed by our in-house specialists.”
“We are happy to add to that the expertise of Steerprop in delivering a comprehensive propulsion system for our cable-laying vessel under construction, resulting in highmanoeuverable and performant vessels for
■ Steerprop’s propulsion system will help ensure Jan De Nul’s newbuild FleemingJenkin meets stringent maritime environmental regulations and customer requirements
challenging offshore conditions.”
The FleemingJenkin demonstrates Steerprop’s commitment to meeting the specific needs of its clients, showcasing its ability to deliver tailored solutions for the most demanding maritime applications.
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CHASING NET ZERO: DUTCH PILOTS ARE SEEKING ANSWERS
As the Port of Rotterdam, in line with the rest of industry, moves towards a ‘net-zero’ operation, the race is on for pilot boats to get on board.
The Dutch pilots association has a track record of finding imaginative, pragmatic and above all safe solutions to challenging problems, but the big issue now is its carbon footprint.
It’s a big ask for the Netherlands Loodswezen BV (NLBV), which serves Dutch pilots from the Scheldt to the Rhine, Rotterdam included, and it runs a truly diverse operation.
Despite the challenge, director Herman Broers believes that its net-zero carbon plans won’t have to break the budget.
“The numbers are quite staggering,” says Broers. “We support 96,000 ship movements per year” – but it’s far from a uniform demand.
“In the north it may be just 20 to 25 per week but in Rotterdam, that can mean 20 to 25 ships per hour,” he says.
Together, it’s a lot of fuel, and a lot of carbon. So, why not just rely on biofuels to get to an instant net-zero operation?
Firstly, while the fleet is involved in a gradual biofuel rollout, he points out these are not yet readily available across the country and its increased costs are inevitably passed on to the customers.
But most importantly, there are good questions about its real impact on the carbon cycle and Broers does not feel that biofuels are a sustainable solution – which means looking elsewhere for the long-term answers.
The company is no stranger to innovation: it’s been pushing the ‘capability’ envelope for decades, as evidenced by its fleet. Its diversity also impacts the line-up of potential solutions.
The largest are three, 82m ‘P-Class’ pilot station vessels able to handle 3 to 3.5Hs waves. These have their own 9m daughtercraft for working around Rotterdam and for the lengthy, winding Scheldt that connects Antwerp and Ghent with the North Sea, they also partner with SWATH-hulled vessels suitable for longer endurance, more distant transfers
(the higher deck being particularly useful for boarding the big ships).
However, it’s the 19, high-speed tenders that provide “the backbone” of the operation, says Broers, such as the 28kn waterjet-driven Discovery Class, which entered in the 90s. There have been a couple of different versions since: the L-Class was designed to grow the tenders’ capability from 2.5Hs to 3.5Hs - but that put the weight up to around 52t, almost 30% heavier.
Understandably, NLBV wanted to return to a lighter vessel for its most recent designs. A somewhat different hull form and weight-conscious choice – including a lighter engine block – yielded a 30% fuel and carbon reduction while still operating in 3.5Hs.
Despite this, the first pair of the new M-Class quite literally threw up an issue: increased buoyancy meant that instead of riding through the waves, these tenders were bouncing on top and the pilots were getting seasick.
“For deliveries three, four and five we’re fitting ballast tanks that will bring the weight up to 45t in seas over 2.5m,” says Broers.
While all this helps, it won’t bring the company to a fully sustainable, net-zero operation. “That’s a big challenge as the boats have a 20-year life, so we have to be moving into it by 2030,” says Broers – and there are replacements to roll out, for example, new SWATH tenders are due in a couple of years.
Alternative fuels or electric?
While NLBV is investigating alternative fuels, especially for the big P-Class, he believes that for the smaller vessels a better, longer-term answer may be electric.
“If we can make that leap [to batteries] then maybe we
■ NLBV’s SWATH vessels pair up with the station boats for long-endurance transfers through the Scheldt
S E R I E S RAMPARTS
Le Havre
should be able to skip all the other fuels which I see, basically, only as a step towards something that is going to make us really carbon neutral.”
The 9m daughter craft are ideally positioned as the first to make the battery transition since their runs are just five to 10 minutes long and the idea is to recharge them onboard the P-Class.
Although these motherships are already using biofuels there’s also the potential for a mid-life conversion to hydrogen, methanol or some other alternative, and there could be a potential role for fuel cells as the loads tend to be low and fairly consistent.
But when it comes to the high-speed tenders, it’s another story. Broers admits that for these vessels, power likely needs to be paired with innovative architecture.
“I think we have to start with a blank sheet of paper and also look into alternative hull design,” he says, adding that it could be a mono, dual or triple hull form “or anything in between”. So he’s on the look-out for possible solutions, and he believes they might work out to be both clean and cost effective.
Cost
considerations
“It’s not a given fact that a net-zero operation is going to be more expensive,” says Broers.He explains that, since 50% of the total cost of ownership is down to the fuel bill, finding some way of making the boats cheaper to run makes sense.
“It’s not just a matter of alternative fuels, it’s also a matter of trying to run smarter,” he says.
While the ‘M-Class’ is the immediate solution, there’s clearly one big contender that might be able to meet the requirements for high-efficiency, electric operations.
“These foiling workboats now coming on to the market may be a silver bullet for the future,” says Broers.
It’s an intriguing proposal as a couple of manufacturers claim that their foils reduce energy demand by as much as 80% or 90% and only require 30 or 40 seconds to lift off – so they can get up on the foils with a fairly short run.
■ Herman Broers, director of the Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Association, Loodswezen
■ Pilot transfer and Pollux station boat
That could put fully electric operation on the table for the NLBV’s tenders while also promising a more comfortable ride as the hull is lifted clear of the waves.
Broers points out that these designs need further attention to make them fit for pilot transfer requirements such as hefty rescue kit, power redundancy and – potentially more problematic – how to stop the foils making contact with the ship’s side if the boat rolls.
However, he adds these kinds of issues are already being investigated by the industry and if – IF – it all pans out, foiling boats might well fill the high-speed tender niche.
There is another point to make about smarter operations. If the big ships are ploughing into port at top speed only to hang about until they can find a berth, much of the hard work could be undone as even a medium-sized container ship will be burning tens of tonnes of fuel per hour. Therefore, there’s a need for coordination between harbour master, pilots and other parties around systems such as the Just-in-Time Sailing platform.
“We try to line it all up smoothly so the ships can move as economically as possible - that’s going to help the big picture,” concludes Broers.
■ Photo from daughtercraft of Pollux station boat,
Source: Stephan Grol
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SMM PREVIEW: A GLIMPSE OF THE EVENT
More than 2,000 companies are exhibiting at this year’s SMM in Hamburg, with special new areas set up to reflect the changing landscape of the industry
SMM goes back 60 years, with its first iteration the German Association of Marine Engineers (VDSI), which began holding conventions every two or three years in the city of Flensburg.
It began life as SMM when the VDSI hosted a congress in Hamburg, at the exhibition centre, in May 1963 alongside the Schiff und Maschine (Ships and Engines) exhibition.
The show has been growing in size and reputation ever since, and is now held every two years.
More than 40,000 visitors representing 120 companies are expected this year to wander around a dozen or so halls with 2.000 exhibitors showcasing their latest products and technologies.
As has been the norm in the past few years, the prime focus of the event will be on emissions and the environment.
China and Korea are once again joining the growing number of national pavilions at the show.
Conferences
One of the main draws of SMM is the conferences and panel discussions that run throughout the event, and in SMM’s case they are held on four stages for the first time within the actual exhibition areas themselves, rather than in separate conference halls.
These include the Digital & Security Stage, which will host discussions on autonomous navigation, AI and all things digital; the Open Stage, with Damen Shipyards, North
Windships and others; the Green Stage, with future fuels discussions, other low-carbon alternatives and hybridisation; and the Cruise & Ferry stage.
There’s also an AI Center, Future Fuels Area, Marine Interiors and Maritime Career Market to visit.
■ SMM is on at Hamburg’s huge convention centre from September 3-6.
Launching at SMM: A new era in maritime wiper technology
In a landmark partnership, ECM PCB Stator Tech and B. Hepworth have unveiled a windshield wiper product integrating PCB Stator electric motor technology.
Launching at SMM to go onto the market early next year, this gearless drive maritime axial motor solution claims to redefine industry standards with its environmental and performance benefits.
UK-based B. Hepworth has more than 70 years' expertise in windscreen wiping and wash systems and will harness ECM's award-winning Motor CAD optimisation platform PrintStator. The collaboration aims to elevate wiper technology with an efficient, durable, light and compact design.
ECM’s motors replace traditional bulky copper windings with ultra-thin discs, resulting in a 70% reduction in weight while achieving efficiencies exceeding 90%.
By requiring only 20% of the raw materials needed for conventional motors, the
“B. Hepworth is already a long-time leader in innovating superior wiper products for the machines that move the world. ECM is excited to join forces to help take that performance and innovation to the next level,” said ECM CEO Brian Casey.
motor technology and shows commitment to efficiency and sustainability. By integrating their PCB Stator design solutions, we're enhancing performance reducing material use,” said B. Hepworth’s head of Sales, Marketing, and Engineering, Bert Thijssen.
■ SMM has 60 years under its belt: here’s an early photograph at the event
■ ECM PCB Stator Motor
The long-established expertise of the Dutch salvage industry has been demonstrated recently with two of the Netherlands leading contractors reporting diverse operations close to and not so close to their home bases.
Terneuzen-based Multraship Towage & Salvage is in a prime location to respond to the frequent calls for assistance from ships using the busy and complex passage of the River Scheldt between the North Sea and Antwerp.
Along with URS België NV, Multraship was on hand when the 38,929dwt bulk carrier Banglar Arjan lost power in the vicinity of the Noordzee Terminal shortly after leaving Antwerp.
The tugs Multratug 28, VB Kiwi and Fairplay XIV were mobilised and after establishing a towing connection quickly stabilised the casualty, which was then manoeuvred in the narrowing channel including the ‘Nauw van Bath’ to keep it safe from passing traffic and prevent it grounding.
The vessel was towed to a safe anchorage, where the tug VB Coral remained on standby with the vessel while repairs were carried out. Escort services were provided until the vessel confirmed assistance was no longer required.
Multraship responded to another bulk carrier, Hamburg Eagle, which was ‘not under command’ while outbound near Flushing,
SALVORS STEP IN TO SAVE GROUNDINGS, SINKINGS AND FIRES
The 63,335dwt vessel was laden with wind turbine components at the time, and the tugs quickly connected towlines, preventing it from grounding. The vessel was towed to the
Another notable salvage for
■ Multratug 28 was one of three tugs responding to the bulk carrier’s loss of power
Western Scheldt. Tugs Multratug 32 and CMS Warrior were despatched to assist.
Wielingen Noord anchorage where it was redelivered to its owners.
Multraship concerned the pusher tug Xander, which
started taking on water and sank while on passage to Germany pushing a cement barge. The incident occurred on the Dutch inland waterway system near the Merwede Bridge connecting the provinces of South Holland and Brabant.
After disconnecting the cement barge and pumping out the pusher tug, the latter was lifted onto a barge by floating sheerlegs and transported to a shipyard a day after sinking.
Global Smit
Netherlands-based Smit Salvage is part of the Boskalis group, and with its worldwide presence, including arrangements with partner salvors, features regularly in major global casualties.
Such was the case recently when the fully laden 8,800teu container ship Northern Juvenile reported a serious fire in one of its cargo holds while around 100NM southwest of Banda Aceh, Indonesia en-route from Asia to West Africa.
Without specialist and rapid intervention, fires in container cargoes can quickly spread and become uncontrollable, putting the ship’s crew at serious risk, including from toxic fumes.
With concern that the fire that initially affected containers on the hatch cover may
spread to nearby holds, along with associated risks of further damage to the vessel and potential pollution, Smit Salvage was engaged under a Lloyd’s Open Form contract.
Smit’s response was rapid and involved a team of experienced firefighters from its response centres in Singapore and the Netherlands. Four firefighting tugs from local partners were engaged and after several days of on-site operations the fire was brought under control and later extinguished.
Fighting such fires is not restricted to simply targeting the affected area with powerful fire
monitors on tugs from a relatively safe distance, and Smit’s teams went from container to container in the worst affected areas, putting out the remaining fires and hot spots.
Latest reports are that the vessel is bound for a designated port of refuge for cargo discharge and further preparations prior to re-delivery to its owners.
In other associated news from Smit, along with other marine salvage contractors, the Dutch salvor is active in the wreck removal business where the reduced value of a ship casualty often calls for a different approach to dealing with the aftermath.
Giant wreck removal grabs are part of the tool kit that can be deployed to remove wreckage and Smit has recently upgraded one of its hydraulic grabs for a wreck removal project in Asia.
Following a comprehensive review process, the grab HDW-1 was redesigned involving replacement of the shells to crush and hold even larger wreck sections. The new grab now has a lifting capacity of 800 tonnes and can apply 1,000 tonnes of grabbing force.
Able to be operated at deep water depths and following an extensive test programme, the refurbished grab is now prepared for its new role.
Giant hydaruilic grabs are part of Smit’s wreck removal toolkit
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DAMEN SIGNS FOUR-VESSEL DEAL WITH TOYOTA TSUSHO
Damen Shipyards Group has concluded a deal that will see three newbuild tugs and a pilot boat delivered to Japanese trading house Toyota Tsusho for operation at Namibe in Angola as part of a port expansion project.
Toyota Tsusho has a long history in Angola as part of a Japanese government-funded port development project that started in 2019.
Toyota has exported its cars to Angola since 1966 through Toyota Motors, and this is the Japanese company’s first such project in the African nation. The Namibe container port will be expanded and a new terminal built to allow larger vessels to use the facilities, also diversifying the materials it is able to handle.
Toyota Tsusho frequently collaborates with the Japanese government on infrastructure projects around the world and Damen says the port development project is anticipated to provide wider employment opportunities in Angola, while also providing the country with full independence in import activities, reducing the costs of freight transport and boosting the national economy.
On the shopping list of any new port or expansion project will be adequate shiphandling tug, line-handling and pilot boarding provision and with this order Toyota, a first-time client for Damen, has wrapped up the requirement in one comprehensive package from the same supplier.
Damen can also provide post-delivery back-up from its global support hubs, in particular on the African continent from Nigeria to the north and South Africa to the south, both of which, along with Angola, are on the Atlantic seaboard.
Damen’s practice of producing series-built vessels for stock and subsequent speed of delivery is quoted as being a factor in securing the order, which will comprise two ASD Tugs 2813, a Pushy Cat 1004 and a Stan Pilot 1905.
Proven designs
The ASD Tug 2813 is a mid-range sized tug in Damen’s portfolio providing a healthy 80+ tonnes bollard pull with around 40 listed as delivered since 2019 and a number in build for stock.
The standard product has a double-drum towing winch forward, the many options available including provision of a towing winch aft. With accommodation for up to 10 persons, the pair for Toyota are currently under construction at Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam.
At the opposite end of Damen’s range is the Pushy Cat 1004, which was first produced in 1974. While diminutive in size at just 10m length, this relatively powerful workhorse has proved a popular choice for specific tasks not restricted to pushing duties and the example, part of this order, is currently under construction at Damen Shipyards Antalya, Turkey.
There are three Stan Pilot tenders in Damen’s catalogue of 16m, 19m and 22m in length and Toyota’s choice is the aluminium-hulled Stan Pilot 1905 (the other two in the range are FRP), featuring Damen’s modified Axe Bow.
The Stan Pilot 1905 is 19.3m LOA on a beam of 4.8m and draught 1.1m and seating is included for 10 persons including two crew. Tank capacities include 3.6m3 fuel oil.
Twin Volvo/MAN main engines produce up to 1,324bkW
drive Hamilton HJ 364 waterjets via ZF gearboxes delivering a speed of up to 30kn and range, at maximum speed up to 320nm. A 9.5ekW genset is included and all four vessels in this order are due for delivery in Q1 2025.
“The port development project enables an increase in vessel traffic in Namibe,” said Hiroumi Ohara, general manager Africa Power & Infrastructure Department of Toyota Tsusho.
“To facilitate this, the port requires a number of new, highquality workboats. We approached Damen, being aware of the company’s reputation for the fast delivery of proven, high-performing vessels. We are looking forward to cooperating with Damen during the construction of these new vessels, which will play an important role in giving a boost to the Angolan economy in the coming years.”
“Working with a new client for the first time is always a proud moment,” said Thomas Röwekamp, Regional Sales director Asia Pacific. “Given the nature of this contract, which holds significant potential for Angola, we are particularly pleased to have been selected by Toyota Tsusho. We are looking forward to cooperating on the delivery of these four vessels, and to building a close relationship for the long-term.”
■ Toyota has secured a comprehensive four-vessel contract with Damen
■ Port of Namibe
POWERFUL NEW TUG PROTECTS SPAIN’S COASTLINE
A powerful new rescue vessel has entered service with Salvamento Marítimo (SASEMAR), Spain’s maritime search and rescue agency, joining the society’s already large and impressive fleet of rescue vessels.
Built by Spain’s Astilleros Zamakona SA, Heroínas de Sálvora has a profile reminiscent of the multi-purpose oil and gas industry support vessels from an earlier era, reflecting the effectiveness of such proven designs while upgraded to modern standards, with multi-purpose capabilities suited for its role with search and rescue activities including salvage and pollution response.
SASEMAR reports Heroínas de Sálvora involved an investment of €52.5 million, part of its National Rescue Plan 2021-2024, which includes this 82m long, 18m wide vessel with capacity for 16 crew members and 24 special operations personnel.
The BV-classed vessel has a conventional propulsion arrangement comprising two Bergen Engines AS main engines driving twin propellers providing 200 tons bollard pull. Other features include an improved sea-keeping system using a passive tank along with DP2, oil pollution recovery and fire-fighting capabilities.
Described by SASEMAR as what “makes it unique within the fleet” is where Heroínas de Sálvora is its first ship capable of operating with drones in searches at sea with a flight deck capable of accommodating drones of up to 9m and a hangar with simultaneous capacity for two such aircraft.
Decarbonisation and sustainability were included in the specification brief with the requirement to optimise the ship’s energy consumption through a propulsion plant for ECO navigation, featuring a diesel-electric arrangement complying with IMO Tier III emissions regulations, it will also have an adapted electrical connection to its port.
Spanish approach
Coastal states, particularly in Europe, have a mixed-bag approach to provision of search and rescue services including ship salvage and pollution response. Voluntary life-saving organisations, along with state-run provisions including air assets, are the usual first-line response to actually saving life at sea, along with the usual response from commercial vessels that happen to be in the right place at the right time.
Salvage and pollution response usually involves commercial arrangements including professional salvors and state-maintained pollution response organisations, along with government-sponsored Emergency Towing Vessels supporting the ‘tugs of opportunity’ availability.
Spain has an extensive and hostile coastline bordering the Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, and SASEMAR’s answer is to include all the above aspects under one umbrella organisation.
Four multi-purpose ships: Dona Inda, Clara Campoamor, Luz de Mar and Miguel de Cervantes (and now with this latest addition) form the backbone of the country’s response provision, supported by 10 salvage tugs up to 8,800hp.
Five 32m fast response vessels described as “goalkeepers” and 55 smaller shallow-draught vessels of 15m and 21m length are at the smaller end of Spain’s SAR provision, and SASEMAR has a framework agreement for cooperation with the Spanish Red Cross, whose scope includes 42 light rescue vessels operating in coastal waters.
SASEMAR’s air unit includes operations from 11 helicopter bases and its own fleet of three fixed-wing aircraft with endurance in excess of nine hours. Activities are controlled from 20 coordination centres strategically located around the Spanish coastline.
Sanmar builds another 7 battery-electric tugs
Turkish boatbuilder Sanmar has received an order for five electric tugs and will build another two to cater for the ever-growing demand, it says.
All seven vessels will be built to the Robert Allan ElectRA 2500 SX design, which measure 25.4m LOA with a 12.86m beam and 5.6m draft. They have a bollard pull of 70 tons.
Four of the tugs will go to an unnamed oil major, one to a repeat owner and the other
two will remain with Sanmar to supply expected demand.
Once the seven tugs are built it will double the number of electric tugs around the world that have been built by Sanmar, says Sanmar Shipyards commercial director Ruchan Civgin.
“We are delighted with the success of our ElectRA tugs. As you can imagine, the interest in these radically new tugs has been huge,” he said.
■ Heroínas de Sálvora is the latest addition to SASEMAR’s extensive fleet of emergency response vessels
The ElectRA tugs all use Corvus Energy’s marine batteries, and range from 19m to 28m in length andf 40-85 bollard pull.
Sanmar is keen to progress with alternative fuelled vessels, with its portfolio including LNG-fuelled and hybrid tugboats, as well as purpose-built dual-fuel methanol escort tugs for Netherlands-based operator Kotug.
Boluda has strengthened its Gibraltar tug fleet with the renaming of a Japanese-built tug aimed at responding to geopolitical tensions and more ships taking the Cape of Good Hope route following events in the Red Sea.
In February 2024 Boluda added four more tugs to its fleet with the purchase of Resolve Salvage and Fire (Gibraltar). The Spanish towing company’s decision to bolster its fleet with vessel number five recognises that ports in the Strait of Gibraltar are the first in Europe for ships taking the longer route between Asia and Europe, with potential additional requirements for towage services.
The ceremony saw previously named Med Setubal renamed VB Responder in an event at the Small Boats Marina hosted by Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, guests including president of Boluda Corporación Marítima Vicente Boluda Fos and executive vice president Vicente Boluda Ceballos.
Chief minister Fabian Picardo KC MP said: “I welcome the addition of VB Responder to Boluda Towage’s fleet as it signifies their confidence in Gibraltar not just as a strategic point in geographic terms, but as a trustworthy place for business. This is also an important acquisition that strengthens the Port of Gibraltar’s maritime capabilities which
BOLUDA STRENGTHENS GIBRALTAR TUG FLEET IN RESPONSE TO RED SEA CRISIS
will enhance their service”.
VB Responder was built in 1991 by Matsuura Tekko Zosen and has an interesting pedigree. Originally owned by Svitzer Sverige, it operated as Lars under the Swedish flag and then as Svitzer Setubal, managed by Portugs II Reboques and flying the Portuguese flag.
A later name change saw it operating as Portugs Setubal before entering service with MedTug Sines SA as Med Setubal, and its
■ Guests from Boluda and Gibraltar port itself were present for the renaming
latest move to Resolve Marine Group and Boluda Towage Gibraltar now renamed VB Responder under the Gibraltar flag.
Japanese-built tugs are not particularly common in Europe and examples of note include Bjorn and John, also built in 1991 by Matsuura and close sisters to the VB Responder.
1,400 TONS OF EXPLOSIVE REMAIN ON WWII WRECK – SURVEY
Around 1,400 tons of explosives remain on the wreck of a World War II cargo ship that still lies on the seabed off the coast of eastern England.
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s latest survey of the SS Richard Montgomery has found further deterioration in the wreck of the wartime Liberty Ship loaded with around 1,400 tons of explosive and sunk in the Thames Estuary.
The consequences of the vessel’s cargo detonating are clear to see, including potentially catastrophic damage and disruption over a large densely populated area of north Kent and south Essex, not to mention disruption to shipping bound for the Thames and Medway.
The wreck lies around 1.5 miles from Sheerness (population c13,000) and five miles from Southend-on-Sea (population c138,000) and close to the Medway Approach Channel, used by among other vessels large LNG carriers.
Laden with some 7,000 tons of munitions, the US Liberty Ship Richard Montgomery sailed in 1944 from the US as part of convoy HX-301 bound for the UK then on to Cherbourg.
With its arrival in the Thames Estuary the crew would have assumed that they had passed the most dangerous part of their passage crossing the Atlantic, but disaster was to follow.
The vessel anchored in the Great Nore Anchorage off Sheerness to await the formation of another convoy, but soon after dragged its anchor in shallow water and grounded on a sandbank around 250m north of the Medway Approach Channel.
The wreck remains where it sank to this day, its masts clearly visible at all states of the tide. Approximately 1,400 tons of explosives remain within the forward holds
Having grounded on the crest of a sandbank with resultant heavy hogging – where the hull, or keel, bends in the middle upwards above the bow and stern – intensive efforts got under way to unload the cargo, but by the following day a crack appeared in the hull and the forward end began to flood. Salvage efforts continued until they were abandoned when the vessel finally broke its back and flooded completely, with around half of the cargo on board.
The wreck remains where it sank to this day, its masts clearly visible at all states of the tide. Approximately 1,400 tons of explosives remain within the forward holds.
Port of London Medway is contracted by the MCA to mark and guard the wreck, and strict safety measures are in place including 24-hour radar and visual surveillance, along with escort towage provision for certain ships using the Medway Channel.
Managing the threat
Managing the associated risks has always asked the question should the wreck be removed along with the remaining
munitions or should it be left to deteriorate naturally, where it has remained peacefully for 80 years?
While the risk of a major explosion is believed to be “remote”, key to assessing such risk has been the execution of regular surveys, which until 1984 were carried out by Ministry of Defence salvage divers and more recently by the MCA employing contractors working under MoD supervision.
The results have now been released, and key findings include an increase in lean (10-15cm) over the whole forward section, possibly due to sediment undercutting the wreck.
Deck space near hold 3 appears to have recently started to collapse on the port side and the unsupported section of the bridge superstructure (forward end of the rear section) has been dropping over the past several surveys and continues to do so, with an inevitable slip of accumulated debris.
More objects are visible on the seafloor between the two portions of the wreck, possibly due to objects slipping off the unsupported bridge section or increased data quality.
The seabed updates include that banks to the west of the wreck are the most active, westward accretion including vertical displacement of at least 2m on some banks.
The MCA’s accompanying guidance note adds “It is clear from the results of these surveys that the hull is subject to the prevailing environmental conditions and is showing evidence of gradual deterioration, however, the wreck is considered to be in a stable condition”.
■ Overview survey picture of the SS Richard Montgomery in the Thames Estuary
Credit: UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency
■ The masts of SS Richard Montgomery are visible at all states of the tide
UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency
Less than two months after the de-merger of Svitzer from parent company A.P. MollerMaersk, the Danish towage company has announced a joint investment for modernisation of tug provision in the Port of Halifax.
Svitzer is to cement its relationship with Atlantic Towing Ltd, a member of the J.D. Irving Ltd family of companies, with the acquisition of two Robert Allan Ltd RAstar 3200 escort tugs currently under construction at Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard, ensuring Atlantic Towing maintains its role as “premier operator” at Port of Halifax.
The Nova Scotia port has seen substantial growth over the past decade involving larger ships and greater demand for towage services, the new additions described as “a more robust and permanent solution” replacing the two on-call tugs that supplement the three vessels permanently stationed at Halifax.
Atlantic Towing has partnered Svitzer for 14 of the almost 20 years it has served Port of Halifax and Arjen Van Dijk, managing director Svitzer Americas, expanded on the investment: “Through a collaborative effort, Svitzer’s newbuild team, along with operations and procurement departments in
COLLABORATION ENHANCES TUG PROVISION AT HALIFAX
■ Svitzer provides port and terminal towage services at 181 locations globally
Copenhagen and Panama, worked closely with Atlantic Towing to identify the best technical and operational solutions. These 85-ton escort tugs from the RAstar 3200 series exemplify our commitment to co-creating effective solutions with partners.”
Background
Atlantic Towing is headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick with offices in St John’s, Newfoundland, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia,
Victoria, British Columbia and Port Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago.
As well as shiphandling towage, it is active in the offshore support and supply, ice management, barge transport and salvage and rescue towing sectors. Its fleet list indicates 10 high-spec offshore support vessels and 18 tugs and workboats, including 12 Robert Allan Ltd-designed tugs and four Damen ASD 2810 tugs. It also operates four transport and construction support barges.
Founded in 1833, Svitzer is among the world’s largest tug operators and is now embarking on a new chapter in its history following establishment as an independent company and listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen.
With 456 vessels operating in 141 ports and 40 terminals and with around 4,000 employees, Svitzer’s trading statement for Q1 2024 reported revenues of DKK 1,555 million (€202 million) compared to DKK 1,424 million (€185 million) in Q1 2023 and a gross CAPEX of DKK 174 million (€22.6 million) compared to DKK 118 million (€15.3 million) over the same period.
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OFFSHORE CHARGING: ARE WE THERE YET?
Offshore charging concepts are beginning to head towards commercialisation – despite a few doubts being raised.
Damen has come up with what it calls a new concept at offshore wind farms that would use vessel-to-vessel charging until turbine charging becomes a reality.
A large battery system would be installed on a Commissioning Service Operations Vessel (CSOV), which would be outfitted with a charger so it could act as a charger host to the smaller CTVs coming in and out of the wind farm.
“With the infrastructure for turbine-mounted chargers not yet widely available, vessel-to-vessel charging offers CTV owners and operators an opportunity to invest in the sustainable technology of the future at the present time,” said Mark Couwenberg, product manager Service Operations Vessels with Damen.
Using the CSOV as a charger host offers further advantages. For one thing, the stern of the vessel is lower than a turbine, which provides the vessel with easier access to the charger. Additionally, unlike the turbine, the CSOV is able to change its position, enabling the CTV to charge in the most sheltered position with regards to wave conditions.
The charging system Damen uses was developed by UKbased MJR Power & Automation, which won a Seawork Innovations prize for its turbine-connected charging system in 2022.
Offshore
While on the sidelines of Seawork one vessel designer had told Maritime Journal that offshore charging at wind turbines was unrealistic for a number of reasons – waves making stability impossible for charging to take place between vessel and turbine for one; lack of standardisation of charging infrastructure for another – speaking at the conference, Tidal Transit’s Leo Hambro endorsed the technology.
“We are convinced that we should be using the wind power that we are generating in offshore wind,” he said. “We believe the technology is ready now. The reality is the development in the marine industry isn’t going as fast as in the automotive sector. Let’s adopt it now.”
He believed wind farms could be retrofitted with charging technology, however Chartwell Marine’s Christophe Rident said he did not believe that wind farm owners would retrofit their turbines because there are no vessels currently equipped to use it.
wind farm
charging is an essential feature for a fully electric CTV operation. Typically, this would be dependent on charging infrastructure being present at an offshore
In Damen’s case the CTV would connect via a bell mouth that catches a charger lowered from a reel on the aft deck of the CSOV as opposed to a turbine.
“Offshore charging is an essential feature for a fully electric CTV operation. Typically, this would be dependent on charging infrastructure being present at an offshore wind farm.
“Our unique position as builders of both CTVs and CSOVs led us to the idea of placing the charging scope within our assets. This can be done with both a conventional, dieselpowered CSOV, or with a fully electric version.
“Of course, from an emissions reduction perspective, the latter is the more preferable option. However, such a solution makes it possible for CTV operators to invest today, in preparation for the wider distribution of full electric CSOVs tomorrow. We believe this could give a considerable boost to the maritime energy transition.”
Panel discussion
The concept was unveiled a day after a panel at a conference at Seawork discussed the possibilities of battery technology for vessels, including offshore charging.
Emerging options
There are a few emerging contenders offering offshore charging technology.
A consortium led by Vard comprising sister companies Seaonics and Vard Electro, partners Rem Offshore, Solstad Offshore, SINTEF Energi, SINTEF Ocean, DigiCat, Sustainable Energy, Equinor, Source Galileo Norge, Corvus Energy, Plug, Shoreline, Norwegian Offshore Wind Cluster, University of Bergen, NORCE and Maritime CleanTech, last year said it had proved that its Ocean Charger could power operations at a wind farm without using any additional energy sources.
As mentioned above, MJR won the Innovations prize for Renewable Energy at Seawork in 2022 for its on-turbine charging system for workboats, comprising an offshore substation power converter compatible with a CTV’s propulsion and battery system, as well as the ‘Reeler’ deployment system for mooring via the charging cable and connector.
And in Scotland, Ocean Marine has come up with an ‘Oasis Power Buoy’, which would charge vessels using a buoy out in the field rather than one of the wind turbines.
Oasis Marine has developed the Oasis Hydrogen Buoy and the Oasis Power Buoy to provide offshore hydrogen bunkering and electric charging, allowing vessels to switch from diesel to green power, it says.
■ Vessel-to-vessel charging by Damen, using charging technology by MJR Power & Automation
EC HANDS FLOATING WIND PROJECT €13.4 million
The European Commission has handed a pan-European floating wind project a €13 million grant.
The ‘cornerstone grant’ has been secured by the ‘NextFloat+’ project from the European Union’s Innovation Fund.
The money will be used to accelerate the deployment of a commercial floating wind platform developed by Spanish firm X1 Wind, the project leader, which says its 6MW precommercial floating platform will be deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, ‘and pave the way to mass deployment of the floating offshore wind industry’.
“By deploying a full scale 6MW prototype, called ‘X90’, the project will test the integrated system design and its manufacturing, assembly and installation procedures at a scale that is relevant for the future offshore wind farms, whilst decreasing the risk and required time versus the alternative of deploying larger units,” X1 Wind says.
As well as making installation and maintenance easier, the TLP takes up less of the seabed
X1 Wind’s floating platform combines a tripod-like structure with a Tension Leg Platform (TLP) mooring and a downwind turbine.
The ‘PivotBuoy’ technology creates a structure that ‘passively weathervanes’ with the wind direction and substantially reduces the steel weight, X1 Wind says, compared with traditional technologies.
As well as making installation and maintenance easier, the TLP takes up less of the seabed.
The other project partner is Dutch technology company Technip Energies, which works in a number of sectors
including carbon capture, liquefied natural gas and biofuels as well as floating offshore wind.
“We’re thrilled to receive support from the Innovation Fund,” said X1 Wind CEO and co-founder Alex Raventos. “The grant represents a cornerstone in the fundraising for the NextFloat+ Project, adding to finance already secured through the European Commission under the Horizon Europe program, finance secured through the French government as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME, plus private funding from partners and shareholders. Crucially, it will provide an opportunity to drive substantial improvements in the competitiveness of floating wind as we prepare for longterm mass deployment in locations around the world.”
Wind turbine blade repair training expands its reach
GEV Wind Power has launched new training facilities in the UK and US, marking an industry first in wind turbine blade repair and maintenance.
The wind turbine blade repair and maintenance company has established a North American Wind Academy at its US headquarters in Texas and expanded its UK training academy in Hull with a new turbine training initiative at the Port of Blyth’s Wind Turbine Training Facility.
“The launch of these facilities is another significant development for GEV. It is part of our wider global mission to further invest in and up-skill our dedicated technician pool while also building confidence for both technicians and clients on future projects,” said David Fletcher, CEO of GEV.
■ Technicians completing GEV’s
Up-skilling workers
With nearly 600,000 technicians needed by 2027 to support the global wind industry’s growth and wind turbine technicians predicted to be one of the fastest-growing
occupations in the US, GEV’s new facilities aim to meet this demand.
The North American Wind Academy is one of the first independent service providers of in-house accredited Global Wind Organisation (GWO) blade repair courses and trade testing programmes.
GEV’s new facilities underscore the company’s commitment to enhancing technical competence and preparing technicians for global projects.
The UK facility at Port of Blyth provides rope access training and practical experience on a 33-metre high turbine, addressing technicians’ challenges in gaining relevant turbine experience.
GEV also operates a training academy in Sydney, Australia, further expanding its global training capabilities.
■ NextFloat+ Project secures €13m cornerstone grant from Innovation Fund to accelerate floating wind
new blade repair training course at Port of Blyth’s Port Training Services turbine facility
California has set a target of 25 gigawatts of floating wind by 2045 – a goal that will cost billions, says Offshore Wind California, a trade group of offshore wind developers and technology companies.
The Final Assembly Bill (AB) 525 Strategic Plan to Advance California Offshore Wind, approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC), outlines the next steps to bring California offshore wind online, including investments in a multi-port strategy and new electric transmission, a better permitting process and supply chain, and workforce training. It also requires suitable sea space to be identified.
Five leases have been granted to develop areas totalling $757 million, from RWE, California North Floating, Equinor, Golden State Wind, and Invenergy California Offshore.
The Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which conducted the auction, has jurisdiction over the five leases.
CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization in California, says the first-of-its-kind undertaking ’will require billions in public and private investments and could transform parts of the coast’.
“The offshore wind industry must be
CALIFORNIA APPROVES HUGE OFFSHORE WIND PLAN
almost from scratch: a new manufacturing base for the still-evolving technology; a robust and reliable supply chain; transportation networks on land and sea; specially configured ports to make, assemble
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and maintain the gargantuan seagoing platforms; finding and training a highly specialized workforce; building a large transmission network where none exists and beefing up those that operate now,” it says.
“This final approval marks a watershed moment in California’s course and commitment to go big on offshore wind, and achieve its nation-leading goal to deploy 25 gigawatts by 2045,” says Offshore Wind California, a trade group of offshore wind developers and technology companies.”
“This will require a significant increase in new clean energy development in California, with solar, battery storage, and other clean resources making up the majority of future resource additions,” the CEC says.
“Offshore wind can play an important role in diversifying the state’s electricity system as it is projected to produce large amounts of generation and be available when the electricity system most needs resources, such as summer evenings when solar generation declines and air conditioning demand is high.
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Windcat has ordered a sixth Elevation Series commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from Damen.
The hydrogen-ready CSOV will be used to provide onsite technical and maintenance support to offshore wind farms for up to a month at a time.
Damen will build the sixth CSOV at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam, where construction of the first five vessels is ongoing. The first CSOV will be delivered early next year.
“Working together with Windcat and CMB. TECH over the last few years shows the power of collaboration,” said Damen’s sales manager Benelux, Joost van der Weiden.
“Working closely with CMB.TECH to develop the hydrogen component of this vessel –turning a new technology into a proven technology – is a ground breaker for the industry.”
The 87m CSOV can accommodate up to 120 crew. Drawing on input from CMB.TECH, as well as lessons learned from Windcat’s hydrogen-powered crew transfer vessel, the CSOV will be equipped with dual-fuel hydrogen technology.
Particular attention has been paid to the internal design with Windcat managing director, Willem Van Der Wel, saying they
WINDCAT ORDERS
SIXTH H2-READY
CSOV
■ Windcat has ordered a sixth Damen-built CSOV wanted a high quality ‘look and feel’. “The interior design is quite similar to a premium hotel because we really wanted to give the technicians a comfortable place to live while at work,” he said.
“We are really excited to confirm the sixth vessel in this series of innovative, efficient and high performing vessels,” he added.
“Together with Damen, we have also spent a lot of time thinking about the onboard workflow of the offshore wind farm technicians – how they can move from point A to point B as efficiently as possible, both for operational efficiency and for safety.”
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Headline Sponsor
SUBSEA CAVERNS IN THE PIPELINE FOR H2 STORAGE
An ambitious project to store hydrogen in huge subsea salt caverns underneath a former Royal Navy port has taken a step towards fruition.
UK Oil & Gas Plc (UKOG) is planning to build a hydrogen storage facility at Portland Harbour in the UK county of Dorset, creating man-made salt caverns.
The port was used during the reign of Henry VIII before expanding to become one of the Royal Navy’s largest bases. It was being shut down in 1995.
The caverns, which energy firm ENGIE says can be as much as three times the size of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, are created by drilling into geological salt deposits that are already there, and in Dorset these are plentiful.
Water is then injected into the salt to dissolve it, and the resulting brine is extracted, leaving a cavern where hydrogen can be stored under pressure.
It
will enable the end use of hydrogen across industry, heating and transport, help meet growing regional energy demand, and support the transition to net zero emissions
The project has been several years in planning, with Dorset County Council granting Portland Gas Storage Ltd planning consent in 2008 – but it was never realised.
Now, after various twists and turns, the project has received a letter of support (LOS) from gas distribution operator SGN, which is planning an H2 Connect link from the storage site ultimately to a new UK-wide hydrogen grid.
“This project has the potential to store 3TWh of hydrogen in subsurface constructed salt caverns and is essential to decarbonising the Solent Cluster and Southern England,” said SGN regional development manager Graham Cox. “This hydrogen storage will provide inter-seasonal capacity,
security of supply and pipeline stability for our proposed development of hydrogen pipelines in the region.
“It will enable the end use of hydrogen across industry, heating and transport, help meet growing regional energy demand, and support the transition to net zero emissions.”
At the time of writing, UKOG had not responded to Maritime Journal’s requests for details of the engineering scope.
“Whilst UKOG’s proposed project is at an early engineering design stage and there can be no certainty it will receive government Revenue Support, the company is committed to furthering this and its other essential strategic UK hydrogen storage projects which will remain as the focus of the company’s overall future strategy,” says UKOG.
Prysmian lays deepest ever power cable
Prysmian has successfully completed sea trial tests for a record-breaking ultra-deep cable installation.
The 500 kV HVDC MI1 cable was laid at 2,150 metres, setting new market standards for a power cable.
After successful trials, the cable can now be laid by the state-of-the-art Leonardo da Vinci cable-laying vessel at Terna’s Tyrrhenian Link connecting Italy, Sicily and Sardinia.
The non-metallic armoured cable is designed with a composite material based on high modulus synthetic fibres which
■
means it is 50% lighter in steel when in water.
This technology was used in 2019 for the Evia – Andros-Tinos interconnection at a water depth of 550 metres and in 2020 for the Crete-Peloponnese submarine interconnection project at 1,000 metres.
The Tyrrhenian Link is a €1.7 billion project awarded in 2021 by Terna. Under the contract, Prysmian will design, supply and install a total of more than 1,500 km of submarine cables to support the power exchange among Sardinia, Sicily and Campania, reinforcing the Mediterranean energy hub.
Prysmian has reportedly laid the deepest ever power cable
Credit: Prysmian
A civil engineering firm has retained its place as the sole contractor for one of the UK’s largest resource and waste management companies.
During the next two years, Ruthin-based Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK will continue delivering landfill engineering schemes for FCC Environment under an extension of the framework it successfully secured in 2022.
“Continuing as the sole contractor reflects that we have built a strong level of trust with FCC whilst completing high-quality schemes for more than 20 years,” said Dafydd Elis, senior contracts manager, Jones Bros.
“Our partnership started with carrying out waste management on its sites in the south west of England, and since then, we have evolved to work on all of FCC’s jobs across the UK, extending up to the north east and Scotland.”
Strong partnership
The multi-million-pound contract between FCC and Jones Bros strengthens the long-term relationship between the two companies, having worked together since 2011.
One previous landmark project completed for FCC was the Llanddulas jetty demolition, which included the demolition and removal of
SPECIALISTS
A CIRCULAR PARTNERSHIP IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
■ An artist impression of Kinmel Bay flood wall view from the new car park, featuring a mini park
existing and dangerous jetty structure, elevated conveyor system and associated buildings.
Work included demolition and removal of jetty’s timber and steel piles, which were firmly embedded 2m below the sea bed – all undertaken during the workable timeframe of the low tides.
Outside of its work with FCC, Jones Bros is currently working on contracts in various sectors including highways, flood and marine defence, waste management and renewable energy around the UK.
Back in June, it was appointed to deliver crucial coastal defence project in North Wales - the £13m Kinmel Bay development managed by Conwy County Borough Council.
During the project, Jones Bros will procure and import up to 80,000 tonnes of rock armour, sourced from North Wales quarries, to strengthen the current revetment between Towyn and Kinmel Bay.
It will also raise just under 2km of existing sea wall by 500-750mm and replace two floodgates aspart of plans to minimise the impact of stormy weather and associated coastal flooding.
The seafront is also to benefit from enhancements, with improved beach access, car park upgrades, and the installation of a toilet block and street furniture.
Construction will start in September 2024 with completion scheduled for winter 2025/26, with Jones Bros set to have up to 50 staff, including apprentices and trainees, working across the scheme.
SHOREPOWER SWITCHED ON IN MALTA
The cruise liner MSC World Europa was the first vessel to benefit from Malta’s shorepower connection in Valletta, which was officially inaugurated by the Maltese prime minister.
PM Robert Abela toured the vessel while it used power from the local grid to keep its on-board systems going instead of its engines, which were switched off.
The 22-deck MSC World Europa is powered by LNG, says MSC, and operates seven-night cruises around Malta, Spain, France and Italy.
It is one of 22 vessels operated by MSC Cruises, which says it will equip 16 of them to receive shore-side electricity by the end of this year.
The company says there will be 220 shore power connections among its fleet at destinations in China, Norway, Germany, the UK and Malta. MSC Cruises will use local
electricity grids wherever the connections are installed, it says.
MSC appears to be on a mission to equip its ports with shore power capability, and aims to add 15 more to its plan between 2024 and 2026, it says, including Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen, Genoa, La Spezia and Naples. It will also install it at the new cruise terminal due to open in Miami next year.
“MSC Cruises has categorised its strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 for its marine operations into three pillars of activity: ship and engine technology – which includes shore power connectivityoperational efficiency and renewable fuels,” it says.
Norwegian industrial quay due for expansion
The Norwegian Coastal Authority has released details of the works that it intends to have done at Sandnes Port Terminal, the ’natural centre’ of sea logistics in the area, it says.
Sandnes, which is in the south west not far from Stavanger, serves as a back-up port to Stavanger, accommodating ships when its larger neighbour is too busy.
Now the plan is to expand it so that it can accommodate more, and work will include making land more available to ships that are docked as well as increasing capacity for other ships.
Approximately 27 friction piles at around 60 metres per pile, in total 1,600 metres of
■ The small port of Sandnes near Stavanger in Norway
piling, will be needed, with an existing dyke demolished and a new quay developed with conduits and manholes.
A new quay cover will be anchored at the existing quay, and crane rails assembled to extend those already there.
”The project has a flexible start-up date and the construction period is estimated to be approximately seven months,” the Norwegian Coastal Authority, which has provided grants for the scheme, says. “The contracting authority has a deadline that the project shall be completed by 30 November 2025.”
The Port of Sandnes was granted small seaport city status in 1860, when the municipality had just 440 residents.
In 2020, most of the municipality of Forsand was merged with Sandnes to become the larger municipality it is today.
■ Valletta Cruise Ports has switched on shorepower for cruise vessels
Partners from science and industry are building the first offshore pilot project for large-scale oyster reef restoration in the Belgian North Sea.
The BELREEF project is a collaboration between Jan De Nul Group, the Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Shells & Valves and Mantis Consulting, acting in accordance with the recommendations of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance (NORA).
“We want to create an oyster reef that is self-sustaining. Our ambition is to create long-term nature restoration, without further human intervention,” said Vicky Stratigaki, engineer and project coordinator for BELREEFS at Jan De Nul Group.
”One of the choices we are making to achieve this, is to install the oyster reefs where they historically occurred: at the so-called gravel beds.”
Important ecosystems
Before 1850, flat oyster reefs were a dominant structural and ecological component of the North Sea ecosystem, but due to human influences and a persistent oyster parasite, they have all but disappeared today. Nevertheless, oyster reefs are important ecosystems.
PILOT PROJECT FIRST FOR LARGE-SCALE OYSTER REEF RESTORATION
■ BELREEFS is the first offshore project for large-scale oyster reef restoration in the Belgian North Sea
But they’re important because they are so-called “ecosystem engineers” which create habitats that support entire ecosystems.
The BELREEFS concept comprises three
phases: From the current gravel bed to the deployment of oyster reef substrate seeded with oyster spat within the BELREEFS project. This will progress to the third phase where biodiversity increases characterised by various marine fauna and flora species attracted to a self-sustaining oyster reef.
Jan De Nul
The complexity of the logistical support and the sensitivity of oysters to disturbance (during seeding, transport and installation at sea), requires in-depth knowledge covering different fields of expertise.
So, this project builds on some key innovations including ‘remote setting’, a technique in which they allow oyster larvae to settle directly on a suitable substrate in the lab, to release them into the sea afterwards. Once installed, the oysters will be followed for several years through an intensive monitoring programme.
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EU PLEDGES RECORD FUNDING
FOR PORT INFRASTRUCTURE
The EU says it will invest a record €7 billion in transport infrastructure, including around 20 European ports
It has selected 134 projects to give grants to from its ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF), which is part of the EU’s trans-European transport network policy, the TEN-T policy that aims to develop a high-quality transport network across the EU.
For maritime, this will be done under the auspices of the European Maritime Space, ’a key component of the transEuropean transport network, connecting and integrating maritime transport infrastructure in port areas with the landside network. This includes the creation and upgrading of short-sea shipping routes and the development of maritime ports in all EU Member States and their hinterland connection, including the outermost regions.’
Around 20 European ports will be upgraded and allow them to supply shorepower, the plan says.
These include Ennshafen, Austria; Limassol, Cyprus; Rødby Denmark; Puttgarden, Germany; Rafina, Corfu, Kavala and Lavrion in Greece; Gijón, France; Barcelona and Valencia, Spain; Aarhus, Sweden; Kemi, Pori, Vuosaari and Muuga, Finland; Rijeka, Croatia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; and Valleta, Malta.
Inland waterway infrastructure will be developed to enable cross-border connections between France and Belgium in the Seine-Scheldt basin and between Romania and Bulgaria on the Danube, as well as supporting inland ports in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands ’so that they may continue to promote modal shift towards the European network of rivers and canals’.
Short-sea shipping routes are to be improved and developed, more offshore wind will be integrated into maritime infrastructure and port areas will be connected and integrated with the landside network.
A Coruña demonstrates autonomous port drones
Autonomous drones have been demonstrated at the Spanish Port of A Coruña in a bid to use them to improve safety, surveillance and infrastructure supervision in a port.
Practical demonstrations were carried out in six scenarios, including a person overboard, to show 50 guests how the technology, developed by the ITG Technology Centre, could work.
ITG develops drone technologies for the safe integration in urban environments.
The technology should be ready to deploy automated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by 2026, says U-ELCOME, an EU part-funded project that aims support market uptake.
With the person in the sea demonstration, the rescue was carried out with drones detecting the casualty in the water then sending the exact coordinates to another drone, which launched a float to the person in the water. A maritime drone then travelled
■ Spanish Port of A Coruña
to the person in the water and brought it back to the dock.
“There were also demonstrations of crane, parameter and breakwater inspection, port logistics, non-collaborative drone detection and how ITG technology works to obtain authorisations for simultaneous integrated and safe flight of drones performing these services,” a statement said.
By 2026, A Coruña will be one of the first cities in Spain to deploy U-Space zones that meet all the regulatory requirements and technology necessary for a large number of drone operators to deploy their operations in a simultaneous, coordinated and automated manner, says U-ELCOME.
U-ELCOME is coordinated by the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub in the context of the SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking Digital Sky Demonstrator initiative, cofunded by the European Union under the CEF (The Connecting Europe Facility).
The Port of A Coruña is a well-established port in northwestern Spain, and in 2022 received a record number of visitors, according to the Cruise Mapper tracking website.
A total of 222,723 cruise passengers on 136 calls arrived in 2022, up from the previous record of 184,069 cruise passengers and 121 calls in 2017.
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The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €115 million to expand the Danish Port of Esbjerg for military vessels to enhance European defence.
At the same time, it will also bolster Europe’s position in the renewable energy market because Esbjerg, located in western Denmark on the North Sea, is Europe’s largest port for shipping offshore wind turbines.
“As one of the largest offshore wind ports in the world needs to be developed to accommodate the requirements for NATO and the expansion of the TEN-T network, we are pleased to have the European Investment Bank on board to underpin our strategic plans through its attractive lending capabilities,” said Søren Gade, chairman of Port Esbjerg.
“This will also contribute to enhancing trade between Europe and the United States.”
Strategic focus
The project will deepen the navigation channel of the port so it can accommodate larger vessels, including naval forces.
In addition, a 57-hectare terminal will be
EUROPEAN FUNDING BOLSTERS DEFENCE AND RENEWABLES AT ESBJERG
main fishing harbour, is important both for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operations and for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
The project, expected to start in October 2024, will also contribute to the shift from road
Port Esbjerg is located on the west coast of Denmark and with its location next to the North Sea, is instrumental in Europe’s offshore date, the port has catered for 59 offshore wind
■ Esbjerg, in western Denmark on the North Sea, is Europe’s largest port for shipping offshore wind turbines
Credit: Port of Esbjerg
A full day showcasing an international field of fast vessels operating at high speed in the arena of security intervention, search and rescue.
• Demonstrations of all the latest technology and equipment in this significant specialist sector of the commercial marine business.
• Day of sea trials from Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.
• Informal networking with military procurement, defence attachés and end users.
• Presentations from key specifiers, government agencies and military personnel.
• Demonstrate your high speed vessel or equipment.
• Attend as a delegate to learn and network.
A joint venture between Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners will build an electrolyser at the Port of Rotterdam to create ‘green hydrogen’.
The JV, named ‘Zeevonk II’, won a permit to build the IJmujiden Ver Beta wind farm in the Netherlands, which will generate 2GW of electricity from wind alongside a floating solar platform generating 50MW.
This electricity will be used to power the electrolyser, which means it will earn the ‘green’ certificate: hydrogen being created by using energy from renewable sources.
The new electrolyser will be built at the Maasvlakte, a man-made extension of the port built by reclaiming land from the North Sea.
“It is Port of Rotterdam Authority’s ambition to bring the electrolysis in the port up to a capacity of 2 to 2.5GW by 2030,” says Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port of Rotterdam Authority. “This new development brings us closer to our goal. The Maasvlakte area offers both plenty of space and the required infrastructure, such as the direct connection to the hydrogen network that is currently under construction. It confirms yet again that Rotterdam’s hydrogen economy is already under way.”
The site reserved for the electrolyser is
ROTTERDAM PLANS 1GW ELECTROLYSER FOR ‘GREEN HYDROGEN’
■ Port of Rotterdam
adjacent to Dutch Transmission System Operator TenneT’s future Amaliahaven high-voltage substation, where the 2GW direct current cable from the wind farm will connect.
A hydrogen line is also being built
alongside, so that ’the hydrogen that will be generated here can be transported to the client in an efficient manner’.
MAKING WAVES IN TIDAL ENERGY
Up to 20% of the UK’s electricity could well come from tidal and wave generation by 2030, says Leask Marine commercial director John Macleod, who says the nation is far ahead of the rest of the world in this sector.
Despite the fact that tidal and wave energy have been around for a lot longer, they have remained below the mainstream radar. Until now.
“I believe that we’ve got the potential to deliver 10 to 20% of the UK’s electricity needs, so install capacity of 30 to 50GW by 2030,” he says. “We’ve got the most advanced tidal development and deployment on the globe.
“People are just unaware of that fact, yet companies have said these projects are all now demonstrating reliability of tidal energy and the technological commercialisation is now there, so the minute it can be demonstrated to green investment it will take off very, very rapidly.”
Based in the Orkney Islands in the North Sea off Scotland, Leask Marine calls itself a one-stop-shop in marine operations, offering civil engineering, offshore installations, towage and salvage, diving services and more – including tidal energy.
It’s already completed 192 tidal projects since 2003 and 82 wave and tidal projects, 19 of which were from international developers, which means Leask has done more wave and tidal projects than every company in the world put together, Macleod says.
It has its own vessels – mainly three multi-cats with dynamic positioning, which is essential to remain on station when in high tidal flow areas such as those where turbines are installed.
“Even though larger offshore vessels can have DP, on a smaller vessel you need a hard four-point mooring out to hold station for the work that you’re doing subsea because it has to be very precise in terms of landing cables and pieces of equipment,” he says.
“We have a core of equipment especially to support the sector – extra equipment winches, hydraulics, crew transfer vessels, ROVs, diving support vessels for the dive teams – as well as the core multi-cats.”
From start to finish
A project begins from scratch, when a tidal developer approaches Leask Marine.
“We work on the engineering supervision mooring analysis,” Macleod says. “We’ll look at fabrication of an installation of either gravity bases, piles or rock anchors, so we’ll do that off our own vessels. Subsea drilling is done off these multi-cat vessels,m which are 24, 27 metre long vessels.
“Everything is in house, a one-stop-shop. We’ll go and take the core samples for the rock anchoring solutions. We will then go and drill and put in the anchors or we’ll put in gravity bases if that’s what the clients want. We’ll then put in the moorings. We’ll then collect the device.
“From shore, we’ll tow it out to site. We’ll connect it up. We’ll connect the electrics up. Then we’ll do all the O&M operations for as heavy or as light as each individual plant is.
“Some clients are UK based, some aren’t, they come from all over the world and we’ll do the O&M operations and then any decommissioning works. We do it all through the year and we do it all around the globe.”
Integrating technologies
Leask believes that tidal turbines could be deployed within
wind farms, augmenting the capacity of power generation on those sites.
“It’s using space for multiple technologies,” he says. “We think that offshore fixed wind could certainly have wave fixtures to these devices as well, so I think we need to look at the integration of current offshore assets.”The UK, says Macleod, has extensive supply chain knowledge and experience in tidal stream energy, but pressure must be put on the government to keep the lead.
With the UK new government pledging to boost spending in offshore energy, perhaps this is a possibility.
He also believes that as well as integrating technologies, offshore wind, particularly floating wind, could learn from tidal in terms of cable stabilisation and umbilical cable management.
It’s a mentality issue as well, he says: whereas oil and gas has got the cash it needs to sort any problems out, offshore wind should take a different approach.
0“Look at tidal and wave and what we’ve done here, to the commercialisation and the low-cost infrastructure that we’re building, and use that in other sectors,” he says.
“We’re now working for offshore wind clients and oil and gas clients because of the success we’ve had in wave and tidal.”
Listen to the full interview in our podcast on the MJ website.
■ Offshore wind could learn a thing or two from tidal installations, says John Macleod of Leask Marine. Inset: John Macleod
■ Offshore wind could learn a thing or two from tidal installations, says John Macleod of Leask Marine. Inset: John Macleod
Be part of the celebration
EXPLORE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Network and create business contacts with 400 exhibiting companies and brands from Iceland and the rest of the world.
Iceland holds a dependence on sea and fishing, with the rise of aquaculture and the goal to achieve 100% fish utilisation with by-products. Icefish, showcases the latest developments, initiatives, products and services in the industry. These are driving commercial fishing, processing, aquaculture, seafood and by-products to new levels of productivity. Explore 400 exhibitors and brands covering all aspects of the industry!
FORM BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
Make new business connections with other visitors and exhibitors at the show! Join organised match making meetings and the Fish Waste for Profit conference. View products and demonstrations and meet Icelandic and International business contacts face to face this September.
For more information about exhibiting, visiting or sponsoring, contact the events team
Visit: Icefish.is
Contact: +44 1329 825 335 or Email: info@icefish.is #Icefish
Media and Logistics Partners:
A LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO FLEET DIGITALISATION
Opsealog, a provider of data integration and analysis services for the maritime and offshore industry is renewing and expanding its service contract with Orange Marine, a French company specialising in cable laying and repair operations
The arrangement signifies a deepening of the collaboration between the two companies, which began in May 2023, and highlights the commitment to advancing fleet digitalisation and operational efficiency across Orange Marine’s fleet.
“We are pleased to be continuing our partnership with Orange Marine. Their commitment to digitalising their fleet and improving operational efficiency aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver cutting-edge maritime solutions,” said Oriane Thevenot, account manager at Opsealog.
”We look forward to supporting Orange Marine as they navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and achieve their sustainability goals.”
Fleet management
The partnership commenced with a three-month trial on one of Orange Marine’s cable-laying vessels, ‘Pierre de Fermat’, before it was rolled out across additional vessels in the fleet.
As of April 2024, the contract has been further extended to encompass three more Orange Marine vessels.
Opsealog’s tools, Marinsights and Streamlog are now being deployed on four of Orange Marine’s vessels, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of data collection and reporting processes.
This digital transformation replaces the previous manual and spreadsheet-based reporting methods, significantly streamlining Orange Marine’s operations.
The key achievements of the partnership to date include the digitalisation of the fleet through the implementation of monthly reports detailing vessel operational profiles, automated tracking and reporting of CO² and SOx emissions to comply with upcoming environmental regulations.
IHO launches ECS survey
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is surveying maritime stakeholders to help understand electronic chart system (ECS) requirements.
The IHO ECS project team is developing a set of recommendations to enable a digital solution which could be used by vessels that are not mandated to use ECDIS (electronic chart display and information system).
“Currently the only electronic charting products that meet SOLAS Chart Carriage requirements are electronic navigational charts used on an ECDIS – with appropriate backup arrangements – or a paper chart – with some exceptions which we are hoping to capture with our survey,” said the project team in a statement.
It has also achieved precise documentation of vessel activity, including hours spent in transit, operations and stand-by in port.
The collaboration has also supported the development of new features tailored to Orange Marine’s needs, such as marine mammal monitoring and reporting.
In 2017, France implemented stringent laws to monitor and mitigate marine mammal disturbance from shipping vessels. These regulations require French-flagged vessels over 24 meters and sailing in Pélagos and Agoa regions to implement a position-sharing system to prevent collisions with cetaceans.
Opsealog has developed a TimeSheet module for the Streamlog solution, enabling the efficient and consistent reporting of any observations and avoidance of marine mammals.
“This leaves a gap for those vessels wanting to navigate electronically using an ECS or required, by regulation to use ENC when navigating electronically.”
The IHO ECS team believes an international, standardised approach is critical in the creation of a digital solution for mariners and vessels that fall below the ECDIS mandate which is accessible and easy to understand and implement.
“The aims of the IHO ECS PT cannot be achieved by a sole member state and instead requires collaboration and co-operation with the mariner and international vessel community who are key stakeholders in this project,” said the team.
■ The partnership commenced with a three-month trial on one of Orange Marine’s cablelaying vessels, Pierre de Fermat
■ The IHO is surveying maritime stakeholders to create a digital solution for non-ECDIS users
SMART SUBSEA SOLUTIONS
• Delivering data in most adverse conditions: underwater acoustic modems with advanced communication technology and networking
• Accurate USBL, LBL and hybrid positioning of underwater assets, navigation for divers
• Modem emulator and multiple cost-saving developer tools
• Sonobot 5 - the autonomous surface vehicle for bathymetry, monitoring, search & rescue, and AUV support
• Quadroin - the novel bionic AUV for surveys and monitoring
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SEABED 2030 MAPS A NEW AREA
THE SIZE OF EUROPE
The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has increased its ocean floor map with 4.34 million square kilometres of new data – or an area the size of the European Union.
This latest figure of 26.1% mapped is the latest in the global effort to uncover Earth’s final frontier – discoveries that are essential for realising sustainable ocean management.
“Seabed mapping has proven to be a powerful tool in advancing our knowledge of marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and the impressive discoveries made this year alone highlight the critical importance of our mission,” said Jamie McMichael-Phillips, director, Seabed 360.
“Commendable progress has been made since Seabed 2030’s inception in 2017, with over 94 million square kilometres of bathymetric data acquired through global partnerships, data mobilisation and advances in technological innovation, but much of the ocean still remains a mystery.”
Pioneering discoveries
In the past year alone, ocean research has led to the characterisation of the largest known deep-sea coral reef habitat off the southeast U.S. coast spanning over 6.4 million acres on the Blake Plateau.
The multi-year campaign to map and explore this region was led by Seabed 2030 partner National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ocean Exploration, in collaboration with a host of other government, academic and private sector collaborators.
Advanced sonar and imaging techniques documented 83,908 coral mounds, showcasing previously unknown immense biodiversity. The discovery, supported by imagery from 23 submersible dives, highlights the critical role of seafloor mapping in revealing unknown aspects of the ocean.
In another remarkable finding, the crew aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor discovered four underwater mountains, with the tallest of these standing over 1.5 miles high, using multibeam mapping techniques.
during a transit from Golfito, Costa Rica, to Valparaiso, Chile, had not been previously recorded in any bathymetric database.
Additionally, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor have identified over 100 potential new marine species during a single deep-sea expedition, highlighting the vast, untapped biodiversity of the ocean.
All data collected and shared with the project is included in the free and publicly available GEBCO global grid.
Seabed 2030 is a collaborative project between The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO), with the latter being a joint programme of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Expanding AUV mapping abilities
A new partnership has been formed with Exail, RTsys and ABYSSA under the CARMA project, which focuses on developing swarms of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for efficient ocean floor mapping.
The project aims to develop an innovative solution for precise seabed surveying at great depths and supports the French authorities’ strategy to develop extensive deep-sea exploration capacities.
“We are pleased to announce our collaboration with ABYSSA and RTsys in the innovative CARMA project, where we combine our technological expertise” said Catherine Pikovsky, project manager at Exail.
“As we push the boundaries of
autonomous underwater exploration, we enhance the capabilities of our deep-water AUV A18-D to navigate close to the seabed. Leveraging pack piloting techniques and advanced navigation algorithms, we lead the way towards a precise seabed surveying down to 3,000 metres, reflecting our dedication to innovation and advancing deep-sea exploration.”
AUV development
During the project, Exail will improve the capabilities of its deep-water AUV A18-D to serve as the leading AUV to guide the swarm. RTsys will extend the capabilities of its newly developed AUV COMET-3000 to dive
up to 3,000 metres. Multiple units will be provided to act as followers, along with the development of an innovative launch and recovery system for the AUV swarm.
ABYSSA will focus on developing exploration strategies for deep-water swarms of AUVS and it will process the magnetic data collected to map the magnetic anomalies on the seabed.
This project will result in the deployment of an operational demonstrator at sea in 2026, paving the way for future commercial phases.
Concurrently, the project will carry out a preliminary study on extending exploration capacity to 6,000 metres depth.
These seafloor features, revealed
■ The third of four seamounts discovered by mapping experts on board R/V Falkor is 1,644 metres in height
BRIDGING THE MARITIME SKILLS CHASM
Tidal Transit commercial director Leo Hambro says the shrinking supply of maritime professionals is the most worrying of many challenges currently facing the sector.
The UK’s maritime industry stands at a crossroads: on one hand, it’s poised for significant growth driven in part by the burgeoning offshore wind sector; on the other, an overshadowing mariner skills shortage threatens to stall progress and put a ceiling on the sector’s rate of expansion.
According to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the maritime sector is one of Britain’s biggest industries, earning £116 billion (€138 billion) turnover in 2022, which is greater than rail and aviation combined, according to Maritime UK. However a concerning trend emerges when holding the sector up against international competitors. While the global maritime industry is projected to double in size to reach $3 trillion by 2030, the UK sector faces a second year of contraction in 2024.
Addressing the main contributing factors to this stagnation will be crucial for strengthening the industry’s long-term potential, unlocking the economic opportunities that the sector provides and ensuring the UK stays competitive in the global maritime landscape. While issues such as rising fuel costs, post-Brexit challenges and broader global economic instability are all certainly putting increased strain on the industry, perhaps the most concerning is the shrinking supply of maritime professionals.
In deep water: a widening skills gap
An ageing workforce, technological shifts reshaping industry practices and an evolving global landscape are all critical challenges facing the UK maritime sector. Insight from the Maritime Skills Commission (MSC) paints a concerning picture: the average age of a maritime professional sits at around 45 years, with nearly 40% of the workforce over the age of 50, and a paltry 14% aged under 30.
This age imbalance presents a two-fold problem. First, the looming retirement of a large proportion of the workforce will lead to a significant slump in available manpower in the nottoo-distant future. Experienced workers possess a wealth of knowledge accumulated over years on the job, knowledge that is critical for the safe and efficient operation of maritime operations.
Second, the lack of younger generation entering the field suggests a declining interest in maritime careers. This deficiency in the talent pipeline exacerbates the skills gap and could severely hinder the future growth of the industry.
At the same time, advances in technology are transforming maritime operations. Expertise in traditional areas like engineering and logistics remains crucial, but an overlay of ‘green’ skills in the fields of renewable energy, clean technologies and alternative fuels is more pressing than ever. According to the MSC, green jobs within the sector alone are expected to increase in demand by 400% - with some 1.7 million additional jobs required by 2030.
The tightening of restrictions on overseas workers also limits the pool of available talent, leading to delays in projects, stretched workloads for existing mariners and potential declines in service quality.
Charting a new course for tomorrow’s mariners
The future of the UK maritime sector hinges significantly on strategic investments into the next generation of professionals.
A recent survey by Maritime UK revealed that out of 1,000 respondents living near coastal areas, nearly half of those aged 18-24 were planning to move away from the coast, with lack of jobs cited as the main reason. Yet 70% of those indicated that they would be more likely to stay if the right career opportunities were available. This sobering figure underscores the importance of creating and investing in education and vocational training specific to maritime careers tailored to young people.
It takes a long time for the school leavers of today to become the ship masters of tomorrow, in part because in many cases young mariners cannot be taken offshore until the age of 18 due to hours of work regulations.
Additionally, an increased emphasis and incentives for further education means fewer and fewer young people are going out to sea in the earlier stages of their lives. It’s for this
■ Leo Hambro
train the workforce of
we need a workforce today. It is not a secret that our members have had vessels tied up alongside quays in ports due to a lack of crew, when there is plenty of work out there for them
reason that young people need to be engaged at school and college from an early age and be given the opportunity to earn certifications in the classroom before heading out to sea. This way, young mariners will be prepared to enter the profession once they reach adulthood.
This sentiment is shared by Kerrie Forster, CEO of the Workboat Association, who offered his thoughts on training the next generation of mariners. Seafaring, he says, is by its nature a very hands-on vocation.
“Many of the skills required to become a qualified and competent seafarer are taught in a kinaesthetic way - a trainee (whether a cadet, apprentice or a new face onboard) are taught the majority of their role by shadowing, copying and enacting the work of a role model,” he says.
“To train the workforce of tomorrow, we need a workforce today. It is not a secret that our members have had vessels
tied up alongside quays in ports due to a lack of crew, when there is plenty of work out there for them.
“In addition to immigration changes following Brexit, ‘The Great Resignation’, in the aftermath of Covid 19, has left the shipping industry up a creek without a paddle. We need experienced seafarers to train new ones, and to train good seafarers, we need experienced seafarers to be active on board our vessels.
“With increased workloads, new challenges as a result of regulatory changes, decarbonisation upgrades, an underserviced market to keep happy, and a number of conflicts and big political changes happening across the globe, many experienced seafarers are just not able to juggle their primary roles on board while also trying to pass on their knowledge to the new crews of tomorrow.”
In tandem with building up a strong domestic pipeline of young mariners, it’s crucial that the UK opens its borders to overseas workers to fill the growing demand for an experienced workforce. Due to cumbersome and outdated visa processes, it’s much easier for UK mariners to work overseas than to bring workers into the UK. Employing nonUK professionals involves a long, drawn-out process which must be simplified and streamlined if we are to attract the best talent from the huge global talent pool.
A look to the future…
The UK maritime industry has the potential to ride the wave of rapid growth, but only if it tackles the skills gap head-on. Implementing mentorship programmes, classroom activities, diversity initiatives and inclusive hiring practices can help create a new career-ready generation of mariners, while bringing in talent from overseas will help alleviate the pressures of an ageing workforce.
Through these concerted efforts, UK maritime can navigate towards a more resilient future and strengthen its position as a world-leader on the international stage.
Chain Cables, Shackles, Swivels, Mooring Gear and Mooring Ropes. With more than 100 years of experience, Trillo Anclas y Cadenas is a leading company in the supply of anchoring for ships, floating artifacts & marine farms.
n Trillo Anclas y Cadenas SLU Parque Empresarial de Coiros, Parcela 10, 15316 Coiros (La Coruna)
Providing marine and logistics services for over 120 years. Pontoons, Tugs, Workboats, Fast Launches, Multi-purpose Barges with cranes. Road-transportable Multicats, full operational base facilities, craneage and open storage.
n Williams Shipping Manor House Avenue, Milbrook, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 0LF
Solarglide are a UK based manufacturer and supplier of exceptional quality and innovative marine tested solar screens, curtains, blackout blinds, dimout blinds, wipers, and adhesive window films.
n Solarglide Ltd
Unit 8 The Stottie Shed, Bakers Yard, Christon Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, NE3 1XD Tel: +44 1915 970543 Fax: +44 1670 898614 theteam@solarglide.com www.solarglide.com
CARLIER Chaines SAS Is producing chain for 90 years. We have many years of experience in manufacturing all kinds of chains, anchors & lifting accessories for any use. Our production facilities are based in North of FRANCE on 10 000m2, where we produce sizes from 10mm to 120 mm diameter.
Hirers and Suppliers of 2/4/6/ 8-point mooring sets available, single, double and triple drum winches available. Fairleads, deck sheaves, anchors, diesel or electric driven hydraulic power units. Air tugger winches, wire ropes, slings and shackles.
n Atlas Winch & Hoist Services Ltd
Old Station Yard, Station Road, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ML12 6DQ
DMT Marine Equipment is a world renowned deck equipment supplier. We design, produce, and test our winches in-house with high precision and attention to detail, and an understanding that the equipment we deliver must be fully reliable, highly performance and operative under harsh sea conditions.
n DMT Marine Equipment Costi, Vanatori, Galatai, 807325, Romania Tel: +40 7267 07514 marketing@dmt-winches.com www.dmt-winches.com
HS Marine is a leading ship and offshore cranes manufacturer with the world’s widest range of models ranging from 5 to 1.000 tm capacity. All crane models are specifically designed, masterly built and assembled to provide our customers top quality.
n HS Marine Via G. Marconi, 33 Sabbioneta, Italy, MN 46018 Tel: +39 0375 254 819 info@hsmarine.net www.hsmarine.net
IBERCISA is a technological company. Founded in 1969, has been dedicated to the design and manufacture, under its own technology, a widest range of deck machinery for all kind of marine markets (fishing, tugs, oceanographic, navy, offshore, civil, merchant, research and dredging).
SD Products Ltd is a third generation family owned business with over 40 years experience stocking & distributing specialist fasteners, across all industries. The corner stones of our business are Quality Products, Competitive prices and Service & Supply.
n SD Product Ltd Unit 1 Fulwood Road South Fulwood Industrial Estate NG17 2JZ United Kingdom Tel: +44 1162 766262 www.sdproducts.co.uk
Our business is built around two core competencies: gathering accurate data and producing accurate solutions. We focus on the engineering and design of construction systems for complex, large structures, providing accurate parts for CNC cutting and comprehensive assembly instructions.
n Deri Jones & Associates Ltd Llwyngwyn, Forge, Machynlleth, SY20 8RR Tel: +44 1654 702001 info@djaweb.co.uk www.djaweb.co.u
Since 1987 Beta Marine has developed an enviable reputation for providing quiet and smoothrunning marine diesel engines and generating sets to suit a wide variety of applications. They are renowned for durability, longevity, reliability and deliver an excellent return on investment.
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n SLX House, 24-32 London Street, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 2PE, UK Tel: +44 1264 860186
Email: spares@slxgp.com https://slxgp.com/
Solé Diesel is a leading company specializing in the manufacture of high-quality marine engines and generators. With a history spanning several decades, Solé Diesel has established itself as a leader in the industry, offering reliable and efficient solutions..
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Oficina Técnica Ctra. Martorell a Gelida km. 2 (C243b) 08760 Martorell Barcelona - Spain Tel. (+34) 93 775 14 00 e-mail: sole@solediesel.com www.solediesel.com
Volspec Ltd the UK’s premier Volvo Penta Centre with the UK’s largest stock of genuine spare parts, engines and accessories for the marine, commercial and industrial markets. Competent factory trained workshop based or mobile engineers ready to assist whenever required to both UK and international customers.
Replacement parts for Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel, John Deere, Deutz, FP Diesel. Buying and selling engines, pumps, separators, fenders, winches, cranes, governors, tools, gen-sets second hand. Separators. Distributors for J.A.McDermott Corp.
n W.K.M. Cornelisse Trading B.V. P.O. Box 146, 4200 AC Gorinchem, NL Tel: +31 345 517122
Established in 1963 we are one of the leading diving contractors in the UK with divers and management experienced in all aspects of underwater work to a maximum depth of 50 metres. We can offer a full complement of diving equipment and a various range of marine craft.
For over 100 years, Baudouin has designed and manufactured the highest quality diesel and gas engines for marine and power generation applications spanning 18 – 4125 kVA. Our Network supports our customers in over 130 countries with specification, commissioning, service and genuine spare parts.
n Société Internationale des Moteurs Baudouin
Technoparc du Brégadan 13260 Cassis, France
Tel: +33750150854
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With over 30 years of experience in the field of maritime & industrial diesel engines. We are official dealer of Bosch Diesel Center | John Deere | Yanmar | Balmar | Zenoro | Delphi | Caterpillar | MTU (Service dealer).
Norway’s leading supplier of lamps and portable lighting for professional use, transport boxes, portable fans, inspection equipment for visual condition control, man-overboard boarding systems, etc.
North East based inshore diving Company established in 1993, working all over the UK. Based in South Shields on the River Tyne and with good access to the River Tyne, River Tees, Port of Sunderland and the Port of Blyth.
n Wapping Street, South Shields Tyne & Wear, NE33 1LQ, UK
John Fletcher & Ryan Wilkinson Tel: 0191 4552793 info@ sealaneinshore.co.uk www.sealaneinshore.co.uk
Coastal towing, tug with 12 tonne BP, 160 cubic meters Hopper Barge, 16x8m Crane barge/ dredger - Barge Norse 2, silt disposal, quayside maintenance & fendering, and fully crewed deliveries. Based in the Solent area, with 25 years’ experience in the marine industry.
Specialising in capital and maintenance dredging, land reclamation and coast protection. As Scandinavia’s largest dredging contractor, we thrive on low cost timely and efficient solutions.
n Rohde Nielsen A/S Nyhavn 20, Copenhagen K., DK-1051
Intellis - A Leading Integrated Energy Project Services Partner In China. Intellis operates through a network of affiliated companies (Shanghai, Singapore, Qingdao, Ningbo, Nantong, Dalian, Shenzhen), which enables us to support our clients and projects at a very local level and provide the best possible support services compared to our international competitors.
Fault finding, repairs and servicing and all electrical and electronic equipment, communication and navigation systems, motor servicing, windlasses, winches, switchboard and generator specialists, circuit breaker (primary & secondary injection testing), full thermal imaging analysis.
n Neyland Marine Services Ltd Unit 52, Honeyborough Business Park, Neyland, Pembrokeshire, SA73 1SE
For over 25 years, MJR has delivered turnkey marine power, electrical and automation projects to the commercial, energy and renewable marine sectors providing consultancy, engineering, construction, installation and commissioning services.
We combine design and engineering expertise with creativity to improve your experience at sea, whether you’re out there for work, exploration, or pleasure. Our team of naval architects, engineers and designers know it takes more than expertise in design and production processes to deliver exceptional results.
n R2 Marine Oy Laivakatu 3, 00150, Finland Tel: +358505669222 www.r2marine.fi
ENGINESOUTBOARD
Discover a world of power and performance on the water with Suzuki Marine. Our industryleading outboard motors are built for reliability, durability, and maximum fuel efficiency.
Battley Marine Ltd is a small, family-run, team of fender specialists initially established, in the 70s, to fill an identified gap in the pneumatic fender market for servicing and repair; so successful was this venture that we were the first fender repair company accredited by Yokohama Worldwide.
n Battley Marine Ltd East End House, Billingford, Norfolk NR20 4RD, UK Tel: +44 1362 668641 www.battleymarine.com
Buoyant Works is an innovative designer and manufacturer of high performance, lightweight fendering and offshore wind farm impact protection products. Born out of 25 years of fender design experience, our FENDERIT range is a modern, engineered polyurethane alternative to rubber fendering.
n Buoyant Works
Unit 4, Little Trethew Industrial Estate, Horningtops, Liskeard, PL14 3PZ, United Kingdom Tel: +90 2123111800/01 www.medmarine.com.tr
Fender Innovations is specialized in Tailor designed and produced Fender Systems specifically adapted to the field of operation. Shared properties of the systems are a minimal weight and long lasting durability. Poly Marine Fender Systems for Bollard and Shore tension protection.
n Fender Innovations and Poly Marine Fender Systems Westrak 240, 1771 SV Wieringerwerf Tel: +31 22 37 64 170 info@fenderinnovations.nl www.fenderinnovations.nl
Marine Fire Safety; who are well known and trusted by many for supplying, installing and maintaining firefighting equipment within the commercial marine sector, have teamed up with Lalizas UK to extend their services and support to customers.
n Marine Fire Safety Limited Unit D1-D4, Bridge Business Centre, Brickhouse Lane, Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8JW Tel: +44 1342 844379 Fax: +44 1342 843172 info@marinefiresafety.co.uk www.marinefiresafety.co.uk
Suppliers and Installers of Thermal and Fire Insulation on Aluminium & Steel Structures. 20 years, involvement in marine projects for thermal, acoustic and passive fire protection to many prestigeous vessels.
n Global Insulation (European) Ltd Unit 84, Station Road, Hayling Island, Hampshire, PO11 0EL Tel: +44 2392 462113 globalinsulate@btconnect.com www.globalinsulation.co.uk
UK distributors for generators from 5 to 500 kw prime power. Kohler’s patented P-Gen load share system facilitates smaller generators increasing redundancy and reducing fuel consumption.
n Atlantis Marine Power Limited Western Wood Way, Langage Science Park, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 5BG Tel: +44 1752 208810 sales@atlantismarine.com www.atlantismarine.co.uk/
Hypro Marine, leading designer and manufacturer of power-assisted steering systems. Specialists in finding unique solutions, we are able to offer a bespoke design and manufacturing service for Integrated Hydraulic Control of single or multifunction hydraulic operations for series-produced power craft.
n Hypro Marine Mount Pleasant Lane, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 8LS Tel: +44 1590 681445 info@hypromarine.co.uk www.hypromarine.com
SAVING EQUIPMENT
LIFE
Servicing and hire of life rafts, boats and lifejackets. Sales of a complete range of marine safety and firefighting equipment to SOLAS and MED.
TMS Ltd have many years of expertise in Marine and Civil Engineering. We operate throughout UK and Europe, where we utilise our unrivalled abilities and professionalism to successfully complete marine and civil engineering projects.
n TMS (Teignmouth Maritime Services Ltd)
Unit 22B Dawlish Business Park, Exeter Road, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0NH
Hire & Sales of containerised modular (spud) pontoons with a height of 4, 6 and 8 ft, modular multipontoons. See Baars Charter at Dredging Equipment for barges.
n Baars Confloat B.V./ Baars Charter Rivierdijk 276, 3360 AB, Sliedrecht, 3361 AV Tel: +31 184 415566 Fax: +31 184 411227 rental@baarsbv.com www.baarsbv.com/en/
At Brimmond Group we specialise in mechanical, hydraulic or electrical solutions. Our highly qualified engineers can design, manufacture, service and repair a vast range of equipment to meet any client’s needs.
n Brimmond Group Tofthill Avenue, Midmill Business Park, Kintore, Aberdeenshire, AB51 0QP Tel: +44 1467 633 805 www.brimmond-group.com
English Braids is a global manufacturer of high-performance ropes and slings for all major industries including commercial marine, subsea, offshore renewables, offshore oil & gas, heavy lifting and towing & salvage. We have been creating bespoke solutions for over 50 years and can manufacture ropes for any application.
n English Braids Ltd Spring Lane, Worcestershire, WR14 1AL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1684 892222 www.englishbraids.com
To advertise in the Maritime Journal Directory contact sales@maritimejournal .com or phone +44 1329 825335
www.maritimejournal.com
Cloud Towing Tank is a hydrodynamics consultancy company specialized in CFD in the maritime industry. We provide our clients with numerical hydrodynamic simulations of ship resistance, self-propulsion, manoeuvring, seakeeping, propeller-hull interaction, and many other.
n Cloud Towing Tank Kamengradska ul. 3, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia Tel: +47 46 90 5000 www.cloudtowingtank.com
Hubel Marine is a Netherlands based firm. Its focus lies on the full range of advice: Registration of Vessels, Corporation Services, Crew Endorsements and Classification Surveys.
n Hubel Marine B.V. P.O.Box 3219, Rotterdam, 3033 AE
Tel: +31 10 458 7338
Fax: +31 10 458 7662
info@hubelmarine.com www.hubelmarine.com
HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS
Product range fully certified: Self certification in permanent connections as machinery part.EN 362 certified product range in PPE industrial safety – connectors. Over 200 items available, made in France.
n Péguet & Cie Maillon Rapide, 12 rue des Buchillons, B.P.205, Annemasse, F-74105
We supply, install, maintain, and refurbish aids to navigation of any type, manufacturer, and age. We hold stock of lanterns, buoys, mooring, sinkers, and monitoring equipment, to ensure the prompt response to any outage, anywhere in the UK or Ireland.
Robosys Automation is a leading developer of AI powered Autonomous Marine Systems including Remote Piloting and Advanced Autonomous Navigation, Remote and Autonomous Platform Control and Remote and Autonomous Payload Control. n Robosys Automation Ltd W1/ 38, Marine Robotics Innovation Centre (MRIC), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH Tel: +44 7500 276555 nigel.lee@robosysautomation.com robosysautomation.com/
LED Navigation Lights for ships of all types and sizes. Lopolight proudly presents a complete Control & Monitoring solution for vessels of all sizes. The system is compact and flexible, built and configured specifically to customer specifications. Available with single or dual power supplies, in 24VDC, 115VAC, 230VAC versions.
n Lopolight UK
Head office: Edinburgh, Scotland
Tel: +44 131 285 3207
Email: info@lopolight.com www.lopolight.com
&
IIncat Crowther is a diversified marine design and digital shipbuilding business with offices in Sydney, Australia, Lafayette, USA and Eastleigh, UK. The company has a 40-year history with over 700 vessels in service to its designs.
Delivering navigation safety since 1988. Todd Navigation is an International ADMIRALTY Chart Distributor, appointed by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). All our Admiralty standard navigation charts are corrected to the latest Notices to Mariners via the Print-on-Demand (POD) service.
n Todd Navigation Navigation House, 85 High Street, Bangor, BT20 5BD United Kingdom Tel: +44 28 9146 6640 Sales@toddnav.com www.toddnav.com/
Our services include; vessel charter, renewable energy services, offshore windfarm maintenance solution, submarine cable installation, repair and maintenance, marine engineering, marine salvage, pollution response, environmental consultancy, oil and gas terminal operations, aids to navigation services.
DESMI develop, manufacture, sell and service pumps and pumping solutions including a wide range of environmental equipment for oil spill, seaweed and clean waterways.
LAMOR is the world leader in the manufacture of products and services for the Oil Spill Response Industry. We design and produce Booms, Skimmers, Pumps, Dispersant systems, Vessels and we also design recovery systems to be built into new and older vessels. MCA/IMO Training, Design and Consultancy on a worldwide basis.
n Lamor Corporation UK Ltd 3 Medina Court, Arctic Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7XD Tel: +44 1983 280185 Fax: +44 1983 280056 uk.info@lamor.com www.lamor.com
One of the uk’s leading spill solutions specialists. We stock and supply ABSORBENTS, SPILLKITS, OIL SKIMMERS, OIL BOOMS and PORTBINS and provide a Total waste management service that includes spill clean up. We aim to make the environment a better place. n 308 Woodside Way Springvale ind. Est., Cwmbran NP44 5BR, United Kingdom Tel: +44077860717461 sales@zwannyltd.com www.zwannyltd.com/
25 years’ experience specializing in Commercial Marine. Media buying, strategic PR campaign planning and implementation, press releases compilation and distribution, newsletters, company brochures and clients’ magazines and social media management. n Sue Stevens Media Ltd 7 Foxhills, Ashurst, SO40 7ED Tel: +44 2380 292992 suestevens@suestevensmedia.co.uk www.suestevensmedia.co.uk
Builders of the Interceptor Pilot Boat range, 11.5m, 13m, 14.5m & 16.5m. For when you demand strength and exceptional seakeeping. Also builders of GRP Crew transfer, Patrol & SAR boats, Hydrographic survey vessels, Work boats and Passenger Vessels.
Miko Marine AS was founded in 1996 on the idea of using a magnetic patch for stopping seawater leaking into a floating vessel -or to stop oil leaking from the vessel into the sea. Most widely known is its range of magnetic plasters which can be used to seal hull damage and enable a vessel to be moved safely to a yard for permanent repair.
n Miko Marine AS Vollsveien 4, Lysake 1336, Norway Tel: +31 10 458 7338 https://mikomarine.com
PONTOONS
Baars Confloat B.V. is market leader of modular pontoons specialist for many years. The unique modular pontoons specialist Confloat system (nut-bolt connection) guarantees absorption of high dynamic and static forces. We have a large number of units available for rental and sale, new and young used.
n Baars Confloat BV /Baars Charter Rivierdijk 276, 3361 AV Netherlands Tel: +31-187-491995 www.baarsbv.com
PROPULSION
&
POWER
Since 1987 Beta Marine has developed an enviable reputation for providing quiet and smoothrunning marine diesel engines and generating sets to suit a wide variety range of applications.
n Beta Marine Ltd Davy Way, Waterwells, Quedgeley, Gloucestershire, GL8 8LT, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1453 723492 www.betamarine.co.uk
As a global leader in premium couplings, drive lines and power transmissions, CENTA Nederland B.V. provides the same high quality customer solutions and service you’ve come to expect from CENTA since 1970.
n Centa Nederlands B.V Nijverheidsweg 4 3251 LP Stellendam Zuid-Holland, Netherlands Tel: +31-187-491995 https://centapowertransmissions. com/en/
At HamiltonJet, we pride ourselves on delivering one of the most advanced and innovative marine propulsion systems available today. Our waterjet technology stands at the forefront of propulsion innovation, boasting over 70 years of pioneering development.
n HamiltonJet
Unit 26, The Birches Industrial Estate, West Sussex, RH19 1XZ, UK Tel: +44 1342 313437 www.hamiltonjet.com
RELIABLE MARINE POWER. No matter what vessel you sail or command, KOHLER keeps you powered and on course. We are a company of craftsmen guided by a single purpose: quality. Every KOHLER commercial marine generator is extensively qualitytested start to finish—before model release and before leaving the factory.
n Kohler Power Systems Kristallaan, 761 ZC, Netherlands Tel: +1 800-544-2444 www.kohlerpower.com
PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Stone Marine Propulsion design and manufacture a complete range of high quality propulsion equipment for commercial and naval vessels of all types and sizes. Our latest propeller designs significantly lower fuel consumption and emissions.
n Stone Marine Propulsion Ltd Dock Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH411DT Tel: +44 1516 522372 Fax: +44 1516 522377 sales@smpropulsion.com www.smpropulsion.com/
Rotec Hydraulics is a leading UK specialist provider of hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical mechanical components and engineering services to a wide variety of organisations operating across both public and private sectors.
WaterMota has been supplying the marine industry with engine room packages since 1911. Heat exchanger & keel cooled propulsion engines from 5.8 to 22 litres, auxiliary engines, custom built generating sets and powerpacks. Supplying Azcue, D-I, Doosan, Hyundai SeasAll and JMP.
Accredited and Achilles FPAL registered company specialising in personnel and equipment transfers, safety and guard boat duties, survey and logistical support to the emerging offshore renewables and offshore construction industries throughout Europe.
n Specialised Marine Support Ltd Easdale, Oban, Argyll, PA34 4RF Tel: +44 1852 300341 info@specialisedmarinesupport.com www.specialisedmarinesupport.com
Norwest Marine specialise in the hire, supply and servicing of marine safety equipment, with inflatable liferafts at the core of our business. We carry stocks of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 man SeaSafe ISO approved liferafts which are available in flat pack or valise. These include -24hr / +24hr & SOLAS B packs. We offer a full rage of liferaft servicing facilities and can provide quotations on request.
n Norwest Marine Ltd Liverpool, Mereyside, UK Tel: +44 151 207 2860
https://norwestmarine.co.uk/
H. Henriksen AS is a technology Company with a long and proud history within the maritime and offshore sector. Henriksen has a strong position within safe MOB boat lifting operations, Launch & Recovery systems for offshore vessels, oil Spill Recovery and Entering and Boarding Systems for maritime and urban environments.
For more than 30 years, Marine Jet Power (MJP) has been redefining the waterjet market with innovation and unsurpassed quality. Engineered and built in Sweden, MJP’s proven stainless steel, mixedflow waterjets are used in many diverse applications, from fast military craft and passenger vessels to workboats worldwide.
n Marine Jet Power AB Hansellisgatan 6, Uppsala, SE-754 50 Tel: +46 10 164 10 00 sales@marinejetpower.com www.marinejetpower.com
Ocean born. Tech bred. Sleipner creates world-leading technical solutions that consistently improve safety and comfort at sea, setting the benchmark for the boating of tomorrow.
n Sleipner Motors Unit 1, Darcey Court, South Brent, TQ10 9EW Tel: +44 1364 649400 Sales@Sleipner.co.uk www.sleipnergroup.com
To advertise in the Maritime Journal Directory contact sales@maritimejournal .com or phone +44 1329 825335 www.maritimejournal.com
We have been a world leading designer and manufacturer of propellers and shaftlines for over 40 years. Our high performance C’Foil design provides anticavitation characteristics, whilst delivering unrivalled maximum performance.
n Teignbridge Propellers International Ltd Great Western Way, Forde Road, Brunel Industrial Estate, Devon, TQ12 4AW, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1626 333377 www.teignbridge.co.uk
Markus Lifenet Ltd. is specialised in development and manufacture of a man overboard recovery products, made for all types of boats, ships, offshore installations, quay areas and similar land based water sides. We also provide crew training program and onboard inspection guidelines.
n Markus Lifenet Ltd. Hvaleyrarbraut 27, IS-220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland Tel: +354 864 3559 Sales@markusnet.com www.markusnet.com
Subsalve is the worldwide leader and innovator in the design and manufacture of buoyancy engineered inflatables. Our underwater lift bags are specified to meet the toughest challenges in recreational, commercial, scientific, and military applications.
n Subsalve USA
P.O Box 2030, North Kingstown, Ri 02852
Tel: +1 401 88408801
Fax: +1 401 884 8868
Richard@subsalve.com www.subsalve.com
SEATING & CHAIRS
Marine seating of the highest performance and quality. Full suspensions optimised for arduous marine environments, high shock mitigation performance, comfort, ergonomic design and DNV-GL Type approval.
Humphree, based in Gothenburg on the west coast of Sweden, is a company dedicated to providing: “Speed at sea” through innovative technology solutions for high performance vessels. Specialized in Trim and Stabilisation our Product portfolio consists of Interceptor systems and Fin stabilisation systems.
EvoLogics GmbH are experts in cutting-edge underwater communication and positioning systems, as well as novel robotic solutions. The company’s advanced spread-spectrum technology delivers great results for various subsea applications.
n EvoLogics GmbH
Wagner-Régeny-Straße 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 4679 862 - 0 www.evologics.de
Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions. With sustainability a key focus area for the organisation today. Scania works with its partners and customers to drive the shift towards more sustainable transport systems.
n Scania (Great Britain) Limited Delaware Drive, Tongwell, MK15 8HB United Kingdom Tel: +44 845 034 3034 www.scania.co.uk/powersolutions
TUGS,
Thanks to its experienced maritime pilots and high quality tugboats all built in its large-capacity shipyards, Med Marine is Turkey’s leading towage and pilotage operator and had been serving its clients for their newbuilding projects since 1995.
A family owned company with over 45 years of experience in the service of: Chartering tugs / workboats/launches for Inland and Sea-going towage, Assistance and Supply services to provide services for dredging, construction and offshore companies, 24/7.
n Van Wijngaarden Marine Services BV Buitenweistraat 15, 3372 BC Hardinxveld-Giessendam Tel: +31 184 490 244 info@wijngaarden.com www.wijngaarden.com
TUGS, TOWAGE & SALVAGE
Specialist shipbrokers handling the sale & purchase and chartering of Tugs, Jack-ups, barges, Split hoppers, Dredgers and various Workboats etc. Our services also include Towage, heavy lift transport and Valuations.
Herman Senior b.v. is a familyowned company based in Barendrecht, The Netherlands. Although the company was founded in 1992, the roots of the company go back all the way to 1976. With our versatile fleet of Multicats and Shoalbusters, Herman Senior offers a wide range of marine services to our customers on a worldwide basis.
n Herman Sr bv Ebweg 56, Barendrecht, 2991LT Tel: +31 78 619 25 07 info@hermansr.com www.hermansr.com
VESSEL BUILD & REPAIR
In-house expertise, a huge selection of products to meet a very broad range of applications. Specification, through technical advice, manufacture and after-sales support, a comrehensive, valued service to the power transmission and hydraulics industries.
Since 1972, JW Automarine Ltd has led the way in the design, manufacturing and now rental of RF welded PVC & PU fabric Air Lift Bags, Water Weight Load Test Bags, Gas & Liquid Containment Bags, Military & Rescue Service Equipment and a diverse range of product & project solutions.
n JW Automarine Ltd Enterprise Way, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8SN UK 0044 (0) 1328 852300 sales@jwautomarine.co.uk www.jwautomarine.co.uk/
Incat Crowther is a diversified marine design business with offices in Sydney, Australia; Lafayette, USA; Portsmouth, UK. The company has a 35-year history with nearly 600 vessels in service to its designs.
n Incat Crowther P O Box 179, Terrey Hills NSW 2084 Australia Tel: +61 2 9450 0447 www.incatcrowther.com
Bayards is an established specialist in Dutch Built Quality marine structures. Our shipbuilding expertise encompasses the production and engineering of aluminium workboats, crew transfer vessels, ferries, superstructures, and complete cascos.
n Bayards Marine Structures Kamengradska ul. 3, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
Macduff Ship Design Ltd are proven industry leaders in the Naval Architecture and Marine Survey sectors, having worked for more than 25 years with owners, operators and shipyards globally.
Navalrocha Shipyard SA is a worldclass ship repair facility located in the heart of Lisbon harbour on the north bank of the Tagus river and is one of the oldest infrastructures associated with the Naval Industry in the Tagus river estuary dating back to 1898.
n Navalrocha Shipyard SA
Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa Estaleiro da Rocha Conde de Óbidos 1350 – 352 Lisboa – PORTUGAL Tel: (+ 351) 213 915 914 www.navalrocha.pt
VESSEL BUILD & REPAIR
BUILD & REPAIR
The Trafalgar Group is a young, dynamic group of businesses operating in the leisure boating, commercial shipyard and property sectors, based at the top of Portsmouth Harbour.
n Premier Trafalgar Shipyard Trafalgar Wharf, Hamilton Road, Portsmouth, PO6 4PX Tel: +44 02393 233145 email: trafalgarshipyard@ premiermarinas.com www.premiermarinas.com/ trafalgar-shipyard
Designers and manufacturers of winches, windlasses and capstans. Hydraulic, electric, diesel, pneumatic and manually driven along with ancillary equipment. Also hydraulic towing winches. Our Sister company L.G. Prout & Sons Ltd are subcontract precision engineers. We have a reputation for supplying high quality components at competitive prices.
n Gemmell and Prout Marine Ltd Swann Street, East Yorkshire, HU2 0PH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 1482 329600 www.proutmarine.co.uk
Safehaven Marine are designers and builders of FRP Pilot and crew transfer boats, Patrol boats, S.A.R. vessels, Hydrographic craft, Naval & Military designs and unique custom private motor yachts from 11-22m in Monohull, Catamaran and unique hybrid forms.
Harbour & ship assist, terminal, escort & offshore tugs and supply vessels; shallow draft utility workboats and river push boats, tugs up to 170 meters in length, any power range whether direct diesel, diesel-electric or hybrid propulsion technology along with wide range of numerous type vessels.
n Uzmar Shipping & Trading Co. Ltd KOSBAS Kocaeli Serbest Bolgesi, Sepetlipinar SB Mah., 102. Cad. No:14-16 Basiskele,, Kocaeli, 41090 Tel: +90 (262) 341 45 10(pbx) info@uzmar.net www.uzmar.com
Lemans Nederland bv is a company situated in the southwest of The Netherlands. We are specialised in hoist, lift, push and towing equipment. As well as deck, dock and quay equipment.
n Lemans Nederland BV PO Box 527, Bergen op Zoom, NL 4600 AM Tel: +31 164 680 097 Fax: +31 164 681 971 info@lemans-nederland.eu www.lemans-nederland.nl/
MELCAL designs and manufactures advanced deck handling solutions and provides professional life cycle services for the marine and offshore industry. MELCAL offers expert consultation, reliability and performance to shipyards, ship designers & ship owners worldwide.
n Zona Industriale c/da Fegotto S.P. 11 Km 0,6, Calatafimi Segesta (TP) 91013, Italy Federica Calandrino Tel: +39 0924 506974 www.melcal.com/
WORKBOAT BUILDERS
Safe, reliable and designed for work aluminium boats: bespoke patrols, SAR boats and passenger catamarans.
n Aister
C/Baixada do Cocho, nº 228, A Guia – M, Meira – 3, MOAÑA, 6955
DM acquired the assets of equipment of South Boats IOW and trade from Cowes, IOW specialising in the design, construction, refit, repair and maintenance of workboats, military and patrol craft, lifeboats, pilot boats, fishing boats, commercial and pleasure craft.
n Diverse Marine Medina Ship Yard, Pelham Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight Tel: +44 1983 300656 info@diversemarine.co.uk www.diversemarine.co.uk
Southampton Marine Services specialise in ship building, ship repairs and steel fabrication across all aspects of the marine industry.
n SMS Group Ltd Unit 1 Ocean Quay, Belvidere Road, Southampton, Hants, SO14 5QY Tel: +44 2380 141010 info@sms-marine.co.uk www.sms-marine.co.uk
Specialists in Marine Plant Hire, Charter & Sales. Bespoke marine access solutions, CTV / Survey Vessels, Jack up Barges, Pontoons, Tugs, Crane Barges, Dredgers and various other workboats.
n Fastnet Shipping Ltd Marine Support Services Base, Bilberry, Waterford City, Waterford Tel: +353 51 832946 Fax: +353 51 851886 info@fastnetshipping.com www.fastnetshipping.com
Tidal Transit provides access solutions to the offshore energy industry. Via its fleet of purpose built vessels, Tidal Transit transports people and cargo to and from offshore assets. The company’s fleet is focused on increasing efficiency and time.
n Tidal Transit Limited Unit 6 North Creake Airfield Business Park, Bunkers Hill, Egmere, Norfolk, UK Tel: +44 1328 854 225 www.tidal-transit.com
Habbeké Shipyard, established in 1966, has almost fifty years’ experience of quality shipbuilding. The wharf builds exclusively in aluminium, and enjoys an excellent reputation for innovation, quality and service. The shipyard builds aluminium workboats, & both open and closed vessels for rescue, pilot or general work duties.
Baltic Workboats AS has a strong track record for the design, build and delivery of steel and aluminum workboats for professionals around the world.
n Baltic Workboats AS Nasva Harbour, Nasva, Kaarma v, 93872 Saare mk Tel: +372 452 1140 contact@bwb.ee bwb.ee/
Maritime Contracts Journal will help you stay up to date with the latest contracts out for tender, as well as getting early information on upcoming tenders and the latest contract awards.
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Now publishing over 50 leads per weekly edition - with an average of £300 million worth of new maritime contract notices and awards!
MCJ has expanded its coverage to include UK, Europe, USA, Australia & Japan, contact subs@maritimecontracts.com to subscribe for £634/year - or trial 10 issues for just £200!
The short sea shipping and sustainable logistics network Coastlink 2025: Save
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MARITIMEJOURNAL
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