International – March 2019
Global Alliance on Plastic Waste Launches
Energy company Total is participating in the creation of a global alliance of companies from the plastics and consumer goods value chain to help end plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, made up of nearly 30 member companies, has committed more than $1 billion, with the goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years.
The alliance will develop and bring to scale solutions that will minimize and manage plastic waste.
Flow Intervention Tech in Onshore Testing
Enpro Subsea announced that the £1.5 million investment project in its flow intervention services (FIS) technology, which included a grant from Scottish Enterprise, has started onshore testing ahead of planned subsea field trials later this year. The company previously developed a lower pressure 10-kpsi version of its tool, and this investment has allowed them to develop the higher rated 15-kpsi version, extending its operating capabilities to support high-pressure wells common in the Gulf of Mexico.
Biofuel Blend Delivered for Ship
Global mining company BHP, Japanese shipping company NYK, biofuel company GoodFuels and BLOC (Blockchain Labs for Open Collaboration) delivered biofuel to the bulk carrier Frontier Sky, with CO2 savings verified with BLOC’s blockchain fuels assurance platform. The biofuel was a drop-in marine gasoil (MGO) equivalent, and it was blended with conventional fossil-based MGO in a mix of 30 percent biofuel to 70 percent conventional MGO, saving more than 50 t of CO2.
New Options Coming for Ballast Management
BWC and ERMA FIRST are collaborating to increase ballast water management options available to ships. ERMA FIRST provides innovative ballast water treatment systems according to current legislation and has a reference list comprised of shipowners and shipyards worldwide. ERMA FIRST BWTS FIT is an advanced modular system suitable for newbuild vessels or retrofits.
Norwegian Company Orders Survey AUV
Swire Seabed AS of Bergen, Norway, has ordered a HUGIN AUV System configured for commercial survey applications. The system is rated to 4,500 m and is equipped with HISAS 1032 synthetic aperture sonar and the EM2040 multibeam echosounder, plus a CathX Ocean camera and laser profiler, a sub-bottom profiler, magnetometer and turbidity sensor. It also includes an automatic pipeline tracking solution to conduct survey and inspection tasks.
Clean Tech Company Acquires Ballast Specialist
Evac, a fast-growing clean tech solution company, has acquired Transvac Systems, a U.K. business specializing in the distribution and servicing of wastewater treatment systems, sanitary systems and ballast water treatment systems for ships and offshore platforms. Transvac has a long history as a supplier to the U.K. Royal Navy as well as the offshore oil industry.
Subsea Umbilicals Built for Global Locations
Oceaneering International secured three subsea umbilical contracts valued in excess of $80 million total to supply developments in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the South China Sea. Two contracts are for electrohydraulic, steel-tube production control umbilicals, measuring approximately 66 mi. total, and related umbilical distribution hardware. The third contract is for three thermoplastic production control umbilicals with a total measure of approximately 26 mi.
MacArtney Reports Global Expansion
MacArtney has established new subsidiaries in Sweden, Chile and China to create a total global footprint across 11 countries in Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The company has integrated two manufacturing sites and created an operations organization responsible for procurement, supply and service globally, in addition to enhancements in enterprise resource planning, IT support tools and IT infrastructure. MacArtney is also developing solutions for renewable energy, defense, civil engineering and fisheries.
UK Transport Department Launches Long-Term Plan for Marine Sector
Developed in collaboration with Maritime UK, the Department for Transport launched Maritime 2050, the first long-term strategy for the U.K. maritime sector. The strategy sets roadmaps for industry and government to work together to drive growth and highlights the maritime sector’s worth: more than aerospace or car manufacturing. Maritime 2050 is based around seven themes: technology, trade, environment, people, infrastructure, security/resilience and the U.K.’s competitive advantage.
Survitec Certified to Service Survival Equipment
Survitec has received DNV GL Z-17 certification as a class-approved service provider for all DNV GL-classed vessels operating various brands of safety and survival equipment, including lifeboats, life rafts, marine evacuation systems, fire-fighting equipment and breathing apparatus. Through three fully owned training centers, Survitec trains its teams to provide inspection and maintenance services across multiple brands in order to meet ship/fleet managers’ safety requirements. DNV GL, which provides services to more than 13,000 vessels and mobile offshore units, audited several Survitec service sites and granted approval in January 2019.
Claxton Opens Office in Norway
Shallow-water engineering services company Claxton opened a new office in Stavanger, Norway. The facility gives Claxton access to a yard and warehouse, providing repair and maintenance capabilities for equipment and room to further expand its operational capabilities in the region. The facility will focus on life-of-field services support to the Norwegian shallow-water oil and gas sector.
Scottish-Japanese Cooperation Encourages Subsea Innovation
Tritech International has secured funding for a collaborative project between the NEC Network Systems Integration Corp. (NESIC) and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). The funding is comprised of investment of up to $10 million over a three-year period to five projects and has been committed by Scottish Enterprise and the Nippon Foundation.
Infrastructure Ministry in Netherlands Upgrades Data Processing Aboard Hydrographic Vessels
Rijkswaterstaat, part of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Netherlands, will upgrade its hydrographic data-processing capabilities with Qimera for the processing of multibeam data. Rijkswaterstaat will use the software on board its hydrographic vessels in Qimera Live mode and will do most of the processing on board in order to reduce the turnaround time from survey to validated.
Major European Expo Events to Combine
Mercator Media Ltd. has agreed to purchase the Marine & Coastal Civil Engineering Expo from the Prysm Group.
The expo is Europe’s leading event showcasing the latest equipment and techniques in marine civil engineering and construction. It will co-locate with Seawork, an event showcasing the latest equipment and techniques in marine civil engineering and construction.
Mercator publishes the pan-European commercial marine magazine Maritime Journal and produces Europe’s market-leading Seawork exhibition, now in its 22nd year.
New Weather Systems Installed At 900-Year-Old English Port
Harwich Haven Authority (HHA) has chosen OceanWise to supply, install and maintain new tide and weather systems at the 900-year-old port on the east coast of England. British marine instrument specialist Valeport has partnered with OceanWise to deliver the environmental monitoring systems. The bespoke system for HHA will measure tide, weather and wave conditions at Harwich and Felixstowe. It includes a modern and dynamic environmental monitoring system with dual telemetry.