It’s Good News Monday!
This Monday we’ll talk about:
Innovation is the winner of offshore vessel industry awards
Yara Debuts Yara Birkeland, the World’s First Fully-Autonomous and Emission-Free Containership
Rigs report: low-emissions rigs may generate more revenue
MOL Reports Collected Microplastics Can Become Energy Source
Offshore Crane Maker Huisman Launches Drone Inspection Service
“Left to right: Wärtsilä head of product, assistance systems Sasha Heriot was presented with the Innovation of the Year Award by BV global market leader tugs & OSVS Eva Peno (source: Riviera Maritime Media)”. Image from Riviera.
The Offshore Support Journal awards were last week in London, honoring innovators across the offshore industry. Wärtsilä won the innovator of the year award for the RS24 wave radar from Guidance Marine. OneStep Power was shortlisted for our DCShortCUT that validates fault tolerance for DC cross connections. MAATS Tech was shortlisted for a carousel-in-carousel arrangement to allow cable vessels to carry more cable.
The safety award was won by Thome Offshore Management and Tasik Subsea for a “world-first Infectious Disease Mitigation-Arrangement (IDM-A) notation by classification society ABS.” Viking Life-Saving was shortlisted for its evacuation kit for wind turbine technicians.
The environmental award went to Solstad Offshore for upgrading its vessels to battery-hybrid propulsion, with a total of nine vessels now upgraded. Harvey Gulf was shortlisted for its Enviro+ Green Passport Certification from ABS and plans to upgrade all its PSVs to battery power by 2022. “Corvus Energy was shortlisted for the Corvus battery-on-board, a containerised battery-room solution for maximum flexibility in vessel applications.”
Check out the full article for all the other awards, including Subsea, won by Sea-Kit International and Fugro, Dynamic Positioning, won by Kongsberg, and others.
“Yara Birkeland, the world's first fully electric and autonomous container vessel, is moored in Oslo, Norway November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Victora Klesty”. Image from gCaptain.
The Yara Birkeland departed for its maiden voyage on Friday as the first all electric and autonomous container ship. “Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, along with Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Skjæran, were on hand to tour the ship following its arrival in Oslo.” The vessel is expected to eliminate 1,000 tons of CO2 per year by replacing 40,000 trips via diesel truck. Yara started the project in 2017 with Kongsberg, but was delayed due to the pandemic. It will start at Yara’s Porsgrunn plant and transport fertilizer to Brevik and Larvik ports, also in Norway. Total travel distance for the whole journey between all three ports is approximately 30 nm. The ship was built by VARD and will be operated by Massterly, a joint venture between Kongsberg and Wilhelmsen. We covered the Yara Birkeland as part of our article: How do autonomous vessels work?
“ONE-Dyas would pay an additional fee if it uses Maersk Resilient's SCR system (source: Maersk Drilling)”. Image from Riviera.
Dutch North Sea Drilling has paid an extra payment to Maersk Drilling if the jack-up rig Maersk Resolute uses its selective catalytic converter (SCR) system. The contract calls for Maersk to drill exploration wells in the North Sea for 84 days, starting in December 2021. The contract is valued at $6.9M, not including the additional agreed SCR payment, and includes two one-well options. “Maersk Resolute is equipped with a high-efficiency SCR system that uses ammonia injection to convert NOx into harmless water and oxygen, thereby reducing NOx emissions by up to 98%.”
Just last week Maersk Drilling and Noble Corp announced a proposed merger between the two companies that could close in mid 2022.
“Sampling of microplastics collected by the filters on the wood chip carrier (MOL)”. Image from The Maritime Executive.
Researchers working with Mistui O.S.K. Lines is making efforts to draw energy from microplastics and microalgae collected by their vessels. The Eco Trinity team was successful in producing a potential source of energy from the material: carbon products that could become raw material for fuel pellets. This proves that microplastics could become an energy resource and promote collection of those plastics from the oceans. “Seas At Risk cites data that shows global plastic production has been increasing exponentially...They cite a forecast that production will exceed 500 million tons by 2025 and 650 million by 2030.” MOL tested a filter to catch plastics from the ballast water system of a dry bulk wood chip carrier a year ago, and because of these positive results plans to install the filter in more vessels in 2022.
“Credit: Huisman”. Image from Offshore Engineer.
Dutch company Huisman is well-known for cranes in the offshore industry, and is now launching a drone inspection service to inspect pipelay equipment, drilling equipment, and cranes. Huisman is offering the service in the USA, Brazil, the Netherlands, Singapore, and China. The company said the drone inspections are based on artificial intelligence, or AI and high resolution cameras. Remote inspections remove human personnel from dangerous situations and make inspections faster, saving money and increasing safety. “Huisman, together with H3 Zoom, developed the specialized ‘Equipment Inspector’ AI software to quickly analyze collected data and create a detailed report that indicates whether the inspected assets need to be repaired urgently or in the future.” This information will help with repairs, maintenance, budgeting, and scheduling.
Smile, it’s Good News Monday! :-)