Best in the New Year to All

To All who visit often or infrequent  - My best wishes to you, your families and your business interests for the New Year.  It is important to remember that the oceans serves many masters but is the master of all of us.  We must respect, protect, and preserve this truly great resource.

Terry R. Collins

Great Resource

This is a great resource - save the enclosed link

http://pdfreedownload.com/ppt/imo-bunker-convention

Ship Traffic Off California Re-Routed To Protect Whales - KCBS Channel 5 San Francisco

Posted - December 27, 2013 -  KCBS Channel 5 San Francisco

 Ship traffic off the California coast will be re-routed to protect endangered whales from ship strikes.
The International Maritime Organization has approved vessel lane changes on approaches to San Francisco Bay and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and in the Santa Barbara Channel. The changes take effect next year.
The lane modifications were crafted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard with support from the shipping industry.
Migrating blue, fin and humpback whales are prone to ship strikes. In 2010, five whales died from ship collisions in the San Francisco area and along the north-central California coast.

Post to be found at:
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/12/27/ship-traffic-off-california-re-routed-to-protect-whales/

EPA - Lisa Jackson to step down

www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-head-jackson-to-resign-post/2012/12/27/50637f50-4fda-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html

Calculating and Comparing CO2 Emissions from Global Maritime FleetReport from Rightship

Link to report - Calculating and Comparing CO2 Emissions from Global Maritime Fleet - Produced by Rightship

http://www.scribd.com/doc/93881672/Rightship-GHG-Emission-Rating

LNG fuelled bulk carrier design developed by COSCO Shipyard Group, Golden Union and Lloyd’s Register - Lloyd's Register

Posted - December 21, 2012 - Lr.org News

Clean Sky’ design Kamsarmax project moves industry far beyond the concept stage for gas powered bulk carriers
Lloyd’s Register has provided approval in principle (AIP) for the new ‘Clean Sky’ bulk carrier design incorporating an LNG-as-fuel system. COSCO, Golden Union and Lloyd’s Register started the project in June 2011 to investigate the potential to develop a commercially viable bulk carrier design based on an existing COSCO conventional design but employing gas powered propulsion systems.
The ‘Clean Sky’ design builds in flexibility by enabling owners to choose dual, or tri-fuel engines able to burn, HFO or diesel as well as LNG.
Nick Brown, Lloyd’s Register’s Area General Manager and Marine Manager, Greater China said: "This news moves the industry far beyond the concept stage. A ‘Clean Sky’ ship could be built next year. We have addressed the technology issues – the approval in principle that we issued today only comes after exhaustive risk investigation into the gas containment, bunkering systems and performance assessment."

Full Press release at : http://www.lr.org/news_and_events/press-releases/245528-lng-fuelled-bulk-carrier-design-developed-by-cosco-shipyard-group-golden-union-and-lloyds-register.aspx

http://www.lr.org/news_and_events/news/245534-lng-fuelled-bulk-carrier-design-developed-by-cosco-shipyard-group-golden-union-and-lloyds-register.aspx

DNV and GL to merge - GL Group Home page

Posted - December 20, 2012 - GL Group

Hamburg/Oslo - An agreement has been signed to merge DNV and GL. The new entity will be called DNV GL Group. It will be one of the world’s leading ship classification societies and risk experts in the oil and gas, renewable energy and power sectors, and among the global top three in management system certification.
“The merger rests on a strong strategic rationale, and responds to the challenges of increased globalization, rapid technological change and the need for sustainable development. Our customers will benefit from an increased service offering and global competence base as well as one of the densest networks,” says DNV’s Group CEO, Henrik O. Madsen, who will be the CEO of the combined new company. ”The merger with DNV supports our long-term goal of being recognized as one of the most respected technical assurance and advisory companies in the world”, adds GL Group’s CEO, Erik van der Noordaa.
By combining the two international organizations, the new company will be one of the world’s leading independent technical service providers with state-of-the-art technological expertise and strong capabilities for innovation. With more than 17.000 employees and an extensive global network of offices, DNV GL Group is positioned to meet increased international competition and even better serve the needs of the customers.
The DNV Foundation will hold 63.5%, while GL’s owner Mayfair SE will hold 36.5% of the shares. The new company, with a combined turnover of some EUR 2.5 billion, will be headquartered and registered in Norway.
“We see this as a good strategic match. The two companies have a common set of values and complementary strengths. Both have strong brands and solid market positions as well as a reputation for high quality and strong integrity. There were negotiations between DNV and GL both in 1999 and in 2006 on closer cooperation. I am very pleased that the timing now seems to be right,” says Leif-Arne Langøy, the Chairman of DNV’s Board of Directors.
“DNV is the partner of choice for GL. Besides DNV’s clear commitment to Hamburg our decision for this partnership is based on the complementary fit of DNV and GL as well as the joint ambition for innovation and quality of both companies. As a long-term oriented shareholder we consider this partnership to be the continuation of our successful investment in Germanischer Lloyd.” says Guenter Herz, Chairman of Mayfair SE.
DNV GL Group will strengthen its foothold in several areas of expertise, including the maritime segment and across the entire oil & gas value chains. The Group will also be one of the global leaders in pipeline verification and asset integrity services as well as in renewable energy certification and advisory services. Moreover, it will be a strong player within power transmission and distribution as well as testing and certification services. To enhance its service offering the Group will strengthen its focus on R&D and innovation.
DNV GL Group will operate in the business segments Maritime, Oil & Gas, Energy and Business Assurance. Its global headquarters will be in Høvik outside of Oslo.
Find here the presentation of today's press conference.

Complete Post at:
http://www.gl-group.com/en/group/news_dnv_and_gl_to_merge.php

Government delays shipping and aviation emissions decision to 2016 - Business Green

Posted - 19 Dec 2012 BusinessGreen  - By Will Nichols - 

A decision on whether to bring shipping and aviation emissions into the UK's 2050 carbon target will not be made until 2016 at the earliest, the government announced today.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said waiting until the fifth carbon budget is actually being set would allow the government to take into account any future changes to how aviation emissions are tackled at a global level.
Proposals to limit both shipping and aviation emissions are expected this year after a decade of international talks, but the outcomes are far from certain.
"Given the uncertainty of what is happening at the EU and global level in managing aviation emissions, we think it sensible to defer our decision on the inclusion of aviation and shipping emissions in the UK's carbon budgets," Davey said in a statement.
"This government is fully committed to meeting the 2050 target, and this is consistent with the UK's contribution to the international goal of limiting global temperature rises due to climate change to 2°C."
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said delaying the decision to 2016 will not impact on the UK's ability to meet the first four carbon budgets, which have already been set to allow headroom for emissions from international aviation and shipping.
It added the deferall was agreed after consulation with its emissions advisory body, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), which earlier in the year recommended the sectors be included in carbon budgets.
In a statement, David Kennedy, chief executive of the CCC, backed the government's reasoning for the delay, but added the decision should be revised in 2015.
However, green groups have argued that failing to include the two sectors would mean other sectors of the economy have to make deeper carbon cuts than planned and could throw the UK off course from meeting its target of reducing emissions 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050.
Keith Allott, head of climate change at WWF-UK, criticised the government's "dither and delay" in postponing the decision until after the next election.
"The clarification that the 2050 emissions target includes aviation and shipping is a positive step, but it's hardly a ringing endorsement of the government's green credentials," he added.
"The UK's existing carbon budgets already take emissions from international aviation and shipping into account, and representatives of the aviation and shipping sectors have expressed their support, so there is no real reason to delay this decision."
The government has previously expressed its support for an international agreement to tackle shipping and aviation emissions, which each account for about three per cent of the global total.
Last month, the EU suspended rules charging airlines for emissions during flights in and out of its airports until late 2013, by which time the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is due to have proposed a market mechanism for dealing with aviation emissions, such as emissions trading.
Should the UN body be unable to come to an agreement, the EU regulation is due to snap back into place – but this may prove difficult for Brussels to achieve given rumoured opposition to restoring the rules from the UK, Germany and France.
Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is also working to progress a similar measure for shipping. However, its slow progress has led to some veiled warnings from the European Commission that it may take action to tackle the problem regionally should a global agreement not be put in place soon.

 

Post to be found at:
http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2233050/government-delays-shipping-and-aviation-emissions-decision-to-2016

MOL Acquires Top Rating for SMBC Environmental Assessment Loan - Press Release - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Posted - December 12, 2012 - Press Release - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

TOKYO-Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL; President: Koichi Muto) today announced that the company acquired the top rating for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Environmental Assessment Loan.
To get this loan system, the MOL Group must meet strict environmental assessment standards set by SMBC and Japan Research Institute.
MOL Group environmental strategy is a key element of the midterm management plan GEAR UP! MOL. The group's goal is to contribute to sustainable worldwide economic growth by promoting efficiency and environmental protection, and it takes various initiatives to achieve that objective.
The MOL Group earned high marks for environmental management, environmental protection measures, and environmental business, and was ranked as a company whose corporate management reflects deep concern for the environment.
The group also received high ratings particularly for providing customers with ocean transport services that have a low environmental burden for customers; promoting environmental protection activities through its group-wide environmental management system in Japan and overseas, proactive efforts to save energy, reduce waste, and encourage and recycling in land-based offices in addition to wide use of "Eco Sailing" to boost vessel operating efficiency. Initiatives on research and development such as launching vessels with a low environmental burden and the adoption of propeller boss cap fins (PBCF) were also recognized as the group's environmental awareness.
As part of the next-generation vessel concept Senpaku ISHIN project to reduce the environmental burden of shipping activities, the hybrid car carrier Emerald Ace, equipped with an electric power supply system that combines a solar generation system, with storage batteries, was launched on June 29.
The MOL Group continually offers transport solutions with a lower environmental burden, while evolving as a corporate group that meets the needs of the times.

Press Release Post found at:
http://www.mol.co.jp/pr-e/2012/e-pr_1252.html

WWL Optimizes a Third Vessel in its Fleet to Save on Fuel Costs and Reduce Environmental Emissions - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted - Thursday, 13 December 2012 | 00:00 - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

 A Wilhelmsen strategic partner in achieving these goals is 2012 Orcelle Award winner Nonox Ltd., the manufacturer of patented water-in-oil emulsion fuel systems which for the past two years have been implemented aboard WWL M/V Tortugas (PCTC) powered by Mitsubishi-UE 7UEC60LSII and M/V Taiko (ConRo) @ 39,900 DWT powered by MAN B&W 8 L90GB . A third Nonox system is planned for first quarter 2013 implementation aboard M/V Tamesis, (RoRo) a 38,486dwt powered by MAN B&W 8L70MC (MK5).
The Nonox system is composed of an emulsion combustion unit (ECU) having an intermediary connection between straight fuel supply & engine/boiler and a connection to a plain water source. Emulsion fuel is produced on-demand, before it enters the combustion chamber, requiring no surfactants or chemical additives, thus eliminating logistical requirements and maintaining power and performance. Age, type, and manufacture differences in each power plant operating under varying conditions, especially at sea require different fuel/water/air adjustments to achieve optimal performance. Nonox is computer controlled easily managing required emulsions, not feasible with pre-mixed fuel. Thus a cleaner more comprehensive burn is produced optimizing power and performance concurrent with significantly reducing fuel consumption and SOx, CO2, NOx and PM emissions. The Nonox system is covered by two U.S. patents;
A simple non-invasive on-board implementation and significant direct fuel savings provide for a short technology payback of less than a year. Whether slow steaming, running at maximum speed or hoteling direct fuel savings are consistently achieved using straight fuel available in all ports having a continuing exponentially growing ROI.
Importantly Nonox removes up to 90% of PM upfront, thereby proactively eliminating much of the exhaust scrubber systems by-product sludge in ships so equipped.
"Since first installing the Nonox systems on board Wilhelmsen M/V Tortugas and M/V Taiko we are seeing positive trends with regards to reduced fuel oil consumption, cleaner inside engine, economizer and boiler and reduced NOx-emissions”. … Petter Joenvik, Shipping and Environmental Manager, Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA
WMS has the capability to serve its customers in more than 2200ports in 115 countries
Wilhelmsen Ships Equipment, part of the Wilh.Wilhelmsen group of companies with head office in Oslo, Norway has the world’s most extensive ship servicing operation with more than 21000 ships as regular customers …
“Our strategic partners provide technologies that will meet all the new environmental regulations as well as provide operational improvements enabling our vision to go from HFO to Zero emissions”. … Iver Iversen …Business Development Manager Wilhelmsen Maritime Services

Post to be found at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/News.aspx?ElementId=08cb6c87-ea13-473b-b53e-8c552bcd46b4&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

JAXPORT to Further Reduce Diesel Emissions - The Maritime Executive

Posted - Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - The Maritime Executive

The JAXPORT Board of Directors has unanimously approved a grant partnership with the state allowing the port to voluntarily reduce diesel emissions further at both the Talleyrand and Blount Island Marine Terminals.
The grant, awarded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, will pay for the port to install diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) on JAXPORT cranes and equipment, reducing emissions by 10 tons per year.
JAXPORT is only the second Florida port to receive funds through this grant program.
Once installed, the EPA has calculated the DOCs will reduce pollutants significantly in the first year of use:
•    20% reduction in particulate matter
•    50% reduction in hydrocarbons
•    30% reduction in carbon monoxide  
“We have long been in compliance with all clean air requirements and we are dedicated to doing our part as good stewards of the environment---whether we’re talking about air quality or the health of the river,” said JAXPORT Board of Directors Chairman James Citrano. “We see the value in going above and beyond to reduce our impact while increasing employment and growing our economic value to North Florida.”


Post to be found at:
http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/jaxport-to-further-reduce-diesel-emissions

TOTE out in front with clean propulsion technology - http://seattletimes.com

Originally published December 10, 2012 at 6:31 AM | Page modified December 10, 2012 at 10:40 AM -  

Brier Dudley - Seattle Times technology columnist

With a Prius on every block and Teslas on sale at the mall, it’s hard to make a statement with a hybrid in Seattle nowadays.
You need a pretty special eco-friendly vehicle to stand out.
I thought the suborbital space freighter that Paul Allen is building out of recycled 747s would take the cake.
Then I heard about the two 764-foot, dual-fuel megaships being built for Seattle-based TOTE.
When they go into service in 2015 and 2016, the hybrid ships will be the most environmentally friendly container ships in the world, the company said in its announcement last week.
Emissions of particulate matter will be reduced by 99 percent, enabling TOTE to sail through strict clean-air regulations applied to coastal areas around the world.
It’s a huge investment — more than $350 million — by Saltchuk Resources, a family-owned Seattle business that quietly operates TOTE and a huge network of maritime and shipping companies.
At first blush this seems like a crazy move. There’s a glut of ships worldwide after a surge of construction over the past decade, chasing the rise in global trade. But that glut has created a buyer’s market for new ships.
TOTE also is being proactive and using new technology to get ahead of environmental measures that are pushing maritime companies around the world to operate cleaner ships.
“Somebody has to do it and get out in front of it,” Phil Morrell, TOTE’s vice president of marine and terminal operations, told me last week.
This isn’t the first time Saltchuk has been first with a fancy hybrid. In 2009 its Foss Maritime group began operating the world’s first hybrid diesel-electric tugboat, in Southern California. It worked so well that a second tug was retrofitted with the hybrid propulsion system, for which Foss and its design partners received a patent this year.
I wouldn’t call these granola boats, though. Going green in this case is smart business as much as altruism.
International treaties have established “emission control areas” in coastal areas where TOTE operates, including a zone of about 200 miles off the coasts of Canada and the United States. Within these areas, ships must use cleaner, low-sulfur fuel or take other steps to cut harmful emissions.
This past August, the maximum sulfur content of fuel used in these areas fell from 3.5 to 1 percent. It falls again in 2015 to 0.1 percent. The current plan calls for a global limit of 0.5 percent sulfur starting in 2020.
To meet these requirements, ships must use more refined — and more expensive — fuel. That makes advanced technologies like hybrid engines more appealing.
Morrell said 1 percent sulfur fuel costs 30 percent more than regular “heavy” fuel oil. He expects the 0.1 percent limit will increase fuel costs by about 60 percent in 2015.
Ships may also comply with emissions requirements by adding devices such as exhaust “scrubbers” that capture waste material for disposal on shore. Or they can switch to clean burning liquefied natural gas, or LNG, which is relatively cheap and plentiful.
Engines that TOTE’s using on its new ships can convert on the fly from diesel to LNG as they enter zones with different emissions requirements, without a drop in speed.
The engines are being built in South Korea using technology licensed from a European conglomerate. A Korean company is designing the ships, which will be built in San Diego by General Dynamics Nassco. TOTE may not stop at two; it has options for three more of the same class.
LNG is already widely used in Scandinavia by ferries, coast-guard ships and smaller tankers. It’s coming to oil-industry support ships in the Gulf of Mexico, and Washington state is considering LNG ferries. Eventually the big international shipping companies will also make the switch, Morrell said.
In shipping circles, this is more than a system update. It’s seen as a monumental shift to new propulsion technology.
“The analogy is very similar to the transition from sail to steam, or when they went to coal, or when they went from coal to oil,” Morrell said. “It’s just another evolution in the maritime industry and the type of energy you’re going to use to propel your vessel. It’s a new era.”
It’s expensive to be ahead of the curve, though. Morrell said the ships’ propulsion system costs 15 to 20 percent more than a traditional system.
“It’s like buying a hybrid car,” he said. “The hybrid car is a little bit more expensive than the regular gas version because of the components and the technology.”
TOTE will operate its hybrid ships between Puerto Rico and Jacksonville, Fla. They’ll haul cars, food, pharmaceuticals and all sorts of other products to and from the island. They also will sail in a new Caribbean Sea emissions control area that takes effect in January 2014.
Cleaner propulsion is also coming to ships that TOTE operates between Tacoma and Alaska. The company has started designing an LNG system to retrofit its two 839-foot Orca class ships that were built in 2003.
TOTE expects that its work adding LNG infrastructure on shore will help other ship operators move to LNG.
LNG takes up valuable deck space with large gas tanks. TOTE’s new ships will feature large gas tanks on the aft deck, with a platform for storing containers above the tanks. Still, TOTE said it’s new ships will carry five times more containers than ships currently serving Puerto Rico.
TOTE expects its new hybrids will be the largest ships in the world powered primarily by LNG.
They get my inaugural Emerald Trident Award.
Unless Paul Allen gets a wild hair and starts bolting together mothballed aircraft carriers to build a seagoing, recycled launch platform for his space freighter.

Brier Dudley’s column appears Mondays. Reach him at 206-515-5687 or bdudley@seattletimes.com

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019874610_briercolumn10xml.html

No Win No Fee Comes to the World of Ocean Freight Transport - Handy Shipping Guide

Posted - December 12, 2012 - Handy Shipping Guide
Cutting Fuel and Emissions Can Be Achieved Even By Making Minor Changes

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE- When attempting to save money sometimes the smallest change in behaviour or materials can have a profound effect on the savings to be made and when dealing with the economies of modern merchant shipping cutting fuel consumption also carries the bonus of reduced emissions. This month two of Norway’s leading maritime related companies have joined up to promote a new way for ocean freight and passenger carriers to benefit without the risk of speculative added costs.
The Kyma Ship Performance (KSP) system has been used by ship owners to monitor ship performance since 1980 and there are more than 650 vessels with the system in operation today. Now the company has joined with one of the best known names in marine paints, Jotun, to try and implement an effective and quick-win solution for ship owners seeking to boost the energy efficiency of their fleet by improving hull and propeller performance.
Now Jotun’s Hull Performance Solutions combines a next generation antifouling (SeaQuantum X200), and a reliable and transparent method for measuring the impact of the antifouling on ship performance (Jotun Hull Performance Measurement Method) with a no-cure-no-pay business model. According to Kyma’s Managing Director, Erik Hagestuen:
“Having worked with ship owners to monitor ship performance for more than 30 years, we have seen first-hand that there is a considerable fuel-cost and GHG-emissions saving potential related to improvements in hull and propeller performance. The no-cure-no-pay business model offered as a part of Jotun’s Hull Performance Solutions, in combination with the reliable measurability offered by our Kyma Ship Performance system, should make it possible for ship owners to quickly realize much of this potential”.
The Jotun group has been around since 1926 and now comprises seventy four companies with thirty nine production facilities on all continents and Geir Axel Oftedahl, Director of Business Development for Jotun’s Hull Performance Solution Concept, praised Kyma on enabling fully transparent measurements of hull and propeller performance, saying:
“Performance-based contracting is a corner stone in our Hull Performance Solution. A prerequisite for performance based contracting is that the measurement methodology and data used to determine the outcome of the contract are available to both parties”
By using modern methods the two companies say that reliable and accurate measurement of performance will allow vessel owners and operators to make both fuel-cost and greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions savings, based on informed investment decisions.

Post to be found at:
http://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/no-win-no-fee-comes-to-the-world-of-ocean-freight-transport_4218

Reducing Maritime Emissions - with Transient Plasma Ignition

Interesting - We will see where it goes

Reducing Maritime Emissions - with Transient Plasma Ignition    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mub6Ii08dBs

“Action by international shipping to address climate change”. COP 18 Doha, Qatar. 27th November 2012 .

Link below is to the slid presentation by the IMO Dated 27 November

http://www.imo.org/OurWork/Environment/PollutionPrevention/AirPollution/Documents/COP%2018/IMO%20presentation%20IMO%20side%20event.pdf

Increasing energy efficiency in shipping - WordPress.com

Posted on December 10, 2012 - Hannes Johnson is a PhD student and Project Manager at Shipping and Marine Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. 

Upcoming licentiate seminar

It’s time for my licentiate seminar, roughly two and a half years after starting this PhD position.  A shorter thesis will be presented and discussed.

The seminar will be held here at Chalmers on the 7th of March next year. Exact time and venue will be announced. Assistant Professor Patrik Thollander from Linköping University, who has published extensively on energy efficiency in industry, will be the discussion leader.
The thesis will discuss the role of energy efficiency in shipping in a climate change context, including a short summary of the rebound effect debate; give an historical overview of energy efficiency in shipping, going back to the oil crises of the 70s (yes, most of the measures have been discussed before); provide a review of the energy efficiency gap and barriers literature and its relevance to shipping; and cover various energy management systems.
Finally, based on an action research project involving two Swedish shipping companies the thesis includes a discussion of ways in which researchers can contribute to further understanding of how to achieve greater energy efficiency in the shipping sector. This could in turn produce better policy, better management practices, as well as of course more, and better, research. The thesis will be made available here as soon as it is done, probably end of January.
We’ve just failed in Doha to produce a global deal on GHGs emissions in the near term, implying we might not see a peak in global emissions until hopefully next decade. Most scenarios leading to a fair chance of staying below a 2 degree warming assumed a peak in this decade, as this was more cost-efficient. A later peak means sharper, more expensive, cuts. Such scenarios include commitment from the shipping sector to a radically different degree. More energy efficient ships and operational practices are necessary but not sufficient. Are countries up for discussing a “complete decarbonisation” of the shipping sector during MEPC 65? Staying below 2 degrees now might require it.



Post to be found at:
http://energyefficientshipping.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/upcoming-licentiate-seminar/

LPG shipping segment enjoyed healthy rebound in 2012 says StealthGas head, Harry Vafias - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted - Monday, 10 December 2012 | 15:50 - Nikos Roussanoglou - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Fuel efficient ships, or so-called "Eco Ships" will slowly but steadily gain more and more market share, at least as long as the oil prices stay at high levels. In an interview with Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, Harry Vafias, CEO of StealthGas and the Vafias Group (active in five different shipping markets), talks about the revival of the LPG shipping markets during 2012, the introduction of newer and more fuel efficient vessels in the Group's fleet, while he also mentions that the best pirate-deterrant so far has proven to be the use of armed guards on board the company's vessels which transit through areas like the Gulf of Aden.
2012 proved to be a challenging year for the shipping industry. Could you highlight us the main issues regarding the market where StealthGas is active, i.e. the LPG shipping business?
2012 indeed was very tough for all major shipping segments and especially the crude tankers! The small LPG market however proved to be a star performer due to its tiny orderbook, growing demand and general stability of freight rates. Stealthgas succeeded to not oly post record results close to 200 percent up from same quarter last year but also to expand by ordering four more Newbuildings.
One of the latest trends in shipbuilding seems to revolve around the so called "eco-carriers", vessels with high fuel efficiency that usually command a price premium. Do you believe that these vessels will become dominant in the future?
Taking a few steps at a time, these ships will dominate the market, especially if the oil price remains very high. The unfortunate thing is that while shipping finance is scarce we have seen orders of about 120 eco type MR’s in the last 9 months! Owners have to realize that there won't be any balance in the marketplace if they continue to keep ordering ships in an already oversupplied market!
What measures have you implemented to reduce the fuel consumption of your fleet?
On the tanker and bulker side we have yet performed any measures since all ships are on long period and thus charterers and not owners are responsible for the speed and consumptions of the said vessels. On the LPG side Stealthgas took delivery of 12 japanese LPG Newbuildings that had low consumptions in any case, but for the rest of the fleet we are looking for new technologies like deratting the engines, installing propeller fins etc.
Are you looking to invest in carriers that are making use of fuel-saving technologies and if so, which type of technology available do you believe will be among the most popular ones?
For our new type in house designed LPG ships called the diamond series which are under construction in Korea for 2014 deliveries, we have installed electronic eco type engine, we have designed the hulls to be more hydrodynamic, we have shortened the hull length so that ships are more flexible to visit smaller ports, we have added water treatment ballast system technology and finally ships are ice class 1B for ice trading in the north sea.
How did StealthGas fare in terms of financial performance during another tough year, like 2011
was?
2011 was relatively tough but 2012 has been a game changer for us! Rates are up 15 pct, the fleet has been generating a lot of free cash flow and we are the only listed company with $150 million market cap that generates annual EBITDA of $80 million!!!
Which do you believe are the prospects of the LPG shipping market in 2013 and the future in general?
The future for the small LPG business looks rosy for at least 2 more years, due to the small orderbook, strong demand especially from the east and the finalization of several LNG projects that will lead to the supply of lots of LPG as well.
Will you be looking to enter new niche segments, like for instance the LNG shipping business, which at the moment appears to be among the least affected from tonnage oversupply pressures?
We are happy to continue to operate in our chosen 5 segments ie capesize bulkers, pressure LPG, semi ref LPG, MR’s and crude carriers and we are not looking at least in the short term to enter any new segment.
Piracy is also among the main problems for ship owners and crews alike. Has this activity impacted your company or not? If so, what are the most appropriate measures a ship owner can take, in order to avoid a possible hijacking?
We have several ships trading often around the Gulf of Aden and we have realized that the most efficient way to tackle this, except from increased insurance and K&R, is armed guards! We have been using them regularly and we never had an attack from pirates.
Operating from Athens, how did the country's recession and financial struggles impact your business? Have things changed in terms of the way you conduct business during these past three years?
There is no direct effect on our business, however there is a lot of indirect effect in the form of psychological negativeness and sadness for what has happened to our beautiful country! We don’t want to leave our country and settle somewhere else, so we will continue to fight on, create jobs for the younger generation and hope that these problems are slowly eradicated!

Post can be found at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/News.aspx?ElementId=92eb501a-3733-4185-81c4-c26edc8be97f&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

New GE Marine Diesel Engines EPA, IMO, Emission Compliant - MarineLink.com

Posted - December 5, 2012 - MarineLink.com

GE Marine technology enables its L250 and V250 marine diesel engines to be compliant without exhaust after-treatment.

At the International WorkBoat Show 2012 in New Orleans, GE Marine announce its timeline for meeting EPA Tier 3 and Tier 4i, as well as IMO Tier III emission compliance without the need for exhaust gas after-treatment for its L250 and V250 marine diesel engines.

GE’s engine technology eliminates the need for a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) and storing or using urea aboard a vessel, thereby preserving cargo and tank space. This advanced non-SCR system will be available in mid-2013, months before the Jan. 1, 2014, deadline for EPA Tier 3 emissions standard compliance.

“GE has been working for eight years to reach this breakthrough in diesel engine technology to help businesses worldwide comply with EPA and IMO emission standards,” said John Manison, general manager of GE Marine. “This new technology allows the marine industry to meet the upcoming emission compliance requirements and reduce both capital and operating expenditures. In addition, our engineering efforts have further reduced the already class-leading fuel consumption of the L250 engines.”

GE’s L250 engines rated at less than 2,000 kW will be certified as EPA Tier 2 during 2013 but will meet EPA Tier 3 emission levels, ahead of the January 2014 standard path requirement. In addition, the 8L250 and 12/16V250 engines rated at more than 2,000 kW will meet EPA standard path Tier 4i (interim) requirements in 2014.

Post to be found at:
http://www.marinelink.com/news/compliant-emission-marine349797.aspx

Reduced noise emissions for Danish windfarm - Maritime Journal

Posted - December 6, 2012 Maritime Journal (.com)

Denmark based offshore wind developer, DONG Energy, has chosen a trio of 200HD Vibrodrivers, made by French pile driving technology manufacturer, PTC, as an alternative solution to hydraulic hammers for its Anholt offshore windfarm to reduce noise emissions.

DONG Energy is in the process of building the Anholt offshore windfarm which is situated between Grenaa and the island of Anholt, off the east coast of Denmark.
The building of the Anholt foundations required the driving of large, heavy monopoles, which were driven into the sea bed with hydraulic hammers using impact driving technology. Impact pile driving creates a high under water noise level, creating strong sound waves which endanger the surrounding marine life. So DONG Energy chose PTC's Vibrodrivers as an alternative to reduce the noise emissions under water.
PTC’s Vibrodrivers drive the pile in accordance with the latest German regulations in noise emissions under water which stipulates a maximum of 160dB at 750m. The PTC technology offers significant environmental benefits for offshore windfarm foundations including low noise emissions, precise pile positioning, easier and safer pile handling and underwater pile driving up to 100m.
Once completed, Anholt windfarm will be Denmark’s largest, with an overall capacity of 400MW which will cover 4% of the country’s total power consumption.

Post to be found here:
http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/industry-news/ptc-vibrodriving-technology-for-anholt-windfarm

World's First and Largest LNG-Powered Containerships To Serve Puerto Rico - sacbee.com

Posted -Thursday, December 6, 2012 - sacbee.com - unedited press releases distributed by PR Newswire.
  
State-of-the-Art Ships to Benefit Island's Economy, Environment

TOTE, Inc. announced today it has committed to the construction of two new state-of-the-art containerships for the Puerto Rico trade, with options for three more vessels for additional domestic service.  The agreement with General Dynamics NASSCO represents a major technological milestone in international shipping.

The vessels will be the most environmentally friendly containerships in the world with CO2 emissions-per-container that are 71% less than the vessels now in the Puerto Rican trade.  Particulate Matter will be reduced by 99%.  Sulfur oxides will be reduced by 98%.  Nitrogen oxides will be reduced by 91%.  The 3100 TEU vessels are expected to be the largest ships of any kind in the world powered primarily by liquefied natural gas (LNG).  Both ships will be powered by dual-fuel LNG engines that greatly surpass the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's clean air regulations. 
General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, California will build the vessels, with construction expected to sustain 600 American shipyard jobs in Southern California.  The first two vessels will be delivered and enter service between Jacksonville, FL and San Juan, PR in 2015 and 2016.
These new TOTE, Inc. ships will be the most efficient in the trade.  The ship design accommodates five times more 53-foot containers than current ships in Puerto Rico and will allow for the transport of everything from cars to corn syrup. The ships will include expanded volumes for refrigeration equipment, critical to ensure that pharmaceuticals, produce and other foodstuffs vital to the residents of Puerto Rico are delivered in the best possible condition. The maritime shipping trade to Puerto Rico is an essential part of sustained economic development for the Island and these vessels will provide the most modern, reliable service available.  The total capital committed to the project is over $350 million.  

d more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5030290/worlds-first-and-largest-lng-powered.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5030290/worlds-first-and-largest-lng-powered.html#storylink=cpy

Complete post at:

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5030290/worlds-first-and-largest-lng-powered.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5030290/worlds-first-and-largest-lng-powered.html#storylink=cpy

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http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/04/5030290/worlds-first-and-largest-lng-powered.html

Maersk Receives Energy Efficiency Certification from American Bureau of Shipping - Vessel Finder

Posted -  Wednesday 5th of December 2012 - Vessel Finder

Maersk Line Ltd has become the 1st shipping company to obtain global certification from the US Bureau of Shipping for energy management per the Guide for Marine Health, Safety, Quality, Environmental and Energy (HSQEEn) Management.
The successful implementing of the standards required an obligation from all levels and functions of the organization, and it underscores Maersk Line's ongoing achievement to enhance the environmental sustainability of its operations.
The requirements of the American Bureau of Shipping for energy management are based on the international standard, ISO 50001:2011, Energy Management Systems. ISO 50001 that specifies how a company should make targets and unwind and implement an energy policy that takes into account legal requirements and other factors linked to energy use. This international ISO standard sets forth the systems and processes needful to enhance energy performance and efficiency.
Members of the American Bureau of Shipping audit team were present at Maersk Line's Norfolk, Virginia headquarters to verify conformance and present the certificate to the hard working team members that were connected to achieving the milestone. Maersk Line joins a select group of firms that have demonstrated their commitment to sustainable operations and enhancing energy performance in accordance with ISO 50001.

Post found at:

http://www.vesselfinder.com/news/738-Maersk-Receives-Energy-Efficiency-Certification-from-American-Bureau-of-Shipping?goback=.gde_1330507_member_192787947

Condition of Entry for Vessels Arriving at US Ports from Certain Countries - Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide

Posted - Wednesday, 05 December 2012 |www.hellenicshippingnews.com

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has issued a Marine Advisory No. 53-12 regarding Conditions of entry for vessels arriving at US ports from certain countries as follows: Please be advised that the U.S. Coast Guard has announced that, effective immediately, it is removing conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the United States from Indonesia. Any vessel arriving in the United States that called in any of the countries listed on page 2 (with exceptions noted) during its previous five (5) port calls must take actions 1 through 5 listed below:
1. Implement measures per the ship's security plan equivalent to Security Level 2;
2. Ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel. Guards may be:
• provided by the ship's crew, however, additional crewmembers should be placed on the ship if necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded and/or minimum hours of rest are met, or
• provided by outside security forces approved by the ship's master and Company Security Officer.
3. Attempt to execute a Declaration of Security;
4. Log all security actions in the ship's log; and
5. Report actions taken to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) prior to arrival in the United States.
The following countries are affected by the U.S. Coast Guard's imposition of conditions of entry:
Republic of Yemen (with the exception of the Ash Shihr Terminal, the Balhalf LNG Terminal and the port of Hodeidah)
1. Comoros
2. Cote d'Ivoire
3. Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
4. Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
5. Madagascar (with the exception of Toamasina (also known as Tamatave) - MGTMM- 0001)
6. Venezuela
7. Cambodia (with the exception of the Phnom Pehn Autonomous Port - IMO number not listed; and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port - IMO number not listed)
8. Cuba
9. Cameroon (with the exception of the Ebome Marine Terminal - CM394-0001; Quai GETMA (LAMNALCO Base) Facility - CMDLA-0005; the Société Nationale de Raffinage (SONARA) Terminal - IMO number not listed and the Kome-Kribi 1-CM234- 0001)
10. Equatorial Guinea (with the exception of the ports of Ceiba - GQ362-0001/0002; K-5 Oil Center - IMO number not listed; Luba - GQLUB-0001; Punta Europa Terminal - GQ368-0001; and Zafiro Marine Terminal - GQ370-0001)
11. Guinea-Bissau
12. Iran
13. Liberia (with the exception of the Firestone Facility - IMO number not listed; and Port of Monrovia - IMO Number LRMLW-0001)
14. Syria
Masters of vessels arriving at a U.S. port whose last five (5) port calls included a port in a listed country (with exceptions noted) should expect that the U.S. Coast Guard will board their vessel at sea in order to ensure that the required actions were complied with. Failure to properly MSD 001 (11/01) 3 of 3 MSA No. 62-12 implement the above conditions of entry while in a port in one of the listed countries will most likely result in the vessel being denied entry into the United States.
Based on the findings of the Coast Guard boarding or examination, the vessels subject to the conditions of entry shown on page 1 may be required to ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded by armed security guards and that they have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel while in U.S. ports. The number and location of the guards must be acceptable to the cognizant U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port. For those vessels that have demonstrated good security compliance and can document that they took the measures called for in items 1 through 4 above, the armed security guard requirement will normally be waived.
However, vessels that visited Monrovia, Liberia (Firestone Facility and Port of Liberia) during their last five port calls prior to entering the United States will not normally be boarded at sea by the Coast Guard unless other targeting factors apply, nor will these vessels be required to provide armed security guards while in ports of the United States.
Owners and operators of vessels that are due to arrive in a U.S. port after calling at a port in any of the countries listed above are strongly urged to review the conditions of entry prior to their vessel arriving at a port in one of these countries.

Post to be found at:
http://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/News.aspx?ElementId=8601c0d5-b4e0-4de6-b639-ee44313c33cf&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

Maritime Speed Limit To Lower Emissions - About.com Guide - Supply Chain

Posted - By Martin Murray, About.com /  Supply Chain  Guide November 26, 2012

A new study by the University of California, Riverside, has suggested that if ports introduced a speed limit of 14 miles per hour for maritime vessels, this would the emissions of nitrogen oxides by 55 percent and soot by almost 70 percent. The current speed limit around ports is between 25 to 29 miles per hour, but the reduction would cut not only nitrogen oxide but carbon dioxide by 60 percent.

Ninety percent of the world's cargo is moved by around 100,000 maritime vessels and a speed reduction in the ten mile area around ports will significantly improve the air quality for residents closest to the terminals. Since 2001, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have offered financial incentives to shippers that voluntarily reduce their speeds to 12 knots. In August the Port of New York and New Jersey approved several similar initiatives to reduce emissions, including a voluntary speed reduction where vessels should reduce their speed to no more than 11.5 mph starting 20 nautical miles out. 
 
Post to be found at:
http://logistics.about.com/b/2012/11/26/maritime-speed-limit-to-lower-emissions.htm

Deepwater Disaster-BP oil spill documentary - NAFTRADE

Posted December 3, 2012 - NAFTRADE

This is a link to video 

http://www.naftrade.com/9/post/2012/12/deepwater-disaster-bp-oil-spill-documentary.html?goback=.gde_1330507_member_192207467

Shell with a new Project: LNG to Power Vessels and Trucks on Cheap U.S. Gas - Vessel Finder

Posted -  Tuesday 4th of December 201 - Vessel Finder

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) is enlarging plans to make LNG a fuel for vessels and trucks as biggest energy producer in Europe that looks to profit from the cheapness of US gas compared to oil.
The Shell Company, where gas production overtook oil for the 1st time this year, is going to increase the liquefied natural gas for-transport projects to more than five million tons a year, informed Simon Henry, Shell Chief Financial Officer. This is equal to about 120 000 barrels of oil a day, or 4% of the global production of the company in the 3rd quarter. Shell is going to offer about half the volume to the trucking industry in Canada and the USA and the rest of the fuel to shipping in the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and the Baltic Sea.
“This is a very global opportunity,” Peter Voser, Chief Executive Officer stated last month in New York. “The current gas equivalent price for one kilometer is double-digit percentage lower than for diesel in the USA”
Gas prices in the USA dove to a decade low this year after firms ramped up output from shale deposits to make the nation the largest producer in the world. Today, the price of US crude oil is 4 times more than LNG on a per barrel basis, allowing Shell to profit from LNG transport plans even after the expenses of turning gas into a liquid.
“Because the price of the equipment, the engines and the liquefaction and distribution is quickly coming down, we do see better chances than we have actually thought originally,” Henry stated. “The world is refining long, but diesel short by and large because the refining complex of the world is producing too much gasoline and not enough diesel,” creating a chance for liquefied natural gas to power vehicles.
Green Corridor
The Shell Company is now working on the Green Corridor project with Flying J Inc. to provide 250,000 tons of liquefied natural gas a year to trucks between the 900 mile (1,600 kilometer) highway from Alberta to the Pacific coast in Canada. It’s also developing a project to supply LNG fuel to the shipping sector with the help of its Norwegian distributor Gasnor and the Gate LNG terminal situated in Rotterdam, Voser also added.

 
Post found here:
http://www.vesselfinder.com/news/734-Shell-with-a-new-Project-LNG-to-Power-Vessels-and-Trucks-on-Cheap-US-Gas?goback=.gde_1330507_member_192332585

Norway: Total Makes New Oil Discovery In North Sea - By: Eurasia Review

Posted December 3, - 2012 by Eurasia Review

Total said Monday that its affiliate Total E&P Norge has made an oil discovery in the Garantiana prospect located on Production License 554 (PL554) in the Norwegian North Sea, 185 kilometers northwest of Bergen and 30 kilometers northeast of the Visund Field, at water depths of 384 meters.
Total E&P Norge is operator of the license with a 40% interest, other partners are Det norske oljeselskap ASA 20%, Bridge Energy Norge AS 20% and Svenska Petroleum Exploration 20%.

Preliminary estimates place the size of the discovery between 25 and 75 million barrels of recoverable oil.

The wildcat well 34/6-2 S encountered oil in the Lower Jurassic Cook Formation with good reservoir quality. A successful production test was carried out on the well, with a flow rate of 4,300 barrels of oil per day through a 28/64″ choke. A sidetrack (well 34/6-2 A) was then drilled to appraise the discovery and allowed to identify an oil-water contact in the formation.
The well on the Garantiana prospect is the first exploration well in License 554. Other prospects are located in the immediate vicinity of the discovery and are under evaluation. A second exploration well is planned to be drilled in the area.
Total has increased its exploration activity in Norway in recent years, drilling more wells on existing acreage, actively participating in exploration rounds, and, in the case of PL554, farming in as operator.
Commenting on the discovery, Patrice de Viviès, Total’s Senior Vice President Exploration & Production for Northern Europe said: “This oil discovery opens new perspectives in the area. The well, the test and the sidetrack on Garantiana have given information which will allow us to optimize the future exploration of the near-by structures and to investigate the development solutions”.

Post to be found at:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/03122012-norway-total-makes-new-oil-discovery-in-north-sea/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eurasiareview%2FVsnE+%28Eurasia+Review%29

HHI starts building FSRU for future LNG terminal in Lithuania , Shipbuilding News, Shipping News, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and International Shipping

HHI starts building FSRU for future LNG terminal in Lithuania , Shipbuilding News, Shipping News, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide, Online Daily Newspaper on Hellenic and International Shipping

Shipping, oil hunt may accelerate Arctic thaw - The Sydney Morning Herald

Posted - September 19, 2012 - The Sydney Morning Herald

Local pollution in the Arctic from shipping and oil and gas industries, which have expanded in the region due to a thawing of sea ice caused by global warming, could further accelerate that thaw, experts say.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said there was an urgent need to calculate risks of local pollutants such as soot, or "black carbon", in the Arctic. Soot darkens ice, making it soak up more of the sun's heat and quickening a melt.

Companies such as Shell, which this week gave up a push to find oil this year in the Chukchi Sea as the winter closed in, Exxon or Statoil say they are using the cleanest available technologies.

But the risks of even small amounts of pollution on the Arctic Ocean, emitted near ice with little dispersal by winds, have not been fully assessed.

"A lot of the concerns need urgent evaluation," said Nick Nuttall, spokesman of Naibori-based UNEP, referring to issues such as flaring of gas or fuels used by vessels in the Arctic.

"There is a grim irony here that as the ice melts...humanity is going for more of the natural resources fuelling this meltdown," he said. Large amounts of soot in the Arctic come from more distant sources such as forest fires or industry.

The extent of sea ice on the Arctic Ocean has shrunk this summer to the smallest since satellite records began in the 1970s, eclipsing a 2007 low. The melt is part of a long-term retreat blamed by a U.N. panel on man-made global warming, caused by use of fossil fuels.

"We're working to get a better documentation of the risks of black carbon in the Arctic," said Lars-Otto Reiersen, head of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), part of the Arctic Council.

An AMAP report last year said that "regulation of black carbon production from all sources, especially those resulting locally from activities in the Arctic, is required at all scales."

400 fields

More than 400 oil and gas fields within the Arctic region were developed by 2007, according to AMAP, mostly in West Siberia in Russia and in Alaska. Most of the undiscovered oil and gas is now estimated to be offshore.

Soot is an extra problem for planners, adding to risks such as of an oil blowout or a shipwreck. The U.N.'s International Maritime Organisation is trying to work out a new "Polar Code" that might tighten everything from emissions to hull standards.

Still, for shipping, use of the Arctic route may be less damaging overall in terms of global warming, including soot, since it is a short-cut between some Atlantic and Pacific ports. That means ships burn much less fuel on the route.

"We are working on the net effect of the Arctic route compared to the Suez Canal," said Jan Fuglestvedt, of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo.

In 2009, the Bremen-based Beluga Group sailed from South Korea to Rotterdam across the Arctic, cutting 4,000 nautical miles off the route via Suez. This year, for instance, an icebreaker became the first Chinese vessel to cross the ocean.

One study indicated that increased use of the Arctic route might limit carbon dioxide emissions for global shipping by 2.9 million tonnes a year by 2050, or 0.1 per cent, compared with use of the Suez Canal.

"If the Arctic route is really open by then it may reduce carbon emissions a bit on the global scale," said Leif Ingolf Eide, an author of the study at Norwegian-based risk management group DnV. The study did not assess soot, he said.

In a 2011 report, UNEP estimated that a global crackdown on soot, methane and ozone could slow global warming by 0.5 degree Celsius (0.9F). It would also protect human health and promote crop growth.

Almost 200 nations have agreed to limit climate change to below 2 degrees C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times, seeing it as a threshold to dangerous changes such as more droughts, floods or rising sea levels.


Post to be found at:
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/shipping-oil-hunt-may-accelerate-arctic-thaw-20120919-2655h.html

EU to Present Proposal to Curb CO2 Emissions From Shipping - businessweek.com

Posted - By Ewa Krukowska on September 18, 2012- Bloomberg News

The European Union will present in the coming months a proposal to curb emissions from ships in the absence of an international solution, a European Commission official said.

The International Maritime Organization, created under the United Nations system, has been unable to agree on measures to curb emissions from ships for more than a decade. While IMO “is the best entity to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping” it has been slow to act, Elina Bardram, head of the international carbon market unit at the European Commission, told a seminar in Brussels today.
“We are including different types of measures, ranging from measurement, reporting and verification, to technical standards, to setting baselines. These options are all on the table,” Bardram said. “The ETS-type schemes are part of the options that are being considered.”
The EU emissions trading system is the world’s biggest cap- and-trade carbon market. It imposes pollution limits on about 12,000 companies and expanded this year to include flights to and from EU airports.
Global maritime transport accounts for almost 3 percent of carbon-dioxide discharges, and emissions from ships are expected to more than double by 2050, according to the commission, the Brussels-based EU regulatory arm.
“We will not introduce a maritime proposal that would be discriminatory or would result in distortions,” Bardram said. “We are responsible and at the same time we have to ensure that the European industry has a level playing field and that we’re able to incentivize early actions, that we can make things happen.”
IMO recognizes the “urgency” of the need to reduce greenhouse gases from shipping, Andreas Chrysostomou, chairman of IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, told the conference today. The organization has already introduced mandatory efficiency measures, established a group to evaluate proposals on market-based mechanisms and wants to continue their development next year, he said.

Post to  be found at:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-18/eu-to-present-proposal-to-curb-co2-emissions-from-shipping

Alfa Laval Tumba AB: Energy Efficiency, Application Leadership & Integrated Solutions - Maritime Executive

Posted - Monday, September 17, 2012 - Maritime Executive

At this year’s SMM, Alfa Laval’s customer and press seminar included a presentation entitled “Saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions”. Niclas Dahl, Alfa Laval Marine & Diesel Equipment, discussed the shipping industry’s future fuel options with a focus on keeping operating costs at a viable level while complying with environmental regulations. René Fich Jespersen, Alfa Laval Aalborg, presented the latest Aalborg waste heat recovery products and showed the impressive fuel savings and reductions in CO2 emissions they offer when installed onboard a typical container ship.
Onboard ships throughout the world, Alfa Laval products installed in engine rooms save energy, reduce CO2 emissions and prolong engine lifetimes. The fuel treatment line, from the settling tank to the engine is one of Alfa Laval’s key focus areas and the company continuously monitors developments in the marine fuels market.
Fuel trend drivers
With increasingly stringent local and global environmental regulations, ship owners and operators are currently reviewing their future options in terms of fuel compliance strategies and new fuels are being discussed. The result is likely to be the use of lower and more variable fuel quality, with more cat fines. Thus, there will be an even sharper focus on fuel handling and cleaning efficiency, and advanced fuel treatment equipment will become even more important.
A main driver is, of course, the need to reduce ship operation costs in order to remain profitable and competitive. Here the focus is on fuel efficiency, fuel flexibility, equipment life-cycle costs and cost of ownership.
Equally important is to find solutions that will comply with new legislation. The focus in this case is on preparing fuel systems for handling multiple fuel types onboard. Other factors are fuel availability, deteriorating fuel quality, reliability and safety.
Future options
Of the main future options for ship owners and operators, Alfa Laval believes that the three most likely to dominate in the short term are: continue with HFO and add exhaust gas cleaning equipment (scrubbers); continue with HFO and complement with distillates (dual fuel); or blending fuel in order to meet environmental legislation.

Complete post to be found at:
www.maritime-executive.com/article/alfa-laval-tumba-ab-energy-efficiency-application-leadership-integrated-solutions