Wastefuel technology converts municipal solid waste to e-methanol fuel
With the shipping industry moving toward the broader adoption of methanol as an alternative fuel supply and sourcing concerns remain. California-based start-up WateFuel, which counts Maersk and NetJets among its investors, has developed a new technology module for converting municipal solid waste into low-carbon fuels. According to the company, the technology can be built efficiently where waste is located and scale production efficiently and rapidly toward meeting the shipping industry’s growing demand for green methanol.
According to the company, its new technology will significantly accelerate the use of organic waste to produce green methanol. The WasteFuel Methanol Module is designed to produce up to 100 metric tons per day of fuel-grade methanol from a variety of waste sources including landfill gas and biogas from anaerobic digestion.
Electric, autonomous Ro-Ro Freight Ferries begin service in Norway
The first electric, autonomously operated “sea drones” were christened in Norway last week and were due to begin operation this week for Norway’s largest grocery distributor. It is the beginning of the two-year trial period for the vessels to earn full certification for uncrewed operations.
The two vessels, which are each approximately 220 feet long and weigh 60 tons, were built in India for ASKO Maritime, a new division of the grocery operator. They are designed to operate fully autonomously ferrying freight trailers across Norway’s Oslo Fjord. Once fully certified, they will operate controlled by an onshore center using technology from Massterly, a joint venture between Wilhelmsen and Kongsberg.
The vessels were named Marit and Therese during the christening ceremony in Moss Havn, Norway on September 15 in honor of two of the country’s cross-country skiers and Olympic champions. Operations were beginning this week with the initial trips adapted to distribution for ASKO Oslofjord in Østfold, Norway.
Floating wind farms require new anchor handling vessels says Damen
Damen Shipyards is developing a new class of vessels that will be capable of supporting the next big development in offshore wind, namely the roll-out of large-scale, floating offshore wind turbines. While floating turbines are seen as a key net step, Damen highlights that they will require specialized capabilities to deal with the requirements as wind farms move further offshore such as anchoring chains that could be as much as 40 percent larger than those used.
The expectations for the floating technology are high with some forecasts indicating that as many as 13,500 floating turbines could be deployed by 2050 generating potentially 200 GW. By nature, they will be positioned beyond the continental shelf in areas that produce the winds required for energy generation but also exposing them to forces ranging not only from the wind to ocean currents and waves. The anchoring systems will have to be able to withstand those forces to prevent the potential for dragging and damaging the farm.
Canada joins U.S. for freedom of navigation transit in Taiwan strait
The Royal Canadian Navy has joined the U.S. Navy in a transit of the Taiwan Strait, a symbolic gesture supporting freedom of navigation, the rules-based demarcation of international waters and (implicitly) the independent governance of Taiwan.
The destroyer USS Higgins and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver carried out the “routine” transit Tuesday “through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law,” U.S. 7th Fleet emphasized.
In an implicit response to China’s sweeping maritime claims, the command described the region as “beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State.”
It is the first U.S. Navy transit of the strait since August 29, when cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville passed through the waterway.
Both recent transits coincided with American statements of support for Taiwan’s government – the first with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, and the second with U.S. President Joe Biden’s apparent confirmation that the U.S. would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion.
15 days of UK port disruption begins at Liverpool
Container operations at the Port of Liverpool will be affected from 19 September to 3 October after workers rejected a pay offer of 8.3 percent plus a one-off £750 payment per container operative. Representing the workers, Unite the union said the offer was a real-terms pay cut in a time of high inflation.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: “Workers across the country are sick to death of being told to take a hit on their wages and living standards while employer after employer is guilty of rampant profiteering.”
Ningbo-Zhoushan port forecasts 14pc drop in cargo throughout in 2022
The 173m ton drop in cargo throughput represents a fall of 14 percent year-on-year.
In the first half of 2022, Ningbo-Zhoushan port had invested in RMB1.67bn mainly for the port construction. The container operation capacity at Meishan and Chuanshan port areas had been enhanced during the period.
The second phase project of Meishan port area completed construction at the beginning of September, which consists of two 200,000 tonnes-class and three 150,000 tonnes-class container berths, with an annual handling capacity of 4.3m teu.
After the delivery of this new project at Meishan, the container operation capacity of Meishan port area will exceed 10m teu per year.
Port and cargo transportation will be affected by multiple factors in the second half of this year, we will further strengthen the development into hinterland and multi-model transportation to finish the annual production goal, said the port.