Daily Archives: February 15, 2017

Published on February 15th, 2017 | by Joshua S Hill

February 15th, 2017 by Joshua S Hill

Construction in the UKs offshore wind sector reached an impressive high in 2016, with total construction value set at 4.1 billion, increasing from 2.45 billion in 2015, and accounting for 21% of all UK construction contract value in the year.

New analysis from Barbour ABI, a leading provider of construction intelligence services, highlighted the bumper year the UK offshore wind sector experienced, from the point of view of the construction sector. Offshore wind farms accounted for 42% of all UK construction contract value in the utilities and power sector, and 21% of the countrys entire infrastructure sector.

Further, Barbour ABI predicts that this trend is only set to continue through 2017, with a healthy pipeline of future offshore wind projects set to make 2017 another strong year, and up to23.2 billion worth of construction contract value already in planning.

Back in 2013 offshore windfarms accounted for only 7.5% of the annual construction value for the utilities and power sector, which increased to 42% in 2016, on the back of significant investment in this type of project, explained Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI. With reports showing that the cost of producing electricity in this way have fallen significantly, the increase in construction value makes sense.

Barbour ABI points to the Beatrice, Galloper, and East Anglia One offshore wind farm projects as all contributing heavily to the impressive increase in construction value in 2016.

We have also seen a large uptake in the planning pipeline for future offshore windfarms with 23.2 billion worth of construction planned over the coming years, suggesting this burgeoning sector will continue to expand in 2017 and beyond, Dall added.

Buy a cool T-shirt or mug in the CleanTechnica store! Keep up to date with all the hottest cleantech news by subscribing to our (free) cleantech daily newsletter or weekly newsletter, or keep an eye on sector-specific news by getting our (also free) solar energy newsletter, electric vehicle newsletter, or wind energy newsletter.

Tags: Barbour ABI, construction, UK offshore wind, UK Wind

Joshua S Hill I'm a Christian, a nerd, a geek, and I believe that we're pretty quickly directing planet-Earth into hell in a handbasket! I also write for Fantasy Book Review (.co.uk), and can be found writing articles for a variety of other sites. Check me out at about.me for more.

Go here to read the rest:

UK Offshore Wind Construction Had Bumper Year In 2016, Barbour ABI - CleanTechnica

February 15, 2017 8:33 PM

GROTON, Conn. (CBSNewYork/CBS News) A Russian spy ship patrolling the East Coast was located near a U.S. submarine base off the coast of Connecticut Wednesday.

The ship, known as an AGI (Auxiliary, General Intelligence), was located 30 miles from Groton, Connecticut, CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reported.

More From CBS News

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) sits on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. WCBS 880s Steve Scott asked Himes what the ship was doing off the Connecticut coast.

First of all, people should understand that this is not unprecedented, and this is not an offensive ship that is going, you know, land troops or start a war, Himes said. This is an intelligence and reconnaissance ship that largely has technologies and weve got plenty of it as well that can collect signals, intelligence, and listen in on, you know, all sorts of transmissions and that kind of thing. But the Russians had a purpose in sending the ship to the area, Himes said.

But the Russians had a purpose in sending the ship to the area, Himes said.

But what it really is, of course, its a political statement by Russia, saying, OK, when the White House is in turmoil, when you dont have a national security adviser, were going to provoke a little bit and see what the response is, which of course is what weve seen from North Korea; what weve seen from Iran, and one of the really concerning aspects about the turmoil that were seeing right now in our national apparatus, he said.

Himes agreed that the Russians goal was to test President Donald Trump to see how far they can go.

One of the discouraging things here, of course, is that our potential enemies our real and potential enemies right now are looking at the disarray in the White House, Himes said. Theyre looking at the fact that the president appears to be at war with the intelligence community who is paid to advise him, and theyre saying, Hey lets see, if we put our toe over this line over here, how the Americans respond.

Groton is the home of Naval Submarine Base New London, which the Navy describes as the Home of the Submarine Force.

According to the bases website, 6,500 military personnel are stationed there and 1,000 civilian employees work there.

The ship had made a port call in Cuba and has been working its way up the East Coast. Its expected to turn around and head south toward Cuba.

The presence of foreign vessels and aircraft near U.S. territory is nothing new. In 2015, there was a flap about a Russian spy ship hanging out in a spot where trans-Atlantic cables are laid.

The ships voyage comes as U.S. officials say Russia secretly deployed a cruise missile in December that is specifically banned by a treaty signed in the final years of the Cold War. The missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

Also, just five days ago, an incident similar to last years buzzing by Russian jets of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea happened again, this time in the Black Sea

First, a Russian patrol plane made a low pass close to the USS Porter, then two Russian jet fighters were followed a short time later by a third. U.S. officials called the fly-bys unsafe and unprofessional.

On Thursday, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart in Azerbaijan, CBS Radio News correspondent Cami McCormick reports.

A statement from Dunfords office released on Wednesday said the meeting will be to discuss a variety of issues including the current state of U.S.-Russian military relations. The U.S. suspended military relations with Russia after its annexation of Crimea in Ukraine in 2014.

A spokeswoman told McCormick the meeting has been planned for months.

Originally posted here:

Russian Spy Ship Spotted Offshore From Connecticut; Congressman Says Goal Is To Test US - CBS Local

2/15/2017

HARTLEPOOL, UK -- JDR, a supplier of subsea umbilicals and power cables to the global offshore energy industry, has been awarded a major steel tube umbilical contract by Cameron Ltd, on behalf of operator ONGC, for the 11 wells of western offshore project.

The development involves subsea completion of 11 oil and gas wells located at ONGCs western offshore fields in India, under Mumbai High, Bassein & Satellite and Neelam & Heera assets. These wells are either situated at an infield location or an extension of existing fields including marginal pools, which will be connected to the nearest host facility, in water depths up to 100 m.

Carl Pilmer, JDR sales director oil and gas, said, We are extremely proud to be awarded this complex umbilical work scope, which highlights our world-leading expertise in the supply of specialist umbilicals and cables to the offshore energy industry. Our proposal included a combination of steel tube and hybrid umbilicals, providing the optimal solution to connect these subsea assets offshore India.

JDRs scope of supply includes project management, engineering and manufacture of 11 umbilicals, with a combined length of over 53 km. JDR will also supply subsea terminations and accessories.

The umbilicals will be manufactured using JDRs industry-leading helical assembly machine located at its state-of-art-facility in Hartlepool, UK. The umbilicals are due for delivery in fourth-quarter 2017.

Read the original here:

JDR wins major umbilical contract for India's western offshore project - WorldOil (subscription)

The Antigua Yacht Club is a hive of activity this week in the lead up to the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 the 600-mile offshore race around 11 Caribbean islands, which kicks off from Antigua on Monday. Even though the event attracts some of fastest racing yachts, recent years have seen an impressive superyacht turnout, with Adela and Eleonora E joining the fleet this year.

In part this relates to the fact that the Caribbean 600s is one of the only offshore races in which superyachts are able to participate. We also have a fantastic location where they all want to be anyway, so the opportunity for the larger yachts is perfect, adds Nick Elliott, RORCs racing manager.

While other areas of the sector are in decline, offshore racing is one of the few areas of the sailing that is seeing growth. This will be the ninth edition of the Caribbean 600s, which had only 24 entrants in at its advent. Every year it has grown in participation, says Elliott. We have also just seen the Rolex Fastnet Race sell out in four and a half minutes, which is allowing superyachts in for the first time and will see Nikata come and race. We are very fortunate that our side of the sport is in growth.

Elliott believes the main attraction of offshore racing comes down to the sense of challenge and adventure, and this presents a perfect opportunity for the superyacht industry. You are essentially putting yourself against the elements but within the luxurious environment that a superyacht offers, he explains. Over the years we have seen a trend of existing superyacht owners come and try out the race on different boats through charter and generally they get hooked.

As an example of this, this year the owners of Baltic 112 Path have chartered Leopard 3 for the race. The reason being that the owners didnt feel that Path would be competitive enough but they didnt want to miss a good offshore race. According to Elliott, this idea happens a lot. Its an interesting way of getting people into racing that is not so common at the superyacht-focused regattas.

With the likes of Leopard 3, Bella Mente and Rambler 88 out on the course, another factor in the offshore racing circuit that doesnt happen at the superyacht regattas is that the boats are competing against top offshore sailors on top offshore boats. Elliott recalls that last year Adix entered solely because the owners nephew was racing on a Class 40. They werent even that different in speed, he laughs.

So is there opportunity for the future growth of superyacht participation? Surely it takes a certain type of ownerto have the desire to participate in offshore racing. If you find an owner that comes from an offshore sailing background then of course it is going toappeal more to them, he responds. But I think that most owners would enjoy it, and its more about encouraging the captains that it will be fun and its not going to break the boat or carry untold expenses.

For the Caribbean 600s, Elliott explains that the conditions are particularly challenging for the larger yachts. There are so many corners with so many islands to navigate with close proximity to reefs and shallow water, considering the sail plans on boats like Adela and Eleanora E, they have to work really hard to keep the boats safe and going quickly around the course, he says, adding that this doesnt mean a lesser chance of victory. If you look at Adelas track record over the years, they can be incredibly competitive.

Image of Adela: RORC/Tim Wright

Read the rest here:

Offshore racing for superyachts - Superyacht News - The Superyacht Report