Category Archives: Offshore

The Danish Energy Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark have launched a new virtual platform, http://www.offshorewindtour.org, to share Danish experiences with offshore wind in an effort to help accelerate the development of the industry globally.

Sharing Danish experiences and expertise accumulated over the last thirty plus years with upcoming offshore wind nations can help multiply the effect of the Danish know-how by contributing to the development of new offshore wind markets and accelerating the global green transition.

By launching the virtual wind platform, the Danish offshore wind experiences will be available for the rest of the world.

Upscaling offshore wind internationally can contribute to energy security, a just energy transition and decarbonisation including green hydrogen and power-to-X. Denmark only emits around 0.1 per cent of the worlds CO2 emissions and our national climate efforts cannot stand alone. By sharing our offshore wind experiences, we can help other countries making it easier, less costly and less time consuming to develop an offshore wind industry and reduce their CO2 emissions, said Dan Jrgensen, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.

The virtual wind platform is targeted at government authorities in emerging offshore wind markets. The Danish Energy Agency already cooperates with several of these countries, including the United States, Korea, Japan, France, and India.

The platform is the latest tool in the governmental partnerships offering a wide variety of features such as a 3D helicopter ride to an offshore transformer platform; learning about the different areas of the offshore wind supply chain through experts working within the wind industry on daily basis which you can meetthrough the menu in the Power room at the substation; and exploring the visual effects of wind turbines at different distances from shore.

The platform is available in three different languages: English, Japanese and Korean.

An important precondition for succeeding with offshore wind is good regulatory frameworks in order to expand the offshore wind market and attract investors successfully which is a Danish stronghold, the ministry said. The agencys own wind energy experts are among the many contributors together with industry experts representing key areas to a successful offshore wind development. The platform invites people to learn and understand more about the Danish approach and experiences within offshore wind.

Not all our partners have the possibility to come to Denmark and helicopter to an offshore transformer platform. By launching a virtual wind platform, we can reach a much broader audience. Of course, the virtual tour cannot be compared with a physical tour, but the experience and understanding can take place on the visitors terms independent of time zones, resources etc. It is the closest we get to an almost real life experience and the platform is an important tool to inspire for an urgent global green transition based on offshore wind, said Kristoffer Bttzauw, Director General of the Danish Energy Agency.

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Danes Go Virtual to Share Offshore Wind Know-How - Offshore WIND

File image courtesy Pemex

PublishedJun 19, 2022 5:52 PM by The Maritime Executive

Armed pirates struck another platform operated by Pemex last week, forcing the crew to help them cart off stolen goods before departing again.

A group of 10 armed robbers boarded a platform at the Rebombeo pumping complex in the Bay of Campeche last Tuesday evening, workers told local media. The attackers stayed for about three hours, and they took tools, SCBAs and materials from the platform. None of the crew were injured, but the pirates forced them to carry the goods and help load three getaway boats.

The Repompeo platform is a re-pumping station for three major oil pipelines connecting the Bay of Campeche's offshore fields with a receiving station on shore. It has a nameplate capacity of 800,000 barrels per day, and it is a central infrastructure node for Pemex's offshore operations.

Piracy and armed robbery are a frequent problem for Pemex in the Gulf of Mexico. Criminal gangs target platforms as well as offshore support vessels on a regular basis; the number of actual incidents is believed to be greater than the number reported.

In late May, armed pirates boarded an offshore vessel near an oil field off Tabasco, making off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment - notably 35 SCBAs. They fired shots into the air to compel the seafarers to stay out of their way, crewmembers told local media, and they left after about 45 minutes of looting.

In late January, another group of pirates robbed the Ku Sierra platform in the Bay of Campeche, part of Pemex's core Ku-Maloob-Zaap field complex. They made off with 25 SCBAs, communications equipment, tools and other gear.

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Armed Pirates Rob Offshore Platform in Bay of Campeche - The Maritime Executive

A wind turbine at the Ormonde Offshore Wind Farm, in the Irish Sea. With governments around the world attempting to ramp up their renewable energy capacity, the number of wind turbines worldwide only looks set to grow, which will in turn increase pressure on the sector to find sustainable solutions to the disposal of blades.

Ashley Cooper | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images

A major offshore wind farm being built in waters off the Netherlands is set to use recyclable blades from Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy the latest in a line of companies attempting to tackle an issue that's proved to be a challenge for the wind energy sector.

In a statement Thursday, Swedish energy firm Vattenfall said some of the wind turbines at the 1.5 gigawatt Hollandse Kust Zuid facility would use Siemens Gamesa's RecycableBlades. These blades, Vattenfall said, use "a resin type that dissolves in a low-temperature, mildly acidic solution."

That, it explained, enables the resin to be separated from other components within the blade carbon fiber, wood, fiberglass, metal and plastic "without significantly impacting their properties." The components can then be recycled and used again.

Offshore construction on Hollandse Kust Zuid, which will use 140 wind turbines, began in July 2021. It is jointly owned by Vattenfall, Allianz and BASF and commissioning is planned for 2023.

The issue of what to do with wind turbine blades when they're no longer needed is a headache for the industry. That's because the composite materials that blades are made from can be difficult to recycle, which means that many end up in landfills when their service life ends.

With governments around the world attempting to ramp up their renewable energy capacity, the number of wind turbines worldwide only looks set to grow, which will in turn increase pressure on the sector to find sustainable solutions to the disposal of blades.

Vattenfall is one of several companies looking into recycling and reusing wind turbine blades an aim that feeds into the idea of creating a "circular economy" in which waste is minimized and products repurposed and reused.

Earlier in June, Spanish energy firm Iberdrola said it had jointly established a company with FCC Ambito that plans to recycle components used in renewable energy installations, including wind turbine blades. FCC Ambito is a subsidiary of FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente.

In a statement at the time, Iberdrola said the company, known as EnergyLOOP, would develop a blade recycling facility in Navarre, northern Spain.

"The initial objective will be the recovery of wind turbine blade components mostly glass and carbon fibres and resins and their reuse in sectors such as energy, aerospace, automotive, textiles, chemicals and construction," the company said.

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A huge offshore wind farm is jumping on a growing industry trend recyclable turbine blades - CNBC

Workforce Training moves to virtual reality for offshore wind jobs

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visited the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School for a virtual reality offshore wind training demo.

Seth Chitwood, Standard-Times

NEW BEDFORD Gov. Charlie Baker wants Massachusetts to keep the offshore wind industry on a relatively fast track by moving as quickly as possible to develop the physical infrastructure and create a skilled workforce needed to lead the way as other states on the East Coast aim to lead the way.

At the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal Thursday morning, Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card joined local officials to announce the launch of the Offshore Wind Industry Ports Investment Challenge.

Local businesses are invited to submit a request for proposals for the $50 million allocated from the newly created Offshore Wind Investment Fund for eligible maritime port redevelopment and improvement projects with applications due by July 29 and the awards announced this fall.

Massachusetts is well positioned to be a major player, not only in solving many of our own clean energy objectives on a go forward basis, but to be a provider and a supporter for other folks as they go through the process of building out and benefiting from this burgeoning industry here on the East Coast, he said. New Bedford in many respects will end up being what I think of as ground zero with respect to a lot of this activity.

Seeing is believing: New Bedford walking tour shows where offshore wind jobs will be

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Jen Daloisio said shes thrilled to launch the offshore wind port investment challenge at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, the first of its kind in the United States, in recognition of the need to invest in infrastructure.

Were excited to see our historic port communities reinvigorated, she said. Along with public and private partnerships and investments, we can make improvements to port facilities and bring them into active use for this new industry. This will create significant jobs and economic activity in local communities.

She said MassCEC can ensure through its programs focusing on workforce development that these opportunities will be equitable and accessible to all the states diverse populations.

With contracts going out in October or November, Daloisio said Vineyard Wind will be able to begin operations at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal in January and Mayflower Wind will follow on their heels to set up their part of the development.

Could it be in a movie?: This home was designed by the architect of the original Breakers.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card said investments need to be made in other Massachusetts ports, too, to support the offshore wind industry.

This $50 million that were making available today will also help to leverage additional private and local in-kind contributions to New Bedford so were working as a team, and we really look forward to those partnerships, but its also part of a larger plan, she said.

She said funding opportunities are also available through the Future Opportunities for Resiliency, Workforce and Revitalized Downtowns (Forward) Act, an economic development bill that includes $1.3 billion in environmental and energy infrastructure funding, with $150 million intended to support renewable energy in Massachusetts through research, innovation and workforce training.

Baker has also proposed $100 million in supplemental funding for investment in the states ports to help meet the states decarbonization goals including reaching net zero emissions by 2050 and becoming more resilient to climate change with offshore wind as the centerpiece.

Mayor Jon Mitchell said he read a report that there are some 19 ports between Massachusetts and South Carolina that will have some offshore wind activity in the next five years, so there is competition.

The legislation that is now pending is critical to getting out ahead of the competition, he said. The offshore wind business is coming. Its going to set up shop somewhere. We want it to set up shop here.

Sen. Michael Barrett, D-Lexington, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, D-New Bedford, agreed there is competition and that Massachusetts needs to continue to lead the way.

Baker, Polito, Card and Daloisio also visited UMass Dartmouth to meet with Chancellor Mark Fuller for the presentation of Offshore Wind Works Awards highlighting the administrations efforts in building a clean energy workforce. A total of $3.8 million in grant funding has been awarded to nine Massachusetts organizations.

Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

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Baker announces Offshore Wind Investment Challenge in New Bedford - SouthCoastToday.com

To maintain market leadership in offshore banking,Swiss finance is going to have to get in better shape. Better advisory and an upgraded emerging market presence are key.

The possibility that Switzerland could soon fall behind Hong Kong and Singapore as the leading offshore financial center is another shot across the bow for an industry that has been constantly trying to reinvent itself since the financial crisis. Numerous regulatory obstacles have stood in the way, including the automatic exchange of information (AEOI) and the US Foreign Tax Compliance Act (Fatca).

On the Defensive

For the institutions providing offshore services, it has become increasingly hard to explain to clients living overseas why they should choose to have their assets booked and managed in Switzerland.

Given that, it is not surprising that the country could soon lose its role as the world's leading offshore center. At least that is what the authors of the recent Global Wealth Report study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) predict, asfinews.comreported.

A Personal Business

Christoph Knzleof the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) took a closer look at what could prevent that from happening. As a lecturer for banking and finance, he examined what the problems were with a group of students together with a number of relationship managers, and external wealth and asset managers.

One of the most important conclusions that they drew was that clients from all the countries surveyed always looked for a personal relationship, although the exact form or modality was different for each group.

Clients from developed markets look for full and holistic advisory services, as they are often confronted with complicated corporate structures of cross-border tax issues. In contrast, clients from emerging markets pay closer heed to a bank's reputation, which is often determined by individual perception but often complemented by key figures such as an institute's equity ratios, the size of its balance sheet, and its shareholder structure.

Fees More Important than Returns

Earlier studies back this up, confirming that portfolio returns are of lesser importance. As the authors write, achieving performance does prevent frustration but it does not do much for long-term client satisfaction. Although they did also come to the realization in the study that clients look at fees far more closely now.

Playing to Strengths

That makes things clear. Swiss offshore banking has to improve the quality of its services and investment expertise. It should also develop a more confident and robust market presence in emerging markets. At the same time, it should be very selective when dealing with potentially risky clients in order to protect its image and reputation.

Digitalization was largely dismissed. Or at least any hybrid form of interaction between clients and offshore clients was still not seen as posing much of an issue in the study.

A Sore Point

The authors of the study hit a sore spot in their recommendation to transfer more offshore banking activities to overseas centers, using further globalization as a further pretext for success. But sensitive questions would need to be answered first. Questions such as whether a client of a Swiss bank in Singapore get the same type of private banking services that it would in Geneva?

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Swiss Offshore Banking in Need of a New Workout Plan - finews.com

An F-35B Lightning II arrived in the Florida Panhandle on June 13 to its new home at Naval Air Station Pensacola, but definitely not the way you might expect.

The offshore supply ship Navy Relentless had a shrink-wrapped short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) stealth fighter on deck when it arrived at the base's deep-water port.

Identifiable only by shape thanks to the protective white wrapping, the radome-less F-35B is headed to the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Air Department for crash and salvage training, according to a NAS Pensacola Facebook post.

The odd cargo being shipped around Florida drew some interest mixed with confusion from bystanders earlier in the week. A Reddit post on r/aviation shows the Navy Relentless steaming about 15 miles off Islamorada in the Florida Keys on its way to Pensacola.

In February, The War Zone wrote about a similar delivery to nearby Eglin Air Force Base with a Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) ferrying a CH-46 Sea Knight from NAS Pensacola, which you can read more about here.

What airframe this is and exactly where it came from is unclear. It's possible that it's a non-flying test article a very early test aircraft that is now grounded, but it's more likely that it's an aircraft that was written off due to a mishap. To our knowledge, the only F-35B that could possibly fit that bill is one damaged by an in-flight fire on October 27th, 2015, over MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina. That aircraft was written off, which would have made it a great candidate as a ground instruction tool.

Why it was transported by ship is another unanswered question, although that may make sense if it was coming from South Carolina. More details on how it will be used would also be good to have. With all this in mind, we posed these inquiries to NAS Pensacola and hope to hear back soon. We will update you when we do.

Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com and tyler@thedrive.com

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F-35B Delivered By Offshore Supply Ship To NAS Pensacola - The War Zone

Seaway 7 ASA, part of the Subsea 7 Group, has signed a letter of exclusivity, and is finalising a preferred bidder supply chain agreement with ScottishPower Renewables for the East Anglia THREE offshore wind project in the UK.

East Anglia THREE is located approximately 70 kilometres from shore in the Southern North Sea and is one of the three consented offshore wind farm developments that form the East Anglia Hub, planned by ScottishPower Renewables, a subsidiary of Spains Iberdrola.

East Anglia THREE will contribute approximately 1,400 MW of a potential 3,000 MW of renewable energy generation capacity at East Anglia Hub.

Seaway 7s scope of work would include the transport and installation of 95 monopile foundations, associated seabed preparation and scour protection, along with the engineering, supply, and installation of the inner-array cables.

Execution of the scope would be led from Seaway 7s Aberdeen office. The project is expected to commence in 2022 with offshore work scheduled for 2024, subject to East Anglia THREE securing a final investment decision (FID) by ScottishPower Renewables.

We are pleased to support ScottishPower Renewables to progress the East Anglia THREE project. Seaway 7 is looking forward to bringing over 10 years of offshore wind experience to one of the worlds largest offshore wind complexes, representing a significant contribution to the UKs renewable target, Stuart Fitzgerald, CEO Seaway 7, said.

The contract is valued between USD 500 million and USD 750 million and is the second contract of that magnitude Seaway 7 has secured in the last two weeks.

Earlier this month, Seagreen 1 Limited selected Seaway 7 as a preferred supplier for the Seagreen 1A wind project offshore Scotland which may include the full engineering, fabrication, transport, and installation of 36 foundations; transportation and installation of the offshore substation; and the procurement and installation of inter-array cables at the wind farm.

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Seaway 7 Secures Another USD 500+ Million Offshore Wind Contract - Offshore WIND

Equinor, together with its partner bp, announced the launch of a New York-based Offshore Wind Innovation Hub that will facilitate partnerships with start-ups that bring new technological solutions to the rapidly growing US offshore wind industry. The initiative springs from a new three-year partnership between Equinor, the Urban Future Lab (UFL) at the NY Tandon School of Engineering, and the National Offshore Wind R&D Consortium (NOWRDC), supported by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

The new Innovation Hub will leverage the success of the Urban Future Lab in promoting and helping the launch of cleantech start-ups, fostering collaboration with the international incubator community to cultivate pilots and demonstration projects that accelerate advances in offshore wind.

The Innovation Hub will create a physical location for offshore wind programming and serve as a center for the industrys innovation ecosystem. The Hub will host educational programming, workshops and curricula for the startups, as well as networking opportunities with industry participants. It will be located adjacent to Equinor and bps new project office in Sunset Park.

Equinor is leading the initiative on behalf of its 50-50 strategic partnership with bp. Together, the companies are developing the Beacon Wind and Empire Wind projects, which will supply 3.3 GW of renewable energy to New Yorkenough to power nearly two million homes.

Offshore wind is increasingly accepted as a viable new source of renewable energy, but the industry has evolved by harnessing the power of nature through cutting-edge technological solutions, said Siri Espedal Kindem, president, Equinor Wind U.S. Equinor and bp are thrilled to launch this partnership in an effort to push the envelope even further by nurturing innovative new ideas from around the world that will help drive technological growth and efficiency even further. Establishing this innovation hub is just one way we are accelerating the development of the offshore wind industry in New York and beyond.

NOWRDC is pleased to provide its support to the Innovation Hub and its future cohorts, said Robert Catell, chair of the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium.

NYCEDC is committed to accelerating equitable innovation in New York Citys growing offshore wind industry, saidMelissa Burch, COO,New York City Economic Development Corporation. We look forward to supporting the Innovation Hubs partners in building a program that ensures a diverse startup ecosystem with a curriculum that focuses on generating shared equity for all New Yorkers.

New York is committed to being the nations hub for offshore wind development, setting a template for the green economy and the clean energy grid of the future. We applaud the efforts of Equinor and bp, NYUs Urban Future Lab, NOWRDC, and NYCEDC to grow this industry by harnessing the intellectual and entrepreneurial power of New Yorkers.said,Doreen M. Harris, president and CEO, NYSERDA

The benefits of this program to the citizens of NYS are twofold. Not only will the Equinor/bp projects bring thew residents clean, renewable energy, but the Innovation Hub will be an important step in building a new wind industry based in NY. The nascent technologies that are necessary for successful deployment will find a receptive home and business development services at the Hub, said Pat Sapinsley, managing director, Cleantech Initiatives, NYU Urban Future Lab.

In the coming months, the partners will develop a call for applications to identify and select industry-leading startups whose technologies address key challenges facing US offshore wind. Once chosen, these startups will receive tailored support and unique programming that draws on UFLs network of mentors, NOWRDC industry community, and key policy figures in the technology areas identified for the cohort laying the groundwork for potential partnerships between Equinor and the participating startups.

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Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Launched in New York - T&D World

IWS is building four CSOVs in China and Bourbon will market the services in France (IWS)

PublishedJun 16, 2022 7:28 PM by The Maritime Executive

Frances Bourbon group is partnering with Wilhelmsens start-up Integrated Wind Solutions to provide services for the commissioning and maintenance of offshore wind farms in Frances developing renewable energy market. Bourbon group which has been a leader in the offshore oil and gas marine services sector since the 1990s is the latest example of offshore companies seeking to further their growth as a services provider for the offshore wind sector. This is the next phase in a strategy to reposition the company launched at the end of 2020.

The partnership allows Bourbon to market and operate the IWSs Skywalker class windfarm specialized support walk-to-work vessels in France. IWS, which was launched in 2021 by Wilhelmsens Awilco, currently has four commissioning service operations vessels (CSOVs) under construction, the two first IWS vessels will be delivered in mid-2023, and the remaining two in the first half of 2024. The company also holds options for ordering two additional Skywalker class vessels.

Bourbon highlights Frances ambitions for its offshore wind market, with planning underway for more than 7GW by 2030. With this partnership, Bourbon plans to offer a range of services dedicated to the maintenance of offshore wind farms. Already involved in the installation of floating wind farms, the company is seeking to strengthen its ability to meet the major challenges of these large-scale projects.

This partnership will enable our two companies to offer full, adapted, and innovative services in the French wind market, said Rodolphe Bouchet, CEO of Bourbon Marine & Logistics. This agreement also confirms Bourbons commitment to contribute to the growth of the renewable energy industry.

ISW recently reported that the keel for the first of their new vessels was laid at the China Merchants Industry shipyard in China and that work has already started on the second of the vessels. When the first of the class is delivered, she will commence work under a charter at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

According to ISW, these hybrid-powered vessels will be among the first vessels in the industry capable of zero-emission operations. The vessels are designed by Kongsberg Maritime and equipped with the latest generation fully compensated gangway and 3d crane. The vessels have several industry firsts, such as the largest battery pack with solar panels for additional charging, hull and propulsion design increasing operability and reducing emissions, and an energy consumption estimated to be 20 percent lower than comparable CSOVs currently under construction. The Skywalker class vessels will be 295 feet long with a total capacity of 120 personnel.

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Bourbon Expands Offshore Renewable Energy Focus with Wind Maintenance - The Maritime Executive

India mapped out a strategy and timeline for its first offshore wind power auctions (file photo)

PublishedJun 10, 2022 8:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Indian government on Thursday announced the first steps in the development of offshore wind energy outlining a strategy and timetable for commencing auctions. The first ever auctions are expected in the next three to four months with an initial strategy mapped out for the development of at least 10 to 12 GWoffshore power generation.

During the meeting, transmission and evacuation infrastructure required for offshore wind projects of total capacity 10 GW off the coasts of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, was discussed, the Ministry of Power said in an announcement posted on its webpage on June 9. After a detailed review, it was decided to bid out offshore wind energy blocks.

Exploration of the potential of wind energy began in India in 2015. While the country has yet to conduct auctions and establish its projects, the government points out the strong potential for wind energy. They highlight that India has over 4,700 miles of coastline, with the subcontinent surrounded on three sides by water. Early plans by the government called for 30 GW of wind capacity to be leased by 2030. In its global assessment for potential offshore wind generation, the World Bank set long-term targets for India for as much as 174 GW of offshore wind power nearly equally divided between fixed-bottom and floating installations.

The newly released plan targets two regions for the first sites. One is in southeast India in the Tamil Nadu state which has the capital of Chennai. The first auctions will focus on this area targeting 4 GW of capacity. The second region is in northwest India in the Gujarat state near Karachi.

Starting this year, the government reports it will bid out 4 GW of capacity annually in each of the next three years. In the following five years they are targeting auctions totaling 5 GW annually.

The bidding for the first 12 GW will be conducted on a single-stage two envelope model where the bidders will be evaluated based on their techno-commercial capabilities and only the technically qualified bidders will proceed to financial evaluation. The financial evaluation will be based on quoted lease fee per sq km of sea bed area. The bidder offering the highest lease fee per sq km of sea bed area would be declared as the winner for the allocation of the project.

As incentives to attract strong bids, the government reports that for the first two years of capacity up to 8 GW benefits of green attributes like carbon credits will be offered. For the entire scope of the project through 2029-30 evacuation and transmission of power from offshore pooling substations to onshore transmission will be provided free of cost for all the projects.

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India Plans First Offshore Wind Auctions to Reach 12 GW Capacity - The Maritime Executive