National Maritime

£8 million channelled to reduce shipping emissions The latest UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions ( UK SHORE) programme winners have been announced by the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom (DfT) in partnership with Innovate UK. Each programme was set with its own unique challenge, with the overarching objective of reducing the maritime industry’s emissions. Across all three programmes, 32 winners will collectively receive up to £8 million to test innovative solutions, from artificial intelligence maritime traffic planning and autonomous vessels to establishing green shipping routes between the Netherlands and Ireland. Winners include. Project Sunflower This is a groundbreaking initiative, looking to create autonomous solutions for Terminal Tractors at ports, a significant contributor to greenhouse gases in the shipping supply chain. Project BlueWater A project that will explore how multi-use drones can improve smart shipping, port efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and boost air quality. EcoRoutePlanner. This project is looking to bring advanced digital tools for smart route planning and operational efficiency for crew transfer vessels responsible for servicing off-shore wind farms. CMDC5 International Green Corridors Fund: UK-Netherlands feasibility studies -Green North Sea Shipping Corridor The winning project looks to establish a Green Shipping Corridor (GSC) between Port of Tyne (UK) and Zeehaven IJmuiden NV / Port of IJmuiden (Netherlands) by decarbonising the route that is currently served by ageing vessels, and transitioning to methanol-fuelled RoRo and RoPax vessels. This will also include testing the operational feasibility of these vessels and the landside infrastructure to support its rollout. CMDC5 International Green Corridors Fund: UK-Ireland feasibility studies This fund was tasked within finding a solution to the shipping route between Dublin and Holyhead, which is both the shortest and busiest route in the Irish sea. Greening the Irish Sea: The Central Corridor The winning project will be using the fund to validate and test methanol against other fuel alternatives, while also exploring methanol bunkering and production at each end of the corridor. #ISeaSMEs #innovation #maritimeconnection #socsea #decarbonisation #maritime #shipping https://lnkd.in/eEgshtYe

Brazil's Petrobras to reduce investments planned for 2025, sources say Brazil's Petrobras is set to reduce planned investments for next year, despite requests by the government for the state-run oil firm to increase CAPEX, three sources close to the matter told Reuters. The firm foresaw $21 billion of investments for next year, but spending could be down to around $17 billion, according to initial estimates by the firm, said one source. Petrobras did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In its current 2024-2028 strategic plan, Petrobras is set to invest $102 billion, a 31% increase over the last plan, amid pressure from Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for the firm to invest more and prop-up the country's economy while generating local jobs. Petrobras wants to release a plan that is more "realistic," said one source. Sources did not say whether the 2025-2029 plan, set to be unveiled in November, would have lower CAPEX than the current one. The 2025-2029 plan will prioritize projects that need lower investment and deliver higher and faster returns, said the sources. It would also include plans to open more oil and gas wells, they said. The main concern is to increase oil and gas production, said a source, boosting the firm's earnings and "helping the country." A rise in equipment prices and financing limitations were among the reasons cited by the sources for the lowering of investments next year. #maritimeconnection #export #oil #gas #socsea https://lnkd.in/eethgrAH

Ocean eddy currents funnel extreme heat and cold to the life-filled depths On land, we’re familiar with heatwaves and cold snaps. But the deep sea also experiences prolonged periods of hot and cold. Marine heatwaves and cold spells can severely damage ocean ecosystems and habitats such as coral reefs. These extremes can also force species to move or die and cause sudden losses for fisheries. In research published this week in Nature, they show almost half of the heatwaves and cold snaps reaching the ocean’s twilight zone – between 200 and 1,000 metres – are driven by large eddy currents, swirling currents which transport warm or cold water. As the oceans heat up, heatwaves linked to eddy currents are getting more intense – and so are cold snaps. These pose potential threats to the vast amount of life in the twilight zone, home to the world’s most abundant vertebrate and the largest migration on the planet. About 90% of heat trapped by greenhouse gases has gone into the oceans. As a result, marine heatwaves are arriving more frequently – especially off Australia’s east coast, Tasmania, the northeast Pacific coast in the United States and in the North Atlantic. Researchers have long relied on satellite measurements of temperatures at the ocean surface to detect these extreme ocean temperature events. Surface temperatures are directly influenced by the atmosphere. But it’s different at depth. Satellites can’t measure temperatures under the surface, making the deep sea much harder to monitor. #maritimeconnection #ISeaSMEs #environment #oceans #socsea https://lnkd.in/e4STMRSP

UCD takes ecological lead as Ireland’s marine ecosystems get €25m to protect biodiversity University College Dublin will lead the ecological aspects of a new €25m initiative focused on conserving and restoring the biodiversity of Ireland’s marine ecosystems. The LIFE project aims to develop a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) across the country, and is a part of wider efforts to strengthen Ireland’s resilience against climate change. It is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and three research partners from the third-level sector. A proven tool to protect marine wildlife and aid ecosystem restoration, Ireland is committed to having 30% MPA coverage by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, EU strategy and related UN framework. Currently 10% of Irish waters are designated as protected areas. UCD will lead on the ecological aspects of the project, in collaboration with the University of Galway. #maritimeconnection #marine #ecosystem #socsea #ISeaSMEs https://lnkd.in/e4pX2pQ9

Fisheries Management Plan measures move forward New legislation implementing a range of short-term management measures for certain species of fish was introduced to Parliament this week. These new arrangements have been identified within the first Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) as priority to help provide additional protection to vulnerable stocks. The measures, which are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, are expected to come into force on 16 December 2024, include: The introduction of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm), and brill (300mm) in the English waters of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) designated areas 7d and 7e (the Channel Sea). An increase to the existing MCRS for crawfish in all English waters to 110mm to protect the juveniles of these stocks from being landed before they have matured and had chance to reproduce. A requirement that all flyseining (fishing with an encircling and towed net, operated from a boat by means of two long ropes (seine ropes) designed to herd the fish towards the opening of the net) vessels use a 100mm mesh as standard in the English waters of ICES divisions 7d and 7e so that smaller, juvenile fish can escape from the nets and have chance to reproduce. A restriction of the engine power of vessels using flyseining gear in the English territorial waters of these areas 7d and 7e to help manage fishing pressures on demersal NQS in inshore fishing grounds (the more powerful an engine, the bigger the boat and ability to fish in adverse weather). Removal of the UK-EU annually negotiated catch limits for commercially caught bass from secondary legislation so that they can be updated through fishing licence conditions. Licence conditions are generally quick to introduce and would allow the commercial bass catch limits to be updated promptly following international negotiations, so they are in line with evolving evidence. Any changes to fishing gear and/or fishing practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made by 16 December 2024. #maritimeconnection Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs #fishing #fisheries #sustainable https://lnkd.in/enPTExrg

Great to be delivering this series of successful autumn pop up events to reconnect local communities and stakeholders with the river #Thames #maritimeconnection Gravesham Borough Council Kate Woods

Stena Line and Associated British Ports to progress new £200M ferry terminal in Immingham Swedish Ferry company, Stena Line, and the UK’s largest port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP), have announced their intention to proceed with a £200+ million joint investment in a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham following the granting of the Development Consent Order (DCO) planning application by the UK Government. In a major step forward for the project, this approval means that construction can officially begin on the new RoRo ferry terminal. Following the approval, the project was featured this week at the UK Government’s showcase International Investment Summit. In 2022, Stena Line and ABP signed an agreement which will see the ferry company operate the new terminal for the next 50 years. This long-term commitment will provide a boost to the North-East of England, where the unaccompanied freight market has been steadily growing. #ports #maritimeconnection #freight #ISeaSMEs https://lnkd.in/d-SVq5ei

There is still time to get involved in contributing to the SOCSEA24 charter We would appreciate your input into a new SOCSEA24 Charter that will help anchor stakeholders and strive towards a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable approach to working in the blue economy. The aim of the charter is to bring together thoughts from leading experts and practitioners from across the globe, allowing sharing of insights and collaboration. Please head to: https://lnkd.in/es9DbZzG and complete the form with your thoughts. You can also download this free poster too! These illustrations are a playful thematic summary of the SOCSEA24 content, which explored strategies required to develop a sustainable blue economy. #socsea24 #maritime #sustainable #environment #maritime #marine #oceans #ISeaSMEs #charter University of Greenwich Visit Greenwich Cory MIT Group Danfoss Woods' Silver Fleet NatPower Marine Formula E BAR Technologies Blue Marine Foundation

LOGISTICS GIANT DP WORLD TO BOOST UK TRADE WITH £1BN EXPANSION OF LONDON GATEWAY Global logistics giant DP World has announced a £1bn expansion of London Gateway to make it Britain’s largest container port within five years in a boost to the volume and resilience of international trade. DP World will increase capacity of London Gateway’s port by building two new shipping berths, taking the total to six berths able to receive the world’s largest container ships. The site will also see a second rail terminal added to handle the expected increase in containerised trade. By the end of the decade, the full quayside stretching more than 2.5km in length will be able to simultaneously receive six vessels, each more than 400 metres long, and boast Europe’s tallest quay cranes at the height of the Big Ben. The expansion will create a further 400 permanent new jobs, in addition to the 1,200 currently employed at the site, and is the culmination of a rapid growth plan for the Thames Estuary hub which opened in 2013 and has been a catalyst for economic regeneration in south Essex. #thames #netzero #ports #maritimeconnection #ISeaSMEs Port of London Authority https://lnkd.in/eTX9B8Dt..

Raising a glass to the Rebelle and the Resolute and their future on the River Thames Thank you, Cory, for the kind invitation to join the traditional naming ceremony of your two new tugs, The Rebelle and the Resolute at the beautiful Woods Quay. We look forward to seeing both of these boats working on the River Thames for many years to come. #thames #netzero #shipbuilding Damen #ISeaSMEs Fran Comerford-Cole Chris Girdham Dougie Sutherland #tugs