Work Boat World

VESSEL REVIEW: P&O Reyser, P&O Maritime Logistics' towage division that primarily serves the Spanish market, recently took delivery of a new harbour tug that will be operated out of the Port of Barcelona. The 24- by eight-metre (79- by 26-foot) 'Balahu' is an asymmetric tractor tug that features an advanced propulsion system powered by ASD units. This asymmetrical configuration ensures exceptional manoeuvrability ideal for handling large vessels in high-traffic port environments. With a bollard pull of 73.5 tonnes and a draught of six metres (20 feet), the tug is built to guarantee safe, precise operations in port, where efficiency and accuracy will help ensure smooth maritime traffic management. Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: Chinese shipowner Huaxia Financial Leasing recently took delivery of a new large crane vessel from shipbuilder Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC). 'Huaxia Kunpeng 01' (华夏鲲鹏01) boasts all-steel construction, a length of 195 metres (640 feet), a beam of 49.8 metres (163 feet), a maximum draught of 12 metres (39 feet), a depth of 16 metres (52 feet), and accommodation for up to 100 personnel. The vessel is the first in a series of two. The main double-hook, heavy-duty deck crane mounted at the stern can rotate 360 degrees and has a maximum lifting capacity of 5,000 tonnes, making the vessel suitable for the transport and installation of large-capacity offshore wind turbines. It also boasts one of the tallest lifting heights among Chinese-built crane vessels currently in operation, in addition to being one of the few fully rotating double-hook cranes of such large lifting capacity ever to be fitted on a seagoing platform. Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: Norwegian transport company Kragerø Fjordbåtselskap (KFS) recently took delivery of a new fast catamaran ferry built by Norwegian shipyard Maritime Partner. Designed by engineer Ola Lilloe-Olsen, the vessel has been named 'Jomfruland' after an island in the Kragerø archipelago of southern Norway, where KFS primarily operates. The newbuild has all-aluminium construction, a length of 20.42 metres (66.99 feet), and a beam of seven metres (23 feet). A Volvo IPS 600 engine propels the ferry to speeds of up to 19.9 knots. Georg Andreas Steintveit, CEO of KFS, said the new ferry provides increased capacity with space for a total of 60 passengers, while meeting universal design requirements. Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: Russia's Kostroma Shipyard recently handed over a new oil skimmer boat to the City Administration of Saint Petersburg for operation by its emergency services division. The vessel has been named 'Dmitry Golubev' (Дмитрий Голубев) after the late Dmitry Alekseevich Golubev, the first Chair of the Committee for Nature Management and Environmental Protection of Saint Petersburg. It will be operated primarily in the rivers and canals of Saint Petersburg, performing oil spill cleanup duties using booms, skimmers, sorbent, and collection tanks. The vessel was designed to be suitable for operation in the unique marine environments within the shallow inland waters of Saint Petersburg. The vessel therefore boasts ideal speed, controllability, and manoeuvrability to enable it to quickly respond to oil spills in the city’s waters, but also guarantees ease of use and maintenance to prolong its operational life. Full article link in comments.

OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS: "Saipem’s results showed how far the company has come since the dark days of February 2022, when it faced what we described as 'a Natalie Imbruglia moment' because nothing was right, and the company’s balance sheet was torn. Then, Saipem suffered losses of more than US$1 billion, required an emergency equity raising of around US$1.5 billion, and fired its luckless CEO. "Fast forward to today, and the picture is transformed. The company’s shares have tripled since the July 2022 equity raising. Saipem sits on over US$500 million of net cash and reported an incredible US$7 billion of new contract awards in the three months to September driven by big contract awards from Saudi Aramco and from QatarEnergy. In Qatar, the company will fabricate and install of six platforms under an EPCI contract, and lay 350 kilometres of subsea pipelines, cables and fibre optic cables in the North Field. "Saipem generated over US$125 million in operating cash flow in the last quarter and confirmed that it would initiate a dividend to its long-suffering shareholders in 2025, which includes the Italian state oil company Eni and Italy’s state-backed investment fund CDP Industria." Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: The Spanish Institute of Oceanography (Instituto Español de Oceanografía; IEO) has expanded its fleet of research platforms with the recent acquisition of a new vessel built by Spain’s Armon Shipyard. The vessel has been named 'Odon de Buen' in honour of Odón de Buen y del Cos, a Spanish naturalist and politician who founded the IEO in 1914. Homeported in Vigo on the northwestern coast of Spain, 'Odon de Buen' is one of the largest research vessels to be built and operated in Spain with a length of 85 metres (280 feet) and a beam of 17.8 metres (58.4 feet). The vessel also possesses the durability and endurance necessary for operation around the world, including the polar regions, and for the study of marine ecosystems at depths of as much as 6,000 metres (20,000 feet). The multi-disciplinary research vessel can accommodate 19 crewmembers and 39 scientists and can stay out at sea for a maximum of 50 days, allowing for the conduct of critical marine science activities for extended periods. A selection of both wet and dry laboratories with a total area of 500 square metres (5,400 square feet) will permit multiple research activities to be undertaken simultaneously. In addition to being able to accommodate ISO cargo containers, the aft deck can facilitate the deployment of trawl nets, sensors, dredges, sampling tools, and unmanned craft such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) directly into the water, as well as their recovery afterwards. Full article link in comments.

OPINION: "Indonesia took a strong position towards China during Widodo's early years. In 2016, an Indonesian Navy ship opened fire on a Chinese fishing boat, injuring one fisherman, and then detained several others. Seized Chinese fishing boats were sank as part of Jakarta’s effort to deter foreign illegal fishing. "However, Indonesia adopted a quieter approach to China’s encroachment in the later period of Widodo’s presidency. This may have been an effort not to escalate tensions, or 'winning the war without shaming the enemies' as one former Indonesian foreign ministry official described. Or it may have reflected Jokowi’s desire to attract infrastructure investments from Beijing and expand trade and economic relations. "Nevertheless, China continued to maintain some form of presence in the waters around the Natunas, with little publicity given to any confrontation between the Chinese and the Indonesians." Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: Chinese shipowner the Zhejiang Seaport Group recently took delivery of a new container vessel designed for operation in inland waters. 'Zhegang Neihe 002' (浙港内河002; “Zhejiang Port Inland River 002”) is notable for also being fitted with a remote navigation system, thus enabling the vessel to be controlled from a shore-based operator’s station up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) away. Built by Huzhou Port Shipbuilding, the vessel is being operated as part of a research project that will demonstrate the application of key technologies for enhanced navigation of inland containerships in a ship-to-shore collaborative environment (as well as introduce a lower-emission alternative to traditional crewed ships for inland container transport). The newbuild is therefore the first intelligent inland containership to be acquired by the Zhejiang Seaport Group. Through the integrated application of key core systems such as an intelligent integrated information platform, a ship-shore collaborative interaction system, and an intelligent navigation system, the ship can utilise remote control and autonomous navigation under certain conditions. Full article link in comments.

VESSEL REVIEW: US-based Carnival Corporation’s Princess Cruises subsidiary has taken delivery of a new cruise ship built by Fincantieri of Italy. Named 'Sun Princess', the vessel belongs to the two-strong Sphere-class ordered by Princess Cruises in 2019. The ship has a length of 1,133 feet (345.3 metres), a beam of 139 feet (42.4 metres), a height of 200 feet (70 metres), a gross tonnage of approximately 178,000, a crew complement of 1,550, and numerous facilities distributed across 21 decks. Ten of the decks house 2,157 guest cabins, which include over 80 suites (in seven categories) and 1,500 balcony staterooms as well as ocean view and interior cabins. The staterooms can accommodate a maximum of 4,300 guests. The dining facilities consist of over 30 bars, cafes and specialty restaurants including poolside restaurants, a 24-hour restaurant and a dining room with separate sections spanning three decks. There are also private lounges for guests staying in suites, a European-inspired suspended atrium, a theatre with seating for up to 990 people, smaller live entertainment venues that can seat 200 people, and boutique retail shops covering more than 5,800 square feet (540 square metres) of total area. A terrace relaxation area near the stern meanwhile features a two-deck spa, a salon, and an infinity pool. Full article link in comments.

OPINION: "There is much less appetite to invest in the oil and gas industry these days. Obtaining financing for such projects is a challenge as banks or financial institutions fear of reprisals from environmental groups or just do not want to be involved with oil and gas. "Following the downturn of 2014 and the current focus on clean energies, shipyards have turned their efforts on other types of projects such as FPSO, FLNG and wind installation vessel builds and therefore do not have the immediate capacity. Perhaps a measured approach of building one or two units, with some financing from operators (especially the big NOCs and supermajors) could offer long-term contracts to support such investments." Full article link in comments.