Column: Trump 2.0 won’t reverse Biden’s critical minerals push

Reuters | November 23, 2024 | 

Image source: Donald Trump’s official X account

Donald Trump has described the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a “green scam” and vowed to repeal it after he returns to the White House in January.


This is bad news for sectors such as electric vehicles (EV) and wind power, which have been major recipients of the Biden administration’s signature $369 billion energy transition legislation.

But some of the “new green deal” money has also been channeled to the US industrial base, such as the $75 million allocated for an upgrade of Constellium’s aluminum rolling mill in West Virginia.

Will this too be clawed back? It seems unlikely because when it comes to rebuilding US industrial capacity and cutting the country’s critical minerals dependency on China, there is remarkable cross-party consensus.

Indeed, it was then-President Trump who in 2020 declared the country’s “undue reliance” on “foreign adversaries” for critical minerals a national emergency.

Trump in his second presidency is unlikely to reverse the drive to metallic self-sufficiency. He may even prove to be an accelerator.
Investing in America

Both the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have pumped billions of dollars into rebuilding US metals capacity.

The DOE has largely channeled funds to EV battery inputs such as lithium, manganese and graphite.

The DOD has sprinkled the cash far more widely, targeting a spectrum of esoteric elements ranging from antimony to zirconium, including an unidentified “critical material” incongruously described as essential both for “the protection of human lives” and ammunition packaging.

The Biden administration boasts that thanks to government largesse companies have announced $120 billion in investment in domestic battery and critical minerals capacity.

Yet most of that investment has been concentrated on the downstream part of the supply chain.

Seventeen new US battery plants have been announced since the IRA came into effect in July 2022, boosting pipeline capacity by 68% through 2030, according to research house Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

When it comes to investing in the metals needed to supply those gigafactories, most of the projects receiving federal funds are those looking to enhance existing recycling capacity.

New primary smelting projects remain conspicuous by their absence. Century Aluminum has been awarded a potential $500 million to build a new aluminum smelter but there has been no update since the original announcement in March.

Even the DOD’s high-priority rare earths processing venture with Australia’s Lynas Rare Earths has run into trouble. Earthworks at the Seadrift site in Texas have been put on hold due to problems getting a wastewater permit, Lynas said in its latest quarterly report.
Stuck in the ground

New smelting capacity needs new mines to supply it and that’s where the US minerals investment boom is still struggling to build momentum.


Most of the funds committed to the mining sector have been directed at lithium, both for new mines such as Lithium Americas’ Thacker Pass and multiple projects experimenting with direct extraction technology.

South32’s Hermosa zinc-manganese project in Arizona is a non-lithium stand-out, qualifying for both DOD and DOE funds and the first mine to qualify for the Fast-41 accelerated permitting process.

Many others, however, remain mired in the country’s tortuous permitting process.

The Biden administration has struggled to reconcile its desire to produce the metals needed for the green energy transition with its environmental credentials.

Big copper projects such as the Pebble mine in Alaska and the Twin Metals project in Minnesota have been killed off.

Trump has already promised to reverse Biden’s 20-year ban on mining in the Superior National Forest in Minnesota in “about 10 to 15 minutes” of taking office.

That in itself won’t be a green light for the Twin Metals project, which would still have to get state permitting sign-off, but it’s a sign that the Trump administration won’t be hobbled by the green-on-green cabinet conflict that characterized the last four years.
Focus on China

A new Trump administration is also likely to take a much tougher line on critical metal imports from entities linked to China.

Talon Metals has been allocated funds by both the DOD and DOE to progress its Tamarack nickel project in Minnesota and explore for more resource in the state.

It’s a tough time to be in the nickel business, though, as a mining boom in Indonesia has crushed prices and forced many existing operators out of business.

Most of Indonesia’s nickel capacity is controlled either directly or indirectly by Chinese entities, which has not stopped US carmakers such as Ford from joining the Indonesian nickel rush.

Price has trumped politics when it comes to securing a key metal for EV batteries.

Depending on the structure of the joint venture between Ford, Vale and China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, the nickel from the new plant in Indonesia could even count as IRA-compliant and qualify for federal EV subsidies.

Such sourcing ambiguity seems unlikely to survive the Make America Great Again focus of a new Republican administration.

Indeed, every sign so far is that Trump 2.0 will double down on the US minerals self-sufficiency drive, even if it means accepting that not all of the IRA funds are a “green scam”.

(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, Andy Home, a columnist for Reuters.)

(Editing by Mark Potter)

 

Troubled Scottish Ferry Glen Sannox Delivered After Ten Years to CalMac

Glen Sannox has been completed and received certificates to enter service 10 years after the construction order was placed (Ferguson Marine)

Published Nov 21, 2024 3:58 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Scottish shipbuilder Ferguson Marine completed the handover today, November 21, of the first dual-fuel LNG ferry built in the UK to its owners nearly ten years after the construction order and six years behind schedule. Glen Sannox (7,300 gross tons) became a political embarrassment to the Scottish government and a liability as costs ballooned and the vessel fell further and further behind schedule. 

Ferguson Marine issued an update at the beginning of the week reporting that Glen Sannox had received the mandatory certification from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyd’s Register. The full regulatory approval came after acceptance sea trials in October and includes its passenger certification, essentially meaning the ferry can now commence service on the Arran route. 

Last night, November 20, they began executing the final legal paperwork to deliver the vessel to the government-owned corporation CMAL which in turn charters the vessel to Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CalMac) for operations. Master Michael Mackinnon today raised the red ensign signifying the completion of the handover.

"The Glen Sannox will provide resilience to the fleet delivering vital lifeline services to islanders and I am encouraged that the Scottish government’s wider program to procure six new ferries by 2026 has taken another major step forward," said Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes.

 

Master of Glen Sannox raising the flag completed the handover today in Scotland (Ferguson Marine)

 

The company has been struggling to manage an aging fleet and maintain service across Scotland. The government contracted for the Glen Sannox and a sistership Glen Rosa in 2015 hailing them as a cornerstone of the revitalization of the company and modernization of the service.

Both ships were scheduled to be delivered in 2018 at a combined cost of £97 million ($123 million). However, the project became embroiled in controversies resulting in cost overruns and delays. Costs for both ferries ballooned to over £400 million ($507.4 million). 

Ferguson Marine which had emerged out of administration as the last Scottish shipbuilder was forced back into administration and required a government loan to resume work in 2022. The project ultimately would cost the jobs of both Ferguson Marine CEO David Tyderman who was removed from his role in March 2024 and CalMac CEO Robbie Drummond who stepped down in April 2024. Opposition political leaders have called for additional resignations over the failures of the project.

The shipyard blamed a flawed design concept by CMAL, repeated change requests, and supply issues for many of the problems. Part of the delays were also attributed to difficulties in completing the ferry’s LNG power system.

Two months ago, she finally began sea trials for the LNG system and then also conducted a test docking at Arran. She was finally berthed at Inchgreen in preparation for the final trials and certification. 

At a length of 102 meters (336 feet), Glen Sannox will provide expanded capacity on the run to Arran. It is also the first new large ferry for operations on the west coast of Scotland in nearly a decade. It will be capable of operating on LNG and marine gas oil. The ferry can carry up to 852 passengers plus at least 127 cars or 16 heavy goods vehicles, or a combination of both. 

The plan now calls for a final period of maintenance and crew training as well as further inspections to all be completed in December. CalMac said it expects Glen Sannox to begin commercial service in January taking over the route from the 41-year-old ferry MV Isle of Arran. The sistership, Glen Rosa, is still under construction with Ferguson targeting a September 2025 handover.
 

 

Australia’s Star of the South Revises Plan Based on Feasibility Studies

Star of the South would be at the northeastern side of the Bass Strait and provide power to the state of Victoria (Star of the South)

Published Nov 20, 2024 7:31 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

A large wind project widely considered to be Australia’s first large offshore wind farm provided a critical update defining the project after five years of feasibility studies and consultations. The Star of the South, which received its exploration license in 2019 continues to be at the forefront as Australia moves towards its first offshore wind farms.

“We’ve learned a lot since we first set out to explore the potential for offshore wind in Gippsland five years ago,” said Star of the South CEO Charles Rattray in his latest update. “We’ve collected vast amounts of scientific data and listened to local advice to help develop a project that can contribute to Victoria’s energy security, the environment, and local communities. There’s also new technology, new government requirements, and a fast-evolving energy landscape to adapt to as we plan for Star of the South.”

Star of the South is proposed to be located off the south coast of Gippsland in Victoria southeast of Melbourne and near a key industrial area. The broad plan calls for up to 2.2 GW that would power the equivalent of around 1.2 million homes. Experts point out it would be a critical contributor both to Victoria’s goal to transition toward sustainable power and as the Yallourn Power Station, the second largest in Victoria, is scheduled to close in 2028. The coal-fired thermal power station while largely decommissioned still provides 1,450 megawatts to the region.

Star of the South secured a Commonwealth Feasibility License in May 2024 which confirmed the project’s location at least 10 km (6 miles) off the coast – a further 3 km (nearly 2 miles) offshore than originally planned.

Other significant changes have been incorporated during the planning phase including it has reduced the number of turbines from 200 to 150, reflecting advancements in turbine technology. The positioning has also been adjusted in the plan both to avoid reefs and protect the marine habitat, as well as increase the gap between the ocean and turbine blades based on bird light height data. The distance was increased to 35 meters (115 feet) from 25 meters (82 feet).

The company reports it is also exploring technologies to reduce underwater construction noise. They have determined to use a “no trench” construction method to bring the cables ashore to protect the beach and are adapting the underground transmission route to meet requirements from VicGrid, a government agency charged with coordinating the planning and development of Victoria’s Renewable Energy Zones and transmission infrastructure.

Star of the South is being assessed through Australia’s stringent environmental laws, with multiple approvals required from Federal and State governments before it can proceed to construction. The project developers a private group in Australia have said their goal is to have the wind farm in commercial operation by 2030.
 

 

Hutchison Ports BEST Receives Lean & Green Award for Emission Reduction

Left to right: Maria Tena - Director of Logistics and Transport of AECOC; Estefania Soler - Sustainability Leader of Hutchison Ports BEST; José Mª Bonmatí - General Director of AECOC).

Published Nov 23, 2024 11:17 AM by The Maritime Executive

 

[By: Hutchison Ports BEST]

Hutchison Ports BEST has been awarded the prestigious Lean and Green award, earning 4 stars for its outstanding performance in reducing emissions in logistics processes. This European recognition is awarded to companies that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint through the optimization of their logistics and transport processes.

Lean and Green is the largest European collaboration platform specifically aimed at reducing emissions associated with the supply chain. It is an international initiative whose objective is to help companies in all sectors reduce their greenhouse gas emissions from logistics activities to achieve the goals defined at the Paris Climate Summit (COP21) of carbon neutral emissions by 2050. In Spain, the Lean and Green Award is awarded by the Association of Manufacturers and Distributors (AECOC).

In 2023, Hutchison Ports BEST achieved a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 58.73% in logistics processes compared to 2021. The environmental and energy efficiency measures implemented include the purchase of electricity from renewable sources, the installation of solar panels, the optimization of the terminal's operating system, the change to LED lighting, and the acquisition of electric and hybrid machinery.

This achievement underscores the company's ongoing commitment to sustainability and its leadership in the port industry. "We are very proud to receive this award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team to make Hutchison Ports BEST the most sustainable terminal in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean," said Guillermo Belcastro, CEO at Hutchison Ports BEST. "BEST's current emissions reduction is being amplified with the recent use of On Shore Power by eliminating GHG emissions from ships during their stay at the terminal, thus contributing to improved air quality."

This initiative is part of the company's sustainability strategy, which is seen as the heart of logistics, as it is concerned with being a clean container terminal and pumping sustainable supply chains. The emission savings for each 20" container that passes through the terminal is 67% compared to a conventional terminal.

Since 2021, BEST has been verifying the process of calculating its carbon footprint and registering it with the Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. This year, BEST has carried out a double verification process for the 2023 footprint and that of Lean and Green, with the part that corresponds to logistics processes.

BEST's decarbonisation plan in the Port of Barcelona aims to reduce GHG emissions by 80% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions before 2040.

The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.

 

Philly Shipyard Sued Over Construction Delays on Rock Installation Vessel

Great Lakes ordered the first U.S.-built rock installation vessel as it looks to expand to support offshore wind construction (GLDD)

Published Nov 22, 2024 1:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company filed suit in the U.S. Eastern District against Philly Shipyard citing construction delays and a disagreement over the construction plan for the company’s rock installation vessel. The company is asking the court to grant a restraining order and preliminary injunction saying it is suffering harm due to the repeated delays in the delivery date for the vessel.

The court filing cites that Great Lakes Dredge & Dock stipulated since it began the selection process for a shipyard to build the vessel that time was of the essence. They report Philly Shipyard during the proposal process presented an unacceptable timeline in effect removing itself from the bidding. However, Philly Shipyard later presented a revised construction schedule and in November 2021 was awarded the contract which called for a delivery date of November 15, 2024.

Great Lakes ordered a 461-foot-long fallpipe vessel for subsea rock installation valued at $197 million as part of its efforts to expand to support the offshore wind installation sector. The company also took an option for a second vessel. The subsea rock installation vessel is designed to carry up to 20,000 MT of rock, transporting and depositing the rocks to the ocean floor. It will lay a foundation for the monopiles which serve as the prevailing support structure for offshore wind turbines.

Work started with fanfare when President Joe Biden visited the shipyard to mark the first steel cut in July 2023. Assembly of the vessel named Arcadia began in May 2024. Great Lakes acknowledges in its filing that it accepted two charge orders which set a new contract delivery date of February 14, 2025.

The company now contends it is filing that Philly Shipyard is failing to meet its obligations and has proposed various new timelines with delays of as much as 593 days. They assert that between August and October 2024, Philly has repeatedly changed the timeline first proposing October 30, 2025, and more recently an “estimated delivery date of September 30, 2026.”

“Great Lakes’s patience has reached its end, because it recently became apparent that Philly’s pattern of false promises, failure to take seriously its contractual commitments, and breaches of the VCA (vessel construction agreement) threatened to irreparably harm Great Lakes,” the company writes in its court filing.

They allege that Philly Shipyard's “delays are exacerbated by its prioritization of other projects at the shipyard at the expense of making progress on the vessel.” They contend the shipyard is understaffed, laid-off individuals, and is sharing resources between the rock vessel construction and other projects in the yard. 

They are asking the court to stop a plan to float the incomplete vessel so that one of the MARAD vessels under construction at the yard behind the Arcadia can be moved from the assembly dry dock to the outfitting berth. Great Lakes said it has rejected this plan as the vessel is not ready for floating and to prepare it would further delay construction. They allege the yard would also begin construction on another vessel in the dry dock further delaying their vessel.

The proposed restraining order would stop the plan to move the incomplete rock vessel from the dock until it is ready for outfitting, They are also asking the court to order the yard to stop diverting shared resources to other projects, and for the shipyard to “develop and maintain a fully resource-loaded and logic-linked schedule,” consistent with the construction contract. 

Great Lakes wants the court to also order Philly Shipyard to take actions to recover the project schedule including placing all purchase orders within 60 days. They want certain materials shipped by air to also help recover the construction schedule.

Philly Shipyard issued a brief statement to the stock exchange acknowledging that Great Lakes Dredge & Dock “has filed a complaint and motion against PSI seeking injunctive relief with respect to certain actions related to the project execution plan for the construction” of the rock vessel. They note the yard “continues production activities” for the vessel and is also working on the three MARAD training ships and has started work on the first container vessel ordered by Matson. 

District Judge Mary Kay Costello entered an order yesterday setting December 4 for a response by Philly Shipyard to Great Lakes’ motion for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction. The court has scheduled a hearing for December 6 to consider the complaint and request for an injunction.
 

 

Warning: Marine Engines May Also Be “Allergic” to Cashew Nutshell Biofuel

Among the alternative fuel blends being tested is liquid from cashew nutshells

Published Nov 22, 2024 2:11 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Fuel suppliers and shipping companies continue to look at a wide range of non-FAME biofuels, but a leading testing firm is warning against Cashew Nutshell Liquid biofuel. Singapore-based CTI-Maritec which provides marine environmental services and fuel testing solutions issued the warning after finding high concentrations of detrimental compounds in fuels from undeclared source materials or production processes it sampled.

The alert says that ships fueling in Singapore and Rotterdam have reported a range of operational issues that led it to launch the tests on VLSFO (Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil) samples from the vessels that had bunkered in those ports. They received reports of operational issues including fuel sludging, injector failure, filter clogging, system deposits, and corrosion of turbocharger nozzle rings.

CTI-Maritec reports it carried out extensive Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) testing on fuel samples from these vessels. It found “the presence of high concentrations” of compounds indicating the fuel was blended with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL) from undeclared source materials or production processes.

“CTI-Maritec recommends that shipowners should not use 100 percent CNSL as a marine fuel or use CNSL as a blending component in marine fuel,” it writes in a Bunker Flash report issued on November 21. They note this “is contrary to the guidance by IMO on best practices for suppliers on the quality of fuel oil delivered to ships.”

The IMO specifies the accepted BioFuels such as FAME-based biofuels, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), and those fuels are now established and acknowledged by equipment manufacturers, class societies, and flag administrations as “drop-in” fuels. CTI-Maritec says however that there is no specification available for CNSL from any authorized body similar to those for the other fuels.

CNSL they explain is a non-FAME BioFuel, which is a naturally occurring byproduct of the cashew nut industry, and acts as a low-cost alternative renewable fuel. It is a substituted phenol, which is highly reactive and less stable says CTI-Maritec owing to its high iodine value. 

“The application of CNSL is known in the production of plastic, resin, adhesives, laminates, and surface coatings. CNSL has high acid values and is therefore highly corrosive as well. High Potassium found in CNSL blend fuels cause serious post-combustion deposits and corrosion of turbocharger nozzle rings,” according to the alert. 

They are recommending that ships not use unestablished bioproducts in marine diesel engines. They also recommend that blend compounds should be tried and tested to create an understanding of their typical properties and suitability for bunker products. How they combine with other components also needs to be well understood.
 

 

U.S. Navy Confirms Plan to Idle 17 Auxiliary Ships to Improve MSC Workforce

Due to workforce shortages, MSC will realign operations including idling auxiliary vessels supporting the U.S. Navy logistics (USN photo)

Published Nov 22, 2024 4:28 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

U.S. Navy commanders confirmed yesterday, November 21, that they will be taking steps to realign the operations of the Military Sealift Command under the guise of improving working conditions for the mariners and strengthening logistic support operations. Reports had surfaced during the summer that a plan was in the works driven in large part by a shortage of qualified mariners to operate the ships.

“Addressing the recruiting and retention challenges in MSC’s civil service mariner workforce will take time,” said Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, MSC’s commander during a briefing on the new plan. He reported that Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro approved the plan on October 30 saying it was designed, “to restore the health of the Military Sealift Command (MSC) workforce and generate more logistics support for fleet operations worldwide.”

The command’s new workforce initiative they said addresses civil service mariner recruitment and retention challenges. They highlighted that MSC consists of 5,500 civil service mariners and 1,500 contracted mariners operating 140 logistics supply ships that support the replenishment and transport of military cargo and supplies for U.S. forces and partners.

They are also saying that MSC has assumed broader logistics responsibilities and experienced higher mission demand for Navy operations in recent years. They blamed all these factors for increasing the strain on the workforce and contributing to recruiting and retention challenges.

The initiative will include crew reassignments to higher-priority vessels according to Sobeck. During the briefing, he said the goal is to reach 95 percent manning.

To achieve this, Sobeck confirmed that the plan includes “the placement of some MSC logistics support ships into extended maintenance periods.” He declined to name the specific ship that would be idled saying it depends on operational priorities and planned maintenance cycles. MSC command, however, said it expects up to 17 ships to be idled in the realignment.

The announcement said that the types of ships for the workforce initiative include Fleet Replenishment Oilers (T-AO), Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships (T-AKE), Expeditionary Fast Transports (T-EPF), and Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB). USNI News speculated in August that one fleet oiler, a dozen EPFs, two forward-deployed Navy expeditionary sea bases, and two Lewis and Clark-class replenishment ships could get inactivated.

By increasing the workforce and decreasing the number of ships, MSC expects to increase its operational capabilities while also providing more shore time for the mariners. Nationally, they said the U.S. merchant marine workforce is facing a shortage of personnel to fill positions at sea, as it has become more challenging to attract interested Americans, impacting mariners employed by MSC. Rotating crews to higher-priority vessels will minimize overdue reliefs and provide a more predictable work environment for civil service mariners.

“Our civil service mariners play invaluable roles providing continuous logistics support to our deployed naval forces, and they are working overtime to sustain that mission globally,” said Secretary Del Toro. “This initiative will not only address operational logistics challenges we face now, it will ensure that Military Sealift Command has policies, programs, and incentives it needs to recruit and retain future generations of civil service mariners.”

The Navy is emphasizing that these investments will increase MSC’s operational readiness and support its civil service workforce, both of which strengthen maritime dominance.

The moves by the U.S. follow similar efforts by the UK. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is also reporting staffing shortages although the unions blame it on an ongoing wage dispute and chronic low wages for the commercial mariners. The RFA has sidelined vessels and is also taking steps at realigning operations to deal with chronic workforce shortages.

 

China Commissions Its First Deep-Ocean Drillship

Meng Xiang completed commissioning and is set for its maiden voyage before the end of the year (Huangpu Wenchong photos)

Published Nov 22, 2024 7:49 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

In its quest to access deep-ocean resources, China commissioned its first drilling vessel at a shipyard in Guangzhou. The ultra-large drillship, the Meng Xiang (Dream), is a significant leap in China’s ambition for deep-sea exploration, including mineral resource surveys. 

In a congratulatory letter to celebrate the commissioning of the vessel, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted that the design and construction of the vessel is a culmination of the nation’s unique resource mobilization system. 

“I hope that we can keep working hard to make the best use of this important science and technology asset, and enhance innovation and creativity in marine science,” said Xi in his letter, which was read out by Vice-Premier He Lifeng during the commissioning ceremony. 

The drillship was developed by the China Geological Survey of the Ministry of Natural Resources in close collaboration with the Institute of China Shipbuilding, which helped in designing the vessel. It was built by Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard, part of the Chinese State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). The ship’s construction began in November 2021 and was completed last year in December and undergoing testing and commissioning since then. The vessel is scheduled to begin its maiden voyage by the end of this year.

With a length of 590 feet (180 meters) and 108 feet (33 meters) in width, Meng Xiang becomes the largest Chinese research vessel. It has a displacement of 42,600 tons and a range of 15,000 nautical miles. It accommodates 180 people and according to the shipyard was designed to operate in strong sea conditions (level 6) as well as to safely survive a super typhoon.

 

Meng Xiang  has an advanced dynamic positioning system and a broad range of deep ocean drill capabilities (Huangpu Wenchong)

 

The China Geological Survey (CGS), highlights that Meng Xiang is the world’s only deep-ocean drilling vessel capable of conducting ultra-deepwater drilling at depths of 11,000 meters. Analysts believe the ultra-large drillship, featuring state-of-the-art drilling systems, will help China lower expeditionary costs for deep-ocean studies and surveys.

Notably, the vessel is also the first in the world to integrate functions such as deep-ocean scientific drilling, oil and gas exploration, and natural gas hydrate investigation and trial extraction.

“The Deep-Earth core samples that the vessel will help retrieve will provide global scientists with direct evidence to study plate tectonics, oceanic crust evolution, and ancient marine climates,” the Director of Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, under CGS, Xu Zhenqiang told Xinhua news. 

The shipyard highlights the vessel made “breakthroughs” in 50 core technologies solving problems such as the integration of multiple functions including ocean scientific drilling, deep-sea oil and gas exploration, and natural gas exploration all on the same platform. The ship features a DP-3 dynamic positioning system based on a closed-loop energy storage system. It has onboard laboratories for real-time research of all marine disciplines. It also has a comprehensive information system able to gather and analyze data in real-time from more than 20,000 monitoring points.
 

 

Activists in Australia and France Target Ports to Highlight Causes

Police providing passage to a bulker at the Port of Newcastle on Friday (Rising Tide)

Published Nov 22, 2024 5:50 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

 

Ports have become the renewed target of activists seeking to highlight their causes and advance their complaints against their governments. In Australia, hundreds of protestors descended on the Port of Newcastle and the surrounding beach while in France farmers finally withdrew their blockade of the Port of Bordeaux while vowing to continue their demonstrations.

French farmers had been blockading the country’s seventh-busiest port and one of the largest grain terminals in the country to highlight their opposition to an EU trade deal. The deal calls for reducing tariffs on the South American trade bloc known as Mercosur. Farmers are protesting the increased competition and highlighting that it will reduce standards on the quality of products.

According to French authorities over 335 farmers and 186 agricultural machines participated in the demonstrations that stretched across seven regions in the southwest and south of France. The port of Bordeaux as well as distribution centers were among the targets with the farmers dumping tires and other debris on the access roads and parking their trucks.

 

 

The protests began Wednesday night, November 20, with the farmers calling for abandoning all the principles of the Mercosur agreement or renegotiating the agreement for better terms, despite it having never been officially ratified. The demonstrations were organized by a group calling itself Coordination Rural which said it would lead an agricultural revolt.

The farmers agreed to unblock the entrances to the Port of Bordeaux on Friday morning, November 22, and one of the key purchasing centers while vowing to continue the fight. They were also calling for actions in the Port of Rouen. In addition, another French union, Fédération Nationale des Syndicats d'Exploitants Agricoles (FNSEA), has called for additional actions Tuesday through Thursday next week.

Australian Climate Protestors

At the Port of Newcastle, the planned “People’s Blockade” went into full force on Friday and is scheduled to continue again on Saturday, November 23. Organizers in a group called Rising Tide have said it is their goal to blockade the port for 50 hours as part of a larger 10-day effort that is part demonstration and part festival. 

The group was emboldened when the New South Wales Supreme Court ruled late on Thursday that the government’s effort to set up a blockade zone around the port could not proceed. The court reaffirmed the right to peaceful protests while cautioning that that did not mean all efforts, especially endangering port operations, would be lawful.

The NSW Police Force issued a statement saying it would adopt “a zero-tolerance approach to actions which threaten public safety and the safe passage of vessels. For their own safety and that of the other users of the port, we request that people who still attend this event refrain from entering the harbor on kayaks or other vessels with the intention to obstruct other users of the port, or engage in other forms of civil disobedience.”

 

Police escorting a bulker after protestors attempted to block the Port of Newcastle (Ben Pennings on X/courtesy of Rising Tide)

 

Protestors turned out on Friday and promised to return Saturday to the Port of Newcastle (Rising Tide)

 

Despite the warning, the group released pictures showing a small flotilla of kayaks, canoes, and surfboards in the harbor while others encouraged them from the beach chanting “This is what democracy looks like.”

The group is demanding an end to coal exports, canceling all new fossil fuel projects, and the imposition of a 78 percent tax on profits from the export of fossil fuels to fund the industrial transition and compensate communities. 

Reports said the police were called out using their boats and jet skis to clear the protestors when they attempted to block the bulker Eternal Bliss (82,000 dwt registered in Singapore) as it was departing Newcastle for China yesterday, November 21. Today’s pictures showed the Hong Kong-registered bulker ITG Uming 3 (82,000 dwt) attempting to navigate inbound from China while the Liberia-registered bulker Mount Matterhorn (208,000 dwt) was departing for Japan. 

The mood was summed up by one of the protestors, an 84-year-old woman who told the media “Unless we take direction action, no one’s going to take any notice.” The group was vowing another day of protests on Saturday in the harbor.

 

Boston to Invest $100M in Cruise Port as It Sets New Passenger Record

Boston will invest $100 million into its cruise operations to support growth and add shore power (Massport)

Published Nov 22, 2024 8:59 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operators of Flynn Cruiseport Boston unveiled plans for a $100 million investment into its cruise operations to support future growth and incorporate shore power into the terminal. Port officials announced the plan while also celebrating a record-breaking passenger count in 2024.

Boston has emerged as a strong regional cruise port and like the whole industry is enjoying strong growth. In 1986, Massport opened the new Black Falcon Cruise Terminal located in the South Boston Seaport area. 

The total passenger count for the port in 2024 set a new record at just over 480,000 passengers, up 29 percent over last year. The season started in March and ended in early November and included 13 maiden calls in Boston. Massport highlights that 24 different cruise lines called at the port with itineraries to Canada/New England accounting for 64 percent of the 2024 passengers. Bermuda continues to be another popular destination making up more than 31 percent of the passengers while the port also had cruises to Iceland, the Caribbean, and Central America.

The 2024 cruise season included a total of 167 cruise ship calls, 18 more than in 2023. It was a 12 percent increase in traffic, but the port also highlights it is receiving and continues to expect to continue to see bigger cruise ships.

In 2026, Boston will receive what is currently scheduled to be its largest homeported cruise ship. Norwegian Cruise Line will reposition its Norwegian Breakaway (145,655 gross tons) for the season in Boston. The cruise ship which can carry up to 4,500 passengers replaces the Norwegian Gem (93,500 gross tons) which accommodates up to 3,200 passengers.

“With record-breaking passenger numbers at Flynn Cruiseport, Boston is thriving like never before,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As we continue to grow, adopting clean technologies becomes even more crucial for meeting our climate goals. For both visitors and locals, Massport’s investment in shore power is a significant step forward—reducing fossil fuel use while ships are docked and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.”

To sustain the growth Massport highlights that it will invest a total of $100 million into its cruise operations facilities. Of this, $40 million will be spent on cruise terminal improvements. Upgrades to the terminal include pier upgrades to support an additional Passenger Boarding Bridge, a new escalator, and an expanded queueing area with increased seating, which will allow for better passenger flow.

In addition, the port announced it moving forward with a $60 million investment to provide shore power capabilities for the cruise port. CEO Rich Davey said Massport has been planning to bring ship-to-shore power to Flynn Cruiseport for some time and it has decided to move forward with the installation at the two main berths. Nearly 80 percent of the ships that currently serve Boston the authority highlights can plug into shore power or use an alternative low-carbon technology. The project is expected to be completed by 2029.  

Boston follows other cruise ports that are installing shore power. PortMiami in June 2024 started its shore power operations. It can support up to three cruise ships at a time and has shore power connections available at five of its terminals. Starting in 2027, the Port of Seattle (Washington state) will require all cruise ships homeporting at its terminals to only use shore power while in port.