Sweden plans 'massive' expansion of nuclear energy

17 November 2023

The Swedish government unveils a roadmap which envisages the construction of new nuclear generating capacity equivalent to at least two large-scale reactors by 2035, with up to ten new large-scale reactors coming online by 2045.

The roadmap was presented by (from left) Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson, Labour Market and Integration Minister Johan Pehrson, Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch and the chairman of the Business Committee Tobias Andersson (Image: regeringen.se)

In October last year, Sweden's incoming centre-right coalition government adopted a positive stance towards nuclear energy, with the Christian Democrats, the Liberals, the Moderates and the Sweden Democrats releasing their written agreement on policies - referred to as the Tidö Agreement. With regards to energy, the agreement said the energy policy goal is "changed from 100% renewable to 100% fossil-free". In the Tidö Agreement, it is assumed electricity demand of at least 300 TWh in 2045, double the current demand.

The agreement also said necessary regulations should be developed to create the conditions for the construction and operation of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Sweden. In addition, the permitting process for nuclear power plants must be shortened.

In January this year, a formal proposal to amend Sweden's legislation on nuclear power was presented by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari. It aims to remove the current law limiting to 10 the number of reactors in operation, as well as allowing reactors to be built on new sites, rather than just existing ones. The proposed legislative amendments were open for consultation for three months. The government made a final decision on 28 September to introduce the bill to parliament. The changes to the law are proposed to enter into force on 1 January 2024.

The government has now presented a roadmap for new nuclear power in Sweden, which it says "clarifies the government's target and provides long-term conditions for new nuclear power".

The roadmap includes an in-depth agreement on four points.

Firstly, it calls for the government to appoint a nuclear power coordinator who will support the work of removing obstacles, facilitating and promoting new nuclear power. In addition, the coordinator will identify the need for additional measures. An important role for the coordinator will be to gather all relevant parties to get a clear direction for effective expansion.

Secondly, the state's financial responsibility needs to be clarified through a risk-sharing model. The government has previously proposed that government credit guarantees for SEK400 billion (USD38 billion) be introduced for nuclear power. However, the government has assessed that these credit guarantees alone will not be enough to stimulate new production. In order to strengthen the conditions and provide additional incentives to invest in nuclear power, an investigator must propose a risk-sharing and financing model where the state shares the risk.

The government has instructed the National Debt Office to take preparatory measures to be able to issue government credit guarantees for investments in new nuclear power. The National Debt Office must assist the Ministry of Climate and Business in the work of designing the detailed regulations for the credit guarantees. As part of the assignment, the National Debt Office must make an assessment of how credit guarantees for investments in new nuclear power affect the risk in the combined guarantee portfolio.

Thirdly, the new policy will make it possible for new nuclear power with a total output of at least 2500 MWe to be brought online by 2035 at the latest.

Fourthly, it paves the way for a "massive expansion of new nuclear power by 2045". "Given the long-term needs for fossil-free electricity until 2045, an expansion is needed that could, for example, correspond to ten new large-scale reactors," the government said. It noted that the exact amount and type of reactors needed "depends on several things, including the need and rate of expansion in the electricity system, technological development, and where in the country new consumption and production are located".

"We are now delivering a pearl string of decisions to pave the way for new nuclear power," said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Busch. "Sweden is laying the foundations to become a leading nuclear power nation again and a power factor for the green transition in the West."

Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson added: "New nuclear power is necessary for a stable and reliable energy system, for both consumers and businesses. It is therefore natural that the state will have to take a large financial role in terms of the expansion. The last few years have shown how expensive it is not to build nuclear power."

Studsvik, Fortum study prospects for new nuclear at Nyköping

17 November 2023

Swedish nuclear technical services provider Studsvik has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Finnish utility Fortum to explore the conditions for new nuclear at the Studsvik industrial site near Nyköping in Sweden.

The Nyköping site (Image: Studsvik)

The MoU is part of Fortum's nuclear feasibility study launched in October 2022. During the two-year programme, Fortum will explore commercial, technological, and societal, including political, legal, and regulatory conditions both for small modular reactors (SMRs) and conventional large reactors in Finland and Sweden. The study also investigates new partnerships and business models.

The agreement with Studsvik initiates a process with the aim of assessing the potential to construct new nuclear at the Nyköping site. In the first phase, the goal is to identify potential business models and technical solutions for further development.

Studsvik has previously said its Nyköping site is in a strategic location and houses the company's broad expertise in nuclear technology, including fuel and materials technology, reactor analysis software and fuel optimisation, decommissioning and radiation protection services as well as technical solutions for handling, conditioning and volume reduction of radioactive waste.

"In the long-term, there is a possibility for new nuclear power on the Studsvik site, either in the form of commercial reactors, research reactors or a combination of both," Studsvik said. "In that case, Studsvik's role will be to make land available and contribute with its expertise in various areas - not to build or operate nuclear power plants on its own."

"Studsvik is positive to new nuclear as a part of the green transition, since it constitutes fossil-free, efficient, and plannable electricity production," said Studsvik President and CEO Camilla Hoflund. "We welcome Fortum as a partner to investigate the possibility of establishing new nuclear on the Studsvik site, which is a classic nuclear area with an infrastructure already adapted to nuclear operations."

Fortum said the agreement "supports its strategic priorities to deliver reliable and clean energy and to drive decarbonisation in industries by providing clean energy and CO2-free solutions to its customers".

"A lot of new electricity generation will be needed across the Nordics to meet future electricity demand in our societies and industries," said Laurent Leveugle, Vice President, New Nuclear at Fortum. "I am very satisfied as this agreement shows our ambition to support Sweden's green transition in the long-term."

The MoU between Studsvik and Fortum will run in parallel with earlier announced agreements with Kärnfull Next and Blykalla (formerly known as LeadCold).

In August, Studsvik signed an MoU with Swedish SMR project development company Kärnfull Next, which is investigating the possibility of constructing and operating SMRs at Nyköping. In March 2022, Kärnfull Next signed an MoU with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy on the deployment of the BWRX-300 in Sweden.

Under an agreement signed in March, Swedish lead-cooled SMR technology developer Blykalla is to conduct a feasibility study on the construction and operation of a demonstration SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor) with associated infrastructure for fuel fabrication in Nyköping.

In addition to the MoU with Studsvik, Fortum has signed cooperation agreements with Westinghouse, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Rolls-Royce SMR, EDF, Kärnfull Next as well as Finland's Outokumpu and Helen Energy.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

MSC and Italy’s State-Owned Railway Launch Intermodal Company

ALL CAPITALI$M IS STATE CAPITALI$M 

MSC is starting a new intermodal cargo company with Italy's state-owned railway operator (MSC)

PUBLISHED NOV 16, 2023 8:48 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Italy's state-owned national railway company, are launching a new business to develop intermodal sea and rail transport from Italy’s ports and connecting to Europe’s railway network. The two companies have been working together to study the possibility of launching a commercial and operational partnership for the development of intermodal transport linked to maritime operations.

“The memorandum signed today with a major international partner, confirms the FS Group’s commitment to becoming the European logistics player,” commented Sabrina De Filippis, CEO of Mercitalia Logistics. He said working together they will seek to build new terminals and create greater synergies to expand the freight transport logistics network. Critically, they also point out that the goal is to reduce the use of road transportation for cargo which will directly contribute to reducing emissions and improving the environment.

The agreement provides for the establishment of a new company jointly owned 51 percent by Mercitalia Logistics, FS Italiane Group’s Logistics Business Division. MSC through a subsidiary MEDLOG, which specializes in intermodal transport and logistics, will hold 49 percent of the new company.

The collaborative effort will create new terminal capacity based on the development of maritime intermodal traffic, to and from Italian ports. It will also seek to improve the quality of services and provide a competitive alternative to road transport as well as on the Italy-Northern Europe axis.

According to the companies, these initiatives are part of the joint mission of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and MSC Group to support the development of the Italian economy through greater use of rail mobility.

They will look to increase the volume of goods transported by train by creating more effective connections between Italy’s ports and terminals and the national network. They will also look to expand to European railway corridors, consolidating the integration of sea-rail-road transport systems.

This agreement is also seen as the next step in MSC’s strategy of building its terminal, intermodal, and rail investments. Last month, MSC acquired an approximately 50 percent stake in Italo - Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, one of Europe’s leading private high-speed rail operators. Since its launch in 2012, Italo has grown to operate a fleet of 51 energy-efficient electric trains, connecting 51 cities across Italy and serving over 20 million passengers per year. FS and Italo combined account for most of Italy’s cargo and passenger transport by train.

Diego Aponte, Group President of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, speaking about the Italo acquisition reported that the company’s goal is to further develop sustainable modes of transport, for both passengers and cargo.

MSC acquired the shares in Italo from independent infrastructure investor Global Infrastructure Partners. They reported that GIP would hold the other approximately 50 percent interest in Italo along with co-investors which includes Allianz Group entities and funds managed by Allianz Capital Partners.
 

 

Caretakers of the Aquatic Planet

GLDD CEO Lasse Pettersen and President Joe Biden at the steel-cutting ceremony for the SRIV Acadia (GLDD)

PUBLISHED NOV 16, 2023 8:03 PM BY TONY MUNOZ

 

(Article originally published in Sept/Oct 2023 edition.)

Dredging companies do more than just deepen harbors and riverbeds to facilitate domestic and global trade. They also recycle and repurpose the dredged materials, restore eroded beaches and reclaim damaged wetlands.

The first job of any company is to make a profit, and when Lasse Petterson took the reins as CEO at Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) in 2017 it was struggling. Finances were strained. The market was soft. It had too many idle vessels. It needed fixing. So the former oil and gas man quickly put together his team and came up with a strategy to right the ship and fix the ailing giant.

Today, six years later, the company is once again flourishing. Orders are up. The balance sheet is healthy, and the fleet is in the process of being “right-sized” for a changing market. In July, the company received the okay for the biggest project in its history – the deepening of the entrance channel at the port of Brownsville, Texas for NextDecade’s massive Rio Grande LNG facility – a sign of good things to come.

The project combines GLDD’s core competency with its ongoing involvement in clean energy. 

“We look forward to working with NextDecade and other stakeholders, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Brownsville, on this important improvement project that will benefit the navigation interests and allow for future development of the Port of Brownsville,” stated Petterson. “Our proven performance and safety culture allows us to support the growth of LNG exports in the U.S., which is a necessity in balancing affordability for energy and overall sustainability.”

It’s the latest in a long line of firsts.

Beginnings

Since its founding in 1890, GLDD has built a reputation of being the experts in dredging, construction and reclamation. Throughout its 133-year history, it’s worked on many important projects and employed generations of engineers, many of whom spent their entire careers employed on GLDD projects around the world.

In 1890, the company was named Lydon & Drews and early on was hired to work on the shoreline near the site of Chicago’s Columbian Exposition. It soon had satellite operations throughout the Great Lakes and in 1905 decided to rebrand itself as Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. At the time it had 13 dredges and ten tugboats.

It practically built the city of Chicago – or at least the shoreline portion along Lake Michigan. Projects included straightening the Chicago River and shoreline reclamation for the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Soldier Field, the Field Museum, Grant Park and Naval Station Great Lakes. Farther afield, it helped construct the Sabin Lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and U.S. Steel’s Gary, Indiana works.

In 1943, during World War II, the company constructed the MacArthur Lock, which is 800 feet long and 80 feet wide and drafts to about 30 feet. It dredged the Houston Ship Channel and helped expand oil industry infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico.

Because of its reputation and many valuable assets, companies like ITEL Corporation, Blackstone Dredging Partners and Vectura Holdings (Citigroup) bought it at different times over the years. During the Madison Dearborn ownership, it merged the company with Aldabra Acquisition Corp. (a special acquisition company or SPAC) and took GLDD public in 2006. 

Madison sold the last of its stock in the company in 2009, and GLDD today is a publicly traded company
on Nasdaq.

Waterways Maintenance & Reclamation

The work done by GLDD is essential to domestic and international trade, and the company is widely recognized for its many contributions.

But dredging has always been essential to trade, waterfront development, a healthy economy and a healthy environment. The Sumerians in about 4000 BC, who lived in Mesopotamia, understood that healthy, navigable waterways created more trade and commerce. They built ships called “barques,” made of reeds and timber, to navigate the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which were responsible for maritime commerce in the ancient world.

The Egyptians and Mesopotamians dredged commercial waterways as early as the third millennium BC as the Nile River flooded every year, but the ancients used rudimentary hand tools and baskets to remove the sediment from riverbeds. The Sumerians and later civilizations of the Babylonians and Assyrians faced similar challenges and regularly dredged to maintain open trade routes.

In medieval Europe, rivers were dredged with shovels, baskets and rakes to create suitable draft for ships and barges. In what is now Belgium, the construction of locks and canals was needed to control water levels, and regular dredging was essential for marine traffic. Colonial America, too, kept ports like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Charleston and Savannah dredged and built commercial infrastructure to keep trade moving in the new world economy.

In today’s world, dredging and waterway maintenance are important environmental issues as well, right up there with decarbonization. As the dynamics of climate change continue to alter the aquatic landscape, companies like GLDD are essential.

At the Port of Long Beach, GLDD expanded Pier J by constructing a reclamation area and dredging a containment area at depths of more than 90 feet. This created a solid foundation and facilitated construction of the shipping container terminal through controlled rock placement and dike construction, enabling it to handle megaships like the behemoth Abraham Lincoln, which is over 1,000 feet long and 257 feet wide.

 In Chesapeake Bay, which provides deepwater access to the ports of Virginia and Baltimore, GLDD has removed tens of millions of cubic yards of material during port maintenance dredging projects in order to keep these waterways open. Maintaining channels to their authorized depths is not only critical for safe navigation into the ports but also vital for regional and national economies.

GLDD’s diverse fleet allows it to meet scheduling demands as well as provide beneficial re-use of much of the dredged material, which is placed at the Paul S. Sarbanes Ecosystem Restoration Project at Poplar Island, located on the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay.

The Houston-Galveston Navigational Channel is one of the busiest and most important commercial waterways in the U.S. and globally. In fact, GLDD relocated its corporate headquarters from Oak Brook, Illinois to Houston two years ago “to be closer to its clients,” said Petterson.

In 2018 and 2019, GLDD worked a major project in Bahrain, where it dredged and reclaimed shoreline and handled more than 120 million cubic meters of sediment. It had another challenging job in the North Sea, helping construct a roadway and rail connection between Denmark and Sweden, in which it handled more than 8.5 million cubic feet of reclaimed material in a highly sensitive environment.

Offshore Wind

Recently, GLDD made a big commitment in the U.S. offshore wind sector, investing $197 million in the first Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation vessel – the SRIV Acadia.

Designed by Ulstein, the vessel uses modern ship technologies including environmental controls and automation approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). It will be awarded the ABS SUSTAIN-2 Notation, recognizing adherence to certain U.N. Sustainable Development Goals related to vessel design, outfitting and layout, and is currently being constructed at Philly Shipyard, which was featured this year in our July-August 2023 edition.

The vessel can transport up to 20,000 metric tons of rock, which are used as a foundation and protective layer for turbine towers, cable lines and other subsea structures. The Acadia measures 461 feet in length, 102 feet in width and can accommodate a crew of forty-five.

It’s scheduled for delivery in 2025 and will work with Van Oord on the Empire I and Empire II offshore wind farms along the Eastern Seaboard. These farms are expected to produce about two gigawatts of renewable energy for the state of New York.

A Winning Strategy

“We are executing on our strategy to enter the fast-growing U.S. offshore wind market,” noted Petterson in the company’s second quarter earnings release. “We continue to be proactive on cost reductions and fleet adjustments including cold stacking of vessels,” he added, “and we have adjusted our general and administrative, overhead cost structures and dredging fleet to reflect the changed market conditions coming into 2023.”

He further noted that cold-stacked vessels can easily be reactivated as the market continues to improve: “These initiatives have led to substantially reduced costs in 2023 which has allowed us to navigate impacts from a delayed 2022 bid market and continue our fleet renewal program, which remains on budget with our mid-size hopper dredge, the Galveston Island, expected to be operational in the second half 2023 and her sistership, the Amelia Island, has expected delivery in 2025.” 

A bright future indeed. And with a record backlog of over $1.1 billion, GLDD should have smooth sailing ahead.

Tony Munoz is Founder, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of The Maritime Executive.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

CRIMINAL CAPITALI$M

UK

Seven Arrested in Investigation of Law Firm Axiom Ince's Collapse

80 SFO investigators searched for evidence and arrested seven people in the criminal ivnestigation (SFO)

PUBLISHED NOV 14, 2023 6:57 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

In a series of dawn raids, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office joined the widening investigation into the downfall of historic London legal firm Ince & Company, which had been in the shipping trade for more than 150 years. Due to the complexity of the alleged fraud, London’s Metropolitan Police referred the case to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) which is now assisting in the investigation.

Over 80 SFO investigators, accompanied by Metropolitan Police, spread out at locations across the South East of England today searching for potential evidence and bringing individuals in for questioning related to the fraud that includes reports of approximately $82.5 million missing from client accounts. According to the accusations which first surfaced in August 2023, the law firm Axiom DWFM is alleged to have used client monies in the purchase of Ince Group in April 2023 and another law firm, Plexus, in July as well to renovate several properties.

The SFO reports its investigators are examining how the money passed from the firm’s client accounts, which were held at Barclays, to the State Bank of India. The monies were then used they report to fund the purchases made by Axiom DWFM. The SFO confirmed that it has launched a formal criminal investigation and will be working with the police going forward.

“There are a number of significant questions that need to be answered: clients from this law firm are missing many millions of pounds and more than 1,400 of its staff have lost their jobs. The impact on those affected is extremely serious,” said Nick Ephgrave, Director of the Serious Fraud Office. “This morning, we have used our specialist powers to obtain important information that will help us get to the bottom of what happened.”

The missing monies and accusations of fraud surfaced in August and at the time the firm’s managing partner Pragnesh Modhwadia and two other directors were suspended. Private accountants were brought in to review the records and in September, the Solicitors Regulation Authority ordered the firm including all of its divisions to close. Lawyers representing Modhwadia said he had been questioned during today’s raids but he was not arrested. The SFO reported arresting seven individuals during the raids.

Axiom DWFM was a smaller legal firm with reports saying it had just 19 partners and 150 employees when it stepped in at the end of April to save the well-known Ince Group which was going into administration after its own questionable financial deals. The firm, which was founded in 1870, was a fixture in the maritime world and grew to become one of London’s leading practices. The shipping and corporate law practice was expanded and strengthened with the October 2020 launch of Ince Cyprus.

Ince merged into Axiom and the firm was rebranded Axiom Ince in May 2023. The head of Ince’s shipping practice called it an exciting time saying they were looking forward to growing the international business now that the firm was out from under its financial problems. 

The order to close the business encompassed all 14 branches of Axiom Ince including the former Ince office in Briston, England. The firm had over 1,400 people on staff when it ceased operations last month

 AI IN SHPPING

Setting Sail for Progress: The Upcoming World Maritime Forum in Copenhagen

Copenhagen will be the background for the World Maritime Forum in February 2024

PUBLISHED NOV 15, 2023 1:39 PM BY IGGS GROUP

 

 

Copenhagen, the charming Danish capital, is preparing to host the World Maritime Forum on February 27th and 28th, 2024. This eagerly anticipated event promises to be a catalyst for change, as it brings together global maritime leaders, policy-makers, and experts to discuss and shape the future of the maritime sector. In the ever-evolving world of maritime, this forum will serve as a compass, guiding the industry toward sustainable, efficient, and advanced and interconnected waters.

The World Maritime Forum will address a diverse array of topics, with sustainability, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and safety at the forefront. Given the increasing concerns about climate change and environmental degradation, the forum will place a strong emphasis on the need for green and sustainable practices in the maritime sector. The discussions will revolve around reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adopting cleaner fuels, and implementing eco-friendly technologies to chart a more sustainable course for the industry.

As part of the dialogue on sustainability and digitalization at the World Maritime Forum, Industrial AI Strategist Oliver-Andreas Leszczynski (Meyer Werft) will be a keynote speaker at the event sharing his insights and placing a spotlight on the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in shaping the maritime industry's future.

Leszczynski, who has pioneered a 3+1 pillar model for AI integration, emphasizes the transformative impact of AI technologies when strategically deployed. "AI is the cornerstone of maritime innovation, enabling us to navigate through the complexities of today's challenges towards a more efficient and sustainable future,“ says Leszczynski.

Leszczynski will address the challenges of integrating disparate data types and bridging the skill gap. He advocates for standardized data frameworks and investments in training programs, ensuring a workforce equipped to sail the seas of a data-driven maritime landscape. 

"Creating a synergy between maritime operations and AI necessitates a robust infrastructure and a skilled crew" Leszczynski remarks, "and these are the tides we must turn to lead the industry forward."

The opportunities Leszczynski identifies are as broad and deep as the ocean itself. From optimizing vessel routes to pioneering autonomous ships, AI stands as the helmsman of this revolution. "Leveraging AI for route optimization not only enhances efficiency but also heralds a new era of green maritime practices.“ His vision is clear: AI-driven technologies promise a leap in operational efficiency, safety standards, and environmental stewardship.

Leszczynski's perspective is encapsulated in his thought-provoking reflections: "The true compass for progress in the maritime industry is the intelligent application of AI. By steering this course, we not only navigate the complexities of the present but also set sail towards a horizon of limitless potential."

 

 

The event will offer a unique platform for fostering extensive networking opportunities between a wide spectrum of stakeholders within the maritime sector. It's not just a conference; it's a melting pot of ideas, expertise, and collaboration, where shipowners, ship managers, port representatives, government bodies, classification societies, technology companies, and service providers come together to connect, exchange insights, and establish valuable partnerships.

At the end of the first day, delegates will gather for a Gala Cocktail Party in the exhibition area. This activity promises exceptional networking opportunities. Attendees will unwind, forge valuable connections, and engage in discussions that extend beyond the conference room, fostering collaboration. 

The World Maritime Forum in Copenhagen promises to be a pivotal event for the industry in 2024. It's a compass pointing toward a brighter maritime future, where sustainability, innovation, and collaboration take center stage. As we navigate towards an interconnected, eco-friendly, and technologically advanced horizon, this forum will be a testament to the industry's commitment to change and progress. The stage is set for maritime leaders, experts, and stakeholders to collectively shape a more resilient, responsible, and efficient maritime sector. 

World Maritime Forum
Dates: February 27-28, 2024
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Organizer: IGGS Group
Website: https://worldmaritime-forum.com/

 

 

America's Only Heavy Icebreaker Gets Under Way for Antarctic Mission

Polar Star departs Seattle, Nov. 15 (USCG)

PUBLISHED NOV 16, 2023 3:32 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

The U.S. Coast Guard heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star has departed on her annual mission to McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, where she will break out the harbor for America's main research station. This regular resupply run - Operation Deep Freeze - is an essential part of the National Science Foundation's activities on the frozen continent, and it will be the 27th time that the aging Polar Star makes the 24,000 nautical mile round trip run. 

"This mission requires year-round effort from the crew to prepare this 47-year-old cutter for the 20,000 nautical mile round trip and extreme environmental conditions we will face. We have an incredible and dedicated team; I couldn’t be more excited or more proud to make this journey with them," said Capt. Keith Ropella, Polar Star's commanding officer. 

As the sole remaining U.S. vessel capable of performing the NSF Antarctic supply mission, Polar Star must be kept running long beyond her design lifespan. The Coast Guard is building a series of replacement icebreakers, but the delivery of the first-in-class vessel has been delayed until 2028. Defense officials have noted that it has been five decades since the United States built a heavy icebreaker, and some of the special techniques have to be relearned. The Polar Star may well serve beyond her 50th anniversary. 

Preservation of a ship of this age for a mission this rigorous is a substantial investment. Most ships go into drydock once every five years, but Polar Star undergoes a major yard period every year, spending months in overhaul status between operational deployments. This year, the service invested $15.6 million in upgrades and repairs over a 132-day stay in shipyard. In addition to work performed by contractors, the crew put in an "immense amount of time and effort" to get the icebreaker ready. The ship will likely spend up to 145 days under way, including 65 days in Antarctica.

Polar Star dates back to the Cold War era of defense technology, when solid-state analog control systems were state-of-the-art. Decades of rolling and vibration took a toll on these complex systems, and the Coast Guard has allocated $75 million in funding to replace Polar Star's cantankerous electronics and perform other deep-dive improvements. Upgrades began in 2021 and are now in year three of a five-year life extension plan. 

SHIPPING IN WAR ZONES

Bulker Chartered by Cargill Lightly Damaged by Likely Black Sea Mine

Ukraine reports bulkers are continuing to sail the corridor despite another incident today (file photo)

PUBLISHED NOV 17, 2023 8:13 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

Media reports from Ukraine are saying that a bulker departing the port of Pivdennyi (Yuzhne) reported an explosion that was likely caused by a floating mine. While the vessel is reported to be lightly damaged and proceeding under its own power, it came as efforts were underway to introduce a new war risk insurance program to encourage more ships to undertake grain exports from Ukraine and Russia also reported that it has commenced grain exports.

According to unnamed Ukrainian officials and security consultants who spoke with Reuters and Bloomberg, the vessel is believed to be the Georgia S, a 75,000 dwt bulker registered in Liberia. The reports are that the vessel, which is managed by Sea Gate Navigation of Greece, is operating under charter to Cargill. The vessel is reported to be loaded with a cargo of wheat.

The last AIS signal from the vessel on the evening of November 17 shows her off the Romanian coast, although some reports were that she was heading to Constanta, Romania for an inspection. She was following the standard practice of limiting her AIS signals while she was in Ukrainian waters and not declaring destinations on AIS. She was shown heading to the Bosporus, where she was due on November 18.

This latest incident came as one of Ukraine's deputy ministers, Yuriy Vaskov highlighted to the news agency Interfax-Ukraine the continuing volumes on Ukraine’s Black Sea shipping corridor. They reported that it has now surpassed 150 ships that have made the transit. A total of 3.2 million tons of grain has been exported since August and an additional 1.2 million tons of other material. 

Ukraine reported that 30 more ships were currently loading in its Black Sea ports with 22 ships that would be carrying more than 700,000 tons of grain. The eight additional vessels were reported to be loading other cargo.

Insurance broker Marsh said on Wednesday that it was launching a new facility to provide affordable insurance to support the grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. It was previously reported that the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had helped to broker the new program. Marsh had provided a similar service starting in July 2022 to support the Black Sea Grain Initiative set up by the United Nations.

Marsh said the new effort was being underwritten by insurers based at Lloyd’s of London and it was developed in coordination with Ukrainian financial institutions and banks. They said it would be providing up to $50 million in hull and separate protection & indemnity war risk insurance. The Ukrainian institutions will be issuing standby letters of credit confirmed by DZ Bank. 

The goal was to offset some of the concerns that emerged in the market after another bulker docked in Ukraine was stuck last week by a likely errant Russian missile. The UK Defense Ministry believed the Russian pilot was attempting to target a Ukrainian radar signal but that the missile instead locked on the vessel’s transmissions. Risk insurance costs reportedly tripled after the prior attack, but it is unclear how the markets would respond to today’s incident.

While Ukraine continues to move aggressively to maintain its grain exports, Russia’s Agricultural Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced that they have also begun exports. He wrote on Telegram that Russia was fulfilling the promise of Vladimir Putin and two vessels had departed each carrying 25,000 tons of free grain. He said these ships were heading to Somalia and Burkina Faso and that other ships would be following.

International Security Warning Issued for Ships in the Red Sea

Ships transiting the Red Sea region are being warned to take extra steps due to heightened concerns (file photo)

PUBLISHED NOV 17, 2023 3:35 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

An international coalition set up to maintain maritime security and freedom of navigation across the Middle East region released a warning on Thursday, November 16, for shipping operating in the Red Sea region. The warning comes after a series of provocations as well as threats from the Houthi rebels in Yemen to shipping in the region.

“We continue to be concerned with a heightened threat level in the Red Sea,” the International Maritime Security Construct writes in its message. “The approaches to the Bab al Mandeb continue to be an area of concern,” they write advising ships on procedures for transiting the Red Sea and Bab al Mandeb.

The strait between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula, and the area known as the Horn of Africa where Djibouti and Eritrea are located, is a vital shipping lane. Oil tankers departing the Middle East as well as numerous containerships sailing the routes between Asia and Europe pass through the area.  The strait is the link between the Indian Ocean, the Suez Canal, and the Mediterranean.

The IMSC does not point to any specific incidents in its advisory. However, it has been widely reported that the Houthis, the Iranian-backed militia that controls large sections of Yemen along the Red Sea issued a direct threat at the beginning of the week. Israeli shipping and vessels that they believed were linked to the U.S. and the Hamas war were viewed to be in the greatest danger.

Both the U.S. and UK have increased their naval presence in the region with the U.S. reporting several recent incidents. The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney, which was operating with the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group, was directed through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea in mid-October. The vessel reported on October 19 intercepting at least three missiles fired from Yemen. While at the maximum range of the weapons, the U.S. Pentagon said they believed they were being fired toward Israel. The same vessel took down an unspecified number of drones that had been launched from Yemen, with some later news reports saying the assault lasted for at least four hours, although the U.S. said it did not believe the Carney was targeted.

Shortly after the Houthi rebel group threatened to attack Israeli shipping in the Red Sea this week, the USS Thomas Hudner reported that it too had shot down a suspicious drone. The Pentagon confirmed the incident on Wednesday, November 15, saying the destroyer “engaged and shot down the drone to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel.”

Based on the heightened threat level, IMSC and the Coalition Task Force Sentinel from Bahrain issued recommended procedures for all vessels transiting the area.

They are saying that vessels, when possible, should make the transit at night to reduce the likelihood of visual identification by “malign actors.” They are also recommending that vessels communicate to either the UKMTO or U.S. Naval Forces Central Command their movements ahead of time or if there is there is reason for elevated concern.

“Should your vessel be threatened, don’t stop and be a hard target through your maneuver,” they write in the advisory signed by the commander of IMSC.

 

New EU Waste Rules Open Door for Ship Recycling Says Danish Shipping

Danish Shipping highlights that the EU's new regulations provide opportunities for ship recycling (GMS file photo)

PUBLISHED NOV 17, 2023 6:17 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

The European Parliament and the Council reached political agreement yesterday, November 16, on sweeping new rules designed to place stronger controls on the export of waste and create greater barriers to prevent exporting waste to countries not able to handle the materials. Hailed for its efforts at preventing pollution and environmental inequalities around the world, Danish Shipping highlights that the agreement also “opens the door for responsible recycling of EU-flagged ships,” at a time when the shipping industry is expected to begin a large push to dispose of older ships to meet emerging environmental regulations.

“Danish Shipping is pleased with the new agreement and expects it will raise the standards at ship recycling facilities around the world,” the group which represents the interest of the Danish industry wrote in its statement. 

EU shipping companies have been especially challenged by the lack of authorized recycling options for their retired ships. Only a relatively small number of organizations have met the tough standards for safety and environmental protection presenting challenges to the industry. According to Danish Shipping, the agreement reached yesterday within the EU will provide the opportunity for responsible recycling outside the EU and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).

The EU says the new agreement overall ensures that members will take greater responsibility for waste and will not export environmental challenges to third countries. The new legislation includes for example a strict ban on the export of plastic waste from the EU to non-OCED countries unless countries meet strict environmental conditions. There are also new provisions for tracking waste and stronger enforcement along with efforts aimed at cooperation in fighting waste trafficking.

Other waste suitable for recycling, however under the new agreement, will be exported from the EU to non-OECD countries when they indicate that they are willing to receive the waste and can deal with it sustainably. According to Danish Shipping, these provisions mean that facilities outside the EU, if they meet EU standards, will now be able to receive EU approval, which gives them an incentive to seek to attract customers with EU-flagged ships. The group writes that they believe this will raise the quality of ship recycling facilities while also providing new options for shipowners.

“Recycling of ships must be done in a safe, responsible, and environmentally sound manner and we believe this new agreement will help secure exactly that,” said Nina Porst, Director of Climate, Environment and Safety at Danish Shipping.

The shipping industry is believed to be on the verge of a wave of recycling both as ships are getting older and new environmental regulations make it harder for older ships to continue in service. Industry trade group BIMCO, for example, recently highlighted that containerships have reached their highest average age ever. Carriers held on to their tonnage and capacity during the last few years as demand surged. Data from Linerlytica shows however that the number of containerships going to the breakers jumped dramatically in 2023 with more than 80 ships sent to the yards this year. Yet, that represents less than 150,000 TEU capacity with many more ships idled.

“We expect that a growing number of ships will be recycled over the coming years, so I am very pleased that an agreement on waste shipments has been reached. Increasing the global facility capacity for recycling ships according to the high EU safety and environmental standards is good news for all parties,” said Porst.

The European Parliament and the Council have to formally adopt the regulation in line with the political agreement reached last night. The agreement is expected to be formally approved before the end of the year.

 

EU to Add Sewage, Garbage, and Scrubber Water Discharge to Pollution Rules

EU is moving for regulations to add sewage, garbage, and scrubber water to the definition of pollution from ships (file photo)

PUBLISHED NOV 17, 2023 11:39 AM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE

 

 

The European Union is moving toward stricter measures designed to decrease pollution by increasing the number of materials that would be banned as discharges from ships in European waters. The Transport and Tourism Committee put forward a series of proposed steps expanding the limits on illegal discharges from ships as part of an overall review launched in June 2023 designed to modernize and reinforce EU maritime rules on safety and pollution prevention.

Among the steps adopted in a draft mandate by the committee on Thursday, November 16, was the proposal to extend current EU rules on discharges to include sewage, garbage, and residues from scrubbers. This would expand on the current rules preventing the discharge of oil and other liquid substances that are judged to be noxious or pollutants. According to the committee, the draft that was adopted is designed to ensure that all international standards on preventing illegal discharges from ships, developed by the International Maritime Organization, become part of the EU.

“The current EU rules do not work, because they are weakly applied by member states,” said Romanian member of the EU Parliament Marian-Jean Marinescu speaking on behalf of the committee. “It is time for member states to step up and protect European seas from the harmful effects of ships illegally dumping waste. It is necessary to effectively detect illegal discharges and set penalties at levels that serve as a real deterrent.”

In addition to widening the ban on pollution from ships, the committee is proposing steps to enhance the enforcement and increase the penalties imposed. The draft calls for expanding the responsibility of shipowners for any environmental damage caused by one of the ships they operate. In the case where the master of the vessel or its crew responsible for the illegal discharge can not be located or cannot afford to pay the penalty, the draft calls for the responsibility to fall to the shipowner. In addition, they want EU governments to avoid setting maximum or minimum penalties for infringements to “ensure that the effectiveness and proportionality of penalties are not undermined.”

They also highlighted that the current European satellite-based alert system for oil spill and vessel detection, CleanSeaNet, lacks reporting on how pollution incidents are followed up and the outcome. They are calling for member states to increase the sharing of information as well as a requirement to advise the European Commission on pollution incidents.

As part of the enforcement efforts, they are also calling for increased verification on the spot and as soon as possible after an alert is issued by CleanSeaNet. Under the draft mandate, they are calling for a requirement that half of the incidents be verified on the spot. The committee highlights that increasing the speed of verification is critical to prevent an illegal discharge from dispersing and becoming undetectable by the time authorities arrive at the location.

The draft was adopted by the Transport and Tourism Committee by a vote of 36 to one. There also was unanimous agreement that talks should begin with member states on the final shape of the legislation. The new rules from this session would focus on administrative fines for pollution from ships, while separate negotiations are also underway for criminal sanctions which would be put forth in separate legislation.