Two Republicans ask Pentagon to add Chinese Battery Maker CATL to restricted List
Two Republican senators on Wednesday requested that the U.S. Defense Department add Chinese battery manufacturer CATL to a list of restricted companies suspected to be working with Beijing's army. Experts say that companies added to this list are not eligible for U.S. government contracts, and they also face significant reputational risk. Senator Marco Rubio and Representative John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China asked Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, to place CATL, formally known China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co, on the list. They said "it would send a strong signal to U.S. CATL and Pentagon did not respond immediately to comments.
Starmer, the UK's ambassador to Berlin, is there for talks on resetting ties with Europe
On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Keir starmer will discuss an economic and defense accord with German leaders. He hopes to use his two-day trip to Europe's leading powers Germany and France as a chance to reset the relationship with the rest. Starmer stated that he wanted Britain move past the previous Conservative Government's fractious relationships with European allies, and place improved ties as the core of his efforts in order to boost Britain's economy. Starmer was in Berlin on Tuesday and visited the Brandenburg Gate before meeting with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on early Wednesday morning.
Starmer wants to help Europe reset its ties by pursuing a defence deal with Germany
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss a landmark economic and defence accord with German leaders on Wednesday, hoping to use a visit to pursue a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to reset relations with the rest of Europe. Starmer, who is on a two-day trip to Germany and France to promote Britain's economy, said that he wanted to see Britain move past the fractious relationship with European allies of the previous Conservative government and place improved relations at the center of his efforts. Starmer, who will be visiting Berlin to begin his trip…
Protecting Offshore Energy Sources via USV
When most people discuss energy sources such as fossil fuel and green energy, it is from an “either-or” perspective. Some favor the former while others advocate for the latter. However, what is often lost in the arguments on both sides is that regardless of the type of energy being extracted or generated, those platforms that are offshore, especially oil rigs, oil and gas pipelines, and wind farms, are incredibly vulnerable to anyone who wants to attack these sources in wartime, or just to make a political statement.One need look no…
Thinking Holistically about Hydrogen’s Place in the Energy Transition
As energy operators across the world come to terms with the continuously changing nature of the energy transition, the need for a wide-lens view of the situation is clear. This includes knowing the capabilities and pitfalls of renewable energy sources at our fingertips, hydrogen being one that is especially prevalent.Kees van Wingerden, an expert with more than 45 years’ experience in industrial safety and infrastructure development, makes the case for holistic thinking and planning for the ‘new’ energy landscape. Everyone has an opinion on the energy transition and believes theirs is the ‘right’ one.
Has Green Hydrogen Sprung a Leak?
The green hydrogen express is gathering pace, but it may have a worrying problem with leaks.As governments and energy companies line up big bets on the much-touted fuel of the future, some scientists say the lack of data on leaks and the potential harm they could cause is a blind spot for the nascent industry.At least four studies published this year say hydrogen loses its environmental edge when it seeps into the atmosphere. Two scientists told Reuters that if 10% leaks during its production, transportation, storage, or use, the benefits…
Legal Beat: Jones Act Moon Shot
What does the Jones Act have to do with the moon, you ask? Well, we must go to ground on the Jones Act to answer the question.The “Jones Act” we are talking about is the section in the Merchant Marine Act, 1920 which revised the pre-existing reservation of U.S. domestic maritime commerce to qualified U.S.-flag vessels. “Pre-existing” is the right term because the U.S. Government advantaged U.S.-owned vessels in the domestic trade first with a differential duty in 1789 and then with an outright reservation in 1817. Changes were made over time to close loopholes particularly in 1866, 1893, and 1898. The 1898 change for the first-time reserved U.S.
MTR100: For USVs and AUVs, is it a Hydrogen Future?
Hydrogen has been making big headlines in the energy world. It’s one of the potential routes to deliver high density energy to transport and heavy industry – but also to marine applications, as well as a way to move and store renewable energy. Various uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developers, autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) builders and even subsea power delivery system providers are taking a serious look – and even trialing – hydrogen as an option.SEA-KITThe Maxlimer hydrogen configuration. Image courtesy SEA-KIT InternationalTwo UK firms, SEA-KIT and ACUA Ocean are working on hydrogen power systems for their USVs.
Methane Emission Reduction takes Center Stage of UN GHG Report
In four decades of climate negotiations, the world has focused intensely and exclusively on the most abundant climate-warming gas: carbon dioxide. This year, scientists are urging a focus on another potent greenhouse gas – methane – as the planet's best hope for staving off catastrophic global warming.Countries must make "strong, rapid and sustained reductions" in methane emissions in addition to slashing CO2 emissions, scientists warn in a landmark report by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1 released Monday.The plea could cause consternation in countries opting for natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal.
"Green Energy" will drive the need for more Mining and Metals Production
Clean energy may mean less mining for coal, but it also means opening or expanding mines to unearth minerals such as cobalt for use in alloys and batteries, tellurium for solar cells and semiconductors, and germanium for transistors in electronic devices. That’s according to Dr. Michael Moats, professor and interim chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, who says reducing carbon emissions from energy systems in the United States will increase the need for metal production by two to six times per kilowatt of energy production.“We could eventually reach some of our materials needs by recycling…
NTSB Accident Report: Erratic Steering Led to 2019 Sabine Pass Collision
The National Transportation Safety Board found that the erratic steering of a supply vessel led to a 2019 collision resulting in more than 6,000 gallons of diesel oil being dumped into the Sabine Pass, a busy waterway between Texas and Louisiana.On Thursday, April 8, 2021, NTSB released Marine Accident Brief 21/08 detailing its investigation of the collision between offshore supply vessel Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 and the Mariya Moran/Texas on Nov. 14, 2019, in the Sabine Pass Jetty Channel, Port Arthur, Texas.The NTSB said the probable cause of the collision was the Cheramie Bo Truc No 22 turning into the path of the Mariya Moran/Texas.
Virtual Conference to Focus on Transatlantic Marine Renewables
Marine industry experts from Portugal and Canada are staging a special Blue Economy conference to spark transatlantic business growth. WavEC Offshore Renewables is teaming up with the Embassy of Canada to Portugal to host ‘Advancing the Blue Economy through Intercontinental Collaboration’. It runs on December 09 and 10.The two-day online event includes a world-class roster of speakers. They will share knowledge on floating offshore wind, alongside latest advances in wave power, floating solar, hydrogen and offshore aquaculture.To register…
Engineering Ethics, Seaworthiness and the Right of Clients to Kill Themselves
I had only been working as a graduate engineer for a few years and was minding my own business working for a yacht designer when my boss asked me to get in touch with a person who was looking for engineering analysis. I called the number and arranged for the person to meet me at the office.A few days later a tall very athletic man walked up the stairs and introduced himself as Ned Gillette. He unfolded a drawing with a design for a rowboat, and said he intended to use it for a row from South America to Antarctica.I was young, but sufficiently surprised to answer somewhere along the lines of: “And you are obviously suicidal.”“Far from it”…
Autonomous Offshore Power Trials Get Underway off Hawaii
With the advent of autonomy on and under the water, part of the value proposition is the ability to stay at sea, on station, to exponentially increase efficiencies. Have the ability to repower at sea is central to this effort, as an increasing number of companies work to solve the inherent technical and logistic problems.Columbia Power Technologies (C-Power) is commencing a six-month sea trial to test and validate its SeaRAY autonomous offshore power system (AOPS), in partnership with a pair of powerhouses: the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. NavyInitially conceived during a U.S.
Saudi Arabia to Reduce Oil Production Further
Saudi Arabia will voluntarily deepen oil output cuts from June as low oil prices are causing huge pain to the kingdom's budget and global demand remains weak due to lockdowns to contain the coronavirus pandemic.The announcement by the kingdom to add 1 million barrels per day (bpd) - equal to 1% of global supply - to the previously announced cuts follows last week's phone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman.Trump had worked last month to persuade Saudi Arabia, fellow OPEC members and Russia - a group known as OPEC+ - to cut oil output after a collapse in crude prices put heavy pressure on U.S.
OPINION: Drowning in Oil, Regulatory Measures to Keep Prices Afloat
These days history seems to be in the making on a daily basis. On April 20, 2020, the price of the NYMEX West Texas Intermediate Sweet Crude Oil (WTI) futures contract for May delivery plunged into the negative, forcing sellers to actually pay customers for taking the crude oil off the sellers’ hands. The historic drop came a little over a month after Russia and Saudi Arabia initiated crude oil price war, and it has left many wondering if certain regulatory measures are needed to help boost oil prices in the United States. Although the June and July WTI futures contracts remain in the positive…
Ransomware: The IT Danger on the Horizon
Two decades into the 21st century, we’re seeing a growing and pernicious threat to global information security: ransomware. Even non-technical folk have loosely heard of it, but the broader implications haven’t yet penetrated the public consciousness. In different industries, that general lack of awareness could be a big problem—and the maritime sector is a good example.Ransomware hits at the confluence of two critical trends in modern technology: the ever-increasing integration of IT systems into daily life, and the interconnectedness of those IT systems.
ExxonMobil Calls for Tighter Methane Regulations
ExxonMobil on Tuesday called for tighter regulation of the greenhouse gas methane and offered up its own in-house rules as a model for companies and lawmakers worldwide.The largest U.S. oil company laid out the guidelines it follows - some of which have been rolled back by the Trump administration - at a time when the industry faces growing pressure from investors to reduce its environmental footprint.The move is a "clear rebuke" of the Trump administration said Ben Ratner, senior director at the Environmental Defense Fund. "This is one more reminder that methane emission controls are cost effective…
Drilling Ban Proposals Divide Democrats
In the southeast corner of New Mexico, new houses, hotels and jobs are sprouting like flowers in the desert. Trucks hauling equipment and laborers jam once-barren highways on the way to thousands of oil rigs.The Democrats who control the state's government have lofty plans for the billions of dollars in projected tax revenues from the drilling industry in the Permian Basin, the world’s biggest oil field, starting with an overhaul of New Mexico's ailing public education system. The biggest threat to those plans, however, may be the…
Allseas Suspends Nord Stream 2 Work
Swiss-Dutch company Allseas said last week it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline in anticipation of U.S. President Donald Trump's signing of a defense policy bill."In anticipation of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Allseas has suspended its Nord Stream 2 pipelay activities," the company said in a statement dated Dec.
