Proposed Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Project
Moves Forward to Environmental Review Stage
The U.S. government on Monday cleared the way for the Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Transmission Line to move forward when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Department of the Interior issued a finding of no competitive interest, meaning the project can proceed with the environmental review necessary to grant Atlantic Grid Holdings LLC (Chevy Chase, Maryland) a right-of-way for the proposal to build a backbone transmission line to enable up to 7,000 megawatts of wind turbine capacity to be delivered to the grid.

The proposed project is a high-voltage, DC subsea transmission system that would collect power generated by wind turbine facilities off the Atlantic coasts of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. This is the first such offshore infrastructure proposed in the U.S.

The transmission line would be constructed in phases to connect offshore wind power to the grid based on the company's estimates of when offshore wind generation facilities will be in place. A right-of-way grant occupies a 200-foot-wide corridor, anticipated to extend about 790 statute miles, centered on the cable with additional widths at the hubs. Project construction would take about 10 years.

The project would be part of the Obama administration's Smart from the Start program to develop onshore and offshore renewable energy.

Major investors in the Atlantic Wind Connection proposal include Google Inc., Good Energies II LP, Marubeni Corp. and Elia.

Caption: Atlantic Wind Connection schematic.

Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management press release

GEOMAR Orders HyBIS Benthic Sampler
For Gas Hydrate Sampling in Arctic
The Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel (IFM-GEOMAR) has placed an order for Hydro-Lek Ltd.'s (Berkshire, England) HyBIS (Hydraulic Benthic Interactive Sampler), the company announced on Tuesday. GEOMAR will use the underwater inspection and sampling vehicle later this year off the Svalbard archipelago in the European Arctic to sample gas hydrates and map local ecosystems.

HyBIS has electronically driven thrusters and enables seabed sampling up to 6,000 meters depth, with video instrumentation observation. It allows sonar surveys to be followed up with localized observation and sampling during the same voyage. Alternative subsea equipment, such as manipulators, core samplers, seismic instruments and data logging devices can be fitted onto the vehicle.

Designed to operate in conjunction with existing deck handling and cable systems on extended towed sonar arrays, HyBIS eliminates the need for additional ROV deck handling equipment. It is 1.6-by-1.6-by-1.9-meters high and comprises two subsea modules. The upper one houses hydraulic and electric power modules with thrusters, release mechanism, video and lighting, and fiber-optic telemetry for instruments and sensors. The lower module houses a detachable sampling grab, automatic closing covers and hydraulic drive cylinders.

Caption: The HyBIS.

Source: Hydro-Lek press release

Noble Corp. Selects NASDrill for Fourth Drillship
Nautronix (Aberdeen, Scotland) has secured another order to supply its NASDrill RS925 deepwater acoustic positioning system for Noble Corp.'s (Baar, Switzerland) fourth ultradeepwater drillship. Nautronix was awarded contracts in 2011 to supply the NASDrill RS925 for Noble's other three drillships.

All new vessels will be constructed at Hyundai Heavy Industries (Ulsan, Korea) shipyard and will be based on a Hyundai Gusto P10000 design. The rigs, able to operate in water depths up to 12,000 feet, will have DP-3 station keeping abilities and the capacity to handle two blowout preventer systems.

NASDrill RS925 utilizes Nautronix's ADS² (Acoustic Digital Spread Spectrum) broadband signaling technology and combines short baseline (SBL) and long baseline (LBL) acoustic positioning to calculate multiple independent position solutions. SBL mode provides accuracies of 0.15 percent slant range, and LBL mode provides accuracies up to 1 meter root mean square independent of water depth.

The system is supplied with all external interfacing to the dynamic positioning system for automatic station keeping and can be used as part of an integrated acoustically aided inertial navigation positioning solution.

Caption: A deepwater expedition. (Photo credit: Nautronix)

Source: Nautronix press release

South Africa Signs Anti-Piracy Code,
IMO Meets on Maritime Safety
The Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden (Djibouti Code of Conduct) was signed on Tuesday by South Africa, which has become the 19th state to sign the code, set up by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to develop regional capacity to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean.

The other signatories are: the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, the Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen. 

In effect since January 2009, the code represents an agreement to cooperate in activities including the investigation, arrest and prosecution of persons reasonably suspected of having committed acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, and those inciting or intentionally facilitating such acts; the interdiction and seizure of suspect ships and property on board such ships; the rescue of ships, persons and property subject to piracy and armed robbery and the facilitation of their proper care, treatment and repatriation; and the conduct of shared operations, such as nominating law enforcement or other authorized officials to embark on patrol ships or aircraft of another signatory.

The code also provides information sharing among signatories through three centers in Sana'a, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam.   

Signatories must also review their national legislation to ensure that there are laws in place to criminalize piracy and armed robbery against ships and to make adequate provision for the exercise of jurisdiction, conduct of investigations and prosecution of alleged offenders.

The IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) met in London, England, on Wednesday and will remain in session to May 25. Opening day included a full policy debate among member governments on how the international community should deal with issues related to the deployment of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships and the carriage of arms on board.

The MSC has also received a number of submissions on "passenger ship safety," which was added to the agenda in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident in January.

The agenda includes the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and a review of interim guidance approved in September 2011 for port and coastal states, flag states, and shipowners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of PCASP onboard ships to counter Somali-based piracy.

Caption: Dr. Zola Skweyiya, high commissioner and permanent representative of the Republic of South Africa, signs the Djibouti Code of Conduct.

Source: International Maritime Organization press releases

US Rep. Calls for Review of LCS Program
After Reports Show Deficiencies in LCS-1
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, last Wednesday called for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the U.S. Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS) program. Reports from Aviation Week and the Project On Government Oversight have revealed critical deficiencies with the USS Freedom, the first LCS variant, including a stern door that could not seal shut, continued cracking and corrosion, electrical outages and other serious flaws that threaten the ship's operational capabilities.

Rep. Speier will introduce an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the GAO to review the Navy's quality controls and knowledge of these problems and asking for an assessment of the operations and sustainability strategy for the program.

"In their rush to move the program forward, the Navy appears to have given up quality control over its own ships," Rep. Speier said. "Taxpayers have already paid $7.6 billion for the development and procurement of the LCS-1 variant, and for their money they are getting a ship that is cracking and corroding. We can't have sailors and taxpayers pay the costs of mismanagement."

The LCS Freedom will be sent to Singapore next spring for about a 10-month deployment, the Navy said last Wednesday, with as few as 40 core crew members. The Navy expressed confidence that problems with the Freedom would be solved in time for deployment, Reuters reported.

President Barack Obama last year ordered more emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region to rebalance U.S. national security planning after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Singapore has discussed possibly hosting up to four LCS on a rotational basis at its naval facilities, Reuters reported. The deployment stops short of a basing agreement.

The LCS is considered a new breed of warship, capable of speeds greater than 40 knots and designed for modular, plug-and-fight missions for mine-clearing, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

The LCS has two different designs: one, including the Freedom, developed by a team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. (Bethesda, Maryland), and the other by a team led by General Dynamics Corp. (Falls Church, Virginia).

The Navy wants to buy up to 55 LCS, Reuters reported. So far, 12 have been funded; six of each type.

Caption: The USS Freedom.

Source: Rep. Speier's Office, Reuters

ABS Goes Mobile with Apps, Website Access
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) introduced on Monday the organization's new mobile interface for its website at www.eagle.org, along with the ABS Bookshelf application. Available for free download at Apple's App Store, ABS Bookshelf is a mobile library of ABS' publications, including the more than 100 rules and guides available electronically.

"ABS Connect is the first phase of the new ABS-class experience," ABS President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki said. "In the coming months, through ABS Connect we will roll out additional products and applications to allow quick and efficient access to the information and class services decision makers need. It's all about having ready access to information whenever and wherever you need it."

The mobile version of the ABS website allows for the downloading of ABS publications, including the rules and guides, onto any mobile device, including Blackberries and Androids. The mobile website also allows clients to access My Eagle, the hub of ABS classification services.

Prototypes of the apps ABS Survey Manager, which allows for real-time search and storing of class and survey information on an ABS-classed fleet, and ABS Directory, which provides contact details for ABS offices around the world via search or GPS, were presented on Monday. Both apps will be available this summer.

Caption: A screenshot of Activities magazine when downloaded using the new ABS Bookshelf application.

Source: ABS press release

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