News: Marine

2023-01-22

Cost Increases Cause Losses at HanseYacht Group

EUROPEAN REPORT 
Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

Cost increases in several areas caused HanseYachts AG to report a loss of EUR 20.72 million (US$25 million) for the fiscal year 2021/2022 ended June 30, 2022. However, because of the great demand during the pandemic for sailing boats and fully complete order books, production increased from 446 to 568 boats, compared to the previous year.

Revenues totaled EUR 132,38 million, an increase of 22.8% compared to the previous fiscal year. But, at the same time, costs of materials increased 40.7%, personal expenses climbed 22% and other operating costs increased 58%. All this led to a net loss higher by 130.5% compared to the previous fiscal year.

The recent Covid-19 shutdown and worker absenteeism heavily impacted the finances of the group for fiscal year 2021/2022.

HanseYacht Group said it will not exhibit this year at BOOT, the biggest indoor pleasure boat trade show held in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Read More»

2022-12-14

Alternative Power Report, December 2022

AlternativePower Report_December2022Download

Read the expanded December 20222 Alternative Power Report produced by PSR’s Guy Youngs and other analysts at Power Systems Research. This month’s report includes articles on increased battery production in the US., Tesla’s plans for a recycling plant in Texas, increased merger activity in the EV Light/Medium commercial vehicle segment and new power sources being developed for cargo ships.

Container Ships Could Look Like this by 2050

Here’s What Container Ships Could Look Like by 2050

With pressure from regulators to decarbonize international shipping, companies big and small are racing to identify green alternatives to the gas-guzzling container ships that account for an estimated 3% of global greenhouse emissions.

Many of the ideas floating around today leverage some form of high-tech sail, a futuristic take on the wind-powered voyages that have transported goods for as long as global trade has existed.

Many factors need to be considered when designing a wind-powered cargo ship, including safety, functionality, crew comfort, and most importantly, speed.

Source: MSM: Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  Marine transport is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions (see article “EV shipping is set to blow internal combustion engines out of the water” in the September issue of PowerTALK), so any movement to reduce the emissions is positive, and if it happens to reduce the fuel costs for marine transportation at the same time, there is a substantial saving to be made. A real win-win situation. Further information about these can also be found here.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

2022-09-29

EV Shipping Set To Blow IC Engines Out of the Water

ALTERNATIVE POWER REPORT

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have released a study which examines “the technical outlook, economic feasibility, and environmental impact of battery-electric containerships.” By modelling 5 to 10 GWh electrified containerships, they found that 40% of routes today could be electrified in an economically viable manner, before considering environmental costs.

Using only technology available for purchase today, nearly all ships with routes shorter than 2,000 kilometres are economically advantageous, and ships with routes as long as 3,000km are economically viable.

Source: PV Magazine Read The Article

PSR Analysis: Ships transport more than 10 billion metric tons of cargo each year, including clothing, electronics, and oil, and almost all of these ships run on fossil fuels, so they emit a lot of carbon pollution. Maritime shipping causes about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As the costs of large ICE containerships continue to rise electrified containerships become increasingly cost effective. Electrified containerships are 80% more efficient than their ICE counterparts, and use 30% less energy overall.    PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead Analyst at Power Systems Research

2022-09-28

Report from Cannes Yachting Festival 2022

EUROPE REPORT
Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

The Cannes Yachting Festival is one of the largest in-water shows in the world, and this year it celebrated its 45th birthday. Founded in 1977, the show normally takes place every September. However, it missed out in 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions, but it was back in 2021, posting the best performance results ever.

This year, the show was held Sept 6-11, and featured a fleet of about 700 boats, ranging in length from 3 to 50 meters. It included motor and sailing vessels, monohulls and multihulls, inboards, sterndrives and outboards, diesel, petrol, waterjet, hybrid and electric, tenders, RIBs and others displayed in the two main city ports of Le Vieux Port and Port Pierre Canto. This year, more than 56,000 visitors attended the show.

The new Polish Sunreef 80 Eco was the star of the festival. The all-electric, fully autonomous luxury catamaran of 23.87 m in length, 164 m2 covered with solar panels, is a unique boat in the industry. This luxury catamaran is equipped with ultra-light batteries with a density of 5.2 kg/kWh. The innovative system is entirely created and produced by the company itself offering the best efficiency in the marine world.

Read More»

2022-08-20

MAN Plans to Launch New Generation Engine

Natasa Mulahalilovic
Natasa Mulahalilovic

Four years after introducing the most powerful engine for yachts, the V12-2000, MAN Truck and Bus has launched a new generation, high speed engine, the V12X. The official launch will take place at the Cannes Yacht Festival in France at the French Riviera Old Port, Sept. 6-11.

The latest MAN creation develops 2200 HP (1618 kw) at 2300 rpm.  The 12-cylinder engine, with 30 liters displacement is unique in the marine pleasure market.

As all other MAN compact, high speed, diesel engines, the V12X fully meets the EPA Tier 3 recreational, China Marine Recreational Stage II, IMO Tier II and RCD 2013/53/UE, 97/68/EC emission standards and directives.  

The new engine is designed for installation into medium and larger size motor yachts, sport fishing boats and cruisers. MAN Truck and Bus has a strong and lengthy collaboration with many yacht builders such as Azimut-Benetti group, Beneteau Yachts, Ferretti Group, Princess Yachts and others.

Read More»

2022-07-20

Venture Firm Raises 4.2 Billion Yen for Electrification Projects

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

PowerX, Inc. says it has raised 4.15 billion yen in funding for two electrification projects: one is to develop its own “Power ARK,” a ship that carries electricity, and the other is to build a large-scale storage battery factory in Japan.

The idea behind the Power Transfer Vessel is to store electricity in container-shaped storage batteries and transmit it by ship, with an eye toward the expansion of offshore wind farms. Conventionally, power is transmitted from offshore wind farms to land via submarine cables, but the aim is to develop the Power Transfer Vessel that can replace submarine cables. This will make it easier to construct power plants offshore in windy distant seas. The construction of submarine cables that pass high-voltage electricity is environmentally hazardous, but the Power Transfer Vessels are cheaper than cables and will enable power transmission to be realized sooner.

Power Ark 100. The first vessel, the “Power ARK 100,” will have a length of approximately 100 meters and will be equipped with 100 storage batteries in the form of shipping containers, enabling it to store 220 MWh of electricity. This is roughly equivalent to one day’s worth of electricity for one city (22,000 households). In the event of a large-scale power outage or other disaster, the ship will serve as a contingency power source. Larger vessels are also planned, and a 220-meter-long vessel capable of carrying 3,000 containers would be able to transport 5,660 MWh of electricity.

Read More»

2022-05-23

MEGURI2040: The Fully Autonomous Ship Program

FAR EAST: JAPAN REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

The Nippon Foundation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group company Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and Shin Nihonkai Ferry Co., Ltd. have successfully completed a demonstration test of the world’s first fully autonomous ship navigation systems on a large ferry, conducted on the Iyonada Sea from Shinmoji, Kitakyushuu City, in January.

This demonstration was part of MEGURI2040, a fully autonomous ship navigation project launched by The Nippon Foundation in February 2020.

Japan’s declining birthrate, aging population, and shrinking population have resulted in labor shortages in many fields. Seafarers in coastal shipping, which requires hard work on board, are no exception. More than half of the seafarers in coastal shipping are over 50 years old, which poses a major challenge.

Read More»

2022-04-22

Five Year Plan Encourages Development of LNG Trucks and Ships

CHINA REPORT

Jack Hao
Jack Hao

“By 2025, the national gas storage capacity of intensive layout will reach 55 billion ~ 60 billion cubic meters, accounting for about 13% of natural gas consumption. Build a green and low-carbon transportation system, optimize and adjust the transportation structure, vigorously develop multi-modal transport, promote the medium and long-distance transportation of bulk goods “from rail to water”, encourage the use of clean fuels such as LNG in the field of heavy-duty trucks and ships, and strengthen the guarantee of clean energy supply in the transportation industry. It is emphasized that the LNG storage and transportation system in Bohai Rim region, Yangtze River Delta region and Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Bay area should be continuously improved, and the core is the construction of LNG terminal.”

Source:  NDRC       Read The Article

PSR Analysis. China’s LNG import volume in 2022 is expected to surpass Japan and become the world’s largest LNG importer. At the same time, China has built 22 LNG terminals. There are more than 200 LNG manufacturers in China, with an annual capacity of about 30 million tons.

Read More»