The technology group Wärtsilä's project to bring floating rubbish bins to Finland is making progress. The project is being executed in honour of Finland's centenary. The first Seabin marine rubbish bin in all of Northern Europe was launched and placed in test use today in Uunisaari, off the coast of the Kaivopuisto district of Helsinki. Another floating rubbish bin will be … [Read more...]
Norwegian Billionaire, Pledging to Give Away Fortune, Orders Advanced Research Vessel
Norwegian shipping and offshore magnate Kjell Inge Roekke plans give away the 'lion's share' of his estimated $2 billion fortune beginning with the construction of a large research and expedition ship to study ocean sustainability. The vessel, which will operate in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature's Norwegian unit, will have a crew of 30 and will offer … [Read more...]
Alternative Ocean Power Moves Closer to ‘Bankability’
By Brian Parkin (Bloomberg) The two-century old dream of harnessing the power of the sea came closer to commercial reality after the European Investment Bank backed a Finnish company with ambitions to deploy machines that generate electricity in six countries. AW-Energy Oy, which also has the support of the nation’s biggest utility, Fortum Oyj, said it expects its could sell … [Read more...]
Offshore Drilling Foes Invoke 1953 Law to Prod Obama on U.S. Ban
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg) -- Environmental activists who dangled from bridges and paddled kayaks around an Arctic rig have a new strategy for stopping oil development off U.S. coasts: persuading President Barack Obama to use a 1953 law to bar offshore drilling permanently. An obscure provision that’s been used to preserve coral reefs and walrus feeding grounds … [Read more...]
ICS Raises Concerns Over Spanish Supreme Court’s Ruling in Prestige Oil Spill Case
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) strongly criticized the judgement of the Spanish Supreme Court in the 'Prestige' Case during a meeting last week of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF). In 2002, oil tanker MV Prestige spilled an estimated 63,000 tonnes of oil after sinking northwestern Spain. As a result of this oil spill, … [Read more...]
Statoil Releases 2015 Sustainability Report
Statoil has published the annual sustainability report and the payments to governments report for 2015. The company delivered annual equity production of 1.971 million barrels of oil equivalents per day last year, up 2% from 2014 due to start-up and ramp-up on various fields, higher gas sales from the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) and improved operational … [Read more...]
Mainstream to Build $2.8 Billion Scottish Offshore Wind Farm
(Bloomberg) -- Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd. said it’s in talks with a consortium led by power company InterGen NV to reach a financial close on its planned 2 billion-pound ($2.8 billion) Neart na Gaoithe wind farm off the coast of Scotland. The 450-megawatt project will deliver the cheapest offshore wind power in the country, having secured a so-called contract- … [Read more...]