DDW - PaxOcean Asia Pte Ltd

Media reports about Mozambique’s failure to launch a fishing and security fleet and its subsequent $2 billion debt default seem destined to torpedo, or at least set back similar efforts to build needed coastal security and national fishing fleets across Africa. That must not happen.The systems and equipment Mozambique bought a few years ago from shipbuilder Privinvest could serve as a template for coastal African nations seeking to rightfully benefit from their natural resources and lift their populations out of poverty.

Two new dual-fueled tankers capable of operation using clean-burning Methanol, Mari Couva and Mari Kokako were named at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) by owners Marinvest and Waterfront Shipping.The Methanol Institute has welcomed the launch of the 49,000dwt product tankers.“The launch of the Mari Couva and Mari Kokako is a milestone for the acceptance of Methanol as a safe and reliable marine fuel that can meet IMO2020 regulations and create a pathway to lower carbon shipping,” said Greg Dolan, CEO, The Methanol Institute.

Netherlands-based provider of steel foundations to the offshore wind, Sif Holding NV  said that the Vineyard Wind, which was set to be U.S.'s largest offshore wind farm will be further delayed.Early July 2019 Sif and Vineyard Wind announced the manufacturing by Sif of 84 monopiles for Vineyard Wind’s offshore wind project (OWP) in Massachusetts USA.The installation of the monopiles is subject to a schedule that includes seasonal restrictions on pile driving activity as a protective measure for the highly endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.Sif’s ability and confidence to meet this schedule was an important consideration in being selected by Vineyard Wind.

As a part of its cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD), Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics announces that it has successfully demonstrated its autonomous systems in action on board a Kvichak Marco skimmer boat during events held along the Portland harbor earlier today.Sea Machines’ technology opens a new era of capability for the marine industry, and today the company demonstrated its ability to increase the safety, productivity and predictability of response for marine oil-spill operations.

Recently I was attending the United Nations Science Technology and Innovation conference (STI Forum). While I attended to present on Wave Energy Conversion, the main subject at the conference was STEM education and STEM gender inequality. Almost every country in the world reports a lack of available STEM educated workers, and also reports that they have had problems engaging the non-male population in STEM professions.The discussions were extremely far and wide ranging, but when all was said and done, the single sense I came away with is that nobody at the United Nations had a clear idea on solving either problem. As an engineer I am struck that there is such a tight focus on STEM.