New Fuel Cell Guidelines for Shipping

International classification society Bureau Veritas has developed new guidelines covering the safe application of fuel cells on ships which could have important environmental and commercial advantages for shipowners and operators.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices which convert the chemical energy of a fuel, for example hydrogen-rich gases, into Direct Current power. Until now, their application in shipping has been limited to a few pilot projects, and BV product manager Gijsbert de Jong said the main obstacle to the wider application of fuel cells in shipping is the lack of a comprehensive framework covering the technology. He explained, “By developing these new guidelines, BV is breaking the vicious circle whereby the lack of a regulatory framework limits the possibilities for building and testing the prototype applications which are essential for determining the safety and performance criteria involved. “BV’s guidelines for the safe application of fuel cells on ships take into account all relevant existing IMO conventions and guidelines, together with a wide range of international non-marine standards. They reflect BV’s extensive in-house knowledge and expertise, and could have important commercial – as well as environmental – implications for shipowners and operators.” There are several different types of fuel cell technology, using different types of fuel.

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Morocco to invest $10 bln in energy projects

Morocco, the only North African state without oil of its own, plans to invest 90 billion dirhams ($10.29 billion) in projects across the energy spectrum, its energy minister said.

It will build more power plants, expand oil storage capacity and step up exploration for hydrocarbons for the six-year period to 2015, Amina Benkhadra said. “This plan links the government and the private sector to implement a strategy aimed at securing energy supply and diversifying energy sources at the right costs,” he told a gathering of top government officials, bankers and executives. Business leaders were worried Morocco might fail to produce enough power to meet the needs of an economy growing at an average 5.3 percent in the past five years. Morocco’s gross domestic product is expected to expand by 6.7 percent this year, despite global economy downturn, from 5.8 percent last year, according to government forecasts. The government is also under pressure to cap the bill for energy, 97 percent of which is imported. The costs strain its trade balance and test its capacity to avoid a wide budget deficit. The value of energy imports soared to 71 billion dirhams last year from 53 billion in 2007 and 21 billion in 2003, according to official figures which also showed the government allocated 23 billion to subsidise fuel. “This strategy guarantees that Morocco’s economy and population needs in energy are met all the time and throughout the county at the right prices,” Benkhadra said.

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Boat Manufacturers Eye Middle East Market

Dubai - New Zealand yacht and boat manufacturers are eyeing robust sales in the Middle East, saying the region remains a major market despite the global downturn.

“There is still room for growth for the marine industry in the Middle East and UAE has emerged as leading regional yacht and boat market,” said Trevor Matheson, New Zealand’s ambassador to the Gulf region. New Zealand is one of the biggest participants in the ongoing Dubai International Boat Show 2009. “The boating industry is experiencing a period of transition worldwide as its major markets in the US and Europe is facing less demand for new boats. This has placed a strong emphasis on this region,” said Matheson.

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BPA’s Hunchun-Zarubino logistics project kicks off

Seoul: Busan Port Authority has embarked on its Hunchun-Zarubino logistics project which will connect Hunchun in China, Zarubino in Russia and Busan in Korea and is expected to significantly boost cargo volumes.

As part of the project, an inland container terminal will be constructed in Hunchun and Zarubino Port will be transformed into a container port. Upon completion of the project, the cargoes collected in Hunchun will be transported to Zarubino Port by land and than to Busan Port by water. China’s Hunchun government, Russia’s Trans Group and three Korean logistics companies will be working together to manifest the Hunchun-Zarubino logistics project.

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