Portugal Ushers in Floating Wind Era
; for a new Technological Free Zone located off the coast of Viana do Castelo.The news was announced during an international conference in Lisbon promoting offshore wind supply chain development between Portugal and Norway.Addressing the delegation, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs Lidia Bulcão said work is accelerating to approve the nation’s Offshore Renewable Energy Allocation Plan known as PAER. Once approved, PAER is expected to serve as a “solid basis” for the development of Portugal’s offshore renewable energy sector responding to
Virtual Conference to Focus on Transatlantic Marine Renewables
, CorPower Ocean, X1Wind, AW-Energy, Teamwork Technology and Aquazor. Academics will join from the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy and the Atlantic Lab for Future Technologies. Meanwhile, Government officials will contribute from the Canadian Embassy and Portugal’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Ministry of the Sea.Crucially, there is also an opportunity for delegates to gain direct access to headline speakers and other attendees through ‘Business 2 Business’ meetings.WavEC President António Sarmento said: “We are thrilled to be staging this event with our
EU Moves to Curb Ocean Plastic
Union the world leader in a more sustainable plastic policy. The European Parliament has played an essential role in laying the foundation for this transformation and in giving a chance to the industry to innovate, thus driving forward our circular economy."Commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, Karmenu Vella, said, "We should all be very proud of these new rules because they tackle marine plastic pollution at its source - one of the most called for and supported EU initiatives among European citizens. After the favorable vote by the Parliament today, our main task
Ocean Discovery XPRIZE Finalists to Compete off Greece
at such high resolution; we are providing the teams with an environment that is full of mystery and geological features that will offer a true test of their technologies.”The Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE has the support of the Government of Greece, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Education, Research and Religious Affairs, Shipping, and Culture and Sports. The operational team is also working with multiple other organizations, including the National Centre of Scientific Research Demokritos, Office of the Mayor of Kalamata, Municipal Port Fund of Kalamata
Digitalisation to Boost Future Shipping
As a prelude to the 'e-Navigation Underway’ conference, which will take place during the next two days, South Korea's Director General for Maritime Affairs, Mr. Kwang-Youl Park, visited the DMA to talk about cooperation on digitalisation and e-Navigation. Director General Andreas Nordseth from the Danish Maritime Authority said: "We are pleased about our cooperation with South Korea. As two major and technologically advanced maritime nations, we have a common interest in promoting quality shipping in the maritime world." In 2014, Denmark and South Korea concluded
A United Front in Ocean Observation
the national seabed mapping program carried out by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute. It is one of the largest civilian mapping exercises undertaken worldwide.” EMB has recently met through a high-level delegation with the EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, to discuss needs and strategic actions to improve Europe’s ocean observing system. While the meeting on July 8, 2016 produced a number of follow-up actions, the EMB will continue to work with the Commissioner and DG MARE to develop and shape the next actions
New Program Funds Open Sea Testing for Ocean Energy
to TRL 5+ ocean energy technology developers seeking to test and demonstrate in real-sea and grid-connected conditions, and leverage the further investment needed to take their product to market. Commenting on the project launch, Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries said, “This program shows the added value of European cooperation. If we are to help ocean energy on a path towards commercialization, countries as well as companies will have to work together to overcome joint challenges. The European Commission is encouraging this kind
Submersible Takes Sea Exploration to New Depths
flagged in France - a new tool available for deep underwater exploration. The ICTINEU 3, a manned submersible that can carry three (one pilot and two passengers) to depths of 1,200 meters, completed sea trials and certification tests last April in France under DNV-GL and French Maritime Affairs witnessing, where it obtained French flag and registration number, as well as navigation permits. The submersible is currently being prepared for the next challenges: the deep dive sea trials and a scientific campaign that will take place next fall. In between, the ICTINEU 3 has performed
What’s all the Noise at IMO?
before construction starts. The author’s firm has found that dealing with noise requirements after construction can increase the cost by a factor of ten to twenty. Shipping appears to have received the new noise regulation positively, at least according to Kathy Metcalf the Director of Maritime Affairs at the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA). She stated that, “The industry has been aware of the process during the development of the airborne noise regulations. The industry in general saw these developments as necessary since they related to the health of the crew on board
August 2025
