b'40American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comJacket loadout milestone completed for BorWin6 offshore HVDC platformOffshoreconvertertop- ofSPMTspoweredbyfour sidejacketsafelytrans- powerpackunits,providing ferredtotransportvesseltherequireddrivepowerto Progress on the BorWin6 Proj- move and steer the load under ectcontinueswiththesuc- full control during loadout.cessfulcompletionofakeyMammoetwinchessup-fabricationyardmilestoneinportedsafemooringman-A two-day emergency meeting of the IMO was held in London to discuss the conflict. Jebel Ali,United ArabEmir- agementduringcriticalquay ates. Mammoet has completedactivities.Thejacketandits IMO behind efforts to create safe corridorthetransport,loadoutandfoundation piles have now been mooring of the 5,461-tonne off- secured for sailaway to Europe through Strait of Hormuz shore jacket foundation,des- for the next phase of the project. tined to support the BorWin6Followingcompletionofthe By Stuart Todd, AJOT offshoreconverterplatformloadout activities, focus now BorWin kappa in the Germanshifts to the next yard phase. TheInternationalMaritimeOrganizationkind of evacuation routes can be put in place. North Sea.Later in 2026, Mammoet will (IMO)isbehindeffortstocreateaframe- WeknowthetechnicalmechanismsofDeveloped by TenneT andcomplete the BorWin6 topside work for the establishment of a safe corridorhow to put routing measures in order for shipsdelivered by McDermott Inter- jackupandweighing,with through the Strait of Hormuz to facilitate theto evacuate. We need to look into the differentnational, the BorWin6 offshorethe topside expected to weigh evacuationofcommercialshipsandprotectships that we have there (in the Strait), howgrid connection is a 980-mega- approximately 17,000 tonnes. seafarers who have been stranded in the Per- long theyve been there, what was the last timewatt high voltage direct currentFor this operation, Mammoet sian Gulf since the beginning of the militarythat they received supplies in order for us toconnection that will transmitwill use its Mega Jack System, conflict between Israel and the US and Iran. look as well at any prioritization. This is notoffshorewindenergyfromasolutiondesignedtosup-It follows a two-day emergency meetingabout bringing all the ships out in one go in onetheGermanNorthSeatoport efficient construction by of the UN shipping bodys council in Londonday. Were talking about a Strait, around 30themainland,strengtheningallowing large modules to be todiscusstheconflictwhichhasimpactedkilometers wide. So, the safety of navigationgrid capacity and supportingbuilt and lifted in one piece. approximately 20,000 seafarers on more thanis paramount because also with any measurethetransitiontosustainableThe system has been used for 2,000 ships, currently located west of the Strait. that we put in place, we dont want to increasepower generation.completedliftsinexcessof However, very little detail was disclosed onthe risk on the seafarers, he explained. To support McDermotts40,000tonnesandwillpre-how this safe corridor would work in practice,engineering,procurement,parethetopsideforskidded such as how its boundaries should be definedC eaSefirer equired constructionandinstalla- loadout and sailaway later in and the mechanisms to be used to ensure itsDominguez underlined that the IMO didtion(EPCI)scopeforthethe year. safety and recognition by all parties involved.not deal with geopolitical situations and con- BorWin6 topside and jacket,The milestone builds on Also, how soon it could be operational. flicts and their root causes. Merchant shipsMammoet has been selectedearlierBorWin6workper-Moreover,initialcommentsfromIransrole was to facilitate trade around the worldas a subcontractor to provideformedbyMammoetatthe delegate to the IMO has cast serious doubt onfor the benefit of everyone. criticaljacking,transportyard.Lastyear,Mammoet the Islamic Republic would co-operate towardsHowever, any political situation that hadand loadout services. For thecompletedthemovementof creating a safe corridor. a negative effect on the IMO and in particu- jacketdeliverymilestone,thetopsidemodulefromits lar on seafarers, was something that the mar- Mammoettransportedtheconstructionpositiontoan f raMeWork toP roteCt theL iveS ofS eafarerSitime agency needed to address and make itsstructure using 216 axle linesinterim staging area.When hostilities erupted on February 28,voice heard.IransRevolutionaryGuardsissuedathreatWe need a ceasefire and de-escalation. We to open fire on any vessels trying to cross theneed the conflict to come to an end and for ship-Straita key artery not only for oil and gasping not to be used as collateral damage. And tankers but for all types of vessels, includingthats why its good to see all of these countries containershipswhichbroughttraffictoaworking to improve the situation. The diplo-near-standstill and which almost three weeksmacyandnegotiationsthatarebringingthe on is still the case. parties to the table to find the solutions that will To date, some 17 vessels are reported toallow shipping to continue to operate.have been attacked, resulting in the deaths ofHiscommentscameassixcountries at least seven seafarers. amongthemtheUK,France,Germanyand In a 17-point declaration that followed theJapan,expressedreadinesstocontributeto emergency meeting, the IMO said the aim ofappropriateeffortstoensuresafepassage the framework was to protect the lives of sea- through the Strait of Hormuz.farers and mobilize trapped ships. While not elaborating on what this con-TheIMOCouncilstronglycondemnedtribution might entail, they did note that theyMammoet has completed the transport, loadout and mooring of the 5,461-ton the threats and attacks against vessels and pur- welcomedthecommitmentofnationswhooffshore jacket foundationported closure of the Strait. by Iran, adverselyare engaging in preparatory planning.affecting merchant and commercial vessels.Dominguezsaidhestoodbyhisprevi- (CASUALTYcontinued(WAIVERcontinued from andcalledontheregimetoimmediatelyous comments on naval escorts not being ablefrom page 38) page 38)refrain from such action. toprovidemerchantswith100%protectionrenewablesespeciallyto military operations, not to Irans delegate to the IMO, slammed thethrough the Strait. intheAsiancountriesmostdisplaceAmericanworkers declaration describing it as one-sided, unfair,Naval escorts are not a sustainable long- impactedbythetighteningorrewardforeignoperators. inaccurate and legally deficient. term solution because ships can still be tar- of O&G flows. Onshore andEvery vessel movement under It condemns the victim state while dis- geted. It is not a solution that will completelyoffshore wind projects, solarthis waiver must be publicly regarding the unlawful aggression that is theeliminate the stress that seafarers face and arefarms and other projects thatdisclosed and justified accord-root cause of the present situation, the dele- going through right now. weredeemeduneconomicing to federal law. We will be gate added, who went on to accuse the IMO ofwillgetamuchcloserlookwatchingcloselyandso politicization. C reWr otationS with high oil and gas prices. will the American public.Speakingatamediaconferenceyester- CMACGMisoneoceanshippinglineEqually,therewillbeaWe also reiterate that this day,March19,justaftertheclosureofthewhich has vessels effectively blocked in thegreat deal of work necessarywaiverwillnotreducegas extraordinary session, IMO Secretary GeneralPersian Gulf. torepairthedamagetotheprices. The maximum poten-Arsenio Dominguez said the IMOs declara- We have ships stranded but we can ensureO&G infrastructure when thetial impact of domestic ship-tion had given him a remit to collaborate withthe rotation of our seafarers and crews as trans- shootingstops. Andaswithping on the cost of gasoline the relevant parties and take necessary imme- port links are still operational, said the groupsthe renewables, the threat ofnationwideislessthanone diate action to initiate the establishment of aEVP Assets and Operations, Christine Cabau,higheroilpriceswillspurpenny per gallon.frameworkthatallowedthesafepassageofin a recent interview on French radio. AroundmoreO&GexplorationandThe Jones Act waiver has vessels through the Strait. ten rotations have been carried out so far. production.Andwiththatappealwithmanyagricul-I will be working with my team, with allCMA CGM is putting psychological sup- will be an interest to expandturalshippersbutclearlyit the UN agencies, with the member states asport measures in place for its seafarers. We areoilpipelinestoavoidbeingbumps up against the domes-well and with the industry. But my first pointdoing everything we can to keep morale highheld hostage by chokepointstic maritime interests whose of contact will be all the countries in the regionwhile ensuring that the seafarers on board are inas is the case with the Straitfavortheadministrationhas in order to start the conversations on how suchregular contact with their families, she added. of Hormuz. been trying to curry.'