Watch NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity take its 14th flight in this full video – Space.com

A new video shows NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity as it completed its latest daring brief flight hop in the thinning atmosphere of the Red Planet.

The 23-second flight saw the little Ingenuity helicopter, a partner on the larger Perseverance rover mission, hop 16 feet (5 meters) high and make a sideways maneuver before touching down. At Space.com, we put together images from the flight to create this full video of Ingenuity's 14th flight that captures the drone's shadow on the Martian terrain below, along with its rotors, which were spinning more rapidly than ever before.

The 14th Ingenuity flight on Sunday (Oct. 24) was shorter and flew lower than past ones, because engineers were testing the drone's ability to cope during normal seasonal conditions that see thinning atmosphere of Mars. As temperatures at the chopper's Jezero Crater landing site get warmer, the aircraft's rotors must turn faster to keep it in the air.

Related:It's getting harder to fly the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars

In September, when NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory was planning the flight, they said the rotor would need to spin at roughly 2,700 revolutions per minute (RPM), compared with past flights where the drone achieved 2,537 RPM. The greater rotation rate was meant to cope with the thinning atmosphere.

Ingenuity is meant to be a test of flying on Mars, and it has far surpassed its original flight plan. After completing several short hops and longer flights, the drone is well into an extended mission in which it is starting to scout ahead for Perseverance, which is examining a set of layered rocks right now in Jezero Crater.

Future Martian missions will benefit from drones, NASA has said, which have advantages over rovers, landers and potential spacesuited astronauts in that the helicopters can get context from high in the air and they can examine features that may be dangerous to approach on the terrain, such as deep craters or steep hills.

This 14th flight of Ingenuity was originally expected on Sept. 18, but wasdelayed due to an anomalyfound during a pre-flight checkout. Ingenuity found a problem with two of its flight-control servo motors, which adjust the rotor pitch for the helicopter to change position and orientation in mid-air.

Testing on Sept. 21 and Sept. 23 did not see the issue come up again, but Ingenuity stayed grounded for nearly an Earth month because Marsexperienced solar conjunction, an event during which the orbit of the two planets puts the sun in between for several weeks. This can disrupt communicationsbetween the planets, and Mars missions typically suspend most work as a precaution.

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.

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Watch NASA's Mars helicopter Ingenuity take its 14th flight in this full video - Space.com

New NASA video takes you plummeting through Venus’ atmosphere – Space.com

NASA wants you to get excited about the nightmare world next door.

This spring, the agency announced that it would develop two new missions to explore Venus in the early 2030s. One, dubbed VERITAS (short for Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy), would orbit the planet, peering through its thick clouds. The other, dubbed DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging), would go one step farther, dropping a high-tech probe to plummet through the acrid Venusian atmosphere. Now, NASA has released a new video highlighting the DAVINCI mission and the science it will conduct at our twin planet.

"Venus is waiting for us all, and DAVINCI is ready to take us there and ignite a new Venus renaissance," narrator Giada Arney, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, says in the video.

Related: Here's every successful Venus mission humanity has ever launched

Scheduled to launch in 2029, the DAVINCI mission comprises two main pieces, the video explains. First, the main spacecraft, which will conduct two flybys of the planet to study its atmosphere and the nightside surface. The spacecraft's atmospheric work will focus on observing how the clouds change over time and attempting to identify a mysterious chemical that strangely absorbs ultraviolet light.

The nightside work, meanwhile, will map the surface in infrared light, since the rock releases its absorbed heat during the long night. Scientists hope that data will help them understand how the planet's strange highlands formed.

Seven months after the two encounters, the probe will make a one-hour descent through the clouds, beaming back data all the way down. As the main spacecraft watches, the probe will detect the composition, temperatures, pressures and winds present at each layer of the Venusian atmosphere. Scientists hope that all this data will help them not only better understand the planet today, but also piece together its history and in particular, whether the world once boasted water.

Once the surface comes into view, the probe will also capture high-resolution images of a region called Alpha Regio Tesserae. The surface of Venus contains many patches of tesserae, where the rock has repeatedly broken and folded in a way that happens on Earth only deep in the crust. Scientists hope that by understanding the tesserae and how they ended up on the surface, they can better piece together Venus' history.

All told, the probe will show humans "what it might be like to stand on the Venus surface," Arney said. "The discoveries that emerge from this diverse data set will tell us whether Venus was truly habitable."

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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New NASA video takes you plummeting through Venus' atmosphere - Space.com

Is Now the Time to Invest in Space Exploration? – Zacks.com

The mystery of the unknown fuels us to innovate and find answers. Perhaps the biggest mystery throughout the existence of humanity has been outer space. The barriers to space exploration have been astronomical, but the technology has finally arrived and accelerated our ambitions.

For the first time ever, the final frontier looks approachable for both individuals and businesses. Enterprises, with the backing of private money, are starting to acquire the resources and technology to expand their investments into the space economy.

Right now might be the best time to be invested in these companies laying the groundwork for the next trillion-dollar industry.

Space is Going Mainstream

Just a decade ago, rocket launches were a rare occasion and when they happened, it was a big deal. But with the advancement in reusable rocket technology, we now see launches broadcast on TV monthly, as billionaire backed companies race to space.

Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Richard Branson are fueling the push, turning their focus from their businesses here on Earth, to the stars above. Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are building the foundation for whats to come. Space tourism is not for everyone yet, but the interest is growing as the idea of visiting space is going mainstream.

Of those companies, only Virgin Galactic (SPCE) is publicly traded, so its hard for the average investor to get full exposure. While SpaceX will likely IPO soon, many investors dont know that there are already many under-the-radar stocks that have exposure to the space economy.

Continued . . .

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Space Race Riches: Little-Known Stocks with Huge Profit Potential

SpaceX and Blue Origin get the headlines, but research indicates a handful of lesser-known space stocks may be much more profitable.

One startup has plans to launch a rocket into space every 29 hours 10 times faster than SpaceX. Another is a one-stop rocket shop already under contract to send missions to the moon, Venus and Mars. Shares are projected to spike +100%.

Zacks just-released special report reveals 4 space stocks with extreme upside potential. Be one of the first to see it. Opportunity ends midnight Sunday, November 14.

See Zacks Top Space Stocks Now >>

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Big Bang Growth

It all starts with getting there and advances in technology have made the trip to space much easier. Costs have declined significantly and reusable rockets are making a trip to space more affordable.

The Space Foundation recently released a report in which it claims the global space economy rose to $447 Billion in 2020. This was up 55% over the last ten years. UBS expects that to jump another 80% by 2030.

While tourism is getting all the hype, some other space sub sectors that could experience exponential growth include energy, mining, real estate and hospitality.

Exploring the Space Economy

Its important to highlight two different categories before we get into the specific sub-sectors of the space economy.

First, we have the space-for-earth economy. This involves goods or services that are produced in space, but made for earth. Obviously, most of the current revenues are produced in space at the moment and would fit in this category on the service side.

The space-for-earth economy includes space infrastructure, human space flight, rocket launchers, cellular broadband and satellite companies.

Next, we have the space-for-space economy. Here we have goods and services that are produced in space, for space. This aspect has yet to have any meaningful impact on the space economy, but that will change because of recent technology.

Let's take a quick look at some future space industries.

Energy Think space-based solar power that would allow for solar to be captured 24 hours a day! Not only will energy be produced in space for us down here, but it can be fuel for the space-for-space economy.

Mining The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is thought to contain a massive amount of value in raw materials. According to NASA, the belt is worth $700 quintillion or $100 billion for each human on earth. Cost remains a big hurdle to fulfill this mining dream, but the benefits boggle the mind.

Real-Estate and Hospitality In the not-so-distant future, there will be businesses that involve leasing space-in-space shelter, whether it be space stations or orbiting hotels.

Tourism The billionaire players we discussed above are leading the charge. This movement is bringing the eyeballs and the money to the space tourism industry that is needed to grow. UBS sees the space tourism market at $3B by 2030.

Stocks Already Shooting for the Moon

While many new companies have yet to go public, there are a handful of stocks that investors can choose from. Check out these returns that have come over the last six months in just three space names:

Stock A is a space launch company that provides satellite launch services. The stock took off back in February, moving up over 120% in just a few weeks after it came to market. The stock has come back down to earth, but it was over 30% in October. Is it time for this one to take off again?

Stock B is a spaceflight company that rocketed up over 300% this summer. It has pulled back all the way to levels seen before the move higher. Will another stock launch come into the end of the year?

Stock C delivers capabilities in space infrastructure and earth intelligence. The stock started the year with a 52% move higher, but has since pulled back to 2020 levels. Is it time to get back in?

In Summary

Humans have always had the desire to explore the cosmos, but the barriers of cost and technology were far too great until now. Private enterprises, backed by billionaires that grew up on Sci-Fi, are building the elevators to space. Those that follow will expand access and take humans into the next multi-trillion-dollar economy.

Dont miss out on these opportunities as humans and investors literally go to the moon.

I just released Space Exploration: The Next Trillion-Dollar Industry, a brand-new Special Report to help you capitalize on the emerging space economy. Youre invited to download it today.

In the report I highlight 4 cutting-edge stocks I believe any investor interested in space exploration needs to know about. Most investors have never heard of some of these stocks, but theyre each making tremendous contributions to the new space race.

I encourage you to check out this report today. But don't delay. The deadline to download Space Exploration: The Next Trillion-Dollar Industry is midnight Sunday, November 14.

See 4 space exploration stocks now >>

Good Investing,

Jeremy MullinStock Strategist

Jeremy Mullin has been a professional trader for more than 15 years with specific expertise in profiting from patterns set by High-Frequency Traders. He is the editor of Zacks Counterstrike.

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Is Now the Time to Invest in Space Exploration? - Zacks.com

Rocket Report: SpinLaunch spins up, Falcon Heavy to return big time in 2022 – Ars Technica

Enlarge / As the Crew-3 mission ascends, a Falcon 9 rocket with a Starlink payload awaits its turn on a nearby launch pad in Florida.

SpaceX

Welcome to Edition 4.23 of the Rocket Report! After a one-week hiatus, this report returns with a superfluity of news. There's a lot to cover, from exciting news in the New Mexico desert to busy times for the Space Coast in Florida as SpaceX gets busy with crewed missions.

As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.

SpinLaunch completes first test flight. The California-based startup uses kinetic energy to launch payloads, and its test projectile reached "tens of thousands" of feet during its first launch, CNBC reports. The company's method uses a vacuum-sealed centrifuge to spin the rocket to a velocity several times the speed of sound before it is released. "It's a radically different way to accelerate projectiles and launch vehicles to hypersonic speeds using a ground-based system," SpinLaunch CEO Jonathan Yaney said.

Spinning and winning ... The company completed its first major test, using a one-third-scale version of its accelerator, on October 22 at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Even so, this version of the accelerator stands 165 feet tall. By using this approach, SpinLaunch aims to build smaller rockets that require less fuel to reach orbit. Its first orbital vehicle is intended to loft about 200 kg to low Earth orbit. SpinLaunch has raised $110 million to date from investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Google Ventures, Airbus Ventures, and others. (Submitted by Wickwick, Tfargo04, Biokleen, Rendgrish, JohnCarter17, and Ken the Bin.)

Amazon to launch first Kuiper satellites on ABL. The company intends to launch its first prototype broadband satellites in the fourth quarter of 2022 on ABL Space Systems' RS1 rocket, Ars reports. Amazon's prototype satellites will operate at an altitude of 590 km. Such a launch date would come nearly four years after SpaceX launched its first prototype Starlink satellites.

Impressed by ABL ... The expected Q4 2022 launch of prototype satellites doesn't change that timeline for production satellites, which might not be launched until a year or more after the test versions. While Amazon doesn't have its own rockets like SpaceX does, Amazon said it is "impressed by ABL's unique capabilities" and expects "a long-term relationship" with its newly announced launch partner. Some Project Kuiper satellites will also launch on United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.

The easiest way to keep up with Eric Berger's space reporting is to sign up for his newsletter, we'll collect his stories in your inbox.

Virgin Orbit plans third mission of 2021. The launch company said preparations are well underway for the third LauncherOne mission of this calendar year. This "Above the Clouds" mission will carry both experimental satellites for the US Department of Defense as well as two nanosatellites for Polish company SatRevolution. The air-launched rocket will originate from Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

Doubling down in 2022 ... LauncherOne debuted in May 2020 with a failure shortly after engine ignition. However, in January, the rocket completed its first successful orbital flight and followed that up in June with a second mission. Completing three successful flights in a year is a great start and speaks well of the company's logistics and operations planning. Virgin Orbit hopes to double its launch cadence in 2022, and, given the progress demonstrated this year, that seems possible. (Submitted by Ken the Bin and EllPeaTea.)

Virgin Orbit reaches agreement to launch from Japan. And it's a good thing that LauncherOne is reaching an operational cadence, as the company has big plans for it. Earlier this month, Virgin Orbit announced an agreement with ANA Holdings to procure 20 flights of the rocket from Japan's Oita Prefecture. ANA owns Japan's largest airline.

More like LauncherTwenty, amirite? ... Under terms of the agreement, ANA and several of its partners will fund the manufacturing of a new set of the mobile ground-support equipment used to prepare Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne system for flight from a pre-existing runway. The hope is to make Oita a LauncherOne-ready spaceport by as soon as the end of 2022, pending appropriate regulatory approvals in the United States and Japan. (Submitted by Ken the Bin.)

Chinese company to buy reusable engines. Rocket Pi of China has signed a deal with Jiuzhou Yunjian to supply engines to power its Darwin-1 reusable launch vehicle, SpaceNews reports. Jiuzhou Yunjian makes liquid-fuel engines (specifically, methane/liquid-oxygen engines). The deal is for both main and upper stages. A single Lingyun-70 will power the first stage of the 2.25-meter-diameter Darwin-1 launcher with a Lingyun-10 engine on the second stage.

One of many contenders ... Rocket Pi exited stealth mode in March, presenting plans to develop Darwin-1 and a larger medium-lift launcher. The Darwin-1 rocket is slated to take flight no earlier than the first quarter of 2023. Rocket Pi is just one of several Chinese private launch companies developing reusable launchers. (Submitted by Ken the Bin.)

Honda develops a prototype rocket engine. Japanese officials with the Honda Motor Company have revealed more details about their plans to potentially expand into the rocket-launch business, Ars reports, and they have completed several test firings of a prototype engine. Honda's basic plan is to develop a small satellite launch vehicle with the capacity to put up to 1 metric ton into low Earth orbit. The goal for this initiative is not to become the next SpaceX but to give Honda engineers freedom to innovate.

Go or no-go decision forthcoming ... As part of internal company discussions about future business opportunities a few years ago, a cohort of Honda's younger engineers expressed an interest in rockets. And so, since late 2019, the company has devoted some of its research and development resources toward developing a rocket engine. Honda plans to support internal development work until about 2025 or 2026, after which point it will make a "go or no-go" decision on whether to proceed with a launch business and complete development of the rocket.

Epsilon 5 rocket lofts nine satellites. The Japanese space agency's Epsilon-5 rocket successfully launched nine small satellites into low Earth orbit on Tuesday, the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation reports. Liftoff of the rocket was delayed by four minutes from the original schedule to avoid the Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying astronauts returning from the International Space Station.

A lower cost, but not exactly low ... Five Epsilon rockets have been successfully launched since 2013 by JAXA, which developed the Epsilon series with the aim of putting small satellites into orbit at low cost. The cost of the solid-fueled rocket is less than $40 million, and it can put as much as 1.5 metric tons into low Earth orbit. (Submitted by Ken the Bin and tsunam.)

Georgia spaceport decision delayed again. A federal agency has yet again pushed back a final decision on whether to allow the construction of a launch pad for commercial rockets in coastal Georgia, the Associated Press reports. Rather than releasing a decision in early November, the Federal Aviation Administration now plans to do so by December 15. An agency statement cited a delay caused by "ongoing consultation efforts." The final determination was originally expected at the end of July but now has been delayed at least three times.

Pushback from park advocates ... Camden County is in the southeast corner of Georgia. It wants to build the nation's 13th licensed commercial spaceport, and it has spent nearly 10 years and $10 million pursuing that goal. In June, the FAA issued an environmental impact study that concluded building the spaceport would be its "preferred alternative." That drew pushback from the National Park Service and its parent agency, the US Department of the Interior. (Submitted by Ken the Bin.)

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Rocket Report: SpinLaunch spins up, Falcon Heavy to return big time in 2022 - Ars Technica

The obscure UN conflab that seeks to cut off the world from vaping and harm reduction – The Parliament Magazine

While most popular attention this month has been on the vital discussions at the United Nations COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, there is an equally important UN conference happening in Geneva that also contemplates the fate of millions of lives.

There are also questions on the importance of science, the role of activists and industry, and how humanity can forget a better path based on common agreements to be implemented in each country.

This year, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, an obscure World Health Organization treaty dedicated to eradicating tobacco use, is having its ninth iteration, known as COP9 in Switzerland.

At this conference, 168 member delegations as well as a narrowly selected group of tobacco control advocates participate in discussions and debates to forge global standards on taxation, restrictions, and rules on tobacco products.

While no one would object to these goals, the conference threatens to put one of the largest public health victories in recent memory at stake: tobacco harm reduction by innovative technologies.

Though the well-documented scientific evidence on the life-saving potential of smokers switching to less harmful vaping devices is clear and undeniable, it is one scientific fact that is ignored or denied throughout the event.

As I have uncovered in my two trips to the COP FCTC event, one of the most dogmatic conclusions of the event organizers is that they consider nicotine vaping devices, what they label Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (or ENDS), as ordinary tobacco products that should be as harshly taxed, regulated, and eventually eradicated from the market altogether.

It is this nuance that alternative harm reducing technologies like vaping or heat-not-burn devices pose the same threat as traditional cigarettes that so animates activists, former smokers, and some health officials who criticise the FCTC and its proceedings. Not to mention the yearly mission of several delegations to completely bar journalists and media from any of the debates.

Considering that many countries represented have embraced policies that elevate harm reduction and acceptance of vaping at home, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and New Zealand, it is perhaps most frustrating that this nuance is stopped at the door and reiterated by the power brokers at COP.

What makes COP9 FCTC different from its climate change cousin is the elevated role of public health lobbies and advocacy groups throughout the proceeding.

Groups such as the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, and the Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control are the recognised NGOs that are able to intervene in parts of the discussions and help set the agenda.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has pledged millions directly to these organizations and similar entities, with hopes that any tobacco-related products including vaping devices are regulated, restricted, and banned. It is no surprise, then, that any efforts to recognise the life-saving potential of vaping devices are blocked immediately.

These lobby groups have routinely been caught bribing and funding various political bodies in developing nations with the goal of restricting and banning vaping devices.

Whats more, they often bully and shame delegations if they do not adopt a strict prohibitionist attitude on tobacco alternatives like vaping, awarding countries like the Philippines, Honduras, or Guatemala with Dirty Ashtray awards for insisting on amendments with unhelpful and often confusing wording or for requesting further discussion on various amendments.

The Filipino delegation, in their video statement to open the conference, said that it was important to recognise vaping devices and products that deliver a similar satisfaction but with far less harm.

The recognition of this fact and the potential to save millions of smokers lives by the delegations at the FCTCs COP9 is realistically the most pressing issue that should be addressed. It is one that millions of vapers, who have added years to their life by switching away from tobacco, should have represented in an international body.

Whether delegations will understand this key point, and whether they will embrace science over prohibitionist ideology, however, remains to be seen.

This articlereflects the views of the author andnotthe views of The Parliament Magazine or of the Dods Group

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The obscure UN conflab that seeks to cut off the world from vaping and harm reduction - The Parliament Magazine

ITC Institutes Investigation (337-TA-1286) In Certain Oil-Vaping Cartridges – Intellectual Property – United States – Mondaq News Alerts

10 November 2021

Oblon, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, L.L.P

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

On November 4, 2021, the ITC issued aNotice ofInvestigationinCertain Oil-Vaping Cartridges,Components Thereof, and Products Containing the Same(Inv. No. 337-TA-1286).

By way of background, this investigation is based on an October4, 2021complaintfiled by Shenzhen SmooreTechology Limited of China ("Smoore") alleging aviolation of section 337 by 38 respondents in the U.S., Canada, andHong Kong in the unlawful importation and/or sale in the U.S. ofcertain oil-vaping cartridges, components thereof, and productscontaining the same by reason of infringement of (1) certain claimsof Patent No. 10,357,623 ("the '623 patent"); U.S.Patent No. 10,791,763 ("the '763 patent"); U.S.Patent No. 10,791,762 ("the '762 patent"); and U.S.Registered Trademark No. 5,633,060 ("the '060mark").

According to the complaint, the '623 patent relatesgenerally to a vaporizer/atomizer device, which includes a liquidstorage cavity, where that cavity expressly excludes the presenceof a wick or other liquid-storage medium; the '763 patentrelates generally to a vaporizer/atomizer device, which includes aliquid storage cavity open at a mouthpiece end to the outsidebefore a mouthpiece is installed; and the '762 patent relatesgenerally to an electronic cigarette that includes avaporizer/atomizer assembly and a liquid storage cavity. The'060 mark is a standard character CCELL mark under which Smooremarkets, advertises, and sells vaporizer products, such aselectronic cigarettes, oral vaporizers for smokers, and vaporizescartridges. The accused products are atomizers, cartridges,mouthpieces, vaporizers, and vaping products used to inhalecannabidiol ("CBD") and/or marinal("THC"). Smoore is requesting that the Commissionissue limited exclusion orders and permanent cease-and-desistorders directed to respondents. According to the Notice ofInvestigation, the Office of Unfair Import Investigations willparticipate as a party in the investigation. Lastly, ChiefALJ Charles E. Bullock issued anoticeindicating that ALJ Clark S. Cheneywill preside in the investigation.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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ITC Institutes Investigation (337-TA-1286) In Certain Oil-Vaping Cartridges - Intellectual Property - United States - Mondaq News Alerts

The Relationship Between Vaping and Mental Health – Vaping Post

Smokers on psychotropic drugs tend to need higher doses of nicotine.

Research has also indicated that nicotine also alters the coping mechanism in the brain increasing sensitivity to stress. This creates a vicious cycle meaning that this sensitivity is increased as nicotine is consumed in higher doses, which in turns leads to more nicotine consumption.

In fact, data keep indicating that mental health patients are more likely to smoke than individuals who do not suffer from psychological or psychiatric conditions. Moreover, these individuals are more likely to find it harder to quit. To this effect, they benefit greatly from having extra support in relation to smoking cessation and access to safer alternatives, that would at least lessen the chances of them also suffering from smoke-related conditions.

On the other hand, a recent report by former stop-smoking service manager in the UK, Louise Ross, the third in a series of five, said that nicotine is not what kills smokers and highlighted the importance of improving the understanding that e-cigarettes are substantially safer than smoking, and can be used to help smokers quit.

She added that nurses are in an especially good position to promote smoking cessation. Given that studies have indicated that smokers respond well to intensive smoking cessation treatments that are tailor made for their needs, explained Ross, nurses who understand individual patients needs are ideally placed to give ongoing smoking cessation support.

Moreover, she underlined, smokers on psychotropic drugs tend to need higher doses of nicotine. The tar (and not the nicotine) in tobacco smoke also increases the need for higher doses of some psychotropic medications, so stopping smoking enables some people to be prescribed a lower dose and experience fewer side-effects (NCSCT, 2018).

The Link Between Smoking, Vaping and Psychological Well-Being in the US

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The Relationship Between Vaping and Mental Health - Vaping Post

Taxing Vapes Is Better Than Leaving It Unregulated – The Rakyat Post

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So long story short, in October, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz noted the governmentsplanin Budget 2022 to hike up the excise duty imposed on liquid or gel products for vaping and it also includes those that contain nicotine.

This would effectively increase the tax rate from RM0.40 for each millilitre of liquid or gel products to RM1.20 per millilitre, starting 1 January 2022.

Just like how a sin tax on sugary drinks can reduce societys risk of contracting non-communicable diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease, it is not uncommon to see taxation on vaping products.

But in this case, some countries prefer no taxation at all to harness the full potential of vaping products and incentivise smokers to switch to the less harmful product.

The Malaysian Public Health Physicians Association (PPPKAM) President Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar,describedthe decision to expand sin tax to include vaping products as a commendable plan, while Dr Koh Kar Chai, president of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA)explainedthat the tax couldnt have come sooner.

Taxation is a pragmatic approach to regulate the products, reduce their overall consumption and improve overall public health, besides having the bonus of generating revenue for the country.

The Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM) President Dr Steven Chow Kim Wengstressedthat strict regulations must first come into play before the country begins installing this new tax framework.

The association agrees thattobacco harm reduction (THR)strategies that encourage cigarette smokers to switch to vaping products as a less harmful alternative to their habits must be supervised and studied to implement better regulations in the future.

FPMPAM say that the adoption of THR strategies would reduce health risks contributed by cigarette smoking and save Malaysia billions of ringgit in treating smoking-related diseases.

This opinion is also agreed by Dr Arifin Fii, a local specialist in addiction therapy, whosaidthat THR presents itself as a practical solution to counter the prevalence of smoking.

The use of vaping products has been globally accepted as the prefered choice for people to put out their cigarettes and allow them to safely transition to a less harmful means of quitting the habit for good.

So it stands to reason that the government should endeavour to regulate and introducepoliciesto better promote THR here in Malaysia to make vaping products regulated with controls to ensure products meet safety and quality standards for consumers.

Read More: Just How Regulated Is Malaysias Vape Industry? Lets Look Past The Smoke Screen

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Typing out trending topics and walking the fine line between deep and dumb.

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Taxing Vapes Is Better Than Leaving It Unregulated - The Rakyat Post

Three differences between vaping cartridges and raw concentrates – The GrowthOp

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Although vaping THC cartridges is easier for many cannabis users, vaping concentrates has increased in popularity.

Author of the article:

It seems that vaping cannabis has become just as popular as rolling a blunt or taking a bong hit in recent years. Part of the reason for this may be that there are so many different forms of vaporizing weed. Additionally, vaping cannabis offers a level of convenience thats hard to top.

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For people who are just beginning to familiarize themselves with the world of vaping cannabis products, some of the terminology can get confusing. Thats especially the case when determining whether or not its best to go with a vape pen or a wax pen.

While a vape pen can be used with any cartridge having 510 threading, wax pens require users to have their own concentrates to use. Here are some other key differences between vaping cartridges and raw concentrates.

One of the biggest differences between vaping raw concentrates and vaping THC cartridges is the fact that cartridges are essentially plug and play. After affixing it to the battery, users are ready to find the temperature that works for them and begin taking hits from their device.

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Concentrates are a different story. To properly vape concentrates, users must apply their concentrates directly into the pen itself, which can leave excess residue behind if not done properly. Another downfall is that sometimes the pen may not burn the concentrates all the way, which leaves behind sticker residue that is difficult to clean.

Although vaping THC cartridges is easier for many cannabis users, vaping concentrates has increased in popularity for good reason. While the primary ingredient in vape cartridges is THC distillate, in the U.S, there are numerous cutting ingredients such as coconut oil and other potentially harmful ingredients like heavy metals.

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On the other hand, vaping concentrates offers users the opportunity to consume pure concentrates, free of any additives. The fact that the individual consumers add the concentrate themselves provides more peace of mind that the product being consumed is safer than potentially harmful cartridges.

Since consumers choosing to vape concentrates rather than cartridges are able to use more sophisticated devices, they are often left to do more maintenance than counterparts who use disposable vape pens with 510 threading.

When regularly using a wax pen to vape concentrates, consumers should be aware they will likely need to replace parts of their device, such as the atomizer and the coil. That can be a tricky process depending on the type of wax pen.

Consumers who prefer to vape THC cartridges dont have to worry about much maintenance with their devices since they can simply discard their pen and get a new one once it starts to show signs of decline.

While most people think theres no big difference between vaping concentrates and THC cartridges, there are a few key characteristics that help to tell them apart. This can make life easier when trying to determine whether its best for the user to buy a wax pen that can vaporize concentrates or a vape pen just for cartridges.

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ABS, Global Maritime team up for US offshore wind – 4C Offshore

Risk management companyABS Consulting Partners has allied via its subsidiary, American GlobalMaritime Inc., with marine offshore and engineering consultancy GlobalMaritime to support offshore wind in the United States.

Combining expertise,the two companies aim to offer a comprehensive service to support the offshorewind life-cycle from concept design through to decommissioning."We are thrilled to be working in collaboration with Global Maritimeand employing their extensive track record of delivering successful marineand offshore projects worldwide with our leading risk management and technicalservices," commented Brian Weaver, Vice President of Risk andReliability for ABS Consulting, which has been serving the marine and offshoremarkets for over half a decade.

"Combiningour expertise will enable us to strategically provide clients with a singleinterface for complex scopes such as Certified Verification Agent (CVA),Marine Warranty and Owners Engineering."Global Maritime isalso a seasoned player, with over 40 years experience in the maritimesectors and expertise in the oil and gas, aquaculture, shipping, and renewableenergy markets."The offshore wind sector is a key market that both ABS Consultingand Global Maritime have guided through operational and safety challenges,"said Jonny Logan, CEO of Global Maritime. "This partnership willsupport our planned expansion in the US, enabling us to service our clientsneeds in the market seamlessly."

For more information on offshore windfarms worldwide,clickhere.

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ABS, Global Maritime team up for US offshore wind - 4C Offshore

Netherlands Plans to Double Offshore Wind Capacity by 2030 to 22 GW – The Maritime Executive

Orsted comisisioned the Borssele 1 and 2 farms in the Netherlands in 2020 (Orsted file photo)

PublishedNov 12, 2021 5:49 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Dutch government released an ambitious new plan that calls for nearly doubling the countrys plans for installed offshore wind power generation by 2030. The new plans look to expand the areas available for development in the North Sea to support the Netherlandsnear-term goal for reducing emissions and will be further supplemented with longer-term efforts beyond 2030.

The total installed capacity of offshore wind power in the Netherlands in 2021 is around 2.5 gigawatts and should increase to at least 4.5 GW by 2023, according to the governments official website. This is part of an overall wind plan that projected 11 GW of installed capacity by 2030. This would account for 8.5 percent of all the energy in the Netherlands and 40 percent of the current electricity consumption.

The revision to the North Sea Program expands on the eight areas currently designated for the development of offshore wind farms. Some of the current search areas are being added to the plan with the government expecting that there will be development in both the previously identified zones as well as the new ones that it adding to the plan.

The near-term development is focused on the Borssele Wind Farm Zone, which was the first zone developed approximately 14 miles off the northern coast. A total of five projects are planned with two due by 2023 each adding 0.7 GW in capacity. Three additional wind farms are planned approximately 11 miles off the southern coast and this will be followed between 2024 and 2030 by the development of wind farms further out to sea in the west and north of the Netherlands.

The revision to the master plan calls for an additional 8 GW of capacity to be built in the eastern zones. A further 2 GW would be developed in the northern zone while 0.7 GW would be added in the southern zone.

The total plan calls for an additional 10.7 GW of wind power generation added to the overall plan by 2030. If all the projects proceed, the country would now have a total generating capacity of over 22 GW in place by 2030.

The government has opened a public comment period running till the end of 2021 on the plan to expand the zones. The current timeline calls for the adoption of the revised plan by March 2022.

In announcing its new efforts, the Netherlands says that anticipated the country will require at least 38 GW of installed offshore wind power generating capacity by 2050.

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Netherlands Plans to Double Offshore Wind Capacity by 2030 to 22 GW - The Maritime Executive

Bulk Carrier Spewing Toxic Fumes Moved Offshore in South Africa – gcaptain.com

A bulk carrier carrying a chemical cargo has been given the boot from South Africas Port of Durban after it began spewing toxic fumes during cargo operations.

The NS Qingdao was discharging at the port earlier this week when its chemical cargo was apparently soaked by rain, causing the cargo to become unstable and release the toxic fumes into the atmosphere. The vessel was evacuated from the port and towed out to sea in order to ventilate its hatches offshore.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reports that the fumes coming off the vessel do not pose an immediate threat to human health or the marine environment.

The South African Maritime Authority are (s.i.c) aware of a vessel releasing toxic fumes in St. Helena Bay, SAMSA said in a statement. The geared bulk carrier NS Qingdao suffered a chemical reaction after its cargo came into contact with rain water while discharging the cargo in the port of Durban. Concentrated toxic fumes were released into the atmosphere and as a result, the Transnet National Port Authority in consultation with SAMSA, DFFE and other stakeholders decided to evacuate the vessel from the port so that the hatches can be ventilated offshore.

SAMSA has directed the vessel to sail to a protected anchorage under the escort of the tug. A team of salvors, chemical experts, hazmat teams and other emergency personnel have since boarded the ship to manage the situation.

The owner is co-operating with the Authorities and has been very proactive to help contain the situation, SAMSA said.

The agency added that the cargo will be discharged into skips, chemically neutralized and brough ashore at an approved dumping site in a safe and controlled manner.

The vessel poses no immediate threat to the marine environment and humans, said SAMSA.

NS Qingdao is registered in the Marshall Islands and, as of Friday, it remained at anchor in St. Helena Bay.

Details about what kind of cargo the ship was carrying have not been disclosed.

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Bulk Carrier Spewing Toxic Fumes Moved Offshore in South Africa - gcaptain.com

Duke to study offshore wind energy’s effects on marine life | Coastal Review – Coastal Review Online

The United States Department of Energy has awarded Duke University a $7.5 million grant to research the impact that offshore wind development can have on wildlife and marine life.

The grant announced Oct. 13 is part of a larger sustainable energy development award package of $13.5 million by the Energy Department. The department distributed the funds among four different projects, all focused on wildlife and offshore wind.

Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced a goal of creating tens of thousands of jobs while deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by the year 2030. Meeting this goal can put the U.S. on a path to achieve 110 gigawatts by 2050. The ultimate intention is to create jobs while also creating opportunities for renewable energy, without endangering ecosystems as they currently exist.

To put these plans in motion, more offshore wind construction off the Atlantic coast will be beginning in the next several years. But there is uncertainty as to how offshore wind may affect fish, whales, birds and other marine life. Duke Universitys project, Wildlife and Offshore Wind, or WOW, aims to answer some of these questions.

Theres a fair few number of moving parts, and were going to try to figure out how to get those moving parts to move in harmony, said Dr. Douglas Nowacek, a Repass-Rodgers University Distinguished Professor of Conservation Technology at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort. Nowacek will be leading WOW along with other researchers at Duke University. However, the consortium of researchers involved in the project will span 15 different institutions.

One of the first steps, said Nowacek, is to aggregate all the data that already exists in one place. This data comes from academic researchers, government agencies, as well as some of Europes experience with offshore wind. They also have letters of commitment from several wind energy developers, stating that they will share wildlife data with WOW.

The next step then is going to be to create some tools, some models, (and) some frameworks to utilize those data, Nowacek said.

The first year of this project will be focused on data aggregation, as well as creating frameworks, synthesis tools and data standards. After assessing whats already out there, the team can identify gaps in knowledge and potential lines of inquiry. The following years will be spent deploying research efforts to address the questions identified in the first year.

Nowacek said that even though coordination across so many contributors is difficult, the collective expertise across institutions is likely the reason that they were selected for the grant in the first place. Formally, WOW has been in the works since January, when Nowacek and others started compiling their grant proposal. However, Nowacek said that the relationship building that goes into an expansive project like this has been in the works for years.

Dr. Patrick Halpin, director of Dukes Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, will take the lead on the data synthesis component of the project. Halpin said the timing of the grant is especially important. As offshore wind is in the early stages of development in the region, beginning WOW work now means that they can do critical initial assessments before construction of turbines begins. This will be key later on, in that the researchers will have pre-construction data to refer to. Having pre- and post construction data will make it easier to evaluate how offshore wind interacts with marine wildlife. This project could set the stage for long-term, conscientious management of sustainable energy with regard to marine species.

A big portion of this project is really to come up with a common framework for assessment, which will allow us to help develop monitoring protocols (and) help us be able to look at the interactions for many different taxa, Halpin said, referring to biological groupings of species. And then doing that at a regional scale so that the lessons learned can be applied across this rapidly developing field right now.

Different wildlife may be affected at different stages of the process, said Halpin. Marine mammals, like the endangered North Atlantic right whale, may be most impacted during the noisy construction stage. Whereas avian interactions or displacement could occur after the turbines are built.

I think people think about it as interactions are going to be one thing a monolithic kind of issue, Halpin said. But really, interactions for different species are going to be very, very different in space and time.

In addition to Duke University, the other partners on WOW include the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Rutgers University, the University of St. Andrews, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Syracuse University, the Pacific Northwest National Lab, TetraTech, Scientific Innovations, the New England Aquarium, Florida State University, the Biodiversity Research Institute, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Southall Environmental Associates, and Cornell University.

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Duke to study offshore wind energy's effects on marine life | Coastal Review - Coastal Review Online

Are you really my client? The dangers facing offshore advisors with confusing books – Citywire Americas

Offshore advisors could find themselves on the wrong side of the law if they fail to identify where their clients are truly based, our legal columnist Rebecca Leon of Baker McKenzie writes.

In the classic childrens book by P.D. Eastman, Are You My Mother?, a baby bird tries to determine which animal is its mother. After questioning many different species, the hatchling finally identifies the mama bird as its mother. Firms must engage in the same inquiry to identify their clients.

Those in the securities industry throw around the words client and customer, and yes, they have technical definitions and exceptions under various US laws, as well as under foreign laws. These terms are also frequently used more colloquially. However, using such terms loosely and failing to properly identify your client creates significant risks (beyond licensing and AML) that can lead financial services firms to unintended violations of foreign law.

Unlike the childrens book, which ends with the baby bird finding its mother and the two birds resting safely back in their nest, recognizing your client is just the first step to uncovering hidden risks.

For example, Individual A in Argentina is the sole owner of a personal investment company (PIC) organized in Bermuda. Aside from a director appointed in Bermuda, the PIC has no other connections to Bermuda. Individual A will decide which financial advisor to hire, and in which products to invest the PICs account assets. The financial advisor communicates with Individual A and the PICs mailing address is in Argentina. Financial advisors frequently refer to Individual A as their client. This makes perfect sense because their relationship is with individual A, the decision-maker.

However, on the firms books, the client is the PIC, and the PIC is organized in Bermuda. The firm and the advisor have identified a different party as their client. Which one is the client for purposes of determining the applicability of foreign law? Must the firm consider the laws of Argentina and Bermuda regardless of who the client is?

Consider a more complicated structure where a PIC organized in Bermuda is owned by a trust legally established and administered in New Zealand, where the grantor of the trust resides in Argentina (Individual A).

Communications are with the trustee in New Zealand, but the account was opened by the PIC. The financial advisor may consider Individual A who set up the structure for his own benefit to be her client. Once again, on the firms books, the client is the PIC. Must the firm consider the laws of Argentina, Bermuda, or New Zealand?

You probably guessed the answer: the laws of all jurisdictions that have a connection to the account should be considered. Whether a particular countrys laws are applicable to the relationship will depend upon the facts of each client and the specific areas of law.

For example, if the client is a PIC and its only relationship to a particular jurisdiction is that its organized there and one director resides there, the securities laws of such country may not apply. The rationale is that any offers of securities products and services are being made to a person outside the country (e.g. to Individual A).

On the other hand, Individual A may be considered to be acting as an agent of the PIC. Under this interpretation, the laws where the PIC is organized apply since the PIC is the client to whom the products and services are offered through its agent. The firms identification of the client and the financial advisors identification of the client may both be correct when it comes to determining whether the laws of each country apply to the client.

In the examples above, assume hypothetically that Bermudas securities authorities take the position that local securities laws do not apply to the offer of products and services to the Bermuda PIC since all communications are with Individual A in Argentina.

However, if the director in Bermuda must send over a copy of her drivers license for the firms KYC records, the firm will be processing the personal data of the Bermuda resident. The firm may also be sharing that data with its clearing firm and other third parties. The firm must explore whether Bermudas privacy laws apply and whether they impose any requirements on the firm.

Of course, the firm must also analyze whether soliciting and advising Individual A in Argentina would trigger the application of any Argentine laws. Will this be viewed as offering services and products in Argentina? Will Argentine privacy laws apply to the personal data of Individual A received by the firm even though the client on the firms books is a Bermuda PIC? Will margin interest received by the firm be subject to withholding tax under the laws of Argentina? Will any consumer protection laws apply? These questions should be asked because the risks go well beyond potential violations of US anti-money laundering laws and foreign licensing requirements.

The first step to mitigating risks is identifying the risks, which starts by asking: Are you my client? Then the firm should consider the laws of all jurisdictions that relate to the client. Firms should document this review and take appropriate steps to mitigate the identified risks. Such measures can help minimize regulatory and enforcement risks, as well as private litigation.

And so... the firm and its advisors can rest safely (well, as much as possible in this business) in their nest (or home office).

Rebecca Leon is a partner at law firm Baker McKenzie, focusing on legal and compliance matters for US wealth management firms, broker-dealers, and banks.

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Are you really my client? The dangers facing offshore advisors with confusing books - Citywire Americas

In-Depth: What would it take to decommission offshore oil platforms near California? – 10News

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The October oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach re-energized efforts to end offshore drilling near California.

However, experts say federal law gives oil companies strong protection to maintain existing drilling leases. And the cost of decommissioning all the oil platforms near California could exceed $2 billion.

There are 27 oil and gas platforms near California. Twenty-three of the 27 are in federal waters, just beyond the authority of state lawmakers.

The state doesnt really have control over what goes on outside of that three-mile limit out in federal waters, said UC Santa Barbara marine science professor David Valentine.

Collectively, their output has been shrinking dramatically over the last several years. Californias offshore infrastructure produced 4.5 million barrels in 2019, down from 18.5 million barrels in 2014.

For context, thats 0.6 percent of what companies extracted from the Gulf of Mexico.

Its an insignificant amount in the national picture, Valentine said.

The cost to remove a platform is immense. A report contracted by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement estimated removing the three platforms connected to the pipeline that ruptured in October would cost $141.8 million.

Removing all 23 platforms in federal waters would cost $1.6 billion, the report said.

Decommissioning Platform Holly, one of the four platforms in state waters, is projected to cost $350 million. Work on that project is underway.

The companies that own the platforms are supposed to cover decommissioning costs, but in reality, Valentine says that hasnt always happened.

The [major oil companies] who, in many cases, were the ones that originally built these platforms, they have passed them on to much smaller operators, he said. The concern there is that you dont have the deep pockets to clean it all up when things go bad.

He says there are plenty of examples of small companies declaring bankruptcy and leaving taxpayers with the bill.

In Washington, the Build Back Better Act, still being debated by Democrats in Congress, includes a ban on new oil leasing off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as a portion of the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

So why doesnt the government force these companies out?

A 1953 federal law gives essentially says that once an oil company secures a lease to drill, they can keep it as long as they continue drilling operations.

As long as they continue to operate on their existing lease, theres not much that can be done to take that away from them, Valentine said. Even if operating is not really truly operating.

In some cases, companies keep platforms technically active on paper, even if they are not producing anything just to avoid the massive costs of decommissioning.

Five of Californias offshore platforms are in an early stage of decommissioning. Another six are inactive and in a state of limbo as former operators dispute responsibility for the costs.

The problem, Valentine says, is that the older these platforms and pipelines get, the more likely they are to leak. Some of Californias platforms are more than 50 years old.

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In-Depth: What would it take to decommission offshore oil platforms near California? - 10News

Operation Zero Gathers Offshore Wind Majors – Offshore WIND

The UK Department for Transport and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult have unveiled the Departments Operation Zero, which aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of offshore wind operations and maintenance (O&M) vessels working in the North Seas offshore wind farms.

At an event as part of COP26 in Glasgow, the UK Maritime Minister Robert Courts announced the initiative, which will convene a coalition of 28 founding signatories from across the offshore wind supply chain from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Belgium, including industry majors Siemens Gamesa, rsted, RWE, Vattenfall, ScottishPower Renewables, Equinor, ABP, Lloyds Register, Bibby Marine, North Star Renewables, and the ORE Catapult.

The vision of Operation Zero is for zero-emission vessels to be deployed at North Sea offshore wind farms by 2025, while also taking into consideration the land-side infrastructure solutions needed to upscale and maintain the operation of the vessels.

Paulina Hobbs, CEO Service for Siemens Gamesa, said: SGRE are delighted to be signing up to the Operation Zero pledge where we will work with companies right across the O&M vessel value chain to make cleaner wind farm marine logistics a reality. With SGRE currently chartering in excess of 20% of all O&M vessels across the North Sea wind farm operations, we have a responsible role to drive innovation, collaboration and support the industry take the ambitious steps that are required.

The initiative was informed by previous research undertaken by ORE Catapult and the Workboat Association, who developed a technology roadmap outlining a route to the decarbonisation of North Sea offshore wind O&M.

It suggested that the industry will build as many as 1,400 new vessels between now and 2050 just for O&M, including more than 300 SOVs, as the European offshore wind grows from the 25 GW operational capacity today to 400 GW by 2050, with 100 GW based in the UK, which equates to a sixteen-fold growth in less than 30 years.

Achieving an accelerated decarbonisation scenario for North Sea O&M would result in reducing carbon emissions by 1.2 MtCO2e per year compared with a business as usual approach, the equivalent of taking 240,000 cars off the road, ORE Catapult said.

And UK and North Sea shipyards could also steal a competitive advantage by leading the development, design, build and operation of these high-value vessels. According to ORE Catapult, if the UK captures 25 per cent of the European O&M vessel-building market, this could generate revenue between GBP 2.2 to GBP 4.2 billion out to 2050, supporting 1,400 direct and 2,500 indirect jobs.

The offshore wind industry is committed to a rapid transition to net-zero operations and provides a fantastic springboard for broader maritime decarbonisation, Andrew Jamieson, CEO of ORE Catapult, said.

Right through the supply chain, well see growth and job creation opportunities that will aid the transition from the maritime diesel fuels of today to the zero-emission, high-value technologies and skills of tomorrow, with much of this growth taking place in coastal communities where it is most needed. Innovation is essential if we are to achieve this vision. Operation Zero provides a solid foundation for the future of collaborative innovation between industry partners, and with the support of government. ORE Catapult is fully committed to Operation Zero and we look forward to working to support the industry to innovate and accelerate the transition to net-zero whilst creating economic opportunity for the UK.

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Operation Zero Gathers Offshore Wind Majors - Offshore WIND

The challenges of President Biden’s offshore wind plan – The Denver Channel

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas Wind. It may bother you on a good hair day, but the Biden administration believes the country should be doing more to harness its energy.

While wind farms have been popping up in more rural areas for years, President Joe Biden would like to see more of them off America's coasts.

BIDEN'S OFFSHORE PLAN

In January, President Biden signed executive orders calling for the doubling of offshore wind turbine production by 2030.

Last month, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced plans to hold seven lease sales by 2025, so companies can buy access to waters off Americas coasts.

Here is a map of all the places more wind turbines are expected in the coming years. The plans stretch from New England to the Gulf of Mexico.

CHALLENGES AHEAD

However, when you actually visit some of the windiest beaches in our country, you realize offshore wind can get complicated.

James Klein with the Sierra Club of South Texas loves the idea of more wind turbines, especially in windy areas like Corpus Christi, but he says you can't just build them anywhere.

"I dont know if you heard this or not, but Corpus Christi calls itself 'the birdiest city in the country,'" Klein said.

Klein worries about birds that travel through the corridor each year. He doesnt like the idea of a turbines blade getting in their way.

"We want to make sure that wherever these wind turbines are placed on the gulf, they are not going to interfere with migratory patterns of birds," Klein said.

For the non-environmentalists on the stretch of sand, a changing view doesnt bother them.

Rodney Starr has other concerns.

"I dont think that'd be too smart 'cause there are a lot of hurricanes. Theyd wipe these things out, I believe, Starr said.

Starr and Klein's viewpoints are part of the challenges that the Biden administration is only beginning to encounter as their wind ambitions grow.

Congress continues to debate a spending plan that would encourage more companies to take on wind projects in the ocean. Its still unclear how much of an interest exists, especially having to navigate birds, storms, and not to mention ships.

Original post:

The challenges of President Biden's offshore wind plan - The Denver Channel

UK plans leasing process for up to 4GW of floating offshore wind in Celtic Sea – Windpower Monthly

UK seabed landlord the Crown Estate has confirmed it wants to unlock up to 4GW of floating offshore wind capacity in the Celtic Sea off the south-western coasts of England and Wales.

It will focus on two project categories: early-commercial scale projects of 300-350MW, and full-commercial scale projects of up to 1GW.

The regulator expects to award leasing rights by the end of 2023 ahead of projects being commissioned from 2030.

Plans for the leasing round were first announced in March.

The goal is to power homes with clean energy while creating opportunities for significant new investment in jobs, skills and infrastructure, the Crown Estate explained.

Floating wind technology offers a powerful opportunity to open up the renewable energy resources of the Celtic Sea, helping to tackle the climate crisis with additional clean power and ignite a new industrial sector, said Huub den Rooijen, managing director of marine at the Crown Estate.

It aims to roll out the process at a pace and scale that will enable supply chain and infrastructure development while benefiting the local area and the wider country, it stated.

The Crown Estate will conduct an integrated spatial design and habitats regulations assessment (HRA) ahead of the market tender. Identifying key environmental issues at the earliest opportunity will help to de-risk investment, minimise environmental risk, and streamline the overall programme, it explained.

A trio of projects approved earlier this year will form part of the HRA assessment.

Early involvement with stakeholders such as the electricity system operator to support a coordinated grid solution for floating wind projects will help accelerate grid development and mitigate impacts on communities onshore.

This announcement further reinforces the critical role floating wind will play in achieving the scale of installed capacity which will be required to deliver a cost-effective net zero, said Dan McGrail, chief executive of industry body RenewableUK.

It is a huge economic opportunity as well as an industrial challenge, requiring short and longer-term enabling actions ahead of the arrival of the first large-scale projects to ensure the UK capitalises fully on first mover advantage, he added.

Crown Estate engagement with market and stakeholders on the floating wind programme will take place in two phases over the winter of 2021/22.

Phase one of this engagement will focus on the spatial design, gathering data and evidence to help inform the location of project sites.

Phase two will invite views on the design of the market tender and the wider considerations of the programme, including on supply chain, ports and grid, as well as community benefits, such as skills and employment.

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UK plans leasing process for up to 4GW of floating offshore wind in Celtic Sea - Windpower Monthly

Offshore Support Vessel Market Research Report by Type, by Applications, by End-Use, by Region – Global Forecast to 2026 – Cumulative Impact of…

Offshore Support Vessel Market Research Report by Type (Anchor-handling tug supply vessels, Chase vessels, and Crew vessels), by Applications (Deepwater and Shallow water), by End-Use, by Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Offshore Support Vessel Market Research Report by Type, by Applications, by End-Use, by Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183415/?utm_source=GNW

The Global Offshore Support Vessel Market size was estimated at USD 21.02 billion in 2020 and expected to reach USD 22.27 billion in 2021, at a CAGR 6.31% to reach USD 30.36 billion by 2026.

Market Statistics:The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.

Market Segmentation & Coverage:This research report categorizes the Offshore Support Vessel to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:

Based on Type, the market was studied across Anchor-handling tug supply vessels, Chase vessels, Crew vessels, Emergency response/standby and rescue vessels, Multipurpose support vessels, Others, Platform support vessels, and Seismic vessels.

Based on Applications, the market was studied across Deepwater and Shallow water.

Based on End-Use, the market was studied across Offshore wind and Oil & gas.

Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.

Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.

Competitive Strategic Window:The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.

FPNV Positioning Matrix:The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Offshore Support Vessel Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Market Share Analysis:The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.

Competitive Scenario:The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.

Company Usability Profiles:The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market, including BOURBON, DOF Group, Edison Chouest Offshore, GC Rieber, Grupo CBO, Harvey Gulf International Marine, Havila Shipping ASA, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., Maersk, MMA Offshore Limited, Nam Cheong Limited, Ostenjso Rederi, PACC Offshore Services Holdings, Royal IHC, SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc., Siem Offshore, Solstad Offshore ASA, Swire Pacific Limited, Tidewater Inc., and Vroon Group.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments

The report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market during the forecast period?3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Offshore Support Vessel Market?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183415/?utm_source=GNW

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Offshore Support Vessel Market Research Report by Type, by Applications, by End-Use, by Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of...

Blog: Storm Rolls Offshore, But Wind and Tides Remain. – WAVY.com

Going into this last weekend the forecast was tricky. The models were handling the area of low pressure that would sit offshore differently. While the rain forecast was a curve ball at times, the wind and tide forecasts went about as expected.

Some of the coastal winds did gust to over 40 mph, but most were between 25-35 mph.

The area of low pressure has finally started moving to the east. The rain and clouds have moved offshore as well. Now high pressure is building in from the west.

As high pressure builds into the region it will still create a pressure gradient between the low offshore. So our winds will be out the north again today, but they wont be as strong as the weekend. They will run out of the north at 10-20 mph with gusts to 25mph. There will be some gusts to 30 mph near the shore. However, the winds should all decrease this afternoon as the low gets farther away.

The north breeze will keep high temperatures down a bit, but the strong sunshine will put us in the mid 60s this afternoon.

The wind will create some more tidal flooding today. It will be minor for many areas along the Chesapeake Bay. This will be during the mid-late morning

There will be a couple of spots like Kiptopeke and near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel that will have some brief moderate tidal flooding. However, it will be major again for the Outer Banks.

Yesterday morning the water level at Duck, North Carolina, made it up to 6.87 feet. There was a lot of ocean overwash, and this ended flooding out part of Highway 12.

The tide forecast down there today will be close to that level. The forecast was aiming for around 7 feet, but looking at the latest levels I think it will be just a bit under that. The winds were just a little overforecast for this morning by the models. So lets hope Im right. Either way there will be more ocean overwash today and more beach erosion down there. The record tide at Duck was from Hurricane Isabel in 2003. That level was 7.8 feet.

Tomorrow the winds will decrease, and the sun will be out. So it will be a very nice day. High temps will be in the low 70s. Well have similar weather Wednesday and Thursday. Then well have some rain move in on Friday.

Meteorologist: Jeremy Wheeler

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Blog: Storm Rolls Offshore, But Wind and Tides Remain. - WAVY.com