ships

Norway promised them happiness with the world’s first megatunnel for ships. Until he saw how much it was going to cost him

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Thousands of kilometers of sinuous coasts, currents, storms and devilish geography. Norway does not make it easy for sailors who ply its coastline every day loaded with goods, fish or passengers. Hence, the country has been talking for some time about undertaking an ambitious work at one of its points more sensitive, the Stad peninsula. The idea is to cross the tongue of land with a tunnel almost two kilometers long, designed specifically for the passage of boats. The problem is that estimates of its cost have not stopped growing in recent years and that has led the Government to take a step back. His idea is to put the project in the drawer. Another thingOf course, Parliament is going to allow it. A boat tunnel? That’s how it is. It sounds strange, and it’s normal. After all the Stad tunnel It is an unusual infrastructure, the first underground road designed for boats. What Norway is proposing to do is open a large navigable canal of 1.7kmalmost 50 m high (the navigable space will be somewhat less) and more than 30 m wide to cross the Stad peninsula, in the province of vestlandwest of the country. Building it would require between four years of works. That they want to open right in Vestland is no coincidence. If the Stad peninsula stands out for something, it is because of its poor conditions for sailors: it is exposed to the inclemencies and gusts of wind of the Stadhavet Sea, with no nearby islands to cushion it, and the currents do not make it easy for sailors either. In the web of the project, it is recalled that the Kråkenes station, south of Stad, is the one that records the most stormy days: some years there are more than a hundred. And does a tunnel solve it? The same website Remember that in Stad there is intense maritime traffic, both Norwegian and foreign ships, dedicated to fishing, commerce, aquaculture, naval and tourism. With the underground canal, Norway wants to offer them several advantages: time savings and more security, with all the advantages that this can bring for anyone who depends on ships. Furthermore, supporters of the project defend that with “a safer and more efficient step” maritime transport will increase, removing trucks from the roads. Whether its promises are more or less convincing, the undeniable thing is that the Stad tunnel is nothing new. TO late 19th century There was already talk of crossing the peninsula with a subway, although the approach has not always been exactly the same. At one time they even opted for a railway pipeline. The idea has remained on the table with twists and turns in recent years until in 2013 It finally managed to sneak into the National Transportation Plan. In 2017 the tunnel seemed a little closer and in 2021 started to talk of the imminent start of the works. In fact, it is estimated that a little more than 30 million dollars in land purchases and feasibility studies to give it shape. Are you on track then? Not at all. If the work sounds ambitious it is because it really is. And that usually entails something more than technical complications: money. Big money. Millions and millions of Swedish crowns. An amount that has also increased with the passage of time, complicating its viability. Maritime Executive remember that at the time there was talk of 325 million dollars and in 2023 the figure had skyrocketed to 690 million. A few days ago NRK, the Norwegian public radio and television channel, I already needed that the estimated bill is around 9.4 billion crowns, about 780 million dollars. There are means, like one’s own Maritime Executivethat they even refer larger figures. Is that a problem? A few days ago NRK echoed some statements by the prime minister, Jonas Gahr Storewhich reveal that the Government wants to put the project in the drawer. At least for now. The reason has little mystery: its exorbitant cost at a time when the country prefers to invest in other areas. “In the budget proposal we will announce that we abandoned the Stad sea tunnel project,” the leader advanced Norwegian. “The cost will be so high that we feel it is not responsible to move forward with the project.” “We must prioritize and take care of every penny to use the money in the most efficient way possible. That is why we reject this project, we consider that it does not justify such a high expense,” insisted Støre, who cited other priorities, such as health, defense or municipal investment. “It will be so expensive that we consider it irresponsible to continue with the project.” With the option of lowering or renegotiating costs ruled out, the news soon spread to the local press and foreignerwith all kinds of reactions. What reactions? Days after the announcement the Norwegian Coastal Administration published a statement confirming that, within the framework of the 2026 national budget, the Government had decided to “suspend” the tunnel works pending Parliament’s ruling. The agency warned that, among other issues, this stoppage will also affect the bidding for works. An important notice considering that you had already received offers from three construction companies and expected to close the contract this year to start the works (five years) in 2026. The defenders of the tunnel have been more emphatic, speaking of “a hard blow” and an “irresponsible decision.” “More than 500 companies from the fishing industry and shipping to industry, tourism and aquaculture have signed the petition for the construction of the tunnel,” remember. “These represent thousands of jobs and billions in revenue.” What will happen now? Good question. Although it is not easy to answer it. Støre’s announcement was framed in the presentation of the 2026 state accounts, which left some questions raised. After all, as NRK herself recalled As the news progresses, the prime minister’s party, the Labor Party, does not have a majority in the Storting (Parliament of Norway), so … Read more

In which waters Israel is to intercept ships

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There were no surprises. Although Warnings of several governments (including Spanish) The ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) have remained advanced towards the coast of Gaza, where in the last hours they met The brake of the Israeli armed forces. Both Tel Aviv and GSF have shared images of the approach, in which It can be seen for example to Greta Thunberg between soldiers after her vessel entered the “High risk zone”. The big question is … What exactly is that of the “high -risk area”? Can the Israeli State act in its waters? Do you protect international law when you do? What happened? That Israel has frustrated the plans of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the international mission formed by dozen ships that intended to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza and break the blockade to which the strip is subjected, where a serious famine is suffered recognized For the UN. As they have confirmed so much The Government Headed by Benjamin Netanyahu as his own Global Sumud Flotillathe Hebrew armed forces yesterday intercepted several boats of the squad, including its three main ships. Click on the image to go to Tweet. Where did they stop them? That is the key. GSF points out that the ships were intercepted to 70 nautical miles (almost 130 kilometers) of the coast of Gaza. On Wednesday, when most of the flotilla was still 115 miles (more than 200 km) from Gaza, their responsible They warned of the presence of drones and maneuvers that interpreted as the first intimidating acts of the Israeli naval force. Actually the Netanyahu government (and other authorities, such as the Italian executive) It takes days Insisting the flotilla that downloads its cargo in Greece or Cyprus, a possibility that activists They have ruled out flat. Why is it important? The exact point in which Israel intercepted the main ships of the humanitarian flotilla (before that GSF denounced that Tel Aviv had “intentionally damaged” ship communications) is not a simple curiosity. The organization assures that the Hebrew forces boarded their ships in “international waters” and speak of an “illegal” intervention. From the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs They hold They already warned GSF ships that they were approaching “an active combat zone” and its unwlighted “a legitimate naval block.” Yesterday they insisted in fact on their offer to “peacefully transfer their cargo to help Gaza for” safe channels. “ Does Israel control that area? The big question. In recent days, as the flotilla ships approached the coast of Gaza, there has been talk of “High risk zone”, “exclusion zone” or even “Active combat zone”as they have described from Tel Aviv. The key is … with international legislation in hand, can the Israeli State exercise military control in the area where the flotilla intercepted? What waters can control? Is it one “Illegal interception”How do you hold those responsible? What does the law say? The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (CDM), 1982, recognizes the existence of a strip of Territorial Sea on which states can exercise full sovereignty. Of course, it limits it to about 12 nautical miles, just over 22 kilometers. Israeli ships would have approached the humanitarian flotilla at a much larger distance, around 69 nautical miles (almost 130 km), according to those responsible. About 3.2 GMT+3 GSF assured That there were still 30 ships that were still heading to Gaza, placing about 46 nautical miles, “despite the incessant aggressions of the Israeli occupation navy.” Is that all? No. In addition to the territorial and sovereign waters of each country, international legislation recognizes riverside countries a larger area called Exclusive economic zone (Zee). Its surface extends much further, to the 200 nautical miles (370 km), although in that sea strip the power of states is something different. As its name indicates, the idea is that countries regulate their economic use, fishing, mining, drilling or energy projects, for example, allowing in theory theory Freedom of navigation. What happens in Israel? GSF claims that the flotilla ships were intercepted in “International Waters”but the truth is that this region of the Mediterranean is in an anomalous situation. Since 2007 Tel Aviv acts there autonomously After applying A block to Gaza who expands by land, tidal and air and intensified in October 2023. Hence “High risk zone”. There is who warns That, beyond the blockade or its greater or lesser right to act in the area, Israel has the obligation to guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid. Others They point That arriving at the 12 nautical miles on the coast, the flotilla would be in Palestinian waters, not Israelis. The Global Sumud Flotilla is not the first mission that tries to break the blockade. The most popular (and dramatic) case was that of Mavi Marmarain 2010, when an approach to the Israeli navy resulted in Several dead. Yesterday, Minister Margarita Robles asked the members of the flotilla to value the “risk” they assumed and recalled that the Spanish rage ship would not enter the exclusion zone except “in case of absolute necessity” for “rescue work”. Images | Israel Foreing Ministry (x) and Freedom Fleet Coalition In Xataka | Spain told the US that I did not want its F-35. And now he just told him that his artillery for Israel does not pass around here

United Kingdom will be just the first client. Spain raises a colossus in Galicia to build war ships like churros

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While Spain does not count With f-35 fighterssoon he will do it with what will be a source of pride for the nation: The Bonifaz frigatefirst of the F110 class, whose launch took place in the navantia shipyards in Ferrol. In fact, Navantia has received a commission that will place her in the world showcase as a reference construction: United Kingdom has asked her to do her Your next frigate. In the background: a plan to become the elite of the sector. A naval milestone from Spain. Navantia is carrying out in Ferrol the largest investment of the last hundred years in a shipyard in Spain: the creation of the Digital Block Factory (FDB) conceived to place military naval construction in the world technological avant -garde. With a budget of 110 million eurosan area of ​​45,000 square meters, 500 meters in length and 90 wide, the plant will double the productive capacity of the Galician shipyard and mark the final step towards the model of shipyard 4.0where automation, artificial intelligence and robotization will be protagonists. The day. Its inauguration is scheduled for the First quarter of 2026after a construction process that began in March 2024 and has included the creation of a digital twin to monitor in real time the progress of the works, control cost deviations and anticipate failures. Unpublished productive capacity. The new factory will allow Navantia to manufacture in Only one year the blocks equivalent to a air holder such as Juan Carlos Itwo F-18 frigatesfour European corvettes EPCfour maritime action ships (BAM) or up to two combat supply ships (BAC), in addition to logistical support ships such as the FSS that already produces For the Royal Navy. In practical terms, the plant may generate simultaneously The blocks of two frigates, with a production cadence of one section every ten days (about 26 per year), which will reduce construction deadlines by 20-25%. In the case of the F-110, about 85% From the structure of each unit it will be manufactured in the FDB, while the singular blocks (such as the dome of the sonar or the multimission mast) will continue to be built in the traditional workshops. This scheme will simultaneously add the commitments to the Spanish Navy and the eventual Export contractsa strategic aspiration in the current context of International Rearme, where the armed demands to have their ships in the shortest possible time. Automation, AI and Robotics. The factory has been designed under an optimized workflow scheme, divided into three major areas: steels, prearmament and flip. In the first they will be installed Robotized welding lines Equipped with hybrid laser technology, guaranteeing higher structural dimensional precision and robustness. In the prearmament phase, the subblocks will be transferred autonomously by vehicles not manned with IoT sensors, and robots will be integrated for welding, manipulation and palletization that will work collaboratively with the operators. Finally, in the voltage zone, the blocks will be assembled with subcomponents previously manufactured in an automated assembly system that combines speed, flexibility and reliability. The whole process will be supported by a system of Complete digital traceability: Each piece will generate information associated with its digital twin, which will automatically readjust the following phases and detect real -time deviations using smart cameras connected to 3D models. The Innovation and Robotics Center. Navantia digital transformation is not limited to the plant itself. He Innovation and Robotics Center (CIR), directly linked to the factory, acts as technological nucleus where the latest innovations in automation, automatic inspection, advanced welding and dimensional control are tested and validated. The CIR not only develops solutions applicable to immediate production, but also works as Training and Transfer Space of knowledge, ensuring that advances are quickly integrated into productive processes. The ecosystem, reinforced With collaborations With the University of La Coruña and with specialized consultants, it guarantees, a priori, that the Ferrolano shipyard remains on the border of naval innovation. Labor impact. From the company it has been ensured that, despite the high level of automation, the factory will not involve a template reduction. On the contrary, it will maintain a volume of Between 270 and 400 workers In turn, including both direct employees of Navantia and personnel from auxiliary companies. In each turn they will operate Between 300 and 325 peopleconfirming that robotization is raised as a tool for support to human capital and not as a substitute. The combination of specialized manual labor and intelligent systems ensures that flexibility is maintained to meet specific demands of each naval program. Reference at the military plane. Once finished, the FERROL FDB It will not have equivalent in the world of military construction. The only comparable reference is the Alemán Meyer Werft Shipyarddedicated to luxury cruises and has been gradually applying automated systems for fifteen years. Navantia, however, will be the first company to move this industrial logic War shipswhich, according to the company, will allow you to offer a competitive, sustainable and higher quality product in a sector where the speed of delivery is practically a strategic requirement. In addition, the possibility of producing blocks to Other international shipyardsexpanding his role as a key actor in the global naval supply chain. New era in the estuary. If you want also, with this bet, Navantia aims to turn Ferrol into a World Reference Pole For military naval construction, combining tradition and modernity in a project that represents a before and after in Spanish industrial history. As Rafael Morgade underlinedresponsible for the digital transformation of the company, it is an authentic “new era” in which the Galician shipyard will go from a disorderly growth accumulated in a century to a concentrated, efficient and technologically advanced model. In a marked geopolitical context For the rearmethis megafactoría not only reinforces the capacities of the Spanish Navy, but also positions Navantia as a industrial partner in the elite of the international defense market. Image | Navy In Xataka | The United Kingdom wants to remain one of the great powers. So he will not … Read more

Give the keys of their war ships to Spain

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While the shipyards in Ferrol continue to take giant steps to have the frigate of F110 class In the delivery planned by 2028, several hundred kilometers from there, in the surroundings of Cádiz, we also begin to work on the facilities of Navantia, who seems to move forward with a firm step to be in the world showcase as a reference construction company. It is no small thing: United Kingdom has given him the keys to the future of his Navy. A historical precedent. Yes, for the first time in recent history, a British war ship will be built largely outside the islands, with Spain as the main destination of manufacturing. The decision responds to the Harland & Wolff shipyards In Belfast, famous for having lifted the Titanicthey are not yet prepared to face a contract of 1.6 billion pounds Awarded in 2022. The agreement, which from the beginning raised suspicion for the participation of Navantia, breaks with the tradition that the ships of the Royal Navy are built in the United Kingdom or in British territories, revealing Weaknesses of the country’s military industrial base. The role of Navantia. The Spanish state company confirmed that most of the construction of the first logistical support ship of the Royal Navy will be carried out in its Cádiz shipyardsleaving Harland & Wolff only the construction of the bow at its Appleor headquarters, in England. The centerpiece of the helmet, which should be manufactured in Belfast, will be executed in Spain along with the rest of the ship, which has aroused criticism of analysts That they warn that, if this precedent is consolidated, the three units could end up building in their entirety outside the United Kingdom. However, Navantia insists in which the plan is “realistic” and maintains that the three ships should be finally assembled in Belfast if everything follows its course, with delivery planned in 2032. The workers leaving the Harland & Wolff shipyard in 1911. In the background you can see the Titanic bow Industrial crisis and foreign investment. The truth is that Belfast’s inability to enter production up to at least 2026 has forced the initial plan. Navantia He has committed 115 million pounds in the modernization of the British shipyards, of which 90 will be used specifically to the support ship project. The Spanish company He defends that this investment will provide Harland & Wolff for the necessary capacities to compete in future British naval contracts, such as the six amphibious assault ships and versatile support (MRSS) that the Navy contemplates acquire in the coming years. However, critical voices They point out thatalthough the British taxpayer pays a premium to sustain local shipyards, a substantial part of the added value is transferred to Spain. Political controversy. No doubt, the agreement has divided opinions in the United Kingdom. Some accuse the Ministry of Defense of to have been deceived With the promise that the ships would be “made in Britain”, while unions like GMB and Unite have avoided ruling at the moment. From Norirlandea politics, the reaction It has been pragmatic: The delay in Belfast is labeled, but it is accepted that having modernized facilities will allow competence of equal conditions in the future. For its part, Navantia Underline which is incorporating apprentices in the region and ensures the support of local workers. The tradition of “Brisionh Build.” To understand the climate that is breathed with the news in the United Kingdom we must go back in time. Since the end of the 19th century already throughout the 20th century, the Royal Navy defended An unwavering principle: His warships had to be built on British soil, both for reasons of national security and to keep alive that strategic industrial fabric that was Pride of the country. During The Victorian erashipyards such as Portsmouth, Devonport, Barrow-in-Furness or Belfast Harland & Wolff themselves became Naval power symbolscapable of producing battles, carriers and world reference submarines. Even in the moments of greater industrial globalization, London insisted In that the construction of combat ships should remain under national control, convinced that a war ship built abroad would be vulnerable to sovereignty commitments, industrial espionage or technological dependence. The empire and autonomy. The United Kingdom maintained this policy even in times of economic difficulty. After World War II, when the imperial decline and the energy crises of the seventies eroded the British economy, it continued to bet on the local construction of frigates, destroyers and aircraft carrier. The programs Invincible and Type 42developed between the seventies and eighty, they were built entirely in British shipyards, although at a high cost and with notable delays. London justified those expenses as an investment in Strategic autonomy: Ensure that, before a crisis, it did not depend on foreign suppliers to maintain the operation of their Navy. National pride. In this context, Harland & Wolff In Belfast it occupied a symbolic place: not only and as we said, for having built the Titanic, but for being one of the large industrial centers in the United Kingdom. Your declineaccompanied by mass closures and loss of jobs, was seen as a symptom of the loss of British naval power. For decades, successive British governments sought formulas to keep them alive through military contracts, aware that a shipyard who dies rarely resurrects. Hence, the news that a British warship was built mostly in Spain is perceived as a breakdown of a historical tradition and a symbolically painful concession. Implications for the “British” defense. The three support ships that Today they are news (classified as warships since its conception in 2020) They are intended to provide ammunition, fuel and supplies to the British fleet in prolonged operations. Its strategic importance is considerable, at a time when Royal Navy seeks reinforce your ability expeditionary and guarantee logistics autonomy in high intensity scenarios. Therefore, that much of its construction (time will say if the majority) is carried out in Spain reflects both the limitations of the British military naval industry and the growing … Read more

Europe has done everything possible to prevent China from flooding us with its electric cars. The Byd solution: ships from Thailand

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The cheapest Chinese cars are a danger to the European industry. At least that is what our regulators consider who claim that if tariffs are not imposed, they will be competing in our soil. To solve it, they lifted commercial barriers that had to balance the situation. The Byd solution: Do not send your cars from China. The tariffs. So many things have happened in the last year that it seems that Chinese manufacturers have been paying for exporting their electric cars to Europe. However, it is a measure that It only applies since October 30, 2024. Shortly before, the European Union was applying the calls “Compensatory Rights” But everything ended up being defined as fixed tariffs a few months later. Those tariffs, however, are variable. Any importation of cars from the European Union pays 10%. To that money an additional rate was added depending on the brand because, according to European regulators, not all Chinese companies have received the same state favors. SAIC, who is a company of the Chinese state and did not want to collaborate with the investigations, has to add another 35.3% to the 10% flat rate. Byd, however, was the company that collaborated the most and that, in European eyes, less favor treatment has received. However, it was punished with additional 17%. Its impact. The impact of the measure has been obvious. Chinese electric cars are costing them to enter the market. Although it is its natural environment, the urban electric car still having a relatively high price. Especially if we understand that in many cases it can function as the only car since Outside the city can be eternalized. There, the Chinese electric car had the price of the price in its favor. If their offer was much cheaper than that of the rivals could gain a good part of the market. However, Registrations tell us that it has been absent. Even in a country like Spain that has the price as the main purchase value, there is only one Chinese car among the 10 best -selling electric (Byd Atto 3 in eighth position). Consequently, where China has really hurt so far it has been with the vehicles with combustion engines. There, the country does have a lot to win since European plug -in hybrids still have a high price but the Chinese offer Much more space and equipment at a much lower cost. Well, wait. There has been much talk about how Chinese manufacturers want to skip these commercial barriers. At the moment we know that Byd is raising a plant in Hungary and that he has chosen Türkiye as next destination. The plan seemed clear: development and assembly of the most expensive cars in Hungary (with greater margin of benefits) and production in Türkiye of the cheapest and most complicated cars to amortize. The strategy in fact was supported shortly after if we take into account that the European Union would have transferred Chery that his intention to Use Nissan’s factories in Barcelona and just use them to make the last parts soldier (cars arrive almost mounted on containers As if they were great pieces of a puzzle) It was insufficient. If you want to skip tariffs, Europe wants real investment. The Dolphin Surf. But all these byd plans point in the medium term. Before the company has to continue making its way on the market and wanted to make a dent with its fetish car: the Byd Dolphin Surf. This car that in China is known as Seagull It is clear about its appeal: hypercompetitive price, good performance and finishes far superior to competition. The car is a supervent in China to the point that they have managed to place in the market One million units in 27 months. There the car It is sold with the eye of God active. That is, it can circulate completely autonomously in fast roads … Although its price is just 9,000 euros to change. In Europe we could expect a much higher price but, yes, in Spain adding the aid of the MOVES III PLAN And the brand discount, it is possible to buy it for just 11,000 euros. A hypercompetitive price that already has the customer response (second best -selling electric car in July). Supported by Dolphin. Next to Dolphin Surf, the other electric car in which Byd has great hopes is the Byd Dolphinthe older brother of surfing. If surfing can harm markets such as Spanish, still reluctant to buy smaller electric ones if they do not have a great price, Dolphin is perfect for countries with greater purchasing power such as the United Kingdom or Germany. If we observe sales in Europeclearly Byd is on the rise and for them it is essential that these two models be hugged by the public if they want to be relevant actors in the industry. From Thailand to Europe. So, strengthened the brand in the first European markets, the company wanted to continue winning European market. After a dubitative start, has made structural changes in the direction and In July he already managed to overcome Tesla in sales And in market share although, yes, we must remember that byd sells plug -in hybrids. He is aware that the Dolphin Surf Byd is key and that he can do a lot of harm with his most affordable proposal. For that it is important to bring everyone who can and has found the way: send them from Thailand. This is stated Carnewschinawho say that the company is jumping European tariffs because the car is manufactured and sent from this country. And the tariffs? Tariff tariffs come from Thailand is 10%, the usual For all those brought from the outside. The only thing that is required is that the car has at least 40% of local components so it is not as simple as manufacturing in China and assembling the latest pieces in Thailand and then sending it. This practice, for example, It is the one … Read more

A Spaniard has patented a mast that transforms wind and waves into electricity. His invention challenges diesel in ships

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A mast shaken by the wind, the waves pushing without rest: usual scenes in any maritime journey. The interesting thing is that the same movement can serve to generate electricity. A canary who is one step away from being an engineer has designed a system that converts the strength of the ocean into usable energy, with the ambition to reduce the dependence of the diesel in the ships. It is an idea that takes the everyday of the sea and makes it a concrete technical proposal, simple enough to intrigue and ambitious enough to demand validation in the sea. “In the end it is a three -dimensional generator,” Juan Francisco Sarmiento Medina said in an advance of the Podcast of the Stier Groupand described the mechanism with simple images: “Let’s imagine that my arm is the mast. When the wind comes in front, it clashes, as the mast of a flag, and begins to oscillate. The keel works as a piston of a combustion engine (…) then movement occurs in the x, y y y z axes, all under Faraday’s law,” he explained. That narration of the inventor itself forms the technical spine of the project. What exactly is the e-mast. In its LinkedIn account the project appears as E-MAST (Energy Mast System) and is presented as a technology that transforms the structural vibration of the mast into clean electrical energy. According to the textthe system integrates an encapsulated rotor without exposed parts, linear generators and piezoelectric elements to convert oscillations into electricity, and can direct part of the induced air under the keel in the form of microburbujas. The advantages of the inventor are clear: “Without diesel engines, or maintenance. The owner of the boat, as there are no mechanical parts that have to be maintained with oil or that are broken, also reduces costs in that sense,” He pointed to El Español. The inventor also underlines the operational silence due to the absence of external propellers and the total structural integration into existing masts. These benefits, in any case, will require trials to measure power, autonomy and acoustic signature. Of production patent. The applications of applications published by the author encompasses autonomous marine surveillance, oceanographic research, defense and ecological navigation platforms in protected areas. According to Sarmiento Medina, the e-mast is protected by two patents, ES202430338 and ES202430339, with a favorable report according to the promoter. According to the newspaper La Provinciathe promoter figure around half a million euros international protection and development and has conversations with shipyards in France and the Netherlands to explore production. The sea still has the last word. Sarmiento says that he is a neighbor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and recognizes that part of his learning and opportunities come from the Stier Group, which has supported his training. This local support, added to the intellectual protection that it declares in its public profile, has allowed to convert a daily element of any ship at the base of an ambitious technological proposal. Now the most difficult part remains: validate the system in the sea. But the idea has already demonstrated something important: that there is still margin to imagine new things, even in an environment as old as navigation. Images | Juan Francisco Sarmiento Medina In Xataka | A “Roomba” to clean rivers: the ship that the three throats has launched in China

Pirates have turned the Red Sea into hell for ships around the world. With an exception: the Chinese

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The Red Sea right now is the main commercial route around the world and millions European industries depend on it to be able to receive products from the Asian continent. But in recent months, it has become one of the most dangerous seas on the planet, taking months blocked by the attack of pirates. With an exception. Chinese ships can go through these waters and nothing happens to them. They are even protected. The Red Sea as a forbidden area. Since the Hutí Militia de Yemen, with the support of Iran, will start an assault campaign at the end of 2023 In retaliation for the situation in Gaza, this area has become a dangerous area. Sunk charges, attacked crews and a climate of total insecurity that forced giants such as Master or Hapag-Lloyd to deviate through the horn of Africa. Something that implies Add to the navigation plan between 14 and 18 days. Something that also represents a higher cost. China’s ships have ‘white letter’. Something that has been observed since April, and that has reported the maritime intelligence firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, is that Nothing happens to Chinese ships. In this way, they have seen how fourte The insurmountable rorowhich sailed from China and crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea for Europe, did not have to give a detour. The most interesting thing is the content they had inside: Chinese brands electric vehicles such as Byd or Mg. This is a pattern that clearly shows that there is an agreement behind. A tactical pact that is worth gold. Neither Beijing, nor Tehran, nor the hutis leaders have issued an official statement, but the evidence and geopolitical context draw a mutual interest agreement. The hutis, which They declare to attack ships with Israeli linksAmericans or British, seem to have received a clear instruction: ships that come from China have the free passage. The key to this immunity lies in China’s powerful influence on Iranthe main economic and military support of the hutis. China is the biggest Iranian oil buyer, a commercial relationship that is a lifeguard for the Persian economy. In exchange for this support, Beijing exercises a ability to persuasion in the region that no other power can match. Analysts like Daniel Nash, from the consultant Veson Nautical, Point out that “China has found a way of dealing with the huti rebels backed by Iran, and they have been told that their ships will not be attacked.” This “salvoconduct” not only applies to Chinese flag ships, but also to those of other nationalities chartered by Chinese manufacturers to transport their vehicles. Meanwhile, other Chinese ships that do not wear cars continue to opt for the African route to avoid risks. The secret weapon against European tariffs. For Chinese manufacturers, this shortcut is much more than simple logistics savings; It is a strategic weapon to be able to conquer the European market. Right now, the European Union, in an attempt to protect its own industry, has imposed tariffs of up to 35% To Chinese electric vehicles, claiming that they benefit from unfair state subsidies. Although now They study withdraw them. However, the savings of the Red Sea route helps to compensate for the impact of tariffs, causing the final price to consumers to remain very attractive. The competitors have felt the consequences. Brands like Tesla, Volvo, Suzuki or even suppliers like Michelin They have suffered strikes in their European factories As a result of deliveries in deliveries because ships have to give a greater rodeo. In this way, brands settled in Europe have to pay consequences, while China can overcome them without problems. Floating cities for the conquest of Europe. Far from being a temporary solution, China is betting strongly on this route. Chinese shipyards work in full performance To deliver to Byd and SAIC new ships to wear their vehicles. And it is that these ships such as the “Byd Explorer No.1” or the “Anji Ansheng” of Saic are authentic floating cities with capacity for more than 7,000 vehicles, designed to optimize mass transport through sea. Chinese cars begin to be an important alternative. In the case of Spain, Sales of Chinese electric cars They don’t stop growing with the Saic group at the head and next to Grupo Chery with their Omoda and Byd, which has also opted for hybrid cars. This way, China is flooding European with its cars as It is being seen in enrollments. And partly it is for this type of strategies. In Xataka | There are those who believe that being rich is a sufficient requirement to have a Ferrari. The most important thing is something else: Ferrari fell well

ships and bombers with anyone behind the wheel

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The eldest war laboratory Of modern contests, the war in Ukraine, has turned drones into The fundamental piece of any offensive of both sides. Everything revolves around these armies of swarms to which it has been adding updates of all types (and times). Hence the unusual has become a rule. However, the last developments are a scoop that nobody saw coming. Evolution without humans. Ukraine has made a significant technical leap in his asymmetric war campaign by using, for the first time, Bombarder drones thrown from vessels Not surface manned (USVS), a kind of small aircraft carriers To attack key Russian facilities in Crimea. This new tactic represents a remarkable operational sophistication with respect to its first naval suicidal drones, turning these floating platforms into capable versatile systems, not only of direct attack, but also of launching multiple air attacks against strategic objectives. He most recent attackcarried out the night from July 1 to 2, 2025, destroyed three fundamental components of the long -range radar system NEBO-Messential piece in Russian defensive architecture on the Crimean Peninsula and the North -Western Black Sea. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense described it as a “brilliant and high precision” operation, backed by A video which shows how aerial drones take off from the bow of the USVs and release several pumps with surgical impact. Operational advantages. The use of Bombarder drones From the sea it confers decisive tactical advantages. Unlike FPV previously launchedwhich require direct impact to destroy the objective, these new vehicles can attack multiple whites by mission and carry heavier ammunition. In addition, they maintain better connectivity in prolonged distances as they are not forced to descend to the ground, which allows them to operate more flexibility. Its control is mediated by satellite links (possibly via Starlink) installed in the USVs, which also act as retransmission nodes and launch platforms. This decentralized and mobile architecture complicates the work of detection, monitoring and neutralization by the Russian defenses. Russian reaction. Russian forces, aware of this evolution, have begun to observe with concern these attacks, as evidenced by the Russian military channel Two Majors. They recognize that a single Naval drone managed to approach and display multiple UAVS With load release systems, executing consecutive attacks on Russian defensive positions. Although They claim to have destroyed Subsequently, the Atacious Naval drone with air support, there is no visual tests that confirm it. The Russian reaction has focused more on request resources additional to counteract these threats that in denying its effectiveness. In any case, the incident underlines Ukraine’s ability to introduce innovations that alter tactical balance despite their resources limitations, generating psychological pressure, material wear and logistical disorder on the opposite side. NEBO-M SYSTEM NEBO-M and its tactical value. The target of this operation, the NEBO-M SYSTEMHe was not chosen at random. It is a last generation mobile radar complex introduced by Russia in 2017, designed for Detect poaching airplanesballistic missiles and aerial threats at distances greater than 600 km. The system includes The RLM-M (Three -dimensional VHF radar mounted on 8×8 truck) and The RLM-D (An Aesa radar also on mobile platform), both valued in tens of millions of dollars. These radars feed the S-300 and S-400 systems With objective acquisition data, and its location at the western tip of Crimea is vital to maintain a defensive shield on the region and access to the northwest of the Black Sea. No doubt, its neutralization opens a direct gap on that shield, facilitating the passage of long -range missiles as The Shadow Storm and Scalp-EGas well as the incursion of Kamikaze dronessignificantly weakening the Russian ability to detect and respond to attacks. Ambush and new front. In addition, in recent days another unprecedented scene occurred: the First known attack With a submersible first person drone, marking a milestone. In published images by The Northern Battalion Eagle of the 151.ª Motorized Brigade shows a river crossing in the Járkov region (previously destroyed and then improvised by the Russian forces with trunks) being achieved by an immersed explosive device. The sequence begins With a fixed intake underwater, where the FPV drone is hidden next to one end of the passage. Then, an explosion shakes the structure, destroying the crossing and confirming the effective use of the new underwater vehicle. The Shrike Special Edition. Forbes counted that, although the attack may seem anecdotal (three trunks are not a strategic objective) the real value resides in the successful use of the Shrike Special Edition, an improved version of the Ukrainian Shrike DRON FPVdesigned to operate in aquatic environments. Presented in February with the ability to land on water, dive and re -take off, the shrke was conceived as A ambush dronecapable of hiding in ponds, channels or lakes, patiently waiting for their prey. The recent attack shows that its possibilities They go further: It can destroy whites at flush or below the water level. This opens a new operating field, where air or land surveillance loses efficiency and the threat can come from the bottom of a river or a flooding area. From the suicide drone to the floating hunter. Plus: These episodes are part of a tactical progression Ukrainian that began with naval suicidal drones designed to exploit the impact, continued with the incorporation of FPV drones embarked and improvised anti -aircraft platforms, and has now led to a combined system that joins aerial and (Sub) Maritime in a reusable and coordinated way. As We count In May, Ukraine had already demonstrated the potential of its USVs when a version of the Magura V7 Armed with air-air-aim missiles AIM-9x knocked down two fighters Russians Su-30 on the Black Sea, and in December before another version (the Magura V5) he folded A MI-8 helicopter With a Missile R-73. These background reveal that the nation has managed to transform what was initially a limited deterrence tool in a multipurpose of new generation offensive platforms. New deterrence. In summary, if the twentieth century was dominated by nuclear aircraft carriers and … Read more

The oil ships are changing route to avoid the Ormuz Strait. Who will pay the detour: We

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Hostilities between Israel and Iran have reached a new peak of tension. The impact has not been expected: The price of oil rises and all looks point to the Ormuz Strait. Through that narrow step it circulates almost a fifth of the world crude, and although it has not been blocked, the tension is already altering routes, more than transportation and raising the pressure on the global energy market. A global bottleneck. The Ormuz Strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabic Sea, and is under the control of Iran. Only in 2024, more than 1.4 million barrels daily on ships were transported. According to Bloombergalso manages about 27% of the global oil liquefied gas flow (LPG). A partial or total obstruction It would directly affect energy powers such as China and India, as well as Iran, which has the third largest oil reserve on the planet. An unprecedented climb. Amid the registration of the conflict, many shipowners have begun to avoid the area or demand much higher risk premiums to cross it. According to Financial Timesthe result has been a vertiginous rise in charter prices. According to Clarksons Research figures cited by the British media, the daily rate to rent a VLCC (Vary Large Crude Carrier) that transports 2 million barrels of crude oil from the Gulf to China jumped from $ 19,998 to $ 47,609 in just a week. And not only oil transport has been increased: tank ships that transfer refined products, such as gasoline and diesel, have also doubled their rates, reaching more than $ 51,000 daily on that same route. The gas feels the impact. The tension has caused a slight fall in maritime traffic in the area, and some countries have begun to take precautions. Catar, through his state company Qatarenergy – the world’s largest exporter in the world – officially recommended to its vessels, care to cross the Strait, being the first measure known by an energy producer of the Gulf, According to Bloomberg. The tension is intensified. Iran, under international sanctionsuse a “ghost fleet”: ships that operate outside the international regulatory system, without valid insurance or security certifications. This not only represents a legal risk, but also operational. On June 17, Petrolero Front Eagle, of the Norwegian Frontline company, collided with one of these ships just after leaving the Gulf, According to Reuters. That same day, two other oil tankers collided and even caught fire, while two others were approached by Iranian vessels, which led to a “maximum alert” in the area. According to Richard Fulford-Smith, director of the firm Eden Ocean, cited by the Financial Timessome oil buyers are opting for suppliers other than Iran who use regulated vessels. This is pushing the demand towards the legitimate fleet and further increases the global rates. And now what? Uncertainty has already pushed some companies to redirect their routes outside the Persian Gulf, despite the additional cost. China and India could increase their purchases to suppliers such as Saudi Arabia or Russia, which do not depend on the Strait. So, some vessels are demanding higher risk premiums to cross the area, while others prefer to avoid it completely. For its part, United States has begun to reinforce its military presence. Can there be a real closure? Although there has been no official closure of the Strait, the tension has raised the fears that it may occur. Oxford Economics has recently warned In Bloomberg that the price of the Brent barrel could reach $ 130 if a total blockade occurs. And the most worrying: an eventual risk premium could be maintained even after a reopening. For now, the flows continue, but with greater caution and an increasingly dense naval presence. Energy risk. The Ormuz Strait is still open, but fear of a block is more present than ever. For now, the flow of crude and gas continues, although conditioned by a conflict that threatens to spread. The tension has not paralyzed trade, but has more expensive. And that, in the energy market, is enough to light alarms. Image | Pexels Xataka | A fear has taken over the world oil industry: the closure of the Ormuz Strait by Iran

China has ships the size of buildings that sail on mountains. All thanks to the largest elevators in the world

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China is the cradle of record mega -structures. They build in all dimensions (they have unnoticing skyscrapers in the world and deeper oil well) and, on many occasions, they are extremely complicated works, such as the Gaoligongshan tunnel or that of Huajiang Great Canyon Bridge. Something that also abounds in China are pharaonic dams, being the Three throats The biggest in the world. And something that these dams need are elevators, but not for people: for ships. And the elevator systems of both dams are so imposing that they allow ships of up to 3,000 tons to “sail” through the sky. The classic solution. There are dams and prey. When one of these structures is built, the river navigation flow. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter too much because that river was not a key communication route for trade, but other times it is necessary to devise a solution to have a prey without interfering in the activity of the ships. The solution is the one used in channels like Panama or Suez: huge and sealed cameras that are filled with water when a ship enters so that it can overcome the unevenness and continue its path. Or vice versa when you want to “go down.” The problem is that it is a system that requires a lot of time and transit is resent. And the revolution. The solution to this? Elevator systems such as those we use daily, but for ships. A close example is that of the Falkirk wheel in Scotlanda rotating elevator with a combined capacity of 600 tons that allows the barges of the channel to follow its course. Each of the drawers has the capacity for two ships up to 20 meters in length and seeing it in operation is most curious because it is like a fair attraction: Now, as we say: 20 meters of length is the maximum and 600 tons is not so much weight. They are the dimensions for passenger ships that navigate a channel, but China needed the Commercial ship traffic He did not stop at two of his great dams. And the solution they found is the one we used to see in the country’s constructions: bombastic elevators. Before the elevator (in the most focused part), in the dam of the three throats there was only one system of locks The three throats. The three throats dam is imposing in every way. Located on the Yangtsé River, it has an installed power of 22,500 MW for hydroelectric energyhas a height of about 185 meters and a total length of 2,335 meters. It is the Great Chinese Aquatic Wall. To maintain an annual traffic of almost 30,000 ships, including Cruises and Portenerosomething had to be done, and in 2016 they finished the Huge elevator. It is a vertical elevator that is how we imagine that it should be an elevator for ships: a huge bathtub of 120 meters long and 18 wide, tens of steel cables and a powerful pulley system that have the ability to displace ships up to 3,000 tons. The total lifting weight, including chamber and water, is 15,500 tons. It covers 113 meters high and, three hours of total journey, it is passed to about 40 minutes. It is something that is sought to expand to increase the movement capacity of 18 ships daily to a larger amount and here you have it in operation: That of the Goupitan dam. Now, although imposing due to its dimensions and load capacity, its design is more functional than aesthetic. However, the elevator system of the Goupitan dam It is another song. Located on the WU River, which is a tributary of Yangtsé, has a length of 430 meters and a height of 232 meters. It stands out not so much for its installed energy capacity of 3,000 MW, but for its channel -shaped elevators system. Unlike the three throats, to save the unevenness caused by the dam, engineers devised a system of three vertical elevators connected by channels. The maximum boat capacity is 500 tons and the camera is much smaller (40 x 12 meters), but the relevant is the total height of those 199 meters that save the ships. And the times? About two hours in total for the entire route, but its design channel design reduces bottlenecks. Tourist point. The system of channels and elevators of the Goupitan dam ended in 2021 and was a technical headache by connecting several small elevators with each other, as well as a system of channels that, in some case, surrounds one of the mountains. It was a way to demonstrate the technical capacities of the country, but it has also become a tourist point that goes viral in networks due to how attractive it is to see a ship sailing on the mountains. And, although the elevator of the three throats can be boring, it is also a tourist claim, with cruises that include the elevator on your route. Australia, heat what you go out. But, if something is teaching us the Battle of the towers between Saudi Arabia and Arab Emirateswe are in a constant search to overcome ourselves when we talk about megaconstructions, and it is already under construction that will be the new largest stocks for ships in the world, at least by weight: the Darwin Ship Lift Facity. It will be in Australia and it will be an elevator 103 meters long, 26 wide and capacity for vessels of up to 5,500 tons. It is designed to serve fishing vehicles, cruises, border defense, energy and container. Now, the distance to save is just … six meters. Much less impressive than the other great elevators that are worldwide because it will be a maintenance platform, not something to save a height between two sections of a river. Images | Google Maps, Fredlyfish4, Le Grand PortaGederIVATIVE In Xataka | NASA has made the calculations: China can slow down the earth with a filling of the three throats

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