The Problem with Reducing Underwater Radiated Noise
If the global commercial fleet reduced its speed by 10%, it would reduce underwater radiated noise by 40%, but nothing’s ever that simple.The main thing holding the shipping industry back from reducing its underwater radiated noise (URN) is not a lack of appropriate technology. It’s argued that many of the technologies being implemented today to reduce fuel consumption also reduce noise. So, the noise reductions could essentially come at no net cost to the shipowner, but there’s a lack of regulation and a lack of targeted incentives…
IMO Launches History Book
A book detailing the history of the IMO has been published to mark 75 years since the adoption of the IMO Convention, creating for the first time a global body to promote the safety and security of shipping and the protection of the marine environment.The IMO Convention entered into force in 1958 and the new Organization met for the first time the following year. The IMO's first task was to adopt a new version of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).“Safer shipping…
NAVTOR Revamps Passage Planning Module
NAVTOR announced a breakthrough revamp of its Passage Planning module. Featured in the latest release of NAVTOR’s NavStation planning software (version 6.3), the new module offers expanded automation and auto-calculations, effectively slashing both administration time and the potential for human errors, compliance with the very latest industry standards, enhanced data utilisation, the ability to revise and update plans (rather than creating new ones after voyage deviations/changes)…
Wärtsilä Unveils New Ultra-Low Emissions Engine for Marine Industry
Finland-based marine engine maker Wärtsilä on Wednesday introduced a new ultra-low-emissions version of its Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which was first launched in 2015. According to Wärtsilä, while operating on LNG, this new version can further reduce methane emissions on a 50 percent load point by up to 56 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 86 percent.On a weighted average, this new technology can reduce methane emissions by 41 percent more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine…
Miros Cloud Home App Gets Weather Forecast Layers
Miros, a global ocean insights specialist, said Monday it had advanced its offering to the maritime sector by integrating weather forecast layers into its Miros Cloud Home solution (miros.app)."The new version of Miros Cloud Home incorporates popular weather forecasting conditions from Windy with its proprietary accurate real-time wave, current, and weather measurements, bridging the gap between actual measurements and weather projections," Miros said.According to Miros, the solution…
Shell Shipping, Orca AI Aim to Drive Navigation Innovation
Shell Shipping & Maritime and Orca AI kicked off with a pilot project trialing Tel Aviv-based start-up Orca AI’s maritime navigation platform on a Shell-managed gas tanker. But it has now morphed into a long-term development collaboration resulting in new features that can significantly enhance safety at sea. Here Saurabh Kumar, Project Engineer at Shell Shipping & Maritime, and Dor Raviv, CTO at Orca AI, reflect on outcomes and benefits of the partnership so far.Navigational error resulting in collision or grounding is one of the highest safety risks associated with maritime transport.
NSB Invests in New Simulator
NSB GROUP will work with Wärtsilä on the technical upgrade of the simulator of its NSBacademy. Since 2007 NSB is training Nautical Officers in its own Maritime Training Center. The retrofit for the technical update began in June and is expected to last three months.The NSBacademy has two ship‐handling simulators with a field of view of 270° and 180° respectively. Both units are being completely overhauled. The new Wärtsilä Simulators will include the new version of Navi‐Trainer professional simulation software…
Navy: Swedish Combat Boat 90, Both a Warrior and a Workhorse
The Swedish-built Combat Boat 90 (CB 90) has established itself with military forces around the world as both a warrior and a workhorse. The 52-foot boats first entered service in 1991 as troop carriers with the Swedish Marines, which is still procuring them. There are more than 250 operating worldwide today.These rugged boats are optimized for high-speed / shallow-draft operations in and around Sweden’s many coastal islands, but they have also proven to be ideal for a variety of other applications and operating environments.The CB 90 is 52 feet long, with a draft of just 2 feet 7 inches.
Report: Exxon, SBM Offshore in Talks to Build Fourth FPSO for Guyana
Exxon Mobil is in discussions with Dutch contractor SBM Offshore NV to build a fourth multibillion-dollar production unit to develop its Guyana oil discoveries, two people close to the negotiations said.The talks include the potential for some future platform assembly in Guyana, the people said. Guyana hopes to develop an oil industry infrastructure to boost the economy and job growth. Officials are under pressure to show the potential oil bonanza will be shared with its citizens.The South American country is home to the world's biggest offshore discoveries in years…
Van Oord Orders WTIV for 20MW Offshore Wind Turbines
Dutch marine and offshore services company Van Oord has ordered a new offshore wind turbine installation vessel that will be able to install next-generation wind turbines of up to 20MW. The vessel will be built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Shipyard in China."The jack-up vessel can operate on methanol and install up to 20 MW wind turbines at sea with a very low CO2 footprint. The investment is in line with the increasing global demand for offshore wind farms. The ship is expected to enter the market in 2024…
BIO UV Unveils New BWTS Series
BIO UV Group said it has designed a new series of BIO-SEA ballast water treatment system (BWTS) compatible with flow rate requirements of up to more than 2,100 cubic meters per hour (m3/h).The new M-Series BWTS incorporates a novel reactor arrangement designed to increase the flow rate capacity of existing technology without the need for any manifolds.“This is a huge development in ballast water treatment,” said Xavier Deval, Business Director – BIO-SEA, BIO-UV Group. “With the M-Series we see a significant benefit in terms of size, capacity and installation simplicity.
DSC Dredge Announces New Marlin Class Dredge Design
Reserve, La.-based cutter suction dredge manufacturer DSC Dredge has unveiled a new version of its Marlin Class dredge currently under construction and slated to become available in mid-2021.The newly designed 14-inch underwater pump mining dredge is equipped with a 1,125-horsepower EPA Tier 4-compliant diesel engine and offers 65-foot dredging depth capability. Notably, the dredge is completely transportable via both trucks and intermodal shipping containers.DSC Dredge said its Marlin Class dredges have been its most popular over the last year.
ClassNK Releases new PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Software
ClassNK released the latest version of its design support software PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Ver.8.0.0 developed in response to the IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR BC & OT). The new version incorporates the latest rule amendments to CSR BC & OT including the ones based on feedback from the industry. In addition to the incorporation of the latest rule amendments, various functional improvements are implemented to PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR), which is composed of the prescriptive calculation software and direct strength assessment software, aiming to contribute to the efficiency of design work. In particular,…
Subsea Defense: Navy Deepens Commitment to Underwater Vehicles
The U.S. Navy uses unmanned and robotic underwater vehicles for a multitude of functions, including environmental sensing, mine hunting, and salvage. The Navy plans to evolve an unmanned systems operating concept that is platform agnostic and capable of operating in highly complex contested environments with minimal operator interaction.The most recent edition of the Navy’s Unmanned Systems (UxS) Roadmap was issued in 2018, and a new version is expected in the near future. The 2018 document states that UxS will operate in every domain…
Wave MiniBOSS Bilge Water Separator Systems
A new version of the Wave MiniBOSS IMO separator is now available. The Series II Wave MiniBOSS offers a faster flow rate, providing 0.5m³/hr across all models . All models of the separator are available for DC or AC power.Approved by the IMO, ABS and US Coast Guard, it is MEPC 107 (49) certified for use on all vessels from 400 Gross Tons. The MiniBOSS system ensures that no traces of oil or other pollutants such as microplastics, are discharged overboard thanks to its use of a pre-filter and two Wavestream oil removal filters.The Wave MiniBOSS is a neatly designed bulkhead mounted system.
Alfa Laval Unveils Scrubber for Smaller Ships
Alfa Laval introduced its PureSOx Express, a new version of its open-loop scrubber system delivered as a fully enclosed module and specifically designed for use on board smaller ships.Adapted for a simple and cost-efficient fit, the new system is engineered to reduce the investment cost, engineering time and physical work of installing a SOx scrubber on board vessels such as handymax bulkers or product tankers, where the cost of installing a scrubber for SOx compliance has sometimes…
Marlink Supporting Crews During COVID-19 Pandemic
Satellite communication provider Marlink has launched a range of airtime packages and application solutions to support its customers in the maritime, fishing and offshore industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.The ‘StrongerTogether’ initiative includes connectivity packages such as additional data top-ups, increased bandwidth and free or discounted voice minutes for ship operators to keep the crew onboard connected with their families as well as solutions to enhance remote IT…
SevenCs Upgrades Chart Validation Tool
SevenCs has released a new version of the chart validation tool, 7Cs Analyzer. 7Cs Analyzer Version 4.2. comes with new features to make chart validation more flexible and customizable.Shape File ExportMost chart production tools have a built-in shape file reader. Therefore, we have included a new module in Version 4.2. It gives users the opportunity to save the validation log file in ESRI shape file format. The shape files contain the features that require attention as well as the associated validation messages.
Environmental DNA Emerging in the Ocean Science Community
There is a new buzzword in the ocean science/sensing community. The word is eDNA, an abbreviation for environmental DNA. This refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples without first isolating any target organisms. In the maritime community such samples are taken from water. All living organisms leave traces of DNA in their environments which is an indicator of their presence over time. This DNA is released into the environment through the biological process of living animals or by the decomposition of dead organisms.
ClassNK Debuts PrimeShip-HULL Software
ClassNK released the latest version of its design support software PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) Ver.7.0.0.Developed in response to the IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR BC & OT). The new version incorporates the latest rule amendments to CSR BC & OT including amendments based on feedback from the industry.Various functions were also added or improved in the PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) prescriptive calculation software and direct strength assessment software.Rule Calculation Software• The creation speed of calculation reports significantly increased.
RAL Wins NSFRV Design Gig
Ship and boat designer Robert Allan Ltd has been awarded a contract by the Government of Canada to design a new version of the Near Shore Fishery Research Vessels (NSFRVs) currently operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.The new vessel will be used for fishery research by Fisheries & Oceans Canada and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.The Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet of NSFRVs plays a key role in the delivery of fishery research in Canada’s waterways. Currently, there are four NSFRVs in service.Originally known as Inshore Science Vessels (ISVs), three were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. under the Economic Action Plan (EAP 2009) and entered into service in 2012 as the CCGS Vladykov, CCGS Leim and CCGS M. Perley. The new design is a direct development of these existing Robert Allan Ltd.
New RAscal Tug For United States Navy
Modutech Marine has awarded a contract to Robert Allan Ltd. to design a new version of the commercially successful RAscal 1800-Z tugs for the United States Navy.The new RAscal tug (with an option for one more) will be built by Modutech Marine Inc at their facility in Tacoma. The design for the US Navy will include updates to suit new EPA Tier 4 engines and associated systems, extensive fendering above and below the waterline to handle US Navy surface ships, submarines and barges as well as incorporating feedback from operators of the existing Z-Tech 4500 tugs.
RAL to Design Tug for Modutech Marine
Canadian marine engineering services firm Robert Allan Ltd (RAL) said that it has been awarded a contract by Modutech Marine Inc. of Tacoma, Washington to design a new version of the commercially successful RAscal 1800-Z tugs for the United States Navy.According to the consulting naval architectural firm, this award builds on the success of Robert Allan Ltd.’s Z-Tech 4500 design for the US Navy which currently operates six, identified as the YT 802 Class, and has another six tugs, identified as the YT 808 Class, currently under construction.The new RAscal tug (with an option for one more) will be built by Modutech Marine Inc at their…