Marine Link
Monday, March 18, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Speed Craft News

12 Jun 2023

MSC 107: SOLAS Amendments Adopted and Titanic Remembered

Source: IMO

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held its 107th session from May 31 to June 9, 2023.Highlights of the meeting included the adoption of amendments to the LSA Code and MSC.81(70) Revised recommendation on the testing of life-saving appliances for the ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats. ABS reports that the Committee adopted Resolution MSC.533(107) introducing amendments to the LSA Code to provide performance requirements that will require totally enclosed lifeboats to provide a means of ventilation operable from inside the lifeboat at a rate of not less than 5 m3/hour per personā€¦

10 Apr 2023

Austal to Develop Hydrogen-fueled High-speed Ferry

(Image: Gotlandsbolaget)

Australian shipbuilding group Austal will develop a high-speed that runs on hydrogen fuel under a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sweden's Gotlandsbolaget (Gotland Company).A 130-meter-long high-speed catamaran able to operate on hydrogen and other fossil-free fuels, the new vessel Horizon X will be able to run at 35 knots, while transporting 1,650 passengers and up to 450 vehicles.Håkan Johansson, CEO of Gotland, said, ā€This is an important step in our climate journey.

27 Mar 2023

Majestic Fast Ferry Welcomes Trio of Vessels

Image courtesy Incat Crowther

Singaporeā€™s Majestic Fast Ferry Pte has welcomed the arrival of three new Incat Crowther-designed passenger ferries: Majestic Peace, Majestic Spirit and Majestic Flair are the first of a fleet of nine Generation 2 Incat Crowther 39s vessels to be added to Majesticā€™s fleet.Built in Indonesian shipyard PT Cahaya Samudra Shipyard, the 39-m ferries are capable of transporting 312 passengers at speeds of up to 32 knots. The main deck seats all 312 passengers in air-conditioned comfortā€¦

26 Jan 2023

Interview: Brendan Smith, President, Seaward Services

Brendan Smith (Photo: Seaward Services)

Brendan Smith brings more than a decade of maritime experience to his role as president of Seaward Services, a marine services company specializing in the operation, maintenance and repair of government and privately owned vessels. The company is part of the Hornblower Group.During his 6.5 years with the U.S. Navy, he served aboard the nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe, and his roles included chemistry and radiological controls assistant (CRA), quality assurance officer (QAO) and combat operations instructor.

22 Sep 2022

Roundtable: North American Naval Architects Weigh In

From left: Mike Fitzpatrick, president, Robert Allan Ltd.; Jeff Bowles, director, DLBA Naval Architects; and Rich Mueller, president and CEO, NETSCo.

Marine News spoke to leaders at three North American naval architecture and marine engineering firms about some of the latest trends impacting their business today. Mike Fitzpatrick, president, Robert Allan Ltd.; Jeff Bowles, director, DLBA Naval Architects; and Rich Mueller, president and CEO, NETSCo., weigh in on topics such as digitalization, decarbonization and the naval architect talent pool.How do you view the maritime industryā€™s ongoing shifts in areas such as digitalization and decarbonizationā€¦

19 Sep 2022

MAN 175D Propulsion Chosen for New High-speed Ferry

(Image: Austal)

The Austal shipyard in Vietnam has ordered 4 × 16V175D-MM engines, delivering 2,720 kW at 1,800 rpm for water-jet propulsion, in connection with the building of a high-speed catamaran ferry for customer, the Degage Group. The 66-meter, 574-passenger ferry is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2023 and will operate as the Apetahi Express between Papeā€™ete (Tahiti) and Vaitape (Bora Bora) in French Polynesia. The new ferry will have a contracted top speed of 35.8 knots and a range of 360 nautical miles.Tuanua Degageā€¦

06 Sep 2022

Sperry Marine Debuts Self-tuning Autopilot

(Image: Sperry Marine)

Sperry Marine has unveiled NAVIPILOT 4500N, a networked, self-tuning, fully adaptive heading control system. The first in a new series of autopilot systems, NAVIPILOT 4500N is designed to deliver improved course-keeping with reduced fuel consumption and a lower workload on the bridge, the company said.NAVIPILOT 4500N delivers the heading control performance that users expect from Sperry Marine, minimizing unwanted rudder motion and lowering drag, thereby saving fuel and contributing to greater efficiency.

22 Jul 2022

Donald L Blount: 1935 - 2022

Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87.Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin, the Navy's premier hydrodynamic research facility.Donaldā€™s research contributionsā€¦

01 Jun 2022

Brendan Smith Takes the Helm as President, Seaward Services

Hornblower Group announced today that Brendan Smith, formerly VP of Engineering, NYC Ferry, has been named President of Seaward Services, Inc.  Photo courtesy Hornblower Group

Hornblower Group announced that Brendan Smith, formerly VP of Engineering, NYC Ferry, has been named President of Seaward Services, Inc. Smith replaces John Keever, who has retired after 50 years in the industry, and will report to Scott Thornton, COO of Hornblower Groupā€™s Ferries and Transportation Division.As President of Seaward Services, Inc., Smith will oversee the operation and maintenance of both government and privately owned craft, including High-Speed Craft, Range Craft, Experimental Craft, Training Craft, Research Vessels and Unmanned Surface Vessels.

16 Dec 2022

Marell Boats, Scania Develop Hybrid Interceptor

Ā©Marell

Sweden-based Marell Boats and Scania Power Solutions are working to develop what they say is are next-generation sustainable and technologically advanced vessels as they prepare the launch of the M17 Patrol vessel with a hybrid driveline. The companies said they were collaborating to create "a sustainable and state-of-the-art vessel to meet the increased demand for hybrid solutions." According to the two firms, the M17 Patrol will become the most energy-efficient hybrid high-speedā€¦

25 Jan 2022

Pandemic Setback Strengthens Resolve to Remain Positive

Ā© Udo Ingber / Adobe Stock

Interferry CEO Mike Corrigan looks beyond the latest COVID-19 complications to explain why the global trade association has reasons to believe the industryā€™s future is ultimately secure.If I had been writing this column just a few weeks earlier than late December, my opening remarks would have been decidedly upbeat. After two devastating years under the cloud of COVID-19, the pandemic seemed to be in ever-growing retreat and the passenger ferry sector was poised to turn the corner toward ā€˜business as normalā€™ in 2022.Now, however, that hope has been somewhat diluted by a single word: Omicron.

17 Jan 2022

Incat Tasmania to Build High-speed Ferry for South Korea

(Image: Incat Tasmania)

Australian high speed craft builder Incat Tasmania announced Monday it has been awarded a contract to build a new fast ferry for Daezer Construction of South Korea. Work on the new 76-meter craft has already commenced with delivery scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.The high speed ferry will operate for Daezer on the line between Pohang and Ulleung, an island 117 nautical miles off the eastern coast of South Korea where the main economic activity is tourism.Incat Tasmaniaā€¦

24 May 2021

JRC/Alphatron Marine Unveils New Autopilot System

(Image: JRC/Alphatron Marine)

JRC/Alphatron Marine announced the launch of a new autopilot system engineered to make vessels safer and more efficient.The adaptable AlphaPilot MFS-VR uses speed and draft information and it is suitable for multiple vessel types, including workboats, fast crew tender vessels, fishing boats, tugs, pleasure craft and more. As a successor to the AlphaSeaPilot MFC and MFA system, this new pilot can be used to retrofit and previous models or any other autopilot.The new MFS-VR is a speed adaptive, type approved and wheelmarked autopilot system.

21 May 2021

New Vessel Shock Monitoring Systems Unveiled

(Image: Allsalt Maritime)

Allsalt Maritime announced the launch of four new Kinetix models of shock monitoring systems, each designed to provide easily assimilated guidance for maritime professionals to operate safely within designated shock and vibration exposure limits, reducing the risk of damage to vessels or injury to occupants.High speed watercraft and their crews experience severe shock and vibration levels when operating at sea. Vessel hulls, onboard equipment and, most importantly, human occupantsā€¦

23 Feb 2021

CWind's Next-Gen Offshore Wind Crew Transfer Vessel Launched

Credit: CWind

CWind, offshore wind crew transfer specialist, on Tuesday announced the delivery of what it described as "the worldā€™s first hybrid-powered Surface Effect Ship (SES)," the CWind Pioneer crew transfer vessel.CWind said that the crew transfer vessel, with 24 passenger capacity, was developed in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located further offshore. "The CWind Pioneerā€¦

22 Sep 2020

ABS and Israel Shipyards Trial 3D Model Process

(Image: ABS)

Classification society ABS said it is working with Israel Shipyards to approve the shipbuilder's 3D models as part of plan review of its 45-meter multi-mission Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).ā€œIsrael Shipyards is our latest partner where we have been able to demonstrate how ABS can support the design and class review process using 3D models. This exciting project is another building block in our development of an end-to-end paperless class process, which is seeing us work with leading shipbuilders all over the world to realize the benefits of digital class for the industryā€¦

18 Aug 2020

ABS Grants AiP for Crew Transfer Vessel for U.S. Offshore Wind Ops

Image Credit: Chartwell Marine

BAR Technologies and Chartwell Marine have received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the design and construction of a BAR 30m crew transfer vessel (CTV) aimed for operations in the growing U.S. offshore wind sector.In a joint statement on Tuesday, BAR and Chartwell said that securing AiP offered the highest level of assurance that these innovative vessel designs will be built in-line with specific US requirements. "As part of the AiP processā€¦

08 Jul 2020

Austal Delivers Fast Ferry Bajamar Express to Fred. Olsen Express

(Photo: Austal)

Shipbuilder Austal Australia has delivered a new 118-meter fast ferry to Fred. Olsen Express.The high-speed trimaran ferry Bajamar Express is the first of two identical vessels ordered by Fred. Olsen Express in a ā‚¬126 million ($142.8 million) contract in October 2017. The second vessel, Bañaderos Express, is under construction at Austal Philippines shipyard in Balamban, Cebu, and is scheduled for delivery in the first half of 2021.Capable of transporting 1,100 passengers and 276 cars at a cruising speed of more than 37 knots, the new trimaran ferries for Fred.

06 Jul 2020

Selecting Crew Comms for High-speed Craft

(Photo: David Clark Company)

Headset communications on board workboats in harsh marine environments are subject to a variety of challenges: background noise from loud engines and high wind turbulence around the microphone and the highly corrosive salt and spray in marine environments. On board rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and high-speed craft (HSC) that pound through rough waters at 60 knots ā€“ including a variety of patrol boats and interceptor/interdiction vessels ā€“ critical communication can be rendered all but impossible.

19 Nov 2019

New System Measures Shock Mitigation

Photo: CDG

CDG Coast Dynamics Group, Ltd. introduced KINETIX, a vessel and crew monitoring program for high-speed craft, designed to enable  maritime agencies to optimize their shock mitigation strategies using more complete data, more easily comply with legislation, and keep their personnel and assets safer.KINETIX consists of lab-quality, marine-grade sensors that integrate with the vesselā€™s shock mitigation seating, while specialized software records data in a compact, marinized housing.

14 Nov 2019

Damen Collaborative Project on SAR

Dutch shipbuilding conglomerate Damen Shipyards Group, in collaboration with the compatriot high tech company Delft Dynamics and Next Ocean, has trialed a new approach to Search and Rescue (SAR) in the North Sea.The collaboration involved qualification testing of Delft Dynamics RH3 drone (RH-3 Swift), along with a fast rescue boat launched from a Damen Sea Axe Fast Crew Supply (FCS) Vessel equipped with Next Oceanā€™s wave and vessel motion predictor.The goal was to test the limits of drone helicopter operations offshore; a significant project given the notable size of the drone involved. The test was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defenceā€¦

25 Oct 2019

Austal Wins New Ferry Order from Molslinjen

Perth-based ship manufacturer, Austal has penned a contract for the design and construction of a 115 meter, high-speed catamaran for Molslinjen of Denmark.The contract worth A$136 million is a follow-up order to the 109 meter high-speed catamaran Express 4, delivered to Molslinjen in January 2019, the new Auto Express 115 will be the largest ferry (by volume) ever built by Austal.The vessel will be fitted with a new generation of medium speed engines that are LNG compatible, and is designed with the potential to upgrade to LNG fuel in the future.Construction will commence in the third quarter of 2020 and delivery of the vessel will be in the first quarter of 2022.

02 Sep 2019

Austal, Fred. Olsen Partner on Trimarans

Australian-based global ship building company Austal and the UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line Fred. Olsen have partnered on two next generation trimarans with advanced environmental credentials.Starting with the design process, Austalā€™s R&D team used optimized lightweight structures and the benefits of Austalā€™s ongoing weight reduction program to reduce the power required to achieve the vesselā€™s high speed.This results in significantly lower emissions from the main engines compared to a steel vessel equivalent. In addition, all-aluminum vessels do not require the same corrosion protection required in steel vessels, eliminatingā€¦

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week