Bertram News

The world’s largest container vessel operator A.P. Moller - Maersk will trial an air lubrication system on board one of its vessels to examine possible improvements to overall efficiency, focusing on the reduction of fuel consumption and associated emissions.Technology group Wärtsilä, in cooperation with Silverstream Technologies, will install Silverstream’s proprietary air lubrication system, the Silverstream System, on one of Maersk's owned large container vessels for a trial program that will have a special emphasis on the potential application of the system for methanol-fueled ships.

The technology group Wärtsilä said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) tied to a License and Cooperation agreement with U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies for the future sales and servicing of Rotor Sail solutions to the shipping industry.Rotor Sails, also referred to as Flettner Rotors, are comprised of vertical cylinders which, when driven to rotate, harness the renewable power of the wind to propel ships. These highly efficient mechanical sails capitalize on…

Industry stakeholders at PortPIC stressed the importance of more innovation, collaboration and aligned initiatives to shape sustainable solutions for in-water cleaning.This was the main message from the inaugural In-Port Inspection & Cleaning Conference (PortPIC) held last week, organized by Jotun and DNV GL.In his opening address, Geir Axel Oftedahl, business development director, Jotun Marine Coatings raised the issue of biofouling and emphasized, “There’s an increasing focus…

German shipping group Rickmers, which filed for insolvency in June, said on Thursday its ship management unit had the all-clear to continue business after it was bought by Bremen-based Zeaborn Group and owner Bertram Rickmers. The company said in a statement that a consortium consisting of Zeaborn and Bertram Rickmers bought the division, which has its main sites in Hamburg, Singapore and Cyprus after they won a bidding process. "It has only taken a few months after preliminary self-administration of the assets of Rickmers Holding AG was ordered to find a solution for continuing the business…

German shipping group Rickmers said it had filed for insolvency on Thursday, a day after it announced that its restructuring plan had failed to win approval of bondholder HSH Nordbank.   "The insolvency application was filed this morning, and the court has confirmed that it has received it," the company said in an e-mailed statement, adding that it could not yet predict further developments.   Rickmers had proposed a revamp plan under which the equity stake of owner Bertram Rickmers was to be reduced to 24.9 percent, while bondholders, HSH Nordbank and potentially another bank would hold 75.1 percent.   But it said late on Wednesday that HSH had "highly surprisingly" rejected that plan, forcing it to file for insolvency.   Reporting by Jan Schwartz

German shipping group Rickmers said it would file for insolvency after bondholder HSH Nordbank rejected its restructuring plan a day ahead of a last-ditch bondholders' meeting. Rickmers had proposed a revamp plan under which the equity stake of owner Bertram Rickmers was to be reduced to 24.9 percent, while bondholders, HSH Nordbank and potentially another bank would hold 75.1 percent. But HSH "highly surprisingly" rejected that plan, Rickmers said in a statement on Wednesday. "According to the assessment of the management board and supervisory board of Rickmers Holding AG the positive going concern prognosis of Rickmers Holding AG does therefore no longer apply," it said, adding its management board would file for insolvency without undue delay.

Marco Bibuli was announced as the winner of the DNV GL COMPIT Award 2017 for smart underwater robotics, which took place in Cardiff this year. The Italian maritime robotics expert, working at the Italian research center CNR-ISSIA in Genova, was honored for his work on team-capable smart robots. “The jury singled out Marco Bibuli, because his work brought advanced techniques of Artificial Intelligence to practical applications, representing innovative engineering at its finest. Through a combination of machine vision, machine learning and cybernetics (control engineering), Bibuli has developed the project through to the first field testing stages.

Only 17.4 percent of Rickmers' bondholders took part in a vote on the company's restructuring plan on Wednesday, fewer than the minimum required. Under the proposed revamp plan, the equity stake of owner Bertram Rickmers would be reduced to 24.9 percent from 100 percent.

Following last month’s news that Singapore Based Rickmers Maritime Trust is to be wound up, Rickmers Holding AG released a statement on April 19 reporting that an understanding had been reached regarding restructuring of the Rickmers Group. It is understood that sole shareholder Bertram Rickmers will reduce his shareholding to below 25 percent, while the remaining 75 percent will be taken by lenders and bondholders. The value today of the Rickmers Group (a Rickmers Holding AG subsidiary) sits at $740 million, according to VesselsValue.

Cyber security threats have increased over the past few years in the maritime industry. Together with DNV GL, Seagull now offers an immediate solution to help train staff to be cyber secure. With the increasing use of systems with embedded software on ships and mobile offshore platforms, cyber security is becoming critical not only for data protection, but also for reliable operations. According to Symantec Security Response, “You don’t need as many technical skills to find one person who might be willing…

Marking further consolidation in the breakbulk and project cargo sector, Rickmers Group said it has sold its business operations of Rickmers-Linie to ZEABORN. Rickmers-Linie GmbH & Cie. KG and MCC Marine Consulting & Contracting GmbH & Cie. KG, which are both fully-owned by Rickmers Holding AG, reached agreement to sell their respective operating businesses to ZEABORN Chartering GmbH & Co. KG on February 7, 2017. The planned sale, subject to the approval of the financing banks of the Rickmers Group and subject to anti-trust authorities…

To spur development and raise awareness for hull performance monitoring, DNV GL and paint manufacturer Jotun are inviting industry stakeholders to the second Hull Performance & Insight Conference (HullPIC). Hull performance monitoring solutions offer significant fuel savings potential and have prompted growing interest from the maritime industry. This year, the HullPIC conference will take place in Castle Ulrichshusen, in Germany, from 27 to 29 March. Some of the topics to be discussed include the ISO 19030 standard for hull and propeller performance as well as common challenges and solutions that can help shipowners realize potential fuel savings. “We look forward to welcoming industry stakeholders to Castle Ulrichshusen. Our first HullPIC conference last year was a great success.

C. Raymond Hunt Associates, a boat design firm that continues to expand on the legacy of its founder, C. Raymond Hunt, to produce innovative boats with rugged seaworthiness, is now celebrating its 50th year. “Ray Hunt was a genius, able to intuitively know how boats work and with the courage to experiment,” said C. Raymond Hunt Associates President, Winn Willard. “We have taken Ray's ideas and applied them, honing our expertise and knowledge from the days of the early deep-v hulls. Now we have an 11-meter RIB on virtually every large ship in the U.S.

Autonomous ships, smart on-board systems: At the Maritime Future Summit on September 5, industry leaders will discuss the future of shipping. For the first time SMM hosts a conference dedicated to digital shipping. Cyber Ships: What may sound like a word from a science fiction novel to some is a hot topic in the maritime business world today. Low-crew and no-crew concepts are buzzwords in the shipping sector, and some initial trials with unmanned ships are already being undertaken. “Visionary ideas drive the evolution of humanity, and the maritime industry is no exception.

Hull performance monitoring solutions can offer significant fuel savings potential, a fact that is prompting growing interest from the maritime industry. To spur development and increase awareness of this exciting field, DNV GL and paint manufacturer Jotun have created the Hull Performance & Insight Conference (HullPIC), to take place for the first time this year in Castello di Pavone, Italy from April 13-15. The conference will examine standards for hull and propeller performance as well as the common challenges and solutions that can help shipowners realize potential fuel savings. “It is a great opportunity for industry stakeholders to come together to share operational experiences and discuss common challenges within hull performance and performance monitoring…

The 14th International Conference on Computer and IT Applications in the Maritime Industries (COMPIT) will take place from 11th to 13th May 2015 in Ulrichshusen, Germany. First held in the year 2000, COMPIT has established itself as a key conference in information technology (IT) for the maritime industries, bringing together software developers and users. Most participants come from industry, reflecting the practical relevance of the event. DNV GL will be the main sponsor of the event which covers the lifecycle of ships, offshore structures and equipment, from design to operation. E-navigation (or sea traffic management) could be considered as the maritime equivalent of air traffic control systems.

Singapore-listed Rickmers Maritime Trust (RTM) will have a new ceo at the helm in June this year. Its CEO Thomas Preben Hansen has resigned from his post. Soren Andersen, a shipping executive with 17 years of experience at AP Moller-Maersk Group and American President Lines, will take over the helm. Hansen has held the role of ceo at RTM since its listing on the Singapore Exchange in May 2007. Andersen is currently head of global network and alliance, following a 15 years at AP Moller – Maersk. Andersen started his career with AP Moller-Maersk in Denmark in 1997 after graduating with a Master of Science in Business Administration, marking the beginning of an illustrious career with the group in various operational, marketing, and strategic positions.

U.K.-based Christie & Grey, Ltd., a company in vibration mitigation technology, announced it is celebrating a century of developing vibration and shock isolation solutions for a wide variety of industries. The present company evolved from the British Anti-Vibration & Noise Co Ltd and Typhoon Mixer Co, two firms formed by British engineer Robert Bertram Grey in 1912. At that time, most of the business was focused on Typhoon Mixer Co, which designed equipment principally used in the mixing and agitation of industrial chemicals.

Ballast water management poses problems in design and operation of ships. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) offers solutions with design, type approval and trouble-shooting. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) denotes collectively techniques for solving equations describing the physics of fluid flow. CFD is by now widely known and accepted in the maritime industry, but mostly associated with flows around the hull and propellers, for example in the context of designing more fuel-efficient ships. However, CFD is in many ways far more versatile than classical model testing.

"As we close the 2012 books, we have every reason to be satisfied with the Trust’s positive results," says Rickmers chairman. Extracts from chairman, Bertram R.C. The business performed well operationally, with all sixteen [container] vessels generating strong revenues. Rickmers Maritime, being specifically structured around long-term fixed-rate time charter contracts, is largely insulated from the renewed pressure on time charter rates. The challenges to our industry are by no means over.

U.K. based Christie & Grey, Ltd., a leader in vibration mitigation technology is celebrating a century of developing high performance, cost-effective vibration and shock isolation solutions for a wide variety of industries. The present company evolved from the British Anti-Vibration & Noise Co Ltd and Typhoon Mixer Co, two firms formed by British engineer Robert Bertram Grey in 1912. At that time most of the business was focused on Typhoon Mixer Co, which designed equipment principally used in the mixing and agitation of industrial chemicals. The British Anti-Vibration & Noise Company (BAV&N Co) was involved in the development of a natural cork isolation mat (a product trade named Coresil) used to isolate electrical power generators from their foundations.

Bertram Yacht relocates its productiion facility from Miami to Merritt Island. Florida Bertram's announced the move to 160 people at its press conference, who toured the  facility. “We searched over 30 locations and Merritt Island proved to be the best of the best”, said President of Bertram Yacht, Alton Herndon. We specifically chose Merritt Island because of the state-of-the art boat manufacturing facility and marina which is situated on a 37-acre site and provides significant opportunity for future expansion of the Bertram brand; a wonderful community with great employees that have boat building experience or can easily be taught boat building skills; and the fact that it allows us to continue our history in the state of Florida”, added Herndon.

In a letter to unitholders introducing its 2013 financial results, the chairman and the CEO of Rickmers Maritime, state that its commitment to long-term, fixed-rate container ship time charter agreements has provided insulation from the continued pressure on time charter rates, and 2013 saw an excellent operational performance, with a 99.7% vessel utilisation rate. "The decisions taken on the Rights Issue, the deleveraging of the business, and the multicurrency medium term note (MTN) programme ensure that the Trust enters the new year on a stronger footing.