Machinery Plants News

Classification Society ClassNK has concluded a joint research agreement for developing advanced condition-based maintenance (CBM), a new maintenance and management process for engine machinery plants, and establishing a new classification survey scheme based on CBM.In the joint research project, engine conditions will be continuously monitored and involve the real-time sharing of detailed data acquired from sources including SIMS2 developed by NYK Group and the newly installed sensors of large main engines.

Machinery plant maintenance represents a major expense for ship operators. In addition to normal maintenance expenditures, unexpected breakdowns have a significant cost impact. Recognizing the importance of preventing equipment failures, companies continue to adopt automation for machinery monitoring at a rapid pace. Continual improvements in the price/performance ratio of automation systems have also fueled their increased use in shipboard machinery plant monitoring. As a result, more ships with automated machinery plants exist today than ever before. However, just as a typical Internet search can easily create "information overload", so too can process automation create a "data overload" situation for the engineering crews responsible for equipment operation and maintenance.

The latest testament to Finnish cruise ship building prowess is embodied in the recently delivered Carnival Spirit, a ship that will become well-known not only for what it contains within, but for what it does not let out. Carnival Spirit, newbuilding no. 499, was built at Kvaerner Masa-Yards' Helsinki New Shipyard for Carnival Cruise Lines, and is the second ship in a series of "Panamax-Max" size ship. (The first, Costa Atlantica for Costa Crociere, was delivered in June 2000). Interestingly, the ship is unique because of its similarity to other vessels. The joint development of the Spirit-class series actually started in the mid-1990s, with KMY presenting its "Project 8000" vision to Carnival in 1994.