Jim Drager News

In extending its adherence to delivering cost-efficient and safety driven technologies, DNV has introduced a new means of quickly and accurately determining steel thickness can speed ship surveys. It is especially valuable in inspecting old and corroded steelwork. Present-day methods, based on ultrasonic thickness measurements, are said to have dubious reliability on heavily corroded plates, and for large vessels are also considered too slow. The basic technological challenge was to transmit 100 percent of the signal energy through corroded steel plates, and receive and interpret the reflected signal to give an accurate thickness measurement. The basic principles of the new measuring method (half-wave resonance) have been known for 40 years.

New emission reduction technology was recently proven in a joint test with Holland America and RINA. The test was conducted aboard Veendam. Pictured is sistership Zaandam. Reduced emissions from diesel engines at sea has become a rallying cry from legislators to ship owners to diesel engine manufacturers to fuel and additive suppliers. Last month a significant milestone in the fight to reduce emissions was achieved, as emission-reduction technology reportedly been tested successfully on Carnival's Holland America (HAL) ship, Veendam. The tests were carried out jointly by Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding, HAL and RINA within a common R&D project. The technology is based on injecting water into fuel to create micro-droplets of emulsified fuel.

Carnival Corporation's Holland America (HAL) ship, the Veendam. within a common R&D project. fuel to create micro-droplets of emulsified fuel. Two pilot units were built and retrofitted on board Veendam. tested in accordance with an on board testing protocol developed by RINA. extremely successful. emissions from the diesel engines as well as a decrease in fuel consumption. without producing visible smoke," he said. emission since the late 1970s. however, because the fuel and water soon separated. plant. after treatment, we re-use it to lower emissions." he explained. European Union nations, United States and Japan by Ing. and owner of Mec System, an Italian company and partner in the R&D project. thermal plants and for public bus transportation. RINA and Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding.

As the world's cruise lines grow exponentially larger and are increasingly falling under the gaze of environmental and regulatory bodies, the push to ensure that ships are run safely, efficiently and environmentally sound gains new importance each day. The world's largest cruise ship company - Carnival Corporation (CCL) - has hooked up with one of the premier builders of marine diesel engines - Wärtsilä NSD - to develop a smokeless diesel-electric propulsion system for cruise ships. Code-named "project enviroengine," prototypes of the new engine are expected to be available later this year for laboratory testing and are expected to be available commercially in 2001. Following successful completion of testing, Carnival plans to utilize those engines on its future newbuilds.

As the world’s cruise lines grow exponentially larger and are increasingly falling under the gaze of environmental and regulatory bodies, the push to ensure that ships are run safely, efficiently and environmentally sound gains new importance each day. The world’s largest cruise ship company -- Carnival Corporation (CCL) -- has hooked up with one of the premier builders of marine diesel engines -- Wärtsilä NSD -- to develop a smokeless diesel-electric propulsion system for cruise ships. Code-named "project enviroengine," prototypes of the new engine are expected to be available later this year for laboratory testing and are expected to be available commercially in 2001. Following successful completion of testing, Carnival plans to utilize those engines on its future newbuilds.

Consolidation in the diesel engine building sector is partly a reflection of the substantial capital expenditure required to maintain product development and technological advance in a business characterized by comparatively low unit margins. By spinning-off new technical solutions arising from the engine design program into upgrading and conversion packages for existing populations of machinery, the manufacturer and licensor can gain more from R&D endeavors. Complementing new engine sales, product releases aimed at plant already in operation represents another stream of payback on heavy investment in technology. The companion effect of the strategy…