Aero News

RINA has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for Blue Wasp Marine’s Pelican performance prediction software for wind-assisted ships.With this, Pelican has become the first software of its kind to have received class recognition.Pelican, the product of over 10 years of PhD research, is able to simulate the performance of a ship equipped with wind propulsion technologies using specific wind conditions and sea states. Pelican features a built-in force module for both aero- and hydrodynamics.

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…

Manama, Bahrain -- Advancing maritime domain awareness in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) is a challenging task. Yet keeping the sea lanes open is critical for the region, for the U.S. and the world.U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) are all headquartered here in Bahrain, under the command of Vice Admiral Brad Cooper. U.S. Fifth Fleet oversees the operations for all U.S. naval forces in the Middle East.

U.S. 5th Fleet began a three-week unmanned and artificial intelligence integration event in Bahrain, Nov. 23, that will involve employing new platforms in the region for the first time.The event, called Digital Horizon, will advance the command’s efforts to integrate new unmanned technologies while establishing the world’s first unmanned surface vessel fleet by end of next summer. U.S. 5th Fleet’s efforts are focused on improving what U.S. and regional navies are able to see above, on and below the water.“I am excited about the direction we are headed,” said Vice Adm.

Marine engineering consultancy BAR Technologies (BAR) announced that Simon Roberts, former Williams Racing Managing Director and Team Principal, has joined the business as Chief Operating Officer. Roberts will work alongside the BAR senior leadership team of Chief Executive, John Cooper, Chief Technical Officer, Simon Schofield and Head of Engineering, Lauren Eatwell.Prior to joining BAR, Roberts forged a career across a broad range of engineering sub sectors, comprising engines and drivetrains…

Shipping group CMA CGM on Friday announced the creation of an air freight division, backed by the acquisition of four cargo planes, as it continues to expand its non-maritime activities.The new unit, called CMA CGM Air Cargo, will use the four Airbus A330-200F cargo planes acquired by CMA CGM along with partnerships with airlines to develop worldwide coverage, the group said in a statement.The price of the planes, which originally went into service between 2014 and 2016, was not disclosed.CMA CGM is due to take delivery of the planes next month, a spokesman added.French-based CMA CGM, one of t

Norway-based Brødrene Aa said it has signed a shipbuilding contract with Attica Group, subject to clauses, for three AERO type high-speed catamaran passenger vessels.The three vessels will be 36 meters in length, carry 150 passengers and operate at a maximum speed of 34 knots. The light carbon fiber construction contributes to low fuel consumption and emissions, Brødrene Aa said, adding that the vessels will be equipped with solar panels that will generate the energy required for lighting and energy consumption of the accommodation areas…

As the cruise industry continues to prosper, so too does Survitec, a specialist in marine evacuation systems (MES). Survitec has a history of more than 160 years, with 2020 marking the centenary since RFD, now part of Survitec, was founded.The story of RFD’s technology dates back to 1920 with the introduction of an aircraft flotation product, essentially an inflatable ring, to prevent planes sinking when ditched. This technology quickly evolved to become dual purpose also providing a means to rescue aircrew in an emergency.As technologies and methodologies became more sophisticated…

GE Marine's LM2500+G4 gas turbine will  power the Italian Navy’s new Paolo Thaon di Revel Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura (PPA) a hybrid-electric, multipurpose offshore patrol ship that was launched in mid-June and will be delivered in 2021.Being built at Fincantieri Shipyard in Muggiano – La Spezia, Italy, the PPA patrol ship will serve multiple functions from patrol with sea rescue capacity to civil protection operations. It is 133 meters long and can carry 90 crew members with additional accommodations for up to 171 members.

Naval Group has launched the seventh multi-mission FREMM frigate for the French Navy from a specialist facility in Lorient.Known as Alsace, the vessel is the first of the two air defence frigates under the FREMM programme  – Multi-Mission European Frigates – for the French Navy and the ninth multi-missions FREMM frigate.Thirteen months after the keel laying of the first block, the FREMM DA Alsace is released from the construction form of the Naval Group site of Lorient. Ninth multi-missions FREMM frigate, it is also the seventh one for the French Navy, ordered by the OCCAr on behalf of the DGA..In order to answer the operational requirements…

The engineering and manufacturing giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group (MHI Group) said it has completed successive technical qualification, conducted by oil majors and engineering companies on Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems’ 120MW H-100 Gas Turbine.To date, major LNG players, including ExxonMobil, Shell, Total, along with key engineering contractors such as Bechtel, have all completed extensive qualification studies on Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems' 120MW H-100 Gas Turbine for use as the mechanical driver in conjunction with well-proven compressors of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor Corporation."Acceptance of our LNG Solution by customers around the globe is a real boost for the MHI team"…

GE Marine will provide gas turbine auxiliary equipment for the LM2500 engines that will power the Indian Navy’s new P17A frigates. This contract is with India-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE), GE reported today at the Aero India trade exhibition.Under the contract, GE will provide gas turbine auxiliary equipment for seven ships to support the 14 LM2500 engines previously supplied under a separate contract.

As maritime operators deal with challenging operating conditions, many are embracing digitalization as the most reliable way to lower operational costs and improve vessel efficiency.According to research conducted by Lloyds List Intelligence and Ovum, two-thirds of vessels use digitalization systems onboard. According to the executives surveyed, this is being driven by a desire to improve operating efficiency, with 88 percent already working toward that goal. As part of the process…

Rolls-Royce (RR.L) said it would exceed its 2020 guidance as it announced new ambitious mid-term goals, sending its shares to four-year highs and reflecting investor faith that CEO Warren East can transform Britain’s best known engineering firm.The maker of engines for civil planes, military jets and ships has been in turnaround mode since 2015. Having on Thursday announced plans to cut 4,600 jobs as part of cost-saving measures, it told shareholders on Friday the foundations…

Federico Martinengo, the seventh multipurpose FREMM frigate recently delivered to the Italian Navy by shipyard Fincantieri, like all 10 ships in the new Carlos Bergamini-class FREMM frigate program, features the power dense GE LM2500+G4 gas turbine in a COmbined Diesel eLectric And Gas turbine (CODLAG) propulsion system.In 2013, Fincantieri delivered the first Italian FREMM, Carlo Bergamini. In addition to the Italian FREMM frigates, DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France, is well underway having delivered six FREMM frigates in a 10-ship program.

Britain's Rolls-Royce said it had agreed to sell its Germany-based diesel parts maker L'Orange to U.S.-based engineering company Woodward Inc for 700 million euros ($859 million), as part of a plan to simplify its business. Rolls CEO Warren East has been trying to streamline the company during his nearly three years in charge as part of a turnaround plan to counter declines in some of its older aero-engine programmes and plunging demand for oil equipment. The company said on Monday that L'Orange would continue as a key supplier to its power systems business…

Britain's Rolls-Royce said on Wednesday it was considering the sale of its commercial marine business, which has been hit by weak demand in offshore oil and gas markets, as part of a restructuring of the company into three core units. Shares in the company jumped after it said the loss-making unit could be sold. They were trading up 7.2 percent at 1330 GMT. The announcement came as part of a restructuring of the aero-engine maker into civil aerospace, defence and power systems units, with naval marine and nuclear submarines consolidated into defence and civil nuclear into power systems. Chief Executive Warren East said the latest overhaul would enable the company to respond quicker to meet the needs of its customers…

Vessel sales for April 2017 (as of May 1) as prepared by Shipping Intelligence, Inc., New York.

CFD simulations of offshore oil and gas platforms are used to predict the maximum wind loads acting on the structure of the platform topsides (the upper half of the platform, above sea level and outside the splash zone, including the oil production plant, the accommodation block and any drilling equipment). The wind loads are used as waves and current loads to design the mooring of the structure, and can be significant in specific ocean areas. Because platform topside geometries were traditionally considered too complex to mesh in high detail…

Rolls-Royce said it has won a contract to supply MT30 marine gas turbines to power the next three ships in the Republic of Korea Navy’s Daegu-class frigate program. The frigates are intended for a variety of missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, patrol, surveillance, search and rescue, protection of EEZ and transport. In all Eight Daegu-class frigates (also known as FFX Batch 2) are scheduled to be built, the first of which is being built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) and was launched at DSME's Okpo shipyard in June 2016.

Satellite-based connectivity has always played a critical role for the maritime sector. As the communications expectations of ship owners, passengers and crews continue to grow, maritime service providers are seeing a transformation in the type and quantity of applications that need to be supported at sea. The advent of VSAT broadband services is driving a shift away from traditional, low-level L-band connections that ship operators have relied upon for decades. VSAT services are preferred to respond to the demand for high-speed broadband that can support bandwidth-intensive applications.

The first of Rolls-Royce’ series of ship intelligence experience spaces has opened to show customers, suppliers and partners how the latest digital solutions can transform the marine industry. Opened in Ålesund, Norway, the Intelligent Asset Management (IAM) experience space sets out to demonstrate how ship intelligence systems can harness the “power of data” to optimize fleet operations, reduce operating costs and improve maintenance procedures, Rolls-Royce said. The IAM space provides an area for Rolls-Royce customers to validate the advantages of using IAM systems…