Bundesamt News

The Schottel TransverseThruster with elastically mounted well installation reduces sound emissions by up to 11 dB, according to the manufacturer, with the added bonus of minimized underwater noise, too. The particularly low-vibration design of the STT is suitable for vessels of all types and sizes.In addition to reduced sound generation from the propeller and its surrounding structure, the well installation brings another advantage: since the propulsion unit is not welded to the vessel structure, flexible access to the unit is possible.

Damen Shipyards Group and the German Bundesamt fur Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr on Friday signed the contract for the construction of four MKS-180 frigates for the German Navy. Damen is the main contractor for this complex project which it is undertaking, together with partners Blohm+Voss and Thales, in Germany.The combination of companies was previously declared the winner of a European tender; the largest in the history of the German Navy. On June 17, the necessary financial resources were released by the German Bundestag budget committee.

The energy advisory and certification body DNV GL has awarded Iberdrola Renovables Offshore Deutschland GmbH the project certificate for its Wikinger offshore wind farm.The 350 megawatt offshore wind farm project located in the German Baltic sea is fully certified for safe and reliable power generation.The certification was carried out according to the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH – Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) and covers all stages of the design assessment and implementation phase of the wind turbines, offshore substation including their support structures and the array power cables.The wind farm is located in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic sea…

Norwegian testing and advisory company DNV GL said it awarded the Arkona Offshore Wind Farm with the project certificate.The certification was carried out according to the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH – Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie) standard BSH7005 and covers all stages of the project development from design planning over construction to commissioning.The project certificate confirms all relevant safety features of the wind farm and validates the technical and quality compliance with the BSH standard requirements, to ensure a safe and reliable power supply.Located in the Baltic sea, the Arkona project is 35 kilometres northeast of the German island of Rügen.

While orders for new vessels have continued to decline worldwide in 2017, the situation in the German and European shipbuilding market is different, with an increase of incoming orders. As shipping experts state: “…this is not a trend but a snapshot, but it indicates a high competitiveness of the German shipbuilding industry, particularly on technologically advanced projects.”The global mood barometer of the maritime industry had reached its lowest point in 2016. From the abyss confidence and order have carefully increased…

As the maritime world increasingly mulls alternative fuel and propulsion solutions, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News discusses the path ahead for (liquefied natural gas (LNG) with Timo Koponen, VP, Flow & Gas Solutions, Gas and LNG, Wärtsilä. The road toward acceptance of LNG as marine fuel has neither been short nor straight, but anyone who knows this market could not reasonably expect anything different. “Even though it (LNG) is very well proven both from the technology side and its benefit to the environment, nevertheless there are too many people who still doubt,” said Koponen.

The Fassmer shipyard in Germany is currently cinstructing a new research vessel to be owned by Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH), the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. The new 75-meter-long ship, the Atair, will replace her 30 year old namesake, and will be the first German research vessel operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel. The engines for the new vessel will be supplied by Wärtsilä, who will also supply exhaust cleaning systems based on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology and the LNGPac system for complete fuel gas handling.

New cooperation provides manufacturers of ballast water management systems (BWMS) with an opportunity to obtain German and U.S. NSF International, the first Independent Laboratory (IL) designated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to evaluate and test ballast water management systems (BWMS) for U.S. type approval, can now provide BWMS testing to Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH)) requirements, which are based on International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines. BWMS manufacturers may now submit for required type approvals to NSF International IL and in parallel to BSH using the same set of test data. This will reduce test costs and approval time and allow ships to navigate to U.S.

An independent consultancy and software development company will launch a new web and PC based navigational charting app at Ocean Business 2015. Norcom Technology Limited said its eChart software combines up to date information from different sources including wreck, cable, tide and geographical data for navigational charts, making it suited for use by companies carrying out desktop studies prior to installation of offshore structures, cables, pipelines and vessel monitoring.

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie- BSH), which previously granted the Evoqua SeaCURE Ballast Water Management (BWT) system type approval, has now certified the SeaCURE system to operate in volumes from 500-4,000m3/hr. suitable for a wide range of container, LNG, tanker and other vessels. In addition to IMO type approval, the SeaCURE system also is USCG AMS accepted to operate in all salinities. SeaCURE is based on proven Chloropac marine growth prevention system (MGPS) technology that has been deployed in more than 2,500 installations worldwide over the past 35 years. evoqua.com

Evoqua inform that the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie- BSH), which previously granted the Evoqua SeaCURE Ballast Water Management (BWT) system type approval, has now certified the SeaCURE system to operate in volumes from 500-4,000m3/hr. suitable for a wide range of container, LNG, tanker and other vessels. In addition to IMO type approval, the SeaCURE system also is USCG AMS accepted to operate in all salinities. The SeaCURE system utilizes a patented process that first injects biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has granted alternate management system (AMS) acceptance of Evoqua Water Technologies SeaCURE ballast water management system for use in fresh, brackish and sea water. Evoquas AMS acceptance for use in U.S. waters is exceptional in the ballast water market in that it can operate in all salinities. As such, the SeaCURE ballast water management system provides ship owners with a type approved and AMS accepted solution that can be deployed in any trade lane.

Evoqua Water Technologies LLC says that its SeaCURE Ballast Water Treatment System (BWTS) has been granted AMS Acceptance in all salinities. Following a rigorous review process, the manufacturers say that SeaCURE has been accepted for use as an AMS by the USCG. AMS acceptance means that vessel owners and operators are now permitted to use the SeaCURE ballast water treatment system in U.S. waters. SeaCURE has previously been type-approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and BSH, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie). Evoqua also will apply for and undergo thorough testing required toward full USCG type approval. Currently, no ballast water treatment system has full USCG type approval.

In early June, the shipping community met in Athens, Greece for Posidonia 2014. While the focus in Athens tends to be skewed more toward the night life and after hour parties, Maritime Reporter was able to dig out some relevant product and service news from the exhibition center. Wilhelmsen Ship Service (www.wilhelmsen.com/shipsservice) introduced its fuel oil treatment range and integrated welding safety products and services at Posidonia. Engineered to maintain vessel performance and engine efficiency even when slow-steaming or burning low sulfur fuel…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has issued a certificate of approval for the Danelec DM100 VDR for installation on ships under the Singapore registry. The Singapore approval follows on the type approval and European Union Wheelmark certification for the Danelec DM100 issued by the German authority Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) June 30. The Danelec DM100 is the first and only product so far approved and wheelmarked to meet the revised VDR performance standards and technical requirements as defined in IMO Resolution MSC.333(90). The new IMO standard came into force July 1. All VDRs installed after that date must meet the new IMO standard.

Danelec Marine A/S announced introduction of their new-generation DM100 VDR, the first VDR on the market to be type-approved and Wheelmarked under the new IMO standard. The DM100 VDR has been type approved by Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) in Germany. The BSH type approval certifies that the Danelec DM100 VDR meets all the revised International Maritime Organization (IMO) performance standards and technical requirements, as defined in IMO Resolution MSC.333(90) and IEC 61996-1 Ed.2, and complies with European Union Wheelmark requirements. The new IMO standards were adopted in May 2012 and come into effect July 1, 2014. After that date, all VDR installations for newbuilds and retrofits must meet the new IMO standards.

Evoqua Water Technologies said it will present technical information about its type-approved SeaCURE Ballast Water Management System and applicability to newbuilds and retrofits at the Posidonia International Shipping Exposition in Athens, Greece. Evoqua Regional Manager Dimitrios Tsoulos will present “SeaCURE BWMS. Safety and Reliability Comes with Experience. Evoqua Water Technologies’ Answer to the Ballast Water Treatment Challenge.” from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5 in Posidonia Seminar Room 2. Tsoulos has worked in the water treatment industry for almost 10 years and is a certified project manager. Tsoulos will be joined by Lars Nupnau, who led the development and certification of the SeaCURE Ballast Water Management System.

The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany (Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie- BSH) has granted type approval for the SeaCURE Ballast Water Management System. The SeaCURE system is now a product of Evoqua Water Technologies, formerly Siemens Water Technologies. BSH’s type approval of the SeaCURE system concludes the international approval process that began with the basic approval and then final approval granted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2012. The SeaCURE system utilizes a patented process* that first injects biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters.

Iberdrola chooses Areva Wind as preferred supplier for its Wikinger Offshore Wind Farm in German waters. Under the terms of the agreement, with construction scheduled for 2016 and 2017, Areva Wind will support Iberdrola on foundation and tower design optimization, project logistics, installation concept and project certification with regulator Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH). The Wikinger offshore wind project, currently being developed in German territorial waters of the Baltic Sea, will have approximately 400 megawatts (MW) installed capacity. The M5000, the first 5MW wind turbine designed exclusively for large-scale offshore wind farms, will be manufactured at Areva’s facilities in Bremerhaven (Germany).

Sweden-based company, Consilium Navigation AB has recently acquired BSH (Bundesamt fur Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie) type approval for their voyage data recorder system, VDR M2. Consilium Navigation AB is the first company to acquire Type Approval with BSH, and is also one of the first companies offering type-approved Voyage Data Recorders, establishing its leading role within VDRs New orders have also been received lately, including VDR deliveries to China National Offshore Shipping Company, NITC, Sun Cruises and Euroceanica.

Leica Marine GPS announced that the MX 420/8 DGPS/AIS system has been type approved by Bundesamt fur Seeschiffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH). The German type approval signifies that the Leica product complies with the IMO MSC.74 (69), ITU-R M.1371-1 and IEC 61993-2 standards for shipborne automatic identification systems (AIS) equipment. The MX 420/8 was introduced by Leica last year as a fully integrated solution to marine DGPS and AIS requirements. The system combines the industry's most accurate marine GPS receiver, a built-in dual-channel DGPS beacon receiver and an IMO-compliant AIS transponder system, with a single control and display unit.

World’s first Automatic Identification System (AIS) type approval is given to Saab TransponderTech AB by German test house “Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie” (BSH). AIS, the system made mandatory by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in SOLAS chapter V, regulation 19, has been given its first type approval. AIS is the new system that many see as the most important revolution in maritime safety and security since Radar and GPS were introduced. Saab TransponderTech was given the first type approval by BSH in Germany, on AIS according to the international standards and requirements. BSH is today considered to be the only test house with capacity and competence to test AIS.

Northrop Grumman Corporation received type approval from the German certification authority Bundesamt für Seeschiffahrt & Hydrographie (BSH) for the Sperry Marine NAVISTAR satellite compass system. The system is designed to provide a stable heading reference input for radars, autopilots, chart plotters, scanning sonars, automatic identification systems, voyage data recorders, steerable antenna arrays and other devices. The computer continually compares the GPS heading against the magnetic heading sensor. If the GPS data is lost or degraded, the system switches to the magnetic heading from the integral magnetic field sensor to ensure uninterrupted navigation.