Competence Center News

U.S.-based ammonia power solutions company Amogy announced it is partnering with Norway's Southwind to explore joint opportunities in offshore wind.Southwind aims to establish Kristiansand as an operational base for offshore wind field developments and as a hub for a national competence center. Amogy, which expanded its operations to Norway in 2022, said it recognizes the potential that the offshore industry holds for its innovative ammonia-to-power technology and has formed multiple…

Batteries for maritime power have been picking up big momentum, benefiting from the most basic concept within Econ 101: supply and demand.On May 19 Corvus Energy announced it would establish a lithium ion battery manufacturing facility in Port Bellingham, Wash., just north of Seattle. Corvus Energy is a leading supplier of battery energy storage systems (BESS) for marine applications. Its systems already power more than 30 North American vessels, as well as 29 hybrid port cranes and 11 land-based drilling rigs.Geir Bjørkeli…

Norway-based offshore support vessel operator Eidesvik Offshore has appointed Arve Nilsen as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Ellen Sofie Ottesen as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO).Nilsen comes from the position of Technical Manager in Eidesvik with responsibility for technology, purchasing, and IT. He has more than 30 years of industry and technology experience and has been with the Company for 13 years.Ottesen comes from the position of Director of Sustainability in Eidesvik.

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division has ended the 2020 financial year with an underlying operating profit of $247.3 million despite suffering a 17% drop in underlying revenue to $3.8 billion. This corresponds to an underlying operating margin of 6.5% (2019: 11.5%). As a result, Power Systems, with its product and solutions brand mtu, remained in the black during the 2020 pandemic year.Power Systems is taking advantage of the crisis to prepare for a shift in its business model…

Lithuanian company AB Klaipedos Nafta (KN) has been appointed as the operator of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in the Brazilian Port of Açu.To execute the contract, KN has established a company in Brazil and plans to form a team of up to 30 local specialists in 2020.KN, KN Açu Serviços de Terminal de GNL Ltda. (Brazilian SPV) and Gas Natural Açu (GNA), which is a joint venture among Prumo Logistica, BP and Siemens, signed an operation and maintenance services agreement for the provision of the relevant services.Following the signing of the agreement, KN assumes the responsibility for the provision of safe, reliable and efficient operations…

Rosatomflot (FSUE Atomflot), Russian company that maintains the world's only fleet of nuclear-powered icebreakers, said that its nuclear icebreakers steered 331 ships of a total gross capacity 12.7 mln tons. As compared to 2017, the capacity of steered ships increased by 5 mln tons.The Rosatom group company said in a press release that with that, the number of steering operations decreased (last year it was 493 ships) due to completion of the active phase of construction in the port of Sabetta and reduction of flow of vessels carrying cargoes for construction.Besides, as liquefied natural gas shipments from Sabetta started by LNG tankers of Yamalmax class…

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) announced that in partnership with its subsidiary, ITC Global, it has been awarded a four-year contract by TUI Cruises for connectivity services to two new-build cruise ships, Mein Schiff 1 and new Mein Schiff 2.The agreement establishes communication capabilities onboard the vessels serving guests and crew, enhancing the user experience during the cruise line's travels across international waters. Germany-based TUI Cruises is a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. Headquartered in Hamburg, TUI Cruises voyages sail across the globe from the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas in Europe…

The situation for the shipping companies based in Germany has been, much like the rest of the world in 2017, mostly tight. Currently, the German shipping companies are undergoing changes against this background. They are concentrating more and more on their core competences. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News' man in Germany, Peter Pospiech, recently talked to Alfred Hartmann, President of the VDR (Association of German Shipowners), for his exclusive insights on the size, shape and direction of German shipowners.Mr.

While debates rage in regards to safety, insurance and cyber security, the tech powering autonomous maritime operations continues to power ahead.Advances in sensor technology, data analytics and bandwidth-to-shore are fundamentally changing the way shipping works. And as operations are digitalized, they become more automated, Dr. Pierre C. Sames, Director of Group Technology & Research at class society DNV GL, has stated.Governments around the world are looking into unmanned shipping…

Apax Partners backed Marlink said it has signed a definite agreement to acquire a majority stake in fellow maritime VSAT services firm OmniAccess. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approval and closing is expected in the first half of 2018. OmniAccess’ existing management team will remain unchanged and continue to keep a significant shareholding in the company. OmniAccess will remain a stand-alone company, functioning as the competence center for broadband connectivity solutions for the high-end superyacht and boutique cruise-line customers.

Satellite communications company Inmarsat has opened a new office at the Norwegian Maritime Competence Center (NMCC) based in Ålesund, Norway, to continue to drive the digitalization of the shipping industry. The opening of the facility in the heart of Norway’s leading edge maritime community, signals Inmarsat’s intention to intensify work with third party innovators and digital disrupters to exploit high-speed broadband via Fleet Xpress through its Certified Applications Provider (CAP) program, the company said.

Last December, MAN Engines introduced its latest generation in-line six-cylinder engines for workboats. Now the first MAN D2676 LE443 engine off the production line will be installed aboard the new salmon fishing boat, LT32 Gilnetter, built by the Mavrik Marine boatyard in Washington State and set to launch in late autumn 2016. The D2676 LE443 is designed for light duty commercial operation and generates an output of 537 kW (730 HP) at 2,300 rpm with a cylinder capacity of 12.4 l. The maximum torque is 2,445 Nm at speeds of 1,300 to 2,100 rpm.

DNV GL has opened the American hub of its technical helpdesk in Houston, the organization announced today. DNV GL, a Norway-based international classification society, now has 400 technical experts worldwide providing answers to customer questions across Europe, Asian, and American time zones. “Our classification customers tell us they want timely, authoritative and insightful answers to technical questions," said Jan Solum, who leads the new Technical Helpdesk Team in Houston. When offices in Europe close, Houston takes over until Singapore is online to respond to them.

Caterpillar Motoren is a German-American success story,” were the opening words of Oswald Schöffel, CEO of the Caterpaillar Motoren GmbH, Kiel, Germany, in welcoming guests and select media to the Caterpillar Motoren Kiel facilities earlier this summer for a product presentation of the latest developments in MaK Medium Speed Engines. “The company has grown continually during the recent years and has gained with its innovative products a very good position in the market segments of the shipping industry, stationary power generation as well as in the oil and gas industry.

Videos and images of the submarine world are important for the maritime industry. Researchers from Fraunhofer IGD will show how underwater images can be improved and evaluated at this year’s SMM in Hamburg, Germany, from September 9-12. The submarine world is becoming more transparent. Due to refraction effects and the optical properties of water, underwater images are usually distorted, noisy and contain color casts. These effects often render underwater images useless for industrial applications.

MAN Diesel & Turbo says it has donated the equivalent of $115,000 dollars in service, spare parts and training to keep the engines of the hospital ship 'Africa Mercy', operated by Mercy Ships, in top condition to continue its charity work in Africa. MAN Diesel & Turbo continues its charitable support of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship which provides medical care in African coastal areas to those who couldn’t otherwise afford it. In 2010, MAN Diesel & Turbo provided at a significantly discounted cost four new 5L21/31 type on-board power generators to the vessel, to power the floating hospital’s medical equipment. In the same manner that doctors and staff aboard the vessel perform health checks and hand out medicine when needed…

"Ava Jane", was launched in Washington state on April 15 as the first workboat with a MAN EPA Tier 3 commercially certified engine. Right in time, the German engine manufacturer made its entire product line conform with the current emission standards, by optimizing the internal engine design without increasing its fuel consumption at full load. RDI Marine, MAN’s west coast distributor has been heavily involved in the workboat industry since the early 90’s. They commissioned the installation on April 21…

A successful Maritime Resource Management (MRM) Facilitator training event concluded today in Makati City, Manila, Philippines as 22 participants from China, Germany, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore had gathered for the two-day event held at the European Training & Competence Center (ETCC) Inc. to be trained and certified as MRM Facilitators. Martin Hernqvist of ALL Academy, trainer at the event, said the event was a success thanks to the active participation from the attendees.

DNV GL announced that it has moved into a new office that was officially opened by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Henrik O. Madsen, Group President & CEO, DNV GL. The official ceremony was part of the program of the Norwegian trade delegation visiting Vietnam this week. Besides the Crown Prince, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Fisheries, Monica Mæland also attended the inauguration ceremony. DNV GL has had a presence in Vietnam since 1995. Starting out as a Representative Office…

Marine Propulsion Systems, a business unit of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, shared at the sidelines of Marintec China 2013 that China continues to be a key focus for the company and shared plans to strengthen its footprint in the market. ZF Marine has been in China since 2006 and currently operates a sales and services office in Shanghai which serves as a competence center for all marine applications in China. With optimism slowly returning to the global offshore market, the industry is expected to climb steadily and this presents significant business opportunities for ZF Marine…

Imtech Marine provides complete Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning to new eco-friendly Research Vessel ‘Sonne’. Energy savings realized by Dynamic Simulation techniques. Imtech Marine was selected as supplier of the new Research Vessel ‘Sonne’. Imtech designs and installs the complete HVAC system for accommodation areas, laboratories and machinery spaces, as well as the redundant cold and warm water supply system with a combination of turbo chillers and absorption chillers.

Raytheon Anschütz do Brasil reports a number of contract awards for the supply of gyro compass and autopilot systems to new offshore platform supply vessels built at Brazilian shipyards. The largest contract covers four shipsets, each with a fully equipped triple Standard 22 gyro compass system, repeater compasses and Anschütz PilotStar D autopilot system, for four newbuilt Platform Supply Vessels, followed by various contracts for DP2-classed gyro systems, dual gyro systems and various autopilot systems.

W. P. Carey Inc., a  provider of corporate sale-leaseback financing, has acquired the R&D and class-A office facilities of Cargotec Corporation in Tampere, Finland. The premises are subject to a 20-year triple-net lease with the company. The total acquisition cost of the 183,569 square foot facility was approximately $52 million (€40 million). The facility was completed in December 2012 as a "Technology and Competence Center" dedicated to research and development of energy-efficient, safe and intelligent machinery and automation solutions.