Control Engineering News

If the global commercial fleet reduced its speed by 10%, it would reduce underwater radiated noise by 40%, but nothing’s ever that simple.The main thing holding the shipping industry back from reducing its underwater radiated noise (URN) is not a lack of appropriate technology. It’s argued that many of the technologies being implemented today to reduce fuel consumption also reduce noise. So, the noise reductions could essentially come at no net cost to the shipowner, but there’s a lack of regulation and a lack of targeted incentives…

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility employees and ship’s force worked together to repair the anchor windlass on USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in about a third of the time it took previously.The anchor windlass is comprised of motors, gears and other parts responsible for the controlled lowering and raising of the chain and anchor, which can weigh up to 200,000 pounds on a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. It's a difficult job that requires much planning and complicated execution.According to Shawn Carragher and Zac Malone…

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has been awarded a contract potentially worth more than $3 billion for the detail design and construction of new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships for the U.S. Navy.The $113.9 million fixed-price incentive (firm target) and firm-fixed-price contract includes options for detail design and construction of up to seven T-AGOS 25 class ships which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $3.195 billion.Austal…

Marine engineering firm BMT has been awarded a prime contract to conduct industry studies for the U.S. Navy’s T-ARC(X) cable ship replacement program.The Navy’s only operational cable ship, the nearly 40-year-old USNS Zeus (T-ARC 7), is approaching the end of its service life, and the Navy is interested in recapitalizing its undersea cable installation and repair capabilities, as well as adding the new mission sets of acoustic, hydrographic, and bathymetric survey; and deploying and recovering unmanned underwater vessels.

Complying with International Maritime Organization Resolution MSC.337(91) Noise Level CodeOne of the best things a marine operator can do for its crew or passengers is prioritize their comfort by reducing shipboard noise. Commercial and military marine vessels can be subject to very high noise levels produced by everything from onboard activities to aircraft. At worst, this noise can be hazardous—disruptively noisy environments can lead to discomfort, sleep-deprivation, and even hearing loss, which can in turn lead to lower job performance, safety risks, and diminished quality of life.

Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE) recently completed an underwater radiated noise study for Washington State Ferries (WSF), a study which entailed measurement of nine vessels representing all seven operating classes of WSF vessels, quantifying noise, potential impacts to orcas and other marine life, and methods of reducing noise.“With the increasing awareness of underwater noise impacts on marine life, both globally and locally in the Northwest, WSF is interested in learning more about how their operations may impact marine life,” said Jesse Spence, President, NCE.

A Massachusetts-based acoustical engineering consulting firm recently completed an underwater radiated noise study to quantify noise, potential impacts to orcas and other marine life, and methods of reducing noise for Washington State Ferries (WSF). Noise Control Engineering (NCE), a subsidiary of naval architecture and marine engineering firm Glosten, said its study included measurement of nine vessels representing all seven operating classes of WSF vessels. The firm specializes in noise and vibration design…

Glosten and C-Job Naval Architects announced a partnership as executives from the two firms met recently at Glosten’s newly opened East Coast office to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) defining the firms’ shared goals and objectives.“This is an important step in formalizing what has already been a fruitful relationship over the past several months,” said Glosten President Morgan Fanberg, PE. “It is encouraging to see the work we can accomplish together. We look forward…

Noise Control Engineering awarded Navy SBIR grant for abrasive blaster with reduced noise Glosten subsidiary Noise Control Engineering, LLC said it has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract to apply advance aeroacoustics principals to the design of an abrasive blasting nozzle, reducing noise from the nozzle while simultaneously improving the device’s productivity. According to Noise Control Engineering, the nozzle developed through this effort will provide industry with a device that represents an evolutionary step forward in safety and efficiency.

Glosten subsidiary Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE), a Massachusetts-based acoustical and structural engineering consultancy, said it has appointed Jesse Spence as its next president. As NCE president, Spence will have direct responsibility for organizational processes, market assessment and business development. He accepts this position after serving as NCE’s director of technology. Spence joined NCE in 2001, having led the firm’s efforts to develop and implement technologies and techniques to facilitate solutions to marine acoustic and vibration problems.

Marco Bibuli was announced as the winner of the DNV GL COMPIT Award 2017 for smart underwater robotics, which took place in Cardiff this year. The Italian maritime robotics expert, working at the Italian research center CNR-ISSIA in Genova, was honored for his work on team-capable smart robots. “The jury singled out Marco Bibuli, because his work brought advanced techniques of Artificial Intelligence to practical applications, representing innovative engineering at its finest. Through a combination of machine vision, machine learning and cybernetics (control engineering), Bibuli has developed the project through to the first field testing stages.

The Harvey Stone is a Multi-Purpose Field Support Vessel (MPFSV) that will serve as a dedicated field support vessel for the Shell Stones FPSO offshore terminal. Her primary duties will be to operate as the dedicated pull-back tug, in support of, and assisting the berthing, loading and unberthing of offtake tankers of up to 46,287 SDWT. The vessel is expected to escort the above FPSO in the event of disconnection from the submerged buoy mooring for hurricane avoidance purposes…

Mary Cullen has been appointed vice president of nuclear propulsion at Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division. Cullen will assume her new role on November 14 following a transition into the job with the help of Barry Fletcher, who will retire from the position after 37 years of shipbuilding service. “Throughout his tenure, Barry has made significant contributions to the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, earning him the respect of many and the ultimate responsibility of serving as our company’s ‘head nuke…

Glosten is an employee-owned full-service consulting firm of naval architects, marine engineers, electrical engineers, and ocean engineers. Founded in 1958, the firm specializes in commercial and public sector vessels including research vessels, passenger/car ferries, tugs, barges, dredges, and special purpose platforms. Consulting and design services include hull, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems design. Glosten has a staff of 77 associates, including 36 professionally licensed engineers, supported by other engineers, marine designers, and production staff.

The new Barge Master Gangway will be presented at the joint booth of Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth during the international offshore trade exhibition ONS (Offshore Northern Seas) in Stavanger. The next generation gangway, a result of cooperation between Bosch Rexroth and Barge Master, is designed for the safe and efficient transfer of personnel and cargo from ships to drilling and offshore production platforms, wind turbines and other ships. Barge Master specializes in the development and fabrication of motion compensating systems…

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has appointed Tero Kokko Senior Vice President, Automation and Projects as of 1 July 2016. He will report to Antti Kaunonen, current Senior Vice President, Automation and Projects who will start as President of Kalmar as of 1 July 2016. Tero Kokko (Doctor of Technology) has worked for Kalmar since 2011, most recently as Vice President, Intelligent Horizontal Transportation Solutions business line. Before joining Kalmar, Tero worked for Metso Automation in various positions and for Tampere University of Technology where he did his PhD on automation and control engineering. "Tero has deep insight on automation, our industry and our company, and is able to combine deep technical expertise with good business understanding and customer focus.

ISO 17208-1:2016, a new international standard for the measurement of underwater noise from ships, has been published by ISO. The full title of this standard is “Underwater acoustics – Quantities and procedures for description and measurement of underwater sound from ships – Part 1: Requirements for precision measurements in deep water used for comparison purposes”. The standard specifies the general measurement system, procedures, and methodology used for the measurement of underwater sound from ships under a prescribed operating condition. It is available for purchase from the ISO ans ANSI webstores. Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE), a leader in the field of shipboard noise control, led the effort to develop this standard.

Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy Glosten, Inc. has acquired Noise Control Engineering LLC (NCE), a consulting firm specializing in ship noise and vibration control. NCE, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Glosten, will continue to operate from its Billerica, Mass. and Mobile, Ala. offices as an independent group within the Glosten organization and will retain its corporate name and staff. There will be no disruption to current projects or changes in staff at either firm. “For over 55 years, Glosten has grown carefully, responding to the unique and challenging needs of our clients,” said Glosten president, Jay Edgar. “Joining with NCE is an exciting next step.

Antti Kaunonen has been appointed as Senior Vice President, Automation and Projects, Kalmar, part of Cargotec. Antti Kaunonen brings with him over 25 years of experience from industrial businesses and deep knowledge in automation. He has delivered proven success in building automation and project business capabilities in global companies. Before joining Kalmar, Antti worked at Voith in Germany close to eight years in different management positions heading Voith Paper Automation, Voith Paper EMEA Region and, most recently, Voith Hydro Automation. Before Voith, Antti worked for Metso Automation over 20 years in various key roles. During this time he lived five years in the USA and over one year in China.

U.S. Navy’s AGOR Research Vessels are built to be as operationally quiet as possible. That’s where Mascoat’s Sound Control-dB coatings come in. When the U.S. Navy began its design and build program for its newest generation of research vessels, it specified that the vessels had to be as quiet as possible. That’s because a large part of ocean research involves listening and excessive ship noise tends to negate that effort. Achieving the goal of an exceptionally quiet vessel, the vessel’s design team employed a variety of methods to meet the Navy’s exacting standards, choosing systems, defined equipment locations and designed special installation methods with acoustics as a priority. One of those methods involved Mascoat’s Sound Control-dB coatings.

Shipping may think they hear the sound of new regulations as they are slammed onto their desks. What is all the noise concerning noise at IMO? This may very well be the question from ship owners, operators and builders closely following activities at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In 2013, IMO issued mandatory regulations for shipboard airborne noise and earlier this year IMO internal committees approved new draft guidelines for minimizing underwater noise. Even though the author advised the U.S.

Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE) opened a new office in Mobile, Ala. The office will be staffed by Nathan Jones, a Senior Engineer with more than 10 years of experience at NCE. “Our customers along the Gulf Coast region are a very important part of our business and this office will enable us to better serve them. Our goal is to be in a position to react quickly to their needs and provide them with superior support” explains Nathan. Mr. Jones will be providing clients with…

Marine acoustics company Noise Control Engineering, LLC (NCE) announced that it has hired Dr. Kam W. Ng, formerly the Deputy Director of Research at the Office of Naval Research, as its new Director of Business Development. Dr. Ng will bring his technical and managerial skills to NCE which includes expertise in the areas of Acoustics and Noise Control, Signal Processing and Fault Detection, Smart Materials, Active Nonlinear Control and Science and Technology Management. Dr. Ng’s knowledge and experience will help NCE to establish new markets…