Converteam News

Among his first key appointments since taking the helm of Lloyd’s Register (LR) in January, Chief Executive Nick Brown has named three new members of LR’s executive leadership team: Mark Darley as Business Director, Marine and Offshore, Andy McKeran as Business Director, Maritime Performance Services and Philippa Charlton as Chief Marketing Officer.“LR recognizes that maritime stakeholders must rise to the demands of changing technology and the drive to decarbonize our industry.

The modern offshore maritime industry heavily relies on different classes of DP vessels, from OSVs to Drillships and Tankers, almost all vessels serving the oil and gas industry need to be DP capable in order to safely operate offshore. The massive growth experienced in Brazil due to the uncorking of huge deepwater pre-salt plays has caused a steady demand for new ships, rigs and vessels, maritime officers and DP operators in the country. Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil talks to Mauricio Santos, C-MAR Country Manager, about the reality of DP training in Brazil. C-MAR is a global provider of manpower, engineering and support services to the maritime and offshore sectors.

MSC Cruises recently added a new state-of-the-art liner, the MSC Preziosa, helping the Italian company, truly a family business, attain the status of third largest cruise line in the world. MSC Preziosa is a Fantasia class cruise ship owned and operated by MSC Cruises. It entered service in March 2013 as an enhanced version of its sister ships, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia, and is identical to MSC Divina, which was launched in 2012. Built at the STX shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, MSC Preziosa is the new flagship of MSC Cruises. The new ship gained immediate recognition famous courtesy of its christening by actress Sophia Loren, and was significant as it signified that MSC Cruises is now the third largest cruise line in the world.

The Tungsten Explorer is an ultra deepwater, dynamically positioned mobile offshore drilling unit (Drillship). The primary areas of activities of the Drillship shall be in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa and Brazil. The drillship has drilling equipment on the topside with a continuous main deck and forecastle deck. Three engine rooms which house six diesel engines (7,000 kW x 720 rpm) are arranged aft in the hull. Thruster machinery spaces are arranged in engine rooms and in the forward machinery space of the hull…

GE’s Power Conversion (NYSE: GE) business has started fitting the latest generation of Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ships Wave Knight and Wave Ruler. The technology is designed extend the life and versatility of the IPMS fitted to the two ships, helping the RFA to maintain at-sea supply capabilities in supporting the Royal Navy’s global maritime operations. The IPMS includes machinery control and surveillance, damage surveillance and control, electrical power control and management and Replenishment at Sea (RAS) functions.

USS Makin Island (LHD 8) is the last in a series of 8 amphibious assault ships of the WASP-class built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding at its Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard. Though last, it is the first in the series fitted with hybrid electric gas turbine propulsion, and recently returned to its San Diego homeport after its first deployment. “During the seven-month deployment, the ship’s hybrid-electric propulsion system saved more than four million gallons of fuel resulting in an estimated cost savings in excess of $15 million,” the Navy claims.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Delivers Third “Tiger Shark Class” Vessel to Harvey Gulf International Marine. Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the early delivery of the HARVEY CHAMPION, the third of three (3) 292 ft. Tiger Shark Class, Offshore Support Vessels being constructed for Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC of New Orleans, LA. The HARVEY CHAMPION was delivered on August 7th, 2012 after successfully completing dock trials, sea trials and DP trials. The HARVEY CHAMPION is the 10th vessel that Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc. announced the early delivery of the Sisuag, the second of three  292-foot Tiger Shark Class Offshore Support Vessels, to Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC of New Orleans, La. Launched in October, the Sisuag is a DP II, SOLAS-approved, FIFI 1 Classed, AC diesel-electric powered, twin Z-drive propelled OSV. This high-tech vessel features four Cummins QSK60-DM 16-cylinder turbo-charged Tier II diesel generator engines, rated 1825 Kw at 1,800 rpm.

Drydocks World delivers twin compact high power Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels to Greatship Group. Drydocks World, a service provider in the maritime, oil and gas industries, announced that it successfully delivered two sister Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels Greatship Vidya and Greatship Vimla, from its Singapore yard recently. They are among two ‘V’ Class series vessels for the Greatship Group. “Our services to the offshore, oil and gas industries have gathered momentum in recent months, following the re-alignment of our business strategy.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group has announced the delivery of the HARVEY SUPPORTER, the first of three (3) 292 ft. Tiger Shark Class Offshore Support Vessels for Harvey Gulf International Marine, LLC. The HARVEY SUPPORTER is an STX Marine design featuring a DP II SOLAS-classed AC diesel-electric, twin Z-drive Offshore Support Vessel measuring 292’ X 64’ X 24’-6”. Power and propulsion systems, controls, automation, etc. are provided by the system integrator, Converteam, Inc. This high-tech vessel features four Cummins QSK60-DM 16-cylinder turbo-charged Tier II diesel generator engines that are rated 1825 Kw at 1,800 rpm. Main propulsion is provided by two Schottel SRP 2020 FP Z-drives with nozzles rated at 2,500 Kw at 1,025 rpm each for a total of 6,704 hp.

Converteam has been selected as the supplier of Integrated Power Systems (IPS) to the U.S. Navy with the award of an additional multi-million dollar contract to design and supply the complete electric power, propulsion and vessel automation system for the Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) program. The MLP program adds to Converteam’s market leadership experience with the U.S. Navy’s IPS fleet, which includes DDG 1000, T-AKE, LHD 8 and LHA 6. The MLP vessels are a new class and type of auxiliary support ship. They’re intended to serve as a transfer station or floating pier at sea, improving the U.S. military’s ability to deliver equipment and cargo from ship-to-shore when friendly bases are denied, or simply don’t exist.

Converteam in partnership with the U.S. Navy have successfully tested the DDG 1000’s high voltage Integrated Power System (IPS)(1) to full power at the Land Based Test Site located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DDG 1000 is the first U.S. Navy surface combatant to leverage this technology—an all-electric architecture providing electric power for both propulsion and ship services. As the integrated power systems provider, Converteam is responsible for the entire program’s high voltage system design, commissioning and testing at the land based test site. The test demonstrated full power operations of the IPS, which is a major milestone prior to delivery of equipment to the ship.

Power conversion specialist Converteam has shipped the first of two massive 75 tonne, 36 Megawatt generators designed specifically to match the electrical power requirement of the propulsion motors for the Royal Navy's Queen     Elizabeth Class (QEC) aircraft carriers. These are major components of the electrical system for the two new 65.000 tonne ships for which Converteam has designed the innovative Integrated Full Electric Power (IFEP) and propulsion system. The two 36 MW generators, manufactured in Rugby, will supply the four 20 MW Converteam Advanced    Induction Motors.

Power conversion specialist Converteam has been selected by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) as designer and supplier of high efficiency electrical systems for three newbuild ultra-deepwater drillships for Noble Corporation, one of the world’s largest offshore drilling contractors. The Hyundai Gusto P10000 designed drillships, rated for operations in up to 12,000 feet water depth, are under construction by HHI at their Ulsan facility in South Korea. The first vessel is due for delivery to Noble in early 2013 with the third due in early 2014.

Rotterdam/Houston, May 2nd 2011 – VSTEP’s NAUTIS Maritime Simulators will be featuring at selected client booths during the OTC2011 in Houston, Texas. These clients have chosen NAUTIS because of its realism, visual quality, affordability and user friendliness. The OTC 2011 is hosted from 2-5th May 2011 at Reliant Park in Houston and is the world’s foremost event for the development of offshore resources in the fields of drilling, exploration, production, and environmental protection.

The Norwegian Epic departed the STX France Shipyard on 17 June 2010 heading towards New York City for its inaugural event. The power behind the massive vessel is the most innovative power plant that has ever been provided from Caterpillar Marine Power Systems – 3x MaK 12 M 43 C and 3x MaK 16 M 43 C vee-type engines. With discussions and planning dating back to late 2006 on Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) F3 project, Caterpillar Marine Power Systems was chosen to power the new vessel…

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has completed two significant milestones for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales, with completion of the first propeller and the successful testing of the vessels’ first MT30 gas turbine. The propeller, measuring almost seven metres in diameter and weighing 33 tonnes, has completed acceptance tests at the Rolls-Royce facility in Kristinehamn, Sweden. The Kamewa Adjustable Bolted Propeller is…

Harvey Gulf International Marine, Inc. of New Orleans, La. announced the award of a contract to Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. for the construction and delivery of six 292-ft by 64-ft by 24.5-ft Offshore Support Vessels. The signing ceremony was held January 4, 2010 at Harvey Gulf’s new office at One Shell Square downtown New Orleans. Delivery of the first vessel will be in nineteen months with follow-on vessels to be delivered in five months increments thereafter. These Tiger Shark Series vessels are approximately 5650 DWT and are well suited for world-wide operations…

Rolls-Royce announced that it has won a $12.5m order for the supply of podded propulsion equipment and stabilizing fins for the latest French Navy Mistral class amphibious assault ship. This latest order follows earlier contracts to supply podded propulsors and stabilisers on the first two ships in the class - Mistral and Tonnerre - which entered service in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The third vessel, to be built by STX Europe, is expected to enter service in 2012. Rolls-Royce President – Naval, Andy Marsh said: “The contract recognizes our ability to deliver a wide range of propulsion and motion control equipment and underlines our important relationship with the French Navy.

The United States Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., awarded Converteam Inc. $31m to provide the long lead materials (for the DDG-1000 Baseline Tactical High Voltage Power Subsystem, HVPS) for use in the Navy's integrated power system Land Based Test Site (LBTS) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and to supply hardware and provide technical leadership on the HVPS. With Converteam's Integrated Power Systems (IPS) role they will be providing technical leadership to the U.S. Navy to assist in the integration of the HVPS, Low Voltage Power Subsystem (LVPS) and Electric Control Systems (ECS). The entire HVPS project scope includes an Advanced Induction Motor…

BMT Defence Services Limited, a subsidiary of BMT Group, is heading a consortium of 30 companies to investigate the commercially effective application of electric ship technology in a $30.3m European Union funded project. The ultimate aim of this study, which will begin in January 2009, is to provide a working guide on how to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the combined European commercial shipping fleet. The Power Optimised Ship for Environment with Electric Innovative Designs ON board (Pose2idon) project will see BMT Defence Services co-ordinate the activity of the 30 company consortium which includes Converteam Technology Limited, DCNS, DNV, SAM, Sirehna, GICAN, EMEC and BALance.

BMT Defence Services Limited, a subsidiary of BMT Group, is heading a consortium of 30 companies to investigate the commercially effective application of electric ship technology in a $32.1m European Union funded project. The ultimate aim of this study, which will begin in January 2009, is to provide a working guide on how to improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of the combined European commercial shipping fleet. The Power Optimised Ship for Environment with Electric Innovative Designs ON board (Pose2idon) project will see BMT Defence Services co-ordinate the activity of the 30 company consortium which includes Converteam Technology Limited, DCNS, DNV, SAM, Sirehna, GICAN, EMEC and BALance.

The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announced the election of four new Partner Advisory Council officers for calendar years 2009 and 2010. They were elected by their fellow ASA members in the fall of 2008. The four newly-elected officers of the Council are Pete Goumas, General Manager, The Babcock and Wilcox Company, Nuclear Operations Group, Euclid, OH; Shoun Kerbaugh, Vice President, Naval Systems/Merchant, Converteam Inc., Pittsburgh, PA; Bruce Rosenblatt, President, Bruce S. Rosenblatt & Associates, LLC, Arlington, VA; and Don Roussinos, President, Henschel, L-3, Newburyport, MA. Fred Conroy, Vice President and General Manager of the Government Business Unit for Dresser-Rand, Olean, NY, will continue his role on the Council through 2009.