Feature: Queen Mary 2 New Technology Melded to the North Atlantic Tradition
Confounding the skeptics who said the 70,300-gt Queen Elizabeth 2 would be the last transatlantic liner ever built, the 150,000-gt Queen Mary 2 is set to make her service debut in January 2004, signifying a $780-million investment in a luxury passenger ship structurally engineered for the North Atlantic. Destined to uphold and revitalize the Cunard liner tradition, the 30-knot QM2 will break new ground in passenger ship technology, while incorporating lessons learned with the 1969-commissioned QE2. The challenge of fulfilling an extremely tough schedule in a notoriously harsh environment, and of meeting rising customer expectations as to service quality, comfort and reliability in all conditions, permeates every aspect of the technical design.
DMI and FORCE Technology Join Forces
Danish Maritime Institute (DMI) and FORCE Technology have joined forces. The new name for the merged company will be FORCE Technology. In addition to using own facilities DNI undertakes several assignments for clients worldwide where other facilities are used in order to meet special client requirements. DMI is active in various fields such as industrial fluid mechanics, the use of simulation technology in other areas, and wind tunnel testing of bridges, buildings etc. In recent years DMI has increased its global presence and customer base, so that more than two thirds of its growing turnover derives from foreign customers. FORCE Technology is a knowledge and technology-based service provider which offers developmentā¦
EBDG Completes Contract Design for ATB
Elliot Bay Design Group (EBDG) recently completed a contract design, including an extensive model basin testing program, for an articulated tug and barge (ATB) for Sause Bros., Ocean Towing of Coos Bay, Ore. ATB has been designed specifically for oceangoing service in the North pacific petroleum product trade. The unit also incorporates many features requested by Sause Bros. Elliot Bay's design calls for 135.5 ft.(41.3 m) tug combined with a 543.7 ft. (165.7 m) barge, connected by an Intercon coupler. The coupler provides a secure attachment between the tug and the barge, while allowing free motion about the pitch axis. Both the tug and the barge are designed to meet SOLAS requirements, and will be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
Tests Prove CLT Prop Characteristics
The CLT propeller recently underwent real-world testing, which proved, according to its designer and manufacturer that the propeller can help to reduce or eliminate hull-induced vibrations and noise levels. Independent studies were conducted aboard Superfast Levante, which demonstrated that: the cavitation level developed on the CLT propeller blades is negligible from the ship's structural integrity point of view; vibration and noise levels are excellent in terms of comfort on board; and the contractual ship speed was much better than predicted. Superfast Levante is a 7,200 dwt RoRo cargo vessel delivered by Union Naval de Valencia (UNV) to Trasmediterranea, the major Spanish operator of RoRo vessels and ferries. The ship was ordered to operate between Cadiz and the Canary Isles.
DMI Appoints Schack Head of Ship Hydrodynamics
Danish Maritime Institute (DMI) has appointed Ph. D. Naval Architect Christian Schack as Head of Department in Ship Hydrodynamics. Christian Schack will be responsible for both internal and external activities, but he will especially focus on sales and client contact with DMI's clients worldwide. Christian Schack previously held the position as Sales & Marketing Manager at the consulting naval architect firm Knud E. Hansen A/S in Copenhagen. DMI is a leading global supplier of specialized consultancy services and software products focusing upon maritime safety and efficiency and fluid dynamics. technology.
WindShip Technology Promises Fuel Savings
The task of designer ships, which are increasingly fuel efficient as well as environmentally friendly, is the marine industry's constant challenge, today and forever. While hull designs and propulsion systems continually evolve, a new development from Knud E. Hansen A/S shows promise in taking the cause a step further. An interesting design being touted by the firm is a Modern Windship, a sail-assisted vessel, which marries Mother Nature's power harnessed with an innovative ship shape. In fact, according to the designer, the new efficient rig design, combined with an especially developed underwater hull, promises to cut the fuel consumption by half on selected ocean routes. In 1995 the Danish Ministry of Environment and Energy granted funding for Knud E.
