Data Systems News

Rapid technological change, complex regulation and competitive pressures are driving digital transformation in the shipping industry. But navigating a confusing software landscape can be difficult, and sound decision-making is essential to minimize innovation risk, according to OrbitMI.Industry spending has soared in recent years on intelligent process automation solutions geared to boosting efficiency, reducing costs, curbing emissions and improving safety for shipping companies…

Siloed data systems represent a “recipe for duplicative and multiplicative cost inside a company and across companies”, an OrbitMI-hosted panel at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US was told, as a Bureau Veritas-backed study highlighted this as a big barrier to data collaboration for digitalization of shipping to cut emissions.Vast amounts of data are generated from ship operations - such as from sensors onboard or vessel performance management systems - as well as from…

Opening this week’s International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, President Frédéric Denèfle explained the conference theme of “strength and stability in turbulent seas” saying it is essentially “business as usual” for marine underwriters.“As marine underwriters, we are used to managing an array of casualties and losses onboard a variety of vessels and in ports and other shoreside facilities. Dealing with the fall-out from natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and weather events are also workaday issues.

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has introduced a chatbot dubbed SBOT for its ship designers as part of plans to boost the shipyard’s competitiveness.When a user asks SBOT a question, its artificial intelligence (AI) analyzes the meaning and finds design information, such as details on regulations and contracts, that is available from various systems within the company. New employees can perform their work quickly and accurately with SBOT, says SHI, and the use of design information can be maximized through the knowledge search function.In addition…

Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.

Ian-Conrad Bergan, LLC.—a marine equipment manufacturer for over 45 years—announced the company’s rebrand, new leadership and new direction. Rebranding as Bergan Marine Systems under new president and CEO, Kyle Durden, the company will expand its focus to include electronic and computer controls, as well as cloud-based solutions for marine data systems, along with continuing their traditional products.“While we’ve been a mostly product-centered company throughout our history, we’re now integrating our products with computer-based control systems and generating data that’s transmitted to the cloud, to customers in real-time,” Durden said.Initially founded in Norway, the company moved to the Pensacola, Fla.

Brian Cuccias, the retired president of Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division, accepted the Navy League of the United States' Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award today. The Navy League presented the award at the annual Sea-Air-Space exposition in National Harbor, Maryland.The Nimitz award honors an industry leader who has made a major contribution to the nation's maritime strength or enhanced national security. The award committee, appointed by the national president of the Navy League…

America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced Friday that its board of directors has elected Kari Wilkinson to serve as executive vice president of HII and president of HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, effective April 1. She will succeed Brian Cuccias, who announced that he will retire April 1.Kari Wilkinson, who will report to  HII executive vice president and COO Chris Kastner, currently serves as Ingalls’ vice president, program management.“Kari…

A new agreement will see Hyundai Global Services (HGS) recommend the Tekomar XPERT software for engine performance optimization as an enhancement option for all vessels built by Hyundai Heavy Industries from 2018.ABB Ability Tekomar XPERT uses advanced modeling based on operational data to optimize engine performance. The combination of Tekomar XPERT’s analytic capabilities and input from Hyundai’s own onboard data systems—Integrated Smartship Solution (ISS) and DATS—will enable ship operators to reduce fuel consumption and emissions…

ABB Turbocharging has introduced a new digital offering aiming to enhance the insights delivered by its engine performance diagnostics software, ABB Ability Tekomar XPERT.The new ‘continuous evaluation’ function allows the software to use engine data gathered by edge computing services, adding a new dimension to Tekomar XPERT’s monitoring, reporting and advisory capabilities, ABB says.“Continuous evaluation allows for the cloud-to-cloud transfer of engine data from edge computing platforms to Tekomar XPERT,” says Pascal Reolon, Product Manager, ABB Turbocharging.

Danish developer Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind has signed a research partnership  with Rutgers University, the University of Rhode Island and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to support academic research activities related to offshore wind.The group is set to launch the Ecosystem and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (ECO-PAM) project.Ørsted signed an initial memorandum of understanding with Rutgers University in May 2019 to support academic research activities related to offshore wind. The ECO-PAM project will be in addition to this initial funding agreement.The company plans to apply the project’s learnings to develop tailored processes and procedures to better protect the North Atlantic right whale during survey, construction and operation phases of their U.S. offshore wind farm portfolio.

The evolution of marine design is increasingly influenced by three drivers: New three-dimensional design tools, the increasing complexity of power systems, and new access to high-latitude shipping routes. While new digital design tools are a natural progression of the current Information Age, new propulsion energy requirements and Polar shipping routes are reactions to the legacy of the ebbing Industrial Age. Three-Dimensional Design WorkflowsA young naval architect recently stated…

“The future is already here – it’s just not very evenly distributed,” is an observation from William Gibson, the luminary science fiction author, that sums up many of the problems with widespread adoption of technological solutions. This is certainly true of shipping. As we saw at Nor-Shipping this year, it is now expected for most businesses to have a data-driven element, and enthuse about how they are ‘embracing digital.’ But how much of this buzz around digital solutions results in better decision making on the ground?

ABS Chief Technology Officer and University of Michigan alumnus Howard Fireman addressed students, professors and guests at the university’s 2017 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department’s Captain Ralph R. and Florence Peachman Lecture to share his vision of the future of shipping. In a lecture titled “A Brave New World,” Fireman outlined the challenges that will be introduced by the marine industry’s transformation to autonomous vessels, explaining how data, systems…

SATCOM edges closer to providing standardized services to the workboat sector. It’s affordable now and someday soon, you won’t be able to afford to be without it. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based JouBeh Technologies today makes it possible for far flung workboats to transmit critical data back to principals and at the same time, allow regulators and operators alike the possibility of reliable asset tracking on the water. Maybe it’s not YOUR workboat, but someday soon, it could be. As a reseller and integrator for Iridium Communications, JouBeh’s business mix penetrates many sectors. On the water, what they are doing for the federal government of Canada in two different applications has potential for North American commercial inland operators, as well.

Transas Marine Pacific and its local partner Mercuries Data Systems (MDS) have secured a multi-million contract from the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration for installation and commissioning of the National Coastal Surveillance System. The mission-critical system is based on the Transas Navi-Harbour software employing advanced features for accurate detection, tracking and identification of small and high-speed targets. The system will provide the Taiwan Coast Guard with real time data on any activities occurring in a coastal zone thus ensuring full control over an entire coastal area. It will help to prevent illegal activity, to protect critical onshore infrastructure from intruders and support decision-making process.

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a contract by Peter Dohle Schiffahrts-KG to supply the Integrated Bridge Systems, including navigation, voyage data recorders and radio systems, to seven new bulk carrier ships. Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will supply the equipment to Jiangsu Hantong Shipyard in Nantong, Jiangsu, China. The full Integrated Bridge System package will include VisionMaster FT Radars, VisionMaster FT ECDIS, Magnetic Compass System, Echosounder…

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that Irwin F. Edenzon will retire on Dec. 1, 2014. Edenzon is currently corporate vice president and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Although Edenzon will not officially retire until December 2014, he will step down as president on March 31, 2014, and the HII Board of Directors has elected Brian Cuccias to succeed Edenzon in the position of corporate vice president and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, effective April 1, 2014.

Lockheed Martin Canada, a major supplier of systems, software and professional services to the Royal Canadian Navy, will be in Saint John, Halifax and St. John’s this week to meet with companies that could become partners and suppliers on shipbuilding projects, including the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and other future programs. In each location, Lockheed Martin officials will provide a briefing on how companies can prepare and position themselves for shipbuilding work through major contractors and then will conduct a series of one-on-one meetings to learn about the capabilities of many New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador based companies.

According to AMEinfo.com, Injazat Data Systems has been appointed by Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), to support the critical IT requirements of ADSB, the sophisticated military and commercial shipbuilding facility. Under the terms of the 5-year key IT outsourcing deal, Injazat will host ADSB's data at its 2,000-sqm design-certified Tier IV Data Centre, the first facility of its kind in the Middle East. The deal includes IT outsourcing, enhancement and virtualization of the ship builder's existing IT infrastructure and Enterprise Resource Planning implementation.

Heeding the call to join “An Ocean in Common,” authors flooded the Oceans ‘13 MTS/IEEE San Diego technical program committee with a record number of abstracts in a single day. Special topics include an Ultra-deep track discussing current and prospective robotic technologies, plus a panel of scientists to consider research questions. Oceans2013 Chair Bob Wernli, and Co-Chair Kevin Hardy, developer of the unmanned landers for James Cameron’s DeepSea Challenge Expedition, will be the session conveners. “James’ intention is to be certain the door remains open to other explorers,” Hardy said.

On May 1, 2012 Rhotheta USA, Inc and MetOcean Data Systems announced  they have entered into a cooperation agreement to support requirements for recovery of underwater assets and oceanographic equipment. Under the terms of the agreement both companies will combine their know-how and efforts to support customer requirements jointly. Both Rhotheta and MetOcean are now committed to support projects involving recovery of underwater assets, including technology enhancements and custom modifications as required. Rhotheta’s time-tested RT-500-M series of wideband radio direction finder systems, and MetOcean’s world renowned NOVATECH location and recovery beacons…

Nessco appointment keeps a weather eye on MetOcean opportunities. Nessco Group, a RigNet company (NASDAQ: RNET), has appointed Phil Goodall to grow the Company’s international offshore weather monitoring business. Mr Goodall, who takes up the position of business development manager for MetOcean, will oversee the globalisation of the company’s unique offering in meteorology and weather data systems. The MetOcean system gathers accurate weather information that is critical to aviation and marine operations in the oil and gas industry. The bespoke Nessco Integrated MetOcean System (NIMOS) software processes the data in real time to support weather dependent operations offshore.