Decision Support Systems News

Norway's HAV Group ASA has agreed to acquire Undheim Systems AS, a provider of dynamic positioning (DP) systems for vessels."The planned technology acquisition is a strategic move that accelerates HAV Group's plans to offer digital functionality that meets the global maritime market's needs for decision support tools and autonomous ship operations," HAV Group said.“HAV Group already provides digital decision support systems to vessels in order to cut operating expenditure and emissions to air.

An automated vessel is one where advanced decision support systems onboard the vessel, like the Global Positioning System (GPS) and auto pilot, undertake operational decisions independent of direct human control. A Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) involves both automated systems and remote control operations. In August 2016, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Ship Operations Explore Autonomous Sailing.” The article suggested that by 2030 there would be remotely controlled ships and that by 2035 there would be MASS on the high seas.In 1974…

As the maritime industry faces numerous environmental and efficiency challenges, the future is ship automation and Wärtsilä Voyage is a driver. Sean Fernback, President, and Thomas Pedersen, Director, Automation & Dynamic Positioning, Wärtsilä Voyage discuss the path and the pace with Maritime Reporter TV.Sean, to start, it seems many define “autonomy” differently. How do you define Wärtsilä's smart-autonomy approach?Sean Fernback, President, Wärtsilä VoyageAutonomy is a journey and there is no question that, at some point, various vessels in different classes will be fully autonomous.

Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS said it will carry out a mix of minor and major technical upgrades over the next 10 years to reduce emissions by about 45% from 2008 levels. Ultimately, the company intends to become climate neutral by 2050.The company said it will use solutions like hull coatings and decision support systems on board vessels and in the office, as well as major fleet upgrades such as bulb and propeller modifications."The plan is based on careful analysis of how we operate today, and which areas have the greatest potential for improvement.

Availability of reliable, real-time ocean surface data can improve the safety, efficiency and performance of offshore and marine operations, as well as coastal monitoring, but the quality of the data is dependent on accurate calibration.Calibration of wave spectra and integrated wave parameters from radar-based measurement systems has historically depended upon external reference sensors, such as wave buoys, which can present a number of challenges.Miros’ ocean surface monitoring systems support fully automatic calibration…

ClassNK  confirmed type approval certification for SMARTShip, a patented digital shipping solution developed by Alpha Ori Technologies (AOT).SMARTShip, an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that enables the onboard operation of multiple systems with varying degrees of autonomy, has already been installed on more than 30 vessels, with another 60 ships are at various stages of the set-up process.ClassNK’s certification for SMARTShip approves the solution as a ‘Computer Based System’ which conforms to the Class Society’s rules governing a product performing ‘Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics’…

Maritime software, services and data analysis provider NAPA announced a service and product agreement extension with Carnival Corporation, cruise company with a combined fleet of more than 100 vessels across nine cruise line brands. This covers comprehensive services for the Onboard NAPA Loading Computers, training certification for Carnival’s CSMART training facility, and a framework agreement for future deployments of NAPA solutions.Carnival’s commitment to the highest performance…

Many navy new building projects face a double challenge; the variety and complexity of operations are increasing, while at the same time, a reduction in manning is a prerequisite in order to lower building and operational costs. Therefore, it is important to identify the required number and type of crew and the supporting systems in the concept phase. For a long time the use of weapons and platform systems have relied on a high degree of integrated, multi-sensor data processing and decision support systems.

The Navdec system designed to improve safety of passengers and freight and aimed to support navigators in collision situations was tested on board the ferry m/f Wawel and m/f Mazovia in 2016. This invention will also be installed now on m/f Baltivia sailing from Świnoujście to Ystad. Polferries decided to equip all ferries with Navdec system to improve safety of passengers and freight. Accordingly, an agreement to this effect was signed between Polferries and Sup4Nav on 8th of December 2016 in Kołobrzeg. The navigational decision support system NAVDEC is the first navigational tool worldwide that performs information functions as well as those typical of decision support systems.

Work to implement International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention in developing countries is underway in Zagreb, Croatia this week, with two training activities under IMO’s GloBallast project. A seminar looking at risk assessment, and inventories of marine life in and around commercial ports – a concept also known as Port Biological Baseline Surveys – concluded November 17. Marine biologists, Port State Control Officers and maritime authorities from Croatia, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan and Nigeria are discussing issues including exemptions, ship targeting for compliance monitoring and enforcement and the development of decision support systems.

Naval defense services and systems provider and integrator DCNS said it will showcase its digital and high technology naval solutions at the Euronaval Exhibition from October 17-21, 2016 in Paris-Le Bourget. These solutions, according to DCNS, aim to address the new generation of operators in the coming years, which includes naval and industrial autonomy. SMX 3.0 concept-ship - This new concept-ship is a submarine tailored to the needs of Generation Z. On board, 3.0 technologies, better power management, excellent operational performance in an unequal mastered digital environment.

A consortium of companies aims to develop an expert decision support system for improved ship efficiency and safer navigation via a two-year R&D project called iSea. Backed by funding from the Eurostars program, the iSea innitiative is led by Danelec Marine, with other participants including Vessel Performance Solutions ApS (Denmark), i-Marine Technologies and Research Inc. (Turkey) and Deniztekno Danismanlik Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Bilgisayar San. Tic. Std. Sti (Turkey). Set to commence the R&D program in January 2017, the iSea team will deliver a set of Expert Decision Support Systems (EDSS) for enhancing the performance and navigability of vessels.

The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Fisheries has approved Norway’s first development concession enabling Ocean Farming AS, supported by Kongsberg Maritime AS, to build the world’s first automated ‘exposed’ aquaculture facility. Situated outside of Trondheim, this new facility introduces a paradigm shift in salmon farming now, and other fish types in the future and is a significant step in Norway’s efforts to deliver technical solutions to address the impending global food gap challenge.

Arranging new changes to its brand positioning, the Transas Group informs it will now focus its efforts solely in the maritime market. The group’s shareholders made the decision to focus the Transas brand on the maritime business only, taking into account the success of Transas and its brand awareness in the maritime IT market and dominating position in several key segments of this market, Transas explained. The group’s other business segments, including aviation technologies and non-marine simulation, will be rebranded in accordance with the new strategy.

Europe has a major role to play in driving the maritime industry forward, said Tor Svensen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime, in his keynote speech on innovation at the European Shipping Week in Brussels. Svensen outlined three priority areas that will drive shipping in the decades to come: sustainability and environmentally friendly technologies, big data and connected ship solutions as well as a new safety mindset across the whole maritime industry in order to improve its safety track record. “Today, 70 percent of the world’s fleet is controlled from Europe.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has named Karen Williams vice president and general manager of the Defense Technologies Division, one of four divisions within its Information Systems sector. The sector recently realigned its defense business to form the Defense Technologies Division, focused on end-to-end support systems and services for defense customers. Williams reports to Linda A. Mills, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Information Systems.

Fort Lauderdale, US, March 24th, 2011 –Eniram, provider of advanced decision support systems for the shipping industry, has today announced that it has joined the Green Marine program as a supporting partner. Green Marine is a joint Canada-U.S voluntary program that aims to improve its participants' environmental performance beyond regulatory compliance by introducing best practices, reduction targets and new technologies. “Eniram has already helped a number of shipping operators…

According to the United Nations, the world’s population which currently stands at just over 6.7 billion could reach over nine billion by 2050. This staggering figure will no doubt create a surge in consumerism and a subsequent increase in demand for much larger ships, in order to be sufficiently equipped to support the global trade economy. Furthermore, the need for bigger vessels is being driven by the shipping companies’ desire to reduce costs, in order to weather the economic storm which still remains a worrying challenge.

Ricardo and Kongsberg have signed a framework agreement that will see Ricardo support the development of the Kongsberg Wind Farm Management System (WFMS) as well as related condition monitoring systems for a range of other industrial sectors. The Kongsberg WFMS is a turbine independent decision support system. It surpasses the functionality found in wind farm supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and offers a modern and intuitive user interface based on Kongsberg’s wide ranging experience in automation and decision support systems for the defence…

Ricardo and KONGSBERG say that they have signed a framework agreement that will see Ricardo support the development of the Kongsberg Wind Farm Management System (WFMS) as well as related condition monitoring systems for a range of other industrial sectors. The Kongsberg WFMS is a turbine independent decision support system. It surpasses the functionality found in wind farm supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and offers a modern and intuitive user interface based on KONGSBERG's wide ranging experience in automation and decision support systems for the defence, maritime and offshore oil & gas sectors. KONGSBERG selected Ricardo to support the development of the WFMS not least due to the company's expertise in wind turbine drivetrains.

80% of the world’s semi-submersible heavy-lift vessels are equipped with motion monitoring and decision support systems says ABB, including the 'Dockwise Vanguard' recently contracted to lift and carry off the 'Costa Concordia'. Offshore oil and gas platforms and floating production centers are getting bigger and heavier, and the ships that transport them across the oceans of the world are getting bigger and heavier as well. Recently, the world’s largest semisubmersible heavy-lift vessel…

The Finland-headquartered company develops onboard applications, performance management and analytics solutions that help fleet owners and captains better operate their ships towards reduced fuel consumption and improved overall vessel efficiency. Philip Padfield, CEO of Eniram, said: “Singapore was a clear choice for us as it is not only one of the premier global hubs for shipping but has also made clear its intention to be a hub for ‘green’ shipping in the region. Eniram offers a range of products designed to maximise vessel efficiency and provides the most accurate analytics and measurement tools to enable ship operators to find out exactly where they are achieving savings.

The term “Fleet Optimization” means many things to many people. What does it mean to you? Dr. Chen Fleet Optimization encompasses many aspects of shipping operations ranging from finding the best deployments and schedules for maximizing the fleet revenue/profit to minimizing total fuel consumption on a particular passage given the loading conditions and forecast weather to arrive on-time. Historically, such decisions are derived from years of experiences with hit or miss results.