Future Ships: Picture Perfect
Big data, advanced computers and AI are allowing vessel designers to prepare models that leave essentially nothing to chance.âLastly, it may be of considerable importance to form from the draught a block model of the vessel from which a still more accurate judgment may be formed of the fitness and beauty of the body. And should any defect be discovered, farther alterations must still be made, till the draught and the model are perfectly approved of. These different alterations and repeated calculations may appear very tediousâŠ
Austal USA Wins USN Contract
Austal USA received an $867.6 million undefinitized contract award (UCA) for final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) from the U.S. Navy. The EMS will be manufactured in Austal USAâs aluminum manufacturing line following completion of the last Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 16).The Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS), an Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) variant, is a cost-effective design providing a dedicated medical ship optimized to provide patient holding, stabilization, evacuation and transport in support of Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO).
Bristol Harbor Group to Design Ferry for Casco Bay Lines
Bristol, R.I. based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) has been selected by Casco Bay Lines (CBL), located in Portland, Maine, to provide naval architecture and marine engineering services for the evaluation and design of a new sub-chapter K passenger/vehicle ferry that will be operated year round in the coastal waters of Casco Bay.The new vessel will replace the 98-foot-long, 399-passenger Maquoit II, built by East Boothbay, Maine shipbuilder Washburn & Doughty in 1994.BHGI said it will be responsible for developing a preliminary design reportâŠ
US Awards More than $653 Million for Port Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportationâs Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).The investmentsâpart of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history, nearly $17 billion through the Presidentâs Bipartisan Infrastructure Lawâare intended to help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inlandâŠ
Securing Federal Grant Resources for US Ports
Like many ports, the Alaskan Port of Homer faces aging infrastructure and capital needs well beyond the local funding capacity. The port is a key link in the supply chain for 47 remote, rural, disadvantaged or Alaska Native communities served by Homer, making proposed port infrastructure upgrades critical for shipping statewide as well as for the local community.Enter the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This unprecedentedâŠ
NSMV: The Model for the Future of Government Shipbuilding
At the time of publication, the first National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the Empire State VII, is steadily advancing towards its final delivery to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and SUNY Maritime College. Letâs be clearâthis is a huge win, not only for MARAD, its vessel construction manager TOTE Services, the shipbuilder Philly Shipyard, and SUNY Maritime, but for the future of government shipbuilding.To put this milestone in its appropriate context, it is worth reviewing how we got here.
ABS AIP for Provarisâ Compressed Hydrogen Technology
ABS has presented Provaris Energy with an approval in principle (AIP) for its innovative gaseous hydrogen floating storage concept in a ceremony at NOR Shipping.The solution, dubbed H2Leo, has a design capacity range of 300 to 600 tonnes of hydrogen, expandable to up to 2,000 tonnes. The unit is designed for various hydrogen supply chains and applications, including bunkering for the maritime sector, intermittent/buffer storage for green hydrogen production, and long-duration storage for excess renewable energy.The AIP is the latest support from ABS for ProvarisâŠ
Marine News' Top Vessels of 2022
The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industryâs engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine Newsâ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.
DOT Announces $703M in Port Funding; 41 Projects in 22 States
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administrationâs Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the âNorth Extensionâ (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.
USACE Orders Crane Barge for St. Marys River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awarded a 11.4 million contract to Southwest Shipyard in Houston for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River.âThe new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),â said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. âAdditionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys RiverâŠ
This Way, Model-based Systems Engineering Effectively Helps You in the Concept Design Phase
Maritime model-based systems engineering has been an issue in the maritime sector busy for years. It seems to be a huge challenge to define a ship in mathematical formulas, while converting a ship into formulas is only the beginning of the complexity. A lot of maritime engineers find themselves stranded in a quagmire of results. Geert Schouten, director of Shipbuilder says, "We have lots of years of experience with model-based systems engineering. With our new tool we can translate the jumble of results into a complete, perfect ship design.
HAV Group's Hydrogen Energy System for Cruise Vessels Gets Preliminary DNV Approval
Norwegian technology provider HAV Group ASA has received preliminary approval from DNV for its hydrogen-based energy system for cruise ships.The system uses liquefied hydrogen storage and fuel cells and was created as part of the FreeCO2ast project, which is currently developing a high-capacity hydrogen energy system that can be retrofitted onboard two coastal cruise vessels owned by the Norwegian operator Havila Kystruten.The preliminary approval through DNV means that HAV GroupâŠ
Interview: Inside Cadeler X-Class WTIVs with CEO Mikkel Gleerup
Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup shares insights on the path ahead for his company in the fast-growing offshore wind sector, with details on Cadelerâs new X-Class Wind Turbine Installation Vessels.The last two years were big year for your company, with a name change from Swire Blue Ocean and IPO at the end of 2020 and a rebranding through 2021. What was the rationale for these moves?We rebranded from Swire Blue Ocean to Cadeler end of 2020 to demonstrate that this was a separation from Swire.
SP80: 80-knot Sailboat Demands High-Performance Sensing
Fischer Connectorsâ solutions support the transmission of sensor data for the wind-powered SP80 boat setting out to reach the phenomenal speed of 80 knots, which if achieved will break the long-standing world sailing speed record of 65.45 knots.During the development of its boat that is now close to its final design phase, the SP80 team has chosen Fischer Connectors for the data-transmission solutions interconnecting the various sensors that will equip the boat and its pilot to break the world sailing speed record.
Eye on Design: Where Are the Transportation Macro Designers?
As naval architects and marine engineers we are familiar with the design spiral. While design is not truly a spiral, we use the concept to remind ourselves that all pieces of a ship design interact. The design spiral is not a standard figure and can be simplistic or overcomplicated.A Google search image summary provides dozens of interpretations, all investigating different variables, with the only commonality that all spirals start with the âmissionâ variable.Figure 1 is an oldâŠ
World First: Kongsberg Launches Full-scale Hydrogen-based Propulsion System
Norway's Kongsberg has announced "a world first" by testing and verifying a full-scale, full-size, zero-emissions drivetrain powered by hydrogen fuel cells designed for ships and ferries. The project demonstrates that the technology is now mature for using hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier, Kongsberg said.âWith a verified and tested hydrogen-based propulsion system, we take the next step in zero-emission solutions at sea. This project is another example of our world-leading Norwegian maritime cluster succeeding when we face the most demanding technological challengesâŠ
Silver Ships, Auburn University to Develop Oyster Harvesting Boat Designs
Boat builder Silver Ships is partnering with Auburn Universityâs Industrial Design program and the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory (AUSL) to create concepts for an oyster farming boat design.Beginning this fall, Silver Ships, AUSL and students within Auburnâs industrial design program will focus on designing several concepts for a new boat to support oyster farming operations. The class offers third-year students the opportunity to engage in their first substantial designâŠ
Marine Design: Multi-Physics Simulation (MPS) & Decarbonization Walk Hand-in-Hand
Chris Wiernicki, CEO, ABS, discusses the evolution of multi-physics simulation and its importance in reaching decarbonization goals through 2050.As the pace of technological evolution rapidly quickens, shipowners are increasingly forced to embrace change to ensure their fleets stay in compliance with new regulations and stave off obsolescence.Going forward, efficient, cost-effective delivery of goods from âpoint A to point Bâ must be done in a more environmentally benign mannerâŠ
Multimission Vessels: Interest Across All Sectors
The development and construction of multimission vessels (MMVs) remains active across the maritime market.The ability to perform multiple tasks when those different duties are needed is central to an MMVâs value. Multimission capabilities mean that an expensive asset doesnât sit idle when it isnât being used for a singular purpose, such as firefighting. This is particularly important for public sector officials who have to weigh costs and benefits across a wide range of demandsâŠ
Glosten to Design, Freire Shipyard to Build MBARI's New Research Vessel
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is embarking on a new chapter in its ocean research with the construction of a state-of-the-art ship, a vessel named in honor of MBARIâs founder, David Packard. The R/V David Packard will be capable of accommodating diverse expeditions in Monterey Bay and beyond to further the instituteâs mission to explore and understand our changing ocean.It will measure 50 x 12.8 m with a 3.7 m draft, designed to support a crew of 12, plus a science crew of 18.
GEV, Ballard Developing Hydrogen Fuel Cell-powered Ship
Global Energy Ventures (GEV) and Ballard Power Systems have teamed up to design and develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for GEVâs C-H2 Ship.Under a newly executed memorandum of understanding (MOU), GEV and Ballard will work to power the C-H2 Ship using compressed hydrogen from its storage tanks, providing a zero-emissions marine transport supply chain.The power required for a small-scale demonstration of the C-H2 Ship is expected to be under 10 megawatts (MW). At full scale, the C-H2 Ship will have a propulsion power requirement of approximately 26 MWâŠ
Engineering for Tier 4
As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the worldâcelebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020âRobert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no oneâs ever come to the Vancouver, Canada-based company as early in the process as Caterpillar did during the development of its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final solutions.Like many in the industry, the team at Robert Allan Ltd.
Interview: Heavy Lifting with John DiMartino and Tandemloc
Starting from his fatherâs basement in Bayport, New York, John DiMartino and his brother Bill have built a custom, heavy lift powerhouse in Tandemloc. Itâs a story of building something from nothing; a story of plotting a path and adjusting for multiple course changes along the way. Ultimately, itâs a story of engineering ingenuity and heavy lift success.When John DiMartino graduated from SUNY Maritime in 1980 with a BS Marine Transportation Management, his career path started as projectedâŠ