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Final Solution News

15 Feb 2024

Let’s Set Some Standards for Micro Cargo

It almost boggles the mind that the success of the ISO container is effectively based on only one standard: 8 feet wide. The 8 foot standard (basically railroad car and truck widths, which are mythically reported to be related to the width of two horse’s asses)
Copyright Jim Mills/AdobeStock

As zero carbon cargo efforts are progressing, it is becoming more apparent that the lowest hanging fruit is in the last few miles. This is where a large amount of carbon is expended in delivering small parcels to stores and consumers’ doors.This is particularly apparent in dense pack cities like New York City, where delivery vans clog streets and water crossings. The NYC Economic Development Commission recently issued a Request For Expression of Interest in waterborne micro cargo delivery.

20 Mar 2023

In Case Affecting Oil, Norway Supreme Court Says EU Ships Cannot Fish Arctic Snow Crab

Credit: RachelKolokoffHopper/AdobeStock

OSLO, March 20 (Reuters) - Norway's Supreme Court ruled on Monday that EU ships cannot fish for snow crab off the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic in a case also deciding who has the right to explore for oil and minerals in the region.At stake was whether EU vessels had the right to catch snow crab, whose meat is considered a delicacy by gourmets in Japan and South Korea, in the same way as Norwegian vessels did.But what is valid for the snow crab, a sedentary species living on the seabed…

13 Aug 2020

Engineering for Tier 4

A 3D production model of a Robert Allan Ltd. tug, showcasing a Cat 3516E Tier 4 marine engine with SCR installation. (Image: Robert Allan Ltd.)

As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world—celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020—Robert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no one’s 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.

18 Mar 2020

Rewrite the Rules: The Path to Zero Emissions

First-of-its-kind cargo vessel Captain Ben Moore delivers local produce and food across Long Island Sound. Built by Derecktor Shipyards, the aluminum catamaran is powered by two Cummins QSB 6.7 diesels, and lithium batteries connected to a pair of BAE Systems HybriDrive electric motors.  (Credit: Harbor Harvest)

With social media updates and conference agendas addressing the subjects of climate change, emissions reductions and alternative fuels, it’s a wonder we are not climbing the Himalayans in search of the Jedi Master that will provide us with the magic potion. Yoda’s blessing with a calming breath, “You have chosen wisely.”Government emissions intervention started with a move to reduce energy and fuel consumption measured in greenhouse gas (GHG), at a time when the world and our politicians spoke about global warming.

20 Jun 2019

Maersk to Offer Customers Carbon-Neutral Transport

Photo: Maersk

A new carbon neutral product - the first of its kind in the industry - is being piloted with select Maersk customers who are highly engaged in sustainable solutions for their supply chain. H&M Group is the first company to trial it as part of the shift towards carbon-neutral transportation.The biofuel in the pilot project is the same blend of used cooking oil and heavy which has been tested and successfully validated in a trial driven in collaboration with the Dutch Sustainability Growth Coalition (DSGC), and Shell his year.

17 May 2019

Marine Monitoring System Powered by Innovation

Photo courtesy of CMR Group

Innovation is driving advanced monitoring and control technologies for environmental and safety compliance in the marine sector, says Gérard Baldellou, marine business unit manager at CMR Group.The marine diesel power sector continues to face significant challenges, particularly in areas where emissions resulting from combustion inside engines, along with fuel consumption levels need reducing. Escalating operating costs, tighter margins and pressures in the oil and gas sector signal challenging times for ship owners and fleet operators.

21 May 2018

LNG is the Bridge to ‘Zero Emissions’ Shipping

(Photo: Skangas)

The advent of industry wide tightening of allowable sulfur emissions is getting nearer. Suddenly, with the deadline now little more than one year away, the countdown clock will very soon be ticking much louder. Simply stated, the cap on allowable sulfur content in marine fuels, presently at 3.5 percent in many geographical regions, will be reduced to 0.5 percent in January 2020. The 0.1 percent sulfur cap, already in effect since 2015 in coastal Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) in Europe and North America…

03 Jul 2017

Partners to Establish Digital Platform to Create Future Ships

Photo: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce, The Norwegian University of Technology Science (NTNU), research organization SINTEF Ocean and classification society DNV GL have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the aim of creating an open source digital platform for use in the development of new ships. The platform will allow the creation of so called “digital twins”. A digital twin is a digital copy of a real ship, including its systems, that synthesizes the information available about the ship in a digital world.

04 Mar 2015

Caterpillar to Deliver Highest Horsepower Tier 4 Solution

      The C280 (Photo courtesy of Caterpillar Marine)

Edison Chouest Offshore has selected Caterpillar Marine's Cat Tier 4 Final C280-16 generator sets for two new vessels, Caterpillar announced today. The generators are the marine industry's highest horsepower Tier 4 solution, as well as one of the largest diesel electric propulsion (DEP) configurations in company history. Four Cat C280-16 generator sets, each rated at 5060 bkW @ 900rpm will power each vessel, which are being constructed at Edison Chouest’s La Ship shipyard in Houma, Louisiana.

13 Nov 2014

Keeping Their Cool – Marine Clutches and Brakes

Wichita provides expertise in such applications allowing it to add value to the design process as well as providing innovative materials and solutions for a wide range of marine applications

The marine environment is extremely harsh and delivering equipment capable of performing reliably and efficiently requires expert design engineers combined with advanced materials technology. Neil Wright, Managing Director of Wichita Clutch, assesses the requirements of modern marine clutches and brakes, which play such a crucial role in a variety of applications. As marine exploration for oil and gas continues to greater depths, so the equipment used to exploit the new reserves needs to perform on a whole new level.

19 Feb 2014

OSI Navigation System for Canadian Navy

OSI Maritime Systems Ltd. (OSI) announced today that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin Canada to support the design activity of the bridge and navigation capabilities for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). Lockheed Martin Canada is one of AOPS Prime Contractor Irving Shipbuilding’s Tier 1 suppliers for the AOPS project under the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). Under an initial contract, OSI will design the Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the new vessels. “We are very pleased to have been selected for this very important Royal Canadian Navy project,” said Ken Kirkpatrick, President and Chief Executive Officer OSI Maritime Systems Ltd.

27 Mar 2013

Dogger Bank Site for Innovation with Another First

Guide cones were used in the first “human free” installation of met mast tower.

The Dogger Bank offshore wind zone is proving to be a site for innovation as a new and safer installation technique has been used to lift Forewind’s initial meteorological mast tower on top of the innovative suction-installed bucket foundation. The use of the Bucket Foundation was also a UK industry first when placed on site in February. Fred. Olsen United implemented the concept of moving the riggers, who previously had to be near the lattice towers during installation, and instead introducing guide cones, therefore eliminating the risk of a swinging or falling load causing an accident.

24 Mar 2011

Piracy Likely to Escalate into Small Wars Says Expert

It is likely that Somali pirates will soon raise the level of lethal violence with the result that there will be “small wars” on the open sea, according to security expert Casey Christie. “Pirates will kill more people, including hostages and security officers” he warned. Christie, who is the managing director of Concept Tactical Worldwide, based in London, says this lethal escalation is a logical development of the way in which the pirate scourge is currently being handled by the international community. “For a long time the shipping lines were very reluctant to place armed men aboard their vessels for fear of an arms escalation race between the private security firms and the Somali pirates.

14 Jan 2011

Seaway Tonnage Rebounds in 2010

The St. Lawrence Seaway experienced a rebound in activity over the course of the 2010 navigation season, with a 15% increase in cargo volume yielding an estimated total of 35.5 million tonnes. Shipments of iron ore posted a strong 35% gain over the level witnessed in 2009. Grain likewise showed improvement, posting a 10% increase year over year. Coupled with a 63% surge in general cargo, which consists principally of iron and steel break-bulk shipments and project cargo such as wind turbine components, the Seaway finished the year on a positive note. “With a recovery in the manufacturing sector, characterized by a resurgent domestic auto assembly business…

12 Jan 2010

Seaway Concludes 50th Anniversary Season

The St. Lawrence Seaway concluded its 50th anniversary season on December 28 with the passage of the JW Shelley. The vessel transited the Iroquois Lock at 7:37 p.m. on route to Lake Ontario. The Seaway navigation season for 2009 spanned 274 days. The Welland Canal, which has been in operation since 1932, remained open to navigation until December 30, as the CSL Tadoussac transited Lock 1 at 3:04 p.m. and cleared Port Weller entering Lake Ontario at 3:22 p.m. Total Seaway cargo volume for 2009 is estimated to amount to 30.5 million tonnes, the lowest volume witnessed since the early 1960's. The 25% decrease in cargo volume compared to 2008 can be attributed to the depth of the recession, which sharply curtailed movements of iron ore and steel on the waterway.

26 Apr 2007

Ship Emissions Tops IMO Agenda

Work on reviewing regulations to reduce emissions of air pollutants from ships was high on the agenda when the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) met for its 11th session from 16-20 April 2007. It followed on from an intersessional meeting of the BLG Working Group on Air Pollution, which took place from 13 to 17 November 2006, in Oslo, Norway, to develop the necessary MARPOL amendments. The Working Group on Air Pollution was reconvened during the current session, chaired by Mr. Bryan Wood-Thomas (United States), to progress the work in hand. The Working Group reviewed the proposed three-tier system approach for NOx emission limits applicable to new engines…