Gas Control News

A fire that broke out during the maiden voyage of the world's first liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier gas carrier Suiso Frontier was caused by an onboard electrical issue, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation foundThe 116-meter vessel, built as a prototype ship to assess the technical aspects of transporting LH2 by sea, had arrived at the Port of Hastings, Victoria on January 20, 2022, on its maiden voyage.The ship had departed Kobe, Japan on December 25, 2021 with 55 t of LH2…

Norwegean global marine automation and system integration expert Høglund Marine Solutions (HMS) will supply Fuel Gas Supply Systems (FGSS) to Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) for Tallink Grupp’s newest LNG powered ferry, MySTAR.Høglund will work with Finnish tank manufacturer West Welding to design and supply the systems that will handle LNG onboard MySTAR, constructed by Rauma Marine Constructions. MySTAR will sail on Tallink's Tallinn - Helsinki route.The design and engineering of FGSS solutions is a key challenge for the future development of LNG powered shipping, particularly for passenger vessels. The process must take into account complex safety concerns stemming from impacts on the engine cooling system…

Rolls-Royce and Canadian vessel designers Robert Allan have developed the world's first shallow-water push boat powered by LNG natural gas engines. DNV GL gave its “Approval in Principle” to the new design at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans. “The interest of the market regarding the design study of Robert Allan and Rolls-Royce confirms that the decision was right to develop a lean-burn gas engine. We have found operators across the globe who have seen the benefits of operational costs in addition to the reduction of environmental impact…

"With the conversion of SAJIR, we are the first shipping company worldwide to convert a container vessel of this size to natural gas propulsion."  Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-LloydIn its more than 170 years of existence, the Hamburg-based Hapag Lloyd  has used all kinds of solid and liquid fuels to generate energy for the propulsion of its ships. And now the shipping company has announced that it intends to convert the propulsion system of its 15…

Maritime administrators from over 20 countries across Asia have gathered at the first regional event of Asia’s Maritime Technology Cooperation Centre (MTCC-Asia) to discuss ways to bring shipping into a low carbon future. More than 50 participants joined representatives from the EU and IMO at the Shanghai Maritime University (18-22 September) to discuss national priorities and barriers relating to topics such as greenhouse gas control, ship energy-efficiency and technologies applied for fuel consumption data collection. MTCC-Asia is part of the global network for energy-efficient shipping under the GMN project, funded by the European Union and run by IMO. The network of five regional centres are promoting technologies and operations to improve energy efficiency in the maritime sector.

September 2014 marks the 110th anniversary of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products. A world leader in welding and cutting technology, with the broadest, most complete line of products and solutions for industry, ESAB’s reach extends to almost every nation in the world, with more than 8,700 employees, and manufacturing facilities across four continents. ESAB’s history of innovation began in 1904 when Oscar Kjellberg, a welding pioneer, submitted a hand-written patent for the covered electrode. Kjellberg’s invention was more than the introduction of a unique new product; it represented the beginning of the modern era in welding. This revolutionary invention also marked the beginning of Kjellberg’s company, Electriska Svesnings-Aktiebolaget (ESAB).

Wärtsilä says it has been awarded a contract for the control system of a shore-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA. The facility is owned by Harvey Gulf International Marine, a major owner-operator of offshore supply and specialty vessels headquartered in New Orleans. It will be used to supply fuel to Harvey Gulf's fleet of LNG powered platform supply vessels (PSV), and will be the first source of LNG fuel in the Gulf of Mexico. The Wärtsilä scope of supply comprises the control cabinets, the PLCs, computers, software programming and service commissioning. It is designed to enable the entire fuelling process to be fully controlled from the control room onboard the Harvey Energy class platform supply vessels…

Foster Wheeler AG (Nasdaq:FWLT) announced today that a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has finalized the acquisition of the Siemens Environmental Systems and Services business that supplies and services clean air technologies for use in power plants and industrial facilities. The transaction was closed April 30, 2014. The Siemens Environmental Systems and Services purchase includes assets of the former Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control Company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Advanced Burner Technology Company located in Branchburg, New Jersey. Foster Wheeler is in the process of integrating the assets into the global environmental and industrial product offerings of its Global Power Group.

ESAB has announced that Colfax Corporation has completed the previously announced acquisition of Victor Technologies Holdings, Inc. Victor is a preeminent global manufacturer of cutting, gas control and specialty welding solutions with many strong brands that are well-recognized around the globe. The acquisition complements the geographic footprint of ESAB, as well as expands ESAB's product portfolio into new segments and applications. It brings together two leading organizations with world-class products, technologies and R&D.

Private equity firm Irving Place Capital (IPC) and Victor Technologies (Victor) announce they have entered into a definitive agreement to sell Victor to Colfax Corporation (Colfax), a global manufacturer of gas and fluid-handling and fabrication technology products. Victor is a leading designer and manufacturer of a comprehensive suite of metal cutting, gas control, and specialty welding products. IPC acquired Victor, which was previously named Thermadyne Holdings Corporation, in a take-private transaction in December 2010.

A major international conference on November 27 in Copenhagen marked the final phase of the EU-funded Helios project. Helios is a cooperation research project within the EU´s seventh Framework Program for Research and Technical Development/Transportation with MAN Diesel & Turbo acting as coordinating partner. The general objective of the project is to develop a research platform for an electronically controlled, two-stroke, low-speed, marine diesel engine that operates on the principle of the direct injection of HP Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to meet the needs of the emerging LNG market. A large audience of 100 experts from around the…

Victor Technologies has announced it has acquired Gas-Arc Group Ltd, a privately held manufacturer of gas control equipment based in the United Kingdom, for approximately $40 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. Gas-Arc's portfolio includes branded gas control products that meet specialty gas application requirements as well as cutting and welding equipment for the industrial, laboratory and medical gas control markets. Gas-Arc will continue to operate under its own name. “Gas-Arc has shown an ability to anticipate changes in the market and innovate quickly, allowing customers to capitalize on the latest industrial, laboratory and medical opportunities,” said Martin Quinn, CEO of Victor Technologies.

LNG as marine fuel takes another step forward as Eidsvaag AS took delivery of the first vessel of the Rolls-Royce prize winning Environship range this week, featuring a combination of Rolls-Royce design and technologies which reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40 percent compared to similar diesel powered vessels. Once in operation the vessel will operate a demanding schedule with a weekly round voyage along the Norwegian coast delivering feed pellets to fish farms regardless of weather conditions.

Rolls-Royce signed a contract with ship owner Fjord Line A/S to install LNG based power and propulsion systems in two cruise ferries being built at the Bergen Group Fosen AS yard in Norway. Each vessel will be equipped with four gas engines, powering a highly efficient Promas integrated rudder and propeller propulsion system. The gas-only fuelled engines will reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions by about 90 percent while Sulphur Oxide (SOx) and particulates emissions will be negligible.

Thermadyne Holdings Corporation  announced on May 21, 2012 it has changed its name to Victor Technologies Group, Inc. and the name of its wholly owned subsidiary Thermadyne Industries, Inc. to Victor Technologies International, Inc. “To re-position the company in the marketplace, we are returning to our roots,” says Martin Quinn, the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Victor is the company’s strongest and most established brand, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2013. “By leveraging the Victor name…

Florence, SC - ESAB Cutting Systems has developed the new Smart Voltage Height Control (SVHC) system. SVHC improves plasma cut quality and maximizes plasma consumable life by automatically compensating for electrode wear. By integrating a number of plasma and CNC features which have existed for many years, this new system lets plasma users receive maximum value from their cutting machines, improving performance and driving down the total cost of production. The SVHC system utilizes ESAB's PB-MB-1 plasma torch station…

ESAB Cutting Systems continues its long history of plasma cutting system innovation with the new Smart Voltage Height Control (SVHC) system. SVHC improves plasma cut quality and maximizes plasma consumable life by automatically compensating for electrode wear. By integrating a number of plasma and CNC features that have existed for many years, this new system lets plasma users receive maximum value from their cutting machines, improving performance and driving down the total cost of production.

Rolls-Royce won a second order for a vessel from its award winning Environship range. This gas powered ship will be used to supply feed to fish farms along the Norwegian coast. The vessel has been ordered by Norwegian company Eidsvaag AS and will operate a demanding schedule to ensure fish are fed at the same time every week, regardless of weather conditions. The NVC 401 Forage Carrier, is the latest ship design from the Rolls-Royce Environship range and incorporates a variety of features to reduce environmental impact while increasing efficiency.

At a major event at its Diesel Research Centre in Copenhagen today, MAN Diesel & Turbo presented its ME-GI gas engine to a 300-strong invited audience of customers, licensees and journalists. The unveiling of the two-stroke engine represents the culmination of many years’ work that began in the 1990s with the company’s prototype MC-GI dual-fuel engine. MAN Diesel & Turbo originally announced plans to carry out full-scale testing of the new engine in September 2010. Today’s successful…

Ashland's Drew Marine announced today the release of the new MANY-FLOW(1) CGI (Central Gas Installation) Systems for onboard welding requirements. The MANY-FLOW design upgrades the traditional pipe-and-fittings construction of older oxygen and acetylene distribution systems. Easy to install, the unique, unit-body, three-gas control accommodates two or three cylinder inputs and provides a simple way to customize the CGI system of any ship. The MANY-FLOW system features a forged block assembly, is less prone to leaks, and offers increased safety, economy, and convenience of operation. "MANY-FLOW system raises the bar on safety, economy and ease-of-use in ship welding operations," says Rich Mansmann, marketing manager for welding and refrigeration products at Drew Marine.

Built by Hanjin Heavy Industries for the transportion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) between Oman and Korea, Hanjin Muscat is a 918 ft. (280 m), 68,524-dwt ship using Gaz Tranport's No. 96-2 membrane cargo containment system. The vessel was built with only four cargo tanks, contained within a complete double side/bottom/bulkhead/deck trunk structure, with top and bottom wing tanks. The side and bottom spaces from integral port and starboard water ballast tanks, divided by the duct keel. This double-hull structure not only protects the tanks from external damage, but insulates the outer hull against critical steelwork fractures cased by the low temperatures (-163 degrees C and atmospheric pressure) at which cargo is transported.