Increase Energy Efficiency News

ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively. Both vessels will be operating between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of approximately 700 nautical miles.

Norwegian offshore wind service vessel firm Edda Wind has ordered another commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) from Gondan Shipbuilders, in Spain.The newbuild will be of Salt 0474 design, which is a further development of the Salt 0217 design and will be delivered in April 2025. In addition, the company has an option with the yard for one more vessel.Including the latest newbuild, Edda Wind will have a fleet of 10 purpose-built vessels, of which six are currently under contract.

The latest in-line shaft generator from ABB is designed to enable ship operators to benefit from the multiple advantages of permanent magnet technology. The new generator brings flexibility and ease of installation to a wide range of vessels including bulk carriers, container carriers, liquid natural gas tankers and ferries transporting passengers and cars.The AMZ 1400 permanent magnet shaft generator is optimized for converter control and enables better efficiency than either induction or electrically excited synchronous machines at both full and partial loading.

How technology can bring data to life, from design through to operations, helping improve efficiency and reduce emissionsOver the last year, climate change – or more appropriately climate action – has emerged as the critical issue impacting the future of global industries. Companies are under pressure to outline plans to transition to a more sustainable way of doing business – and the shipping and maritime communities are no exception.Transportation emissions – which typically include road, rail, air and marine – are responsible for an estimated 24% of the world’s carbon emissions.

SolstadFarstad and Yxney Maritime AS have completed a pilot project to develop and roll out the fuel efficiency and emission reduction software MarESS. During the pilot, the combination of MarESS and skilled crews generated significant fuel savings for SolstadFarstad and their clients, leading to the contract for implementation for the entire fleet. “SolstadFarstad’s work with the SolstadFarstad Green Operations campaign is taken to the next level with MarESS,” says Tor Inge Dale, COO in SolstadFarstad. The merger of Solstad Offshore, Farstad Shipping, Deep Sea Supply and REM Offshore created the world’s biggest owner of advanced vessels in the supply, anchor handling, construction and renewable segments, with 147 vessels in total.

The three shipping companies of the Offen Group, CPO Container, CPO Tanker and CPO Bulker, have decided to implement DNV GL’s e-learning course “Energy Efficiency on Board” across their entire fleet. The E-learning tool, developed by DNV GL’s Maritime Academy, enables users to identify potential savings in a simple way and to implement them in ship operation. "As a large modern shipping company, we are always interested in innovative concepts and are constantly working to further extend our high quality standards in all areas," says Dietmar Thiem, Technical Director at CPO Container. The fleet of the Offen Group currently comprises 67 container ships, 8 bulk carriers and 26 tankers.

BAE Systems has completed a large scale installation of solar panels at Portsmouth Naval Base to increase energy efficiency and generate savings. In total, almost 2,000 solar panels comprising the latest photovoltaic technology have been installed on two key Portsmouth Naval Base buildings. The new 500kW system is expected to generate energy savings worth more than £1million over the next 20 years. Ken Hobbs, Head of Energy Solutions and Services at BAE Systems Maritime Services said, “We are proud to be managing this important project for the Portsmouth Naval Base estate.

Reftrade UK  has made an investment to upgrade its fleet with environmentally friendly technology. The world’s first refrigeration system to use CO2 as a natural refrigerant, NaturaLINE, has been installed in Reftrade UK’s fleet. The system has been designed by Carrier to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and reduce the power usage of each unit. The six figure investment will see Reftrade UK take a market-lead as the only supplier of refrigerated containers to offer the environmentally friendly technology, the company said.

SMM was another full success. With more than 2,100 exhibitors from all around the world, including 150 first-timers, with 50,000 industry visitors and roughly 90,000 square metres of exhibition space, SMM has demonstrated once again what it means to be the leading international trade fair of the maritime industry. After four days brimming with activity, the 26th SMM came to a close today. "We set new records this year," said Bernd Aufderheide, CEO and President of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. "The excellent turnout not only showed that companies are ready to meet the current challenges with determination, but it also revealed a growing appreciation for collaboration," he added.

"This is a very special SMM," said Bernd Aufderheide, CEO and President, Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. The enormous interest shown by exhibitors and visitors alike proves it. He continued: “More than 2,100 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors are expected, more than ever in the history of this fair. "We are fully booked, and this fair welcomes every type and size of company, from market leaders and global players to medium-sized companies and innovation-focused start-ups. “Their products cover a wide spectrum from large-scale ship engineering and shipbuilding products to ship outfitting and equipment supplies, and from cargo handling systems and maritime technologies to specialised services," said Aufderheide.

Rolls-Royce has been awarded the maritime Heyerdahl Award 2014. The award was presented by His Majesty King Harald at the Norwegian Shipowners’ Associations Annual Conference in Oslo March 31. The award goes to the Environship Concept, an innovative ship design which integrates a highly efficient gas-based power and propulsion system with an innovative hull design to provide significant reductions in emissions. The committee, chaired by Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Peter Hincliffe…

In commemoration of Earth Day, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) today highlighted the extensive efforts of the cruise industry and CLIA member lines to preserve and protect the environment. “CLIA member cruise lines continue to invest in systems and technologies that improve overall environmental performance,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO of CLIA. “The industry takes its responsibility as caretakers of the environment seriously. Working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)…

Rolls-Royce has been awarded the maritime Heyerdahl Award 2014. The award was presented by His Majesty King Harald at the Norwegian Shipowners’ Associations Annual Conference in Oslo March 31. The award goes to the Environship Concept, an innovative ship design which integrates a highly efficient gas-based power and propulsion system with an innovative hull design to provide significant reductions in emissions. The expert committee, chaired by Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Peter Hincliffe…

Frost & Sullivan announced global AC drives manufacturer Vacon as the recipient of the European Low Voltage (LV) Alternating Current (AC) Electric Drives Product Line Strategy Award for 2012. The accolade recognizes Vacon's achievements in effectively optimizing strategies, processes and performance. "Vacon is one of the leading manufacturers of LV AC electric drives in Europe. The company's expertise has enabled it to produce and market a range of drives which accommodates diverse end-user applications. Vacon has consistently developed products with improved safety features, reliability, efficiency and value-added benefits. VACON 100, VACON 100 X and VACON 20 X have all witnessed wide acceptance from the broad customer base in the European industry.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that work can begin on the West Vancouver freight access project in Washington State now that an agreement has been signed between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Port of Vancouver. The project, which received a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s TIGER II (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program, will make safety and efficiency improvements for the entire Port by creating access and eliminating a freight chokepoint. “Building better access for the Port will help move goods in and out of Vancouver more quickly,” said Secretary LaHood.

Wärtsilä has signed a five year maintenance support agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. It is a joint co-operation between Wärtsilä and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and its operating companies Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Club Cruises. The maintenance support agreement contains a wide range of services, including maintenance planning, spare parts logistics optimization, the development and testing of engine components, fuel consumption optimization, as well as an advisory service for overhauls and workshop services.

A project has been established to identify energy efficiency and fuel saving initiatives for the offshore shipping industry. The partnership involves a collaboration of seven Norwegian offshore shipping companies. The Joint Industry Project is called Energy Efficient Offshore Partners, and consists of: BOA Offshore, Eidesvik Offshore, Farstad Shipping, Gulf Offshore Norge, Havila Shipping, Siem Offshore and Solstad Offshore, and the classification society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) who is project manager. The project aims to identify and implement best practice solutions with regards to energy efficiency, acknowledging that the synergies between energy efficiency and environmental impact will be a competitive advantage for the partners.

Norfolk, Va. - Amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) hosted a Senate subcommittee field hearing on energy March 12, the first time since 1960 that a Senate hearing was held aboard a Navy vessel. Senator  Jeanne Shaheen, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power, was joined by Senator Mark Warner from Virginia. Among those who addressed the two Senators were Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Former Secretary of the Navy and retired Senator John Warner. Both testified about the Navy's current strategy to reduce energy consumption and decrease its reliance on foreign oil.

Horizon Lines, has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership and earned the highest fuel efficiency and environmental performance rating from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). emissions and air pollution. The SmartWay Transport Partnership aims to achieve fuel savings of up to 150 million barrels of fuel per year. The Partnership brings major freight shippers, trucking companies, railroads, logistics companies and trade/professional associations together to pursue mutually beneficial efficiencies that result in emissions reductions and other environmental improvements, as well as cost savings to the companies. The Partnership currently has over 450 Partners.

As a consequence of recent IMO regulations, shipowners are requested to improve energy efficiency of their ships’ operation with regard to various factors that drive fuel consumption and emissions. The German navigation system manufacturer Raytheon Anschütz addresses these requirements with their newly developed autopilot series NP 5000. As one of the first customers, the US-based Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) has contracted Raytheon Anschütz for retrofitting existing autopilot systems on their fleet of oil tankers with the newly developed Anschütz NautoPilot 5300.

All U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are now chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-free. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)’s Shipboard Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) Elimination Program marked a major environmental milestone April 2 with the elimination of the final ozone depleting CFC refrigerants aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). “NAVSEA is eliminating these CFC refrigerants because they deplete the earth’s protective ozone layer which screens out potentially harmful radiation from the sun,” said Gregory Toms, NAVSEA ODS elimination program manager. NAVSEA strives to be a good steward of the environment while building the future Navy and sustaining the current fleet. Currently Carl Vinson is nearing completion of a Refueling Complex Overhaul.

The Foss Maritime Company’s commitment to environmental stewardship was underscored last month when a top maritime organization recognized 59 of its vessels for outstanding safety records. The Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) honored the Foss vessels at a CSA achievement dinner in Washington, D.C. Altogether, the ships have achieved the equivalent total of 362 years without an environmental mishap. Foss is moving aggressively in other areas to improve the global environment, including new initiatives seeking to improve energy efficiencies and air quality. Foss recently announced it is collaborating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others in the freight industry to increase energy efficiency while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

SNAME President Keith Michel and Malcolm MacKinnon III, Chairman of the Marine Board, released the Notice of Meeting and Technical Program Schedule for the symposium on Climate Change. Climate Change and Ships, Increasing Energy Efficiency Symposium will be held February 16 and 17 at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum, Md. The symposium is organized around three themes: (1) the Energy Efficiency Design Index for new ships now under development at the IMO, (2) the cost effectiveness of market-based mechanisms applied to shipping, and, (3) technical and operational measures to increase energy efficiency on ships. Each session will consist of a series of technical presentations followed by a panel discussion with audience participation.