Machinery Monitoring News

Kongsberg Maritime said Friday it had completed a live trial of autonomous shipping technology in Bornem, Belgium, demonstrating the company's progress in fully autonomous systems.The test vessel, Zulu 4, an inland waterway barge owned by Blue Line Logistics NV, is equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport demonstrations for the AUTOSHIP project, which is part of Horizon 2020, an EU research program.As part of the test, Zulu 4 maneuvered and navigated on unrestricted waterways, and it demonstrated berthing and unberthing capability.

In 1985, Chris Deegan was hired out of Penn State as a nuclear submarine cost estimator by the Naval Sea Systems Command and retired nearly 28 years later as the Executive Director of PEO Integrated Warfare Systems, with the last 10 as a member of the Senior Executive Service. He’s been with Gibbs & Cox since 2013, first as the Vice President of Engineering, and as President and Chief Executive since 2016.Please give a “by the numbers” look at Gibbs & Cox today.Since our founding in 1929…

The world’s first Digital Smart Ship (DSS)On October 28, 2020, NYK took delivery of Sakura Leader, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of navigating oceans with only LNG as the ship’s main fuel. This delivery marks a step toward achieving NYK’s environment management target, which is to reduce CO2 emissions per ton-kilometer of transport by 50% by 2050. The vessel was built at the Shin Kurushima Dockyard of Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.The ship is the first large LNG-fueled PCTC to be built in Japan.

The run up to 2050 and dramatic reductions in emissions from ships will, by most expert’s thinking, be an evolution of small steps premised on melding new fuels and digitalization technologies. The recent delivery of the LNG-fueled PCTC Sakura Leader to NYK can be considered a sizable leap in this regard, as the ship has been designated as the world’s first digital smart ship.A Big Step Toward CO2 Reduction TargetsOn October 28, NYK took delivery of Sakura Leader, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of navigating oceans with only LNG as the ship’s main fuel.

ClassNK released its “Guidelines for Digital Smart Ship” which stipulates the procedures for class notations for ships with advanced digital technology. The guidelines are part of the society's new initiative, "Innovation Endorsement", aiming to certify innovations utilizing digital technology.The "Digital Smart Ship Guidelines" set out the requirements to grant class notations, “Digital Smart Ship”, for the ships equipped with systems utilizing digital technology, such as energy efficiency analysis…

Wärtsilä's Nacos Platinum Integrated Navigation Automation Control System has been selected for a series of three 'mega-class' container vessels being built for French shipowner CMA CGM at the HHIC-Phil yard in Subic Bay, Philippines. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in August. The Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum platform is based on an Ethernet-based network and covers all aspects of integrated bridge and machinery monitoring and control systems. It combines all relevant navigation and automation tasks under a single HMI (Human Machine Interface) umbrella. The system uses modern ring topology and provides the flexibility to navigate, control and monitor the vessel from different multifunctional operator stations.

A new study from Germany show rapid expansion in the maritime fleet management software sector. While shipowners are generally classified conservative in the uptake of new technology, the advent of increasingly sophisticated software solutions which manage everything from fuel  to cargo to crew make a compelling financial case to modernize quickly. Earlier this summer Germany’s Fraunhofer CML issued what is arguably the most thorough study to date which analyzes the software market as applied to shipping companies. Entitled “Fleet Management Systems 2013,” the 60-plus page report provides exhaustive detail and insightful research on software solutions from 46 providers globally, with many pages of product overview helping to measure how one system stacks up versus another.

Royal Navy minehunter HMS Chiddingfold is back in the water after spending eight months in dry dock for a significant upgrade. The ship has been fitted with new Caterpillar C32 diesel engines - replacing her old Napier Deltics - which will extend her operational life, improve efficiency and reliability and reduce emissions. As well as new engines she has received upgrades to her machinery monitoring systems and computer systems, and had obsolete equipment removed. The 40-strong…

Imtech Marine announces that Elkon (Istanbul), member of Imtech Marine , signed a contract for the design and supply of the complete electrical systems to power three Turkish Navy Auxiliary vessels. The vessels, consisting of  one Submarine Rescue Mother Ship (MoShip) and two Rescue and Towing Ships (RATships) will be built by Istanbul Shipyard in Tuzla Turkey and are scheduled to be delivered to the Turkish Navy by mid of 2015. Elkon is contracted by Istanbul Shipyard  to design, supply and commission the complete package of electrical systems.

The order is for the construction of a submarine rescue mother Ship (MoShip) and two rescue and towing Ships (RATships). All ships will be built by Istanbul Shipyard in Tuzla in Turkey and are scheduled to be delivered to the Turkish Navy by mid of 2015. Imtech's Turkish marine business unit Elkon was selected by Istanbul Shipyard to design, supply and commission the complete package of electrical systems. The supply range involves major components of the power generation, power distribution and propulsion systems, as well as an integrated vessel management system including power management and machinery monitoring & control. Electrical engineering and onboard installations, integrated logistic support and ship's engineering room and bridge consoles are also part of the supply scope.

Avtron upgrades T/S State of Michigan propulsion system with an Avtron ADD-32 Electric Drive System. The T/S State of Michigan is a 224 ft. ex-T-AGOS vessel currently used by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy (GLMA) as a training vessel. After serving as surveillance vessels for the U.S. Military through the 80s and 90s, many T-AGOS class ships have been reassigned for research and training purposes. The existing analog drive system was obsolete and unsupportable. As part of this project, the GLMA upgraded both the machinery monitoring alarm system and the electric drive propulsion system.

The new megayacht Ancora, which recently made its debut from Italy’s Baglietto shipyard in La Spezia, has been fitted with a state-of-the-art integrated bridge system (IBS) supplied by Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Sperry Marine business unit. The bridge electronics suite is based on Sperry Marine’s VisionMaster FT technology and features an array of TotalWatch multi-function workstations for controlling the ship’s radars, electronic chart system, closed-circuit TV, machinery monitoring and conning displays. The package also includes a gyrocompass, autopilot, steering system and other navigation subsystems and sensors. Telemar Yachting…

Machinery plant maintenance represents a major expense for ship operators. In addition to normal maintenance expenditures, unexpected breakdowns have a significant cost impact. Recognizing the importance of preventing equipment failures, companies continue to adopt automation for machinery monitoring at a rapid pace. Continual improvements in the price/performance ratio of automation systems have also fueled their increased use in shipboard machinery plant monitoring. As a result, more ships with automated machinery plants exist today than ever before. However, just as a typical Internet search can easily create "information overload", so too can process automation create a "data overload" situation for the engineering crews responsible for equipment operation and maintenance.

The Navy today accepted delivery of the newest aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). (NGNN) in December 1994. Reagan's first deployment is scheduled for 2005 from her San Diego, Calif. homeport, which is home to two other US aircraft carriers. Reagan is the ninth of the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers. peacetime and in times of crisis. the ship for more than 20 years without refueling, providing virtually unlimited range and endurance and a top speed in excess of 30 knots. Reagan towers 20 stories above the waterline, and at 1,092 feet long, is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. approximately 97,000 tons of water and has a 4.5-acre flight deck. combat aircraft.