Maintenance Software News

Kongsberg Maritime announced it has won a contract to provide the design and equipment for two powerful salvage tugs being built by Alexandria Shipyard as main contractor on behalf of the Suez Canal Authority. The tugs will be based on Kongsberg Maritime’s UT 722 CDT Design.The UT 722 tugboat design has a length of 71.6 meters, bollard pull of approximately 200 tonnes, and it can operate independently for up to 35 days.Egypt’s Alexandria Shipyard successfully bid on this contract with the Suez Canal Authority in cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime…

Liebherr Container Cranes and DP World Berbera have signed a contract for the supply of eight RTGs for DP World’s terminal in Berbera, Somaliland. The cranes are due to be ready for operation before the end of 2020.The high performance, variable speed diesel RTGs are six containers plus a truck lane wide and will stack one over five containers high. The machines are supplied with DGPS autosteering and stack profiling. Like all Liebherr RTGs, the machines incorporate Liebherr’s eight rope reeving no-sway-system.

The technology group Wärtsilä and Norsepower, a provider of low maintenance, software operated, data verified auxiliary wind propulsion systems, have signed a service cooperation agreement. This will enable Norsepower to order service work from Wärtsilä, while Wärtsilä can pursue and sell Norsepower Rotor Sail projects with support from Norsepower. The agreement was signed in Q3 2019.With the growth of Norsepower’s manufacturing capacity and the anticipated increasing demand for its Rotor Sails…

OGCI Climate Investments has led an EUR 8 million investment round in Norsepower, along with current investors, to accelerate Norsepower’s growth on global markets.The investment enables Norsepower to scale up production at its manufacturing facilities as part of a next phase of commercialization triggered by demand for its renewable wind energy propulsion systems, said a press release from Norsepower Oy Ltd., the provider of low maintenance, software operated, data verified auxiliary renewable wind energy propulsion systems.The increased take-up comes at a time when the international shipping industry looks to offset expensive fuel…

Volvo Penta and Swedish boatbuilder Marell have joined forces to create the new Marell M15 patrol boat. Equipped with Volvo Penta’s latest D6 engine and DPI system, the vessel is tailor-made from helm-to-prop.Volvo Penta’s latest D6-440 DPI propulsion system is the power behind Marell’s new 15m fast patrol boat. Equipped with twin D6-440 DPI sterndrives, the Marell M15 has a top speed of 45 knots and includes a fully integrated system from Volvo Penta, including its Electronic Vessel Control (EVC.2) and Glass Cockpit System.

Canadian maritime software company, Helm Operations, a ClassNK subsidiary, sai dit has earned Class Type Approval for its planned maintenance software, Helm CONNECT. On September 1, 2017 after a detailed review process, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), issued a Type Approval Certificate for Helm CONNNECT as a recognized planned maintenance software system. ClassNK is a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). IACS members recognize and accept Type Approvals from other society members, thereby allowing any ship owner to implement the Helm CONNECT software as their planned maintenance tracking system. “This is a historic moment for our organization. For many years we have been the market leader in maritime software for the global tug and barge industry.

Goldwind International and DNV GL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for optimizing offshore and onshore wind projects. DNV GL to be preferred independent third-party advisor for performance optimization of offshore and onshore wind projects. DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body,  said in a statement that it has signed MoU with Goldwind International during the Norway-China Partnership for Low Carbon Energy Transition seminar organized by the Beijing Energy Club. The MoU was signed by Mathias Steck, ‎Executive Vice President Asia Pacific, DNV GL – Energy and  Wang Hai, Deputy General Manager, Goldwind International. The signing was also witnessed by the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Søviknes.

Norsepower Oy Ltd., a leading provider of low-maintenance, software operated, and data verified auxiliary wind propulsion systems, has announced that its CEO Tuomas Riski is this year’s recipient of the ‘Young Entrepreneur Award’. The accolade was presented to Tuomas yesterday, by His Royal Highness Prince Haakon of Norway, during the opening ceremony of the 2017 Nor-Shipping Conference. Launched in 2013 in collaboration with Nor-Shipping and YoungShip International, the Nor-Shipping…

Management software: vendors, consultants, class strive to provide turnkey service. Unless you’ve been lost at sea for the last few years, you know about Subchapter M. You know the June publication of the U.S. Coast Guard’s regulations for ensuring minimum safety standards on tows and tugs, which will extend inspection requirements to the majority of these vessels for the first time, moved the long-awaited, and in some cases, dreaded program from the haze of eventually out into the cold light of day.

Wireless products, services and solutions provider CalAmp said its enhanced LMU-4530 telematics devicehas been chosen to support Navico’s new cloud-enabled GoFree Connected Vessel program to monitor onboard engine, sensor and navigation data. CalAmp’s device management and maintenance software platform, PULS (Provisioning/Programming, Update and Logistical System), has also been customized to support Navico’s over-the-air device management and firmware updates for vessels in port or at sea.

Software developer Helm Operations announced that it will launch its innovative Subchapter M compliance software, Helm CONNECT Compliance, at the International Workboat Show (IWS) in New Orleans from November 30 – December 2. Helm has been selling its Compliance software since Sub M came into effect in the summer of 2016. However this is the first industry specific event for towing vessel operators where Helm will be able to showcase its ground-breaking software. Rodger Banister, VP of Marketing at Helm is excited about being able to demonstrate the flexibility of Helm’s software to a wide audience at IWS. “This year at IWS we will be showing off the power of mobility in Helm CONNECT…

Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence has announced a new project with maintenance management specialist SpecTec focused on optimizing ship maintenance. This joint accomplishment aims to reduce ship maintenance costs by enabling unnecessary maintenance to be deferred for shipboard equipment that is operating properly and identifying potential issues for action before a failure negatively impacts operations. By means of the integrated solution, onboard sensor data that is automatically gathered and analyzed by the Cat Asset Intelligence onboard predictive analytics platform…

Norsepower Oy Ltd., the leading provider of low maintenance, software operated, and data verified auxiliary wind propulsion systems, has been selected to receive €2.6 million in funding to further its research and development of the Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution technology. The new models of the technology will include the world’s largest ever Flettner rotor. Awarded by the European Commission and the Finnish Government’s funding agency for Innovation, Tekes, the funding will be used by Norsepower to optimize its Rotor Sail Solution to deliver greater fuel savings and enhanced ROI.

INTERSCHALT maritime systems AG, the provider of maritime software and services, as well as the manufacturer of VDR systems, introduces the background application Maritime Data Engine (MDE). 1. All data from one or more ships of a fleet with different data structures, independent of the data source and deployed platform, will be normalized and quickly made usable. 2. The MDE is no proprietary stand-alone solution but an Industry 4.0 compatible network solution that makes realtime data available via the standardized OPC-UA interface for third-party system integration.

Software developer Helm Operations announced that over the last two months it has signed on 15 more commercial maritime companies to its planned maintenance and compliance software, Helm CONNECT. The companies come from a variety of commercial maritime industries, such as the fishing, passenger vessel, research vessel, inland / coastal barging and pilotage vessel sectors. The reason for the broad appeal of Helm CONNECT is its simplicity, the developer said. “Businesses are craving software that’s easy for their people to use,” explained Rodger Banister VP Marketing at Helm Operations. “They want software at work to be as easy to understand…

Montreal Gateway Terminals Partnership (MGT) and Navis, a part of Cargotec Corporation announce the successful implementation of the Navis N4 terminal operating system (TOS) at MGT. The implementation was a migration from Navis’ legacy software SPARCS and an internally developed data host system to N4, Navis’ latest generation terminal operating system. Located in close proximity to strategic markets in the U.S. and Canada, MGT has an annual TEU capacity in excess of 1.8 MM and services all aspects of terminal operations, including ship, gate and rail operations. Because of its geographic position and industry leadership, MGT is a strategic gateway between North America, Europe, and the Mediterranean for container cargo.

Helm Operations announced today that it has signed on barge fleeting and marine transportation company, Magnolia Fleet LLC to Helm CONNECT Preventive Maintenance. Magnolia Fleet operates 11 push boats, 2 fleets, and midstream fuel operations in New Orleans and Lake Charles. “We switched over to Helm because it is the most user friendly vessel operations software program I have come across,” said John Stewart of Magnolia Fleet. “And I think we have demoed or used in combination all of them. My idea is if someone like myself, who is pretty good with excel spreadsheets, has problems with other competitors’ software, how the heck is a deckhand, tankerman, or wheel man going to figure it out? The answer is they are not and they are not going to use it.

Helm Marine Software’s product team leads burdened brown water workboat operators out of the wilderness – and confidently into compliance. Four to six forms a day and that’s before Subchapter M rules take effect. That is how many forms Helm Marine Software’s product team figures a typical inland vessel must deal with, every day. Their research shows that OSV companies have around 100 different forms to complete and Dry Bulk companies have around 70. Skip the forms, and under Subchapter M, vessels without Certificates of Inspection (COIs) won’t be fined. They will also be tied up at the dock.

Software developer Helm Operations has signed on offshore rig moving and ocean towing services company Louisiana International Marine (LIM) to its Helm CONNECT Preventive Maintenance software. Louisiana International Marine operates six tugs that are ABS classed hull and machinery, A1 towing, and ISM certified. "We chose Helm CONNECT because [Helm] made it easy to do business with them. First off, their preventive maintenance and compliance software is the easiest we've ever seen, and secondly we didn't have to wait weeks to get a price quote from them,” said Anthony Roberts, Manager of Marine Traffic / Operations for Louisiana International Marine. Ron deBruyne, CEO and Founder of Helm Operations said he was excited to be working with Louisiana International Marine.

Shipping company Liberty One, already subscribed to INTERSCHALT's maintenance software package, decided to establish a full maintenance contract covering all navigation and communications systems on board including the VDR. After six months, say INTERSCHALT, the Bremen-based shipping company is seeing positive results. As part of its Shore-based Maintenance (SBM) contract INTERSCHALT provides all inspection and maintenance work as well as parts and parts procurement at an annually agreed fixed price.

With the advent of ever faster, stronger maritime communication links and the influx of the next maritime generation, the first “internet native” generation, a proliferation of shipboard tools are under development that promise to change the very means in which floating assets are built and maintained. Imtech Marine is convinced that accelerated uptake of remote diagnostics and preventive maintenance for shipboard equipment will be built on performance gains that are straightforward and tangible.

Today, software developer Helm Operations announced that it has signed Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) Canada to its Helm CONNECT Preventive Maintenance software. PPA operates five pilot boats and provides complete pilotage services for all ports on Canada’s west coast including Vancouver and those within the Fraser River. Ekkebus continues, touching on a core element of Helm software’s purpose. Ron deBruyne, CEO and Founder of Helm Operations is proud to have Helm CONNECT serve PPA and says. Helm CONNECT is designed to be intuitive in every way. Helm works closely with workboat personnel when building the product through direct consultation with real life users, like port engineers, crew and shore-based personnel.

The USCG has poised e-logs and SaaS to transform U.S.-flagged shipboard recordkeeping. The United States Coast Guard frequently appears behind the times when it comes to rulemaking involving shipboard technological advances. Often, by the time the USCG has a Final Rule approved for publication in the Code of Federal Regulations, the technology which that Final Rule was expected to address has been superseded by a newer form of technology. Not so, however, with electronic recordkeeping (e-logbooks) and Software as a Service (SaaS). Currently the USCG offers the “Official Logbook 706-B” in manual form free of charge to any marine operator who requests one. The 706-B is the basic pen & ink ship’s log.