Michiel News

Chemship commissioned its first ship with wind assisted ship propulsion. This makes the MT Chemical Challenger the first chemical tanker in the world to be equipped with sustainable wind technology. The ship will serve on shipping company Chemship’s Trans-Atlantic route between the East Coast of the United States and the Mediterranean.This week four 16-metre-high aluminum wind sails were installed on board the 134-meter-long vessel. The VentoFoils from Econowind create a direct wind surface of 180 m2.

Michiel de Vliegher, Damen: "Choose the right software for every maritime project"Since the beginning of his career, Michiel de Vliegher has been involved with data. One moment, he’s working on making ships more sustainable, and the next, he’s focused on improving shipbuilding processes. Since April of this year, he has been the Director of Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen. Together, we explore his experience with digitalisation and how he is making advancements in this area at his impressive shipyard. We also delve into the digital future.

Dutch performance monitoring company We4Sea and mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat have signed an agreement for We4Sea to join a growing group of more than 40 certified providers offering applications via Inmarsat’s digital solutions Fleet Data and Fleet Connect.The announcement coincides with news of a first We4Sea-Inmarsat collaboration to secure fleet-wide uptake for We4Sea’s web-based vessel performance monitoring service. Heavy-lift shipowner Roll Group trialed…

Dutch maritime contracting company Van Oord is partnering with compatriot company Hendrik Veder Group for the management of heavy lifting equipment for offshore wind turbines.Rotterdam-based company active in steel wire and fibre rope products and services said that under the terms of the two-year agreement, Van Oord will outsource its hoisting and lifting equipment management to the Hendrik Veder Group, with a focus on sustainable lifting.According to Michiel Pieterman, Offshore Wind Operations Manager at Van Oord: "This partnership enables us to use lifting equipment in a sustainable way. The high-quality lifting equipment has a longer lifespan, because it is either reused or converted into new raw materials, while guaranteeing 100 percent compliance at all times.

Work has begun at Damen Shipyards Singapore on the construction of two of Damen’s latest fast crew supply vessel; the FCS 2710. In what was described as ‘the cutting ceremony’, as the vessels are being built in aluminium, Mr. Chung Pang Chen and Mr. Polin Chen of Hung Hua Construction Co. Ltd. of Taiwan were joined by Michiel Hendrikx, Sales Manager Asia Pacific for Damen and colleagues from Singapore and Gorinchem to mark this important occasion.The two vessels, to be named the Falcon I and Falcon II…

Maritime technology company We4Sea is now officially certified by Verifavia for both IMO-DCS as EU-MRV emission monitoring, stated a press release.We4Sea developed a world’s first non-Capex fuel monitoring solution, to optimize the performance ánd reduce fuel consumption and emissions of seagoing ships. We4Sea collects vast amounts of operational data of a ship, such as position, draft, speed and heading. This data is sent to shore, where it is enriched with other data sources, such as weather conditions, wave heights, currents and wind.The proprietary Digital Twin technology of We4Sea transform this big data pool into actionable management information on how to optimize the use and configuration of a ship.

In a joint effort between the Port of Moerdijk, the shipyard Neptune Marine, Cryonorm Systems and Titan LNG the Werkendam was supplied successfully for the first time with LNG. The Werkendam, the new LNG powered vessel of Van Oord, was safely supplied on the 8th of May in the Port of Moerdijk. The Werkendam is an exceptional part of the Van Oord fleet. It is the first LNG-powered inland waterway crane vessel and is the start of a new generation of dredging vessels for Van Oord. The Werkendam is fully powered by LNG, with gas oil as a back-up. The installed tank capacity on the aft deck, can store enough LNG on board to sail and operate for fourteen days without having to refuel. In comparison with diesel, LNG emits 80% less particulate matter and 70% less nitrogen oxide.

Netherlands based shipbuilder Damen said it has launched its China Support Company in Shanghai, officially opened December 4, by Kommer Damen, Chairman of the Damen Shipyards Group. The company, led by Managing Director, John Zhou, will be involved in a range of activities, including commercial activity for Damen newbuild and Damen Marine Components as well as the provision of services to clients in the region. The company will support Damen’s commercial involvement and development in the region…

Maritime technology start-up We4Sea has received certification from Verifavia for EU MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) emission monitoring. We4Sea developed a cloud platform that offers advanced solutions to optimize the performance ánd reduce fuel consumption and emissions of seagoing ships. We4Sea collects vast amounts of operational data of a ship, such as position, speed, heading and engine data. This data is sent to shore, where it is enriched with other data sources, such as weather conditions, wave heights, currents and wind. The proprietary algorithms and energy models of We4Sea transform this big data pool into actionable management information on how to optimize the use and configuration of a ship.

MAN Rollo will provide the crane vessel Werkendam with three LNG generator sets. International marine and offshore contractor Van Oord is currently building the ship at Neptune Shipyards in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. It is the first LNG powered vessel for both the yard and Van Oord. Engine supplier MAN Rollo is a pioneer when it comes to sustainable propulsion. Karel Schuurman, Sales Manager Marine Engines at MAN Rollo says, "We want to make a difference in the market for environmentally friendly applications. Our knowledge and experience in gas engines will certainly contribute to the acceptance of LNG in the maritime industry. Van Oord chose our LNG generator sets for the hybrid propulsion of the Werkendam. That is an acknowledgment of our leading role in this area.

GAC UK has been appointed by Seaway Heavy Lifting (SHL) to provide essential shipping services support for the construction and installation of 84 new turbines as part of a major windfarm expansion project which will increase generating capacity almost six-fold. SHL, the engineering, procurement, construction and installation contractor, will design, supply and install the piled foundations, jacket substructures and inter-array cables for the Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited (BOWL) project in the Outer Moray Firth. They will also transport and install the offshore substations. Both SHL’s crane vessels will be deployed: HLV Stanislav Yudin’ from April 2017 to April 2018, HLV ‘Oleg Strashnov’ from August to October 2017 and again from May to July 2018.

Offshore Ship Designers (OSD) has designed a powerful, low-emission compact e-tug to further augment its Azistern series of vessels. Among other roles, the vessel is equipped to deliver harbor assistance. OSD managing director Michiel Wijsmuller said, “The Azistern-e has the typical low resistance stable hull and all-round visibility that is associated with all Azistern designs. The hybrid power of the 22 m LOA / 50 BP Azistern-e is generated by two 970kW variable speed gensets and is supported by two 400kWh lithium battery packs.

Damen Shipyards Group has sold a Fast Ferry 4212 to South Korean ferry operator DAEA Express Shipping. The vessel, named Sea Flower, is the fourth ferry of this design that Damen has sold in the last five years to companies operating on the east coast of the Korean peninsula. With the contract for construction between Damen and DAEA signed in January 2016, the Sea Flower was handed over on 22 April during a ceremony in the vessel’s home port of Hupo. The ceremony was attended by a large delegation of local and regional officials as well as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in South Korea, Ruth Emmerink. After the traditional ribbon cutting…

Qatargas, United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and Shell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of LNG as a marine fuel in the Middle East region. This is the second such agreement signed by Qatargas and Shell in as many months and establishes another core partnership within the shipping industry. The MoU was signed by Qatargas chief executive Khalid bin Khalifa al-Thani, UASC chief executive Jorn Hinge and Qatar Shell Companies managing director and chairman Michiel Kool. The partners will continue to work diligently to develop and supply LNG as marine fuel for the merchant fleet before the end of the current decade.

All good things come in threes as Damen delivers the third vessel of the year, from the Damen Fast Ferry (DFFe) series to South Korean operators. Having already delivered the SeaStar 5 to existing customer Seaspovill earlier this year, two additional DFFe deliveries to new customers highlight the success of the series as well as Damen's broad portfolio directly available from stock. In May 2015, operator Daezer Shipping took delivery of a DFFe 4212 named ‘Sunrise’ from Damen Shipyards Singapore (DSSi). Delivered within three months of ordering, the vessel is powered by four MTU main engines (16V2000 M72) reaching a speed of over 40 knots. The Sunrise is currently operating a route of very popular tourist destinations on Koreas East-coast from the island of Ulleung to Dokdo.

A joint industry project on jacking system maintenance and inspection has resulted in a new DNV GL Recommended Practice. This provides guidance to ensure the correct and safe functioning of rack and pinion style jacking systems. The objective is to reduce the risk of gear failure, resulting in lower costs and higher availability throughout the asset’s life time. The consequences of jacking gear failure can be severe and, while the problem is acknowledged by the industry, the correct maintenance and inspection of the jacking systems have proven to be challenging due to the high turnover of people with specific knowledge on board, the evolving nature of the systems and the intermittent use of the systems.

OSD-IMT, the U.K. division of Offshore Ship Designers (OSD), announced it has developed a range of new designs of offshore windfarm service operation vessels (SOVs). The 1,350 dwt IMT972 SOV is powered by two Steerprop SP25 or equal 1900 kWe fixed pitch azimuth propulsion units. There is also an option for fitting two 2.5 MW Voith Turbo main thrusters. Frequency-controlled electric motor-driven CPP thruster units are fitted forward, comprising two tunnel-type bow thrusters and one retractable bow thruster for station-keeping and high-dynamic performance under maneuvering or DP conditions.

A new novel, The Golden Tide, written by global shipping industry insider John Guy, is now available on Amazon as a paperback and ebook for Kindle. The fast-moving book is easy to read and puts a well-informed and human context on what happens when a coastal community confronts an oil spill. Green activist Simone struggles with her beliefs when she meets journalist Michiel, who shows her how an oil spill threatening Sicily is a bonanza for many locals. Compensation and clean-up money floods into the community…

Imtech Marine’s Venteville supplies new, environment friendly ballast water treatment system SiCure. Venteville, part of Imtech Marine, supplies systems for ballast water treatment and is agent for the new SiCure® system developed by Siemens Water Technologies. This is an environmentally friendly solution to prevent harmful foreign organisms from entering national waters via ballast water of ships. This ties in with the Ballast Water Treaty, which (in a phased manner and by 2016 at the latest) requires ships to have a system to purify water of harmful organisms.

The new rule book clearly explains the DNV and international regulations and standards. Adaptations from the traditional Offshore Standards include additional class notations and alignment of material and jacking systems requirements based on feedback from industry experts and adapted survey procedures. This dedicated rule book for self-elevating units clearly provides the specific considerations required for Jack-Ups to prevent interpretations that may lead to imposing additional requirements without any safety benefits. These considerations are especially relevant for Jack-ups, taking into account their dual fixed/ floating nature. DNV’s Offshore Class Product Manager, Michiel van der Geest, explains that “We have focused on making a user friendly rule book with clear guidance.

A new dedicated rule book for self-elevating units will guide designers and yards to class their designs and newbuilding projects. The rule book clearly explains the DNV and international regulations and standards. Adaptations from the traditional Offshore Standards include additional class notations and alignment of material and jacking systems requirements based on feedback from industry experts and adapted survey procedures. This dedicated rule book for self-elevating units…

Lance Camarena joined Holland America Line and Seabourn as director, fleet training and performance management. He is responsible for the fleet training program of deck and engine staff, performance management and developing technology solutions that support fleet performance. Camarena will oversee the deck and engine fleet training team and report to Michiel Versteeg, director, safety and environmental compliance. Camarena previously spent 14 years with Holland America Line from 1995 to 2009.

The summary provides some key lessons and recommendations for policy making amidst the uncertainties and hectics that come with the energy transition. ‘Clients usually ask ECN to do quantitative analyses to get a better grip on a dossier’, says Marc Londo, author of the guide together with Michiel Hekkenberg. ‘‘This travel guide sketches the more fundamental and qualitative outlines of our energy challenge: what are current developments in certain themes and what do policy makers need to take into account to effectively steer towards a transition to cleaner energy? The overall report (only available in Dutch) also goes into context factors specific to the Netherlands, but this two-page summary can be of general relevance for other countries as well.