Nano News

International trade by sea has long been a key part of the world economy and approximately 90% of traded commodities is reliant on shipping. Once wind-propelled in the days of sail, the current generation of ships now heavily rely on fossil fuels. Fossil fuel propulsion contributes to global warming with carbon emissions approximating 940 MtCO2e per year and also has health implications for communities surrounding ports through the release of air pollutants. The environmental impact of fossil-fuelled engines is further compounded by their use in port infrastructure…

A confession. I'm part of a very big problem that's easy to ignore. Last year, I contributed the U.S. average-per-person 300 pounds of plastic garbage to wherever it went after convenient curbside pickup. So out of sight, out of mind, right? Not really, but does it matter? Yes, it does.In a fascinating recent report, the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine politely told us that we're choking ourselves to death on manufactured plastic waste and that 80% of the harmful plastic in the ocean comes from land-based sources.It's the micro-plastics…

Nippon Paint Marine said it has secured a first reference for its new self-polishing antifouling paint FASTAR following an agreement with Turkey’s Iskenderun Ship Management to apply the coating to five bulk carriers scheduled to drydock in China this year.The Panamax ships Ata-M and Toros-M will drydock at COSCO’s Guangzhou shipyard in May and June respectively, with the 31,700dwt Selin-M, 32,949dwt Nihat-M, and the 50,212dwt Bozburun-M scheduled to follow in the second half of the year.FASTAR XI…

Coatings manufacturer Nippon Paint Marine has launched a new antifouling technology engineered to enhance antifouling performance while improving the time and the film thickness required for application.Introduced to the market this week, FASTAR is a self-polishing antifouling paint that incorporates a unique nano-domain resin structure designed to minimize the effect that seawater temperatures, vessel speeds and other external factors have on coating performance.It is by precisely…

Ecochlor to represent NanoVapor in the maritime industry. The NanoVapor technology improves crew safety while significantly reducing time and any environmental pollution related to gas-freeing VOCs from cargo or bunker tanks. A single application can continue to suppress VOCs for days. The NanoVapor degassing process is more cost effective than traditional methods of cleaning these types of tanks.A NanoVapor unit consists of two components: a nano-suppressant liquid, TankSafe and a portable delivery unit, Model ST-1000.

There have been a number of recent tragedies surrounding the cleaning of confined-spaces on board ships and despite there being very strict procedures, regulatory guidelines and instruction manuals in place regarding working in enclosed spaces, seafarers are still at risk of dying when cleaning out cargo tanks as enclosed spaces are frequently impossible to properly ventilate, their atmosphere difficult to measure, and the spaces themselves difficult to reach.To address these concerns…

Global coatings manufacturer Hempel is launching Globic 7000, a new antifouling coating with enhanced operational flexibility for all vessel types and a speed loss* of 4.5 per cent, on average (according to ISO 19030). This contributes to significant fuel cost savings, and a reduction in associated emissions, for owners and operators.Specifically designed to deliver effective protection for up to 60 months, Globic 7000 incorporates an optimum biocide mix to guard against both hard and soft fouling.

Using nanotechnology to improve safety and efficiency.For as long as oil and petrochemicals have been in use by transportation, safely managing their highly flammable, toxic, and environmentally damaging vapors has been an ever present challenge. Even with increasing emphasis on safety procedures and better training, these invisible and dangerous vapors continue to result in the loss of life and property. But now, new nanotechnologies can provide safer and faster solutions that were not thought possible with conventional methods.

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as “motherships” for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones…

Technology that could avoid the equivalent of 100 garbage bags of plastic waste being created per second received a funding boost at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The five winners of the "Circular Materials Challenge", which focuses on the 30 percent of plastic packaging that is too small or complex to be recycled and often ends up in the ocean, will share the $1 million prize to develop their solutions, said the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and innovation network NineSigma.

Marine coatings increasingly are center stage, not simply to maintain the integrity of vessels, but as a means to make ship ops more efficient and environmentally benign. Maritime Reporter had questons, and two executives – Andreas Glud of Hempel A/S and Michael Hindmarsh of AkzoNobel and – offered answers. What are the drivers for coatings development in the coming five years? Glud The drive to optimize operational efficiency will continue to drive customer demand in the coming years.

Hempel is launching two new antifouling coatings, Globic 9500M and Globic 9500S. According to the manufacturer, the coatings offer customers a potential 2.5% reduction in speed loss, meaning a significant fuel savings and lower CO2 emissions improving the operational efficiency of a vessel and minimising the operator's environmental footprint. This coating series builds on Hempel's  Globic technology to deliver superior antifouling performance for new buildings and dry-dockings, delivering an outstanding return on investment and flexibility from outfitting through the entire docking interval.

TechnipFMC  has been awarded by Zakum Development Company (ZADCO) an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract (EPC3 project) for a sulfate reduction plant on West Island located offshore Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The objective of the EPC3 project is the installation of a sulfate reduction plant module (SRP) along with new installations and tie-in to existing facilities in West Island. The SRP module incorporates cutting edge water treatment technologies with advanced filtration and nano-filtration systems. These systems are used for water injection into Upper Zakum western areas reservoir tight structure, which requires high quality water with less sulfate content and particle size.

You have either been hacked... or just didn’t know you have been hacked. I predict that the first catastrophic maritime cyber incident will not be the result of a direct attack on a safety critical specific piece of equipment. It will be the result of an infection on a random PC, perhaps an unassuming email to a crew member, whose PC is either connected to the vessels internal super highway or he transmits the infection internally whilst it lies dormant. Crypto locker, or Ransomware software (used by thousands of hackers)…

i-Tech's CEO Philip Chaabane is intent on keeping hulls clean, one barnacle at a time. Please provide a brief personal/professional background, with insight on how you’ve come to occupy the CEO seat at I-Tech. I have a Swedish and French MSc in Engineering and have spent some six years in the aerospace industry working for Volvo Aero (today GKN) with jet engine components within product development as well as production and supply chain in general. Robust long term business plans…

Leading Hong Kong ship-owner Tai Chong Cheang Steamship Co. (TCC) and the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering (USC) announced a significant research breakthrough aimed at tackling harmful ship-source emissions today. The research was conducted as part of a research program focused on improving marine diesel combustion efficiency and the reduction of exhaust gases via the application of nanosecond pulsed generation technology. With the support of TCC, researchers at USC Viterbi’s Pulsed Power Research and Combustion and Fuels Research Laboratories have for the past five years focused upon improving combustion efficiency in vessel diesel engines.

Small orbital debris objects can threaten vital space-based assets. The Navy's patented compact debris detection device can detect debris in near real-time and provide essential trajectory data for future use. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Geospace Science and Technology Branch, received U.S. patent (#8976245), March 10, for the Optical Orbital Debris Spotter - a compact, low power, low cost, local space debris detection concept that can be integrated into larger satellite designs, or flown independently on-board nano-satellite platforms. Man-made debris orbiting the Earth continues to increase at an alarming rate - with objects smaller than one centimeter (cm) exceeding 100 million.

Building on the GLOBIC and DYNAMIC range of antifouling systems, marine coatings manufacturer Hempel launched two new antifouling products for drydockings and newbuildings. According to Hempel, the new antifoulings aim to deliver fuel savings up to 3% and provide added flexibility to shipowners and yards. GLOBIC 8000 is a new hydrolysing self-polishing antifouling product that fits between the existing GLOBIC 6000 and GLOBIC 9000 antifouling systems. It builds on GLOBIC technology and incorporates Hempel’s nano acrylate technology which delivers a fine polishing control mechanism to bring the integral biocides to the surface at a stable rate ensuring a clean hull.

MagicEzy, Australian manufacturer of new 9-Second Chip Fix, Hairline Fix and Mega Fusion, has signed on with Newport, Rhode Island-based marine products distributor AB Marine to bring its repair products to the North American boating market. MagicEzy 9-Second Chip Fix is a nano filler that structurally fixes and colors chips, scratches, nicks and gouges in fiberglass boats in seconds — without harsh fumes or the need for mixing two-part formulas. MagicEzy Hairline Fix is a nano sealant and binder developed to seal and color fine scratches and stress cracks in one application. Hairline Fix was recently recognized by U.S.-based marine trade journal Boating Industry as one of the Top Products for 2014.

New York’s Governor Cuomo announces retrofitted electric canal boat to demonstrate benefits of no-emission engine; NYSERDA, NYSDOT partnership with Canal Corp. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of an all-electric dredge tender workboat on the Erie Canal in the Utica area. The project is the result of a partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). Additionally…

Nano Fossil Fuel Technology (NFFT) said it has been helping companies reduce fuel consumption, reduce pollution output and save bottom-line dollars for more than 30 years. After focusing on other industries over the past several years, Nano is now looking to help the shipping industry address MARPOL Annex VI and other pollution regulations. NFFT uses a fuel catalyst to chemically improve fuel including maritime shipping bunker C, diesel trains, fleet diesel trucks, fleet gas cars, coal power plants and other industries using all variety of fossil fuels.

MagicEzy, Australian manufacturer of new MagicEzy9-Second Chip Fix, MagicEzyHairline Fix and MagicEzyMega Fusionboat surface repair products, has announced that American marine outfitter Defender Industries is now offering its products nationwide through its website, mail order catalog and 110,000-square-foot warehouse outlet store in Waterford, Connecticut. A marine outfitter since 1938, Defender offers an array of products covering every aspect of boating equipment, gear and supplies. With roots in the U.S.

A report commissioned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, reviewing the potential implications of nanotechnology on the safety and performance of engineering assets and the infrastructure on which modern society relies on, finds that nanotechnology will have a far reaching impact on almost every industry including energy, transportation, manufacturing, medical, computing and telecommunications. Miniaturisation of sensor technology: Embedded nano-sensors in structural materials such as concrete, or ‘living’ inside engines, providing feedback on corrosion or stresses, will give continuous readout of real-time structural and systems performance data. This technology will also enhance robotics and un-manned vehicles across the transport sector (UAVs).