Power Package News

Boatbuilder SAFE Boats International on Monday introduced Merlin, a new 23-meter semi-displacement monohull autonomous hydrographic survey vessel design developed in collaboration with Mythos AI, Echo81, and World Marine Design.SAFE Boats has exclusive rights to build the design at its Tacoma, Wash. large-craft production facility. Merlin will be a Jones Act-compliant all-aluminum hull powered by a twin Volvo Penta D13 Hybrid-ready System with IPS. For a zero-emission power package, the Merlin can accommodate forward-thinking hydrogen technology supplied by Zero Emission Industries (ZEI).

Hydrogen is everywhere. You know that from high school chemistry. And you also know it from Marine News’ almost daily updates about H powered vessel projects around the world.As a fuel that could potentially replace fossil fuels, H is in the spotlight. Perhaps the brightest spotlight, at least in the U.S., is within the Department of Energy’s “Energy Earthshots” initiative.R&D on H was the first such Earthshot announced last year. DOE wants the “Hydrogen Shot” program to “accelerate…

Norwegian offshore vessel operator Siem Offshore said Tuesday it had entered into a contract with an undisclosed "long-term client" in Australia for two platform supply vessels.The contract is for the PSV's “Siem Pilot” and “Siem Thiima”. The contract for “Siem Pilot” covers a firm period of 572 days plus options, while “Siem Thiima” has been awarded a 3-year firm contract plus options.Both contracts will start during the first quarter of 2022."After a short spell in the North Sea spot market, “Siem Pilot” will as such be mobilized to Australia, whereas “Siem Thiima” will continue its long-standing commitment for serving the same client…

Sea Change - America’s first hydrogen powered ferrySWITCH Maritime’s new 70-foot passenger ferry Sea Change is navigating uncharted waters as the United States’ first zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell-powered, electric-drive ferry.The pioneering aluminum newbuild, constructed by Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), has been completed and was launched this summer, though permitting of hydrogen fuel systems for maritime vessels is still being worked out with the U.S. Coast Guard.“Legislation and laws for passenger safety did not exist yet for this type of vessel.

The United States' first zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell-powered, electric-drive ferry has been launched and is gearing up for operational trials off the U.S. West Coast.Constructed by Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine, Inc. (AAM), SWITCH Maritime's 70-foot newbuild Sea Change will operate in the California Bay Area as the United States' first hydrogen fuel cell vessel, developed to demonstrate a pathway to commercialization for zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell marine technologies. While still working on permitting of hydrogen fuel systems for maritime vessels with the U.S.

From 3D laser scanning to Computational Fluid Dynamics, an efficient and successful major mid-life refit such as the one completed on the RV Roger Revelle requires intricate advance design planning, an updated technical toolbelt, as well as the personal touch. Tim Leach, Principal, Naval Architect (Glosten), walks us through the process.Tim Leach, Principal, Naval Architect, Glosten. Image courtesy GlostenWhat work was completed by Glosten on the RV Roger Revelle midlife refit?Glosten has a long history of working with Scripps (SIO) and the Revelle.

The maritime and scientific community have set themselves the ambitious target to map the entire ocean floor by 2030. Volvo Penta and Danfoss Editron will play a role by powering a novel fleet of unmanned surface robots for subsea exploration.The companies have been commissioned for the unique venture by Grovfjord Mek. Verksted (GMV) shipyard, to power the world’s first fleet of autonomous robot exploration vessels for commercial use. The seafloor analysis and oceanography company Ocean Infinity has invested in the ‘Armada’ fleet of super-advanced unmanned vessels.

Developments in marine power today are centered on ever tightening legislative mandate which increasingly aim to dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions to the environment. While the holy grail of being truly ‘emissions free’ is still not feasible, there is much concurrent work in industry and academia to develop and source the fuels, the machinery technology, the logistical infrastructure and the business case for solutions that will meet the 2050 50% emission reduction mandates from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Norway's Ulstein is set to begin the outfitting phase of the Nexans Aurora, a large, DP3, cable laying vessel (CLV) Nexans ordered from Ulstein in 2018.The Nexans Aurora hull arrived Ulstein Verft on Monday, June 15, 2020, after having been built at CRIST, Poland. The hull will now be towed into the dock hall at Ulstein Verft before activities such as outfitting, electrical work, insulation, and piping start. Ulstein Verft will also install the main components such as the main generator set…

Wärtsilä said it will supply a propulsion and power package for a new 75-meter-long fishing trawler being built at the Karstensen shipyard in Denmark for Scottish owners and operators Wiseman Fishing Co and Northbay Fishing Co.The vessel will feature a Wärtsilä 31 main engine, two Wärtsilä 14 power generating sets, a gearbox and a controllable pitch propeller (CPP), the combination of which represents the latest engine and power generation technology. The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery to the yard in spring 2021.In designing the trawler…

In September, Heerema Marine Contractors’ semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) Sleipnir completed its first project, installing the topsides for the Leviathan development in the Mediterranean, a world record lift.At 220 meters long and 102 meters wide, Sleipnir is the world’s largest crane vessel, with two 10,000-tonne revolving cranes. GE said it provided the electrical part of the power and propulsion system including 12 sets of 8-megawatt (MW) generators, eight units of 5.5 MW propulsion motors…

As part of the ongoing strategy to prepare its EnergySail and Aquarius MRE for commercial release, Eco Marine Power (EMP) unveiled further details of its automated control and monitoring systems. These will enable EMP’s technologies to integrate with existing ship-based systems. This will facilitate the seamless operation between EMP's renewable energy platforms with other equipment on ships including fuel flow meters.Three marine computer systems jointly developed with KEI System Ltd will be integrated to provide a robust…

International brake supplier Dellner Brakes AB said it will launch new range of ‘plug and play’ electrohydraulic braking systems at this year’s SMM in Hamburg.The new BUEL STL systems provide a compact, self-contained solution for stopping, turning and locking ship propeller shafts on vessels of all sizes, as well as for industrial applications. They are the first to combine technologies from Swedish-based Dellner Brakes and new sister company, Germany’s Pintsch Bubenzer, which the Dellner Group acquired in January this year.As the name suggests…

Eastern Shipbuilding’s forward-thinking inland towboat design now features CAT Tier 4 propulsion and aftertreatment. When Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) introduced its cutting edge 4,000 hp Thunderbolt inland towboat designed around twin azimuthing AAA Propulsion electric V-Pod propulsion and diesel-electric technology back in 2015, the approach was collaborative, with input from operators, naval architects (Gilbert Associates, Inc. (GAI)) and propulsion OEM’s. In selecting the podded propulsion system for inclusion on the design, Eastern met with two inland owner/operators that had Z-Drive towboats, and others that didn’t. Starting as far back as 2013, listening to each and noting their concerns, it was decided that the V-Pod was the best solution.

The Norwegian authorities’ target for 2030 is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% compared to what they were 40 years earlier. By doing so, Norway will set the direction for the shipping industry and continue to be a front-runner. The entire Norwegian shipping industry as well as the Norwegian authorities have gathered to create the Green Coastal Shipping Programme. The programme participants are now ready to share their views and recommend progress in a roadmap addressed to the Norwegian Government. “Our vision is to go further into the future to ensure that Norway has established the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly coastal shipping by 2050.

Volvo Penta has launched an updated version of its D16 marine diesel engine, coming 10 years after the launch of its original version. The updated engine arrives at the same time as Europort, held November 3-6, in Rotterdam. The new D16 marine diesel engine is a compact and flexible choice for a complete power package, a multi-engine application, diesel electric or hybrid solution, despite being the largest marine diesel engine in Volvo Penta’s product portfolio, the manufacturer said.

Ulstein Power & Control announced it has been contracted by Chinese shipbuilder AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co. Ltd. to deliver power and control for two subsea rock installation vessels for offshore dredging and construction specialist Jan De Nul Group. According to Ulstein Power & Control, the scope of its delivery includes the power package consisting of generators, switchboards, motor control center, thruster frequency converters and motors, the automation system ULSTEIN IAS, DP system and thruster control, as well as the commissioning. Ulstein will deliver the products and systems in 2016.

Volvo Penta today unveiled its new family of next-generation 5.3L V8 gasoline engines for the marine sterndrive market in a press preview at the company’s Test Center in Suffolk, Va. “Volvo Penta has a rich history of innovation in marine propulsion, and with these next-generation V8s, we are establishing a new industry benchmark for acceleration, speed, weight-to-power ratio, fuel economy, emissions reduction and proven reliability,” said Ron Huibers, president of Volvo Penta of the Americas. Volvo Penta’s new marine engines are based on General Motors’ highly acclaimed Gen V platform. “In addition to these innovations, we have incorporated our tried-and-true RPM-based speed control, which automatically maintains speed when the boat is in a tight turn,” added Huibers.

Kongsberg Maritime Engineering (KME) has signed a contract with Gina Krog LLC, a subsidiary of Teekay Shipping AS, for supply of an Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) and Power package to the Gina Krog FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading) unit, to be delivered to the Statoil operated Gina Krog field on the Norwegian continental shelf, North Sea. Teekay recently entered an agreement with Statoil to provide the FSO for the Gina Krog field. The $220 million conversion project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017, before the newly converted FSO unit will commence operations under a time-charter contract to Statoil. operation on the FSO.

Kongsberg Maritime Engineering (KME) has signed a contract with Gina Krog LLC, a subsidiary of Teekay Shipping AS, for supply of an Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) and Power package to the Gina Krog FSO (Floating Storage and Offloading) unit, to be delivered to the Statoil operated Gina Krog field on the Norwegian continental shelf, North Sea. Teekay recently entered an agreement with Statoil to provide the FSO for the Gina Krog field. The $220 million conversion project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017…

GPLink’s remote monitoring equipment has been installed on hundreds of Cat powered vessels throughout the world. The company has recently announced that its product has received its first integration on a non-Caterpillar power package. In March, Spencer Yachts splashed their latest build, an 87-foot sportfish yacht named Bangarang, equipped with twin MTU M94 2600 horsepower diesels capable of propelling this mammoth vessel to a cruising speed of 40 knots. These powerful engines are also the first MTUs to receive the GPLink Remote Monitoring system.

Capt. Rick Croson has been running a successful fishing charter business from North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach for more than 10 years. When the time came to order a new boat, he made the unusual decision to request a diesel sterndrive power package. He couldn’t be happier with the results – in terms of fuel economy, speed, quiet operation and no exhaust fumes, as well as a clean transom for fishing astern. Croson started his charter business with a 20-ft. Onslow Bay mostly for inshore fishing, and later moved up to a 27-ft. Onslow Bay with twin 225 outboards for offshore work, but he was dissatisfied with the fuel economy and longevity of the outboards to meet the rigors of his busy charter schedule. He typically runs day trips out to the Gulf Stream – 60 miles each way.

Rolls-Royce announced delivery of the twin fixed pitch propellers to Bath Iron Works for installation on the U.S. Navy’s most modern surface combatant, the future USS Zumwalt, the first ship of the DDG 1000 multi-mission destroyer class. The provision of the twin fixed pitch propellers marks the completion of the power and propulsion system delivery from Rolls-Royce, following the MT30 main turbine generator sets and the RR4500 auxiliary turbine generator sets, which have already been installed and tested.