R2 News

Volvo Penta has unveiled its new Inboard Performance System (IPS) professional platform, the next evolution in its fully integrated helm-to-propeller offering. Building upon the existing Volvo Penta IPS range, the new, larger and versatile platform is designed as a powerful and flexible solution for professional vessels and superyachts from 25 to 55+ meters with top speed from 12-40 knots, the manufacturer said.“Our passion, experience and history of proven results with Volvo…

Radio and satellite communications solutions provider Cobham Satcom announced its partnership with Inmarsat on its new generation of Ka-band antennas, the new SAILOR XTR GX-R2 series, to be deployed on the Global Xpress network.Developed with future satellite constellations in mind, and in line with Inmarsat’s ORCHESTRA architecture – the first-of-its-kind network that seamlessly integrates multiple orbits and terrestrial 5G – the SAILOR XTR antenna series combines the best of…

A pair of new tugs has been delivered to Ri Zhao Port, Shandong, China in February and March of this year, followed by an official naming ceremony held at owner’s fleet base last week.The newly completed RAmparts 3400 ASD tugs Ri Gang Tuo 1 and Ri Gang Tuo 2 were designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and constructed at Rizhao Kingda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co. Ltd., for operations in Rizhao Port on the coast of the Yellow Sea, China.According to the designer, the newly developed RAmparts…

PULS Power, the manufacturer of DIN-Rail power supplies, said Thursday it had launched its 24V, 20A DIN-Rail power supply CP20.245-R2, developed for on- and offshore use in the marine and offshore process industries. "The marine-compliant power supply meets the high requirements of EMC class B without additional external filters and can be used directly in bridge and deck applications," Pulse Power said."The CP20.245-R2 has optimal electronic and mechanical design for the harsh environmental conditions found at sea and onshore…

Fast and comfortable to Heligoland with Halunder JetThe work took just over a year, the big day becomes finally reality: the successor to the former HALUNDER JET is ready. Around 250 shipyard employees and 60 employees from Förde Reederei Seetouristik, Flensburg, Germany, worked on the catamaran in the AUSTAL shipyard in Cebu. After 15 years of loyal service, the company, FRS, finally said goodbye to the old HALUNDER JET in the fall of 2017. It was hauled to the west coast of America…

SSI CEO Darren Larkins, together with President & CTO Denis Morais, acquired ownership of the shipbuilding software development company from founder Rolf Oetter effective March 1, 2018. The two longtime employees have been managing SSI for the past seven years and have been entrenched in all aspects of the company’s day-to-day operations for even longer. Larkins, SSI’s fifth employee in 1999, said that through the years he and Morais have done “pretty much everything that SSI does at some point.” He added…

Construction of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) new bed leveler (plough tug) is underway and was marked by an official keel laying ceremony in Port Elizabeth on January 19. The new vessel is being designed, manufactured, assembled, commissioned and delivered to TNPA’s Dredging Services division by shipbuilder FTC Engineering (Pty) Ltd, trading as Tide Marine Shipyard. The Black-, woman-owned family company has a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBBEE) Level…

A newly built 50-meter high-speed catamaran passenger ferry for Seaspovill of South Korea, SeaStar 11, has been launched at Austal Limited’s shipyard in the Philippines. Austal said it was awarded the A$16 million (US$12.1 million) contract to build the Incat Crowther designed catamaran in June 2016, following Seaspovill’s satisfaction with a pre-owned Austal vessel, Seastar 3, constructed in 1998. Incat Crowther said it worked with Seaspovill to develop the design of the vessel, offering improvements over an off-the-shelf production design.

Africa’s first ever dredging simulator was launched in the port city of Durban, South Africa – another positive spin-off of ongoing collaboration between Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the Transnet Maritime School of Excellence (MSoE), Netherlands based Royal IHC and its world-renowned Training Institute. The high-tech simulator – based at the MSoE’s Langeberg Road premises – will aid in building dredging capability in South Africa. Dredging is specialized underwater excavation that helps to keep ports and harbours safe and navigable and is a critical aspect of port development.

Incat Crowther announced contract to design a 50m Catamaran Passenger Ferry for South Korean operator Seaspovill. The vessel will join the operator’s existing fleet which runs from the mainland ports of Donghae and Gangneung to the island of Ulleung-do, a renowned destination for outdoor activities such as hiking. Incat Crowther worked with Seaspovill to develop the design of the vessel, and then assisted in the preparation of a preliminary design package and the selection of Austal Philippines to construct the vessel. During this process, Incat Crowther representatives attended operations with Seaspovill and performed detailed route operability analysis. The fully IMO HSC compliant vessel is optimized for through-life efficiency.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. said it launched on August 15, 2016 the final vessel in a series of four Z-Tech Class Terminal & Escort Tugs being constructed for Suderman & Young Towing Company. The tug Poseidon is scheduled to be delivered later in 2016. The launch ceremony was held at Eastern’s Nelson Street facility and hosted by Patrick D’Isernia, Project Manager of Eastern, with employees and guests in attendance. He spoke about the dedication and hard work of all of ESG’s employees, making the series of tugs a success.

Russia's Krasnoye Sormovo shipyard, a subsidiary of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, is to sign a contract to build two tankers for Azerbaijan’s Caspian Marine Services Ltd. The two companies have signed a contract for building and delivery of two RST27 tankers. The tankers will be delivered to Azerbaijan in 2016-2017, according to the contract. The RST27 vessels of the Volga-Don Max class meet the dimensions of the Volga-Don Ship Canal and Volga-Baltic Waterway. The tankers are designed for mixed sea/river transportation of crude oil and oil products (two types of cargo), including gasoline, with no flash point. The RST27 project was developed to the class of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping KM Ice1 R2 AUT1-ICS OMBO VCS ECO-S Oil tanker (ESP).

The port of Antwerp is set to achieve a freight volume of more than 200 million tonnes for the first time ever in 2015. When it comes to containers Antwerp is performing extremely well this year: with expected growth of almost 8% it will easily pass the milestone of 9 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units, i.e. standard containers) for the first time in its history. About half of the container volume is currently handled in the port area on the Right bank of the Scheldt, but once the Swiss shipping company MSC transfers its operations to the Deurganck dock then the Left bank will inevitably become the main focus of container handling in Antwerp.

SSI's latest release, ShipConstructor 2016 R2 will be unveiled for the first time in public at the International WorkBoat Show, December 1-3, in New Orleans.   According to SSI, the new software enhances productivity via new features and benefits, including •Smoother Systems Routing via Continuation Grip Points Clarity: Linking UDA Editing with Parts in Drawings & Product Hierarchies Weld Standards added to Naming Conventions Streamlined Data Transfer from 3D Model to Pre-Formatted Excel Documents Enhanced Risk Management: Configure Multiple License Servers

Turner Designs, along with scientists from around the world participated in a research cruise aboard the RV Meteor, a vessel owned by the Federal Republic of Germany through the Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The goal of this cruise was focused on ballast water sampling techniques and protocols. Various instruments were used to test collected ballast water enabling researchers to determine efficiency for the various sampling techniques employed.

The 90-yer-old Prince Edward Graving Dry Dock in Durban, which is owned and operated by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), will be undergoing a R30 million ($2.4 million USD) repair project on its outer caisson over the next four months. This is the third and final phase of a repair program on the structure, which was deemed unsafe and in need of repair due to the dry dock’s age and general need for maintenance. Earlier this month, TNPA appointed Durban-based engineering…

Trelleborg’s offshore and marine systems operations will, for the first time, showcase a number of its latest product developments at the Atlantic Canada Petroleum Show (ACPS), Newfoundland, later this month. These include thermal insulation, over bend and fire deluge systems, as well as subsea buoyancy and fender solutions. Trelleborg will present its U.S. Coast Guard approved Elastopipe; a corrosion-free alternative to carbon steel deluge systems made from synthetic rubber, as well as its SeaCushion fenders.

Suezmax tankers are looking good for a strong 2015 year, before posting a mild downside during 2016, but are poised to accelerate yet again in 2017 on rising deliveries, said shipbroker Charles R. Weber in its latest weekly report (Ref. “Suezmax earnings continued to experience surprising strength during the first quarter of the year with an average of ~$46,951/day exceeding our early-January projection by 15%. Through the full year, we have raised our projected average by 6% to ~$37,200/day. During 2016 and 2017 we project averages of $35,375/day and $31,000/day, respectively”, said the shipbroker. Suezmax earnings have strengthened in recent months…

SSI has today released ShipConstructor 2015 R2.1 software. The software release comes in response to emerging ship design, engineering and building trends as identified by SSI’s Client Council of industry leaders. The advisors on this software launch were representatives from U.S. and Canadian companies: Genoa Design, Glosten & Associates, Gunderson Marine and Trinity Marine Products. This group has similar production methods and/or design approaches. A different set of advisors from Europe provided input into the previous Client Council release last year.

BS Camburi, a 36-meter Monohull Crewboat built in Brazil by Arpoador Engenharia to the Petrobras type P2 specification has been launched and delivered. Designed by Incat Crowther, the 118-foot (36-meter) aluminum crewboat is powered by triple CAT C32 ACERT diesel engines coupled to three Thrustmaster DOEN DJ290 waterjets. Designed to Petrobras type P2 crew boat spec, this vessel will transport up to 70 passengers and crew as well as carry 50 tons of deck cargo plus fuel and fresh water cargo at a fully loaded service speed of more than 17 knots.

A major determinant of shipbuilding productivity is clear communication. The SSI's ShipConstructor 2015 R2 distinguishes this with modified improvements focused on how information is conveyed. SSI continues to make advancements in regard to how ShipConstructor facilitates the modeling and management of welding. Welding can represent 20-30% of production hours and approximately 10% of total cost. Therefore, improvements in this area have immediate bottom line implications. ShipConstructor 2015 R2 further facilitates communication…

ShipConstructor 2014 R2.1, released from SSI, has been specifically designed to rapidly respond to emerging trends in ship design and engineering as identified by SSI's new Client Council program, the company said. "Both technology and industry requirements are evolving quickly so our clients continually need to adapt," explained SSI CTO Denis Morais. "SSI's Client Council program has been designed to address this by having focus groups of similar clients propose new features that SSI can quickly incorporate into our software.

In what SSI calls its “most user-focused release,” the latest release of the company’s flagship CAD/CAM software, ShipConstructor 2014 R2, features more than 425 enhancements. SSI said ShipConstructor 2014 R2 streamlines workflows for users and enhances the user experience, which according to the developer, has been accomplished by collecting feedback from clients in all markets and industries, then implementing hundreds of suggestions that boost efficiency, quality and stability.