Scanning Technology News

Marine News spoke to leaders at three North American naval architecture and marine engineering firms about some of the latest trends impacting their business today. Mike Fitzpatrick, president, Robert Allan Ltd.; Jeff Bowles, director, DLBA Naval Architects; and Rich Mueller, president and CEO, NETSCo., weigh in on topics such as digitalization, decarbonization and the naval architect talent pool.How do you view the maritime industry’s ongoing shifts in areas such as digitalization and decarbonization…

The Danish provider of mobile robotic welding and adaptive multi-pass welding technologies, Inrotech has partnered withGullco International, a manufacturer of automated welding and cutting carriages, modular automation, and custom automation solutions.The two companies will use their partnership to strengthen their customer offerings and market position. With this partnership, both companies combine their knowledge together and offer smart, easy-to-use automation solutions equipped with intelligent software and scanning technology for the growing need for welding automation technology…

A barge modification project by Stillwater Marine Services for Brice Marine has been delivered using the ABS 3D Model-based Class Process.The barge has undergone a bulwark modification on its aft deck section. Stillwater Marine submitted the modification design to ABS’ New Orleans Engineering office in 3D model format. Once completed the modified barge was surveyed by ABS’ Seattle Office.“This was a powerful demonstration of the ABS 3D-Model-based class process in action. Not only did we deliver efficiencies in plan review and survey without compromising safety…

Scrubber and ballast water treatment system refits have helped to maintain brisk business at shipyards globally, as shipowners upgrade ships to meet regulatory mandate. In Singapore, Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. reports that it has won 104 scrubber and BWTS retrofit orders worth a combined value of $118 million year-to-date, bringing the total number of retrofit projects secured to date to 108 scrubber and 97 BWTS projects.“Installation of scrubbers and BWTS can be highly complex and there has been strong demand worldwide to meet regulatory deadlines…

Thirty-six hours after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the port of San Juan was back up and running, scanning the incoming relief cargo as it arrived. Now, nearly a year after the historic storm, San Juan remains one of the most secure and efficient ports in the world, scanning and adjudicating cargo shipments at an unprecedented speed, with wait times similar to pausing at a stop light. It was the first and only port in the Western Hemisphere to scan near-100 percent of incoming containerized cargo (bulk, un-containerized cargo is not scanned).

State-of-the-art laser scanning technology has helped researchers to confirm that an artifact recovered from the wreck of a sunken 15th century ship in the Indian Ocean is the earliest known marine navigation tool. When the Blue Water Recovery team found the object in 2014, they believed it was an astrolabe used by mariners to measure the altitude of the sun during voyages, but they were not certain as there were no visible navigational markings. The team approached Professor Williams, who conducts high-tech scanning analyses in his laboratory at WMG University of Warwick in the U.K.

Innovative new ontainer scanning technology is being developed for the CORE (Consistently Optimized REsilient Secure Global Supply-Chains) European Research Project by Smiths Detection, a leader in detecting weapons, biohazards, radioactive material, narcotics and contraband. Smiths Detection is designing both hardware and software for the next generation of container scanners, which will speed-up throughput and improve detection. The aim is to verify as quickly and accurately as possible whether a container holds only its declared legal cargo and is not harboring contraband…

Danish naval architect OSK-ShipTech A/S is introducing 3D laser scanning as a tool to minimize risk and maximize precision in a market where owners are looking for the fastest and most accurate retrofit and conversion solutions. Speed and accuracy is key to owners, when it comes to minimizing a ship’s downtime and reducing the margin of error. Naval architect and marine consultant OSK-ShipTech A/S have yet again extended the company’s advanced design toolbox and services with the acquisition of a state-of-the-art 3D laser scanner.

Naval architecture and marine engineering company 3GA Marine Ltd has teamed up with marine technologies company Alfa Laval to provide engineered turnkey solutions to support ship owners in their response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ballast water management regulations. “The retrofitting of ballast water treatment systems in existing vessels is challenging because of their size and required capacity to maintain ballast operations. It can also prove to be complex in integrating the system with existing systems and congested machinery room spaces…

BMT Design & Technology (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced a collaboration with Lester Franks, to provide a new service which will support ship owners in their response to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ballast water management regulations which come into effect next year. Trevor Dove, BMT Design & Technology’s Maritime Engineering Lead, commented, “The fitting of ballast water treatment systems in existing vessels can prove challenging not only because of their size, but also the complexity involved in integrating with existing systems.

Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC) today announced it has been awarded a $2.1 million contract by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) to build a new type of portable-electronics scanner for threat detection. Under the contract, DSIC will deliver an integrated prototype product to detect small amounts of explosive materials within portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptop computers. DSIC will leverage proprietary algorithms developed for its ground breaking…

NVision, Inc., a company in 3D laser scanning and reverse engineering for over 24 years, said it was able to help a motorsports boat designer optimize the design of the custom-built propellers created for its Top Fuel Hydro drag boat. The boat is equipped with two custom-designed and handmade propellers. The double-bladed propellers worked well but the boat maker felt their design could be improved further to produce even greater speed and power. In order to achieve this goal…

Decision Sciences International Corporation (DSIC), an advanced technology provider of security and detection systems, today announced it has earned U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) SAFETY (Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies) Act Developmental Testing and Evaluation Designation for its award-winning Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS). The SAFETY Act is a federal law passed by the U.S. Congress to facilitate and promote the development and deployment of anti-terrorism technologies that can deter…

FARO Technologies, Inc. released the new FARO Laser Scanner Focus3D X 130, the newest member of Focus3D X Series range of laser scanners. With a scanning range of 130m, this laser scanner is suited for mid-range scanning applications. The portable Focus3D X 130 enables fast, straightforward and accurate measurements of objects and buildings, combining high-precision scanning technology with true mobility and ease-of-use to offer reliability, flexibility and real-time views of recorded data.

FARO Technologies, Inc., a 3D measurement, imaging and realization technology company, announced the release of the new FARO Laser Scanner Focus3D X 130. According to the manufacturer, the Focus3D X 130, the newest member of Focus3D X Series range of laser scanners, delivers tremendous power, compact design and the flexibility to perform laser scanning in both indoor and outdoor environments. With a scanning range of 130 meters, this laser scanner is suited for mid-range scanning applications such as architecture…

AVEVA said Burgasnefteproekt, an engineering company in the field of petrochemicals, has achieved significant cost savings using AVEVA Laser Modeler. Burgasnefteproekt recently acquired the AVEVA software and used it to capture the as-built asset and create a 3D model of an existing flaring system. This is part of a revamp project to rebuild the system and ensure up-to-date, accurate project documentation. Using 3D laser scanning technologies and processing the scan data using AVEVA Laser Modeler and AVEVA PDMS, Burgasnefteproekt achieved approximately 80% savings in design man-hours.

Flexlife, a provider of flexible pipe technologies and engineering services, used its new integrity monitoring technology at Chevron’s Captain field in the U.K. North Sea. FlexGuard is an early detection system for possible riser integrity issues, designed to provide continuous real-time data on the condition of flexible risers. With more than 3,000 risers in use globally, with this number forecast to rise to 5,000 by 2015, and 35% forecast to suffer some form of outer sheath damage, the cost savings and environmental benefits are immense.

Research to measure offshore workers’ body size with 3D scanners to inform the future design of safety equipment, survival clothing and space requirements on offshore installations has been launched in Aberdeen. The research, which will generate an ongoing capability for measuring the size and shape of the offshore workforce, is reported to be the first of its kind in more than 25 years and is being led by researchers at Robert Gordon University’s Institute of Health and Welfare Research (IHWR) in collaboration with Oil and Gas U.K.

ABS Nautical Systems, the world’s fastest growing provider of fleet management software, hosted its 2010 Annual User Conference, Oct. 12-14, 2010 in Vancouver BC, Canada. The conference hosted approximately 150 industry professionals from more than 50 maritime companies, who learned about the new functionalities and enhancements offered in ABS Nautical Systems’ technology suite NS5. Attendees were also able to network and collaborate with industry colleagues, sharing best practices and product development ideas for the future. “With our software suite constantly evolving to meet industry needs, we use this conference as a platform to garner user feedback and insights that help strengthen our core products and services,” said Karen Hughey, President and COO of ABS Nautical Systems.

AVEVA expands laser scanning software offering for brownfield project execution and asset operations. AVEVA announced the acquisition of Z+F UK Limited. The strategic acquisition includes only the division of Z+F which produces the LFM software suite. This follows a long and successful partnership with Z+F UK Limited and allows AVEVA to secure an industry leading software technology that significantly expands its offering in the 3D data capture market, while remaining fully independent from laser scanner hardware vendors.

Subsea Specialist Flexlife Signs Memorandum of Understanding With Petrobras International. Flexlife, an oil & gas industry specialist in subsea project and integrity management, announced today (October 13) it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Petrobras to develop and provide a new integrity management system and specialised engineering services for its international oil and gas projects offshore. The agreement – Flexlife’s first work in South America - was reached during the recent OTC Brasil exhibition in Rio de Janeiro.

Many of the challenges related to engineering the actual installation of a ballast water treatment system have been noted in the sections describing the treatment technology factors above. These challenges can be especially acute when installing a system on an existing vessel. Finding solutions to treatment system back pressure and potential f low rate reductions, power consumption demands, control system integration and space requirements, as well as access for installation, can be difficult and costly.

Flexlife, an oil and gas industry specialist in subsea integrity and project management, has been successfully contracted by Petrobras America Inc. (PAI), a subsidiary of Petrobras, an integrated energy company that operates in 29 countries, to provide independent assessment services worth up to £862,000/$1.4 million for a project in the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement involves annulus testing of the flexible risers on the Cascade and Chinook subsea development. The initial week long testing program will occur at the end of October and then regularly every six months as instructed by PAI…