Ship Control Systems News

As the maritime industry faces numerous environmental and efficiency challenges, the future is ship automation and Wärtsilä Voyage is a driver. Sean Fernback, President, and Thomas Pedersen, Director, Automation & Dynamic Positioning, Wärtsilä Voyage discuss the path and the pace with Maritime Reporter TV.Sean, to start, it seems many define “autonomy” differently. How do you define Wärtsilä's smart-autonomy approach?Sean Fernback, President, Wärtsilä VoyageAutonomy is a journey and there is no question that, at some point, various vessels in different classes will be fully autonomous.

Rolls-Royce has acquired Servowatch Systems, a UK-based international supplier of integrated marine automation solutions for navies, commercial vessels and large yachts.Representatives of Rolls-Royce's Power Systems business unit and the company’s previous owner, the Indian engineering, procurement and construction projects, manufacturing, defense and services group Larsen & Toubro, signed the contracts Wednesday. Commercial terms were not disclosed."Servowatch's modern and sophisticated…

The multi-purpose dry cargo vessel Shair Vagif, owned by the Transport Fleet of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) and operated in external waters, was overhauled at the Chernomorsk Shiprepair Yard  shipyard in Ukraine.Within the implemented works from July 3 to August 12, hydraulic booster of the vessel, its main engines and separators, including fuel, radio navigation and rescue systems, were repaired.Moreover, all automated ship control systems were restored. Thus, F-3000 fire alarms, SDS-48 smoke alarms, SEMCO local fire extinguishing systems, emergency diesel generators and separators were repaired.The vessel has been put back into operation…

Rolls-Royce and Inmarsat have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to have the option to make the company’s Energy Management system available via Inmarsat Maritime’s Fleet Xpress high-speed broadband service. With data collected from a multitude of ship control systems and equipment sensors, Energy Management 2.0 reduces energy consumption and supports environmental compliance as well as allowing for the benchmarking of efficiency against historical performance. Marco Camporeale, Rolls-Royce…

DSME and Kongsberg Maritime have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for a new LNG FSRU regasification control system. As part of the delivery scope for a vessel currently under construction at the Okpo shipyard in South Korea, DSME will develop a High Fidelity Dynamic Simulator for the regasification plant. The JDA, which was signed on 29th November 2016, enables DSME to utilise Kongsberg Maritime’s Dynamic Process Simulator ‘K-Spice’ and the ‘K-Chief’ automation and control system for the joint development of the vessel’s regasification control system. Both parties have extensive experience in the field of LNG vessel control systems. DSME is fast approaching delivery of 100 LNG ships, many of them operating with Kongsberg Maritime’s LNG control system on board.

Norwegian explorer cruise line Hurtigruten is to build two new expedition ships using a new and environmentally sustainable hybrid technology from Rolls-Royce making fully electric propulsion on a passenger ship possible. The Rolls-Royce designed MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen, about to be constructed at Kleven Yard in Norway, will be packed with innovative Rolls-Royce technology. In addition to the hybrid power solution, the vessels will have the latest automation and control systems…

Integrated ship control systems supplier Servowatch said it will use SMM to launch its new automation and control software, WINMON 9. WINMON 9 is a singular, end-to-end software solution which offers several new features, according to the developer. The software provides continuous and secure operation of vessel machinery and subsystems through its single development environment for simple yet flexible programming. Among the systems powered by WINMON 9 is ServoFusion, a turnkey…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) hereby announces its intent to book an extraordinary loss from its cruise ship business in the company's consolidated financial results for fiscal year (FY) 2015 (ending March 31, 2016). In November 2011 MHI received an order for two large-sized cruise ships for the AIDA Cruises brand. Due to difficulties in construction of the prototype ship, the Company booked extraordinary losses of 64.126 billion yen in its consolidated financial results for fiscal year 2013 (ending March 31, 2014) and 69.534 billion yen for fiscal year 2014 (ending March 31, 2015). Due to design changes in the construction phase and the need to address faults found in the final stages…

"The World", the largest, private, residential ship on the seas, will be retrofitted with a Wärtsilä Advanced Wastewater treatment system and a Wärtsilä Nacos Platinum system for navigation and external communication purposes. The Wärtsilä Advanced Wastewater solution will replace an existing system and keep the vessel in full compliance with the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) requirements concerning the prevention of pollution from ships. The ship is owned by its residents and is managed by ROW Management Ltd based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA. The contract with Wärtsilä was signed in November. The equipment is scheduled for delivery in April, 2016.

The fully integrated platform management system Servowatch designed and built for three new offshore patrol vessels for the U.K. Royal Navy has completed BAE Systems’ Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT). Servowatch, the supplier of advanced integrated ship control systems, will now integrate the IPMS package at BAE Systems’ shipyard on the River Clyde, Glasgow, Scotland, where the next-generation OPVs are currently under construction. The Servowatch scope of supply includes a fully integrated control and management system for the vessels’ propulsion…

According to the US Department of Defense, Navy, Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Charlottesville, Va., is being awarded an $88,153,800 contract to acquire integrated bridge systems and steering/ship control systems, related hardware and associated services. DoD explains that the systems are comprised of chart servers, network interface boxes, flat panel displays, radar systems, navigation software, ship control software, global positioning systems, weather sensors, depth sensors, speed sensors, digital compass systems, ship control display systems and sonar systems. These items represent a modernization upgrade from existing systems currently in use.

Seaward Services provides bridge officers, including the master and chief engineer, for Builder and Acceptance Trials of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). USNS Choctaw County, the Navy's second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2), satisfactorily completed Acceptance Trials, May 3 in Mobile, Ala. under the command of Seaward Services’ master, supported by the company’s chief engineer and other deck and engine officers. During Acceptance Trials the ship's major systems and equipment were tested and evaluated, including a full power run and demonstrations of main propulsion engineering and ship control systems, anchoring, emergency and crew support systems. The ship reached speeds of over 40 knots during at-sea trials.

NavTeach.com to deliver USCG captain's license introduction and tutorial service to U.S. Training and experience on the water during military service can be translated into a very rewarding career as a professional USCG licensed mariner. Complicated mission requirements and the required security clearance separate these qualifications from other mariners competing in this lucrative job market, say NavTeach. Exposure to advanced technology also gives critical knowledge to effectively and properly operate new ship control systems even before they eventually emerge into the commercial side of the marine world. Leadership is another product…

The new Volvo Penta D13 MG marine genset offers more power and high load acceptance, with emission levels in compliance with EPA Tier 3 and low fuel consumption. The secret is the advanced technology Volvo Penta uses throughout the engine. As with all Volvo Penta marine gensets, the D13 MG is delivered complete with electric generator and onboard electronics, tested and classified. Fuel cost alone is a very high portion of a marine genset life-cycle cost. EMS 2, the engine control system developed by Volvo, regulates fuel injection and monitors engine conditions. The system controls the unit injectors, one per cylinder, which operate at a pressure of as much as 2000 bar and atomize the fuel for optimum combustion.

The new Volvo Penta D13 MG marine genset offers more power and high load acceptance, with emission levels in compliance with EPA Tier 3 and low fuel consumption. The secret is the advanced technology Volvo Penta uses throughout the engine. As with all Volvo Penta marine gensets, the D13 MG is delivered complete with electric generator and onboard electronics, tested and classified. “The D13 MG is better in every respect, compared to the current D12, which also is a very good engine,” says Gerard Törneman at Volvo Penta. Fuel cost alone is a very high portion of a marine genset life-cycle cost.

Following three days underway, the future USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) completed acceptance trials, June 19, departing from and returning to the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. Charles Drew is the 10th Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ship to be presented to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Completion of acceptance trials is the final major milestone prior to delivery to the Navy. During Acceptance Trials, the ship successfully demonstrated a variety of systems including main propulsion, engineering, ship control systems, and crew support. "The success of these trials is a credit to the Navy-NASSCO team’s continued focus on affordability and quality…

Following two days underway, the future USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9) completed Acceptance Trials Jan. 29, departing from, and returning to, the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego. Matthew Perry is the ninth Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammunition ship to be presented to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). Completion of Acceptance Trials is the final major milestone prior to delivery to the Navy. During Acceptance Trials, the ship successfully demonstrated a variety of systems, including main propulsion, engineering, ship control systems, and crew support. NASSCO is under contract for the construction of the entire T-AKE class, a total of 14 ships.

The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) amphibious transport dock ship New York (LPD 21) returned to the company's Avondale shipyard in New Orleans July 23 flying three brooms signifying a successful U.S. Navy Acceptance Trials. The ship is the fifth in the San Antonio-class series that the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding sector is building across the Gulf Coast. "This was an exceptional sea trial. We followed our planned schedule of events and executed very well," said Richard Schenk, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding vice president, Tests and Trials.

The future USS New York (LPD 21) completed acceptance trials July 24, sailing from and returning to the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) shipyard in New Orleans. The ship's bow stem includes thousands of pounds of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center. New York is the fifth ship of the San Antonio class to be presented to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) for acceptance. This is the final major milestone prior to the shipyard delivering the amphibious transport dock ship to the Navy. "The completion of acceptance trials is a major step towards bringing New York into the fleet," said Capt. Bill Galinis, the LPD 17-class Program Manager for the Navy's Program Executive Office for Ships (PEO Ships).

General Dynamics Information Technology has won three task orders worth a total of $26.7m from the Naval Sea Systems Command. The company will provide IT engineering and professional services for the US Navy's Smart Carrier program at its , Carderock Division in . It will support modernization operations including testing and installation of new machinery control monitoring systems, distributed data and control networks, and navigation and ship control systems. It will also provide engineering, system analysis, and program support for navigation and integrated bridge control systems that include antenna, sail, radar, microwave, and electrical systems.

General Dynamics Information Technology, has been awarded three Seaport-e task orders by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) , Carderock Division (NSWCCD), in. The contracts have a total potential value of $26.7m if all options are exercised. Under the contracts, General Dynamics will provide information technology (IT) engineering and professional services for the Smart Carrier program and additional NSWCCD initiatives. NAVSEA established the Smart Carrier program to harness new technologies and processes to reduce sailor workload and operational costs, and improve quality of life on Navy aircraft carriers. General Dynamics is working…

Guy Hardwick, president of TANO Corp. in New Orleans, La., has been named chairman of ASTM Committee F25 on Ships and Marine Techonology. Hardwick has been an ASTM member since 1993 and has been serving most recently as chairman of subcommittee F25.05 on computer applications. A recipient of the John Haas Award from committee F25, Hardwick is the U.S. representative to TC8/SC10 on computer applications for ships and marine technology of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In addition, he is a member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) committee for engineering, the technical advisory group for electrical installations of ships and of mobile and fixed offshore units and cable and cable installations of the International Electrotechnical commission…

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine unit has won a U.S. Navy contract worth up to $27.2 million to provide engineering and technical support for integrated ship navigation and control systems. The three-year contract, awarded by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, will run through September 2004. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract includes engineering services and technical support for installed systems, spare parts, hardware and software upgrades, logistics and maintenance support, labor and material. The contract supports Sperry Marine's integrated navigation and ship control technology.