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Shipboard At Systems News

06 Feb 2023

Safety Improved on World's First Liquid Hydrogen Carrier after Malfunction

Suiso Frontier - Credit: Australian Transportation Safety Board

A valve failure that caused a flame to flare up briefly on the world's first liquid hydrogen carrier before its first trip from Australia to Japan highlighted the need for strong fault detection systems, an Australian safety report found.The cause of the incident on the Suiso Frontier on Jan. 25 last year has been fixed, the Australian Transportation Safety Board said in a report released last week. The ship had loaded liquid hydrogen for the trip the day before. "Safety has always been our highest priority.

03 Feb 2023

Fire on World's First Hydrogen Carrier Sparked by Electrical Issue

Suiso Frontier (Photo: ATSB)

A fire that broke out during the maiden voyage of the world's first liquified hydrogen (LH2) carrier gas carrier Suiso Frontier was caused by an onboard electrical issue, an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation foundThe 116-meter vessel, built as a prototype ship to assess the technical aspects of transporting LH2 by sea, had arrived at the Port of Hastings, Victoria on January 20, 2022, on its maiden voyage.The ship had departed Kobe, Japan on December 25, 2021 with 55 t of LH2…

02 Nov 2022

ABS to Support Industrial-Grade, Cyber-Physical Platform for Shipboard OT

ABS has been announced as the industry collaborator to build the Maritime Testbed of Shipboard Operational Technology (MariOT) Systems. The project is led by iTrust, Center for Research in Cyber Security at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), in collaboration with ABS and Singapore Polytechnic’s Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS).The MariOT will support a host of cybersecurity activities to meet the challenges in the maritime industry’s push towards digitalization. MariOT will be the world's first industrial-grade, cyber-physical platform, combining essential shipboard OT systems with virtual simulation models. “We will build virtual models of ship OT systems using advanced multi-physics modeling and simulation.

11 Oct 2021

LED Lighting for Ships: Seeing is Believing

The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) conducts a replenishment at sea with the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Michael Duran/Released)

New Lighting Technology offers bright ideas for better interior and exterior lighting that saves money, manpowerThe U.S. Navy is leaving traditional lighting behind for Solid State Lighting (SSL) with very long-life solid-state light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Technology has illuminated new ways to light ships that are safer, more efficient and more affordable. Taking advantage of the new technology has its challenges, such as finding cost effective lighting that is rugged…

29 Apr 2020

Marlink Unveils IT Networks Monitoring Tool

(Photo: Marlink)

Entry-level version of ITLINK management and monitoring software suite simplifies regulatory compliance for vessel and shore teamsMarlink has announced the release of a new stand-alone entry version of its ITLINK software, designed to improve transparency in monitoring and reporting of the status of IT networks onboard ships. The new monitoring tool enables shoreside teams or administrators to view the IT system status and availability, providing visibility on compliance with regulatory and charterer requirements.Starting in 2021…

21 Nov 2019

Dualog, NYK Sign Cyber-Risk Contract

Japanese shipping company NYK has signed  a long-term industrial research and development project agreement with Tromsø-based Dualog which aims to result in a cutting-edge Cyberrisk Management System for vessels.The project announced today at the Norwegian Embassy in Tokyo will receive two years of funding from the Norwegian government fund Innovation Norway.The agreement will see the development of digitized products and services across a test-bed of 50 vessels with a view to eventually being rolled out across NYKs self-operated fleet of 250 ships.The accord follows hot on the heels of a strategic partnership both companies signed in the summer of 2017…

19 Sep 2018

Naval Dome Call on Insurers to Revoke Clause CL 380

Itai Sela  (Photo: Naval Dome)

Naval Dome has called on marine insurers to revoke the controversial Clause CL 380 and implement policies that insure against the risk of cyber-attacks on ship systems.Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, today during the International Union of Marine Insurance’s (IUMI) annual conference, Naval Dome CEO Itai Sela said that with the maritime industry increasingly moving towards connected, cloud-based technologies and autonomous operation, a 15-year-old Clause that excludes damage to computer systems…

06 Jan 2016

Shipyard Employees Design Tool for Breaker Maintenance

A tool designed by Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) employees will make servicing ships' breakers more efficient. Breakers prevent overloads and potential electrical fires in shipboard electrical systems. A Navy submarine typically contains 20 to 30 breakers, and an aircraft carrier has approximately 50. In order to service a breaker, a shipyard worker must flip the 540-pound unit repeatedly. The task is arduous, time consuming, and often requires several workers to accomplish the re-positioning in a safe manner. With the new tool, a single worker may maneuver the breaker with ease. The tool was the brainchild of NNSY Second Year Apprentice Adam Fahy. Fahy himself is no stranger to manual labor. In his spare time he enjoys working on cars and engines.

26 Oct 2015

Year Zero for ECDIS Compliance

(Image: Simrad)

The right product for the right application is a familiar claim from marine equipment supplier Simrad, but, when compliance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements is at stake, it is a call demanding an immediate response. Compliance with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention on Electronic Chart Data and Information Systems (ECDIS) is now a matter of urgency. The mandatory phase-in for all internationally trading vessels to be fitted with an ECDIS using Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) reached a watershed on July 1, 2015.

28 Sep 2015

Keeping a Watchful Eye

In 2014, Forbes Associate Director for Maritime Services at Control Risks stated that maritime risks are on the rise. Mariners and ship owner/operators experienced a 26% spike in maritime piracy and armed robbery since 2014  and the North Sea Oil Industry admitted that it had been targeted and thwarted cyber attacks, attacks that if successful could have caused untold financial and logistical damage. •    Within the last decade, plans to attack a cruise ship in a major U.S. port were revealed. Maritime surveillance systems play a key role monitoring sea lanes and ports while supporting worldwide maritime safety and security. The ability to operate effectively and securely in any environment (air, land or sea) depends on an acute awareness and understanding of the surrounding elements.

27 May 2015

SeaCURE BWTS Earns 2nd US Patent

Evoqua Water Technologies has been awarded a second United States patent on its technical solution for treating ballast water. This latest patent was granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the 3rd of March, 2015. The patent describes a technical solution for treating ballast water under a variety of ambient water qualities. The quality of ambient water can vary widely from port to port where the ship is taking on its ballast. The unique features of Evoqua’s system include the use of oxidation reduction potential (“ORP”) devices to control certain SeaCURE* system operations. The patented SeaCURE system takes into account variations in demand and delivers biocide at the dose necessary for successful biofouling control…

12 Nov 2014

HVAC Systems: The Stealthy Drain on Energy Efficiency

The utiliVisor control center.

“Set it and forget it” may work well for rotisserie cookers, but that approach can be disastrous for shipboard HVAC systems. It’s not uncommon to find that the last time an HVAC system’s settings were checked on board is when it is was first set – upon installation. Typically, claims energy advisory firm utiliVisor, the ships’ engineers set the parameters and then go on their merry way. “A lot of marine companies mostly look at engine and generator performance, but no one is taking a look at chilled water…

31 Oct 2014

MARAD Tests Alternative Power for Ships

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is testing state-of-the-art, environmentally efficient technology onboard the Training Ship (TS) Kennedy. The National Defense Reserve Fleet vessel was provided to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy by MARAD for Cadet training. This one-year undertaking is part of a MARAD initiative to test fuel cells as a source of power for shipboard electrical systems. Researchers will evaluate the performance of the fuel cell technology and how low sulfur marine diesel fuel can be used to efficiently power a fuel cell to produce auxiliary power.

05 Dec 2013

Australian Navy Modernizes Ship Color Scheme

HMAS TOBRUK's Replenishment At Sea (RAS) with HMAS SUCCESS during the closing stages of Exercise RIMPAC 08 (Photo: ABPH Craig Owen)

The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, has announced that the Navy will progressively change the color of its surface fleet to meet modern war-fighting and regional environmental conditions. While not normally apparent to the bystander, the recent International Fleet Review with 17 international ships visibly demonstrated that color schemes do vary significantly between nations. These are mainly due to the regional environmental conditions faced by national navies such as the percentage of cloud cover or sunlight.

26 Sep 2013

Moxa MC-7000 Marine Computers Receive Official ABS Approval

MC-7000

Moxa, a provider of industrial network, computer and display solutions, is pleased to announce the MC-7000 series of marine computers has been formally approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). Moxa’s MC-7000 computers are powered by the latest third-generation Intel  Core  processors, and deliver a full range of native shipboard networking interfaces with eight NMEA 0183 ports, two NMEA 2000 ports, four serial ports, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, six USB 2.0, and two USB 3.0 ports. Additionally, both AC and DC PSU options are available.

17 Apr 2013

Carnival Splashes Out US$300-M on Reliability & Comfort Program

Emergency Diesel Generator: Photo credit Carnival

Carnival Cruise Lines implements enhancements to emergency power capabilities, fire safety technology, & improved operating redundancies across its fleet. The cruise lines say that this enhancement program, is to cost more than $300 million, and rapid upgrades have already begun. The actions by Carnival Cruise Lines will expand the availability of hotel services for the comfort of its guests in the rare instance of a shipboard event that involves the loss of main power. In addition, the plan will reinforce key shipboard operating systems to further prevent a potential loss of primary power.

28 Nov 2012

Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems for New Indian CG Vessels

New Patrol Boat: Artist's impression courtesy of Indian Navy

Northrop Grumman Corporation to supply advanced shipboard navigation systems for 20 fast patrol vessels for the Indian Coast Guard. Under the contract, awarded through the company's Indian reseller Marine Electricals Ltd., Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit will provide a navigation package including VisionMaster™ Total Watch™ multifunction displays, electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS), autopilot, magnetic compass and the new NAVIGAT 3000™ fibre optic gyrocompass.

11 Oct 2012

The Nuclear Option

In the eyes of some, the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was the event that would signal the end of nuclear power for electrical power generation and would end any hope of the world utilizing nuclear-powered commercial vessels other than the Russian barge carrier, SEVMORPUT and numerous Russian ice breakers. Contrary to the afore mentioned opinion, I believe that not only are selected-route nuclear powered commercial vessels good for the marine industry but they…

17 May 2012

A Case for Commercial Nuclear Power Vessels, Post the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

Russian ice breakers. Contrary to the afore mentioned opinion, I believe that not only are selected-route nuclear powered commercial vessels good for the marine industry but they also offer the world the most environmentally friendly and potentially the most economical and efficient way of shipping trans-ocean cargo. Although the Fukushima Daiichi disaster was a disaster of major proportions, we must not forget that it was initiated by a much more deadly and destructive disaster; a tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.0 Richter scale underwater earthquake. The nuclear disaster that occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi complex was not caused by inherent problems with the reactor…

18 Jan 2012

Navy, IEEE Keep Electrical Ship Standard Current

It’s been a year since we first told you here in Maritime Reporter about the effort to update and rewrite the IEEE-45 Standard for Electrical Installations on Ships. At that time, we urged qualified experts to offer suggestions and volunteer to join in the effort as members of the committee. Thanks to those who agreed to support the committees work, a great deal of progress has been made, says Moni Islam, chair of the IEEE-45 Standard Coordinating Committee. However, he says, there is still important work to be done and volunteers are still needed, especially now that some of the work is coming to a conclusion. The IEEE-45 standard was first released in 1920.

15 Dec 2011

New ONR Tech Ship Systems to Share Information Seamlessly

With Sailors and Marines increasingly relying upon networked data and apps, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) demonstrated to Department of the Navy officials how a new suite of information technology tools could improve fleet operations during experiments Dec. 14 in Dahlgren, Va. "We're trying to take our prototypes and have them work in the actual environment they'll have to operate in aboard a ship," said Wayne Perras, the ONR project officer overseeing the two-week experiment at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren. The technology tools are being tested in a special laboratory containing shipboard combat systems and networks. The…

02 Jun 2011

NSRP Research Announcement Revision

The National Shipbuilding Research Program has issued a revision to Research Announcement (RA) 10-01 which was announced May 25. The RA is also published on the Federal Business Opportunities website (FedBizOpps) and is listed as Solicitation #NSRP10-01. General Solicitation Information can also be found on the NSRP website. The revision includes updated areas of concentration for the Improving Integration of Shipboard Warfare Systems Focus Area in the table listing research and development areas of particular interest (Section 2). Abstracts are mandatory and must be submitted prior to submitting a proposal. Abstracts are to be submitted electronically via the NSRP Website by Friday, June 17, 2011 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

31 May 2011

APL ‘Cold-Irons’ Ships In Oakland To Clear The Air

APL flipped the switch today on a clean-air effort that’s part of California’s maritime future. The Singapore-based container shipping line became the first to shut down, or, “cold-iron,” a vessel’s engines to eliminate exhaust emissions at the Port of Oakland. As others follow suit – and regulators say they must – cold-ironing will become a staple on California’s coast. “We have brought cold-ironing to the port,” proclaimed APL Americas President Gene Seroka. The 900-foot APL…