Software Changes News

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 2019, the maritime world enters a bold new era of emission reduction. With its growing fleet of methanol fueled ship and more than 60,000 hours of operating experience under its belt, Waterfront Shipping Company has a five-year headstart.As a general rule, shipowners are remiss to share insights on their operations, lest their competitors catch wind and leverage the same technology and savings. The case of Waterfront Shipping Company Ltd.

Skipper released the new support tool for all technicians serving acoustic products. The Skipper ETT985 is a combined echo sounder simulator, transducer tester and NMEA tester, in a single handheld unit. This tool allows the technician to test both the acoustical functions of the Echo Sounder and Transducers. The ETT985 has a built-in rechargeable battery. The simulator will measure the transmitted pulse and replying with either the same pulse or a user defined pulse. In conjunction with the systems data bulletin an integrity test of the Echo Sounder unit can be performed in minutes.

Liquid Robotics announced the introduction of the Wave Glider SV3, a hybrid wave and solar propelled unmanned ocean robot. The Wave Glider SV3 incorporates the latest advancements in energy harvesting technology, providing the ability to utilize both wave and solar energy for forward propulsion. Customers will now have the ability to conduct missions, 24x7, through all weather conditions, across most of the planet to help research global problems such as global climate change…

Officials with the Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division said that changes to software controlling the propeller system on the new Chetzemoka ferry may provide a temporary solution to vibration issues first discovered last month. Additional sea trials are scheduled for the middle of next week after representatives of the propulsion-control company write software exerting greater control over the engine “ramping,” which allows the bow propeller to slow the ship as it approaches the dock. The goal is to ramp up the propeller speed over a period of a few seconds longer, as opposed to a more sudden and quick thrust of power.

The Diesel Technology Forum today launched a new Web site focusing on clean diesel solutions to reduce emissions from existing diesel engines according to Forum Executive Director Allen Schaeffer. “This unique site is geared toward key stakeholders including trucking and transit bus fleet owners and operators, equipment operators, government officials, the media and general public,” stated Schaeffer. For nearly 18 months, the Diesel Technology Forum has been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and state and regional governments providing technical, policy and program support for these programs. EPA has established a campaign goal of retrofitting 100,000 existing diesel engines by January 1, 2002.