Software Design News

The Suez Canal blockage laid bare many of the challenges being faced by the global shipping industry today. With 12% of global trade passing through the canal each day, the total revenue lost from delayed, damaged or lost goods due to its blockage is estimated to be up to $10 billion. Many of the organizations that faced a logistical nightmare in the face of the Ever Given blockage struggled to respond to things as they happened and make informed predictions about future occurrences…

Singapore-based offshore marine services provider PACC Offshore Services Holdings Ltd (POSH) and the maritime logistics solutions provider Pacific Carriers Limited (PCL) have selected ABS Nautical Systems  (NS) fleet management software to support their digitalization strategy.Both PCL and POSH are part of Kuok Singapore Limited (KSL) Maritime Group of companies, with competencies extending across offshore marine services, commercial shipping and marine engineering. Both POSH and PCL operate a combined fleet of 245 vessels including tankers, bulkers as well as offshore support vessels.The deal is for multiple NS modules to support the digitalization of workflows including fleet maintenance, purchasing and compliance.

Naval system integrator Raytheon Anschütz announced a new radar software for naval vessels, from patrol boats to large combatants.Synapsis Naval Radar NX is a state-of-the-art navigational radar software enhanced with tactical features. It is based on a core IMO radar display that offers optimized performance in tracking and anti-clutter processing.Raytheon Anschütz has implemented tactical and advanced naval features into the radar software, making Naval Radar NX an effective application for both…

A Singapore based designer and manufacturer of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) said one of its vehicles was recently deployed for more than three weeks in the South China Sea. The 22-day continuous deployment marks the longest ever for Zycraft’s wholly developed Vigilant class 17-meter independent unmanned surface vessel (IUSV), which traveled a total distance of 1,900 nautical miles South China Sea. Command and control of the IUSV was done using satellite communications from Singapore at Zycraft’s command center.

Howard Fireman, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in 2013. Fireman is responsible for leveraging the latest advancements in technology to drive the development of innovative products and services that promote safety and improve the delivery of class services in the marine and offshore industries. Since joining ABS, Fireman has also served as President of the ABS Nautical Systems Fleet Management Software product line where he has overseen significant advancements in the software and achieved growth in every sector.

From a helicopter, it looks like just another North Sea oil rig, a grey cube supported by massive yellow pillars, 90 kilometres (56 miles) off western Denmark. But the DanTysk facility is the world's first accommodation platform for offshore wind, which is borrowing techniques and labour from the crisis-hit oil sector as it tries to cut costs and end an addiction to state subsidies. The wind industry is moving further offshore and into the deeper waters tamed long ago by oil companies to increase scale and capture stronger and more constant winds. "There's a lot of new-generation technology in the offshore wind industry, but when I'm out there…

Krill Systems Inc. was founded as a software development company focusing on accurate vessel fuel consumption measurement and efficient data transmission. In 2011, identifying demand from commercial marine markets for accurate, reliable, fuel management and emissions control technologies, Krill became a ‘system integrator’ with the ability to supply a broad spectrum of fuel flow meters and other accessory components. Commercial clients also encouraged Krill to provide solutions to accurately measure and report Bunker fuel on vessels and measurement of bunker flow at on-shore facilities.

Press release - The team at Cobham SATCOM is unveiling a new generation of 60cm Ka-band VSAT antenna systems at Monaco Yacht Show this week. The new SAILOR 60 GX and SAILOR 600 VSAT Ka are based on a lightweight, high performance Ka-band VSAT platform designed for Inmarsat Global Xpress and Telenor THOR 7 High Throughput Satellites (HTS) services. Sharing the same design and lightweight carbon fiber composites/aluminum construction, the SAILOR 60 GX and SAILOR 600 VSAT Ka weigh 37kg.

Software design company Quality Positioning Services BV (QPS) has upgraded its hydrographic data acquisition, navigation and processing software package QINSy (Quality Integrated Navigation System). The latest version, 8.10.2015.06.29.1, includes a new feature called Hook-Up Operations for Anchor Handling, for pre-laid anchors powered by Orcaflex of Orcina. Traditional anchor handling, including showing the catenary, was already possible with QINSy. The anchors are run from the rig or barge using tug boats that deploy the anchors at the planned positions.

Strainstall UK Limited has been selected to work alongside SBM offshore on the prestigious Shell Stones project, which is an ultra-deep Oil and Gas development in the Gulf of Mexico and is currently the deepest production facility in the world at approximately 2,900 meters. The project involves the use of an FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Off loading) which has a forward mounted turret with a disconnectable buoy (Buoyant Turret Mooring or BTM) allowing it to weathervane in normal conditions and disconnect from the FPSO upon the approach of a hurricane so that the FPSO can sail to a safer area. The unique BTM design required six specially designed load pins to measure the forces between the Buoy and the FPSO as they are an integral component of the detachable buoy system…

Classification society ClassNK agreed to acquire maritime software house NAPA in a deal that the classification society said aims to improve safety and performance for the whole maritime industry. According to ClassNK, the acquisition will enhance the success and capabilities of both organizations. For ClassNK, which has worked with NAPA for nearly 10 years, the deal is a chance to expand and improve the wide range of services it offers to shipowners and shipyards, whilst also providing NAPA with the support to accelerate expansion of existing operations and access new markets.

MSC Cruises has worked with independent software design company Quality Positioning Services (QPS)  on a high performance, real-time vessel track, trace and emergency monitoring system. This voyage planning and monitoring system (VP & MS) allows MSC Cruises to implement route analysis and track each of its ships with an update rate of one second and an accuracy of less than five metres. The system means that each ship is constantly sending information, including its own position, speed, heading and course together with all other ship targets within a 40 mile radius, to the shore based QPS Connect server in Sorrento. In order to provide a reliable traffic image, the QPS Connect server fuses the real-time vessel information with real-time information from  terrestrial based AIS networks.

W R Systems, Ltd. in Norfolk has been awarded the second option year on its navigation and interior communications contract in support of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic. This modification increases the contract ceiling from $54,462,137.76 to $82,562,920 and extends the period of performance through October 7, 2012. WRSystems has supported SPAWAR Atlantic’s requirements for In-Service Engineering (ISEA) support services for navigation and interior communication systems for the past 15 years.

Paramarine advanced marine design software by QinetiQ GRC is being used by BAE Systems to design Astute the new class of nuclear submarines for the royal navy. The design and construction of BAE Systems’ Astute Class is an extremely challenging engineering project. Once deployed, Astute is designed to require no refuelling throughout her full service life, in excess of 25 years, and can patrol for 90 days remaining undetected thousands of miles from home and hundreds of metres underwater.

OceanServer Technology announced that Cal Poly has agreed to purchase a second Iver2 AUV for research purposes. The first Iver2 AUV was purchased in 2008 and has been used extensively for a variety of research applications including one project that required the vehicle to operate under the ice in the Arctic. The new vehicle will also be a multi use platform in a number of research efforts including marine life tracking (such as sharks). The EP42 vehicle will be outfitted with a DVL for precision navigation and acoustic current profiling…

OceanServer Technology announced that the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has taken delivery of a new vehicle. NRC is the Canadian Government's resource for research, development and technology-based innovation. The Iver2 vehicle, equipped with OceanServer’s dual port camera system, side scan sonar and backseat driver/remote helming capability will be used in a broad range of upcoming research initiatives. The EP42 Expandable Payload (EP) platform includes a dedicated CPU with disk to enable the installation of a user-selected operating system, sensor drivers and behavioral software.

ShipConstructor Software Inc. in conjunction with its local affiliate, Sincronia, has delivered a presentation to members of the Brazilian shipbuilding and offshore industry regarding best practices in detail design. Representatives from Petrobras, Sinaval, ABIMAQ, the Brazilian Navy and UTC Engenharia were in attendance while officials from software, design and shipbuilding firms such as FormSys, INACE, Guido Perla and Estaliero Atlântico Sul (EAS) also shared their experiences working with ShipConstructor's technology.

Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has been selected to supply the Machinery Control System (MCS) for LHA 6, the first of a new generation of large-deck amphibious assault ships for the U.S. Navy. Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding awarded Sperry Marine a contract valued at approximately $47.6 million. LHA 6 is being built at the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula, Miss. auxiliary systems. The network will include more than 50 data acquisition units at strategic locations around the ship, as well as 25 operating consoles, 10 electric plant and propulsion plant controllers, and multiple redundant local-area network switches.

Scheduled for a September 2003 release, the next major revision of the 3-D product modeling software for shipbuilding and offshore platforms from Albacore Research Ltd., ShipConstructor2004, will include a full Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning module (HVAC). HVAC is a fully integrated member of the ShipConstructor suite of Structure, Automatic and Manual Nest, NC Code generation, Outfit, Pipe, Fairing, and Lofting tools. To facilitate automatic report generation, HVAC makes full use of ShipConstructor's SQL Server product database. As with all ShipConstructor modules, HVAC is a full 3-D modeling package; this reduces drafting errors and time-to-production. With ShipConstructor, HVAC ducts are full-featured AutoCAD entities.

The advent of software solutions has infiltrated nearly every sector of the maritime market - from propulsion performance monitoring packages to personnel. It arguably has had no greater impact, though, than in the design and construction of new vessels. CAD/CAM/CAE programs are invaluable assets to the designer, builder and operator of vessels of all sizes and dimensions. Not only do advanced programs allow for the creation of the an efficient and cost effective ship structure and outfitting, they provide for enhanced manufacturing practices and techniques, and increasingly help devise a life-cycle maintenance and care plan which can tack profitable years onto a vessel's life.

Many companies can claim to be global, but Autoship Systems Corporation (ASC) of Vancouver, Canada talks the talk and walks the walk. ASC has been in the business of CAD/CAM software development for nearly 25 years. A core tenant of ASC has been to establish itself as leader in innovation, helping to ensure that as shipbuilding techniques evolved, the industry could rely on its CAD/CAM software to meet new design and construction needs. ASC recently assisted two shipyards to this end: Cantiere Navale Ippolito s.r.l. of Santa Maria di Castellabate, Italy; and Circa Marine and Industrial Ltd of Whangarei, New Zealand. Cantiere Navale Ippolito S.R.L. Cantiere Navale Ippolito s.r.l. is located in the Campania region of Southern Italy.

SeeByte Ltd., a Scottish software product company announces two new appointments to its technologies team based in Edinburgh. Since its founding in 2001, SeeByte has experienced rapid growth providing situation awareness software for people and machines in the Offshore and Defence industries. The increase in staff is a result of SeeByte's commitment to be at the forefront of providing innovative, state of the art tools to the markets' increasing demand for more autonomy from their operational vehicles. Jose Vazquez has joined as Navigation and Control specialist, responsible for further developing SeeByte's SeeTrack products for autonomous systems. Prior to joining SeeByte Ltd., Vazquez held a Post Doctoral position at Heriot Watt's world renowned Oceans laboratory.

The U.S. Navy is awarding indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contracts to 391 contractors that will provide for their competition for service requirements solicited by Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Supply Systems Command, Military Sealift Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Strategic Systems Programs, and the United States Marine Corps. The 22 functional service areas within the scope of the contracts include 1. Research and Development Support. 2. Engineering System Engineering and Process Engineering Support. 3. Modeling, Simulation, Stimulation, and Analysis Support. 4. Prototyping, Pre-Production, Model-Making, and Fabrication Support.