Wärtsilä System Chosen for New GoM LNG Facility
Wärtsilä says it has been awarded a contract for the control system of a shore-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, USA. The facility is owned by Harvey Gulf International Marine, a major owner-operator of offshore supply and specialty vessels headquartered in New Orleans. It will be used to supply fuel to Harvey Gulf's fleet of LNG powered platform supply vessels (PSV), and will be the first source of LNG fuel in the Gulf of Mexico. The Wärtsilä scope of supply comprises the control cabinets, the PLCs, computers, software programming and service commissioning. It is designed to enable the entire fuelling process to be fully controlled from the control room onboard the Harvey Energy class platform supply vessels…
Cracking the Boat Buying Nutshell
New work boats are never purchased out of want, but rather need – imminent need. Such a need prompts buyers to scour the web and perhaps their favorite maritime magazines for information on potential designs that appear to be a good fit. The next step is simply to make contact with a boatbuilder and request a price based upon the similar vessel shown via the website or marketing materials. Go ahead – ask for the price, but will it truly be meaningful? Perhaps it may offer a benchmark, but in the realm of custom boatbuilding no two boats are rarely ever alike.
IMCA Advisory on Use of Equipment Controlled by PLC's
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) advises on safe use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's). Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are widely used in a variety of small and large pieces of equipment on marine construction vessels, for example, cranes, winches, handling systems, dive systems and power management systems. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a PLC information note to help ensure that operation and failure modes are understood, and highlighting the importance of carrying out an FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis) and testing the components and complete systems.
PLC Information Note Issued by IMCA
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are widely used in a variety of small and large pieces of equipment on marine construction vessels, for example, cranes, winches, handling systems, dive systems and power management systems. The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued a PLC information note to help ensure that operation and failure modes are understood, and highlighting the importance of carrying out an FMEA (failure modes and effects analysis) and testing the components and complete systems. “When a PLC controlled piece of equipment is in use and a main power failure occurs, the equipment should revert to a fail-safe position…
