System Concept News

Swiss marine power company WinGD and Japanese shipbuilder and technology developer Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have completed the initial design of an ammonia fuel supply system (AFSS) for vessels powered by WinGD’s X‑DF‑A ammonia-fueled engines.The AFSS design is the first result of a wide-ranging partnership announced last year that will develop solutions for ammonia engines and fuel systems that can be applied across a range of vessel designs.The project will now proceed to the detailed design phase…

ClassNK has issued four Approvals in Principle (AiPs) to GTT, following latest development projects in alternative fuels.

Engine manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions and technology company ABB will work together to develop a dual-fuel electric plant concept for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, engineered as part of the companies' efforts to help the international shipping industry reduce its emissions footprint.Under a Memorandum of Understanding, signed at September’s SMM trade show in Hamburg, the two companies will develop a Dual-Fuel, Electric+ (DFE+) propulsion system concept based on MAN’s new 49/60DF four stroke engine and ABB’s Dynamic AC (DAC) power distribution and control system.

The first Sayaringo STaGE type LNG carrierMitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MHIMSB) delivered the first Sayaringo STaGE type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, named Diamond Gas Orchid in June, 2018. The Sayaringo STaGE, which was developed based on MHIMSB's cutting-edge technology, has a continuous cover over the cargo tanks, a feature inherited from its predecessor the “Sayaendo”, and while keeping this merit, incorporates apple-shaped MOSS-type cargo tanks and a twin-shaft hybrid propulsion system “STaGE” plant, enhancing economic efficiency, environment friendliness, and versatility.

Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding (MES-S), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMST), Akishima Laboratories (Mitsui Zosen)  announced that on July 25, their proposed joint demonstration project related to the safety of vessels' auto berthing and un-berthing was selected for Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism (MLIT)'s FY2018 autonomous vessel demonstration project.Human errors account for 80% of marine accidents, and since automated and autonomous operations of vessels can significantly reduce human errors, they have the potential to make a great contribution to reducing marine accidents.Furthermore…

Four new vessels powered by methanol fuel will be built in Korea following investment from maritime industry stakeholders Waterfront Shipping Company Ltd. (WFS), Marinvest/Skagerack Invest (Marinvest), IINO Kaiun Kaisha, Ltd. (IINO), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) and the NYK Group (NYK). The four 49,000 dead weight tonne newbuilds will be built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for delivery in 2019. They will be powered by MAN B&W ME-LGI two-stroke dual-fuel engines that can run on methanol, fuel oil, marine diesel oil or gas oil.

In connection with the Gastech 2017 conference and exhibition in Tokyo, project partners Consolidated Marine Management (CMM), Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), Wärtsilä Oil & Gas, and DNV GL presented the results of a joint industry project (JIP) to develop a new LPG fuelled carrier design – LPGreen. Launched at the Posidonia trade fair in 2016, the JIP sought to develop a more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and safer vessel for the transportation of LPG products. “In order to increase the competitiveness of modern LPG carriers, novel ship designs need to simultaneously account for the market and trade route characteristics…

Harvey Gulf International Marine (HGIM) announced it has received both ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) class functional approval and USCG (United States Coast Guard) design bases approval on a 4,000 cubic meter LNG articulating tug barge (ATB) construction drawing package; the design accounts for ship-to-ship transfer and shore side resupply transfers. Working closely with its design partner Waller Marine, and in conjunction with ABS and USCG HGIM has developed the design package…

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to a new gas containment system concept designed in Norway by Brevik Technology, a Vard subsidiary. The containment system uses a series of independent, cylindrical IMO Type-B tanks and for the AIP was designed for application in a gas carrier of 30,000 cbm. ABS assessed the concept against the requirements of the International Gas Code, ABS Rules and the ABS Guide for Liquefied Gas Carriers with Independent Tanks. Since the tank design is a novel concept, a HAZID study was also performed. ABS chairman, president and CEO Christopher Wiernicki noted: “Designers are increasingly looking to extend the gas carrier concept into new trades, serving new markets.”   ABS is a leading provider of maritime shipping and offshore classification services.

The next phase of transportation technology, which could eventually replace the entire shipping industry, is under development, Forbes reported today. In a 3,500 word feature that will appear in the March 2nd issue, Forbes staff writer Bruce Upbin examines two companies that are racing to design and test a "Hyperloop," an 800 mph vacuum tube transport system concept proposed in a 2013 white paper by Tesla and Space-X founder Elon Musk. "It’s hard to overstate how early this all is," writes Upbin. "Yet it’s equally hard to overstate how dramatically the hyperloop could change the world.

US Defense Advanced Research Prjoject Agency (DARPA) contracts Science Applications International Corp. to develop an autonomous surface vessel to track and follow enemy subs for months. The growing number of adversaries able to build and operate quiet diesel electric submarines is a national security threat that affects U.S. and friendly naval operations around the world. To address this emerging threat, DARPA recently awarded a contract for Phases 2-4 of its Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program to Science Applications International Corporation…

Working together with Sinopacific Offshore and Engineering (SOE) Wärtsilä Hamworthy will design and supply the system concept whilst the key equipment and fabrication will be supplied by SOE. The floating regasification market is experiencing significant uptake and Höegh have projected annual growth in the LNG market of 6-7% over the coming few years. Reidar Strande, LNG Business Unit Director, Hamworthy Oil and Gas Systems said: “This contract for Höegh LNG follows on from the joint project with SOE in supplying our regasification module for the converted Golar Khannur.

New editions of the three volumes of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual have just been published jointly by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in English, French and Spanish. They include all amendments that were adopted between 2001 and 2007 by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and ICAO. Volume I Organization and Management discusses the global search and rescue (SAR) system concept, establishment and improvement of national and regional SAR systems, and co-operation with neighbouring States to provide effective and economical SAR services. Volume II Mission Co-ordination assists personnel who plan and coordinate SAR operations and exercises.

A team led by Rolls-Royce has been selected to develop and deliver an integrated high-capacity ship-to-ship cargo transfer system concept for the US Navy's Office of Naval Research (ONR). materials, personnel and equipment in heavy seas. This high-capacity alongside sea-based sustainment (HiCASS) award is the first of several phases and is valued at $1million. Ultimately, HiCASS could be worth as much as $20 million as the project moves through demonstration and initial production phases over three years.

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Echelon jointly announced the certification of SHI's LonWorks Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) by Det Norse Veritas (DNV). DNV approval is the last hurdle for receiving a Wheel Mark certification -- a European maritime equivalent of the CE Mark. DNV is also able to grant CE Mark certification. VDRs are a key entree into the lucrative ship control system market for Samsung Heavy Industries. "The LonWorks platform is a key component in our strategy to move into the European passenger ship market -- the world's largest and most lucrative," said Dr. Seuk-Kyung Sung, vice president & Ph.D., Digital Business Team, Samsung Heavy Industries Co, Ltd. Dr. Seuk-Kyung Sung added, "Additionally, Samsung Heavy Industries has a focus on the Integrated System concept.

Spectria, a leading technology consulting firm, has developed a prototype of a new, knowledge-management-based information portal called SmartShips, for Modern Maritime, Inc., a professional services company for the marine industry. Upon full implementation, this new portal, based on Microsoft's new SharePoint knowledge management server, will provide the marine industry's first-ever online regulatory compliance and quality management consulting service based on an easy-to-use enterprise software system. The new Modern Maritime portal model can be applied to other heavily regulated industries where safety, quality and environmental management systems are pervasive.

Spectria, a leading technology consulting firm, has developed a prototype of a new, knowledge-management-based information portal called SmartShips®, for Modern Maritime, Inc., a professional services company for the marine industry. Upon full implementation, this new portal, based on Microsoft's new SharePoint knowledge management server, will provide the marine industry's first-ever online regulatory compliance and quality management consulting service based on an easy-to-use enterprise software system. The new Modern Maritime portal model can be applied to other heavily regulated industries where safety, quality and environmental management systems are pervasive.

The DD(X) system design team led by Northrop Grumman Corporation has executed a major risk reduction test on its peripheral vertical launching system (PVLS) magazine within three months after work began on the contract. DD(X) is the U.S. destroyer, DD(X). costs. The PVLS test article is a full-scale assembly that was fabricated at Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems' facility in Pascagoula, Miss. Once built, the article was transported to a facility in Aberdeen, Md., to be staged, instrumented and loaded with representative ordnance. Ship Systems proposed a PVLS alternative to the traditional VLS configuration of centralized missile magazines.