Technical Advisory Committee News

A federal FASTLANE grant has been approved for S.S. Badger Ports & Harbor project impacting Manitowoc, Wis. and Ludington, Mich. A primer on how things get done. This is a story about two communities on the shores of Lake Michigan and the unique car ferry that connects them. The SS Badger provides a nautical “highway” across one of our nation’s major waterways, carrying passengers, oversized loads and trucks of nearly every kind. Essentially, the ferry provides a vital lifeline of commerce, tourism and economic growth between the cities of Manitowoc, Wis. and Ludington, Mich.

ABS continues to work closely with industry through its extensive international network of technical committees that advise ABS on Rule development. ABS has expanded this network with the formation of the organization's 19th technical advisory committee, the ABS Hong Kong Technical Committee. The purpose of the newly formed committee is to promote the exchange of technical views on ABS Rules through close cooperation with industry. Through this forum for open discussion about evolving technical challenges, ABS can continue its close alignment between the ABS research and development program and industry needs. "Active dialogue at the…

The newly launched program for the 12th International Naval Engineering Conference and Exhibition – INEC 2014, being held at the Marine Establishment Amsterdam in the Netherlands (May 20-22, 2014) features an incomparable line-up drawn from over a dozen countries speaking to the theme ‘Innovative solutions to global trends’. The program includes keynote addresses by Vice Admirals of both the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Navy, and, thanks to the support of the Royal Netherlands Navy, a networking and industrial visit program with the innovative HNLMS Tromp at its heart.

Ships are becoming increasingly dependent on complex electronic equipment and electrical power systems, with incidence of engine failure and blackouts increasing. Safety and reliability are paramount, as will be discussed and debated at a new conference taking place in early October. With just over a week before the inaugural Marine Electrical and Control Systems Safety Conference (MECSS 2013) organized by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) opens in Amsterdam, speakers from Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, U.K. and U.S.

Reed Exhibitions Energy and Marine group (RX Energy and Marine) is launching a series of oil spill prevention and response technology and service zones throughout its global portfolio in collaboration with the U.K. Spill Association (UKSpill) and the European Spill Association (Eurospill). As commercial operations in the world’s oceans continue to develop, the requirement to be able to operate with the least possible environmental impact is an even greater focus than it has ever been for all industries. Also, as activities move into new and harsher territories, meeting this requirement means the development of new strategies and technologies to cope with different and challenging environments.

The CESA Technical Advisory Committee met at the European Maritime Safety Agency on a series of items related to reduction of emissions from ships. gas, SOx and NOx as well as noise. Also issues related to anti-fouling paints were raised. The exchange of information and views made clear that most objectives of the regulators are not only fully supported and constructively facilitated by CESA. remaining technical issues related to the development of the Energy Efficiency Design Index. It appreciated EMSA’s work in this context, which had confirmed some of the CESA’s earlier voiced concerns. While CESA fully subscribes to the clear preference for finding an international approach for the reduction of greenhouse gas  emissions from ships…

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded their highest honor, the David W. Taylor Medal for notable achievement in naval architecture or marine engineering, to ABS Senior Vice President of Technology Peter Tang-Jensen at the society’s Annual Banquet during the SNAME Annual Meeting and Expo in Seattle, Wash. A well-respected member of the maritime community with more than 35 years of experience in shipbuilding design and engineering, Tang-Jensen has been providing strategic leadership for the classification society’s research and product development efforts since 2006. The ABS technology leader and former Executive Vice President of Odense Steel Shipyard, Ltd.

ABS has revised its comprehensive Guide for vessels operating in the Arctic and comparable harsh environments incorporating nearly four years of operational experience since the Guide was first issued in September 2006. Drawing upon feedback from the industry, the ABS Guide for Vessels Operating in Low Temperature Environments was reviewed by members of ABS’ newly established Arctic Technical Advisory Committee comprised of prominent industry representatives active in harsh environment developments. The unique demands imposed on vessels operating in polar regions are addressed in the Guide as well as guidance relating to personnel safety and training.

VYCON a designer and manufacturer of high-speed flywheel based, environmentally friendly, energy storage systems, announced that the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) has awarded funds to three POLA operators for the purchase of VYCON REGEN systems. VYCON, in cooperation with Yusen Terminals Inc. Marine Terminal Corporation and TraPac, applied to the Port's 2006-07 Air Quality Mitigation Incentive Program for funding to purchase and install Vycon's flywheel energy storage systems for the terminals' RTG cranes. POLA's Technical Advisory Committee approved one system for each port tenant, requesting that the systems be applied to cranes of different brands.

When Holland America Line's ms Zaandam sets sail from Vancouver, B.C., on Earth Day, April 22, it will be unlike any other cruise ship at sea, featuring new cutting edge emission reduction technology recently installed during a two-week drydock. In cooperation with several United States and Canadian government and regulatory agencies, Holland America Line has launched a technology demonstration project, designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using sea water to "scrub," or reduce, engine emissions on oceangoing vessels. BP, uses the natural chemistry of seawater to remove virtually all sulfur oxide (SOx) as well as significantly reduce particulate matter emissions.

More than 40 representatives from the shipping industry attended the inaugural meeting of the ABS Black Sea Technical Advisory Committee in Istanbul last week. The invitational Committee is formed from a wide range of senior representatives drawn from shipowners, shipbuilders, designers, vendors and academic and industry organizations domiciled in Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. ABS maintains an extensive global technical committee structure which provides a forum for industry and the class society to exchange research and ideas that guide the refinement of the existing ABS Rules and provide guidance on future areas of technical research and standards development supportive of industry needs.

The Board of Harbor Commissioners this week approved spending $3.12 million over the next year on 16 customer projects aimed at reducing air emissions. In total, over their lifetime these projects reduce NOx emissions by more than 1,000 tons, and particulate matter by nearly 30 tons. The projects were reviewed by the Port's Technical Advisory Committee and the Port Community Advisory Committee, and the final 16 were recommended to the Board for funding consideration. "We received more than 30 applications for project funding from our customers for consideration," said Geraldine Knatz, Port of Los Angeles executive director. "This shows the level of commitment we all have to reducing the air emissions created by Port-related operations.

Under a plan spelled out in SB 428, by state Senator Don Perata (D-Alameda), a new panel will be created to oversee the development of a proposed network of high-speed ferries serving the entire San Francisco Bay Area. The new panel will be called the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority. Governor Gray Davis signed the bill last year, giving the Transit Authority the go-ahead to prepare a detailed plan for expanding ferry services in the San Francisco Bay Area for the legislature's approval. The authority's 11-member board will be made up of local elected officials, environmentalists, business leaders and transportation experts; four appointed by the Governor and two each appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Assembly Committee on Rules.