Van Leeuwen News

Ship design company Ulstein Design & Solutions has designed an offshore wind installation vessel that it says is "a safer, smarter, and more competitive ship design solution for transporting, upending and installing large monopiles on DP."The patent-pending U-STERN design, according to the company, enables longitudinal storage of monopiles and upending in the ship center line. "This allows the ship to head into the waves during the installation process, minimizing ship motions and fuel consumption, while the U-STERN provides excellent shielding from the waves.

Singapore-based Cyan Renewables has contracted Ulstein Design & Solutions BV to design a series of new floating foundation installation vessels (FFIV) dedicated to offshore wind. Ulstein said that the new FFIVs would feature adequate deck space and crane capacity to meet developments in foundation design, including monopiles and jackets. In addition, they will also have low emission capability, using a hybrid power system consisting of dual-fuel engines (methanol), shore power and a battery energy storage system.Torgeir E.

Dutch shipping firm Vertom has signed an agreement with Econowind, which provides wind-assisted propulsion solutions for seagoing ships, to install wind-assist VentiFoil units on Vertom's vessels.The Ventifoil has been described as a wing-shaped element using modern innovations in aerodynamics, creating high propelling force relative to its size. Smart suction is integrated in the wing, resulting in double the force of the Ventifoil, while reefing when needed. Ventifoils can be containerized inside a 40ft container or fixed…

As attention increasingly turns to ocean health and sustainability, an innovative new fish farm solution was deployed earlier this year when the De Maas’ Semi-submersible Spar Fish Farm (SSFF) became the world’s first offshore farm installed at an open ocean location exposed to tropical storms. MTR recently visited – virtually – with co-founder Philip Schreven for insight on the design and operation particulars of their innovation.How did you became involved in this unique niche of the maritime industry?Mark van Leeuwen and I founded De Maas in 2007 as an offshore oil and gas services company.

Norwegian shipbuilding and design company Ulstein has launched the design for a "zero-emission" hydrogen-powered offshore wind turbine installation vessel."Ulstein's second hydrogen hybrid design for the offshore wind industry, the ULSTEIN J102 zero-emission wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), can operate 75% of the time in zero-emission mode. Using readily available technology, the additional cost is limited to less than 5% of the total CAPEX," Ulstein said Friday."Most new jack-up designs are featuring a battery hybrid system in addition to diesel gen-sets…

The maritime services group Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) has announced a further enhancement to its Voyager Planning Station (VPS), with the addition of tools to manage compliance with special environmental requirements under International Maritime Organization (IMO) MARPOL regulations.The specialist providers of maritime navigation information, solutions and support to the global shipping industry said in a press release that the upgrade comes as part of the release of Voyager 7.3.4, making it easier for users to manage MARPOL compliance with designated Special Areas, Emission Control Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas."The new feature gives users the ability to view up to date areas under MARPOL as an overlay on either a map or an ENC from within Voyager…

The first steel of the Norway based shipowner Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT)'s semisubmersible heavy lift crane vessel was cut  last week at the CMHI yard in China.The Norwegian ship designer Ulstein designed vessel is developed for operations in the offshore renewables and installation market. The vessel has the ability to perform heavy lift crane operations with the main deck submerged.According to OHT, they are increasing their capabilities to become a full transport and installation contractor with the addition of the new heavy lift crane installation vessel to their fleet.The innovative ULSTEIN Alfa Lift project is a response to…

Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT) will enter the offshore renewables and installation market with a new heavy lift transport and installation vessel, a customized Ulstein Alfa Lift design developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions BV (UDSBV) and OHT.There is one firm order with three options to build the ship at China Merchant Heavy Industry (CMHI), ready for action in 2021.The dynamically-positioned, 48,000 DWT vessel is designed to perform heavy lift crane operations with the main deck submerged…

Dutch transportation and installation contractor Jumbo said it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with shipbuilder China Merchants Industry Holdings (CMIH) for the construction of a new heavy lift crane vessel (HLCV) scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2020. The DP2 vessel will feature dual fuel engines capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and will be built to serve the offshore wind and the offshore oil and gas industries. “Despite the current offshore climate, we are committing to this industry long term,” said Jumbo managing director, Michael Kahn.

Further digitalization of established technologies such as condition monitoring and smart sensors could have a revolutionary effect on manufacturing, said Bernie van Leeuwen, Director Product Management Digitalization at SKF. Digitalization, most apparent in the consumer market, where music downloads, online shopping and on-demand TV are hailed as marvels of the digital age, is also having a huge effect on manufacturing. Sweden based SKF is at the forefront of using digitalization to improve its business in the service of its customers.

Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V. (part of Ulstein Group) and SeaOwls B.V. are partnering to combine the former’s track record in heavy lift vessel design with the latter’s experience in jack-up technology and engineering to jointly develop the next generation self-propelled heavy lift jack-up vessel. The new design aims to serve the needs of offshore wind industry, but will also be suitable for operations in the offshore oil and gas market. Rather than developing a scaled-up version of a conventional heavy lift jack-up vessel, a complete new design is being developed by the two companies.

Radio Holland, a global NavCom and service company in the maritime industry, said it has concluded  a maintenance and remote monitoring agreement with The China Navigation Company (CNCo) for 35 vessels. Radio Holland already provides CNCo’s newbuild, multipurpose vessels and bulk carriers with NavCom packages, and the latest agreement now covers the maintenance of this equipment on board 35 vessels. This further cooperation follows a remote monitoring pilot project. Radio Holland will now introduce remote monitoring throughout CNCo’s fleet.

NavCom and On Board ICT specialist Radio Holland informs it has booked multiple orders in a challenging newbuild market. The company was awarded contracts to deliver and install the complete NavCom and VSAT packages for four newbuild vessels: two of the Meriaura Group and two of Eureka, part of SMT Shipping, all built at Royal Bodewes in Hoogezand, The Netherlands. “We have completed many successful projects with Radio Holland and are happy to work with them on these four new vessels,” said Johan Schouwenaar from Royal Bodewes.

With the ULSTEIN S182 design, ULSTEIN introduces a new dynamically positioned multipurpose construction vessel suitable for shallow water operations. Main design driver was to develop a very CAPEX friendly DP vessel with good capabilities to support various offshore operations, including cable lay and offshore construction. The vessel offers a combination of deck area, accommodation and station keeping capability for a compact vessel, its developers noted, adding this results in a very cost efficient platform capable of supporting a variety of operations…

Naming and organizational changes are underway in the Ulstein Group companies in the Netherlands. As of August 1, 2015, the ship design company Ulstein Sea of Solutions has been renamed Ulstein Design & Solutions BV (UDS BV), while the equipment company Ulstein Idea Equipment Solutions has been renamed Ulstein Equipment BV (UE BV). Edwin van Leeuwen and Gilbert Rezette enter positions as managing directors of the respective companies. Furthermore the holding company for the Ulstein Group activities in the Netherlands has been renamed into Ulstein Netherlands in which Sigurd Viseth takes position as managing director. He will also on behalf of Ulstein become Chairman of the Board in the Dutch companies.

Spliethoff Group, one of the largest ship management companies in the Netherlands, has awarded Imtech Marine a three-year extension contract for the supply of a broad-ranging Ship to Shore Communications service on the global VSAT network of Radio Holland. Radio Holland is Imtech Marine’s solution brand for Nav/Com and maintenance. Amsterdam-based Spliethoff Bevrachtingskantoor BV and Radio Holland have worked together for decades and 27 vessels are already connected. Following the agreement made on February 17th, a further 22 vessels will be added.

With the advent of ever faster, stronger maritime communication links and the influx of the next maritime generation, the first “internet native” generation, a proliferation of shipboard tools are under development that promise to change the very means in which floating assets are built and maintained. Imtech Marine is convinced that accelerated uptake of remote diagnostics and preventive maintenance for shipboard equipment will be built on performance gains that are straightforward and tangible.

Sharjah based Petrofac is to build the Petrofac JSD 6000 deepwater derrick lay vessel, a customized Ulstein SOC 5000 developed by Dutch design company Ulstein Sea of Solutions. The vessel will be constructed at the ZPMC yard in China and be available for construction and installation activities in early 2017. The dynamically-positioned Petrofac JSD 6000 is a unique, innovative design featuring J-Lay, S-Lay and heavy lift capabilities, allowing to serve deepwater and SURF markets as well as shallow water EPCI projects.

Imtech Marine (Radio Holland Netherlands) has been awarded an extensive contract from Jack-Up Barge for the communication and IT systems for its newbuild, self-elevating platform JB-118. This follows a similar contract for the JB-117, which Imtech Marine successfully completed earlier this year. Additionally, Jack-Up Barge and Imtech Marine have concluded an Advanced Support Agreement for the vessels, which includes 24/7 remote Monitoring & Maintenance and covers all of the systems onboard.

The UKHO today announced its attendance at Nor-Shipping 2011 will offer shipping managers both practical guidance and strategic insight to help them effectively plan for the successful adoption of digital navigation. In addition to the main Admiralty stand (Hall B, B0-14) the UKHO is hosting a series of unique daily seminars and workshops which explore the immediate operational challenges and future strategic decisions faced by shipping managers. From Tuesday to Thursday, the seminar programme leads with an inspirational presentation from futurologist Dean van Leeuwen, entitled ‘TIDES of Change.’  ‘TIDES of Change’ – which debuted at Sea Asia in April 2011 – provides some thought-provoking material on the evolving world of technology and business…

After having developed the concept and basic design for Heerema’s new monohull vessel, Ulstein Group´s Dutch based design company, Ulstein Sea of Solutions  (USOS), has now also been awarded the further engineering of the vessel with the selected shipyard, DSME of South Korea. In February 2010, USOS was contracted by Heerema to design their new deepwater construction vessel, for which an LOI was signed between Heerema and DSME mid July 2010. On 24 August the LOI was turned into a building contract with DSME for the design…