Furuno Unveils TZtouchXL With Risk Visualizer And AI Avoidance Route
Marine electronics manufacturer Furuno introduced the NavNet TZtouchXL series, a suite of Multi Function Displays (MFDs) designed to meet the requirements of workboat operators, including ferries and tugboats.The NavNet TZtouchXL series encompasses three large-sized MFDs: the 16â TZT16X, 22â TZT22X, and 24â TZT24X. These MFDs feature super-wide, all-glass displays with exceptional clarity and brightness. The rugged all-glass design is not only functional but also enhances the durability and functionality of the helm.
Bleecker Street Group Acquires Marine Learning Systems
Software holding company Bleecker Street Group (BSG) announced the acquisition of Marine Learning Systems, an eLearning technology and services provider.Marine Learning Systems is a trailblazer in introducing eLearning methodologies to the maritime sector, providing solutions to enhance learning outcomes and increase safety for maritime customers including the largest cruise, ferry and workboat operators.As part of the Bleecker Street Group, Marine Learning Systems will join a growing portfolio of maritime software businesses.
SUMED Taps Thordon to Equip Pipeline Service Boats
Egyptâs SUMED pipeline operator Arab Petroleum Pipeline Company (SUMED) has completed the tailshaft conversion to Thordonâs SXL seawater-lubricated bearing system for seven special purpose single point mooring (SPM) service boats.The final vessel in a series of 17.5m (57.4ft) long, 1976âbuilt service boats had its original oil-lubricated tailshaft bearings replaced with the Thordon system at Nefertiti Marineâs Yard-K, in Rosetta Nile, in December 2022. The first vessel, SUMED 10âŠ
Offshore Wind: BAR Targets U.S. Crew Transfer Vessel Deployment for 2024
Marine engineering consultancy, BAR Technologies (BAR), said Wednesday that its low-emission crew transfer vessel (CTV) design, the BARTech 30, will be available for the first U.S. offshore wind projects in 2024, following quotes at several U.S. shipyards.BAR said Wednesday it was meeting with the U.S. offshore wind vessel supply chain at a workboat show in New Orleans this week in anticipation of license agreements that will see the CTV type built in the U.S."As the nascent U.S.
McLachlan Marine Adds 19m Multicat
Scottish inland workboat operator McLachlan Marine said it has added a 19-meter Multicat to its fleet to capitalize on opportunities in emerging sectors including renewables and marine construction. The only vessel of its kind based in the area, Ocean Supporter is designed for inshore work up to 60 miles out and handle up to 40 tonnes of cargo on deck. It has already been busy transferring supplies to boats at anchor off Aberdeen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supporting diveâŠ
Sea Machines Raises $15 Mln, Partners with Huntington Ingalls Industries
Autonomous vessel technology developer Sea Machines Robotics announced Wednesday it has closed a new $15 million financing round with significant participation by America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Boston-based tech company said it expects the investment and associated partnership with HII will accelerate the deployment of self-piloting technologies for unmanned naval boats and ships as the defense shipbuilding and technology giant continuesâŠ
NOx Control: Should Certain Vessels Get a Break?
When it comes to the EPAâs recent proposed delay to implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines âin certain high-speed commercial vessels,â where you stand probably depends on where you sit.On September 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA) proposed to delay implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines âin certain high-speed commercial vessels.â Specifically; EPA mentions three kinds of vessels: lobster boats, pilot boats and a third, more open-ended reference to âother high-speed vessels,â possibly including hovercraft.
INSIGHTS: Michael G. Johnson
Sea Machines Robotics CEO & President.Michael Gordon Johnson is a marine engineer, an accomplished entrepreneur and sector leader with a primary goal of building progressive and sustainable innovation for modern society. He is the founder of Sea Machines, a Boston-based tech company that is a leading provider of autonomous control and intelligent perception systems for marine vessels. Johnson earned a marine engineering degree from Texas A&M University before starting a career focused on complex projects in offshore oil and gas, marine transportation and salvage.
Waterfordâs Tugboat Roundup Celebrates 20 Years
A modest event designed as a get-together for commercial workboat operators in upstate New York is now celebrating 20 years as a three-day community festival.On September 11, 1999, local resident John Callaghan had an idea to bring in some friends who ran tugs on the Hudson River and NYS Canal System for a quick one-day get together, right at the entrance to the famed Erie Canal. Callaghan, then a tug captain himself for the state canal system, brought in seven tugs and cooked several dozen hot dogs.
PROPULSION: âPowerâ to the People
Interstate-McBee brings affordable aftermarket replacement parts to a marine sector thirsting for new ways to bolster the bottom line. As freight rates, subchapter M and the advent of EPA Tier IV requirements all impact the market, an affordable overhaul of an existing engine is one way to find real relief. A recent report, entitled âImpact of Updated Service Life Estimates on Harbor Craft and Switcher Locomotive Emission Forecasts and Cost-Effectiveness,â found the average Category 2 workboat remains in service for 50 years, instead of the 23-year lifespan estimated by the EPA in the 2008 Heavy Duty Locomotive and Marine Rule. A longer service life reduces the fleetâs turnover rate to cleanerâŠ
The C-Hero Story:
Harken Industrial to manufacture and distribute C-Hero Man Overboard Rescue System.The USCG (SubM) option boats are required to perform a MOB drill for the USCG at the time of COI. In 137.215 (4) a surveyor has to examine systems in support of drills and training to ensure that it operates as intended. In response, the C-Hero MOB system can be an incredibly simple and affordable solution to that challenge. C-Hero founder Shane Smith, worked for more than 30 years as a tug captain performing coastwise towing, pushing barges on the rivers, and ship docking on San Francisco Bay.
NWA: New MCA Code for Workboat Operations
The National Workboat Association (NWA), the trade, skills and safety standards association for the workboat industry, has launched Edition 2 of The Workboat Code, a document that will redefine working practices and standards for vessel operators across numerous maritime sectors.This much-anticipated Code of Practice, published in December 2018 and introduced at the NWAâs AGM in January 2019, has been developed in direct collaboration with workboat operators to better reflectâŠ
The Top 10 Maritime Stories for 2018
Choosing the âtop stories of 2018â was, this year, a difficult task. Many compelling story threads played out, dramatically impacting the North American waterfront, and in particular, the workboat sector â each in their own unique way. Read on to find out how and why.Autonomous Vessels: Ready or Not, Here They ComeFuturistic, remote-controlled autonomous marine vehicles arenât coming. They are here. As the pace of change quickens, autonomous vessels are already providing service and value on the water. Out ahead of the rulemaking process, autonomous technology providers already churn out not just prototypes and designs, but also countless workboats, many already in service.
National Workboat Association: CTV Safety Improved
The safety statistics released by the National Workboat Association (NWA) demonstrate progressive improvement in the Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) safety performance of workboat crews and operators, with a considerable drop in the rate of incidents between 2014 and 2017.This four-year statistical summary has been compiled using annual accident data submitted by the NWAâs membership of workboat owners and operators, working in a range of maritime sectors including offshore wind, towage, aquaculture and construction support.Given the critical role vessel support plays across many maritime industries, crews and operators in the expanding workboat sector face a number of common challengesâŠ
New VEM Technology Leads for Royston
Diesel power specialist Royston said it will showcase new developments for 2018, including Vessel Energy Monitoring (VEM), at the International Workboat Show.VEM technology, which provides information about a vesselâs architecture and energy levels, as well as efficiency improvement recommendations, is part of Roystonâs enginei product, which delivers cost savings and operational efficiencies for offshore vessel and workboat operators.The system records fuel consumption data from bunkers and individual engines, with data provided onboard and onshore.
TDI Unveils New Line of Turbine Air Starters
TDI has introduced its TurboTwister line of turbine air starters allowing one basic model configuration to serve a engines ranging in size from 20-150 liters.âTurboTwister is the result of many conversations with customers about what they wanted in the next generation of air starters,â states Dave Rawlins, Senior Product Manager at TDI. âWeâve added more power and a complete start system in a smaller footprint which workboat operators will appreciate. Weâve made it even more air efficient tooâŠ
Fouling Control on Workboats
As the domestic offshore energy industry stirs ever so lightly, the task of reactivating long-dormant vessels â some with extensive hull fouling â will become Job ONE. Thatâs easier said than done.Care and Preservation of Ship Hulls: Workboats vs. Deepwater VesselsNever before has there been such a wealth of data on the processes relating to the fouling of ship hulls. The formation of biofilms and subsequent micro- macro-and bio-fouling has been examined in minute detail and theâŠ
Thordon Bearings: EAL Protection in a Class of its Own
The ideal solution for the tightening regulatory noose also brings a different (and welcome) shade of âgreenâ for workboat operators.As the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ramps up enforcement of regulations that mandate that all vessels over 24 meters (78 feet) operating in US waters must switch over to EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces before their next drydocking, it is an arguably good time to be in the lubricants business. At the same time, Thordon Bearings, a manufacturer of seawater lubricated bearings for the marine industry has its own thoughts on that very topic. Specifically, Craig Carter, Thordon Bearingsâ Director of Marketing and Customer Service, asks, âWhat is the point in shipowners investing in costly bio-lubricants when seawater is widely available and 100% free?
Staying Afloat with Strong Workboat Insurance
When it comes to insuring your assets, changing markets and risk variables demand better understanding of the underwriting process, as well as a long-term, stable relationship with an insurer who â like you â is in for the long run.U.S. inventor Thomas Edison once said, âThere is no substitute for hard work.â Nobody knows this better than the men and women who operate diverse and industrious workboat fleets.Ferrying commuters, towing dry and liquid bulk, and assisting larger oceanâŠ
Insights: Emissions Control and Compliance
Bob Kunkel needs no introduction to Marine News readers. Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. A past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, he is a contributing writer for Maritime Logistics Professional magazine and of course, Marine News. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime AcademyâŠ
Sizing Up the Market, Scaling Solutions to Size
In October of 2014, news of Oceaneeringâs purchase of GE Transportationâs newest marine engine offering was making waves. These engines â ones which meet EPA Tier 4i and IMO Tier III Emissions standards â without the need for a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) exhaust gas after-treatment, had workboat operators everywhere looking at new possibilities. Before that, Harvey Gulf International Marine also entered into a contract to construct a new Multipurpose Field Support Vessel (MPFSV) at Eastern Shipbuilding, this one also powered by GEâs Tier 4 compliant, EGR main engines. Thatâs important because Harvey Gulf, the recognized North American leader in rolling out LNG and dual fuel propulsion vessels, in this case, selected a pure diesel engine.
Tech File: NS Workboat
ABS mobile application is purpose-built for the workboat, inland sectors. ABS Nautical Systems, the ABS enterprise fleet management software suite, has launched a new mobile application, NS Workboat. The latest in a line of new tools that ABS has developed to help workboat operators gain compliance with the pending Subchapter M regulations, the âappâ, which leverages the Nautical Systems enterprise software, is a mobile solution that is purpose-built for the workboat and inland-shipping sectors, where ease of use is of paramount importance.
Autonomous Workboats: The Future is Now
Sea Machines is bringing autonomous self-driving systems to the world of workboats. At an impressive virtual reality demonstration seen late last year and then again at a frigid, late winter visit to the Boston waterfront, the future of workboat technology became all too evident for this writer. The late George Allen, former head coach of the Washington Redskins football team perhaps said it best when he coined the phrase, âThe future is now.â If so, then Michael Johnson, the founder of Sea Machines Robotics has brought that reality to the marine industry. The technology company targets the emerging market of autonomous marine vessels. Thatâs not some sort of futuristic vision; those capabilities are here, now.