Integrated Automation Systems News

Kongsberg Maritime on Monday announced it has won a contract to supply design, engineering, and equipment for two MGO/biofuel and methanol-ready chemical tankers for Swedish tanker operator Sirius Rederi AB. The low emission 15,000dwt tanker vessels will feature a range of Kongsberg Maritime equipment and can operate on battery-powered hybrid propulsion. Options for further vessels are included.This latest contract builds on a current nine-ship program with fellow Swedish owner Terntank, with a similar design and equipment package.

Kongsberg Maritime will supply design, engineering and equipment for three MGO/Biofuel and methanol-ready tanker ships being built for Danish tanker operator Tärntank. The 15,000-dwt tanker vessels will feature wind assist technology plus Tärntank’s own battery-powered Hybrid Solution.To be built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Yangzhou and delivered in 2025, Kongsberg's portion totals nearly $12m and includes steering gear, rudders, controllable pitch propellers, tunnel thrusters and thruster control systems…

Høglund Marine Solutions announced it will deliver integrated automation systems (IAS) for three newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels being constructed at at CIMC SOE shipyard for Canadian owner Seaspan ULC.The IAS will seamlessly connect the cargo handling, control and electrical propulsion systems on each of the 7600m3 ships slated to operate along the west coast of North America.A central, and standard feature of all Høglund automation systems, is Høglund Playback.

Kongsberg Maritime has launched EcoAdvisor, an intelligent and dynamic decision support system for optimizing a range of offshore vessel operations. "EcoAdvisor is an outcome of a joint ‘Intelligent Efficiency’ research project between Kongsberg Maritime, vessel operator DOF Subsea AS (DOF), Sintef, NORCE, and Innovation Norway, with the aim of developing technologies to monitor and reduce the GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions during vessel operations," Kongsberg Maritime said.It monitors the vessel operation and its environment…

Høglund Marine Solutions and Veracity by DNV GL have signed a collaboration agreement to explore how the combined strengths of Høglund’s onboard integration and data capture capabilities, and Veracity’s platform architecture and eco-system can help shipowners accelerate their digital initiatives.Høglund is a well-established provider of advanced marine technology to the global shipping industry, specializing in integrated automation and energy solutions. By collaborating with the independent data platform provider Veracity…

A large passenger vessel has become the industry’s first to achieve system compliance under classification society DNV GL’s framework for integrated cybersecurity.Today's vessels are increasingly fitted with integrated automation systems and digital solutions. And as vessels’ systems gorw more connected than ever before, new security threats areise, driving the need for closer and earlier collaboration on cybersecurity between all key stakeholders in the newbuilding process.ABB…

Høglund Marine Solutions and DNV GL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help generate and export big data from ships.This is a step towards greater digitalization of the marine industry, providing Høglund with the opportunity to further develop their automation expertise and systems and DNV GL the potential to enhance their classification services.“The digital transformation of shipping is finally happening and opens the door to many long sought-after advantages and necessary progress”, says Børge Nova, CEO of Høglund Marine Solutions.

Harvey Energy, the first platform supply vessel (PSV) to be fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) will become the first PSV in the Americas to be hybrid retrofitted. The vessel's owner, Louisiana-based Harvey Gulf International Marine, has ordered an energy storage solution from the technology group Wärtsilä to significantly enhance Harvey Energy's efficiency and environmental performance.The installation of a Wärtsilä 1450 kW battery hybrid solution will reduce the ship’s exhaust emissions, fuel consumption, and noise level.

Tanker owners Ektank and Utkilen have selected marine automation specialists Høglund to provide automation systems on new chemical tankers currently under construction in China. The four 18,600 dwt tankers for Ektank, and the four 9,900 dwt tankers for Utkilen will be fitted with integrated automation systems that link together systems such as power management, cargo control and alarms. This new level of integration is essential for the vessels’ long-term performance and reliability, Høglund said.

Wärtsilä has been awarded the contract by Gdansk Shiprepair Yard Remontowa S.A., to supply a scope of engines, propulsion machinery, integrated automation systems, and gas handling systems required for the mid-life upgrading of two RoPax ferries and their conversion to operate on LNG fuel. The ferries, the Spirit of British Columbia and the Spirit of Vancouver, are the flagship vessels of British Columbia Ferry Services based in Victoria, Canada. The work will be carried by the Remontowa Shiprepair yard in Poland. The contract with Wärtsilä was placed in March 2016.

The world’s first electrical car and passenger ferry powered by batteries has entered service in Norway, representing a milestone on the road to operating emission-free ferries along Norway’s coastline, with at least 50 other routes currently able to sustain battery-operated vessels. The Norled ferry uses just 150 kWh per route, which corresponds to three days use of electricity in a standard Norwegian household. Built in conjunction with shipbuilder Fjellstrand, Siemens installed…

Rotork announced it has acquired Masso Ind s.p.a., a manufacturer of shipboard valve remote control systems (VRCS), to enhance its range of flow control products and services for the worldwide marine and offshore industries. Masso VRCS solutions include hydraulic and electro-hydraulic systems that are compatible with most integrated automation systems required for critical safety applications. The Masso product range also includes hydraulic quarter-turn and linear actuators, hydraulic power packs, solenoid cabinets and electro-hydraulic actuators for shipboard applications.

Kongsberg Maritime was recently awarded separate contracts with three major shipyards in Asia for major technology deliveries to specialist offshore vessels. Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Korea, and Cosco Shipyard in China have each selected Kongsberg “Full Picture” solutions for, in total, nine advanced Offshore Drilling Units, an Accommodation Unit, a Multipurpose Construction Vessel and four LNG vessels with Integrated Automation Systems.

Kongsberg was awarded an offshore integrated monitoring and control system contract with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). The contract covers deliveries to four Transocean owned newbuild drillships, with an option for Kongsberg to deliver products and services for six more drillships. "We call this a 'full picture' solution, as it includes dynamic positioning, position reference systems, thruster control, integrated automation systems, riser management and environmental monitoring within the same project.

New Regional Director Sytze Voulon appointed for Imtech Marine North West Europe. As per February 20, 2012 Imtech Marine has appointed Mr. Sytze Voulon to the position of Regional Director North West Europe (Rotterdam). Mr. Voulon (47) has held several senior management positions in the international maritime industry. He started, after his studies of maritime business at the HTS in Rotterdam, at Mobil Oil in The Netherlands. After Mobil Oil he worked for amongst others Stork, Lips and Rolls-Royce. From 2001, Mr. Voulon worked for Rolls-Royce and held several senior management positions, the most recent being Regional Director - Marine Europe till 2008 and Regional Director Marine Europe & Africa / Vice President Services Europe & Africa. The appointment of Mr.

Kongsberg Maritime Mexico S.A. DE C.V., became fully operational out of its new facility in the city of Veracruz this summer. As an extension to Kongsberg Maritime’s worldwide service network, the new service hub will offer service and support to DP vessels and merchant ships with Kongsberg Maritime navigation, automation and control systems on board. Kongsberg Maritime Mexico was formally established in January 2011. Kongsberg Maritime New Orleans supported the planning and setup for its operational start this summer. The operation in Mexico currently has five employees, including three field engineers, who will continue to work closely with Kongsberg Maritime’s established service team in New Orleans.

ABB, power and automation technology group, and Fincantieri, Italian merchant and naval shipbuilder, have signed an agreement to collaborate on the construction, marketing and supply of high-voltage shore connection (HVSC) systems to provide electricity to vessels in port. Harbor facilities around the world are taking a close look at shore-to-ship connections as a way of reducing emissions from ships in port and improve air quality for surrounding communities. HVSC systems enable ships to draw electricity from onshore power grids while in port to operate onboard equipment as refrigeration units, lighting, cooling and heating systems, instead of burning fuel oil to run electrical generators.

Three new shallow-draught 49,000-dwt tankers ordered by AHL Shipping of San Antonio, Texas for subsequent long-term charter to Shell Trading (US) in 2009-2010 are to be equipped with SAM Electronics’ navigation, communication and propulsion systems as part of a single-source vendor contract obtained by parent organisation, L-3 Communications of New York. Associate L-3 companies, L-3 of Westwood, Oklahoma and Valmarine of Norway are also to supply equipment, with Valmarine due to deliver its Damatic DNA series of integrated automation systems (IAS). The IAS covers complete control and monitoring of machinery systems. Power management is also integrated to the IAS while a mode change system enhances safe and easy transition between two sailing modes.

Kongsberg Maritime has developed a new way to train its customers wherever they are in the world: the 'Portable Classroom', intended to be used at customer sites, Kongsberg Maritime Sites and onboard vessels. The 'Training Box' is at the core of the Portable Classroom concept. It is designed to be an easy to transport box equipped with a single remote control system (RCU) and the most common remote input/output (RIO) modules, which are interchangeable, depending on the type of equipment installed in the vessel to be trained for. Additionally, 10 fully loaded laptop PCs are included, to act as operator stations during training. Kongsberg Maritime.

Kongsberg Maritime has delivered the first K-Bridge consoles in its contract to supply Bridge, Cargo, Integrated Automation Systems and Integrated Navigation Systems to four vessels in production at Samsung and Hyundai for the OSG/QGII expansion project. The K-Bridge navigation system consists of a complete range of consoles, including K-rudder angle system and steering control systems. Other equipment within the integrated navigation system includes Speed log, Echo Sounder, GMDSS and chart system, in addition to standalone X-band Radar. Kongsberg Maritime Korea completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of the K-Bridge system on 11th May 2006.

SAM Electronics of Hamburg, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, New York, has acquired APSS S.r.l. of Italy, a leading supplier of automation equipment and control assemblies to the domestic marine market. Based in Diano d’Alba, APSS is an acknowledged specialist integrator of automation systems and manufacturer of control components. Customers include high-end Italian shipyards building cruiseliners, ferries and chemical carriers. Acquisition of the Italian company enhances the broad international presence of SAM Electronics and its Danish subsidiary, Lyngsø Marine. Additionally, together with its strategic partner, L-3 Valmarine of Norway, APSS provides further opportunities for accelerated growth within the automation sector of the marine industry.