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Technology Advances News

22 Jan 2024

Vigor Wins Repair Contract for Hospital Ship USNS Mercy

The hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) anchored off Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia on January 18, 2024. (Photo: Jacob Woitzel / U.S. Navy)

Vigor Marine has been awarded a contract for a 93-calendar day shipyard availability for a mid-term availability of Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).The $21,198,656 firm-fixed-price contract includes a base period and options, which if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $21,711,746. Vigor was the sole bidder for the project.Work will be performed in Portland, Ore., beginning March 15, 2024, and is expected to be completed by June 15…

13 Oct 2023

Connecting the Dots: From Remote Operations to Full Autonomy

Image courtesy Harvest Technology Group Limited

Realizing the full value of digital solutions far exceeds the capability of technology. The technology exists today to help offshore energy and maritime operators radically improve efficiency and cut costs in equal measure. The real trick to driving efficiencies is to take advantage of the latest technologies while at the same time negotiating the necessary culture change within individual organizations, to really reap the benefits.Harvest Technology Group is a relatively young and small Australian company that has caught the attention of a number of offshore and subsea industry heavyweights…

18 Jul 2023

Op/Ed: Technology Manufacturers’ Input More Critical than ever for Effective Maritime Regulations

Dr Stelios Kyriacou, Chief Technology Officer, ERMA FIRST

Next year marks a crucial milestone for the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention, with all ships required to meet the D2 standard for ballast water management by 8 September 2024. D2 specifies the maximum number of viable organisms allowed to be discharged. In most cases, it requires the installation of a ballast water management system (BWMS) on board the vessel.2024 will be a pivotal moment for the ballast water market and while it is true that the retrofit market will diminish and leave behind only a small newbuild market…

13 Jul 2023

Philly Shipyard Wins Contract for Hospital Ship Design Study

File photo: Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrives in Los Angeles in March 2020, in support of the nation’s COVID-19 response efforts. (Photo: David Mora Jr. / U.S. Navy)

U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard announced it has been awarded a contract to develop preliminary designs for vessels to replace the U.S. Navy's two current Mercy-class hospital ships.The T-AH(X) Hospital Ship Feasibility Study contract was awarded by Gibbs and Cox, a Leidos Inc. company. Philly Shipyard said it will subcontract to Vard Marine Inc. to provide engineering and technical services for the six-month design study, and that the pair would leverage design work performed as part of a special study completed for the U.S.

17 May 2023

HyBlend - Chickens and Eggs in Technology Adoption

Copyright alison1414/AdobeStock

I will readily confess that 20 years ago I was not convinced that EV’s were the answer to sustainable energy. Instead, I had long been a fan of hydrogen. I was well aware that there were technical issues associated with hydrogen, but was equally aware that, for total sustainable energy, a transportable fuel is needed and hydrogen seemed to be the way to go.I envisioned hydrogen generation from sustainable sources (wind, solar, etc) and the use of hydrogen with fuel cells in cars, ships and with gas turbines in airplanes.

27 Mar 2023

New Autonomous Hydrographic Survey Vessel Design Unveiled

(Image: SAFE Boats International)

Boatbuilder SAFE Boats International on Monday introduced Merlin, a new 23-meter semi-displacement monohull autonomous hydrographic survey vessel design developed in collaboration with Mythos AI, Echo81, and World Marine Design.SAFE Boats has exclusive rights to build the design at its Tacoma, Wash. large-craft production facility. Merlin will be a Jones Act-compliant all-aluminum hull powered by a twin Volvo Penta D13 Hybrid-ready System with IPS. For a zero-emission power package, the Merlin can accommodate forward-thinking hydrogen technology supplied by Zero Emission Industries (ZEI).

11 May 2022

Green Marine: Electrification is the Power behind ‘Future-Proofing’

Image courtesy GE Marine Solutions.

There's an “electrification of the seas” happening for navies around the world.Whether it's to achieve greater military capabilities, operational economics and efficiencies or to be better stewards of the environment.There's a trend moving from direct mechanical drives towards more flexible electrical propulsion systems. Ships can still have the same propellers and engines, but they now have a much more flexible power system architecture that benefits design, operations and sustainment.“With an electric propulsion system, we can connect to the same gas turbine or diesel.

29 Mar 2022

Offshore Wind: Empire Wind Taps Maersk to Build Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (VIDEO)

Image Courtesy Maersk Supply Service

Empire Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Equinor and bp, awarded a contract to Maersk Supply Service for charter of its newbuild wind installation vessel (WIV). This vessel, together with US constructed barges and tugs built and operated by Kirby Offshore Wind, will be used for the installation of the project’s Vestas V236-15MW turbines.The newbuild offshore wind turbine installation vessel is planned to be ready for operation for Empire Wind I and II in the mid-2020s. Maersk…

13 Dec 2021

Cost a Major Hurdle for Onboard Carbon Capture

(Photo: Stena Bulk)

Cost hurdles likely to slow the deployment of stationary carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies on board ships in the near and medium term could be diminished as technology advances, clearing CCS could be a persuasive option for the industry’s decarbonization trajectory, a recent study found.Tanker shipping company Stena Bulk announced the results of its partnership with the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) to study and explore the potential of capturing carbon at…

09 Jun 2021

Need a Survey? There’s a USV for That

Blue Essence hybrid USV. Image courtesy Fugro

While the adoption of unmanned/uncrewed surfaces vessels (USVs) was initially in defence, use of these low footprint systems has spread into other sectors, not least survey, and now the race is on for greater capability, endurance and autonomy. Elaine Maslin reports.After starting small, in inland waterways, use of USVs for survey operations has moved into coastal and now offshore waters. Given the extensive amount of seabed and rapid growth in offshore wind, there’s plenty of work out there for them to do.With the travel restrictions posed by Covid and increasing awareness of climate change…

16 Mar 2021

Wärtsilä to Test Marine Scrubbers for Carbon Capture

Sigurd Jenssen, Director, Exhaust Treatment at Wärtsilä (Photo: Wärtsilä)

Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment said exhaust gas abatement systems, also known as scrubbers, may soon be used to directly tackle maritime carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as technology advances enable manufacturers to design and upgrade scrubbers to capture carbon at the point of exhaust.Wärtsilä said it has found carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be developed and scaled for ships, and that the solution is technically viable for the sector to pursue among a range of solutions helping to drive decarbonization in shipping…

27 Nov 2020

Booming Offshore Wind Market Faces Shortage of Installation Vessels

Credit: DJ/AdobeStock

Offshore wind is expanding rapidly, and as turbine and project sizes grow, demand for specialized installation vessels will soar, Rystad Energy said Thursday, however, warning that the boom might lead to a shortage of offshore wind installation vessels."The market for vessels capable of installing large offshore wind components is quickly being outpaced by growing demand from the global development pipeline, a Rystad Energy analysis shows. The global fleet will be insufficient to meet demand after 2025…

24 Nov 2020

Interview: Rear Admiral John Okon, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, US Navy

“The ocean is critical to National and Global Security. Back in the early 90’s the ocean wasn’t contested, the U.S. was the most powerful Navy and we had freedom of movement, anytime, anywhere,” said RDML Okon. “Now, while we are still the most powerful Navy in the world, near peer competitors are racing to close that gap." Photo: U.S. Navy

Insights on technology advances with Rear Admiral John Okon, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command.Rear Admiral Okon never started out to have a career in Oceanography, rather in Broadcast Meteorology. “At NY Maritime College, I studied both Meteorology and Oceanography and became equally passionate about Oceanography. Thanks to the U.S. Navy, we have a career field in both.”By its very nature, the U.S. Navy operates in one of the most discussed and disected environments on earth, the oceans.“The ocean is critical to National and Global Security.

19 Dec 2019

The Future of Maritime Navigation

Photo: Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine

It is 70 years since the launch of the first radar under the Decca brand and today’s Sperry Marine is marking the anniversary by looking to a future that would have been hard to imagine in 1949 – or even as little as 10 years ago.Yet the changes of the last decade will be eclipsed by the transformation in the decades to come, which will accelerate as the shipping industry embraces greater digitalization and moves towards an era of smart and connected operations.In the course of 70 years…

06 Nov 2019

ABS Calls for New Tech in Marine Fuels

ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki, mapped out the future of marine fuels, indicating that the 2050 targets will require technology beyond today’s state-of-the-art.“Technology advances of the next decade may entirely change our view of the future, but based on what we see today we can identify three developmental pathways for future fuels distinguished by the onboard technologies they require. These are: the LNG or light gas pathway, the bio/synthetic pathway and the alcohol and heavy gas pathway,” he said.“Within each of these pathways are many variables related to energy content, the state of storage or containment technology…

01 Oct 2019

California Launches Offshore Wind Coalition

A group of offshore wind industry members that includes Equinor, Magellan Wind and Principle Power have launched an offshore wind group in California.The Offshore Wind California (OWC) said it is  committed to providing industry expertise, innovative solutions, and a dedicated voice for offshore wind in California.OWC is poised to lead the promotion of responsible and sustainable deployment of offshore wind power in the state's energy system.California is well-positioned to break out as the next investment hot spot for America's booming offshore wind industry, which is taking off with more than 22 gigawatts (GW) in commitments by East Coast states and $70 billion in supply chain spending by 2030…

16 Oct 2018

2018 Maritime Risk Symposium – Energy and Maritime Risk

Energy.It seems that energy touches every aspect of our lives from heating our homes to ensuring that fresh produce is available at grocery stores. It powers our cars and allows industry to move products around the world. The connection between energy and risk to the maritime environment has been a growing area of discussion, research and analysis. The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy, within its Joint Doctrine Publication (JDOP 0-10) 5th edition UK Maritime Power, captured this issue superbly: “Fossil fuels and minerals are an important resource in the maritime environment. New deposits of oil and gas, as well as mineral wealth, are discovered under the seabed each year, and improvements in technology will facilitate future exploitation.

13 Feb 2017

Quality Assurance for Maritime Training

Competence is a crucial factor in the shipping business. Through its SeaSkill certification services DNV GL helps owners and operators, maritime training providers and test centres to advance crew training and ensure the highest levels of safety on board. The most sophisticated technologies are of limited use if not operated by people who command the appropriate skills. As maritime technology advances so do the demands on crews. Complex on-board systems, shorter turnover times in ports and the ambition to operate vessels as efficiently as possible, requires highly skilled seafarers. “Enhancing crew competence and establishing a strong safety culture is a key concern for many operators in the maritime and offshore sectors.

27 Feb 2017

ABS Takes Offshore Safety to New Depths

ABS, the leading provider of classification and technical services to the offshore industry, has expanded its subsea services team to deliver specialized validation and verification services for subsea systems, including subsea hardware, flowlines, umbilicals, and risers. These services include design review, inspection of physical components and regulatory services using performance data to support continuous service of new and existing assets. “Offering best-in-class verification and validation services contributes to the safe and reliable operation of subsea systems,” says ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki. ABS currently delivers its offering to major operators in the US Gulf of Mexico and is expanding services for key clients globally.

23 Jun 2017

Transas CEO Coles Speaks on the Future for Seafarers

Frank Coles, CEO, Transas  (Photo: Transas)

A message from Frank Coles, CEO of Transas on the International Day of the Seafarer. On this day of recognition, I would like to celebrate the women and men who commit their careers and their lives to being at sea for extended periods of time. The future facing the maritime industry today is a very different one from when I first went to sea in 1977. Back then the sextant was King. Today the people working at sea are aided by countless new technologies and digital innovations which have had a huge impact, improving both operations and safety.

17 Jul 2017

The Strong and Silent Type

Derecktor Shipyard General Manager Micah Tucker and Project Manager Joe Goodspeed shaping the Keel for the first Harbor Harvest Hybrid.

Mapping and shaping the growth of marine hybrid means many things to different stakeholders. The journey leads us all to the same place. If you follow the advancements in automotive design, the term or tag “hybrid” has come to define the alternative energy movement on our roads and highways. HEV autos have moved past Ford and GM in Detroit and into the hands of contemporary entrepreneurs and inventors the likes of Tesla’s Evan Musk or Dr. Victor Wouk. BMW, Ferrari, Bentley and…

05 Sep 2017

BMT Debuts VENARI-85 MCM Concept Design

(Image: BMT)

BMT has launched VENARI-85, a new mine countermeasure (MCM) concept design said it be capable of clearing mines faster over a greater area and with less risk to the crew, while simultaneously providing broader utility to navies around the world. According to BMT, VENARI-85 offers a flexible platform that is capable of a spectrum of roles which is future-proofed and able to evolve as technology advances in the unmanned and offboard systems markets take shape. Combining BMT’s ship design pedigree with QinetiQ’s integration expertise…

22 Nov 2017

How Augmented Reality Technology Could Transform Shipping

Using AR-devices means screens and monitors could also become obsolete, with employees able to access cloud-based data wherever they are working. Additionally, it will render a lot of hardware redundant. Just as the smart phone included the functionality of a lot of gadgets such as camera, telephone, calendar or calculator, AR devices are one more step forward. (Image: Hanseaticsoft)

Augmented Reality (AR) is predicted to be the next technology game-changer to improve business processes and employee performance and it’s no wonder many companies are getting excited about its potential. While virtual reality completely immerses people in a computer-generated world, AR overlays computer-generated images on the real world. A great example of how AR combines the imaginary with the real world is in the hugely popular AR game Pokémon Go, where people search for and catch pocket monsters in the real world.