John Crane News

U.K.-based marine services company James Fisher and Sons plc announced it has appointed Jean Vernet as chief executive officer.He will take up this position on September 5, 2022, succeeding Eoghan O’Lionaird who will step down from his position on the board and as CEO. O’Lionaird will  remain employed by the group until June 13, 2023, to ensure a smooth and effective transition of responsibility.Vernet has considerable experience working in the offshore energy sector in both the U.K. and around the world. Most recently, he was CEO of Smiths Group’s largest division, John Crane.

Products Join 100, 3000 Series Hydraulic Fluids and Safecare Cleaners as VGP Environmentally Acceptable Products that Deliver Technical Feasibility to Marine Industry. RSC Bio Solutions has announced  that its EnviroLogic 200 and 200 EP series of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) and its EnviroLogic 802 grease, as well as the products’ constituent components, have been evaluated by independent laboratories to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) definitions of biodegradable, minimally toxic and not bioaccumulative.

Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, in collaboration with two private industry firms, are developing potentially breakthrough technologies to capture vital information from the world’s oceans. Scripps researchers John Orcutt and Jon Berger developed a Memorandum of Understanding with Horton Wison Deepwater (HWD) and John Crane Production Solutions (JCPS) in developing new, uniquely stable and long-lasting ocean buoys with sensors moored to the seafloor to measure ground motion…

Sixteen –year veteran, George Morrison has been appointed the Area Sales Manager for Western Europe replacing retiring Campbell Cunningham. According to Thordon’s Commercial Director, Jan Willem de Jong, George’s experience and energy will be a catalyst for maintaining our strong growth in Western Europe. “George is the perfect leader to develop our existing and new products with our strong distribution network”, said de Jong. “He brings a wealth of bearing and seals experience combined with sales…

On October 18, 2001, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) announced the award of a $406.9 million competitive contract for the detailed design and construction of the lead ship of the T-AKE Auxiliary Cargo and Ammunition Class to National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) of San Diego, Calif. Major subcontractors are IMECO of Iron Mountain, Mich.; Hopeman Brothers Marine Interiors of Waynesboro, Va.; Alstom Power Conversion Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa.; B.F. Eight Power Inc. of Belle Chasse, La.; Lake Shore Inc. Performance Contracting Inc. Scarborough, Maine; and SIPCO of Willis, Texas. Additionally, NAVSEA exercised a contract option in the amount of $301.6 million for the detailed design and construction of the first follow ship.

In a move aimed at extending its claim as a single source ship's propulsion supplier, Wärtsilä Corporation and Smiths Group are in exclusive discussions regarding a possible sale by Smiths Group of John Crane-Lips to Wärtsilä. Wärtsilä and John Crane-Lips entered into a strategic alliance in October 2000 to provide total marine propulsion power systems through the Wärtsilä network. The acquisition of John Crane Lips is seen as a valued enhancement to Wärtsilä's position as a leading global ship power supplier. The acquisition would generate additional sales of more than EUR 200 million for the Marine & Licensing division of Wärtsilä. John Crane-Lips is a supplier of integrated marine propulsion systems and marine seals and bearings.

John Crane-Lips will become part of Wärtsilä following the signing of the sale and purchase agreement between Wärtsilä and John Crane-Lips´ UK-based parent Smiths Group. The transaction enhances Wärtsilä's position as a global ship power supplier and provider of integrated propulsion systems. The acquisition price is approximately $304 million. in the financial year ending July 31, 2001, with their net assets totaling $73 million. The acquisition of John Crane-Lips, which will operate within Wärtsilä under the name Wärtsilä Propulsion, marks an important step towards our strategic goal to lead the ship power market. The acquisition will be earnings neutral and cash flow positive in the first year, stated Wärtsilä's President and CEO Ole Johansson.

Wärtsilä and the UK-based Smiths Group have on April 15, 2002 completed the agreement transferring John Crane-Lips, a leading global supplier of marine propulsion systems, to Wärtsilä. The agreement was signed at the end of January, 2002. In the regulatory approval process no obstacles for the acquisition have arisen. The acquisition price is GBP 215 million (EUR 350 million). The acquisition of John Crane-Lips marks an important step towards Wärtsilä´s strategic goal to lead the ship power market. The company will be part of Wärtsilä's Marine Division under the name Wärtsilä Propulsion. Mr. Christoph Vitzthum, MSc(Econ), currently Vice President, Finance & Control of Wärtsilä Marine Division, has been appointed President of Wärtsilä Propulsion.

Wärtsilä's reported that net sales for the first quarter increased 17 percent to EUR 580.9 (497.4) million, despite a weakening of the global marine market and nearly non-existent containership business. After the close of the period Wärtsilä paid approximately EUR 350 million for the acquisition of John Crane-Lips. during the first months of the year. quarter in 2001. Demand was most active for tankers and bulk carriers. The containership market has all but halted. John Crane-Lips became part of Wärtsilä on April 15, 2002. global ship power supplier. April 1. The company gained a significant order for dual-fuel engines in April. Gaz de France. The vessel is the first in the world to deploy a propulsion system based on diesel technology.

In a move which firmly signals that marine propulsion power consolidation of resource is far from complete, Wärtsilä NSD and TI Group, on behalf of John Crane-Lips, signed of a co-operation agreement to develop, market and supply total marine propulsion power systems to the shipbuilding industry. Agreement has also been reached for TI Group to purchase Wärtsilä NSD's propeller production and related servicing business at Rubbestadneset, Norway, with approximately 120 employees transferring from Wärtsilä NSD Norway to John Crane-Lips. The co-operation agreement follows the signing of a Letter of Intent in February and is subject to clearance by the appropriate regulatory authorities. Wärtsilä NSD and John Crane-Lips have significant complementary strengths.

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., has signed a contract to build two, 250-ft., double hull, jumbo coastwise service, single rake hopper barges for Tide Leasing, LLC, Birmingham, Ala. Construction has begun on the first barge and building of the second vessel will begin in August. Both are scheduled for delivery in November 2000. Overall, each barge will be 250 ft. in length, with a 52.5-ft. beam and 14-ft. depth and 11.5 ft. maximum draft. They will be built with .75-in. steel at the hopper bottoms and .625-in. steel at the hopper sides plus .5-in. T-1 liner plates on the bottom and upper sides of the hopper. Each will be able to carry up to 3,000 metric tons of coal and will operate out of Santa Marta, Colombia. Shearer and Associates, Inc., Metairie, La.

Alstom Diesel engines and its three well-regarded brands — Mirrlees Blackstone, Paxman and Ruston — were recently bought by MAN B&W. Several recent deals have confirmed the continuing trend towards a consolidation of resources in the realm of marine propulsion equipment. The trend, to regular followers of the industry, is hardly a new development. However, a spate of recent new deals and consummations has brought the topic to the forefront again. As reported in the June 2000 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, the emergence of Rolls Royce as a major force in the field of marine propusion is solidified with a collection of brand name equipment suppliers. The U.K.

Metra's - parent company of Wärtsilä NSD - reported that its 2Q net sales were $663.6 million, comparable growth 19%. comparable growth was $19.5 million. A driving force has been Wärtsilä NSD, which boasts an orderbook up 41%, and intake of new orders up 79% on same period last year. Wärtsilä NSD posted an operating profit of $18.6 million, which is 3.6% of net sales. Wärtsilä NSD became a wholly owned subsidiary of Metra on February 29, 2000 when Metra acquired the 15.4% minority holding owned by Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani for nearly $100 million. The split-up of the Cummins Wärtsilä joint venture took place during February as well.

Earlier this year, the company announced that, as The Ship Power Supplier, it offered complete marine power systems for all types of vessels, together with all associated services. As attested by the variety of companies both inside and out of the marine propulsion realm that are attempting to reshape their companies as a "one-stop-shop", such solutions are intended to add value and better satisfy the group's customers and business partners. An essential tool in this strategy — in Wärtsilä's case — is the new e-business channel, which gives direct access to Wärtsilä's information and services. Shipbuilders increasingly outsource work and look for cost savings to be more competitive.

Seven Seas Voyager, the new 50,000-gt cruise ship under construction at T. Mariotti Shipyard in Genoa, Italy for Radisson Seven Seas, will be among the first ships to house the new Dolphin podded propulsion system jointly developed by STN Atlas Marine Electronics and John Crane-Lips. The vessel, which is scheduled for a 2003 delivery will boast podded propulsors delivering 2 x 7,000 kW at 170 rpm. Main features include integration of a powerful electric drive into a hydro-dynamically optimized pod below ship, resulting in a directly-driven propeller. Extensive CFD analyses and model tank tests have led to the development of a pod shape with enhanced efficiency and maneuvering characteristics.

In February John Crane-Lips transported one of the world's heaviest fixed pitch propellers from its premises in Drunen to 's-Hertogenbosch. This 6-bladed propeller has a diameter of 8.8 meters and a weight of 92.5 tons. The material of which the propeller is made is Cunial©, an alloy of copper, nickel and aluminum. Upon arrival in 's-Hertogenbosch the propeller was lifted with a large hoisting crane to put it on a barge and was then shipped to the port of Rotterdam. In Rotterdam the FPP was loaded into the mv Pohang Senator with destination Busan (South Korea). This heavy fixed pitch propeller is for a containership built in South Korea for French shipowner CMA CGM. The ship has a length of 286 meters bp (between perpendiculars) and a depth of 12 meters.

On February 14, the world's largest high-speed ferry catamaran Stena Discovery took off from Belfast, after a planned drydocking, and about one hour out at sea on the captain's command the waterjet control was switched over to steering by a retrofitted Humphree Interceptor Steering System. While the interceptors engaged and provided the means for directional control of the vessel, the steering buckets of the four Kamewa 160 SII waterjets, in total absorbing a power of 68.5 MW, automatically returned to their neutral, or boost position, allowing all waterjet thrust to be vectored forward for maximum thrust, and eliminating the waterjet bucket drag.

The CLT propeller recently underwent real-world testing, which proved, according to its designer and manufacturer that the propeller can help to reduce or eliminate hull-induced vibrations and noise levels. Independent studies were conducted aboard Superfast Levante, which demonstrated that: the cavitation level developed on the CLT propeller blades is negligible from the ship's structural integrity point of view; vibration and noise levels are excellent in terms of comfort on board; and the contractual ship speed was much better than predicted. Superfast Levante is a 7,200 dwt RoRo cargo vessel delivered by Union Naval de Valencia (UNV) to Trasmediterranea, the major Spanish operator of RoRo vessels and ferries. The ship was ordered to operate between Cadiz and the Canary Isles.

Bringing her first cargo to Europe following completion by Samsung Heavy Industries, the 306,000-dwt British Pioneer has given new expression to environmental-consciousness in the crude oil transportation sector. While the security of her 2.1-million barrel cargo containment has been enhanced by the compulsory double hulling, the non-mandatory continuation of the double shell aft better safeguards the bunker spaces, reducing the risk of fuel oil spillage in the event of the aftship being breached. In addition, her potential impact on marine life has been lessened through the adoption of a newly unveiled, tin-free antifouling. Although it currently comes at a very substantial price-per-liter premium…

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc., Lockport, La., with the Riverway Co., Eden Prairie, Minn., christened the M/V Bootsie B., a 188-ft. (57.3 m), 8,000 hp towboat. Bootsie B. is the first such vessel for the Riverway Co., in 25 years. It was christened by Ms. Mary Sutton Becker, granddaughter of Mrs. Mary Sutton "Bootsie" Baskerville, whose family established Riverway's predecessor company, the Upper Mississippi Towing Corp. in 1937. "This is our first new construction project for Riverway," said Walter Berry, executive vice president and COO of Bollinger said. Bollinger Northshore Engineering designed the vessel, and Corning Townsend, with C.T. Marine, provided naval architectural services for proper water flow through the kort nozzle and across the rudders.

Compelling design and operational arguments in favor of podded electric drives can be expected to transcend any negative impressions formed from the recent clutch of problems and complications experienced with such systems in certain cruise ship and ferry applications. Experience has shown that technical innovation in the maritime field has invariably been accompanied by early setbacks in some shape or form. In an industry where conservatism is the order of the day, and understandably so where assets are subjected to the rigors of the elements as well as the vicissitudes of the markets, those operators willing to be the standard bearers with new technology provide a beacon for the wider maritime community.