System Technology News

Anschütz completed the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of its Warship Integrated Navigation and Bridge System (WINBS) for the first ship of the new Type 31 Inspiration Class for the UK Royal Navy. Anschütz, as part of the Thales led T31 Missions Systems team, is delivering the first Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the Babcock Type 31 Arrowhead 140 frigates in the New Year.The FAT was carried out by Anschuetz UK Ltd., who are responsible for the integration, testing and commissioning of the Type 31 WINBS.

A new and space efficient retrofit methanol storage solution from SRC Group has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR). Methanol Superstorage offers the potential for ships with years of service ahead to be considered for transition to this alternative marine fuel.While renewably-sourced methanol fits the net-zero framework laid out by the IMO, and is fairly easy to store and handle, it takes twice as much to generate the same energy as HFO. On board ship…

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) has joined the major classification societies to amend its rules relating to the inspection of seawater-lubricated propeller shaft systems.The amendment means that ships with open seawater-lubricated propeller shafts that are built to ClassNK rules are subject to the same 15-year shaft withdrawal inspection periods as oil-lubricated shafts and sterntubes, subject to monitoring criteria.The announcement brings ClassNK’s requirements in line with those of other large class societies…

China Classification Society (CCS) has issued a first Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for the marine liquid hydrogen fuel supply system developed by Weishi Energy Technology Hebei.The system design includes a marine liquid hydrogen tank and cold box, supercooled hydrogen storage technology, heat exchange technology, regulated hydrogen supply technology and subcooled hydrogenation technology. Dual-boost functionality ensures rapid system startup, says CCS, and the system…

Australian oil and gas company Pilot Energy and Norway's Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) have entered into a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on offering an integrated solution for marine transportation and offshore injection of CO2 at the Cliff Head CCS Project, offshore the coast of Perth, Australia.Pilot and KNCC plan to develop solutions that will enable large-scale industrial emitters to transport via ship, ambient temperature LCO2 and to inject and permanently…

NOV has signed a new contract with China's CIMC Raffles to supply another GustoMSC™ NG-20000X self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up vessel design for Havfram, an offshore wind services company based in Norway, which recently ordered its second wind turbine installation vessel from CIMC.According to NOV, the NG-20000X-HF vessels are among the largest wind installation jack-ups in the industry. They feature a 3,250-ton heavy lift crane and can install foundations up to 3,000 tons and wind turbines with tip heights over 300 m in water depths up to 70 m.

NOV has signed contracts with CIMC Raffles to supply a GustoMSC NG-20000X self-propelled wind turbine installation jack-up vessel design for Havfram, an offshore wind services company based in Norway. The NG-20000X-HF vessel will be among the largest wind installation jack-ups in the industry. It features a 3,250-ton heavy lift crane and can install foundations up to 3,000 tons and wind turbines with tip heights over 300 m in water depths up to 70 m.

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management (Arcline), has been awarded a purchase order by Huntington Ingalls Industries to build and deliver four main propulsion diesel engines featuring common rail technology to power the U.S. Navy’s newest Landing Platform/Dock (LPD) ship, LPD 32.According to FMD, its common rail system technology maximizes performance through enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.“For many decades, the…

Responding to growing demand for new technologies that enable low- and zero-emissions vessel operations, ABB has developed a containerized energy storage system (ESS) that integrates sustainable battery power for existing ships.The complete, plug-in solution allows shipowners to install sustainable marine energy storage at scale, housed in a standard 20-foot high-cube ISO container and ready to integrate with the vessel’s main power distribution system. All batteries, converters…

NOV announced it has signed a contract to design and equip two wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) newbuilds for Denmark-based Cadeler. The new vessels will have the largest jacking capacity in the industry and will be able to transport and install seven complete 15 MW turbine sets or five sets of 20-plus MW turbines, NOV said.Under its deal with COSCO SHIPPING Heavy Industry and Cadeler, NOV will supply the overall design for the GustoMSC NG-20000X self-propelled jack-up…

U.S.-based Fairbanks Morse said it has been awarded a purchase order by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines that will power the U.S. Navy’s newest San Antonio Class Landing Platform/Dock (LPD) ship, LPD 31. The ship is the second of 13 in the LPD Flight II class of ships.The four sequentially turbocharged 16-cylinder FM | Colt-Pielstick PC 2.5 diesel engines feature common rail fuel injection technology and will deliver over 31 MW of propulsion power.

De Boer Marine is now offering managed data services to its international maritime clients by leveraging SES Networks’ connectivity and its Skala Global Platform.Crew and operators will stay connected to their friends and family anytime, anywhere, while De Boer Marine and fleet operators will benefit from flexible bandwidth management, advanced automatic beam switching, and a network management system to maximize their profitability and efficiency.The Skala Global Platform offers a combination of next-generation ground system technology…

A newly established consortium is going to develop a network for low Earth orbit satellites delivering ice chart data to ships at sea. A new research project called MARIOT (Maritime IoT) is going to develop a low Earth orbit satellite network based on the new VDES (VHF Data Exchange System) technology. The consortium behind the project is headed by the Danish satellite operator Sternula. The satcom developers GateHouse, Space Inventor, and Satlab as well as Aalborg University…

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) said that it has developed a lithium-ion battery power system for ships.A press release from the shipbuilding giant said that the system, jointly developed with local battery manufacturer Samsung SDI Co., earned a type approval from Norway's renowned classification society DVL-GL, becoming the first local shipbuilder to do so, according to the shipbuilder.The newly developed lithium ion battery system, which reduces fuel consumption of generators by optimally controlling and managing on-board generators and power load, is an Eco-friendly technology that enables reductions in emissions of pollutant substances and in operating costs as well.As the global demand for environmentally friendly technologies is higher than ever…

Norwegian shipyard Aas Mekaniske Verksted has awarded Hydroniq Coolers a contract to deliver its hull-integrated seawater cooling system to a vessel the shipbuilder is constructing for wellboat company Sølvtrans.Under the contract, Aalesund-based Hydroniq Coolers – formerly named Sperre Coolers – will supply its Rack seawater cooling solutions to the wellboat.The Rack cooler differs from other cooling systems as it is integrated in the hull below the main engine room of the vessel. Here it safely reduces temperatures in the ship’s engines and other auxiliary systems through use of seawater – but without taking up valuable engine room space.“When we developed the Rack cooler, we combined the benefits from box and plate coolers, without the disadvantages of either system.

Ocean Network Express (ONE),  a Japanese container shipping company that is headquartered in Tokyo and Singapore,  announced that ONE APUS, with a carrying capacity of 14,000 TEU, was successfully delivered at Kure Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation.The sublet owner is Nippon Yusen Kaisha, said a press release from the provider of container shipping and terminal services.This is ONE’s second delivery this year, and the 6th of a series of seven newly built 14,000 TEU magenta containership, after ONE GRUS (delivery date on 1 st of February 2019).Equipped with outstanding safety and environmentally-friendly capabilities such as structural arrest technology and highly efficient welding technology…

Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) has announced that ONE Grus, with a carrying capacity of 14,000 TEU, has been successfully delivered at Kure Shipyard of Japan Marine United Corporation. The sublet owner is Nippon Yusen Kaisha. This is ONE’s first delivery this year, and the 5th newly built 14,000 TEU magenta containership, after ONE Columba (delivery date on November 16th, 2018). It is equipped with outstanding safety and environmentally-friendly capabilities such as structural arrest technology and highly efficient welding technology.

Marine propulsion manufacturers are not just responding to but are anticipating tighter performance demands from the U.S. EPA  and the IMO by introducing both new and upgraded systems based on state-of-the-art propulsion technologies. Tom Mulligan reviews the latest engine product launches.AIP for MAN cryo Liquid Hydrogen Fuel-Gas systemMAN Cryo, a subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions, has developed a marine fuel-gas system for liquefied hydrogen in cooperation with Fjord1 and Multi Maritime 0f Norway.

Beele Engineering has developed a new range of HE plastic transit sleeves and frames to provide for the reliable and comfortable transit of cables and pipes and to provide for a fire-resistant, gas, smoke and watertight seal. The new transit sleeves and frames form part of the NOFIRNO system technology and can be used in various ways, including in sandwich panels.The HE plastic version enables Beele Engineering to offer solutions that are not only fire safe, but also light-weight.

The technology group Wärtsilä’s Aquarius EC Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has been granted Type Approval by the United States Coastguard (USCG) authorities.This approval verifies that the product has met the specified regulatory, technical, and safety requirements, and represents an endorsement of its design and efficiency principles.As part of the approval process, the Aquarius EC (Electro-Chlorination) system’s technology underwent an extensive land and sea test programme, during which it delivered exceptional performance.“We are naturally delighted that following a stringent review and investigation process, the USCG has granted Type Approval. This follows similar approval given by the IMO in 2013.

Ulstein, now a century old, has spent the last 100 years looking to the future. Since its formation on August 9, 1917 in Ulsteinvik, Norway, the family-owned shipbuilder, designer and systems supplier said it has focused on tomorrow’s opportunities today. Over the years, Ulstein has evolved through innovation and pioneered trailblazing solutions, driven by its desire to meet shifting customer demands, commercial openings and market challenges head-on. There isn’t much that remains the same in a century of operation…

Braemar Technical Services announced that Bureau Veritas (BV) has issued a General Design Approval for the FSP Type B LNG Containment System (FSP). Starting with the General Dynamics NASSCO-patented tank design, for which the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Lloyd’s Register had issued Approval in Principle (AiP) several years prior, Braemar engineered a new and improved containment system that meets the demands of LNG storage in marine, offshore and onshore applications.

Classification society DNV GL has announced the launch of a Joint Development Project (JDP), designed to advance the understanding of the use of lithium-ion batteries in the shipping industry. More than a dozen partners from the entire value chain have joined the initiative, including flag states, research institutions, battery and propulsion suppliers, fire detection and extinguishing system providers, and ship owners, operators and yards. “Including batteries in ships, whether as a hybrid or fully electric system…