Toll Shipping News

The Switch received an order from WE Tech to deliver its permanent magnet (PM) shaft generators to two 18,600 dwt chemical tankers currently under construction for Sweden’s Ektank AB. Sweden's Ektank AB is family-owned with a modern fleet of five chemical tankers in size ranging from 13,700 DWT to 17,000 DWT. The PM-based shaft generator is a powerful proposition for today’s cost and environmentally conscious shipowners. This deal is an example of how PM technology is set to revolutionize the maritime industry.

The Switch is targeting growth of 200 percent within the marine segment in the next five years, building on the momentum of a flurry of recent orders, its acquisition of Wartsila Drives and the financial muscle of its parent company, the EUR 3.3 billion turnover Yaskawa Electric Corporation. The Finnish headquartered business, a specialist in the development and supply of advanced drive train solutions, believes its permanent magnet (PM) and frequency converter technology can have the same transformational effect on marine as it has had in wind.

WE Tech Solutions (WE Tech), an energy efficiency solutions provider in the marine industry, and The Switch, a technology specialist of permanent magnet machines for advanced marine drive trains, have been chosen to deliver their permanent magnet shaft generator solution to Australian Toll Shipping for a series of two 12,000 dwt RORO vessels. The Sinotrans & CSC affiliated Jinling Shipyard in China will build the ships. Delivery of advanced equipment solution from WE Tech and The Switch will commence in August 2017.

The Maritime Safety Authority has released the Aratere from detention, but under conditions including that the ferry sails as a cargo ship only. Under the conditions, the ferry will be required to undergo a technical risk assessment, from which actions and risk mitigation strategies will be developed and implemented. The MSA will also require a period of operational experience of working to the new strategies. This period will be under observation and inspection by MSA. MSA will also require emergency procedures and contingency plans to be reviewed. MSA imposed these conditions at 7.30pm tonight, and they will be in place until MSA is satisfied that the conditions are met.