MTU Builds New R&D Test Facility
Tognum subsidiary MTU Friedrichshafen held a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction work on a new R&D test facility at Plant 1. The company plans to invest more than ā¬60 million in the project by 2015. In the future, technicians will be able to run function tests on newly developed engines on the new, cutting-edge test stands with work including areas such as the development of new combustion processesā¦
Herbert-ABS Release New Load Management Program
Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC released the latest version of their Load Management Program (LMP) for offshore vessels. For day-to-day weight management, stabilityā¦
Book Review: Thereās a Page Missing
Maritime fraud, international intrigue and an indefatigable investigator ā all add up to a fascinating account of the extraordinary people bent on fooling the system with mind boggling schemes. Author Don Oliver is a specialist maritime insurance surveyor who has visited countless ports and places throughout the world, uncovering the truth behind insurance claims. Suspicious, audacious and fraudulentā¦
FuelTrax Obtains European Union Patent Protection
Nautical Control Solutions, LP (NCS) announced that its FuelTrax Marine Fuel Management system has been granted patent protection by the European Patent Office (EPO).
GE Improves Propulsion Systems Efficiency
GEās Power Conversion business unveiled a new power and propulsion system at OTC that they say reduces fuel consumption by controlling engine speed on platform support vessels. The Variable Frequency Active Front-End power and propulsion system, or VF-AFE, enables ship owners using conventional power system components to lower engine speeds when feasible, cut fuel consumption and reduce emissions and maintenance requirements, the manufacturer claims.
GE O&G Wins Two Technology Awards at OTC
GE Oil & Gas has received two Spotlight on New Technology awards from the 2013 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) for two new products that address the challenges of deepwater drilling.
DNV Enhances Class Rules for Offshore Units
DNV has restructured its offshore classification rules for Mobile Offshore Units in order to improve transparency and enhance safety. āOur aim is to help the rig owner in the building process ā to clearly show that the unit is constructed in compliance with reliability and safety standards. At the same time, yards can achieve improved efficiency and have the ability to document the safety level of alternative solutions,ā said Erik Henriksen, Director for Mobile Offshore Units at DNV.
Vessel Sales: April 2013
The following list of ship sales for April 2013 was prepared by Shipping Intelligence Inc., New York. Sale Prices are listed in millions USD.
GE Debuts Breakthrough in Electrical Thruster Propulsion
In a move that could change the way the maritime industry views propulsion technology, GEās Power Conversion business increased its offshore systems portfolio with Inovelis, a podded thruster with unmatched fuel efficiency and overall performance. Inovelis incorporates an electrically powered propeller with its motor housed within a steerable pod mounted beneath the hull of an offshore vessel. It incorporates all the assets of a podded thrusterā¦
Ocean Exchange Calls for Innovative Solutions
Solutions submitted to the third annual Ocean Exchange should have the potential to generate economic growth and increase productivity while reducing the use of natureās resources and waste production. This yearās competition, with a theme of LEAP TO ZERO+, represents Ocean Exchangeās continued search for entrepreneurs and businesses from around the globe with innovative solutions to the worldās most pressing problems or an interest in those solutions.
SHIPPINGInsight 2013 Agenda Published
The SHIPPINGInsight producers announced that the agenda for the 2013 Fleet Optimization Conference has been finalized. Now in its second year, the 2013 SHIPPINGInsight Conference addresses the challenges, solutions, technologies and best practices for improving efficiency in ship and fleet operations. It will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel in Connecticut. Keynote speakers will be Anthony Chiarelloā¦
Alewijnse Completes Conversion of Atlantic Amsterdam
Alewijnse Marine Systems completed the electrical conversion of the jack-up rig Atlantic Amsterdam. The Atlantic Amsterdam has spent the last nine months at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen being converted from a drilling rig to offshore hotel accommodation by Nordica Offshore Pte, Ltd. Alewijnse was responsible for the supply, installation, integration and commissioning of a number of critical electrical systems.
Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell Arrives in Miami
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell, the fifth of the service's planned 58 Fast Response Cutters in the Sentinel Class and the first of its class to be named after a female Coast Guard heroine, arrived at her homeport Coast Guard Sector Miami, Fla., Sunday. Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell is scheduled for commissioning in New Orleans on June 1, 2013. The location of the commissioning honors the history of the cutterās namesake.
Applus RTD Unveils Revolutionary NDT Technology
Applus RTD, a leader in the provision of integrity technology services, has unveiled its ultrasonic 3D inspection technology ā the latest addition to its NDT3D technology range. The RTD IWEX (Inverse Wave Field Extrapolation) is an emerging Non Destructive Testing (NDT) technique that allows detailed inspection and mapping of defects within critical pieces of pipework. The system increases the probability of detection of defects within weldsā¦
Hyundai Heavy to Build Worldās Largest Containerships
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced the Company won a $700 million order for five 18,400 TEU containerships from China Shipping Container Lines (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. The worldās largest containerships will feature an electronically-controlled main engine and two EcoBallast seawater treatment system. The electronically-controlled main engine will maximize fuel efficiency, and reduce noise, vibrationsā¦
Tata Steel Showcases Deepwater Pipeline Solutions at OTC
Tata Steel will demonstrate at this yearās Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston May 6-9, 2013. Tata Steelās pipeline packages include double submerged arc welded (DSAW) line pipe, manufactured at the 42-inch mill in Hartlepool, which the manufacturer claims is equipped with the strongest edge crimping and āOā press combination in the world. This enables the manufacture of thicker wall DSAWā¦
Equalizer to Launch Spreading Wedges at OTC
In his State of the Union speech, President Obama cited America's aging energy, oil and gas and petrochemical infrastructure as cause for concern and that steps should be taken to fix issues before breakdowns occur. Failures and unplanned downtime become an increasing possibility as refineries, petrochemical plants and offshore rigs reach the latter stages of their designed lifespan. Equalizer International is introducing the worldās most powerful flange spreading wedgesā¦
Gulf of Mexico Recruiters Step Up Efforts
OilCareers.com has released statistics suggesting that staff roles offered by employers in the Gulf of Mexico have increased almost sixteenfold in the last three years. Statistics show that the margin between contract and staff positions that reflected an equal split in 2009 now reveal a shift to five times as many staff than contract roles equating to 80% of job types currently registered on OilCareers.com.
U.S. DOJ: Pollution Settlement Nets $1 Million
$1 Million Settlement Enhances Land and Sea in the Eastern District of Texas. BEAUMONT, Texas ā U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced a settlement reached with aā¦
Alewijnse Complete Rig Electrical Conversion
Alewijnse Marine Systems has successfully completed the electrical conversion of the jack-up rig 'Atlantic Amsterdam'. The Atlantic Amsterdam has spent the last nine months at Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen being converted from a drilling rig to offshore hotel accommodation by Nordica Offshore Pte, Ltd. Alewijnse was responsible for the supply, installation, integration and commissioning of a number of critical electrical systems.
