Access Technology News

Despite the numerous challenges facing today’s maritime sector, there are still opportunities to be found. After all, the world is constantly changing and it is those companies who are able to adapt and move with the markets that will experience long-term success. Damen Shipyards Group is an example of a company that does just that. Using examples from some of the newest maritime sectors, Damen’s Head of Business Development & Market Intelligence Peter Robert talks about the importance of understanding, and reacting to, market developments.

GE’s Marine Solutions announced it will provide a LM2500+G4 gas turbine that will power the Italian Navy’s new Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura (PPA) multipurpose offshore patrol ship. The PPA’s hybrid electric propulsion system also will use GE’s shock-proof MV3000 drives and a GE-designed electrical network of motors as part of the propulsion system. Avio Aero, a GE Aviation business headquartered in Italy, will have the design responsibility for the gas turbine package. The PPA ship will be built by Fincantieri at its Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano.

OneSubsea™, a Cameron and Schlumberger company, Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. and Schlumberger today announced that they have entered into a letter of intent to form an alliance to develop technologies and deliver services to optimize the cost and efficiency of subsea well intervention systems. Helix is a leading subsea well intervention provider, with the largest fleet size of well intervention vessels, and an unequalled track record in cost-effective subsea well intervention. OneSubsea, a preeminent solution provider for subsea well control, with a global footprint of executed major projects, has significant experience in the manufacture and supply of subsea well intervention equipment and services.

In July 2013 Konecranes received an order for eight Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes from Bolloré Group. The cranes will be delivered to container terminals operated by Bolloré Africa Logistics in Pointe Noire, Congo, and in Douala, Cameroon in the second half of 2014. The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the order. “Our cooperation with Bolloré goes back to 2007, when Bolloré purchased its first RTG for Abidjan Terminal in Ivory Coast. We have delivered 35 RTGs to container terminals operated by Bolloré Group in West Africa, and we are very proud to get this new order which will bring the total to 43,” says Antoine Bosquet, Konecranes’ Sales Director, Port Cranes, region IMEA.

Konecranes to supply nine RTG's (Rubber Tired Gantry) to Bolloré Group in West Africa. The cranes will be delivered to MPS Container Terminal in Tema, Ghana and Benin Container Terminal in Cotonou, Benin. The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the orders. The RTG cranes will be equipped with the new Konecranes award winning cabin offering improved ergonomics, visibility and safety. They will also contain various advanced Konecranes technologies like e.g. the Autosteering feature keeping the crane on a pre-programmed, straight driving path, and the Variable Speed Engine and Fuel Saver technology. All these features help improving safety of operation and increase productivity.

Engineering company OSBIT Power (OP) has been confirmed as a successful bidder to a major Government scheme to support manufacturers developing next generation offshore wind technology. OP, based in Riding Mill, Northumberland has been awarded a £615,000 grant to help develop its MaXccess offshore wind access technology to facilitate safe personnel transfer from the larger dynamically-positioned vessels expected to be used on future offshore wind projects. “The coalition is determined to drive ambitious green growth, and this is putting our money where our mouth is,” said Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker. “This cash shows that we are delivering on our commitment to support innovation and offshore wind.

In March this year, Cargotec received an order for MacGregor RoRo cargo access equipment for two multi role vessels under construction at the German yard P+S Werften in Stralsund for ferry operator DFDS Seaways. Both vessels are due to be delivered in the first half of 2012. The 3,000 lane-metre capacity newbuildings will also have room for 342 TEU on the weather deck, a special requirement of the Danish-German ARK project for the transport of military vehicles and containers.

A more user-friendly version of the computer software naval shipyards use to plan and execute availabilities will soon be available to all naval shipyard project teams. On Aug. 12, The Navy Systems Support Group (NSSG) made the Windows NT version of its Advanced Industrial Management (AIM) software available to all shipyards. The four naval shipyards will train and test AIM NT until placing it in production between now and the end of October. Bernie Clark, NAVSEA's Deputy Director for Industrial Operations signed out the official release letter on Aug. 13. The AIM NT software replaces a UNIX-based version in use by the naval shipyards since 1994. The "new and improved" NT version is expected to make data entry and data manipulation easier and faster.