Advanced Materials News

N'GENIUS claims its high-strength austenitic stainless steels will transform the design and construction of onshore and offshore oil, gas, and LNG facilities."The global demand for LNG is projected to reach 700 million tonnes per year by 2040 fuelling the need for greater LNG infrastructure including import receiving and export terminals, FLNG vessels, and LNG carriers. Since these facilities are being designed with larger capacities and operating under increasingly more challenging conditions…

Classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) aid it has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) to InfraCore Company for its design, modelling, production and testing of a full glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rudder flap for an 18,500 TEU containership.The certificate was delivered as a result of the EU-funded project RAMSSES - Realization and Demonstration of Advanced Material Solutions for Sustainable and Efficient Ships – which aims to expand the application and usage of innovative materials to build more efficient and sustainable ships.Lightweight and other advanced materials…

Don’t let the titanium metal walls or the sapphire windows fool you. It’s what’s on the inside of this small, curious device that could someday kick off a new era of navigation.For more than a year, the avocado-sized vacuum chamber has contained a cloud of atoms at the right conditions for precise navigational measurements. It is the first device that is small, energy-efficient and reliable enough to potentially move quantum sensors — sensors that use quantum mechanics to outperform conventional technologies — from the lab into commercial use…

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced offshore wind solicitation aimed at developing up to 2,500 Megawatts of renewable energy and complementary multi-port infrastructure investment.The solicitation includes a multi-port strategy and requirement for offshore wind generators to partner with any of the 11 prequalified New York ports to stage, construct, manufacture key components, or coordinate operations and maintenance activities."New York's second offshore wind solicitation seeks up to 2…

The Hepburn and Sons LLC team welcomed David Rice, CAPT David Bauer, USN (Ret), and Gary Loberg as their newest members. David Rice serves as Senior Consultant, Material Science. David Bauer will serve as the Senior Manager, Material Science. Gary Loberg serves as Senior Manager, Advisory Services.David Rice comes to Hepburn and Sons, LLC after a career spanning 45 years at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). During his time at NNS he served as the Manager of Contracted Research & Development and was responsible for Research & Development Programs funded by ONR/ManTech…

Solid-State Welding Processes Being Developed for NASA Manufacturing Programs Could Significantly Reduce Workboat Fabrication CostsWhether it is for a tug boat, cargo vessel, or an offshore supply ship, much of the workboat fabrication industry is located along the Southern Coast of the U.S. But a visit to any one of the workboat facilities in that area (or any other in the country) would reveal antiquated and archaic fabrication processes used seventy years ago. The workboat manufacturing process is very expensive, labor intensive, and has not really changed since World War II.

Maritime safety equipment manufacturer and global service provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has acquired Norsafe, the Norwegian boatbuilder whose lifeboats are used throughout the world. The parties have not disclosed the sales price, and closing is expected October 1, 2018.Established in 1903, Norsafe produces a full range of free-fall lifeboats and fast rescue boats with davits and have supplied over 28,000 lifeboats to the global ship market over the years. Its lifeboat…

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) and Tokyo Century Corporation held the naming ceremony for the newly-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for JERA Co at Sakaide Shipyard of Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI).The new vessel was given her name “Enshu Maru” by Chairman of the Board of Directors Akihisa Mizuno of Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. “Enshu Maru” comes from the name of an old district in western Shizuoka Prefecture named “Tohtoumi” which is part of the service area of Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.Under the operation of LNG Marine Transport Ltd., “Enshu Maru” will mainly serve the transportation route between Freeport LNG project in United States and Japan after delivery…

Bolidt Synthetic Products & Systems' position for decking and flooring in mainstream cruise ship and superyacht markets has been quickly converted into a series of business wins in the fast-emerging polar expedition cruise ship sector.The most recent contract for the Dutch manufacturer’s hardwearing, environmentally friendly and visually attractive products covers the Hurtigruten newbuildings, Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansens, two hybrid propulsion expedition cruise ships under construction at Kleven shipyard in Norway.

The Trump administration this week will unveil the list of Chinese imports targeted for U.S. tariffs to punish Beijing over technology transfer policies, a move expected to intensify trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. The list of $50 billion to $60 billion worth of annual imports is expected to target "largely high-technology" products and it may be more than two months before tariffs take effect, administration officials have said. The U.S. Trade Representative's office needs to unveil the list of products by Friday under President Donald Trump's China tariff proclamation signed on March 22. The tariffs are aimed at forcing changes to Chinese government policies that USTR says results in the "uneconomic" transfer of U.S. intellectual property to Chinese companies.

Over the next decade the maritime sector is likely to see one of the largest changes since sail gave way to steam. Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) are now being considered for various marine roles and the drivers for rapid development are significant. Unmanned or autonomous vessels have passed through the trial and evaluation stage and are now being adopted for civilian and military applications. The maritime sector now has the opportunity to shape technology developments from legislative and end-user standpoints.

China has agreed to scrap export subsidies on a range of products from metals to agriculture and textiles, the United States said on Thursday, in a step by Beijing to reduce trade frictions with Washington. China is to end a program known as its "demonstration bases-common service platform," which provides export subsidies to Chinese companies in seven economic sectors, the U.S. trade representative's office said. Some industry figures were skeptical about the deal's impact, especially regarding steel, which has been a flashpoint with Chinese overcapacity pressuring U.S. suppliers. One source knowledgeable about the agreement said it was not comprehensive enough to do much to help the U.S. steel industry, given its focus was only on specialty products.

Global Marine Technology Trends 2030, released today, is the culmination of a collaborative project between Lloyd’s Register, QinetiQ and the University of Southampton looking at the future for: commercial shipping – without which world trade would cease; for navies – so vital for security; and the health of the oceans – the vital resource that defines the future wellbeing of the planet. In asking ‘what’s next’ GMTT 2030 is an aid to business, policy makers and society in trying to understand the future for the maritime industries and the oceans. Assessing 56 technologies and then focusing on 18 specific areas of technology, GMTT 2030…

Following a full product trial in New Zealand, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) signed its acceptance of the first of two ShipArrestor systems from Miko Marine, making Norway the first country with a system that gives it the ability to protect its shores from the danger of drifting oil tankers and from the disastrous pollution that can result when they run aground. ShipArrestor was put through a complete customer acceptance trial in Tasman Bay, New Zealand using chartered helicopters and vessels.

Following a full product trial in New Zealand, the Norwegian Coastal Administration (NCA) has signed its acceptance of the first of two ShipArrestor systems from Miko Marine, making Norway the first country with a system that gives it the ability to protect its shores from the danger of drifting oil tankers and from the disastrous pollution that can result when they run aground. The newly manufactured ShipArrestor was put through a complete customer acceptance trial in Tasman Bay, New Zealand using chartered helicopters and vessels.

The marine environment is extremely harsh and delivering equipment capable of performing reliably and efficiently requires expert design engineers combined with advanced materials technology. Neil Wright, Managing Director of Wichita Clutch, assesses the requirements of modern marine clutches and brakes, which play such a crucial role in a variety of applications. As marine exploration for oil and gas continues to greater depths, so the equipment used to exploit the new reserves needs to perform on a whole new level.

Finnish marine engineering company Norsepower Oy Ltd. announced that it will bring to the commercial maritime market an auxiliary wind propulsion solution aimed at maximizing cargo ship fuel efficiency, with first sea tests on a Finnish cargo ship slated to begin later this year. Norsepower’s Rotor Sail Solution is an updated version of the Flettner rotor, a concept that dates back to Finnish engineer Sigurd Savonius in the early 1900s. The Flettner rotor gets its name from German engineer Anton Flettner…

Ensuring that the US military is supported by the most advanced, effective technologies and tools is critical to the nation’s defense. To meet this need, Alion Science and Technology, a global engineering, technology and operational solutions company, was awarded a contract valued at up to $3 billion to compete for work supporting essential technical solutions by the Department of Defense Information Analysis Centers (DoD IACs). Under the contract, Alion will compete for technical tasks that include research & development, test & evaluation and advisory services. The Defense Systems Technical Area Task Multiple Award Contract (DS TAT MAC) replaces six Information Analysis Center (IAC) contracts. The IACs were designed as central sources for specific technical knowledge and expertise.

The Ningbo Nottingham International Academy for Marine Economy and Technology (IAMET) has been officially launched at a ceremony at The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). A partnership between The University of Nottingham, Wanli Education Group and Ningbo Municipal Government, the Academy will build on Ningbo’s marine-related activities and support the city’s 12-year plan, a focus of which is the marine economy. The marine economy is one of China’s key strategic development areas.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research (LASR), partner in the Navy's Damage Control for the 21st Century project (DC-21), recently hosted robotics research teams from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to demonstrate the most current developments of advanced autonomous systems to assist in discovery, control, and damage control of incipient fires. Fighting fires…

Growing Italian engineering, testing, inspection, certification and ship classification group RINA has bought the major shareholding in Italy’s leading center for innovation in materials technology, CSM. According to RINA, the move strengthens its expertise in specialized steel processes and products, especially for the energy sector and in innovative waste to energy conversion technologies. RINA CEO Ugo Salerno said, “Bringing CSM into RINA is part of our long-term growth strategy of developing and widening our specialist competence. CSM CEO Mauro Pontremoli said, “Joining RINA gives us the financial platform and market outreach we need to deliver our skills and knowledge globally.

About one year ago, Metso announced a launch of a new line of Neles globe control valves, targeted in the first phase to the Asia Pacific, Chinese and Indian petrochemical, refining and oil and gas industries. Global launch is to follow in 2014. Metso is an international supplier of control valves and services. The addition of the globe valve product line means that Metso's customers in Asia Pacific, China and India will have access to a complete portfolio of control valve solutions backed by world-class product, applications and service expertise.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Germanischer Lloyd (GL) have renewed and expanded their strategic innovation cooperation agreement. They have agreed to jointly identify and develop novel technologies and applications for the shipping industry. The agreement will build upon the cooperation of the two partners which began in 2010 with joint projects that aimed at addressing ship emissions, indoor navigation, advanced materials and wave prediction via satellite. "The maritime industry has begun to take a hard look at the ways in which it operates…