Control Devices News

Wärtsilä said it booked an order in February to provide a range of propulsion solutions for the Finnur Fridi, a new pelagic fishing trawler under construction at the Karstensen shipyard in Denmark. The vessel is being built for Faroe Island based Krossbrekka P/F, a member of the Vardin group.The 88-meter-long trawler will operate with a Wärtsilä 31 main engine, recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most efficient four-stroke diesel engine. The engine will be fitted…

Retrofits of new features into existing ports cranes can produce operational efficiency and safety gains not included on cranes delivered 15-20 years ago, including Ship-to-Shore (STS) Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) and Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) types. Here, Dmitry Lapin, Knowledge and Development Manager, Port Services, Konecranes, looks at retrofit options proven in applications internationally.Sooner or later, the owners of ports cargo handling equipment are going to face a number of technical and organizational questions about the future.

It is often difficult to push through the federal government morass to focus on the issues that actually matter to the inland operator. While 2020 inevitably will be a contentious year in American politics, it is critical to stay focused on the items that will have direct impact on the U.S. maritime industry. From a potential new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill to potential Jones Act challenges, 2020 will be an important year for inland operators to stay politically engaged.Work on WRDAJanuary marked the beginning of Congress’ work in earnest toward introducing a new WRDA bill.

The hard-fought passage of VIDA promises a simpler, more unified and logical set of environmental standards related to the discharge of myriad vessel streams. Industry wanted it, and now it is here. Will it deliver, and if so, when? That depends on who you talk to.As most commercial maritime operators know, US ballast water regulations made a sharp turn last December. That’s when President Trump signed the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018.That legislation contained Title IX – the “Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA)…

"With the conversion of SAJIR, we are the first shipping company worldwide to convert a container vessel of this size to natural gas propulsion."  Richard von Berlepsch, Managing Director Fleet Management at Hapag-LloydIn its more than 170 years of existence, the Hamburg-based Hapag Lloyd  has used all kinds of solid and liquid fuels to generate energy for the propulsion of its ships. And now the shipping company has announced that it intends to convert the propulsion system of its 15…

On December 4, President Trump signed into law the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (S. 140). Title IX of the legislation is the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 (VIDA). VIDA will largely cut through a morass of conflicting and confusing requirements that have developed over a number of years relating to discharges into US waters. This purpose of this new legislation is to: (1) provide for the establishment of uniform and environmentally sound standards and requirements for the management of discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel…

The vessel "Dagestan" with a length of 154.5 and a width of 18.3 meters was built in 1984 in Pula, the former Yugoslavia (currently Croatia). It was decided to repair and upgrade the ferry "Dagestan", withdrawn from operations 5 years ago. Modernization of the ferry, which is one of the unique vessels of its time, was completely executed by the engineering and technical personnel of the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company at the "Zigh" Ship Repair and Construction Yard. It should be noted that the project of modernization, the first in the history of the Shipping Company, was also developed by the personnel of the Shipping Company. Whole ferry management systems have been modernized. One of the main works is performed in the engine room.

Imagine a settlement over falsifying emission levels in another transportation sector dropping money onto your deck. Who knew? But it’s true. The $2.9 billion settlement fund Volkswagen agreed to capitalize for distribution across all 50 states, tribal lands and Puerto Rico, as a result of “dieselgate,” its criminal dodging of required auto emission levels, presents an unparalleled opportunity to maritime companies that want to move their noxious diesel engines up a couple of EPA notches, and stick someone else with close to half the bill or more.

Netherlands based Hatenboer-Water said it will supply water treatment equipment for two new cruise vessels currently under construction for Saga Cruises at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. The equipment, which conditions fresh water derived from bunkering in the harbor or seawater desalination, is an onboard solution for safe drinking water. Once stored, fresh water is post-treated in two stages: hardening by neutralizing filters and disinfection with a chlorine product. Bunkered fresh water is disinfected at the intake. If required, pH is adjusted.

It was the biggest assignment Bosch Rexroth in Boxtel had ever faced, and it took more than two years to carry it out. But they seized with both hands the opportunity to research and supply the hydraulic components and associated local controls for the innovative lifting system on board the Pioneering Spirit, conceived and developed by Allseas. The request came from Allseas, an offshore specialist, or in fact from founder and owner Edward Heerema. A specially designed ship to lift entire offshore platforms off their piles in a single movement…

With an eye towards environmental compliance, operational efficiencies and the bottom line, the Marine News top propulsion providers touch all bases. Sitting down to select the best engine and propulsion manufacturers in the workboat marine space isn’t necessarily the easiest task in the world. Nor is it a linear exercise. On the other hand, these Marine News featured firms – Caterpillar Marine, Volvo Penta and Yanmar – all have more in common than you might think. With a laser focus on their collective customer’s bottom lines and addressing that concern through technology, environmental compliance and economical but powerful performance, each satisfies the niche in its own particular fashion. See if you don’t agree.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)—the unified and recognized voice of seaports in the Americas — today is mourning the loss of one of Ohio’s most prominent politicians and citizens, George Voinovich, who died in his sleep early Sunday morning just weeks before his 80th birthday. According to AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle, the former Cleveland mayor, Ohio state representative and Ohio governor who later became one of the most popular U.S. senators of his generation, was instrumental in helping America’s ports enhance air quality in their communities. “Sen. Voinovich was a unifier who represented the best aspects of a dedicated public servant,” said Mr. Nagle. “Along with Brian Mormino, Sen.

Installed and on the water, Yanmar’s 6AYA-ET engines are already providing value on the U.S. Gulf Coast. This fully mechanical engine is anything but low-tech. More than 60 years of worldwide experience plus an engine designed specifically for the United States market has made a winning combination for YANMAR’s new EPA compliant commercial engine application. The Push boat Sherry L, owned by E Squared Marine Services, LLC from Texas and repowered by Laborde Products, now operates even more quietly and with better fuel consumption thanks to its new 6AYAM-ET engines. That’s only part of the story, however. With a need for 24 hours of continuous operation each day pushing inland barges from Channelview to Galveston and on Gulf intercoastal waterways…

ExxonMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) today announced that ExxonMobil has awarded a global commercial license for Immersive 3D Operator Training Simulator technology to co-developer EON Reality Inc. The innovative technology incorporates ultra-realistic, multi-angle immersive virtual reality for training process operators and engineers in oil and gas production, processing and transportation facilities. The technology enables effective training to take place in a safe and controlled environment. The new technology also supports the development of simulators that combine dynamic process training and fully functional 3D models. These complex models include interactive 3D objects such as rotating valves…

YANMAR America has introduced its new EPA Tier III compliant commercial marine diesel engine. Rated at 755 mHP and 1,900 RPM, the new 20.38-liter 6AYAM-ET uses a fully mechanical control system for easy servicing and reliable performance, the manufacturer said. The class-approved four-cycle, in-line six-cylinder 6AYAM-ET offers low fuel consumption and a continuous rating suitable for river push boats, tugboats, trawlers and other applications with uninterrupted operations or load cycles.

GE pioneers a friendlier operating system for mariners. GE’s Power Conversion business is bringing enhanced operability to the company’s Dynamic Positioning (DP) system. According to GE, the latest version is more energy efficient, better integrated and more mariner friendly. Defining that concept further, Paul English, marine leader of GE Power Conversion, told MarineNews in May, “We are giving ship control back to the mariners.” GE leverages more than 40 years of experience in its effort to reduce the burden of the technology on the operator. It’s a new direction in DP. It’s the mariner’s DP. GE’s latest DP offering is mariner-focused, enhancing situational awareness and rebalancing attention from system management to true seamanship.

While the Integrated Bridge increasingly plays a bigger role in various shipbuilding programs, in many cases the degree of integration can be limited and does not allows a fully functional integration of different navigation systems or further ship systems on the bridge. In tandem there has been an increasing demand for higher level integrated bridge systems, which was reasonably driven by more sophisticated and safety-sensitive vessels such as cruise ships, specialized vessels and few oil tankers.

GE’s Power Conversion business debuted its latest Dynamic Positioning (DP) system at OTC. It is more energy efficient, better integrated and—most importantly—more mariner friendly, GE said. Since they were introduced some 50 years ago, DP systems have become increasingly complex in their configurations and in their operation. Sensors have become more sophisticated, there are more of them and the same level of increased complexity applies to the electrical and propulsion systems.

Workboats, emergency vessels and military craft that operate in rough conditions require top-notch searchlights. With superior light output and heavy-duty construction, XR series Xenon Searchlights and Solar-Ray Searchlights from Perko are the top choices of marine professionals. Xenon-filled lamps in Perko's XR series produce an extremely far-reaching, narrow beam of intensely bright white light. The 15" short arc Xenon XR operates continuously at 500W to produce 35 million candlepower over 3 nautical miles.

Ballast water was first recognized by the scientific community as a vector for transfer of potentially invasive marine species more than 30 years ago. It took a number of years, and acceptance that zebra mussels had reached the Great Lakes in the ballast water of ships arriving from the Black Sea, before the maritime industry generally acknowledged that they were part of the problem. Initially, high seas ballast water exchange was the only available means for removing potentially invasive species from the tanks. That methodology presented risks to the stability of the ship (and the safety of the crew), as illustrated by the near-loss of the car carrier Cougar Ace in 2006 in waters of the North Pacific Ocean just south of the Aleutian Chain.

Working on the high seas exposes all marine workers to life-and-death situations that landlocked individuals rarely face. One brief mistake or equipment failure can literally sink the ship. To prevent catastrophic losses, international rules and regulations, port authorities and insurance companies govern maritime safety for all types of vessels. Proper sea vessel and marine labeling improves safety by clearly marking all hazards, pipes and equipment. Labeling also explains proper maintenance and directions for startup procedures.

CGGVeritas has conducted first BroadSeis Surveys offshore Shenzen in the South China Sea. The deepwater surveys of two areas offshore Shenzhen in the east of the South China Sea were awarded to CGGVeritas by Chinese seismic services company, COSL (China Oilfield Services Limited), on behalf of its parent company, the Chinese national oil company, CNOOC. Data processing is already underway in the CGGVeritas Singapore center and is expected to be delivered by the end of 2012. The…

At the SMM 2012 exhibition in Hamburg, Lilaas debuted a family of innovative new marine control devices; innovation leveraging the storied company’s in-house software solutions and packaged in an elegant yet functional design. The marine industry has many with small, innovative family owned companies, and it is no coincidence that more than a few hail from Norway. Lilaas is a leading supplier of control levers and joysticks for the shipping industry, a family-owned Norwegian venture that unveiled two new product series: a new range of electronic levers and an improved joystick.