Control Technologies News

If the global commercial fleet reduced its speed by 10%, it would reduce underwater radiated noise by 40%, but nothing’s ever that simple.The main thing holding the shipping industry back from reducing its underwater radiated noise (URN) is not a lack of appropriate technology. It’s argued that many of the technologies being implemented today to reduce fuel consumption also reduce noise. So, the noise reductions could essentially come at no net cost to the shipowner, but there’s a lack of regulation and a lack of targeted incentives…

Franklin, La. shipbuilder Gulf Craft LLC in November kicked off construction on new Incat Crowther-designed passenger ferry for the U.S Virgin Islands.The new USCG Subchapter-K approved, 104-foot (32-metre) vessel will service the busy tourist and commuter route between Red Hook on the island of St. Thomas, and Cruz Bay on the island of St. John. Currently, two other Incat Crowther-designed 28-metre vessels service this route.The simple yet stylish new ferry will be designed with…

Boston-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and advanced perception systems, announced Monday that classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) has granted type approval to the company’s commercial wireless remote-control helm system.Type approval from Bureau Veritas means that the wireless control technology embedded in both Sea Machines’ SM200 and SM300 systems has undergone rigorous third-party testing and certification to meet the stringent demands…

As the global cruise industry returns to service, DNV delivers a project for a UVD Robot from Green Instruments and prepares for further demand increase of its Product Assurance service tailored to infection prevention and control for the maritime industry as the benefit of the service is realized.COVID-19 hit the maritime industry hard, in particular, the cruise sector. Since the start of the pandemic, DNV had been called on by vessel owners and operators to support their efforts to address the safety of their passengers, crew, and destinations.

New Zealand companies HamiltonJet and EV Maritime have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build advanced composite, battery-powered commuter ferries.Their cooperation was formalized at HamiltonJet’s Christchurch headquarters in May, in the presence of Hon Dr Megan Woods, New Zealand’s Minister of Energy & Resources and Minister of Research Science & Innovation.With the aim of decarbonizing the harbor cities of the world, the firms are seeking to develop one of the world’s first truly high-speed…

Autonomous vessel technology developer Sea Machines Robotics announced Wednesday it has closed a new $15 million financing round with significant participation by America's largest military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Boston-based tech company said it expects the investment and associated partnership with HII will accelerate the deployment of self-piloting technologies for unmanned naval boats and ships as the defense shipbuilding and technology giant continues…

A new project, FLO-MAR, has attracted funding from MarRI-UK’s Clean Maritime Call to assess the feasibility of using flow batteries in vessels to enable zero-emission marine propulsion and auxiliary power. Four UK organizations will work together on the project to investigate how the design of electric and hybrid ships, from ferries through to tugs and wind farm vessels, can be optimized to accommodate flow batteries and to assess the advantages this technology offers in comparison with existing lithium-ion batteries and hydrogen fuel-cells.

Seaspan Ship Management selected Alfa Laval to help resolve steam balance and redundancy issues connected to sulfur-compliant fuels. The solution – an integrated steam boiler plant comprising oil-fired steam production, waste heat recovery, advanced control and connectivity – will be implemented on eight Seaspan-owned large container ships.Prior to the IMO global sulfur cap’s entry into force, Seaspan Ship Management made the decision to work with sulfur-compliant fuels on its container vessels.

A hydrographic survey vessel will operate in multiple areas of the Wadden Sea, commanded from shore by personnel in an office in Amersterdam.U.S.-based Sea Machines Robotics, a developer of autonomous command and advanced perception systems, said Thursday that Dutch company Deep BV will equip one of its vessels with a Sea Machines SM300 autonomous control system to enable remote command of the vessel, including navigation and positioning, the control of on-board auxiliaries and sensors, and ship-to-shore data flow.

When discussing the arrival of autonomous workboats, many – especially those developing the technologies that enable them – say it’s is not a matter of if, but when. In fact, autonomous harbor tugs are already being put to the test in Singapore, where authorities hope to establish the technological infrastructure to enable fully autonomous ship operations. In the U.S., an autonomous vessel was shown to be able to respond to marine oil spills.But is autonomy really the future?

ABB will equip Japan-built self-elevating wind turbine installation vessel with its power and control technologies.The company said Tuesday that the 28,000-GT jack-up unit on order from builder Japan Marine United Corp, and due for delivery to Shimizu Corp. in 2022, will feature ABB's closed ring configuration for the vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) operations This will enable safe and predictable performance with high tolerance in the event of the power plant fault."Whether applied to newbuilds or retrofits…

Ship owners increasingly face complex investment decisions as they try to navigate the most efficient course to the low-carbon future. Ever since the IMO set the industry’s ambitious emission-reduction targets for 2030 and 2050, owners have been inundated with information about future fuels and technologies that may, or may not, ultimately lower the carbon footprints of their fleet.Some of the new technologies hold promise, but the day-to-day viability of too many of them remains unproven; the same can be said for many of the potential fuels.

The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) governs the intensity of navigation lights, requiring a minimum intensity in candelas according to a prescribed intensity formula. Changes are coming.IMO Resolution MSC.253 (83) for larger vessels sets performance standards for navigation lights, navigation light controller and associated equipment, requiring a masthead light, sidelights and a stern light installed on board a ship not less than 50 meters in length should be duplicated or be fitted with duplicate lamps…

Mathias Rusch, Director of the Marine business unit at SKF explains what trends are currently shaping the industry, what future challenges are emerging and how operators can manage the flood of data that is coming out of the digitalization revolution.Two major trends that shipowners and operators are currently dealing with are persistently low freight rates, which have been significantly depressing shipowners’ earnings for a number of years and the requirements concerning emissions into both air and water that continue to grow.

Pacific Green Technologies, the developer of emission control technologies that remove pollutants from marine engine, announced the appointment of Frode Helland-Evebo as Vice President, Marine Direct Sales, a new position at the Company, effective September 1, 2019.The owner of the ENVI-Marine and ENVI-Clean Exhaust Gas Scrubbing Systems said in a press release that Frode is a sales professional with 24 years’ experience in roles with leading Scandinavian and international corporations, including Autronica (a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation), Honeywell, Consilium and Zenitel.Frode joins from the international exhaust gas scrubbing business…

Innovation is driving advanced monitoring and control technologies for environmental and safety compliance in the marine sector, says Gérard Baldellou, marine business unit manager at CMR Group.The marine diesel power sector continues to face significant challenges, particularly in areas where emissions resulting from combustion inside engines, along with fuel consumption levels need reducing. Escalating operating costs, tighter margins and pressures in the oil and gas sector signal challenging times for ship owners and fleet operators.

UK classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined with ST Engineering Electronics (STEE), Mitsui & Co., and Smart City Solutions to develop the world’s largest autonomous vessels.The partners will collaborate on the ‘Development of Ocean-going Autonomous Navigation System on a Marine Asset’, the MoU forms the foundation of the MPA-funded ‘World’s Largest Ocean-Going Autonomous Vessel Programme’, which was also announced today.“LR’s involvement in this project builds on the capability and experience already gained from our partnership in other industry-leading and world first autonomous projects,” said Andy McKeran, LR Commercial Director Marine & Offshore.“However…

Hutchison Ports Thailand (HPT), the largest container terminal operator in Thailand, has officially opened Terminal D at Laem Chabang Port, , the most advanced deep-sea container terminal in the country.Dr. Pailin Chuchottaworn, Deputy Minister of Transport, presided together over the official opening of Terminal D at Laem Chabang Port. Alongside the Deputy Minister of Transport, representatives from government agencies, the private sectors and other distinguished guests were also in attendance.One of the most notable features of the new terminal is that it will be the first and only terminal at the Port to feature remote control technologies.Terminal…

Extensions, type approvals and next steps were all prominent on the agenda.September’s Ballast Water Management and Technology North America conference saw USCG staff from the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards and the Marine Safety Center giving conference attendees an update on various aspects of the Coast Guard’s ballast water program. Following is a recap of those presentations for our readers who were unable to attend:Ms. Regina Bergner and Mr. Matthew Reudelhuber with the Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, and Lt.

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…

Transportation electrification (TE) is starting to impact California like no other state, maybe unlike any other place in the world. Essentially, and eventually, TE depends on replacing gasoline and diesel engines with renewably generated electric power. This could include just about every car, truck, fork lift, drayage vehicle, train and ship in California. For the freight industry, including the maritime sector, TE presents complex challenges. In recent months, CA has started wrestling with “heavy-duty” freight transportation electrification.

Parker Bestobell Marine, a  supplier of cryogenic valves and part of Parker, a global leader in motion and control technologies, has secured a nine vessel order,  worth $5m, making it the single biggest order that the company to date. The contract is with DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) in South Korea to supply cryogenic globe and the vessels are part of a series of 15 liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers destined for the Yamal gas field in Russian Siberia. Parker Bestobell Marine has already secured orders for the other six vessels.

Krill Systems Inc. was founded as a software development company focusing on accurate vessel fuel consumption measurement and efficient data transmission. In 2011, identifying demand from commercial marine markets for accurate, reliable, fuel management and emissions control technologies, Krill became a ‘system integrator’ with the ability to supply a broad spectrum of fuel flow meters and other accessory components. Commercial clients also encouraged Krill to provide solutions to accurately measure and report Bunker fuel on vessels and measurement of bunker flow at on-shore facilities.