Digital Solution News

Rapid technological change, complex regulation and competitive pressures are driving digital transformation in the shipping industry. But navigating a confusing software landscape can be difficult, and sound decision-making is essential to minimize innovation risk, according to OrbitMI.Industry spending has soared in recent years on intelligent process automation solutions geared to boosting efficiency, reducing costs, curbing emissions and improving safety for shipping companies…

Inspection intervals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier membrane tanks could be safely extended thanks to monitoring technology and predictive maintenance, according to a study led by GTT Group, Lloyd’s Register and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited.The International Gas Carriers (IGC) Code and IACS UR Z16 rules require LNG carrier cargo tanks to be inspected internally every five years. This joint study explored whether this interval could be extended…

The loss of the Stellar Daisy in 2017 was a tragic reminder of the importance of wave data to ship design and operation. The vessel sank in the South Atlantic Ocean, with 22 of 24 crewmembers lost. The structural failure of the vessel was attributed to several factors including material fatigue and the forces imposed on the hull as a result of the weather conditions.Survey requirements for some vessel types have since been tightened, but even before this tragedy, work was underway to evaluate the wave data used to determine ship structural integrity requirements.

Accelleron has signed a new three-year agreement to deliver turbocharger services to Starlite Ferries Inc. The passenger ferry operator, located in the Philippines, has extended the scope as well as the duration of their Turbo LifecycleCare agreement, adding one further vessel to the seven previously covered. Furthermore, Accelleron’s digital engine optimization solution Tekomar Xpert is newly implemented on all eight vessels.Starlite Ferries is one of the leading shipping companies in the Philippines, serving daily traffic of around 10,000 passengers and more than 1,500 vehicles.

We’ve had the means for a while, now we have the incentive to crush the data siloes that are holding back voyage optimization.Like kids in the sandpit, owners and charterers are being forced to share, perhaps more than they really want to. The IMO and the EU, for starters, are setting data-driven decarbonization rules, and those in the sandpit are having to respond.Ship managers and data analysis specialists are developing technical solutions to boost transparency with the aim of facilitating shared responsibility on CO2 emissions, but it’s no easy task.

More than remote witnessing, more than remote data analysis, remote survey techniques are now going to aid the shift to full vessel autonomy.The technology that enables a robot to safely navigate an environment it has no prior knowledge of is called Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). “It is the key to autonomy for any aspiring can-do inspection robot.” That’s according to ScoutDI, a participant in the REDHUS project led by DNV which is developing a prototype inspection drone.SLAM is not a specific, copyrighted piece of technology.

French engineering frim GTT said it has obtained approval in principle (AIP) from classification society Lloyd’s Register for its maintenance optimization solution for liquefied natural gas (LNG) membrane tanks.The AIP has been granted, in the Framework of Class Survey, for the use of an innovative digital solution for sloshing activity assessment, in order to optimize the LNG membrane tank maintenance. The approval project was conducted in close collaboration with Shell International…

Pavilion Energy and DNV have said they have developed a fit-for-purpose LNG bunker digital solution for employment in the Port of Singapore.The companies said they'd developed a tailored digital bunkering platform ‘FuelBoss’ to meet local requirements."As a fully digitalized end-to-end bunkering solution, FuelBoss will improve process integrity, data transparency, and operational efficiency for customers. This includes digital checklists and electronic Bunker Delivery Notes developments…

French engineering firm GTT reports it has been granted an approval in principle (AIP) from classification society Lloyd’s Register for a new digital solution, “POWER” (Prediction of Operational Windows to Enable Regas operations).POWER has been designed to optimize the regasification operations of offshore units (FNLG or FSRU) and the transhipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) between these units and LNG carriers in areas subject to difficult sea conditions.This AIP confirms that POWER facilitates decision-making and improves the safety…

BC Ferries is trialing Marine Learning Systems' SkillGrader mariner skills assessment application as part of ongoing efforts to advance passenger and crew safety. Developed by Vancouver software company Marine Learning Systems, SkillGrader is an enterprise solution that helps vessel operators quickly and objectively assess the skills of officers and crew, both in teams and individually. It replaces subjective and cumbersome paper-based assessments with a digital solution that runs on both tablets and mobile devices.

ABB and shipping company Wallenius Marine today introduced OVERSEA, a digital fleet support center available as a service that aims to help shipowners, operators and managers enhance the efficiency and sustainability of vessel operations.Engineered to enable measurable performance improvements for vessels, leading to decreased fuel consumption and reduced emissions, OVERSEA helps address such aspects of vessel performance as hull and machinery, speed and route planning, as well as emissions and carbon intensity reporting.

The SafeNav (Safer Navigation) maritime safety project, co-funded by the European Commission and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), was officially launched on September 1.The EUR 8 million project aims to beat a path towards safer and more secure bridge navigation today while moving toward tomorrow’s world of remote operations and autonomous shipping. “The ambition and objective of the project is to develop and test a highly innovative collision-prevention solution that will significantly reduce the probability of collisions and groundings…

Tru-Marine launches TruCare, designed to transform the technical management of marine turbocharger maintenance and repairs.“TruCare is a disruptive digitization approach in managing asset maintenance onboard vessels in a completely different way," said James Loke, Group Chief Executive Officer, Tru-Marine. "More importantly, it is our response to the urgency of decarbonization imposed by world maritime and the Singapore government’s raised climate ambition to net zero by or around 2050.”Designed for turbochargers onboard all ocean-going vessels…

ION Geophysical Corporation announced its climate-smart, digital platform, Marlin SmartPort, has successfully fulfilled its role to help monitor greenhouse gas emissions in the Data-Led Emissions Management (D-LEMA) project.The D-LEMA project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) launched in March 2021, funded by the Department for Transport, and delivered in partnership with Innovate UK. As part of the CMDC, the Department allocated more than £23 million…

Samson has launched ICARIA for Workboat, a full suite of digital services dedicated to tug line management. ICARIA for Workboat includes a new Inspection App designed to ease usage and condition data collection, an online portal CONNECT designed for trend and data analysis, and the company's online CLASSROOM, which includes courses designed to build crew competencies.ICARIA for Workboat will help users track line usage and maintenance, document damage, and provide the data to make line retirement decisions.The new Samson app available for iOS…

MO4, a company providing digital twin solutions for offshore wind farm O&M and turbine and installation vessels, has won a 10-year contract with North Star, a company soon to have a fleet of service operations vessels (SOV) of offshore wind.The contract is for MO4's propriety digital twin and artificial intelligence (AI) decision support software package, which will be utilized on all four of North Star's service operations vessel (SOV) fleet.The four hybrid-powered ships are bound for the Dogger Bank Wind Farm…

ABB Turbocharging has launched a new digital solution designed to offer shipowners simplified management of propulsion efficiency and CO2 emissions monitoring and reporting, and potentially unlock up to 20% fuel savings.The new digital suite, called Tekomar XPERT marine, comprises three modules—engine, hull and propeller, and emissions—which, combined, provide actionable insights into ship performance to help shipping companies make better operating decisions and potentially reduce fuel usage. This, in turn, enables vessels to achieve improved carbon intensity index (CII) ratings.

The unique mix of data and digital solutions approach developed by safety culture specialist SAYFR has been given added momentum from the Nordic venture fund Corinthian Venture Partners (CVP).CVP has invested nearly $3m in SAYFR’s share issue to scale up SAYFR’s SaaS offering. This solution comprises unique data insights and a set of digital products which improve organizational safety culture, improvements that can help to save lives and reduce accidents and environmental pollution.

Swedish tanker operator Terntank has said it has taken delivery of TERN FORS tanker.Designed by Terntank and Kongsberg Maritime CM AS, TERN FORS is the second of a series of two 15000 DWT chemical and product tankers, that combine LNG/LNG engine-powered engines, are 100% biofuel compatible, emit no greenhouse gases or carbon particulates during port operations and facilitate enhanced digital solutions for Just-in-Time management."We are thrilled to announce that TERN FORS has been delivered today from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard…

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has this week published the full set of questions that may be asked during a SIRE 2.0 tanker inspection, when its new Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE) inspection regime is implemented during Q2 2022. The organization's long-established SIRE inspection regime is being overhauled with the introduction of tablet-based inspections, a more comprehensive inspection process and enhanced policies and procedures bringing significant…

Classification society ABS announced it has appointed digital product veteran Paul Sells to lead its global digital solutions development.“Paul joins our team to continue building on ABS’ strong track record of digital innovation to support our clients in all aspects of their business: improved safety, operational excellence, and sustainability,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS chairman, president and CEO. “Paul’s visionary leadership will solidify our position as industry leaders by providing strategic direction to enhance and expand our existing digital and decarbonization capabilities.

Technology group Wärtsilä reports it has signed an Optimized Maintenance Agreement with the Canadian ferry operator Societé des Traversiers du Quebec (STQ). The five year long-term agreement covers two vessels, the Jos Deschenes II and the Armand Imbeau II, each of which operates with Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel engines. A similar agreement was signed earlier covering another STQ ferry, the F.A. Gauthier. The latest contract was signed in October 2021 and carries an option to extend…

Many shipowners are making hay while the sun shines as high charter rates in some market segments have fueled revenue - but they could reap trouble by delaying yard stays for ballast water treatment (BWT) system retrofits as the clock ticks on installation time, according to supplier Optimarin.“There is definitely a commercial rationale for carrying out retrofits in the near term rather than waiting due to the huge backlog of vessels that need to be retrofitted over the next few years to gain IMO compliance…