Federal Ministry Of Transport News

Dutch marine battery system supplier EST-Floattech has delivered 1092kWh of battery capacity for new, full-electric ferry Wellingdorf in a contract with system integrator Holland Ship Electric. The zero-emission vessel, the fifth in a series of six hybrid and full-electric vessels for Kiel-based tug and ferry operator SFK, was designed and built by Holland Shipyards Group. The last (hybrid) vessel Schilksee is expected to be delivered early 2026.Earlier this year Holland Shipyards Group…

The John T. Essberger Group said it has signed final agreements with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard Dingheng Co. Ltd to build four 6,600 DWT stainless steel parcel chemical tankers with options for an additional four vessels.The IMO Type II chemical tankers will be Finnish/Swedish 1A ice class certified with dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion and the ability of using shore power connection during cargo operations. According to Essberger, the ships' optimized hull…

Carnival Corporation announced its Germany-based brand, AIDA Cruises, has partnered with leaders from the maritime and engineering sectors to pilot the world’s first fuel cell system designed to power large passenger vessels. As early as 2021, AIDA Cruises will trial this innovative fuel technology on AIDAnova, becoming the cruise industry’s first brand to trial fuel cells on a large cruise ship.The research project, named “Pa-X-ell2,” is designed to develop fuel cells that are powered by hydrogen derived from methanol…

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies will act as a technology partner in the Pa-X-ell2 project. The goal is to develop a new generation of fuel cells for use on seagoing vessels. For the future project on sustainable, CO2-free mobility at sea, the largest shipyard for the construction of cruise ships – Meyer Werft in Papenburg – and the global technology specialist Freudenberg Sealing Technologies intend to equip future generations of cruise ships with fuel cell propulsion. Besides Meyer Werft…

Germany is the latest country to accede to International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s treaty for safe and environmentally-sound ship recycling – the Hong Kong Convention.The Convention covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of ships, and preparation for ship recycling in order to facilitate safe and environmentally sound recycling, without compromising the safety and operational efficiency of ships.Under the treaty, ships to be sent for recycling are required to carry an inventory of hazardous materials, specific to each ship. Ship recycling yards are required to provide a "Ship Recycling Plan", specifying the manner in which each ship will be recycled, depending on its particulars and its inventory.Mr.

The  American/British-owned German cruise line AIDA Cruises announced that it is planning the first practical trial of fuel cells (battery power) aboard an AIDA ship by 2021.The trial will take place in cooperation with Meyer Werft within the scope of the ‘Pa-X-ell 2’ project promoted by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.The German brand of Carnival Corporation said in a press note that it has been focusing for many years in research into and the use of alternative propulsion technologies and environmental technology together with its global partners.As part of its Green Cruising Strategy, for instance…

Port of Hamburg is taking a further step toward improving air quality at its port. Innovative technology developed right here in the city is set to enable large and very large container ships to switch off their auxiliary diesel supplies during lay time and instead draw the power they need for on-board operations from a new kind of mobile generator.Becker Marine Systems, Hapag-Lloyd AG and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) have been testing the new technology as part of a joint pilot project since the start of the year. Technology supplier Becker Marine Systems developed the mobile power generator, then partnered with Hapag-Lloyd and HHLA for the test phase.

The world’s first containership retrofitted with a liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine was launched on August 23, 2017. Since May 2017, the 1,000 TEU containership Wes Amelie, owned by Wessels Reederei based in Harem/Ems, has undergone an engine conversion at the German Dry Docks in Bremerhaven, and from this point forward will run on LNG fuel. Experts from the Hamburg based company Nauticor were selected to conduct the vessel’s initial LNG bunkering at the Kühlhauskai in the Port of Bremerhaven. In total, four trucks of LNG were brought to the German port and transferred to the vessel.

A double digit multi-million Euro contract was signed by Kongsberg Maritime and Fassmer Werft on April 4th, 2017, following the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency’s (BSH) approval of Kongsberg to deliver a unique technical solution based on its ground-breaking Integrated Vessel Concepts for the newbuild research vessel Atair II, which will be built at the Fassmer yard in Berne. Kongsberg's Integrated Research Vessel concept will unite operational hydrographic and energy functions on board…

Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) and the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) signed a common agreement on safety standards for the carriage of passengers in the Flensborg Fjord. This agreement clearly defines the scope of safety standards to be met by passenger vessels and ferries. For instance, vessels must be equipped with lifejackets, life rafts and the necessary fire safety. If these requirements are met, Germany inland water way vessels will be allowed to carry passengers, use Danish ports and offer services on both the Danish and German part of the Flensborg Fjord. Brian Mikkelsen, Minister for Industry…

Inland navigation has a lot of potential in the Baltic Sea Region, even though the geographical and administrative conditions for inland navigation differ from country to country. This was highlighted by the panel that debated the future of inland navigation in Sweden as part of the 7th Strategy Forum for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR). The Strategy Forum was organized in Stockholm and gathered together over 1200 participants to discuss future challenges and opportunities in the Baltic Sea Region. The panel was organized by Interreg Baltic Sea Region project EMMA that aims to enhance inland navigation in the Baltic Sea Region. The panellists stressed that inland water transport is cost-efficient, safe and environmentally friendly compared to truck and train transport.

Historically, women have played only a minor role in shipping, shipbuilding and related areas up to the present, but decision makers in the industry are now beginning to recognize their potential in view of the current shortage of skilled people. Women are a major focus at the Maritime Career Market held at SMM. A highlight is presentation of the “Personality of the Year 2016” award by the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA). More women means more profit, as shown in a study by the Peterson Institute in Washington published in February 2016. The more women a company employs in middle and senior management, the better its earnings. The rule of thumb is that an increase in female executives from zero to 30 percent boosts profitability by 15 percent.

Korean Register (KR) - an IACS member classification society – is now authorized as a Recognized Organization (RO) by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure to perform statutory services for flagged vessels. Separately, KR has also been authorized to provide similar services for flagged vessels on behalf of the government of Togo. KR is now able to conduct surveys and audits and issue certificates to the flagged ships from these two countries for SOLAS and MARPOL. KR continues to expand its statutory services on behalf of flag administrations. These latest authorizations demonstrate that KR’s technical competence is being recognized and valued across the world and that KR is regarded as a reliable…

At the request of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs  (BMVBS), Interschalt joined the German delegation attending the London meeting of the 43rd Subcommittee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in May 2012. Serving as a consultant, Interschalt, which is headquartered in Schenefeld, Germany (near Hamburg), made  important suggestions and proposals aimed at improving basic training in the area of the ECDIS (Electronic Chart  Display and Information System). The gerneric ECDIS training is build on the revised ECDIS Model Course 1.27. Since July 1, 2012, an ECDIS has been mandatory on all newly built passenger ships with more than 500 gross  tonnage (GT) and newly built tankers with more than 3,000 GT.

HATLAPA is playing an active role in helping to protecting our coastlines. The manufacturer‟s experience in the development and production of steering gear, compressors, deck machinery and offshore winches has led to a 2.5 million Euro order for deck machinery, steering gear and compressors for the Nordic. Initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, the construction of the emergency tug vessel was undertaken by three ship owners in the German Bight – Bugsier, Fairplay Towage and Unterweser – joined by Wiking Helikopter, a local specialist helicopter company.

Gas as ship fuel was the topic of the March 18 GL First Class Exchange Forum which highlighted GL's approach towards the environmental concerns of the maritime industry. The forum addressed all aspects related to LNG as an alternative ship fuel. Invited speakers presented the LNG supply chain development from a ship owner's and gas terminal operator's view. Regulatory developments at IMO were explained by a representative of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Germany. Details about a joint industry project on a gas-fuelled container feeder vessel were discussed by representatives of Germanischer Lloyd (GL)…

The Federal Ministry of Transport has decided to order a fourth SWATH Pilot Vessel from Abeking & Rasmussen following successful operation of the first three SWATH@A&R vessels for pilot service in the German Bight and the Elbe Approach. Since commissioning of the Elbe Range Pilot System in 1999/2000, shipborne pilot transfer increased significantly. The efficiency of the "Elbe Range" system resulted in cost savings of several million dollars each year, making the decision much easier for the new 82-ft. (25-m) SWATH@A&R Pilot Tender which will be delivered in Autumn 2004 and will extend the Elbe Range System up to the outer Weser Approach.