Marine Marketing News

There's an “electrification of the seas” happening for navies around the world.Whether it's to achieve greater military capabilities, operational economics and efficiencies or to be better stewards of the environment.There's a trend moving from direct mechanical drives towards more flexible electrical propulsion systems. Ships can still have the same propellers and engines, but they now have a much more flexible power system architecture that benefits design, operations and sustainment.“With an electric propulsion system, we can connect to the same gas turbine or diesel.

Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels are essential tools in the search for oil  in deeper waters, further from shore-based facilities. Typically, the large FPSO is stationary with a number of wells feeding oil into its holds. The oil can then be pumped off to shuttle tankers that transport it to shore side tanks and refineries.FPSOs are big expensive pieces of equipment. Some of them are converted from ocean going oil tankers. Such is the case with the 333 by 60-meter, very large crude carrier, VLCC Ariake, which was purchased for conversion to an FPSO.

The route to compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 0.5 percent global sulphur cap is unclear for many vessel operators, according to a marine industry survey conducted by ExxonMobil. Some 70 percent of respondents saying that they do not believe the industry is ready for the deadline, highlighting an ongoing sense of confusion and lack of preparedness. The makeup of the marine fuel mix in 2020 and beyond is an area of concern, with wide-ranging views from the industry on how the landscape will evolve.

Classification society Bureau Veritas has issued new rules for the Classification of Offshore Service Vessels and Tugs, including new class notations for pipelay vessels, accommodation units, offshore construction vessels and offshore support vessels. Gijsbert de Jong, Bureau Veritas Marine Marketing and Sales Director, said: “With this new publication Bureau Veritas provides the industry with a clear framework for the classification of offshore service vessels and tugs based on an end-user friendly system of class notations reflecting the terminology used by the industry.

American Commercial Barge Line’s leadership and early adoption of ZF Marine’s z-drive propulsion technology underscores a growing trend on the inland waterways. American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) has been around a long time – since 1915, to be exact – and along the way has developed into one of the dominant players in the inland marine transportation industry. With a passion for safety and a green footprint, ACBL has always embraced technology and innovation. That point was obvious when it made the decision to outfit at least 15 of its towboats with ZF Marine’s Z-drive systems. The Z-Drive installations are but a small part of a $500 million fleet and equipment investment that ACBL has undertaken over the course of the last five years.

The Oregon Department of Transportation has awarded a ConnectOregon grant of $2.6 million to the Port of Portland along with tenant Auto Warehousing Co. to fund part of a $7 million expansion of auto handling facilities in the Rivergate Industrial District near Terminal 6. Plans call for AWC to develop a new 18.9-acre storage and staging yard to support the continued growth of export vehicles. AWC leased 130 acres at Terminal 6 in 2005 and currently handles the import of Hyundai vehicles into the United States and the export of Ford vehicles manufactured in North America bound for China and Korea. Export volumes have grown steadily in the last several years, bringing the total vehicles moved by AWC to 126,000 in the last 12 months.

Leading marine coatings manufacturer, Hempel, announces - after only two and a half years on the market -  its award winning innovative fouling defence product Hempaguard has now been applied as a full vessel coating to 500 ships. This milestone was reached yesterday with the coating of a 61,614 dwt, 2011-built, container vessel. Environmental obligations are at the top of the agenda for all responsible shipping companies and Hempaguard was introduced to the shipping industry against a backdrop of rising bunkering costs, tightening environmental regulations and the introduction of mandatory Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans (SEEMP).

Press release - To reap the benefits of any efficiency improvements, reliable measurement and analytics are essential, both to set baselines and to calculate returns. Today, at Marintec China trade fair, Hempel and DNV GL signed a cooperation agreement to work together to bring customers clear, comprehensible and verifiable analytics to track and assess hull and propeller performance, for reduced fuel costs and a smaller environmental impact. Torsten Büssow, Head of Fleet Performance…

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…

After four groundbreaking years as head of the UK Ship Register (UKSR), Debasis Mazumdar is moving on to become CEO of the London-headquartered St Kitts & Nevis International Ship Registry (SKANReg), with a mission to drive further growth for the ambitious ten-year-old Caribbean flag state. He succeeds Nigel Smith in the role from August 10 and will also take over from him as International Registrar after a familiarization period of three months. Smith, who conceived the SKANReg business plan in 2004 and has led the operation since it became active a year later…

As Hempel approaches its 100th anniversary in 2015, Christian Ottosen, Group Marine Marketing Director, offers insights on the company’s initiatives and drivers. Here’s a hint: protecting ships at sea and protecting the environment. Hempel was created 99 years ago as a specialist marine paints provider. Its founder, JC Hempel, was the first person to develop an antifouling product for a ship’s hull. Although Hempel is now active in other paint sectors such as decorative and protective coatings…

Willard Marine, Inc., has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with SeaArk Marine, Inc., to build all of its commercial and military boat models, of which 7,000 have been sold worldwide since SeaArk Marine’s founding nearly 60 years ago. Based in Monticello, Ark., SeaArk Marine is family owned and was operated by the McClendon family beginning in 1959, and they experienced great success delivering boats to all 50 states, every U.S. held territory, and over 70 countries around the world.

Telerik says that its customer Bhagwan Marine, a leader in servicing the oil and gas industry, together with partner, Glenfield Digital Group, has released the first mobile app for offshore energy vessel management. 'LiveFleet'. Telerik explains that Bhagwan Marine wanted to be the first to leverage technology to promote its business in a bold way, setting it apart from industry-standard four-color printed brochures. The company decided to pursue a mobile app that would organize extensive vessel information and specifications, show vessel location in real-time, offer push notifications, pictures and more. Also the app would help manage Bhagwan Marine’s 700 person workforce, a critical need since 90 percent of staffers work remotely.

Consolidation will provide marine customers with a simpler and more consistent product offering. Global lubricants manufacturer, Castrol, has announced that it will become the sole brand for the BP group’s marine lubricant offering. The decision to consolidate the marine lubricants offerings that are currently provided under both BP Marine and Castrol Marine brands will create a single product and service portfolio that will provide greater simplicity and efficiency for customers.

Castrol Marine has announced it will launch Castrol Cyltech CL 100 ACC in May 2014. The Next Generation cylinder oil represents Castrol’s considered technical response to the corrosion issues that can arise in modern two stroke marine engines, especially when ships are slow steaming. Castrol Cyltech CL 100 ACC (Advanced Corrosion Control) is a newly formulated 100BN lubricant developed for the latest generation of engines. Its introduction to the portfolio follows rigorous testing and trials of new ACC technology that drew on Castrol’s early identification of corrosion in the latest engine types when running on higher sulphur content fuels at part load.

Designed to address the industry issues of predictability in antifouling performance not seen since the days of tributyltin and the difficult issue of slime fouling on ships hulls, International Paint launched two new hull-coating technologies in March, 2013. International Paint said Intercept8000 LPP and Intersleek1100SR were created to improve vessel operating performance, increase efficiency and reduce fuel costs and emissions, and now the manufacturer reports that the two new coatings have already made a significant impact on the market within months of their debut. Since March 2013, Intersleek1100SR has been applied to 52 vessels with 45 contracted and 27 under negotiation across all main classes, including container, cruise, LNG, Ro-Ro, and tanker vessels.

Classification Society Lloyd's Register is restructuring its marine management in China to create a more efficient operating model. The new Marine Manager for Greater China will by Maogen Xue, to be based in Shanghai. In a new area named East China, Lin Li, Area Manager for Shanghai & Nantong, will be responsible for all operational and business issues in Zhejiang Province. He will be supported by his Senior Surveyors-in-Charge, Y.P. Dai, Francesco Ruisi and Xingtai Shi who will continue to manage LR operations in Zhoushan, Shanghai and Nantong respectively.

Lloyd’s Register’s BoxMax service, and accompanying notations, aims to enable operators to load more cargo more flexiblyvby increasing and optimizing container stack weights, taking into account voyage (V) and weather (W) specific conditions. This approach, pioneered by Lloyd’s Register (LR) last year, has now been further improved by voyage and weather dependent criteria being incorporated into the modeling. The result is that the right stow and lashing requirements can be planned for any voyage at any time of year. Following on industry feedback since the announcement last year of new container securing arrangement rules, Lloyd’s Register has now created the BoxMax notation.

Adoption of, and interest in, LNG-as-fuel for ships is gathering pace but challenge is as much in safe bunkering and port operations as in ship design. LNG bunkering guidance is one of the key subjects addressed in LR’s latest Gas Technology Report. The growth in gas production is important for shipping and LR’s gas technology insight in to the issues being faced today is more relevant than ever. "It has been a big year so far for gas in shipping," comments Luis Benito, LR’s Global Marine Marketing Manager.

International Paint, BMT ARGOSS, & NAPA urge IMO committee to develop measurement standards for paint energy-saving & eco claims. International Paint, part of AkzoNobel, the global paints and coatings company, alongside BMT ARGOSS, and NAPA, call on the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to work with independent vessel performance monitoring organisations to develop a standard methodology to determine the energy saving and eco-efficiency impact of clean technologies fitted to new and existing vessels. The move comes amid contention from key industry figures questioning the measurement and validation of fuel saving and efficiency claims made by technology companies.

Jeremy Barnes Appointed GE Marine’s Commercial Marine Marketing Director. GE Marine announces it has appointed Jeremy Barnes as the Commercial Marine Marketing Director. In this role, Barnes is responsible for global commercial market development activities for GE’s full line of LM marine aeroderivative gas turbines, including industry analysis, strategic planning, customer education, and channel development. He is based at GE Marine’s Evendale, Ohio, headquarters. Barnes has gained valuable commercial experience through varied sales and marketing roles across multiple GE businesses.

The National Marine Representatives Association (NMRA) has elected its 2011-2012 officers and board members. One new officer and three new board members are joining the association's leadership group. Chris Kelly of Waters & David Co., New Orleans, Louisiana, is now president. Kathy Munzinger of Munzinger & Co., Springfield, Missouri, has been elected vice president and Ken Smaga of ComMar Sales LLC, Land O' Lakes, Florida, is now treasurer. Brandon Flack of Atlantic Marketing Co., Stonington, Connecticut, joins the officers as NMRA's new secretary.

BMT ARGOSS and International Paint have announced the formation of a partnership that can deliver demonstrable and transparent improvements in performance, efficiency and environmental emissions for the global shipping fleet. By deploying International Paint’s world class fouling control coatings in conjunction with the BMT SMARTSERVICES system, ship owners and operators will be able to benefit from a measurable reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions. The system developed by BMT ARGOSS will independently monitor and report to stakeholders, the performance of their vessels. BMT SMARTSERVICES builds on the successful track record of BMT SMARTPOWER which is an advanced onboard…