Onboard Applications News

H2SITE’s AMMONIA to H2POWER technology for ammonia cracking onboard has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR).The technology is an onboard containerized solution that produces fuel-cell-quality hydrogen using ammonia. This hydrogen can then be used by hydrogen fuel cells that can contribute to the vessel’s electrical power, or the hydrogen could be consumed directly in an internal combustion engine.Ammonia cracking is gaining momentum as a potential hydrogen…

Like every sector of cargo and passenger shipping, “digitalization”—where computerized processes are replacing onboard routines previously handled manually— is an ongoing trend coastwise, on the waterways and harbors. Regulatory compliance, especially with Subchapter M for towing vessels, has also driven choices of onboard equipment with digital interfaces to software and online platforms for record-keeping and for generating inputs for forms and documents.Improved performance has also shaped the capabilities of equipment in the wheelhouse and the view from the bridge.

Satcom Global announces VSAT coverage upgrade benefitting customers operating in European and Indian Ocean waters.Satcom Global announced another extension to its Aura VSAT maritime communications network, with the addition of two new satellite beams; Astra 4a Nordic and SES-12 IOR.The Astra 4a Nordic Ku-band beam was introduced to the Satcom Global Aura network in December 2020 to support customers operating in European waters. With carriers optimized for the performance of smaller Ku-band terminals…

The newly-intorduced Alfa Laval PureCool system tackling methane slip from liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines continues a green solutions journey nearly two decades long while pointing the way forward into a new era of environmental work, the Swedish manufacturer says.A unified push for green solutionsThe emissions reduction system is part of Alfa Laval's Pure Thinking portfolio, introduced over 15 years ago to define an organized effort to pursue environmental solutions and help marine customers meet new legislation.

Leonhardt & Blumberg (L&B), Germany’s largest independent charter owner of 15,000-35,000 DWT container ships and ship management company, has renewed its long-standing partnership with Marlink for the provision of quality  global VSAT connectivity."Marlink’s managed connectivity service excellence and digital solutions are recognized as a strong foundation for the ship management company L&B’s on-going fleet digitization, which will deliver more efficient and greener maritime operations," said a press release."Marlink has established a firm position of trust through its existing partnership with L&B, thanks to consistently high quality of service and an active…

A testbed was established for an Internet of Ships Open Platform (IoS-OP), and for the test NYK provided a next-generation onboard IoT platform that the company has been developing with MTI Co. Ltd., an NYK Group company, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT).The NYK Group will proactively make use of the IoS-OP to improve safety and reduce environmental loads, and thus create an innovative, new business model.The IoS-OP consortium was launched in June 2018 by ShipDC, a ship data center established by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK) aimed at establishing an open and common platform to share data collected from vessel operation throughout the entire maritime industry.NYK joined as core member of the consortium…

MT-FAST, a fuel-saving device jointly developed by NYK Group company MTI Co. Ltd. and Tsuneishi Holdings Corporation, has now been installed on over 500 vessels. Operational data has proven the device to be effective in saving fuel.MT-FAST is a multi-blade device that can be attached to a ship’s hull to improve the propeller's propulsion efficiency.A ship moves forward when the engine rotates the propeller, which sucks in the water in front of it and propels that water backwards, creating the force that pushes the vessel forward. However, when converting the rotational power into propulsive power, a swirling flow that reduces propulsion…

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and NTT DATA Corporation have successfully conducted a proof-of-concept experiment for a next-generation onboard IoT platform. The test was held aboard Hidaka, a domestic coastal vessel owned and operated by Kinkai Yusen Kaisha of NYK Group. The NYK Group (NYK and MTI) previously developed a ship information management system (SIMS) that enables the gathering, monitoring, and sharing of detailed data between ship and shore, with the aim to promote safe, efficient operations. The data includes information on the operational condition and performance of oceangoing vessels.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced plans to work with Asahi Kasei Engineering Corporation (AEC) on a project to verify predictive detection of abnormalities in marine rotary machineries using vibrating sensors. The research will focus on the use of vibrating sensors to monitor the condition of key auxiliaries, such as pumps or purifiers, on a car carrier and VLCC that are under construction, using analysis software. The participants expect this project to create not only a standalone onboard monitoring system, but also to allow incorporation of data into the "Fleet Monitor" platform of real-time communication between ship and shore as a part of the Ship IoT system, allowing analysis of abnormalities as soon as they occur.

The Japanese shipping group NYK Group (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, MTI Co., Ltd.) will collaborate with Dualog and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) Group on a vessel platform proposal that is currently being validated with ship information systems (SIMS) data, the companies announced. The experiment is focused on validation of the below technology, which is expected to benefit the maritime industry in actual sea operations: Data gathering from an expanding array of onboard sensors and monitoring equipment, Remote distribution and management of onboard applications and Monitoring of ship equipment, event analyses, and intelligent alerts.

KVH provides and Harvey Gulf employs possibly the most sophisticated on-board SATCOM and related service package on the water. That’s no accident. If quality service, high tech hardware and quality personnel are the common bonds shared by marine communications provider KVH and its customer Harvey Gulf International Marine, then the relationship is probably a match made in heaven. Harvey Gulf, already a long-time user of the KVH suite of services and equipment, is today converting every vessel in their rapidly expanding 60+ fleet to the latest and greatest equipment standard. From where they sit, that means KVH. For its part, the business relationship allows KVH to showcase to every other customer and potential user as to what is actually possible at sea in today’s environment.

The advent of maritime communications is at a crossroads of sorts, with increased demand for connectivity that mirrors land-based performance, but still stuck at a price point which makes this reality too costly. The situation is particularly poignant onboard modern cruise ships, packed with thousands of passengers and crew that want and need to stay connected. Enter MTN Satellite Communications which today announced the launch of its MTN Nexus, the company’s next-generation communications network.

The Finland-headquartered company develops onboard applications, performance management and analytics solutions that help fleet owners and captains better operate their ships towards reduced fuel consumption and improved overall vessel efficiency. Philip Padfield, CEO of Eniram, said: “Singapore was a clear choice for us as it is not only one of the premier global hubs for shipping but has also made clear its intention to be a hub for ‘green’ shipping in the region. Eniram offers a range of products designed to maximise vessel efficiency and provides the most accurate analytics and measurement tools to enable ship operators to find out exactly where they are achieving savings.

Singapore – Eniram Limited has opened an Asian office in Singapore to better service its clients in the region. The Finland-headquartered company develops onboard applications, performance management and analytics solutions to help fleet owners and captains better operate their ships toward reduced fuel consumption and improved overall vessel efficiency. “Singapore was a clear choice for us, as it is not only one of the premier global hubs for shipping, but has also made clear its intention to be a hub for ‘green’ shipping in the region,” said Philip Padfield, CEO of Eniram. Headed by Noël Jelsma, Eniram’s Asia Pacific Regional Director, the Singapore office provides a base for local and regional sales and support services for the whole of the Asia Pacific region.

Sandigan reports improved applications performance and crew productivity. Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by Sandigan Ship Services, Inc. to deploy the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on Sandigan’s fleet of commercial vessels. Based in The Philippines, Sandigan manages a global fleet that includes bulk carriers and car carriers. FleetBroadband from Stratos already has been successfully deployed on 12 Sandigan vessels.

Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, announced it has been selected by Reederei Claus-Peter Offen (CP Offen) to provide Inmarsat FleetBroadband airtime services for its entire fleet of 122 commercial vessels. CP Offen, based in Hamburg, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of modern commercial ships, including 122 container vessels, tankers and bulkers. CP Offen vessels are chartered by all of the world’s largest operators.

Alfa Laval’s Marine Essentials on display at Nor-Shipping: Alfa Laval will be showcasing a range of innovative solutions at the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo, which will take place 24–27 May 2011. Alfa Laval cover a wide range of marine activities, but have a common theme: lower environmental impact and lifecycle cost. Green used to be the environmental watchword, but blue is now taking over. Over 70% of our planet is blue, and water management and conservation are becoming the critical issues worldwide.

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications designed new features for its free SkyFile software package, making e-mailing at sea even easier and more practical and providing seafarers with communications solutions as efficient and rapid as those used on land. SkyFile is France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications’ proprietary software solution enabling the transfer of e-mails, faxes and SMS via Inmarsat and Iridium mobile satellite terminals. The new version compresses data sent by up to 90%, speeding up transfer times and reducing communications costs. The software also includes a SPAM filter and a black & white list option for better management of incoming e-mails.