Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Operational Systems News

19 Oct 2023

Inmarsat Maritime Safety Team Wins IMRF Award

John Dodd, Director of Safety Services and Roger Barry, Safety Engineering Manager, Inmarsat Maritime, with the IMRF Award certificate. Image courtesy Inmarsat

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, won the 2023 International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Award for Innovation and Technology in Maritime Search and Rescue after a highly respected judging panel led by former IMRF Chair Michael Vlasto selected its entry from a shortlist of 10 individuals and organisations.Acknowledging “volunteer and professional search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel from around the world”, the prestigious award highlights “those who have shown excellence in their field


26 Jan 2021

Managing Risk: Shipowners Not Meeting Emission Regs Face a Big Business Risk

“Shipowners can use the digital tools available to take actions to reduce emissions. The add-on, of course, is you will have more profit and will be more attractive in the market for charterers and other types of customers," said Arild Risholm Saether, NAVTOR’s head of business development.

There is  increasing pressure for shipowners to sharpen their environmental performance, driven by an IMO target to halve greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 2050, regional regulations and market pull from charterers, banks and investors.“This represents a whole new ball game for the industry. Optimization of ship operations has traditionally been dictated by the efficiency of delivery around the globe that has typically meant being able to sail at full speed, thereby burning more fuel, to minimize costs for the charterer.

11 Jan 2021

Training Tips for Ships - Tip #20: Training in the Age of Data

© metamorworks/AdobeStock

As we greet 2021, it seems fitting to address a “big” topic - a topic that is ultimately going to change everything, including (and perhaps especially) training. The topic is “big data”. The goal  of today’s Training Tip for Ships is to get us thinking about big data in training. If we understand it, we can lay the groundwork to take advantage of it.We are in the data age – and this is especially important for training. Everything we do can be done more efficiently and more effectively by understanding it more deeply.

20 Jul 2020

Maritime Cyber Attacks Increase 900%

© harlequin9 / Adobe Stock

Cyber-attacks on the maritime industry’s operational technology (OT) systems have increased by 900% over the last three years with the number of reported incidents set to reach record volumes by year end.Addressing port and terminal operators during an online forum last week, Robert Rizika, Naval Dome’s Boston-based Head of North American Operations, explained that in 2017 there were 50 significant OT hacks reported, increasing to 120 in 2018 and more than 310 last year. He said this year is looking like it will end with more than 500 major cyber security breaches


16 Apr 2020

Marlink Supporting Crews During COVID-19 Pandemic

(Photo: Marlink)

Satellite communication provider Marlink has launched a range of airtime packages and application solutions to support its customers in the maritime, fishing and offshore industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.The ‘StrongerTogether’ initiative includes connectivity packages such as additional data top-ups, increased bandwidth and free or discounted voice minutes for ship operators to keep the crew onboard connected with their families as well as solutions to enhance remote IT


13 Dec 2019

Digital Developments Continue Apace in the Workboat Space

Image Credit: Kongsberg

Sustainable, energy-efficient working practices and environmental regulatory compliance are among the hot-button topics driving the spread of maritime digitalization.The benefits of a digital strategy for companies working within the maritime industry soon stack up. In addition to providing operational/logistical streamlining, data-based insights, a competitive edge and a reputational leg-up, connecting operational systems and consolidating interfaces also drives the levels of


15 Oct 2019

Cyber Hack: Fortifying Maritime, Port Security

© denisismagilov/Adobe Stock

The United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Alert 06-19 (USCG MSA 06-19) outlines a February 2019 incident aboard a deep draft commercial vessel that called on the Port of New York / New Jersey after experiencing a significant cyber incident that impacted their shipboard network. The Safety Alert stated in part:“An interagency team of cyber experts, led by the Coast Guard, responded and conducted an analysis of the vessel’s network and essential control systems. The team concluded that although the malware significantly degraded the functionality of the onboard computer system


29 Aug 2019

Naval Dome CEO Calls out OEMs on Cyber Security

“Most companies are operating critical systems that are protected, at best, by only the most basic security solution,” said Itai Sela, Naval Dome, CEO, at a conference in Singapore.

As the world learns that the UK-flagged Stena Impero – seized by Iranian forces in July – was 'spoofed' and begins to accept the extent to which vessels unprepared for a cyber event can be affected, Itai Sela, CEO of Naval Dome, said that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are not doing enough to provide end users with the level of protection required to secure critical systems.“There is no high-level cyber security on operational systems aboard ships, on offshore oil and gas platforms


14 Aug 2019

ARES Security Launches Seaport Platform

US-based ARES Security Corporation has rolled out a new multi-tenant, Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for seaports in the US.The is now offering their Avert C2 (formally CommandBridge) system as a SaaS platform for small and medium sized ports to leverage the powerful capability that has been used by more than a third of the of the largest seaports in the U.S. since 2006, said a press release from the company.The solution is also deployed at several law enforcement, transportation, DoD and other facilities throughout the country.AVERT C2 is a command and control platform that integrates disparate security and operational systems and sensors


16 Nov 2018

INSIGHTS: Rear Admiral Mark H. Buzby, USN (Ret)

Rear Admiral Mark Buzby is the Maritime Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration.Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby was appointed by President Donald Trump and sworn in as Maritime Administrator on August 8, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Buzby served as president of the National Defense Transportation Association, a position he has held since retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2013 with over 34 years of service. A 1979 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Buzby earned his Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate License. He was commissioned in the US Navy in June 1979, is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and holds master’s degrees from the U.S.

05 Jun 2018

ABS Takes a New Approach to Cyber Risk

(Image: ABS)

New approach applies data-driven decisions to produce actionable insight into cyber risksABS announced it has developed a new methodology to measure cyber security risk associated with operational technology, providing marine and offshore clients a calculated risk index for vessels, fleets and facilities. The index quantifies cyber security risk and gives owners and operators an actionable strategy to reduce cyber risk on board a vessel.Until now, cyber risk assessment methods were largely qualitative, characterizing risk based on threats, vulnerabilities and consequences.

11 Aug 2017

John C. Stennis Underway for Sea Trials Ahead of Schedule

Sailors aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) got underway for Sea Trials as the ship's planned incremental availability (PIA) nears its end, August 11. John C. Stennis entered PIA in February with the largest work package ever planned for a six-month availability for a Nimitz-class carrier, requiring more than 2,800,000 man-hours of work between ship's Sailors, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, and contractors. Through teamwork, dedication and expert management, the ship was able to get underway ahead of their originally planned departure date. "With the extraordinary support of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, USS John C.

26 Oct 2016

Australian Navy Officers Excel with AEGIS Training

Royal Australian Navy officers were amongst the first to graduate from the new AEGIS combat systems course delivered at the Combat Systems Engineering Development Site in Moorestown, New Jersey after completing a thorough and rigorous two months of training. Dr Darrell Tatro, director, Center for Surface Combat Systems International Programs, presided over the ceremony. “Today’s milestone event is the result of CSCS partners coming together to develop the Combat Systems Officer course that provides a combination of functional and operational systems instruction with warfighting applications applied for the newest Air Warfare Destroyers, which are equipped with the AEGIS Combat System,” Dr Tatro said.

18 May 2016

Israel to Use Seaborne Missiles to Guard Gas Fields

Israel's military said on Wednesday it had developed a version of its Iron Dome missile interceptor system that can be fired from the deck of a cruising navy ship to protect its offshore gas platforms. The augmented defense system passed a live test two weeks ago when it shot down several short-range ballistic missiles from a moving boat, said Colonel Ariel Shir, the navy's head of operational systems. Israel has boosted its naval defences over the past decade after the discovery of sizeable natural gas deposits off its Mediterranean coast. While the biggest fields are far from shore, the gas flows to platforms in shallower waters that can be seen from the southern Israeli coast, putting them in range of the kinds of rockets fired by militants in the Gaza Strip.

05 Apr 2016

BlueTide Launches Cyber Security Solution

BlueTide Communications aims to strengthen remote site network defense with its Security-as-a-Service (SECaaS) solution. Suited for remote maritime and offshore sites including yachts, merchant ships, offshore supply vessels, liftboats, rigs and platforms, the enterprise-grade network protection combines anti-malware, intrusion prevention, application control and content filtering. The all-in-one cyber security solution features deep packet inspection, anti-malware and application control to protect against network vulnerabilities, malicious attacks and potentially compromised BYODs traversing the network. With the ever-increasing risk


30 Mar 2016

Future Marine Fuels: BioFuels in Focus

Dirk Kronemeijer, CEO, GoodFuels Marine

It is predicted that biofuels will make up 5-10% of the global marine fuel mix by 2030 – meaning that biofuels will represent a crucial role in creating a low-emission future for shipping. In the wake of COP 21 and in advance of any subsequent IMO ruling on the environment, it may seem to many that the shipping industry is in limbo when it comes to improving its emissions footprint. On the contrary, ship owners and operators are increasingly looking for ways to ensure that both existing fleets and new builds maximize their business potential


28 Mar 2016

Cyprus Pushes Through Limassol Port Privatisation

The Cyprus government managed to push through parliament legislation finalizing the privatization of commercial operations at the island's primary Limassol port despite lacking a majority in parliament, reports Famagusta Gazette. 27 deputies voted in favor of regulations detailing the privatization and 20 voted against during a stormy session of the 56-member chamber. Strong opposition by socialist and left wing parties, fanned by an electoral campaign for parliamentary elections in May, had threatened the deals between the government and three international consortium which had obtained the concessions at the port. The Cyprus Transport


04 Nov 2015

UPS to Build Facility at DP World London Gateway

DP World London Gateway and UPS today announced plans to build a new 32,000 square metre package sorting and delivery facility at the logistics site in the south east of England. At close to £120 Million, the project is one of UPS’s largest infrastructure investments outside of the United States of America. HE Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of DP World, said, “We congratulate UPS on this strategic development. By using DP World London Gateway Park and Port, UPS will have a fast ‘global conveyor-belt’ directly connected to their own worldwide network. UPS’s hub will also provide distribution solutions to other logistics park occupiers.

03 Jun 2015

Grimaldi Places 10th PureSOx Scrubber Order

Image: Alfa Laval

Alfa Laval reports its scrubber solution PureSOx has been the subject of many repeat orders. One of the major returning customers is the Grimaldi Group, which has now ordered its 10th installation of Alfa Laval’s exhaust gas cleaning system. The Grimaldi Group is a multinational logistics group specialized in the operation of RoRo vessels, car carriers and ferries. Through the maritime services of Atlantic Container Line, Finnlines and its other companies, the Naples-based group transports passengers, nearly any type of rolling cargo as well as containers and general cargo.

12 May 2014

Offshore Surveyor Training: Kongsberg's New Workboat

Kongsberg Maritime says it has introduced a series of new on-water training courses for offshore surveyors and survey engineers following the launch of its own chartered vessel, 'True North'. The vessel will enable Kongsberg Maritime Ltd to introduce a practical element to the courses already offered at its training centre in Westhill, Aberdeen, on the company's products for the offshore survey industry. True North, which works out of Stonehaven just a few miles from the training centre, will initially support courses on the HiPAP (High Precision Acoustic Positioning) system. The vessel, which has been customised to Kongsberg Maritime's specifications, will enable attendees to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom.

06 Mar 2014

DNV GL ShipManager for Entire H&P Fleet

H&P MV Palanpur

German-based shipowner Harren & Partner (H&P) will implement the DNV GL business intelligence software systems ShipManager Analyzer and ShipManager QHSE for its entire fleet of 52 vessels. Both systems will enable Harren & Partner to extract data from operational systems and optimize management of its ships. The first trial implementation for the two software systems is expected to be running in April. By mid-year the entire fleet will have ShipManager Analyzer and ShipManager QHSE installed


04 Dec 2013

e-Compliance: Revolutionizing the Efficiency of Compliance for Maritime Regs

Philipp Lohrmann

Commercial seaborne shipping is regulated by international, EU and national authorities and is subject to a number of commercially oriented constraints. The long history and large number of organizations associated with regulation has led to a high level of complexity in managing the development of regulations, their implementation by transport operators, and their enforcement by authorities. The complexity of the situation is further aggravated by the long lifetime of ships, the different phases of ship operations


12 Sep 2013

Six Innovative Practices for Implementing Finance Software

To help transportation and logistics companies navigate a competitive and continually changing business environment, UNIT4 Business Software, the North American subsidiary of UNIT4, today shared its UNIT4 checklist on innovative practices for implementing finance accounting software to help transportation and shipping firms grow and increase their profitability. Based on decades of industry experience with leading enterprises, UNIT4 Business Software has identified the following six innovative practices for trucking and shipping firms to implement finance accounting software. Use a single-ledger approach to gain one version of the truth. To keep up with the fast pace of business, transportation and shipping firms need real-time visibility into a single set of accurate financial data.