Power Supply Systems News

As the maritime industry embarks on 'the path to zero', it is widely acknowledged that there is currently not a 'silver bullet' solution, nor is it likely that a solution will emerge from a vaccum. Collaboration is the path forward, and efforts such as MethanQuest offer promise.The project MethanQuest was launched in September 2018 with 29 partners from research, industry and the energy sector to work on processes for producing hydrogen and methane from renewables and for using them to achieve climate-neutral mobility and power generation.

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division has ended the 2020 financial year with an underlying operating profit of $247.3 million despite suffering a 17% drop in underlying revenue to $3.8 billion. This corresponds to an underlying operating margin of 6.5% (2019: 11.5%). As a result, Power Systems, with its product and solutions brand mtu, remained in the black during the 2020 pandemic year.Power Systems is taking advantage of the crisis to prepare for a shift in its business model…

Retrofits of new features into existing ports cranes can produce operational efficiency and safety gains not included on cranes delivered 15-20 years ago, including Ship-to-Shore (STS) Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) and Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) types. Here, Dmitry Lapin, Knowledge and Development Manager, Port Services, Konecranes, looks at retrofit options proven in applications internationally.Sooner or later, the owners of ports cargo handling equipment are going to face a number of technical and organizational questions about the future.

CMR GROUP, the marine automation and instrumentation specialists, has supplied the French Navy’s latest maritime patrol vessel with advanced marine condition monitoring and sensor equipment. The deal sees a fully integrated instrumentation and sensor control platform specified for the Light Patrol Vessel La Confiance, in a move that reflects CMR’s continuing expansion in the sector as one of the leading designers and suppliers of next generation marine technology. Built at the SOCARENAM shipyard, the vessel is the latest addition to the French fleet and will undertake operational activities and patrols throughout the Caribbean from its permanent base in French Guiana.

For many years the start-stop function has become a common feature on automotive engines to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions. But the saving potential is much larger with onboard electrical power supply and propulsion systems. Long-term measurements onboard passenger vessels with diesel-electric propulsion systems have shown interesting insights into the load balance. The operational time with 30 to 40% load, for instance, is much longer than that of 70 to 80% load.

Power management company Eaton will demonstrate its expanded ability to deliver electrical, explosion-proof and hydraulic equipment for the marine and offshore industry at the international maritime trade fair SMM 2014 from September 9-12 in Hamburg. Visitors to Eaton’s stand can learn about the company’s offerings that help shipbuilders use electrical, fluid and mechanical power more reliably, efficiently, safely and sustainably. SMM takes place every two years and Eaton has significantly broadened its portfolio for marine and offshore applications in that period.

The world watched as the Carnival Triumph sat still, dead in the water in the Gulf of Mexico after a main space fire caused a total loss of electrical power. For the 3,143 passengers and 1,000-plus crewmembers, there was no heat or air conditioning, toilets or sanitation, lights or  ventilation. Fortunately, despite the seriousness of the fire, which was caused by a leaking fuel line, nobody was hurt. We waited and watched for several days for tugs to arrive on the scene and begin the slow process of pulling the 893-foot ship to port to let her passengers debark and commence repairs.

E-MS receives protection-rights by the European patent office for its power supply systems for ships & offshore platforms. The company develops and realizes diesel- and gas-electric power supply and propulsion systems with un-synchronized generators, a common DC energy bus bar and water-cooled high-tech converters. For this technology, that runs under the product name E-PP (Electric Power Packs), the company applied at the European patent- office for corresponding protection-rights, which lately were given under the number 2090508 dating from January 16, 2008. E-MS has installed its systems onboard eight river cruise vessels, which were classified by Germanischer Lloyd. The company states that some more ships with such installations are in the planning phase and under construction.

The first pressure-tolerant ROV successfully tested in the deep Atlantic. In early May 2012, a new pressure-tolerant ROV named Erno2, designed by Enitech GmbH (Rostock, Germany), was successfully tested within the framework of the “Pressure-tolerant deep-sea systems” project of Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi). Driven by electric thrusters, the light vehicle easily manoeuvred above the seabed, streaming live video from over 4000 m deep with its 3 video cameras and LED lights. The actual robot was attached to its tether management system (TMS) during the two-hour descent into the deep. It left the TMS 20 m above the seafloor and continued its journey being remotely controlled.

A new institute dedicated to pioneering research and technology for the marine sector has been launched at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Scotland's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Anne Glover, met with researchers from the institute, which aims to contribute to the UK's marine economy by providing industry and government with cutting-edge research into marine energy, the environment and transport. The Strathclyde Marine Institute will combine expertise from the fields of engineering…

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas and French shipowner Services & Transport have developed an Ecomax tanker design intended to address all the major causes of large oil spills. The Aframax design has two independent engine rooms, power supply systems and steering gear, increased hull scantlings, reduced high tensile steel content, duplicated navigation equipment with off-track monitoring and full inerting of all ballast spaces. The Ecotanker design is based initially on an Aframax vessel, but studies have also been done for larger and smaller vessels. same. The possibility of machinery and systems failure is addressed by duplicating the engine rooms, stern tubes, propellers, steering gears and rudders.

International classification society Bureau Veritas and French shipowner Services & Transport have developed an Ecomax tanker design intended to address all the major causes of large oil spills. gear, increased hull scantlings, reduced high tensile steel content, duplicated navigation equipment with off-track monitoring and full inerting of all ballast spaces. "While smaller oil spills are getting less frequent, the occurrence of large spills due to tanker accidents is remaining constant," says Philippe Anslot, technical director of services & transports. "When we looked at the underlying causes of those spills we saw that the four main factors were machinery failure, navigation error, fire and explosion and hull damage.

International classification society Bureau Veritas and French shipowner Services & Transport have developed an Ecomax tanker design intended to address all the major causes of large oil spills. gear, increased hull scantlings, reduced high tensile steel content, duplicated navigation equipment with off-track monitoring and full inerting of all ballast spaces. "While smaller oil spills are getting less frequent, the occurrence of large spills due to tanker accidents is remaining constant," says Philippe Anslot, technical director of services & transports. "When we looked at the underlying causes of those spills we saw that the four main factors were machinery failure, navigation error, fire and explosion and hull damage.

Europe's fledgling offshore wind power industry has produced an order for an entirely new breed of vessel designed to transport and position wind turbines. U.K.-based engineering firm Mayflower Energy has contracted one such vessel from Shanhaiguan Shipyard in northern China on the strength of emerging demand for alternative, 'clean' energy sources. U.K. government plans call for 1,300 new 2-MW offshore turbines to be brought on stream over the next 10 years, and other littoral European countries have formulated large-scale projects for wind power generation systems. The perceived environmental acceptability of harnessing wind power for electricity generation is a strong motivator for the evident political approbation.

Innovation on the tanker front comes from many venues, and one of the latest — the Ecomax tanker design — is offered from the minds and experience of a pair of French companies, classification society Bureau Veritas and shipowner Services & Transport. The new Aframax tanker design is intended to address all the major causes of large oil spills, and features two independent engine rooms, power supply systems and steering gear, increased hull scantlings, reduced high tensile steel content, duplicated navigation equipment with off-track monitoring and full inerting of all ballast spaces. "While smaller oil spills are getting less frequent, the occurrence of large spills due to tanker accidents is remaining constant," says Philippe Anslot, technical director of Services & Transports.

In recent months several diesel engine manufacturers have expanded their existing engine and generator ranges to include models suitable for workboat, large yacht and fishing vessel applications. This translates to more propulsion choices for boat builders and owners. Following is a look at four newly launched lines. Last September, MTU introduced the new 8000 series, moving the company into medium-speed engine market. The first engine of the line is the 20V 8000, which is capable of producing 9,000 kW at 1,150 rpm. The 20V is primarily intended to be used as main propulsion for large yachts and workboats, as well as for diesel-electric propulsion and onboard power supply systems in cruise ships.