Quality Systems News

Satellite communications solutions firm Marlink has signed a strategic agreement with NORMA Cyber to strengthen the cybersecurity intelligence and resilience of its maritime customer base.The Norwegian Maritime Cyber Resilience Centre (NORMA Cyber) is a joint venture between risk insurance provider Den Norske Krigsforsikring for Skib (DNK) and the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association. NORMA Cyber provides centralized cybersecurity services to Norwegian shipowners and other entities and aims to be the leading hub for operational cyber security efforts within the national maritime sector.

Smart network company Marlink has extended its service provision to France-based tanker company Socatra providing high-speed connectivity as well as secure IT management.Socatra provides solutions for deep-sea and inland oil transportation."[Socatra] recognized the need to improve the performance and quality of IT systems, which posed a risk to compliance and operational performance and required a comprehensive approach to upgrading hardware and software on board the vessel," Marlink said.According to Marlink…

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said it has been taped to deliver a suite of overboard handling systems for the new oceanographic research vessel David Packard owned by Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), a private, nonprofit oceanographic research center based in California. Founded in 1987 by David Packard, MBARI’s mission is to advance marine science and technology to understand a changing ocean. The David Packard is designed by naval architecture firm Glosten, and is currently under construction at Freire Shipyard in Vigo…

Subchapter M, the United States regulatory code dealing with towing vessels and requirements for towing vessel safety, has officially been in place since July 20, 2016, when the U.S. Coast Guard finalized Sub M rulemaking.Since the rules were finalized there have been a couple of important hammer dates. In spring and summer 2018 the first certificates of inspection (COI) were issued. COIs are central within the Sub M program. A vessel needs a COI to legally operate. (All vessels were required to comply with Sub M by July 20, 2018.

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…

APL announced a 47.4% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per container transported per km in 2018, compared to 2009.The result follows the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) of APL’s 2018 carbon dioxide emission data by the global non-profit organization Business for Social Responsibility’s (BSR’s) Clean Cargo Working Group (CCWG). The Clean Cargo EPA data was verified by Lloyd’s Register Group according to the Clean Cargo verification protocol and principles of ISO14064-3:2006 standard.Looking forward to the 2020 Global Sulfur Cap…

As the global cruise industry enjoys it most robust period of growth ever, the question invariably becomes: How long can it last?Cruising, which is a blend of the hospitality and maritime businesses, continues to grow at a historic pace. The Cruise Trends & Industry Outlook publication from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) projects a passenger count of 30 million in 2019 – up nearly 2 million from the previous year. By year end 2019 CLIA members – a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the largest brands – will have 272 vessels…

Carnival Corporation has released the results of an independent, two-year scientific scrubber wash-water study.The study shows the company’s advanced air quality systems (i.e. scrubbers) are in compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2020 requirements, which include regulations for cleaner air emissions and strict wash-water quality standards.The study also concluded that the wash-water samples from scrubbers were below the limits set by several major national and international water quality and land-based water discharge standards, according to a press release.Focused specifically on analyzing the composition and quality of wash water from Advanced Air Quality Systems…

Many shipowners are scrambling to comply with the tough, new the International Maritime Organization (IMO) fuel global sulfur limit of 0.50 percent m/m, which takes effect January 1, 2020.It is expected that after the rules swing into force, the light-heavy fuel price spread will likely spike and refining margins will be higher, particularly for complex refineries.Shipowners have to stay ahead of the game, said Yara Marine Technologies CEO Peter Strandberg: “Shipowners often get a bad rap of refusing to adopt new, innovative technologies and processes.

Initial reports show that the towing industry is adjusting well to the new normal on inland rivers. In fact, it is business as usual for most.July 20, 2018 was a critical date for tow boat operators. That was the deadline for all U.S.-flag towing vessels – over 26 feet, or less if used to assist with transport of oil or hazardous materials – to be in compliance with Subchapter M, the U.S. Coast Guard’s towing vessel safety regulations. It’s been a long time coming. As a regulatory program…

Just two weeks after accepting the U.S. Coast Guard’s congratulations on a military career spanning almost three decades, Rob Nakama drove from Washington D.C. to Seattle to join Foss Maritime as the company’s Manager of Contingency Planning and Emergency Response. “I’ve been in the military for the majority of my life; the transition has been surreal,” he said. Nakama was born in Hawaii, growing up on the island of Maui as the son of a taro farmer who worked for the Aloha Poi Factory.

Davie Shipbuilding announced that during the weekend it launched the largest naval vessel ever to be delivered from a Canadian shipyard – on time, to budget and at an internationally competitive cost. Commissioning of all onboard systems began in early September and on the 16th November 2017, the ship will perform its sea-trials prior to achieving Full Operational Capability (FOC). During the sea-trials - overseen by Lloyd's Register – the ship's safety, quality, systems and functionality will be tested against the high military standards and specifications which it has been built to. The build quality and modern design of this ship…

1 January 2017 was a historic milestone in the protection of our polar waters for future generations. On that day, International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (the Polar Code) came into force. The Polar Code is aimed at protecting ships and the people aboard them, both seafarers and passengers, in the harsh environment of the waters surrounding our two poles, Arctic and Antarctic. The Polar Code covers the full range of shipping-related matters relevant to navigation in waters surrounding the two poles, including ship design, construction and equipment as well as operational and training concerns. Also, search and rescue, the protection of the unique environment and eco-systems of the Polar Regions are covered by the Code.

Naval architecture and engineering firm C-Job will open new office facilities in Rotterdam, operational from March 1, 2017. The new office, which the company said will open in response to growing market demands as well as to attract new employees from a larger geographical area, is C-Job’s third, after the head office in Hoofddorp and the branch office in Joure. “One of the main reasons for establishing an office in Rotterdam is to do with our clients,” said C-Job’s Design Director, Basjan Faber. “Rotterdam is home to a real maritime cluster of companies; all the major players are there.

Ship management company Norbulk Shipping is already seeing the benefits from embracing the move toward paperless ships. The Glasgow-based ship manager explored several options before deciding to move its IT systems to ‘the cloud,’ via the cloud migrator for Google, Cloud Technology Solutions. A need for the industry to move to the digital world has been recognized by InterManager, the international trade association for in-house and third party ship managers, which believes the burden of administrative tasks falling on seafarers in today’s shipping industry is significant. The paperless ship is a big issue facing the shipping industry with many companies trying to reduce time and paper used in form-filling, both onboard and ashore.

Capt Pradeep Chawla, Managing Director QHSE & Training, Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Ltd., delivered a theme address at the World Maritime Day symposium on "Shipping's future needs people: Is global maritime education and training on course?". Following is the Edited Abstract of his paper which discusses the strategies and efforts of a Ship Management company, to enhance competence of the seafarers through a comprehensive company training program. Competence is generally defined as ‘the ability to do something successfully or efficiently’. It is generally accepted that both knowledge and skill are required to be competent. IMO is the guardian of the maritime industry and has tirelessly worked since 1978 to bring about one common standard of training of the seafarers worldwide.

For 70 years, Beier Radio has provided engineering, sales, and service for marine electronics around the globe. As the corporation marks its 70th anniversary, it also unveils a new name for the operating company known for its advanced vessel control and navigation systems. Beier Radio is now Beier Integrated Systems. The company’s new website address is www.BeierIS.com. “While the name is new, the Beier commitment to providing quality systems  and expert services has not changed. Beier Integrated Systems will continue to sell the integrated DP  systems that we have built our reputation on around the world, as well as to offer the expert engineering, installation, commissioning, and the after-sales service and support that our customers depend on,” says owner Karl Beier.

Mindful that fish farming has the potential to help meet an expanding  population's need for protein in a world with increasing water constraints, Pentair announced the opening of its Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems' World Aquaculture Technology Engineering & Research Center of Excellence in Apopka, Florida. The center, which consists of 12,400 square feet of laboratories and fish culture systems, will be used for demonstration, research and teaching activities. Built to allow full connectivity to the Internet, customers and educational institutions will be able to monitor online the progress of fish culture trials, including water quality, feeding, feed conversion ratios, growth rates, energy consumption and harvesting activities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Pentair's Aquatic Systems with a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by manufacturing energy-efficient products and educating consumers about energy efficiency. Pentair's accomplishments will be recognized in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2015. Pentair, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2013 is being honored for its leadership in manufacturing products that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. This is Pentair's second consecutive Partner of the Year award. In order for pool pumps to earn the ENERGY STAR certification, the pool pumps must be at least 30-72 percent more energy efficient than typical pumps.

Drydocks World the international service providers to the shipping, offshore, oil, gas and energy sectors won the ISO 3834-2: 2005 certificate for quality requirements on fusion welding of metallic materials. This certificate validates Drydocks World’s capabilities in line with international welding standards and criteria, ensuring proper monitoring, documenting, testing and supervision of the welding process. The terms of service required in relation to welding have been met through compliance with rules, conditions and requirements. The ISO 3834-2: 2005pledges that the implementation of welding operations are being carried out correctly and accurately through the development of welding procedures.

Thrustmaster of Texas announced the achievement of an important company milestone: 30 years in the marine propulsion industry. Established in 1984 by its current president, Joe R. Bekker, Thrustmaster has grown from a small manufacturer of outboard, deck-mounted propulsion units to a worldwide leading manufacturer of marine propulsion systems. From the first order for 13 deck-mounted propulsion units for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a follow-up order for the U.S. Navy…

A competent workforce is a productive one, and operates with fewer risks, meaning shorter downtimes and fewer injuries. Effective competence schemes established by companies of all sizes ensure confidence in the offshore industry, and that all people appointed to safety-critical positions can carry out their jobs in an effective manner. To that end, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has established a highly effective competence assurance and assessment framework.

LOKRING Technology LLC, producers of advanced fluid and gas transfer connectors, issued a new version of its Installation Procedures Document LP-105. This comprehensive installation guide complements the LOKRING Distributor Installation Training Course and is an essential tool for those using LOKRING products. LOKRING’s advanced fluid and gas transfer connectors are produced under quality systems certified to ISO 9001:2008. The patented LOKRING connector was derived from aerospace technology and is a leak-free fitting that is easy to install and requires no heat for installation. The guide covers carbon steel (MAS and LTCS), stainless steel (SS40 and SS-3300) and CuNi (CN200 and CN700) pipe (NPS) fittings.