Software Experts News

Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) announced the launch of its LiveFleet mobile app, available on iOS and Android.Developed in partnership with software experts at MariApps Marine Solutions, also member of the Schulte Group, LiveFleet is a vital component of BSM’s PAL 4 ship management enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. With the release of the new LiveFleet app, ship owners will benefit from access to near real-time operational, technical and financial information anytime, anywhere.

In a show of prototypes, a pod of unmanned sailboats from around the world competes to cross “The Atlantic” test tank in Horten, Norway. Cross the real ocean, and the Sail Bots race similarly challenges scholarly robotic-vessel designers to North America for a bit of station-keeping, collision-avoidance and “cargo moves”. For all, the future seems bright — the first commercial runs of unmanned vessels are underway or scheduled worldwide. These earliest movers have the support of governments, Google and grateful clients.

Autonomous ships, smart on-board systems: At the Maritime Future Summit on September 5, industry leaders will discuss the future of shipping. For the first time SMM hosts a conference dedicated to digital shipping. Cyber Ships: What may sound like a word from a science fiction novel to some is a hot topic in the maritime business world today. Low-crew and no-crew concepts are buzzwords in the shipping sector, and some initial trials with unmanned ships are already being undertaken. “Visionary ideas drive the evolution of humanity, and the maritime industry is no exception.

Long-term efficiency gains for the fleet on account of data capture and analysis on board and onshore. Declaration of intent signed at the SMM. Rickmers Shipmanagement and Interschalt signed a declaration of intent at the SMM for the installation of Bluetracker. This software will enable Rickmers to digitally monitor its fleet in real time anywhere in the world. As such, the shipping company will be able to access an extensive amount of data which, when analyzed, will identify measures to realize cost savings.

"How to make ships more efficient?" This was the key question posed at the 15th Canadian Committee meeting of Germanischer Lloyd (GL). More than 20 representatives of the Canada and U.S. Flags, ship owners and operators, yards, consultants, and port authorities attended the event hosted by Executive Vice President Americas Capt. Kevin Coyne and Committee Chairman Peter Cairns from the Shipbuilding Association of Canada. "Reducing the environmental impact of shipping in order to upgrade its image as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation, is one of the most important topics for the maritime industry," he said in his introduction. Apart from fuel efficiency and emissions also statutory delegation and ship recycling was on the agenda.

Months of planning to create the Navy's most sophisticated at-sea communications platform went on-line Oct. 10 aboard amphibious flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) to provide Commander, 7th Fleet and his staff with increased command and control capabilities. According to Lt. Cmdr. Mark Baehr, the flagship's communications information systems officer, the estimated $3.5m project was necessary to upgrade the aging hardware and dated software to keep up with the ever changing world of technology.