Stabilization Systems News

Kongsberg Maritime announced it has won a contract to provide the design and equipment for two powerful salvage tugs being built by Alexandria Shipyard as main contractor on behalf of the Suez Canal Authority. The tugs will be based on Kongsberg Maritime’s UT 722 CDT Design.The UT 722 tugboat design has a length of 71.6 meters, bollard pull of approximately 200 tonnes, and it can operate independently for up to 35 days.Egypt’s Alexandria Shipyard successfully bid on this contract with the Suez Canal Authority in cooperation with Kongsberg Maritime…

Helena Lennerstedt was appointed CEO of Humphree. She has a background in several leading positions in different companies in the Swedish industry, and for the last seven years whe has been Vice President Purchasing at Volvo Penta. She has a Master’s in engineering from Linköping University and has studied International Business.Lennerstedt succeeds Hannes Norrgren who has taken up the role of Senior Vice President for Business Unit Industrial at Volvo Penta. Lennerstedt will take up the new position in January 2023.

Australia-based VEEM, a company designing and building marine propulsion and stabilization systems, will manufacture a pilot propeller blade for the Hunter Class Frigate Program (HCFP), under a contract awarded by BAE Systems Maritime Australia."The order enables VEEM to demonstrate it has the manufacturing capability to join the HCFP supply chain. As a world leader in premium commercial propellers that has delivered similar blades to defense clients globally, VEEM is very confident it can meet the requirements of the HCFP…

Gothenberg, Sweden based Humphree was founded in 2002 by a team of engineers that sought to leverage their expertise in high-speed marine propulsion – or more specifically, hydrodynamics, electronics and digital controls – to create vessel stabilization packages that would be easy to install and use. And thus, Humphree’s interceptors were created.The compact and robust transom-mounted units feature an adjustable blade that activates vertically into the water stream beneath the hull to create a lift force.

Volvo Penta has announced that Hannes Norrgren has been appointed the new CEO of Humphree.In 2016, Volvo Penta became a majority shareholder of Swedish marine technology provider Humphree, which specializes in trim and stabilization systems for boat control.This collaboration has allowed Volvo Penta to extend its range of boat dynamics solutions with new trim and stabilization functions, allowed Humphree to access a greater client base, and benefited marine leisure and commercial…

Humphree makes inroads in North American markets with vessel stabilization technology.If you haven’t yet heard of Humphree – the Sweden-based supplier of vessel stabilization systems – then, more than likely, that’s about to change. The firm’s penetration into the North American commercial and leisure marine market has seen its equipment on several vessels, including high-profile deployments like the new Seastreak high-speed commuting ferry.Founded in 2002 by a team of hydrodynamic and marine engineers…

The latest version of Rolls-Royce stabilization systems adds the potential for ice class ships to benefit from the company’s Stabilization-at-Rest (SAR) concept.The SAR system, incorporated to both the Aquarius and Neptune ranges of Rolls-Royce retractable stabilizers, employs active fin control technology and advanced hydrodynamic design to deliver higher levels of roll reduction when the vessel is at rest, and also maintaining stabilization performance while underway.In the new design…

Marine electronics manufacturer Navico, parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad and B&G brands, announced it has finalized an agreement to acquire marine monitoring and control systems provider Naviop. Providing the integration framework to capture data from all boating systems, Naviop creates a digital ecosystem on boats outfitted with Simrad, Lowrance and B&G marine electronics, with the multifunction display serving as the hub for complete system control and information. “For years, auto manufacturers have provided consumers with a complete integration solution at their fingertips, and we, as a marine industry have fallen behind the curve to provide the same level of convenience and control,” said Leif Ottosson, Navico CEO.

With most offshore wells in Brazil located between 30 and 300 km from the coast, communication with offshore assets has not always been straightforward or reliable. Some operators and service providers still use traditional maritime VSAT services for coverage offshore Brazil, yet the introduction of Microwave radio has led to a much better level of quality and reliability in high-bandwidth voice and data communications. Claudio Paschoa, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Brazil had an interesting conversation with Arild Fotland, head of Ceragon’s Oil and Gas Division, about the advantages of Microwave radio communications for offshore operations in Brazil. Fotland joined Ceragon in 1978 and has been stationed all over the world.

Manufacturer of quality hydraulic steering actuators will join Kobelt to expand marine system offerings. Kobelt announced today the acquisition of Accu-Steer Inc., a US-based manufacturer of quality Hydraulic Steering Actuators. Founded by Bill Pulse and Paul Barber in 1993, Accu-Steer designs and builds a range of hydraulic power steering units. For over 22 years, the company has specialized in the design and manufacturing of reliable solutions for guiding and controlling motion on commercial vessels and pleasure craft. “The synergies between the Kobelt and Accu-Steer product lines make these two companies such a natural fit.” stated Bill Pulse, Accu-Steer President.

Volvo Penta has developed a series of interceptor stabilization systems optimized for workboats, patrol boats and other commercial vessels. The stabilizers provide three-axis trimming to meet dynamic acceleration and cruising phases of operation. The system can be controlled either automatically or manually. In the automatic mode, it is activated by boat speed. The Volvo Penta interceptors are electrically controlled with no hydraulics. The trim blades generate lift and drag that translate into moments on the boat in all three axes depending on action.

Naiad Dynamics, an international manufacturer of ship motion control technologies, has introduced the first products in its new line of electric-powered stabilizer systems designed for use on ships operating both AtSpeed and AtRest. “These new stabilizers are a modern refinement of electric-powered stabilizers Naiad first developed for naval applications in 2008,” said John Venables, CEO of Naiad Dynamics. The initial model E-525 is available with a 7.5 or 11 kW AC servo motor drive…

After launching its Terrestrial Broadband Network (TBN) just more than one year ago, MTN Communications (MTN) announces the number of TBN-connected cruise ships has doubled and covered regions have tripled. Since the MTN TBN kick-off in Alaska in the Summer 2013 cruise season, several MTN partners, including Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, are leveraging this new technology to enrich their passenger and crew communications experience. Thanks in part to this new technology, the MTN hybrid network now delivers approximately 10 Terabytes of data daily.

To let customers experience firsthand the difference Seakeeper gyro stabilization systems make in vessel performance and crew safety, the company has launched its new demo boat. The custom 345 Express from OBX Boatworks will be available for test rides at the Multi-Agency Craft Conference, June 10-12. A hand-crafted, customizable fishing and cruising vessel, the 345 Express features the new Seakeeper 5 gyro. "Our boats are very stable to start with, so the addition of the gyro gives the 345 a rock solid platform," said OBX owner Brad Flater.

Oceanex Connaigra is Oceanex Inc.’s 210-m custom-designed container/roll on roll off (Con/Ro) ice class 1A ship that was built at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. (FSG) shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. Following four years of study and research, the design stage was completed. First steel was cut in October 2012, and the keel was laid on February 11, 2013. Oceanex Connaigra is the largest Canadian flag Con-Ro ship with its carrying capacity of 19,500 deadweight tons and service speed of 20 knots.

To serve growing worldwide demand for gyro stabilization, Seakeeper has established its new Professional Division, which will formally launch at the International WorkBoat Show. With it, Seakeeper offers a dedicated team and focused product offerings for commercial, military, workboat, offshore, research and patrol markets. Driving Seakeeper's initiatives for the Professional Division are new team members Carl Wegener, Commercial Sales Director – Americas and Sean Hatherley, International Commercial Sales Director – APAC & EMEA.

Seated at his desk with a view of St. John’s harbour, Oceanex Executive Chairman Captain Sid Hynes is highlighting the innovation in the Oceanex Connaigra, Oceanex Inc.,’s 210-m custom-designed container/roll on roll off (Con/Ro) ice class 1A ship that is presently coming to life in the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. (FSG) shipyard in Flensburg, Germany. Following four years of study and research, the design stage was completed. First steel was cut in October 2012, and the keel was laid on February 11,  2013.

The worldwide leader in gyroscopic boat roll stabilization, Seakeeper, Inc. appointed a new chief operating officer. Tom Goeke most recently served as chief executive officer of Kloeckner Pentaplast Group, a multinational manufacturer of industrial films and coatings. "Tom is the right man at the right time for Seakeeper. With our sales more than doubling year on year, we are experiencing the transition from limited production to mass manufacturing and want to realize all of the benefits that such a transition makes possible," said Seakeeper CEO Shepard McKenney. "He has successfully run a large manufacturing company in a mature industry where absolute quality and efficiency is the standard," continued McKenney.

Seakeeper has brought on ComMar Sales to handle the East Coast, South, Gulf Coast and Florida distribution of its line of Gyro Stabilization Systems. ComMar will represent Seakeeper in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Washington DC. (www.seakeeper.com)

Quantum Marine Engineering won a contract to engineer, design, supply and support the roll stabilization systems for the U.S. Coast Guard's new class of Fast Response Cutters designated as the WPC project. Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. is the prime contractor for this new class of cutters. The contract calls for up to 34 of these new ships to be built and delivered to the USCG over a multi-year contract. Over the past three years Quantum has been awarded contracts from a diverse range of military customers and builders for supply of roll stabilization systems for coastal patrol vessels…

Litton Marine has been tapped to supply navigation, communication, control and stabilization systems for a trio of new car carriers under construction in Japan. The three 21,000-grt feeder-type car carriers - Hulls 1184-1186 - are being constructed for UECC (Norway) at Tsuneishi Shipbuilding for delivery in 2000 and 2001. Each will be equipped with a complete Integrated Bridge System (IBS) and Voyage Management System (VMS), as well as Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), with separate navigation, planning and conning stations. Litton's package also includes X-band and S-band BridgeMaster E ARPA radars, gyrocompasses, autopilot and steering systems. The company is also set to supply ring laser gyrocompass systems worth up to $5.2 million for an entire class of U.S.

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary Hornbeck-Leevac Marine Services, Inc., has begun a new vessel construction program to significantly increase the size of its seven-vessel, state-of-the-art offshore supply vessel (OSV) fleet. A contract has been signed with Leevac Shipyards to immediately begin construction of two ultra deepwater vessels with four to follow. The first vessel is expected to be delivered in February 2001. All vessels are expected to be completed within the next 20 months. Hornbeck Offshore Services currently operates a fleet of seven recently constructed, high capacity OSVs. The new ultra deepwater vessels will incorporate the highly successful design features and specifications of the current deepwater fleet.

Thoma-Sea Boatbuilders Inc., Houma, La., launched the first of two new 150-ft. offshore supply vessels (OSVs) it is building for Massie Towing of Houma. The vessels were designed by Frank Basil of Intech & Associates, also of Houma. The first vessel, M1, entered service in mid-June, and the second vessel is scheduled to launch in December 2000. Massie will operate both vessels in the Gulf of Mexico. Propulsion power for the two new OSVs comes from twin Cat 3508EUI marine engines, each rated 905 bhp (675 bkW) at 1,600 rpm. The electronic unit injected 3508s drive Bird Johnson 72 x 59 in. propellers through Twin Disc 5:1 gears, providing a service speed of 14 knots.