Technology Enhancements News

Canada-based satellite telecommunications provider Kepler Communications welcomed four new satellites into its constellation today, further expanding the active constellation to 19 satellites in total. These four satellites; KEPLER-16, KEPLER-17, KEPLER-18, and KEPLER-19 were launched via a Falcon 9 out of Cape Canaveral as part of the Transporter-3 mission at approximately 10:25 AM EDT. Once fully operational within the constellation these will add additional capacity to Kepler’s Global Data Service (GDS) offering while also performing as a test bed for bringing the internet to space…

Tomorrow’s high tech fleets will depend on shipyards – long after the christening is over. Siemens PLM software makes that dream possible – today. According to global powerhouse Siemens, a major transformation is underway in the marine sector. As operators strive to develop more energy-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly vessels that also lower operating costs, they will increasingly depend on shipyards to make that happen. That’s right: shipyards. Long after the vessel slides into the water and the christening party is but a distant memory, the clean and efficient workboat of tomorrow will leverage a wealth of data that the builder will manage. Before any of that happens, shipbuilders will also need to design and build ships faster and better than ever before.

The US Coast Guard has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with British diesel engine innovator, Cox Powertrain. The CRADA will evaluate and test the advantages, disadvantages, required technology enhancements, performance, costs and other issues associated with diesel outboard engine technology. There a been a big swell of interest in diesel outboards since NATO introduced its single fuel policy, with the military and naval forces of member countries keen to phase out petrol-fuelled outboards in favour of cleaner diesel alternatives.

When warping analysis is required during design of certain types of beam offshore structures, it can involve many costly hours of manual calculations by senior engineers. With the new release of Sesam GeniE software, the most common methods of performing such analyses can be done automatically, saving time and resources. “With the new release of Sesam GeniE, we have included automatic calculation of warping using the three most commonly used methods,” says Ole Jan Nekstad, Product Director for Sesam, DNV GL - Software.

The Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia today welcomed the federal government's decision to approve the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Chamber President Captain Stephen Brown said the decision confirms the conclusion of the work undertaken by the Joint Review Panel that Northern Gateway is in the country's national interest and can be operated safely on land and on water. "The technology enhancements driving today's marine industry including mandatory double-hulled tanker construction provide an unprecedented level of protection for B.C.'s coast," said Brown. "It should also be appreciated that the marine industry is governed by strict international and Canadian regulations detailing every aspect of operational safety and preparedness.

The Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia says it welcomes the federal government's decision to approve the Northern Gateway Pipeline. The 1,177-km (731 miles) pipeline project, is expected to transport 525,000 barrels of Alberta oil a day to Asia-bound tankers. Chamber President Captain Stephen Brown said the decision confirms the conclusion of the work undertaken by the Joint Review Panel that Northern Gateway is in the country's national interest and can be operated safely on land and on water. "The technology enhancements driving today's marine industry including mandatory double-hulled tanker construction provide an unprecedented level of protection for B.C.'s coast," said Brown.

Hamburg Süd, one of the top refrigerated container carriers worldwide, has ordered 6,500 new containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s PrimeLINE® refrigeration unit featuring the new energy efficiency-boosting EDGE technology option. EDGE, which stands for Enhanced Digital for Greater Efficiency, includes a set of design enhancements that improve on the industry-leading PrimeLINE unit’s track record for energy efficiency. The EDGE option reduces energy consumption for perishable cargoes by 20 percent compared to a standard PrimeLINE unit in normal operation.

The Port of Los Angeles honored 26 shipping and cruise lines for their participation in the Port’s Vessel Speed Reduction Program (VSRP), an initiative that involves the lowering of vessel speeds when ships approach the Port. The VSRP has resulted in significant decreases in diesel particulate matter, sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions into the environment since it was established in 2001. For the first time, the Port also honored 12 ship carriers for their participation in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI), an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port.

New Dining Options and Entertainment Concepts Introduced Onboard. Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas has reemerged from its three week $29 million drydock at Navantia Ship Yard in Cadiz, Spain, with a host of new dining concepts, entertainment options and technology advancements originally introduced to industry-wide acclaim aboard Oasis-class ships. Serenade of the Seas, a Radiance-class ship, is the eighth ship overall to undergo revitalization since the line announced an extensive revitalization program in 2011 which will leave no ship untouched. Guests interested in sampling these new venues will have the opportunity to choose from one of the new dining packages recently introduced.

GE delivers two LM2500+G4 marine gas turbines to Avio for French and Italian FREMM frigates. GE Marine has delivered two LM2500+G4 aeroderivative marine gas turbines to Avio S.p.A. of Turin, Italy, a GE Marine System Supplier. The gas turbines will power the Italian and French Navy’s fifth and seventh FREMM frigates, respectively. The first French Navy frigate Aquitaine of the Italian-French FREMM program was launched in December 2010 at DCNS’ shipyard in Lorient, France. The first Italian Navy FREMM Bergamini was launched in June 2011.

The international marine industry faces unprecedented challenges today. Energy costs are rising, as are concerns about reduced pollutant emissions, water ballast treatment and other environmental impacts. A tight credit market and cash-strapped operators mean that engineers must deliver designs with a high degree of fidelity and reliability while reducing the development cycle. Extreme weather, hazardous cargoes and other challenging operating conditions present the need to continually innovate, implement new materials and deliver analyses confidently.

Six shipping carriers have become the inaugural participants in the Port of Los Angeles Environmental Ship Index (ESI). The ESI is an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port. Developed through the International Association of Ports & Harbors’ World Ports Climate Initiative, the ESI program is the first of its kind in North America and the Pacific Rim. Shipping carriers Evergreen, Hamburg Süd North America, Inc., Hapag-Lloyd AG, Maersk Line, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Yang Ming have registered for the global program and will begin receiving incentives later this year.

The Port of Los Angeles has become the first seaport in North America and the Pacific Rim to adopt an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port. The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners having formally approved an Environmental Ship Index (ESI) program to take effect July 1. The ESI is a web-based tool developed by the World Ports Climate Initiative (WPCI), a project of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH). The ESI program, already underway at several major European ports, offers immediate and significant clean air benefits by rewarding vessel operators for voluntary engine…

On May 1, 2012 Rhotheta USA, Inc and MetOcean Data Systems announced  they have entered into a cooperation agreement to support requirements for recovery of underwater assets and oceanographic equipment. Under the terms of the agreement both companies will combine their know-how and efforts to support customer requirements jointly. Both Rhotheta and MetOcean are now committed to support projects involving recovery of underwater assets, including technology enhancements and custom modifications as required. Rhotheta’s time-tested RT-500-M series of wideband radio direction finder systems, and MetOcean’s world renowned NOVATECH location and recovery beacons…

After a month-long $54 million dry dock, Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas has emerged from Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard (a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine Ltd.) as a virtually new ship say the owners. The newly refurbished liner will have a host of new dining options, visual entertainment and  amenities following this bow-to-stern transformation. Guests also will find that staying connected at sea will be easier with Wi-Fi availability throughout the ship and enjoy a host of technology enhancements that include, flat-panel televisions in all staterooms, an outdoor LED movie screen on the pool deck…