Test Centre News

Swiss marine power company WinGD is on track to deliver its first X-DF-A dual-fuel ammonia engines by the first quarter of 2025, with the first X-DF-A powered vessels in service from 2026.The confirmation follows combustion tests at WinGD research facilities in December 2022 and is backed by concrete orders. Last month WinGD signed an agreement with AET Tankers and sister company Akademi Laut Malaysia to develop crew training on ammonia engines. In January 2023 it announced a partnership with CMB.Tech…

Japanese technology company Eco Marine Power (EMP) has announced that the EnergySail, a sail-assisted propulsion and solar power device for ships, is ready for demonstration and evaluation testing in Japan.EnergySail, which is unveiled at the Onomichi Marine Tech Test Centre (MTTC) in Japan, is an upgrade of the pre-production unit and represents one of the smaller types of EnergySail that will be put into commercial service.It was manufactured by EMP’s strategic partner Teramoto Iron Works Co., Ltd. and will be used for demonstrations for potential customers and during preparations for sea trials.The patented EnergySail can be fitted…

Marlins, V.Group’s training business, has approved two new test centres in Panama and Ethiopia. The test centre in Panama is the first Marlins approved test centre in Central America. The centres – E4Seafarers in Panama and Andromeda Marine Surveying and Consultancy PLC in Ethiopia will offer both Marlins UK Maritime and Coast Guard Agency (MCA) approved STCW testing and certification as well as English language testing. Bisrat Hailu, general manager, Andromeda Marine Survey and Consultancy plc adds: “Our aim is to support Ethiopia’s efforts to become a force in the shipping industry by providing high-end training and consultancy services to existing as well as prospective seafarers in the country.

DNV GL has assessed the market’s new offshore turbine in development and awarded Siemens Wind Power with the Prototype Certificate for its 8 megawatt (MW) offshore wind turbine SWT-8.0-154. The prototype certification confirms all relevant safety features on the turbine according to the Danish Executive Order BEK 73:2013 and IEC 61400-22, allowing installation of the prototype to demonstrate its performance. By erecting the turbine at the test centre for wind turbines in Østerild, Denmark, Siemens is able to perform the measurement campaign for the next phase of the type certification process which is crucial to bring the turbine to the market. “We are proud to have received the prototype certificate at this early stage, allowing us to install our SWT-8.0-154 prototype according to plan.

Wärtsilä has developed propulsion systems that are capable of operating with Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) and comply with the US Vessel General Permit 2013 (VGP-2013). Wärtsilä is among the first marine propulsion solutions suppliers to achieve this compliance for complete propulsion packages. For vessels operating in US waters, VGP-2013 mandates the use of EALs in all oil-to-sea interfaces unless technically unfeasible. VGP-2013 was issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is applicable to all vessels sailing in US coastal waters. Wärtsilä began work on developing an effective solution in 2013, working together with numerous EAL suppliers.

Alfa Laval said its PureSOx exhaust gas cleaning system is gaining ground in the cruise ship market. Following a lengthy selection and qualification process, four PureSOx scrubbers have been ordered by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCL). Three of these will be PureSOx 2.0 systems as presented at SMM 2014, while the fourth will be the first test inline version of PureSOx. Alfa Laval’s deliveries to RCL will extend over the summer of 2015. The PureSOx systems will be installed as retrofits aboard four Royal Caribbean International ships: three of the Freedom Class and one of the Voyager Class.

A new technology research programme aimed at developing propulsion products specifically for operating in arctic conditions has been implemented with Wärtsilä and VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, as the main contributors. The ArTEco (Arctic Thruster Ecosystem) project will altogether be supported by ten industrial and academic partners from Finland and other countries. ArTEco is a three year programme, commencing in 2015 and ending in 2017. Its primary aim is to foster new technology for propulsion solutions in an arctic operating environment. The platform will consist of developing state-of-the-art simulation and load determining methods for dynamic loading conditions…

The government controlled Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Saturday conducted the maiden test flight of the second prototype of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas naval variant here. "The second LCA naval prototype (NP2) was flown for the first time for 35 minutes, giving a major fillip to the Tejas program. Efforts of our aircraft research and design center’s engineers on the complex landing gear design made the flight possible, as it is different from the air force version," HAL chairman T. Suvarna Raju said in a statement. Indian Navy test pilot Captain Shivnath Dahiya flew the twin-seater fighter plane under telemetry control provided by National Flight Test Centre (NFTC) director Commander J.D. Raturi and its chief test pilot Commodore J.A.

The Max Bögl Group of Companies acquired a new Liebherr mixing tower for production in Osterrönfeld, Germany. An inauguration party celebrated commencement of operations on 16th of July, 2014 for the newly-established precast concrete factory and the concrete mixing plant. This site will produce exceptionally demanding hybrid towers for the purposes of wind energy. Hybrid towers for wind turbines produced by the Max Bögl Company are up to 140 meters in height and comprise of 17 concrete rings and three steel segments. A particularly high strength of concrete is necessary and the mix formula must meet these exacting requirements accordingly.

MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S, a JV between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Vestas Wind Systems A/S, has reached a conditional agreement with Skovgaard Invest ApS and Energicenter Nord for the purchase of four V164-8.0 MW offshore wind turbines for the Velling Mærsk project in Western Denmark. The agreement allows for phase two (0-series) of development for the world’s most powerful offshore wind turbine to commence. The Velling Mærsk project will use the 0-series of the V164-8.0 MW, with the main purpose being to test the installation methods and operation & maintenance procedures of the turbine onshore prior to the commencement of serial deliveries offshore.

The U.K. MCA have granted approval to Marlins for their new STCW eLearning courses, resulting in further expansion of Marlins’ international Approved Test Centre network. The 2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Convention came into effect in 2012 and included a new requirement, Section A-VI/6. This requires all crew, whether deck, engine/technical, hotel, superyacht or concession, to undergo security awareness training. Crew members with specific security duties must also study and gain certification for additional topics. Marlins STCW security courses allow students to learn remotely online, at their own pace. Study material is graphical and interactive, including mini assessments throughout, to check understanding.

KEI System Ltd (KEI) and Eco Marine Power (EMP) have jointly established the Aquarius Innovation Lab in Osaka, Japan, which includes an indoor test centre plus an outdoor area for evaluating the performance of hardware such as solar panels, rigid sails & wind power devices. The Aquarius Innovation Lab will conduct research & design plus product development activities related to marine renewable energy systems and fuel saving technologies. Ongoing projects include the development of the Aquarius MRE System and EnergySail, both of which are to be tested in the facility.

Wärtsilä's new Propulsion Test Centre has been established and funded by Wärtsilä with strong support from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, who will provide the resources to operate the facility. The test centre is located in Tuusula, southern Finland, and will enhance the company's capabilities in product validation and research activities. The new facility enables Wärtsilä to speed the development of new, high quality and environmentally sound propulsion products together with research institutes, universities and suppliers.

Dong Energy advances its involvement in Vestas’ prototype testing of the V164-8MW turbine in Østerild, Denmark. Dong Energy and Vestas Wind Systems have entered into a cooperation agreement on the testing of Vestas' V164-8.0 MW wind turbine at Test Centre Østerild in Denmark. Through this agreement, Dong Energy becomes involved earlier in Vestas´ development of the V164-8.0 MW offshore wind turbine than previously envisaged. This ensures Dong Energy a detailed  understanding of and  experience with Vestas’ new offshore wind turbine at an early stage. Vestas expects that the first turbine will be installed and commissioned at Test Centre Østerild during the second quarter of 2014.

Scotland's foremost energy economist to tell “All Energy” Aberdeen conference that plans for a controversial demonstrator wind farm in Aberdeen Bay could enable Scotland to take a global lead in the development of offshore wind energy. According to a 'Scotsman' news report, Donald Trump, who is threatening to pull the plug on his £750 million golf resort development in Aberdeenshire because of the plans for the “monstrous” 11-turbine offshore development, warned First Minister Alex Salmond earlier this month that his drive to establish Scotland as a renewables powerhouse will “single-handedly” destroy the economic wellbeing of Scotland.

GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) is will certify Kawasaki Heavy Industries' (KHI) tidal energy converter prototype. The certification will be carried out according to GL RC's "Guideline for the Certification of Ocean Energy Converters" and other relevant GL RC rules and guidelines for marine and offshore structures. KHI's tidal energy converter is currently under development at KHI's Akashi facility and will soon be installed at the European Marine Energy Test Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland/UK. The prototype certification by GL Renewables Certification will include assessment of the prototype design which demonstrates the fulfilment of the requirements in relation to design, fabrication, installation and operation.

According to official studies, the theoretical worldwide generation potential of tidal energy has been estimated at over 7,800 TWh/year. Working to support the growth in this emerging sector of the renewable energy industry, tidal energy experts from GL Garrad Hassan are aiding Kawasaki Heavy Industries in the development and deployment of its 1MW prototype tidal turbine by providing technical information and guidance on tidal resources and technologies. Mr. Hiromitsu Kiyose, Project Manager of Kawasaki Tidal Energy Project said “It has been helpful to get support from GL Garrad Hassan, which has an excellent reputation in the renewable energy sector world-wide and indeed experienced in consulting business, for our development of the 1MW prototype tidal turbine.

MAN Diesel & Turbo introduced its Liquid ME-GI (Liquid Gas Injection) engine. The Liquid ME-GI is powered by LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas), a smaller market than LNG but of significance in certain segments such as the small tankers that ply river traffic and coastal shipping routes. The Liquid ME-GI is a variant of MAN Diesel & Turbo‘s ME-GI engine, whose control and safety system is based on the experience gathered since the mid-1990s at working gas plants, including a 12K80MC-GI-S in Japan, and the development of a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) engine in the late 1990s.

Schat-Harding is to launch a new generation freefall lifeboat for the offshore industry at the Offshore North Sea exhibition. 33 m above sea level in extreme conditions. Association) design criteria for lifeboats in the Norwegian offshore sector, which leads the world in offshore safety standards. The FF1200 has additional clearance inside the boat for safety and comfort with a more streamlined shape and powerful engine to give better headway in waves. Improved structural design will maximize canopy strength during the drop and splash in and a new seat design is based on heavier workers, with an average weight of 100 kg. Five point seatbelts will keep passengers from 1.4 m to 2.1 m tall safe and comfortable even with high drop heights into heavy waves. launched into heavy seas.

APL - the global container shipping line - introduced active RFID technology to its Southern California marine terminal in an important innovation that will speed up cargo container processing. By introducing Real Time Locating System technology at its Global Gateway South (GGS) terminal, APL can reduce by as much as half a day or more the amount of time it takes to track a container in the yard and prepare it for transport. This not only improves terminal efficiency but, more importantly, helps improve on-time cargo delivery to customers. The innovation at GGS comes hard on the heels of the launch last week of an RFID test centre in Singapore - an initiative by NOL in partnership with Sun-Microsystems designed to evaluate RFID applications in a 'live' supply-chain environment.