The Simplex News

Spanish state-owned shipbuilder Navantia on Wednesday launched the first of five Avante 2200 corvettes it's building for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) for delivery through 2024.The five frigates were ordered in July 2018 for a cost of €1.8 billion ($2.1 billion), and first steel was cut for the series' first vessel in January 2019.Launched at the builder's San Fernando shipyard, the new vessel Al-Jubail has a length of 104 meters, a beam of 14 meters and will be able to accommodate 102 people (crew and additional personnel).

Mathias Rusch, Director of the Marine business unit at SKF explains what trends are currently shaping the industry, what future challenges are emerging and how operators can manage the flood of data that is coming out of the digitalization revolution.Two major trends that shipowners and operators are currently dealing with are persistently low freight rates, which have been significantly depressing shipowners’ earnings for a number of years and the requirements concerning emissions into both air and water that continue to grow.

The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) announced that Globalstar is the latest company to join SIA. Globalstar operates a low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellation of satellites and provides mobile satellite voice and data products and service packages to government, industry and consumer customers around the world. The Company’s products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices plus its subsidiary SPOT LLC family of consumer satellite products. In September, Globalstar announced the appointments of Dave Kagan to the position of CEO and Jay Monroe to Executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and earlier this year the Company introduced two new products…

The SMM 2018 scheduled to take place September 4-7, 2018, in Hamburg, Germany, is held every two years and is the traditional launching platform for a variety of commercial shipping and shipbuilding technologies. Five new marine technologies to look for in Hamburg include:Company: Radio HollandBooth: B6.301Product: Radar, Service, BWTRadio Holland, known for its global service network, shows its network at SMM as well as newdevelopments and innovations in its network. Most important…

New recommendations coming out of the investigation into the 2015 sinking of U.S. cargo ship El Faro call for efforts to improve the weather information available to mariners. All 33 crew on board died when the 790-foot El Faro sank close to the eye of Hurricane Joaquin near the Bahamas on October 1, 2015, two days after leaving Jacksonville, Fla. en route to Puerto Rico. Now, as part of its ongoing investigation into the incident, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)…

Choosing next generation communication systems for professional marine operations can be a daunting task. Not to worry: John Haynes provides a primer. Over the past decade we have come to expect fast, seamless global communications from a single device that fits in our pocket. The age of the smart phone and tablet enables multiple voices talking in a conference call and real time transfer of data, ranging from documents to photos and videos. In the modern bridge, most crew members have a GPS in their pocket which can identify where that person is on the planet.

SKF and SKF Blohm + Voss Industries will showcase its combined range of solutions for the marine industry at the Nor-Shipping trade fair June 2-5, 2015 in Lillestrøm, near Oslo, Norway. At the show, SKF and SKF Blohm + Voss Industries will demonstrate a thruster exhibition model, which will enable visitors to see the full range of its associated products and services. Everything from the bearings, gear coupling and lubrication system, to the SIMPLEX-COMPACT seal and the propeller sleeve will be displayed. In addition, supplementary services, such as condition monitoring and alignment services, as well as SIMPLEX-COMPACT sterntube seals and an environmental monitoring system for measuring and recording emissions will be on show.

Simplex-Turbulo Co. Ltd. announced that it now represents three drydocks: Jurong (Singapore), Astander (Northern Spain) and the newest addition Fujian Huadong (China). A new shipyard built in 2011, the Fujian Huadong shipyard is located on the northern side of Fujian Luoyuan Bay, a sheltered deep-water port in China. It’s centrally positioned on the eastern seaboard of China, equidistant from Shanghai and Guangzhou and northwest of Taiwan, well placed for many of the most popular Asian sea routes.

Products Join 100, 3000 Series Hydraulic Fluids and Safecare Cleaners as VGP Environmentally Acceptable Products that Deliver Technical Feasibility to Marine Industry. RSC Bio Solutions has announced  that its EnviroLogic 200 and 200 EP series of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) and its EnviroLogic 802 grease, as well as the products’ constituent components, have been evaluated by independent laboratories to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) definitions of biodegradable, minimally toxic and not bioaccumulative.

Marine communication and safety specialist Ocean Signal presents its SafeSea range of products plus the world’s smallest personal locator beacon at this year’s International Workboat Show, through U.S. and Canada distributor Datrex Inc. The SafeSea products provide all essential handheld communication devices required in an emergency situation, while Ocean Signal’s rescueME PLB1 is ideal for the commercial market as it can be carried easily and unobtrusively by workers on tug boats, patrol vessels and other workboats.

Talleres Navales del Golfo (TNG) shipyard at Veracruz, Mexico was originally developed as a new construction facility, but the shipyard has successfully transferred to ship repair facility with an emphasis on steelwork repair contracts. As a result of recent success in repair operations, the shipyard is currently embarking on a major development and restructuring of the shipyard, with a view to rationalizing the facilities and expanding its repair capabilities. Despite recent economic turmoil…

Globalstar, Inc. announce that all second generation satellites are now in full commercial service, completing the world's most modern satellite communications mobile network. Global customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. The company's new network supports its current lineup of voice…

The Märkisches Werk GmbH (MWH) ball spring rotator (BSR) is a device developed to improve the quality and function of the proven ball and spring rotation mechanism. It provides reliable valve rotation for many operating hours. Simplex-Turbulo has added the BSR valve rotator to their range of spare parts and Richard Blair, who is responsible for their purchase, is very excited about this particular component, developed as a result of specific requests from customers for a more robust and reliable rotator.

RSC Bio Solutions EnviroLogic 210 and EnviroLogic 215 readily biodegradable and non-toxic gear oils have passed the stringent performance requirements of Blohm. After significant testing, in both static and dynamic evaluations, these synthetic, high-performance products have met the requirements for two of Blohm + Voss Industries’ patented Simplex-Compact sealing systems: the “Standard” Seal and the “Airspace” Nonpolluting Seal. Blohm + Voss Industries has manufactured seals and stern tubes for ships all over the world under the Simplex-Compact trademark since 1970.

Globalstar, Inc. announce that 6 second-generation Globalstar satellites were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch services provider Arianespace confirmed that the upper stage accurately injected the six second-generation satellites into their targeted low earth orbit of approximately 920 km. Globalstar reports that all six satellites have been successfully acquired following separation from the Dispenser and Fregat Upper Stage. Globalstar expects to place these final six second-generation satellites into commercial service by this summer…

Astander's UK agents, Simplex-Turbulo announce the installation of two significantly sized pits, which provide a much more economic and straightforward alternative to the usual double docking bed and give Astander a significant advantage over other shipyards who are not able to dock vessels with deep drafts or who have thrusters which need to be removed. The forward pit, sitting longitudinally along the centre line, has dimensions of length 15m, breadth 10.5m, and depth 1.5m, the aft pit lies athwart ships with dimensions 21m x 7m x1.5m.

Becker Marine Systems has appointed Simplex-Turbulo to represent them in the UK. Becker is well-known and respected not just for the manufacture of high-performance rudders and maneuvering systems, but also for significant recent developments in designs achieving substantial reduction of fuel consumption. Two examples of innovations pioneered by Becker are the TLKSR  twisted full spade rudder and the Becker Mewis Duct. The TLKSR  twisted full spade rudder matches the rudder shape…

The Simplex office in Australia is now up and running – in spite of builders still being on site. The office is run by Australian John Wade, whose extensive experience includes over ten years with Wärtsilä as well as four years at our head office in the UK. He is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport of Australia and a member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. “It is great to be back in Australia,” comments John. “The customers here have been very welcoming…

Terresolve Technologies announced the company’s readily biodegradable hydraulic fluid, EnviroLogic 3068, has passed the stringent requirements of the Blohm + Voss Industries’ Stabilizer Group and won approval from the German shipping manufacturer. After significant testing, both dry and with 5% water added, Blohm + Voss reported Terresolve’s non-toxic high-performance product has met the requirements for its Simplex-Compact S-type, Z-type and F-type stabilizers. These three stabilizer types cover the vast majority of marine applications performing at zero, slow and high speeds. “I’m very pleased with this result,” said Mark Miller, CEO of Terresolve Technologies. Under the “Simplex-Compact” trademark, Blohm + Voss has manufactured fin stabilizers for ships around the world since 1961.

The demand for handy sized towboats to handle inland river tows continues to grow and one of the strongest contributors to that growth is Blessey Marine. Primarily handling petroleum-related products, the firm has grown rapidly to their present fleet size of over 60 towboats with more on order. Although they have vessels ranging from 700 to 4900 HP, the 2000 HP Class is proving popular. Two recent deliveries illustrate slightly different sizes and configuration of their 2000 HP towboats. The MV Steve Scalise was built at the Verret Shipyard in Plaquemine, Louisiana to a design by the shipyard.

As part of a further initiative to strengthen customer support Simplex has appointed Peter Stevenson in a new role as sales director. “Peter is an exciting choice for us”, says MD, James Hogg, “he will be taking a fresh and more disciplined approach to enable us to develop a more responsive service”. Peter Stevenson’s background will certainly strengthen the management team at this growing company. He joins from V Ships Marine Services where he was sales director to a diverse range of technical and non-technical services. Prior to this he was at UMC, the recognised world-leader in underwater engineering, where, as sales director, he significantly boosted the merchant client base.

CrystalCoat - good news for engines running on heavy fuel and gas. Simplex-Turbulo, agents for Märkisches Werk (MWH), are now able to actively promote a very interesting new product which extends the life of cylinder head valves. High combustion temperatures in engines operating on HFO combined with fuel impurities are well known to limit the service life of cylinder head valves. Even valves made of expensive nickel-based super-alloys suffer from hot-gas corrosion especially in highly loaded engines. Since 2004 MWH has been pioneering the development of a solution to these problems.

Columbia Industrial Products, Inc. of Eugene Oregon and Simplex Americas LLC have announced the signing of a distributorship agreement between the two companies to supply CIP’s range of CIP Marine Composites for the Inland Waterways of North America. CIP Marine Composites are textile reinforced, self lubricated bearing materials. Manufactured in tubes and sheets, CIP is easily machined into a variety of configurations for bearings, wear pad, thrust washers and other components.