New Technology Qualification for Novel Mooring Line Integrity Monitoring Tool
ABS has issued New Technology Qualification (NTQ) to SBM Offshore’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Intelligent Agent Mooring Line Integrity Tool, allowing the technology to be integrated into offshore systems for the first time.
The novel tool collects data such as wind speed, FPSO heading, and GPS information and couples this with machine learning approaches to provide the asset owner with continuous feedback on the integrity of their mooring system. The tool has the ability to detect potential mooring line failure and location without reliance on a traditional tension monitoring system, thanks to the potential for deeper insight offered by AI techniques.
“This technology enables the continuous monitoring of the integrity of mooring lines and has significant potential to advance safety in the offshore industry. This is just the latest example of how ABS is supporting the application of advanced technology to drive forward safety outcomes in the marine and offshore industries. Our industry leadership in offshore, as well as smart and artificial intelligence applications at sea means we are uniquely placed to support SBM Offshore with the development of this tool,” said Matt Tremblay, ABS Senior Vice President, Global Offshore.
“This achievement is only one example of how SBM Offshore is using digitalization to make meaningful shifts in offshore operations, making them safer, more reliable and more efficient. It is just the beginning of the application of machine learning in our offshore operations. We target the development of intelligent agents into areas where it is challenging to create value from operational data through traditional analytics,” said Oivind Tangen, SBM Offshore Managing Director, Operations.
The tool was evaluated using the framework outlined in the ABS Guidance Notes on Qualifying New Technologies and ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units. ABS NTQ services offer guidance on early adoption and efficient implementation of new technologies – demonstrating level of maturity – and that potential risks have been systematically reviewed.
Maersk is redesigning its ocean network in West & Central Asia that connects countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, UAE and Saudi Arabia to the world. The changes in network are primarily aimed at improving speed to market, providing higher predictability and offering more flexibility to customers’ supply chains. Further, redesigning the network will also bring more resilience to the customers’ supply chains, protecting them better from operational challenges that arise out of contingencies.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains have experienced a perfect storm. The unprecedented scale of operational challenges restricting supply during the pandemic and the strong demand surge in parallel led to significant bottlenecks, capacity issues and unforeseen delays across supply chains. This prompted us to redesign our ocean network to overcome these challenges and make our customers’ supply chains more resilient”, said Mads Skov-Hansen, Head of Liner Operations Cluster, Maersk West & Central Asia.
Improved speed to market
The new ME4 service will offer a direct coverage between Doha and North Europe, thus improving speed to market by up to 5 days and by up to 6 days from Jebel Ali to West Africa for majority of customers.
The ME3 service connecting fresh produce exporters from Pakistan to Russia will see an improvement in what are already ‘best-in-industry’ transit times. This will further reduce wastage of the fresh produce by maintaining its integrity through end-to-end cold chain logistics offered by Maersk in Pakistan.
The FI3 service will change from fortnightly to weekly giving frequent options for importers getting cargo from Far East into North India.
(Image Courtesy: Maersk)
Improved predictability and flexibility
The ME7 service will connect South India’s lifestyle, retail and automotive manufacturing sector directly to Europe. The cargo will thus flow smoothly without getting affected by unforeseen delays in case of congestions.
The ME7 service will also provide a direct and regular rotation between the hubs of Colombo and Salalah, thus letting customers have a more flexible option of moving their cargo.
The new FI4 service, that combines previous Jade Express and Chennai Express, will connect South East Asia with India and Pakistan on a single direct service.
“Our customers deserve a predictable service that will allow them to plan their supply chains better. With our redesigned ocean network, we are not only providing our customers with predictability and resilience, but also greater speed to market allowing them optimise their inventories and operations to meet the surge in demand with a competitive edge,” said Bhavan Vempati, Regional Head of Ocean Management, Maersk West & Central Asia.
As a part of redesigning of the network, the ME6 service as well as transhipment on AE1 at Colombo will be discontinued. Customers will continue to have the options to connect their cargo on a full array of services calling West & Central Asia. The network changes will be implemented in a phased manner and will not affect the total deployed capacity in the global network.
On Jul 10 fire broke out on cargo deck of tanker KETALING, recently dry docked at PT. Multi Ocean Shipyard floating dock, Tanjung Balai Karimun, Karimunbesar island, Indonesia, Singapore Strait. As of 2200 LT (UTC +7) Jul 10, situation unclear, probably fire extinguished or under control. No injures reported. Fire believed to be sparked off by shortcut.
Product tanker KETALING, IMO 9179880, dwt 6500, built 1998, flag Indonesia, operator PERTAMINA.
Captain and 3 officers of container ship MSC CAPUCINE R were arrested at Iskenderun port, Turkey, on Jul 10, as suspects in drug trafficking, according to Ukrainian media outlets. 24 crew members out of total 25 are Ukrainians. The ship arrived at Iskenderun from Mersin, left Iskenderun on Jul 15, bound for Izmir – feeder is deployed in Mediterranean service, trading between Med States, including Turkey, Spain, Italy, Greece. No other information available at the moment, it is not knowing also, if arrested crew were released and returned to their job, or are still in custory, under investigation.
Container ship MSC CAPUCINE R, IMO 9210086, dwt 40059, capacity 3430 TEU, built 2001, flag Liberia.
Passenger ro-ro ferry GUNSA 8 caught fire in the afternoon Jul 12 in Bangka Strait waters, between southeast Sumatra and Bagka island, while en route from Bangka to Tanjugn Api-Api, Sumatra. Fire reportedly, started in engine room. All 86 persons on board were safely evacuated and transferred to nearest port. Ship’s status unclear, probably burning. Her AIS is off for more than a year.
Bulk carrier SKYLIGHT experienced engine problem E of Mauritius while en route from Singapore to Abijan, Ivory Coast, and according to local sources, on Jul 11 asked Mauritius Maritime Authorities permission to call Port Louis, for repairs. Permission was granted, the ship interrupted voyage and proceeded to Port Louis, understood under own power, albeit at slow speed of some 2-4 knots. As of 1820 UTC Jul 20, she looked like she was adrift some 40 nm west of Port Louis, situation unclear.
Cargo ship XINGU 333 collided with piers basement of Panyu Beidou Bridge, Shawan Waterway, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, at 0605 Beijing time Jul 13. Bridge traffic was temporarily suspended after cracks were found in pier basement. XINGU 333 is loaded with general merchandise, no information on her damages yet.
The infamous cargo ship MV EVER GIVEN is now finally heading for its original destination of Rotterdam, Netherlands after spending 112 days in Egyptian waters since it blocked the Suez canal on March 23 and was impounded after being set free six days later.
The ship departed the Egyptian city of Port Said, where it was docked for hull inspection and dive survey after it was released on July 7th from the Great bitter lake as the SCA and the shipowner struck an undisclosed settlement deal.
Reports suggest none of the cargo worth $780 million in the 18,300 containers onboard of MV EVER GIVEN belonging to various companies like Ikea, Lenovo, and smaller stakeholders like UK-bicycle maker, Pearson 1860 or Snugy vessel was part of the compensation deal. All the cargo that was stuck in limbo is set to be delivered to its original destination of Port of Rotterdam.
The all-Indian crew of 25 personnel of the MV EVER GIVEN was also relieved after being stuck maintaining the impounded vessel for four months. All the members were regularly in touch with their families for this duration and few were also allowed to leave earlier on the grounds of medical conditions.
The shipowner Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd also praised the captain and the crew for their sincere efforts in refloating the vessel and maintaining it while it was in detention. New captain along with crew members also of Indian origin joined the ship before it departed from the Great bitter lake.
Several news agencies like CNN Business citing the statements of experts have suggested that cargo vessel, MV EVER GIVEN is expected to reach Rotterdam only after two weeks, more than the usual duration for the voyage due to the damages sustained during the grounding.
Use FleetMon Explorer for real-time tracking to follow the journey of MV EVER GIVEN to the Port of Rotterdam.
The cruise industry, like many places around the world, continues to work to control the coronavirus to resume normal patterns of life. While the cruise ships’ enhanced protocols have been able to prevent the mass outbreaks that made headlines in the spring of 2020, several cruise ships in the past few days have cut short trips or delayed operations, all due to the continuing reports of cases of the virus.
The most recent scare came in Singapore, where Genting’s Dream Cruises ship the World Dream was nearing the end of a 3-day cruise to nowhere with residents of the city-state. The cruise ship had departed on Sunday, Jully 11 and all passengers tested negative before boarding with an antigen test. However, late on Tuesday, a 40-year-old passenger was identified as a suspected case, and the Singapore Tourism Board reported that the passenger was a close contact with a known case on land. The passenger tested positive on the cruise ship and was placed in isolation along with three close contacts aboard the ship.
Under the protocols established by the Singapore Tourism Board and Dream Cruises, the 1,646 passengers on the cruise were notified at 1 a.m. on Wednesday, July 14, and asked to remain in their cabins while all services and activities were suspended aboard the ship. Meals were being delivered to outside cabin doors and nonessential crew within 1,249 aboard were also told to remain in their cabins. The World Dream ended the cruise returning to Singapore.
After confirming at a hospital in Singapore that the passenger was positive for the virus, passengers were being required to undergo disembarkation testing. Passengers began to leave the ship Wednesday evening, and Dream Cruises announced that the next cruise would be canceled. The cruise line said that this is the first positive case aboard the World Dream, which has conducted over 100 cruises and carried over 130,000 passengers since it began cruising from Singapore.
The World Dream was permitted to start short cruises from Singapore for residents in November 2020. The vessel continued to sail in the spring despite Singapore increasing the restrictions to coincide with an increase of the virus in the city. Meal service had been limited to in cabin or prepacked takeaway food while activities were also restricted and capacity levels reduced. In mid-June, Singapore relaxed the restrictions permitting the cruise ship to again travel with up to 50 percent capacity, resume meal service, and activities.
Last week in Alaska, the small cruise ship the American Constellation also reported a COVID-19 positive test. All the passengers are required to be vaccinated before joining the cruise, but on July 9 the cruise line reported that one passenger tested positive and was sent ashore to a medical facility in Petersburg, Alaska. An additional passenger, also vaccinated, as well as one crew member, unvaccinated, also tested positive. The cruise ship had 162 passengers and 52 crew members onboard last week, according to a statement from the City and Borough of Juneau.
“American Cruise Lines has implemented its COVID-19 Response Plan and is coordinating with state and local health officials following the detection of COVID-19 on board,” the cruise line said in its statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, the line’s small ship returned to port in Juneau on Saturday and the next cruise, scheduled to depart on July 14, will be canceled.” The crew has remained aboard the ship and the cruise line expects to resume sailing with the next normally scheduled cruise in late July.
In a third case, last week Royal Caribbean International removed two passengers from its ship the Freedom of the Seas after one of the passengers, a 57-year-old woman who is unvaccinated but says she had the virus months ago, tested positive on the second day of her cruise. Royal Caribbean flew the passengers back to the United States, but they argue they were wrongly put off the ship by a false test.
In addition to passengers, the cruise lines are also continuing to contend with cases of the virus among the crew. The British cruise line Cunard canceled the first five cruises scheduled for its ship the Queen Elizabeth after an unspecified number of crew tested positive for COVID-19. The cruise ship was scheduled to run short cruises for U.K. residents as part of its return to service. Last month, Royal Caribbean International was also forced to delay the entry of its cruise ship the Odyssey of the Seas into service from Florida after several members of the crew tested positive for the virus short after being vaccinated and before immunity was achieved.
These latest instances of the virus on cruise ships come as the cruise industry prepares to expand its resumption of service. Cruises recently resumed from Germany and additional ships are due to resume sailing in Europe and the United States. Short cruises from Hong Kong are also due to start following an arrangement similar to Singapore. The cruise industry’s protocols, however, will continue to be tested as new variants spread in countries around the world.
The UK government has released a landmark plan for the decarbonization of transportation – but it does not adequately address the concerns of shipping, according to trade group Maritime UK.
In an announcement Wednesday, transport minister Grant Shapps said that the government’s decarbonization plan sets out new commitments on shore power, emissions reductions and strengthening the UK’s “blue economy” of maritime technology and shipbuilding expertise.
The government’s progress timeline starts with an assessment of the technical, operational and policy options available to accelerate decarbonization, which will be completed this year. This will be followed by indicative targets for the UK domestic maritime sector’s decarbonization, to be issued next year, and consultations on the phase-out of CO2-emitting domestic vessels. It also contemplates expanding the UK’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to cover bunker fuel, with credit for renewable fuels of non-biological origin. The ultimate goal is to achieve net zero by 2050, and potentially sooner.
However, the UK’s maritime industry does not believe that these steps are adequate to the task, according to Maritime UK.
“Despite being bigger than aviation and rail combined, maritime has been largely overlooked in the government’s net zero drive,” said Ben Murray, the group’s CEO. “No headline commitments and no money to get on with the task in front of us. Government has led the way in setting stretching targets, but as yet we have no clear path to meeting them.”
Murray called for financial commitments from the government for co-investment in charging points for electric vessels; significant investment in maritime R&D, comparable in scale to spending on automotive and aviation technology; and a budget line item review to back it up.
“We know there is real appetite and capability across the UK’s maritime industries for identifying the solutions to propel net zero vessels. If we are to level up our coastal communities and bring shipbuilding home, we need government to do what other maritime nations do, and invest in research and innovation,” Murray said.
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