GENERAL Archives - Page 26 of 68

Wärtsilä said it will supply the engines, waterjets and fuel storage and supply system for a new high speed catamaran ferry. The vessel is being built at the Incat yard in Tasmania, Australia on behalf of Argentinian ferry operator, Buquebus. Having an overall length of 130 meters, a width of 32 meters and the capacity to carry 2,100 passengers and 226 cars, it will be the largest aluminum catamaran ever built by Incat. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in July 2022.

The vessel will operate between Argentina and Uruguay with Wärtsilä’s 31 dual-fuel engine technology using primarily LNG fuel produced at Buquebus own LNG plant. The vessel will also incorporate shaft e-motors powered via the main engine gearboxes taking further advantage of Wärtsilä’s LNG technology. With LNG, the minimized emissions of CO2, nitrous oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter will make the ferry Tier III compliant and able to operate in emission control areas (ECAs).

“We have selected Wärtsilä waterjets many times in the past, and have always been extremely satisfied with their performance,” said Tim Burnell, Incat’s CEO. “This though is the first time we will include Wärtsilä engines, and we are excited about the potential they provide. This will be the world’s largest and greenest vessel of its type, and we are very happy to be working with Wärtsilä to make the project a huge success.”

“This is indeed an exciting project. Our latest WXJ generation axial flow waterjets reduce the installation footprint on average by approximately 25%, compared to non-axial flow jet designs. They also give a higher power-to-weight ratio, and come with an advanced Propulsion Control System. Combining this with our highly efficient, fuel flexible engines, means that it is a truly future-proof investment,” added Mikko Mannerkorpi, General Manager, Sales, Wärtsilä Marine Power.

The full scope of supply comprises four Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines, four Wärtsilä WXJ1500SR waterjets, and two Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage, supply and propulsion control systems. The equipment will be delivered to the yard commencing in mid-2023.

Source: https://www.marinelink.com/news/wrtsil-supply-propulsion-worlds-largest-499152

Data usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to a new communications analysis by Inmarsat.

The study found that the shipping industry’s reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare has resulted in data usage among Inmarsat maritime customers rising almost 70 per cent in the 12 months to mid-2022.

Analysis of data usage by vessel operators shows year-on-year demand for data was highest among container shipping companies, more than doubling (108 per cent) in June 2022 compared to June 2021, while use of connectivity increased by 70 per cent among oil tanker operators and by 47 per cent on bulk carriers over the same period.

Ben Palmer, president of Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Maritime data usage is a leading indicator of economic activity and international trade in the shipping industry, which carries 90 per cent of all global trade. More and more shipping companies are upgrading their satellite communications services and adopting new technologies for applications including route-planning, ship-to-shore broadband data transfers and to maximise fuel efficiency. They are also ensuring that their crews remain connected with family and friends while at sea, the mandatory requirement now recognised by the Maritime Labour Convention. Our study shows data usage is on the rise among all commercial vessel types.

“The success we’re seeing in our order book is due to our understanding of the commercial maritime industry and the needs of ship owners and operators. This appreciation led directly to the development of our unique service proposition for shipping companies, which combines two wholly-owned and operated global networks in our market leading Fleet Xpress service. Our strategy is to continue to innovate at pace, supporting the rapid digitalisation the industry is experiencing, which in turn is being driven by industry-wide targets for decarbonisation and the imperative of ensuring crew welfare.”

Inmarsat’s maritime data usage study comes amid a record order book for the company’s Fleet Xpress satellite communications systems. The Fleet Xpress installed base rose by 17 per cent in the second quarter of 2022 compared to Q2 2021, to almost 13,000 ships, with an order book of over 1,000 vessels.

Earlier this year, Inmarsat completed technical proof of concept tests for the terrestrial 5G mesh component of its new ORCHESTRA network. The tests took place in Singapore, one of the world’s busiest container ports. ORCHESTRA provides innovative spectrum-management and connectivity technology to deliver additional data capacity at key shipping hot spots via a unique, shore-based terrestrial networks. The 5G mesh network has the potential to integrate seamlessly with Inmarsat’s geostationary satellite constellations and a highly targeted low earth orbit (LEO) fleet to deliver the lowest average latency and fastest average speeds with unique resilience of any planned global service.

“As data demand continues to grow in the shipping industry, our ORCHESTRA testing in Singapore has shown in real-world cases how to enhance ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship connectivity, including distances, range, throughput and link availability,” continued Palmer. “We are innovating with this technology because connectivity demand in key ports and shipping lanes is only going to increase further and lead to growing congestion.”

The figures on data usage and maritime orders coincide with continued planning by Inmarsat for its combination with Viasat of the US, which also serves a range of customers in the maritime sector. On completion of the transaction, the enlarged company will drive greater customer choice in B2B satellite communications serving maritime customers, as well as aviation, government and enterprise users, by providing a strong multi-layered, global architecture, and uniquely in the space sector, the ability to bring together multi-orbital satellite and terrestrial 4G and 5G assets.

Source: https://www.thedigitalship.com/news/maritime-satellite-communications/item/8022-inmarsat-study-reveals-surge-in-maritime-data-usage

APM Terminals’ Yucatán terminal in Puerto Progreso, Mexico, has deployed a new LTE private wireless network system to provide high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity across the facility and improve network predictability in piers and yards.

The new wireless network, powered AT&T Mexico and leveraging the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform, will use 4.9G LTE to connect hundreds of workers, sensors, equipment, and vehicles across an area of 11.5 hectares.

The connectivity platform will help to power a virtualised Terminal Operation System and provide the infrastructure to enable future technologies such as remote and autonomous crane operations within the piers and yards.

APM Terminals Yucatán is the only container terminal in Puerto Progreso, a deep-water port and a key logistics location for the Yucatán peninsula and south-eastern Mexico, which is home to almost 13 million people.

“We are working with AT&T Mexico and Nokia because of their expertise and unique knowledge in the Mexican telecom market,” said Nathalie Rush, Managing Director of APM Terminals Yucatan.

“The signal strength has really exceeded our expectations so far. We can cover the entire port with the solution, reaching a radius of about 6 kilometres. This platform is already considered a reference for the rest of the terminals in the group.”

Source: https://smartmaritimenetwork.com/2022/08/31/apm-terminals-yucatan-deploys-private-lte-connectivity-network/

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare has announced a temporary moratorium on visits by foreign naval vessels after turning away a U.S Coast Guard Cutter last week.

Speaking at a ceremony welcoming hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) to Honiara, Sogavare said that bureaucratic issues were behind the denial of diplomatic clearance to USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC-1140).

“Unfortunately, by the time the approval was communicated on the evening of 20th August 2022, the Ship’s captain had decided to leave our waters.” Sogavare said in statement.

The port call was routine, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby during a press conference Tuesday. Oliver Henry planned to stop at Solomon Island to refuel and resupply, but after the U.S. did not receive diplomatic clearance in time, the ship diverted to Papua New Guinea.

“We’re disappointed in this decision,” Kirby said during the briefing. “While the lack of diplomatic clearance for the Oliver Henry was regrettable, however, the United States is pleased that the U.S. Navy ship Mercy – it’s a hospital ship – received diplomatic clearance and was able to take port in Solomon Islands on the 29th.”

While Solomon Islands took time to review its diplomatic clearance process, foreign partners had been asked to postpone upcoming naval visits until further notice, he said.

“To this end we have requested our partners to give us time to review and put in place our new processes before sending further requests for military vessels to enter the country,” Sogavare said. “Once the new mechanism is in place, we will inform you all. We anticipate the new process to be smoother and timelier.”

In a Tuesday statement, Solomon Islands government said that the new rules would apply to all visiting naval vessels.

“The government has asked all partner countries with plans to conduct naval visits or patrols to put them on hold until a revised national mechanism is in place,” according to a government statement “These will universally apply to all visiting naval vessels.”

U.S. hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) has been exempted from the moratorium and is expected to remain in Solomon Islands for several weeks as part of Pacific Partnership 2022.

Source: https://news.usni.org/2022/08/30/solomon-islands-blocks-all-naval-port-visits-after-u-s-coast-guard-cutter-denied-entry

The CBG 500 E crane combines drive technologies with Liebherr’s own crane control system “Master V”.

Another highlight is the energy recovery system LiCaTronic®, which makes optimum use of the energy available.

The new all-electric crane CBG 500 E expands the transshipment solutions portfolio with a reliable machine that offers a handling performance of up to 2,000 tonnes per hour.

The all-electric drives inside the crane in combination with the supercapacitors turn the rope luffing CBG 500 E into a unique handling solution in the market.

The supercapacitors used as standard in Liebherr’s own LiCaTronic® energy recovery system support the increasing requirements regarding energy efficiency.

The boom of the CBG 500 E was designed as a lattice boom. This makes it particularly stiff and light, which further improves the turnover performance and at the same time reduces the energy need.

The result is a lifting capacity of up to 105 tonnes in hook operation and a maximum grab capacity of up to 90 tonnes.

The extension of the cabin and the high positioning ensure that the crane operator has an optimal viewing angle of all processes. The crane operator is supported operationally by the new, integrated “Master V” crane control system.

Together with a more efficient software architecture, it forms the basis for integrating future assistance and automation systems into the crane in the long term.

The crane can be configured with 43 metre and 50 metre boom. The longer boom variant offers the decisive advantage of enabling direct transshipment between two vessels in sheltered and open water.

The modes of operation range from bulk to container handling and are independent of the area of operation.

For installation on a barge, the crane can be equipped with additional counterweights, enabling safe cargo handling. Optional configuration options such as a comfort ascent or additional platforms and boom walkways for maintenance purposes can also be configured.

Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/liebherr-unveils-first-all-electric-transshipment-crane/

The 20th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise concluded Aug. 20, following 10 days of in-person and at-sea engagements that enhanced collaboration among Indo-Pacific partners and focused on shared maritime security challenges of the region.

SEACAT is a multilateral exercise that brought together 21 partner nations, interagencies, international and non-government organizations, designed to provide mutual support and a common goal to address crises, contingencies, and illegal activities in the maritime domain using standardized tactics, techniques, and procedures.

Ashore, the exercise involved a command post exercise at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base that served as a centralized hub for information sharing in the tracking of contracted merchant vessels simulating suspicious vessels of interests (VOIs) in seas throughout Southeast Asia.

Capt. Tim LaBenz, deputy commander of Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON 7), served as the Officer in Tactical Command, overseeing the operations in Singapore.

“Integrating U.S. Navy personnel and liaison officers from across the region and beyond, the multilateral collaboration required during SEACAT continues to build on well-established relationships in the maritime domain,” said LaBenz. “Exercises like these showcase the daily strides and highlight our shared focus to promote maritime security, all in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

By aggregating information through maritime domain awareness (MDA) tools, cueing was provided to participant countries’ operations centers and maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft or surface assets. These assets made use of that information across the region to track, find and simulate boarding of the VOIs, with the goal of practicing and advancing a collective ability to enforce international rules, laws, and norms.

The exercise scenarios were designed to encourage countries to share information to enhance understanding of the operational environment, build capacity for humanitarian support missions, and uphold international laws and norms. As Indo-Pacific Command’s executive agent for counter-narcotics, Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) West provided intel support to participating countries, demonstrating their shared commitment to the international rules-based approach to address transnational organized crime.

“As the U.S. Department of Defense lead agency for counternarcotics in the Indo-Pacific, Joint Interagency Task Force West remains honored to participate in SEACAT year after year,” said Rear Adm. Charles Fosse, director, JIATF West. “SEACAT 2021 strengthened our intelligence-sharing partnerships with other military and law enforcement operational centers, enabling a unified effort to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Signifying the largest iteration to date, 21 nations participated, including Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

In all, SEACAT included 10 ships and more than 400 personnel. U.S. Navy participants included USS Tulsa (LCS 16), staff of DESRON 7, P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Task Force 72, and personnel from Task Forces 73, 76, U.S. 7th Fleet, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and JIATF West. Other organizations included United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), EU Critical Maritime Route Wider Indian Ocean (CRIMARIO), and Global Fishing Watch, with application of Women, Peace, and Security (WPS).

As the U.S. Navy’s destroyer squadron forward-deployed in Southeast Asia, DESRON 7 serves as the primary tactical and operational commander of littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to Singapore, functions as Expeditionary Strike Group 7’s Sea Combat Commander, and builds partnerships through training exercises and military-to-military engagements.

Under Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with 35 maritime nations in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: https://maritimefairtrade.org/southeast-asia-maritime-exercise-puts-cooperative-maritime-security-first%EF%BF%BC/

Three new cruise lines are set to be unveiled this September as new investors and new money enter the business.

A combination of available ships, funding and fear of missing out is the driving force behind these three projects.

Major Hotel Chain: According to multiple sources speaking to Cruise Industry News, a well-known hotel brand will announce its intention to start a cruise line with new, (comma) small luxury ships sometime in September.

French Start Up: A French start up has acquired the former Maasdam from the laid up Seajets cruise fleet and will be announcing more details shortly. Seajets has yet to put any of its cruise vessels into service, having already sent ships to be recycled. If the deal works out, look for the more of the Seajets fleet to find new homes. Seller financing is said to be playing a key role.

Exploris: The Silver Explorer will be heading to a new home in late 2023 at Exploris, which is targeting the high-end expedition market with a small ship. A press conference is scheduled for early September with more details set to be announced then.

Source: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28123-three-new-cruise-lines-set-to-reveal-themselves-in-september.html

The most definitive thing the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Mick Kinley can say about the shipping industry’s quest for decarbonisation is that nothing is clear.

Speaking at the Ports Australia conference in Brisbane on Wednesday, Mr Kinley told the audience there is no obvious green energy source to replace fossil fuels as the industry works toward decarbonisation.

“Our simple world … where ships pretty much universally have burned the black stuff that came out of the back of refineries, is coming to an end,” he said.

“All of the alternative fuels that you’ll hear about with decarbonisation … come with their own different risks.”

In 2018, The International Maritime Organisation adopted a strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least half by 2050, compared to 2008 levels.

And while the top 10 per cent of the industry are leading the way and investing money to address the net zero challenge, Mr Kinley believes the bulk may need “someone to push them along with a pointy stick” to do what’s needed.

Ammonia is one possibility, but it is very toxic and very explosive, he says.

“How are you going to feel about ships bunkering ammonia, or ships being fuelled by ammonia, coming in and tying up next to an apartment block?” he said.

Another option is hydrogen, and while it’s not toxic, it is highly flammable.

“There’s still trials being worked out on how you’re actually going to carry hydrogen in bulk. It’s another level of difficulty from LNG and the low temperatures you have to carry it.”

Liquid natural gas, which is being used as a transition fuel by some ships now, comes with similar hazards to hydrogen.

These points raise significant questions for how ports will keep a global fleet moving if the ships are running on different and potentially volatile fuel sources.

“How many ports are going to be able to be those energy hubs in the future?” Mr Kinley said.