Maritime Safety News Archives - Page 72 of 260

Brittany Ferries Saint-Malo, set to carry passengers between the U.K. and France in the next few years, will be the largest hybrid vessel ever built, according to the operator. The vessel will boast a battery capacity of 11.5 MWh, approximately double that typically used for hybrid propulsion in marine vessels.

This super ship will integrate multiple systems allowing real-time energy optimization while sailing. Optimized energy efficiency, hybrid power, and shore-side plug-in have the potential to yield an improvement of up to 15% on greenhouse gas emissions compared with diesel propulsion – according to engine and battery supplier Wärtsilä.

In total, StenaRoRo is constructing three hybrid ships supplied with Wärtsilä hybrid technology. Two were specified by Brittany Ferries, with the recently named Saint-Malo (destined for St Malo – Portsmouth route) scheduled for delivery in 2024. Shortly thereafter, an as-yet-unnamed hybrid will join the fleet, running the company’s most popular Caen-Portsmouth route. The hybrids will replace Bretagne and Normandie, respectively, two of the longest-serving vessels in the family.

“Hybrid technology continues to move our fleet renewal program forward and will follow the introduction of two LNG-powered ships. From day one of operation, ports like St Malo in France and Portsmouth in the U.K. will benefit. Shore-side power capability means further benefits will be realized, as investment by ports in plug-in infrastructure allows,” said Christophe Mathieu Brittany Ferries, CEO.

Brittany Ferries’ work is expected to inspire other shipping companies to take a step towards more environmentally conscious engineering and perhaps replace or upgrade much of their existing carbon-intensive fleets.

“Stena wants to be a frontrunner in decarbonizing our fleet and, together with our partners, pushing developments towards zero-emission operations,” added Per Westling, MD StenaRoRo. “Hybridisation allows our vessels to be highly flexible as we adapt to future technology developments, including green fuels, fuel cells, bigger batteries, and solar or wind supported propulsion.”

As well as engines and batteries, marine specialist Wärtsilä will supply gearboxes and propellors for the hybrid ships. “This order further strengthens Wärtsilä’s leadership in the hybrid segment,” added Hakan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä. “The extensive battery size will allow the vessels to operate with full power, using both propellors and all thrusters to maneuver emissions-free in and out of ports, even in bad weather. The built-in shore power solution will charge the batteries while berthed.

Source: https://www.inceptivemind.com/brittany-ferries-saint-malo-worlds-largest-hybrid-ship/25228/?amp

The newest pollution-collecting vessels in the fleet of Netherlands-based non-profit The Ocean Cleanup have begun undergoing a series of tests in Vietnam and Malaysia to allow their performance to be evaluated under operational conditions.

The tests on sisters Interceptor 003 and Interceptor 005 include an ongoing project where the vessels are being used to collect rubbish on the surfaces of rivers in the two countries. Interceptor 003 has been operating on Vietnam’s Can Tho River since December 2021 while Interceptor 005 has been deployed on the Klang River in Malaysia since earlier this month. The vessels have been placed in strategic locations in these rivers to make sure the main plastic flow is intercepted while still allowing other boats to pass.

Like their sister vessels, Interceptor 003 and Interceptor 005 are each fitted with a floating barrier that extends towards the front for funneling waste through the vessel’s mouth. River waste flowing with the current is guided by the barrier towards the opening of each vessel, eliminating the need for additional machinery to be used for actively removing waste from the surface of the water. All electronics on each vessel – including the conveyor belt, shuttle, lights, sensors, and data transmission – are solar-powered, thus further reducing reliance on carbon-emitting generators.

Thanks to the vessels’ catamaran design, the water flow path is optimised to pass through the system, carrying the plastic onto the conveyor belt. The conveyor continuously extracts the debris from the water and delivers the waste to a shuttle that automatically distributes the debris across six dumpsters. Using sensor data, the containers are filled equally until they reach their full total capacity of 50 cubic metres. The Ocean Cleanup claims that, under optimal operations, each vessel can extract up to 50,000 kilograms of plastic per day.

The vessels can work autonomously even for 24 hours straight until their onboard storage becomes full, though they can continue extracting debris even as their six 8.3-cubic-metre dumpsters are being emptied. When a vessel is almost full, it automatically sends a text message to the local operators to come and collect the waste. Operators then remove the vessel’s lower barge assembly, bring it to the side of the river, empty the dumpsters, send off the debris to local waste management facilities. The barge can be quickly and easily reinstalled in the vessel to resume regular rubbish collection operations afterwards.

The Ocean Cleanup said the newer vessels also feature key improvements over the older vessels in its fleet. These include: a conveyor belt being widened to 2.5 metres to allow for a less obstructive flow and better distribution to the dumpsters and a widened hull and dumpsters to make the transfer of rubbish from the conveyor to the dumpsters easier and more effective. The vessels’ monocrystalline solar cell panels and smart energy storage system are also smaller but just as efficient as those of their predecessors.

The catamaran design also helps facilitate containerisation and fast deployment thanks to its modular construction that allows for easy assembly and disassembly.

Interceptor 003 and Interceptor 005 were built by Finnish company Konecranes via its various local partners in Southeast Asia on behalf of The Ocean Cleanup.

Photo: The Ocean Cleanup
Source: https://www.bairdmaritime.com/work-boat-world/small-craft-world/pollution-rubbish-cleanup/vessel-review-interceptor-003-autonomous-catamarans-take-on-river-cleanup-duties-in-southeast-asia/

Sir Robert is a 22.2-metre tug featuring two Caterpillar 3516 EUI marine diesels, producing a total of 3,280 kW and 50-tonnes pulling power, and can operate at a speed of 12 knots.

Sir Robert was delivered in Whangarei, New Zealand in November 2000 for the Port of Tauranga, named in honour of the late Sir Robert Owens, a successful businessman who played a key role in developed the Port of Tauranga.

Commissioned to replace Rotorua, which was sold to Australia after 33 years at the port, Sir Robert was intended to handle large ships and is a sister vessel for three tugs based in Auckland.

In order to cope with the demand of the thousands of large ships that berth in the Port of Tauranga each year, with 1,307 ships in the year ended June 30, 2021, Sir Robert needs to be operationally ready at all times with no sacrifice in performance. Reducing maintenance and saving time is essential for the tug, and so Propspeed was applied to the two propellers and four keel cooler tube sets.

“Following a recent dive inspection of the underwater hull,” said tug engineer Pete Frewin, “the divers’ report suggests that all areas coated in Propspeed are looking clean and free of marine build up. This includes the twin props as well as the four engine and auxiliary keel cooler tube sets.”

Mr Frewin said this inspection was completed in May and the vessel has been in operation for six months after its docking in September 2020.

Source: https://www.bairdmaritime.com/ausmarine/ausmarine-gear/gear-propspeed-coating-selected-for-nz-port-of-tauranga-tug/

Since the beginning of May 2022, European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) have been flying over the East Baltic Sea region following a coordinated request for enhanced maritime surveillance from the Finnish Border Guard, the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Latvian Coast Guard Service.

IMSAR’s radar is supporting EMSA on the Textron Systems Aerosonde unmanned fixed-wing aircraft, flown by contractor Nordic Unmanned. The Aerosonde can stay in the air for 10 hours and can fly up to 140 km within radio range and further depending on the ground relay stations. It is equipped with a gimbal with optical and infrared sensors, and an AIS receiver alongside the IMSAR radar.

The regional scope of the operation enables cross-border flights over the Gulf of Finland and the exclusive economic zones of both Estonia and Latvia. While the service increases situational awareness for a wide range of coast guard functions, the focus of the operation is on maritime safety and security, environmental protection, fisheries control and search and rescue.

During this five-month operation, the national authorities from Finland, Estonia and Latvia are working in close cooperation, planning, following and receiving data from the flights irrespective of the point from which the RPAS is deployed. As the flights will continue throughout the summer, when maritime activities typically increase, the operation is expected to bring additional support to the emergency services as they monitor and respond to incidents in the coastal waters.

This operation builds on the services provided by EMSA in 2021 to both Estonia and Finland, taking forward the regional dimension by enabling cross-border flights within the airspace of the three participating countries.

Even though the start of 2022 has brought uncertainty to the global economy, maritime shipping remains one of the most important elements in driving global trade.

This is why Posidonia remains one of the leading events in the shipping industry.
Greece has been at the pinnacle of shipping for centuries and retains its place among the great maritime nations in the 21st century. This is always reflected at Posidonia and PISR has welcomed the opportunity to meet and greet ship owners, managers and opera- tors at the expo: this will be our third year attending and we have some great news in the form of a new location and digital services. As we continue our carefully planned European reach, PISR has opened a new office in London, one of the world’s leading maritime industry centres. This expansion is a strong statement about the current growth of the registry.
At Posidonia this is a good time to be reaching out to shipowners who are looking for services that are in tune with their needs, which are accessible and delivered with speed.
The shipping industry is moving quickly to adapt and so are we: our growth is down to innovation and confidence, the things that shipowners look for and in 2022 PISR is continuing its development of digital services. There is no substitute for dependable and reliable technology allied to the right people with knowledge and experience: PISR has both in abundance and they are already proving invaluable to shipowners.
Our Deficiency Prevention System is renowned and an invaluable tool for shipowners and operators and our forthcoming upgrades and new services will create an even wider range of online tools to support them.
We talk to ship owners daily and the thing they always refer to is time and how delays can affect their business both operationally and financially. We have an established, tried and tested digital range of services and we use these to keep our fleet sailing and our ship owners happy.
The focus on digital services was the way we perceived the industry was heading and we started from the beginning to provide our fleet with real-time online services to keep them moving. PISR offers unique and verified tools through our SMART services. Shipowners are not looking for innovation without credibility: they are looking for services that work; that are tried and trusted; that keep their ships operational and free from costly delays due to deficiencies. It is one
of the main reasons they talk to PISR and we have retained the same-day delivery of services we are known for.
Our shipowners need and demand much more from PISR and we are delivering that for them: the proof is in our recent elevation to the Paris and Tokyo MoU Grey Lists. The next decade will see an increase in online registrations and associated services. But we will always retain the ‘human element’ at PISR because we understand there is always a need to talk to a ‘real person’ when there are questions or issues to be resolved. What works for PISR is a combination of human and technological service. Shipping has always been a ‘people business’ and we do not see that changing any- time soon. We recognise that as a SMART Registry we offer ship owners significant benefits in costs and delivery of services. PISR’s e-registration services remove the reliance on and the fallibility of paper certificates. This is the world of instant communication and information on demand.
Some of the questions we will doubtless be asked in Posidonia, will be, “Why should a shipowner register their vessel with PISR?” and “Why seafarers should be looking for licencing with PISR?” These are questions that we can answer with knowledge, experience and the enthusiasm our staff are known for. What we believe marks PISR out as a truly global registry is our services, our experience and our innovation. We are far more than just an online service; despite the fact we are a world leader in this regard. Shipping is a global operation and we have the largest support service avail- able, with our 44 Deputy Registrars in 25 countries, extending our services to shipowners across the globe, regardless of vessel size or location.
We talk to shipowners and operators daily. Communication is a core focus for PISR: this is why we have developed so quickly because of being responsive and able to deliver with digital services. We see ourselves as a different from other registries and it’s not simply down to size. We have learned over the years that shipowners want a flag of confidence.
They are looking to be supported, to have communications to hand and have their services delivered cost effectively and speedily. In our view, they are talking about our services and our reputation.
* Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Palau to Greece & Chief Executive Officer at Palau International Ship Registry

SeaShuttle, the ambitious project to build two hydrogen-powered, remotely controlled and autonomous-ready containerships for delivery by 2025 has secured NOK150 million (€15M) in funding from Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA.

The bold scheme, led by multimodal transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity, envisages two SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, with each powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.

ENOVA, which operates under Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment, promotes a shift towards more environmentally friendly energy consumption and production, as well as technologies based on sustainable energy.

Originally announced at Nor-Shipping 2022, Oslo, in April, the Samskip-Ocean Infinity partnership covers both the construction and operation of the ships, in a collaboration seeking to push forward towards zero-emission, efficient and safe, multimodal logistics.

“Samskip is very proud to take the lead role in pioneering the SeaShuttle initiative, as part of its ‘making green logistics easy’ strategy,” said Are Gråthen, CEO, Samskip Norway. “Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality. Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment. These ships are the first part of an exciting collaboration with Ocean Infinity.”

In line with commitments given at COP26 Clydebank Declaration, SeaShuttle would create what amounted to one of Europe’s first zero-emission ‘green corridors’, Gråthen added.

Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO, Ocean Infinity, commented: “Ocean Infinity’s enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonisation and transformation of maritime operations. The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity’s overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations. We would like to thank Enova for their support for our vision which represents a firm endorsement of our ground-breaking approach and allows us to proceed at full speed in bringing this project to life.”

The funding means the partners can move forward to contract two new 500TEU ships installed with a main propulsion solution that can be adapted to run on hydrogen fuel. Diesel electric propulsion plant will be on board as back up, although Gråthen emphasized: “We have faith that green hydrogen will be affordable and available in Norway”.

Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, Group CEO, Samskip commented: “For Samskip, sustainability is one of the fundamentals of doing business. The SeaShuttle project is a substantial step in Samskip’s journey towards zero emission logistics. Its combination of fuel, technology and operational best practice is expected to make emissions-free shortsea shipping cost competitive with existing solutions.

As the maritime sector deals with digital transformation and decarbonization pressures, seafarers face increasingly complex and difficult industry challenges, and it appears collaborative working may be the only way to create one accurate, comprehensive data source.

Danelec works with over 10,000 vessels, and these vessels now have the opportunity to access the i4 Insight platform with no extra equipment costs.

Joel Meltzner, i4 Insight CEO explains; “Danelec are experts at accessing and collecting vessel data, they have equipment installed on thousands of vessels. Our new partnership now means that the Danelec data can be fed directly into our i4 fleet optimzation platform for AI analysis without any further equipment being installed. We can use this data to provide accurate and actionable insights for ship owners and charterers to improve vessel performance”

Casper Jensen, CEO Danelec, said; “Partnering with i4 allows us to offer our customers a quick and easy plug-and-play solution to utilise the navigational and engine room data collected onboard to improve vessel efficiency while reducing their carbon footprint to comply with upcoming emission reduction regulations”

We are extremely excited about the future of this new relationship and look forward to jointly supporting many more ship owners and charterers.

The Mayflower Autonomous Ship Project (MAS400) is a collaboration between ProMare and IBM Research. The project is also affiliated with the Submergence Group, A U.K. company that “designs and manufactures manned and unmanned submersibles.” (2)

In a recent press release, IBM provided the following description of the fully autonomous marine vessel with an “AI Captain”:

“In a voyage lasting 40 days and conquering approximately 3,500 unmanned miles at sea, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship arrived in North America in Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 5, 2022. Following two years of design, construction, and AI model training, the Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) was officially launched in September 2020. Fast forward to today, June 6, 2022, we celebrate the completion of MAS’s historic transatlantic voyage from Plymouth, UK to its North American arrival in Halifax, Nova Scotia yesterday, June 5. With no human captain or onboard crew, MAS is the first self-directed autonomous ship with technology that is scalable and extendible to traverse the Atlantic Ocean.” (1)

Fast Company reports that the MAS400 was “originally headed to Washington, D.C., the ship—which is propelled by a solar-driven hybrid electric motor and backup diesel generator, and guided by artificial intelligence, cloud, and edge computing technologies—diverted to Canada last week so the team could fix a faulty generator starter. Later this month, it will continue to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the first Mayflower landed in 1620, before arriving in D.C. in July.” (2)

A project to develop hydrogen-powered, remotely controlled, and autonomous-ready containerships is moving forward with a funding grant from Norway. The project, which is being led by the Dutch intermodal transport company Samskip and marine robotics company Ocean Infinity, targets launching by 2025 saying it could enable one of Europe’s first green corridors.

Called SeaShuttle, the project calls for two vessels that would operate between Norway’s Oslofjord and Rotterdam in the Netherlands each with a capacity of 500 TEU. The Samskip-Ocean Infinity partnership covers both the construction and operation of the ships, in a collaboration that seeks to push forward towards zero-emission, efficient and safe, multimodal logistics. Each of the SeaShuttles would be powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.

Announced in April 2022, the project is taking its next step forward with a $15 million funding commitment from ENOVA. The state enterprise which operates under Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment, is designed to promote a shift towards more environmentally friendly energy consumption and production, as well as technologies based on sustainable energy.

“Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality,” said Are Gråthen, CEO of Samskip Norway. “Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment.”

According to the companies, SeaShuttle could create what amounted to one of Europe’s first zero-emission green corridors and serve as a demonstration for other projects. Several other projects are also under development to launch in Norway, but they are focusing on short sea routes. Work began last year on building a pair of autonomous, all-electric ro/ro cargo vessels for Norwegian grocery distributor Asko. They will operate crossing the Oslofjord, while Furniture manufacturer Ekornes announced it was partnering with German logistic company DB Schenker along with design firm Naval Dynamics for the study of the new autonomous vessel to operate on a 23-mile route in Norway. Yara has also begun testing on the Yara Birkeland targeting completing certification for autonomous operations by 2024.

Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO, Ocean Infinity, commented: “Ocean Infinity’s enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonization and transformation of maritime operations. The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity’s overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations.”

The companies said that the funding means the partners can move forward to contract for two new 500TEU ships installed with a main propulsion solution that can be adapted to run on hydrogen fuel. A diesel-electric propulsion plant will also be on board as backup, although Gråthen emphasized, “We have faith that green hydrogen will be affordable and available in Norway.”

The board of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the world’s largest shipowners’ association, has appointed Emanuele Grimaldi as its new chairman of the board. He takes over from chairman Esben Poulsson, who has helped guide ICS since 2016.

Grimaldi is a former president of Confitarma and the European Community Shipowners Associations (ECSA), as well as president of Grimaldi Euromed. Working alongside ICS Secretary General Guy Platten, he will work with ICS’ membership on the key issues of the day, including digitalization and decarbonization.

“I am honored to represent the shipping industry at this crucial juncture in our history,” said Grimaldi. “The world is changing, and shipping must change with it. Fundamental transformation to our fuel supplies, our technology, and the skillsets of our workforce will define the direction shipping takes this decade.”

Outgoing chairman Poulsson is the executive chairmen of Enesel Pte Ltd., a Singaporean container ship owner, among other corporate board positions. Over the course of his three terms as chairman of ICS, he sought to ensure that shipping’s GHG emissions remain regulated by IMO under a set of global rules, and he worked to build unity among shipowners for a net-zero by 2050 emissions target. He was also a prominent advocate for the association’s plan for a low-carbon research levy on bunker fuel, among other major initiatives.

“I cannot thank outgoing chair, Esben Poulsson, enough for his six years of leadership and companionship. Expertly navigating ICS through several major events, including the COVID-19 crew change crisis, a rise in piracy, and the Suez Canal blockage,” said ICS Secretary General Guy Platten.

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Maritime Safety News Archives - Page 72 of 260 - SHIP IP LTD

Brittany Ferries Saint-Malo to be the world’s largest hybrid ship

VESSEL REVIEW | INTERCEPTOR 003 – AUTONOMOUS CATAMARANS TAKE ON RIVER CLEANUP DUTIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

GEAR | PROPSPEED COATING SELECTED FOR NZ PORT OF TAURANGA TUG

IMSAR Supports EMSA RPAS in Maritime Surveillance Operations

Panos Kirnidis*: The future arrives at Posidonia

Samskip and Ocean Infinity secure funds to drive forward hydrogen-fuelled SeaShuttle container ship

Danelec Joins Forces with i4 Insight AI Technology

Autonomous Everything: The First Autonomous Ship Crosses the Atlantic Ocean

Hydrogen-Powered Autonomous Containership Receives $15M in Funding

Emanuele Grimaldi Takes Up the Mantle as ICS Chairman

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