News

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/

Sperry Marine has launched its newest digital solution, Sperry Marine Vessel Performance, developed in collaboration with ABB.

The service enables vessel owners to collect and analyse onboard data in real time, supporting efficient fuel usage and regulatory compliance, while optimising voyage routing.

The new solution relies on several modules of the ABB Ability OCTOPUS – Marine Advisory System, such as motion monitoring and forecasting, performance monitoring, and access to a web-based fleet portal where vessel data can be visualised and analysed onshore.

The Sperry Marine Vessel Performance solution provides a digital decarbonisation tool to help vessel owners achieve maximum fuel efficiency in compliance with upcoming regulations such as the IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII).

By continuously visualising the expected vessel motions along the planned route, the system also contributes to vessel and cargo safety, enabling the crew to select a route where maximum allowable motions will not be exceeded, resulting in most efficient and optimised route.

Sperry Marine Vessel Performance is the latest in a series of digital initiatives designed to connect bridge navigation systems with remote maintenance and voyage support services. ABB’s Vessel Performance modules are deployed and managed through the SperrySphere intelligent navigation platform, a one-stop, back-of-bridge digital platform which manages delivery of a wide variety of applications.

Sperry Marine Vessel Performance delivers the Sperry Marine vision, setting a course towards safer, greener and more efficient navigation with a roadmap of remote support and diagnostics of navigation equipment, maximising vessel availability and optimising voyage performance.

The digital platform connects the vessel with its managers using IoT in real time to transform data insights from the vessel into decisions which in turn generate business value, providing evidence in case of cargo insurance claims and demonstrating regulatory compliance.

“Our new solution can enable vessels to navigate more safely, reduce fuel costs and carbon emissions,” said James Collett, managing director, Sperry Marine. “We not only aim to improve the vessel’s performance; the SperrySphere digital platform will be the one single platform to deliver smarter and safer digitally-enabled navigation services to our customers.”

“We believe that integrating data from navigation equipment with vessel performance metrics is key to creating the decarbonisation solutions that shipping needs to lower fuel consumption and reduce emissions,” said Tomas Arhippainen, head of sales and business development, service, ABB Marine & Ports.

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/

GSL reported that the new charters comprise a first period of five years, followed by two 12-month periods at the option of the charterer, and are scheduled to commence between late 2023 and late 2024 – following the expiration of existing charters to a different counterparty.

The charters are expected to generate average adjusted EBITDA of approximately $13.1 million per ship, per year, and total adjusted EBITDA of around $393 million for the six ships over the firm charter period.

As of 30 August 2022, GLS owns 65 containerships, ranging from 1,118 to 11,040 TEU, with an aggregate capacity of 342,348 TEU.

“We are pleased to announce that we have chartered these high-quality post-Panamax containerships at rates that reflect the current market, but particularly the long-term need by liner operators for these well-specified vessels,” said George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease.

“These new forward charters provide a significant extension of our contracted revenue streams through nearly the end of the decade, and we are delighted to deepen our relationship with Hapag-Lloyd.

“So far this year, through three charter extension options, one prompt fixture, and eleven forward fixtures, we have added almost $920 million of contracted revenues, and we continue to pursue additional attractive, long-term employment for our in-demand fleet.”

The new devices will supply location data based on GPS, measure ambient temperature within the container, and monitor any sudden shocks to it. They also integrate energy-harvesting technology and low-power consumption techniques.

Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/hapag-lloyd-inks-new-7000-teu-ships-charter-agreement/

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/

M1, one of Singapore’s leading Mobile Network Operators (MNO), August 30 announced that it will undertake an ambitious multi-year project that aims to provide ubiquitous 5G standalone (SA) offshore coverage for the Southern coast of Singapore, including the surrounding waters of the southern islands.

Extending 5G offshore coverage enhances connectivity in the larger maritime ecosystem and unlocks new use cases and applications. This is an important step in the maritime industry’s digital transformation efforts, and its goal of becoming the next engine of growth for Singapore.

In collaboration with, and co-funding from, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), M1 will provide a 5G standalone (SA) network to trial, develop and deploy new maritime 5G use cases under the IMDA Innovation and Ecosystem Testbed Program and the MPA Innovation Lab – making this the world’s first public and largest Maritime testbed at sea.

The potential 5G use cases are targeted at enhancing the efficiency and safety of maritime operations and management. The use of 5G connectivity includes telemedicine to enable crew welfare at sea, delivery drones, maritime surveillance, and autonomous vessels, as well as remotely controlled task-based robots, such as ship inspection and autonomous fire-fighting robots, that are used for more dangerous and labor-intensive tasks.

Manjot Singh Mann, CEO of M1, said: “The launch of M1’s 5G standalone network provides low-latency, responsive, secured and high-throughput mobile connectivity to ensure more precise and reliable communications between the ships and the port.

“5G has the capability to resolve long-standing pain points and it will become the natural technology of choice for the maritime industry. As the first country to extend 5G standalone coverage to sea for maritime operations, M1 is excited to partner MPA and IMDA to co-develop 5G solutions that will not only transform the industry but benefit the whole of Singapore’s maritime economy.”

Full maritime 5G coverage will be deployed in major anchorages, fairways, terminals, and boarding grounds.

Delivery is scheduled to be delivered by mid-2025.

The announcement was made as part of the MPA’s 9^th edition of the International Safety@Sea Week, launched by Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance.

A 5G network has the potential to unlock a full suite of maritime solutions leveraging complementary technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, big data, drones and autonomous vehicles, to improve safety, effectiveness and efficiencies in maritime operations.

Quah Ley Hoon, Chief Executive, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: “Digitalisation continues to shape and transform the maritime industry, acting as a key driver for global trends such as logistics and supply chain efficiency and decarbonisation.

“MPA is taking the lead to help build a robust digital maritime ecosystem for Maritime Singapore, with fast, secure and high capacity 5G connectivity as one of the cornerstones to support real-time data exchanges in the maritime domain.”

Elsewhere in the port, MPA’s incident response management and safety enforcement capabilities across the full spectrum of operations will be further strengthened through the development of the Integrated Port Operations C3 (Command, Control and Communications) system (IPOC system).

The system is developed in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and will enhance situational awareness and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of incident responses.

The IPOC system will be progressively phased in from 2023 to 2026 as MPA upgrades its systems.

The port will also further develop its online booking and clearance platform, digitalPORT@SG.

The second phase of the port will include the Active Anchorage Management System (AAMS).

The AAMS taps on various data sources to optimise allocation of limited anchorage space for vessels. It ensures that the vessel is anchored safely taking into consideration various conditions including the wind, tide, depth and proximity to hazards.

The AAMS is scheduled to be launched in in the third quarter of 2023.

Source: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/port-of-singapore-to-install-major-5g-network/

Solstad Offshore ASA has announced awards of four new contracts for its subsea construction vessels (CSV), according to the company’s release.

The contracts have a combined firm utilization of 410 days, with additional options thereafter, on projects in North Europe, West Africa and Asia.

The contracts have a combined value of approximately NOK 260 million including addition services, such as ROV’s, “Walk to Work”-systems and project support. The majority of work will be executed during 4Q 2022 and 1Q 2023 by the CSVs Normand Australis, Normand Fortress, Normand Frontier and Normand Navigator.

The clients are recognized operators in the Offshore-Wind and Oil & Gas industry.

Source: https://en.portnews.ru/news/334702/

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.