Strategic Marine (SMS) has partnered Sea Forrest Power Solutions (SFP) to develop and supply Asia’s First Hybrid Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) targeted at the growing global offshore renewables sector.

When fully operational, 24 offshore service/industrial personnel and three crew members can be accommodated within the hybrid vessel travelling at a maximum of 26 knots. The parallel hybrid system boasts a reduction in main engine hours and maintenance, significantly reduces vessel noise and vibration and, depending on the vessel’s operational profile and charging facilities, is expected to reduce the vessel’s operational carbon footprint.

The CTV is designed to meet the specific requirements of Bureau Veritas Marine (Singapore). The scheduled delivery date will be around the 1st quarter 2023 and the CTV will be deployed in European waters.

The retrofittable system supplied by SFP utilizes Danfoss Editron motors and drivers. It uses a proprietary control system designed and developed inhouse by the SFP team in Singapore. The system is designed with architecture that allows for future firmware upgrades for efficiency improvement.

This vessel marks progression in Strategic Marine’s decarbonization goals across its product range and towards the sustainability and environmental roadmap for green maritime solutions for Singapore’s maritime industry.

The growing demands for more sustainable maritime solutions have provided Strategic Marine with opportunities to develop our capabilities and expertise into creating a greener standard for other industry players to learn from.

Commenting on the partnership, Chan Eng Yew, Chief Executive Officer of SMS, said that “Working with SFP and Danfoss to develop the first hybrid CTV in Southeast Asia places Strategic Marine on our first step towards our goals for marine sustainability and presenting a solution to the industry where we see a growing demand for hybrid vessels.  We are honored to partner with SFP and Danfoss in reaching this milestone.”

Partners to this vessel have gone into an MOU on 12 May to successfully complete and deliver the hybrid CTV.

BOSTON — Sea Machines Robotics Inc., a developer of autonomous command and control and advanced perception systems for the marine industries, has unveiled AI-ris, a new marine computer vision navigation sensor designed to improve safety and performance while vessels are underway, the company said June 21.

The company revealed this new technology during Seawork2022, the largest European commercial marine exhibition. Sea Machines’ AI-ris, (artificial intelligence recognition and identification system) uses digital cameras and AI-processing to detect, track, classify and geolocate objects, vessel traffic and other potential obstacles in the majority of operational conditions, day or night, to equip crew with best-in-class situational awareness. Computer vision helps improve safety for vessels and is also a critical technology for the advancement of autonomous command and control systems.

Boats and ships operate in the planet’s most dynamic environment and the limitations of conventional navigation sensors leave the bulk of perception work to the human eye and brain for continuous scanning of the waterway. Fatigue, distraction, and confusion can lead to misses and mistakes. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that in 2020, 36% of boating accidents were collisions and allisions, with the primary cause being improper lookouts and operator inattention. The commercial marine industry suffers from similar challenges. Sea Machines designed AI-ris to be ever alert, with the ability to deliver predictable operational results that can improve vessel reliability, as well as eliminate liabilities caused by human error.

“Sea Machines is dedicated to building the future of ocean mobility. We envision a future with fewer accidents at sea. We are revolutionizing marine navigation with data-driven intelligence, autonomy and connectivity,” said CEO Michael G. Johnson, Sea Machines. “AI-ris enables a tremendous performance and safety increase. The superior capabilities of computer vision and AI will ensure a safer, more productive voyage.”

“AI-ris is always scanning for obstacles and can alert the operator of potentially dangerous situations. It also labels objects very small in size, like swimmers, kayakers or animals, to those very large, like another ship,” said CTO Trevor Vieweg, Sea Machines. “With the ability to detect, classify and geolocate such targets via optical sensors, AI-ris augments and surpasses the capabilities of existing marine sensor technologies, like radar and automatic identification system, enabling greater performance and achieving the highest levels of safety. In the future, this technology may also help responders detect marine oil spills.”

AI-ris is commercially available now and can be installed aboard existing vessels, as well as new builds.

The 180-m long passenger vessel berthed at the Amsterdam yard August 2021 and has been upgraded with refurbished cabins and suites, while spa suites and terrace rooms have been added. Restaurants were also upgraded and a new bar was created.

From mid-March until April 2022, the vessel was in the largest drydock for technical conversions. Azamara Onward’s ballast water and fuel tanks were restructured to accommodate for bunkering larger volumes of marine grade diesel and work included a lot of piping throughout the vessel and the engineroom. The grey water tanks and the tanktop were replaced. Stabilisers both on starboard and port were overhauled and shaft seals were replaced. Thrusters were upgraded to allow for the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants and the tailshaft and propeller seal were replaced.

Azamara head of marine operations Nico Corbijn said, “With an investment of approximately US$55M, it was very important for us to identify a yard that could provide not only the technical expertise and know-how for this large project, but also offer logistical support for the outfitting companies and their teams that would be attending the ship daily.”

Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam project manager Colin Husslage said, “We managed to deliver the ship to its proud new owner on the date agreed, so Azamara can have it in full service during the 2022 season. It was challenging to organise all the operations on time and to avoid the steel work interferring with decorative jobs.”

Azamara Onward is now the fourth vessel to join Miami-based operator Azamara’s fleet and sailed to Monte Carlo for its naming ceremony 2 May. The ship was previously owned and operated by Princess Cruises before it was sold in January 2021.