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ECA teams up with MAURIC to offer autonomous systems for ship

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French autonomous systems specialist ECA Group joined forces with maritime solution provider MAURIC to design a patrol vessel-sized ship specialized for carrying and deploying mine countermeasure autonomous vessel of all sizes.

The design is named Octopoda and comes in two ranges, a 30-meter Octopoda 300 and a larger, 50-meter Octopoda 500.

Integrated with UMIS system of surface and underwater robots, the Octopoda models allow operators to stay out of harm’s way during MCM missions. The UMIS is a complete system of different drones that can collaborate within the same mission to carry out each step of a mine clearance mission: detection, identification and destruction.

Octopoda operates outside the minefield, so that it does not have to comply with demanding specifications relating to acoustic and electromagnetic signature, and shock resistance.

To design the first vessels in the Octopoda range, MAURIC’s naval architects focused specifically on two fundamental aspects concerning integration of naval drones: the integration of launch and recovery systems that are effective even in high sea states, and the ergonomics of the drone deployment zones on board the vessel. So the Octopoda vessels have been designed around these zones (aft deck, drone storage and maintenance hangar, drone system control center).

The Octopoda 300 makes it possible to deploy a naval drone system from a vessel that is just 30 meters in length, according to ECA Group. The system consists of two A9-M AUVs, identification robots and destruction MIDS (mine identification and destruction system) consisting of 2 SEASCANs and 6 K-STER Cs. These underwater robots can be deployed from Octopoda 300 or a 7m Rhib nested in an aft ramp.

The Octopoda 300 also comprises a small landing platform making it possible to deploy a IT 180 UAV lightweight drone. The design incorporates a specific hangar with direct access to the aft deck and a control center with a bird’s eye view of the deployment zone, the objectives of which are to simplify handling of the robots and optimize operability of the entire UMISTM system.

Octopoda 500 allows for launch and recovery of a 12-meter INSPECTOR 120 USV from an aft ramp. By adding this USV it is possible to deploy AUVs (two A9-Ms, two SEASCANs and ten K-STER Cs) in autonomous mode, and therefore penetrate further into the minefield. The UAV landing platform is larger and therefore makes it possible to land the IT 180 in more difficult sea states.

Fincantieri Still Aims for an “Airbus of the Seas”

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At a press conference Tuesday, Fincantieri CEO Guiseppe Bono expressed continued hope for the creation of what he has dubbed an "Airbus of the Seas" – a tie-up for naval shipbuilding with France's Naval Group. The two state-owned conglomerates are both top vendors in the defense sector, and Bono believes that combining their capabilities would help to counter larger American and Chinese competitors on the international market.

Fincantieri has already reached an agreement with the French government to take over the operations of STX France, the French shipyard once known (and now known once more) as Chantiers de l'Atlantique. It is among Europe's biggest cruise ship builders, but its capacity and its history as a defense shipbuilder also makes the yard an important strategic asset for France. 

The current arrangement for STX France does not extend to French-Italian cooperation in the construction of warships. Fincantieri and Naval Group delivered plans for a joint defense contracting venture to their governments in June, according to the French Armed Forces Ministry. The proposal excludes submarines, and is said to cover a limited degree of cooperation on research, development and international bidding, not a full-scale merger. 

However, the arrival of Italy's new nationalist government has created questions within France about the suitability of a deeper partnership. In particular, the Five Star government's pro-Italy focus has led to questions about whether joint warship projects would have enough room for the suppliers who currently fill separate Fincantieri and Naval Group contracts – especially large state-backed systems suppliers Thales and Leonardo. 

In the broader political sphere, Franco-Italian relations have also been strained by a high-level dispute over the status if irregular migrants, which has become a personal fued between French president Emanuel Macron and Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini. Italy is also dangerously near to a banking crisis: Rome is battling with the European Commission over the right to enact a budget with a 2.4 percent deficit, despite its existing balance of $2.5 trillion and Brussels' demands for fiscal restraint. The fight sent Italian borrowing costs up sharply Monday and prompted losses on the Italian stock market. On Monday, Minister Salvini described the debate in martial terms, saying that Italy is "against the enemies of Europe — [EC President Jean Claude] Juncker and [European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre] Moscovici — shut away in the Brussels bunker."

Source:maritime-executive

Philippines officials seek to reassure on EMSA audit compliance, but have they done enough?

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Over the last couple of weeks Philippines government officials have been seeking to reassure the country that it will pass the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) latest audit on its maritime training.

Failure to demonstrate compliance with standards of certification for the STCW Convention could result in Filipino officers being barred from serving on some 10,000 EU-registered vessels. A full audit by EMSA last March found some 59 aspects in which the Philippines failed. There are reported to be 100,000 seafarers serving on EU vessels.

The Philppines submitted a correction plan to EMSA in September 2017 but this lacked support evidence and was sent back and was then given until April this year to submit a correction plan with supporting evidence and until October to fully implement it.

With the October deadline now upon the country and Philippines Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade is reported as saying that it is now fullly compliant. “We will show the world that we are compliant [with] international standards and that we continue to value and produce competent, disciplined and well-trained Filipino seafarers who carry with them the brand of excellence and hard work that Filipinos are known for everywhere,” he was quoted as saying in the local press. 

Maritime Industrial Authority (Marina) administrator Leonardo B. Guerrero, who is in charge of the process, said, “We have already submitted our initial report. We intend to submit our compliance status this month, and by the end of October, we expect that somebody from Emsa will be contacting us for us to demonstrate the proof of evidence for compliance.”

Included were an extensive review and revision of seven existing national provisions and the development of six training course packages, all of which, Guerrero said, “are ready for implementation.”

Despite these reassurances it does not necessarily look that positive for the Philippines with elements only now being put into place despite multiple failed EMSA audits in process that has now dragged on for 12 years.

While the Philippines does have many high quality seafarer training institutions there remains a substantial part of its seafarer training industry that seems more concerned in making money from the process than producing trained men and women who will ever actually go to sea. Marina's data shows that only 20% – 5,000 out of 25,000 – who graduate from the country's maritime schools actually find jobs at sea.

Even after all this time it would appear measures are only “ready for implementation” rather than being a corrective that is fully implemented. An online system that will allow for the verification of seafarer documents will only be ready next year.

It is not hard to see why some EU members are saying that enough is enough and if the Philippines does fail the audit again real sanctions should be put in place.

Has the Philippines done enough? Only time will tell and many seafarers and managers will be watching nervously in the coming months.

Source:seatrade-maritime

Jan de Nul wins Port of Guayaquil dredging contract

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The Belgian company Jan de Nul was been awarded dredging works to deepen the access of the access channel for the Port of Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The contract with the company will be signed in 60 days and it will immediately start the works that have an investment value of around $100m. The Technical Commission of Guayaquil municipality decided to award the contract to Jan de Nul after finalising an international public tender that started on 26 March.

The dredging for the maintenance and operation of the access channels, and works that will be carried out a Public-Private Partnership for the next 25 years. In addition, the commission indicated that Jan de Nul was awarded the contract after presenting the lowest rate for the user of international traffic, with a rate $0.62 of value per Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of the vessels, and for having supported their financial offer with a letter of financial intention.

The dredging project will allow the access channel to the Port of Guayaquil to increase from a depth of 9.5 metres to 12.5 metres, for the entry of larger vessels.

In Ecuador, Jan de Nul has dredged the access channel to Puerto Bolívar (El Oro) and the port of Manta (Manabí). It is currently working on the dredging of the access channel to the new Posorja Deep Water Port, under a sub-contract with the Dubai-based DP World.

Source:seatrade-maritime

Sweden’s New Hybrid Icebreaking Tug Launched

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A new hybrid-electric icebreaking escort tug for Sweden's Port of Luleå was launched on Monday at GONDAN Shipyard in Figueras, Spain.

The new Robert Allan Ltd designed tug, Vilja, is a RAL TundRA 3600-H class icebreaking design fully customized for the Port of Luleå operational requirements. The vessel is designed to perform icebreaking – it is capable of breaking 1 meter of ice at a speed of up to 3 knots – ice management, escort, ship assist, coastal towing, firefighting and navigation aids service duties.

This 36-meter tug with a hull structure that exceeds Finnish-Swedish ice class rules and has high environmental standards will be classed by Lloyd’s Register.

The vessel will be equipped with an innovative hybrid propulsion system that will include two diesel main engines, shaft generators/motors and batteries for energy storage. This configuration will provide operational flexibility that will produce significant fuel, emissions and maintenance savings.

In addition, with an expected bollard pull of about 100 metric tons in diesel-mechanical mode when including battery boost capacity, this tug will be the most powerful icebreaking escort tug of this size in the world with hybrid/electrical propulsion.

Source:marinelink

Corpower sails through wave milestone

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Corpower has completed work on its half-scale wave prototype and is poised to step up development of its C4 commercial-scale device.

The Swedish developer has passed the so-called stage three of its development programme, which consisted of 18 months of dry and ocean testing a 25kW wave generator.

Chief executive Patrik Moller said the C3 work at the European Marine Energy Centre off Orkney had verified “the ability to solve the two major challenges for wave energy – storm survivability combined with significant power production.”

The results of the work have increased the projected performance of the C4, he added.

With C4, the structural efficiency of wave energy is expected to improve by more than five times compared to current state-of-the-art, bringing wave energy above 10 MWh/ton, which is comparable to leading wind turbines.

“Getting more energy with less equipment means lower CAPEX per MW – smaller lighter machines are easier to handle using low cost vessels, giving less costly operations and maintenance.”

Source:renews

Power flies from Minesto kite

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Swedish marine energy developer Minesto has generated first power from its commercial-scale Deep Green 500kW tidal kite off the coast of north Wales.

The company said initial generation was achieved during the second commissioning phase for the device, which is located at a site in Holyhead Deep.

Minesto chief executive Martin Edlund said: “This is the first step towards full power production. Our focus now is on enhancements of the power production capacity as we progress with our Holyhead Deep tidal site and other establishments.”

“We are entering a new era of renewable energy generation and Minesto is at the forefront. The achievements in Wales over the last few months makes us confident that our unique technology can operate in low-flow tidal streams and ocean currents, offering predictability and reliability to the energy mix.”

Minesto chief operating office David Collier said the company is concentrating on demonstrating that the technology “works as planned”. 

Deep Green is similar to flying a stunt kite in the air, the company said. Therefore, by 'flying' the subsea kite faster than the actual tidal flow, “technology enhances the energy conversion compared to other tidal technologies”, it added. 

“This makes it a commercial proposition applicable in vast areas around the world where no other known or verified technologies can operate cost effectively,” Minesto said.

Source:renews

Northwester 2 lines up cable guys

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Parkwind has lined up Nexans and NSW to deliver cabling for the 219MW Northwester 2 offshore wind farm off the coast of Belgium.

NSW will supply the array wires, while Nexans has the export cable job.

Northwester 2 will feature 23 MHI Vestas 9.5MW machines. Jan De Nul is the installation contractor for turbines, cabling and the substation.

Bladt and Semco will design and fabricate the offshore HV substation.

Parkwind's partners on the project include Colruyt, InControl and TTR. Northwester 2 is scheduled to be up and running in the first quarter of 2020.

Source:renews

Floatgen passes SKF test

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Swedish company SKF carried out an initial audit of the 2MW Vestas turbine deployed at Ideol's Floatgen floating offshore wind farm off the coast of France.

The work took place before installation of the project at Ecole Centrale de Nantes' SEM-REV test site located 20km off the Atlantic Coast, where Floatgen has been delivering electricity to the grid since 18 September.

A team from SKF Solutions Factory France examined the main bearings, the quality of the grease and the electrical system of the generator.

They installed a continuous vibration-monitoring system to cover the whole kinematic chain, which includes the main bearings, the gearbox and the generator, to assess the vibratory performance of the machine remotely.

The V80 Vestas turbine is installed atop a floating foundation provided by Bouygues Travaux Publics.

Floatgen is linked through a dynamic cable to a hub located at the end of the export cable, which was delivered by Silec.

Source:renews

BIMCO, partners to create hull underwater cleaning standard

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Responding to the increasing concerns regarding the impact of hull biofouling on the marine environment, BIMCO and a group of industry partners have set out to create an internationally recognised standard.

The group includes eight different organisations, among of which paint manufacturers, ship owners and cleaning companies. They aim to establish an international standard that will work in practice. The standard is expected to be finalized in the autumn of 2019.

The standard aspires to ensure that the result of the cleaning is complying with a set of specifications, that the environmental impact of the process and coating damage is controlled and that the cleaning process is safe and effective.

Part of the standard will try to ensure that the paint is not damaged during cleaning, and that debris and wash-water is collected in a sustainable manner.

The standard also regards how shipowners can use it in their ongoing maintenance plans and will establish an approval system for underwater cleaning companies,.

Currently, the standard undergoes practical trials, in order to send it to appropriate international organisations for endorsement.

Today, underwater cleaning is only allowed in a few locations, while coastal and port states tend to tighten their rules for underwater cleaning.

"This may increase emissions from shipping as fouling increases the fuel consumption or in worst case force the ship to change its route." BIMCO said.

Source:safety4sea

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