Costa resumes its cruises starting from May

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March 22, 2021

Costa Cruises, the Italian company of Carnival Corporation & plc, has revised its plans moving its restart to May.

The decision has been taken in consideration of the restrictions still in place in Italy and other European countries to contain Covid-19. Such measures do not allow the Company to offer the best cruise vacations to its guests, especially for what concerns the experience ashore.

In line with the new plan, Costa Smeralda’s departure in Italy is planned for May 1st, with an unchanged itinerary, sailing guests to beautiful Italian locations, with 3- and 4-day mini-cruises or alternatively a 7-day cruise, calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari.

From June 12, Costa Smeralda will return to sailing one-week cruises in the western Mediterranean, with visits to Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia and Palermo), France (Marseille) and Spain (Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca).

The departure date of Costa Luminosa, the second Costa ship scheduled to resume service, is postponed to May 16 from Trieste, and the following day from Bari, confirming its program of one-week cruises in Greece and Croatia, in accordance with recent roadmap for the resumption of international tourism in Greece.

The restart of Costa cruises will continue to be supported by the implementation of the Costa Safety Protocol. The protocol contains operational measures related to all aspects of the cruise experience, both on board and ashore, which were implemented in the past months of cruise operations. Such measures include limited capacity, swab tests for all guests and crew, temperature checks when disembarking and re-embarking the ship, protected shore excursions, physical distancing on board and at the cruise terminals, new ways of using on-board services, enhanced sanitation and medical services, and use of protective face masks when necessary.

Furthermore, the company is also working with national and local authorities of the countries included in the itineraries of its ships outside Italy to define the details of the resumption of its cruise operations.

As previously announced, all other cruises scheduled until the end of May, and not included in the Costa Smeralda and Costa Luminosa programs updated today, are cancelled. Costa is in the process of informing travel agents and customers affected by changes.

NOC partnership awarded funding to deliver enhanced marine autonomy in coastal waters

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March 22, 2021

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An ambitious new project being led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) to improve the autonomy and perception of robotic underwater vehicles in challenging coastal environments has been has been awarded funding from the UK’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). The project will be delivered in partnership with tpgroup whose Northstar AI software will used to better understand how to safely navigate through congested coastal waters.

Operating unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) in coastal and littoral waters requires enhanced autonomy and perception to enable them to navigate in a cluttered and often-changing environment, above and beyond what is required for deep sea operations. The new project will develop and demonstrate sensor-agnostic processing tools for a range of acoustic sensors to gather detailed bathymetry information which will be fused with the Northstar software, a backseat autonomy engine, running the sonar-based Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (SLAM) system and an advanced path planning algorithm to enable precise localisation and collision-free navigation.

The system will enable autonomous vehicles to operate in environments with a high concentration of obstacles and hazards including ports and harbours; will reduce the time required for pre-mission planning and de-risking activities; and removes the need for people to work directly in high-risk marine environments. The new capability will be demonstrated during in-water trials using a new NOC-developed hover-capable UUV, known as Autosub Hover One.

The NOC’s Marine Autonomous and Robotics Systems team will work in partnership with tpgroup, whose Northstar software system will be used to enable autonomous distributed robotics. The Northstar platform exists as a modular set of software components which will provide ‘backseat’ autonomy to the existing ‘frontseat’ control system fitted to the vehicle, to enable operation in littoral and congested waters without the requirement of operators – or the need to surface to acquire GPS fixes. This will deliver a significant step forward in marine autonomous systems capability for operating in littoral and coastal settings.

In the short term, the SLAM system will enable UUVs to navigate and survey locations where the bathymetry is either non-existent, low resolution or is not dependable. Further down the line it will be possible to fuse the data from several technologies. For example, sonar imaging can be used for longer distance SLAM, while vision imaging can then take over to deliver more precise near-field localisation when the vehicle is within vision range. This opens up the possibility of using the system for more complex intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasks, as well as environmental monitoring and subsea infrastructure interventions.

DASA announced the funding call in 2020, and the NOC led project has been awarded £400,000 of the £2million that was available under Phase 2 of the Autonomy in Challenging Environments Programme, which aims to deliver next generation autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies to drive revolutionary change in both defence and wider societal applications.  The project will be managed by the NOC’s Marine Autonomous Systems Development Group, and will be the first opportunity to work with NOC Marine Robotics Innovation Centre partner TP Group through their Autonomy and Spatial Modelling team.

John Shimell, tpgroup’s Head of Autonomy & Spatial Modelling, said:

“The challenge with this project is that the vessel has to operate in the unchartered and highly congested subsea environment. Integrating the range of sensors, and analysing instantly the huge volume of data that they produce, is critical to understanding its surroundings so that it can plan an optimal path – reacting in real time to obstacles without human intervention. Our team’s experience and innovative approach have seen Northstar’s capability evolve across different platforms, multiple connected platforms, environments and different types of missions.”

Aidan Thorn, Marine Robotics Innovation Centre manager, said:

“This ambitious project will deliver a step change in the autonomy and perception capabilities of marine autonomous systems, and as such has the potential for a wide range of future applications.   “This latest funding award from DASA is a major vote of confidence in the NOC’s ability to develop and deploy innovative technology that meets the needs of end users, as well as to create meaningful and productive industry and government partnerships.”

In August 2020, the NOC, Royal Navy, and Dstl renewed and expanded their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the underwater environment and collaboration in trials and testing of Marine Autonomous Systems (MAS) and novel sensors for the collection of marine data. The MoU will broaden the Navy’s capability in the utility and deployment of autonomous and robotic underwater systems.

ClassNK issues AiP for design of methanol dual-fueled tanker

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March 22, 2021

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Leading Classification Society ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a methanol dual-fueled tanker developed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering Co., Ltd.

The Society confirmed the design’s compliance with the IMO’s “Interim Guidelines for the Safety of Ships using Methyl/Ethyl Alcohol as fuels” published in December 2020, and the “Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels” published by the Society in 2019.

Features of the design announced by Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine Engineering are as follows:

“In detail design, regarding methanol fuel, due consideration is required to properly reduce potential risk of fire and leakage by its low flash point and toxic. Our tanker is carefully designed to install a main engine and methanol fuel supply system such as fuel pump, fuel tank and fuel control system which enable to use both methanol fuel and fuel oil. Our tanker also uses double walled fuel oil piping, a leak detection system, etc. to ensure higher safety against leakage and fire.”

Since the safety requirements for the use of low-flashpoint fuels such as methanol were not clearly provided in the IGF Code, the Society developed its own guidelines in 2019 for such fuels based on IMO discussions and technological trends at that time. Following the publication of the IMO interim guidelines in December 2020, which was approved by the MSC 102, ClassNK carried out the design review for the AiP based on the IMO interim guidelines as well as its guidelines.

Star Cruises first cruise line resumes sailing in Malaysia

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March 22, 2021

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Genting Cruise Lines and Penang Port Sdn. Bhd (PPSB) restarted cruises in Penang with Star Cruises, offering Langkawi itineraries beginning 13 May 2021 at the start of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holidays on Star Cruises’ 40,053 tonnage Star Pisces cruise ship, which can accommodate up to 1,600 passengers.

The proposed Langkawi cruises will comprise of 2-Night “Langkawi Escape” and a series of 1-night “Straits of Malacca” Cruises. Star Pisces will become the first ship to resume sailings in Malaysia and one of the few in the world, contributing to the growth of tourism in Penang and Pulau Langkawi.

Cynthia Lee, VP for Genting Cruise Lines in Malaysia, said:

“Like all Malaysians, we have been eagerly looking forward to another vacation alternative during this period when overseas travel is not permitted. The new Langkawi itineraries will provide Malaysians the opportunity to enjoy the pleasures of cruising again and will bring much-needed benefits to the local workforce, airlines, restaurants, retailers and hotels for pre- and post-cruise stays in Penang and Langkawi.”

Dato’ Sasedharan Vasudevan, CEO of Penang Port Sdn. Bhd., said:

“The cruise services have always been the cornerstone in Penang, and what gave Penang its distinctiveness. With the persistent issue of the COVID-19 pandemic that has curbed domestic tourism, supporting the Genting Cruise Lines on ensuring safe and comfortable cruise trips is important to jumpstart the local cruise sector. As such, we will work closely with Genting Cruise Lines to relaunch the cruise trips with safety in mind and without sacrificing safety and quality. We hope with this synergy we can witness higher standards of quality for the cruise services sector and revitalise the domestic tourism industry.”

The resumption of cruises will revitalize the ailing travel agent sector which has been adversely affected by the pandemic and provide employment opportunities for more citizens.

Cruise resumption will benefit the whole value chain related to goods, services and materials associated with cruise operations, which Genting Cruise Lines has been advocating as part of its guiding principle in rebuilding the cruise economy for each of the homeports where cruise operations can re-start.

Wärtsilä’s Cargo Handling and Fuel Supply systems for six very large LPG carrier vessels

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March 22, 2021

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The technology group Wärtsilä has won the contract to supply the Cargo Handling and Fuel Supply systems for six new 93,000 m3 capacity Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier vessels. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in March 2021.

These will be among the largest vessels of this type ever built. They will be fitted with Wärtsilä’s well-proven and highly efficient Cargo Handling system and the unique Wärtsilä LPG Fuel Supply system (LFSS). Wärtsilä is currently the only company with LFSSs in operation, and has also a significant number of these units on order. The onboard Wärtsilä solutions will be supported with the company’s digital Operational Performance Improvement and Monitoring (OPERIM) system to provide real-time data that will allow optimal operational efficiency at all times.

Mr Lin Qinshan, Vice President and Commercial Director of Jiangnan Shipyard, said:

“This new 93K Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) is the 4th generation of VLGC developed by Jiangnan. Its advanced and optimal technology and system, its comprehensive economic and technical performance are in the leading level of the industry.”

Kjell Ove Ulstein, Director of Sales and Marketing at Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, commented:

“We are delighted to be chosen as the supplier for these vessels. We are a leader in gas cargo handling solutions, and our innovative LFSS is an outstanding example of Wärtsilä’s ability to bring systems that raise efficiency and support environmental sustainability to the market.”

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions is a market leader with innovative systems and lifecycle solutions for the gas value chain. Our main focus areas are handling of gas in seaborne transport (storage, fuel, transfer and BOG management), gas to power, liquefaction and biogas solutions. We help our customers on the journey towards a sustainable future through focus on lifecycle, innovation and digitalisation.

Ocean Infinity awarded innovate UK funding to develop uncrewed windfarm inspection capability

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March 22, 2021

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Ocean Infinity, in partnership with the University of Portsmouth, Airborne Robotics and Bentley Telecom is to develop an autonomous offshore wind farm inspection capability utilising aerial drone swarms deployed from an uncrewed marine robotic vessel.

Using 5G and satellite connectivity, the project will see a swarm of drones autonomously inspect wind turbines subsequently removing the need for manual, human inspection.

A 36m Armada uncrewed robotic vessel will act as the host vessel for the aerial drones, facilitating launch and recovery, recharge, data download and transmission to shore via satellite.

Ramsay Lind, Business Development Manager at Ocean Infinity said:

“Not only will this uncrewed solution see a reduced risk to human life but it will also reduce the environmental impact of windfarm inspection. The Armada vessels are a low-emission alternative to traditional vessels, emitting up to 90% fewer greenhouse gasses”.

Dr Sarinova Simandjuntak, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Mechanical and Design Engineering, said:

“Ultimately, we are aiming to develop a system that can detect and monitor defects or damages inside the turbine and the entire structure of a wind turbine in a safe and effective way. This will benefit offshore wind farms, reducing the time they have to shut down for maintenance and therefore increasing availability and supply.”

The £1.67 million project will culminate in a system demonstration in 2022.

The project, Drone Swarm for Unmanned Inspection of Wind Turbines (Dr-SUIT) is funded by the Future Flight Challenge programme from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

Sea Swift selects Globe Tracker IoT solution for their Refrigerated Container Fleet

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March 22, 2021

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Sea Swift, Northern Australia’s largest shipping company, has selected Globe Tracker, the fastest growing provider of global supply chain IoT visibility for cold-chain, as their provider of Internet of Things devices for their refrigerated container fleet.

The GT-Sense reefer solution allows Sea Swift full visibility and control of their reefer assets and their condition, along with advanced local area network capability allowing for in-cargo sensing, giving Sea Swift and their customers granular cargo and pallet level condition monitoring.

Chris Laskaris, Vice President of Sales, Globe Tracker, notes:

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Sea Swift to the Globe Tracker family. We look forward to further projects and integrations with such a forward-thinking partner.”

Sea Swift Acting Chief Executive Officer Lino Bruno added:

“Sea Swift is committed to providing the best-in-class service to its customers. Globe Tracker is completely aligned with our vision and have demonstrated their capabilities not only in the technology, but also in their care and attention to our very high service standards.”

Globe Tracker’s devices have already been installed on some newbuilds in the past month, and the rest of the retrofit fleet will be installed in the coming weeks.

Ashtead Technology’s new OAP partnership secures Total E&P Angola contract

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March 21, 2021

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A new partnership between Ashtead Technology and Ocean Atlantic Petroleum SA (OAP), has successfully executed its first marine services project in West Africa and has received awards for further work.

Integrated subsea technology and services specialist, Ashtead Technology entered into a co-operation agreement with inspection and asset integrity company, OAP. Leveraging their joint capabilities, Ashtead Technology has completed a multi-asset, Class-approved mooring inspection campaign for Total E&P Angola in the Girassol and Dalia fields, and has been awarded further work in the Pazflor and CLOV fields.

The underwater inspection scope, which will avoid the need for drydocking, combines Ashtead Technology’s visual inspection, chain cleaning, measurement and 3D modelling technologies, with OAP’s team of experienced offshore technical personnel. OAP’s operations base in the country’s capital city of Luanda will be used to store and maintain the equipment.

David Mair, Business development director, Ashtead Technology, said:

“OAP’s knowledge of the Angola market and in-country technical expertise makes them the ideal partner to support our growth ambitions in Angola. Winning this campaign for Total E&P Angola straight off the bat underlines the strength of our combined offering to operators in the region.

We have a proven track record in Angola for delivering market-leading asset integrity, mechanical solutions, survey and robotics-based services. However, coronavirus-related travel restrictions have added an extra logistical challenge. By teaming up with OAP we have solved the problem and can continue to deliver a high quality, reliable service on schedule and within budget.

This aligns with our overarching strategic focus for West Africa, which centres on providing a broader asset integrity service to clients and supporting local content objectives.”

Headquartered in Aberdeen, UK, Ashtead Technology has nine facilities in energy hubs around the world. It has one of the largest equipment fleets in the subsea supply chain coupled with the R&D capabilities to develop bespoke solutions.

Established in 2014, Ocean Atlantic Petroleum provides a variety of technical services to the Angolan energy sector, including subsea inspection and asset integrity.

Benoit Peyrichout, managing director, Ocean Atlantic Petroleum SA, said:

“Our partnership with Ashtead Technology has created the perfect marriage and a very compelling business proposition for clients in Angola.
With our local facilities and strong technical expertise forged with Ashtead’s engineering capabilities and fleet of technologies, we are ideally placed to win further awards and expand both businesses in the future.”

Ulstein: Twin ceremony for next generation expedition cruise vessels

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March 21, 2021

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On 18 March 2021, the CMHI Haimen yard in China celebrated the launch of the ‘Sylvia Earle’ and the keel laying of the ‘Ocean Odyssey’, both are Ulstein designed, X-BOW expedition cruise vessels under construction for the U.S. based SunStone Ships.

A series of expedition cruise vessels are being constructed at the CMHI Haimen base for SunStone Ships. These vessels in the INFINITY series are all based on the ULSTEIN CX103 design.

The vessels are chartered to travel operators for high-end luxury cruises. The hull is ice-strengthened (Polar Class 6), and the vessel features the ULSTEIN X-BOW for smooth sailing in rough seas. This patented hull, originally developed for offshore work horses, was firstly introduced to the cruise industry in 2019, when the ‘Greg Mortimer’ was delivered. The hull shape reduces fuel consumption when cutting through the waves and therefore also reduces local emissions.

NIBC and Damen extend lease partnership

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March 21, 2021

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NIBC Bank, Damen Ship Lease and Damen Financial Services digitally shook hands for a multi-year partnership in the field of ship leasing.

The financing from NIBC will be used to enable financial or operational lease solutions for customers of Damen Shipyards Group. This concerns state-of-the-art workships in offshore (wind) energy and (hybrid) tugs for, among other things, port activities. These leases are offered by one of the funds of the Damen Ship Lease Cooperative which is managed by Damen Financial Services.

Jan Willem van Helden, managing director of Damen Financial Services, says:

“We are very pleased with the collaboration and this new long-term commitment from NIBC.”

Martin van Eyk, manager of Damen Ship Lease, adds:

“With this fund we can facilitate the fleet renewal and sustainability of the fleet of various customers, while we also stimulate the growth of the Damen group. With the latest Damen ships and technology, we also contribute to the efficient management of our customers and a reduction in the ecological footprint of our sector.”

Jeroen Conijn, Managing Director NIBC:

“We are proud of this collaboration with Damen. Almost ten years ago we provided the first financing to Damen Ship Lease. During these years, Damen Ship Lease has shown that it fulfills a clear need of its customers with its lease solutions. We support the further growth of this activity by continuing our financing.”

The leasing solutions offered by Damen tie in well with trends in the maritime sector such as servitisation (“Ship-as-a-Service”) and circularity.