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NYK successfully tests remote navigation of tugboat

May 21, 2020

NYK and its group companies MTI Co. Ltd., Keihin Dock Co. Ltd., and Japan Marine Science Inc. (JMS) have successfully tested the remote navigation of a tugboat as a part of the Japanese government’s Sea Trial Project on Remote Control Navigation (1).

Within Tokyo Bay, a tugboat (2) equipped with a manned remotely controlled system (3) was operated remotely from an operation center in the city of Nishinomiya in Hyogo prefecture approximately 400 kilometers away. This tugboat was maneuvered approximately 12 kilometers in Tokyo Bay between an area off Honmoku and an area off the port of Yokosuka.

The operator in the remote operation center was able to use sensors and cameras equipped to the tugboat to recognize surrounding conditions and created a route plan and action plan (collision avoidance route plan). The operator shared the plans with the tugboat captain, who then approved them. The conditions that remotely navigated tugboat proceeded operations in accordance with the approved route plan and action plan were confirmed and evaluated.

In the future, NYK and its group companies will work to overcome ship-to-shore communication issues that were revealed during this experiment, further improve the system, and aim to start remote navigation tests using domestic coastal ships within this year. We will continue to work with our partners to develop technology for large vessels in the future.

(1) A trial project that Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been promoting since FY2018 to improve the environment, including the establishment of safety requirements necessary for the realization of autonomous ships. Companies selected to participate in the sea trial project on remote control navigation include MTI Co. Ltd.; ClassNK (Nippon Kaiji Kyokai); National Institute of Maritime, Port and Aviation Technology; Ikous Corporation; NYK; Keihin Dock Co. Ltd.; Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.; IHI Power Systems Co. Ltd.; BEMAC Corporation; SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation; Tokyo Keiki Inc.; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation; NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan Radio Co. Ltd.; Furuno Electric Co. Ltd.; and Japan Marine Science Inc.

(2) A tugboat operated by Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation, an NYK Group company, was used for this project.

(3) To date, the NYK Group has been working with nautical instrument manufacturers and partners to develop a manned remotely controlled system that can support the crew. Such a system would collect, integrate, and analyze information around the ship, prepare an action plan, and after the approval of operators at remote locations or on board, take action in accordance with the plan.

LOC to provide MWS services for the offshore wind farms in Taiwan

May 21, 2020

LOC is pleased to announce that it has been awarded by Ørsted a contract to provide Marine Warranty Survey services (MWS) for the Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms in Taiwan.

Under the agreement, LOC will provide MWS services for the transportation & installation of the export and array cables. The cables, including 95 inter array cables and 16 platform connector cables, will be fabricated in South Korea and transported to Taiwan.

The Greater Changhua 1 & 2a offshore wind farms will be located 35-60 kilometers off the coast of Changhua County, with a capacity of approximately 900MW, enough to supply around one million Taiwanese households with green power.

Technical document review and operational approvals will be undertaken by LOC’s London-based renewable energy team, with support from LOC Singapore and LOC Seoul, under project director Mike McLachlan.

Mike has over twelve years’ experience in marine warranty surveys for cable lay operations and has supported over twenty cable lay projects for offshore wind farms in Europe and Asia Pacific. Site attendances will be resourced by LOC Taiwan, the Company’s newest branch, established in April this year to support the Group’s growing number of operations in the local offshore wind market.

Commenting, Tim Camp, Renewables Projects Director at LOC, said:

“We are delighted to support this significant project, which reflects LOC’s strength and expertise in renewables and the region. It is also a milestone for Taiwan and an indication of the significant progress that Taiwan is making in the development of offshore renewables. We are looking forward to supporting this project and to contributing to its successful completion.”

Puerto Angamos latest addition to South America service

May 21, 2020

WW Ocean has become the only RoRo carrier to call at the mining hub of Puerto Angamos in Chile, with a direct service from the US and Mexico once a month.

For cargo coming from Europe, Asia and Oceania, Angamos is accessible through transhipment in Manzanillo, Panama.

In addition to imports of new mining machines to the port, the new service will also benefit exporters of mining machinery and other equipment from Angamos to various destinations.

Puerto Angamos, a privately-owned terminal, is well equipped to handle rolling machines for mining as well as breakbulk products. The terminal has good rail connections both to Antofagasta and into the hinterland, the Chilean mining region, Bolivia and Argentina. Puerto Angamos also benefits from minimal congestion, and swell season is not an issue for the port, meaning closures are rare.

Antofagasta is the South American hub for Komatsu and earthmoving specialist EPSA. Finning, the world’s largest Caterpillar dealer, is also based at La Negra, south of Antofagasta City.

Puerto Angamos is located in the Chilean city of Mejillones, in the heart of the Chilean mining region, 1,400km from Santiago and 65km from Antofagasta. The region is one of the most important areas for the production of copper. Chile produced 5.6 million tonnes of copper in 2019, making it the world’s largest producer.

Knut Kringlen, WW Ocean South America trade manager, says:

“Angamos is a strategic port for the mining sector in South America. By adding the port to our ever-evolving schedule of services, we are continuing to meet the needs of our customers.”

Maersk Supply Service awarded subsea removal for Dunlin Alpha platform

May 21, 2020

Maersk Supply Service has been awarded a contract for the removal of the Dunlin Alpha platform’s subsea conductors and guide frames, by Fairfield Betula Limited.

Maersk Supply Service will remove four 30” jacket-mounted drilling conductors and two associated conductor guide frames using an I-class vessel. With outstanding power management capabilities and dual cranes, combined with WROVs launched via moonpool, the Maersk Supply Service I-class vessels are a differentiator in maximising uptime and weather operability.

Olivier Trouvé, Head of Integrated Solutions, says:

“This is a technically challenging scope with large periods of time spent alongside a platform. It is gratifying to see our engineered technical solution selected by Fairfield, as the removal of older conductors that cannot be pulled through topsides remains a challenge throughout the North Sea.”

Project management and engineering commences this year, with offshore execution planned for 2022 or 2023 depending on option selected.

University invests in major Kongsberg simulation upgrade

May 21, 2020

Kongsberg Digital has been contracted by the Aaland University of Applied Sciences in Aaland, Finland to deliver a comprehensive upgrade of the institution’s simulator training capabilities. This large-scale overhaul will update the university’s existing K-Sim Engine simulators to the newest technology and models, while the faculty’s ship’s bridge simulators will in turn be upgraded with new hardware panels and ported over to the latest K-Sim Navigation technology platform.

Additionally, to enable advanced training in LNG handling and bunkering procedures, a new vessel model based on a pioneering Dual Fuel passenger ship will be developed as an integrated Bridge/Engine simulator solution for the K-Sim Engine DEDF 42 model. The entire delivery, scheduled for the autumn 2020, is reinforced with a five-year LTSSP (Long-Term Service Support Program) agreement.

Included in the delivery will be several K-Sim Navigation Full Mission Bridge simulators meeting DNV GL Class A and B certification requirements. One of the simulators will be integrated with KONGSBERG’S Dynamic Positioning system for DP training. Further, the contract also includes K-Sim Navigation DNV GL Class C Desktop Bridge simulators incorporating NAV and GMDSS notations; instructor and debriefing systems; and a K-Sim Engine Full Mission and Desktop simulator upgrade with four additional student stations, instructor training modules, touch-based main and emergency switchboards, and model software simulating operational equipment on a variety of vessels.

The end result will be a state-of-the-art simulator facility with largely unparalleled functionality in an educational establishment, capable of mounting integrated team training exercises for marine engineers and bridge crew on a total of five different simulated vessel models. The integration of K-Sim solutions will instruct students on such crucial disciplines as decision-making and leadership, situational awareness, team interaction and crew/ship-to-shore communications.

Bengt Englund, Vice-Rector, Aaland University of Applied Sciences, says:

“We chose Kongsberg Digital to deliver this contract because the company offered the best solution at the best price, and that combination is unequalled, so it was a logical and beneficial choice. This huge upgrade emphasizes our commitment to educate students by using the best and most modern simulation equipment available. It’s a substantial investment which means that the university will now have a complete range of simulators for study and research purposes. Our focus is on team training to strengthen both individual and collective competence, and the five simulated vessel models, with their integration flexibility, will address all of our training requirements.”

Tone-Merete Hansen, Senior Vice President, Kongsberg Digital, adds:

“This highly significant contract continues the long and mutually fruitful relationship we have enjoyed with the University of Applied Sciences in Aaland. We’re extremely proud to be providing such high-quality training tools for the university, knowing that by doing so we’re helping to produce the best-qualified and skilled crews for the maritime industry in Finland.”

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems acquires the Oceana shipyard in Brazil

May 20, 2020

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (Kiel, Germany) has signed a contract to acquire the Oceana shipyard in Brazil (Itajaí, state of Santa Catarina). The seller is Aliança S.A., a company owned by CBO Group (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), a leader in offshore support vessels sector and one of the largest employers of qualified maritime personnel in the Brazilian market.

The acquisition is being executed through the Brazilian subsidiary, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems do Brasil, and is part of the international strategy of Marine Systems. Oceana has been chosen as preferred shipyard for the building of four Tamandaré-class frigates for the Brazilian Navy. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Brazilian antitrust authorities and the official entry into force of the frigate contract – expected for the middle of this year. It was agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems:

“Even in challenging times like these, we are single-mindedly pursuing our path. Our successful export business enables us to maintain and further develop our technological capabilities in Germany and to grow as a company. All our customers benefit from this. With Oceana, we have an excellent infrastructure for building the most modern frigate of the Brazilian Navy. The shipyard also offers us the prospect of taking on follow-on orders. Not only locally, but also in other countries of South America.”

The Oceana shipyard was set up in 2013 for the production of high quality and technology offshore support vessels and is ideal for large-scale projects. Over the next two years, up to 800 local employees are to be recruited for the Tamandaré project alone. This means that ships with a very high domestic added value can be built in Brazil. Delivery of the ships is planned to take place between 2025 and 2028.

Águas Azuis – a joint venture of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (Lead), Embraer Defense & Security and Atech – will be responsible for completion of the four frigates.

ICS Online Academy is free for maritime students until the end of July

May 20, 2020

BIMCO, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and Ocean Technologies Group subsidiary Videotel have partnered to create a high-quality, accessible educational resource to help maritime students across the globe to continue their studies remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

BIMCO, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and Ocean Technologies Group maritime eLearning subsidiary Videotel have joined forces to provide access to a wealth of self-study material via the institute’s learning management system. The ICS Online Academy is free for all registered students until the end of July 2020 and will enable them to use eLearning material jointly produced by use BIMCO and Videotel in preparation for Institute exams by giving them greater access to quality education and maritime resources.

Julie Lithgow, Director of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, said:

“ICS Online Academy is a really unique project which has allowed BIMCO and Videotel to collaborate with the Institute for the benefit of the maritime community, especially students who are struggling to stay on track with their learning during the current crisis. The combined technical, educational and subject-specialist skills that have gone into building the Academy really demonstrates the dedication to quality of learning rather than a purely commercial focus.”

Angus Frew, BIMCO Secretary General & CEO, said:

“BIMCO is very happy to donate this material. In the hands of Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, it will be put to good use and hopefully bring a lot of new people into the industry.”

The Academy was soft-launched earlier this year and has already been tested by over 300 students from locations as varied as Lagos, Kenya, Singapore, Tanzania, the UK and Canada. The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers made the decision to bring forward the scheduled launch of the project to assist students suffering as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus.

Manish Singh, Chief Executive Officer at Ocean Technologies Group, said:

“As a global learning and operational technology company, Ocean Technologies Group is driven to help to make the industry safer, stronger and able to excel. Partnering with BIMCO and the Institute for Chartered Shipbrokers for this new initiative means that students in developing countries will have access to the same high-quality resources as they would find in well-established maritime learning centres and can continue their studies and training during the coronavirus pandemic.”

The ICS Online Academy can be accessed via computer at https://icsonline.academy/ or using the free Moodle app for both iOS and Android. The learning platform is specifically designed to support learners in developing countries. Users in locations with poor or unstable connectivity are able to download courses, work offline and submit their work when reconnected.

The online solution boasts multimedia learning materials, as well as guides on good study habits, revision tips and exam techniques. There are also interactive forums which students can use to liaise directly with subject matter experts from over 100 maritime centres around the world. Furthermore, the Academy is open access meaning that students can dip into any module they would like to study.

Although a new initiative, the platform uses tried-and-tested, user-friendly content from the BIMCO eLearning Diploma Programme (BeDP) that was launched in 2011 as a joint venture with Videotel, which now forms part of Ocean Technologies Group’s maritime online learning arm.

Raal Harris, Managing Director at Videotel and Creative Director at Ocean Technologies Group, explained:

“The BIMCO e-diploma programme was a great initiative to be part of. Both BIMCO and Videotel put so much into the creation of these courses, capturing the expertise of the tutors and transforming it into a distance learning format, it is great that by donating the content to the ICS Online Academy it will find a new audience and help keep them on track to achieve their goals.”

The platform, which is being regularly furnished with additional content, features modules on topics such as economics, chartering for specific vessel types, law, marine insurance and also ship, port and terminal management.

Wärtsilä simulator upgrade will enhance Le Havre pilot operations

May 20, 2020

The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a complete navigational simulator upgrade for the Le Havre pilot station in France.

The intention is to provide the pilot station with a totally new simulator specifically adapted to the requirements of the pilots’ operations. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in February 2020.The new unique visualisation system to be supplied is based on 14 DP projectors, comprising seven main circular and seven ground projection systems. It features a panoramic 350-degree screen. The station’s existing Wärtsilä simulator was installed in 2004, and the new upgrade is required to address current and anticipated requirements.

Pavel Pereira, President of the pilot Station, says:

“We have worked with Wärtsilä for a number of years already, and we are familiar with their experience and expertise in simulation technology. The new system will be of great benefit to us in training the pilots, and will complement the practical training they acquire at sea.”

Eric Letrou, Area Sales Manager, Wärtsilä Voyage, says:

“Le Havre is a busy port and safety is a prime consideration. For this reason we have been contracted to deliver a totally new, state-of-the-art navigational simulator that will enhance and ease pilot operations.”

The simulator enables users to study the reaction of a vessel in operational situations. It assists trainees in perfecting manoeuvres under challenging sea and weather conditions, and in emergency situations, taking into account currents and winds as well as pitch and bank effects. Furthermore, it will enable the validation of future port planning. Wärtsilä’s navigational simulators are in full compliance with international standards and regulations.

The Le Havre pilot station has existed since the 16th century. 47 pilots currently operate from the station, 24 hours a day, all year round, and in practically all weather conditions. The station serves the port of Le Havre, the Antifer oil terminal, and the port of Fécamp.

Wärtsilä Voyage radically transforms how vessels perform their voyage by leveraging the latest digital technologies, to deliver a step-change in safety, efficiency, reliability and emissions.

Fugro starts NOAA project to update Florida’s nautical charts

May 20, 2020

Located off the north-west coast of Florida, the project involves acquisition of high-resolution bathymetry data over four sites totalling approximately 1475 km2. Deliverables will be issued to NOAA by December and they will use this information to update charted depths and features in the region, many of which predate the 1950s.

To streamline the data collection, Fugro will deploy its new FAS-900 uncrewed surface vessel (USV) as a force multiplier on the project. The fit-for-purpose USV is equipped with multibeam echosounder technology and designed to increase the rate of data acquisition on medium- to large-scale mapping programmes. USVs reduce health and safety exposure and increase operational sustainability, all of which helps NOAA to achieve more efficient and effective nautical charting updates.

Mark MacDonald, Hydrography Director for Fugro in the Americas, said:

“Deploying the FAS-900 on this year’s project will help ensure accurate and timely data collection ahead of peak hurricane season.”

In addition to addressing concerns related to migrating shoals in the region, Fugro’s 2020 task order will provide the first-ever comprehensive mapping in the western portion of the Big Bend Region, which is a priority of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program, a federal-state initiative to collect modern high-resolution bathymetry for all of Florida’s coastal waters.

Satcom Global enhances Aura VSAT coverage

May 20, 2020

Satcom Global has announced that its flagship Aura VSAT service boasts enhanced coverage through new High Throughput Satellites (HTS) and beam enhancements, offering superior connectivity to maritime users in popular trading routes, fishing waters and leisure hotspots in the Americas and Asia.

Satcom Global has strengthened the Aura VSAT network with the addition of two new High Throughput Satellites, SES-14 HTS and SES-15 HTS, delivering a boost in coverage and service quality for Aura users operating around Latin America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, North America and the North Atlantic, including Hawaii.

In addition to the latest HTS joining the Aura network, new spot beams have been illuminated on SES’s newest satellite, SES-12 HTS, to increase capacity for vessels sailing in popular shipping routes around the South China Sea, the Gulf of Thailand and waters around Papua New Guinea. Endorsed by some of the biggest names in shipping, the growing Aura network continues to evolve, supporting the developing needs of a wide variety of maritime customers.

Planning for the addition of HTS from its inception, Satcom Global completed a successful upgrade of Aura to iDirect’s Velocity platform last year, enabling the seamless integration of these recent HTS coverage enhancements into the network, bringing higher capacity per vessel and improved satellite network management.

The platform also supports Satcom Global’s commitment to flexibility and adaptability, enabling the satellite communications provider to deploy managed HTS and multi-spot beam architectures, consisting of increasingly more beams, frequencies and throughput. The scalable, cutting edge platform provides enhanced network support and control functionality, capable of supporting the growing connectivity needs of customers long into the future.

The all-electric satellites SES-14 HTS and SES-15 HTS were launched from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. SES-14 HTS was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space and is now positioned at 47.5 degrees West. SES-15 HTS, manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems, comprises Ku-band wide beams and Ku-band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capability, and took six months to reach its orbital position at 129 degrees West orbital and complete testing.

SES-12 HTS, launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida by Space X, was added to the Aura network in March 2019, located at 95 degrees East, and now offers new spot beams which became available to Aura users in early 2020.

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