With the arrival of the “Dallas Express” at the Port of Oakland in California, at the beginning of December 2012, Hapag-Lloyd has for the first time connected one of its ships to shore-based power. Shore Power (also known as “cold-ironing”) is a ship-to-shore connection that provides electrical power to the ship. By using this connection the auxiliary engines normally used to provide power on board can be switched off, reducing diesel and other air pollutant emissions from ships while they are at berth. Other ports around the world are also working on shore-based power systems. The Port of Oakland recently completed installation of the 6,600 volt shore-based power supply after an initial test with Hapag-Lloyd last August. The “Dallas Express” is the first ship to use it now. Dallas Express at the Port of Oakland In California shore-based power will be mandatory for a certain percentage of ship calls by any particular shipping line with the beginn... [More]

Hapag Lloyd displayed solid confidence in the growth of the European-based cruise business, when they recently announced the order of a new luxury cruise liner, Europa 2, from the STX France shipyard.  They chose Rolls Royce engineered 'Mermaid' pod propulsion (in consortium with power conversion specialists Converteam) to propel (and steer) the new cruise liner, despite widely publicised problems with Mermaid in ships of Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines during the past year. Mermaid Pods – Difficulties Overcome?With the increasing popularity of diesel- electric configurations as the means of propulsion for many large cruise liners, the Mermaid pod system serves both as propulsor and rudder, with an integrated electric motor directly coupled, without any gearing, to a relatively short propellor shaft; all contained within the hydrodynamically streamlined pod housing. Mermaid Pod: Schematic courtesy of RR Difficulties with Mermaid have occurred in the past year o... [More]

After successful field tests conducted by Hapag-Lloyd and MAN Diesel & Turbo, Germanischer Lloyd (GL) classification society have issued type approval for the AMOT XTS-W+ Bearing Condition Monitor. The XTS-W+ system uses proximity sensors to measure the position deviation of, the crosshead bearing, crankpin bearing and main bearing. There are obvious savings of costly repairs by predicting if and when a repair is required. In addition, classification societies do not require mandatory open-up inspections which sometimes forms the source of other failures. [More]