Damen’s third modern-day steel clipper The Ministry of Defence in Oman has awarded Damen Shipyards Group a contract for the construction of a Sail Training Vessel (STV). The 87-metre square rigged, three-masted steel clipper and will take up her role as flagship. In addition to its key role of training young Omani navy cadets and officers, the new clipper will be deployed in a distinct diplomatic role and emphasize Oman’s centuries-old maritime tradition. Due for delivery in August 2014, the ship will replace the RNO’s current RNOV ‘Shabab Oman’ and will be in the RNO Fleet. In March (2013) the ship’s keel laying ceremony took place at Damen Shipyards Galati (Romania). This was conducted by Rear Admiral Al Raisi, the RNO’s commander-in-chief. The RNO has an eight-strong overseeing team stationed in Romania.The enhanced navy recruitment and training are part of Oman’s drive to increase its naval capabilities along its 3,165 kilometer coast... [More]

The ARC 100 HD increases ice management and pollution control capability As a result of the increased tanker traffic in the Gulf of Finland and an innovation campaign Aker Arctic has developed a revolutionary new type of vessel, an asymmetric ice-breaker. This oblique icebreaker takes further the already well known "double acting" stern working icebreaking method by being able to break an ice channel of 50 m width by proceeding with the side ahead. In addition to icebreaking, the vessel is excellent also during the ice season in oil spill combat operations, in escort and emergency towing, fire fighting and ecological monitoring. Thus the vessel by its performance replaces several traditional vessels in a compact, cost-efficient high performance unit.The vessel is a compact size icebreaking vessel provided with diesel-electric propulsion with three azimuthing thruster propellers. The propulsion solution and the special hull form allow the vessel to operate efficiently ahead, astern and ... [More]

Europe‘s largest family shipping company invests in fleet expansion B.Dettmer Reederei GmbH&Co.KG, Bremen, largest European family owned inland shipping company, transports with most modern ships up to 3.500 t loading capacity as well as tug-barges up to 6.000 t goods of all kinds on the European inland waterway systems. It is a company maxim to invest continuously in the latest state of the art tank ships. On 28. February 2013 the most modern inland tank ship took off at Hitzler Shipyard in Lauenburg, Germany. Management official Julia Dettmer mentioned that owners Dettmer Reederei had invested around €5.8 million in the new Type C tankship, being officially named as DETTMER TANK 140 and going into service in May. She will be the prototype for Dettmer tankers of the future.  DETTMER TANK 140 shortly after its watering “Because of the high technology demands we have created one of the most modern ships on Germany’s waterways”, said Ms Dettmer. The... [More]

DP systems have become increasingly complex in their configurations and in their operation aince they were introduced some 50 years ago; sensors have become more sophisticated, there are more of them and the same level of increased complexity applies to the electrical and propulsion systems. GE Power Conversion decided to simplify things and save fuel on occasion, with their new DP control station.The computer control at the heart of a ship’s positioning system has also become more sophisticated, but the basic principle of DP remains the same: to hold position with a computer system that takes signals from a range of sensors to sense environment, heading, position and attitude and then issues commands to thrusters and propellers. Overall, it is in charge of the complex processes of maintaining a ship on station, a process that needs a high level of system automation so that a single operator can manage the vessel. New DP Control Station: Image credit GE Power Conversion Introduci... [More]

Lightweight aluminum structure for low fuel consumptionHamburg Port Authority (HPA) received a brand new pilot boat and named it LOTSE 4. Godmother was Mrs Cordula Ortmann, employee of the Hamburg Port Pilot Brotherhood (Hafenlotsenbrüderschaft).The around 1.7 million EURO expensive boat has been built at Shipyard Hermann Barthel in Derben, Germany. The shipyard built the boat in around nine month. With this new ship HPA owns now four pilot tender.Dimensions of the new boat are of 18 m in length, 4.82 m width and a max depth of 1.25 m. Two MAN Diesel engines with an output of 360 kW each at 1.800 rpm enforce the boat up to 20 knots. The propulsion concept includes furthermore two reverse gear units and a hydraulic controlled helm. Crew consists of one skipper and one ships mechanic. The new pilot tender during its christening ceremony To reduce exhaust emissions HPA selected drive motors which fall short of the existing exhaust emission legislations by 30%. Furthermore, instead o... [More]

Deutz DieselPower, DDP, the sole distributor for Sales, Support and Service for all Deutz engines in South Africa and certain Anglophone African Countries has introduced the DDFS (Deutz Dieselpower Failsafe System) which protects engines in the toughest working conditions, such as e.g. work boats and other applications, where even minor faults, if overlooked, can easily become serious breakdowns. The DDFSystem has been developed fully by technicians of DDP.  A tiny little box prevents thousends of EUROs on severe engine damages Incorporating the latest technology in engine monitoring and controlling, the DDFS system protects engines from severe damage and therefore increases engine life. The DDFS system is designed to monitor all engine functions and react according to pre-set parameters.  If for example the shutdown mode is activated, the engine cannot be restarted until the problem is rectified. Removal or disconnection of the DDFS controller will also prevent the engine f... [More]

Most innovative ship for the Norwegian fleet sets sail  On 25. of April Norwegian Cruise Line (Miami, USA) took delivery of the 146.600 GT cruise ship Norwegian Breakaway from MEYER WERFT after a building period of only 18 months. Extensive tests and trials of all systems and intensive training of the crew kept everyone busy in the last weeks prior to the delivery in Bremerhaven. She has a capacity for 4,000 passengers, double occupancy. The ship has a total of 1,024 staterooms and 238 suites.   The luxury cruise liner will be home ported at the New York Passenger Ship Terminal in Manhattan, making seven-night cruises to Bermuda (May thru Sept) and seven-night cruises to the Bahamas & Florida (October thru April). She will be the largest cruise ship homeported year-round from New York City. Norwegian Breakaway is the first of two Breakaway class ships the Papenburg-based shipyard is building for Norwegian Cruise Line. Norwegian Breakaway combines innovative design includi... [More]

State-of-the-art, Spanish tuna vessel opts for extremely fuel-efficient propulsion package. Based  in  Spain,  the  PEVASA  Group  recently  ordered  a  complete  propulsion system from MAN Diesel & Turbo for a new tuna vessel. The system is unique in that  it  comprises  a  package  of  three  high-efficiency  products,  including  a modern,   medium-speed   MAN  8L32/44CR   engine   with   common-rail   (CR) technology, a Renk RSVL-950 gear unit, and an innovative MAN Alpha VBS1100 CP  propeller  with  Kappel  propeller  blade  designs  and  rudder  bulb.  This combination increases the propulsion system’s efficiency by up to at least 9%, thereby helping to decrease costs, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions.   PEVASA has a tradition for placing value on new technology: in 2009, the... [More]

DNV (Det Norske Veritas) classification society now offers shipowners the support they need to make newbuilds and existing vessels ‘LNG ready’ with class approved designs, ready for later, simple retrofit of LNG technology. The service enables shipowners to make smart choices and minimal investments now in readiness for when LNG bunkering becomes widely available.  Shipowners are supported through all stages of the decision-making process as they prepare to meet the IMO air emission regulations entering into force from 2015. There are three obvious technology options for meeting Emission Control Area (ECA) requirements: installing a scrubber, switching to low sulphur fuel oil or to go for LNG as fuel and installing gas engines. Alternative fuels such as methanol and biofuels are also being developed.  “Each option has different uncertainties, for example the relative immaturity of some technologies and the effect market forces will have on the price of the d... [More]

After completed sea trials, Abu Dhabi-based Adyard recently delivered the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels “Topaz Dignity” and “Topaz Triumph” to Topaz Energy and Marine, a subsidiary of Oman-based Renaissance Services SAOG. The two 67m-long, 16m-wide 80-tonne bollard pull vessels are ready for anchor handling tug supply services and the transportation of dry and liquid cargo to and from pipe-laying barges, drilling platforms and production platforms for offshore operations. “Topaz Dignity” will operate on behalf of BP on a long-term-contract basis in the Caspian Sea, while “Topaz Triumph” may remain in the Middle East and be operated by Topaz Marine MENA. The vessels are equipped with the latest technical equipment and are custom-built for Fi-Fi Class I and DP2 operations  Propulsion package The twin-screw propulsion package for each vessel comprises eight-cylinder, medium-speed MAN L27/38 engines of 2,720 kW each, horizon... [More]