Valmet launches new process control for ships to improve fuel efficiency

Valmet has launched new process control for ships to improve their fuel efficiency. This new control called Valmet DNA Sea Optimal Mode acts as a separate power management mode within the Valmet DNA Power Management System.

Valmet DNA Sea Optimal Mode enables ship owners to achieve up to 3% savings in fuel consumption. The actual savings vary based on the load of the power plant and specific fuel consumption (SFC) profile of the engine. Valmet DNA Sea Optimal Mode has been tested in close cooperation with shipyards and ship owners. It is already in operation on several cruise vessels.

"If we look at the data from tests run on ships, the highest measured saving has been 2.44%, which represents roughly 190 kg of fuel saved per hour," says Andreas Carlsen, Project Manager, Marine Applications, Automation, Valmet.

Valmet DNA Sea Optimal Mode utilizes unbalanced load distribution, taking advantage of the fact that the SFC of each engine varies with the load and has an optimal point of operation. By keeping as many engines as possible at their optimal load, it is possible to optimize the fuel consumption. The optimal load of an engine is the load at which the engine uses the least amount of fuel per kW produced.

To complement the solution, Valmet has developed an optional add-on called Valmet DNA Sea Optimal Mode Advisor. It provides operators with advice regarding mode selection and load priorities.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique expands pre-assembly area by 30%

Chantiers de l'Atlantique and the public works company Charier inaugurated on 26 November 2018 the extension of the pre-assembly area which allows a significant increase in the production capacity of the shipyard.

With the work started in July 2017, the yard floor area is now expanded by 17,000sqm, meaning a 30% gain. By lengthening the rail of the 1,400-tonne gantry crane – which is assembling the hull of the large vessels – by 135 m the completed project allows six more mega-blocks to be assembled and outfitted.

"This investment worth €16 million allows us to move to a simultaneous construction capacity of 22 blocks, compared to 16 previously and thus meet the increase in the current and future industrial load of the yard," said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

ABB signs breakthrough contract for marine automation in China

ABB has won its first marine automation system contract for a cruise ferry in China, after the technology package for Chinese-built Viking Line vessel has been extended to include the ABB Ability System 800xA.

ABB Ability System 800xA integrates power, propulsion and vessel management systems into one platform, enabling both crew and onshore teams to get a comprehensive overview of all the information needed to operate the vessel in the safest and most efficient manner. Adding marine automation to the technology package will improve project management, as well as result in greater vessel efficiency and digitalization.

“On her delivery, this vessel will be the most efficient cruise ferry operating in the Baltic, if not the world,” says Jan Hanses, President and CEO, Viking Line. “Extending our arrangement with ABB to include the full automation package made perfect sense, given that ABB has the dedicated local automation team and access to global engineering resources that will ensure both responsiveness and delivery of a vessel benefiting from the highest levels of systems integration.”

The 63,000 gross ton LNG-fueled cruise ferry, which is being built at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry co., Ltd, will have space for 2,800-passengers when she joins services connecting the Finnish port of Turku in Finland, the Åland Islands and Stockholm, Sweden, in 2020.

“Chinese shipbuilding is one of the most significant markets for ABB’s power, propulsion and automation system,” says Alf Kåre Adnanes, head of ABB’s Marine and Ports business in China. “Chinese shipyards are diversifying their portfolios, and ABB’s long history in the cruise sector is particularly relevant to China’s shipbuilders. We are part of an existing shipping cluster and can support Chinese shipyards in their strategy to build cruise vessels for China and for global customers.”

As well as the ABB electrical power generation, distribution systems and bow thruster motors, the vessel will be the first cruise ferry in the world to feature twin XO 2100-type Azipod units – the propulsion solution of choice in the cruise ship market.

“As ABB’s first marine automation contract for a cruise ferry in China, this is a breakthrough in a crucial territory where our marine business continues to increase, but it also confirms that our ‘Electric. Digital. Connected’ strategy is gaining traction in a growing number of sectors and markets,” says Juha Koskela, Managing Director, ABB Marine & Ports. “Integration that is available from the ground up meets today’s requirements and positions ABB to incorporate future technologies in a straightforward way.”

ABB’s vision for an “Electric. Digital. Connected.” maritime industry is based on the principles of simplicity, efficiency and safety, and seeks to leverage the power and automation group’s comprehensive bridge to propeller expertise to set shipping’s course towards the vessels of the future.

ABB Ability is the company’s unified, cross-industry offering extending from device to edge to cloud, integrating data to and from products, systems, solutions and services to deliver actionable information. The ABB Ability platform uses Microsoft Azure as the cloud for its integrated connectivity, so users can access enterprise-grade infrastructure that benefits from Microsoft’s significant investment.

Lindblad Expeditions signs up with Versonix Seaware

Lindblad Expeditions, a global provider of expedition cruises and adventure travel experiences, has signed an agreement with Versonix to implement Versonix’ Seaware reservation system.

“We are very pleased to partner with Versonix, a recognized leader of booking systems for cruise lines. The features of Seaware that most attracted us are the built-in Revenue Management capabilities that will help us optimize revenue, their advanced inventory management capabilities, and the new Seaware Analytics platform that will provide us with a 360-degree view into our business and customers. We also plan on taking advantage of Versonix Seaware OTA API to reach additional distribution channels” said Arthur Theodorou, Director of Information Technology for Lindblad Expeditions.

“At Versonix we are very excited to have Lindblad Expeditions as our customer. This solidifies our position as a leader in providing solutions for the fast-growing expedition cruise sector. Our experience and R&D efforts are directed to improving our offering to this evolving industry. In addition to providing solid solutions for standard functionality, we are also taking advantage of the latest technologies such as machine learning and cloud hosting options to stay leaders in this market,” said Yuri Polissky, Chief Operating Officer of Versonix.

Adonis integrates with Brightwell Navigator payments platform

Adonis, the leading provider of integrated Human Resource and Payroll Systems for the maritime industry, announced an integration with the Brightwell Navigator payments platform, available in the latest versions of Adonis Personnel Manager.

The Brightwell Navigator payments platform is a web-based technology that delivers access to money transfer services and Brightwell's OceanPay® Prepaid Mastercard®, to meet the needs of geographically dispersed, multinational maritime employees. Now transactions from Adonis Payroll flow automatically through the Brightwell Navigator payments platform — saving time and money.

“This product integration increases the platforms overall flexibility and provides an easy way to handle worldwide payroll transactions with less cost,” says Erick Meijer, Product Director at Adonis AS.

For Adonis, the Brightwell Navigator interface represents an opportunity to take a major step forward in helping our many customers to simplify the life of employees who are on the move all over the world.