Departments

Corsica Ferries to seek optimal sustainability with Wärtsilä’s Decarbonisation Modelling service

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 May 2023 27 May 2023

Technology group Wärtsilä will carry out Decarbonisation Modelling on two vessels in the Corsica Ferries fleet. The study will create a digital model of the two ships to simulate the effect of various decarbonisation technologies on their environmental compliance. This will enable accurate evaluation of the efficiency gains possible through the implementation of the latest technical innovations. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in March 2023.

The Mega Express and Mega Express II are 176 metre-long sister vessels. Both operate with Wärtsilä engines and propellers. Propeller re-blading and hybridisation will be among the technologies to be evaluated during the modelling, as will Wärtsilä’s Energoprofin energy saving propeller cap solution, and the company’s fuel consumption reducing Air Lubrication system.

“It is a huge benefit to be able to simulate in advance how various products, solutions, and systems will impact efficiency. This will help us in our efforts to decarbonise fleet operations and meet our sustainability goals. We respect Wärtsilä’s experience and capabilities, and are pleased to continue the good relationship between our companies with this modelling programme,” says Nicolò Verrina, Energy Transition Naval Architect & Ocean Engineer, Corsica Ferries.

“The IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) legislation is driving the industry’s move towards greater efficiencies and reduced CO2 emissions,” says Giulio Pacini, Manager Decarbonisation Services, Project Services at Wärtsilä. “Wärtsilä’s Decarbonisation Services provide the means by which companies can attain a detailed understanding of the best way forward before making hit-or-miss decisions on product purchases.”

Wärtsilä’s Fleet Decarbonisation Service is designed to tackle the challenge of environmental regulatory compliance. By combining data-driven assessments with expert advice and recommendations, the service enables operators to decide on the optimal route to decarbonised operations with cost-effective investments. The service is in line with Wärtsilä’s lifecycle support strategy, and enhances the company’s position as a trustworthy partner to its customers.

ALMACO outlines its subcontracting to Swan Hellenic new builds

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 21 May 2023 21 May 2023

All three ships of the Vega series, SH Minerva, SH Vega and SH Diana have been completed and delivered to Swan Hellenic. ALMACO was in charge of all guest and crew cabins as well as crew public areas. The work was performed at the Helsinki Shipyard in Finland.

In mid-April 2023, the expedition and boutique ship SH Diana boarded its first guests in Palermo. The suites delivered by ALMACO were completed during the transfer voyage from Helsinki to Palermo, and all cabins were done before guests embarked the vessel in Palermo in mid-April. The vessel has already completed two cruises and had its official christening in Amsterdam on May 4th.

ALMACO was tasked with designing, procurement, and construction of all of the ships’ passenger cabins, crew cabins, and crew public areas. The construction took place at Helsinki Shipyard, a valued client of ALMACO.

“It has been great to work with Helsinki Shipyard and Swan Hellenic on this project”, says Esko Ryyppö, Project Manager in charge of the Vega series project at ALMACO. He continues, “The project got off to a good start already in April 2020 with SH Minerva and continued with SH Vega and now SH Diana. We were expecting challenges due to the unstable market situation and took extra precautions to ensure the project was a success. Thanks to the great co-operation with Helsinki Shipyard and Swan Hellenic we were able to deliver all three projects successfully.”

The latest ship, SH Diana, is slightly larger than its sister vessels and offers their guests 96 cabins including 11 suites. The cabin types are Oceanview 20 m2, Balcony 28 m2, Junior Suite 35 m2, Suite 44 m2, and Premium Suite 47 m2. Suite or not, the cabins all offer top-class luxury standard and have all the amenities any guest could dream of. The well-planned cabins are spacious with large bathrooms and they allow comfortable in-room dining with a spectacular view. The interiors onboard have an elegant ‘Scandi-luxe’ Chic design. With 141 crew members and 209 guests, the number of crew cabins was almost as big as the number of guest cabins in this project. SH Minerva, SH Vega and SH Diana all offer their crew members beautiful surroundings and comfortable spacious cabins. Crew wellbeing and high retention are important for Swan Hellenic and they know the motto “happy crew, happy guests” to be true.

MSC World Europa equipped with GE Power Conversion’ propulsion system

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 May 2023 11 May 2023

GE Power Conversion was chosen by shipbuilding company Chantiers de l’Atlantique to equip the first two of the World Class vessels, MSC Cruises’ latest class of ships, for improved propulsion performance. The first ship, MSC World Europa, is now in operation at sea and the second vessel is currently under construction. This latest one marks the 18th MSC vessel to be powered by GE’s electric propulsion system.

GE Power Conversion’s energy-efficient PWM induction technology, such as that installed onboard MSC World Europa, can help fleet operators comply with ‘clean ship’ regulations while also helping to reduce operating costs in today’s competitive market.

The World Class fleet are no ordinary cruise ships; the LNG dual-fuel vessels are propelled by the most powerful cruise ship electrical motors in operation – two 25 MW, 120-127.5 rpm induction motors – which are fed by four press-pack IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) PWM MV7000 converters. GE Power Conversion’s scope also includes four propulsion transformers and remote control for onboard propulsion, technology that can contribute to improved propulsion reliability and lower maintenance costs during the vessels’ operating life cycle.

Emilio LaScala, President & Managing Director at MSC Cruise Management Ltd said: “Against the backdrop of a competitive environment, we are confident that GE’s proven electric propulsion technology is the ideal choice for our fleet. It will bring reduced operating costs and improved propulsion performance, ideally suited for our next generation of cruise vessels.”

The induction technology that GE Power Conversion developed about two decades ago was first used by the world’s navies. Today, it is used widely for a range of vessels which require optimum performance and power output in the multi-megawatt classes for electric power and propulsion efficiency.

“For delivery of long-term performance, in-board electric propulsion technology is optimal for cruise vessels as it can deliver a robust power source that balances energy efficiency and propulsion reliability with a reduction in maintenance costs,” explained Loïc Thiébaut, Merchant Marine Business Leader at GE Power Conversion. “GE has pioneered the use of both high-power induction motors and PWM for marine operations and has demonstrated a track record of applying this technology efficiently in the powering of world-wide cruise vessels.”

Thiébaut continued: “We value our long-standing relationship with MSC Cruises and recently also expanded our contribution to the MSC fleet with the fit of the fourth vessel in the Seaside series, Seascape. It’s just one of the 17 MSC cruise vessels sailing with GE’s electric propulsion technology. GE Power Conversion looks forward to continuing successful collaborative partnerships with world-leading shipyards such as Chantiers de l’Atlantique and supporting them on the path to decarbonization, without compromising on operational performance.”

Loipart Group strengthens its production of stainless steel furniture

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 April 2023 11 April 2023

LMG Finland Oy acquired the Estonian company lndetek Oü on the 4th of April, 2023. With the acquisition, the Loipart Group can offer a wider range of stainless-steel equipment and furniture aimed for food handling, storing, and serving.

LMG Finland Oy, located in Eura on the west coast of Finland, is a subsidiary of the Swedish Loipart AB. LMG Finland Oy has 150 employees and is a world-leading supplier of galley installations and high-quality stainless-steel furniture for marine customers. The company has a solid order book that stretches to 2027 and sees now an increased production capacity as a complement to the existing factories in Finland.

lndetek Oü, located in Parnu, Estonia, is a well-established company manufacturing stainless steel equipment and furniture for public spaces, professional kitchens, bars, and restaurants. lndetek has worked as a supplier for Loipart for over 10 years. lndetek is also the producer of buffet lines for Electrolux Professional, a cooperation that Loipart hopes to strengthen even further. The company has 18 employees, who are all welcomed by Loipart Group. Mr. Kimmo Ahola will continue as the Factory Manager.

MarineXchange AI solution aims to maximize cruise lines’ revenues

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 01 April 2023 01 April 2023

MarineXchange, the provider of the only fully integrated Enterprise Platform for the cruise industry, will be launching an AI based sales recommendation engine to increase revenues and guest experiences. Guests benefit from personalized recommendations for tours, spa, onboard activities, dining, add-ons, and packages. The guest’s profile, preferences, and history of past activities, together with a range of attributes, will be used to make the best possible recommendations. The recommendations are made for each family member individually to find the best combination for each member.

"We are committed to offering our clients cutting-edge tools to increase revenues and at the same time simplify the management of the entire guest journey. This advanced technology has the potential to transform how guests plan their onboard experience " says Johannes Lindthaler, Managing Director of MarineXchange.

With its deep understanding of the cruise industry and dedication to innovation, MarineXchange is once again providing cruise companies with the tools to accelerate their digital transformation. As part of the MXP enterprise platform, the AI solution is seamlessly integrated with all pre-cruise and onboard digital guest interactions, including the branded MXP365 BOYD mobile application.