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ABB to power two new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection vessels with Azipod electric propulsion

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 April 2022 27 April 2022

ABB has secured an order with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to supply the electric propulsion systems and remote support for the luxury cruise operator’s two forthcoming mega-yachts. The ships are the second and third in a series that began with Ritz-Carlton Evrima, to start operations later this year, also featuring ABB technologies on board.

With a capacity of 456 passengers, the two yachts will be larger than the 298-passenger Evrima while maintaining the exclusivity and personalized service that differentiate Ritz-Carlton. Both vessels will be built by the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique, with the first due for delivery in 2024 and the second in 2025.

“Ritz-Carlton Evrima will embark on its maiden voyage in August this year, offering a bespoke sailing experience on a luxury mega-yacht custom-built to the highest of standards,” said Douglas Prothero, Chief Executive Officer, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “We trusted in ABB to supply the propulsion technology for our vessels featuring the highest level of service and craftsmanship. Our successful collaboration with the company has convinced us to call on its expertise again to equip our forthcoming sister ships, which will offer the same high standards as Evrima.”

“We chose to work with ABB on this project based on their proven track record in supplying leading-edge technologies for high-end vessels and the unrivalled ability to support shipyards with complex assignments,” said Arnaud Le Joncour, Program Director, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. “ABB is a long-term, trusted partner of ours, and we are delighted to expand our collaboration to a new vessel segment, leveraging the Azipod propulsion units. This is an important project for all parties, and we look forward to the outcome.”

Key to meeting the efficiency, safety and passenger comfort demands of the 46,750-gross ton newbuild vessels will be the two ABB Azipod propulsion units, with the combined propulsion power exceeding that of the Evrima by 4.4 megawatts. In addition to Azipod® propulsion’s ability to cut fuel consumption by up to 20 percent when compared with a traditional shaftline setup, it enables precise, efficient maneuvering with low vibrations and minimal noise for optimal onboard comfort.

“ABB Azipod® propulsion has been serving the cruise market for over 25 years, providing unparalleled maneuverability and efficiency for a wide range of ships,” said Juha Koskela, Division President, ABB Marine & Ports. “It is the ideal solution for operators like Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, whose high standards for onboard service and guest comfort will be matched by the performance of the Azipod® propulsors.”

As part of the scope, ABB will also supply the remote control system for maneuvering the Azipod® units from the bridge. Smooth running, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance will be supported through the inclusion of the ABB Ability™ Remote Diagnostics System in the vessels.

Inmarsat expands presence in expedition cruise segment

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 April 2022 27 April 2022

Inmarsat, the world leader in global, mobile satellite communications, is expanding its market presence in the luxury expedition market, with new orders for its industry-leading Fleet Xpress service covering three specialised Galápagos Islands vessels. The reliability and speed of the maritime broadband service will meet guest connectivity needs for the Quasar Expeditions luxury yachts Grace and Evolution and the Kleintours cruise ship Galapágos Legend, following two contracts signed with owners by Inmarsat partner Comsatel.

Located approximately 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Galápagos Islands form a remote archipelago home to a unique and highly protected ecosystem. Relatively few vessels have access to its waters, and those that do accommodate only a small number of guests. Communications in the surrounding area have typically been poor, with the islands’ topography affecting signal strength. However, expectations for internet access are growing.

Christian Cordoba, Maritime Channel Manager, Americas, Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Passenger demographics are changing, and with younger audiences come greater bandwidth demands. Today’s expedition guests visiting the Galápagos Islands want to share their experiences of this incredible destination on social media, or directly with friends and family, and this requires high data speeds and continuous connectivity. Fleet Xpress is therefore the ideal solution for high-end operators like Quasar Expeditions and Kleintours.”

In addition to delivering unequalled performance, Fleet Xpress offers access to further Inmarsat solutions such as Fleet Hotspot, which provides crew members with dedicated bandwidth to enjoy online entertainment and communication services without interfering with business-critical operations. Fleet Xpress also includes access to Fleet Connect, enabling Inmarsat’s Certified Application Providers to deliver valued-added services to ship operators worldwide, again via dedicated bandwidth.

Vikand, for example, is a telemedicine services provider whose solution, VIKAND HealthNet, aims to prevent onboard medical situations from escalating into more serious emergencies. With Inmarsat partner Comsatel leading efforts to promote telemedicine in Galápagos expedition cruising, Vikand’s services are increasingly sought after among local operators.

Hector Baquerizo, CEO, Comsatel, said: “The yachts and cruise ships operating in the Galápagos Islands are luxury vessels that offer guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but their onboard connectivity has not always lived up to those high standards. Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress delivers a level of performance and a suite of solutions that will change the game for expedition cruise operators in the Galápagos Islands – in terms of both guest experience and crew welfare.”

Inmarsat’s relationship with Ecuador-based satellite communications provider Comsatel dates back to the early 2000s. In 2017, the two parties identified the strong potential for faster, more reliable connectivity on board Galápagos expedition cruises. Fleet Xpress has since become a fixture in the area, with the service already installed onboard 10 vessels; the recent orders from Quasar and Kleintours further enhance Inmarsat’s reputation in a market where demand for high data speeds and bandwidth is growing rapidly.

Meyer Group sets up ship refurbishment unit

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 27 April 2022 27 April 2022

Meyer Group that has shipyards in Germany and Finland has established a unit called Meyer Re that will focus on refurbishment of existing ships, the group’s Finnish unit Meyer Turku said in a statement.

“The new company called Meyer Re intends, together with ship owners, to maintain and modernise ships throughout their life span and to ensure their functioning and operations,” Meyer Turku said.

Customers would receive significant benefits and added value when their ships would be supported throughout their lifespan as they would benefit from the wide experience of the group also in this way. The new unit will also provide more work for the yards of the group.

The new business would have three core sectors of focus. Meyer Rethink would cover the development of innovative solutions intended to optimise the energy consumption of ships: Meyer Revalue is to focus on modernisation of areas and furniture onboard to support the valuation of ships and Meyer Care would offer service solutions after the expiry of the warranty period.

Alexander Hofling has been appointed to head the new business, Meyer Turku stated.

TDoS sets up group parent and acquires Italian design company

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 26 April 2022 26 April 2022

The design firm Tillberg Design of Sweden (TDoS) has new parent company called Viken Group and announced the acquisition of Thalia Marine in Italy.

Viken Group will provide a full range of comprehensive design, naval architecture and project management services to the cruise line and yachting industries, via the portfolio of its brands and partners.

“The newly formed group will comprise multiple brands, where TDoS will remain as today, and preferred partnerships providing complementary and comprehensive services and expertise for each facet of the business,” TDoS said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Viken Group’s acquisition of Italian design and naval architecture firm Thalia Marine establishes expertise in multiple areas of technical project management, surveys and consultancy. Based in Trieste, Italy, Thalia Marine counts among its clients Carnival Cruise Line, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Virgin Voyages, Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI, member of CSSC, China State Shipbuilding Co.) and Fincantieri, and is well versed in the construction and refurbishment of both yachts and cruise ships.

“We are delighted to welcome Thalia Marine and its employees to Viken Group,” says Viken Group’s and former TDoS CEO Stefan Nilsson. “Together, we will be able to provide our clients the best, most comprehensive services including naval architecture, design, quantity surveying, technical consultancy, on-site inspections and much more.”

Both TDoS and Thalia Marine will continue operating independently of one another, but will jointly collaborate under the Viken Group umbrella on relevant projects. Having cooperated on multiple projects in the past, the two firms see mutual synergies with Thalia providing comprehensive technical management services, specialist design consultancy, surveys and on-site inspections and TDoS providing design and space planning as well as financial management and administration support.

"My connection with Tillberg Design of Sweden dates back to 1994, when, as a junior naval architect, I worked with them on the design of Costa Victoria,” said Thalia Marine Partner and CEO Maurizio Eliseo. “Since then, we have cooperated on many challenging projects and achieved excellent results. Thalia is a small family, but one of highly specialised architects, engineers and surveyors. Thanks to this strong partnership with our dear friends at TDoS and Viken Group, we now look forward to an even brighter future that will not only benefit us, but our esteemed clients as well.”

Valmet strengthens its presence and services for the marine industry by opening a new office in Miami

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 April 2022 22 April 2022

Valmet has opened a new office in Miami, Florida, to strengthen its local presence and improve its services for the global marine industry.

“Out of the many Valmet offices in the USA, this new one is solely dedicated to serving our marine customers. Miami is an ideal location for the office as it is home to the world’s largest cruising companies, and many of their ships are equipped with Valmet’s advanced marine automation solutions. Our marine customers now have better access to our automation experts’ know-how as well as our cybersecurity, turbine automation and emission control solutions,” says John Weierud, Director, Marine Automation, Valmet.

Valmet Marine Services are available for Valmet’s marine emission control and marine automation products. They are designed to improve vessel operation, including optimized performance and operation costs, safety, reduced emissions or high availability and reliability. Valmet offers a one-stop shop for marine services and improves value by combining its technology, process and control system know-how.

Today, cybersecurity plays an increasingly important role in the marine industry. Valmet provides cruise ships with a comprehensive range of cybersecurity services. These include regular Valmet DNA automation system security audits, continuous security updates, patch management and training for personnel.

Photo: Valmet’s experts serving the customers from their new office in Miami. Service engineers Yasser Dughman Cabrera (in front) and Joe Pinero De La Rosa