Remote diagnostic contract
ABB has won a contract to supply ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic Systems for Marine to eleven Sovcomflot vessels operating in the Arctic and Russia’s Far East, helping optimise safety and performance through 24/7 remote support.
Sovcomflot’s vessels will be among over 1,000 ships connected to ABB Ability Collaborative Operation Centres worldwide. From here, ABB experts monitor operational shipboard systems, coordinate remote equipment diagnostics and offer predictive maintenance services – 24/7. This can be especially crucial for vessels operating in remote areas. The recently inaugurated Marine Service Center in Murmansk, Russia, adds local language support into the offering, which is particularly relevant for customers such as Sovcomflot – Russia’s largest shipping company.
Sovcomflot, a leader in energy shipping, operates the world’s largest fleet of ice-going vessels powered by ABB’s Azipod electric propulsion. The contract with ABB covers eight shuttle tankers that serve some of Russia’s most significant export developments in a generation, Varandey, Novy Port and Prirazlomnoye. The other three ships are ice-breaking supply vessels deployed in the Sea of Okhotsk as part of the Sakhalin-1 project.
“Predictive monitoring of critical equipment onboard and maintenance support that is available 24/7 will be introduced seamlessly into Sovcomflot’s operations as part of our continuous commitment to enhancing vessel safety and reliability of vessel operations,” says Igor Tonkovidov, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating / Chief Technical Officer, Sovcomflot. “ABB has been integral to Sovcomflot’s success in serving major energy projects in the harshest environments possible. As ABB brings its digital and connected remote monitoring solutions to a new level, we see a good opportunity to make the most of them in our continuous drive to operational excellence.”
New contract signed
MAN Energy Solutions has signed a Global Key Account Management contract with Hong Kong-based Wallem Group. The contract covers the supply of spares and services to MAN main engines, generators and turbochargers aboard vessels managed by Wallem.
The global agreement covers all offices of the Wallem Group and provides access to a dedicated global and local key account manager from MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division. MAN PrimeServ will manage the contract from Hong Kong in close cooperation with a network of over 100 global PrimeServ hubs.
Wallem currently has over 200 vessels under asset management, operating from its head office in Hong Kong and ship-management hubs in Singapore, Hamburg, India and Cyprus. The agreement covers over 580 units of MAN Energy Solutions’ equipment aboard the diverse Wallem fleet that includes tankers, containerships, bulk carriers and vehicle carriers.
“Our strategic partnership with MAN Energy Solutions comes as a part of our commitment to provide world-class customer service around the globe and deliver advanced technology-driven solutions,” said Frank Coles, CEO Wallem Group. “With MAN maintaining vessel engine systems, we can ensure a high level of safety, reliability, and asset utilisation.”
Dedicated unit established
Leading Sri Lankan shipbuilding and ship repair service provider Colombo Dockyard PLC has established a dedicated unit to handle afloat ship repairs with fast response and reliable service capability at all Sri Lankan ports.
The Rapid Response Afloat Repair Service (RRARS) was officially launched on May 31, 2019 following two years of preliminary service provision which gained the confidence of the shipping community with vessels calling at ports located in Sri Lankan waters. During that time, over 100 projects were delivered by RRARS to customers including; V.Ships UK, Essar Shipping Ltd, Mumbai, Bremer Bereederungsgesellschaft GmbH & Co. Kg and BBG Breman.
Established to provide fast response and reliable repair services, RRARS was strategically developed under the leadership and guidance of H Tanaka, Chairman and D V Abeysinghe, Managing Director, Colombo Dockyard PLC to meet an identified need-gap in one of the busiest hub ports in the South East Asian region.
Ahead of the official launch of the service, which is available in the ports of Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee, and Hambantota, the RRARS rapid response team has been strengthened and systems streamlined to accommodate the inquiries smoothly. The reliability and versatility of the service is augmented with the spare part back up from the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and Colombo Dockyard’s integrated supply/logistics network.
“The establishment of this vital service signals the return to normalcy in Sri Lanka’s shipping operations,” says Abeysinghe.
Fleetwide contract awarded
The globally exclusive HydroPen distributor and leading safety solutions expert, Viking Life-Saving Equipment, has announced the signing of a fleetwide contract with a major global container shipping operator to integrate the HydroPen System for container firefighting. Beyond the revolutionary system, developed by Rosenby Engineering, the scope of supply also includes MED approved mobile water monitors, providing a further boost to the operators’ onboard fire safety setup.
With the deal, the operator’s fleet becomes the first to enjoy all the benefits of the technologically forward HydroPen System, which enables crew to safely and efficiently tackle costly container fires at heights.
Typically, when container fires are at heights above the reach of the crew, they are fought indirectly by dowsing the burning container and its surroundings with water. This conventional method is ineffective, dangerous, and can destroy precious cargo. The intelligently designed HydroPen System, however, uses pressurised water to drill through container doors, before automatically switching to fire extinguishing mode – putting out the fire directly at its source.
Ferry modernisation
Schottel’s After Sales Team has carried out a modernisation of two double-ended ferries operated by FinFerries. Both vessels, capable of holding either 14 cars or up to 60 tons of payload, were originally equipped with various propeller systems manufactured in different years. For the retrofit, the state-owned operator requested a tailor-made concept to allow the same propeller assembly to be used. At the same time, the solution had to be quick and easy to install.
Two Schottel Rudderpropellers type SRP 150 have been installed in each ferry. In the Hanhivirta ferry, it was possible to install the Rudderpropeller in the existing well. For the Mossala sister vessel, an adapter ring had to be incorporated, as its well was considerably larger. To prepare for the installation at the FinFerries site, a team of engineers from the company attended a one-week training session at the Schottel Academy in Spay, Germany.
The advantage of this retrofit is a higher degree of standardisation in its fleet – which reduces costs for spare parts and increases availability. In addition to the two SRP 150s, FinFerries also ordered a separate unit as a spare. This allows for quick replacement in case of an outage and ensures 24/7 service.
In addition, the German propulsion expert secured another order for the modernisation of a third ferry. The Kuparovirta, a sistership of Hanhivirta, will also be retrofitted with Schottel Rudderpropellers by the end of the year.
MacGregor completes TTS Group acquisition
Cargotec’s MacGregor business area has completed the acquisition of the marine and offshore businesses of TTS Group ASA. Cargotec announced in February 2018 an agreement to acquire the businesses for an enterprise value of approximately EUR 87 million.
Completion of the acquisition follows receipt of required approvals from the relevant countries and authorities. The acquired businesses will be integrated within MacGregor’s operating structure, and their results will be consolidated into MacGregor’s financial figures as of 1 August 2019.
Based on preliminary estimates, approximately 30 percent of TTS sales are related to TTS companies where the Group’s ownership is 50 percent. Cargotec plans to consolidate these companies using the equity method, whereby 50 percent of the companies’ net profit will be presented as a separate row in Cargotec’s financial statements before EBIT. This means that sales income from these companies will not be consolidated into Cargotec’s sales.
Wastewater retrofit
ACO Marine has completed the installation and commissioning of a Clarimar MF-10 wastewater treatment plant supplied to Damen Verolme Rotterdam for installation to the Stena operated semi-submersible Stena Don.
The drilling rig’s existing wastewater treatment plant was heavily corroded and non-compliant with regulation MEPC 227(64), which entered into force in January 2016.
It was replaced with the biological-type Clarimar MF-10 black and grey water treatment unit as part of an extensive four-month refit.
Mark Beavis, Managing Director, ACO Marine said: “A key aspect of the refit was to increase POB capacity from 120 to 140 persons, which required a biological wastewater treatment system capable of treating up to 14kg BOD5 biological load and 18,900 litres hydraulic load per day. However, due to space and access limitations we delivered the MF-10 as a ‘flat-pack’, which is less complex to install.”
Award win
The A&P Group has been awarded the prestigious Achilles UVDB accreditation across all of its facilities and achieved a 100% success rate in an audit at A&P Falmouth.
Securing the accreditation enables the A&P Group to use Achilles’ proven supplier pre-qualification system to manage risk within the supply chain and comply with EU regulations.
The audit specifically looks at a supplier’s approach to safety, health, environment and quality and corporate social responsibility, with Falmouth scoring 100% in all ten criteria.
Kevin Peart, Group HSEQ Director for A&P, said: “It is a huge accolade to achieve 100% pass rate with Achilles. It means all of our facilities are now certified and we have a group-wide certificate.
“Undergoing an audit encourages suppliers to improve their business operations on a regular basis and step up their game each year.”
A&P’s number one priority is to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of its staff, customers and sub-contractors. A&P has worked collaboratively with Lloyds Register to achieve ISO 9001:2015; ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001 – the very highest standards in quality, health, safety and environment, and has been certificated to BS 44001 by BSI for collaborative working practice in the supply of through-life support to MoD RFA ships managed by DE&S represented by CSS.
Solar panel installation
As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Damen Shipyards Group is having solar panels installed at a number of its Dutch yards. Collectively, the installations will provide approximately 12 MW clean electricity per year.
“At Damen, we always take a long-term view,” explains Gerard Kornet, Project Manager at Damen. “It’s part of our culture as a family company, we want to ensure the sustainability of the business for the next generation. This means that what we do has to be both profitable and in tune with the environment in which we operate. We have a very strong focus on this and are continually considering initiatives that can contribute to a sustainable maritime industry.”
The project will see 42,000 solar panels installed on the rooftops of production facilities at eight Damen shipyards in the Netherlands. Collectively, the panels will cover some 75,000m2 and generate 13% of the energy required by Damen’s annual operations in the country.
The first yard to be installed with the panels is Damen Shipyards Gorinchem West. It will be followed by Damen Dredging Equipment Nijkerk and Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld. By the end of the year Damen Maaskant Shipyard Stellendam and Amels will also follow, with Damen Verolme, Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem East both undergoing installation before the end of 2020.
However, this is just the tip of the iceberg, explains Gerard; “We are further developing the programme with the intention of assessing the viability of rolling out more solar panels – as well as wind energy – to our other shipyards, not only in the Netherlands, but also internationally. Wherever we are working in the world, we are committed to making sure our operations are as clean as can be.”
Partnership agreement
A&P Falmouth has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with Red Funnel Ferries, a ferry company which operates services between Southampton and the Isle of Wight. It involves the companies working in close collaboration to boost efficiency and reduce downtime whilst maintaining Red Funnel’s fleet of Raptor Class ferries.
The agreement, signed by Steve Jones, Managing Director Operations and Site Director at A&P Falmouth, and Mark Slawson, OBE, Operations Director at Red Funnel, will see three ferries drydock in A&P Falmouth annually for three years. The agreement also has an option to be extended for an additional two years.
Red Funnel’s vehicle ferries, Red Falcon, Red Eagle and Red Osprey belong to the Raptor Class and have been visiting A&P Falmouth for drydockings and repairs for the past five years, usually between October and February. The Raptor Class ro-pax ferries are the largest ferries ever to serve the Isle of Wight and make several crossings a day from Southampton.
The agreement will provide each vessel with a comprehensive pre-planning phase which includes assigning an A&P Programme Engineer to each project and a vessel visit from A&P and specialist subcontractors prior to the vessel refit period. By spending time onboard to clarify the full scope of work with Red Funnel’s superintendents, A&P Group’s Programme Engineer will be able to schedule works, procure equipment and communicate with nominated sub-contractors well ahead of time to minimise the refit period.