ABB has selected Shanghai, China, as a location for one of its ABB Ability Collaborative Operation Centres. The centres work to enhance collaboration in the industry, drive digitalisation and make shipping operations more efficient and safer. The new Shanghai centre will monitor data gathered by sensors onboard ships and sent to shore via satellites. ABB...
A rescue tug fitted with ABB’s Azipod D electric propulsion system has demonstrated energy savings beyond expectations. Prior to delivery to Guangzhou Salvage Bureau, the tug underwent sea trials to test its performance with the propulsion system. The trials showed the 8,000kW tug was able to operate with less power for given functions than expected....
China has launched an all-electric cargo ship that is powered completely by a lithium-ion battery. The 2,000 metric tonne vessel manufactured by Guangzhou Shipyard International Company was launched in Guangzhou, China. According to the shipyard, the vessel can run for 80 kilometers on a full charge, which takes just two hours. China Daily reports that...
Classification society DNV GL has presented GTT and its partner TECHNOLOG a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) statement for the retrofit of a vessel with an exsoskeleton membrane liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank to utilise space on-board more efficiently and reduce dry-docking downtime. The purpose of an LNG membrane tank is to provide more...
Wärtsilä has launched its Linesafe propeller shaft solution to aid the performance of intermediate shaft bearing solutions on ships. Linesafe is a hydrodynamic bearing made from cast iron and based on a new, simple design that aims to make installation more flexible, give short lead times, and retain low lifecycle costs. The new design allows...
A new Sea Traffic Management (STM) project to improve traffic flow between Sweden and Finland has been confirmed. The EfficientFlow project will receive EUR 4.5m EU funding from the Interreg Central Baltic Programme to help manage traffic more efficiently in the ports of Rauma, Finland and Gävle, Sweden. STM is a concept that aims to...
Finnish company Wärtsilä has announced that its fuel and emissions saving hybrid tug, HYTug, will enter the Chinese market to help meet operational requirements. The tug is based on Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module, which combines engines, an energy storage system using batteries, and power electronics that are optimised to work with a new energy management...
Wärtsilä has announced the opening of CSSC Wärtsilä Electrical & Automation (CWE&A), a joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) that will see the expansion of electrical and automation solutions into the Chinese market. Wärtsilä’s electrical and automation solutions including those for navigation, communication, entertainment, lighting, safety, and security will be available through the...
ABB Turbocharging has launched a Flexible Integrated Turbocharging System for Two-Stroke Engines (FiTS2) that has the potential to generate fuel savings of 3%, saving shipowners and operators up to US $100,000 per year. The turbocharger will enable two-stroke engines to operate at low loads, while still returning rapidly to full engine power to achieve maximum...
Blueflow Energy Management solution has been fully integrated on two vessels operated by the Swedish ferry operator, Destination Gotland. The M/S Visby and the M/S Gotland have been fully integrated with the Blueflow system, which records and analyses energy consumption. Once data is analysed, reports are generated to provide shipowners and operators with information about...
Wärtsilä has announced a new tilted steerable thruster with combined electric retraction and steering that provides enhanced manoeuvring and increased performance by up to 20%. The Wärtsilä WST-24R features an 8-degrees tilted propeller shaft configuration that reduces thruster and hull interaction losses. The result is a thrust that is 20% more effective than conventional, non-tiled...
A wind-utilising technology by Oceanfoil has demonstrated fuel savings of 14%, according to analysis by BMT. Oceanfoil’s wingsails are based on aerofoil technology, which captures directional thrust from wind power, reducing the output required from the engine to propel the vessel. This lowers the fuel burnt and increases energy efficiency. Each Oceanfoil wingsail consists of...