Features
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Operators take servicing philosophies to extremes
In the critical area of turbocharger maintenance, equating quality with original equipment manufacturers doesn’t suit everyone, according to Wendy Laursen. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship
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Chinese bulker class aims for high efficiency
The popular image of Chinese shipyards still tends to be one of low-tech operations turning out large numbers of vessels, built to basic standards, with cost and simplicity having priority over efficiency, timely delivery and sophisticated design. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship
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Mixed fortunes in German yards as offshore booms
Tom Todd relates a story of mixed fortunes currently in German newbuilding with some yards busy and prospering while others struggle to find work and stay afloat. Proving a blessing is offshore work, specifically tough wind power transport and installation newbuildings and yards continue to switch production to join in the boom. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship
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Dual fuel gains credibility in the low speed market
Both major designers of large low speed two stroke marine engines have demonstrated their commitment to gas as an alternative fuel and have demonstrated dual-fuel technology applied to their engine designs, while, additionally, two Asian licensees are demonstrating their commitment to LNG ship power. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship
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The true hybrid platform supply vessel becomes reality
Det Norske Veritas has announced the latest, and third, phase of the FellowShip project, in which energy storage capability in the form of a battery pack is introduced in the energy system of the offshore supply ship ‘Viking Lady’. This allows the benefits of a true hybrid energy system to be explored. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship
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Don’t overlook auxiliary issues
Its worth noting that some auxiliaries see larger load steps while the propulsion engines are near idling, as they are often connected to pumps, cranes and other gear such as thrusters, says Tomas Aminoff of Wärtsilä. 30 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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IMT 950 joins North Star fleet
The OSD-designed and Spanish-built 50.7m safety standby vessel 'Grampian Don' has recently joined the fleet of Aberdeen-based North Star Shipping. 29 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Ice research aims to cut uncertainty in design and operation
Wendy Laursen explains that ice design is a case of brute force, but not ignorance, as classification societies turn research into safety for ships operating in the Arctic. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Remote controlled helicopter to inspect cargo holds
Italian classification society RINA is currently nearing completion of a three-year, EU co-funded R&D project on marine inspection robotic assistant systems (MINOAS). The project includes the development of a small, remote-controlled, four-rotor helicopter which is able to carry out overall surveys within the cargo holds of ships by taking photographs and videos. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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BV focuses on container ship springing
Bureau Veritas has introduced a new family of additional class notations, WhiSp, that give special attention to whipping and springing of container ships. Since the vessel’s natural frequency decreases with size and the wave encounter frequency increases with speed, large and fast container ships run the risk of encountering resonant phenomena due to the coupling of the two frequencies. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Outlook positive for LNG even when the charterer pays
Wendy Laursen says that LNG’s CO2 performance may be debatable, but it will improve EEDI values and take shipowners beyond compliance. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Putting solar technology into the hybrid mix
Wendy Laursen reminds us that there are solar-collecting sails on the horizon but it may be some time before they make their way into the emissions reduction plans of most shipowners. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Emission deadlines concentrate minds
While facing increasingly competitive and often volatile market conditions, ship operators have the added challenge of finding cost-effective solutions to all-pervasive environmental controls; David Tinsley looks at some of the options. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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German yards eye offshore but pallet remains broad
Eyes may be sharply focussed on offshore in German yards but the repair and conversion pallet remains as wide and flexible as ever – and has to be if even small work is to be won against stiff competition all round, writes Tom Todd. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
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Ferry uses electric power and air support
Development is well underway with a pioneering fast electric air-supported commuter ferry that can operate on battery power alone, writes Dag Pike. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship
