News

Ulstein has released its 2.3MW (3,127 bhp) Eurodyn gas turbine for commercial trials in a 200 passenger fast ferry. In testing, the prototype (2.3MW) simple-cycle units gave full-load fuel consumption figures of…

A lightweight portable tank cleaning machine has been launched by Butterworth for use in chemical tankers. The unit either uses the wash water as lubrication, or a sealed grease-lubricated gearbox is offered…

The Decca BridgeMaster E series of marine radars from Litton incorporates an adaptive video processing system called Vision, which is designed to provide hands-free clutter suppression and gain control. With Vision, the…

A pilot digital chart service which provides coverage of international shipping routes by combining official vector and raster data is to be launched by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) early next…

The PC Maritime range of PC-based navigation software is now available from navigational chart supplier and correcting agent Kelvin Hughes. Navmaster Office is a planning tool, designed for tracking ship`s routes and…

For much of the 1990s, international trade in LPG, LNG and other gas commodities has grown steadily, with increases averaging around 5 per cent per annum. For the next few years, much…

The end of September saw Meyer Werft hand over the 76,800g cruise ship Superstar Leo to its owners Star Cruises a week earlier than planned. As the first of four cruise vessels…

About 2,900 shipbuilders, or two thirds of those who once worked for Bremer Vulkan now have new jobs. Many have not gone back into the few remaining local yards, but it indicates…

Almost 80 per cent of the merchant ships built last year were propelled by two-stroke engines. Simplicity, both by design and direct drive, along with low running and maintenance costs have proved…

The recently completed floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel Varg is designed for use in the harsh environment of the North Sea. Delivered in September by Keppel FELS Singapore Ltd, Varg…

Exhibition space at Shiprepair & Conversion `98 has increased by 30 per cent and is full to capacity, according to the organisers. This year`s event takes place on November 18-19 at London`s…

Tanker owners` association Intertanko has calculated that the cost of changing ballast water in a VLCC as proposed by the IMO will be $1,800 per trip, costing the industry over $18.6 million/year…

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has shown Flare`s owner, flag state (Cyprus) and classification society (LR) evidence from an underwater survey of the bow section. This points to a fracture beginning in…

Following an announcement earlier in the year that it was planning to quadruple its passenger capacity within the next seven to ten years, American Classic Voyages (AMCV) has finally signed a Letter…

Germany`s Meyer Werft shipyard has clinched the order to build a £200 million ($341.58 million) sister ship to P&O Cruises Oriana. The 76,000g UK-flagged vessel`s keel will be laid in January 1999…

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has decided to invest in new tonnage for its VLCC fleet and has ordered a double-hulled VLCC at Japan`s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). The contract, the value…

Japanese engine manufacturer Niigata has introduced an HLX medium-speed series in 22, 28 and 34cm bore sizes. Piston strokes are 300mm, 400mm, and 500mm respectively, giving engine speeds of 1,000/900 rev/min, 750/720…

Both MAN B&W and Wartsila NSD have picked up orders for their largest bore engines. MAN B&W has secured an order for eight of its 98 bore engines (five 10K98MC-C and three…

Kamewa has introduced a seven-bladed water jet impeller which is said to reduce pressure pulses by an average of 25 per cent, and give a 15 per cent increase in cavitation margin.…

The StackBeam system from MacGregor, designed to allow containers to be carried on the weatherdecks of ships not originally designed to accommodate them without the need for hatch cover strengthening or replacement,…

Hays Ships in the UK has awarded Cegelec`s Marine and Offshore Division a contract to provide and install a dynamic positioning system for Kommandor 3000, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) support ship.…

A series of pressure transmitters intended for engine room and cargo monitoring has been launched by Autronica. The standard measuring range is 0 to 60 bar gauges, or 0 to 40 bar…

The suite of fleet management software modules from ABS has been expanded following the merger of its SafeNet with the Nautical Technology Corporation (NTC) Ship Manager program. The two management systems have…