BV classes world’s first ethane fueled ship

The Dragon vessels were originally designed as dual-fuel LNG/diesel powered vessels, with two 1,000 cu m LNG tanks on deck powering two Wärtsilä 6L20 DF main engines with a total output of 2,112 kW and two shaft generators with a total  output of 3,600 kW power. As we reported in May (see earlier story), as the vessels will initially transport ethane from the U.S, to the U.K. Ineos refineries, the ability to also burn ethane was added to allow use of the cargo gas as fuel. 

“The ability to burn ethane as well as LNG to power these unique vessels is a major step forward in the use of clean fuels. It means the vessels can use cargo gas during transits to provide a clean and clear commercial and environmental advantage,” says Bureau Veritas Business Development Manager Martial Claudepierre. “We have worked with Evergas and the Danish Maritime Authority to verify and ensure that the use of ethane is at least as safe as required by the IGC and will not impair the engine compliance with MARPOL Annex VI.”  

According to Mr. Claudepierre, using ethane required extra engine room ventilation and additional gas detection, plus modifications to the main engines including a lower compression ratio, different turbocharger nozzles and de-rating of the engine to cope with the lower knocking resistance of ethane. “But,” he says, “the gains in not carrying an additional fuel and in environmental performance from being able to burn clean fuel throughout the voyage are significant.”

Saab Kockums cuts first steel for A26 submarine program

Kockums says the A26 has the ability to perform in all oceans and across a broad spectrum of conflict environments. A unique A26 design feature is a Multi Mission Portal for the launch and retrieval of a mix of mission payloads such as manned and unmanned vehicles.

“We have left the design phase behind and begun construction of the A26, a pillar of Sweden’s future naval defence,” says Gunnar Wieslander, head of Saab’s business unit Saab Kockums. “The A26 is a new standard bearer; a step forward in the Swedish tradition of modular design and building, it ensures maximum operational effectiveness with a lower lifecycle cost. With the A26 you can always adapt the submarine to the mission in hand. Now that production has started it is a clear signal to other potential customers around the world that Saab is ready to deliver to them as well.”

The first two A26 submarines are being built under contracts worth a total SEK 7.6 billion placed by the Swedish Defense Material Administration in June this year. The first boat will be delivered in 2022.

The submarines will be powered by conventional diesel-electric propulsion machinery and equipped with the Kockums Stirling AIP (air-independent propulsion) system, making them stealthy and difficult to detect.

Dynagas to order five ARC 7 LNG carriers for Yamal

Dynagas will build five 172,000 cu. m ARC 7 LNG carriers at the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. shipyard in South Korea. They will serve the Yamal project under long term time charters. The vessels will be capable of breaking 2.1 meter thick ice in both the forward and reverse direction.

In addition, four of Dynagas’ existing ARC 4 LNG carriers will come into the Yamal shipping fleet to support Yamal deliveries committed to Asian buyers from year 2019 onwards and will be time chartered for a period of 15 years each.Yamal LNG is a joint venture between NOVATEK (60 percent), TOTAL (20 percent) and China National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) (20 percent). The project consists of three LNG trains with a total capacity of approximately 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum.

“The award of five long term contracts for the ARC 7 LNG carriers and award of four long term contracts for our existing ARC4 LNG carriers is a testament to our long term commitment and our manager’s operational excellence and expertise in operating high specification ice class LNG carriers,” commented Mr. George Procopiou, founder and chairman of Dynagas.

Dynagas Holding Ltd is a holding company engaged in the ownership of LNG carriers and owner of 44% of the equity interests in Dynagas LNG Partners LP (NYSE: DLNG), including the General Partner interest.

Cyber security high on Wiernicki’s IACS priorities list

“By focusing on these three legs of the safety stool, I believe we can build on IACS’ recent achievements and set out an agenda that addresses existing and emerging challenges,” says Mr. Wiernicki. “My priorities for 2015-2016 strike a balance between the completion of ongoing projects and the need to look forward and formulate the next generation of IACS guidelines, unified and procedural requirements.”

Among ongoing projects that will get his attention is ensuring a smooth completion of the initial round of audits for the IMO Goal-Based Standards process.

He will also advance the creation of a cyber-system safety framework that addresses control systems, software quality assurance, data integrity and cyber security, enhancing an initiative that was started in 2014.

Another priority; ensuring that the IACS Quality System Certification Scheme (QSCS) remains the “gold standard” for classification society performance.

“IACS’ relationships, extensive technical knowledge, experience and independence place it in a unique position to work with regulators and industry,” Mr. Wiernicki says. “IACS will continue to reach out and strengthen relationships with all parties, continuing to demonstrate that its commitment to safety, quality and environmental protection are more important than ever.”

Schottel strengthens North American operation

Svante Fielding is joining Schottel, Inc, in Houma, LA, as its new Vice President Operations, where his team will include Randall Freeman, who joined Schottel, Inc. as Operations Manager last month.

Mr. Fielding has 20 years of experience in the marine and propulsion industry. He has held past leadership positions across Europe / Scandinavia, North America and Asia spanning sales and service, aftermarket and production. He is currently at Schottel headquarters in Germany and will join the management team in Houma in spring 2016.

Mr. Freeman has over 15 years of experience in the marine propulsion industry, serving in various technical and management positions.

Next generation HiMSEN engine completes TA testing

The HiMSEN engine has just passed another milestone. The next generation CLEAN (Customer, Liability, Environment, Acceptable Technology, No Defect) HiMSEN engine has now completed type approval testing in the presence of eight major classification societies including ABS, DNV/GL, LR and KR.

The four-stroke CLEAN HiMSEN engine (Model H21C) improves power output by 20 percent and fuel efficiency up to 2 percent compared to the existing same class four-stroke engines, H21/32, while physical size and weight are 10 percent lower, thanks to the utilization of high pressure combustion technology.

The IMO Tier III-compliant engine emits 98 percent less NOx with the use of HHI’s proprietary Hyundai Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, NoNOx.

Mr. Youn Joong-geun, executive vice president of HHI’s Engine & Machinery Division said, “Our next-generation CLEAN HiMSEN engine is the culmination of our 40 years of technological know-hows and experiences. With the customer-oriented engineering, the high-output and high-efficiency engine will surely bring mutual benefits to HHI and its valued customers.”

Wartsila names new President of Marine Solutions

Mr Holm joined Wärtsilä in 1997 and has held several managerial positions, most recently leading the engines organization, responsible for Wärtsilä’s engine production and R&D for the marine and energy markets. Before that he has led Seals & Bearings, Solutions Management and Business Development within the Services business, and has worked as CIO for Wärtsilä Corporation.

“I am very pleased to have Roger follow me as the President of Marine Solutions. He has a passion for quality and he deeply understands the customer demands. Over the years, Roger has demonstrated strong leadership in his many challenging positions,” says Mr. Eskola, who will become President and CEO of Wärtsilä on November 1, succeeding Björn Rosengren, who will become the CEO of Swedish base engineering group Sandvi

Bank wants Mercator put under judicial manager

In a stock exchange filing today, however, Mercator said that on September 10 creditor HSH Nordbank AG Singapore Branch filed an application with the Singapore High Court to have the company be placed under the judicial management of a judicial manager and that the hearing on that application is fixed for September 29.

Mercator says its board and management believe that the appointment of a judicial manager is not in the interests of the company, its creditors and its shareholders and that it intends to oppose application.

It has filed an application with the court for leave “to convene meetings of creditors no later than 4 months from the date of the application for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, approving with or without modification a scheme of arrangement under section 210 of the Companies Act (Chapter 50) and for a stay of proceedings against the Company.”

Pulling plug on China yard, Algoma turns to Uljanik

These contracts with Uljanik are contingent upon delivery by the shipyard of acceptable security for the construction instalments required under the contracts. The contracts with Nantong Minde were canceled earlier this year.

“Our experience with the Uljanik Group on the Equinox 650 Class project has given us confidence in the shipyard’s ability to deliver high quality vessels on the agreed timelines,” said Ken Bloch Soerensen, President and CEO of Algoma. “Our Equinox project has faced significant delays as a result of the financial problems encountered by Nantong Mingde shipyard. Working closely with Uljanik, we are confident in the continuation of Algoma’s fleet renewal project.”

These new Equinox Class ships will feature a boom forward configuration designed to provide greater flexibility in certain delivery situations. The vessels will have an overall length of 225.55 m (740 ft) and a beam of 23.77 m (78 ft), qualifying as Seaway Max size ships. The vessels will carry 29,300 tonnes at maximum Seaway draft.

The new Equinox vessels will have all of the features of the existing Equinox design, including the exhaust gas scrubber technology pioneered by Algoma on the Great Lakes in its first Equinox Class gearless bulk carriers. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in early 2018 with the balance of the ships set for deliveryby the end of that year.

Algoma says it is “continuing with other parties on further fleet renewal opportunities.”

Weathernews beefs up polar routing capabilities

It’s one more indicator that one effect of climate chang will be to see more commercial shipping activities in the arctic.

The Global Ice Center (GIC) at Weathernews says that the northeast passage along the Russian coast has been open to shipping traffic since August 18, and the northwest passage across North America has been opened from September 1, making this year the first since 2013  that both passages have been open .

The GIC defines “open” as conditions free of ice in all passages, based on satellite observation

The northeast passage is expected to stay open until early October, with the northwest passage closing by late September, thus making it possible for commercial vessels to enter the icy region.

This year, ice in the Arctic Sea is melting at a fast pace, already reaching the third-lowest extent observed in the two routes, However, information available on conditions in two northern sea routes is still scarce, so Weathernews is planning the launch of the WNISAT-1R satellite.

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