Marine Jet Power celebrates 35 years of vessel service

Written by Heather Ervin
Adam Mills, Marine Jet Power

Adam Mills, Marine Jet Power

[Sponsored Content] Marine Jet Power (MJP) recently appointed Adam Mills as its new regional sales director for the Americas as the company celebrates 35 years of service to the maritime industry. As a full-service propulsion solutions provider, MJP provides customer support from initial design and build to delivery and custom aftermarket solutions. The company has worked on a diverse line of vessels, ranging from government, landing crafts and workboats, to high-speed passenger vessels and luxury yachts.

With almost 15 years of marine industry experience, Mills began his career as a naval architect after graduating from Liverpool John Moores University in England, where he graduated with First Class Honors earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical/marine engineering and naval architecture. He has been with MJP for nine years.

In recognition of its anniversary and as a gold sponsor of Marine Log’s upcoming FERRIES 2021 conference, we talked to Mills about the work the company has done over the years and what they have coming on line soon.

Marine Log (ML): MJP is now in its 35th year of operation. What do you want our maritime audience to know most about the company?

Adam Mills (AM): This is actually an interesting story. MJP’s first-ever delivered shipset of waterjets was in 1987 to the passenger ferry M/S Cinderella in Sweden. And today, nearly 35 years later, those original waterjets are still in operation with over 60,000 running hours. While the vessel has had a few upgrades over the years, she still operates a seasonal daily schedule in the Stockholm archipelago. It’s a real testament to the way MJP builds waterjets. In 1986, MJP set out to build the best waterjet on the market, today that goal still remains which is why we manufacture from duplex stainless steel which is twice as strong as 316 stainless steel resulting in a much more reliable and durable product. This is a huge benefit especially for ferry operators where downtime is feared most.

ML: What types of vessels does MJP provide its services to and what is the most common vessel type you receive orders on?

AM: MJP supplies waterjets to passenger vessels, commercial workboats, high-end yachts as well as government and military vessels all over the world. We take great pride in being versatile and finding the right fit for whatever the mission may be. But, due to the shallow draft, high-speed and highly-efficient nature of waterjets we are very successful within military and government applications. MJP’s unique features include reliability, durability, ease of installation and maintenance and best of all we have the most efficient waterjet on the market today, all backed by an industry leading 5-year warranty.

And a lot of those key benefits meet the needs of ferry operators as well. Whether you are running on a tight schedule, want to reduce annual fuel burn, or wanting to ensure the vessel stays in operation 24/7; efficiency, durability and reliability become paramount.

ML: How do you work with customers on finding their specific vessel needs where propulsion is concerned?

AM: At MJP we are a highly technical organization whereby the propulsion solution is based around what is best for that vessel and its mission. Our passion for the Marine industry reaches beyond taking that one sale, for MJP it’s about providing our customers with the very best solution, even if the best solution isn’t waterjets in a certain instance. Building a strong reliable relationship with our customers based on honest technical support, in our experience gives us a solid foundation and reputation for future years and projects.

Understanding the mission of the vessel whether it be top speed performance, fuel savings, high bollard pull or very specific maneuvers of the vessel; we make a detailed analysis of every project we engage in to ensure our customer gets the very best. With our in-house CFD team and technical sales engineers, we can accurately predict performance, efficiency, percent growth allowances on displacement, and can fully support the designers and builders with a seamless installation.

ML: Tell us more about the work you’ve done on ferries and passenger vessels. Any unique challenges you’ve been presented with in that arena?

MJP has been supplying waterjets within the passenger vessel market globally for decades. We just gave the example of the M/S Cinderella above but in the last 35 years, MJP has installed waterjets on more than 200 passenger vessels. And with each project we are always learning and evolving to meet the demands of the market.

With the industry striving for zero-carbon emissions, more and more of our customers are wanting a hybrid or full electric solution. MJP is working on several projects which meet this requirement and we look forward to solving the challenges ahead in this segment as more and more vessels make the switch to electric.

Also we have developed our own Dynamic Positioning system which seamlessly communicates with our waterjet control system and other external interfaces such as GPS to provide our customers with an improved experience onboard to allow the operator to take a break from the wheel during loitering or long straight courses.

ML: What sort of customization options do you offer customers?

AM: We offer customized intakes for each and every CSU and DRB installation. The intake is meticulously designed using our in-house CFD capability to optimize the efficiency for the predicted vessel speed and mission, but also to accommodate specific bulkheads and customized shaft angles. MJP offer the highest level of customization for those projects which are outside the norm.

But, a huge part of what ferry operators want is customization within the controls. The user interface. That’s why we developed a fully customizable and modular control system which interfaces with external systems such as auto-pilots, interceptors, dynamic positioning etc. The customer has complete scope to build up the system just as they want it.

ML: In addition to propulsion systems, MJP provides control systems for vessels. Can you tell us more about this marine service you offer?

AM: MJP’s JetMaster electronic control system comes in a variety of configurations to fit the needs of the operator. The operator can chose from a number of control head options including a combinator/steering wheel package or chose MJP’s new vector control system and joystick. The JetMaster system is scalable depending on the mission, we can offer redundancy and backups if full class approval is required. Also we can interface with other external systems such as auto-pilot, interceptors, dynamic positioning, unmanned remote systems etc. Also through and encrypted, secured connection, we can remotely log into every electronic control system to perform startup/calibration, fault finding and diagnostics. This is a huge benefit to operators who cannot afford downtime.

ML: Finally, what’s the best advice you could give a vessel owner or operator considering a newbuild vessel?

AM: First of all, I would recommend considering the mission of the vessel and intended use. From the way the operator wants to operate the boat should define the priorities. With this information, MJP can fully support the vessel owner with providing the best options to suit their requirements. I would say, “Just pick up the phone and call me! I am a Naval Architect with a passion for boats. For me, it’s not all about the waterjets, it’s about providing technical support for the entire boat whether it be advise on dynamic stability, center of gravity optimization to improve acceleration and seakeeping or drive train support and engine selection. I am here to help!”

Another key metric which is often overlooked at the build stage is the through life cost. Propellers can appear a cheaper solution on occasions but this often not the case when considering the full cost of ownership. Engines experience a much harder life coupled to propellers. Waterjets don’t overload the engines like propellers do, therefore engine overhauls and repowers throughout the life of the vessel are significantly less, not to mention the low maintenance and fewer spare parts required for maintaining a MJP waterjet.

And specifically for passenger vessels, I would strongly recommend the maneuverability aspect of the vessel. Our waterjets are designed in such a way which provides quick responsive steering and reversing to allow the operator to rotate the vessel 360 degrees within its own boat length, which is a huge advantage to passenger vessels operating daily routes in tight harbors.

Categories: Engines & Fuel, Technology Tags: , , ,