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MSC World Europa equipped with GE Power Conversion’ propulsion system
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Products & services Products & services
- Published: 11 May 2023 11 May 2023
GE Power Conversion was chosen by shipbuilding company Chantiers de l’Atlantique to equip the first two of the World Class vessels, MSC Cruises’ latest class of ships, for improved propulsion performance. The first ship, MSC World Europa, is now in operation at sea and the second vessel is currently under construction. This latest one marks the 18th MSC vessel to be powered by GE’s electric propulsion system.
GE Power Conversion’s energy-efficient PWM induction technology, such as that installed onboard MSC World Europa, can help fleet operators comply with ‘clean ship’ regulations while also helping to reduce operating costs in today’s competitive market.
The World Class fleet are no ordinary cruise ships; the LNG dual-fuel vessels are propelled by the most powerful cruise ship electrical motors in operation – two 25 MW, 120-127.5 rpm induction motors – which are fed by four press-pack IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) PWM MV7000 converters. GE Power Conversion’s scope also includes four propulsion transformers and remote control for onboard propulsion, technology that can contribute to improved propulsion reliability and lower maintenance costs during the vessels’ operating life cycle.
Emilio LaScala, President & Managing Director at MSC Cruise Management Ltd said: “Against the backdrop of a competitive environment, we are confident that GE’s proven electric propulsion technology is the ideal choice for our fleet. It will bring reduced operating costs and improved propulsion performance, ideally suited for our next generation of cruise vessels.”
The induction technology that GE Power Conversion developed about two decades ago was first used by the world’s navies. Today, it is used widely for a range of vessels which require optimum performance and power output in the multi-megawatt classes for electric power and propulsion efficiency.
“For delivery of long-term performance, in-board electric propulsion technology is optimal for cruise vessels as it can deliver a robust power source that balances energy efficiency and propulsion reliability with a reduction in maintenance costs,” explained Loïc Thiébaut, Merchant Marine Business Leader at GE Power Conversion. “GE has pioneered the use of both high-power induction motors and PWM for marine operations and has demonstrated a track record of applying this technology efficiently in the powering of world-wide cruise vessels.”
Thiébaut continued: “We value our long-standing relationship with MSC Cruises and recently also expanded our contribution to the MSC fleet with the fit of the fourth vessel in the Seaside series, Seascape. It’s just one of the 17 MSC cruise vessels sailing with GE’s electric propulsion technology. GE Power Conversion looks forward to continuing successful collaborative partnerships with world-leading shipyards such as Chantiers de l’Atlantique and supporting them on the path to decarbonization, without compromising on operational performance.”
Loipart Group strengthens its production of stainless steel furniture
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Products & services Products & services
- Published: 11 April 2023 11 April 2023
LMG Finland Oy acquired the Estonian company lndetek Oü on the 4th of April, 2023. With the acquisition, the Loipart Group can offer a wider range of stainless-steel equipment and furniture aimed for food handling, storing, and serving.
LMG Finland Oy, located in Eura on the west coast of Finland, is a subsidiary of the Swedish Loipart AB. LMG Finland Oy has 150 employees and is a world-leading supplier of galley installations and high-quality stainless-steel furniture for marine customers. The company has a solid order book that stretches to 2027 and sees now an increased production capacity as a complement to the existing factories in Finland.
lndetek Oü, located in Parnu, Estonia, is a well-established company manufacturing stainless steel equipment and furniture for public spaces, professional kitchens, bars, and restaurants. lndetek has worked as a supplier for Loipart for over 10 years. lndetek is also the producer of buffet lines for Electrolux Professional, a cooperation that Loipart hopes to strengthen even further. The company has 18 employees, who are all welcomed by Loipart Group. Mr. Kimmo Ahola will continue as the Factory Manager.
MarineXchange AI solution aims to maximize cruise lines’ revenues
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Products & services Products & services
- Published: 01 April 2023 01 April 2023
MarineXchange, the provider of the only fully integrated Enterprise Platform for the cruise industry, will be launching an AI based sales recommendation engine to increase revenues and guest experiences. Guests benefit from personalized recommendations for tours, spa, onboard activities, dining, add-ons, and packages. The guest’s profile, preferences, and history of past activities, together with a range of attributes, will be used to make the best possible recommendations. The recommendations are made for each family member individually to find the best combination for each member.
"We are committed to offering our clients cutting-edge tools to increase revenues and at the same time simplify the management of the entire guest journey. This advanced technology has the potential to transform how guests plan their onboard experience " says Johannes Lindthaler, Managing Director of MarineXchange.
With its deep understanding of the cruise industry and dedication to innovation, MarineXchange is once again providing cruise companies with the tools to accelerate their digital transformation. As part of the MXP enterprise platform, the AI solution is seamlessly integrated with all pre-cruise and onboard digital guest interactions, including the branded MXP365 BOYD mobile application.
Bureau Veritas Introduces CHART, a Cyber Health Check Report Tool
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Products & services Products & services
- Published: 29 March 2023 29 March 2023
Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, has launched its new Cyber Health Analysis Report Tool (CHART) to help shipowners gain a better understanding of their ships’ digital architecture (OT/IT), specific vulnerabilities and level of preparedness to potential cyber threats.
The aim is to offer a comprehensive technical assessment of a vessel’s cyber resilience at specific moments in its lifetime, responding to the need to constantly review, maintain and update systems in the face of evolving cyber threats.
The tool provides a comprehensive audit of the vessel’s equipment, networks, security mechanisms and interconnections, to ensure that these systems are fully known to the owner and validate their compliance with cybersecurity standards, including recent regulations from, IACS and flag states. The analysis delivered provides a “cybersecurity health check report”, together with recommended mitigation measures.
CHART by BV was developed to help shipowners evaluate and increase the cyber resilience of their vessels, which is a core priority as connected systems have become a common feature of modern ships.
Paul Delouche, Strategy & Advanced Services Director at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, said: “The monitoring and remote management of connected and even hyper-connected systems, as well as cloud-based web applications, have become instrumental to improve ships’ performance and efficiency. While their benefits are undeniable, these systems also increase the surface for potential cyber-attacks. Such incidents could compromise valuable cargo and entire fleet operations, as well as the safety of the ship and crew. Therefore, cybersecurity must be taken into consideration during the whole lifecycle of a vessel.
“Our role at BV is to support companies with our technical expertise on the cyber security ecosystem, and our knowledge of the highest industry standards, to help them progress in their digital resilience journey with the confidence that the right safeguards are in place to protect their systems and critical data. Our goal is to enable shipowners to protect their assets, define expectations for shipyards and equipment manufacturers, and support compliance with flag authority, IACS and IMO regulations.”
The new tool can validate a ship’s compliance with upcoming IACS Cyber Resilience Unified Requirements UR E26, which will require the implementation of stringent cybersecurity protections and will be mandatory from 1 January 2024. The correct implementation of these standards can be validated by auditing networks and equipment to confirm compliance, and if not, the path towards it.
CHART by BV complements BV’s rules and notations on cybersecurity, providing the industry with a tool that ensures OT/IT architectures are correctly identified and protected from vulnerabilities.
ALMACO finishes catering modernization project onboard Westerdam
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Products & services Products & services
- Published: 18 March 2023 18 March 2023
Westerdam is a part of the Holland America Line fleet and her sister ships are Oosterdam, Zuiderdam, and Noordam. In January, Westerdam set sail from Sydney, Australia, to Singapore for a drydock. ALMACO had been awarded the turnkey contract to modernize some galley areas during the drydock. The scope of work included adding flight-type and rack-type dishwashers in the deck 9 lido pot wash area as well as replacing various equipment across the vessel. To access the pot washing area a hole needed to be cut in the bulkhead, which meant that the project also consisted of the removal and replacement of the interior in the passenger dining room which was on the other side of the bulkhead.
Herve Touzard, ALMACO’s Deputy President of the Lifecycle division says: “The collaboration between Holland America Line and ALMACO made this project a success. The project went smoothly and according to plan, we at ALMACO would be happy to continue the collaboration and have future projects with Holland America Line.”
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