Products & services

Otagg to update propulsion control of cruise ferry Silja Europa

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 02 February 2023 02 February 2023

Qtagg recently secured an order on a total upgrade of Silja Europa’s propulsion control system, that will decrease the ship’s fuel consumption by 6% and CO2 emissions by 2096 tons yearly. The overhaul includes engine speed governors, fuel rack actuators, pitch control and voyage optimization with EcoPilot.

Silja Europa will get an upgrade to the propulsion control system and be equipped with EcoPIlot which will give a 6% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions.

Silja Europa is Tallink’s largest cruise vessel with a gross tonnage of 59,912. Up until the summer of 2022 it operated on the Baltic Sea, between Helsinki (Finland) – Tallinn (Estonia). Since September 2022, it has been chartered out to the Netherlands and used to house migrants and refugees. The technical review made in preparation to bring Silja Europa into regular traffic again resulted in the decision to replace the complete existing propulsion control system with up-to-date technology, and to add EcoPilot for fuel-saving voyage optimization.

Qtagg will supply the EcoPilot voyage optimization system, with interfaces both at the bridge and in the control room, four DEGO IV engine governors, four ASAC actuators with control units, two pitch control units and the ancillary equipment needed for a complete and integrated installation.

The governors will be installed in the engine control room, replacing existing Woodward control units. The governors are connected to an application server and a system that visualizes fuel consumption and provides detailed logging.
The actuator control units will be mounted in the engine room, while the pitch control units are installed in the existing pitch control cabinet where it replaces the current analog rack.

EcoPilot provides the captain with exact control over the arrival time, while saving fuel in a predictable manner. The expected fuel consumption for a voyage is automatically calculated beforehand, based on the desired arrival time, selected route and current weather reports. In the voyage planning process, the captain will know how much fuel will be consumed to bring the ship to its destination. He can choose to adjust the arrival time or to depart earlier in order to optimize fuel savings.

The fuel savings are estimated to be about 6%, in line with savings recorded on Tallink Isabelle, where EcoPilot is already installed. The fuel savings are achieved through optimized propulsion, based on the collection and processing of large amounts of data, including real-time weather forecasts, sea state and ship data. Once the captain has selected a route it is executed through the propulsion control system, and the optimal propeller speed and pitch position is applied over the complete course of the voyage.

The expected annual CO2 reduction for Silja Europa is 2096 tons, which will contribute to a lower ETS cost in the future and a better CII rating for the ship.

ModProp project gained significant propulsion efficiency improvements by modular design interfacing and networking

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 25 January 2023 25 January 2023

In the ModProp project, entire propulsion system, Power Management System (PMS), and Energy Management System (EMS) designs from participating Finnish companies were combined by defining modular product interfaces for a ship design. Steerprop developed the propulsion unit, WE Tech Solutions Oy designed the PMS and EMS, and Elomatic designed the ship concept for the project. This enables a turnkey propulsion system, as well as PMS and EMS delivery for a ship project.

Combining PMS and EMS with propulsor unit and ship design allowed lowering the capital costs of the designs by 15% with more optimal dimensioning of the systems compared to the present solutions. Thanks to the optimal dimensioning and improved designs, the total propulsion efficiency of the solution was improved by 10% compared to the previous concepts.

The research topics of the project concentrated on four main factors affecting the design: hydrodynamic optimization, ice loads, underwater radiated noise (URN), and operation optimization. Designs were validated with hydrodynamic and model tests for the propulsion unit and the concept vessel. Experiments on ice loads were conducted to validate the impact loads on the thrusters. URN models were developed to cover the cavitating propeller source and acoustics noise propagation modelling. A simulation platform for operation optimization was developed. The EMS can be optimized in realistic operating conditions. Simulation platform was completed by combining a ship manoeuvring simulator with an energy system simulator. An interface to integrate two simulators in different locations was developed. The research project developed a public ice-class propulsion unit which can be utilized as a benchmark case.

The propulsion solution is targeted for ice classed mid-size ships where the propulsion power is up to 6 MW per unit. Interesting ship types for the propulsion solution are passenger ships, ferries, icebreaking supply vessels, arctic offshore wind turbine service vessels, product tankers and workboats.

The achievements of the project reflect the IMO 2050 target of reducing shipping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2050 compared with their 2008 level.

This novel approach enables more agile design of propulsion systems when compared to traditional design methods.

The project, which is called “High-efficiency modular propulsion concept (ModProp)”, was conducted during the years 2020-2022. A network of SMEs and mid-cap companies was formed. The project enables companies to jointly offer an improved full propulsion package for ships. Finnish companies Elomatic, Steerprop and WE Tech Solutions Oy participated as industrial partners, while VTT acted as the project coordinator and the research partner.

Hurtigruten and Brunvoll receive funding from The Green Platform Initiative to develop zero-emission ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 31 December 2022 31 December 2022

Norwegian Research Council has awarded the Sea Zero project 67 MNOK in funding to develop zero emission costal express vessels.
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The Green Platform Initiative provides funding for enterprises and research institutes engaged in green growth and restructuring driven by research and innovation. The Research Council, Innovation Norway and Siva manage the funds.

Hurtigruten’s ambition is to develop a zero-emission ship for the costal route from Bergen to Kirkenes. The project is close to 123MNOK and in close cooperation with several leading Norwegian maritime suppliers, including Brunvoll.

‍"This is great news for us. The support means that Hurtigruten Norway’s plans for zero emission vessels on the Norwegian coastline takes large step forward and we are on schedule for our first vessel in 2030" says Hedda Felin, CEO Hurtigruten Norway.

The Sea Zero project is an ambitious development project involving several Norwegian companies cooperating to deliver a complete zero emission vessel.

Brunvoll will contribute with the development of propulsion systems and with decision support systems on efficient and safe operations. 

Brunvoll will receive 5,25MNOK in support for their contribution to the project.

Brunvoll has long traditions for development of new technology and welcome the focus on more zero emission. This is an important project, both to state Norway’s position in ship design, equipment, and building, and for Brunvoll to contribute to a more sustainable future says Knut Andresen EVP Engineering & Product Development at Brunvoll

SINTEF will be a research partner and project manager for the project.

"The development of zero emission vessels is very positive for the climate in itself, but the project will also give great positive effect on the maritime industry in Norway. Development of new green technology will increase competence and improve our export potential for the industry in general and for the partners in the project in particular." says Trond Johnsen, Marketing Director at SINTEF Ocean.

NIT to outfit TT-Line newbuilds at Rauma shipyard

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 03 January 2023 03 January 2023

Tasmanian company TT-Line has ordered two vessels from Rauma Marine Constructions and NIT Naval Interior Team will be executing the projects of NB-6009 and NB-6010 with public and crew spaces.

Total of 4500 m2 per ship will be delivered for these passenger ferries. NIT designs and builds e.g. staircases, restaurants and cinemas for both vessels.

New ships, Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V, will replace the former Finnish-built vessels and will be operating route across Bass Strait.

Construction of the first ship will be completed at the beginning of 2024 and the second in late 2024.

Somec Group signs deliveries to new Asuka III

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 15 December 2022 15 December 2022

A client since 2000, Meyer Werft has contracted SOMEC S.p.A. and OXIN S.r.l. with some of the rigging of Asuka III, a cruise ship of Japan’s large NYK cruise operator, at the Papenburg shipyard in Germany, for a total value of €20.5 million.

SOMEC Navale, leader in marine glazing and naval architectures, will provide the custom design, production and installation of the module systems of the balconies and the sliding doors of the passenger cabins.

OXIN, one of the leading specialists in on-board galley systems, will design and tailor-make the entire supply and installation of the ship’s catering areas, which are spread over various decks for a total of approximately 1500 m2. This project represents the first order commissioned by the German shipyard Meyer Werft to OXIN.

Asuka III is owned by NYK (Nippon Yusen Kabushiki) Cruises, Japan’s largest cruise operator. The ship, which is positioned at the top end of the cruiseliners range, has a gross tonnage of over 50,000 tons, is 228 meters long and 29 meters wide, with a capacity of 744 passengers in 385 cabins as well as a crew of 470.

“These orders demonstrate the Group’s ability to create synergies between sister specialists – all individual excellences able to attract increasingly complex jobs.” underlines Oscar Marchetto, President of SOMEC, “Despite the critical issues of the moment, the naval sector sees good effervescence and the Group proves to be ready to seize the opportunities on offer, anywhere in the world, thanks to the consolidated partnerships with shipyards and the ability to operate internationally “.

Delivery is expected in 2025. This construction will be followed by another option, with delivery expected in 2026. With these new projects, the Group’s order book since the beginning of the year has topped aprox. €251 million.