Products & services

StraitNZ Bluebridge opts for Hogia Ferry Systems

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 14 December 2022 14 December 2022

New Zealand ferry operator StraitNZ Bluebridge (Bluebridge) has reached an agreement with Hogia Ferry Systems for delivery and implementation of their standard reservation software BOOKIT.

Bluebridge operates two ropax ferries between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island, across Cook Strait.

“As we continue to grow and our customers’ expectations change, we recognized the need for a system that could scale and support our aspirations. Following an extensive process evaluating several reservation system products, it became clear that Hogia Ferry Systems and their solution BOOKIT provided the option we were looking for. This is a big project for Bluebridge and we’re incredibly excited about the opportunities that BOOKIT will deliver us to improve our customer offering”, says Will Dady, General Manager Digital and Customer Experience.

“Our BOOKIT software should be a very good fit for Bluebridge and I believe the 17,000 kilometer distance, and the up to 11 hour time difference, will be the primary challenge for both sides to master. So far during the process we have managed to bridge this gap smoothly and I hope we can keep it up. With the borders now open it’s been great for us to meet the Bluebridge team in person!” says Niclas Blomstrom, Managing Director at Hogia Ferry Systems. “We are needless to say honored and very grateful for getting this opportunity and to expand our BOOKIT family to also include Bluebridge and New Zealand," he continues.

Wärtsilä teams up with start up Hycamite to produce hydrogen from methane

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 28 November 2022 28 November 2022

The technology group Wärtsilä has entered into a joint development agreement with Hycamite TCD Technologies, a privately-owned Finnish company specialising in the development of a pioneering technology for producing clean hydrogen and solid carbon from methane. The two companies will work together to enable cost-effective production of hydrogen from LNG onboard marine vessels. The concept design will be ready by mid 2023 and the prototype testing unit will be ready during the second half of 2024.

The concept will allow the existing LNG infrastructure to be utilised and enable production of hydrogen onboard in combination with Wärtsilä's LNGPac Fuel Gas Supply System. By producing hydrogen onboard and blending it with LNG, the current range of fuel flexible Wärtsilä dual-fuel (DF) engines can reduce the vessel’s overall carbon dioxide and methane slip emissions. Alternatively, the hydrogen can also be used in fuel cells onboard.

The by-product from the process is solid carbon that, unlike conventional technologies which produce carbon-dioxide (CO2) as a by-product, can more easily be stored and managed onboard. The carbon produced consists of high-grade allotropes, like industrial graphite and carbon nanotubes, thereby offering a possible additional revenue stream.

“We are investing in the development of viable future marine fuel technologies and solutions that can accelerate the efforts to decarbonise shipping operations. This collaboration with Hycamite is an important step forward towards meeting our corporate targets. Our gas engines can already operate with mixtures of hydrogen and LNG. The ability to produce the H2 onboard opens up exciting new opportunities. This solution overcomes the lack of an existing hydrogen supply infrastructure. It also supports reducing the safety risks around storing and handling of liquid hydrogen and enables a gradual decrease of the vessels’ environmental impact,” says Mathias Jansson, Director, Fuel Gas Supply Systems, Wärtsilä.

“We are delighted to be partnering with an established technology leader such as Wärtsilä. They bring a vast depth of knowledge and experience in marine fuel gas supply systems, and by working together, we can make the availability and onboard storage of hydrogen a realistic option for the marine industry,” says Laura Rahikka, founder and CEO of Hycamite.

The technology can in principle be applied for all vessels operating with LNG fuel. When using bioLNG, this solution enables even power generation on board ships with a negative carbon footprint.

BLRT Grupp building floating dock for use in Tallinn

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 November 2022 22 November 2022

A steel-cutting ceremony was held to mark the start of the construction of a floating dock for BLRT Grupp’s shipyard in Tallinn.

The 180-metre-long, 30-metre-wide, 10,000 tons lifting capacity dock is currently being constructed at Hat-San Shipyard in Turkey. The dock is scheduled to be completed in spring 2024.

The new dock will replace the existing one – 155 m long and 27 m wide – and will be able to accommodate Handysize vessels in addition to all the other cargo carriers currently welcomed at the shipyard.

Over 270 ships a year are repaired, upgraded and maintained at BLRT Grupp’s ship repair yards in Estonia, Lithuania and Finland. The acquisition of the new dock will work towards expanding the capacity of Tallinn Shipyard by opening the possibility to accommodate larger vessels. Furthermore, ships calling at Estonian ports, which previously had to turn to other shipyards of the holding due to a lack of technical capabilities at Tallinn Shipyard, will now be able to come there.

“The new dock construction is yet another step of the investment programme for the ship repair segment of the industrial holding aimed at a significant expansion of the facilities and resources made available to ship owners at our shipyards. Over the last five years, we have invested more than 75 million euros into that segment, and we have every intention to proceed with the investments in the future,” commented Veronika Ivanovskaja, a member of the BLRT Grupp Board.

The construction agreement for the new dock was signed in the late summer of 2022.

BLRT Grupp is one the largest industrial holdings in the Baltic region. The group operates Tallinn Shipyard in Estonia, Western Shiprepair in Lithuania and Turku Repair Yad in Finland, providing comprehensive 24/7 vessel repair and upgrade services.

Deltamarin receives 3D model-based DNV approval

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 24 November 2022 24 November 2022

Deltamarin, DNV and AVEVA are very pleased to announce a strengthened collaboration following today’s approval from DNV for a 3D model used as part of the classification material prepared for Höegh Autoliners' Aurora Class PCTCs.

The three companies have been cooperating on streamlining the approval processes of classification materials from drawings to 3D models using the new Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) standard. Deltamarin, DNV and AVEVA continue to combine their expertise to take the next big step towards the future of design processes.

Deltamarin completed part of the steel design work for Höegh Autoliner’s Aurora Class PCTCs with the use of AVEVA’s new E3D software and in close collaboration with AVEVA’s skilled Marine team. E3D is the next generation design software which has OCX export capability together with other innovative features.

OCX is a new standard for 3D model-based class approval with the purpose of breaking the barriers between different design and software platforms to enable the seamless exchange of idealised geometry and metadata between them. The OCX 3D model can replace the traditional 2D structure drawings, thereby saving time for Deltamarin and allowing DNV to respond more quickly to designer’s needs. The OCX standard is the result of the joint industry project ‘Approved (2016-2020)’ headed by DNV. The standard is now jointly owned and managed by the OCX Consortium established in 2021 (https://3docx.org). This consortium has brought together more than 30 industry leaders to jointly promote and maintain the standard. The members consist of all the major classification societies, significant CAD vendors and several designers and yards.

Seatrade Cruise Global launches two-day experience to the food & beverage community

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 17 November 2022 17 November 2022

Seatrade Cruise is debuting F&B@Sea, an immersive two-day experience dedicated to the intersection of the cruise and food and beverage industries, 28-29 March 2023 at Port Everglades, Terminal 2. The inaugural event, an extension of Seatrade Cruise Global, will offer cruise and culinary professionals the opportunity to tap into emerging trends and new offerings through immersive experiences, including a marketplace of curated vendors, dynamic live demos by top chefs and mixologists, and interactive content sessions featuring industry leaders.

“Extensive research by the Seatrade Cruise team identified the desire and demand for culinary-focused programming within the cruise community,” says Mary Bond, Group Director for Seatrade Cruise. “F&B@Sea aims to close the gap with vendor showcases, networking and live demonstrations while bringing together cruise line executives and suppliers to meet, learn and discuss challenges, opportunities and expand horizons.”

The global food and beverage market is expected to be worth $6.4 trillion by end of 2022 and $8.9 trillion by 2026, with six leading cruise lines accounting for over $2 billion in food and beverage annually, according to research by Seatrade Cruise. As cruise passenger bookings exceed 2019 levels and vessel supply chains grow increasingly complex, cruise lines are hungrier than ever for partners who can meet their unique needs and keep pace with the market’s rapid growth.

“There’s so much opportunity across the sector for both cruise lines and suppliers to creatively push the envelope. I’m thrilled to be involved with the inaugural F&B@Sea event because Seatrade Cruise has proved they understand how F&B needs are rapidly changing,” says Rick Welch, CFBE, President for RMW Global Consulting. “The team is up to the task of bringing together cruise executives and suppliers to discuss key trends and industry challenges and opportunities while enjoying experiential offerings in a setting focused on the critical onboard food and beverage delivery."

F&B@Sea caters to the industry’s demand for a South Florida-based gathering dedicated to connecting cruise lines with innovative suppliers at the convergence of food and beverage, entertainment, technology and sustainability. The event was developed in close consultation with cruise lines, food and beverage stakeholders, and culinary leaders with support from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and industry consulting leader MarkeTeam.

"Seatrade’s expansion to include food and beverage represents a huge win for all F&B professionals in the cruise sector. Seatrade is an inspiration—and F&B@Sea will undoubtedly present a fantastic forum showcasing innovative trends in F&B. This premiere promises to serve up a generous helping of inspiration to bring our F&B outputs to the next level and new ideas to address the supplier-base challenges unique to our industry," Adds Rudi Sodamin, Master Chef, Holland America Line & Head of Culinary Arts, Princess Cruises

Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s largest annual cruise conference, will take place in tandem with F&B@Sea at the newly renovated Broward County Convention Center in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 27-30 March 2023. The four-day conference plans to host more than 8,000 attendees across the industry, including cruise professionals, thought leaders and innovators.