Products & services

New TECO 2030 concept enables ships to sail into port emissions-free

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 02 June 2021 02 June 2021

TECO 2030 ASA has today launched its Zero Emissions Operation Concept, which will enable ships to sail in and out of ports emissions-free by exchanging one or more of their engines with a TECO Marine Fuel Cell.

“At TECO 2030, we are working to make the shipping industry more climate friendly, and we are doing this by developing the engine of tomorrow,” says Tore Enger, CEO and founder of TECO 2030 ASA.

“With our fuel cell technology, ships can operate emissions-free, both on the whole journey, or on just shorter distances, such as when sailing in and out of ports, and when staying in them,” he says.

The TECO 2030 Zero Emissions Operation Concept will make it possible for vessels operating in different countries, such as cruise ships and ferries, to comply with any emissions regulations they may encounter when crossing national borders.

Stricter regulation

Many governments are taking concrete action to lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as by introducing laws that ban ships running on fossil fuels from operating in its waters.

This is for example the case in Norway, where by 2026, only cruise ships and ferries operating on zero emission will be allowed entry into several of the Norwegian fjords.

“To be able to sail in waters where such restrictions are in place, ship-owners can replace one or more of their ships’ engines with a TECO Marine Fuel Cell. You will then have the engine of the future and be able to cruise in and out of ports while emitting nothing but water and warm air,” says Enger.

The engine of tomorrow

TECO 2030 can deliver hydrogen fuel cell stacks ranging in size between 400 kW to 25 MW, meaning they can ensure steady operation regardless of the size of the engine they replace.

Hydrogen fuel cells are like batteries that do not need to be charged. They produce electricity and heat, and function almost the same way as normal combustion engines but use hydrogen instead of traditional fossil fuels such as diesel and petrol.

When using hydrogen produced from renewable energy – so-called green hydrogen – ships can cut their greenhouse gas emissions to zero, as hydrogen only emits water vapour and warm air. This means that ships can become emissions-free by switching from fossil fuels to green hydrogen.

Fincantieri SI and Faist Group form lithium-ion battery venture

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 28 May 2021 28 May 2021

Fincantieri SI, a company in the Fincantieri group and a leader in the integration of electric propulsion systems and complex electromechanical systems in the marine and land segment, and Faist Electronics, a Faist Group company, have founded Power4Future, a joint venture dedicated to the production of lithium-ion batteries.

These are considered fundamental in many industrial market segments and a source of competitive advantage for those companies and countries that own this technology.

The Faist Group is specialised in the development and supply of complete energy storage systems, including control and power electronic devices.

The batteries produced by Power4Future will furthermore contribute enormously towards achieving the decarbonization goals underlying the national Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which has set specific goals and priorities to make the Italian ports and transportation in general, more green.

The industrial partnership envisages the construction of a facility to produce batteries, followed by the design, assembly, marketing and after-sales services for modules and battery packs, including control devices such as battery management systems (BMS) and ancillary systems (such as fire protection and air conditioning for complete battery stationary systems): the expected cumulative production exceeds 2 GWh in 5 years.

Power4Future will present itself as a reference partner in several markets: automotive (with particular reference to commercial vehicles), telecommunication and industrial (i.e. material handling machines), where Faist Electronics is already present, but also in the marine and land-based energy storage applications, where Fincantieri SI is well established.

Gianfranco Natali, President and founder of FAIST Group, said: “We are proud of this partnership with Fincantieri, the symbol of the Italian shipbuilding excellence and more”. Natali added: “In a “green” energy setting, lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems will be the new “fuel tank” for the maritime and land mobility of the future.”

“Together with Fincantieri, this is the vision that guided us towards creating Power4Future, a name that reveals our commitment to future generations to do our best for a completely “green” future. At Faist, we see the new production company, Power4Future, as a convergence of internationally unparalleled technological knowhow and experience, capable of ensuring a successful leading position in the production of lithium-ion batteries and energy storage systems for various applications”.

Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri, commented: “Future environmental protection regulations will drive ship owners to adopt new alternative solutions to those currently based on internal combustion engines, in order to produce and use energy. Faced with the need for greater storage capacity, lithium-ion batteries today are the only solution that is both technically and economically sustainable for full electric vessels, which currently makes them one of the most important assets not only for the naval industry, but also for all the other sectors where we will be able to operate with this new company”.

Fincantieri and Comau plan to develop robotized welding solutions

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 21 May 2021 21 May 2021

Fincantieri and Comau, two Italian excellences and world leaders in their respective reference markets, signed a letter of intent to develop prototypes of robotized steel welding solutions and the resulting construction of series of machines, to be implemented at first in Fincantieri shipyards.

The first joint project, of which the operating agreement is currently underway and related tests are scheduled at the Fincantieri shipyards by the first half of the year 2022, will involve a welding robot vehicle consisting of an anthropomorphic welding robot and a remote control tracked vehicle.

Fincantieri and Comau will be co-owners of the knowhow and intellectual property generated while developing the new concept design. At a later stage, they will explore the possibility of marketing this kind of welding product not only in the shipbuilding industry, but also in relevant business segments, such as the production of large size steel products for infrastructure and special works (e.g. continuous structures for suspension bridges, structures for large size hoisting systems, products for special constructions).

Moreover, the companies agreed to continue considering and examining new opportunities to create highly innovative solutions and contents within the broader scope of a Digital Factory.

Paolo Carmassi, CEO of Comau commented: “Comau has always been committed to the design and development of cutting-edge processes and technologies that allow us to provide our customers and partners with unique solutions that meet the challenges of an ever-changing market. The collaboration with Fincantieri gives us the opportunity to join forces with a leading company on an innovative project that aims to extend the benefits of automation and robotics to new sectors."

Fincantieri General Manager, Fabio Gallia,said: “This partnership is an important innovation for the shipbuilding industry. Apart from improving the safety of workers and their ergonomic working conditions, these solutions will enable great progress in pursuing the competitiveness of our production system. Moreover, looking to the future, the possibility of developing projects together with Comau is a great opportunity to further broaden the Group’s range of competencies."

Landry & Kling facilitates cruise ferry accommodation for 1,000 police officers and staff during G7 Summit

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 28 May 2021 28 May 2021

Landry & Kling Global Cruise Services, leaders in sourcing and logistics for vessel charters, floating accommodations and cruise events worldwide, has brokered the cruise ferry Silja Europa, in partnership with Bibby Marine UK, to serve as housing for 1,000 of the estimated 6,500 police officers tasked with providing security for the high-profile leaders attending the 2021 G7 Summit scheduled for June 11-13 in Carbis Bay, Cornwall.

This is the first in person meeting of the G7 in two years and is the largest police operation in England this year. Cornwall is a small coastal County known for its natural beauty. “Bringing in an accommodation ship is an ideal option for solving the additional housing needs of this summit,” said Joyce Landry, CEO Landry & Kling. “We can provide large scale accommodations and critically needed facilities, cost effectively, and with little to no impact on the environment or the local infrastructure. The vessel offers hotel grade accommodations and food service and will keep the security services nearby and in close communication.”

During the G7 event, the vessel’s bars, nightclub, spa and hairdressers will be closed, and no alcohol will be served or sold onboard.

The 60,000 gross ton Silja Europa, which is operated by Estonia-based Tallink Grupp, will reposition from Estonia in advance of the summit to be docked in Falmouth. For ten days, the ship, one of the largest and most popular passenger ferries sailing the Baltic region, will serve as a floating hotel and meeting space for the policing operation.

Landry & Kling is involved with logistics for the project, including coordination with Falmouth Port, the ship, port agent, and UK Port Health. The myriad details for this large-scale project were executed within a compressed timeline of less than four weeks. “Preparations, negotiations and arrangements that normally take a year or longer to complete were handled in 28 days,” says Landry. “A record for a project of this size.”

Silja Europa is one of the first ships to operate in the UK since the pandemic and Landry stresses that all parties are working closely with Port Health and Public Health UK to ensure compliance with Covid protocols, including social distancing. “The ship has space for more than 3,000 guests, but we are housing around 1,000 police officers and staff.”

Passenger ships, accommodation barges and other seagoing vessels present a turnkey solution to the challenge of housing workers and teams of people. They have been especially useful during the Covid pandemic for projects such as mining, construction, offshore oil & gas, windfarms, film production, floating hospitals, dormitories, and more. They are easily mobilized, can be docked or anchored offshore in most coastal areas and are quickly scalable. With everything, including dining and meeting facilities, housekeeping services and other amenities in place, floating accommodations can be fully functional almost immediately. Barges can also be anchored in major inland waterways.

Simwave and Vikand launch Maritime School of Medicine & Public Health

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 May 2021 12 May 2021

Simwave – a recognized global leader in maritime training and assessment offering a highly specialized knowledge center for the maritime industry – has teamed up with Vikand – a global leader in maritime and remote medical operations and healthcare solutions – to create the world’s first Maritime School of Medicine & Public Health. Wide reaching, it includes a customized Infectious Diseases Control Officer Training Program to meet the industry demand for enhanced onboard safety due to the Covid pandemic.

“Covid-19 has underscored the vital role of public health, medical experience and knowledge to ensure a safe maritime work environment. Together with Simwave, Vikand is launching a purpose-built educational curriculum that delivers the latest evidence-based knowledge in infection prevention and control,” says Peter Hult, Vikand CEO. “We believe a rigorous maritime-adapted curriculum will prepare cruise, yacht, commercial shipping, river and off-shore energy sectors for future and ongoing public health challenges,” he continues.

Marcel Kind, Simwave CEO, comments, “This partnership brings medical and public health training to shipping operators everywhere. The objective of the curriculum is to familiarize participants with medical and public health challenges and provide them with the right knowledge, skills and attitude.”

“Simwave’s initiative with Vikand builds upon their medical and public health experience and expertise; together we’re building a state of the art medical and public health training module which will offer on-line and in-person curriculums,” Marcel continues.

“During 2021, The Vikand School of Maritime Medicine & Public Health, powered by Simwave, launches. Our corresponding goals are to provide guidance and expertise to help maritime industries prevent the transmission of diseases, including Covid-19, to develop and to enhance training to re-focus protocols and programs, and, above all, to foster leadership through expertise in infection prevention and control. We are excited and privileged to work together with Marcel and his team to offer this program, and for all of us, together, to be better prepared for future challenges,” concludes Peter Hult.