Products & services

GamePark Promenade repurposes cruise ship basketball courts and open spaces

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 April 2021 20 April 2021

GamePark Promenade, a new entertainment option for cruise lines seeking to repurpose or replace basketball courts or any other open deck space, is being introduced by Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS). “Cruise line entertainment directors can now convert basketball courts into a new multiple-use guest entertainment experience without any new infrastructure,” says Scott Lundmark, AGS president. “This repurposing expands the on-board experience so all guests can enjoy the space previously used by a limited number of people.

“GamePark Promenade fills the need for families to take a break from high action fun and regroup to enjoy quality time together outdoors. A landscaped park-like setting accomplishes this task with paths to access lawn games and benches, while also using those same areas for picnics, group activities or even watching movies on an outdoor screen.”

According to AGS, GamePark Promenade is fabricated using patented, interlocking modular panels and the design can be customized to any space or budget. However, the introductory concept includes six AGS family lawn games; giant checkers/chess board, two bocce courts (or one bocce and one croquet court), one Bamboozle™ Mini Golf (a new family oriented putting game), two bean bag toss games, two Bimini ring toss games, and a practice putting green.

“We anticipate children will ask their parents, ‘Please can we take a walk in the park and play some games?’” says Lundmark.

The AGS design team envisions the open space concept will make it easy to use for other guest activities, depending upon the design, such as Yoga and other health / wellness classes, and children’s story time. The space is also envisioned for group outings, picnics, cocktail parties, weddings, anniversaries and birthday celebrations. The cluster of outdoor games are traditional AGS products already widely in use in the cruise ship industry.

Adventure Golf & Sports (AGS) is a global leader in the design, fabrication and installation of entertainment attractions. Besides offering the widest line of miniature golf products and design services in the world for permanent and portable / modular courses, AGS also provides numerous complementary products:

– Custom modular applications for rooftops and decks
– Multi-use game court systems for bocce ball, croquet, lawn bowling,
– shuffleboard, bean bag toss, Bimini ring toss and other activities
– Golf learning / practice centers, ranging from single golf hitting bays to courts for multiple players
– Putting greens for indoors and outdoors, either permanent or portable
– Pickleball and paddle tennis courts

Intercruises and Vikand to deliver Covid-19 testing solution at cruise terminals

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 18 April 2021 18 April 2021

Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services, an experienced global business offering ground handling and port operations services to the cruise industry, is expanding its collaboration with Vikand Solutions, a global maritime medical operations and healthcare solutions provider. The Global Port Medical Network partnership between the two businesses, first announced in November 2020, will now see them work together to implement efficient Covid-19 testing in cruise terminals.

The Covid-19 Cruise Terminal Testing Solution is an end-to-end, non-invasive testing system for guests, crew and terminal staff, and has the ability to detect the virus in 45 seconds. Comprising individual breathalyser tubes and portable scanning stations, its high throughput Covid-19 testing technology is now available to support the resumption of global cruising and the wider maritime industry. With local presence in ports around the world, Intercruises will help deliver the testing solution by providing the necessary in-terminal management and logistical support.

“We have already seen that the safe return to cruising is possible, enabled by the correct health and safety protocols, including testing. The partnership we have with Vikand and their breakthrough technology will help advance this process and the ongoing resumption of our industry,” said Olga Piqueras, Intercruises Managing Director.

“Intercruises’ global presence and local teams are a critical component in this initiative, enabling us to provide testing that cruise lines, ports and terminal operators can easily implement with minimal investment,” added Damien O’Connor, Vikand Testing Solutions, EVP. “Together we offer tremendous value to the industry by delivering this crucial, emerging healthcare technology. We want to see, and are ensuring, that the many people affected by this pandemic get back to work – be it shipboard or shoreside – while the travel industry continues to work with governments, local authorities, and experts in the healthcare field to implement the most relevant and available solutions. Together, we all safeguard a safe, healthy, and care-free experience for our returning and prospective guests.”

About the technology

Created by BioSafety Technologies and approved by the Conformitè Europëenne (CE), the non-invasive breathalyser technology, which is both scalable and portable, delivers results within 45 seconds.

– Easy-to-use functionality and interface that can be administered by non-medically trained personnel.

– Uses Terahertz (300-3,000GHz) frequencies to detect the presence of Covid-19 by identifying the bio-spectral fingerprints found in the exhaled breath aerosol (EBA) of the individual tested.

– Identifies Covid-19-free (negative) individuals while also detecting the virus in its early stages.

– Trialled on over 10,000 individuals during worldwide pilot program and validated by PCR testing.

– Equivalent results to PCR sensitivity and specificity and may be paired with recognized PCR technologies like Abbot ID Now™.

– Successfully deployed as the current screening process used in the Dominican Republic for flights to the USA, with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.

ABB Azipod electric propulsion marks 30 years of operations

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 April 2021 11 April 2021

From its creation three decades ago to its market leading position in global shipping today, Azipod propulsion has revolutionized marine transport with its unparalleled performance, efficiency, sustainability and reliability.

First seen on the Finnish icegoing vessel Seili in 1991, Azipod electric propulsion has clocked over 20 million running hours at an availability rate of 99.9 percent, while saving about 1,000,000 tons of fuel in the cruise segment alone.

Over three decades, ABB has developed Azipod propulsion to meet varied and ever-changing needs of shipping companies, bringing higher performance for all kinds of vessels. Today, over 25 different vessel types rely on Azipod technology – from cruise ships to cargo carriers, icebreakers, ferries and superyachts. In total, ABB has sold over 700 Azipod units over the course of 30 years.

“ABB has played a pioneering role in electric transportation for more than a century. The launch of the Azipod technology in 1991 marked a new era in ship propulsion and has firmly established ABB’s contribution to reducing the environmental impact of the maritime industry. I am convinced that this state-of-the-art technology will continue to play a major part in supporting our role as a front runner in sustainable transportation,” said Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB.

Azipod propulsion has set numerous records in the shipping industry, from powering the largest cruise vessels to enabling the first crossings of the Northern Sea Route for tankers without icebreaker assistance.

“Azipod technology will help any vessel type cut cost and carbon footprint, both because it is a superior propulsion solution and because it further improves the greater efficiency inherent in electric propulsion,” said Juha Koskela, Division President, ABB Marine & Ports. “An independent study in 2019 showed that Azipod propulsion could help ferry owners save $1.7 million in annual fuel costs per vessel while cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 10,000 tons. With International Maritime Organization’s goal to halve greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2050, I am confident that Azipod propulsion will be driving sustainable shipping in 30 years’ time, and beyond.”

With the electric drive motor housed within a pod outside the ship hull, the Azipod system can rotate 360 degrees, increasing maneuverability and allowing even the largest vessels to dock in harbors where turning circles are restricted. Crucially, Azipod® propulsion also improves operating efficiency, boosting a ship’s hydrodynamic performance and cutting fuel consumption by up to 20 percent when compared with a traditional shaftline setup. Space saved by locating the motor outside the ship allows for more flexible design and frees up space for cabins, cargo or other features.

Azipod propulsion was initially designed as a future-proof system able to adapt to virtually any energy source. With the electric drive motor at its core, the Azipod® system can be powered by electricity drawn from different energy sources including batteries and fuel cells, and shipowners can add or exchange power sources as they evolve. Electrical power minimizes engine noise and vibration as well, ensuring a smoother, quieter ride.

An integral part of the vessel’s overall electrical propulsion setup, the Azipod technology seamlessly integrates with power systems and equipment on board. ABB’s Propulsion Control System ensures communication with onboard systems, while ABB’s Power and Energy Management System (PEMS) controls the overall power distribution. The combination of the Azipod® system and ABB’s electric propulsion setup makes it possible to configure the equipment for optimized performance, resulting in increased efficiency and lower emissions.

In line with ABB Marine & Ports ‘Electric. Digital. Connected.’ approach that envisages shipping’s digital and connected future, vessels equipped with Azipod propulsion have the capability to leverage the digital ABB Ability™ Collaborative Operations infrastructure and centers for predictive maintenance and remote technical support.

Azipod unit power ranges from 1MW to 22MW, with different models delivered from two Finnish plants and one in Shanghai. Successive generations have been refined for enhanced hydrodynamics, space efficiency and structural strength, and for easier installation and maintenance. Up to 95 percent of the material used in the production of Azipod units is recyclable, testimony to the sustainable lifecycle perspective that guides the development and application of this remarkable technology.

Norwegian ferry operator Fjord Line extends cooperation with Telenor

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 14 April 2021 14 April 2021

Fjord Line is continuing its successful strategic partnership with Telenor Maritime. Today, they are extending the agreement for the entire fleet for onboard mobile services by five new years. It will be five exciting years of developing and enabling new digital technologies, giving the company more business opportunities and better passenger experience on board all four ships included in the agreement.

Speed is a strong competitive factor in the ferry business, as it is in the telecommunication industry. When Fjord Line soon puts its new super-fast catamaran FSTR into ordinary scheduled traffic between Kristiansand and Hirtshals, Tele- nor Maritime will deliver 3G/4G mobile systems. The vessel is fitted with high quality communication technology, ensuring all users a fast and reliable mobile connectivity. Telenor Maritime’s solutions provide passengers and crew with the same opportunities and user experience at sea as expected on land.

Though the cost of maritime mobile usage has received a lot of negative me-dia attention in the past, roaming prices have been sharply reduced in recent years and bill shocks are now history. Most of the Nordic countries’ major mobile operators offer maritime roaming packages with complete control on cost and usage. The result is control and cost predictability for the end customers.

Aurora Botnia to utilise evacuation systems instead of lifeboats

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 31 March 2021 31 March 2021

Rauma Marine Constructions’ shipyard in Rauma is currently constructing Wasaline’s new car and passenger ferry Aurora Botnia. Instead of lifeboats, the ship safety setup will be based on two marine evacuation systems supplied by Viking Life-Saving Equipment. In case of an emergency, the systems can be deployed in just 90 seconds and save more than 1,100 lives in less than 30 minutes. One of the evacuation systems was successfully tested at the shipyard in Rauma on Wednesday, March 24.

The construction of the car and passenger ferry Aurora Botnia is at a high level of activity at Rauma Marine Constructions’ shipyard in Rauma.

Instead of lifeboats, Aurora Botnia will utilise two evacuation systems as safety equipment, that can be launched from the deck of the ship. The systems are based on an evacuation chute and an automatically inflatable life raft. Once the life raft has been deployed, evacuating passengers can quickly slide to safety through the evacuation chute.

Compared to a lifeboat, a marine evacuation system has many advantages: it takes up little space, it can be deployed in a very short time, it has a high capacity, and it enables quick rescue operations.

“A ship the size of Aurora Botnia would need about six to eight traditional lifeboats. One lifeboat would accommodate a maximum of 150 passengers and its deployment would take about 10 minutes and require the assistance of four people. Only two evacuation systems are needed on board and it only takes about 90 seconds for one to two people to deploy one system. Aurora Botnia is the first Finnish passenger ship to completely replace lifeboats with evacuation systems”, says Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director of Wasaline.

One of the ship’s evacuation systems was successfully tested on Wednesday, March 24, at RMC’s shipyard in Rauma.

“Testing went well and we detected no technical issues. Some 20 people were rescued very quickly with the use of the system”, says Johanna Kaijo, Project Manager of Aurora Botnia at Rauma Marine Constructions.

Aurora Botnia, which will be completed this spring, will operate a route between the Finnish city of Vaasa and the Swedish city of Umeå. The ship will be the most environmentally friendly car and passenger ferry in the world.

A video from the marine evacuation system test can be viewed here: