Products & services

Bureau Veritas certifies Ponant's ship with underwater noise rating

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 19 December 2020 19 December 2020

Le Jacques-Cartier, the latest sister ship in the Ponant Explorer series, is awarded with the Underwater Radiated Noise – Controlled rating issued by Bureau Veritas, the world leader is testing, inspection and certification services. Le Jacques-Cartier is one of the few cruise ships to receive this certification, reinforcing Ponant’s commitment to environmental conservation and the state-of-the-art design of the Ponant Explorer series.

Bureau Veritas has distinguished an underwater noise rating system measuring the acoustic sound signature, or sound radiation levels, of ships. The company evaluates the noise level of the ship compared to the noise threshold of the marine fauna in order to manage and mitigate the environmental impact. The sound tests were conducted on Le Jacques-Cartier by Bureau Veritas and acoustic specialists Quiet Oceans in September off the coast of Morgat, in the Gulf of Morbihan, using a measurement buoy with three hydrophones.

"Our approach promotes reliable data through a holistic and transparent process," says Eric Baudin, Head of the Measurement Department at Bureau Veritas. "The measurements take into account the environment in which they were carried out, allowing for a measurement specific to the vessel."

The rating is awarded for a period of five years at a maximum speed of 13 knots. This complements the Comfort 1 certification already issued by Bureau Veritas to the entire Ponant fleet, guaranteeing the lowest possible noise impact level.

Ponant continues to equip its fleet with the latest green technologies in order to limit underwater noise pollution. In 2017, the company supported the ECHO program, an initiative taken by the Port of Vancouver, where ships deliberately reduced speed in a key feeding area for whales in order to reduce underwater noise. Since then, Ponant has extended these measures, limiting the average speed of all its vessels to 10 knots, regardless of the navigation zone, in order to protect underwater fauna. Ponant has also contributed to the European collaborative research project AQUO, which studies the modeling of underwater noise. The study highlights the impact of noise radiation linked to maritime transport on wildlife and has notably published recommendations for optimizing the construction of future ships. This contribution continues with PIAQUO, an implementation project using the AQUO tools and approach.

NCLH to install AtmosAir Solutions’ system on its ships

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 08 December 2020 08 December 2020

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) has announced a partnership with AtmosAir Solutions to install continuous disinfection air purification systems across its 28 ship fleet for its three brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

The new air filtration system technology will feature continuous active COVID disinfection through bi-polar ionization in the air and on surfaces, an all-natural solution with no harmful chemicals, radiations or by-products.

One of the advantages of the bi-polar ionization process is that it allows air purification to occur within the desired space, treating a larger volume of air, instead of relying on contaminants passing through the air handler unit to be cleaned.

“Tests performed by Microchem Laboratory, one of the world’s preeminent laboratories for testing EPA- and FDA-registered sanitizing products, confirmed that the presence of coronavirus was reduced by 99.92% within 30 minutes of exposure to AtmosAir,” the company said in a statement.

PrimeServ to retrofit SCR system for German cruise ship

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 15 December 2020 15 December 2020

MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division in Augsburg, Germany– MAN PrimeServ Augsburg – has developed an SCR solution that will be retrofitted aboard the Amadea a cruise ship chartered by Phoenix Reisen GmbH Bonn (Germany) and managed by BSM Cruise Services. Also known as ‘Das Traumschiff’, the Amadea is well-known in Germany as the main filming set for a very popular television series.

The retrofit devised by MAN PrimeServ Augsburg calls for the integration of two of MAN’s SCR systems, one each into both of the Amadea’s four-stroke MAN 7L58/64 propulsion-engines, to ensure maximum performance. Installation will begin in September 2021.

The retrofit reflects a general desire by Phoenix to enhance its environmental friendliness and, more immediately, will enable the vessel to meet emission standards in the key Norwegian Heritage Fjord market. For the project, MAN PrimeServ prioritised keeping hazardous emissions to a minimum while maintaining engine performance and propulsion efficiency.

Alexander Schäfer, Head of MAN PrimeServ Turbocharger & Exhaust Gas Treatment said: “The concept of clean cruising is a major, coming trend within the cruise industry and the Amadea therefore runs on high-quality marine diesel-oil alone. With our SCR solution, Phoenix and BSM are establishing themselves as trailblazers within the segment in terms of emission reduction. It is always a pleasure to be part of something extraordinary that benefits the environment.”

Schäfer added: “We are currently experiencing an increasing number of requests from cruise and ferry companies that want to improve their green credentials and who desire to become sustainable without the need for legislation. We want these companies to know that we can support them, regardless of whether they intend to enter the Norwegian Heritage Fjords or not.”

MAN PrimeServ Augsburg has previously retrofitted the Amadea’s turbochargers – in the process improving engine efficiency and significantly reducing CO2 emissions – and also introduced MGO instead of HFO injection nozzles in order to minimise black-carbon emissions. The combined work carried out on the vessel reflects MAN Energy Solutions’ desire to increasingly become a supplier of complete propulsion solutions.

The MAN SCR solution will bring the Amadea’s engines from Tier 0 status to Tier III emission level, and will reduce NOx emissions by 90%, equivalent to savings of 600 tons per annum. MAN’s SCR system is the greenest solution available on the market with the highest operational readiness and safety: the SCR will be available from just 15% engine load, enabling clean operation, also during slow-sailing in the fjords as well as close to port and populated areas.

The fully modular SCR solution will be integrated into the Amadea’s engine-control system. With its closed-loop system and a weather station that uses environmental data, the NOx-reduction rate is maximised and ammonia-slip minimised to just 10 ppm, comparable to that of a car. Low ammonia slip is not just good because ammonia is a greenhouse gas and affects the climate, but also because it reduces urea consumption, enabling the urea-tank size to be reduced.

A feasibility study run by MAN PrimeServ at the beginning of the project confirmed the suitability of the compact, modular SCR system for the limited space available aboard the vessel. Its integration into the narrow funnel is only possible due to the special 87cpsi honeycombs and their high reactivity in a two-layer slim reactor design.

VIKING spearheads testing of life-saving marine firefighting foam

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 07 December 2020 07 December 2020

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment is driving more investment into its marine fire service business. The inauguration of VIKING’s Foam Lab Odense, which specializes in the testing of a vessel’s reserves of firefighting foam, intensifies the company’s focus on marine fire service, a segment earmarked for significant growth in the coming years.

“Our ambition is to cover all aspects of marine firefighting equipment, and our new state-of-the-art laboratory puts us on the global map in this segment, too. Our class approvals comply with IMO regulations for testing all foam types, and we expect to receive DANAK accreditation in the course of 2021 as the ultimate stamp of approval for our work,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen, head of VIKING’s activities in and around the Baltic region.

If a vessel’s foam is over three years old, it is mandatory for the vessel to undergo an annual foam test at a reputable laboratory. VIKING can offer a simple, user-friendly package solution, whereby shipowners purchase a test kit comprising a container for collecting a foam sample, instructions on how to take the sample on board and a prepaid shipping label. When the foam is received at the lab, it is subjected to a barrage of tests to establish degree of expansion, drainage time, pH value, density and contamination, to ensure - among other things - that the foam will effectively extinguish a fire. A service check list and data are saved electronically via an iPad, and a certificate is issued to verify completion of the test. This ensures traceability and enables monitoring of the condition of the foam.

Experienced specialist at the helm

There are two specialists at the foam lab, both able to perform a variety of tests, including low and high expansion tests, chemical resistance tests, small scale fire tests and conductivity tests. When foam samples are received, they are heat-treated for 24 hours before being mixed with saline solution and subjected to a meticulous testing program, defined according to current IMO standards.

“VIKING’s Marine Fire Service strategy will initially handle more than 1,000 foam samples a year, which we’ll receive directly from global shipowners and our servicing stations,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen.

Ove Andersen joined VIKING in mid-May to head Foam Lab Odense. He is a qualified marine engineer and has extensive experience, gained from 15 years as an operations manager in the district heating sector and subsequently from his three years at the DFL fire testing laboratory in Svendborg, Denmark. He is wholly familiar with international test standards and quality management systems, including IMO1312, IMO670, other regulations for foam testing and requirements for test equipment.

“The thought of building something from scratch at VIKING appealed to me. There are relatively few, yet important, standards for this segment, and from my background in the fire sector, I can say that it’s vital for vessels to have good quality foam on board – particularly foam that’s expandable and has adequate drainage time. The same applies here as to other VIKING products: human lives are at stake,” says Ove Andersen.

Strong position in the face of global competition

VIKING has hired Lone Friis, who holds a bachelor’s degree in laboratory, food and process technology, to assist at the foam lab. The new team of two has recently taken delivery of a sophisticated testing device, which optically reads drainage time and ensures a consistent test process.

“We’re a global player with the support of a strong network, and our foam lab will strengthen our maritime customers’ perception of us as a competent partner and full-service supplier to the marine fire service segment, too,” says Anders Nørgaard Lauridsen.

Marine fire service is often sourced as part of VIKING’s multi-annual service contract for maritime operators, the VIKING Shipowner Agreement (SOA), and is also offered to the oil and gas industry as part of our Offshore Service Agreement (OSA). Foam analysis is a naturally intergrable part of both of these agreement concepts.