Products & services

MCP installs 3G mobile system on board Sun Princess

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 09 September 2013 09 September 2013

Marine Communication Partners (MCP), a leading global on-board communications partner announced today that the Princess Cruises ship - Sun Princess - is only the second cruise ship in the world to offer their passengers 3G mobile communication services at sea, MCP said in a statement.

The California based cruise operator launched 3G on their vessel the Sun Princess at the end of May this year. This new service has provided the ships passengers and crew with MCP’s latest mobile communication technology to access data services and improve the user-experience on-board.

The Sun Princess is now the second cruise vessel in the world to provide this technology at sea (AIDAStella with Princess’ sister brand AIDA Cruises having launched the service a few weeks earlier).

The Sun Princess that was built in 1995 has just finished her first Japan-based cruise program followed by a $30 million revitalizing dry-dock in Singapore before continuing on to other Asian and Australia itineraries for the duration of 2013.

“The most important thing for us is to meet the needs of our customer’s passengers and ensure that their cruise experience is fulfilling and satisfying at all levels – especially when it comes to keeping in touch with friends and family onshore and accessing the mobile internet in their usual way” says Fred Sorensen, Managing Director of MCP Inc. “MCP delivers innovative passenger-focused communication solutions and is actively developing new digital experience services to enrich the guest experience and increase satisfaction levels.”

“For MCP it is important to deliver solutions that take advantage of the latest, smartest technologies in order to move forward into the future and Princess Cruises shares the same mind-set”, says Eivind Madsen, CEO, MCP.” We are very excited to have been chosen by Princess Cruises to take this next step in the mobile revolution at sea – together”.

INTERSCHALT teams up with MTN Communications

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 31 August 2013 31 August 2013

The shipping software and service provider INTERSCHALT maritime systems AG has chosen MTN Communications (MTN) to deliver VSAT communications services enabling special software solutions and services to its customers. MTN will provide the global satellite and network infrastructure through which INTERSCHALT will provide customer-specific solutions focusing on efficiency and safety in fleet management and vessel monitoring. "By combining MTN's redundant and globally accessible network of C and Ku band excellent support available 24/7 on both sides and our bespoke solutions, we will be able to offer our customers a unique service", says INTERSCHALT CEO Robert Gärtner.

Global communications delivered to vessels located around the world will be made possible through MTN's global C- and Ku-band network - providing seamless coverage. With MTN service INTERSCHALT's fleet solution will deliver access to the Internet for ships, the transmission of telephone calls, TV and (Internet) radio programs, e-mail traffic and the transmission of data information from Voyage Data Recorders (VDRs) as well as INTERSCHALT's modular solutions for fleet management or vessel monitoring - from the MACS3 loading computer with Trim module, through software solutions Bluefleet and Bluetracker to a complete Fleet Operation Center. As such, INTERSCHALT provides shipowners with a service for monitoring their complete fleet, i.e. not just being able to see cargo statuses and fuel consumption data at a glance, but also being able to detect hazardous situations early on.

Detecting hazards and acting quickly to prevent them

The Fleet Operation Center is a centralized onshore control station, which captures the real-time status of each and every ship in the fleet, including the actual traffic situation. Using this information, the control center can react to safety-related situations and take the necessary measures. Risks are identified early on and hazards are avoided before any accidents can occur.

Monitoring to increase efficiency and reduce costs

Furthermore, the MTN service enables electronic sea charts to be transmitted as a matter of priority and with assured quality, and Bluefleet and Bluetracker mean that the performance of every ship can be monitored and logged from onshore. The data gathered enables shipowners to draw up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and fleet benchmarks. In addition, data from the loading computer and INTERSCHALT's trim optimization module (TROP) can be transmitted. "Shipowners have full control at all times. They can optimize their fleet's efficiency and hence reduce costs due to the availability of performance information in real time", says Robert Gärtner in relation to this additional benefit.

Crew welfare

Crew welfare, i.e. the ability of crew members to connect with their family and friends over the Internet and the opportunity to provide electronic communication and entertainment programs on board, is becoming increasingly important for shipping companies. Not least, since the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006 came into force. Whether this means having an Internet café on board or TV and (Internet) radio reception, new dimensions to crew welfare are being discovered through VSAT services in conjunction with MTN Internet Café and WLAN on board - home may be a long way away but thanks to INTERSCHALT it doesn't feel that way.

Metso to supply integrated automation system to Quantum class ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 29 August 2013 29 August 2013

Meyer Werft of Papenburg, Germany has selected Metso DNA for the Integrated Alarm, Monitoring & Control System (IAMCS) to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd’s new generation of cruise ships.The contract is for three vessels of 167.000 gross ton with a capacity for 4180 passengers.

The vessels will be of the latest innovative design with high focus on energy saving and sustainable environmental solutions, both important subjects for Royal Caribbean. The IAMCS will be sized to handle close to 18.000 I/O's within machinery, air-condition and emergency shutdown systems. The management of the diesel electric power plant is an integral part of the Metso DNA system.

Metso is delighted to be part of RCCL's innovative project at Meyer Werft having supplied automation system components earlier to Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance class and Celebrity Cruises Solstice class ships as well as many other cruise projects at Meyer Werft over the years.

Ship automation since the early 1980s

Ship automation systems based on Metso technology have a long history. Ship automation systems started in the early 1980s with Damatic Classic and has developed through to today’s Metso DNA. Majority of installations are for advanced ship types, such as cruise vessels. In particular, redundancy features and high product quality that guarantee undisturbed and safe ship operations have contributed to the success story of Metso’s automation systems.

The first delivery of an automation system based on Metso technology to a ship was in 1983 and up until today several hundred ships have been equipped with Metso’s automation system.

Metso has engineering resources with broad automation competence for machinery, power plant and air conditioning systems on board ships. Metso’s marine automation solutions fit all types of ships and complexities, from crude oil carriers to passenger ferries, cruise ships, offshore supply and oil & gas processing vessels.

Northrop Grumman upgrades navigation equipment on Stena Line ferries

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 30 August 2013 30 August 2013

Northrop Grumman Corporation has completed an integrated bridge system retrofit for several RoPax ferries operated by Stena Line.

Northrop Grumman's Sperry Marine business unit provided a fully networked suite of scalable navigation products from the VisionMaster FT^™ series, used to form the core of a ship's integrated bridge.

The Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII vessels were upgraded with VisionMaster FT navigation radars, a voyage data recorder, and an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) that provides full control on both bridge wings. Meanwhile, the Stena Europe and Stena Adventurer were outfitted with the VisionMaster FT ECDIS, which meets the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) regulations for paperless navigation while providing a separate, redundant backup station in case the primary ECDIS navigation station is damaged or disrupted.

"Our highly reliable, flexible navigation solution provides leading edge situational awareness capabilities and improvements in radar performance to enhance the ships' safety at sea," said Alan Dix, managing director of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. "Additionally, it ensures compliance with new carriage requirements for greater navigational safety standards as set out by the IMO."

In addition to equipment, Northrop Grumman provided installation and training on the VisionMaster FTproducts. The company's customized, modular solution enables a high level of integration with the ships' current systems.

Stena Line operates ferries on 22 routes in Scandinavia, around the U.K. and to the Baltic countries. The company has a modern fleet of 38 vessels, including fast ferries, traditional combi-ferries, RoPax ferries for freight and passengers, and pure cargo ships.

Sperry Marine is a business unit of Northrop Grumman's Navigation and Maritime Systems Division. Headquartered in New Malden, U.K., with major engineering and support offices both in New Malden and in Hamburg, Germany, Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine provides smart navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry with customer service and support in numerous locations worldwide.

Poly Shield Technologies enters into agreement with Prestige for multiple installations of the DSOX-15 fuel purification system

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 28 August 2013 28 August 2013

Poly Shield Technologies Inc., (SHPR) announces the signing of an Installation Agreement with Prestige Cruise Holdings, Inc., with headquarters in Miami, Florida. The Agreement will focus, initially, on a two vessel installation and certification of Poly Shield Technologies Inc.’s newly developed DSOX-15 Fuel Purification System. The Agreement will also allow for DSOX-15 Fuel Purification System installations on up to seven additional vessels. The DSOX-15 system, with its revolutionary approach to sulfur removal, is expected to comply with the new emission regulations set to take effect in January 2015.

CEO, Rasmus Norling, commented: “This second Installation Agreement is further evidence of the market demand for the DSOX-15 Fuel Purification System.” CEO, Norling, continued: “This Agreement represents a second segment of the maritime industry, the cruise line industry, where Poly Shield Technologies Inc. intends to demonstrate the DSOX-15 Fuel Purification System’s economical emissions compliance capabilities in a real time operational maritime environment.”

The Company intends to update the public on all the installations and certification milestones of the DSOX-15 Fuel Purification System as we progress through the development process to compliance certification.