Departments

Windstar Cruises streamlining with Adonis

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 07 October 2014 07 October 2014

Adonis AS (Adonis), leading providers of global maritime HR solutions, today announced that Windstar Cruises will be implementing Adonis Personnel Manager (APM) and Payroll for all their Human Resources (HR), time and attendance, crew management and payroll activities. The Adonis solution will enable Windstar to host and consolidate these processes using a central HR database, which will improve efficiencies and coordination between their vessels and their shore side crew in Seattle.

Windstar Cruises operates a fleet of small luxury cruise ships that travels to 50 nations, calling at 150 ports throughout Europe, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, and Central America; they were recently listed on Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, coming in as the number two cruise line in the world. Adonis Personnel Manager gives Windstar the ability to seamlessly coordinate HR and payroll processes; the integrated Time Clock module enables Windstar to consolidate time and attendance, while assuring MLC compliance on work and rest hours, all from one centralized platform.

"As the market leader in small ship cruising, Windstar is attentive to all the details -- large and small -- that make their voyages intimate, unique and memorable," said Sigrid Kviteberg, Adonis Project Director.

"To be selected by Windstar, given their uncompromising standards, is a great honor, as we are working closely with their team in customizing the solution to meet their specific needs and business goals. Centralizing the crew database will dramatically improve efficiencies and coordination aboard their vessels and at their main office Seattle. The Time Clock module will help obtain full compliance with will MLC Work & rest Hours regulations at any time. We're delighted to play a small but important role in helping make each Windstar voyage a flawless experience."

Scanship obtains MEPC 227(64) type approval certificates for all its AWP systems

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 03 October 2014 03 October 2014

Scanship has received type approval for all its advanced wastewater purification systems (AWP) confirming compliance with IMO MARPOL MEPC 227(64) and special area Baltic Sea with nutrient removal. The certificates are issued by DNV GL for systems fitted on vessels carrying from 100 up to approx. 9.000 people.

"This proves that suppliers to the cruise and ferry industries can deliver advanced wastewater purification systems to meet the highest effluent quality standards to date. The Scanship systems performance is in line with the most advanced land based municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. With Scanship AWP aboard, ship-owners will be in compliance with new regulation to be enforced in the Baltic Sea. It secures efficient ship operations, reduces the need for shore side receiving facilities and eliminates landing liabilities. With these approval certificates Scanship will further strengthen its market leading position," says CEO Henrik Badin.

The wastewater produced by a cruise ship equals that of a municipality with 20,000-30,000 people. With the enforcement of nutrient removal (Phosphor and Nitrogen) the whole Baltic Sea will finally have standards similar to those enacted in Finland and Sweden, in the 70s (Phosphorous) and in the 90s (Nitrogen).

DL Services launches Marine Catering Solutions website

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 24 September 2014 24 September 2014

DL Services, the maker of Marine Catering Solutions, has launched a new website: www.marine-catering-solutions.com.

The new website combines a comprehensive directory of galley equipment, installation companies, USPHS, and more. "The site will be of tremendous value to shipowners. Since years, my customers asked me to create a database about marine galley equipment, I made it and free of charge. They now save time and money of course as they will have all valuable information," said Daniel Laine, the general manager of DL Services.

Most of shipowners are looking for that kind of solutions. "With this database, many shipowners will now be able to find the right information for their galleys, bars, buffets and pantries. Everything they need will be right at their fingertips," said Daniel Laine.

DL Services is the owner of the Life Cycle System. Its service is known for on-board database, a private web-access solution with equipment inventory and life cycle solution.

The company’s main mission is to be as independent designers, to cater to their customer wishes, to actively participate in new building and modernization/refit projects, putting together food flow concepts, lay-out designs with itemized budgeted equipment specifications, turnkey specifications and installation supervision.

FlexiCombi software updates free of charge on MKN homepage

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 23 September 2014 23 September 2014

Using the MKN FlexiCombi chefs are now always kept up to date. With immediate effect, users of the new MKN combisteamer can download their software updates directly and on their own from the MKN homepage. "Just one click and you get to the current software versions of FlexiCombi MagicPilot and FlexiCombi Classic at any time," MKN said in a statement.

"These are just as easy and intuitive to use as the MagicPilot control system itself. If you have any questions the installation instructions provide assistance and explain the required system requirements. Additional content such as sound and image files is also available now in the same way. This is all free of charge for the user and so you can be sure that you are always bang up to date in your kitchen," MKN continued.

Wartsila and MAN Diesel & Turbo launch HERCULES 2 R&D programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 22 September 2014 22 September 2014

The HERCULES R&D programme to develop large engine technologies, which was initiated in 2004 as a joint vision by the two major European engine manufacturing groups, Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo, is to continue with a new HERCULES-2 project, pending approval under the Horizon 2020 EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The HERCULES-2 project is aimed at developing a fuel-flexible marine engine that is optimally adaptive to its operating environment. The work will focus on four areas of integrated R&D divided into Work Package Groups (WPG), as follows: WPG 1 - a fuel flexible engine; WPG II - new materials (for engine applications); WPG III - an adaptive powerplant for lifetime performance; and WPG IV - a near zero emissions engine.

This work will build upon and surpass the targets of the previous HERCULES projects by going beyond the limits set by the regulatory authorities. By combining the very latest technologies, and through the use of integrated solutions, the new project aims to achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The project includes several full-scale prototypes and shipboard demonstrators that will speed the development of commercially available products.

This co-operation between Wärtsilä and MAN Diesel & Turbo will also involve a number of other European companies, as well as universities and research institutions. The project will further accelerate the shipping industry's transition to better fuel efficiency and a significantly reduced environmental footprint, while strengthening the position of the participating partners in the market place.

The consortium is made up of 32 partners, of which 30% are industrial and 70% are universities and research institutes. The budget is divided between industry and the universities on a 63% - 37% basis respectively.

The original HERCULES programme was conceived in 2002 to develop new technologies to increase marine engine efficiency. The three previous projects within this programme ran from 2004 until 2014.