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DAMPA and Meyer Werft sign four year deal to cover at least six ships

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 21 January 2014 21 January 2014

Fireproof and soundproof metal panels of high quality that fit together like LEGO bricks. A unique service and logistics package, credibility and a strong, internationally recognized brand. These are just are some of the things Meyer Werft cites as their reasons for signing a four-year supply agreement with DAMPA, the company said in a statement.

The small factory on the island of Funen in Denmark will supply the German shipyard with metal panels for at least six new giant cruise ships. DAMPA has a proud history of being one of the world’s leading suppliers of marine ceiling systems. CEO Michael Nykjær is pleased that the export of marine ceilings for luxury cruise ships now represents 50 % of the production at the plant, despite the crisis in the global travel industry.

A framework agreement of four years and a supply of approx. 100,000-120,000 square meters of fireproof ceilings to the corridors of at least six cruise ships. That's the deal CEO of DAMPA, Michael Nykjær has just signed with Meyer Werft. The German shipyard is a family business that has been around since 1795. The shipyard has a reputation for building some of the world's finest and most luxurious cruise ships and is known in the industry for never compromising on quality and security. Michael Nykjær and his staff are proud of the new agreement with the German shipyard
- We have been cooperating with Meyer Werft for about 20-25 years and the new agreement is an extension of what we are already doing together. The agreement confirms the strong relationship and the good cooperation between our two companies. In the marine industry, it is extremely rare for a shipyard like Meyer Werft to enter into a 4-year supply agreement. We appreciate the security that partnership gives us, and we are proud to be handpicked in a broad, global field.

Perfect fit
According to the German shipyard they have chosen to make the unique agreement with DAMPA for several reasons. The Danish marine ceiling manufacturer provides not only state of the art metal panels in the B15 category that meet the specific fire requirements on passenger decks. They also offer an overall attractive package that has to do with quality, service, logistics, technical support, price, flexibility, and - not least - a strong and internationally recognized brand
- We trust DAMPA and have only positive experiences with them. Their products are of the highest quality and they have the fire classification, we must live up to. DAMPA has a unique service and supply chain. We save a lot of time working with the Danes because they provide a perfect fit every time. Everything fits by the millimeter and they deliver on time. As shipbuilders, we depend on our suppliers to be highly skilled and we need to be sure hey deliver on time. It gives us great value to know that DAMPA is as accurate and reliable as is the case, says Heiko Brüggemann from Meyer Werft, who negotiated the contract with DAMPA .

Plug & Play
Michael Nykjær has been the CEO of DAMPA since October 2012 and he has laid out a clear strategy, combining the old company's traditional virtues of quality, durability, millimeter precision and easy handling with innovation. DAMPA’s perfect fit is one of the main reasons why clients choose his particular metal panels. Precision means significant savings in installation time and can provide the client with great savings on operational costs in the long run. Product development is about developing hidden installations that do not disrupt the overall ceiling surface visually.
- Marine ceiling systems are first and foremost about safety, installation time and price but we are continuously working with product development, right now we are working on the visual side of the installation system, LED lighting and acoustics. That way we meet the needs of clients and adapt to the market as it stands today. In all modesty, when it comes to marine ceiling systems, we are way ahead of most competitors because we work around the clients’ needs 360 degrees. We provide ceiling panels that fit together like Lego bricks. Each panel is prefabricated and customized to the exact place it should be fitted. We pre-fabricate holes for fittings, sprinklers , speakers, etc. At the same time we deliver the panels in boxes sent to the specific room and deck of the ship where this box of panels is to be installed. Some of our competitors deliver on huge pallets and leave it to the shipbuilders to figure out the rest. Our panels and supplies are customized so the shipbuilder just have to bend down and put up the panels with four clicks. This kind of perfect fitting can save huge amounts of time and money for a shipyard like Meyer Werft. Or – getting back to shore - if you are building a giant new hospital. We may not sell the cheapest panels in the market but we still end up being the best deal.

The German order gives DAMPA the security and stability needed to develop one of the world’s leading ceiling systems of today even further and possibly hire new employees.
- The agreement with Meyer Werft confirms to me that we are doing the right thing in combining the classic values of DAMPA with New DAMPA. Today is a great day, says Michael Nykjær.

Carnival Corporation and MTN sign agreement for internet services and extend broadcast services agreement

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 20 January 2014 20 January 2014

MTN Communications (MTN) and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed a new agreement for the provision of Internet services to its guests and crew. The agreement covers several Carnival Corporation brands, including Princess Cruises, Cunard and P&O Cruises (UK), and will enable MTN to continue a partnership of more than 20 years in delivering crew welfare and passenger solutions to Carnival.

Carnival has also extended its existing agreement for MTN broadcast television services, MTN Worldwide TV, which provides a wide range of television content including news and entertainment to 50 of its ships across the globe. In addition, Carnival Corporation brands in Alaskan waters will continue to leverage MTN’s Terrestrial Broadband Services while in port, with the opportunity to explore the possible expansion of this service.

"MTN and the Carnival family of brands have partnered for more than 20 years," said Chris Leber, executive vice president, commercial business development, MTN. "Our continued partnership providing MTN value-added services further illustrates how we have evolved to deliver communications-related services to the Carnival family of brands and to help improve the communications experience at sea, including content and Internet options for passengers and crew."

"This continued partnership with MTN allows us to deliver the industry’s best set of technology and content to our guests and crew," said Josh Leibowitz, executive vice president, Group Strategy and Corporate Operations at Carnival Corporation.

Beth G. Neumann joins Starboard Cruise Services as new CEO and President

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 15 January 2014 15 January 2014

Beth G. Neumann has joined Starboard Cruise Services as CEO and President, reporting to Starboard Chairman, Ed Brennan.

Owned by renowned world leader in luxury, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Starboard is the largest and leading onboard retailer in the cruise industry. In her leadership role, Neumann will oversee Starboard’s worldwide operations, which includes 1,800 employees, working both on land and on board the ships of the company’s eight partner cruise lines.

Starboard’s sister company, Onboard Media, will also report to Neumann as part of her responsibilities. Onboard Media is a leading provider of customized, integrated media for the global travel industry.

"Beth has a consistent record of growing and transforming businesses," said Ed Brennan. Most recently, Neumann led the $3 Billion Avon Fashion & Home business, where she built a talented merchant organization and drove growth through a transformational vision of accessible beauty and luxury. Before Avon, Neumann held the chief marketing role at both Atkins Nutritionals and The Worth Collection, a luxury fashion direct sales organization. She began her marketing career at Kraft Foods. Early in her career, Neumann was a supply chain specialist at Andersen Consulting.

Neumann holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Engineering from Cornell University.

"Starboard has a strong foundation and is poised for growth and innovation," said Ed Brennan. “The company’s experienced management team and dedicated
employees provide a solid base. I’m particularly grateful to Ares Michaelides, who served as interim CEO throughout 2013. I’m proud to recognize Ares and the team for the great job they’ve done and will continue to do." Michaelides has resumed his role as SVP of Finance and CFO.

Wärtsilä ballast water treatment system granted IMO approval

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 16 December 2013 16 December 2013

Wärtsilä, a leading provider of products, solutions and services to the marine industry, has announced that its Wärtsilä AQUARIUS®EC (Electro-Chlorination) Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) has been granted International Maritime Organization (IMO) Type Approval. This is in accordance with the requirements of the 2004 IMO Convention for the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments and is an essential certification pre-requisite for the system to be used onboard ships.

The Type Approval was attained in co-operation with the Flag Administration of the Netherlands, independent testing facilities, and the Lloyds Register classification society. Testing and optimization of the system were carried out during both land-based and shipboard trials conducted in accordance with IMO requirements. Additional testing is planned to ensure full United States Coast Guard (USCG) Type Approval for the Wärtsilä AQUARIUS®EC BWMS.

This is the second Wärtsilä BWMS to have been fully endorsed and type approved by the Flag Administration of the Netherlands, and represents the culmination of Wärtsilä's dedicated development programme that was initiated in 2010. The Wärtsilä AQUARIUS®UV BWMS was granted IMO Type Approval in 2012 and USCG Alternate Management System (AMS) acceptance in October 2013. The time required to complete Type Approval for an electro chlorination (EC) system is longer, as the EC treatment process makes use of an active substance that requires both intermediate Basic and Final approval from IMO GESAMP as pre-requisites to a Type Approval application. Compliance with the IMO Ballast Water Convention helps protect local eco-systems from the spread of harmful invasive species, while easing operational concerns for ship owners and operators.

"There is significant market demand for our BWMS as owners look to prepare their ships ahead of regulatory implementation. Type Approval for the AQUARIUS®EC is another important milestone that we have now passed in offering owners and operators around the world access to cost efficient, flexible, and environmentally sustainable means of complying with ballast water discharge regulations," says Dr Joe Thomas, Director, Wärtsilä Ballast Water Management Systems.

The Wärtsilä AQUARIUS®EC BWMS is based on a two-stage treatment process using proven and validated system components. Upon uptake, seawater is first passed through a back washing screen type filter. The filtered seawater then passes through a static mixer where hypochlorite generated in a side stream electrolysis process is injected and mixed to disinfect the water before entering the ballast tank. On discharge, water from the ballast tanks is pumped through the static mixer for a second time and residual chlorine (if any) is neutralized prior to discharge. The filter is not used during discharge. The modular approach provides maximum flexibility for system design and installation. Key components are positioned to suit available space, a major advantage when considering retrofit projects. Retrofit installations can be carried out either during dry docking, at the quayside, or whilst the ship is in operation, thus minimising downtime.

Wärtsilä's AQUARIUS BWMS range offers a choice of cost-effective technologies and through the company's BWMS Partnership programme, provides owners with lifecycle support for their BWMS installations. Wärtsilä provides a complete BWMS turnkey service that includes technical support, ship survey and system design, engineering, project management, procurement, installation, commissioning, and after-sales support via the company's extensive global network of service and repair facilities.

Wärtsilä to supply propulsion package to German short haul ferry

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 December 2013 12 December 2013

Wärtsilä, a leading solutions and services provider in the marine industry, will provide a full propulsion package for a new passenger ferry being built for the Germany based Reederei Cassen Eils GmbH. The contract was signed in October 2013 with Fr. Fassmer GmbH, the shipyard responsible for the vessel's construction, Wärtsilä said in a statement.

The new ferry will operate between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland in Germany. This route will take it close to the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea national park, an ecologically sensitive UNESCO World Heritage listed area in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. Because of the need to minimize exhaust gas emissions in this area, the ferry will operate primarily on liquefied natural gas (LNG) using two 9-cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium-speed dual-fuel engines.

The selected engines are the latest generation of the Wärtsilä 20DF series. They offer an increased output of five per cent and a reduction of seven per cent in fuel consumption in gas mode, compared to earlier versions of the engine.

In addition to the propulsion machinery, Wärtsilä will also supply its LNGPac fuel bunkering and supply system with related safety and automation systems. The scope of supply also includes Wärtsilä's patented Cold Recovery System, which utilises the latent heat of LNG in the ship's air conditioning systems, thus reducing the amount of electricity consumed in cooling compressors. This provides significant operational savings and an increase in overall vessel efficiency, while adding to the environmental benefits of the Wärtsilä solution.

"As the vessel must fulfil the IMO regulations regarding SOx and NOx emissions in the North Sea's Emissions Control Area, its operations need to be ecologically friendly with the lowest possible emissions. At the same time, perfect manoeuvrability and reliability are most important. Thanks to Wärtsilä's dual-fuel technology with its built-in redundancy, the vessel can operate very efficiently and without restrictions in the emissions regulated areas. Furthermore it was very important for us to select a reliable and experienced partner. We already know Wärtsilä's capabilities as the company retrofitted our MS "Ostfriesland", delivering a full propulsion package with a minimum of interfaces," says Dr Bernhard Brons, Chairman of AG EMS the parent company of Reederei Cassen Eils.

"The overriding priorities set by the owners for this new ferry were environmental performance, energy efficiency, and the reliability of the propulsion machinery since the ferry will be in daily service. Wärtsilä's strong reference list clearly demonstrates our capabilities in all these areas," says Matthias Becker, General Manager Sales, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

The vessel is scheduled to be delivered and ready for service during the first half of 2015. In April of this year, Wärtsilä was also contracted to retrofit the 'Ostfriesland', a ferry operating in the same environmentally sensitive waters, for LNG fuel use.