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Emirates chooses M-iQ technology from MEIKO

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 12 September 2013 12 September 2013

Emirates – the official international airline of the United Arab Emirates which was recently voted the world's best airline – has once again chosen technology from the Offenburg, Germany-based commercial dishwasher manufacturer MEIKO to expand its flight catering operations. A brand-new second facility at Dubai International Airport will be equipped with three machines from MEIKO's M-iQ range of warewashers. "We've been doing business with Emirates Flight Catering since 1988 and we're tremendously proud to have this opportunity to develop the relationship further through this major contract," explains Klaus Engesser, head of exports at MEIKO.

The Arabian Peninsula's leading in-flight catering company is already at the planning stage of a project to incorporate the three new M-iQ machines. "This is a customer that places a great deal of emphasis on cutting-edge systems, intelligent interface design and reliability," says Eric Waag, MEIKO's key account manager for in-flight catering. Working in close collaboration with the Heidelberg, Germany-based company io-consultants – one of the industry's most prestigious planning and consultancy firms – Waag successfully convinced the customer to equip its new facility with the very latest M-iQ technology: "MEIKO was the best choice because Emirates Fight Catering was looking for a solution that combines intelligent material flows with outstandingly smooth organization. The key factors behind Emirates' decision to continue their long-standing business relationship with MEIKO included the high energy efficiency of our M-iQ machines, their user-friendly operation and, in particular, our sophisticated filter technology."

A MEIKO press release explains how the M-iQ system, which is widely regarded as a revolution in dishwashing technology, uses a proprietary filter technology to allow the machines to wash for longer periods without requiring the wash water to be changed. The new catering facility for which MEIKO has received an order for "EKFC Short Term Expansion-SE-03 Ware Wash Equipment" comprises 60,000 m2 spread over three floors. The optimized material flows and superb levels of organization required for the facility will be supported by MEIKO's highly efficient conveyor warewashers which are designed to minimize idle periods by increasing the time between wash water changes. The contract includes a longer drying zone in the machines specially tailored to Emirates' specific requirements: "The customer wanted everything to come out completely dry – even Gastronorm containers and plastic boxes – to ensure that all the key hygiene parameters were met," says Waag.

Each of the three M-iQ machines is 13.5 metres long with a useful width of one metre and a passing height of 2.40 metres. The machines will be assembled on-site, though the MEIKO branch office in Dubai will work closely with the assembly and installation experts at the company's headquarters in Germany. "We will also be working in close collaboration with the technical consultancy firm io-consultants based on the excellent professional relationship we have already built up with them in previous major projects," says Waag.

"We consider it to be an honour and a distinction to have maintained a decades-long partnership with a company that has received more than 400 awards worldwide for its outstanding quality," says Engesser, summing up the views of his export team. By 2014 Emirates Flight Catering will be operating on the safe side with M-iQ when it comes to providing catering and other services to more than 105 airlines at Dubai International Airport.

Wärtsilä to provide integrated solution for Canadian dual fuel ferries

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 September 2013 11 September 2013

Wärtsilä, a leading solutions and services provider to the marine industry, says it will supply an integrated solution for two dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) Ro-Pax passenger ferries being built on behalf of Canadian ferry services provider Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ). The contract was issued in August by Chantier Davie Canada (Davie), Canada's largest shipyard, the builder of the two vessels.

For each of the two vessels, the contract includes the supply of Wärtsilä 20DF engines, the Wärtsilä LNGPac fuel storage and treatment system, Wärtsilä electrical power and automation systems, andWärtsilä's Control & Communication Centre (3C), the integrated bridge control, navigation, and communication control system. Wärtsilä will also provide the yard with site management and commissioning services.

The Ro-Pax ferries will operate on LNG fuel, which offers notable environmental and economic benefits compared to conventional marine fuels. However, Wärtsilä's dual-fuel engine technology allows a seamless switch to other fuels should it be necessary. Wärtsilä has been a pioneer in promoting the use of LNG as a marine fuel, and has developed industry leading technologies that make this possible.

Alan Bowen, CEO of Davie commented: "Wärtsilä is a leader in LNG dual-fuel technology and we are very pleased to add the ferries to our working partnership with them, which presently extends across all construction programmes at Davie. As leaders in their respective fields, Davie and Wärtsilä are together able to provide the highest quality of products to a broad range of industries from passenger transportation to offshore oil & gas."

"Wärtsilä's extensive know-how and experience in developing dual-fuel technologies, together with our systems integration capabilities, brings significant added value to customers seeking environmental compliance with operating cost reductions. By being able to offer a total solutions offering and integration support to the shipyard, we can reduce scheduling risks while increasing efficiencies and lowering costs. Furthermore, our lifecycle support capabilities in Canada are first rate, and this will provide the needed operational reliability to the owners," says Mr Magnus Miemois, Vice President Solutions, Wärtsilä Ship Power.

"These orders highlight the global emergence of LNG as a prime fuel for ferries, and prove the value of our dual-fuel system for the uninterrupted and safe transport of passengers, cars and rolling cargo," according to Wärtsilä's Wilco van der Linden, head of business development for Merchant, Cruise and Ferry Solutions.

The two Ro-Pax double ended passenger ferries are each capable of accommodating 432 passengers and 8 crew members, and offer various capacity combinations for up to 115 car equivalent units or 16 tractor semi-trailers. They will operate throughout the year between Tadoussac and Baie-Sainte-Catherine on the Saguenay River in Québec, Canada and are scheduled to start service in 2015.

Hempel launches Hempaguard after five year development

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Products & services Products & services; Published: 11 September 2013 11 September 2013

Hempel, the Danish producer of marine coatings, says it has introduced Hempaguard, a groundbreaking hull coating concept for the shipping industry that offers outstanding resistance to fouling during idle periods and significant fuel savings. "The new patented technology, ActiGuard®, has been five years in development and is based on silicone-hydrogel and biocide science," the company said in a statement.

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.