Vessel operator Shanghai Ming Wah Shipping has rolled out ABB’s engine diagnostics software ABB AbilityTekomar XPERT across 12 of its bulk carriers.

As small- to mid-size shipping companies recover from the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Glencore’s Inatech has responded to market demand with a new version of its Shiptech bunker fuel management system, ShiptechLite.

Wärtsilä has successfully delivered its brand-new Cloud Simulation solution to Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy. Comprising a combination of cloud-based solutions, including navigational, engine room and liquid cargo handling simulators, Wärtsilä is the first company to offer class-approved cloud-based simulation technology to the maritime industry.

The online installation was deployed in early July, allowing the Academy to continue providing its training despite ongoing social distancing and travel restrictions.

Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy is a maritime training provider in the region, which is now powered by Wärtsilä Voyage technology. The addition of the online installations of NTPro and TechSim will broaden the simulation-based training offering available at the Academy.

Cloud Simulation technology takes simulation beyond the boundaries of the physical classroom, to provide location and device independence, and to deliver simulation-based training wherever, whenever, and however it is needed by the user.

Remote access to training allows students and instructors to reach various Wärtsilä Voyage simulation models on their personal devices, away from the classroom and without the need for specific Wärtsilä software. Both the TechSim and NTPRO platforms in the cloud provide a classroom configuration with trainer and multiple student stations for familiar instructor-led training.

“We are excited to be at the leading edge of this technology in the maritime industry and enable trainees to acquire a wide range of navigational and engineering skills, without the need to physically attend the training centre. By having remote access to the simulation library and any classroom-based exercise, instructors can easily manage the application and deliver the training,” commented Torsten Büssow, director, Wärtsilä Voyage.

"We are very pleased to have this next-generation of blended-learning solutions delivered by Wärtsilä Voyage. The bespoke training that this solution allows to deliver will undeniably enhance the training experience of our students. The Wärtsilä Voyage distance learning application will surely open up many new training opportunities inside and outside the physical classroom”, said Capt. Clive Hotham, head of Marine Short Courses and Simulator, Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy.

GTMaritime has launched a new cloud-based tool to automate a key part of the data transfer process between ship and shore, relieving seafarers and shore teams of a growing manual file replication burden. GTReplicate is a cyber-secure solution that automates synchronisation of files and data relating to vessel operation with next to no intervention.

With the quantity of data shared between vessels and shore-side teams increasing at an accelerating rate, personnel onboard and ashore are having to spend ever more time uploading, downloading and managing file transfers manually. As well as being tedious, such repetitive tasks increase error risks, with the potential for serious financial consequences if the data lost or overwritten is needed to verify compliance.

Running on GTMaritime’s FastNet data transfer platform, GTReplicate provides a reliable and highly configurable automated alternative that reduces the growing administrative burden on fleet IT managers and frees up crew to use their time more constructively.

GTReplicate is performance optimised for use in a marine environment. This means it operates across a variety of connectivity platforms, including 3G, 4G, L-band and VSAT, maximising throughput in each case. To further conserve bandwidth, GTReplicate monitors files intelligently, only sending on those that have changed since the last replication.

Acknowledging the range of specialised software used on ships and the diversity of onboard network configurations between fleets, there are no artificially imposed limits on the type or size of file GTReplicate can handle. It also enables automated bi-directional transfer of selected files, folders, or entire folder structures with multiple mechanisms for maintaining total data integrity. Shore-side email can be used as both replication source and target.

GTReplicate provides shore-based fleet IT managers with a central cloud-based dashboard for configuring and controlling every aspect of how replication takes place, without having to involve crew. Advanced options include ship-specific task creation as well as pre- and post-transfer processing for maximum flexibility.

With a nod to an increasing need for stringent security auditing, GTReplicate comes complete with a full suite of notification, journaling and reporting functions as standard, ranging from basic timestamping to granular detail on execution status and files moved. Likewise, it features robust and flexible archiving functionalities.

Mike McNally, global commercial director at GTMaritime, commented: “Shipowners are now embracing digitalisation as a low-overhead route to improved operational efficiency, but the growing information flow poses challenges for manual processes in ship-to-shore data transfer. GTMaritime created GTReplicate to provide a scalable, secure and highly configurable solution for automating file transfers and averting a data logjam.”

FastNet is a multi-stream platform designed for today's data demands. Employing a variety of bandwidth management techniques, it optimises, secures and then transfers data packets according to business needs. It will form the core of all GTMaritime products going forward and can be made available to its customers for bespoke digitalisation projects.

Papua New Guinea based Consort Express Lines has signed a contract with Norwegian technology company Tero Marine to roll out its complete TM Master suite of applications. 

The agreement also includes 14 tugs owned by Pacific Towing, both companies being part of Steamships Trading Company, within the Swire Group. Tero Marine will provide the companies with its full range of Fleet Management software applications across, Procurement, Maintenance, Crew Management, Quality and Environment.

Consort operates geared, multipurpose vessels offering scheduled liner services to the 17 main ports in Papua New Guinea.

“I want to applaud Consort for having the confidence to be making such a progressive move in these uncertain times. I am confident that our TM Master software will help optimise the management and compliance of their fleet. I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism of our knowledgeable team and in particular our colleagues in Singapore that worked hard to win this contract by listening carefully to Consort’s needs and demonstrating that we could satisfy their requirements. We welcome both Consort Express Lines and Pacific Towing to our expanding customer community,” said Rune Lyngaas, Tero Marine’s CEO.

“There were several reasons for choosing Tero Marine’s TM Master. The most obvious one was its complete product features and functions which suited our internal procedures and business needs. Secondly, TM Master was the most user friendly system so our crews will not have to undergo intensive training sessions,” said Chris De Villiers, COO of Consort Express Lines.

“Another major factor from our point of view, was the complete understanding by the team at Tero Marine of our requirements regarding our business processes. They were able to provide the right solutions to our needs and were pro-active in everything from pre-project documentation to implementation plan.” he added.

Mr. De Villiers concluded that “In challenging times like these, we need to focus on keeping the ships sailing. Having a professional partner like we have found in Tero Marine is crucial.”

“I am delighted to see that our focus on UX (User Experience) in every aspect of how we serve our customers is being acknowledged and rewarded.” Mr Lyngaas added. 

Furuno introduces the first IMO-compliant X-band/S-band magnetron-free solution for commercial vessels with the new Solid-State X-band Radar, NXT series

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FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (headquartered in Nishinomiya, Japan) presents, for the first time, a complete Magnetron-free Radar/Chart Radar Solution in both X-band and S-band configuration, with the introduction of new Solid-State X-band models: FAR- 2xx8-NXT Radar and FAR-3xx0-NXT Chart Radar.

Furuno NXT Solid-State Radars use electronic components to generate microwave pulse and therefore, require much less power than magnetron Radars. This technology does not wear out and does not require any particular maintenance, significantly reducing operating costs. Finally, there is no pre-heating making the startup time much faster than with a magnetron.

Product page (Chart Radar): https://www.furuno.com/en/merchant/chartradar/ 
Product page (Marine Radar): https://www.furuno.com/en/merchant/radar/FAR-22x8_23x8/

Marlink is strengthening its position as a Smart Network Solutions provider with its new ‘Above and Beyond’ campaign.

Marlink is providing a special purpose highly resilient satellite network solution for the Remotely Operated Service at Sea (ROSS) project developed by offshore services operator SeaOwl.

Marine and technical consultancy Brookes Bell has been contracted by Norwegian Cruise Line to deliver its software solution SRtP Onboard across its Breakaway Plus class of vessels.

Windward, the predictive maritime intelligence company, has launched its next-generation Maritime Predictive Intelligence solution powered by Maritime Artificial Intelligence Analytics (MAIA).