Associated British Ports (ABP) has welcomed the first of nine new pilot launch vessels from Goodchild Marine Services.

Monday, 26th July 2021

Earlier this year, Associated British Ports (ABP) announced an investment of around £9 million in constructing nine new pilot boats. These vessels were ordered from Goodchild Marine Services Limited and are being built in Norfolk, along with much of the supply chain coming from East Anglian suppliers.

The first pilot boat was warmly welcomed upon its arrival at the Port of Grimsby. Named the OUSE, it is the first of five to be delivered to ABP Humber. Three vessels will head to ABP Southampton in 2022 and one to ABP South Wales in 2023.

All nine vessels boast improved fuel efficiency. Ouse is the first pilot boat built and entered service in the UK to be fitted with an IMO Tier III compliant engine complete with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).

These MAN engines supplied by PME Group of Plymouth help reduce emissions by using the latest technology, thus minimising the environmental impact.

Many other features help improve the comfort and safety of those onboard. The Man Overboard Recovery Platform is a standard fit on all Goodchild Marine pilot vessels, air conditioning, suspension seating, and a resiliently mounted wheelhouse, which all act to reduce vibration, impact, and noise at sea. Additionally, the wave-piercing hull design adds to what makes these ORC pilot boats so comfortable, fuel-efficient and, above all, highly effective in coming alongside and breaking away from ships for a safe pilot transfer.

Mike McCartain, ABP’s Group Director for Safety, Engineering and Marine, said;
“We are delighted with our new ‘Orc’ Pilot Boat vessel from Goodchild Marine. The outstanding build quality, safety and environmental features are the hallmarks of this superb British boat-building company. This vessel is the second in our modernised ABP fleet, and we very much look forward to our next eight boats over the next few years.’

Stephen Pierce, General Manager of Goodchild Marine Services Limited, said:
“Our aim is to deliver the highest quality pilot boats, which provide a safe, comfortable, reliable and efficient vessel. This ensures the best possible working space for the boat crews, pilots and the maintainers.”

ORC Pilot Boats first entered service in the UK in 2012, designed by French company Pantocarene Limited (Naval Architects) and provides fuel-efficient running at service speed, combined with excellent sea-keeping, allowing surprisingly high transit speeds even in rough weather. Globally to date; 159 + ORC boats ranging from 7.5 meters long up to 22 meters have been built and are on duty in various different configurations, including; 72 pilot boats 50 rescue, coast guard boats 28 fast fishing boats 9 RIBS and passenger boats.

Ports / Harbours in the UK also use our ORC range of pilot boats

Estuary Services Limited – Thames Estuary 2 x ORC 171’s and 2X ORC136’s
Port of London Authority ORC 136 Hybrid the UK’s first and only Hybrid pilot boat
Cattewater Harbour Commission (Plymouth) ORC 121
Port of Bridgwater ORC 121
Dublin Port ORC 171
Briggs Marine (Liverpool) 3 X ORC 171’s 2 x ORC 136’s
Associated British Ports Lowestoft ORC 121

For further information contact:
Tony Birr
Business Development
Email: info@goodchildmarine.co.uk
Tel +44 (0)1493 782301

Safe Handling of Hydrogen Sulphide

Monday, 26th July 2021

H2S is among the most dangerous gases in the oil and gas industry. Even today, there are regular occurrences of injuries and death due to H2S exposure. It is essential to have proper knowledge and training on how to detect it, protect yourself and what to do in case of high concentration levels.

Where can H2S Occur

H2S occurs during oil production, storage, transportation and processing of oil and gas, especially in refineries where H2S is separated from natural gas and crude oil. H2S can occur at:

Wellheads
Pumps
Piping systems
Eliminators
Oil and water tanks
Flare stacks – bottom of drilling rigs
Shale shaker equipment, sludge filters and mud pits
Ballast water treatment systems

90% of hydrogen sulphide, such as rock masses and hot sulphur springs, occurs in the environment. The remaining 10% results from bacterial decomposition of organic material in biogas, sewage treatment, or industrial manufacturing processes. Here, H2S is a by-product of refining crude oil or gas, among others. It occurs in the chemical industry, in pulp and paper production or the production of pesticides.

The potential to leak is very high!

Gas Measurement Equipment IM&M can help you select the appropriate:

Gas Detection Tubes
Single Gas Detectors
Multi-Gas Detectors
Fixed Gas Monitors
Area Gas Monitors
Air Purifying Respirator with an appropriate filter
Supplied air system
Self-contained breathing apparatus
Body Protection
Escape Device

Contact us for further information: +44 (0114) 2853040, sales@im-m.co.uk, www.im-m.co.uk

AEUK awards Diverse Marine contract to manufacture SEA Class Passenger Transport Boats

Tuesday, 20th July 2021

Cowes, UK (15-07-21) – ATLAS ELEKTRONIK UK (AEUK) has awarded a contract to Cowes-based shipyard, Diverse Marine for the production of three SEA Class Passenger Transfer Boats (PTBs).

The PTBs will be delivered by AEUK for the Royal Navy’s (RN) latest Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, later this year.

The platforms, based on AEUK’s SEA Class design, will be customised to fit HMS Prince of Wales’ boat bays and allow deployment and recovery via the Ship’s davits. Each Passenger Transport Boat will be certified to carry 34 passengers with up to three crew.

AEUK subcontracted the Passenger Transport Boats to Diverse Marine because of their proven track record in aluminium construction and their ability to customise the design. Production of the PTBs will happen in parallel with the other SEA Class platforms currently being produced for the RN at AEUK’s Platform Integration facilities in Winfrith, Dorset.

Carl Stone, Head of Sales and Product Management for Surface Ship Systems Division, AEUK, said, “It is great to see another of our SEA Class designs come to fruition and an honour for AEUK to play a part in providing a new capability to one of the RN’s newest and most prestigious warships. The new Passenger Transport Boats will provide the high-quality passenger carrying capability that the RN expects and commonality with the rest of the SEA Class platforms AEUK delivers”.

Ben Colman, Director at Diverse Marine, said: “It is a testament to the capability and quality of the work our team can produce that afforded Diverse Marine the ability to tender for this project and to be awarded the contract through a competitive process. I am immensely proud of not only our core team but also the stakeholder team and wider British Marine Industry for having the capability to deliver a solution which meets the requirements of AEUK, the Royal Navy and HMS Prince of Wales”.

For further information, visit www.diversemarine.co.uk

Ocean ICT at Oceanology International set to grow

Tuesday, 20th July 2021

Ocean ICT is part of the ocean economy. It serves various ocean industries, including Marine transportation, Defence and security, Coastal and ocean management, Fisheries and aquaculture, Offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production, Seabed mining, & Ocean renewable energy.

The amount of data acquired from within the ocean space is leading to a growth in interoperable systems for ocean data acquisition, transfer, storage and analysis.

The Global ocean technology sector has advanced exponentially over the last decade due to technological advances, the need for more detailed data, the associated analysis of the data, and the advancement of the AUV and ROV sectors. ROV and AUV platforms are loaded with sensors and instrumentation designed for specific jobs, whether monitoring, surveying or as part of ocean defence systems.

Further examples include robotics, sensors, ocean modelling and forecasting, hydrographic services and digital chart production, vessel and platform engineering, navigation systems, marine ICT and simulation technologies.

The Ocean ICT zone sits within Oceanology International and is built to meet the growing demand and interest in cutting-edge marine, ocean IT, communications, satellite and data solutions. This year, Ocean ICT will feature 30 companies that serve this sector.

Oi22 is set to bring together 8000 attendees within the Marine Science, Offshore Oil & Gas, Marine Renewables, Aquaculture & more looking for the latest solutions within automation, connectivity, data and communications.

Find out more here

The SMS Group Invests in Cruise and Ferry – Darren Smith Joins the SMS Group in Southampton

Tuesday, 13th July 2021

The SMS Group is proudly building a Cruise and Ferry team by focusing 100% on the people – ensuring experience, credibility and capability are at the forefront of our service offering.

The SMS Group has an enviable reputation as an outfit, ship repair, and marine engineering specialist in the commercial marine, defence, and cruise sectors.

Darren Smith has joined The SMS Group this month as Head of Business Development with a clear focus on the Cruise and Ferry sector.

Darren, who is based in Southampton and has a global remit, brings a wealth of experience and contacts from over 30 years in the industry.

He joins Dan Lockyer, Head of Interiors, and Project Managers Nick Border and Chris Bailey.

Collectively encompassing over 100 years of genuine hands-on experience, the team has unparalleled industry expertise and experience and is uniquely positioned as the only marine interior outfitter within the ABP footprint in Southampton.

Dan Lockyer, Head of Interiors, said: “Darren’s appointment is strategic significance for SMS.

“Our outfit business has grown year-on-year for the last three years, and as the Cruise industry prepares for a global restart, the timing is just perfect.

“Our vision is timely, controlled, organic growth, and that will very much be front and centre of Darren’s objectives, which is something Darren has vast experience of in his years within the maritime industry. It’s the ideal situation.”

Darren Smith, Head of Business Development, added: “I’ve known Dan and the team for a long time. I look forward to working with them not only regarding Business Development but also in creating a new and exciting business. We’re building something special, and it’s great to be a part of it.”

In conclusion Nicholas Warren, Commercial Director, said: “As we conclude the 2020/21 fiscal year and realign our objectives for the 2021/22 period a targeted approach to outfit, within the Cruise and Ferry sector, is ‘mission critical’ for the business.

“Despite the pandemic, each of our eight locations has made a positive EBITDA contribution to the Group this year, which has resulted in us exceeding our budget by some margin.

“The time is right for investment, and as the Cruise industry restarts, it will move from being one of our many marine-centric verticals to being at the heart of our operations.”

Nicholas added: “We’ll make future investments in this space too.
“As our client list grows, we fully intend to increase awareness via industry events, marketing and further sales initiatives.

“All of this perfectly matches Darren’s profile, experience and his industry background and broad network of connections.”

The SMS Group provides 24/7 support, from eight locations in the UK.

For further comment, please contact Darren Smith, Head of Business Development, at : darren.smith@sms-marine.co.uk or on 07909 211484.

Visit www.sms-marine.co.uk for more details.

Bespoke berth for Port of Portland´s new tug from Inland and Coastal Marina Systems

Tuesday, 13th July 2021

With time limited before it arrived, Inland and Coastal Marina Systems (ICMS) designed and manufactured a bespoke berth for the Port of Portland’s new tugboat.

Portland Harbour Authority invested in the new tugboat to support the growing business at the port. Following its purchase in Turkey, the vessel went straight into dry dock to be painted in her new company colours and arrived in Portland in early April.

With space tight and time short to prepare a berth for the 287T tug, Portland Harbour Authority approached ICMS to design a bespoke solution. To accommodate the new vessel within the existing operational pontoons and factor in its higher freeboard, ICMS manufactured a unique 21.5m heavy-duty pontoon with a tailor-made 750mm freeboard.

“We are pleased with our existing Inland and Coastal harbour workboat pontoons. I was confident their practical, design engineering skills would solve our new tugboat berth requirement in a tight corner of the harbour,” says Alex Hayes, general manager of Dryside.

“Within no time at all they had worked out how to make it fit and resolved connecting into existing pontoons and access ways at different levels.”

Benefitting from the new pontoon’s Glass Reinforced Fibre (Work Surface) decking, the tugboat’s crew will have a durable, anti-slip surface to board the tug from, ensuring safe access all year round, whatever the weather.

“Our heavy-duty pontoons are specifically designed for this type of application as they can be adapted to suit a customer’s specific needs, the location and existing infrastructure,” says ICMS sales manager Jon Challis.

“Once we’d found the solution and the design was agreed, we worked closely with the Portland Harbour Authority to deliver the new berthing facility on time and on budget, ready for its new tugboat’s arrival.”

Uni-Pact USV empowers FMS next-gen survey work

Thursday, 8th July 2021

Unique Group, one of the world’s leading integrated subsea and offshore solutions providers, has successfully supported First Marine Solutions’ (FMS) Survey and Positioning Business line and their end client,t Well-Safe Solutions, in completing a cutting-edge, carbon-conscious debris survey in the Port of Cromarty Firth, Scotland, using Unique’s proprietary unmanned survey vessel (USV), Uni-Pact.

The Uni-Pact, a part of Unique Group’s growing fleet of USVs, is available in the survey rental collective and has a successful track record covering thousands of line kilometres of survey data. Unique Group’s reputation as a trusted provider of technologically advanced survey and inspection equipment also presented FMS with meaningful confidence in proposing and executing an efficient and innovative deliverable for Well-Safe Solutions.

Uni-Pact’s innovative design reduced the process complexity, offering a lightweight and easy-to-deploy solution. Delivered to the project location at Saltburn Pier fully mobilised and calibrated, the vessel was deployed in under an hour, completing the full scope of work in less than 90 minutes.

Uni-Pact’s control interface enabled the surveyor to work remotely from Copenhagen, Denmark, with onsite support at Cromarty, including the launch and recovery implementation, as well as communication coordination and safeguarding visual oversight of operations provided by FMS’s Survey Engineer and Unique Group’s USV Pilot/Engineer.

Carl Lafferty, Survey and Positioning Manager at First Marine Solutions, noted: “FMS has a clear determination to operate world-leading technology to reduce the overall cost for our clients whilst lowering the HSE and environmental impact and producing paper-free, modern survey data deliverables. We are delighted to have partnered with Unique Group to deliver this debris survey project, with Uni-Pact allowing us to complete the campaign in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.”

David Rennie, ASV Global Technical Manager at Unique Group, commented: “FMS and Unique Group are extremely pleased with the survey data results and Uni-Pact’s performance in this project. With a varied range of unmanned vessels in our rental asset pool, the extent of operations we can perform to increase productivity, efficiency and safety in operations is maturing. We want to thank the FMS team for their trust, and we look forward to a productive relationship going forward as FMS continues to enhance its survey offering.”

LeeSan Pump Out Installation in the plant room of a Thames boathouse

Wednesday, 7th July 2021

Warwickshire-based, Sanitation and Pump Out specialist LeeSan have just completed and commissioned an interesting Pump Out Installation in the plant room of a boathouse on the river Thames.

The owner of the property required a custom set-up to enable them to empty the black water tank on their own canal boat, so they asked the team at Fenny Compton to design, specify, install and commission an appropriate system

The marine sanitation installation comprises a wall-mounted LeeStrom M60K diaphragm pump, which is controlled by an Operation/Safety electrical panel and is fitted above flood level for safety.

This pumps into a nearby, below-ground lifting station, which eventually pumps into the main sewer.

Also installed is a stainless-steel hose hanger with a 15m lightweight suction hose terminating in an ISO8099 probe valve. This is the probe valve that, over many years, LeeSan developed for the UK canal system and which is now recognised as the gold standard for “hands-free”, no mess pump systems worldwide.

Operation is extremely simple. The owner moors the boat, unscrews the matching LeeSan deck fitting and inserts the pump out probe. This has a double “O” Ring and, therefore, creates a perfect seal. The operation is fully automatic once the system is activated and the pump is turned on at the control panel.

A transparent “sight glass” built into the probe allows the operator to see when the tank is completely empty. The hose can be rinsed out by pumping a small amount of river water through it.

LeeSan offer an ongoing service scheme which ensures the long and reliable life of the entire package.

Family company HIMA appoints new management

Thursday, 1st July 2021

HIMA appoints new management team to take over the company’s operational business; the shareholders continue to be exclusively members of the Philipp family.

With effect from 1st July 2021, the shareholder restructuring of the management of the company group is complete. The new team comprises CEO Jörg de la Motte and CFO Dr Michael Löbig. Managing partner Steffen Philipp is to focus on his tasks as a shareholder in future. The previous CEO, Sankar Ramakrishnan, left the company at the end of June.

HIMA is an independent family company run by the fourth generation. Shareholder Ingrid Philipp, nee Hildebrandt (granddaughter of the company founder), and her son Steffen Philipp wish to keep HIMA in family hands in future as well and continue its expansion as a technology leader and provider of solutions in the field of functional safety.

“The new management team will ensure that HIMA continues to be a reliable partner for our customers,” says Philipp. “As shareholders, we are convinced that we will continue to develop the company as an attractive employer for the next generation and for our employees,” he adds.
With effect from 1st July 2021, Jörg de la Motte (51 years of age) will be taking over as CEO and Dr Michael Löbig as CFO (48 years of age). Both worked for many years for companies with a long tradition and have international experience in the field. They will continue leading the HIMA Group on its successful path, increasing efficiency, securing profitability, and upholding family values simultaneously. In addition, it is also essential to further develop the group’s position as a global provider of solutions in the direction of customer-oriented business models.

De la Motte is an industrial engineer and was most recently employed in the Bosch Group at technology specialist Bosch Rexroth. “I am highly familiar with the solutions business from my previous positions,” explains de la Motte. “I would now like to contribute this experience to HIMA. For me, it’s about creating customer-oriented solutions based on an optimum mix of products, services and consulting, which offer genuine added value and thereby generate lasting trust among customers.”

Dr Löbig studied business management and last worked for Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. “Profitability is the fundamental prerequisite for investment and making companies future-proof,” emphasises Löbig. “In this connection, however, it is essential to me that a company also fulfils its corporate social responsibility,” he adds.

“The shareholders wish to thank Mr Ramakrishnan for his many years in the position of CEO of the HIMA Group, in which he actively contributed to the development of HIMA into one of the world’s leading companies for safety solutions. All of us at HIMA wish him all the best for the future,” says Philipp.

The world’s first flying hydrogen boat is a fact! TU Delft students on to world championships

Thursday, 1st July 2021

The TU Delft Solar Boat Team has spent a year working towards their dream: realizing the first flying hydrogen boat with their project Hydro Motion. The 20 students have pulled it off: a seaworthy boat, fully equipped with a hydrogen system and super strong hydrofoils under the boat.

At a speed of 22 kilometers per hour, the hydrofoils make the boat, a trimaran weighing over 1000 kilograms, fly above the water. After the design, production and testing period, it is time for the final phase of this project: it is time to race! The team will compete in the World Championship next week on the open sea in Monaco, which takes place from July 8 to 10.

The students will be going for the win of the challenging long-distance race, competing against other sustainably powered boats. The Hydro Motion flying hydrogen boat is an impressive inspiration for the maritime sector.

Sailing and flying on the long-distance race

Full of courage, the 20 students began the exciting year. It would be a huge job to realize the boat within one year. Rick van Wilsem, Chief Engineer, says enthusiastically, “We succeeded, we can say that with certainty. The entire boat has come out of the water. We are proud to announce with the team that we have made the world’s first foiling hydrogen boat!” From July 8 to 10, the student team will compete for the world title in Monaco. This is because the students are competing in the Open Sea Class of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. They strive to win the long-distance race with the innovative boat. With this, they want to demonstrate the potential of hydrogen-powered boats.

It will be a hugely exciting race where the team will compete against formidable opponents from around the world, students but also companies. Electric and hydrogen-powered boats will compete against each other in three parts: manoeuvrability, the sprint and as the most important race, the long-distance race. The team has set its sights on the latter race. The hydrogen boat has been optimized to take on this challenge: sailing for 6 hours straight on the open sea without refueling. The team that covers the most distance is the winner. The race can be followed through the website and the social media channels of the TU Delft Solar Boat Team. The team is now busy with the final preparations for the world championships in Monaco. For example, a race simulation is being performed, in which everyone can prepare his or her role for the race. The team is really looking forward to it!

The Hydro Motion hydrogen boat

The boat the team has been working on this year is an impressive sight: a seaworthy, over 8-meter-long trimaran equipped with a complete hydrogen system, the most competent electronics, all the components to propel the boat powerfully, and the strongest hydrofoils. Three pilots operate the boat, and it reach speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour. In the students’ boat, hydrogen gas is stored under high pressure in an on-board tank. The fuel cell combines this hydrogen with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. This powers the engine and sails the boat.

But how does this huge hydrogen boat get into the air? Attached underneath the boat are three super strong hydrofoils. These operate below the surface of the water in a similar way to the wings of an aeroplane. At the take-off speed of 22 kilometres per hour, they elevator the weight some 40 centimetres above the waves, a spectacular sight. When the boat’s hulls fly above the water, they experience drastically less resistance than in the water. In this way, the boat uses very little energy. Efficiency is important during the challenging long-distance race that awaits the team in Monaco.

The flying hydrogen boat team’s mission

The TU Delft Solar Boat Team is a multidisciplinary team consisting of 20 students. They all put their studies aside for a year for the Hydro Motion project. Last summer, a close-knit team was formed with whom they work closely together day in and day out, learning a lot and making progress. The students are working on this cool project with an important mission. They want to inspire the maritime industry, currently a large consumer of fossil fuels, towards a green future.

Previously, the team made solar boats, as the name implies. After 15 years, a big step was taken with the transition to hydrogen. With the help of alumni and partner companies, the students took on the new challenge. They switched from generating green energy to storing it. Being able to store green energy on board is an essential step to greening shipping. Especially for larger ships and long distances, there is a need for a medium that can store a lot of green energy in little volume. Hydrogen is a good option for this.

Month: July 2021

Advertise with Seaplant

Join us