Page 10: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2001)

L nvestment in Design manager drawn from GL's technical research domain, Pierre Sames, has been appointed to head up the operation.

The systematic collection and promo- tion of ideas will feed into the society's research and development (R&D) endeavors. GL has always taken a prag- matic line towards R&D, in looking towards projects that can deliver tangi- ble benefits in terms of services, tech- nology and products. One of the tasks of the innovation manager will be to better ensure that ideas are relevant to the soci- ety's more focused approach in expand- ing or establishing competence in select- ed areas.

Although the innovation management process was only set in train towards the end of last year, the society collected about 90 ideas in the 12 months to April this year, about 20 percent of which emanated from its field services. A total of eight proposals or concepts were sub- sequently investigated, resulting in the uptake of two as development projects since last October.

It is estimated that around a third of the ideas were rejected outright for being outside the bounds of GL's actual or intended areas of activity.

The ideas management framework accordingly addressed the perceived requirement for a systematic, internal approach to the collection of ideas for services and products, and to the task of identifying those, which ally with the society's strategic development objec- tives. The system that has been laid down opens up possibilities whereby the proposer of the idea might come to take an active role in the development process, if the project is authorized.

The very fact that a process has been implemented to give individuals a voice and a hearing over such matters is regarded as positive from a staff motiva- tion standpoint. It opens up the catch- ment for feedback, potentially stimu- lates more ideas, and helps provide a basis for a more creative organization, believes GL management. "With the new system, I have the possibility to catch ideas that might otherwise be lost," confirmed Mr. Sames. GL annu- ally spends an estimated $8.4 - $12.6 million on R&D, with the larger projects sponsored either by the European Com- mission or the Federal Ministry of Edu- cation and Research (BMBF).

LR Report: 75 New LNG Ships

Needed For The U.S.

Lloyd's Register (LR) said that between 27 and 75 new LNG ships will be needed to meet the demand for LNG over the next decade in the U.S. market alone. Results of an extensive study into the matter were released at released the LNG conference, "The role of LNG in North American and Caribbean gas supply in Washington D.C."

Many factors have been considered by

LR in its forecast of the LNG market, including consideration of replacement of aging existing ships, take-up of excess capacity at existing import termi- nals and a rash of new import terminal projects that are likely to succeed.

The U.S. market finds itself short of energy. Gas is the clean burning fuel-of- choice for the electricity-generating plants mooted for construction in the

U.S. over the next decade. LNG is being targeted to provide a large proportion of this demand. This dictates new import, gasification and distribution facilities within the U.S. To serve these facilities, ships to transport the LNG are a pre-req- uisite since the most suitable exploitable sources are remote from the U.S. main- land.

Internationally Recognized for our versatility and commitment to quality in building a full range of vessels at competitive prices.

BOX 698, WHEATLEY, ONTARIO, CANADA NOP 2P0

Phone 519-825-4691 / Fax 519-825-7572

Email: [email protected]

BUILDERS OF:

PATROL BOATS

CREW BOATS / SUPPLY VESSELS

PASSENGER FERRIES &

SIGHTSEEING BOATS OF ALL TYPES

CAR FERRIES

FISHING VESSELS

RESEARCH VESSELS

TUG BOATS

HOVERCRAF

MOTOR YACHTS

FIREBOATS

SPECIALIZED GOVERNMENT

VESSELS OF ALL TYPES

SPECIALIZING IN STEEL AND

ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION

Ksmnt,.

Circle 237 on Reader Service Card www.maritimereporterinfo.com

Sasakura developed new generation of

Plate Type Fresh Water Generator.

AQUARIO

Capacity range: 3-40t/day

No Front Cover!!

The deletion of front cover provides:- * Easier disassembly and reassembly of

Plate Heat Exchanger. * No corrosion of Frame, Guide bar, End cover and

Bolts & Nuts because they do not contact with seawater. * Minimal installation and maintenance. J

Type:EX-2 Sasakura provides Water Makers of the Submerged Tube Type, Multiple Effect Type, Two Stage & Multi Stage FlashType, Reverse Osmosis Type arid Vacuum Vapor Compression

Type for various applications.

ENGINEERING CO.,LTD. 7-32, Takejima 4-chome, Nishiyodogawa-ku,Osaka 555-0011, Japan Tel:+81-6-6473-2134 Fax:+81-6-6473-5540

E-mail: [email protected] website : http://www.sasakura.co.jp

HONG KONG : Sasakura International (H.K.) Co.,Ltd. Tel:+852-2850-6139 Fax:+852-2850-5259

Circle 267 on Reader Service Card 10 www.maritimereporterinfo.com www.maritimetoday.com Maritime Reporter & Engineering News