Page 26: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (March 2014)

26 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MARCH 2014

SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

The internet has simplifi ed many pro- cesses, from enabling fast and cheap worldwide communication to the control of complex industrial plants from the distance. In this respect, the internet also is suited to take over tasks that previ- ously were only possible with telemetry, and later with the use of satellites. The electrical power supply of a ship with all services, including the electrical propul- sion is an ideal fi eld for digital diagnosis computers, for example, as they are pres- ently developed by “E-MS e-powered marine solutions,” a young company in

Hamburg.

The starting point has been the diesel- electric power supply and propulsion system for 30 inland waterway cruise vessels an a large megayacht. These in- stallations work with a unique principle, without synchronization of the generat- ing sets, making a large part the switch- boards dispensable. The generating sets will run with variable speed, for example in the range of the best effi ciency of the internal combustion engine.

To this end, it is necessary to analyze the operating conditions of all electri- cal services continuously to achieve the lowest possible fuel-consumption and emissions. Here, the diagnosis computer developed by E-MS, whose market in- troduction took place under the short- hand symbol “E-RD,” are put into action (RD = “Remote Diagnostics”).

With the computer the data can be evaluated directly, but the real value of the data is in aggregate, stored and eval- uated for months if not years, fl eetwide.

Of course the onboard computing can only do so much, and regularly the data must be compressed and sent ashore via the internet. The end goal is long-term fl eet fuel and emission optimization and the resulting cost savings.

Transas Adds Piracy

Information Overlay

Transas Marine has added a Piracy

Information Overlay (PIO) to its Navi- gation product portfolio. The piracy overlay is integrated into the Transas

FleetView Online SSAS-tracking soft- ware and Navi-Planner 4000 voyage planning software. The piracy data is provided by Bergen Risk Solutions and is based on intelligence from several recognized and authoritative sources on sea piracy. The service allows users to overlay piracy information onto exist- ing data and provides them with up to date information, essential for planning avoidance measures when transiting a potential piracy area. This means that ac- tive decisions can be made during voy- age planning or fl eet monitoring to avoid dangerous areas. Piracy information is displayed in different colors depending on the type of incident. www.transas.com

Mike Foster

Vice President, General Manager [email protected] (401) 226-1042 cell

Kyryll Karayev P.E.

Repair Yard Manager, Dry Dock Master [email protected] (401) 639-9325 cell

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Vessel Advisory

Solutions

NAPA and ABB will cooperate to offer the NAPA Loading Computer and the electronic NAPA Logbook. The products will be offered under ABB’s Vessel In- formation and Control (VICO) portfolio as part of a complete advisory solution devised to optimize ship effi ciency. The

NAPA Loading Computer undertakes a wide range of calculations related to hydrostatics, intact stability and ship longitudinal strength. The system is in- stalled onboard 1,400 ships, including tankers and passenger vessels. The

NAPA Logbook offers traditional logbook functionality in an electronic format.

Its combination of common data stor- age, automation interfaces, reminders, guidelines and checklists is designed to prevent misuse. Customers benefi t via reduced workload for personnel onboard ship and the minimized potential for hu- man error. ABB’s Vessel Information and

Control (VICO) portfolio for marine appli- cations offers a broad range of advisory and fl eet management reporting solu- tions, drawing on shipboard sensors and associated instrumentation to deliver integrated automation, vessel manage- ment and control. www.napa.fi

SOFTWARE SHORTS

Remote Diagnosis

The benefi ts of the use of the diagnosis computer developed by E-MS reach from simple monitoring to the optimized operation of a complete power supply and propulsion system.

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