Electrical Equipment News

Timo Alho's doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, introduces a pioneering power management strategy that prevents ship blackouts.In Alho's management principle, the vessel's electrical equipment is capable of independently supporting the ship's grid without centralized commands. This makes the vessel's power systems significantly more fault-tolerant than before.The maritime industry's green transition is driving vessels towards modern direct current (DC) networks, but the control strategies for them have lagged behind.

Seatrium Limited signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Karpowership, a global energy company and the owner, operator, and builder of the world’s largest Powership (floating power plant) fleet.Under the LOI, Seatrium will carry out the integration of four New Generation Powerships, with an option for two additional units. Karpowership will deliver the hulls and key equipment for the four Powerships to Seatrium Singapore, where integration works will begin in the first quarter of 2027.

ABB has secured a large order by Seatrium, a global provider of marine engineering solutions based in Singapore, for the supply of electrical equipment and automation solutions on a new generation of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels for operator Petrobras.The two vessels, P-84 and P-85, will be deployed in the Atapu and Sépia fields, approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.ABB will design and construct the topside and hullside electrical equipment…

U.S. manufacturing contracted for a third straight month in May and suppliers took the longest time in nearly three years to deliver inputs amid tariffs, potentially signaling looming shortages of some goods.President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy again dominated commentary from manufacturers in the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) survey published on Monday, and suppliers were passing on the import duties to customers. That challenges the Trump administration's…

New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods plunged by the most in six months in April amid mounting uncertainty over the economy because of tariffs, suggesting business spending on equipment weakened at the start of the second quarter.The report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday also showed shipments of these goods falling last month. Economists said President Donald Trump's flip-flopping on import duties was making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead. That…

Vard has secured a new contract with Taiwanese-based Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) for the design and construction of one Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV), a sister vessel to the two CSOVs ordered in May 2024.After sealing the contract for two CSOVs in May 2024, Taiwanese DFO is adding a third vessel of the same design, the VARD 4 39.The design is the result of collaboration between DFO and Vard.The design gives a highly versatile all-round platform for sustainable wind…

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has published a comprehensive report, aimed at addressing the critical issue of transporting electric vehicles (EVs) on Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels.The report, titled Safe Carriage of Electric Vehicles, offers detailed insights into the characteristics of EV fires and provides a framework for considerations necessary to supplement the safe carriage of EVs.The report further highlights the necessity of measures such as early detection…

Technology group Wärtsilä has been included as an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe (DJSI) for the ninth consecutive time.The company was assessed based on its 2023 performance and was ranked within the top four per cent of its peers in the IEQ Machinery and Electrical Equipment sector with a total score of 62/100. The results were announced on 13 December 2024.“Receiving this recognition for the ninth time in a row underlines our holistic approach and long-term commitment to sustainability as a company.

BNS has acquired Carolina Power Systems (CPS), a provider of marine electrical equipment to the military shipbuilding industry, which will bolster its marine power capabilities.With the acquisition of CPS, combined with that of Cadick Corporation, BNS now offers full lifecycle solutions, services and maintenance support for military and commercial across the marine electrical system spectrum.CPS provides switchboards, motor controllers and other control and monitoring equipment for installation on U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships.

DNV has issued advice on current developments in Port State Control (PSC) inspections and focus campaigns in China, Australia, and the US. The advice includes:The China Maritime Safety Administration (China MSA) has implemented a stricter monitoring of vessels meeting any of the following criteria:• Vessel has been detained twice within the last 12 months, irrespective of the place of detention.• Vessel has been penalized twice in 12 consecutive months for serious violations, such as: insufficient manning…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has signed a contract with an undisclosed Taiwanese customer for the design and construction of two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs).The customer has appointed VARD to design and construct two CSOVs’ of VARD 4 39 design.This is a new design from VARD, said to be highly versatile all-round platform for sustainable windfarm support operations both as a service vessel for the wind farms and for the building and installation phase.The first vessel will be built…

Insurance broker Marsh and Lloyd's of London underwriters have expanded a marine war insurance program backed by Ukraine from grain shipments to all non-military cargo, such as iron ore and steel, Marsh said on Friday.Marsh, Lloyd's and Ukrainian state banks launched an initial program in November to cut the cost of claims for damage to ships and crew transporting grain through the Black Sea corridor, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago."Expanding insurance to cover ships carrying all non-military cargo is extremely important for Ukraine…

The French shipyard Chantiers de Atlantique has selected Ingeteam to provide the electric propulsion for the luxury sailing ship Orient Express Silenseas.The ship has solid sails which make it the largest sailing ship in the world. It is one of two vessels that will emulate the famous Orient Express train, enabling more ecological and sustainable navigation via the latest marine technology.The ships belong to Accor Group under the Orient Express brand, and Ingeteam will supply two motors to drive the main propulsion plus the three transverse thrusters…

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has completed a major A$15.5 million two-year project to repair and rejuvenate essential aids to navigation (AtoNs) off the coast of Port Hedland, Western Australia.AMSA commissioned the works following Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica in 2019, which caused significant damage to electrical equipment, access ladders, platforms, day markers and fenders.AMSA has replaced the top of 13 AtoNs, installed new platforms and above water pile sections…

With the completion of shore power installation on Volendam, Holland America Line's entire fleet is now shore power-capable. Volendam completed installation in Vancouver, British Columbia, and connected to the port's shoreside electricity for the first full day on Sept. 27.The cruise line began converting ships to have shore power connectivity in 2006 with its four Vista Class ships; its Pinnacle Class ships (Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam and Rotterdam) all were built with shore power systems installed…

Zero emission is a nice idea, but who’s going to pay for it? The U.S. EPA is readying big money for zero emission ports.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working on two high-profile port initiatives that it hopes will move the needle in a big way towards U.S. ports’ zero emissions (ZE) operations and clean air goals.The first initiative started last May when EPA published a request for information and comments that would help the Agency develop Guidance it could use to evaluate funding requests for projects for zero-emission vehicles, port equipment and related infrastructure.

The Norwegian government is providing financial support for the construction of three cargo ships that will run emissions-free along the Norwegian coast.Enova, a Norwegian government enterprise promoting the use of clean energy, said it is providing NOK 130 million to Skarv Shipping Solutions AS for the acquisition of three cargo ships that will run on batteries, ammonia engines, rotor sails and energy-saving hull design. The vessels will potentially have a 90% reduction in emissions compared to similar traditional ships."Enova supports those who go ahead.

On January 13, two cruise ships plugged into the newly completed shore power expansion at the Port of San Diego cruise ship terminal for the first time – a doubling of the previous capacity.The Disney Wonder and the Insignia were able to simultaneously use shore power rather than running their diesel engines while at berth. Previously, only one cruise vessel could plug in.The recent addition of the new station along with the initial one installed in 2010 make it possible for the…

Norway's Aker Solutions will upgrade Altera Infrastructure's Petrojarl  Knarr floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) to be redeployed at Equinor's Rosebank field development, offshore the UK. Petrojarl Knarr was built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea and delivered in 2014. It was operating on the Knarr field offshore Norway from 2015 until May 2022.The development concept for the Rosebank field includes the redeployment and reuse of the existing Petrojarl Knarr FPSO owned by Altera.Under a 'substantial' contract with Altera…

An electrical generator set (genset) failure and subsequent loss of steering led to the grounding of a towing vessel near Greenville, Miss., the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.The towing vessel Marquette Warrior was pushing 35 loaded dry cargo barges down the Lower Mississippi River on Nov. 21, 2021, when several barges grounded on the riverbank. Four barges were damaged, including a hopper barge with bean cargo that partially sank. None of the nine people on board the Marquette Warrior were injured.

One of its most significant initiatives in the Japanese shipping industry's push toward net zero is e5 Lab Inc., a consortium comprising Asahi Tanker Co., Ltd., Exeno Yamamizu Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corporation, with the purpose of developing renewably powered commercial ships.e5 Lab  recently unveiled ROBOSHIP – a design for a biomass fuel carrier, powered by a fully standardized, electric propulsion system to attain zero emission operations at harbour.

As a marine engineer focused on vessel design, I’ve watched the narrative on battery-electric and battery-hybrid vessels evolve from skepticism, to curiosity, to genuine acceptance in just a few short years. The passenger transportation sector, in particular, has been quick to embrace the concept of vessel electrification as a means of improving economics and reducing emissions. This makes sense as many ferry operations are excellent candidates for battery and hybrid-electric power due to their proximity to urban electrical grids…

Danish offshore energy industry services firms Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime have been awarded a contract to deliver substations for Dominion Energy's Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project in the U.S.The contract comprises three 880 MW offshore substations, which will be established in 2021-2025 and commissioned in 2026."The three substations will constitute the backbone of the electrical infrastructure for the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. The contract is Bladt Industries’ and Semco Maritime’s third offshore substation project in the U.S.