Per Anker Hassel

The oil and gas industry invests billions annually in offshore pipelines and risers. DNV GL has launched a recommended practice (RP) that allows operators to choose thermoplastic composite pipes instead of steel or traditional flexibles, enabling substantial cost reductions throughout the project lifecycle. 

“Thermoplastic composite pipes are a new, robust lightweight pipe alternative that will impact field layout, and installation methods and ultimately reduce the cost level,” says Per Anker Hassel, project manager with DNV GL – Oil & Gas.

Thermoplastic composite pipes offer advantages across all stages of the lifecycle of a pipeline or riser:

1. Design: easy-to-tailor strength and good fatigue capacity, sufficient for the deepest waters and resilience to fluids and elevated temperatures

2. Manufacture: cost-effective continuous spoolable lengths and fully bonded, and the  same thermoplastic material can be used for the liner, composite layers and outer coating

3. Installation and decommissioning: cost-effective; lightweight and spoolable

4. Operation: no metal corrosion, high thermal and pressure tolerance and minimal flow resistance

Flexible Pipe inside

DNVGL-RP-F119 Thermoplastic composite pipes (TCP) was developed through a DNV GL-led joint industry project involving 18 companies covering the whole supply chain; from polymer producers, via TCP manufacturers, to oil companies as the end users.

Espen Cramer

“As the recommended practice describes the requirements for flexible TCP for offshore applications, it builds trust and confidence in the safe and reliable use of these pipelines,” states Espen Cramer, global service director with DNV GL – Oil & Gas. “This opens up new, cost-efficient, innovative offshore pipeline solutions, which are of vital importance for reducing overall costs in the industry.”

TCP have a variety of application areas offshore, including: flowlines, risers, jumpers, choke and kill lines, expansion spools, access lines, and chemical injection lines, as well as commissioning and intervention lines.

The offshore oil and gas industry can now benefit from the use of TCP, whose qualification using DNVGL-RP-F119 assures performance, reliability and safety during their lifetime.

The RP targets towards operators, contractors, suppliers and others seeking acceptance for using TCP in offshore operations, and is intended for:

• Suppliers of TCP for offshore operations and suppliers of raw materials for such pipes that are seeking market access for their products
• Operators and contractors seeking acceptance for using TCP in offshore operations
• Suppliers and recipients of TCP which need a common technical basis for contractual reference

The recommended practice can be downloaded here: https://www.dnvgl.com/oilgas/download/download-dnvgl-rp-f119.html

About DNV GL

As of 12 September 2013, DNV and GL have merged to form DNV GL. Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. With our origins stretching back to 1864, our reach today is global. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener.

About DNV GL – Oil & Gas
In the oil and gas industry, GL Noble Denton and DNV’s Oil & Gas business have joined forces to enable safe, reliable and enhanced performance in projects and operations. We provide a broad range of services, such as technical assurance; marine assurance and advisory; risk management advisory and offshore classification. Our 4,000 employees combine industry expertise, multidisciplinary skills and innovation to solve complex challenges for our customers. Together with our partners, we drive the industry forward by developing best practices and standards across the asset lifecycle.

Noboru Ueda

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has issued Statements of Compliance (SoC) to two ship recycling facilities in Gujarat, India, Shree Ram Vessel Scrap Pvt. Ltd (Managing Director: Chetan Patel) and Leela Ship Recycling Pvt. Ltd（Managing Director: Komalkant F. Sharma, verifying that the facilities are in line with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (HKC).

Although the HKC has yet to enter into force, Shree Ram and Leela have both carried out substantial improvements to their facilities in a bid toward safer and greener ship recycling as well as developed the Ship Recycling Facility Plans (SRFPs) required for a competent authority’s certification according to the HKC.

ClassNK reviewed the SRFPs prepared by Shree Ram and Leela, which comply with requirements of the HKC, and confirmed that their ship recycling processes follow their respective SRFPs in addition to conducting on-site inspections before issuing the SoC.

The SoC are issued based on purely technical verifications of the facilities by ClassNK, which has so far done the same for ship recycling facilities around the world. ClassNK will continue encouraging safe and environmentally sound ship recycling in accordance with the HKC through its issuance of SoC to facilities that meet the HKC standards.

International classification society RINA has completely revised and updated its guidance on the Ballast Water Convention and the procurement, installation, operation and certification of Ballast Water Treatment Systems. The guidance is now available to shipowners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers as a Technical Bulletin.

Dino Cervetto, Director of Technical Services, RINA Services, says, “The IMO Ballast Water Convention is almost certainly going to come into force in 2016. Following the recent ratifications if the IMO confirms that the trigger point has been reached, the BWM Convention will enter into force on 24 November 2016. Owners need to make themselves aware of major impending changes to ballast water regulation and RINA’s guidance will help them with that.”

The BWM Convention imposes a challenging ballast water discharge standard. In response to this, a number of technologies have been developed and commercialized by different manufacturers. These systems have to be tested and approved in accordance with the relevant IMO Guidelines.

In addition to the IMO, other national bodies have introduced regulations in response to national concerns. The most influential of these is the United States Coast Guard (USCG), which has established both regulations and guidelines to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species into US waters.

The US and IMO BWM Convention requirements impose technical and operational challenges on shipowners, shipyards and equipment manufacturers.

RINA’s Technical Bulletin “Ballast Water Convention and Ballast Water Treatment Systems Guidance on procurement, installation, operation and certification” gives an overview of the BWM Convention and US requirements and provides detailed information on the implementation dates for both of them, taking into account the USCG official interpretations and clarifications. An extensive part of the Bulletin guides owners and operators in preparing for this implementation, including what to consider when selecting, procuring and installing a ballast water treatment system in order to ensure compliance with the applicable rules and interpretations.

For a copy of the Guidance viewers can e mail dino.cervetto@rina.org  or contact your local RINA office.

RINA Services is the RINA group company which delivers ship classification, and testing, inspection and certification services. www.rina.org

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 330 million Euros in 2014, over 2,750 employees, and 163 offices in 60 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rinagroup.org

The UK Naval Engineering, Science & Technology (UK NEST) forum has awarded 12 scholarships worth £3,000 a year to science and engineering undergraduates. Six of the scholarships are funded through a grant to UK NEST by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

In addition to their scholarships, the students will receive individual mentoring from UK NEST members. This will include site visits, potential for work-placements during vacations and support for project work. The scholarship scheme is now in its fourth year and the number of applicants trebled this year. Over 10% of the applications were from female students and there was an increase in the number of undergraduates reading science.

The scholarship competition required students to submit essays on the impact of autonomous systems of future navies. A panel of experts, drawn from UK NEST, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, judged the essays. Final selection was made after short-listed students attended interviews during which they were required to discuss the role of autonomy. The selection panel remarked on the high-calibre of all students and their excellent appreciation of the role of engineers. This was particularly noteworthy from those students who had spent time working with companies in the naval sector. Successful students were from the universities of Bath, Cambridge, Durham, Loughborough, Newcastle, Oxford, Plymouth, Southampton, Stafford and University of the West of England.

The students attended an award ceremony at a UK NEST Programme Board meeting at BAE Systems Maritime facilities in Barrow-in-Furness where they were presented with scholarship certificates. The students participated in a lively debate about the pros and cons of the naval sector for employment and the cutting edge technology that will underpin future programmes. They also enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the shipyard facilities that are currently building Astute Class submarines.

The students awarded the scholarships are:

• Duncan Boyter, from Leigh, Lancs – Newcastle University
• James Connolly, from Market Drayton, Shropshire – Stafford University
• Lawrence Dubey, from Launceston, Cornwall    - University of West of England, Bristol
• Brad Fowler, from Buxton, Derbyshire    - Cambridge University
• Alex Holt, from Fareham, Hants – University of Southampton
• Amelia Jenkins    - University of Southampton
• Takashi Lawson, from Maidenhead, Berkshire – University of Oxford
• Natalie Mitchell, from Bledlow, Bucks    - Durham University
• James Morrant, from Plymouth – Plymouth University
• Max Nicholson    - University of Southampton
• Adam Triggol, from Wells, Somerset – Loughborough University
• Greg Wintle, from Canterbury, Kent – Bath University

James Connolly, Lawrence Dubey, Alex Holt, Amelia Jenkins, Takashi Lawson and Max Nicholson were selected to be the six Lloyd’s Register Foundation UK NEST scholars.

DNV GL surveyors tested a camera-equipped drone to visually evaluate structural components through video streamed to a tablet. One surveyor operated the drone, while a second checked the video feed in real time.

Hamburg/Gdansk, 17 December 2015 – DNV GL has recently completed several tests using drones to support the hull survey of two vessels. Conducted by the classification team based in Gdansk, Poland, the tests took place at the Remontova shipyard. Using drones to visually check the condition of remote structural components has the potential to significantly reduce survey times and staging costs, while at the same time improving safety for the surveyors.

“We have been looking at ways we could help our customers by accelerating the survey process,” says Cezary Galinski, Manager of the DNV GL – Maritime classification flying squad based in Gdansk. “Camera equipped drones are now much more widely available and affordable, and by using them for a first screening we can identify areas that require closer inspection quickly and without extensive staging, which can be both costly and time-consuming.”

The tests used a camera-equipped drone to visually evaluate structural components through video streamed to a tablet. One surveyor operated the drone, while a second checked the video feed in real time. The stream was also recorded for review and documentation purposes. Equipped with a powerful headlight, the drone was able to produce a video of sufficient quality for initial inspection purposes. In the event any damage is detected, a traditional close-up survey may still be required.

“We used a modified off-the-shelf drone for our tests,” explains Galinski. “Because there are currently no drones formally certified as explosion-proof commercially available, we performed a risk assessment. Of course, before the drone operation started, we also ensured that the cargo tank was gas-free and certified for safe entry.”

“Our next step is to work with a more advanced tailor-made drone in early 2016,” says Galinski. “We are also developing a special guideline for performing drone-based surveys. This could open the way to remote or even autonomous inspections being carried out as part of our survey scheme in the near future,” he notes.

DNV GL has a longstanding R&D programme working on developing advanced inspection technologies, for example the IRIS system which can automatically associate photos onboard a ship with a 3D model of the vessel’s structure. “Using a drone in combination with a system like IRIS could be very beneficial to our customers. We have already demonstrated the ability to place images within a 3D model and furthermore to assess the individual findings. These are the first steps towards an automated survey process which might include using a drone to make the initial survey, taking the images generated and then running them through an algorithm to determine the hull condition,” says Dr. Pierre C. Sames, Director of Group Technology and Research.

Video: DNV GL surveyors have trialed a drone during an inspection. To see some highlights from their video, click here: https://www.dnvgl.com/news/surveys-without-scaffolds-dnv-gl-conducts-drone-inspection-of-ship-tanks-51628

About DNV GL

Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, the company’s 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping their customers in the maritime, oil & gas, energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener. For more information visit www.dnvgl.com/maritime

Noboru Ueda

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has released a summary of the latest industry developments in its annual Technical Bulletin (Vol. 33, 2015). This year’s edition covers a wide variety of topics including marine energy usage, research on fatigue strength and R&D project outcomes.

The opening paper explores the possibilities and challenges of tidal power, offshore wind power, and wave power, and outlines tidal power generation systems around the world. A technical report then takes a broad look at the trend of ocean energy development in Japan and ClassNK’s initiatives related to the certification of renewable ocean energy power generation devices.

As the average size of container ships increases, so does the thickness of the steel that is used and it is commonly known that an increase in plate thickness causes a decrease in fatigue strength. This Bulletin presents studies on fatigue strength in welded joints and the thickness effect of fatigue strength in large-scale-welded models as well as a proposal for a simplified high frequency fatigue damage assessment method for a ship’s welded parts.

This year’s edition also includes outcomes from several R&D projects carried out through ClassNK’s Joint R&D for Industry Program including a study on H₂/CO₂ FPSOs and the use of duplex stainless steel on chemical tankers.

The Bulletin is available for download on the ClassNK website for ‘My Page’ users. Registration for ClassNK’s ‘My Page’ service is easy and free. Simply go to ClassNK’s website at www.classnk.com and click of ‘My Page Login’.

The safety of the seafarer and the maritime environment begins with good design, followed by sound construction and efficient operation. Naval architects and engineers involved in the design, construction and operation of maritime vessels and structures can make a significant contribution to safety and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, with the support of Lloyd’s Register, wishes to recognise the achievement of engineers in improving safety at sea and the protection of the maritime environment. Such recognition serves to raise awareness and promote further improvements.

The Maritime Safety Award is presented annually to an individual, company or organisation that in the opinion of the Institution and Lloyd’s Register is judged to have made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of maritime safety or the protection of the maritime environment. Such contribution may have been made by a specific activity or over a period of time. Individuals may not nominate themselves. Nominations are invited for the 2015 Maritime Safety Award.

Nominations of up to 750 words should describe the nominee’s contribution to:

• safety of life or protection of the maritime environment through novel or improved design, construction or operational procedures of ships or maritime structures
• the advancement of maritime safety through management, regulation, legislation or development of standards, codes of practice or guidance
• research, learned papers or publications in the field of maritime safety
• education, teaching or training in maritime safety issues

The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2016. The Award will be announced at the Institution’s 2016 Annual Dinner.

Nominations may be made by any member of the global maritime community and should be forwarded online at  www.rina.org.uk/MaritimeSafetyAward  or by email toMaritimeSafetyAward@rina.org.uk

Queries about the Award should be forwarded to the Chief Executive at hq@rina.org.uk

James Gaughan

Updated Guide includes latest industry standards.

Charleston – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has opened a new exclusive survey office in Charleston, USA with operations beginning 1 January 2016.

Charleston is a major port city located in South Carolina and home to one of the fastest growing ports in the USA. It has the deepest channels in the southeast region and plans are underway to increase its depth to 52 feet by 2019 to accommodate the ever-increasing size of containerships. Once the project is complete, Charleston will become the deepest harbor on the east coast.

The Charleston office joins an expanding network of ClassNK survey offices along the coast including in New York, Norfolk and Miami.

ClassNK will continue to expand its survey offices worldwide in order to meet its clients’ requests and provide timely and high quality services.

Novorossiysk – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has opened a new exclusive survey office in Novorossiysk, Russia with operations beginning 1 January 2016.

Novorossiysk is a port city in southwest Russia facing the Black Sea. It is the country’s main port on the Black Sea and a leading Russian port for trade with Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean region, Africa and South America.

The Novorossiysk office joins an existing network of survey offices throughout the region including in Constanta (Romania) and Istanbul (Turkey). The strategic positioning of the Novorossiysk office will allow ClassNK to swiftly respond to the recent increase in clients’ needs across the Black Sea and dispatch surveyors without delay.

ClassNK will continue to expand its survey offices worldwide in order to meet its clients’ requests and provide timely and high quality services.

A view from the conference auditorium

Delivering integrated, dependable, safe and reliable systems was the overall theme of MECSS 2015, the Marine Electrical and Control Systems Safety Conference, held in Bristol, UK at the end of November, which attracted delegates from Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, UK, and USA.

Four topics shaped MECSS 2015 – prominent hazards; emerging technology; whole system verification, integration and regulation; and operation, maintenance and training/human factors. These led Kevin Daffey, MECSS 2015 Conference Chairman, and Global Head of Electrical Power and Control Systems, Rolls-Royce plc to explain: “For me the key takeaway, from all the papers and our discussions, is that for all aspects of equipment and systems design in marine electrical and control applications, it is important that the requirements are clearly defined, captured and understood by all stakeholders upfront, so that the best design solution can be achieved to address the operational and safety needs.

“The statement made, during MECSS, that security (cyber or otherwise) and safety aspects should be considered together, also struck me as a key item for us all to consider in our system designs going forward.”

Organised by FIGS Events Limited on behalf of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), MECSS 2015 had Lloyd’s Register as its Principal Sponsor; GE Marine was Associate Sponsor; and the two-day event was supported by Green4Sea; Safety4Sea; The IET; and Trinity House.

Copies of the proceedings automatically reach all speakers and delegates and are available via the IMarEST website.  The planning of the next event in the series, MECSS 2017, is already beginning. It will be held in the Autumn of 2017 almost certainly in Glasgow.

The Chairman’s summary
Looking back, Kevin Daffey gives a summary of the conference:

“Moritz Krijgsman, from HyPS Hybrid Power Systems in the Netherlands delivered a keynote speech that set several challenges from his unique perspective supplying complex and novel hybrid power and propulsion systems for high value yachts which these themes attempted to answer

• Power electronics particularly EMI and common mode currents
• Batteries – how they can be controlled and what new hazards they present
• DC technology – how to handle faults and stability
• Water cooled equipment
• ICT – cybersecurity and wireless devices.

• The cyber security risk in marine is increasing as more systems are automated and connectivity to shore increased
• Safety critical systems that are not secure are not safe.“However the good news was that securing control systems can be challenging but by putting in place the correct processes and cultural changes the threat is diminished.

Noboru Ueda

ClassNK releases amendments to class rules including structural strength requirements of container carriers

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has announced that it released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships on 25 December 2015, including structural strength requirements of container carriers.

In response to a large container ship casualty in June 2013, ClassNK established The Investigative Panel on Large Container Ship Safety, which comprised of shipbuilders, shipping companies, and people with relevant knowledge and experience, to investigate the possibility of casualty occurrence and the structural safety of large container carriers. The results from the investigation and ClassNK’s action plan were released in the Investigation Report on Structural Safety of Large Container Ships in September 2014.

On the other hand, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Committee on Large Container Ship Safety released recommendations of requirements for large container ships in its Final Report in March 2015.

Furthermore, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) adopted the new Longitudinal Strength Standard for Container Ships (Unified Requirement S11A) and Functional Requirements on Load Cases for Strength Assessment of Container Ships by Finite Element Analysis (Unified Requirement S34).

In line with its action plan for rule amendments and the recommendations by the MLIT Committee, ClassNK has updated its independent longitudinal strength requirements in consideration of the effects of whipping*, and the effects of sea water pressure and container loads. The amendments also reflect the new IACS Unified Requirements (UR) S11A and S34.These amendments will apply to container ships contracted for construction on or after 1 April 2016, three months before the application of the IACS UR S11A and S34.

Mr. Yasushi Nakamura, ClassNK Representative Director and Executive Vice President said: “The development and application of the container ship rule amendments reflects our firm commitment to providing the industry with the appropriate technical standards. The new rules will contribute to even safer ship building and design and we will continue devoting our effort to further improving safety in the maritime industry.”

The amendments also include requirements related to the following:

• Propeller shaft and stern tube shaft surveys
• Welding procedures and related specifications
• Scope of application of fire-resistant cables
• Fire safety measures for vehicle carriers transporting motor vehicles powered by compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas

* Transient elastic vibration of the ship hull girder caused by wave impact loads on the hull such as slamming.

One of Alert! covers

Just over 12 years ago The Nautical Institute launched its international human element bulletin, Alert! The first issue came out in October 2003, as seafarers were getting to grips with new technology and automation. It was becoming clear that more attention needed to be paid to human-centred design and human factors engineering as well as seafarer training.

Since 2003, there has been a transformation in the industry’s understanding of the human element in ship design, construction, management and operation. Alert! has played its part in that sea change.

Former Lloyd’s Register (LR) CEO Richard Sadler noted, “Every article in every issue over the years has dealt with the fundamentals of the human factor and increased the awareness of every reader. I am sure we could find evidence that this publication has directly or indirectly saved lives and accidents.”

Alert! has won numerous industry plaudits, including the Seatrade Award in 2004, the RINA Ship Safety Award 2005 and the 2012 Lloyd’s List Global Award for training. Thanks to Lloyd’s Register Foundation sponsorship, some 2.5 million paper copies have been distributed worldwide.

Publication of issue 40 marks a significant milestone, because it is the final Alert! bulletin. This special edition includes articles from some of the key professionals who have influenced the project in one way or another. The centre spread summarises the many human element issues that need to be considered in the design and operation of a ship.

Like the previous 39 issues, number 40 has been edited by Commodore David Squire CBE FNI FCMI who is a leading human element adviser to The Nautical Institute.

This is not the end of the Alert! Project, but rather the end of the beginning, for this huge body of knowledge is available as an online resource. A legacy of 350 articles, 21 instructional videos and 250 papers and presentations can all be accessed at http://www.he-alert.org/. Further articles will be added to the website in the coming months and years.

Alert! project patron Julian Parker OBE FNI emphasised: “The leadership challenge now is to embed this rich human element resource more deeply into our industry’s culture.”

Paying tribute to the bulletin’s role in contributing to a safe, secure, efficient and environmentally friendly shipping industry, Efthimios Mitropoulos KCMG, IMO Secretary-General Emeritus, said: “Alert! has rendered valuable services to shipping.”

The Alert! Project – launched in October 2003 – was set up to improve the awareness of the human element in the maritime industry. This is a Nautical Institute project, sponsored by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

The Nautical Institute is the international representative body for maritime professionals and others with an interest in nautical matters. It provides a wide range of services to enhance the professional standing and knowledge of members who are drawn from all sectors of the maritime world.

Founded in 1972, it is a thriving international professional body, with over 50 branches worldwide and some 7,000 members in more than 110 countries.

Lloyd’s Register Foundation helps to protect life and property by supporting engineering-related education, public engagement and the application of research.

www.lrfoundation.org.uk

Lloyd’s Register Foundation (Reg. No. 1145988) is a charity registered in England and Wales, and owner of the Lloyd’s Register Group. Registered Office: 71 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 4BS, United Kingdom.

Parties collaborate to improve efficiency, compliance.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime (left) with Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping Limited.

Shanghai/Hamburg, 11 January 2016. ESL Shipping’s new dual-fuelled bulk carriers will not only be the first large LNG-fuelled bulkers, but the first vessels constructed to the new DNV GL rule set. Due for delivery in early 2018, the two highly efficient 25,600 dwt vessels are optimized for trading in the Baltic Sea region.

“It is fitting that the first vessels that will be constructed to the most forward looking set of classification rules are themselves at the cutting edge of maritime innovation,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime. “We have created these rules to be ready for the future and we have long pioneered the use of LNG as a ship fuel. To see these two come together in a double first for the industry is a remarkable moment. We look forward to working with ESL, Deltamarin, Sinotrans & CSC Qingshan Shipyard and all the project partners to make this project a success.”

“We are proud to be the world’s first shipyard applying the new and innovative DNV GL rules for a newbuilding, just two months after DNV GL has launched its new rules in October this year,” said Liu Guangyao, Deputy General Manager of Sinotrans & CSC at the Marintec China Trade Fair recently. “We appreciate the support that DNV GL has committed to provide on the project during both the design and construction phase, especially in a project with many advanced extra class notations. We are looking forward to a close cooperation and a successful delivery.”

Featuring the Deltamarin B.Delta26LNG design, the two highly efficient ships will feature dual-fuel main and auxiliary machinery, resulting in CO2 emissions per ton of cargo transported half that of present vessels. The bulk carriers will be built to the new DNV GL rules for general dry cargo ships with DNV GL ice class 1A and will have type C LNG tanks of approximately 400 m3 capacity enabling bunkering at several terminals within the Baltic region. The B.Delta26LNG has a shallow draft of maximum 10 m, an overall length of 160 m, and a breadth of 26 m.

“We are very excited to have been selected to take part in this ground breaking project,” said Morten Løvstad, Business Director Bulk Carriers at DNV GL. “Being asked to work with such an innovative team as the classification partner is a testament to the creativity and hard work that so many colleagues at DNV GL have invested in the new rule set. These vessels will set new standards for efficiency and environmental performance. They are an important step forward in showing how shipping can be a force for sustainability today and in the future.”

About DNV GL

Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, the company’s 15,000 professionals are dedicated to helping their customers in the maritime, oil & gas, energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener. For more information visit www.dnvgl.com/maritime

Noboru Ueda

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has released its Guidelines for Use of Structural Adhesives for the shipbuilding industry.

Compared with other joining methods such as welding, structural adhesives are easy to construct and control. In addition, because they can be used without the need for fire, they are used in a wide variety of fields including the railway and automobile industries, and to connect heat-resisting tiles of space rockets.

On the other hand, the use of structural adhesives in the shipbuilding industry on ships other than those using reinforced plastic has not been advancing. The application of structural adhesives is anticipated to streamline workflow, increase workplace safety at shipyards, and reduce vessel weight. In light of these anticipated benefits, industry requests were made for guidelines to facilitate their wider use.

In response to these requests, ClassNK established the Committee of the Development of Guidelines for Use of Structural Adhesives in 2015 in cooperation with relevant institutions and organizations to discuss the necessary requirements. After careful deliberation, the Committee decided that structural adhesives could be widely used with a focus on joints of materials excluding major structural parts of the hull and marine equipment fixing. The necessary requirements were compiled and the Guidelines for Use of Structural Adhesives were developed.

The Guidelines for Use of Structural Adhesives are available for download on the ClassNK website for ‘My Page’ users. Registration for ClassNK’s ‘My Page’ service is easy and free. Simply go to ClassNK’s website at www.classnk.com and click on ‘My Page Login’.

Noboru Ueda

Tokyo – Leading classification society ClassNK (Chairman and President: Noboru Ueda) has announced the release of its new structural design support system PrimeShip-HULL for Container Carriers to correspond with its latest rule amendments.

To promote container carrier safety, ClassNK released amendments to its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships on 25 December 2015. The amendments, based on findings from ClassNK’s investigation into a large container carrier casualty, include updates to independent longitudinal strength requirements and reflect the new IACS Unified Requirements (UR) S11A and S34. These amendments will apply to container carriers contracted for construction on or after 1 April 2016, three months before the application of the IACS UR S11A and S34.

In a further demonstration of its unwavering commitment to safety, ClassNK developed PrimeShip-HULL for Container Carriers to correspond with its latest rule amendments. The powerful total design support tool further increases the efficiency and quality of container carrier structural design and was developed based on PrimeShip-HULL (HCSR) which supports the safe design of bulk carriers and oil tankers compliant with the IACS Common Structural Rules for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers (CSR BC & OT).

Key features of PrimeShip-HULL for Container Carriers include:

• Rule calculation software capable of quickly performing longitudinal strength assessments on cross sections, including the bench structures specific to container carriers. Such assessments may be performed on cargo holds, engine rooms, and the fore and aft parts of the ship.

• Direct strength calculation software capable of efficiently performing yield strength and buckling strength assessments of the analysis on holds. With the aim of reducing man-hours, the system can propose appropriate reinforcement plans based on sensitivity analysis and has a strong data linkage function with NAPA’s 3D CAD ship design software NAPA Steel.

• Direct strength calculation software that takes into consideration the effects of whipping*, sea pressure and container loads in line with ClassNK’s independent longitudinal strength requirements.

As a non-profit society that is dedicated to supporting the advancement of the maritime industry, ClassNK offers PrimeShip-HULL for Container Carriers to all of its clients completely free of charge.

* Transient elastic vibration of the ship hull girder caused by wave impact loads on the hull such as slamming.

Lloyd’s Register, sponsors of Sailors’ Society’s Woolly Hat Week, will be donning their woolly hats and holding a #HatHero collection to raise funds for seafarers and their families.

Maritime charity supporters encouraged to be a #HatHero in support of seafarers in need

Sailors’ Society is encouraging supporters to be a #HatHero this Woolly Hat Week to raise awareness of the challenges seafarers face daily and to help seafarers in need.

Sponsored by Lloyd’s Register, this Woolly Hat Week will be held 14-21 February. You can lend your support by wearing a woolly hat to work, donating to Sailors’ Society and tweeting a selfie to #HatHero @SailorsSociety.

“Seafarers can be away from home for up to a year at a time braving freezing temperatures and dangerous seas to deliver 90 per cent of our goods. So, in our eyes, seafarers are real heroes. By joining in Woolly Hat Week, you can be a hat hero and show your support for seafarers around the world,” said Claire Heath, Sailors’ Society corporate and trust manager.

Every year, Sailors’ Society gives out thousands of woolly hats knitted by volunteers to visiting seafarers.

Claire continued, “As well as keeping their heads warm at sea, the gift of a hat means a great deal to someone away from their loved ones for months on end. We’re hoping that Woolly Hat Week will inspire people to have fun, as well as spread the word and involvement in our cause.”

Woolly Hat Week sponsors Lloyd’s Register will be holding their own collection and urges other shipping companies to do the same.

Nick Brown, Lloyd’s Register’s Marine Chief Operating Officer (COO), who is running the 2016 London Marathon in support of Sailors’ Society, said, “We’re delighted to be sponsoring Woolly Hat Week, particularly for a cause so close to our hearts. Lloyd’s Register staff are holding their own Woolly Hat day collection and hope others in the industry will join in the fun and do the same. It’s a simple way to make a big difference to seafarers in need.”

For more information, to donate, or for hints and tips to make your Woolly Hat Week go without a hitch, visit www.sailors-society.org/hat-hero . You can also donate by texting HATS16 £3 to 70070.

About Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global engineering, technical and business services organisation wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a UK charity dedicated to research and education in science and engineering. Founded in 1760 as a marine classification society, LR now operates across many industry sectors, with over 9,000 employees in 78 countries.

LR has a long-standing reputation for integrity, impartiality and technical excellence. Our compliance, risk and technical consultancy services give clients confidence that their assets and businesses are safe, sustainable and dependable. Through our global technology centres and research network, LR is at the forefront of understanding the application of new science and technology to future-proof our clients’ businesses.

Remi Eriksen, DNV GL Group President and CEO.

Gothia Power, a leading Swedish power system analysis company, has been acquired by DNV GL. “This company’s expertise and services are a perfect match for DNV GL’s existing portfolio in the renewable power, transmission and distribution industries. I am therefore happy to announce this acquisition, which establishes DNV GL’s technical and strategic power system services in the Swedish and Baltic energy markets and further strengthens our leading position worldwide,” says DNV GL President and CEO Remi Eriksen.

Gothia Power’s 28 power system experts work out of offices in Gothenburg, Malmö, Västerås and Oskarshamn. The company offers advanced analysis and measurements for power production, power transmission and power consumption. “Sweden is one of the most interesting energy markets in Europe. It has a strong and innovative industrial base, especially within power and transmission. In addition, Sweden’s power system is tightly integrated with the rest of the Nordics and Baltics, both physically and through the Nord Pool power exchange. This is one of the reasons why DNV GL views Sweden as a strategic growth market,” Eriksen explains.

Fredrik Sjögren, CEO of Gothia Power

Fredrik Sjögren, CEO of Gothia Power, says: “It is with great anticipation that we have now concluded the acquisition process with DNV GL. Together, I see many advantages; our unique competence in power system analysis can reach new customers in a global market and at the same time we see great opportunities to strengthen our services to existing customers in Sweden and the wider Nordics. DNV GL’s strategy to address the energy trilemma of reliability, affordability and sustainability in the energy industry is aligned with the technological and business-related opportunities we see in the future.”

DNV GL provides advanced technical advisory services worldwide throughout the electricity value chain as well as certification and verification of power system technologies. As the world is transitioning into a low carbon future, these services are essential for nations making strategic decisions about their power market policies and energy future.

Johan Sandberg, Country Manager for Sweden at DNV GL – Energy

“We are very pleased to join forces with Gothia Power. This company has built a fantastic market position and competence base during the past decade, focused around our own core values of quality, integrity and sustainability,” notes Johan Sandberg, Country Manager for Sweden at DNV GL – Energy. “Sweden is facing challenging and complex decisions around its energy future and we will now be able to offer this market, and the other Nordic and Baltic countries, our most advanced power system services through an established and highly respected group of specialists.”

About DNV GL

Driven by its purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. We provide classification and technical assurance along with software and independent expert advisory services to the maritime, oil & gas and energy industries. We also provide certification services to customers across a wide range of industries. Operating in more than 100 countries, our 15,000 professionals are dedicated to helping our customers make the world safer, smarter and greener. www.dnvgl.com

DNV GL in the Energy industry
In DNV GL we unite the strengths of DNV, KEMA, Garrad Hassan and GL Renewables Certification. DNV GL’s 2,500 energy experts support customers around the globe in delivering a safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply. We deliver world-renowned testing, certification and advisory services to the energy value chain including renewables and energy efficiency. Our expertise spans onshore and offshore wind power, solar, conventional generation, transmission and distribu­tion, smart grids, and sustainable energy use, as well as energy markets and regulations. Our testing, certification and advisory services are delivered independent from each other. Learn more at www.dnvgl.com/energy

About Gothia Power
Gothia Power AB is a highly specialised advisory firm in the power system analysis field. The employees are of a high academic pedigree, with half of the staff holding a Ph.D or research background. The company, with 28 employees, is mainly active in Sweden, the Nordics and the Baltics. The service portfolio is focused on advanced theoretical analysis and measurements in power production, power transmission and power consumption.