News

Digitalization, big data, and new technologies such as artificial intelligence are key in enabling the post-COVID recovery, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim told a webinar (28 July) on Digital Connectivity and Data Standards. He highlighted IMO’s key role in ensuring shipping can embrace the digital revolution – while ensuring safety, environmental protection as well as cyber security. “Digitalization and new technologies will also be the key to allowing standardization and therefore enhancing the efficiency of shipping,” Mr. Lim said. The need for standardization was also highlighted by IMO’s Facilitation Head, Julian Abril, who noted the mandatory requirement for electronic data exchange in the Facilitation Convention, effective since April 2019. Discussions are currently underway towards making a single maritime window mandatory – so that all data for arrival and departure of ships is submitted through a single point and transmitted to the relevant agencies involved. More information: IMO News

ABS has developed detailed practical guidance to assist offshore operators navigating Brazil’s unique regulatory environment. “Practical Considerations for Regulatory Compliance in Brazil” is designed to help floating production installations operating in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters comply with a series of requirements that are specific and set forth by multiple local agencies. “Practical Considerations for Regulatory Compliance in Brazil” will be made available to support ABS FPSO clients from the early stages of design. The ABS BRZ and BRZ+ notations provide shipyards, construction yards, designers, owners and operators with a design and construction-focused approach to help achieve compliance with domestic regulations for FPSOs and FPUs operating in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters.

An estimated 60-70 percent of the merchant fleet is yet to have a ballast water treatment system installed. Industry experience so far gives a clear warning of the pitfalls. Albion Marine offers end-to-end solutions, managing all aspects of the project from selection and procurement of the suitable system to detailed engineering design, completion of modifications, installation, training and support. We maintain an extensive technical and commercial database of BWTS currently available. Our team closely collaborates with a number of BWTS suppliers. More information: The Motor Ship

Albion Marine Solutions has developed its own proprietary design of a zero emissions electric, renewable energy powered ferry, "Albion Zero".

The ferry has been designed in line to meet the latest as well as upcoming environmental legislations, making it a future-proof solution. Albion Zero’s sustainable design is also compatible to work with solar power and tidal power to charge the onboard batteries. The ferry is designed to be fitted with a wide range of Albion Marine’s latest technical solutions that will work seamlessly to provide optimal level of reliability and efficiency. The ferry would utilise the latest developments in this domain such as wireless charging and automatic mooring capabilities.

Albion Zero’s design has been kept modular to suit different types of vessel sizes and propulsion mechanisms. Although, it can be implemented globally, it has been designed to replace/ convert the huge number of diesel-hydraulic river-crossing ferries in Canada. This concept is well suited for remote, indigenous, and Northern communities which have no grid power around the ferry crossing area to charge the batteries. The adaptability to solar and tidal power gives Albion Zero a cutting edge in the river crossing ferry market.