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REPLICA SAILING SHIP EMBARKS ON 18-MONTH VOYAGE
The replica of a ship that sank in 1745 has embarked on a historic voyage through Europe and Asia
The world’s largest ocean-going wooden sailing ship will have the latest satellite communications technology to help streamline its operations along the way.
The Götheborg of Sweden is a 1-1 replica of an 18th century Swedish East India Company ship that sank in 1745.
She was the most advanced merchant sailing ship of the time, and ‘a symbol of Sweden’s entrepreneurial spirit’, according to the owner.
The new 47m x 11m vessel has been built without the help of any original drawings, and was finished in 2005 after many years. The keel was laid in June 1995 after several years of preparation, and in total, 4,000m3 of oak and pinewood was used on the hull. She has 26 sails that make a total area of almost 2,000m2, including the main top sail at almost 250m2 . In total there are nine square rigs, totalling 1,300m2 .
The vessel is fitted with adjustable propellers and two 404kW engines, supplied by two 180kW generators alongside an emergency generator. The engine room also has pumps, a boiler, bilgewater separator and air compressor.
The fuel room is in the aftmost tank room and has a 36,000 litre capacity, which would last just under two days.
Satellite technology
Norwegian firm NSSLGlobal will install its communications network to the vessel to allow crew to check its daily position and weather outlook as well as all the other features of modern digital technology, such as monitoring critical systems like temperature, pressure, fuel and water levels.
Broadband communications will be enabled with NSSLGlobal’s VSAT IP@SEA system, with a network operations centre providing remote technical support.
“Although the Götheborg resembles a vessel from the 1700s, it’s essential we have the latest vessel communications technology on board to ensure the safety of our professional crew,” said Lars Ringnér, Ship Director of SOIC Ship Management, the ship’s owner.
“Spanning over 300 years of technological development, the ship is a fascinating hybrid of historic and modern, with its traditional wind-powered sails alongside the very latest IT and satcoms innovations, enabling remote diagnostics, technical support and communications.”
Kristian Ryberg, General Manager, NSSLGlobal Scandinavia, said: “The Götheborg is a remarkable project, combining the pride of maritime history with the best of modern-day maritime technology. We are honoured to be providing the satcom technology to help the ship on its journey with 21st century communications capabilities.”
The ship, which SOIC says is a ’unique platform to promote trade relations and create business opportunities’, has just arrived on London in the first leg of a voyage around Europe and Asia that will last for 18 months.
8 Götheborg of
Sweden
New e-navigation system launches
Sperry Marine and NAVTOR have teamed up to launch a new integrated e-navigation solution aimed at improving cyber security and reducing the administration associated with chart updates and route planning.
Sperry Marine Navigation Charts and Voyage Planning is the latest service addition to the SperrySphere platform which provides navigators with all critical voyage information in one integrated application.
“We believe e-Navigation is the future of shipping because we truly understand the problems of wasted time, unnecessary workload and lack of integration when using paper charts and manual voyage planning,” said Tor Svanes, managing director, NAVTOR.
“This partnership with Sperry Marine will deliver an integrated solution, ensuring customers unlock the full potential of e-Navigation in a smart, safe and simple way.”
The new system analyses the planned route and compares navigation data with the vessel’s water and air draught and other specifications.
Manual planning is reduced thanks to automatic update and distribution of permits and the ENC chart service simplifies workflow through the use of NAVTOR’s NavTracker chart management and ordering tool.
The PAYS model enables shipowners to better manage their costs with no need to pay for unused charts and Sperry Marine’s Secure Maritime Gateway provides multiple firewalls and a zone between front and back of bridge to enhance cyber security.
The Charts and Voyage Planning module is deployed and managed through the SperrySphere smart navigation platform, a one-stop-shop back-of-bridge digital platform incorporating operations and remote support.
SMALLER VESSEL VSAT SERVICE LAUNCHED
Marlink has unveiled a new Ku-band VSAT service aimed at smaller merchant, offshore and fishing vessels
Created in response to the growing demand for regional VSAT coverage requiring a smaller antenna, Sealink 60 provides regional connectivity to vessels seeking to upgrade from L-band services.
“The introduction of Sealink 60 marks a further evolution of Marlink’s VSAT services, since it will exclusively cater for vessels requiring reduced antenna size and maximum flexibility in terms of coverage and throughput,” said Tore Morten Olsen, president, maritime, Marlink.
“We understand that these smaller ships may regularly switch areas of operation or spend planned time in lay-up and we have designed our plans to deliver maximum value to our customers in these markets.”
Sealink 60 comes in a choice of two 60cm antennas and is available with different service plans, with or without guaranteed bandwidth. It can be provided to vessels in several regional coverage areas as well as during transits between areas.
The service is offered with unlimited usage, data speeds up to 5 Mbps and a choice of maximum information rate (MIR)-only or combined MIR/committed information rate (CIR) plans. The service can also be upgraded from regional
8 Marlink created
Sealink 60 in response to growing demand for flexible connectivity from smaller vessel operators seeking to upgrade from L-band services
to global coverage, with short term bandwidth upgrades and up to six months of lay-up per year also available.
Sealink 60 is ‘hybrid-ready’, ie it can be combined with low-latency, high-bandwidth terrestrial technologies including 4G to create a hybrid network solution, and is managed by Marlink’s onboard Xchange server.
Trials verify collision avoidance autonomy
Successful sea trials in Singapore of a harbour tugboat have verified the collision avoidance capabilities of ABB’s autonomous technology.
The Maju 510 tug became the first vessel in the world to receive Autonomous and Remote-Control Navigation Notation from ABS following initial remote operation trials in April 2021.
These latest trials of the 32 metre harbour tug have verified the next level of autonomy, demonstrating automated situational awareness, collision avoidance and manoeuvring control provided by ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision and Marine Pilot Control.
Keppel Offshore & Marine is the project lead for the autonomous solutions on the Maju 510, which is owned and operated by
8 The Maju 510 tugboat on autonomous
manoeuvres
Keppel Smit Towage. “I had the pleasure of being aboard Maju 510 during the collision avoidance trials and experiencing how smoothly the tug performed in autonomous mode,” said Romi Kaushal, managing director, Keppel Smit Towage.
“The vessel performed as if it was operated by an experienced tug master.”
By liberating the crew of time- and energy-consuming tasks and improving accuracy during critical manoeuvres, autonomous solutions increase safety in even the busiest of ports. The system can be both upgraded to provide higher levels of autonomy depending on local regulations and vessel requirements as well as be adapted to a variety of vessel types such as wind turbine installation vessels, cruise ships and ferries.
In an earlier successful demonstration of ABB’s autonomous technology, the ice-class passenger ferry Suomenlinna II was remotely piloted through Helsinki harbour. Like Maju 510, Suomenlinna II had been retrofitted with ABB Ability Marine Pilot Vision and ABB Ability Marine Pilot Control.
