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A.P. Moller - Maersk has announced the signing of a global end-to-end logistics agreement with Danish Crown from 2021. The three-year end-to-end agreement covers all Danish Crown’s business units, delivering solutions on ocean services, inland logistics and cold chain logistics.   Access to the digital supply chain platform, Tradelens, which is underpinned by blockchain technology, is also a core part of the agreement between A.P. Moller - Maersk and Danish Crown. A.P. Moller - Maersk - Danish Crown Agreement Vincent Clerc, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Ocean and Logistics), A.P. Moller - Maersk, said "We are excited to be chosen as Danish Crown’s main logistics company. The food supply chain is highly demanding, but we will work hard to provide fast, reliable and dynamic supply chain solutions to Danish Crown, as a modern end-to-end logistics company with fully controlled assets." Danish Crown is one of the world's largest exporters and the number one supplier of pork in Europe. The Danish Crown Group is also the largest meat-processing company in Europe, and Danish Crown Beef is a key player in the European beef market, while the groups trading company ESS-FOOD sells and distributes fresh and frozen foods worldwide. The agreement finally includes DAT-Schaub, which is globally renowned in casings for sausage production. Flexible and resilient supply chain With a significant export to Asia and a growing business in both North America and South America, it is key for Danish Crown to ensure a flexible and resilient supply chain, to support their business needs and meet their sustainability targets. There is no doubt, that Maersk is leading the sustainability transition within container logistics" Jais Valeur, the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Danish Crown, said "There is no doubt, that Maersk is leading the sustainability transition within container logistics, which very much aligns with our own ambitions, to become the world´s most sustainable meat supplier in 2030. Maersk is a natural choice for Danish Crown, as our customers will expect that we are able to undertake the responsibility of all business activities, in the food supply chain, right from the Danish farmer to the dinner tables in Shanghai, Tokyo or New York." Key strategic partnership As one of the largest food exporters in the world, Danish Crown values an active partnership with a logistics major company, such as Maersk, that can accelerate their business and reduce complexity. Jais Valeur adds, "Through sheer business size and its extensive network, Maersk can offer a reliability in our supply chains, which our customers are increasingly demanding. At the same time, we will get a partner in Maersk, who understands and prioritises the importance of an active collaboration in our daily business. This close collaboration is key and will ultimately service our customer’s needs into account." The global agreement will enter into effect as of 1st October 2021.

Blue Insight provides an open, modular platform for the processing, visualisation and sharing of ocean data. The core module contains the cloud framework – which has been built to the highest cyber security standards – and an application-specific dashboard teamed with data storage and management functionalities. Additional modules can be added to this framework to tailor Blue Insight’s functionality to suit all projects, however large or small. Key to Blue Insight’s data-streaming functionality is the concept of sensor fusion, by which data is streamlined from various onboard sensors and a local database for seamless transmission into the cloud. In addition, the module serves as a link with KM onboard sensors for remote operation. Process Data can be collected from any platform, ranging from crewed to autonomous surface vessels or even underwater vehicles such as AUVs or gliders. Through ongoing delivery projects, several modules already exist to assist customers in obtaining the best results from Blue Insight, including Remote, a module that enables remote access to a KM echosounder via a web interface. Other tools The portfolio of modules and support for specific instruments will be continuously expanded Ocean View, a powerful and comprehensive web-based visualisation tool for historic and real-time sensor or database data; and Data Forwarder, enabling data conversion into any common format and automated data forwarding to external cloud systems or databases. Science Analytics supplies an infrastructure for more in-depth data-handling capabilities, such as the implementation of machine learning and AI-enhanced data analysis on board or in the cloud. As an example, one of the first delivery projects has seen the module providing a framework on unmanned surface vehicles for the automated onboard classification of fish. The portfolio of modules and support for specific instruments will be continuously expanded, consistent with KM’s aim to provide customers with unprecedently swift access to data, even in heterogeneous environments. Understanding the impact One of the first projects to take advantage of the functionality provided by Blue Insight is a collaboration between KM and Akvaplan-niva, gathering meteorological, oceanographic, biological and chemical data from unmanned autonomous glider vehicles. The project has been underway for several years, but recent funding from the oil & gas company ConocoPhillips Norway has focused efforts towards understanding the impact of offshore oil & gas facilities on selected marine species in the North Sea. Project development The project is continuing to evolve the glider concept into an operational system for research and industry while advancing the digital environment to introduce new, cutting-edge management and analysis features. Blue Insight has been an invaluable aid for managing the vast amount of data collected at sea with the fleet of gliders "Blue Insight has been an invaluable aid for managing the vast amount of data we collect at sea with our fleet of gliders, often for months at a time,” says Lionel Camus, Manager for Digital Solutions at Akvaplan-niva. “This innovative digital toolbox has enabled Akvaplan-niva to deliver professional solutions and to share an unprecedented common experience via the cloud with our customers during each survey." Increasing knowledge of the ocean environment “We’re very excited to be able to bring Blue Insight to market,” adds Tonny Algrøy, Sales Director Ocean Science, Kongsberg Maritime. “Our primary focus in developing this powerful, cloud-based framework for data collection, sharing and analysis has been to increase our knowledge of the ocean environment and act as a digital enabler for sustainability. It’s great to see that vision now becoming a reality. Collaborations such as the glider project demonstrate how research institutions and industry can work together to benefit from contextualised data, furthering the joint aims of conservation bodies and global business operations.”

The UK government has selected eight new freeports in England, as a means to boost trade, jobs and investment, across the country. The special taxation and customs rules for the freeports will help businesses develop new facilities and operations, to trade and manufacture goods more cost-effectively, countering the effects of other complications, such as Brexit and COVID-19 pandemic.  Early deliverability of opportunities for new businesses is the key, with Solent Gateway Ltd, at Marchwood Port, Southampton, leading the way with 64 hectares of new space, which will be available from as early as Autumn 2022. Freeport A freeport is an economic zone, such as a freight seaport or airport, where typical VAT and customs rules don’t apply A freeport is an economic zone, typically encompassing a freight seaport or airport, where typical VAT and customs rules don’t apply. This makes it cheaper and easier for raw materials or components to be imported to manufacturers, processed into manufactured goods and imported into the UK, or exported. They can also have simpler planning rules, helping businesses to quickly build or adapt premises in the area. The locations across England for the eight new freeports were announced by the Chancellor, for the budget in March 2021. These locations for freeports include: Solent East Midlands Airport Felixstowe and Harwich Humber region Liverpool City Region Plymouth Thames Teesside The eight freeports will create some 170,000 jobs, in the coming five to ten years. Within the Solent Freeport, Marchwood Port, operated by Solent Gateway Ltd, has been designated as both a customs site and a tax site. Tax incentives of freeports Freeports can help businesses to improve processing time, due to reduced transportation Within a freeport customs site, there are two principal benefits. Firstly, customs duty and import VAT are only charged on goods, if and when they are released from the freeport into the United Kingdom. This enables businesses to process, store and transport goods with greater flexibility, giving them a cash flow benefit. Secondly, duty paid can be on the final product, rather than component parts, if lower, also reducing the tax paid, as raw materials normally have a higher duty rate, in comparison to the manufactured or processed goods. Freeports can help businesses to improve processing time, due to reduced transportation. Freeport tax sites get higher capital allowances Freeport tax sites will benefit from greater capital allowances, when purchasing plant and machinery, or building new structures. Companies will be able to claim 100% enhanced capital allowances, on the purchase of new and unused plants, and machinery that is incurred for a trade being carried out at the freeport tax site. The purchase will need to be incurred before September 30, 2026, for the item to qualify for this benefit. Plus, qualifying expenditure on structures and buildings, within a freeport zone will qualify for Enhanced Structures and Buildings Allowance, at 10% per year, for 10 years on expenditure incurred before September 30, 2026. This is a significant increase on the current level of 3% per year, for 33 years for non-freeport areas. There are also very appealing benefits around national insurance relief, for up to 3 years per employee and business rates relief, with new or expanding business being able to claim up to 100% relief, for 5 years. UK freeports plan The UK freeports plan is an excellent initiative to incentivise new businesses, to set up new operations in freeports" Richard Parkinson, the Port Director at Solent Gateway Ltd, said “The UK freeports plan is an excellent initiative to incentivise new businesses, to set up new operations in freeports. It presents a truly golden opportunity for both UK and foreign businesses. Solent Gateway is unique in its offering, as it is both a customs and tax site, with high-quality logistic space, to be available to new businesses from Autumn 2022.” He adds, “In terms of who will benefit most from operating in a customs and tax site, such as ours, it is businesses that want to develop new facilities and operations, thereby benefiting from all the incentives to attract new business, import goods and components to the UK, store goods for as long as they want, without facing customs duties after 90 days, and manufacture or assemble products, as import duties are paid on the final product or component parts when they leave the freeport, whichever is cheaper.” Richard Parkinson continues, “If goods are exported after manufacture, inside a freeport, no customs duties will be paid, so I have no doubt that freeports are very attractive to manufacturers. Any organisation that wants to import, manufacture and export within a customs site, will avoid all duties, so that is a great incentive. Any business that wants to store items for more than 90 days will also benefit.” Solent Freeport Solent Gateway Ltd is part of the Solent Freeport. Establishing the Solent Freeport will create 52,000 new skilled and semi-skilled jobs, including 26,000 direct jobs in the Solent and 26,000 in the wider UK supply chain. COVID-19 has widened the opportunity gap for these communities and a Solent Freeport provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse these trends. The Solent Freeport will also support levelling up, across the United Kingdom, in particular, in the UK’s industrial heartlands of the Midlands and North. The potential of significant government investment in freight links between Southampton and the Midlands will be realised, through the connectivity to global markets that the Solent ports provide. Marchwood Port logistics hub Chris Anderson, Head of Business Development at Solent Gateway Ltd, stated “Solent Gateway Ltd, located at Marchwood Port, Southampton is one of a very few locations in the UK that is both, a tax site and customs site. We are, therefore, tailor-made for the development of new facilities for import, manufacturing, assembly, storage, export or delivery into the UK.” Chris Anderson adds, “Marchwood Port is a very high-quality port-centric logistics hub with the outstanding sea, rail and road connectivity, and will have 64.3 hectares of new space available for commercial use starting in Autumn 2022.” 

Inmarsat is delighted to return as Official Communications Partner to The Maiden Factor, the round-the-world sailing campaign promoting equal access to education for girls from all backgrounds and countries. Spearheaded by iconic sailing legend Tracy Edwards, Maiden’s campaign began in 2018, which saw a rotating all-female crew sail over 33,000 miles around the globe, visiting over 23 destinations in 12 countries. However, they were forced to put their voyage on hold in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic causing a threat to crew safety and preventing spare parts from reaching the yacht, although campaigning online continued. Broadband data communications But now Maiden is back with a new schedule and new title sponsor, global logistics pioneer, DP World. and a new focus. The 'DP World Tour' with Maiden will begin in January 2022 from Dubai, UAE and will continue its mission to reach 40 destinations in 20 countries, including onshore and online programs to maximise the impact and funds raised for girls’ education programs around the world. But now Maiden is back with a new schedule and new title sponsor, DP World And once again they can rely on the connectivity to stay safe and in touch wherever they sail, through the FleetBroadband 250 service for seamless voice and broadband data communications. Whether it’s sharing a blog or updating social media to keep their followers informed, or accessing the latest weather updates and navigation charts, their award-winning ELERA L-band network provides 99.95% availability in all weather across the world’s oceans. Important safety services The yacht is also equipped with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System-approved Inmarsat C service to provide all-important safety services, along with two IsatPhone 2 satellite phones stowed in the lifeboat’s grab bag in case of an emergency. “We are so delighted to welcome Inmarsat back as our Official Communications Partner,” shared Tracy. “Inmarsat facilitated all of our communications, footage and images from 2018/2020 World Tour helping to spread the message of the importance of education for girls all over the world. When the Pandemic struck, they went above and beyond the call of duty and proved once again what a great company they are and, to us, a much-valued partner,” she continued. Small education charities UK sailing legend Tracy Edwards was the skipper of the Maiden in that awe-inspiring race Maiden’s original journey started back in 1990, when she was sailed by the first all-female team to compete in the Whitbread Round the World Race (now The Ocean Race), setting a new world record for women’s sailing and finishing second in class overall. UK sailing legend Tracy Edwards was the skipper of the Maiden in that awe-inspiring race but sadly in 2014, she discovered that the boat that had helped her make history for women’s sailing was rotting in Seychelles. This inspired her to create The Maiden Factor Foundation to raise money to rescue Maiden so that the yacht could be brought back to the UK to be restored. Having worked with small education charities around the world, Tracy decided to make the foundation about more than just the restoration project. Record-breaking achievement She wanted the iconic yacht to travel around the world for a second time, this time campaigning for equal access to schooling for girls. Twenty-eight years after Tracy’s record-breaking achievement – which remains unbroken by any UK male or female team – she watched as Maiden began another incredible voyage around the world. Leaving from Southampton, Maiden began her purposeful journey in 2018, sharing a 'Message of Hope' baton at each dock she stopped at. This passing of the baton ceremony, started by girls in the UK saw the Message of Hope handed to female students from a chosen school at each stop so that they could add their own messages of solidarity to be passed on. Girls also added colourful handprints to Maiden’s sail. Now, the mission begins again, and the baton will be passed at the remaining docks that Maiden is yet to reach.

The maritime industry is not covered by the Paris climate agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. However, carbon emissions from maritime activities account for 2 to 3% of total global warming potential (GWP) worldwide, and the share is likely to increase in coming years, approaching 17% of CO2 emissions by 2050. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is tasked with regulating carbon usage in the maritime industry and has established aggressive goals – both near-term and long-term – to ensure carbon emissions from the maritime market decrease by at least 40% in 2030 (compared to 2008 levels), and by at least 50% by 2050. MEPC has new emissions reduction and efficiency requirements taking effect in 2023. Measures to reduce carbon emissions Binding across its 170 member states, IMO has adopted mandatory measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases under its pollution prevention treaty (MARPOL). The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is mandatory for new ships, and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) is required for all ships. The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to improve the sustainability of the shipping industry in terms of social, environmental, and economic impacts. Founded in September 2010, SSI has 15 members spanning the shipping value chain, from charterers, shipowners and operators, to shipyards, banks, classification societies, and technology companies. Poseidon Principles Poseidon Principles are consistent with efforts of the IMO to reduce shipping’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions The Poseidon Principles establish a framework for banks and financial institutions to assess and disclose the climate alignment of ships to provide guidance and promote responsible environmental stewardship. The Poseidon Principles, signed by 20 financial institutions representing over $150 billion in loans to the shipping industry, are consistent with efforts of the IMO, seeking to reduce shipping’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least half by 2050. Decarbonisation goals Some shipping companies are already setting individual decarbonisation goals beyond the IMO’s target, driven by their customers’ desire to reduce their global carbon footprint. The intensity of emissions has decreased somewhat in recent years because of larger ship sizes and slower traveling speeds. Interim solutions to lower carbon emissions include the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a shipping fuel, which produces less carbon than the oil commonly used. LNG can also be less expensive but is not seen as a permanent solution because it still emits carbon. FuelEU Maritime initiative Global maritime technology networks promote the adoption of low-carbon technologies The European Commission has launched the FuelEU Maritime initiative, seeking to increase the use of sustainable alternative fuels in European shipping and ports. The European Union also seeks to include the shipping industry in a mandatory cap-and-trade carbon market, a so-called emissions trading scheme, as early as 2022. Also, the global maritime technology network (GMN), funded by the European Union, is a network of Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres (MTCCs) in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific. They seek to develop national maritime energy-efficiency policies, promote the adoption of low-carbon technologies and establish voluntary pilot data collection and reporting. Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings Scope ESG Analysis, a German credit rating, and analysis firm has launched a database to display Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) ratings for the world’s commercial maritime fleet. Including 70,000 vessels, the Ship Review database provides transparency into each ship’s environmental, sustainability, and reliability/safety performance.  The CII rating system seeks to assist the maritime industry in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, measuring a ship’s operational efficiency in grams of CO2 emitted per deadweight tonnage and nautical miles travelled. Based on 2020 data, more than a third of the world’s fleet could fail to meet upcoming restrictions. GreenVoyage2050 Project The International Maritime Organisation is executing the GreenVoyage2050 Project through the Project Coordination Unit (PCU). The project seeks to help developing countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships. Longer-term fixes to lower greenhouse gases include a need for zero-carbon fuels and technologies Phase one of the project, signed with Norway in 2019, is currently underway. Phase one of the GreenVoyage2050 Project is scheduled to run until May 2022. Longer-term fixes to lower greenhouse gases include a need for zero-carbon fuels and technologies; however, they are not currently available at the size, scale, or price the industry needs for broad adoption. New fuels will need to be developed, along with new propulsion systems, upgraded vessels, and a new global refueling network. Need for zero-emissions technologies New zero-emissions fuels and technologies on the horizon include batteries, sustainable biofuels, green or blue hydrogen, and their derivatives such as ammonia and methanol. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas by splitting molecules into hydrogen and carbon dioxide and capturing and storing the CO2. Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis and powering the process using renewable electricity sources such as wind and solar.  However, zero-carbon technologies are far more expensive than current bunker fuel oil. A wide variety of global stakeholders are involved in trying to lower the impact of maritime’s carbon emissions on climate change. The maritime industry’s 2 to 3% impact may seem small, but the share could increase over time unless the industry continues to take action.

The cruise industry has received a vital lifeline in its bid to safely set sail once again. Several pioneering Finnish businesses and organisations have developed new, innovative safety approaches for the sector to adopt, in response to new post-pandemic measures. These new initiatives and research projects are set to bring the industry back from the brink and ensure a safer and successful cruise experience for all. Undertaking health and safety measures Expectations surrounding cruises today have changed beyond all recognition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst the safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff has always been a top priority for the industry, its recovery depends on taking health and safety measures to a new level, to drive stability and sustainability in the challenging years ahead. Since the onset of the COVID pandemic, Finnish research organisations and companies have led the charge in responding to the industry’s call for new solutions to support its resurgence. With viable options showing what is possible, the future of the industry looks bright and secure. Healthy Travel project Researchers collaborated with cruise companies to find ways of improving health and safety on cruise ships The Healthy Travel project[i] is one such initiative: researchers collaborated with cruise companies, shipyards, and subcontractors to find ways of improving health and safety on cruise ships and in terminal buildings. Researchers in cell biology and industrial management created models to analyse passenger flows on vessels of different sizes and developed processes and procedures to minimize infection risks. To further understand the role of breathing, coughing, and sneezing in spreading COVID-19, researchers from Tampere University, VTT Technology Research Centre of Finland, and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare created a robot head [ii] prototype as part of the AIRCO research project. Air purification techniques The initial aim of the robot was to support the design and planning of all kinds of indoor spaces, including ships and terminals, and to measure the effectiveness of masks, ventilation, and air filtration and purification solutions in preventing the spread of viruses. Ensuring indoor air quality (IAQ) is also a crucial factor for minimising infections among passengers and crew. To support the need for better air purification techniques, interior accommodation provider ALMACO partnered with Genano [iii] to provide the marine and offshore industry with advanced air decontamination technology that removes airborne impurities of all sizes, including microbes and the novel coronavirus. Developing solutions for material flow on ships KONE researched with several cruise line companies to develop solutions for people and material flows on ships In addition to air quality, the flow of people and material can have a huge impact on the transmission of airborne viruses. KONE [iv], a global pioneer for marine elevators and escalators, conducted intensive research in partnership with several cruise line companies to develop new solutions for people and material flows on ships while improving health and safety on board and in the terminals. This involved collecting data with sensors installed on ships, timing activities, and conducting interviews with passengers and crew members. In the same vein, an IoT platform from Hypercell[v] uses Bluetooth signal sensors to collect data on people volumes, dwell times, and flows in indoor and outdoor locations. Innovation is key Innovative approaches are the way forward for the industry to get back on its feet, but with so much at stake, these next steps are crucial to get right. Accurate data, insight, and new techniques will play a key role in moving forward, as Timo Pakarinen, managing director for KONE’s marine business explains, “Any changes on cruise ships must be fact-based and commercially viable solutions because the investments required are so large.” Supporting cruise industry recovery “Collaborative research projects such as these, which have been initiated and funded by Business Finland, will continue to produce innovations and technologies to support the recovery and future viability of the cruise industry for many years to come.” “Finland now offers leading technologies and solutions focusing on indoor air quality, passenger flows, safety protocols, and touchless solutions. The insights gained from this vital research are also contributing to the design of new cruise ships,” says Ulla Lainio, Head of Marine & Ports Global Industry Team at Business Finland.

In recent months, COVID-19 has put incredible pressure on global supply chains. But it’s not just the pandemic that is causing unforeseen pressure on the UK supply chain. We have an ageing infrastructure, a chronic HGV driver shortage, record-high prices and record low space availability on sea freight options, new rules in trading with the EU, and in addition, a UK-wide shortage of warehousing capacity. While we have had to stay at home, online shopping has peaked and an increasing amount of goods have been transported across the globe. According to UNCTAD, maritime logistics represents 90 percent of the world supply chain. Therefore, ports are an integral part of global trade. Ensuring uninterrupted supply The global freight market is under extreme pressure at the moment, and port congestion results in container vessel delays which might lead to demurrage charges for cargo owners. These are genuinely unprecedented times, requiring decision makers across a wide variety of sectors to think hard and think differently when it comes to ensuring uninterrupted supply throughout peak season and beyond. A multi-modal approach can meet the client’s needs in the best way allowing them to react to change A multi-modal approach can meet the client’s needs in the best way allowing them to react to change and automatically make amends to the plan, in accordance with the issues being faced. However, end-to-end supply chains rely on assets and you’re only as robust as the amount of ships and/or operators involved. The industry has faced many challenges with Brexit, Christmas, COVID-19 and the Suez Canal and although some can be seen as isolated incidents, they have happened and they will again. Improving any breakdowns It’s difficult to prepare for the unknown and when it might happen but I think operators have a great way of gathering the data following these events and use it to improve any breakdowns in the chain in preparation for if there’s a next time. As a result of the pandemic, shipping companies took ships out of the sea due to reduced demand but it’s interesting that demand is now increasing and yet the numbers of ships back out at sea hasn’t increased alongside. The cost of using ships has rocketed - one customer importing from Japan used to pay £900 per container, now it’s £7,000 and even £14,000 from China. Port-centric warehousing We really need everyone working together to benefit all parties - it’s very one-sided at the moment So, we’re seeing prices remaining high with fewer ships operating - what incentive do operators have to get more ships back out onto the water and get back to where they were, when their income is healthy with reduced numbers? We really need everyone working together to benefit all parties - it’s very one-sided at the moment but I understand that companies could be remaining cautious with a fast return to pre-COVID while the pandemic is still impacting life. Looking ahead, I think autonomy is going to be huge and we’ll see the reliance on trained operatives being removed. Autonomous shipping is already being trialled and of course, the capabilities of drones is only going to improve in the future. Whilst there is no silver bullet for the combination of complex challenges we face, one suggested approach is to put port-centric warehousing at the heart of your UK distribution strategy. National rail infrastructure The port-centric model is very simple. Rather than transporting your goods hundreds of miles inland to primary distribution centres, the storage facilities are located close to, or within key ports. By doing so, you take costly, time-consuming links out of the supply chain, replacing them with seamless, simple solutions from ship to doorstep. Another option to consider, which again takes links out of the supply chain, is to utilise the rail network within the port for onward transportation. We’re fortunate at Solent Gateway to offer a dedicated rail link which is connected to the national rail infrastructure and can provide a direct route for freight whilst reducing traffic on the roads. At Solent Gateway, we are committed to solving customers’ supply chain challenges and support businesses that seek facilitation of logistics hubs, business parks, storage, sea to rail, sea to road, automobile, project cargo, general cargo, dry bulk and break bulk.

The OceanGate Expeditions 2021 Titanic Survey Expedition was connected by Inmarsat’s critical satellite communications. Inmarsat, the global front-runner in mobile satellite communications, kept the OceanGate Expeditions crew connected with team members and support services during the six-week expedition to document the important maritime heritage site located over 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Satisfactory customer service “The OceanGate Expeditions’ Titanic Survey Expedition has taken Inmarsat full circle,” said Eric Griffin, VP Offshore and High-End Fishing, Inmarsat. “In response to the sinking of the Titanic and the appalling loss of life, the 1914 Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention developed a radiotelegraphy requirement for vessels to be equipped with radio equipment for continuous communications." The International Maritime Organization set up Inmarsat to provide reliable satellite communications "In 1979, the International Maritime Organization set up Inmarsat to provide reliable satellite communications to mariners as an extension of this original requirement. Today, we are proud to have worked with the team at OceanGate Expeditions to make these communications available at high speeds via Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service for their operations and to have played a role in the important scientific and documentary work they are performing.” Mission success “In any expeditionary environment your crew needs to plan for and be prepared for the unexpected,” says Stockton Rush, President, OceanGate Expeditions. “The ability to communicate with onshore crewmembers from the expedition support vessel makes a significant difference toward achieving mission success. Whether simply requesting parts and supplies we needed throughout the expedition, tracking our dive crews during hours-long dives in the OceanGate Inc. submersible, Titan, or ensuring the welfare of our crewmembers as they stayed in touch with family and friends back home, communications were essential for our operations. Our supporting Mission Specialists also appreciated the ability to maintain contact and share their experiences,” says Rush.

Danfoss Editron, part of Danfoss, has been chosen by Damen Shipyards to provide the electric drivetrain system, powering the shipyard’s newest Fast Crew Supply (FCS) vessel. Known as the FCS 7011, the vessel will represent a leap forward, in terms of speed, comfort and efficiency of FCS vessels. The FCS 7011 vessel, which recently completed sea trials in Turkey, will be used by the offshore energy market, for the high-speed transit of personnel and light cargo, to and from offshore locations. FCS 7011 vessel The FCS 7011 vessel is expected to become the first crew boat, which is capable of competing with helicopters, to transfer crew and materials, with minimum loss of time and increased comfort, and safety. The vessel’s first operational testing will take place, later in 2021, in the North Sea, as proof of principle, marking the first step towards global commercialisation. The team expects commercial testing to begin in the first quarter of 2022. Designed by Damen Shipyards, the 74 m, slender vessel will be able to carry 122 passengers, at speeds of up to 40 knots, servicing large platforms, which are located up to 150 nautical miles offshore. Comfort-enhancing features include a gyroscope, minimised rolling and a dedicated Ampelmann gangway that provides safe access to platforms, in a broad weather window. Hybrid-electric marine system Danfoss Editron’s hybrid-electric marine system comprises DC distribution boards Danfoss Editron’s hybrid-electric marine system comprises DC distribution boards, which run at a nominal voltage of 700 VDC, four shaft generators and an EDITRON load and control system. To further enhance passengers’ safety and comfort, and lower fuel consumption, the FCS vessel will be propelled by four main engines which, through a gearbox, will drive the Hamilton HT9000 water jets and the Danfoss’ Editron shaft generators. This vessel’s solution will increase propulsion efficiency while reducing vibrations and noise levels. When operating in a dynamic positioning, the system can optimise the power needed while performing load requests. It can also detect the amount of charge left in the electric system, so the amount of fuel used is kept to a minimum. EDITRON load and control system Erno Tenhunen, Marine Director at Danfoss Editron, said “Our compact and lightweight hybrid-electric technology is perfectly optimised for FCS vessels, which need to transport a high number of personnel and cargo, in a limited space. We’re delighted to see shipyards turning to hybrid-electric solutions, for vessels covering large distances. Our EDITRON system guarantees the highest efficiency, adding value to hybrid operations, by reducing costs and fuel consumption.” David Stibbe, Director of Business Development and Market Intelligence at Damen Shipyards, stated “We’re entering a new era of offshore personnel transportation, with an increased demand for safer vessels, with greater cost-efficiency. We were impressed by Danfoss Editron’s credentials, as well as its high-performance, light-weight electrical systems, two important benefits that enable our vessel to travel at high speeds. We’re looking forward to the first operational testing of the vessel, beginning in the North Sea, later this year.”

The multidisciplinary Healthy Travel project, initiated by Business Finland in autumn 2020, has brought together researchers with cruise companies, shipyards, and subcontractors to improve health and safety on cruise ships and in terminal buildings. “Our initial focus was on how to ensure a safe cruise experience in the middle of the pandemic. We then explored ways to attract more passengers to the ships,” says project manager Jonas Spohr, a lecturer from the Laboratory of Industrial Management, Åbo Akademi University. Processes to minimise risks During the project, researchers in Cell Biology and Industrial Management at Åbo Akademi created models to analyse passenger flows on vessels of different sizes and developed processes and procedures to minimise infection risks. Finnish diagnostics companies have developed different types of testing systems to cost-effectively prevent infected passengers from boarding the ships. “We also produced a questionnaire to understand customers’ experiences and opinions regarding the safety measures implemented by the cruise lines in response to the pandemic, as well as their views on a range of other possible measures, including the use of technology to monitor passenger movements on a ship,” says Spohr. Future trends of the shipping industry The Healthy Travel project has also provided an opportunity to consider the long-term future of the whole cruise industry, including the diverse range of large and small businesses that serve the industry. Healthy Travel project provided an opportunity to consider the long-term future of the whole cruise industry To support the company’s strategic decision-making processes, the project has collected data on cruise industry developments and shared its findings from the customer questionnaires. “Most people involved in the project share that view that the sector is likely to change, even without the impact of the coronavirus. The pandemic will pass at some point, and the ships will be much safer than before, so we also need to understand the bigger trends shaping the future of the industry,” Spohr explains. Providing sustainable solutions Companies in the industry, especially sub-contractors have a window of opportunity to help the cruise liners to adapt to the future. Creating new technical, digital, and sustainable solutions or ideas to improve passengers' cruise experience will likely generate more business.  “The big questions are concerned with: who are the customers of the future, and what will they value in the cruise experience? What is the impact of global trends like sustainability on the cruise industry, and how can all companies, including the subcontractors, be part of supporting these changes?”

Hypercell’s IoT platform uses Bluetooth signal sensors to collect data on people volumes, dwell times, and flows in indoor and outdoor locations. The collected data is anonymous and GPDR compliant. “Our platform combines the hardware and software needed for a complete IoT solution that has proved its value across a range of industries. We see great potential in the maritime industry in terms of enhancing people flows and safety onboard and in terminals as well as helping to make shipyards safer,” says Sami Vepsäläinen, Chief Operations Officer at Hypercell. Monitoring passenger flow via tags Installed on a cruise ship, Hypercell’s sensors can monitor passenger flows and trigger notifications to take action if areas become over-crowded, thereby increasing infection risks during a pandemic. Safety concerns can be further alleviated by the creation of named tags for all passengers or employees. The tagging feature can be added to each cabin card, enabling the faster evacuation of passengers in an emergency" “On a cruise ship, the tagging feature can be added to each cabin card, enabling the faster evacuation of passengers in an emergency.” “At a shipyard, named tags could save workers’ lives in the case of a fire. Our technology could quickly locate the tagged employees working on the different decks of a large vessel and guide their evacuation via the safest routes,” Vepsäläinen explains. Optimising flow of people Several cities are using Hypercell’s IoT platform to optimise people and traffic flows as they move towards a digital and more environmentally friendly future. Shopping centres and other retail venues optimise their layouts and sales efforts based on the real-life data and movement patterns delivered by the platform. “Big cruise companies and terminal operators could also utilise the data straight from our interface and bring it into their systems. It is also possible to add a wide range of other sensors to the Hyperunit sensors to gather more information about the maritime environment under observation,” says Vepsäläinen.