Servowatch enhances integrated control platforms
with different complexities for ferries and cruise ships.
ServoCore is an alarm monitoring and control system for smaller passenger ships, while the ServoFusion integrated platform management system can be deployed on larger passenger and vehicle ferries and cruise ships.
The subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Group has supplied ServoCore for a variety of ferries operating in European waters and built in Australia. These include ships operated by Mols-Linien and Wightlink Ferries.
According to Servowatch director of marine sales Martyn Dickinson, ServoCore was designed as a standard package that has been pre-engineered to reduce costs and simplify installation. “The alarm monitoring and control system comes in standard formats that are building blocks for systems on ships,” he said. “It is our off-the-shelf product for the commercial shipping and ferries markets.
It supports ethernet network distribution with redundancy, and has data collection and processing units, with display options and alarm extensions.” ServoCore comes as three pre-configured data acquisition control units (DACUs) with either 64, 96 or 120 channels of digital and analogue sensor inputs and outputs. It can include four monitor sizes (7in up to 19in) and three PC options – a rugged fanless Mariner PC, a small form factor PC and an integrated touchscreen.
It also has remote switching, analogue and digital controls, a local alarm panel and different interfaces for various protocols, including Modbus and National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) protocol NMEA 0183.
Servowatch’s Winmon software is embedded in the heart of ServoCore, as a robust operating system that enables operators to define the capability and complexity of the system.
For cruise ships, Servowatch has developed ServoFusion as an integrated platform for managing different vessel systems, power and propulsion, auxiliary machinery, seawater cooling, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), and security systems.
The latest ServoFusion system has Winmon9 software that enables different elements to be plugged into the ship’s automation, including a condition based maintenance (CBM) module. “Winmon9 is a continuation of our software development,” said Mr Dickinson. “We continue to upgrade it with more features so it becomes an end-to-end user tool.
The common software platform is for configuration, data management, data transport and presentation with graphical user interfaces.” He continued: “ServoFusion collects, distributes and displays live data from machinery, indicating where equipment goes into error, or over a threshold, so operators can react to faults.
It has complex algorithms for automated operations, embedded intelligence and logic integrated into the system. Winmon9 allows us to plug in various packages and we can programme in other elements, such as power management and propulsion control.
It can plug into a CBM package, sharing data for comprehensive reports.” Servowatch developed functionality within the CBM module to interface with the integrated platform management system to enable high levels of fault and failure analysis, and to enable operators to plan and conduct corrective actions. “ServoFusion is for more bespoke installations where custom features and engineering are required,” said Mr Dickinson. “Typically this format is sound on complex commercial vessels, cruise ships and superyachts for shipmanagement systems, integrated platform management systems, and multifunction operating platforms.
“The difference is the number of points monitored and functionality, quantity of workstations, consoles and the network format. We can have remote terminal units, dual redundant networks, machinery controls, cargo operations, machinery room graphical user interfaces, and bridge displays.
We do not utilise programmable logic controllers, as other system integrators may do, as we have embedded processing.” The Winmon software operates in a Microsoft Windows environment. Data is collected by the input-output units into the header unit and is then fed to Winmon, where it is processed.
“The architecture is more flexible for serial interfacing,” said Mr Dickinson. “We use peer-to-peer networking that can share data between all system nodes. The structure has distributed intelligence, so units can operate independently of each other, and data is shared around the entire system.” Operators can also use ServoFusion for remote monitoring and access, and support from shore, via the ship’s satellite communications system, or other network related media.
For passenger ships, particularly cruise ships, Servowatch can provide passenger and crew onboard tracking, to enhance awareness of where people are on the vessels. “Cruise lines are interested in behaviour management and people profiling,
to determine demand for services or introduce energy saving efficiencies,” said Mr Dickinson. The Servowatch solution also has applications for alerting the bridge if there is a passenger or crew overboard situation, or for other safety related incidents.Meanwhile, Wärtsilä will be retrofitting automation and control systems in the coming months on the large residential passenger ship
The World to ensure it meets the latest IMO requirements. It received a contract from the vessel’s manager ROW Management for multiple systems, including new bridge systems.
Wärtsilä will be supplying a new Nacos Platinum bridge system starting in April this year to enhance the ship’s navigation, propulsion control and communications equipment.
Nacos Platinum is an integrated automation, navigation and control system that provides human-machine interfaces through multifunctional workstations. It is based on a common software platform for navigation and automation applications that the company said significantly reduces the workload for ship navigators, while improving navigational safety.
To improve the navigational safety of 196m The World in Arctic and Antarctic conditions, Wärtsilä will be supplying an integrated ice radar in the Nacos Platinum unit.
There will also be new controls for the ship’s Wärtsilä main and auxiliary engines, which consist of two 12 cylinder and three 8 cylinder Wärtsilä 32 engines. In another example of innovation, Wärtsilä was involved in providing automation and propulsion systems to the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled German seagoing vessel, a passenger ferry owned by Reederei Cassen Eils.
The ship was built at the Fassmer shipyard in Germany and had its maiden voyage in the fourth quarter of 2015. The vessel operates between Cuxhaven and the island of Helgoland in the south-eastern part of the North Sea. It is operating primarily on LNG using two 9 cylinder Wärtsilä 20DF medium speed dual-fuel engines.
ABB, too, has helped innovative passenger shipowners to achieve their power, propulsion and automation goals.
The Switzerland-based group will deliver an onboard DC grid, battery back-up, and automation systems on a new 40m passenger ferry being built by Brødrene AA in Norway.
The DC grid will manage and control the energy flow between the diesel engine, the propeller and the charging station on Seasight.
Once delivered in May 2016, the vessel’s route will cover a distance of around 32km along the Nærøyfjord in western Norway. On a larger project, ABB is supplying a remote control system, Azipod propulsion, generators, main switchboards, and distribution transformers on Carnival Corp’s new cruise ships.
The ships were ordered from shipbuilder Fincantieri in Italy, and will sail under Carnival’s brands Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line.
The new vessel for Holland America Line will be a sistership to KONINGSDAM, currently under construction at Fincantieri.
The 99,500gt vessel will accommodate up to 2,650 passengers and is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018. Carnival Cruise Line’s new, 3,954-passenger vessel will be a sistership to CARNIVAL VISTA and will be delivered early in 2018.
Source: passengership.info