Cardiff-based survival experts, BCB International Ltd, have been a prime contractor to the UK Ministry of Defence and the Marine Industry for over 50 years.   Last week they successfully demonstrated  their innovative counter-piracy pressurised air launchers at the North American Technology Demonstration (NATD) in Ottawa, Canada, which was sponsored by NATO, and jointly hosted by the United States Department of Defense Non-Lethal Weapon Program and the Canadian Department of National Defence to showcase Non-Lethal Capabilities.

Jonathan Delf, BCB International’s Marine Officer said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s latest announcement which shows that his Government is committed to tackling the growing problem of piracy which has dogged UK ships for several years. 

“Whilst having armed personnel onboard commercial ships would act as a powerful visible deterrent to pirates, it is a high risk venture which could result in costly unintended consequences.  Indeed, using more aggressive countermeasures like weapons could escalate the situation unnecessarily and might result in a higher number of injured crew members, as well as endanger the valuable ship and/or its cargo. 

 “Moreover there are legal issues surrounding the carriage of weapons including when docking in different ports around the world.  Many ship masters will be understandably concerned and wary about using lethal force.  To help shipping companies successfully bridge the deterrence gap between early warning measures like Long Range Acoustic Devices and firing bullets, we have developed our pressurised air launchers.  Because they can fire a variety of projectiles at different pressures,  our air launchers provide a layered deterrence system whose force can be escalated in proportion to the threat.  Our systems are the ultimate deterrence escalators.”

The launching ceremony took place at the IHC Merwede shipyard in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, The Netherlands. The actual launching was initiated by Mrs. Kristin Hermans – De Keunynck, spouse of Mr. Philip Hermans, General-Manager of Dredging International NV, an important operating company of the DEME Group.The contract for construction of this impressive vessel was signed between DEME and IHC Dredgers in spring 2010, and the keel was laid on 23 December 2010. The vessel will be delivered in May 2012. The AMBIORIX is able to dredge to a water depth of approximately 35 meters and will be one of the most powerful cutter suction dredgers in the world. This new vessel is suitable for heavy soil and rock. The AMBIORIX is equipped with two inboard dredge pumps and one submerged dredge pump on the cutter ladder. It also has a barge-loading system, which can load barges moored alongside the dredger. The flexible spud carrier includes a buffer system – and other equipment – which enables dredging during challenging weather conditions. The dredging process is entirely touch screen operated. The dredge, furthermore, is equipped with a ‘remote-view’ system, enabling the permanent online view of its dredging process at DEME’s head office in Zwijndrecht – the new “Houston” of dredging so to speak. 

 The vessel was named after Ambiorix, who was leader of the Gallic people called the Eburones. With a cunning plan he defeated a Roman legion and 5 cohorts (7.200 soldiers) of Julius Caesar in 54 BC. This feat made Ambiorix into a Belgian hero – an icon of a brave warrior. The name AMBIORIX fits perfectly with DEME’s tradition of naming vessels amongst others after historical or cultural national heroes, like ARTEVELDE, BREUGHEL and BREYDEL.

 The new rock cutter dredge ‘Ambiorix’ is part of an important ongoing investment programme of the DEME Group. As recently as Friday 21st October the 11,000 m3 capacity  trailing suction hopper dredger ‘Breughel’ was commissioned to DEME. The DP2 jack-up vessel ‘Neptune’ was launched on 23 September 2011. Earlier this year the megatrailer ‘Congo River’, the gravel trailer ‘Victor Horta’ and the 16,000 kW self-propelled cutter suction dredger ‘Al Jarraf’ were commissioned to the Group. Other equipment under construction includes the 16,000 kW self-propelled cutter suction dredger ‘Amazone’, the backhoe dredger ‘Peter the Great’ and  the special-purpose jack-up vessel ‘Innovation’. The latter vessel is built on behalf of HGO InfraSea Solutions, a joint venture company consisting of DEME’s marine construction specialist GeoSea and the German construction group Hochtief.

Francisco has a background in physics. Since achieving his MSc (Honours) his career has progressed from applied physics towards technology with positions including DSP Field Application Engineer at Texas Instruments Ltd and technologist in coastal oceanography at CSIC, the National Research Council in his native country Spain.
 

In his own words: “Putting together Physics and Technology has been always a very motivating experience. Moving now to the sonar industry as product manager for GeoAcoustics A Kongsberg Company, is just the best way my career can step forward: I will keep my hands on high-tech instrumentation, I will keep growing up my competency on management skills and I will move to a very interesting industry segment, inside a very well settled company, under the umbrella of such an important group.”

Leading mining group, Fortescue Metals Group, has ordered 24 MoorMaster™ units for use at Port Hedland in Western Australia: a project that highlights how this innovative technology improves productivity and reduces infrastructure costs.

“This project is among the largest orders to date for MoorMaster™ and illustrates how the ports industry increasingly considers the technology as the most effective way to optimise mooring operations,” says Ottonel Popesco, Cavotec CEO.

Fortescue Metals Group has ordered 24 MoorMaster™ MM200D automated mooring units for the Anderson Point 4 (AP4) berth, the company’s fourth berth at Port Hedland. The units will moor vessels ranging in size from 174kdwt to 206kdwt and are designed to withstand the rugged conditions at the berth where winds gust up to 30m/s.

Due to tidal variations, vessels calling at Anderson Point are only able to sail at specific times. If ships are delayed they risk waiting up to eight hours before being able to sail. The MoorMaster™ units will ensure mooring times are kept to a minimum and thus optimise operational efficiency.

The introduction of MoorMaster™ at the Anderson Point berth will also drive down infrastructure costs because four fewer mooring dolphins will be required to hold vessels in place. 

“This technology is changing the industry in ways we never thought possible. It’s safer and quicker than conventional mooring, and generates substantial infrastructure savings,” comments Tony Swiericzuk, General Manager – Port, for Fortescue Metals Group at Port Hedland.

This will be the second berth at Port Hedland to use MoorMaster™. Fourteen MoorMaster™ MM200B units are already in operation at Port Hedland’s Utah Point iron ore handling berth. The technology is also being employed at other bulk handling applications in Western Australia.

Earlier this year, Karara Mining ordered 12 MoorMaster™ MM200D units, for use at their dedicated bulk handling facility at the Port of Geraldton. Eight such units are also in the final stages of commissioning for Hamersley Iron, a subsidiary of Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto, at the Dampier Fuel Supply Wharf in the Port of Dampier.

MoorMaster™ is a vacuum-based automated mooring technology that eliminates the need for conventional mooring lines. Remote controlled vacuum pads recessed in, or mounted on, the quayside, moor and release vessels in seconds.

The technology dramatically improves safety and operational efficiency, and also enables ports to make infrastructure savings. It has performed more than 40,000 mooring operations at ferry, bulk handling, Ro-Ro, container and lock applications around the world.

The technology was a component in the Port Hedland Port Authority (PHPA) and PInC Group’s s
uccessful entry for the 2011 Western Australia (WA) Engineering Excellence Awards. The team’s Utah Point Multi-User Bulk Export Facility project won the Resource Development Category.

Cavotec innovative technologies for the ports sector include shore-to-ship power systems (AMP), Panzerbelt cable protection systems, crane controllers, marine propulsion slip rings, power chains and connectors, radio remote controls, motorised and spring driven cable reels and steel chains.

For further details on this material, contact Michael Scheepers, Director Investor Relations & PR, on michael.scheepers@cavotec.com.

Cavotec is a leading global engineering group, developing innovative technologies that enable the maritime, airports, mining and tunnelling, and general industry sectors to operate more sustainably. To find out more about Cavotec, visit our website at www.cavotec.com. For updates on Cavotec projects, technologies and industry news, take a look at our blog, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.