Dutch Innovation Gala
Thursday 3 November 2011 saw the sixth edition of the Maritime Awards Gala which took place at Studio 21 in Hilversum. Over 700 representatives from the maritime industry gathered together to honour the nominees and their innovations. Hostess for this sixth edition was Anita Witzier.
The Type C inland tanker Amulet was awarded the KNVTS Ship of the Year Award. This inland vessel is recognised as revolutionary design and features a completely new kind of propulsion system – E-Prop. IHDA Shipbuilding designed the hull structure which was built in China. Holland Shipyards finished the vessel in Hardinxveld-Giessendam. The E-prop propulsion concept was designed by D&A Electric.
Bart van Oers created ‘Packing’, a swift way to create multiple feasible ship designs. His Packing method was awarded with the VNSI Timmersprijs. Van Oers developed the computing method for his PhD at the TU Delft. The Packing method has already been applied for different kinds of naval and offshore vessels such as frigates (Ministry of Defence), patrol vessels (USCG) and drilling vessels (GustoMSC).
The HME Maritime Innovation Award was awarded to IHC Merwede’s Spudguard. The innovative system prevents the spud from breaking during dredging operations in waves. The Spudguard warns the operator, when the load on the spud becomes critical. When it becomes too critical, the Spudguard automatically intervenes. This results in less downtime. The Spudguard only requires the same space as a normal spud system, it therefore is also suitable for retrotfitting appllications.
Dockwise received the KVNR Shipping Award. To be able to cope with still in size-growing heavy lift projects, Dockwise designed a semi-submersible bowless heavy lift vessel: the Dockwise Vanguard. Chairman of the jury, Tineke Netelenbos, described the design as ‘a true technical innovation’. Because the vessel does not have a conventional bow and the accommodation is placed completely on starboard side, the available deck space equals the full length of the ship. The ship will measure 275m long and 70m wide and can carry loads up to 110,000t. The ship is currently under construction in Korea and will be delivered late 2012. Production costs amount to 240 million dollars.
Dick Boon – yacht designer and founder of Vripack in Sneek, the Netherlands – has become this year’s winner of the HISWA Excellence Award 2011.
Sources: www.swzonline.nl and www.scheepsbouw.nl