Breaking News...

MARS Tanker Project Afloat

The MoD's Afloat Support Directorate has today released a contract notice for the suppply of up to six MARS Tankers to be operated by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Solutions could include design and build, conversion, charter or leasing. The vessels will be capable of replenishing at sea and operations worldwide, seasonally unrestricted from tropical to arctic.

More soon.

Next Events...

AVEVA Marine: The next generation of productivity…

Thursday 19th November 2009, Marine Design Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Join us to see how you can Save time and cost at every stage through:

• Efficient Early Design: AVEVA Marine's powerful, open features for collaborative working save time.
• Efficient Detailed Design: Extensive design automation features maximise productivity and design quality.
• Efficient Production: Accurate and complete production information saves man-hours, minimises waste and rework, and makes maximum use of production facilities

Introducing AVEVA Marine…

AVEVA Marine is a set of integrated applications created specifically for the unique processes of ship and offshore structure engineering and design, design management, and the generation of accurate production information.

With AVEVA Marine, engineers and designers in all disciplines and on multiple sites can work concurrently on a single model database, to create, develop, manage and exploit engineering and design data in the most productive and risk-free way.

The Marine Design Centre is delighted to be hosting a showcase of AVEVA Marine, the most powerful marine design tool ever released!

A full agenda will follow soon, but to register for the event please email info@marinedesingcentre.com  or call 0191 2551710. This event is free to attend although registration is required.

  

Royal Navy Presentation Team

Wednesday 2nd December 2009, HMS Calliope, Gateshead

MDC is pleased to invite you to a special presentation for MDC and NDI guests at HMS Calliope on the Tyne. The RNPT outlines UK Defence policy and the considerable contribution being made to tri-service and multi-national operations by an efficient, flexible, modern Royal Navy.

See how your Navy operates right across the spectrum of missions from counter-narcotics to anti-terrorism, from defence diplomacy to disaster relief, and from peacekeeping through crisis management all the way up to high intensity conflict if necessary. We also look at the future of the Navy as its plans evolve, providing a vital and cost effective service to the nation.

As well as being informative, the occasion is designed to be entertaining and thought provoking. Lively debate is encouraged on any topical issue during the question and answer period after the presentation, when no question will be left unanswered.

A full agenda will follow, but to register for the event please email info@marinedesigncentre.com or call 0191 2551710. This event is free to attend although pre-registration is essential.

  

Clipper Windpower & Project Britannia

Thursday 21st January 2010;

Marine Design Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne

Mr David Still CBE, Managing Director of Clipper Windpower in the UK, will talk about the design & development of the Britannia turbine, current plans for UK wind farms and opportunities which will arise for design, engineering, manufacturing and offshore support.

 

US-based Clipper Windpower is a world leading wind energy technology, turbine manufacturing, and wind project development company, which has been developing a new 10MW turbine in Blyth since 2007. Clipper was recently awarded a £4.4m UK Government grant to develop a prototype 70-metre blade for the firm’s Britannia project, which will see the largest wind turbines in the world created. The firm plans to build the turbines in the North East, playing a key part in the regeneration of the former shipyards on the Tyne. The Clipper blades will weigh more than 30 tonnes and will form part of the turbines that will stand 175m tall off the British coast.

The UK has one of the biggest wind energy potentials in the world, with nearly 20 sites currently approved and a further 27 proposed, and the North East is well placed to provide essential support in the manufacture, transportation, installation and operation of North Sea wind farms.

To see the agenda for this event please click here. To register, please email info@marinedesigncentre.com or call 0191 255 1710. Places at this event cost £20 (+VAT) for MDC members and £45 (+VAT) for non-members.

FACE THE PRESS:

MDC Provides Platform For Members To Highlight Projects In Top Industry Journals

International Magazine Editor Has Fruitful Meetings With Members

We were delighted to host a visit to the region by Duncan Payne, Editor of Marine Propulsion magazine. In advance of his trip we offered members the opportunity to meet with Duncan to explain their capabilities and skills.

Marine Propulsion & Auxiliary Machinery leads the market in reporting on all aspects of propulsive technology within the maritime industry. The journal covers all types of vessels from commercial tonnage, through to yachts and naval ships, and focuses on advances in marine engineering in order to assist project managers with choosing the most suitable propulsion and auxiliary systems.

Business Development Manager, Simon Ellis, said: “Duncan was very keen to meet with members who are involved in some great projects and he was very keen to open dialogue with them and to feature them in forthcoming issues.”

Duncan, left, said: “I found the day both interesting and informative and will do my best to spread the word about the good work the MDC and its members are doing.

 “Please remind all your members that providing editorial material regarding contracts, products and business strategy is a cost effective way of promoting their business. I hope we have the opportunity to work together again, soon.”

 

Seatrade Magazine & Seatrade Asia online – Change of date

Another great opportunity to promote your company to potential customers has been created with the forthcoming visit of Namrata Nadkarni, Editor of Seatrade Asia Online and Deputy Editor of Seatrade Magazine. Please note that this visit will now take place early in December, and we will confirm the new date very soon. If you would like to meet Namrata please register your interest now by contacting simon.ellis@marinedesigncentre.com

Seatrade is widely recognised throughout the maritime community as a high quality publication, delivering up-to-the minute news, features and analysis of the dynamic shipping industry. Readership includes ship owners, operators, managers, agents, charterers; ship builders & repairers; marine equipment; ports & services; finance & insurance.

Seatrade Asia online is directed to an audience comprising the leading Asian shipowners, shipmanagers & operators, shipbuilders & repairers, providing a medium to connect with the growing number of decision makers in Asia, as well as those from elsewhere that are doing business in Asia on a daily basis.

Namrata will be available for one-to-one appointments. As Editor of the magazine she will be looking to develop news stories, case histories and articles.

Member News...

PSS unveils new ROV

Perry Slingsby Systems (PSS) has designed and manufactured the Triton XLR. The 125HP vehicle is for drill and light construction work and incorporates the latest controls technology, Integrated real-time Control Engine (ICE), intuitive graphic user interface and ergonomic pilot control consoles with touch screen technology.

“The Triton XLR is the next step in the evolution of subsea systems which started with the XL,” says Martin Anderson, chief executive of Triton Group, PSS’ parent company. “Our aim was to create an innovative system which offers the utmost in efficiency and reliability for the lightweight end of the market.”

For more information about PSS click here.

New Company Set To Wipe Out The Competition

Solar Solve Marine has unveiled a new sister company - Wiper Solve Marine, which draws on expertise in the field of window wipers. More staff have been taken on for the launch by the company, which received a three-year £100,000 grant to develop the new business.

Already acknowledged as world leaders in the manufacture of anti-glare roller screens for the marine industry, Solar Solve aims to make the new company equally successful.

John Lightfoot MBE, Chairman of Solar Solve and Wiper Solve Marine, said: "These new products have been a long time coming and have taken a while to develop. But we are all extremely confident that they will be very successful by the end of the six-month launch programme."

Experts were contacted and a team built up in the various fields of associated technology and wiper expertise.

An approach was also made to regional development agency One NorthEast, which resulted in a significant research and development grant of more than £100,000 being approved over three years.

Several wiper designs have been developed under the Wipasolv trade name, and a highly-intelligent programmable controller under the Controlasolv trade name.

For more information click here.

 

New member...

 We are delighted to welcome new member Assystem UK, which is a £70 million engineering solutions and consultancy company, offering wide-ranging engineering experience to a number of diverse sectors and is a leading provider of design and engineering related services in Europe.

Employing some 1300 engineers, Assystem UK operates primarily within design intensive industries providing engineering and consultancy services.

Specifically, the business provides engineering design and design substantiation support to the Naval Marine sector. This expertise embraces concept design studies associated with new system requirements, complex design substantiations associated with new and in-service equipment, as well as modelling work associated with the detailed design definition process. The company has a particularly strong analysis team, one of the largest in the region and has recently utilised this experience on valuable life extension project involving mission critical propulsion system components. To complement the marine engineering expertise, Assystem also possess marine hydrodynamic and geotechnical capabilities.

Chris Smith, Principal Operations Engineer, said: “Assystem performs design and CAD modelling work associated with new build Naval programmes. We are recognised as a key supplier of engineering support to Naval Prime Contract Organisations, performing concept design work associated with new Naval system requirements. This work includes the following disciplines: Project Management of concept phases, Requirements Engineering, Systems Engineering, Engineering process management, Design data integration and Processes to support design integration activities for main gate approval.”

 

It All Adds Up As Mervyn King Addresses Marine Sector

As part of a whistle-stop visit to the region last month, Mervyn King, Governor of The Bank of England, met members of the region’s marine community at MDC.

Mr King was most interested in the vibrant marine sector in the North East and the strong track record of companies who are successfully engaging in international business from a base in the region.

Director of the Marine Design Centre, David Hewitt, left with Mervyn King, said: “We were delighted to host the meeting between Mr King and the leaders of the marine business community in the region, and take the opportunity to represent the views of our world-class member companies.”

 

Canadian High Commissioner Visits

Member companies were given the opportunity to hear about Canadian foreign policy and its defence priorities when they attended a lunch given for the Canadian High Commissioner at the Marine Design Centre.

His Excellency Mr James Wright, Canadian High Commissioner to the UK, gave an assessment of the Canadian defence market and the future opportunities it afforded to small and medium sized companies. He also highlighted the synergies between Canada and the North East in the areas of defence, marine equipment & technology and offshore industries. MDC members were joined at the event by representatives and members of NDI and NOF Energy.

Our picture shows James Wright (2nd right) with, from left, NDI President Sir Neville Trotter, MDC' Director Dr David Hewitt, NDI Chairman David Bowles OBE and NDI Managing Director Robin Fox TD.

 

Business Opportunity

Continuing our series marking the launch of the MDC Contracts & Tenders system, highlighting one opportunity from the database in each news update....

UK: Upgrading of ship

Upgrading of inter-island ferry, including lengthening in way of vehicle deck area, re-powering including new main engines & gearboxes, new bow thruster system, steering gear, propellor shafts & rudders, as well as possible new sewerage treatment plant.

If you would like further information about this opportunity or the MDC Contracts & Tenders system, please contact Simon Ellis on 0191 255 1710 or simon.ellis@marinedesigncentre.com

Dates For The Diary...

Some events which may be of particular interest...

An Evening With The Head Of Capability, Rolls-Royce PLC

On 12th November the North East branch of the Nuclear Institute is hosting an evening lecture by Mike Bowker CBE, Head of Capability at Rolls-Royce plc, on 50 years of nuclear submarines from Dreadnought to Astute. It will be an entertaining talk and guests are welcome to attend.  The event will take place in Newcastle. More information will be posted on the MDC website soon.

3rd November 2009: Networking lunch with Westinghouse, one of the world's leading nuclear companies, has global businesses in the design, construction, fuelling and servicing of nuclear reactors. Organised by NOF Energy. For more information click here.

9th November 2009: Accessing Business Opportunities in the Naval & Coastguard programmes of the United States. Organised by SMI. For more information click here.

2nd December 2009: Shipyard Visit and Marketing Mission to BAE Systems Submarine Solutions. Organised by SMI. For more information click here.

 

Marine Renewable Proving Fund released

Last month Energy and Climate Change Minister, David Kidney, launched the Marine Renewable Proving Fund (MRPF), designed to assist applicants for the Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.

The deployment scheme uses £22.5m of funding from the Dept of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and is managed by the Carbon Trust, with £6m now available as the proving fund for the most promising applicants.

Applicants for the MRDF can now apply for the proving fund to assist with the final stages of design, construction and deployment of wave and tidal devices to qualify for the MRDF fund. The proving fund will go towards 60% of the eligible project costs, giving applicants to the deployment fund financial assistance needed to develop their proptotypes, in order to qualify for project funding.

For more information click here.

MDC Training Courses

We are pleased to announce forthcoming training courses.

PDMS Equipment & Piping Design: 26 - 30 October 2009. In conjunction with AVEVA.

PDMS Piping Catalogues & Specifications: 9 - 13 November 2009. In conjunction with AVEVA.

PDMS Steelwork Design: 16 - 20 November 2009. In conjunction with AVEVA.

PDMS Equipment & Piping Design: 14 - 18 December 2009. In conjunction with AVEVA.

Mathcad Essentials: 9-11 February 2010. In conjunction with PTC.

For full details of these courses please click here.

For further details please contact us on 0191 255 1710 or email info@marinedesigncentre.com

Please contact MDC if you have other training requirements for PDMS or other CAD packages. If we have sufficient demand for particular courses we will endeavour to arrange the appropriate training!