need to be examined soon enough to
determine such issues as who is actually
in control and who is responsible in case of
accidents. New kinds of insurance-related
problems will also emerge.”
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR SHIPS
AND INSPECTORS
Mr. Olli Kaljala, Country Chief Executive
INDUSTRY MARINE BUSINESS
for Finland at Bureau Veritas, confirms that
drawing up new regulations often takes a
lot of time.
www.signwell.fi
Before new international rules are in
force, some shipping companies go for-
ward with new technologies. To support
this development BV creates also Rule
Notes which can be adopted.
”If a ship utilising new technlogy has
to be classified before new classification
regulations are ready, voluntary sets of
rules may be taken into use. Shipowners
may decide to adhere to such rules even
if they are non-binding.”
”These days, such temporary sets
of rules are often utilised in relation to
issues of safety, or protection of the envi-
ronment.”
”For one, fuel cell technology is grad-
ually becoming an option for powering
maritime vessels. Some small-scale applica-
tions already exist,” Mr. Kaljala says.
New regulations may also be needed
in the fields of energy efficiency, energy
storage, autonomous vessels, reduction of
particle emissions, and so forth.
”Before autonomous ships become
Creative services
for shipbuilders and shipowners
commonplace, a lot of testing in limited
Newbuilding
support
areas will be needed. In the meantime,
Information
management
there probably will be many ’intelligent
ships’ that are partly autonomous but
Basic and
detail design
still have at least small operating crews
Technology and
operability support
onboard. Remote operation systems will
also become more advanced and more
secure.”
According to Mr. Kaljala, new tech-
nology will not be utilised only by ships but
also by the ship classification inspectors.
Concept
design
Environmental
retrofit support
”Already, we have tested eg. using
drones for examining the inside surfaces of
large oil tanks on tanker ships. Such inno-
vations are opening up new possibilities for
www.elomatic.com
ship classification work, too.” Q
seatec 2/2018 43