This page contains information on recent projects of IMC Maritime System Development. There are a number of technologies available for licensing. If you are interested in more information on licensing click the 'contact us' button in the navigation bar.
| Double tilting Development |
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Doubble tilting: a new development in which the V-POD is rotated 180 degree in order to maneuver the ship in less water depth. In normal water depths the POD can rotate back to its normal position.
Click here for a powerpoint presentation explaining the Double Tilting principle
Savervents |
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SAFERVENTS: A new simple and reliable system to prevent engine room flooding at large heeling angles.
For more details see: www.safervents.com or download the Tugnology 2013 Hand-Out here. |
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| V-POD Development |
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With increasing environmental demands, there is a growing need for
electric propulsion and therefore IMC, SARC and Verhaar Omega joined forces
to develop a new POD. This 360° rotating electric V-POD propulsion consists of
a new arrangement of a medium speed E-motor and a planetary gear:
The main shaft runs from the propeller through the hollow E-motor shaft to the
planetary gear on the opposite side. This results in a small medium speed
E-motor and a compact POD housing. The robust planetary gear enables
low propeller revolutions with high propulsion efficiency and bollard pull efficiency.
The long propeller shaft is supported by sturdy bearings on both sides of the POD
housing and offers torsional flexibility between the prop and the gears.
Click here for the paper presented at Tugnology 2013 |
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| Fairplay 22 accident investigation |
Photo by Tugspotters.com |
IMC was asked by Fairplay Rotterdam and AKD Rotterdam to assist in the investigation of the Fairplay 22 in Europoort on Nov 11th 2010. IMC was contacted for our specific knowledge on tugs and stability. The investigation is in progress. |
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| Flying Phantom investigation | ||
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IMC was asked by Svitzer UK and Winter Scott
London to assist in the investigation of the Flying Phantom accident
in Glasgow Dec 2007. IMC was contacted for our specific knowledge on tugs and winches. The investigation is in progress. |
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SafeWinch development |
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Towing operations Thamesbank 2007 / 2008
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The SafeWinch is a unique winch for tugs that prevents peak loads and slack towing wires mechanically. The principle of this winch originated at IMC and is further developed in joint cooperation with the well known Dutch winch manufacturer C. Kraaijeveld. The first winch has been installed on the Smit Thamesbank and succesfully tested in port and at sea. The first serie of SafeWinches is in production. |
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Towing operations Riverwijs 2010 |
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SafeWinch installed on tug Riverwise Karoline and succesfully tested during emergency steering failure simulation of tanker Northwest Swan in Australia | |
| The Dynamic Oval Towing System (DOT) | ||
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The latest development in the field of
360° towing is the Dynamic Oval Towing System (DOT) developed
by IMC in assignment of Mampaey Offshore Industries b.v. The
unique oval shape of the system aligns the hydrodynamic with
the towline forces for all directions. IMC has performed the
complete engineering of this system from conceptual design, strength
analysis and detail engineering. IMC was also involved with numerous
model tests and full scale testing of the prototype. The first
DOT-system has been delivered and mounted on a newbuilding tug
for Peterhead Port Authority. |
Winner Innovation Top 100 |
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Salvage assistance Repubblica di Genova |
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In March 2007 the container Ro-Ro vessel Repubblica
di Genova of the Grimaldi line capsized just before departure
in the Port of Antwerp. The Rotterdam based salvage division of Smit was invited to make an offer to refloat the vessel. Smit salvage asked IMC to participate in the salvage team and assist in developing a solution for salvage of this complex situation. IMC proposed a simple and efficient salvage method to turn the vessel upright using a 'hanging' pontoon. However, during the process, the salvage job was directed to another company. |
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Wärtsilä Engineering Support |
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The consultancy services of IMC are not limited to the development of new products only. IMC has assisted the reconditioning department of Wärtsilä In Kruiningen. In addition to the practical assistance, also the use of 3-D software for production and strength validation was demonstrated. |
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600 Ton FSO Hook Mampaey |
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IMC assisted Mampaey Offshore Industries b.v. in extending their range of FSO hooks to 600T S.W.L. IMC has analysed the design made by Mampaey by means of Finite Elements Calculations to assure the durability and reliability of the hook. The analysis has not only taken the safe working load into account, but also the absorption of energy when the hook is being released. |
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The Carrousel Tug |
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The Carrousel tug was the first tug since a long time that did not take any industry standard for granted. By redirecting the focus upon the towline attachment instead of bollard pull only a new range innovative tug designs were created. Due to a revolving towline connection that extends to the ships side the likeliness of capsizing is reduced and a much more efficient tug operations are obtained. The conversion of the first tug the Carrousel tug demonstrated the strength of this perspective. Jointly with Multraship towage a new venture was started for the further development of the system. When the system reached the commercial stage IMC sold out their interest to Multraship. The Carrousel tug was a significant mile stone for IMC and clearly demonstrated their innovative position in the maritime towing industry. In 2002 the trade association Holland Marine Equipment awarded the Carrousel tug with an innovation award. |
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Compact Tug Design including Carrousel |
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In line with a trend that was identified in the design of tugs IMC developed a Compact Carrousel Tug in assignment of Novatug. Tugs became more and more powerful and smaller and smaller. Due to the legislation a length of 24 meter was a boundary that provided clear advantages. A small powerful tug in combination with the revolving carrousel system resulted into a very practical design with a high level of efficiency and safety that could perform towage activities in almost every port. IMC made the conceptual design with many details solutions, the structural arrangement and the stability analysis all according to the rules of the classification societies. To validate the design, a scale model was made and extensively tested in the towage tank of Delft University of Technology. |
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Vertical Winch Design |
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The outfitting of a winch on the Carrousel was a challenging task. Due to the high dynamic forces the Carrousel system required a new winch with a high holding power. However, the size was limited since the winch should turn around along with the Carrousel system. The solution herefore was achieved by a split drum winch with a vertical axis and an excentrical axis for the holding part of the drum This reduced the brake power to an absolute minimum. IMC was the initiator of this concept, performed the design engineering, and developed the power supply with remote control. Multraship uses the winch regularly with great satisfaction. |
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Model Testing Tug Design |
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During the carrousel development, Fairplay Towage approached IMC to test a new tug design made by their consultant. IMC made the drawings needed to build the model, supervised the building of the model and outfitted the propulsion and remote control. The finished model was tested thoroughly by IMC; first in a basin and later in real outdoor conditions. |
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Lifting Beam |
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In assignment of TMI b.v. IMC developed an a-symmetrical lifting structure based on two separate cantilevers. The most distinct feature of the each cantilever beam was that it was bolted together without welds and therefore not needed a heat treatment. The bolted construction had a significant weight reduction and the construction was easier and faster to assemble. Further, without welds a continuous structure without weak points is achieved. Both TMI and their client were pleased by this practical and cheap solution. |
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Emergency Towing System |
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An Emergency Towing System that is optimized for existing vessels, making use of as much existing equipment as possible. Unique features include an automatic connection device which needs no human action on board of the tanker. The entire connection can be facilitated from the vessel that is assisting. The design, including patents, was transfered to the client. |
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Remotely Controlled Lifting Device |
Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij | |
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Based on information of the NAM a lifting hook was developed that can be operated from a safe distance. Primary use is for offshore supply activities. The system has to function in harsh conditions and was designed for easy and simple use. It can be mounted as an add-on to existing lifting equipment and requires no expensive modifications.
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Stability Measuring Device |
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A feasibility study was performed for the development of a real-time GM measuring device for use on the bridge of sea-going vessels. Different methodologies and system architectures were analysed. The defined customer groups included container vessels, ferries, RoRo's and Cattle Feeders. |
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Automatic Connection
device for |
Confidential |
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A system facilitating a connection between Harbour Tug and Cargo vessel is being developed in close cooperation with a leading tug operator and Marine Equipment supplier. No human action is needed on board of the Harbour tug to make the connection and give out the towing wire. The entire procedure is coordinated from the bridge of the tug. |
