MAKING WAVES AT SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2018

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Editorial Team:Zann Chua, Jane Guo, Tan Shu Yi and Natalie Mah

Copyright ST Marine 2018. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 25917706

LEADING INNOVATIONPhua Siang Ling, Vice President of the Project Directorate (Shipbuilding), gives the inside scoop on the teams, challenges and triumphs behind the Littoral Mission Vessel programme.

EXPANDING INTO RIG REPAIRS

Lim Nian Hua, Deputy President for Engineering and Operations, reports on the successes of the newly acquired rig retpair operation in Pascagoula in his new capacity as President of VT Marine.

STRENGTHENING CAPABILITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTHSmarter ship designs and lower cost of operations have become important considerations for vessel owners and operators in the tough maritime environment. Ng Sing Chan, President of ST Marine, shares his insights on driving growth in today’s challenging climate.

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AT THE HELM

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ABS ACCREDITATION ELEVATES ST MARINE'S SYSTEM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCY

The Certificate of Design Assessment for our Ship Automation System Design and Development will enhance customer assurance and provide new market opportunities.

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PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT: BUILDING THE SHIPYARD OF THE FUTURE

Windchill PLM ensures that information and processes are integrated throughout the shipbuilding lifecycle, yielding operational and business benefits.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Look out for these Marine sector events lined up in 2018.

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ARCHIVESHOME ANCHOR FLAGYARD SIDEON DECKAT THE HELM TAILWINDACCOLADES

A quarterly publication of ST Marine ISSUE 01 - APR 2018

ON DECK

FLAGYARD SIDE TAILWINDACCOLADES

ANCHOR

The maritime security display featuring the Independence class Littoral Mission Vessel; and the three vessels from the Vanguard series: Vanguard 80 Patrol Vessel, Vanguard 105 Offshore Patrol Vessel and Vanguard 120 Frigate.

MAKING WAVES AT SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2018

ST Marine’s signature competencies in maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), unmanned solutions and smart environments were showcased as part of ST Engineering’s defence and smart city offerings during the Singapore Airshow from 6 to 11 February 2018. Exhibits ranged from model displays to posters and videos narrating ST Marine’s role in safeguarding Singapore’s waters.

Highlights included the Independence class Littoral Mission Vessel, Vanguard series of multiple class modular vessels, Endurance class Landing Platform Dock, Diving Support vessel and Submarine Rescue and Support vessel. Other capabilities, such as Unmanned Surface Vessels and environmental engineering projects, such as the Kranji NEWater Factory and Jurong Island Desalination Plant designed for the Public Utilities Board, were also on display.

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Singapore Minister for Defence being briefed on our Maritime Security platforms and solutions.

The HADR showcase spotlighted the Endurance class Landing Platform Dock (Endurance 140 and Endurance 160), Diving Support Vessel, and Submarine and Rescue Support Vessel.

MAKING WAVES AT SINGAPORE AIRSHOW 2018

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Supporting smart environments: An artist impression of the Jurong Island Desalination Plant being built by the Tuas Power-ST Marine consortium.

The crew of LMV Fortitude with representatives from the RSN Project team.

Representatives from the DSTA Project team.

SIXTH LITTORAL MISSION VESSEL LAUNCHED

Fortitude, the sixth in the series of eight Littoral Mission Vessels (LMV) designed and built by ST Marine for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), was launched on 24 March 2018. The ceremony at the Benoi Yard was officiated by the Minister for Education (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport, Mr Ng Chee Meng. In keeping with naval traditions, the vessel was named and launched by its Lady Sponsor, Mrs Michelle Ng, the spouse of Mr Ng Chee Meng. A total of eight LMVs will be delivered to the RSN under a MINDEF contract signed in 2013. The LMVs will replace the Fearless-class Patrol Vessels designed and built by ST Marine in the 1990s.

To view the press release, click here

ANCHOR

Representatives from ST Marine Project team with Minister Ng Chee Meng.

WELCOMING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH OUR PARTNERS

ST Marine marked the Lunar New Year celebrations with a customer appreciation night on 21 February 2018. An annual tradition hosted by Mr Ng Sing Chan, President of ST Marine, the event got off to a rousing start with the customary tossing of yusheng to herald another successful year.

This year’s theme was Casino Royale, and guests were treated to table games and a sumptuous Japanese buffet. Maritime representatives from the defence and commercial sectors were among the 80 customers and business partners who attended the event.

It was a fun night of networking for everyone, especially the project teams who got to know each other better through the informal setting.

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[L-R] Mr Glenn McPhee (General Manager, Operations, MMA Offshore Asia Pte Ltd), Mr David Crane, (Senior Manager, Technical, SeaTeam Management Pte Ltd), Mr Andrew Coccoli (General Manager, Solstad Farstad Asia Pacific Ltd), Mr Barry Jewson (General Manager, Technical, MMA Offshore Asia Pte Ltd) .

[L-R] Capt Ashok K. Batura (Managing Director, Sinoda Shipping Agency Pte Ltd) and his family .

WELCOMING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR WITH OUR PARTNERS

ANCHOR

[L-R] Mr Michael Bell (General Manager, Commercial, Strategic Marine Pte Ltd), Mr Tan Ching Eng (Senior Vice President, Engineering & Design Centre, ST Marine), Mr Low Kok Chiang (Senior Manager, ST Marine) and Mr Vern Westerhout (Chief Executive Officer, Quovis International Pte Ltd)

[L-R] Mr Twoon Kok Yam (Senior Vice President, Benoi Yard, ST Marine), Capt Philip Tay (Chief Executive, Apex Ship Management Pte Ltd), Mr Donald Lim (Vice President, International Marketing, ST Marine), Mr Takehiko Matsumoto (Director, Transnational Uyeno Maritime Inc.), Mr Go Shishikura (Managing Director, Oxalis Shipping Co. Pte Ltd), Ms Phoebe Lim (Senior Manager, Commercial Shipbuilding, ST Marine), Mr Ng Sing Chan (President, ST Marine) and Mr Peter Kuo (General Manager, Oxalis Shipping Co. Pte Ltd).

Mr Daniel Toh (Director, Business Development, ST Marine) [Right] with Mr Keiji Suzuki (Technical Manager, Penta-Ocean Construction Co. Ltd) and wife .

MODIFICATION CONTRACT FOR POSH XANADU

VT Marine, ST Marine’s US-based repair and fabrication arm specialising in the upgrade of drilling rigs, ships, barges and offshore platforms, has been awarded a contract by POSH Offshore Holdings to modify the POSH Xanadu, an accommodation rig with the capacity for up to 750 workers. The rig had been redeployed from Brazil to support Chevron’s Big Foot project in the Gulf of Mexico.

As part of the contract scope, VT Marine will provide turnkey engineering, fabrication and installation services to upgrade the rig’s walk-to-work gangway pedestal and tower staircase. It will also install a new safety system and refuelling modules on the helideck. The rig arrived in late January and modification work were completed in March 2018.

VT Marine’s expertise in rig repair and location near the Gulf of Mexico makes it a partner of choice to POSH in this competitive bid, while its affiliation to ST Marine provided additional customer assurance on trust, reliability and timely delivery.

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Posh Xanadu in the yard.

Redelivery of Posh Xanadu.

MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR HELIX Q5000

VT Marine, ST Marine’s US-based repair and fabrication arm specialising in the upgrade of drilling rigs, ships, barges and offshore platforms, has won a maintenance contract for the Helix Q5000, a subsea support rig belonging to well intervention leader, Helix Energy Solutions.

As part of the job scope, a UWILD regulatory survey, also known as an Under Water Inspection in lieu of Drydocking, will be conducted. Other key activities include cleaning operations for the bottom hull, maintenance support for the rig’s OEM equipment, Special Periodic Surveys as part of the rig’s classification requirement, and other minor repairs and fabrications.

Maintenance work on the Q5000, which is deployed just off New Orleans, commenced in March 2018. The considerations underlying the successful contract award included VT Marine’s strategic location on the Central Gulf Coast, 42-feet deep-water access and well-suited facilities, along with its long partnership with Helix, proven experience in project management, reputation for reliability, and competitive rates.

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Helix 5000 in the yard

MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR HELIX Q5000

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Mr Jeffrey Sharlow (Rig Superintendent, VT Marine) and Mr Ryan Schnoor (Project Manager, VT Marine)

Mr Jeffrey Sharlow (Rig Superintendent, VT Marine) and Mr Lim Nian Hua (President, VT Marine)

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON

ON AMERICA’S FIRST OFFSHORE LNG ATB UNIT

A ceremony to mark the commencement of construction of America’s first Liquefied Natural Gas Articulated Tug and Barge (LNG ATB) unit was held on 8 March 2018 at VT Halter Marine in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

The contract was awarded to VT Halter Marine by Q-LNG Transport in November 2017. The construction of the LNG ATB unit is part of Q-LNG Transport’s long-term contract with Shell Trading (U.S.) Company, to deliver LNG as a fuel source to various ports in Florida and the Caribbean.

“We are honored to be able to celebrate the official start of construction on the first LNG Bunkering ATB unit ever built. We believe that this is a significant step towards the USA becoming the premier supplier of LNG as the environmentally friendly maritime fuel source of choice,” said Rob Mullins, Chief Executive Officer of VT Halter Marine.

“I am looking forward to developing a long-term relationship with VT Halter Marine and the ATB project is only the beginning. The cutting of this steel for America’s first LNG ATB bunkering vessel will pave the way for LNG to becoming the marine fuel of the future,” said Shane J Guidry, Chief Executive Officer of Q-LNG Transport.

The ATB Tug will have 5,100 horsepower, GE 6L250 MDC EPA Tier 4 main engines, with Z-drives, and dimensions of 128’ x 42’ x 21’. The barge is designed to carry 4,000 cubic meters of LNG, and will have dimensions of 24’ x 64’ x 32′.6”. The LNG ATB unit is designed to meet the requirements of American Bureau of Shipbuilding and the International Gas Carrier code as an LNG bunkering barge. Anticipated delivery of the first unit is in the first quarter of 2020.

ANCHOR

Representatives from Q-LNG Transport, Harvey Gulf International, VT Halter Marine and VT Marine.

STRENGTHENINGCAPABILITIESFOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Smarter ship designs and lower cost of operations have become important considerations for vessel owners and operators in the tough maritime environment. Ng Sing Chan, President of ST Marine, shares his insights on driving growth in today’s challenging climate.

Our key thrust is to strengthen our core while pursuing growth opportunities. As a medium-sized shipyard, we see ourselves as a niche player with strong and deep engineering capabilities. We are one of few shipyards in the world with the full range of capabilities to support the entire lifecycle of a ship, from shipbuilding and ship repair to maintenance, integration and upgrade.

This is a key competitive advantage that gives us a lot of flexibility to enter different maritime sectors to seek out new opportunities, while delivering more value and offering innovative capabilities to existing customers in both defence and commercial sectors.

In the defence segment, you can see this at play in our successful track record designing and building different vessel classes for the navies of Singapore, Thailand and Oman. With the increased military spending in major economies, especially the US, this is a potential growth area for us and we believe we are in a strong position to capture a slice of this market. We are constantly innovating our designs, optimising our processes and extending our spectrum of services in anticipation of the demand. The Singapore operations are also working closely with our US operations in the area of design and the approach to market as the marine sector under one ST Engineering Group.

One of our core products is the platforms for the maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations cluster. We have recently rolled out an Endurance 170 (E170) Landing Platform Dock (LPD) design that is smarter and more capable than the Endurance 140 LPD that we have designed and delivered earlier in 2011. The E170 is designed for joint air, sea and land command and operations with hospital and medical facilities, fire-fighting and search-and-rescue modules as well as larger ship-to-shore connectors vessels for expedient movement of troops and equipment.

AT THE HELM

The shipping industry has been plagued by an oversupply situation since the global financial crisis.

This state of weak charter and low utilisation rates was followed sometime in 2014 by the oil and gas industry. How is ST Marine charting growth in an industry that has endured nearly a decade of distress?

STRENGTHENINGCAPABILITIESFOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

As another example, we are leveraging on our Group’s capabilities in unmanned technologies to develop new applications in the maritime segment be it an Autonomous Berthing and Towing Tug, a Long Endurance Unmanned Surface Vehicle or an Unmanned Fire-fighting Vessel. We need to use technologies to see how to take the human away from hazardous operations such as fire fighting or fighting in contaminated areas and waters.

On the commercial side, we have designed and built a good range of offshore support vessels (OSVs) and subsea support vessels, including seismic support vessels (SSVs), platform supply vessels (PSVs), dive support vessels (DSVs) and anchor handling tug supply vessels for international customers. We are developing our next generations of OSVs and SSVs with a special focus on energy efficient hull forms, lean manning concepts and the ability to harness data from the vessel’s equipment to build decision-support systems that rely on the use of data and data analytics and machine learning.

At the same time, we have a diversity of success stories in other product segments such as the two Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) ships designed and built to carry the Airbus fuselage, and the purpose designed and built Roll-on/Roll-off passenger (Ropax) ferry for 1,215 passengers and 290 cars. The Ropax ferry has been gainfully employed since 2014, and is now embarking on her next two-year charter with a Polish company to ply between Poland and Sweden. Addressing new demands, as the world gets more conscious of protecting the environment, we have developed LNG-fuelled Ropax ferries. Our US operations are in the final stage of delivering two LNG-fuelled Container Roll-on/Roll-off vessels. We have also been awarded the design and build of a 4,000-cubic-metre LNG Bunkering Articulated Tug Barge, the first in the world. All these are strong testaments of ST Marine’s design and engineering expertise.

Recently, we have gone into rig repairs in the US. We think we have invested in the rig repair assets at the bottom of the cycle. We believe that the world will still need fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. And with the US Administration likely to support further oil and gas exploration, we are confident in the growth potential of the oil and gas sector. With the high barriers to entry, not many shipyards would be able to offer the span of services required by the rig operators.

We are now one of three rig repairers in the US. Our rig repair facilities are sited in a prime location, near to major oil fields in the US Gulf of Mexico. Not only are we able to stay close to our customers’ operations, the adjacency to our shipbuilding and shiprepair yard in Pascagoula allows potential synergies between the facilities.

AT THE HELM

What are the opportunities on the horizon, and what are some of ST Marine’s recent pursuits?

STRENGTHENINGCAPABILITIESFOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

We are seeing a revival of demand for leisure cruises and passenger ferries in the Baltic, Mediterranean and other areas, driven by the resurgence of the European economies. There has been an increase in the number of enquiries to charter Nova Star in recent months. So we see potential in a segment where we have track record and the know-how. We are intensifying our business development and marketing efforts of new Ropax variants with superior designs to penetrate this sector.

Another opportunity is in support vessels for offshore wind farms. Offshore wind farm installations require vessels that can support the high payloads of the huge and heavy turbines. At the same time, wind farms are also getting farther into the waters just like offshore oil installations. We are leveraging on our expertise in the design and build of OSVs and SSVs to develop the design of Service Operations Vessels (SOVs) that can operate in harsh environment with due consideration for the safety of the crew. As a shipyard capable of upgrades and conversions, we have conceptual designs for how a PSV, many of which are laid up today, can be converted into an SOV.

We are also entering a new area in the leisure craft sector. Riding on our experience with the interior design of Ropax vessels, we have marketed our refurbishment services to mega yacht owners in Asia and achieved some successes last year. We hope to eventually expand our services into newbuilds for the super and mega yacht segments.

The defence space is always evolving alongside advances in technologies, mission imperatives and the nature of geopolitical threats. It is no longer enough to offer the latest technologies alone, we need to leverage product and service innovation to deliver solutions for customers that can support their mission success. We will showcase some of these capabilities, like high-speed craft, in upcoming exhibitions.

For commercial vessels, we can take on a broad spectrum of design work, given the diversity of skillsets in our engineering pool. While vessels like the Ropax rely heavily on design and comfort, the challenges of support vessels, like the OSVs, lies in the successful conversion of vessel capabilities from design to production. This is the same for other complex platforms like LNG carriers, power barges, and even our DSVs, which come with remotely operated vehicles and complex dive systems.

These vessels have exacting operational requirements, each presenting a different set of design and technical challenges demanding significant engineering inputs. We invest in the capabilities of our design and production engineers and have acquired more advanced tools and software such as computational fluid dynamics and programme management and resource planning software. This is very useful in the prediction of vessel

AT THE HELM

How is ST Marine supporting these new segments?

STRENGTHENINGCAPABILITIESFOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

performance in multi-faceted areas such as speed, seakeeping characteristics, noise, vibration and radar cross section. The end result is a more superior design and a better-constructed vessel that supports specific customer requirements.

AT THE HELM

I would say it’s our ability to deliver total cost effective solutions. In the defence segment we provide lifecycle support services from design, build, operate, maintain, upgrade through to disposal. We have invested in Windchill, a product lifecycle management software, to provide total and integrated logistics solutions.

In line with this drive to lower lifecycle maintenance cost, we are developing the Vanguard series for naval customers. It features one design for multiple classes and modular capabilities. Essentially the objective is to exploit commonality not only in design but also in systems and equipment. This would reduce design and engineering cost, lower inventory levels across the entire fleet of vessels, shorten the duration of maintenance training, and increase software safety and reliability. It would also offer the benefit of different mission capabilities with less number of ship signatures. The concept is not new, but it can still deliver clear advantages to naval operators in terms of training, mission versatility and lifecycle support.

With many established shipbuilders around the world, how does ST Marine differentiate itself from competition?

Like shipbuilding and shiprepair, environmental projects involve large scale engineering, careful planning and meticulous integration of systems to bring about a complete and cost effective solution that is sustainable over a long stretch of time.

In the case of the desalination plant, it will require a large amount of energy to operate. While current technologies are pegged at 3.5 kWh of energy per cubic metre of water, we are exploring how to digitise the operations using sensors and data analytics to drive this down to 2.5kWh, or more. This will allow us not only to optimise energy consumption, but also prolong the lifespan of each sub-system and predict consumption patterns to optimise downstream load management, amongst other benefits. Ultimately, it will translate into more competitive tariffs for our customer. The knowledge we gain will allow us to adjust the plant operations in tandem with future water demand.

The other focus of our environmental engineering business is to support the development of Smart Cities. Combining our capabilities with our prior experience in Pneumatic Waste Collection Systems, transfer stations and solid waste management, we have the capacity to deliver engineering value to stakeholders looking to set up an integrated waste management facility.

Apart from shipbuilding, ST Marine also runs an environmental engineering business. You have recently

won a bid to develop Singapore’s fifth desalination plant. How does such a large scale project benefit from your current engineering expertise?

LEADING INNOVATION

Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) programme is the latest success story emerging from the long partnership between the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Marine. Already, six out of eight LMVs have been launched since the programme’s start in 2013. For Phua Siang Ling, memories from the tender submission stage are still fresh in his mind.

“Back then, I was overseeing the production team for newbuilds. Our initial role was to come up with a build strategy to ensure smooth execution of construction. As the ST Marine project lead, I had to run a tight ship involving our Engineering Design Centre, Costing, Production, Quality Assurance, Purchasing, Integrated Logistic Support and Naval Support departments. We had countless intense meetings, both internally and externally, combing through every detail required in the support of such a sophisticated warship,” Siang Ling recalled.

The build strategy, which included block breakdown, pre-outfitting and open slag concept, had to achieve a number of qualitative and quantitative objectives. These included cycle time reductions, productivity improvements and safety enhancements in order to produce a quality ship. Besides, the team had to ensure the programme’s progress within the given schedule and budget.

“For me, the priority was to align with our customer’s expectations. We worked relentlessly to build trusting relationships with our RSN and DSTA partners. I could sense everyone’s commitment in upholding the faith and confidence our customers have in us to build and deliver this ship,” he elaborated.

Siang Ling explaining the LMV build strategy to the Chief of Navy for the Republic of Singapore Navy.

ON DECK

Phua Siang Ling, Vice President of the Project Directorate (Shipbuilding), gives the inside scoop on the teams, challenges and triumphs behind the Littoral Mission Vessel programme.

LEADING INNOVATION

As the LMVs are a new class patrol vessels with unprecedented design features, the issues were manifold and required constant refinement. “We understood the customer’s challenges and demands; and therefore, we worked even more closely together with them to anticipate and resolve engineering and production issues, and to improve design decisions,” he explained.

After the basic and detailed design reviews were completed, Siang Ling and his production team moved on to steel-cutting. Keel-laying, block assembly, pre-outfitting, outfitting, propulsion installation came next. Once the vessel hull was completed, the LMV was launched into water for preparation of platform systems testing.

Siang Ling continued: “As the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. All the onboard systems had to clear the Harbour Acceptance Trial. The vessel also had to undergo a stringent Builder’s Trial and Platform Acceptance Trial to verify the performance of the ship’s speed, manoeuvring and control, endurance and engine performance.”

In building a next-generation warship, the team had to undertake a number of innovative design and construction considerations. For example, the LMVs are integrated with a state-of-the-art Launch and Recovery System that enables reduced manning and faster recovery. They are also incorporated with an Integrated Command Centre that centralises navigation, engine control and combat information for more efficient and effective maritime security operations; an Integrated Bridge Platform Management System (IBPMS) & Sensemaking feature that improves situational awareness; and a Stacked Mast that maximises sensor coverage and optimises maintenance efforts.

Installation of the superstructure block.

ON DECK

LEADING INNOVATION

“To illustrate just how automated and integrated the LMVS are, did you know we have some 250 kilometres of wiring running through each 80 metre vessel?” Siang Ling asked. He also highlighted the LMV’s Ship Management Systems, which are incorporated with touch screen panels: “This is a first for home-grown naval platforms – they allow for a more intuitive user interface.”

Summing up the team’s success, Siang Ling remarked: “The LMVs do truly showcase our engineering, production and system integration capabilities. Despite their size, the vessels are able to support the high-tech systems and equipment required by the RSN. They’re Smarter – Faster – Sharper, and able to deliver quicker and greater firepower with a smaller crew.

“What I’ve enjoyed most about this project is the chance to work with highly professional teams. The management of complex projects is never a smooth sailing process, but I attribute the LMV’s success to great team spirit between the RSN, DSTA and ST Marine. The LMV is the newest class of patrol vessels and a milestone programme for us. I’m immensely proud to be part of a team that turned its initial designs into reality,” he added.

ON DECK

EXPANDING INTO RIG REPAIRS

In 2017, ST Marine sought to strengthen its operational capabilities, and acquired rig repair assets in a prime

location in the Gulf of Mexico through VT Marine. The new facility is located close to VT Halter Marine’s (VTHM) Pascagoula yard, which is a huge advantage in terms of sharing resources, leveraging domain expertise and deriving greater synergies between our ship and rig repair operations.

Being a repair and maintenance business that complements VTHM’s operations has allowed us to cross-sell our services in the US, and to offer a more comprehensive suite of offshore and marine services to a wider pool of customers. This has definitely enhanced our value-add to customers and reinforced our position as a global player in the marine industry. Operationally, we’re able to achieve more efficient capital allocation and resource utilisation, and this will help to lower our operating costs for improved competitiveness.

Performance-wise, the rig repair business under VT Marine has had a healthy start. We’ve been able to tap into our strong relationships with various drillers and operators such as Rowan, Helix, Enterprise and Diamond, and this has opened doors to various business opportunities, including first rights when bidding for tenders. To date, we have completed several rig decommissioning projects, and were recently awarded contracts for the repair and upgrade of an accommodation rig, and for the maintenance of a subsea well intervention rig.

Lim Nian Hua, Deputy President for Engineering and Operations, reports on the successes of the newly acquired rig repair operation in Pascagoula in his new capacity as President of VT Marine.

YARD SIDE

EXPANDING INTO RIG REPAIRS

An aerial view of the rig repair facility at VT Marine.

YARD SIDE

As with most companies building up a new business, we experienced our share of challenges. We are a small team, but we had to reactivate the yard and reach out to potential customers. To get the operations up and running, everyone had to multi-task – from responding to enquiries to managing the cash flow.

At the same time, we are mindful that drilling companies have been cutting down on capital expenditure and maintenance budgets due to the dip in oil price. We’re also seeing more low-cost fabricators in the oil and gas segment, and this has intensified the competition for offshore repair and fabrication services.

More importantly, we see the potential value of our new assets, beyond the uncertainty of the current business cycle. Various market reports have forecasted a pick-up in US crude oil production and deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. We expect the number of working rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to reach about 50 by 2021, up from 20 in 2017. Moreover, the market for rig maintenance has been increasing as operators strive to keep their existing rigs in good working condition. We also foresee some potential for land-based projects coming from oil giants like Chevron and Shell.

I’m convinced that great things start with small beginnings. All of us at VT Marine are excited about the prospects of our enlarged commercial offerings, and are proud to be able to contribute towards building up the rig repair business.

Lim Nian HuaPresident, VT Marine

ABS ACCREDITATION ELEVATESST MARINE'S SYSTEM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCY

ST Marine was awarded the Certificate of Design Assessment by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its NERVA Ship Management System (SMS) on 22 December 2017. Developed inhouse, NERVA SMS is an integrated alarm, monitoring and control system. By providing ship operators with realtime, onboard and remote access, NERVA SMS guarantees secure and efficient operations across a variety of vessels.

The ABS certification for the NERVA SMS is testament of our ability to meet internationally accredited design standards for operability, safety and reliability. With the ABS certification, ST Marine can now implement the NERVA SMS on commercial vessels and embrace market opportunities beyond the naval industry.

ST Marine is the first Singapore shipbuilder with an ABS certification for its own SMS, positioning us as a preeminent innovator in high-performance monitoring.

Mr Sim Chee Chong, ST Marine’s Assistant Director for Marine Technology & Solutions Centre (Ship Management and Sensemaking Systems), says, “We are very proud to have attained the coveted ABS Certificate of Design Assessment for our NERVA SMS. It is an endorsement of our proven capabilities in system design, providing higher assurance of an SMS solution that is mature, safe and stable for deployment. With this achievement, we are ready to deploy our NERVA SMS for naval and commercial vessels.”

ABS is one of the world’s leading marine classification organisations. ABS Rules form globally recognised safety and technical standards for ships, and ensure that design and construction outcomes meet established standards.

Chee Chong demonstrating the capability of the Nerva SMS to the Singapore Minister for Defence during IMDEX 2017.

The Certificate of Design Assessment for our Ship Automation System Design and Development will enhance customer assurance and provide new market opportunities.

ACCOLADES

ABS ACCREDITATION ELEVATESST MARINE'S SYSTEM DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCY

As part of the stringent certification process, ST Marine had to ensure that NERVA could comply with the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels. This entailed the submission of detailed designs and technical documents, prototype testing, and an engineering evaluation that involved several reviews and clarifications.

Based on an open architecture platform, NERVA SMS integrates commercial off-the-shelf equipment and enables remote monitoring on tablets and other mobile devices. Its modular design enables customised solutions that suit the operational needs of ship operators, and a centralised control system provides a clear view of the ship’s operations. These include propulsion, electrical functions, auxiliaries and damage control. In 2017, ST Marine unveiled NERVA Ship Management System and Sensemaking System (SMS2) that employs big data analytics to monitor equipment health and perform predictive diagnostics.

The NERVA SMS is but one milestone in ST Marine’s drive to develop industry-transforming innovations. The ABS certification, however, represents our unwavering commitment to international standards that ensure the efficiency, responsiveness and safety of our vessels.

For enquiries about the NERVA SMS or SMS2, please contact:Mr Sim Chee ChongTel: +65 6559 3812Email: cheechong@stengg.com

A mockup of the bridge console showcasing the NERVA SMS2.

ACCOLADES

PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT:

BUILDING THE SHIPYARD OF THE FUTURE

ST Marine is known for its ability to design and engineer sophisticated vessels under tight delivery schedules.

However, our engineers and designers often faced drawbacks in managing the product lifecycle. With complex ship designs came more changes in configurations, product definitions and bills of materials. Growing documentation often required updates to be done manually, and the workforce also had to sieve through large volumes of information while conducting reviews.

The challenges pointed out the need for change, and we began searching for an innovative solution that could connect people, processes and data, and store all information on a single repository. We were committed to improving our decision-making, while ensuring high-quality work and timely product releases.

A step ahead of complexity and change

Our search led us to make a strategic investment in PTC’s Windchill Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. The solution enables integrated management across the entire product lifecycle, from design, to production, delivery and post-delivery services.

Windchill PLM serves as a single repository for complex product, training, and logistical documentation, and a robust platform for coordinating change and communications. Information that has been integrated into the repository includes Product Definitions, Engineering Bills of Materials (BOM), technical illustrations and calculations, spare parts listings, and training documentation.

Since its implementation, the software has supported effective configuration and change control through the various stages of the shipbuilding programme. Said Mr Wayne Lau, Senior Engineer at EDC II (Automation & Electrical Systems), “In the past, documents and drawings were filed in project directories. Notices for changes in engineering were done manually via hardcopies. Today, all our project information is centralised, and our supervisors are notified of changes with the Engineering Change Management feature found in Windchill PLM. They then review, comment and instruct us on the next steps. It’s a more systematic and efficient way to work.”

Windchill PLM ensures that information and processes are integrated throughout the shipbuilding lifecycle, yielding operational and business benefits.

TAILWIND

PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT:

BUILDING THE SHIPYARD OF THE FUTURE

Windchill PLM facilitates easy storage, tracking and retrieval of information. Via this platform, our workforce gains easy intranet access to all product related content at any time, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Customers can now do away with the logistical challenge of having to manage the large amount of information, freeing up resources to focus on their core role in operating ships.

Many tasks that were previously addressed separately are now managed as a complete process, via an integrated electronic workflow. ST Marine is able to automatically track and resolve project issues, while providing stakeholders with traceability. Users and other business systems – such as the SAP system – receive digital feedback throughout each stage of the product lifecycle. This reduces cycle time in a complex manufacturing environment.

“With Windchill PLM, I can now manage my department more effectively,” said Mr Yeow Xian Ching, Manager at EDC I (Marine Systems). “All deliverables are stored, tracked, reviewed, and approved using a common platform. In the past, it was easy to lose track of comments. But with Windchill, all comments and amendments are registered and traceable.”

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PRODUCT LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT:

BUILDING THE SHIPYARD OF THE FUTURE

With an integrated design database, connected tasks and clear workflow, ST Marine is now better equipped to handle the demand for customised products. As a result of easy access to correct and current information in the data repository, the risk of inaccurate decision-making has been reduced. Realtime updates on progress and changes to complex configurations provide higher visibility on projects and enhance team efficiency. Less time is required to track and trace preceding solutions, driving improved speeds to market.

Enhanced support

With ship configurations stored automatically, customers do not need to maintain duplicated sets of engineering databases. As a result of quicker access to technical data, the downtime required for repair has been vastly reduced. ST Marine also uses Windchill PLM modules that provide collaborative tools for joint technical studies with clients, and upgrading projects.

Since its deployment in 2013, Windchill PLM has empowered ST Marine to manage the entire product lifecycle of our ships. It integrates people, data and processes while serving as a repository for information.

This has helped to streamline our design process, and enhance our productivity by improving collaboration. We look forward to reaping more operational and business benefits with Windchill PLM, while servicing our clients effectively.

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UPCOMINGEVENTS

FLAG

April

12 Keel-Laying for the eighth Littoral Mission Vessel13 Quarterly Stakeholders Networking Event11-12 National Safety and Claims Forum, American Equity Underwriters, Houston

June

2 Mid-year Appreciation Event8 Launching for the Heavy Fire Vessel25-27 Warships & OPV Conference Latin America

July

8-12 Singapore International Water Week 2018TBA Groundbreaking for the Jurong Island Desalination Plant

August

24 Quarterly Stakeholders Networking EventTBA Launching for the seventh Littoral Mission Vessel

September

4-7 SMM 2018, Hamburg

November

TBA Year-end Appreciation Event

December

21 Quarterly Stakeholders Networking Event

For enquiries, please email onward@stengg.com