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Imtech Marine at Europort 2011

November 07, 2011

World-known Imtech Marine technology companies such as Radio Holland Netherlands, Imtech Marine & Offshore, Imtech Marine Germany, Royal Dirkzwager and Free Technics will be presenting their latest innovations at Europort 2011 (8-11 November, Rotterdam) at Stand 1.124 in Hall 1. Imtech Marine will speak about Green Technology, Innovative Automation solutions, ECDIS, Remote monitoring & maintenance, Augmented Reality, and about much more, presenting its wide technology portfolio, green shipping options and global services.

Radio Holland Netherlands

Radio Holland Netherlands

At Europort Imtech celebrates a recent proud achievement. In September Imtech officially received the designation “Royal” Imtech from Her Royal Highness the Queen of the Netherlands. Receiving this honor after 150 years in the business of innovation and sustainability, clearly recognises the achievements of Imtech. Cooperation between its various expert companies gives Imtech Marine an enormous strength, allowing the company to offer an extensive portfolio of maritime technology solutions and services, as well as an unrivalled worldwide network of now 80 offices. Imtech Marine is always pushing the technological boundaries forward and creating new concepts. Ultimately all of the solutions have one thing in common; they are designed to help reduce the total cost of ownership of the vessel and fleet.

Augmented Reality presentation
In a bid to showcase Imtech Marine’s innovative mind-set, visitors are invited to come  and see the spectacular Imtech Marine Augmented Reality presentation. It shows a physical yacht model of an offshore construction vessel. By pointing an iPad at the model one can see the inside of the yacht in 3D imaging, presenting all of the broad technology Imtech Marine can provide. Hovering the iPad over the model will reveal the technologies and systems, as well as green technology and Imtech Marine’s services.

Green technology and green route
Imtech is a frontrunner in sustainable solutions with more than a quarter of our revenue stemming from intelligent, ‘green’ technology solutions. And Imtech Marine will continue to develop green ship concepts and green consultancy. Imtech Marine has been involved in many green projects for several years and many of these sustainable initiatives will be showcased at Europort, where the Imtech Marine booth is part of the Green Route. There are several green shipping areas in which Imtech Marine has proven its capability, focussing on energy savings: Diesel electric propulsion, Smart grids, Fully Hybrid ships, Energy Saving HVAC projects, Optimal Routing, Energetic simulation and dynamic modelling.

Integrated Ship Automation
Imtech Marine’s automation and smart yacht solutions are based on profound maritime process knowledge and aimed at flexibility, efficiency and safety during construction and operation, supported by a truly global network and maximizing the customer’s return on investment. Imtech Marine will demonstrate its integrated automation capabilities at Europort by state-of-the-art multifunctional workstations. Visitors can use these modern consoles and they can experience how it feels to sail a ship with a mobile device. This spectacular presentation will demonstrate Imtech Marine’s capabilities in Navigation, Automation including Collision Avoidance, Route Planning/Monitoring, Dynamic Positioning and Tracking, Autopilot, ECDIS and Conning, Platform Automation, Fire Fighting and Damage Control systems.

Remote Monitoring & Maintenance
Imtech Marine is one of the pioneers of remote monitoring and maintenance; an increasing trend and one that is leading to significant cost savings for ship owners. With growing demand for round-the-clock communications, Imtech Marine was a frontrunner to offer complete connectivity packages using VAT technology. Highly skilled Imtech Marine engineers can repair potential problems by remotely monitoring the system, advise crew or determine the most efficient action in the next port of call. VSAT enables Imtech Marine to monitor and analyse the status of all the vital systems, ultimately saving money and reducing the total cost of ownership. Imtech Marine’s VSAT support desks monitor on board equipment 24/7. At the booth of Imtech Marine a realistic and interesting case study about remote monitoring & maintenance will be presented live at regular intervals.

ECDIS
Another highlight at the stand will be Imtech Marine’s ECDIS solutions. Imtech Marine, being a multi-card supplier, can provide several ECDIS solutions to its customers. Imtech Marine has its own developed ECDIS. Imtech’s SeaGuide ECDIS is suitable for retrofits and new buildings and has many advantages such as being a simple, user-friendly and robust system and crucially, it facilitates fully redundant serial navigation data processing.

Fuel-efficient sailing and efficient port entry
Royal Dirkzwager, Imtech Marine’s specialised maritime information and service provider providing nautical and maritime information, will be demonstrating its latest services at the stand. BridgeAssist focuses on fuel-efficient sailing and efficient port entry. Royal Dirkzwager will give the captain up-to-the minute advice about the most efficient journey, so saving fuel and consequently, cutting down on emissions. Even in the final part of the voyage alone, BridgeAssist can reduce fuel consumption by 5-10%. Ship2Report is a web application that shows all of the actual vessel movements across ports in North Western Europe. Royal Dirkzwager has developed versions for the iPad and Blackberry.

Growth strategy
Earlier this year, Imtech Marine announced its new 2011 – 2015 growth strategy. Its vision is to be an independent top player in the global maritime market and a true life cycle management partner for customers. By effectively combining skills and competences in system integration and maintenance of technology on board,  Imtech Marine supports its customers during the full lifetime of a ship, to achieve unrivalled, competitive cost of ownership. In addition, Imtech provides solutions for the growing requirements of our customers in green technology. Imtech Marine is unique for its worldwide maritime network of now 80 well-positioned service and outfitting locations in more than 20 countries.  Imtech Marine continues to expand this network. In 2011 alone, Imtech Marine added offices in Spain, France, Morocco, China and Canada. At the same time, existing offices will grow into full service hubs by expanding their current technology and services portfolio. Imtech plans to further expand its worldwide network in amongst others Asia Pacific and South America.

Imtech Marine is a leading company in the global maritime market, operating as a full-service provider and system integrator of tailor-made, innovative and sustainable technology solutions covering the whole yacht. Imtech Marine specializes in Automation (Platform and Bridge), Navigation & Communication including Connectivity, Energy & Drive systems, HVAC solutions and Fire Protection systems, A/V Entertainment and Maritime Information Services. Imtech Marine provides innovative systems and reliable services during the full lifetime of the yacht. The company reached annual revenues of more than €500 million in 2010, employing 2,500 employees at nearly 80 offices based along shipping routes and close to shipbuilding centres.

Imtech acquires ETNA and opens 5 offices in France, Morocco and Spain

October 11, 2011

Imtech, a technical services provider in Europe and on the global marine market, is expanding its marine services network with five new offices in France, Morocco and Spain. This concerns offices in Le Havre, Saint-Nazaire and Marseille in France and Tangier in Morocco following the acquisition of the French marine services provider ETNA, Etudes Techniques et Nouvelles Applications SA.

With its 15 employees, ETNA realises revenue of around 2.5 million euro annually. The acquisition will be paid in cash and will directly contribute to the earnings per share. In addition, Imtech has opened a new marine services office in Algeciras in Spain.

René van der Bruggen, CEO Imtech: ‘We have a strong position in the global marine market, are active in more than 20 countries and have, as sole marine technical services provider, more than 70 offices along all the important shipping routes. In our strategic growth plan 2015 we’re committed to strengthening considerably our marine activities to a revenue level of approximately 1 billion euro (2010: more than 500 million euro), both organic as well as through acquisitions. One of the growth areas is the international expansion of the number of marine services offices. In France, Imtech already has a service office in Antibes, mainly for luxury mega yachts. With the acquisition of ETNA, three French offices and one Moroccan office are being added to our marine services network. At the same time, we are opening our own service office in Spain. This will enable us to serve our marine customers in Southern Europe and North Africa considerably better, which will lead to further growth.’

Profile ETNA

ETNA is a small but strong player in the French marine market. The company has already been operating for many years with increasing success as marine services specialist for technical maintenance and management on the dozens of ships that visit the French ports of Le Havre, Saint-Nazaire and Marseille. The close relationship between France and Morocco led to a Moroccan office also being opened a number of years ago. In addition, ETNA is structurally active on a project basis in Tunisia and occasionally in other countries in North Africa. ETNA provides a wide range of electrical solutions on also almost all types of ships. A substantial part of its revenue is based on long-term cooperation agreements with customers.

Cooperation leads to growth

Via internal cooperation ETNA will very soon have access to Imtech Marine’s complete services package, enabling it to become active over a broader technical services area. This will lead to further growth. Furthermore, ETNA, under the strong financial wings of Imtech, will become a more powerful business partner, which will also lead to further growth.

Excellent track record at the new service offices

Imtech’s past record shows that it is exceptionally able to bring rapid growth to its marine services offices, whether newly-opened or obtained through acquisitions. A combination of local specialists and exceptionally well-educated service technicians work together to service existing, mostly internationally-operating, Imtech customers on the basis of ongoing service contracts. On this basis, Imtech works on more than 5,000 ships. With its distinguished service portfolio, Imtech is also able to act quickly to find new local customers and expand the services to these step by step. The combination of knowledge and technical competences, as well as Imtech’s state of the art marine services portfolio makes further growth possible. In this way, in areas such as China, around the Panama Canal and in the Caribbean area, Imtech has brought marine services offices, either opened or obtained through acquisitions, to rapid growth.

Further internationalisation

Within the framework of its growth strategy, Imtech Marine is further internationalising its activities, with success. In China the volume of activities in recent years has grown substantially. There are more than 400 employees here now. In 2010 Imtech acquired the strong Turkish marine technical services provider Elkon, which has given Imtech a basic position in this marine growth market. Very recently, the Canadian marine technical services provider Groupe Techsol was acquired, with which Imtech obtained a high-tech production site for the marine market in Canada and North America. Further internationalisation is foreseen.

Royal Imtech – Imtech receives the designation ‘Royal’

September 23, 2011

Imtech N.V. (IM-AE, technical services provider in Europe and on the global marine market) has announced that Her Royal Highness the Queen of the Netherlands has granted Imtech N.V. the right to use the designation ‘Royal’. This special Predicate is awarded today by Mr. Jan Franssen, Queen’s Commissioner in the Provence of South Holland, in the presence of Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam. Royal Imtech is now a fact.

Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' (Royal Imtech) - Credit Royal Imtech

Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' (Royal Imtech) - Credit Royal Imtech

Imtech CEO René van der Bruggen: ‘Naturally, we are proud on the fact that we are allowed to call ourselves ‘Royal Imtech’. This forms the pinnacle of 150 years of entrepreneurship, and specifically of the tremendous growth in activities that we have experienced over the past two decades. We have grown from a Dutch company established over a century and a half ago into one of the strongest players in the technical services market in Europe, as well as occupying a top-five position in the global marine market. Our 27,000 employees work for over 21,000 customers. More than 25% of our revenue stems from intelligent, ‘green’ technology solutions in the European markets of buildings, industry, traffic & infra and the global marine market. Our revenue (turnover) totals over 4.5 billion euro and we have developed an ambitious growth strategy for 2015 that is aimed at generating revenue of 8 billion euro. The designation ‘Royal’ fits perfectly within this growth strategy. Royal Imtech symbolises the respect, appreciation and confidence of all our stakeholders: our customers, employees, investors, business partners and everyone we work with.’

Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' (Royal Imtech) - Credit Royal Imtech

Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' (Royal Imtech) - Credit Royal Imtech

What does the designation ‘Royal’ imply?

The designation ‘Royal’ is a distinction that can be granted to associations, foundations, institutions and major firms. The designation ‘Royal’ was conferred for the first time in 1806 by King Louis Napoleon on what was then known as the Staatsdrukkerij (State Printing House) and the Netherlands Navy.

To become eligible for the designation, a company needs to be at least 100 years old, to be distinguished in terms of its nature, size and reliability, and to occupy a dominant or highly prominent position in the Netherlands in its sector – and preferably be of international stature. The size of the company, the size of its workforce and its revenue are all taken into account. Its operational management needs to be beyond reproach. The company, its board members and members of its supervisory board need to be of high repute and irreproachable conduct. The Queen herself is the only formal institute authorised to confer the designation. The designation is strictly limited to the organisation in question, entitling it to add the Predicate ‘Royal’ to its name and include the Royal Crown in its logo. Generally speaking, the Queen confers this designation on only one organisation in each sector.

Rich company history, with a ‘starring role’ for technology

Last year, Imtech celebrated its 150th anniversary. In 2010, it was exactly 150 years ago that Jan Jacob van Rietschoten put his career as sea captain in the long-haul shipping trade behind him and started working as an independent stevedore in Rotterdam in 1860. He was one of the first people in Europe to use steam power for loading and unloading ships. This formed the start of Van Rietschoten & Houwens, and this, in turn, formed the basis of Imtech today. It also marks the start of Imtech’s rich company history, with a ‘starring role’ for technology. From the first electric railway (1888), the first basic automation on board ships (1930), the invention of energy-saving cogeneration technology (combined heat-power solutions) coupling and decentralised power plants (1935), through to present-day 2011 with ‘green’ buildings, data centres, ships and high-tech power plants.

Royal Imtech - Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' - Credit Royal Imtech

Royal Imtech - Imtech receives the designation 'Royal' - Credit Royal Imtech

From 7,000 to 27,000 employees

In 1967, Van Rietschoten & Houwens was acquired by Internatio. Internatio (established in 1863) and Müller (established in 1878) played a decisive role in the birth of Imtech. In 1970 they decided to merge, becoming Internatio-Müller N.V. The following period was characterised by a series of acquisitions. Around 1990 Internatio-Müller (IM) was a conglomerate of more than 100 companies, of which about 35 were specialists in technology, including Van Rietschoten & Houwens. In 1993, these technical companies were grouped together to form Internatio-Müller Techniek, or Imtech. In 2000 Internatio-Müller decided to dispose of the non-technological activities and to concentrate fully on a single core activity: technology. Internatio-Müller became Imtech in 2001, introducing an ambitious new company that was quoted on the Euronext stock exchange in Amsterdam.

Imtech today

Imtech has grown from 7,000 employees (and revenue of 350 million euro) in 1993 to a workforce of 27,000 (and revenue of over 4.5 billion euro) today. This makes Imtech one of the largest companies in the Netherlands. Imtech is currently characterised by strong market positions in North-western Europe and in the global marine market. Imtech offers a comprehensive range of technical services to over 21,000 customers. Imtech is a leading company in the field of ‘green’ technology, with over 25% of its total revenue relating to sustainable technology solutions.

The designation ‘Royal’ to be presented in Rotterdam

The conferral of the designation ‘Royal’ will be celebrated in the Imtech Marine workshop on Sluisjesdijk in Rotterdam. In Rotterdam Imtech has also its official registered office. With over 1,500 employees, Imtech is one of the largest employers in Rotterdam. Our motive for choosing Rotterdam as the location for this presentation is that we wish to emphasise Imtech’s typically Rotterdam approach of ‘rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in’. Moreover, Rotterdam is where 150 years ago it all started for Imtech, in the marine market. Thus, Rotterdam is the ideal location for the ceremony to take place.

Imtech Marine will introduce Multiflex modular for Offshore Support Vessels

May 18, 2011

At the Norshipping exhibition (24-27 May, Oslo) Imtech Marine will launch its modular and flexible concept “Multiflex”. On the basis of this concept, Imtech Marine works closely with ship owners and builders and offers them a system independent expert advice and selection from a wide range of technology solutions. The customers have complete freedom of choice, selecting the most competitive, required technologies via one point of contact, Imtech Marine, and create an optimum custom made total solution. As a renowned system integrator, Imtech Marine takes full responsibility for the interfacing of the systems. The technology modules include Diesel-Electric Propulsion, Power Distribution, Vessel Automation, Dynamic Positioning, Navigation & Communication, HVAC (Heating,Ventilation & Air Conditioning), Fire Protection & Fire Fighting and Safety Systems. The worldwide service network of Imtech Marine provides 24/7 maintenance and service support throughout the ship’s life cycle.

Imtech Marine

Eric van den Adel, Managing Director of Imtech Marine says: “In January of this year, we announced our new company strategy up to 2015. This modular concept for Offshore Support Vessels fits perfectly into our strategy, which is focused on delivering real added value and solutions as well as excellent services to our customers. From the perspective of Imtech Marine the key success factor is the seamless integration of all chosen technologies into the vessel and the support and maintenance during the full life cycle, wherever the ship operates. As supplier independent specialist in the field of system integration with a service network covering 73 locations in 23 countries, Imtech Marine is the right partner to work with.”

Life cycle partnership
By focusing on the life cycle of the ship, and linking its knowledge of the new building phase (design and engineering) with the operational phase (maintenance), Imtech Marine is able to create smart solutions and advise customers how to optimise operating costs over the vessels entire life span. Imtech aims to provide efficient solutions according to the customer’s requirements, while minimising the risks. This starts with an early involvement in the conceptual ship’s design. The knowledge of the vessel’s functionality is used to create an optimal interface between the ship’s processes and the technology.

Imtech Marine: strong player in global marine market
Imtech Marine is a leading company in the global marine market, operating as a full-service provider and system integrator of tailor-made, innovative technology solutions covering the whole ship. Imtech Marine specialises in automation (platform and bridge), navigation & communication including connectivity, energy and drive solutions, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) solutions and fire protection technology, entertainment, lighting and maritime information services. Imtech Marine provides innovative systems and reliable services during the full lifetime of the ship. In 2010, Imtech Marine reached annual revenues of more than 500 million Euro, employing 2,500 employees at more than 70 offices based along shipping routes and close to shipbuilding centres.

Ghost G180 Hybrid Superyacht by Ghost Yachts

November 15, 2010

Ghost Yachts and the Italian design studio Gloss Design have joined forces with Imtech Marine & Offshore on the development of the superyacht Ghost G180H, the first full hybrid superyacht. The G180H was initially presented nearly a year ago and is Ghost Yachts next step towards more sustainable, innovative and efficient super yachts.

Ghost G180 hybrid superyacht by Ghost Yachts

Ghost G180 hybrid superyacht by Ghost Yachts

A solid foundation

Ghost Yachts used its Ghost G180 platform for the hybrid yacht. Its Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) by Van Oossanen & Associates  offers the required efficiency to operate a large yacht with a relatively modest propulsion power. Imtech’s smart Hybrid system combined with Van Oossanen’s revolutionary FDHF have proven to be a perfect combination for a sustainable and efficient yacht. During the development of the system, Imtech managed to unravel the initial complexity of the Hybrid system and shaped it into a compact and sensible unit. Ghost Yachts reduced the required technical space by dividing the Hybrid’s technical space in two levels. The silent parts of the hybrid system like the Power Electronics Panels, batteries, and main switchboard are located on the lower deck while the four Volvo Penta D16G generators are located in an insulated engine bay underneath the electronics room. The Ghost G180H is propelled by two completely new electric Voith Inline Propulsors (VIP) of 750kw each. These high efficiency hubless steerable pods have an integrated electric motor and eliminate the need for propeller shafts and rudders. The Voith VIP’s and Imtech’s Hybrid system result in an extremely silent and vibration free propulsion system. The Hybrid system operates in seven different modes ranging from battery only to full hybrid operation. Each mode is specifically designed to ensure an optimal efficiency in every situation. The system is controlled by Imtech’s new IMAS variable frequency drives control system, with interfacing and remote control via the FT NavVision IPMS system.

Smart interior

The G180H has been thoroughly reviewed to learn about the power consumption in navigation and at anchor. The prime consumers have been reviewed to see how much power could potentially be saved. To reduce the power requirement for the chillers and fancoils the G180H’s windows are coated with a ceramic film that blocks out up to 80% of the sun’s heat producing infrared light.

The HVAC system is assisted by a cold water storage to extend the operational time of the system during battery only operation. The interior of the yacht is also designed to require less energy from the HVAC system. The main salon and dining room, for example,  are equipped with four generous lateral sliding doors which provide access for a natural breeze that flows through the superstructure. The layout will create a more natural and balanced climate inside this large space by virtually connecting it to the outside areas. Van Berge Henegouwen reworked the AV and communications systems to optimise power consumption. A thorough review of the systems’ components and the extensive use of LED lighting guaranteed a lower energy consumption.

Ghost Yachts' Ghost G180 hybrid superyacht

Ghost Yachts' Ghost G180 hybrid superyacht

Remarkable results

Ghost Yachts has compared the G180H to a number of modern displacement yachts with a comparable length and volume. The overall fuel consumption was reduced by a vast 30% while the fuel consumption for hotel operation showed savings of up to 50%. The performance of the yacht is perfectly in line with today’s superyachts offering a cruising speed of 15.5 knots with a range of over 4500nm at a 13 knots passage speed.

“Developing the G180H was very rewarding.” Björn Moonen of Ghost Yachts explains. “In the beginning I approached the project with suspicion rather than enthusiasm. I was convinced that a hybrid system would be too complicated, too big and too expensive to build.” he continues. “The Imtech engineers were clearly not sharing my opinion. They developed the hybrid system’s layout with my concerns as starting point. When I saw the first technical layout and reviewed the space requirements, the enthusiasm started to grow, especially when we reviewed the overall efficiency data. It was impossible not to be excited by the enormous potential of the system .”

“All pieces of the Hybrid puzzle came together on the G180H” Imtech’s Sales Manager Marien van der Deijl explains. “Diesel Electric propulsion systems often require a lot of concessions in terms of performance and interior space on a yacht of this size. This time we were dealing with a combination of an optimal hull shape and a pair of Voith Rimdrives that matched perfectly with the available power of the DE hybrid system”.

On the horizon

Parallel to the development of the G180H, Ghost Yachts also finalised the technical development of their most popular yachts, the G180L and the <500GT G180V. These models also shared from the benefits of the hybrid’s development, confirming the need for efficiency to create speed. The G180V offers a 32knots cruising speed and a 36knots top speed. An updated centre boost unit gives the G180V a top speed of nearly 50 knots. The efficiency of the yacht is probably best displayed with a range of 4750nm at a passage speed of 15 knots. Ghost Yachts continues with the development of the Ghost G180K, their first sailing yacht which is expected to be presented next spring.