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In the Press
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The website of Meteo Consult features an article about a recently executed heavy lift transport by Jumbo Shippings' vessel the ' Jumbo Javelin'. The vessel transported two huge cranes from China to Columbia.
Read the whole article to find out how OCTOPUS-Onboard helped to perform the operation in a smooth, efficient and safe manner.
DNV has taken the initiative to develop more reliable methods for designing and operating LNG membrane tankers based on full- and model-scale measurements of liquid motion forces. The OCTOPUS-Onboard Heavy Weather Decision Support functionality has been included in the LNG IMO system for test and evaluation purposes.
The full article can be read at the DNV website in their Tanker Update magazine.
Where Amarcon mainly focussed on high demanding end-users in the shipping and offshore industry, other opportunities quickly rise at the horizon. In the arcticle on the Holland Marine Equipment website, Evert Schippers, Manager R&D from Amarcon, gives an insight in OCTOPUS solutions for the OEM market.
The benefits of the fuel saving extension within OCTOPUS-Onboard are described in the June issue of Tanker Operator magazine. Click here to read the full article.
The may edition of the Maritiem Nederland magazine features an interview with the managing director of Amarcon, Leon Adegeest. More and more shipping companies are looking for tools that help securing precious cargo and reducing fuel costs. That's exactly where Amarcon steps in. Click here to read the full article.
The April/May edition of the Maritime by Holland Magazine features an article about different kinds of clients that Amarcon serves with her OCTOPUS products. In contrast with what many people think, it's not only a captain of a vessel or shipping company that profits from a decision support system like OCTOPUS-Onboard. Leon Adegeest from Amarcon explains how decision support helps to secure precious cargo and how ship-owners can profit when OCTOPUS-Onboard is installed on a ship.
Read the full article.
The Dutch magazine Offshore Holland features an article on the OCTOPUS-DP Capability Forecast function. The magazine is spread during the OTC in Houston, from 2 -5 May. Interested in reading the digital version? Go to the website of Offshore Holland to read the whole magazine. The article on Amarcon can be found on page 28 and 29.

Nor-Shipping has got a Twitter channel where you can read all about interesting developments in the shipping business. The channel now features a contribution by Amarcon, which sheds a light on decision support in the world of shipping.
For the original article you can take a look here.
The original text of the article:
Arguments for Decision-Support Systems Who benefits from decision-support systems and why? Amarcon sheds some light on the topic.
Amarcon states emphatically: Decision-support systems on vessels are becoming more important to shipping companies. Amarcon's Leon Adegeest explains: "Times have changed. The days when a master of the ship simply crossed the ocean based on his experience and judgment belong to the past. Given the value of the cargo aboard a container ship, owners and operators are less willing to leave anything to chance." Captains are familiar with the risks: parametric roll, bow slamming, high lashing loads and heavy weather. Using weather forecasts is one method of tackling the various dangers of the sea. Anticipating heavy weather at an early stage to choose an alternative route prevents stress and damage to the vessel. Now, masters, managers and owners have tools to go farther. Adegeest describes Amarcon's offering: "Our OCTOPUS software helps the crew onboard in their everyday decision-making process. Hazards like parametric roll, high lashing loads and bow slamming can be identified at an early stage." Many have argued that shipowners don't profit from decision-support systems on their ships; they're not operating the ship, so why bother? "That's a bit impetuous,? Adegeest continues. "With these systems, vessel are less exposed to severe conditions, leading to a far better hull condition at the end of the chartered period.
"Another concern for a shipowner is dry-docking. With less stress to the hull, fewer steel plates need to be replaced during dry-docking. And with less exposure to extreme conditions and fewer repairs to the hull, the lifetime of the vessel is significantly extended. From that perspective, a shipowner can get a far better return on his investment."
Amarcon and the Greek agent Technava closed a deal on collaboration in the Greek and Cypriot market. You can find the article on page 12 of Shippingnewsclippings, edition 13-03-2011.
The completion of OCTOPUS-Onboard installations on all fifteen Dockwise vessels has recently been celebrated by members of the management of the Oil and gas service provider Dockwise, and an Amarcon delegation. In the arcticle on the HME site you can read more about this meeting between Amarcon and Dockwise.
The Spring edition of the Maritime by Holland Innovation Newsflash has devoted a full page to Amarcon. This newsflash will be spread at all kinds of Exhibitions this spring. Here you can view the digital version of the newsflash. The Amarcon article can be found on page 19.
 - www.maasmondmaritime.com
The Shippingnewsclippings edition of 23-02-2011 features an article about the historical relationschip between Dockwise and Amarcon.
Click here to view the full arcticle.
Amarcon recently launched an own company profile on Ship-technology.com. This website brings you the information you need on the latest ship projects, from cruise ships to dry cargo vessels, fast and conventional ferries and offshore support vessels, tankers and gas carriers.
Amarcon's online profile gives you a clear and brief summary of the different Ship Motion Monitoring, Forecasting and Decision Support solutions that our company has to offer for the martiime industry.
Click here to visit our online profile on Ship-technology.com.
 - www.maritimeholland.com
The winter edition of 6 degrees Magazine features an article on Amarcon's Dynamic Positioning Capability Forecast. The article can be read here.

Een routeplanner die met alle belangrijke reisfactoren rekening houdt en met die gegevens een optimale vaarsnelheid berekent, kan een aanmerkelijke brandstofbesparing opleveren. Met dit uitgangspuntontwikkelde Amarcon in Dalfsen de routeplanner Octopus.
Veel schepen varen aan het begin van een reis sneller dan nodig is om op tijd een bestemming te bereiken. Bemanningen willen zo een buffer opbouwen om door slecht weer of ruwe zee veroorzaakte vertragingen op te kunnen vangen. Wanneer de schepen eenmaal een uur of vier voorliggen op het reisschema nemen ze gas terug om niet te ver op het schema vooruit te lopen. Wanneer ze hun bestemming naderen nemen ze nogmaals gas terug om niet te vroeg in een haven aan te komen. 'Die manier van routeplanning verhoogt het brandstofverbruik', zegt Leon Adegeest van Amarcon. 'Wanneer een schip de hele reis een vast toerental aanhoudt kan veel brandstof worden bespaard.' Octopus berekent de meest effici?nte route op basis van gegevens over weer, stroming- en zeegang, in combinatie met de specifieke vaareigenschappen van het schip. 'Op basis van de tijd die men voor een reis heeft, berekent het programma welk toerental het beste kan worden aangehouden. Het programma houdt er al rekening mee dat de snelheid over de grond, bij een gelijkblijvend toerental, onderweg varieert onder invloed van weersomstandigheden, stroming en zeegang. Het programma berekent op voorhand al het snelheidsverlies dat dit op een deeltraject veroorzaakt.'
Alarmeringen Om alles goed te kunnen berekenen is nauwkeurige en kloppende weersinformatie essentieel. Op basis van de weersinformatie berekent Octopus de zeegang en de effecten die dat op het betreffende schip heeft bij de verschillende koersen. Het programma houdt daarbij rekening met golfhoogte, golfrichting en golflengte. Deze gegevens worden automatisch ingeladen via een weervoorspellingsprovider zoals MeteoConsult's SPOS. Het programma kan deze golfcondities en effecten tonen op een beeldscherm en adviseert wat de beste route is. Het programma waarschuwt ook als door extreme zeegang een onveilige situatie dreigt voor het schip, zoals parametrisch slingeren en surfen. In extreme gevallen, zoals bij cyclonen of orkanen, kan het programma adviseren een stuk om te varen of te wachten. Octopus heeft, naast statische informatie over het schip, per reis in te voeren informatie nodig. Zoals stabiliteitsgegevens, beladingsconditie, de reisduur en de bestemming. Samenwerking Amarcon is op het gebied van routeplanning een samenwerking aangegaan met de Noorse producent van elektronische kaartsystemen Maris Ecdis. De samenwerking is beklonken tijdens de SMM in Hamburg. Daar is een overeenkomst getekend over de gezamenlijke doorontwikkeling en verkoop van het Maris Voyage Data Systeem (VDS), de elektronische routeplanner van Maris.Het systeem is, net als Octopus, in staat om een zeereis te plannen en daarmee brandstof te besparen. Na het uitvoeren van de reis documenteert en analyseert het programma de resultaten. Amarcon integreert haar Octopus zeewaardigheidsmodule in het Maris VDS-systeem. De integratie van beide technieken moet een zeer zuivere navigatie en precieze beslissingsondersteuning opleveren. Het systeem beschikt over een uitgebreid geheugen en kan geplande en eerder gevaren routes gedetailleerd op de elektronische kaart tonen. Maris en Octopus gaan er vanuit dat het systeem gemiddeld 5% brandstofbesparing oplevert.
'We hebben het programma al uitgebreid getest op een reis van een groot containerschip van Vancouver naar Japan. Op die reis leverde het een besparing op van 4,7% brandstof', zegt Adegeest. De reder bespaarde in een week 30.000 dollar. En dan had dit schip op referentiereizen altijd redelijk netjes gevaren. Er zijn ook gevallen bekend van schepen waar kapiteins rustig een tijd 26 knopen varen en dan gaat het echt heel hard met de brandstof.' Het Franse CMA CGM vaart al met het door Amarcon ontwikkelde Octopus-systeem, evenals schepen van Jumbo Shipping en Dockwise Shipping.
Octopus Ocean Monitoring System
Dockwise uses the Octopus Ocean Monitoring System to measure wave-induced motions and acceleration forces on the cargo by collecting data about the motions of the vessel, which is relayed to a central database server enabling the operations and engineering departments to monitor the journey precisely and remotely. Clients are updated online and real-time motion response data are provided for assessment of their valuable cargoes.
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Amarcon BV, located in Dalfsen, Netherlands is a key player involved in state of the art technology and software development of many industries. Amarcon?s highly experienced software development team with expertise in ship motion and performance analysis co-operates with leading players in the maritime industry. Amarcon bridges the gap between fundamental research and daily operational practice of ships and other floating offshore structures. Amarcon?s strategic partners include Classification Societies, system integrators, radar suppliers, and weather forecast providers. Amarcon?s applications have been supplied to many renowned ship operators with multiple ship specific configurations. Amarcon services cover a wide range of sectors including owners and operators of ships, offshore operators and contractors, yards, oil companies, dredging companies, engineering companies and consultants, Classification Societies, Navies, system integrators and Universities.
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Hoegh LNG asked Amarcon to extend the OCTOPUS-Onboard Monitoring & Routing System with weather windows for Dynamic Positioning and sloshing decision support for the LNG Carrier Suez Neptune.
Read the full article.
In 2008, Exmar contracted Dockwise to transport the 7,500-metric ton (8,267-ton) hull of its Opti-EX 6000 platform from Korea to the Gulf of Mexico. Opti-EX is a deep-draft, ring-pontoon semisubmersible developed by Exmar to produce marginal fields in various water depths. The company has been in dialogue with two national oil companies over an initial offshore application.
For transport, an Octopus decision support and motion monitoring system onboard the Swan measured wave-induced motions and acceleration forces on the cargo. This system is designed to collect a range of key data, including the position of the ship, which is relayed to a central database, enabling operations and engineering to monitor the journey precisely and remotely.
The collected data keep the client informed of progress on a daily basis, and can help evaluate the entire voyage after the discharge. Based on Ship Performance Optimization System (SPOS) weather forecasts, the system predicts motion responses such as roll, pitch, and accelerations on the cargo?s center of gravity. The data are compared with the engineering limits set for the voyage. If these limits are exceeded, the captain can decide in good time to change course or to adjust the vessel?s speed. Finally, the measured motion response data are provided to the client for the life-time assessment of their property, and area also available on-line.
Read the full article
"one of the best transports"
" Nick Romolo, Diamond Offshore, Manager of Marine Operations says, "The Ocean Quest turned out to be one of the best transports, because there were noticeable improvements in the operation and the crew."
"Communication is the most important element to improving performance. This was a very successful solution between Dockwise and Diamond. Dockwise's initiative to update Diamond with constant information for its technical people to analyze regarding cargo motions made all of the difference."
Click here to read the whole article
Amarcon is een technologiebedrijf dat software heeft ontwikkeld voor de scheepvaart en offshore. Deze moet bijdragen aan effci?ntere navigatie en veiligheid aan boord. Dit systeem, Octopus, verwerkt actuele weersgegevens met beladingeigenschappen, koers, vaart en routeplan van het schip. Het systeem geeft zo objectief inzicht in hoe er veilig en effci?nt van A naar B gevaren kan worden of hoe een offshore-operatie veilig uitgevoerd kan worden. Kortom: de TomTom voor de scheepvaart.
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OCTOPUS meets CMA-CGM newbuilding needs.
" French shipping group CMA-CGM has placed the order for 34 OCTOPUS-Onboard systems for its larger containgerships, whose primary purpose will be to warn against resonance.
Click here to read the whole article
"The new software package christened "OCTOPUS", to make vessels safer."
" When seas are very confused, large containerships that carry over 4,000-teu may roll violently from side to side, and this can potentially endanger their cargo (head-sea parametric rolling). In order to come to grips with this phenomenon, CMA CGM Group has introduced a new software package christened "Octopus" to make vessels safer. Octopus measures continually roll and pitch angles. This warns the ship?s master of possible parametric roll risks, enabling him to change course or speed, to steer clear of "critical conditions". This is a decisionsupport tool designed for the mid term that allows the master to analyse the course taken and helps him pick the safest and quickest route. All new CMA CGM 5,000-teu ships are equipped with the Octopus system. Should it prove satisfactory, it is envisioned to extend it to all directly operated vessels... "
Click here to read the whole article
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