Overview of the Maritime Research in Norway

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1 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON MARINE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS Paper presented at the 9 TH International Conference on Marine Engineering Systems at the Helsinki University of Technology (HUT) Ship Laboratory and on board MS SILJA SERENADE May 2003 Overview of the Maritime Research in Norway Johannes Tvedte 1 and Egil Rensvik 2 1) President, Höegh Fleet Services, Norway 2) MARINTEK, Norway ABSTRACT This keynote paper will give an overview of the General status for the Norwegian Fleet, and the shipping companies focus on R&D for the future. The presentation will cover The Norwegian Maritime Cluster a complete group of actors which give additional strength by cooperation and common research and development projects. These includes Norwegian Shipowners Association R&D priorities, The Research Council of Norway Focus in the new Maritime and Offshore Operation Programme and mayor Technical R&D actors MARINTEK/ NTNU. Maritime Research on ICT in Norway has been going on From system development to implementation in shipping companies, in 10 years continuous engagement, with focus on Environmental aspect, Safety / IMO, Operational costs and international trades. In addition experience from own company will be presented. In particular the R&D projects Höegh Monal, with Centralised maintenance concept and further development in use of ICT in the company will be discussed. Introduction It is an historical fact that in the past the shipping industry has been much more influenced by people with practical, hands-on experience than by people with an academic education and by scientific research and development. But there has been a change after the Second World War. After the 2th Would War the Norwegian shipping industry has built on four different pillars Abundant availability of highly qualified deckofficers and engineers Sufficient number of officers also to cover the need for recruiting officers to shore-based maritime industry such as shipowners offices, classification societies, maritime directorate and equipment suppliers Easy to recruit personnel with education from universities to the shipping industry Close cooperation between shipping and maritime research institutes. In the last two to three decades the two first items have become difficult to achieve, and one of the big challenges for the owners today is to recruit qualified officers, especially in Norway as well as internationally. In fact our industry has developed into a KNOW-HOW industry, with competence as one of the main success criteria and enabler of competitive edge. The industry is now fully dependant on academicians and scientific research and development. In Norway this was realised in the sixties, and from then our industry has systematically invested in maritime R&D. Nearly all the shipping companies have limited in-house capacities and also competence, and the companies are fully dependant on external support for carrying out R&D projects. This is the fact in Norway and also in other companies, worldwide. The limited in-house R&D capacity in the shipping companies and the fact that the industry has developed into a Competence industry was the reason for establishing the Maritime Research Institutes in Norway, MARINTEK. Over the last 35 years we have had a close contact and cooperation with our R&D institutes and the Maritime Universities and Academies, for the mutual benefit for all. There are a number of challenges that are common for 1-1

2 many of the companies in the shipping industry, challenges that can more efficiently be solved in close cooperation between the companies, the R&D institutes, the classification society and other parts of the Maritime Cluster of Competence. Over the years the Norwegian shipping industry has joined forces a number of times to solve challenges. An example in the past of joint industry project, was the so-called Large-bore project. That was back in the sixties, when we all had problems with cracks in cylinder heads, the piston crowns and the liners in the large diesel engines. We were then in the lucky situation that we had very qualified researchers in MARINTEK and DNV, highly qualified staff in our maritime university. A project team was quickly established with members from a number of shipping companies, suppliers of large-bore diesel engines, DNV and the research institutes. The next project mentioned, is the Taimyr project. This project was started in the late sixties, in the early days of the IT-industry. The challenge was to find out if an electronic computer could be used onboard M/S Taimyr to improve efficiency and safety. The result of the project was the first electronic computer onboard a ship internationally. After this project the development has been impressive, and to day all newbuildings have one or more computers onboard to solve varies problems. It will be too time-consuming to mention all the joint industry projects carried out by the Norwegian Maritime industry after finalising the Taimyr Project. I will just mention that we continuously have had one or more projects running dealing with important challenges as they occur. Just to mention a few examples: Condition monitoring (Hoegh Multina, 1971) Fuel oil treatment Energy conservation onboard Maritime information technology According to our experience, Norway is the only maritime nation that has invested in R&D connected to operation and management of ships. I will just remind you that as shipowners we do not give top priority to the development of new technology. We invest in efficient application of the technology. Knowledge based application of technology gives a lasting competitive advantage. New technology as such is easy to copy, and will not create a lasing competitive advantage. As mentioned earlier, the shipping companies have limited in-house R&D capacity, and they are fully dependant on the R&D institutes and the Maritime universities. But if these institutions shall be of interest for the companies, they must be players in the international top league knowledgewise. Through the Norwegian Shipowners Association we have given top priority to concentrate our cooperation to a limited number of institutes, and contribute to build new knowhow in these institutes at a top international level. We further try to build close connections between our national R&D and the universities to have the teachers at university level engaged in our maritime research. Norwegian shipping is investing more in R&D and has a heavier commitment in this field than any other country. The main reason for Shipping companies to invest in more R&D are : Shipping is a know-how industry, and R&D is the most efficient way of creates new competences. The investments have been profitable. Norwegian Shipowners Association Research For Profitability And Competitiveness In spite of the extremely turbulent market situation, which has lasted for a long time now, the maritime industries based in Norway with remarkably few exceptions have justified their existence simply by continuing to survive. At times, this industry has earned handsome profits, created vast numbers of new jobs and helped to develop a sustainable coastal community. Year after year, the maritime industry has contributed more than 10 percent of Norway s continuously rising GNP. The service side of the maritime industry provides more than 75 percent of the wealth creation in the cluster and constitutes half of Norway s total exports of services. During the course of the period 1989 to 1998, the number of companies in this cluster more than doubled mostly on the services side, which indicates the industry s ability to restructure and renew itself. The average annual value creation in this period was NOK 17 billion; in 1998, this figure was NOK 27 billion. Shipping is expected to remain the driving force in the cluster. A continued growth in wealth creation of between three to five percent has been predicted for this period. However, this growth will be contingent on a considerable increase in the commitment to research and development on the part of the industry and the government. Maritime actors have been involved in important innovations on the Norwegian continental shelf. By virtue of their global operations, maritime actors are able to make a major contribution to the internationalisation of the offshore industry based on Norwegian technology, products and services. The development of new know-how and technology, and the ability to utilize it, are the most important sources from which to build up companies profitability and ensure future competitiveness. Research plays a vital role in the development of new 2-2

3 processes, products and services. The most important result of all research, however, it is the new know-how which R&D generates among those who participate actively. What Is The Added Value Of R&D Investments? The Norwegian Shipowners Association (NSA) has during the last 5 10 years supported the following major R&D programmes: Area Markets and finance Technology, ship management and operation Seatransport and logistics Environment R&D Program Main activities are listed below. Maritime R&D program with 1 SIØS, 2 NHH, Bergen ( ) Maritime IT in Ship Operations ( ) Ship Management and Information Technology ( ) Coastal Sea Transport ( ) Sea Transport and Logistics ( ) Improved Environmental Operation of Ships ( ) Maritime Environmental Research and Development (MAREN) In general Improved rules and regulations nationally and internationally Safer and more environmentally friendly ship design and operation Motivated, resourceful and academically educated personnel Development of internationally loading Norwegian maritime R&D- and education institutions Enhanced competence and co-operation in the Norwegian maritime cluster Markets And Finance An international leading R&D institute, SIØS, specialized in shipping and international economy Expert knowledge and a focus on shipping markets and general terms and conditions at the global, regional and national level 1 Centre for International Economics in Shipping 2 Norwegian School of Economic and Business Administration Technology, Ship Management and Operation World s most advanced R&D institution within maritime technology and operation, MARINTEK and the only institution with a maritime university at the same location. Improved models, methods, tools and equipment for efficient, safe and environmentally friendly design and operation Systems, methods and tools for efficient selection, training, assessment and documentation of competence Seatransport and Logistics A powerful and knowledgeable R&D institution within maritime logistics, MARINTEK, 3 BI Know-how, models, methods and tools to promote the shipowner s role as a logistics provider Environment Improvement of the industry s environmental profile Know-how, methods, tools and equipment for more environmentally friendly shipping Examples From The Various Fields Project: The Norwegian Shipowners Multinational Operations A know-how development project which has provided knowledge and more insight into important industry policy problems relating to Norwegian shipowners foreign investments, including: Why do Norwegian maritime businesses invest abroad? What effects do these investments have on the Norwegian maritime community? What effects do the investments have on recipient countries? The project has proved increased knowledge of and a focus on the importance of domestic competitive commercial conditions. Project: Pilot Ships Höegh Monal/Morus A fully integrated navigation and automation system communicating with the ship s administrative systems, which in turn communicate with the administrative systems in the shipowner s offices, has been developed and tested as part of the Maritime IT in Ship Operations R&D programme. This means that the owner has the same information as the ship itself. The concept has been 3 Norwegian School of Management 3-3

4 widely accepted nationally and internationally. The concept has been implemented, wholly or partially, for newbuildings by Höegh and a number of other shipowners. This will provide enhanced efficiency, safety and more flexible and efficient work processes through the ship s lifetime. Project: Turborouter A PC-based decision support system (TurboRouter) for the operation and chartering of ships, which includes functions for electronic charts, position reporting via satellite, databanks for ships, ports, distances etc., automatic distance calculation and optimization routines for the calculation of optimum cargo assignment to ships. Studies show that this type of decision support systems improves fleet utilization by 5-10 percent. Project: Environmental Accounting System A PC-based program (Nauticus SEAS) for installation on board and/or in company offices for environmental account-keeping of operational emissions from ship to the atmosphere and releases to the sea. The project has provided a tailored tool to document status and improvement over time with regard to the ship and/or shipowner s operational performance. This has been done to meet increasingly stricter requirements for documentation of the shipowner s environmental performance by the company s customers, authorities etc. Project: Global Maritime Bench-Marking The Shipowners Association is for the time being running the project Global Maritime Benchmarking will provide valuable knowledge in several areas, thus having several goals: a) Competitiveness. The project should enable us to determine and assess the competitiveness of Norway as a host country for maritime industries, in addition to increase the understanding of how the competitiveness and prospects of growth will develop in the years to come. b) Learning. The findings will provide insight with regards to strengths and weaknesses of the Norwegian industry, as opposed to maritime environments in other countries. One of the aims is to develop a platform for adopting best practices from other industries. The work is to be performed for the maritime clusters in the following countries: The Netherlands; interesting governmental policy for developing the maritime cluster Germany; large and almost complete cluster Great Britain; large maritime cluster with geographical specialization (advanced services in London, offshore in Scotland) China (including Hong Kong); fast-growing area with enormous potential Japan; large, advanced and complete cluster with some signs of decline Singapore; open easy-to-access cluster with lots of Norwegian Companies, gateway to Asia In addition some studies will be performed in: Greece South Korea Houston, USA R&D Plan Of The Norwegian Shipowners Association Some Main Points Overall Objectives To strengthen the competitiveness and profitability of member companies. To develop new know-how for member companies in priority areas. To support NSA s work on general commercial conditions and regulations nationally and internationally. To develop maritime expertise in institutes, universities and colleges. To strengthen Norway s position as a maritime center of competence in the international forefront. Strategy To concentrate efforts on a few, specific tasks of vital importance to the most sophisticated shipowners and offshore petroleum contractors. To emphasis harmonious interaction between economy, technology, human and organizational factors. To link research closely to education at maritime universities and colleges. To co-ordinate research with the maritime research of The Research Council of Norway. Organisation The R&D budget is managed by NSA s R&D Board in accordance with an R&D plan as approved by NSA s Board. Member Participation The shipowners and offshore petroleum contractors, willing and able, will be involved in the prioritization, organization, planning and implementation of NSA s R&D efforts. This is done to ensure relevance and enhanced familiarity with the industry in R&D institutions, and to strengthen the competence in member companies. 4-4

5 The Research Council of Norway The Research Council of Norway plays a vital role in developing and implementing the country's national research strategy. It acts as: a government adviser, identifying present and future needs for knowledge and research; a funding agency for independent research programmes and projects, strategic programmes at research institutes, and Norwegian participation in international research programmes; a co-ordinator, initiating networks and promoting co-operation between R&D institutions, ministries, business and industry, public agencies and enterprises, other sources of funding, and users of research Maritime and offshore operations ( MAROFF- Programme) Central partners among Norwegian trade associations include the Norwegian Shipowners Association, the Federation of Norwegian Engineering Industries (TBL) and the Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF). In respect of the authorities, collaboration partners will include the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, the Norwegian Hydrographic Services, the Norwegian National Coastal Administration, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (OD) and the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT). Along with the offshore industry, the maritime custer and associated service and supplier industries constitute a core part of Norwegian trade and industry and have a huge impact on the economy and employment, especially in small towns and rural areas. The maritime cluster and the offshore industry are inextricably intertwined, and many suppliers serve both industries. The synergy effect of these two sectors is expected to continue in terms of both the market and expertise. User-driven innovation projects This research programme will employ more stringent conditions than the previous MARITIM programme with regard to flexibility and long-term impact. The programme is open to all the actors in the maritime world, regardless of their size, investment ability, expertise and business orientation (i.e. whether they produce knowledge, services or products). Many important innovations are made in the small and medium-sized businesses in the cluster. Backed by venture capital, small companies can often pose a serious challenge to larger companies in terms of their innovation rate. Major challenges to knowledge and expertise Analysis done in 2001, the following areas have been identified as having an important potential for new innovations: Seafood logistics; Transport systems and logistics; The next generation of ships and ships systems; Marine operations in demanding waters; The maritime network company; Future challenges and exploitation of expertise. Within these areas, a handful of promising areas of investment have been identified that are of sufficient scope and have a high potential for value creation to act as showcase projects. By means of these projects, the maritime industries can demonstrate how they work together to resolve national challenges and at the same time satisfy the specific research and development needs of the individual companies. The idea behind these showcase projects is to render visible the potential synergies inherent in a joint effort, to simulate interdisciplinary collaboration in the cluster, to ensure a sufficiently long-term perspective in visions and goals and to contribute to ensuring upstream and downstream support for realisation and concrete value creation from the investments in R&D. The main investments are in: Maritime operations to provide cheap gas for consumers, which entails challenges such as simplification of the value chain, operating in demanding waters, intermodal transport, new energy carriers, offshore production and storage. High-capacity production and deliveries of seafood. The major challenges are large-volume seafood production, operating in demanding waters, intermodal transport, sustainable exploitation of resources, supply services, handling, treatment and processing of materials, energy consumption. Reliable and ecological maritime transport. Central topics include: zero-error safety, intermodality, value chain simplification, organisation and management, training. The module-based ship a genuine cluster project covering topics such as: block and module-based vessel design, industrialised shipbuilding, new techniques of installation, joining and transport, module-based planning and administration, design based life-cycle analysis, construction and operation of modulebased ships, cargo and operational flexibility. 5-5

6 Next-generation network companies distributed resources and competence; internationalisation and specialisation; new forms of organisation; new business ideas; knowledge management. Special environmental challenges The interests of safety and the environment must be promoted with increasing value creation. Environmental and safety issues will be included as an integrated part of most of the R&D challenges. Major challenges are related to avoiding and reducing damage caused by hazardous emissions. On a global level, climate regulations may have consequences for the level of activity and location of many key industries that are customers of the shipping industry and thus also have a drastic effect on the pattern of demand in the global shipping markets. Nationally and regionally, environmental requirements will force maritime actors to improve their environmental performance. The clients are defining increasingly stringent requirements for a green profile for all the deliveries in the value chain (green logistics). Specific R&D challenges in terms of environmental aspects will include: Better understanding of structural changes in the global trade. Improvement of the shipping industry s environmental profile through changes in attitudes and use of technology. Creating new market opportunities through raised environmental awareness. Making ecofriendliness a competition factor. The most efficient environmental measure is to transfer transport of cargo from road to sea or inland waterways. International collaboration The actors in the maritime cluster serve an international market with global export shares of around %. The results and innovations that ensue from the R&D activities will therefore naturally have international applications. Our total maritime knowledge base compared with the size of the country is unparalleled, but we must not allow ourselves to become complacent or assume a protectionist attitude towards international research co-operation. The motto should be import knowledge and technology, export innovations, through international alliances. The international arena must be exploited to the maximum, both to further develop our own knowledge base and to ensure that the Norwegian maritime industries are competitive on the international market. Many of the actors are becoming increasingly involved in dynamic networks that have fuzzy boundaries. The networks overlap, ownership changes frequently and the production process is based on project design with members that operate in several different arenas. Instead of thinking in linear value chains, it is now more pertinent to replace these with an organisational chart consisting of nodes and connections interlinked in a network of local, national and global institutional, social and cultural relations. Specific measures include: Taking full advantage of large companies and groups opportunities to involve smaller companies in the international market. Using the Eureka projects as a tool. Exploiting the EU framework programme (ERA) to set up projects that have a synergy effect with major national projects. Norwegian maritime R&D has found itself in this kind of situation several times in the last few years and has found it relatively fruitful, especially within sea transport and logistics, safety and new applications of ICT. Brussels regards Norway as a maritime superpower a special advantage that we must exploit. Reaping the full benefit of national research cooperation agreements with a number of Asian countries. Of particular importance in this context is Singapore, with which the Research Council of Norway has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding Maritime R&D and Education & Training. Ensuring maximum exploitation of the opportunities afforded by Norwegian R&D communities international networks. Ensuring that as many as possible of the recipients of grants associated with the projects spend a three-to-six-month period abroad during the course of the grant period. R&D in Market and Economical areas Most of the research within the areas of market and maritime business and economic studies have been done within the centres; NHH - Institute for Research in Economics and Business Administration SIØS Centre for International Economy in Shipping BI Norwegian School of Management. These have close contact with the shipping companies on the management level and for giving information on trades and market developments. 6-6

7 MARINTEK/ NTNU - Technical R&D a strong research source for the Maritime Cluster. Centre of Excellence - Ships and Ocean Structures In 2002 the Centre of Ships and Ocean Structures with focus on discipline integration of hydrodynamics, structural mechanics and automatic control at NTNU in cooperation with MARINTEK and MIT was awarded by the Norwegian Research Council as a Centre of Excellence (CoE). This is an extensive focus on fundamental marine technology research over a period of 10 years. The Norwegian Ship owners association is one of the main industry sponsors of the CoE. Vision Create a world leading centre for developing fundamental knowledge for the design and operation of future ships and ocean structures by integrating theoretical and experimental research in marine hydrodynamics, structural mechanics and automatic control. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) will contribute to improved international competitiveness of Norwegian marine industries as well as to safety and protection of the marine environment. new hydrodynamic models for strongly nonlinear free surface-body interaction considering green water loading, water impact, sloshing in 3D containers, run-up on platform legs, finite amplitude wave-induced motions and structural loads. new nonlinear controller designs for ships and ocean structures based on a tight integration of control theory, hydrodynamics and structural mechanics. new methods for predicting hydrodynamic loads and their single or multiple extreme and cyclic effects on ships and ocean structures considering their stochastic and nonlinear character, taking due account of the effect of automatic control and human intervention, as well as possible hydroelastic effects. The research will be based on state-of-the-art knowledge about the ocean environment ensured by close working relationship with leading experts in this area. The focus will be on generic knowledge that can serve as a basis for the future development of marine technologies, and for other industries engaged in similar activities. Relevance to Norwegian Industry Sea Transport Fisheries and Aquaculture Oil and Gas Principle Research Areas Ships Structural Mechanics Ocean Structures Integration of Disciplines and Research Tools Theory Automatic Control Hydrodynamics Experiments Fig. 1 Centre of Excellence Ships and Ocean Structures Objective The objective of the CoE is to establish new fundamental and physical insight into the behaviour of ships and ocean structures with due consideration of the random nature of the ocean environment and the possibilities of the automatic control of vehicles and facilities by developing: 7-7

8 Energy Efficient All Electric Ship In 2003 NTNU was awarded with the 5 year research program on maritime electrical installations. Vision The vision of the project is to supply research institutes and industry with World-class experts in the design and operation of cost- and energy-efficient all electric ships within the areas by total energy management and control system interaction and dynamics power electronic converters and new energy sources integrated electrical machines and propulsion systems establishing a multi disciplinary research group to work within the area in cooperation with selected university and industry partners educating internationally recognised MSc and PhD candidates developing laboratory hardware- and software prototypes for education of this new type of marine engineers and to carry out research projects The figure below outlines in a nutshell the KMB-project Energy-Efficient All Electric Ship presented in this application and its relations to end-users, supplier industry, the integration of disciplines and research challenges. Goals Basis for the application of the project is the need to develop and improve the knowledge needed to meet the challenges in the field of research: Energy-efficient All Electric Ship - EEAES The need of system as well as component knowledge is common for all such new systems using the electrical form of energy in the energy conversion processes. Main goals The subject for the 4 KMB requires good knowledge about the total energy system and its components, as well as knowledge about several technological disciplines. The main goals of the projects are: Supplying the industry with highly qualified personnel within the area of EEAES.: A total of 10 PhDs within the area of research will be ready to join the industry when this program is completed. Fig. 2 All electric ship KMB- project Energy- Efficient All Electric Ship Optimal design/manufacturing and operation of an Utilities Pulp and Paper Minerals End User Focus Areas Oil and Gas Sea Transport Fish and Aquaculture Others Supplier Industries Landbased: CHP plants Components Maritime Industry Automation Integration of Disciplines Electrical Power Systems Marine Machinery M odelling Integrated Systems Technology Control Research Challenges Dynamic performance of combined power plants (CPP) for marine applications Models, tools and methods for modelling and simulation of CPP. Energy Management Systems Low level control of power consumers Electrical distribution networks PM Machines for propulsion Converters for weak power grids Integrated electric actuators Active Front End converters 8-8

9 EEAES: Develop new methods and tools to better to utilize the energy-sources on-board, reduce life-cycle cost and to improve the reliability of the system. Provide technology for cost-competitive products from Norwegian vendors: Combination of electricalmechanical- and marine engineering provides knowledge to develop competitive products for marine applications. Fuel cells Norway has a leading position in Europe in developing maritime application of fuel cells. Leif Höegh Company Experience and effect from R&D projects. Höegh Fleet Services has been one of the Norwegian Shipping companies which has been involved in the national initiatives for Maritime R&D. Involve R&D institutes This work has been a close cooperation between R&D institutes, MARINTEK, on the technical side and NHH and BI on the economical and market side. University and use of students Experience transfer from ship operation to universities through practical work in shipping companies. Höegh Fleet Services has for many years been working closely with the university NTNU, both for making student thesis user oriented and having the student to work for the company during the summer period, and to work with NTNU to make study in maritime science best fitted for the maritime industry. Pilot projects Höegh Monal experience The overall objective of Maritime IT Operations was to improve organisational structure, work processes and knowledge management in ship management and operation organisations through use of information and communication technology which: integrates on-board information systems supporting management and administrative functions and technical functions, and integrates the ship based information systems with systems in the ship manager s office. The objective of the Pilot Ship Project was to demonstrate the information infrastructure and systems developed by companies to provide functionality in this infrastructure. During the project it was shown that the infrastructure to integrate the on-board ship systems, and the ship systems with the systems in the company s office worked as intended. Integrated Navigation System Management Functions Reporting/Performance Maintenance Gateway Management Network Management Server Operational Database Electronic Documentation INMARSAT B 64 kbits Load Calculation Office Ethernet TCP/IP - MiTS Network Office Network Fire Detection DATA Chief Control/ Monitoring Condition Monitoring MIP DATA Chief Ballast Control MiTS Interface Fig. 3 Pilot projects Höegh-Monal 4 Skill and enhancement with user participant 9-9

10 In general, the following can be concluded: SYSTEM TESTED ON PILOT SHIP STATUS TODAY Local Area Network(LAN), Server-Client Implemented on all vessels Condition monitoring of Main Engine(NK-100) Implemented on all vessels(similar system) Maintenance and Purchasing System(Amos M&P) Implemented on all vessels Computer based training Implemented on all vessels High Speed data Implemented on all vessels Fire detecting system with connection to AMOS M&P Not implemented Weather routing(seastar) Similar system implemented Reports shipe-shore by Edimar Similar system to be implemented 2003/04 LAN integration to MITS Newbuilding only Loadcalculator integrated to LAN Newbuilding only Tagdatabase Newbuilding only Electronic documentation Partly implemented The company now has a significantly better integration of work processes and information exchange in administrative and technical reporting functions between ship and office than before the Pilot Ship Project. The integration is based on several parallel and independent reporting systems, and primarily on manual capture of the data on-board. The company will benefit from establishing a consistent knowledge management and data reporting strategy, and gradually implement this across the fleet. Part of the strategy should be to reduce duplication of work, and adopt productively more of the possibilities made available in the new information and communication technology to reduce work load on-board and ashore, and improve the quality of the data reported. In the period since the Pilot Ship Project, the IT-industry has developed new generations of technology, which has increased computational power and provided more stable versions of the IT-infrastructure software. The maritime communication service providers have developed new services, which can be applied in improved work processes. Closing remarks I believe that this conference will give us some useful input for making the best choices for the future systems selection, both in the ICT areas and in marine technology. Reference: [1] The Research Council of Norway, MAROFF Programme. [2] The Norwegian Shipowners Association s R&D, [3] Ship Management and Information Technology (SIKT). [4] Sea Transport and Logistics (SEATRALOG). [5] Improved Environmental Operation of Ships (MARMIL). research.dnv.com/marmil. We see that the development of ICT systems as still moving fast. We are still confident that we have to follow this development and to implement the most useful systems on board and through out our organization