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Belga Marine has partnered up with Alerion to deliver drone inspection solutions to the Brazilian energy industry.

With the need for more sustainable energy solutions and the arise of new technologies that are not harmful to the environment, Belga Marine has decided to enter a new business area, which seeks to deliver UAV inspection services to the wind energy sector in Brazil. This is a strategic decision that benefits the business and the environment.

Our new partner, Alerion performs drone inspections of wind turbine generators (WTG) and solar farms in a fast, safe and cost-efficient manner.

Alerion was originally founded to bring space navigation technology to drones through the European Space Agency’s Technology Transfer Program, and since 2016 the company has been offering automated end-to-end industrial inspection solutions to the energy industry with its patented high-precision navigation technology.

With a strong focus on technology development, nature is still Alerion’s inspiration and driving force. Alerion’s mission is to bring the two together by developing solutions that preserve the environment and shape tomorrow’s world, where technology and nature not only coexist, but benefit from one another.

According to ABEeolica, the Brazilian Wind Energy Association, wind energy is currently the second largest source in the Brazilian energy matrix and the installed capacity will grow 50% in 2024, jumping from today’s 16GW to 24GW. Furthermore, Brazil is expected to become the first Latin American country to receive offshore wind power investments. This proves that the energy transition is taking place and that we will see a new wind power scenario in the future.

“Replacing traditional sources of energy completely with renewable energy is going to be a challenging task, however, we must prepare for the future and take part in the energy transition, which is already happening. Belga Marine is already transforming the traditional energy industry with our digital solutions that are making operations safer and more sustainable, so it is a natural step to move the business towards renewables as well”, says Jan Lomholdt, CEO of Ulstein Belga Marine.

For more information about Alerion, please contact us at service@belgamarine.com.br

Ocean Visuals’ unique OWL™ LiDAR sensor system gathers data from the air, from the water surface, and from below the surface using photonics sensors to provide real-time detection and classification of oil and organics in the sea.

Tremendous strides have been made in preventing oil spills. Yet in 2017, approximately 7 000 metric tons of oil was lost to the environment from tank vessels alone.

Oil typically submerges in water two to four hours after an oil spill occurs. This makes it hard to detect the oil for clean up.

Morever, traditional radar and camera technologies cannot be used for subsea detection because they are not capable of “seeing” below the water surface.

Innovative Laser-based System

With the help of the SEA OWL™ laser-based sensor system, Ocean Visuals can detect and classify in real-time the type of oil (crude oil, hydraulic oil, bunker oil, etc.) in the water, without the need for samples or lab analysis.

The system is very accurate because it uses Hyperspectral Laser Induced Fluorescence (HLIF)-based Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR). The LiDAR detects oil by sensing direct light response induced by a laser beam hitting oil molecules in the water, thereby preventing false alarms.

The system can detect submerged oil down to depths of three metres and measure the thickness of oil on water. Moreover, it can measure sensitivity in parts per million (ppm), making it suitable for post-cleaning control in an oil spill area.

Concrete Benefits

The SEA OWL™ system provides valuable data on real-time levels of hydrocarbon and organic matter in the sea and offers real-time oil classification capabilities.

The system enables the collection of information that was previously unavailable due to lack of daylight or submerged oil. This helps to provide a complete and accurate picture in oil spill situations.

Market Potential

There is a growing global demand for detailed and accurate environmental data. Such data can be used in the effort to tackle climate change and for better decision-making, for example in crisis situations.

The SEA OWL™ system generates this type of sought-after data.

Ocean Visuals’ target markets are oil companies, environmental agencies, aquaculture companies, government monitoring agencies and scientific research institutions.

The SEA OWL™ system is also particularly well suited for use by oil companies and other stakeholders in the Arctic, as it can detect oil between ice floes and in ice slush as well as camouflaged oil. In Norway, the system has already been implemented on board cruise ships, seismic vessels and icebreakers.

Learn more about Ocean Visuals.

New partnership with AI analytics platform provider IoCurrents

Real time data is one of the key elements of a smart operation. With MarineInsight, vessel operators and shore-side personnel now have access to vital vessel information in real time. Operators on shore have access to all vessel data via the MarineInsight cloud portal. This easy-to-use interface features many applications to analyze data and provide alert information. At sea, the crew can use the Local Display on tablets, which mirrors most of the functionality of the web portal.

Using advanced machine learning models and artificial intelligence, the software constantly monitors many aspects of vessel operation, and use this information to create a model of normal operating behavior. If operational parameters as a whole deviate outside the thresholds predicted by the model, operators are alerted to a potential problem. This can help detect problems early, before operators would normally become aware of them.

“In these special times we really have to understand how technology and IT can help us save cost and think smarter based on all the data we have access to. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are no longer just fancy hype words. With IoCurrents we found a partner that took innovation to the next level, showing our customers how they can use their data to save money and predict failures before they happen without need of human interaction. The future has already arrived. ” says Jan Lomholdt, CEO of Belga Marine.

IoCurrents is an American software company that brings together the best of the cloud computing revolution and the Northwest maritime heritage.

Together with IoCurrents, Belga Marine will offer the Brazilian market with an analytics platform that can gather, analyze, and transmit vessel equipment data in real time to help on-board and shoreside operators make more informed decisions.

If you are interested in learning more about IoCurrents, please contact us at service@belgamarine.com.br

Ulstein Belga Marine has signed a new partnership with Ultra Electronics, the supplier of Integrated Surveillance & Security Systems for the offshore, oil and gas, CNI, ports and harbours and coastal surveillance markets. Together with Ultra, Belga Marine will deliver “Radar Early Warning Systems” (REWS) to the Brazilian offshore industry.

REWS systems provide a means of collision risk management and are fully tailored to the specific needs of the installations. The systems range from simple Radar and AIS tracking for collision warning, through to comprehensive security systems capable of monitoring the air, surface and even sub-surface environments to detect potential threats to the installation.

REWS systems also have the option of being augmented by the integration of Ultra’s Man Overboard (MOB) alarm and rescue coordination system, KPI monitoring, and asset management tools.

Wider integration of REWS to subsystems such as Oil Spill Detection (OSD), Flare Monitoring and Metocean systems facilitate an Integrated Offshore Safety, Security and Environmental (IOSSE) monitoring and management system

All systems and their applications leverage Ultra’s software suite known collectively as Situational Awareness Management Software (SAMS).

“The importance of moving towards intelligent and integrated digitalized solutions for communication, navigation, sea-state monitoring and optimization of performance, is evident. Our partnership with Ultra enforces our strategy and will assure more efficient and safer operations at sea for Brazilian operators including the navy. Brazil has a great market potential with its many types of vessels that can benefit greatly from innovative technology that makes sure that the industry adapts to smarter operations.” – Jan Lomholdt – Managing Director of Belga Marine

The innovative solutions provided by Ultra deliver critical advantage to companies operating in the uniquely challenging maritime and offshore environment.

Ultra has provided many tailored systems to leading operators and major oil and gas companies around the world.

At the core of Ultra’s purpose is to innovate today for a safer tomorrow.

For more information about Ultra’s Radar Early Warning Systems, please contact us at service@belgamarine.com.br

About Ultra:

Ultra specialises in providing application-engineered tailored solutions. We focus on our customers’ mission critical and intelligent systems in the defence, security, critical detection & control markets.

www.ultra.group

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, declared by WHO on March 11, 2020, almost all the services scheduled by our clients were suspended. At this time, not much information was available about its impact and the progression of the virus in Brazilian territory, and as a result, safety policies were not yet mature.

Initially, we provided and encouraged the use of masks and private drivers due to the lack of intercity transportation. We also provided authorizations to cross sanitary barriers on the roads and opened a direct dialogue with employees in order to provide what was needed to reduce the sensation of insecurity.

After the first two weeks of uncertainties and low level of service activity, business started to move again, as oil production could not stop.

Unfortunately, the pandemic intensified. Cases of Covid-19 were identified on board platforms and vessels in Brazil and the need for offshore companies to change their daily routines was evident.

The impacts on work policies

Despite the guidelines to prevent the progression of coronavirus in offshore activities announced by the ANP and governmental agencies, there is no common policy adopted by oil companies against Covid-19. Each oil company is implementing its own guidelines to protect workers’ health and continue oil and gas production.

Initially, our customers, with the most conservative approach, implemented a one-week quarantine in a hotel room before allowing anybody to go offshore. This was adopted in the hope that any symptoms of the disease would appear before going offshore, in the case that a person had been contaminated. Later on, other companies applied less effective actions, such as checking body temperature before going offshore or requesting medical documentation.

As an offshore service provider, we realized the need to adopt preventive procedures in order to guarantee employees’ rights and to carry out safe operations. Due to the seriousness of the pandemic, working with maximum safety procedures are important to ensure the health of employees and the continuation of offshore operations.

In addition to carrying out health checkups, our offshore service technicians are required to be in isolation before going offshore. If someone shows symptoms of contamination and/or has had contact with a person, who is contaminated, our security policy does not allow this technician to provide any services offshore.

As a result of this safety policy, we have not yet registered any positive case of Covid-19, and we have only encountered one situation that caused greater concern.

The incident was with an employee, who had boarded the same flight as a person that were showing symptoms of the virus during the period offshore. Our client’s immediate response was to isolate this person and everyone, who had had any contact with him. We subsequently established contact with the client’s medical team to collect all information and consulted our own occupational physician.

Our service technician arrived ashore and was examined by a medical team and tested for Covid-19. To avoid the possibility of contaminating the employee’s family, we provided him with a hotel room until the test results was ready. Almost seven days later, the result of the test was ready and fortunately it was negative, which meant that our technician could go home safely.

The life of an offshore technician

In our industry, offshore workers are the most affected during the pandemic. While technicians, who are currently not offshore have been provided with online technical and safety courses and already have mechanisms for reporting without being in the office, it is not possible for offshore workers to work from home.

The consequences of the new procedures for offshore workers put them in a less favorable condition, since the extension of their working hours, at sea and in quarantine, forces them to be away from their families for much longer time than previously.

As for the Covid-19 situation, many difficulties and uncertainties are still in play, however, we have found that the entire industry chain is concerned and committed to preventing the spread of the virus amongst employees and on offshore units. We will have to work together to ensure the health of offshore workers and only then we will manage to keep the offshore market strong, while fighting against the coronavirus.

Ulstein Belga Marine is pleased to present another new software company to its portfolio.

In order to continue with our focus on digitalizing day-to-day service for maritime and offshore oil and gas companies in Brazil, we have entered a new partnership with TowWorks.

TowWorks is an American Software as a Service (SaaS) company that creates efficient solutions for the towage and inland transportation industry.

Together with TowWorks, Belga Marine will offer the Brazilian market with a platform that can collect, analyze and transmit vessel equipment data in real time to help onboard and shore operators make more informed decisions. By transmitting data to land, fleet and ship management can be handled much more efficiently.

Besides being an intuitive and easy to learn software, TowWorks provides its customers with timely, accurate information with minimal costs and maximum return on investment. With TowWorks, operators can manage the entire organization in one enterprise package.

If you are interested in learning more about TowWorks, please contact us at service@belgamarine.com.br.

Belga Marine enters partnership with Ocean Visuals AS.

Belga Marine has signed an agreement with Ocean Visuals with the aim to provide Ocean Visuals’ technology-based-real-time sensor systems to the Brazilian maritime and Oil & Gas segments.

Ocean Visuals AS is a Norwegian company providing sensor systems for early detection of oil and organics in water.

Ocean Visuals provides patented HLIF LiDAR technology-based real-time sensor systems built on 25 years of research and development, ideal for early warning of oil spills and monitoring the ocean composition in great detail.

The Technology behind Ocean Visuals

Ocean Visuals develops and manufactures Hyper-spectral Laser Induced Fluorescence (HLIF) based LiDAR (LiDAR i.e. Light Detection and Ranging) sensors for its monitoring systems. As oil is intrinsically fluorescent and emits light in the blue-green spectral range when illuminated by UV light it is easily distinguished from other substances in the water.

Using the Hyper-spectral curve of the emitted light, Ocean Visuals can “fingerprint” the sample, and thus receive a real-time identification of oil category and type (crude oil, hydraulic oil etc) on the spot, with no samples or lab analysis required. Learn more about Ocean Visuals.

A Record Delivery of 8 Oil Spill Detection Systems to Petrobras.

In partnership with Belga Marine, Miros Group is set to supply eight oil spill detection (OSD) systems to Brazilian oil major Petrobras in the world’s largest X-band radar-based OSD surveillance and response contract to date. 

Miros Group, in partnership with Belga Marine, recently signed a contract with Brazilian oil giant Petrobras for the world’s largest X-band radar-based oil spill detection (OSD) and response contract to date. The backdrop for the record delivery is a February 2018 agreement reached between Petrobras and the Brazilian federal Environmental Agency, Ibama. The agreement commits Petrobras to recently enhanced Ibama standards for controlling oil discharge in water.

The agreement between Petrobras and Ibama is indicative of a trend toward more stringent environmental requirements in the global offshore industry. Fortunately, we now have the technology, the knowledge, and the incentives to make offshore oil and gas production cleaner than ever.

Effective Oil Spill Detection an Environmental Must-Have for Offshore O&G.

Whilst the offshore industry is consistently improving its safety and incident record, accidents do happen. In the event of an oil spill, the most important factor in successful containment is an early response. The quicker teams can mobilise to contain a spill, the greater the chances are of a successful clean-up.

In order to meet this target, detection systems must be both reliable and accurate. They must also perform with little or no maintenance throughout the life of an asset. Combining high-accuracy early detection with a low false alarm rate lies at the heart of efficacy. The aim being to optimise response efforts whilst minimising manual interaction.

Learn more about Miros Group.

Belga Marine forms new partnership for offshore drone inspections.

Belga Marine and Drone Inspector Technologies have entered a new partnership to provide UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) solutions for efficient and reliable inspection operations to the oil & gas and maritime sectors in Brazil. 

In partnership with Drone Inspector Technologies, Belga Marine offers full UAV Inspection of Offshore Rigs, FPSO’S and Drilling Ships, Storage Tanks, Under Deck Structure and Flare System. Furthermore, services for Shipyards such as inspections of sea trials and heavy machinery can be provided.

Visual Inspections

Drone inspections are performed to optimize the way assets are managed and to improve safety, efficiency and asset performance. 

UAV inspection is more cost-effective and comprehensive, as the drones are able to provide more data compared to what can be collected with conventional methods.

The software integration allows you to visualize and analyze all data from static imagery captured with drones, to historic engineering reports or photogrammetry models. 

Inspection performed by drones ensures high quality data, lower cost, lower risk, high efficiency and reduced downtime.

Safe and Cost-efficient Operations

The team of engineers behind Drone Inspector Technologies is fully certified for all requirements from the offshore industry. 

The fields of application for the use of drones in the maritime and offshore industry are numerous, and the implementation of UAV technology is expected to continue growing to become the most used method for inspection operations due to its time and cost reduction.

Learn more about Drone Inspector Technologies.