Krill Systems Inc. announces the successful installation and sea trial of two vessel fuel
measurement and monitoring systems onboard the NOAA research vessels Henry B.
Bigelow and Pisces.
The Bigelow and the Pisces represent the first two fittings
as part of a multiple-vessel NOAA contract awarded in a competitive bid, on an
unrestricted basis, to Krill Systems to implement VFMMS within their fleet.
The Bigelow and the Pisces are 208-foot NOAA fisheries
survey vessels operating as part of the NOAA Atlantic fleet. They are both
actively engaged in research missions.
Propulsion in both vessels is provided by Integrated Diesel
Electric 24-Pulse DC SCR Drive Systems, each using two 1,125kW propulsion DC motors
on a common shaft, powered by Caterpillar 3512 and 3508 series diesel
generators delivering 3,017 hp at 134 max rpm.
NOAA fisheries survey vessels are among the most
technologically advanced in the world and support NOAA Fisheries’ mission,
Krill Systems says. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the management,
conservation and protection of living marine resources within the United States
Exclusive Economic Zone. The agency also plays a supportive and advisory role
in the management of living marine resources in coastal areas under state
jurisdiction; provides scientific and policy leadership in the international
arena, and implements international conservation and management measures as
appropriate.
Installation of the Krill VFMMS system on Pisces took place
in Pascagoula, Miss., in February 2012. Installation on the Bigelow took place
the following month. Sea-trials were subsequently conducted on both vessels.
Krill Systems uses Microsoft SQL server database technology
to record all sensor data with 2-second resolution and storage capacity of at
least one year with unlimited roll-over capacity. Any communication system
including cellular or satellite Internet access, supporting standard SMTP email
protocols, may be used to transmit customizable reports and sensor data menus,
in Excel format, to any number of operators, anywhere, the company says. There
are no monthly fees for this service.
“We were very pleased, initially, to have won the NOAA
contract, in a highly competitive bid environment, and are now pleased to have
brought the first two installations to successful conclusions,” says Brian
Staton, vice president of sales and marketing, in a Krill Systems press release.
“Krill’s fuel management technology continues to gain rapid acceptance in both
government and commercial marine markets, nationally and internationally, and
the successful completion of the first two NOAA vessels’ installations
continues to move us in a good direction.”