UK-based marine power and electrical engineering company – Teesside based MJR Power and Automation – has completed a second ballast control system replacement for Stena Line.
The replacement was carried out on the ‘Stena Hibernia’ earlier this year whilst she was in drydock at Harland and Wolff’s Belfast yard.
A newly integrated control system, utilising MJR’s marine automation platform – MAP OEtm – controls all aspects of ballast control from valve operation, tank levels and temperature monitoring, to bilge level alarming and automatic heeling control.
Tank volumes and weights are calculated in real-time, and data exchanged with the vessel’s loading and stability computer enables the necessary shear force, bending movement and stability calculations.
The ballast control system was integrated with the existing instrumentation, while the sensors were retained, which led to a significant cost saving and reduced commissioning times.
Moreover, intuitive and simple measurement calibration functionalities were provided, contributing to the improved measurement accuracy with the new system.
Chosen for its off the shelf hardware, open software platform and UK support, MJR’s MAP OETM platform offers vessel owners a comprehensive, integrated, fully redundant and continuously available architecture, approved by Lloyds Register, the company said.
Paul Cairns, MJR’s Managing Director, said: “We are obviously delighted to have successfully completed our second ballast control system replacement for Stena Line and see our success as a real testament to the skill, flexibility and ingenuity of our engineering and installation team.
“Replacing and Installing a complex system of this size can be challenging and we are very proud of the fact that MJR – through our MAP OE platform – has gained a reputation as the industry provider who can absolutely meet that challenge.
We very much look forward to working with Stena-Line on future projects and continuing to build our reputation as the go to provider for these systems,” he said.
MJR’s first ballast control system replacement was completed on ‘Stena Scotia’ in July last year. The work was carried out whilst the vessel was in full operation with installation and testing of the new system undertaken in parallel to the existing system to allow for efficient switchover giving Stena Line full availability with limited interruptions to the sailing schedule.
MJR has completed a number of projects for various companies, including CalMac Ferries, P&O Ferries, Condor Ferries, Subsea 7, Van Oord, TechnipFMC, and PD Ports, plus others.
