July 25 - Dutch-based freight industry software house Amarcon has supplied software to two German shipping lines, which has led managers to consider that the German heavy lift sector is strengthening.

The German shipping group Harren & Partner/Offshore Installation Group (OIG) and high and heavy shipping lineSAL Shipping have each selected software from Amarcon.

OIG plans to install three OCTOPUS-Onboard systems, while SAL is to install one on its type 183 multipurpose heavy lift vessel, Lone (pictured below).

OIG is a full-fledged EPCI provider with a fleet of three specialised offshore construction vessels with two new buildings to be delivered in 2012/2013. Amarcon is pleased with the order of three OCTOPUS-Onboard systems for the multipurpose heavy lift vessels OIG Giant 1OIG Giant II and newbuild OIG Giant III.

Part of the OCTOPUS-Onboard installations on these three ships will be Amarcon's DP-Forecast functionality. Another specialised feature within the OCTOPUS functionality for the three H&P vessels is the TMS motion measurement system with a three sensor set-up.

On SAL's Lone, following an order for a tailormade Crane Motion Monitoring solution for the vessel, an OCTOPUS-Onboard system for motion monitoring and advice during weather sensitive operations will also be installed.

The installed system is compliant with the requirements of Germanischer Lloyd for use of cranes offshore. The crane monitoring system will monitor the forces and accelerations in the two cranes on the vessel. One of the motion sensors is suitable for underwater measurements in the crane hook.

As a result of measured critical conditions, warnings will be displayed on the bridge and warnings will be generated in the form of a warning light and horn. The system gives advice on safe speed and heading, heading optimisation and the planning of operational windows.

Amarcon's managing director Leon Adegeest says: "SAL has been using our hydrodynamic analysis software, OCTOPUS-Office for quite a few years now. This recent order for an onboard customised installation of OCTOPUS-Onboard is confirmation for us that SAL has faith in our ongoing relation and believes in the added value that our systems have to offer in their day to day operations."

The order clears the path to more opportunities in the German heavy lift shipping industry considers Amarcon.