NCE Maritime CleanTech’s newest member BLOM Maritime wants to contribute to the green transition with 3D laser scanning. Their technology can cut 35 percent in material costs and 25 percent in installation time in retrofit projects.
Blom Maritime is digitalizing the maritime industry with accurate laser scanning, enabling more cost-effective retrofit of green solutions in vessels in every segment of the industry. They also provide engineering and design of scrubber installations and ballast water treatment systems.
– We want to contribute to the fight against emission of greenhouse gases and local pollution. UN’s International Maritime Organization has ambitious targets that we must reach, and the maritime industry still has a long way to go, CEO of BLOM Maritime, Marius Blom states.
A year ago, IMO’s member states agreed on a reduction of 50 percent in greenhouse gas emissions within 2050. IMO also wants to limit emissions of sulphur from ships to 0,1 percent in Emission Control Areas and 0,5 percent outside ECA. This means, potentially, plenty of jobs for Blom Maritime.
– We believe that BLOM Maritime is well positioned for the green transition. We are happy to be accepted as a member of NCE Maritime CleanTech and look forward to engaging in the various arenas of the cluster. We are eager to participate in innovation projects and establish new partnerships. I believe in sharing. If you share, sooner or later you will get something in return, he says.
Mapping with two millimetre accuracy
To successfully conduct large retrofit projects, you first need to know what you have. Old drawings no longer represent the true as-is status of the asset. With 3D laser scanning BLOM Maritime provide data with accuracy down to two millimetres. Every scan records 10 million points of data allowing you to design your restaurant, machine room or auxiliary room down to the smallest details. Accurate prefabrication means less wasted material and shorter installation time.
– With 3D laser scanning it becomes less expensive to make the fleet greener. Being able to test and adapt design into the smallest detail in a virtual representation of the asset, we have seen up to 35 percent reduction in materials costs and 25 percent in installation time. The vessel will need less time in dry dock, and with less man hours the project will achieve better HSE results, Marius Blom explains.
BLOM Maritime has approximately 50 employees in Norway, USA, Poland, Singapore, India and Croatia. With laser scanning as the starting point, they want to be a one-stop-shop for retrofit projects in the maritime industry. They have a different philosophy than most providers of 3D imagery.
– 3D Laser scanning is probably the ultimate tool for capturing complex data sets in complex assets. The asset belongs to our customer, and we see the data we have acquired as their property and will help them explore the possibilities of the data sets, Blom says.
A “Google Earth” experience
Blom Maritime also offers complete engineering and design of any on board structure, such as pipes, HVAC, structure or electro systems. They have participated in over 100 scrubber installations and 50 ballast water treatment systems. They look at incline and stability parameters and use CFD tools to give operators a complete picture of what impact the changes will have on the existing design. You can merge the captured data with images to get a complete 3D experience of the room before conducting installation or maintenance, converting the asset into a “Google Earth” like experience.
– The maritime industry is our main market. They are 10 years behind the oil and gas industry when it comes to using 3D technology and utilizing the data they receive. But we expect the same development here, as more and more shipowners see the benefits of having digital twins of their ships. Virtual planning helps them to prepare and carry out upgrade projects with less resources and conduct maintenance tasks more efficiently, the BLOM Maritime CEO explains.
He anticipates a lot from the NCE Maritime CleanTech membership.
– We are already members of the Royal Institute for Naval Architects, and the NCE Maritime CleanTech label is another seal of approval. Our employees are passionate about reducing the climate impact of shipping and proud to be a part of the green transition. This enthusiasm we will bring into the cluster, Marius Blom says.