5300 HP tug “Freedom” provided with
JAK®-700 ATB Couplers.
Owner: Express Marine, Camden NJ.
Beacon Finland:
Design Solutions for Marine Industry
Beacon Finland is an international
says that today the JAK®-ATB Coupling
was established in 1987 and it has a long
forerunner in the field of pusher-
System is in production in four sizes: “We
track record of working with ship own-
have smaller systems for lakes and rivers
ers’, shipyards and ship equipment man-
and bigger ones for open sea,” he says.
ufacturers.
barge assemblies. Already in 1990,
Beacon Finland developed the
Over the period of two decades, the
In addition to the JAK®-ATB Cou-
JAK®-ATB Coupling System for
coupling system has seen many upgrades
pling System, the company has plenty of
pusher-barge assemblies.
as feedback has come in from the cus-
other experience in ship design – both con-
tomers, enabling product development to
ventional and special ships. The company’s
take place. “We also conduct the installa-
designers have expert knowledge on e.g.
tion designs and calculations ourselves to
hydrodynamics, ship propulsion, structur-
make sure that all functional issues are at
al strength and hydraulics.
A
TB means, in essence, an articulated
tug-barge system where a tug is en-
gaged to barge with two couplers. These
allow tug and barge to pivot in vertical di-
an optimum level.”
OFFSHORE INNOVATION
rection independently, thus reducing forcAMERICAN ACTION
Beacon Finland is also involved in the off-
The basic idea of the invention was
The biggest market for the ATB System is
shore sector where the company has de-
to improve the existing connection devic-
the United States where the devices are
livered advanced propulsion applications
es between the tug and the barge in the
in use on all three coasts – east, west and
for drillships which need to stay in one
ATB system with the aim of a lightweight,
south (Gulf of Mexico). In addition, there
place during operation. “We have devel-
safe, simple and cost-efficient coupling.
is some lake action as well. “All told, there
oped a thruster canister for the drillship
Beacon Finland was able to overcome the
are 40 units in the USA.” Looking ahead,
which can be lifted inside the ship as re-
conventional problems relating to heavy
Rintala recognises that it is difficult to pre-
quired – when navigating a shallow chan-
weight and high cost to create the JAK®-
dict the future, but one thing seems clear:
nel, for instance,” Rintala explains. At the
ATB Coupling System. As a consequence,
“The share of bigger devices in production
moment, there are three drillships which
also safety and stability were improved.
is growing.”
utilise the solution. ■
es in joint.
Technology Director Timo Rintala
18
seatec 1/2011
The Rauma-based Beacon Finland
SAMI J. ANTEROINEN