Orders worth 38 million euro to upgrade naval vessels

Gouda, the Netherlands - Imtech (technical services provider in Europe and in the global maritime market) has commissioned substantial orders to upgrade and expand technical solutions on board existing naval vessels of countries including the Netherlands, South Korea, Australia and Thailand. Imtech is also going to provide part of the on-board technology for new frigates of the Australian navy. Together the orders amount to more than 38 million euro.

Imtech CEO René van de Bruggen: ’Imtech has a substantial installed base of high-quality automation systems on board naval vessels of numerous countries. Periodically there is a need for technological upgrading or expansion to install innovative new solutions. This has resulted in several medium-sized orders aboard various naval vessels. Besides this we are becoming more and more active in delivering maintenance services to our naval clients. We are still negotiating with a number of other navies on the technological upgrading of their fleets.’

Dutch navy
The Defence Materiel Organisation in the Netherlands has contacted Imtech to upgrade the hardware and software of the existing platform automation on board several air defence command and multipurpose frigates of the Dutch navy. The order consists of replacing computers, installing new fibre-optic technology and configuring new processors and measuring & control systems, complete with new and faster software.

For the Dutch navy Imtech is also handling the complete replacement of an existing integrated control and monitoring system aboard two multipurpose frigates. This system, comprising more than 40 computer systems distributed across the ship and used to control and monitor all on-board technology, will be completely replaced by new platform automation. The new technology is part of the same technological ’family’ of the platform automation aboard the air defence and command frigates. Through its work Imtech is helping the Dutch navy to maximise the efficiency of its operations.

Also, Imtech is still conducting negotiations on similar technological upgrades aboard frigates of the Belgian, Portuguese and Chilean navies, which are former multipurpose frigates of the Netherlands.

South Korean, Thai and Gulf Sates navies
Imtech is providing innovative ’rudder-roll’ technology on board a new frigate of the South Korean navy. This special technology, consisting of an advanced automatic control unit (‘automatic pilot’) and patented software control algorithms for ‘roll reduction’, greatly reduces the swaying of vessels from side to side. The technology will significantly increase the operational effectiveness of vessels. The order follows two similar contracts carried out earlier to the South Korean navy’s full satisfaction aboard two other frigates. Imtech is experiencing global interest in this innovative technology. Imtech was also commissioned to upgrade the existing digital ship’s bridges aboard three naval vessels of the Thai navy. Next to this, Imtech is involved in upgrade and conversion programs involving automation technology for naval vessels in the Gulf States.

Australian and other navies
On the Australian shipyard ASC, Imtech is providing advanced air treatment solutions aboard three new naval vessels. For the same navy, Imtech is working on air treatment systems on the Spanish yard Navantia for two Landing Helicopter Docks. For the navies of the marines of the UK and Taiwan Imtech is also delivering several maintenance services.

Imtech: strong player in the global maritime market
With annual revenues of about 500 million euro and 2,400 employees, Imtech (Imtech Marine Group) is one of the strongest players in the global maritime market, operating as a full-service provider of integrated solutions for platform automation, propulsion (including electric propulsion), energy generation/distribution, communication/navigation, integrated ship’s bridges, air conditioning & climate technology and multimedia/entertainment. Imtech operates a global service network made up of more than 70 offices along the world’s main shipping routes and near major shipbuilding centres. Imtech has hundreds of customers and is active in all segments of the market: luxury (mega) yachts, naval vessels (frigates, corvettes, patrol craft and submarines), special vessels (dredgers, oil tankers, crane ships and floating workshops), offshore platforms, commercial ships, passenger liners and inland waterways vessels.