HEINZMANN daughter: Regulateurs Europa Ltd.- Marine Control System Support

Regulateurs Europa has been designing and building Governors and Control Systems for marine applications for over 50 years. During that time the technology has seen many changes and RE control systems are now mainly software based; often using RE’s own Viking hardware platform. This flexible microcontroller provides governing, electronic fuel injection control and application control in an integrated package that has been proven in a wide range of marine, industrial and rail traction projects.

RE Engineers are proud of their ability to provide control solutions that will meet the customer’s needs and will offer a high level of reliability. This fact is demonstrated by a recent project to supply the propulsion controls for the well known Staten Island ferry. These vessels are constantly in use ploughing the waters of New York Harbour. They owe their manoeuvrability to the fact that they have Vioith Schneider propellers at each end of the vessel. The control system from the bridge allows for these propellers to both drive and steer the ship. The controls ensure that the degree of applied pitch will not overload the engines and at the same time maintain the vector of thrust that the operator requires.

Regulateurs Europa originally provided the control systems for these vessel back in 1977 And such has been the reliability that when it came to refitting one of the vessels the owners were certain that they wanted to stay with the same equipment as they had 30 years earlier.

Replicating the original control systems has provided some challenges but RE managed to do this with the minimum of substitution. It is a business policy to support our customer’s Governors and Control Systems, whatever the age. Drawing and records of all equipment are kept indefinitely and, with much of the hardware specifically designed by RE, it is possible to provide ongoing product support.

The Staten Island Ferry propulsion and steering systems are a mix of electronics and hydraulics. With RE’s wide skill base covering, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, electronic and software engineering, it is well placed to take on governing, control and monitoring projects. The marine projects cover anything from military craft to high speed ferries and complex power management systems for Cruise ships.