All American Marine

Control system for hydrogen-fueled vessels

Responsible for building catamarans and vessels in the Washington area, All American Marine selected Altus' technology to modernize the automation systems across its fleet and to support the development of the first hydrogen-powered catamaran in North America, and the first in the world to operate commercially.

By integrating advanced automation and control solutions, the project enabled high levels of safety, reliability, and performance, contributing to a groundbreaking milestone in sustainable maritime transportation.

Hydrogen-fueled Catamaran Control System

The system was designed to automate the start-up and shutdown sequences of pumps and exhaust fans onboard the vessel, ensuring safe and efficient operation of critical subsystems.

In addition, it continuously monitors key operational parameters through a network of digital and analog sensors distributed throughout the ship. By collecting and processing real-time performance data, the solution enhances operational visibility, supports preventive maintenance, and ensures high levels of safety and reliability in hydrogen-powered maritime applications.
Data Collection

Data Collection

Monitors operational parameters via digital and analog sensors, capturing data on the vessel's condition

High connectivity

High connectivity

The system’s extensive range of communication interfaces and protocols enables the PLC to connect seamlessly with a variety of smart devices

Cost Efficiency

Cost Efficiency

With built-in analog interfaces, the solution requires minimal engineering investment for system configuration, reducing overall costs

DNV Certification

DNV Certification

All PLCs in the XP Series comply with Det Norske Veritas safety standards and are DNV certified.

High connectivity control architecture

High connectivity control architecture

The system architecture includes five XP315 controllers, part of Altus’s IoT-ready line, and a 15” HMI from the X2 Series. Four of the controllers are housed in isolated cabinets in the Motor Control Centers (MCC), located next to the fuel cell room and in each hull. They manage the drivers that control the onboard pumps and exhaust fans via a CANopen network. These controllers also collect data from sensors monitoring system variables

The fifth PLC, along with the HMI, is located on the bridge. Both the MCC controllers and the bridge’s Xpress PLC are connected to the X2 HMI through an Ethernet network, using the OPC UA protocol for communication.

Ruggedness and high performance with Nexto Xpress

Ruggedness and high performance with Nexto Xpress

To ensure these activities are performed as expected, it is essential to monitor several indicators, including internal temperature, bilge and tank levels, hydrogen cell cooling, backup, shutdown, system status, and monitoring. With high speed and a high reliability index, the XP Series controllers were the chosen solution to compose the control system and guarantee the operability of these processes.

To increase their robustness, XP products also undergo tropicalization, essential for equipment installed on vessels. Furthermore, all PLCs in the Xpress family comply with Det Norske Veritas safety standards, possessing DNV Type Approval certification, making them fully ready for use in marine applications.

Versatility and high communication capabilities

Versatility and high communication capabilities

Thanks to its compact design and high I/O point density, the Nexto Xpress allowed the client to place a controller in each MCC cabinet to manage auxiliary loads, significantly reducing the need for wiring between the engine room and the bridge. This led to considerable cost savings in the project’s automation budget.

Dave Bechtel, managing partner of Bluefin Marine, comments that the communication capabilities of the XP PLC were one of the key factors in choosing it as the control solution for the application. "The diversity of communication interfaces and protocols available in the product is very interesting, enabling communication with different intelligent devices," says Dave.

Another advantage of Altus IoT-ready PLCs is the cost savings in development. With built-in analog interfaces, the system requires less engineering investment, resulting in a high-performance solution with optimized cost efficiency.