Corporate News

DNV has presented HD Hyundai with a general approval for ship application (GASA) for a new high-strength composite hybrid support system for independent tanks on liquefied gas carriers.  In a world-first, HD Hyundai’s concept is fabricated with a fusion of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) with a tensile strength ten times greater than steel, significantly enhancing structural stability. Existing support structure The new system offers robust structural supports, enabling ind...

X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, has signed of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with six European ports: Port of Antwerp Bruges (Belgium), Port of Tallinn (Estonia), Port of Helsinki (Finland), Port of HaminaKotka (Finland), Freeport of Riga (Latvia) and Klaipeda Port (Lithuania). This landmark agreement signifies a joint commitment to accelerate the establishment of green shipping corridors and the broader decarbonisation of the marine sector in Scandin...

ClassNK has signed a joint R&D agreement with Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY) and IMC Co., Ltd. (IMC) to ensure the safety and performance evaluation of anti-roll tanks (ART) installed on large container ships. An anti-roll tank is a device designed to suppress the ship's roll by moving liquid, such as water, within the tank. Consideration for ART installation on large container ships is advancing due to the expectation of improving container loading efficiency by reducing roll motion and pr...

WEG is supplying five 1000kVA, 15kV dry-type transformers to Eskimó Ice Cream industry, a prominent company in the ice cream and popsicle segment in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The transformers will be used in the substation and are essential to support the increased production capacity, playing a significant role in the customer's electrical infrastructure. Dry-type transformers Dry-type transformers are equipment that use ambient air as a cooling medium Dry-type transformer...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released guidelines highlighting recommendations for developing and implementing the Safety Management System (SMS) under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, addressing specifically, potentially more hazardous alternative fuels used on board ships. This report follows last year’s publication, ‘Operational Management to Accelerate Maritime Decarbonisation’, which identified critical gaps in implementing three current regula...

Easy to use and powered by artificial intelligence, Crewlinker’s web application makes it easy for crewing agencies, shipping companies and other employers in the maritime industry to find people in seconds, and with all the necessary competences. Seafarers can easily enter all their certificates and working experience to automatically create an in-depth resumé that helps them find jobs that fit their experience. Deckhands, engineers, navigators, technicians and officers in the mar...

ClassNK has extended its services to support concrete actions by customers towards a smooth transition to shipping zero-emission. With the revision of IMO's GHG emissions reduction targets and the introduction of the EU climate policy package for the shipping sector, regulations towards zero-emission are becoming increasingly stringent. However, the infrastructure for supplying zero-emission fuels is still under development. Shipping industry players need to select and utilise the appropriate...

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of the technology group - Wärtsilä, will supply the Cargo Handling Systems for additional two new very large LPG carrier vessels to be built at the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd. in South Korea. The ships have been contracted by Norwegian ship owner Solvang.  The order follows a similar one placed in 2023 for five vessels being built in the same yard for the same owner. This latest contract was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1, 2024....

Congratulations to Wallaby Boats and Hitzler Werft, from the team at Nauti-Craft on the launching of the world's first Suspension Equipped Crew Transfer Vessel (SECTV). The Wallaby-18, designed in Germany, is the first vessel intended for commercial operation with a suspension system developed by Australia’s Nauti-Craft. Independent suspension technology The independent suspension technology has been designed to enable the two hulls to balance and compensate for wave forces independentl...

Tokyo – based classification society, ClassNK has issued a type approval certificate for the lithium-ion storage battery system - ‘ORCA Energy’, developed by Corvus Energy. Recently, the utilisation of lithium-ion storage batteries as ship’s main sources of electrical power has been increasing in response to the growing momentum toward decarbonisation. Based on its ‘Guidelines for Large-Capacity Storage Batteries’ issued in 2013 and industry feedback, ClassNK...

A new agreement has been signed to secure the future of Liverpool City Council in a major deal announced on Wednesday 3rd April between Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) and Peel Ports Group. The agreement will see the world’s largest independent cruise port operator operate services at Liverpool Cruise Terminal for a period of 50 years. Crucially, it will see GPH invest some £25 million in upgrading the terminal’s infrastructure, improving its operational capability and helping...

ABS has awarded ECOLOG, a mid-stream Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Sequestration (CCUS) service provider, with an industry-first ISM Document of Compliance for the operation of liquified CO2 carriers on behalf of the Bermuda flag administration. ABS audited ECOLOG to verify compliance with the International Safety Management Code. ECOLOG plans to build and own CO2 terminals and a carrier fleet to service the emerging CCUS sector, connecting hard-to-abate emitters with cost-competitive se...

ClassNK has carried out a regular reshuffle of its full-time executives, underlining its commitment to charting the maritime industry’s shift through a period of significant transformation. President & CEO - Hiroaki Sakashita and Senior Executive Vice President (SEVP) - Junichiro Iida continue in their current roles, while Executive Vice President (EVP) - Hayato Suga is promoted to SEVP. Additionally, Dr. Toshiro Arima, Masaki Matsunaga, and Dr. Yoshiya Yamaguchi have been appointed a...

ABS has joined the BlueBARGE Project, a programme funded by the Horizon Europe programme and involving 14 partners from 10 European countries to develop a comprehensive solution for offshore electrical power bunkering. ABS is heading the 36-month, €11 million project and will support the consortium in safety, classification, and regulatory compliance. Cold ironing The BlueBARGE model will look at an offshore supply of electrical power to anchored vessels To limit local pollution and gre...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a “Wall Climbing Robot” by Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd., Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., and MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd. Wall Climbing Robot “Wall Climbing Robot” can move to high places that were previously difficult to access by humans or robots, and can take photographs and inspections of the relevant parts. Moreover, it is capable of measuring the thickness of steel plates by remote o...

Ocean Infinity, a world pioneer in robotic and uncrewed vessel technology, is pleased to announce the signing of a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with Shell, marking a significant milestone in the provision of lean-crewed and robotic seabed geomatics, spanning geophysical and geotechnical services, within the offshore energy sector. The GFA spans 5 years, encompassing all countries where Shell is currently active or plans to operate in the future. Fuel-efficient vessels Services governed by...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received an order from the University of Tokyo for its independently developed "MiPoLin®", a power prediction and lines selection system. The system has already been available at the university's Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering Laboratory (MODE). MiPoLin® MiPoLin® is a user-friendly web-based system that utilises over 1,200 cases of diverse tank test results and over 420 vessels' hull...

Bureau Veritas (BV), a global pioneer in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), has awarded the Dutch-Norwegian renewable energy company SolarDuck the world’s first Prototype Certification for a floating offshore solar technology, as applied in SolarDuck’s 0.5 MW pilot "Merganser". This certification represents a significant step forward in the development of marine renewable energy technologies for offshore applications. Real-world operational environment The Merganser pr...

In a proactive move towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Pacific Basin, a dry bulk shipping company, has decided to apply a sustainable graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across its entire fleet. This innovative coating, developed by Canadian company GIT Coatings, has demonstrated the potential to enhance vessel performance by up to 4%, which also makes it a highly effective solution to improve CII and RightShip GHG ratings. Decarbonisation initiative Followin...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two initiatives by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., “FOCUS” and “Sustainable Seafaring, Wellness Living”. “FOCUS” is an operational data analysis software system developed by MOL that collects and analyses detailed data from ICT-enabled vessels. ClassNK has verified the functions of “FOCUS”, 1. Vessel performance analysis that integrates abundant operational knowledge and na...

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed, after it was struck by a container ship at around 1.35 am ET. The container ship involved is the Singapore-flagged Dali which can carry just under 10,000 TEU (20ft shipping containers) and was operating on a 2M alliance service between Baltimore and the Far East. Mass casualty event  Emily Stausbøll, Market Analyst at Xeneta – the ocean freight shipping rate benchmarking and intelligence platform, said, “Thi...

International® Marine Coatings has published a new whitepaper that reveals the high degree of accuracy of its predictive Intertrac® Vision tool to real-life vessel operations by correlating to the speed loss of a globally trading VLCC vessel over a five-year docking period, in line with the principles of the ISO 19030 standard. International® used the forecasting tool to project a 1.4 percent speed loss over a 60-month in-service period which proved to be in line with actual ve...

MAN Energy Solutions and Svitzer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on the development of a methanol-fuelled version of the MAN 175D engine. Designated 175DF-M (Dual Fuel-Methanol), the MoU targets the finalisation of a field-test agreement based on which a dual-fuel engine and plant equipment will be installed on board one of Svitzer’s newbuild tugs. Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer at Svitzer, said: “At Svitzer, we’ve set ambitious yet realistic,...

Sea Maritime International in Singapore acquired the VSTEP’s latest NAUTIS 3 trainer. VSTEP is proud to see repeat customers and takes it as a testament to its commitment to delivering excellent service.  Seamlessly compatible with the Wartsila DP system, this simulator guarantees top-notch training for maritime professionals within the region and allows the customer to further serve the market. Excellence in maritime training “We eagerly anticipate the partnershi...

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a long-term Guaranteed Asset Performance agreement with CSBC-DEME Wind Engineering Co Ltd (CDWE), a joint venture between CSBC Corporation and DEME Offshore. The agreement covers CDWE’s new 216 metres-long marine installation vessel (MIV), the ‘Green Jade’. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2024. Wärtsilä Lifecycle Agreement Green Jade is designed and built in Taiwan with the mission to facilit...

Many shipping companies are still striving to define their strategy for EU ETS compliance some 90 days after implementation of the complex regulation, according to OceanScore, as it leverages lessons learned from clients to date to define best practices. EU Allowances (EUAs) Shipowners are required to acquire and account for EU Allowances (EUAs) on an ongoing basis, as well as allocate these to charterers, to cover the cost of their emissions from 2024 under the initial three-year phase-in of...

AVIKUS, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation in-house startup, announced its autonomous navigation is proven to reduce fuel use by as much as 15% and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 10%. This is the first time these fuel savings have been verified. The fuel savings were quantified on a 325,000-ton Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) operating several times on a 5,800-mile route from Singapore to Brazil using Avikus’ autonomous HiNAS Control system. The verification of this performance w...

A universal, global carbon tax on shipping is coming, as alternative blue fuels made with carbon capture emerge as a critical step in the energy transition at sea. That was the message from Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, during an appearance at the CERAWeek energy conference. Intermediate economy “We need to recognise that there is an intermediate step in the energy transition,” he said. “Last year the conversations were focused on going from oil to...

Accelleron’s Japanese joint venture company Turbo Systems United has signed a memorandum of understanding with marine systems provider Furuno Electric Co to cooperate in digital activities. The agreement, the first of its kind for the Accelleron group in Japan, will dramatically improve access to optimisation solutions and digitally enabled services in one of the world’s most important shipbuilding markets. Furuno has a pioneering position in the supply of marine radar systems, with...

​IMO has agreed on an illustration of a possible draft outline of an “IMO net-zero framework” for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from international shipping. This marks a step forward in the legal process towards adopting global regulations, referred to as “mid-term GHG reduction measures”, that will help achieve the targets contained in the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.  IMO net-zero framework After the eighty-first ses...