Christmas Island News

The Saildrone Voyager, a 10-metre commercial uncrewed surface vehicle (USV), is the first autonomous asset built to ABS Class using the ABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions. ABS presented the Class certificate to Saildrone at their headquarters in Alameda, California. The Voyager is a marine vehicle developed by Saildrone, a provider of ocean data for climate, mapping and maritime security applications using uncrewed autonomous assets. ABS issued Approval in Principle (A...

Wärtsilä plans to further streamline its marine business portfolio by divesting its Gas Solutions business unit. Gas Solutions is a pioneering provider of gas processing systems. However, the business unit has limited synergies with the rest of Wärtsilä’s marine product portfolio. Therefore, Wärtsilä plans to move Gas Solutions to the Portfolio Business in preparation for a divestment. The net sales of Gas Solutions was EUR 293 million in the 12-month pe...

Båtbygg AS has placed an order with Teknotherm for a complete ammonia freezing system for Austral Fisheries’ new longline fishing vessel. The vessel is designed by Marin Teknikk AS for operation in the Antarctic Ocean, surrounded by some of the world’s harshest weather conditions. Teknotherm freezing system The newbuild no. 009 and named ‘Austral Odyssey’ will have a length of 70 metres The newbuild no. 009 and named ‘Austral Odyssey’ will have a len...

Team Electric has signed an agreement with Remontowa Shiprepair Yard, Gdansk to provide electric systems consultancy and installation services for three Polsteam Ro-Pax ferries, in support of the project marking the extension of the Polish yard’s services to the new building market. The three-year agreement coincides with the Finnish turnkey engineering solutions provider opening Team Electric (Poland), Gdynia as a subsidiary. Battery power and hybrid propulsion With a capacity of 4100...

The UK government announces its support for measures designed to protect the world’s ocean and improve the conservation of marine biodiversity. Ahead of International Seabed Authority (ISA) negotiations and a month ahead of COP28, the UK government has announced its support for a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects – which involve the extraction of minerals such as precious metals, copper and cobalt – by the ISA. Sufficient scienti...

OMT, the market pioneer in fuel injection for the two-stroke engine sector, has strengthened its ability to support shipping’s decarbonisation following the acquisition of the company in its entirety by Accelleron, completed on July 20, 2023. OMT will continue to operate its global business independently as a stand-alone unit, retaining all employees, the company structure and the brand name. Together, Accelleron and OMT will advance the energy transition in shipping. Both companies remai...

Accelleron has supported a turbocharger overhaul on the hospital ship - MV Africa Mercy, operated by the non-governmental organisation - Mercy Ships. The support, in the form of discounted labour, will enable the vessel to continue its mission of delivering free medical care and training to people without access to safe surgery, including in some of the world’s most vulnerable developing economies. The 43-year-old vessel, which houses five operating rooms and a recovery ward for more than...

A new £100,000 Challenge Fund competition has opened for Belfast’s digital and creative companies, aimed at animating the city’s Maritime Mile. Developed by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office, in partnership with the Maritime Belfast Trust, the fund is part of the Belfast HUB-IN (Hub of Innovation) project. HUB-IN HUB-IN is all about exploring how digital innovation can help to sustain, enhance, and preserve the rich and unique heritage along Belfast’s...

The transportation of hydrogen, a key fuel of the energy transition in maritime, is another step closer to supporting projected market demands thanks to newly published industry-pioneering requirements from ABS. The ABS Requirements for Liquefied Hydrogen Carriers address safety and technical standards for vessels carrying liquefied hydrogen, expanding on the corresponding IMO Resolution MSC.420(97) that was adopted in November 2016. ABS publication provides further support on criteria T...

Maersk Supply Service has selected the Fleet Data IoT platform from Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, to help optimise the performance of its first vessel battery installation onboard Maersk Minder Offshore Supply Ship, in a solution that will also allow the owner to evaluate how best to optimise the use of zero-emission energy storage systems across its fleet. An end-user API seamlessly gathers data from onboard equipment, automatically organises it with time stamps, synchronises it, and u...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has introduced a new ultra-low emissions version of its already efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engine. Whilst operating on LNG, this new version can further reduce methane emissions on a 50 percent load point by up to 56 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 86 percent. On a weighted average, this new technology can reduce methane emissions by 41 percent more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which has already the lowest emission leve...

ABS shines a light on the maritime industry’s complex regulatory environment in a major new report summarising the latest global regulatory developments and guidelines, as well as their impact on the maritime industry. From reductions in the carbon intensity of shipping to the use of future fuels and autonomous ship capabilities, the IMO and regional regulators continue to pursue unified regulatory consensus to improve safety, efficiency and technological leadership in the maritime indust...

ABB and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed a long-term partnership agreement to collaborate on continued operational excellence and ship performance across the cruise company’s fleet using systematic maintenance planning, critical spare management, and cutting-edge digital solutions for condition monitoring. The contract was booked in Quarter 3 (Q3) 2023. Azipod® XO propulsion systems The 15-year agreement covers maintenance for Azipod® XO propulsion systems powering ves...

Classification society - DNV has entered into a Joint Development Project (JDP) with AL Group and its Singapore company - Asiatic Lloyd Maritime LLP to explore the feasibility of carbon capture and storage (CCS) on board AL’s 7,100TEU containership and Kamsarmax bulk carrier newbuildings. Techno-economic study of CCS Under the JDP, DNV will cooperate with AL on a techno-economic study of CCS on board the vessels using DNVs FuelPath to assess the economic potential of the different fuel a...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company based in Yokohama, Japan, has held a christening and launch ceremony for the FUGAKU MARU, a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship under construction for FUJITRANS Corporation. The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The handover is scheduled for April 2024 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials. The new vessel...

In a collective journey towards achieving net zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, PSA Singapore (PSA) and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop sustainable solutions to cut carbon emissions and optimise maritime efficiency. The collaboration between the two long-time partners includes the development of a set of low carbon emission routes for containers shipped by PIL via PSA. PSA Singapore and PIL sign MoU Beyond the MoU, both...

Classification society DNV acting as third party has issued a statement of qualified technology to SBM Offshore for its carbon capture plant or CO2 capture solution for FPSOs developed in partnership with MHI. The statement verifies that the designated technology is feasible for the intended application and that the technical claims are adequately substantiated. The statement is valid until 15 September 2027. This represents another milestone for SBM Offshore and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (M...

The Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) Machinery Health Monitoring System (SMHMS) has received the ABS SMART (MHM) Tier 2 approval in principle (AIP) for machinery health monitoring. The system will be integrated into SHI’s proprietary SVESSEL Smart Platform as a condition-based monitoring/maintenance module. SMHMS can support main engines, generators, compressors, pumps and fan bearings with the initial application potentially installed on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. Adoptio...

Wallem Group, a pioneering global maritime partner, is proud to have welcomed two dual-fuel vessels, Angleviken and Askviken, into management in the last few months. The two LR2 tankers, delivered by Guangzhou Shipyard International, demonstrate Wallem’s commitment to building its expertise in managing and operating the vessels of the future and being a partner to clients who drive decarbonisation in the maritime industry. Wallem is also preparing to take delivery of multiple newly built...

More than 75 chief executives of Chinese shipping and shipbuilding companies attended the annual ABS Greater China National Committee to learn more about the future of maritime technologies, sustainability services, market trends, and regulations. ABS is the classification pioneer in the Greater China order book, securing the number one position for new contracts. Committee members heard from ABS President and COO John McDonald, who provided a business report, including how the ABS fleet had gr...

ABS and Sea Forrest Power Solutions Pte Ltd (Sea Forrest), a subsidiary of BH Global, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to drive advancements in cutting-edge maritime electrification technologies. Electric vessels Supported by the new ABS Electrification Center in Singapore, the agreement will cover projects for electric vessels, and shore charging infrastructure along with related industry standards and marine classification requirements. ABS and Sea Forrest also intend to collabora...

Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and classification society - DNV have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at KORMARINE, committing to establishing SHI's state-of-the-art Remote Operation Centre (ROC) for real-time monitoring and control of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). SHI and DNV sign MoU The MoU will underpin DNV and Samsung Heavy Industries’ collaboration to drive innovation and redefine the future of marine transportation. The joint venture seeks to develop a Remote...

During the three-day summit, many Indian ministers, government officials and international maritime communities discussed and deliberated key issues of the maritime sector - emphasising the importance of the Indian maritime sector and the need for collaboration to achieve sustainable growth - Shri Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the summit on 17th October 2023. The summit was a flagship event aimed at propelling the Indian maritime economy by promoting global and r...

Peel Ports Group is committed to nurturing young talent and investing in the industry's future. They are, therefore, thrilled to announce the addition of nine new early careers apprentices, who have joined their London Medway and Port of Liverpool teams, since the start of the academic year. These apprenticeships span various disciplines, including administration, operations, and engineering. Throughout their apprenticeships, the talented young recruits will have the opportunity to learn practi...

As demand for LNG-fueled vessels remains high, the marine pump specialist Svanehøj can offer a high-pressure pump solution for two-stroke engines, a compact unit with three combined cold ends designed for optimal flow and longer service intervals. High-pressure LNG engines offer lower fuel consumption and significantly reduced methane slips. This is driving a surge in demand for crucial components for LNG high-pressure fuel supply systems, which Svanehøj is ready to meet. High-pr...

Energy infrastructure expert, SSE Energy Solutions, has signed a strategic partnership with the owners of Hunterston Port and Resource Campus (Hunterston PARC) to provide renewable energy for the proposed development of the site. Infrastructure, renewable energy Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second largest port operator, is developing a significant energy and marine campus on 300 acres of land within the huge Clydeport facility in Ayrshire. As part of the development’s plans, SSE wil...

ABS is joining Mencast Marine (MMPL), the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC) on a project to manufacture and class a 3D-printed propeller. The collaborative project builds upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by ABS and MMPL that is focused on additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, for critical maritime components. WAAM techniques ABS is committed to supporting these inn...

Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton have embarked on a project with Hampshire based environmental monitoring specialists OceanWise, to provide a solution for current monitoring on the South Bramble navigation buoy. ABP, who have been a customer of OceanWise for nearly 10 years, needed to collect current monitoring data at the South Bramble buoy to provide additional data to pilots on their Portable Pilot Units (PPUs). This data, which will sit alongside the range of other environmental...

Global shipping and sustainable energy logistics solutions provider - Crowley is proceeding with plans to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering services on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal, under the first permit issued by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) for the provision of such services. Crowley’s advanced energy group will operate the innovative service to manage the ship-to-ship LNG transfer services. LNG bunkering services for Panama Canal LNG is widely accepted as...

Intellian Technologies, Inc., the global technology and solutions provider for satellite communications, and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of a next-generation GMDSS safety terminal, designed for operation over Inmarsat’s ELERA L-band network. New safety terminals The new safety terminals will become the standard Inmarsat Maritime product for the next-generation Fleet Safety service and will fulfill the requireme...