Ecuador News

CIBC Innovation Banking announces that it has provided a $20 million USD debt financing to ZeroNorth, a technology company focused on the maritime industry. ZeroNorth will use the funding to fuel its growth strategy through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with the goal of enhancing access to data, acquiring innovative technologies, and expanding market share. Maritime digital transformation ZeroNorth’s customers have optimised 1.5 million voyages through the company’s platform...

Marine Masters announces its involvement in a pivotal offshore installation project for the greenfield Bhasker A & B platforms, designed and constructed by Indian energy company SunPetro. The project, managed by main installation contractor ACE Pipeline and directly overseen by Consolidated Support Services PTE LTD (CSS), involves the development of two wellhead platforms featuring robust jackets with integrated boat landings and topsides.  Subsea and piling operations The Marine Ma...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia-fuelled ammonia bunkering vessel. This vessel is jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and LMG Marin AS (a member of the Seatrium Group). As ammonia fuel utilization is expected in shipping for decarbonization, bunkering vessels that supply fuel to ships and related equipment will play an essential role in the supply chain. Fuel engines from IHI Power Systems Additionally, a safety verification was conduc...

Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (the Program), which is jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the LNG-fueled car carrier ‘OCEANUS HIGHWAY’ (IMO No. 1046049), owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE). DBJ provided financing to "K" LINE. In the shipping industry, where environmental regulations are becoming stricter as the industry moves towards decarbonisation, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scor...

Baltic Exchange, the world's only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts, and Veson Nautical, a global pioneer in maritime data and freight management solutions, have joined forces to launch the latest version of the official Baltic99 Questionnaire for the dry bulk sector. The questionnaire, which remains the industry standard for collecting and collating detailed information about the global dry bulk fleet, is desig...

ABS approved the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) documents for a deep water floating offshore wind platform design from ECO TLP, Inc. and MOCEAN-Offshore BV. The unique design supports the largest wind turbines on the market and utilises slip-formed cylindrical concrete hulls and a variety of anchor types. Challenges to renewable energy ABS completed design reviews based on class and supporting offshore standards When combined with a hybrid spar tension-leg mooring system, the unit has a...

Norsepower, the provider of wind propulsion systems, announces a new collaboration with Climate Tech start-up Syroco. Together, the two companies are delivering innovative energy efficiency solutions for merchant vessels, reducing fuel consumption, minimising carbon emissions, and accurately measuring the savings enabled by Norsepower Rotor Sails™. The joint deployment of Norsepower and Syroco onboard Socatra’s tanker Alcyone demonstrates how combining wind propulsion with cutting-e...

Fleet safety and efficiency improvements see Turkiye's pioneer shipowner sign a new three-year contract for global weather intelligence provider's comprehensive performance monitoring platform.  Yasa has subscribed to Weathernews' market-pioneer SeaNavigator platform for the past two years and will continue with its premium package that includes route optimization, accurate vessel performance monitoring, and full environmental support covering CII (Carbon Intensity Index), EU ETS, CO2 Emis...

The fully equipped vessel is now ready for commissioning and integration trials from ZeroUSV’s home port of Plymouth.  The launching of the first Oceanus12 represents the culmination of nearly 18 months of design, engineering and build effort from the team at ZeroUSV which has been built on the success of the Mayflower 400’s transatlantic autonomous voyage - a milestone achieved through the same inter-company collaborations between Zero USV’s parent company MSubs, their n...

D-Fend Solutions, the pioneer in field-proven radio frequency (RF) cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone takeover technology, announces the launch of EnforceAir2 Maritime, a specialised version of its award-winning EnforceAir2 system, tailored to meet the unique needs of Counter-UAS operations in maritime environments. Designed with the demanding conditions of open-sea and near-shore operations in mind, EnforceAir2 Maritime is purpose built to reliably deliver unparalleled perfor...

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a service representation agreement with G-jet s.r.l., a prominent service provider in the yacht segment and part of the V610 AG group. The agreement aims to strengthen customer support for Kongsberg Maritime’s Kamewa waterjets, ensuring yacht customers receive the highest level of service and expertise. Strengthening Service Excellence Kongsberg's waterjets provide exceptional durability and performance, catering to diverse operational requirements “W...

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published the final two reports in a series of six, focused on alternative fuels and decarbonisation technologies. The reports were contracted from a consortium led by ABS, which includes CE Delft, Arcsilea and Texas A&M University. A 360-degree analysis of nuclear power and synthetic fuels, specifically the renewable e-fuels of e-diesel, e-methane and e-methanol, complete a project for EMSA designed to support the European Commission, the Memb...

bound4blue has completed the installation of its breakthrough eSAIL® suction sails on tanker vessel Pacific Sentinel with a streamlined single-stop process for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) at Besiktas Shipyard in Turkey during a planned drydocking. Three 22-metre, DNV Type Approved eSAILs® were installed on the 50,000dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned. Overall energy consumption The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory wor...

Lighthouse Ship Management AS has steered one of its managed general cargo vessel coasters through a BERG Propulsion retrofit project which the Norwegian shortsea shipping service provider confirms has brought a 33% reduction in fuel costs. The Torangsvåg-based fleet manager evaluated BERG’s options for optimising energy use on board Terneskjaer, an 81m length 2,900 dwt general cargo ship owned by Bio Feeder AS. The project sought to cut fuel costs and emissions, while adding a new...

Government agency Innovation Norway provides sustainable hull-cleaning pioneer ECOsubsea with a NOK 69m (USD 6.2m) Green Growth Loan that will part-fund the construction of more of the company's next-generation hull-cleaning robots, as it gears up to significantly expand its operations in the world's second-busiest port. The Austevoll-based company undertook its first commercial clean in Singapore in the autumn, using its first next-generation cleaning robot dubbed the 'Pink Panther'....

The UK is well positioned to lead the safe development and deployment of new nuclear power systems for commercial ships and Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs), according to a new report from CORE POWER, NorthStandard and Lloyd’s Register (LR). Technology company CORE POWER, global marine insurer NorthStandard and maritime professional services provider LR have jointly published Advanced Maritime Nuclear: A unique opportunity for the UK.  Deployment of small nuclear reactors...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already driving huge changes across the world and is starting to have an impact on the maritime industry, but its transformative potential depends on addressing fundamental challenges first.  While AI promises increased efficiency, intelligent automation, and decision support, its adoption in shipping software requires a strong foundation of well-structured and engineered data, a shift in digital mentality, and a realistic approach to evaluating solutions....

BS Offshore and Ulstein Verft passed a significant milestone with the launch of the Yno 320, a state-of-the-art Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). This event followed an extensive outfitting phase that included the installation of electrical and mechanical systems, piping, accommodation, and system integration. Ulstein Verft’s dock hall The Yno 320 was towed from Ulstein Verft’s dock hall to the outer dock on 20 February. While stationed in the outer dock, the Ampelman...

New nuclear reactor technology represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for U.S. industrial policy. Vessels propelled by advanced small modular reactors (SMR) could act as a catalyst for the revitalisation of U.S. shipbuilding. That is the view of ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki, who believes the next step is the development of a marinised SMR demonstrator. New industrial policy “It is a key transformational technology. It changes the commercial model, the economics o...

The TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference 2025 brought together global industry pioneers, financial experts, and policymakers for transformative discussions on the future of maritime trade, finance, and sustainability. The conference served as a vital platform for addressing key challenges, exploring financial innovations, and advancing sustainability-driven solutions for the maritime sector. Challenges for maritime decarbonisation Al-Maghafi cautioned that these changes might slow sustainab...

ABB has secured orders from shipbuilders in China and South Korea to equip 18 and 12 liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers, respectively, with permanent magnet shaft generator technology. The ships are due for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Enhancing operational efficiency by utilising the power from the main engine, ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system improves fuel economy compared to solutions where power is provided by auxiliary engines. Magnet shaft generator solution The...

A collaboration agreement has been signed between classification society ClassNK and maritime data and technology firm OceanScore to link the latter’s integrated solution for ClassNK ZETA (Zero Emissions Transition Accelerator) that enables users and related stakeholders to access visualised MRV/DCS data. Shipping companies using the ClassNK ZETA service will gain seamless access to OceanScore’s market-pioneering Compliance Manager under the agreement, which was inked on 20 January...

NorthStandard has finished a challenging year for global marine insurance, reporting an increase in poolable tonnage and continuing progress towards meeting its strategic goals. Marine insurers worldwide saw a rise in the number of large claims in the year ending 20 February, alongside compromised Asia-Europe ship routeing choices and a growing number of ‘shadow’ tankers seeking cover outside the International Group of P&I Clubs system. NorthStandard’s premium income Nev...

AAL Shipping, a multiple award-winning project heavy lift cargo operator headquartered in Singapore, has chosen ABB Ability™ OCTOPUS – Marine Advisory System to optimise operations of their advanced fleet of Super B-Class heavy lift vessels. ABB’s technology will help enhance the safety and efficiency of its cargo-carrying operations. Super B-Class vessels AAL has currently four 32,000 deadweight tonnage ships in operation and four due for delivery by 2026. The third-generat...

Watson Farley & Williams (‘WFW’) advised Eurazeo, acting as lead investor via its Eurazeo Transition Infrastructure Fund, on a €70 million investment in new offshore service vessel platform MPC OSE Offshore. The platform, a joint venture between MPC Capital and O.S. Energy, helps develop, build and manage service support vessels for offshore wind farms. The consortium of investors comprised European family office and others in addition to Eurazeo. Watson Farley & Willi...

Shipowners and operators of EU vessels must take steps to ensure that all new firefighting suits on board comply with changes to European regulations which enter into force from June 2025, according to urgent advice from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment. The leading life-saving equipment solutions provider is recommending fleet managers undertake a full risk assessment of their firefighting suits to verify compliance with requirements applying under MED regulations (EU) 2024/1975. New firefighting...

Watson Farley & Williams (‘WFW’) advised BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered Bank as co-documentation banks and DNB Bank ASA, New York, as agent, on a US$500 million revolving credit facility to Scorpio Tankers Inc. (‘Scorpio Tankers’). The oversubscribed credit facility was provided by a group of eight banks. The facility is a revolving credit facility with a seven year maturity date and provides Scorpio Tankers the flexibility to draw down or repay the loan during t...

More than almost any trend, decarbonisation is driving the future of maritime. That reality alone makes decarbonisation the perfect topic for our first-ever Expert Panel Roundtable column. Traditional maritime fuels, like heavy fuel oil, release harmful pollutants that contribute to air pollution and have adverse health effects. We have to do better, and discussions in the maritime industry centre on which combination of alternative fuels and other technologies can solve the shorter- and longer-...

A pioneering nuclear propelled containership designed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has received approval in principle from ABS. The groundbreaking design for a 15k TEU vessel uses a propulsion system comprised of a molten salt reactor (MSR) for heat and a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) system for power generation. Net zero by 2050 ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements. ABS published the industry’s first comprehensive requirements...

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a Lifecycle Agreement with CMA Ships, a subsidiary of pioneering French shipping company CMA CGM. The agreement covers 14 large LNG-fuelled container ships already in operation. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q1 2025. In today’s global environment, owner and operators of container vessels are focused on optimising operations and maintenance more effectively so that their vessels can continue to operate flexibly, and in the mo...