France News

DNV has released a new Recommended Practice (RP) to assess the performance of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) for public hearing. The new RP has been developed to provide a basis for reliably determining the ability of different WAPS technologies to deliver efficiency gains when installed onboard, accelerating the maritime industry's journey towards a more sustainable future. Fuel savings and emissions reductions WAPS have emerged as a promising solution for the maritime industry to r...

OrbitMI, a provider of maritime software and data products, has expanded its workflow capabilities through a new integration with CleanQuote, a pioneering vessel cleaning platform. This collaboration further strengthens OrbitMI’s commitment to providing connected workflows by incorporating vessel cleaning and maintenance data into Orbit Reporter via API. Vessel cleaning data Western Bulk can now easily capture and access essential vessel cleaning data Western Bulk, a company operating...

Maritime CleanTech is going ‘all in’ at Nor-Shipping 2025, seizing the opportunity of a unique global gathering to support and enable those pioneering sustainable ocean development. Here CEO Ada Jakobsen outlines the organisation’s initiatives, objectives and ambitions, explaining why NOW is the time to accelerate progress. Groundbreaking efforts Nor-Shipping has long been a flagship arena for ocean innovation, so for Maritime CleanTech, it’s the perfect stage to showc...

Following an application for summary judgment, the Commercial Court has provided useful guidance on the interaction between the Hague Rules time bar and contractual time bars where the Hague Rules were incorporated by a clause paramount, rather than applying by force of law. Emirates Shipping Line FZE ('The Defendant') sought to argue that the claim by cargo interests became time-barred as a result of contractual provisions providing for a 20 day time bar and a clause that required the claim fo...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has agreed a deal with Anthony Veder to upgrade the pioneering gas shipping company’s entire fleet to Inmarsat NexusWave. Purpose-built for the specialised transport of gases, including petrochemical gases and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and easily identifiable by their ‘Coral’ prefix, Anthony Veder ships operate in both coastal and deep-sea environments, making multi-dimensional high-speed connectivity essential for seamless communications...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will supply three Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines for a new 18,600 m3 capacity LNG Bunkering vessel being built for Spanish operator - Ibaizabal Group. The engines will feature Wärtsilä’s innovative NextDF technology, which dramatically reduces methane emissions when operating with LNG fuel. The ship is being built at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding yard in China, and the order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2024. LNG is...

ALFA International Corporation has introduced a new high performance two-part polyurethane encapsulant that was formulated by the U.S. Navy and exhibits excellent hydrolytic stability and exceptional acoustic properties. ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encapsulant is a U.S. Navy protected proprietary formulation that is hydrolytically stable for protecting marine acoustic equipment, hydrophones, and underwater transducers. ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encapsulant ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encaps...

Technology pioneer ABB, and the CMA CGM Group, a player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, are collaborating on a new parametric roll algorithm to improve ship safety. The solution integrates a theoretical framework developed by CMA CGM into the ABB Ability™ OCTOPUS Marine Advisory system. Challenge to ship safety New algorithm will help enhance operational safety by reducing the risk of accidents Parametric rolling has been a challenge to ship safety for decades. Particularly...

Increasing incidents of interference with aviation, maritime and other satellite telecommunications services mean states must urgently enhance the protection of a critical radio-frequency band, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) said with ‘grave concern’ in a joint statement. These cases of harmful interference are in the form of jamming and spoofing that disrupt Global Navig...

“The IMO really has to step up now if we are to deliver on the pace and scale of the change required. A lot of this comes down to the question of how we address the significant price differential between fossil and alternative fuels. The IMO holds the keys to all of this, and the time for action is now. Whether we as an industry can make 2050 rests largely with the IMO and how it performs in the coming months.” That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO Christoph...

International®, AkzoNobel's marine coatings brand, has published a new whitepaper on how data collaboration between fouling control coating experts and vessel operators can drive more informed decision-making, enhance vessel performance reliability and support sustainability goals for the fleet. The research includes a detailed case study of three Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) vessels tracked over a 60-month service period, all coated with Intersleek® 1100SR, an ultra-high performance foulin...

GAC Norway has launched a new shore excursion service covering all of Norway, including key cruise destinations such as Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen, Ålesund and Tromsø, in response to cruise operators’ drive to provide passengers with authentic experiences that connect them with local culture responsibly. Cruise operators looking to enhance their guest experience with sustainable, exclusive and competitively-priced shore excursions can now partner with GAC Norway to deliver th...

ABS and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Singapore Maritime Week that establishes a framework to collaborate on projects related to maritime technology, sustainability and safety management systems. “To make meaningful progress in this era of rapid change, we need strategic industry collaborations like this one with PIL. We look forward to capitalising on our unique strengths and capabilities in maritime compliance and cutting-edge techn...

Fuels of the future and shipping charge points in harbours are at the centre of a major new strategy to make Britain’s shipping fleet net zero by 2050 and drive growth in coastal communities. The Maritime Minister has revealed the Government’s new goals for all vessels that operate in UK waters and dock at UK ports to be carbon-free and help vessel owners, operators and scientists make emission-free voyages a reality. Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy Maritime Decarbonisation Stra...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with VARD for the delivery of a comprehensive package of propulsion and manoeuvring thrusters for five Walk-2-Work Service Operation Vessels, W2W SOVs. The vessels are for an undisclosed international owner. Brunvoll’s delivery for each vessel consists of two azimuth propulsion thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and two tunnel thrusters. The vessels will also feature Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system, BruCon PTC, for efficien...

Fincantieri, one of the world's pioneer groups in high-complexity shipbuilding, and the Guardia di Finanza signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation to prevent and fight criminal infiltrations and irregularities in the economic and production sectors. The agreement establishes a joint effort to protect legality, with a focus on preventing and combating economic and financial crimes, fraud, corruption, and illegal labor practices. Enhancing transparency and securit...

Current Senior Vice President Hayato Suga has been appointed as President & CEO as well as Representative Director of ClassNK and current Corporate Officer Fumihiko Higashi has been appointed as Executive Vice President, effective 21 March 2025. Former President & CEO Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors, while former Chairman of the Board of Directors Koichi Fujiwara has assumed the position of Advisor to the Society. Challenges and digital transf...

Orca AI, a pioneer in maritime technology, celebrates a major milestone as Seaspan Corporation, a containership powerhouse, integrates its cutting-edge SeaPod digital watchkeeper across its entire fleet, to support significant safety improvements and operational cost savings. Rooted in a robust safety culture As part of its digitalisation strategy, Seaspan began using Orca AI's SeaPod digital watchkeeper on select vessels to enhance situational awareness for navigation. An analysis of Seaspan...

IRClass Academy has successfully concluded an intensive Marine Casualty Investigation Training program aimed to enhance the investigative capabilities of maritime professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to conduct thorough and compliant marine casualty investigations. The program provided an in-depth understanding of the purpose, scope, and principal definitions of marine casualty investigations, along with the mandatory responsibilities of safety investigation auth...

Ammonia is gaining traction as a future fuel in the maritime industry, primarily due to its potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A key driver for ammonia's interest is that it can be carbon-free when combusted, which aligns with the maritime industry's increasing pressure to meet emissions regulations. However, most ammonia production currently relies on fossil fuels. Transitioning to "green ammonia" production is crucial for sustainability. If "green ammonia" is produced...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has signed an agreement with Solvang to equip the company’s fleet with Inmarsat’s NexusWave fully managed bonded connectivity service to support the pioneering gas shipping company’s evolving crew and business connectivity requirements. Solvang’s fleet, which includes six semi-refrigerated ethylene carriers, eight large gas carriers, and 13 very large gas carriers (including seven newbuilds), depends on reliable satellite connect...

HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hydrogen, and DNV recently signed a Joint Industry Project (JIP) agreement to develop and validate Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology for carbon capture in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that generate electricity using natural gas, ammonia, or hydrogen as fuel. Maritime carbon emissions As part of this agreement, HD KSOE and its subsidiary HD Hydrogen will explore the integration of PSA-b...

Norway-based maritime technology business, Shipnet has launched Helix AI ahead of attending Sea Asia in Singapore next week, further strengthening its revolutionary Helix product, designed to transform decision-making in the shipping industry through advanced data analysis.  Helix, launched at Posidonia in 2024, provides a digital representation of the shipping business, enabling seamless integration and analysis of data from various sources such as safety, pricing, and procurement. Helix...

Propspeed®, a pioneering innovator in underwater biocide-free, foul-release coatings, announced it has signed an agreement with LUKA Marine Murter d.o.o. to serve as the Company’s new single-entry partner for Croatia and Slovenia. The partnership will kick off with the first national technical training for applicators and resellers in this vital region to prepare Propspeed for the quickly approaching refit season. Propspeed’s coating systems LUKA Marine Murter is a privately o...

BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate neutral GreenForge® production process, in a maritime sector that is highly exposed to anticipated carbon pricing. Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsion, power manag...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised BPER Banca S.p.A. (“BPER”), as agent and financing bank, and Banca Popolare di Sondrio S.p.A. (“BPOS”), as financing bank, on an up to US$50m financing granted to Ignazio Messina & C. S.p.A. (“Ignazio Messina”). This allows Ignazio Messina to finance the renewal of its fleet as part of an investment plan to build full container vessels of greater capacity and size than those it previously deployed....

Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia, reinforcing its position as a frontrunner in developing solutions for decarbonizing the maritime industry.  The FCM Ammonia will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime. Ammonia-powered shipping The FCM Ammonia will be installed on a CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in ChinaAs a front-runner in enabling the use of ammonia, Alfa Laval has achieved a significant mi...

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised BNP Paribas, a syndicate of lenders, SACE and SIMEST on the financing of four new cruise vessels for Viking Ocean Cruises. The financing consists of four export credit loan facilities, which are together worth around $2 billion. The facilities are backed by the Italian export credit agency SACE and contain a fixed-rate subsidy offered by SIMEST. Viking Ocean Cruise’s growing fleet The ocean-going passenger cruise vessels are being constr...

Dinnteco America, an established pioneer in lightning protection technology, announced its latest solution for the marine, military, energy, and transportation industries – the Electromagnetic Charge Compensation Device (DDCE). The DDCE is designed to prevent direct lightning strikes by gathering positive charges from its immediate environment, while also gathering negative charges from the clouds and air. Lightning strikes to boat owners The upward path required for lightning can no lo...

GOST® (Global Ocean Security Technologies), a pioneer in marine security, satellite tracking, monitoring, and video surveillance, announced a revolution in maritime security with the launch of the GOST Specter Ai security platform.  The GOST Specter Ai platform leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence to provide advanced facial recognition, object identification through machine learning, GPS location tracking, CAN bus data monitoring, and remote viewing of both system data and li...