France News

ABS awarded approval in principle (AIP) to CLS Wind for its innovative wind turbine assembly system.  The patented elevator-style assembly system promises easier, safer and faster wind turbine and nacelle installation and maintenance, without the use of large cranes and heavy-lift barges or vessels. ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements. “This is an exciting milestone for CLS Wind and domestic renewable energy production. ABS is committed to supportin...

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the United States Coast Guard Research and Development Centre (USCG-RDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that opens the door to collaborative research and development on top-of-mind technologies impacting the maritime industry. ABS and the USCG-RDC each have robust portfolios of maritime innovation projects that will benefit from cooperative efforts in areas of mutual interest. Fuels in the maritime domain Activity under the MOU can include dev...

Thordon Bearings’ brake cups are being supplied to Hydro-Québec, the largest hydropower company in Canada, as part of a decade-long turbine brake system overhaul program. The Burlington-based bearing and seal specialist is providing the brake cups to its Canadian distributor RMH Industries, an integrated company specialising in mechanical and hydraulic repair and machining of oversized parts. RMH Industries has been manufacturing and repairing brake blocks for Hydro-Québec s...

Seanergy Maritime, a prominent pure-play Capesize shipowner that is publicly listed in the US and provides marine dry bulk transportation services, has chosen to integrate Orca AI's cutting-edge automated computer-vision situational awareness platform into its operations. AI's advanced technology The project demonstrates Seanergy's commitment to advancing safety and efficiency in maritime navigation. Athens-based Seanergy currently owns a modern fleet of 18 dry bulk vessels Athens-based Sean...

In Rotterdam, the Eco Maestro was christened, the first dual-fuel container vessel to sail on methanol. Rotterdam will be the home port to all fourteen vessels of the Singapore X-Press Feeders. X-press Feeders aims to have these ‘green vessels’ sail mainly on routes in Europe, which means there will be a first network of feeders sailing on green methanol in Europe. The Taiwan container shipping company Evergreen Feeders has signed a contract to that end with the Singapore feeder shi...

Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has bolstered its Marine Finance business with the appointment of an experienced front and back-office team, as it looks to grow its support for the maritime sector. First launching in 2023, BFS Marine Finance provides specialist financing and support to the sector across a wide range of vessel types, including wind farm service vessels, general purpose workboats, passenger vessels and ferries, survey vessels, tugs and barges, coastal ships, charter boats and hire...

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the premier shipbuilding and repair company in India, delivered the 15th Electric Hybrid 100 Pax Water Metro Ferry BY 126 to Kochi Water Metro. The occasion was marked by the Delivery Protocol Signing ceremony held at CSL, in the presence of Directors of KMRL and CSL, along with senior officials from KMRL, CSL, DNV, and IRS. Shri. Harikrishnan S, Chief General Manager CSL, and Shri. Shaji P. Jananardhanan, Chief General Manager KMRL, signed the protocol document o...

ABB has been awarded a contract by Washington State Ferries (WSF) to serve as the propulsion single source vendor (PSSV) for its groundbreaking new hybrid electric 160-auto ferries. This project marks a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable maritime transportation in the US and beyond, with ABB playing a pivotal role in developing and delivering the five newly built vessels. Hybrid electric propulsion systems As PSSV, ABB will supply comprehensive hybrid electric propulsion sy...

National Maritime, in partnership with the University of Greenwich, will host a two-day conference and exhibition exploring sustainable practices and business opportunities in the maritime realm. The 4th Society & the Sea International Conference 2024 will take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2024 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich. The theme of the conference is ‘To be truly blue, we must also think green: developing a sustainable blue economy needs b...

ITOCHU Corporation, ClassNK, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a joint study for the design and safety specifications of ammonia-fuelled ships which are under development by ITOCHU and partners. Ammonia is advancing as a viable marine fuel solution for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. The discussion for a specification of ammonia-fuelled ship with governmental body related to their op...

ABS and the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) are working together to advance commercial small modular reactor (SMR)-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms. Technology and framework ABS will provide an analysis of applicable regulatory guidelines and international standards for the design of SMR-powered ships. KRISO will develop core technologies for SMR-powered ships, including conceptual designs for the vessel and propulsion systems as well a...

A pair of dual fuel (diesel and LNG) RAstar 4200-DF standby vessels have recently entered service with Hongkong Salvage & Towage (HKST). Built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, LNG Sentinel I and LNG Sentinel II were specifically designed for service at the Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited (HKLTL) import terminal. Featuring a unique electrical propulsion system with Z-drives that can receive power from both diesel and dual fuel (diesel and LNG) propulsion gensets, these vessels will help maintain a saf...

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel with a 57-year history of breaking boundaries, announces its 2026 spring/summer itineraries to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Bermuda, Alaska, and Canada and New England, as well as a new season of voyages from the Port of Philadelphia (PhilaPort) for the first time in many years. In April 2026, NCL will launch cruises sailing from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex in Philadelphia. On April 16, 2026, Norwegian Jewel® will comme...

Peninsula, the global pioneer in marine energy solutions, is pleased to announce the successful LNG bunkering of the car carrier - Thor Highway by their LNG bunker vessel, Levante LNG.  The supply operation was carried out for their customer - “K” LINE in Gibraltar. Thor Highway The Thor Highway, operated by “K” LINE, is a newly built LNG dual-fueled car carrier chartered by the company and was delivered in 2024. The vessel is part of “K” LINE’s...

VSTEP is pleased to announce the early access release of NAUTIS Instructor Station 2.0! This updated version promises a significantly improved user experience, reduced work time, enhanced ease of use and many other crucial advancements. Less clicks, more teaching! Over the past year, VSTEP has diligently collected and analysed feedback from customers both internally and externally. Through extensive testing, numerous discussions and learning from NAUTIS Home, they have identified key areas for...

Innovative technology developed by Arkitech delivers substantial efficiency improvements to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system onboard MSC Magnifica. Leveraging AI and machine learning, the technology analyses data from over 1,500 sensors on the MSC Cruises’ ship, enhancing chiller efficiency by up to 12% and achieving predicted annual savings of 1600MW which is equivalent to removing the 687 cars from European roads. This efficiency is realised without compromis...

OrbitMI announces the launch of its latest Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering, tailored specifically for maritime industry players in the dry bulk sector. This new product delivers precise and timely data to support decision-making and boost operational efficiency across the maritime industry. Vessel and Company Particulars The Vessel and Company Particulars product provides comprehensive information on various vessel characteristics, enabling ship owners and operators to leverage up-to-date da...

The TWIN X-STERN design is distinguished by its dual stern configuration, equipped with main propellers at each end. This unique setup enhances manoeuvrability and motion, therefore having improved fuel efficiency - a critical factor in the drive towards more sustainable and efficient maritime operations. Olympic Boreas sea trial The recent sea trials of the Olympic Boreas marked the first real-scale, live environment test of the TWIN X-STERN 's unique characteristics,...

Olympic Subsea is proud to announce their partnership with Ulstein and Rambøll to carry out the “LCAS - Life Cycle Assessment in Shipbuilding” project. This initiative focuses on developing a maritime-oriented method to evaluate the environmental impact of new vessels throughout their entire life cycle.  In this work, Olympic Subsea is specifically looking at the two new offshore wind service vessels developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, both of which are...

The expansion of the offshore wind market has brought about significant changes in the cable-laying industry. More turbines mean more cables to install, which means a greater need for carousel capacity on the cable-laying vessel.  Average cable length However, the length of the installed cable is dependent not only on the number of turbines, but also on their size. The average cable length per wind farm has grown from 30 km in the 2000s to 80 km in the late 2010s and is projected t...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Ship IoT Application “i-MITEC” by MIURA CO., LTD. 'i-MITEC' uses a cloud-based environment to provide a range of services, collecting and storing operation data from equipment, such as marine boilers and ballast water management systems that are fitted with communication functionality.  The stored data can be used in combination with analysis by MIURA field engineers to provide suggestions for ef...

X1 Wind, a developer of floating wind technology, has officially opened a new office in Navarra, which will be responsible for designing and implementing electrical, communication, and control systems for floating wind platforms. The new offices will primarily host X1 Wind’s electrical department, which includes five electrical engineers led by Adrián Oliva, Electrical & SCADA Manager. Additionally, the offices will include an industrial engineer from the operations departmen...

The launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship) “Domenico Millelire” took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genova) on Saturday 13 July 2024. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of Italian Navy, and Massimo Scialpi, Deputy Director OCCAR, welcomed for Fincantieri by Dario Deste, General Manager Naval Vessels Division. The godmother of the ceremony was Ms. Franca Millelire, a relative o...

KR held the 19th KR European Committee (KREC) meeting in London, UK, on July 1st. The KREC, established in 2004, includes members from major international maritime organisations and key European KR customers as follows: Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) In...

Watson Farley & Williams advised ABN AMRO BANK N.V. and ING BANK N.V. on a US$245m term loan facility granted to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited for the financing of a fleet of tanker vessels. WFW acted as lead counsel on the transaction and assisted ABN and ING throughout the life cycle of the transaction, from the negotiation and execution of the facility to the delivery of each vessel. Transportation services TEN is a world-pioneering tanker operator, listed on the New York...

The dramatic spike in the ocean freight container shipping market is reaching its peak as importers push back against spiralling spot rates. Data released by Xeneta shows average spot rates from the Far East to the US East Coast increased by 3.7% on 15 July to stand at USD 10 045 per FEU (40ft equivalent shipping container). Average spot rates On the US West Coast, spot rates increased by 2.0% to stand at USD 8,045 per FEU. While this means spot rates are up almost 150% on these trades sinc...

Hintco GmbH announces Fertiglobe as the successful bidder of the first H2Global pilot auction for renewable ammonia, funded by the German Government. The winning bidder, Fertiglobe, a strategic partnership between ADNOC and OCI, will start producing renewable ammonia destined for delivery in 2027 for a maximum contract value of EUR 397 million.  Renewable ammonia The renewable ammonia will be delivered to the port of Rotterdam and sold by Hintco in standardized quantities in annual aucti...

VSTEP is delighted to have been highlighted in the Canadian Naval Review for its contribution to advancing maritime training. NAUTIS software Its cutting-edge bridge simulator, powered by NAUTIS software, offers Sea Cadets and Primary Reserve personnel immersive and realistic experiences that promote leadership and teamwork.  VSTEP is honoured to aid the Royal Canadian Navy in shaping the future of maritime professionals.

The last of the 18 ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops given by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2008, the year of the creation of the Spanish-speaking Network for the port training programme, closed on July 12, 2024, at Valenciaport. In these 16 years, more than 260 instructors have participated, 72 of them women, to be trained in the key management skills of port management. ‘Train For Trade’ programme Twenty-one students of seven...

Babcock and the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, Poland, have announced that they are set to collaborate on an exciting new programme of professional internships following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement. The MoU outlines the intent for Babcock to work in cooperation with the Polish Naval Academy to facilitate future academic collaboration, underpinning Babcock’s global commitment to skills development. Future academic collaboration This summe...