United Kingdom (UK) News

Following the publication of its CBER Staff Working Document, the European Commission’s DG COMP has announced that it recommends letting the sector-specific Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) lapse, and that liner shipping vessel sharing agreements will be regulated under the general EU antitrust rules based on the Horizontal Block Exemption Regulation and Specialisation Block Exemption Regulation. Vessel sharing is an operational measure allowing ocean carriers to use ships more...

Spire Global, Inc., a global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, was selected by MAN Energy Solutions, a global player within the marine, energy and industrial sectors, to provide weather data and real-time automatic identification system (AIS) vessel-tracking data. According to McKinsey & Co, the shipping industry can decrease fuel consumption by 1% through optimised vessel execution and performance management mechanisms, utilising AIS and weather data for route map...

We are in the midst of a decisive decade when it comes to the future of maritime. Facing a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the industry needs to make more informed and science-based decisions, and a new level of collaboration and flexibility will be needed among all maritime stakeholders.  DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 report provides a deep dive into shipping’s decarbonisation journey.   Energy Transition Outlook 2023 The Energy Transition...

International law firm - Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Co-Head of Transport and Head of the Paris Banking team, Christine Ezcutari, has been awarded the Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime (Commander of the Order for Maritime Merit). The Order for Maritime Merit, established in 1930, is awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in the maritime field.  Shipping and transport financing Christine, who is one of the youngest women ever to receive this presti...

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to ERMA FIRST for its amine absorption-based Carbon Capture and storage (CCS) system. Absorption technology ERMA FIRST’s CCS system uses absorption technology to mix CO2 (carbon dioxide) flue gases with a proprietary amine solvent, which is then heated to produce a chemical reaction that reverses the absorption and separates the CO2 from the solvent.  The CO2 from this process is then liquified and stored under cry...

DNV has published new guidelines for the safe installation of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) systems on board ships, amid growing pressure on the shipping industry to develop effective technologies to reduce emissions as part of the ongoing maritime energy transition. Different methods for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be necessary to achieve international, regional, and national emissions targets. Post-combustion OCCS on board trading ships is expected to be among the...

Kakinada Container Terminal (KCT) Pvt Ltd, located in the eastern part of India, serves as a vital weather terminal within the Kakinada Deep Water Port in Andhra Pradesh. Customised transport solutions KCT enjoys excellent connectivity via the National Highway to major cities in the vicinity and handles a diverse range of container cargo, from frozen to dry cargo. The terminal is a key hub for the rice commodity, served by the railway line from Raipur to Kakinada. This marks a milestone for...

Babcock’s LGE business, the pioneer in liquefied gas, has secured contracts to provide its innovative ethane cargo handling and fuel gas supply system – ecoETHN®. The contracts are for 15 Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) at Jiangnan Shipyard for shipowners Tianjin Southwest and Pacific Gas. Long-haul ethane transportation Tianjin Southwest will take delivery of nine, while Pacific Gas will take six These latest orders push the total number of ecoETHN® contracts for Babc...

B.F.E. Bonney Forge is one of the first European companies to secure certification for a spare part intended for field operations through the application of AM technology. This achievement signifies a major milestone in the manufacturing landscape, one that demonstrates the potential of this innovative technology to reshape the future of pressure equipment under the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED). CE-certified pressure vessel The collaboration builds upon the successes of the s...

Leask Marine Ltd., Marine Contractors based in Kirkwall, Orkney, have retained their internationally recognised ISO 45001:2018 Health & Safety Management System, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System, ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System, and ISO 27001:2017 Information Security Management System accreditation standards. This independent five-day assessment was conducted by the pioneering certification body, the British Assessment Bureau and demonstrates Leask Marine’s co...

As part of its effort to expand its presence in the East African markets, WEG is taking significant steps to increase its presence in Uganda through a partnership with Petrok as a Value Added Reseller (VAR). Petrok's local presence and technical expertise, along with the reliability of WEG products in the market, will facilitate this expansion. Strengthening position in Uganda The expected economic growth from projects like as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), along with the exis...

At the terminal of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), the COSCO SHIPPING Taurus was charged with shore-side electricity for the first time as part of a test. The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) will now carry out further tests so that the shore-side power stations for container ships at the Port of Hamburg can be put into operation as soon as possible. Shore power supply The first ship integration test was successfully completed at the beginning of the week. COSCO SHIPPING Taurus, like all...

Port of Rotterdam will offer a substantial port fee reduction for ships that bunker sustainable fuels in Rotterdam, supporting the recently announced Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and recognizing front runners in the road to maritime decarbonisation. Boudewijn Siemons, COO and CEO a.i. of the Port of Rotterdam: “It is vital that the shipping industry makes the switch to zero-emission fuels. The ZEMBA consortium has launched a fantastic initiative with a willingness to pa...

thyssenkrupp Steel Europe invests in the port of Rotterdam. At Ertsoverslagbedrijf Europoort C.V. (EECV) a new unloading installation for seagoing vessels will be constructed with an investment of tens of millions of euros. With the new crane, thyssenkrupp is demonstrating its belief in the long-term presence of its infrastructure in the port of Rotterdam. Future green steel factory The unloading installation will be used to unload fuels and resources for the steel factory. “The tran...

Classification society - DNV presented Hanwha Ocean with an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an innovative 270,000cbm LNG carrier. The design maximises cargo capacity, while optimising vessel performance. The new 345m long LNG carrier by Hanwha Ocean was heralded as a 'ground-breaking achievement' by Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager, Korea & Japan, DNV, when he presented the AiP to Jong Seo Kim, COO of Hanwha Ocean, at Hanwha Ocean’s office in Okpo. LNG carrier development DNV is hono...

From its foundation in 1959, Mitsubishi Ore Transport (MOT) has been committed to upholding the highest standards in maritime safety and security, and to delivering premium-quality marine transport services using advanced ship management technologies. Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress As part of NYK, the future-oriented organisation operates a fleet of 17 vessels and seeks to harness the vast potential of an increasingly connected maritime ecosystem to realise its digitalisation and decarbonisatio...

A new kit, the HK5, has been developed to electrify recreational and professional boats with internal combustion engines and shaftline transmissions in a simple and efficient manner. This kit enables boats to navigate silently and with zero emissions using electric power. New kit - the HK5 Massimo Labruna, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AS Labruna, said "We have evolved the previous solutions, further simplifying the application and optimising cooling and electronics. The kit includes a...

NSSLGlobal is proud to announce its ongoing partnership and Gold sponsorship of the HMS Oardacious rowing team as they once again take on the formidable World’s Toughest Row Atlantic Challenge in 2023. Connectivity services NSSLGlobal will provide crucial connectivity services, airtime, equipment, and essential 24/7 support to ensure the team's successful journey as they row an impressive 3,000 miles across the North Atlantic. This partnership continues to exemplify NSSLGlobal's commitm...

Båtbygg AS has placed an order with Brunvoll for a complete propulsion and manoeuvring solution 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. The new vessel named “Austral Odyssey” will have a length of 70 metres and a breadth of 14.6 metres. Propulsion and manoeuvring The propulsion and manoeuvring so...

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its recently introduced Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel (LNG) engine for two new sail-assisted luxury cruise ships. The vessels are being built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique (CdA) shipyard in France for Orient Express Silenseas, part of French hospitality group, Accor. There is an option for an additional two vessels. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in May 2023. Wärtsilä 25DF engine The Wärtsilä...

ABS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work with key stakeholders in Korea to develop and demonstrate a 3D printing system for ocean-going vessels. Using a digital library for the design process, the system aims to support rapid maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) by using 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), to manufacture parts on a vessel while at sea. Approval and certification process ABS joins project partners Ulsan Metropolitan City, Ulsan ICT Promoti...

Unifeeder Group has signed a long-term time-charter agreement for two new methanol-capable container feeder vessels and has an option for additional two similar vessels. German-based ship owning group Elbdeich Reederei will build and manage the 1250 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) vessels which will be delivered in 2026. Renewable-methanol supply Unifeeder Group plans to deploy the new vessels on its European network, where the new vessels will give a significant contribution to lower the...

The PHOENIX HARMONIA, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) powered very large LPG/ammonia carrier, has been constructed by Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (Namura) and delivered to MOL Energia Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based company of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group on September 29. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, supported Namura and contributed to the delivery of the vessel, based on a technical cooperation agreement executed between the two companie...

A novel design for a floating offshore nuclear power barge from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and KEPCO Engineering and Construction Company, Inc. (KEPCO E&C) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS. Project collaborators include ABS, HD KSOE, KEPCO E&C, and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR). Representatives from each company met in Washington, D.C., for the AIP presentation. Floating SMR barge The floating small modular r...

Babcock is delighted to have converted a former UK Royal Navy patrol ship into a medical vessel for Vine Trust, an international volunteering charity supporting some of the poorest and most isolated communities in Tanzania and Peru. A dedicated team of volunteers transformed former HMS Scimitar into the recently named MV Lady Jean. The ship has undergone a complete overhaul, including a new generator, rewiring of electrics, servicing of the engines, installation of new seats and air-conditionin...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Berthing Aid System developed by Furuno Electric Co., Ltd (Furuno). In order to promote the spread and development of innovative technologies, ClassNK has offered Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions. ClassNK supports the deployment of products and services through third-party certification for equipment and software technology with innovative functions. Situational awareness Berthing Aid System us...

Peel Ports Group has announced it has significantly reduced its greenhouse gas emissions across its port facilities, cutting these by almost a third since 2020. The reduction is revealed in the group’s new 51-page ESG report-one of the most detailed reports of its kind to be produced by any UK port operator of similar size. As the country’s second largest port operator, Peel Ports has published the document to showcase its commitment to sustainable port operations. Scope 1 emi...

A new and space-efficient retrofit methanol storage solution from SRC Group has received Approval in Principle from Lloyd’s Register, signifying that no major conceptual issues have been identified as standing in the way of its securing classification approval and regulatory compliance. Methanol Superstorage offers the potential for ships with years of service ahead to be considered for transition to a marine fuel established as a frontrunner for meeting IMO targets to cut greenhouse gas...

“Nuclear energy has moved beyond a wildcard option and into the mainstream of potential solutions for a more sustainable maritime industry. Nuclear energy is not just about the potential for a reactor to operate on a ship. With advanced nuclear technology, the potential is so much more.” That was the message from ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Wiernicki, who welcomed nuclear energy experts, government representatives, academia, and senior maritime industry p...

Accelleron has signed a strategic partnership with METIS Cyberspace Technology that will expand the number of marine installations and power generation facilities that can use data analytics to improve turbocharger operation and maintenance. METIS develops data-collecting hardware and IoT solutions that can be easily deployed in vessels and facilities to achieve automated, real-time data availability. Under the cooperation, METIS will provide onboard and cloud-based data infrastructure to Accel...