United States of America (USA) News

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised an Asian financial institution as arranger, agent, security agent, and lender on a US$201.85 million sustainability-linked Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option (JOLCO) with Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) as lessee and Financial Partners Group Co., Ltd. (FPG) as equity provider for two portfolios of container boxes comprising dry container boxes and reefer container boxes. Global container shipping company Singapore headquartered ONE is a g...

MAN Energy Solutions will supply a total of 16 gas engines with a total capacity of 172 megawatts (MW) for two power plants in Indonesia and one in East Malaysia, located on the island of Borneo. 20V35/44G gas engines Five 20V35/44G gas engines with a total capacity of 52 megawatts (MW) are destined as GenSets for a newly built power plant in the Indonesian city of Batam. The city of 1.2 million inhabitants is located on an island directly opposite Singapore and is an upcoming industrial and...

MAN Energy Solutions’ largest service-centre has announced changes to its core concept to adapt to the changing times the maritime service industry is currently experiencing.  MAN PrimeServ, Hamburg has cited the emergence of alternative fuels, larger ships, and shorter harbour-stays as general trends within the industry with the bulk of business shifting to the workshop and components, or with superintendents travelling to wherever ships are docked to work in situ. Repair technolog...

ClassNK has updated its report ‘ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight’ initially released in May 2024, to Version 2.0. This update includes the latest information on alternative fuel ships, including orders and deliveries, demand outlook, and cost simulations for ammonia-fueled ships. It supports customers’ future fuel options and investments. Given the wide range of alternative fuels available for ships, it is necessary to consider not only technical evaluations but also to under...

Alfa Laval has achieved a significant milestone in the development of its Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) technology for hydrogen boil-off gas, having received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the classification society - DNV. Safe hydrogen transportation Alfa Laval has been granted Approval in Principle from DNV for its Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) to be used on liquid hydrogen carriers. The AiP affirms the technical feasibility and safety mechanism of the GCU design and concept. The boil-off gas tec...

Shipping Technology, a Rotterdam-based upcoming player in the international maritime industry specialised in developing supportive tools for the shipping industry, has secured a significant investment from First Dutch in combination with the founders of Platform Zero. Safety, sustainability, and efficiency The hardware and software of Shipping Technology assist shipowners and crew to improve the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of their operations and management decisions. The First Dut...

Iridium Communications Inc. unveiled Iridium Certus® GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime safety, compliance, and communication. Building on the powerful capabilities of Iridium Certus technology, Iridium Certus GMDSS features distress alert, safety voice and Maritime Safety Information (MSI), while integrating additional regulated services like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS). The combination of capabilit...

OceanScore, the global provider of data and compliance management solutions for the maritime industry, has successfully closed an oversubscribed €5 million Series A financing round. The influx of new capital will enable the company to further develop its solutions portfolio and expand its global footprint. Financing round The financing round included significant contributions from existing investor theDOCK and new investors such as Stolt Ventures, Motion Ventures, and Portline, along wit...

Technology group Wärtsilä will upgrade the exhaust treatment system onboard four vessels in Norwegian operator Color Line’s fleet. Wärtsilä will add close-looped functionality to the ships’ current open-loop scrubbers, enabling the ships to operate at maximum efficiency, safely, and in the most environmentally sustainable way possible. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q3 2024. Energy efficiency As the maritime's drive for energy efficiency and emis...

Since 1 January 2024, shipping companies have been subject to the expanded European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), have had to monitor their emissions, open trading accounts, and have been tasked with formulating more efficient fuel and route compliance strategies in preparation for the submission of their first reports in March 2025.  This briefing and the bespoke compliance and exemptions checklists we have prepared will help guide you through the complexities of the EU ETS and FuelE...

As the shipping industry transitions to cleaner fuels, ammonia as a marine fuel is gaining momentum. Alfa Laval is at the forefront of enabling this shift. Through research, product development, and strategic partnerships, the company is building the expertise and solutions needed for a safe and efficient transition to alternative fuels. Addressing challenges Alfa Laval is now accelerating the development of new technologies for ammonia The unique properties of ammonia, including its low fla...

Recently founded digital company Nauticworx is proud to announce the official launch of its workboat availability platform, making its debut at the SMM 2024 in Hamburg. Workboat Platform This platform aims to facilitate the way offshore and maritime professionals manage their fleet operations. It provides a seamless – and safe - solution for chartering regional workboats on the spot market in a digital environment that keeps participants anonymous until they choose not to be. In additio...

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV awarded Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company (HPWS) three approval in principle (AiP) certificates for their innovative designs of three new ship types.  Three new designs  An ammonia-fueled 43,000 cbm midsize gas carrier (MGC)  An ammonia-fueled SWAN 3,500 TEU container ship, and  A LNG dual-fueled SWAN 1,300 TEU container ship with ice class. New-generation MGC features New-generation MGC features a wider beam compared to typ...

REACH Subsea’s ground-breaking uncrewed surface vessel, REACH REMOTE 1, has received the Skipsrevven Ship of the Year 2024 award at the SMM exhibition in Hamburg. The 24-metre REACH REMOTE 1 is the first of a pair of uncrewed offshore surface vessels designed and delivered by Kongsberg Maritime to Norwegian company REACH SUBSEA ASA. REACH REMOTE USV design Crammed with state-of-the-art KONGSBERG technology, the vessels will initially carry out underwater survey...

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV awarded Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. with three Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates and a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) certificate for the design of innovative vessels. Hudong Zhonghua, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation and one of China’s foremost shipbuilders, received these approvals as part of its efforts to address the shifting dynamics in the global energy market.  AiP certificates The AiP...

With Fuel EU Maritime already impacting shipowners, energy efficiency and fleet-wide pooling is critical to short-term sustainability success according to leading industry figures at the annual ABS Sustainability Summit, which kicked off the SMM Exhibition in Hamburg. In a wide-ranging keynote, Navigator Gas CEO Mads Peter Zacho was positive about the progress of the transition, describing it as a business opportunity and said he welcomes the prospect of a carbon levy. Green shipping He said,...

Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) has unveiled Iridium Certus GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime safety, compliance, and communication. Building on the powerful capabilities of Iridium Certus technology, Iridium Certus GMDSS features distress alert, safety voice and Maritime Safety Information (MSI), while integrating additional regulated services, like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS). Iridium Certus GMDSS The combination of capa...

AkzoNobel’s International® marine coatings brand has announced a series of updates to Intertrac® Vision, a digital forecasting tool designed to enable data-driven decision-making on fouling control coatings for global vessel operators. Intertrac® Vision analyses proprietary International® performance data across 200,000 drydocks and now with the addition of 10,000 vessel operators.  Intertrac® Vision Harnessing the predictive capability of Artificial Intell...

Samskip is proud to announce its partnership in the ground-breaking HyEkoTank project, an initiative supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.  As part of its ongoing efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2040, Samskip will retrofit its multi-purpose vessel - Samskip Kvitnos with cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology developed by TECO 2030. This collaboration will enable Samskip to take another major step forward in decarbonising its fleet and reducing greenho...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is pleased to announce that maritime disputes expert - Natalie Jackson has joined the firm as a partner in Athens, Greece. She has over 18 years of contentious experience working at UK shipping law firms based in Piraeus, having trained as a solicitor in London. Natalie Jackson Natalie specialises in maritime law and has an emphasis on dispute resolution arising from charter parties, bills of lading, MoA and shipbuilding disputes, salvage, collisions, ground...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that it has joined the Smart Maritime Network (SMN), an initiative dedicated to supporting and further promoting digital transformation across the shipping and transport sectors. Smart Maritime Network (SMN) SMN’s goal is to provide a platform to promote the benefits of enhanced integration and data sharing among stakeholders within the maritime and transport logistics sectors, informing and educating the industry on technologic...

The second Women in Maritime Survey has been launched to gather important baseline data about women’s participation in the maritime and ocean fields. IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez issued a worldwide call to governments, companies, organisations and academic institutions to take part, stating: "Join me in championing diversity and fostering a barrier-free workplace for all by completing the survey, which will allow for a more targeted use of resources and ensure that w...

SOCSEA24, the 4th Society and the Sea Conference is taking a significant step forward in championing gender equality within the maritime industry. Female representation The conference organisers – National Maritime and the University of Greenwich – have announced that women in maritime leadership roles will make up 41.2% of the speakers and 50% of the moderators at 2024's SOCSEA event. This marks a significant 9% increase in female representation compared to the conference’s...

Vessel performance monitoring is a systematic approach to managing various aspects of a vessel to ensure optimal output and productivity. This process includes monitoring the engine's RPM, fuel consumption per nautical mile, speed, and emissions levels. Using digital tools and information technologies in vessel performance monitoring allows for real-time identification of the ship's onboard status, providing valuable support for continuous improvement and proactive management decision-making....

A collaboration between BERG Propulsion, shipping and logistics group CMA CGM and ship owner Reederei Rambow has proved pivotal in significant efficiency gains for an 868 TEU container vessel, with the 2007-built ship rejuvenated as one of the top performers in its class. In an innovative retrofit project requested by charterer CMA CGM, BERG worked with Rambow on a comprehensive package of efficiency optimisation measures onboard Henneke Rambow to match current and anticipated requirements. Re...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has announced that global container liner shipping group Hapag-Lloyd is among the first to trial NexusWave, the fully managed service that delivers an unparalleled global service orchestrated by bringing together a multi-orbit, multi-band set of connectivity networks as a single network solution.  The trials align with the Hamburg-headquartered shipping group’s requirement for a robust connectivity solution that is capable of meeting increasing co...

ABS is expanding its footprint in Western Australia, establishing a physical presence in Port Hedland, a key trading zone for dry bulk minerals in the Eastern Hemisphere. The new site joins other ABS locations in Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. Port Hedland Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export port, is located in northwest Australia's Pilbara region. The area is making substantial investments to support the energy transition to meet net-zero emissions goals....

ClassNK published estimated leak frequencies of ammonia fuel from onboard components for ammonia-fuelled ships, usable for risk assessment. The estimated leak frequencies were added as an appendix of 'Part C of Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels (Edition 3.0)'. Ammonia for ships Ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is expected to be utilised as an alternative fuel for ships, and various studies and developments are currently underway toward the practical application of ammo...

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC (Additional Fire-Fighting measures for Vehicle Carrier)’ notations to ‘CERULEAN ACE,’ an LNG-fuelled car carrier operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and managed by MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd., for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs). It is the first vessel in the ClassNK registry to receive the ‘AFVC’ notations, and it marks the world's first case of a shipping company's...

Two new critical incident helicopters, that will conduct lifesaving aeromedical evacuations, will be operational across the Torres Strait within a matter of months, after successfully arriving in Queensland, Australia. Leonardo AW139 helicopters Babcock officially handed over the Leonardo AW139 helicopters to Queensland Health in Cairns, where they are being custom-fitted with specialist medical equipment before heading to the Torres Strait. The new aircraft can fly faster and further than...