United States of America (USA) News

The Northern Lighthouse Board welcomed Mike Kane MP to the organisation’s Orkney Base in Kirkwall and Hoy High Lighthouse on the Isle of Graemsay, on Wednesday 28 August 2024.  In addition to a briefing on NLB’s work to protect lives, property, and the environment through the provision of maritime aids to navigation, the Minister met NLB Technicians and visited Hoy High lighthouse. Sustainability Mike Kane MP said, “Lighthouses stand as beacons of safety throughout th...

In October 2023, Port Oostende had the pleasure of naming Patrick Degryse as the first "Port Personality of the Year". This award honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Port Oostende. In 2024, Port Oostende is proud to award this prestigious recognition to not just one, but three exceptional individuals from Japanese companies, whose innovative efforts and unwavering dedication have greatly enhanced the port's operations and solidified the bond between Japan and Oost...

The container ship MSC MARIE transited through the Panama Canal marking a milestone by becoming the largest capacity Neopanamax to cross the interoceanic route. MSC MARIE With a length of 366 metres (1,200 feet) and a width of 51 metres (167.4 feet), the MSC MARIE boasts a maximum capacity of 17,640 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), setting a new record. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by the EVER MAX vessel, which made the transit at a capacity of 17,312 TEUs du...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with Aas Mek Verksted for the delivery of a propulsion, manoeuvring, and positioning system for Njord Aquashipping’s new live fish carriers. The delivery is for two vessels, with one additional vessel as an option. Brunvoll’s delivery for each of the two vessels consists of: Two ducted azimuth propulsion thrusters, a tunnel thruster, Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system (BruCon PTC), and Brunvoll’s Dynamic Positioning system wi...

Wärtsilä Water & Waste, part of the technology group - Wärtsilä, announces a new partnership with DHL Supply Chain, which will see DHL manage the business's warehouse and logistical operations for spare parts. The partnership will further optimise Wärtsilä Water & Waste’s supply chain and build operational capabilities in preparation for the sale of the Water & Waste business line from the corporation. Strategic goals The transition aligns with...

Reaching shipping’s 2030 decarbonisation goal of 20% emission reductions, set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will not happen without significant energy savings, according to DNV's latest Maritime Forecast to 2050. The report stresses that, until carbon-neutral fuels become viable, prioritising the development and use of technologies that reduce energy consumption is crucial for lowering shipping’s emissions. 2030 decarbonisation goals IMO’s 2030 decarbonis...

Swiss marine power company - WinGD has received its hundredth order for Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) technology, which further optimises combustion for X-DF dual-fuel engines depending on the fuel used and engine load.  The innovative solution was launched in June 2023 and has already become a favoured option for dual-fuel engine orders, especially in the LNG carrier segment. LNG carrier segment The milestone order came via a series of four LNG carriers to be built for a Middle Easte...

After detailed studies and deep technical discussions, Brunvoll is ready for major propulsion upgrades for two of Utkilen AS’s ice-classed vessels. Thorough work by Brunvoll’s hydrodynamicists and service professionals has resulted in a streamlined retrofit design. Utkilen’s investment will enable a larger saving in fuel and emissions through the vessel’s remaining lifetime. Substantial upgrades The two vessels, Golfstraum and Rystraum, will receive substantial upgrade...

OrbitMI, a global provider of maritime intelligence and analytics solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tobias Constien as its new Director of Product Management, effective April 2024. Tobias Constien brings experience in maritime technology, with a robust background in digital transformation, product strategy, and innovation within the sector. Digitalisation and sustainability Tobias Constien joined OrbitMI from zero44, where he played a role in advancing digital initiatives a...

Delkia has led the Encompass group of nine companies, many small-medium sized enterprises, in a major contract win from the Ministry of Defence to supply technical and post-design services to marine systems support globally for the Royal Navy Surface Fleet. Framework arrangement The support contract is a framework arrangement and activities likely to be delivered as part of this include design revisions, reverse engineering, interoperability studies equipment trials, etc. In addition, the grou...

Asyad Group has given its support for the inaugural Oman Maritime, Ports, and Energy Forum as its Strategic Partner.  Asyad Group is Oman’s global integrated logistics provider with an expansive portfolio that includes three deep ports, two free sones, an economic zone, and a dry port, providing unparalleled multimodal logistics solutions, actively operating in key trade hubs including China and the US.  Oman Maritime, Ports, and Energy Forum The Oman Maritime, Ports, and Ener...

ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service company, announced the launch of the latest module of Nautical Systems (NS)-Web, the highly anticipated web-based version of its flagship NS platform. During the opening session of the 24th Annual Nautical Systems User Conference, Staci Satterwhite, ABS Wavesight CEO, was on hand to make the announcement and was joined by Gregg Pelowski, Director for Total Force Management with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), to discu...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Norwegian shipowner - Eidesvik to supply the equipment for the conversion of an offshore platform supply vessel (PSV) to operate with ammonia fuel. The vessel, ‘Viking Energy’, which is on contract to energy major - Equinor, is scheduled for conversion in early 2026 and is expected to start operating on ammonia in the first half of 2026, becoming the world’s first ammonia-fuelled in-service ship.  In additio...

Kongsberg Maritime’s rim-drive azimuth thruster has achieved Silent-E notation from DNV, the first of its kind to receive this prestigious certification.  Installed on the new Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) Norwind Hurricane and its sister vessels, the thruster demonstrated exceptional performance in reducing underwater noise pollution during a recent trial. New industry benchmark Kongsberg Maritime is at the fore of developing innovative propulsion keys to handle th...

Brunvoll Mar-El has been selected to deliver a parallel hybrid solution for a new 32-meter search and rescue (SAR) vessel. Construction will happen at GOT Marine AS in Mandal, with completion in 2026. The new build will then be the largest SAR vessel along the coast of Norway. Hybrid system solution The vessel will be operating out of the Northern part of Norway where the weather and seas are among the roughest. The hybrid system solution from Brunvoll Mar-El consists of an Energy Manage...

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract from COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry to supply a package of mission-critical technology for its latest Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV), which is currently under construction for Cadeler, a shipping and construction company operating in the offshore wind industry. This is the fifth Cadeler offshore installation vessel to be built at COSCO’s Qidong yard in China, all equipped with Kongsberg Maritime systems. The value of this latest contract i...

The maritime industry, steeped in tradition, is now riding the wave of digital transformation, with big data playing a pivotal role in driving innovation and efficiency. For maritime professionals, the question isn’t whether to embrace big data, but how to maximise its practical benefits. Whether it’s a ship owner, port operator, or related to supply chain logistics, big data has the potential to streamline operations, enhance safety, reduce costs, and bolster profitability. This a...

In July, NPDL announced some changes to their shipping services for New Caledonia (Noumea) and Vanuatu (Santo and Port Vila). They will now be rolling these changes out indefinitely as outlined below. Their goal is to have improved operational efficiencies and better supply chains for New Caledonia and Vanuatu with the opportunity of improved frequency and transit times for the customers shipping from New Zealand and to the rest of the South Pacific. Recently upgraded network Operationally th...

X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, announced the launch of its second green methanol-powered route, the Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX). It is part of Europe’s first scheduled feeder network powered by green methanol. This expansion follows the successful launch of the Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX) in July and marks another significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainable shipping. The Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX) will commen...

ClassNK has classed the ammonia-fueled tugboat ‘Sakigake’ completed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. as an ammonia-fueled vessel. This is the world's first ammonia-fueled vessel for commercial use (as of August 23, 2024, according to research by NYK). The NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha will employ the vessel in tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay over a three-month demonstration period. Ammonia-fueled engines This vessel was a Green I...

Kongsberg Maritime, a global technology pioneer in maritime solutions, is proud to announce the successful completion of a project to convert the historic 'Kongesjaluppen 1976', a royal barge formerly used by the King of Norway, to fully electric propulsion. The restoration project, undertaken in partnership with the KNM Narvik Foundation and the Naval Museum, has transformed the iconic vessel into a sustainable and environmentally friendly symbol of maritime heritage. The 'Kongesjaluppen 1976'...

Kongsberg Maritime is to begin a trial of Eutelsat OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service on an autonomous barge operation across the Oslo Fjord. In a collaborative project with the help of Norwegian telecommunications provider Telenor Maritime, a zero-emission, electric barge, owned and operated by grocery distributor ASKO, will be equipped with Eutelsat OneWeb’s latest Kymeta Peregrine u8 flat panel antenna system for the duration of the trial. LEO connectivity...

After more than ten years of work and four diplomatic conferences, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) is proud to announce that, effective August 22, 2024, they will officially change the status from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO). Based on a Convention ratified or acceded to by 34 States to date, the new status represents a significant victory for multilateralism and ocean governance, ma...

Environments with the presence of an explosive atmosphere, known as hazardous areas, require special care in the construction, installation and selection of electrical equipment to avoid the risk of explosion.  Electric motors may become a source of ignition when operating in a hazardous environment. In order to prevent such risk, they must be designed with some specific characteristics that enable them to operate safely. The correct selection of the equipment, respecting the classificatio...

ClassNK has classed the ammonia-fuelled tugboat “Sakigake” completed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd. as an ammonia-fuelled vessel. This is the world's first ammonia-fueled vessel for commercial use (as of August 23, 2024, according to research by NYK). The NYK Group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha will employ the vessel in tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay over a three-month demonstration period. This vessel was a Green Innovation Fund Project...

A significant milestone in the history of Atlas Copco Group. The Group's employee-driven global initiative, Water for All, celebrates its 40th anniversary, an anniversary that represents four decades of unwavering commitment to making clean and safe water universally available. With the belief that access to water is not a privilege but a fundamental human right, Water for All emerged amidst a global water crisis manifested through events in Peru in 1984. Aimed with the conviction that wat...

Wallem Group, a global maritime partner, has released its Environmental, Social, and Governance (EGS) report, reinforcing its commitment to safe, sustainable, and responsible practices across its ship management, ship agency, and crewing businesses. Safe and smart operations In reaffirming its role as a trusted global partner delivering industry-renowned services, the report stresses Wallem’s mission to support safe and smart operations at a critical moment for its clients and the wider...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released a new report offering guidelines and key safety considerations for developing liquefied hydrogen bunkering systems and procedures. The report underlines the potential use of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel to meet the IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships by 2050. It acknowledges the challenges associated with bunkering hydrogen as a marine fuel and as maritime cargo, identifying design and functional implications and limitatio...

Brabo, a major provider of pilot and port services in Antwerp, Belgium, has signed a deal with clean maritime technology company, Artemis Technologies, to bring an Artemis EF-12 Pilot boat into its fleet. Scheduled for delivery in late summer 2025, the introduction of the fully electric foiling vessel represents a forward-thinking shift for one of the world’s busiest ports, aligning with global efforts to tackle climate change and champion sustainable practices across the maritime industr...

Norwegian Cruise Line® (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, has open for sale additional cruises for its 2026 spring/summer season with more port-immersive Europe sailings across Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and Greek Isles across eight ships, providing cruisers a variety of sailing lengths and embarkation ports to plan their dream European vacation; in addition to bucket-list itineraries through the South Pacific, warm weather summer voyages through the Western Caribbean, jo...