United States of America (USA) News

Real-time, data-driven insights supporting regulatory compliance, improving fleet efficiency, reducing operational costs and meeting fleet decarbonisation goals are key benefits of ABS Wavesight My Digital Fleet (MDF) software that were unveiled during Posidonia.  MDF introduces groundbreaking features aimed at empowering maritime operators to optimise performance, improve energy efficiency and streamline compliance with decarbonisation requirements from both the International Maritime Org...

FreeStar Subsea Services is a new company born from the merger of Vriezoo ROV Services and Mark Offshore.  The collaboration offers a unique combination of ROV and survey support services with FreeStar’s own, recently acquired and outfitted vessel, the SSV Navicula Star.  ROV and support services  While most mid-sized subsea companies specialise in either vessel or ROV services, FreeStar’s owners believe that this combination will give the new offshore service provi...

Cunard’s historic new Queen Anne vessel arrived at the cruise line’s spiritual home of Liverpool in a landmark moment for Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH) and Peel Ports Group’s new partnership for Liverpool Cruise Port. The majestic 322-metre ship’s maiden call in the city marks the first major arrival since GPH, the world’s largest cruise port operator, signed a 50-year agreement in April with Peel Ports Group’s subsidiary, The Mersey Docks And Harbour Compan...

At the Posidonia trade fair, classification society DNV and Artemis Technologies Ltd signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the development, certification, and operation of electric foiling vessels.  Addressing decarbonisation  As the decarbonisation challenge intensifies, providing a way to shift commuters and passengers onto vessels with lower or zero emissions is vital.  This has resulted in a growing interest in innovative technologies in the short-sea ferry segm...

At Posidonia 2024, ABS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (HD KSOE); HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd. (HHI); and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) to collaborate on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to eliminate ship safety blind spots. Situational awareness The MOU aims to use advanced technologies to increase the situational awareness of seafarers. The techniques could u...

KR has signed an MoU with HD Hyundai to collaborate on the pilot project of a cloud-based next-generation smart ship solution (ISS 2.0) developed by HD Hyundai, on June 4th at Posidonia 2024, held in Athens, Greece. Smart ship solutions  This project, jointly undertaken by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HD HMS), Sinokor Merchant Marine, and KR, aims to equip and demonstrate next-generation smart...

KR has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the next-generation K-Ammonia Storage & Powered PCTC, developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) with the participation of Hyundai Glovis and G-Marine Service, at Posidonia 2024. Ammonia fuel technology Currently, to address the increasingly stringent global greenhouse gas regulations, the development of alternative fuel technologies is actively underway, and ammonia fuel technology is one of the most highly regarded in the market.&n...

A delegation from the Port of Beirut, headed by Bassem Kaissi and Omar Itani, President and General Manager of this Lebanese port enclave, visited the Port of València, as part of the tour that the managers of the Beirut port are carrying out, as part of the work before the relaunch of its activities. The Lebanese delegation was accompanied by Abdelghani Gharib, CEO of Gharib Shipping & Trading; Nancy Khawam Ulloa, General Manager of Medkon Iberia; and Vicente del Río, Port...

Valenciaport is celebrating Environment Week with an agenda full of activities: an exhibition on decarbonisation in the Clock Building with daily environmental workshops for schoolchildren (both until 9 June), a conference on ‘Actions linked to zero emissions in port companies’ (5 June) and collaboration with an initiative focused on cleaning the beaches and seabed around the Port. Cleaning of the seabed Recently, Valenciaport collaborated with a national initiative – dev...

A collaboration between Metis, Kongsberg Digital, and Tankerska Plovidba has significantly advanced the Croatian owner’s strategy of using real-time analytics to enhance fleet efficiency and reduce ship emissions. The 49,990 dwt Tankerska ship Vukovar has been installed with an integrated Metis-Kongsberg package. The solution imports data acquired through Vessel Insight, Kongsberg Digital’s vessel-to-cloud infrastructure, into the advanced vessel and fleet performance anal...

Singapore-based boat builder Strategic Marine continues to extend their track record of successful deliveries in the offshore wind sector, as it completes deliveries of 2 new Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) for UK-based Mainprize Offshore Ltd. These two vessels are part of the leading UK-based CTV owner and operator’s ongoing fleet expansion and will add to its current fleet of 11 vessels. Increased efficiency Scheduled for operations in European waters from July 2024 onwards, both vessels...

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the UP Inland Waterways Authority. This collaboration aims to develop and regulate inland waterways in Uttar Pradesh, enhancing transportation efficiency and fostering economic growth. Safety and green initiatives IRS will assist the Uttar Pradesh government in formulating the UP Inland Waterways Authority and developing relevant rules based on the...

On the Swedish waters of Volvo Penta’s Krossholmen Test Centre, the company is extensively testing the Volvo Penta IPS Professional Platform and setting new standards to examine and refine the offer. The goal is to ensure the system is market-ready and delivers the ultimate experience at sea through flexibility, reliability, and performance. Penta 40 A crucial element of this rigorous approach to on-water testing is a vessel called Penta 40. This 37 m, 199-passenger ferry navigated the...

VSTEP, a provider of maritime simulation solutions, in collaboration with its local partner MAREL Electronics, part of SPACEL, is pleased to announce the extension of a 5-year maintenance and support contract for the Hellenic Navy’s main training hub in Piraeus, Athens. This agreement underscores the commitment to providing continuous assistance and performance checks on VSTEP’s NAUTIS Simulators, further enabling learning by simulation.  Maritime preparedness Since 2...

The World Shipping Council (WSC) applauds the recent adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) by the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 108). Starting January 1, 2026, these amendments will require mandatory reporting of all containers lost at sea, setting a new standard for maritime safety and environmental protection.  Navigational safety “The new regulations, sp...

From June 1, Unifeeder will offer its customers ‘GreenBox’, a new carbon insetting solution to decarbonise the seaborne sections of their supply chains. The service is an important element in Unifeeder’s wide-reaching sustainability strategy, which aims to cut the business’ emissions by 47% by 2030 and enable customers to accelerate their Scope 3 reductions.   GreenBox Unifeeder Group, a key part of DP World’s Marine Services Division, is already running p...

After 27 years of service, Mr. Lutz Ehrhardt has decided to retire from his position as PhilaPort’s representative in Europe. From his home city of Hamburg, he was The Port of Philadelphia’s liaison with ocean carriers, shippers, and government officials in one of the largest shipping markets in the world. Mr. Ehrhardt will be succeeded by Mr. Uwe Gaede, a well-known shipping major, who was ocean carrier Hamburg’s Süd’s Marketing Director in North Europe for the l...

Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cochin Shipyard Limited bags orders for the construction of three 70 T Bollard Pull ASD Tugs for Ocean Sparkle Limited, an Adani Harbour Services Limited company. Udupi Cochin Shipyard Limited (UCSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of India’s pioneering shipyard, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), has bagged another prestigious order from its existing customer and pioneering Indian tug operator, Ocean Sparkle Limited (OSL), an Adan...

PPG announced that EDR Antwerp shipyard achieved a 40 percent reduction in overspray with the electrostatic application of PPG SIGMAGLIDE® 2390 fouling release coating. The project was carried out on the underwater hull of the RoRo passenger vessel Stena Transporter from Stena Line and is the second successful electrostatic application project for EDR. PPG Sigmaglide coating Electrostatic application has increased transfer efficiency compared to airless spraying Electrostatic application...

Inchcape Shipping Services, a global major in port agency and marine services, is proud to announce the successful acquisition of Grieg Logistics AS from the Grieg Group. This move marks an exciting development, solidifying Inchcape's commitment to servicing customers with quality operations and people in every port. Under the new ownership, Grieg Logistics will continue to operate under the same name for a period and existing management headed by CEO Stig Trygve Andersen. Strengthening active...

According to the latest ABS research, geopolitical instability, scalability of fuel production and retrofits to existing vessels are key factors impacting the shipping industry’s journey to net zero by 2050. The sixth in an annual series, the 2024 Outlook, Beyond the Horizon, Carbon Neutral Fuel Pathways and Transformational Technologies, investigates carbon-neutral fuel pathways and transformative technologies and features an update of ABS’ long-term energy forecast that explores t...

As Posidonia 2024 opens, Norway-based maritime technology business, Shipnet, has announced the launch of Helix, a revolutionary new product designed to transform decision-making in the shipping industry through advanced data analysis.  Helix provides a digital representation of your shipping business, enabling seamless integration and analysis of data from various sources such as safety, pricing, and procurement. By leveraging these diverse data inputs, Helix uncovers actionable insights t...

The first of two new £25 million ship-to-shore cranes arrived aboard a vessel at its new home in a major boost for productivity at the Port of Greenock. The 932-tonne structure was transported to the west-facing freight port following a 1-day journey from Cork in Ireland, where it was built. Work will shortly begin to install the vital infrastructure at the port, and it will be fully operational later this year following stringent testing. Crane capability The cranes will help accommoda...

ICEX Spain Export and Investment is firmly committed to companies working in the field of logistics and supply chain and, as part of its internationalisation strategy, is organising a ‘Conference on Technological Solutions for Global Value Chains’, with the collaboration of the Port Authority of València (PAV). The conference, which is being held today 30 May in València, is the third in a series of travelling sessions throughout Spain that began last year in Madrid an...

The complex decarbonised systems of the future will require autonomous management systems for viable exploitation. These were among some of the key insights shared with delegates at a one-day Automation Summit, part of Singapore Maritime Week earlier in 2024, which was led by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), the UK’s national metrology institute, and Lloyd’s Register, the maritime industry consultancy and services provider. Autonomous ship technology Potential efficiency ga...

ABS and representatives from an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) consortium signed a pioneering joint development agreement (JDP) that paves the way for the onboard manufacture of repair parts. Using a digital library for the design process and 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), the consortium aims to support rapid maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) on sailing merchant vessels focused on metallic materials. Project partners include ABS; HHI; CScam, 3D print...

A research project that brings together The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES), Laskaridis Shipping Co. Ltd and Metis will evaluate the real impacts of the fuels offered to solve shipping’s decarbonisation dilemma. The International Maritime Organisation’s strategy for greenhouse gases aims at ships reaching net-zero GHG emissions by around 2050 and ensuring uptake of near-zero GHG fuels by 2030. However, reliable real-world data regarding the...

Inchcape Shipping Services, a global pioneer in port agency and maritime services with over 177 years of maritime experience, introduces OneCape DA, an independent specialist disbursement account management solution designed to navigate the operational complexities of port calls, freeing customers to focus on their strategic priorities. The expert team manages all aspects of disbursement accounts, ensuring clients only pay what is necessary. They understand the maritime industry, its network, a...

The expansion of the SolarDuck office in Tokyo signifies its commitment to the Japanese market and serves the Asia Pacific region to accelerate commercialisation. Building on success with first demonstrator delivered in Tokyo SolarDuck gearing up hiring efforts to support its expansion in the region Kick-off event with stakeholders to mark the next stage of growth for SolarDuck Business development activities The regional office will oversee business development activities over the enti...

Tototheo Maritime, a group of companies at the forefront of maritime satellite communication technologies, proudly announces its strategic rebranding to Tototheo Global. This significant milestone marks Tototheo’s evolution to a pioneer in technology solutions. Tototheo Global is now set to deliver comprehensive, innovative services across multiple sectors, including land, sea, and air, with a strong emphasis on connectivity, IoT, AI-driven analytics, and custom software development. The...