Surveillance & Maritime News for December 2023

Babcock has appointed Paul Armstrong to lead its Marine sector, delivering a number of critical UK and international defence programmes, including the UK’s Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy. With a career that started in shipbuilding in Barrow-in-Furness, Paul brings a wealth of wide-ranging industry experience to grow and develop one of Babcock’s core business sectors. Joining Babcock from Draken International, the aviation defence business where he was CEO responsible for oper...

At COP28, partners and donors involved in the Blue Mediterranean Partnership reinforced their support for developing a sustainable blue economy in the southern Mediterranean region. The parties involved signed a letter of intent to make their participation in the Partnership official and to make the Partnership operational in early 2024. Blue Mediterranean Partnership The Blue Mediterranean Partnership aims to tackle the threats the Mediterranean Sea faces by coordinating the financing of blu...

At the Marintec China exhibition, DNV awarded two Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates to Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (DSIC) for the design of a 50,000cbm floating liquefied CO2 (LCO2) storage and injection unit (FSIU) and a 20,000cbm LCO2 carrier. The AiPs confirm the general feasibility of the conceptual designs as reviewed by DNV. They follow earlier projects by the shipyard, such as the design development of the world’s first 7,500cbm LCO2 tanker currently under constru...

ERMA FIRST, a sustainable maritime solutions provider, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV for its amine absorption-based Onboard Carbon Capture (OCC) system. Risk assessment and review DNV issued the AiP to ERMA FIRST following the successful completion of a technical review, risk assessment, and review of the company’s feasibility study for Onboard Carbon Capture (OCC) on RoRo vessels. In doing so, the classification society confirms that the proposed design is appr...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will introduce another four methanol engines to its portfolio, setting a new industry benchmark with the broadest methanol engine portfolio currently on the market. In addition to the Wärtsilä 32 methanol engine launched in 2022, Wärtsilä will add the Wärtsilä 20, Wärtsilä 31, Wärtsilä 46F and Wärtsilä 46TS to its portfolio of engines capable of operating with methanol fuel. Methanol as a fuel cho...

By popular demand, Maritime Week Africa (MWAF24) returns to Cape Town, South Africa, in January 2024 for its 16th edition, after a hugely successful event in January this year, which broke all previous attendance records.  Maritime Week Africa, the longest-running and most popular bunkering event on the African continent, will bring together the highest-level industry and government speakers to deliver an information-packed conference focussed on the uniquely diverse African shipping, ener...

METIS Cyberspace Technology has appointed Panos Theodossopoulos as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in a move designed to consolidate the company’s position as a pioneer in maritime digitalisation and extend market penetration.    An expert in driving business development through technological innovation, Theodossopoulos has considerable experience in leadership roles in the ICT and maritime sectors. Extensive industry experience In recent years, Panos Theodossopoulos ha...

The growing fleet of electric trucks serving the Port of Long Beach will be able to charge at a new depot scheduled to begin construction in mid-2024 along Pico Avenue just north of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge. The Port is partnering with Forum Mobility, a pioneering zero-emission drayage trucking solutions provider, to offer 19 dual-port chargers and six single-dispenser chargers at the new station, capable of charging heavy-duty electric trucks in about 90 minutes, depending o...

Effective 1st January 2024, MCL Feeder Services FZE and Unimed Feeder Services A/S are announcing a significant milestone in their collaboration, as they after many years of cooperation as VSA partners in the feedering sector, enter into the next level of cooperation aimed at enhancing their combined capabilities and further expand their presence in the Mediterranean region. Two strong players This partnership, under Unifeeder Group ownership, brings together two strong regional players in the...

Gas shipping company - Anthony Veder has extended its turbocharger service agreement with Accelleron, securing Turbo LifecycleCare support across 13 vessels. The contract, covering 20 turbochargers on single-fuel and LNG dual-fuel four-stroke engines, builds on a service relationship that began in 2017 with four vessels. Gas carriers Anthony Veder operates a fleet of innovative small-scale and mid-size gas carriers, including Coral Methane, the first multi-gas carrier to be converted into an...

A fleet of 33 new human-operated, zero-emissions battery-electric yard tractors were officially unveiled Wednesday at a Port of Long Beach container terminal where the cargo-handling machines have replaced traditional gasoline and diesel-powered models. START project The deployment–the largest of its kind on the West Coast–was led by terminal operator SSA Terminals LLC, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson Navigation Company. It is partially funded by a $50 million grant f...

Vale, working in partnership with Oldendorff Carriers, have just commenced their first biofuel voyage on a bulk vessel. The trial is taking place on an Oldendorff vessel performing a laden Vale voyage from Brazil to Asia, carrying a full cargo of iron ore. The Hinrich Oldendorff (209,113 deadweight built 2016) loaded the biofuel in Singapore on October 16th on the ballast voyage to Brazil. The vessel then loaded Vale’s iron ore this Tuesday, November 28th at Guaiba Island Terminal and wil...

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected the Members of its Council for the 2024-2025 biennium. The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the organisation. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention. The Assembly of IMO elects Members of its Council The As...

Babcock has teamed up with PGZ-SW shipyard in Gdynia, Poland to launch a new international apprentice exchange programme. Building on Babcock’s Skills Academy, launched earlier in 2023 to provide learning opportunities and equip our workforce to meet the evolving challenges our customers will face in the future, the Polish programme is set to grow international collaboration and shared learning. Platform design provider Babcock will be maximising the existing relationship with PGZ-SW,...

MAN Energy Solutions has released a new paper to coincide with the holding of COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference at Expo City, Dubai. Entitled ‘Decarbonisation technologies in merchant shipping’, the publication evaluates energy-saving devices for greenhouse-gas compliance and propulsion technologies for abatement potential and cost. Pathway to net-zero shipping Dr. Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions said, “For several years now, we have advocat...

Ahlsell Sverige AB has entered into an agreement to acquire all shares in Bilco Bilbatterier AB (Batteribolaget), a specialised distributor of batteries, chargers, power supplies and accessories. The company was founded in 1961 and has ten employees with annual sales of approximately 70 MSEK. Acquisition of Batteribolaget Ahlsell’s product range, market presence and extensive offering are available Batteribolaget offers one of the widest product ranges on the market, which includes i...

IMO and the Republic of Korea have signed a suite of agreements to formally establish and boost the IMO-Republic of Korea Sustainable Maritime Transport Cooperation (SMART-C) Programme. The goal of the KRW 25.5 billion (approx. US$20 million) SMART-C Programme is to promote sustainable maritime transport systems and a sustainable marine environment, by building knowledge and developing technical capacity in developing countries via long-term thematic projects. GHG project agreement This Offic...

Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco has been confirmed as the next Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Assembly unanimously approved (30 November) the decision of the Council at its 129th session (C129) to appoint him to the role. Mr. Dominguez Velasco will take up the office of Secretary-General on 1 January 2024 for an initial term of four years, ending on 31 December 2027. He becomes the Organisation's 10th elected Secretary-General. Comprehensive b...

Working together with ABS, McAllister Towing, one of the oldest and largest marine towing and transportation companies in the U.S., has released its inaugural sustainability report, showcasing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and highlight its social and governance performance. ABS specialists worked with McAllister’s team to provide greenhouse gas inventory and sustainability reporting services, calculating the operational carbon intensity and benchmarking the performance of th...

Maritime UK has launched Version 7 of the Industry Code of Practice for Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems. The accelerating pace of change in maritime autonomy has required updated guidance for those owning and operating Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems (MASS). Whilst not a legal text, the Code has been used by manufacturers, service providers, and others as part of their day-to-day work. Many manufacturers have reported clients requiring compliance with the Code as a basis for contractual negot...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF), whose founding members include ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s Register, ClassNK, Japan’s Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Norwegian Maritime Authority, and the U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, welcomed the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as an associate member, further strengthening MTF’s collaborative approach to advancing safety and sustainability in the maritime industry. Globa...

ABS is working with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), a globally renowned offshore support vessel (OSV) operator with nearly 300 vessels, on its decarbonisation journey with greenhouse gas inventory and sustainability reporting services. ABS specialists have been working with the ECO team since 2022 providing a gap analysis for the ECO Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Framework. This led to a full sustainability reporting project i...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Commission (EC) have announced a second phase of the Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres Network (GMN) project, to upscale the work of the five regional centres, with a particular emphasis on pilot demonstrations aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions. IMO Secretary-General - Kitack Lim and representatives of the European Commission (EC) formalized the agreement at IMO Headquarters (on 29 November), d...

The first three (3) ships in the series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts under construction in Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) for Indian Navy were launched at CSL’s Kochi Yard. After the ceremonial pooja, the first vessel was launched by Smt Anjali Bahl - the second vessel was launched by Smt Kangana Berry, and the third vessel by Smt Zarine Lord Singh. Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts The launching of the three (3) vessels was carried out in the presence o...

ClassNK has released "Guidelines for cyber resilience of on-board systems and equipment". The guidelines expound new IACS Unified Requirements (UR). For supporting the consideration of measures to ensure the cybersecurity of ships. IACS has established UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board systems and equipment as minimum requirements for cyber resilience, which is the capability to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the effects of cyber incidents due to cyber-attacks. The URs will be applie...

Cleantech start-up, CAPHENIA, has commissioned MAN Energy Solutions to build a Plasma Boudouard Reactor (PBR). This will form the core of CAPHENIA's first production plant, ‘GERMANY I’, located at Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt am Main, Germany where the company will produce its first renewable fuels in 2024. Renewable fuel production The CAPHENIA technology utilises biomethane, CO2, water, and sustainably-generated electricity to produce synthesis gas as a feedst...

The Port of València is already the first port in the world to use a ReachStacker or stacker capable of moving containers of more than 30 tonnes using hydrogen as the only fuel.  The European H2PORTS project, led by the Fundación Valenciaport, has organised this morning a public demonstration of the three pilots developed within the framework of this project, the ReachStacker (container stacker) and the 4×4 tractor unit propelled by hydrogen and the mobile supply statio...

Andrew Mueller has joined Crowley as vice president of government relations where he will be pioneering the company’s activities at the federal level with members of Congress and the Administration. His leadership will strengthen the company’s advocacy for laws, policies, and regulations that support the comprehensive array of Crowley’s business strategy and growth. Mueller's experience Mueller joins Crowley with more than 20 years of in-depth experience in federal a...

Babcock has been awarded two further contracts for work on the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarine worth a combined £120 million. This includes a 4.5-year £66 million contract with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide input into the development of the support solution for the UK’s new Dreadnought Class submarines.  Knowledge and insights The new Class of submarine will replace the Vanguard Class in the early 2030s to maintain the Continuous At Sea Deterrent...

HMM (CEO Jae-hoon Bae) announced the launch of its new Corporate Identity (CI) to reflect its vision and ambition to take a leap forward to a bright future. The new CI features the pride of Korea’s national flagship carrier as well as an intuitive grasp of the shipping business. The blue HMM letter embodies the shape of the front of a large ship crossing the ocean, and the red line on top represents the rising sun on the horizon where the ship is sailing. Making fresh resolution ...