Surveillance & Maritime News for February 2024

Major retail industry figures are urging the sector to import goods via UK ports closer to their end destination, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions and inefficiencies across the country’s supply chain. The call comes as 90% of deep-sea containerised cargo enters the UK via southern ports, despite 60% of these goods being destined for the north. This creates the need for long road journeys, across UK roads, to get retail cargo to its end destination, generating significant greenhous...

Maritime UK, the overarching organisation representing the maritime sector, is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week and urging the industry to leverage apprenticeships to create a competitive and sustainable maritime sector. National Apprenticeship Week provides a platform for the education and skills sector to honour the accomplishments of apprentices nationwide, acknowledging the positive influence they have on communities, businesses, and the broader economy.  Complexities of the s...

Bolidt has secured its first order to supply and install decking and flooring for the Japanese cruise and ferry market, after a breakthrough order covering the NYK Cruises ship - Asuka III. Currently under construction at Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany and due delivery in Q2 2025, the 229-metre length Asuka III was the first cruise ship ordered following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Accommodating up to 744 guests, the luxury ship will run on liquefied natural gas and...

At a recent ceremony in Copenhagen, MAN Energy Solutions and C.C.JENSEN (CJC®) – the global company in oil maintenance – signed a cooperation agreement regarding the promotion and sales of CJC products by MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division. Kim Kjaer, Global Segment Manager, signed the agreement on behalf of CJC; while Serghei Nastas, Head of PrimeServ Omnicare, Marine & Power, represented MAN Energy Solutions. C.C. JENSEN and MAN Energy Solutio...

Babcock has been awarded a new five-year contract by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to continue providing in-service support for the Royal Navy’s Ships Protective Systems (SPS) equipment. The contract consists of degaussing, cathodic protection, and active shaft grounding to ships and submarines, restricting the rate of hull corrosion and reducing their magnetic signature to make them less susceptible to magnetic mines. Babcock attains in-service support contract Babcock’s conti...

EU 2040 climate targets point to the importance of providing renewable marine fuels for maritime sector decarbonisation. Committing the EU to the production of zero-GHG fuel pathways is essential, not least because European Member States account for one-fifth of global shipping energy sales. Zero-GHG fuels Meeting 2040 goals must lead to new energy production facilities to supply the maritime sector with zero-GHG fuels, which will demand substantial financial investment. Additionally, the ro...

ClassNK has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) for the design of a prismatic ammonia fuel tank (IMO Type B independent tank) for container ships developed by the Planning and Design Centre for Greener Ships (GSC). Ammonia is expected to be used as a marine fuel for shipping decarbonisation since it does not emit CO2 when combusted. However, its utilisation presents challenges, such as the risk of leakage and relatively low volumetric efficiency. Shape of the storage space While Type B tan...

ERMA FIRST, a major sustainable maritime solutions provider, has become a signatory of the EU Mission Charter targeting the protection and restoration of regional waters by 2030. The Mission – one of five EU Missions within the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme – aims to 'protect and restore the health of the ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments'. As a signatory to the Mission Charter, ERMA FIRST will attend the M...

Brunvoll has been chosen to deliver all propulsion, manoeuvring, and positioning systems for a 24-meter service vessel for aquaculture. The vessel is designed by NSK Ship Design and will be built at Havyard Leirvik for handover to ship owner - Nordlaks in 2025. For a vessel that will operate 24/7, it is vital to minimise overall noise and vibration, and the Brunvoll Low-Noise thruster was the preferred choice. Compact service vessel The new compact service vessel for aquaculture will become p...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has launched a new and augmented gravity self-unloading system that will allow bulk carriers to deliver a wider variety of cargo, in greater volume. The new system, the ‘MacGregor GravityVibe™,’ deploys a patent-pending vibrating unloader to reduce internal friction and ease the discharge of coarse materials such as wood chips from the cargo hold. While the automated unloading sequence remains a gravity-based operation, the MacGregor GravityVibe&tr...

DNV has quantified the gains that owners of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers could expect to achieve using the new Dual Fuel, Electric+ (DFE+) solution developed by ABB and MAN Energy Solutions. Comprising MAN’s four-stroke 49/60DF dual fuel engine and ABB’s Dynamic AC power distribution and control system, the solution has been developed to overcome efficiency challenges that are specific to the vessel type.  Machinery space requirements DNV’s Maritime Advisory as...

Babcock has been awarded a configuration management contract for the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary surface ship fleet. The five-year contract, awarded by QinetiQ, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), under the Aurora Engineering Delivery Partnership, will see us continue with the responsibility for the Surface Ship Definition Database (SSDD)–a tool for the management of platform-related data. Operation of the Master Record Data Centre (MRDC), the core facility for...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has signed a five-year Optimised Maintenance Agreement with the Irish Naval Service. The agreement, which covers four offshore patrol vessels (OPV), is designed to ensure operational reliability along with long-term cost predictability. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in January 2024. “We have had good experience with Wärtsilä over the years, and we have great trust in their capabilities. This agreement will help us to achieve the...

On January 30, 2024, PT Wintermar Offshore Marine Tbk entered a strategic venture through a 49% stake in SAVWIN Sdn Bhd with a Brunei-based partner. Through this partnership, Wintermar will have an advantage in tendering for longer-term contracts in Brunei which favour local content. Fast Multi-Purpose Supply Vessel Savwin Sdn Bhd will initially operate a Fast Multi-Purpose Supply Vessel which is currently on a long-term contract in Brunei until 2027. This initiative signifies the strategic e...

Babcock’s LGE business, the world pioneer in marine liquefied gas solutions, has won contracts to provide its LPG and ammonia cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems. ecoVGC® and ecoVLAC® technology The contracts are for two mid-size LPG carriers for a Chinese shipyard customer and a European owner plus six Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs) for a Chinese shipyard customer and an Asian-based shipowner. The new vessels will be delivered during 2026 and 2027 and will service...

Ahlsell Sverige AB has agreed to acquire all shares in JLI Smålandsstenar AB, a wholesaler of fasteners. JLI offers fastening products for the engineering, power energy, and steel construction industries. The company has six employees and an annual turnover of approximately SEK 70 million. JLI has a warehouse and offices in Smålandsstenar. Offering a strong fastening solution Through this acquisition Ahlsell strengthens its offering in fastening and gains access to new expertise,...

Global container shipping line Evergreen Marine Corporation (Evergreen) has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, to place its containers on X-Press Feeders’ new dual-fuel green methanol vessels. X-Press Feeders is planning to run these vessels on green methanol and operate them within Europe. As one of the world’s largest container shipping companies and a key customer of X-Press Feeders, the agreement by...

  Boudewijn Siemons (59) has been appointed CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority effective 1 February 2024. He succeeds Allard Castelein, who took leave of the Port Authority last summer. Since then, Siemons has served as CEO on an interim basis in addition to his position as COO. The Executive Board of the Port Authority now consists of Boudewijn Siemons (CEO and interim COO) and Vivienne de Leeuw (CFO). The process of looking for a new COO has begun. Excellent abilities...

 Viasat, Inc., a global pioneer in satellite communications, announced Applied Satellite Technology (AST), a pioneering global innovator in satellite communication solutions, has joined its ELEVATE program. ELEVATE is a growth program, ecosystem and marketplace for ambitious IoT solution providers, connectivity wholesalers, enablers and OEMs who want to work with Viasat to use its network and footprint to scale. As an ELEVATE partner, AST will provide globally trusted connectivity solutions tha...

The two Ulstein-designed CSOV newbuilds under construction for Bernhard Schulte Offshore have reached important milestones. The steel cutting and keel laying ceremonies for yno 321 and 320, respectively, were arranged at the Crist hull yard, Poland, on 30 January 2024. These Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) are characterised by the TWIN X-STERN feature, implementing fore and aft main propeller units for excellent dynamic positioning characteristics. Remarkable offshore vessels...

International charity, Mercy Ships returned to Madagascar to bring transformative surgical education and free, life-changing surgeries.   Freshly refitted hospital ship, the upgraded Africa Mercy® has arrived at the island nation to build on the charity’s long-standing collaboration and will provide specialised surgeries in various fields, including maxillofacial and ear nose and throat, general, pediatric specialised general, pediatric orthopedic, cataract surgery, and reconstru...

Major technological innovator, Yara Marine Technologies (YMT) has been acquired by Geneva-based Okapi Supply Trading Advisory SA (formerly Sarl) to expand its maritime solutions portfolio. With a shared commitment to advancing sustainable solutions for the maritime industry, this new relationship sets the stage for the green solutions provider to accelerate the reach and impact of its industry-renowned decarbonisation technologies, supported by Okapi’s resources and drive. Green technolo...

The very first Brunvoll BruCon DP2 dynamic positioning system has passed third party verification onboard the offshore vessel Stril Mar. The successful installation and testing of the BruCon DP2 system marks a new era for Brunvoll, and the BruCon DP2 system is offered to both new builds and as a retrofit solution. The BruCon DP2 installation was part of a larger power and energy management system upgrade onboard Stril Mar, delivered by SEAM AS. The upgrade and sea trial took place at Westcon Ya...

India’s shipyard, Cochin Shipyard Limited, bagged another prestigious international order with a European client for construction of hybrid Service Operation Vessels (‘SOVs’) for the offshore wind renewables market, with an option for one more. With attention turning towards sustainable & green energy solutions, there is a large global focus on the development of offshore renewable energy segment. The hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) are the workhorse of the growin...

German operator of oil/chemical tankers chooses MAN propulsion solution with main and auxiliary engines plus MAN Alpha propeller. MAN 10L32/44CR main engines Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding and Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry in China have ordered 4 × MAN 10L32/44CR main engines in connection with the construction of 4 × 41,000 dwt oil-and-chemical tankers for German Tanker Shipping (GTS). The construction of the 199 m Swedish Fartygskonstruktioner AB-designed newbuildings is set to start...

2023 has been a magnificent period for Newport Shipping in bringing new solutions to the market and growing its business for the needs of tomorrow's shipping industry. In 2023 Newport Shipping executed 36 drydocking projects at its Tuzla Bay yard in Turkey, with other projects being completed at its partner shipyards in China and the rest of the world. BWTS projects Since the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) has been ratified there has also been an increase in ballast water treatmen...

The first employees kicked off work for the New Energy Taskforce (NET) this January at the Port of Rotterdam, to support companies in tackling grid congestion. The Taskforce is led by Roger Knubben, who brings more than 25 years of experience in transition and strategy, including in the energy sector. New Energy Taskforce New Energy Taskforce is an initiative of the Port of Rotterdam Authority in collaboration with grid operators The New Energy Taskforce is an initiative of the Port of Rotte...

Babcock has been awarded a contract for additional work on the South Korean Navy’s submarine programme. The seven-year contract, awarded by Hanwha Ocean, is to manufacture and install the weapons handling launch system (WHLS) on Boat 6 of the Jangbogo-III class boat. Babcock secures WHLS contract Key elements of the WHLS will be designed and produced in the United Kingdom (UK) Boat 6, namely ‘Jangbogo-III Batch-II Boat 3’, along with the rest of the class, will use their pr...

Ireland’s largest bulk port Shannon Foynes and the port of Rotterdam – Europe’s largest port – have signed an agreement with a view to developing a supply-chain corridor for exporting green fuels into Europe produced from the west of Ireland’s limitless wind resource. The agreement will focus on market and trade development for vast volumes of green hydrogen and its derivatives produced at the planned international green energy hub on the Shannon Estuary. The Memor...

Ta-Ho Maritime Corporation, one of the bulk shipping companies in Taiwan, strengthens its commitment to digitalising operations by installing NAPA's performance monitoring, voyage optimisation and navigational risk monitoring on eight vessels. With enhanced fleet monitoring and management, NAPA is supporting Ta Ho in minimising fuel consumption and emissions. Under the deal, NAPA, a global provider of maritime software and data services, is delivering its next-generation NAPA Fleet Intelligence...