Surveillance & Maritime News for January 2024

Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), the renowned global provider of Human Capital Management solutions for the maritime industry, has launched a tender boat operator e-learning course for the passenger ship industry. As the cruise sector grows, some cruise ships are unable to berth in ports due to their size. An increasing number of guests need to be transported between ship and shore in smaller boats, known as tenders. For safety purposes, cruise lines need to ensure that safety training extends t...

ABB and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) have signed a long-term partnership agreement to accelerate the decarbonisation and digitalisation of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet. Targeting increased safety and efficiency, the agreement covers 14 existing ships and a further four vessels due for delivery from 2025 to 2028. The first phase of the partnership includes a 10-year Azipod® propulsion service agreement for the fleet, providing efficient preventive maintenance to support saf...

Pacific International Lines (PIL), SGTraDex, and KPI OceanConnect have achieved a significant milestone by completing full integration for worldwide transactions via the SGTraDex platform. Pacific International Lines (PIL) has successfully completed full integration with the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex) platform, making PIL the first shipping line to do so. This achievement, realised through a collaborative effort with KPI OceanConnect, signifies a transformative step towards global...

Crowley has accepted delivery of eWolf, the first all-electric, ship assist harbor tugboat in the U.S., a milestone advancing the company’s commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation. The tugboat, which was designed by Crowley’s engineering services team, will operate with zero emissions while providing the complete performance capabilities of a traditional tug. The eWolf represents a historic innovation through a collaboration among Crowley, federal, state and local governmen...

Brunvoll Mar-El has been contracted to deliver its standardised lightweight parallel hybrid solution for Rødne Fjord Cruise’s newest vessel. The vessel will be operating out of Bergen and offer guided tours in the area. Brødrene Aa, who also specialises in fast ferries, is chosen as both designer and constructor for this fjord cruise vessel, with final delivery in 2025. Brunvoll Mar-El has over the years and through a series of projects established good relationships with bo...

The incremental costs of diverting a tanker from Asia to NW Europe via the Cape of Good Hope is accounting for an extra $932,905 USD per voyage while increasing transit time from 16 days to 32 days according to a report by LSEG Shipping Research. These additional costs mostly account for extra fuel and increase costs for an Aframax tanker by 110%, while for a large container vessel, it increases by 35% for a voyage between Asia to NW Europe. Average monthly transits Transits through Suez have...

Last year, maritime shipping bunkered significantly less fuel in Rotterdam; 9.9 million tonnes in 2023 compared to 10.6 million tonnes in 2022. With that, the demand for fuel oil, marine gas oil and other fuels in 2023 was 6.7 percent lower than in 2022. Only bunkering of LNG (liquefied natural gas) rose significantly, from 406,599 m3 to 619,243 m3. This had everything to do with developments in the price of LNG. Biomethanol bunkered for first time on Laura Maersk The decline is mainly caused...

Technology group Wärtsilä and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed a one-year extension to the Performance-based agreement that has been in place since 2017. The agreement, which was due to expire in March 2029, will now be valid until March 2030. It covers the maintenance, technical support, optimisation and fuel-saving solutions for 57 cruise ships within the global Carnival Corporation fleet. The contract was signed in October 2023. By optimising the performance and effi...

Bennett Marine, a Division of Yamaha Marine Systems Company, needed a solution that integrated solar energy generation and mechanical upgrades to optimise both sustainability and working environment outcomes. However, adding the cooling capacity needed by a large warehouse, and the employees working there, during the long Floridian summers could significantly increase the utility load on the building. Solution Bennett Marine’s management approached its outsourced service provider, ABM....

ABB announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the shipping business of DTN Europe BV and DTN Philippines Inc. (hereinafter DTN Shipping), expanding the company’s offering in maritime software. This will establish ABB as one of the market pioneers in ship route optimisation. The acquisition of the DTN Shipping portfolio covers vessel routeing software, including analytics, reporting, and modelling applications. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The...

A major provider of secure maritime data communications software, GTMaritime, has responded to growing demand for its products and services, by opening an office in Greece and appointing two new executives to its sales team. In 2023, the company reported a 35% increase in monthly user traffic across its portfolio of software solutions between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023. It also announced its 15,000th ship installation – just 16 months after passing the 10,000-vessel milestone. N...

Specialised ship manager - Chemfleet has confirmed that an in-service Berg Propulsion upgrade to control systems onboard the tanker YM Miranda has yielded fuel savings of around 10%. Trials following the installation of Berg MPC800M control system onboard the 12,933 dwt IMO II chemical tanker have persuaded Chemfleet to upgrade three additional 6,970 dwt sisterships, in a solution integrating Berg’s Dynamic Drive Software. Istanbul-headquartered Chemfleet is also reviewing control system...

The search for sustainable innovation, quality, and trust in everything WEG thinks and does resulted in the W23 Sync+. Efficiency ratings This new line offers the highest efficiency on the market, with synchronous electric motors that reach the IE5 rating. The low consumption of electrical energy due to their high efficiency also generates a positive balance for the environment, contributing to the reduction in CO2 emissions, in addition to having a much lower total cost of ownership because...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world's leading luxury cruise line, has announced a collection of six unique immersive overnight voyages where each port of call features an overnight stay allowing for deeper exploration and discovery in much-loved destinations. The World's Most Luxurious Fleet® These voyages, currently on board four of the six ships in The World's Most Luxurious Fleet®, will include special shoreside experiences exclusively crafted to make each overnight call a mem...

Swiss marine power company WinGD is expecting to secure the majority of dual-fuel engine orders for LNG carriers being built in the second phase of QatarEnergy’s new building project. With initial engine and technical specifications confirmed for nearly half of the orders in the second round, WinGD’s X‑DF2.0 engines are already the preferred choice to be installed on most vessels. X‑DF technologies Initial decisions on the remaining vessels will be made shortly by QatarEnergy, w...

One of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ ships will embark on her maiden around-the-world voyage in 2025. As part of the ‘Voyage of Exploration Around the World’ setting sail in January 2025, Bolette will visit beautiful destinations, including Brazil, Chile, French Polynesia, Australia, and South Africa. 106-night voyage The epic 106-night voyage includes the opportunity to visit some of the southern hemisphere’s iconic sites, such as Sydney’s Harbour and Opera House,...

Wallem Westminster, Manila, is proud to partner with the IMO-endorsed ‘Adopt a Ship’ programme (AaS). Working together with San Antonio Elementary School (SAES), Wallem Westminster’s senior officers embarked on a 10-week immersive curriculum to raise maritime awareness. Wallem provided educational materials and interactive content that explained maritime concepts, supported interactive activities that engaged students' creative learning and skill development and encouraged co...

MAN Cryo has announced that its design for an ammonia fuel-supply system to safely provide ammonia to marine-engine applications has been awarded an Approval in Principle from classification societies, DNV and Bureau Veritas. Part of MAN Energy Solutions and a pioneering expert in the field of storage and handling of LNG and natural gas, MAN Cryo developed the system in cooperation with a Chinese company, Yada Green Energy Solutions, with whom the company has previously cooperated to provid...

WP Group is committed to providing top-notch customer service in the fuel industry. Its operational team is vital to achieving this objective by closely supervising and managing terminal locations and fuel depots throughout the UK. Operations Leadership team WP Group implemented many structural improvements over the 2023and are proud to showcase such an impressive and knowledgeable workforce. To start 2024, it introduced two new members to the Operations Leadership team. Donald Mackay As t...

Ahlsell Norway AS has agreed to purchase all shares in Protektiv AS. The company was founded in 1992 and specialises in workwear and Personal Protection Equipment, as well as having an extensive printing business. The company employs 28 people and the turnover in 2022 amounted to 82 MNOK. Expertise and presence The store, warehouse, and offices are located in Skien, where they deliver goods and services to both large and small customers in Östlandet, south of Oslo. With its wide range o...

The visit of the Honourable Minister is in connection with taking forward the cooperation based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and Marine Services Company Ltd (MCSL), a company under the Ministry of Transport Tanzania during the state visit to meet the President and Prime Minister of India by the of President H.E.Samia Suluhu Hassan, the United Republic of Tanzania to India in October 2023, wherein the parties aim to cooperate and co...

Peel Ports Group has strengthened its global container operations with the appointment of a new strategic commercial director. Marcus Connolly joins the port operator with more than 25 years of experience in international container shipping and logistics, having held roles at A.P. Moller–Maersk and NYSHEX.  Based at the Port of Liverpool, Marcus will be responsible for developing transformational growth opportunities through group-wide strategic partnerships as well as further develo...

NorthStandard has announced plans to open a new office in South Korea, one year after establishing its combined Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore.  The new Seoul office, initially to be staffed by Shang Doe Shim, a Claims Director currently based in the club’s Singapore office, will be operational from late Spring 2024. Asia's 8th office This will be NorthStandard’s eighth office in the Asia Pacific region, underlining the importance of the area to the club.  N...

Sirius Insight, a renowned UK technology company focused on AI to enhance maritime surveillance and understanding, is pleased to have been highlighted as an exemplar of innovation in the emerging ocean technology sector by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (“APPG”) for the Ocean’s newly published report into the Future of Ocean Technology. EU’s Horizon funding programme In its submission to the APPG, Sirius Insight highlighted the importance of sensor and satellite tech...

DNV has entered into a Joint Development Project (JDP) with Singapore-based shipping company SDTR Marine to cooperate on an Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) feasibility study for the latter’s 85,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier. Techno-economic analysis As part of the JDP, DNV, and SDTR Marine will collaborate on a techno-economic analysis of OCCS implementation aboard the bulk carriers. Utilising DNV's FuelPath, the study aims to evaluate the economic viability of different fuel...

Wallem Group is pleased to partner with Chinese automaker BYD by providing commercial services for its first fully chartered PCTC vessel, MV BYD Explorer No. 1. The vessel has completed its first loading operations and is on its inaugural voyage to Europe. Wallem Group is providing BYD with day-to-day support on vessel operations including cargo stowage, route and bunker planning, and is liaising between the vessel, owner, and charterer. In addition, Wallem Group is working closely with BYD to...

Classification society - DNV has entered into a Joint Development Project (JDP) with Singapore-based shipping company - SDTR Marine to cooperate on a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) feasibility study for the latter’s 85,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier. DNV and SDTR Marine partnership As part of the JDP, DNV and SDTR Marine will collaborate on a techno-economic analysis of CCS implementation aboard the bulk carriers. Utilising DNV's FuelPath, the study aims to evaluate the economic viabil...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed by YANMAR Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YANMAR PT). This is the first AiP certification for a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed by a Japanese manufacturer. Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining attention as a potential means to help reduce GHG emissions from shipping. Meanwhile, due to the unique characteristics of hydrogen, distinct from conventional gas fuels, safety discussions are activel...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with VARD Group for the delivery of an extensive propulsion and manoeuvring system for Toyo Construction Co. Ltd.'s new Cable Laying Vessel (CLV). Toyo’s new vessel will have three azimuth propulsion thrusters in the aft of the vessel. The foreship of the vessel will have two tunnel thrusters and a retractable Azimuth thruster. Furthermore, the vessel will feature Brunvoll’s control system for propulsion and manoeuvring, BruCon PTC. VARD’s shipy...

Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd) and Maersk A/S, an entity under A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk), have signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called ‘Gemini Cooperation’, which will start in February 2025. The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with reliability. “Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers. Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations...