Surveillance & Maritime News for July 2024

VSTEP is pleased to announce the early access release of NAUTIS Instructor Station 2.0! This updated version promises a significantly improved user experience, reduced work time, enhanced ease of use and many other crucial advancements. Less clicks, more teaching! Over the past year, VSTEP has diligently collected and analysed feedback from customers both internally and externally. Through extensive testing, numerous discussions and learning from NAUTIS Home, they have identified key areas for...

Innovative technology developed by Arkitech delivers substantial efficiency improvements to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system onboard MSC Magnifica. Leveraging AI and machine learning, the technology analyses data from over 1,500 sensors on the MSC Cruises’ ship, enhancing chiller efficiency by up to 12% and achieving predicted annual savings of 1600MW which is equivalent to removing the 687 cars from European roads. This efficiency is realised without compromis...

OrbitMI announces the launch of its latest Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering, tailored specifically for maritime industry players in the dry bulk sector. This new product delivers precise and timely data to support decision-making and boost operational efficiency across the maritime industry. Vessel and Company Particulars The Vessel and Company Particulars product provides comprehensive information on various vessel characteristics, enabling ship owners and operators to leverage up-to-date da...

The TWIN X-STERN design is distinguished by its dual stern configuration, equipped with main propellers at each end. This unique setup enhances manoeuvrability and motion, therefore having improved fuel efficiency - a critical factor in the drive towards more sustainable and efficient maritime operations. Olympic Boreas sea trial The recent sea trials of the Olympic Boreas marked the first real-scale, live environment test of the TWIN X-STERN 's unique characteristics,...

Olympic Subsea is proud to announce their partnership with Ulstein and Rambøll to carry out the “LCAS - Life Cycle Assessment in Shipbuilding” project. This initiative focuses on developing a maritime-oriented method to evaluate the environmental impact of new vessels throughout their entire life cycle.  In this work, Olympic Subsea is specifically looking at the two new offshore wind service vessels developed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS, both of which are...

The expansion of the offshore wind market has brought about significant changes in the cable-laying industry. More turbines mean more cables to install, which means a greater need for carousel capacity on the cable-laying vessel.  Average cable length However, the length of the installed cable is dependent not only on the number of turbines, but also on their size. The average cable length per wind farm has grown from 30 km in the 2000s to 80 km in the late 2010s and is projected t...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Ship IoT Application “i-MITEC” by MIURA CO., LTD. 'i-MITEC' uses a cloud-based environment to provide a range of services, collecting and storing operation data from equipment, such as marine boilers and ballast water management systems that are fitted with communication functionality.  The stored data can be used in combination with analysis by MIURA field engineers to provide suggestions for ef...

X1 Wind, a developer of floating wind technology, has officially opened a new office in Navarra, which will be responsible for designing and implementing electrical, communication, and control systems for floating wind platforms. The new offices will primarily host X1 Wind’s electrical department, which includes five electrical engineers led by Adrián Oliva, Electrical & SCADA Manager. Additionally, the offices will include an industrial engineer from the operations departmen...

The launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship) “Domenico Millelire” took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genova) on Saturday 13 July 2024. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of Italian Navy, and Massimo Scialpi, Deputy Director OCCAR, welcomed for Fincantieri by Dario Deste, General Manager Naval Vessels Division. The godmother of the ceremony was Ms. Franca Millelire, a relative o...

KR held the 19th KR European Committee (KREC) meeting in London, UK, on July 1st. The KREC, established in 2004, includes members from major international maritime organisations and key European KR customers as follows: Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) In...

Watson Farley & Williams advised ABN AMRO BANK N.V. and ING BANK N.V. on a US$245m term loan facility granted to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited for the financing of a fleet of tanker vessels. WFW acted as lead counsel on the transaction and assisted ABN and ING throughout the life cycle of the transaction, from the negotiation and execution of the facility to the delivery of each vessel. Transportation services TEN is a world-pioneering tanker operator, listed on the New York...

The dramatic spike in the ocean freight container shipping market is reaching its peak as importers push back against spiralling spot rates. Data released by Xeneta shows average spot rates from the Far East to the US East Coast increased by 3.7% on 15 July to stand at USD 10 045 per FEU (40ft equivalent shipping container). Average spot rates On the US West Coast, spot rates increased by 2.0% to stand at USD 8,045 per FEU. While this means spot rates are up almost 150% on these trades sinc...

Hintco GmbH announces Fertiglobe as the successful bidder of the first H2Global pilot auction for renewable ammonia, funded by the German Government. The winning bidder, Fertiglobe, a strategic partnership between ADNOC and OCI, will start producing renewable ammonia destined for delivery in 2027 for a maximum contract value of EUR 397 million.  Renewable ammonia The renewable ammonia will be delivered to the port of Rotterdam and sold by Hintco in standardized quantities in annual aucti...

VSTEP is delighted to have been highlighted in the Canadian Naval Review for its contribution to advancing maritime training. NAUTIS software Its cutting-edge bridge simulator, powered by NAUTIS software, offers Sea Cadets and Primary Reserve personnel immersive and realistic experiences that promote leadership and teamwork.  VSTEP is honoured to aid the Royal Canadian Navy in shaping the future of maritime professionals.

The last of the 18 ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops given by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2008, the year of the creation of the Spanish-speaking Network for the port training programme, closed on July 12, 2024, at Valenciaport. In these 16 years, more than 260 instructors have participated, 72 of them women, to be trained in the key management skills of port management. ‘Train For Trade’ programme Twenty-one students of seven...

Babcock and the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, Poland, have announced that they are set to collaborate on an exciting new programme of professional internships following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement. The MoU outlines the intent for Babcock to work in cooperation with the Polish Naval Academy to facilitate future academic collaboration, underpinning Babcock’s global commitment to skills development. Future academic collaboration This summe...

Seatrium announced that it has awarded the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) a Classification contract for the newbuild floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSO) platforms P-84 and P-85 with the final delivery expected in 2029. These are the first FPSOs to be awarded following ABS and Seatrium’s Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA), which aims to promote increased decarbonisation, digitalisation and innovation in the offshore industry. Efficient power generation Both...

EV Maritime, New Zealand’s pioneering electric ferry design and technology company, announced it has been commissioned by Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (AITF) to design an all-new hybrid electric vessel for the fleet. The progressive project, which will see the electrification of two existing vessels and the construction of a third new plug-in hybrid vessel, has been funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The hybrid vessel will be designed and engineered by EV Maritime with el...

A comprehensive Port of Long Beach digital platform being designed to help speed cargo deliveries across the nation, the Supply Chain Information Highway, is getting an infusion of funding from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced a $7.875 million grant for the Port’s data system today. Funding is expected to help build out a variety of functions including export and rail cargo visibility, user authen...

Easy Filtration SRL (Easy Filtration), an Italian company that distributes process filters and associated services, will become part of Atlas Copco Group. Easy Filtration Easy Filtration, located in Milan, was founded in 2013. The company has 9 employees and provides filter cartridges for air, gas, and process liquids, filter housings, and clean-in-place systems.  The main customer groups are present within the industrial coatings, chemical, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. Op...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Attica Holdings S.A. (Attica) on the negotiation of bareboat charter documentation with Stena International S.A. (Stena) for two E-Flexer vessels being built by Stena at the China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co., Ltd with a purchase option. Delivery is scheduled for April 2027 and August 2027. RoPax vessels The two new vessels with an overall length of 240m, are the largest RoPax vessels ever ordered by a Greek shipping company. With a passe...

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated, mechanical drive, propulsion package for new 6000 dwt LNG-fuelled tankers being built for British fleet operator, James Fisher Everard Ltd., part of the James Fisher group of companies. The ships are under construction by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng Co. in cooperation with design consultant FKAB Marine Design. The integrated package includes the high-performance Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel main en...

Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. and Amogy, a provider of mature, scalable, and efficient ammonia-to-power solutions, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate Amogy’s advanced ammonia-cracking technology into Yanmar’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE). This collaboration seeks to pioneer a solution for decarbonising marine power generation. The partnership will focus on combining Amogy’s technology with Yanmar’s H2ICE to provide low-cost...

ABS has issued approval in principle (AIP) to Nantong Pengrui Offshore Technology Co., Ltd and COSCO Shipping Shipyard (Nantong) Co., Ltd. for its novel design of an offshore access gangway. The motion-compensated, active and passive, gangway design offers a solution for the growing demand for efficient access for service operation vessels (SOVs) supporting wind turbines and offshore platforms. ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements. New design from Pengrui &ld...

Thordon Bearings has secured an order from French shipbuilding giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique to supply its award-winning COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearings for installation to a pair of wind-assisted passenger ships operated by luxury travel operator Accor. When the first 220m (722 ft) long, 22,300 gt vessel is delivered in 2026, Orient Express Corinthian will be the world’s largest contemporary sailship. The contract marks Thordon’s first reference aboard a Chant...

Oceania Cruises®, the world's pioneering culinary- and destination-focused cruise line is delighted to announce its new collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), bringing the ACS Relay For Life at Sea program to the cruise line's esteemed guests, crew and team members, fostering a community of support and raising vital funds for cancer research, patient support services, and advocacy efforts. The program was just launched on Oceania Cruises' newest ship, Vista, as well as aboard...

Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity has been selected as the International Maritime Organisation's World Maritime Day theme for 2025, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on 25 September 2025. The IMO Council, meeting for its 132nd session, endorsed the theme following a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez. Management of ocean resources The theme reflects the ocean’s vital role in the world economy, with more than 80% of glo...

Plymouth will be one of the first stops on an attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain in an electric rib – a challenge which begins shortly. Starting from Lyme Regis on the afternoon of 13th July, 18-year-old skipper, Harry Besley, will attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain in an electric boat stopping at over 40 locations around the UK to recharge using a range of shore-power options. Electra Harry will be in Plymouth, alongside on the Barbican Landing Stage (BLS), on Sun...

Satcom Global Inc. has secured a new five-year GSA (General Services Administration) Contract, which permits the supply of satellite airtime and equipment to US Government departments and agencies. Contract #47QTCA24D00BA extends Satcom Global’s experience of supplying the federal, state, local, and Indigenous governments with commercial satellite communications services for over 25 years. Satcom Global Inc. is honoured to be among a select group of pre-approved suppliers offering product...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) emergency towing vessel (ETV), Ievoli Black, is carrying out a training exercise in Scapa Flow, on Wednesday 10 July 2024. Exercise Stromness, which involves the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) vessel Pole Star, is supported by Orkney Islands Council’s Marine Services. MCA, ETV and NLB personnel Exercise Controller Paul Tunstall, MCA Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer, Scottish Islands and Northern Ireland, said: "The nature of this...