Surveillance & Maritime News for March 2024

Ocean Infinity, a world pioneer in robotic and uncrewed vessel technology, is pleased to announce the signing of a Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with Shell, marking a significant milestone in the provision of lean-crewed and robotic seabed geomatics, spanning geophysical and geotechnical services, within the offshore energy sector. The GFA spans 5 years, encompassing all countries where Shell is currently active or plans to operate in the future. Fuel-efficient vessels Services governed by...

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received an order from the University of Tokyo for its independently developed "MiPoLin®", a power prediction and lines selection system. The system has already been available at the university's Maritime and Ocean Digital Engineering Laboratory (MODE). MiPoLin® MiPoLin® is a user-friendly web-based system that utilises over 1,200 cases of diverse tank test results and over 420 vessels' hull...

Bureau Veritas (BV), a global pioneer in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), has awarded the Dutch-Norwegian renewable energy company SolarDuck the world’s first Prototype Certification for a floating offshore solar technology, as applied in SolarDuck’s 0.5 MW pilot "Merganser". This certification represents a significant step forward in the development of marine renewable energy technologies for offshore applications. Real-world operational environment The Merganser pr...

Bleste Sia introduces its new ‘Bleste Bucket’ bulk handling solution. The Bleste Bucket is a modern iteration of the traditional bulk grab container, however, this innovative yet simple product improves dry bulk handling for companies looking for efficiency, cost and speed gains.  Simple technology saves time and money According to Dinis Hruscovs, Managing Director of the Latvian company, the Bleste Bucket speeds up bulk cargo logistics, especially for terminals, and in a...

In a proactive move towards energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, Pacific Basin, a dry bulk shipping company, has decided to apply a sustainable graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across its entire fleet. This innovative coating, developed by Canadian company GIT Coatings, has demonstrated the potential to enhance vessel performance by up to 4%, which also makes it a highly effective solution to improve CII and RightShip GHG ratings. Decarbonisation initiative Followin...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsements for Products & Solutions to two initiatives by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., “FOCUS” and “Sustainable Seafaring, Wellness Living”. “FOCUS” is an operational data analysis software system developed by MOL that collects and analyses detailed data from ICT-enabled vessels. ClassNK has verified the functions of “FOCUS”, 1. Vessel performance analysis that integrates abundant operational knowledge and na...

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has collapsed, after it was struck by a container ship at around 1.35 am ET. The container ship involved is the Singapore-flagged Dali which can carry just under 10,000 TEU (20ft shipping containers) and was operating on a 2M alliance service between Baltimore and the Far East. Mass casualty event  Emily Stausbøll, Market Analyst at Xeneta – the ocean freight shipping rate benchmarking and intelligence platform, said, “Thi...

International® Marine Coatings has published a new whitepaper that reveals the high degree of accuracy of its predictive Intertrac® Vision tool to real-life vessel operations by correlating to the speed loss of a globally trading VLCC vessel over a five-year docking period, in line with the principles of the ISO 19030 standard. International® used the forecasting tool to project a 1.4 percent speed loss over a 60-month in-service period which proved to be in line with actual ve...

MAN Energy Solutions and Svitzer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on the development of a methanol-fuelled version of the MAN 175D engine. Designated 175DF-M (Dual Fuel-Methanol), the MoU targets the finalisation of a field-test agreement based on which a dual-fuel engine and plant equipment will be installed on board one of Svitzer’s newbuild tugs. Kasper Karlsen, Chief Operating Officer at Svitzer, said: “At Svitzer, we’ve set ambitious yet realistic,...

Sea Maritime International in Singapore acquired the VSTEP’s latest NAUTIS 3 trainer. VSTEP is proud to see repeat customers and takes it as a testament to its commitment to delivering excellent service.  Seamlessly compatible with the Wartsila DP system, this simulator guarantees top-notch training for maritime professionals within the region and allows the customer to further serve the market. Excellence in maritime training “We eagerly anticipate the partnershi...

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a long-term Guaranteed Asset Performance agreement with CSBC-DEME Wind Engineering Co Ltd (CDWE), a joint venture between CSBC Corporation and DEME Offshore. The agreement covers CDWE’s new 216 metres-long marine installation vessel (MIV), the ‘Green Jade’. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2024. Wärtsilä Lifecycle Agreement Green Jade is designed and built in Taiwan with the mission to facilit...

Many shipping companies are still striving to define their strategy for EU ETS compliance some 90 days after implementation of the complex regulation, according to OceanScore, as it leverages lessons learned from clients to date to define best practices. EU Allowances (EUAs) Shipowners are required to acquire and account for EU Allowances (EUAs) on an ongoing basis, as well as allocate these to charterers, to cover the cost of their emissions from 2024 under the initial three-year phase-in of...

AVIKUS, HD Hyundai's autonomous navigation in-house startup, announced its autonomous navigation is proven to reduce fuel use by as much as 15% and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 10%. This is the first time these fuel savings have been verified. The fuel savings were quantified on a 325,000-ton Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC) operating several times on a 5,800-mile route from Singapore to Brazil using Avikus’ autonomous HiNAS Control system. The verification of this performance w...

A universal, global carbon tax on shipping is coming, as alternative blue fuels made with carbon capture emerge as a critical step in the energy transition at sea. That was the message from Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, during an appearance at the CERAWeek energy conference. Intermediate economy “We need to recognise that there is an intermediate step in the energy transition,” he said. “Last year the conversations were focused on going from oil to...

Accelleron’s Japanese joint venture company Turbo Systems United has signed a memorandum of understanding with marine systems provider Furuno Electric Co to cooperate in digital activities. The agreement, the first of its kind for the Accelleron group in Japan, will dramatically improve access to optimisation solutions and digitally enabled services in one of the world’s most important shipbuilding markets. Furuno has a pioneering position in the supply of marine radar systems, with...

​IMO has agreed on an illustration of a possible draft outline of an “IMO net-zero framework” for cutting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from international shipping. This marks a step forward in the legal process towards adopting global regulations, referred to as “mid-term GHG reduction measures”, that will help achieve the targets contained in the 2023 IMO Strategy on the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.  IMO net-zero framework After the eighty-first ses...

The 18th Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), held from 13 to 15 March 2024, welcomed an unprecedented number of 15,717 attendees in Singapore. This figure surpassed attendance records of previous editions, signifying a positive revitalisation of Asia Pacific's maritime sector and solidifying Singapore's position as a pioneering maritime hub. Held at the Marina Bay Sands, the event showcased an extensive range of 710 exhibitors and featured 150 industry speakers worldwide. This year's theme, 'Future of...

Samskip launches shortsea container service connecting Santander, Tilbury and Rotterdam, delivering the service reliability, security and sustainability advantages of intermodal transport to customers throughout Spain, supported by dedicated local customer support. The new service launches from Rotterdam on Tuesday, April 2nd, offering customers a weekly Spain-Tilbury-Rotterdam shortsea option that remains highly cost-competitive against road-ferry alternatives while providing greater reliabil...

Ulsan Port, a key maritime hub for Asia, has reaffirmed its pledge to environmentally friendly shipping practices by becoming a member of DNV Korea’s Decarbonisation Network. The Network unites technical executives and managers from various stakeholders in Korea's maritime industry. It consists of two groups: one comprises of major Korean yards (in total nine) while the other encompasses a diverse range of participants, including ship owners, managers, charterers, banks and research insti...

Offshore Frontier Solutions Pte. Ltd., a MODEC Group company, has commissioned MAN Energy Solutions with the delivery of eleven RB-type compressor trains. The order’s substantial value marks it as the largest single order ever received at MAN Energy Solutions Switzerland.  The compressor trains will be installed on an FPSO vessel for the Raia project, in the Campos Basin, approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. Equinor, in partnership with Repsol Sinopec Brasil...

ClassNK has granted its ‘SCCS-Full’ class notation to ‘EVER TOP’, a Neopanamax container vessel owned by EVERGREEN. The notation signifies that the vessel is now equipped with an onboard CO2 capture and storage (CCS) systems, marking it as the world's first Neopanamax container vessel to be retrofitted with such systems. The CCS systems, designed and developed by Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute, were installed at Huarun Dadong Dockyard Co., Ltd. (HRDD)....

MAN Energy Solutions has announced that its MAN 51/60DF engine has passed the milestone of 10 million operational hours. The company states that, since its market entry, the dual-fuel engine has proved extremely popular with 310 engines currently in service, an increase of almost 100 units since 2022. 51/60DF engine The 51/60DF engine, which can run on a wide variety of fuels including natural gas, biogas, bio-fuel, synthetic fuels, distillates, and heavy fuel oil, has been in MAN Energy...

Manta Marine Technologies (MMT) has secured its fourth hundredth vessel contract for its industry-pioneering automated propulsion optimisation technology system, FuelOpt™. The latest contract is subscription-based and was signed in February 2024 between MMT and J.J. Ugland for an installation onboard their 60,000 DWT bulk carrier, the M.V. Jorita. Richard Engelhart Bjercke, Chief Commercial Officer at Manta Marine Technologies, said “We are very proud to have signed our 400th FuelOp...

RightShip, a major global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) focused digital maritime platform, has launched its Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program. The program is aimed at supporting the development and adoption of technologies dedicated to achieving a zero-harm maritime industry, by enabling enhanced collaboration and connection between ship-owners and managers, and innovative technology providers. Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program This program invites technology providers a...

Ocean Harvesting Technologies AB has since 2017 been developing the wave energy converter - InfinityWEC. During 2023 and early 2024, the focus has been on the ball screw actuation system in the power take-off and refining simulation models for generation 6 of the technology.  Full-scale system design of InfinityWEC will continue in 2024, planned to be followed by a 1:3 scale sea trial project in 2025-2026. Ocean waves are a vast resource of renewable energy and wave power can produce elec...

The World Hydrogen Forum is a global expo and conference scheduled to take place from 21-22 May at Dhahran Expo, Dammam, KSA. It is dedicated to the advancements in the hydrogen economy for shaping the future of global energy transition. Taking place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the World Hydrogen Show aims to accentuate the commercialisation of clean hydrogen across the globe and provide an unparalleled platform for key stakeholders to connect with the entire value chain and engage in high-...

ABB has won the contract to provide a complete shore connection installation for the DEME Base in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. Shore connection enables Shore connection enables the diverse fleet of dredgers, offshore construction, and support vessels to avoid carbon emissions by shutting off their engines and drawing on shore power while at berth. Headquartered in Belgium, DEME is a pioneering contractor in the fields of offshore energy, environmental remediation, dredging, and marine infrast...

Team Rubicon is announcing an additional investment by Chevron towards the proposed TRades Academy to train skilled tradespeople. The $100,000 grant by Chevron’s Gulf of Mexico Business Unit is expected to fuel the growth of the TRades Academy being developed by Team Rubicon to fill the gap of skilled trades professionals in times of crisis. “We are grateful for the support of Chevron and this investment into our new TRades Academy,” said Art delaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon, add...

With the successful delivery of the M.T. Joymoni to Mongla Port Authority, Bangladesh, Cheoy Lee Shipyards Ltd. has reached a significant milestone. This latest tug is the 50th RAmparts 3200-CL to be completed, and it represents more than a decade of evolution and refinement in tug design.    There are vessels operating for clients such as Svitzer, Boluda, SAAM, PSA, KOTUG, and Ocean Sparkle/Adani. The RAmparts 3200-CL is operating in regions all over the world, including Asia-Pacifi...

Offshore wind farms are a major component of the future of clean energy, and the share of electricity generated by offshore wind turbines will increase as the global community works to minimise carbon emissions to achieve net zero by 2050. Current expectations for the vast expansion of energy production from offshore wind farms may lead to environmental impacts and ecological risks to marine ecosystems. Maritime consequences The increase in offshore wind farms will also have broad conse...