Navigation, communication and electronics News

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), the premier shipbuilding and repair company in India, delivered the 15th Electric Hybrid 100 Pax Water Metro Ferry BY 126 to Kochi Water Metro. The occasion was marked by the Delivery Protocol Signing ceremony held at CSL, in the presence of Directors of KMRL and CSL, along with senior officials from KMRL, CSL, DNV, and IRS. Shri. Harikrishnan S, Chief General Manager CSL, and Shri. Shaji P. Jananardhanan, Chief General Manager KMRL, signed the protocol document o...

ABB has been awarded a contract by Washington State Ferries (WSF) to serve as the propulsion single source vendor (PSSV) for its groundbreaking new hybrid electric 160-auto ferries. This project marks a significant milestone in the evolution of sustainable maritime transportation in the US and beyond, with ABB playing a pivotal role in developing and delivering the five newly built vessels. Hybrid electric propulsion systems As PSSV, ABB will supply comprehensive hybrid electric propulsion sy...

National Maritime, in partnership with the University of Greenwich, will host a two-day conference and exhibition exploring sustainable practices and business opportunities in the maritime realm. The 4th Society & the Sea International Conference 2024 will take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2024 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich. The theme of the conference is ‘To be truly blue, we must also think green: developing a sustainable blue economy needs b...

ABS and the Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) are working together to advance commercial small modular reactor (SMR)-powered ships and floating SMR power generation platforms. Technology and framework ABS will provide an analysis of applicable regulatory guidelines and international standards for the design of SMR-powered ships. KRISO will develop core technologies for SMR-powered ships, including conceptual designs for the vessel and propulsion systems as well a...

Peninsula, the global pioneer in marine energy solutions, is pleased to announce the successful LNG bunkering of the car carrier - Thor Highway by their LNG bunker vessel, Levante LNG.  The supply operation was carried out for their customer - “K” LINE in Gibraltar. Thor Highway The Thor Highway, operated by “K” LINE, is a newly built LNG dual-fueled car carrier chartered by the company and was delivered in 2024. The vessel is part of “K” LINE’s...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 Port Authority of Valencia is committed to hydrogen research through the signing of an agreement with CNH2 (C.N.E. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells) to promote the technological development and implementation of this fuel in the Valencian docks. At the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of València (PAV) gave the go-ahead to the signing of this agreement whose purpose is to give continuity to the authorisation for the occupation of an area of 446m2 of the port public do...

Iridium Communications Inc., a renowned provider of global voice and data satellite communications, has announced that for a second time, its Tempe, Arizona facility has received the James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award. A distinction presented by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Association (DCSA) during the annual Society of Industrial Security Professionals (NCMS) training seminar, the award honours companies that embody a commitment to upholding an...

Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands to IMO, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2023. The decision was made by the IMO Council at its 132nd session (8 to 12 July 2024). Captain Finley was nominated for the award by the Government of the Cook Islands. As a delegate to IMO, representing Panama and latterly the Cook Islands, he has been an active participant in the development of virtually all safety, environmental and...

There is much discussion amongst telecommunications companies about the automation journey of networks, and rightly so because artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and pressure on carriers to increase margins from connectivity while protecting prices, are proving powerful agents for change in their market. Impact of hybrid connectivity However, there’s one other development that is not receiving enough attention, and that’s the impact of hybrid connectivity - the bo...

RightShip, a global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focused digital maritime platform, welcomes Wilhelmsen Ships Service (Wilhelmsen), a leader in maritime solutions, to its Zero Harm Innovation Partners programme (ZHIP). As part of this collaboration, Wilhelmsen will highlight its cutting-edge products, the Timm Snap Back Arrestor (SBA™) rope and the Line Management Plan (LMP™), both of which exemplify its commitment to safer mooring practice. Zero-harm maritime The Z...

KR has announced the successful installation of an onboard carbon capture system (OCCS) with purely domestic technology, and it will soon undergo internal verification testing. Risk assessment and application The project began in April 2023 as a collaborative effort with HMM, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and PANASIA. As a result of this collaboration, the system was installed on the 2,200 teu container ship, HMM Mongla. KR conducted the risk assessment and application of relevant regulatio...

5G connectivity, speed, efficiency, optimization, and real-time coordination are the keys to the success of the IMAGINE-B5G project. IMAGINE-B5G project This initiative – which is part of the innovation strategy of the Port Authority of València (PAV) – has been developed by Telefónica, the company XRF, ETRAIR and coordinated by the PAV, the Valenciaport Foundation and the iTeam Institute of the Polytechnic University of València. The project aims to develop...

X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, has started Europe’s first scheduled feeder network in which the vessels are powered by green methanol, a sustainable marine fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 65%.  The industry milestone coincided with today’s naming and christening ceremony in Rotterdam of X-Press Feeders’ first dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel. Emissions trading scheme The newly christened vessel, named Eco-Ma...

Technology group Wärtsilä has supplied its new dual-fuel engine simulator technology for Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI), the maritime training arm of the Singapore Maritime Officer’s Union (SMOU). The navigational and technological simulators are a central feature of the simulation suite at WMI, which was recently inaugurated by H.E. Ms. Grace FU Hai Yien, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations of the Republic of Si...