Thrusters News

At the Undersea Defence Technology conference, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Ulstein Verft signed a Letter of Intent for joint efforts to deliver the next, advanced frigates to the Royal Norwegian Navy. The 2024 Fleet Plan outlines that Norway will acquire five or six frigates to replace the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Potential candidates include the British Type 26, the German F127, the American Constellation-class, and the French FDI. German-Norwegian industrial cooperation thyssenkr...

DNV has released a new Recommended Practice (RP) to assess the performance of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) for public hearing. The new RP has been developed to provide a basis for reliably determining the ability of different WAPS technologies to deliver efficiency gains when installed onboard, accelerating the maritime industry's journey towards a more sustainable future. Fuel savings and emissions reductions WAPS have emerged as a promising solution for the maritime industry to r...

OrbitMI, a provider of maritime software and data products, has expanded its workflow capabilities through a new integration with CleanQuote, a pioneering vessel cleaning platform. This collaboration further strengthens OrbitMI’s commitment to providing connected workflows by incorporating vessel cleaning and maintenance data into Orbit Reporter via API. Vessel cleaning data Western Bulk can now easily capture and access essential vessel cleaning data Western Bulk, a company operating...

Maritime CleanTech is going ‘all in’ at Nor-Shipping 2025, seizing the opportunity of a unique global gathering to support and enable those pioneering sustainable ocean development. Here CEO Ada Jakobsen outlines the organisation’s initiatives, objectives and ambitions, explaining why NOW is the time to accelerate progress. Groundbreaking efforts Nor-Shipping has long been a flagship arena for ocean innovation, so for Maritime CleanTech, it’s the perfect stage to showc...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has agreed a deal with Anthony Veder to upgrade the pioneering gas shipping company’s entire fleet to Inmarsat NexusWave. Purpose-built for the specialised transport of gases, including petrochemical gases and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and easily identifiable by their ‘Coral’ prefix, Anthony Veder ships operate in both coastal and deep-sea environments, making multi-dimensional high-speed connectivity essential for seamless communications...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will supply three Wärtsilä 25DF dual-fuel engines for a new 18,600 m3 capacity LNG Bunkering vessel being built for Spanish operator - Ibaizabal Group. The engines will feature Wärtsilä’s innovative NextDF technology, which dramatically reduces methane emissions when operating with LNG fuel. The ship is being built at the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding yard in China, and the order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2024. LNG is...

Technology pioneer ABB, and the CMA CGM Group, a player in sea, land, air and logistics solutions, are collaborating on a new parametric roll algorithm to improve ship safety. The solution integrates a theoretical framework developed by CMA CGM into the ABB Ability™ OCTOPUS Marine Advisory system. Challenge to ship safety New algorithm will help enhance operational safety by reducing the risk of accidents Parametric rolling has been a challenge to ship safety for decades. Particularly...

“The IMO really has to step up now if we are to deliver on the pace and scale of the change required. A lot of this comes down to the question of how we address the significant price differential between fossil and alternative fuels. The IMO holds the keys to all of this, and the time for action is now. Whether we as an industry can make 2050 rests largely with the IMO and how it performs in the coming months.” That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO Christoph...

GAC Norway has launched a new shore excursion service covering all of Norway, including key cruise destinations such as Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen, Ålesund and Tromsø, in response to cruise operators’ drive to provide passengers with authentic experiences that connect them with local culture responsibly. Cruise operators looking to enhance their guest experience with sustainable, exclusive and competitively-priced shore excursions can now partner with GAC Norway to deliver th...

ABS and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Singapore Maritime Week that establishes a framework to collaborate on projects related to maritime technology, sustainability and safety management systems. “To make meaningful progress in this era of rapid change, we need strategic industry collaborations like this one with PIL. We look forward to capitalising on our unique strengths and capabilities in maritime compliance and cutting-edge techn...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with VARD for the delivery of a comprehensive package of propulsion and manoeuvring thrusters for five Walk-2-Work Service Operation Vessels, W2W SOVs. The vessels are for an undisclosed international owner. Brunvoll’s delivery for each vessel consists of two azimuth propulsion thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and two tunnel thrusters. The vessels will also feature Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system, BruCon PTC, for efficien...

Current Senior Vice President Hayato Suga has been appointed as President & CEO as well as Representative Director of ClassNK and current Corporate Officer Fumihiko Higashi has been appointed as Executive Vice President, effective 21 March 2025. Former President & CEO Hiroaki Sakashita has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors, while former Chairman of the Board of Directors Koichi Fujiwara has assumed the position of Advisor to the Society. Challenges and digital transf...

IRClass Academy has successfully concluded an intensive Marine Casualty Investigation Training program aimed to enhance the investigative capabilities of maritime professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to conduct thorough and compliant marine casualty investigations. The program provided an in-depth understanding of the purpose, scope, and principal definitions of marine casualty investigations, along with the mandatory responsibilities of safety investigation auth...

HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hydrogen, and DNV recently signed a Joint Industry Project (JIP) agreement to develop and validate Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology for carbon capture in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that generate electricity using natural gas, ammonia, or hydrogen as fuel. Maritime carbon emissions As part of this agreement, HD KSOE and its subsidiary HD Hydrogen will explore the integration of PSA-b...

Norway-based maritime technology business, Shipnet has launched Helix AI ahead of attending Sea Asia in Singapore next week, further strengthening its revolutionary Helix product, designed to transform decision-making in the shipping industry through advanced data analysis.  Helix, launched at Posidonia in 2024, provides a digital representation of the shipping business, enabling seamless integration and analysis of data from various sources such as safety, pricing, and procurement. Helix...

BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate neutral GreenForge® production process, in a maritime sector that is highly exposed to anticipated carbon pricing. Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsion, power manag...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised BPER Banca S.p.A. (“BPER”), as agent and financing bank, and Banca Popolare di Sondrio S.p.A. (“BPOS”), as financing bank, on an up to US$50m financing granted to Ignazio Messina & C. S.p.A. (“Ignazio Messina”). This allows Ignazio Messina to finance the renewal of its fleet as part of an investment plan to build full container vessels of greater capacity and size than those it previously deployed....

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised BNP Paribas, a syndicate of lenders, SACE and SIMEST on the financing of four new cruise vessels for Viking Ocean Cruises. The financing consists of four export credit loan facilities, which are together worth around $2 billion. The facilities are backed by the Italian export credit agency SACE and contain a fixed-rate subsidy offered by SIMEST. Viking Ocean Cruise’s growing fleet The ocean-going passenger cruise vessels are being constr...

Dinnteco America, an established pioneer in lightning protection technology, announced its latest solution for the marine, military, energy, and transportation industries – the Electromagnetic Charge Compensation Device (DDCE). The DDCE is designed to prevent direct lightning strikes by gathering positive charges from its immediate environment, while also gathering negative charges from the clouds and air. Lightning strikes to boat owners The upward path required for lightning can no lo...

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of four seafarers in the recent attack on a bulk carrier in Odesa on 11 March 2025. INTERCARGO fully supports the statement issued by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and condemns in the strongest terms any attacks on merchant shipping and the innocent seafarers in its service. International maritime law INTERCARGO emphasises that the safety of seafarers must remain paramount Speak...

Michael was raised in the Midwest, where he raced one-designed yachts extensively and sailed collegiately whilst attending the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduating with a BA in English Literature, he worked his way up from chartering in the Caribbean to racing in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Michael then relocated to San Diego in 1992 to take a job as a service representative for Barient/Sparcraft during the America’s Cup. Prior roles of Michael For the past 25...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released a report providing recommendations on how to develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS) for ammonia-fuelled ships. Recognizing the industry's forecasts on the uptake of future fuels with low to zero carbon emissions, ammonia has emerged as one frontrunner. However, it presents new risks, such as toxicity and corrosiveness. To address these challenges, MTF has developed guidelines to close previously identified gaps when implementing...

Swiss marine power company WinGD has confirmed key parameters for its X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine design after full-load testing at its Engine Research and Innovation Centre in Winterthur, Switzerland. The performance and emission measurements deliver timely assurance as the first users prepare their vessels and auxiliary systems for ammonia fuel. NOx emissions for operation Emissions data was also urging, with ammonia emissions below 10ppm and N2O below 3ppm The tests confirm engine perfo...

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a significant contract for the design of two multipurpose subsea vessels. The UT7623 SEV (Sustainable Energy Vessel) vessels will be methanol-ready and feature battery hybrid technology. These vessels are the first references for Kongsberg Maritime’s latest subsea construction vessel designs and will feature a fully integrated package of technology including rim-drive propulsion, hybrid power and winch systems. UT7623 SEV vessels UT7623 SEV vessels are...

DNV has awarded a detailed Approval in Principle (AiP) to Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited and Brevik Engineering for their design of a 74,000 cubic metres (cbm) liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier. The vessel is specifically designed for the Asia Pacific market to enable cost competitive transport of CO2. Development of larger vessels CCS is set to play a key role in decarbonisation of industry in Asia Pacific Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is set to play a key ro...

Maritime and offshore energy pioneers from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and throughout South America came together for the first meeting of the ABS South America Regional Committee. ABS is the pioneering classification society among South American and Brazilian shipowners and is the recognised class-of-choice for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units in the region. Maritime and offshore industries Kroustallis reported that ABS has continued to hold the number one position in glo...

Uncertainty about the scale and nature of the IMO’s proposed carbon levy is holding back investment in shipping. That was the message from Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO, during an appearance at the CERAWeek energy conference. Lack of carbon pricing “A carbon levy is a wild card. It will all depend on how it is implemented and enforced. There’s a huge question mark over whether this will deliver for the industry and there is much still to be decided,” s...

The hull of yard number (Yno) 321 for BS Offshore arrived at Ulstein Verft. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the shipbuilding process. The vessel is designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS for ‘walk-to-work’ (W2W) operations, where personnel walks via a motion-compensated gangway from the ship to a wind turbine. Hull arrival at Ulstein Verft The hull arrival at Ulstein Verft marks a new phase, which includes securing, painting While the hull has been under constru...

Pioneering maritime law firms Hill Dickinson and Alley Maass, both longstanding pioneers in superyacht legal services, have announced a formal alliance to significantly enhance their global capabilities and client services. With headquarters in the UK, Hill Dickinson has a globally renowned maritime law practice, with over 120 specialists across major shipping hubs. Alley Maass, based in Florida, US, has more than 30 years of maritime law experience, advising clients on complex issues related t...

VIKING is a proven and trusted provider of retrofit solutions for both conventional and freefall lifeboat installations. The extensive experience allows them to generate engineering solutions which are manufactured and installed to aggressive timescales. Operators can upgrade or replace obsolete equipment (due to age or out of date compliance) with minimum working impact and confidence that VIKING will meet project objectives. Installations are completed both onshore and offshore, with the site...