AI - News

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), a globally recognised classification society, is proud to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SeaTech Solutions International (S) Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based maritime engineering and design firm. This MOU highlights a broader international collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable maritime solutions, including the Greentech design and classification of next-generation green tugs and harbour crafts for global operations. Latest e...

ABS has secured a contract to provide and test a digital twin solution for real-time condition monitoring for a Petrobras floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit. The ABS solution will provide a digital twin of the asset, and as part of the project, ABS has selected Akselos S.A. to deploy the Akselos Structural Performance Management software that will be evaluated over the course of a year by monitoring one of the four FPSO units in the Cessão Onerosa oil field. Life ex...

Industry pioneers at the Xeneta Summit 2024, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have been told ocean container shipping must harness the power of machine learning to protect supply chains in an increasingly complex and volatile market. In a keynote speech to announce Xeneta’s new in-platform Ocean Market Rate Outlook, Chief Product Officer - Fabio Brocca explained how machine learning will transform the way freight is bought and sold by predicting market movements on the world’s major c...

Swiss marine power company - WinGD has introduced an option for its X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engines to be delivered capable of running on liquified petroleum gas (LPG). The ‘pre-fit’ solution will be of particular interest to vessels under construction for the anticipated global trade in ammonia, which will also be capable of transporting LPG. LPG’s primary component The engine, designed and optimised for ammonia fuel, will offer reliable and efficient running on LPG Named X...

Gibdock Shipyard and Armada Technologies Ltd. are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the integration of Armada's proprietary air lubrication system, the Passive Air Lubrication System (PALS), into vessels serviced by Gibdock. This agreement marks a significant step towards enhancing energy efficiency and reducing harmful emissions in the maritime industry. Innovative PALS System The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both organisati...

Global law firm - Norton Rose Fulbright has advised ABN AMRO and National Australia Bank (NAB) on their arrangement of acquisition financing for Celsius Shipping (Celsius) and Basalt Infrastructure Partners (Basalt) to acquire two LNG carriers. Celsius and Basalt formed a new joint venture for the acquisition of the two state-of-the-art vessels – the Celsius Copenhagen and Celsius Carolina – which were built in Korea and operate using the latest, most fuel-efficient propulsion techn...

Watson Farley & Williams is pleased to announce the publication of the third edition of The Law of Ship Mortgages, written by Partner Charles Buss, recently retired Partner - David Osborne and Knowledge Counsel - Joanne Champkins. Described as the definitive text on English ship finance law, the first edition was published in 2001 and has been well-received ever since. Impact on shipping This third edition was written with the ever-increasing sanctions and their impact on shipping and shi...

WEG and Eletrobras were present at CIGRE Paris 2024, where Engineer - Mateus Alexandrino, from the Transmission Department of the Vice-Presidency of Engineering and Expansion of Eletrobras, made a presentation about the reliability of protection, automation and control systems (PACS) associated with redundancy and system condition monitoring. WEG and Eletrobras partnership The work between WEG and Eletrobras addresses the modernisation process of the Itajaí substation, located in southe...

Vestdavit is boosting sales of its in-demand lightweight aluminium davits to the naval segment with a further order for four PLAR-6501 systems to be delivered to a pair of Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels under construction at shipbuilder - Austal Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. The latest contract brings the number of PLAR davits supplied to the Cape and Evolved Cape-class vessels for the Royal Australian Navy to a total of 20. Boat launch-and-recovery systems “The operationa...

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC(FD)(EV)’ notation to ‘POSITIVE CHALLENGER’, a car carrier operated by EASTERN CAR LINER, LTD. and managed by ECL Shipmanagement Limited, for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs).  Shipping companies are implementing various measures to address EV fires, which raise concerns due to difficulties in extinguishing and the risk of re-ignition. Characteristics of EV fires To support th...

RightShip, the digital maritime platform providing expertise in safety, sustainability, and social responsibility practices announced a change in its vessel inspection age trigger. Vessel inspection In response to evolving market conditions and continuing safety risks in the Dry Bulk and General Cargo sectors, RightShip will implement a phased approach to require inspections of vessels at an earlier age. This change reflects the organisation’s continued commitment to improving safety st...

Eleven European entities specialising in turbomachinery, new fuels and combustion, energy conversion systems, gas turbines, bearing systems, heat recovery, digital twins, shipbuilding, and project consulting have united in the European project MARPOWER (an acronym for Efficient zero-emissions gas turbine POWER system for MARitime transport). CO2 emissions Their goal is to replace fossil fuels in the maritime sector, reduce emissions, and marine pollution, and ultimately help combat the de...

Iridium Communications Inc., a globally renowned provider of global voice and data satellite communications, has announced its collaboration with Nordic Semiconductor for early integration of its Iridium NTN Direct℠ service into Nordic's LTE-M/NB-IoT modules and chipsets. Nordic Semiconductor is a global major in low power wireless connectivity solutions, including cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread and is trusted by world’s major brands across the consumer, ind...

2024 will go down as the year of peak energy emissions, according to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook. Energy-related emissions are at the cusp of a prolonged period of decline for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. Emissions are set to almost halve by 2050, but this is a long way short of the requirements of the Paris Agreement. The Outlook forecasts the planet will warm by 2.2°C by the end of the century. Solar installations The peaking of emissions is largely due to p...

Daphne Technology SA, a pioneer in climate deep-tech solutions, is announcing the launch of its new entity, Daphne Solutions SA. This strategic spin-off is positioned to better serve customers by offering project engineering solutions integrating its innovative technologies for sulphur removal and carbon management through circular economy initiatives. SulPure® technology As a spin-off of Daphne Technology, Daphne Solutions will take over key projects, such as the SulPure® technology,...

The United States Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Office of Environment and Innovation has selected ABS to establish and maintain the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation (Center) under a five-year cooperative agreement. Decarbonisation and digitalisation Authorised by the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Center for Maritime Innovation is intended to support the adoption of clean energy on U.S. vessels through a wide-ranging program of research and development and training support. ABS Chairman...

Vard, a Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group and one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialised vessels, has signed a new contract for the design and construction of one tailor-made Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for Navigare Capital Partners. This contract, established in close collaboration with Norwind Offshore, is a continuation of Vard’s long-standing relationship with the two parties and represents the first option to be exercised from the...

Jumbo is pleased to announce the successful installation of two mechanical sails to the Heavy Lift Vessel (HLV) Jumbo Jubilee. The wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) solution is the latest in a series of innovative technologies installed on the vessel in a bid to boost fuel efficiency and cut carbon.   Jumbo is committed to advancing sustainable heavy-lift shipping with innovative energy-saving and decarbonisation initiatives across its fleet, says Jumbo Maritime CEO Daan Kornn...

BERG Propulsion has unveiled the OpWind® software system to help crews combine the operation of sails and propellers in the most efficient way in all sea conditions. OpWind OpWind automatically ensures that engine efficiency can be optimised concerning propeller rpm and blade pitch angle when wind propulsion is also used to propel a vessel. The approach saves even more fuel than would otherwise be the case. The system automatically senses any sail contribution to propulsion based on a ves...

SRT Marine Systems plc (SRT), a global provider of maritime domain awareness systems and technologies for security, safety, and environmental protection, is pleased to advise that it has received a formal contract award notification from a Sovereign Government Ministry for a contract worth US$ 213 million to deliver an integrated SRT maritime surveillance system.  The award is subject only to completion of the formal contract and associated performance bond, which are now underway and expe...

The event, hosted by Alfa Laval, takes place online on 15 October from 9 to 11:15 am CET. Industry professionals are invited to join and gain insights from thought pioneers on key topics relating to the maritime industry. As achieving net zero targets climbs to the top of the maritime industry agenda, the Marine Innovation Summit 2024 allows the Marine industry to connect with industry experts as they unravel the route to sustainable shipping. Sustainable shipping The Summit will discuss tran...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised MET Group (“MET”) on its investment, by way of a partnership agreement with Celsius Group (“Celsius”), in one modern LNG carrier to be constructed by China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu). The LNG carrier is scheduled to be delivered in 2027 and will support MET’s growing LNG activities. The purchase supports MET’s strategy to enhance its ability to supply its customers with LNG from various sources...

Intellian Technologies Inc., the globally renowned provider of feature-rich maritime satellite communications solutions, announces that the ARC-M4 Block 1 has received WGS certification, and is known as the AN/USC-75 in the JETDAS system. The AN/USC-75 is already operationally deployed supporting critical expeditionary missions for its user community. It is the first tri-band terminal deployed for the surface fleet certified to deliver high-capacity SATCOM services on both commercial and milita...

Technology advancements have accelerated into the maritime ecosystem at breakneck speed over the past ten years fuelled by a glut of new money, eager to enter the maritime sector. From a time of on-premise solutions that enabled only a select number of users to interact with closed proprietary solutions with defined inputs and outputs, to where a plethora of companion applications have come onto the market. They’re designed to provide narrow answers to the big problems operators face, whe...

World Maritime Day on 26 September will highlight the importance of safety at sea in an era of significant transformations and new risks.  Fifty years since the adoption of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) - the world’s most important treaty for the safety of merchant ships – the maritime community is at a crossroads, facing rapid advances in technology, global security challenges and the shift to green energy.  Facing rapid advances This year&r...

At Gastech 2024, ABS awarded approval in principle for two new autonomous technologies from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). Unmanned Ammonia Engine Room for Ammonia-Fueled Ship Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Package for Unmanned Engine Room for Ammonia-Fueled Ship Autonomous navigation technology AIPs are the culmination of a joint development project, part of a wide MOU between ABS and HD Hyundai The AIPs are t...

OrbitMI has been named in the Thetius 150 ranking of the most innovative companies in the maritime industry for 2024, recognising the NYC-based software firm’s pioneering role in integrating data technologies to break down barriers to digital transformation.  Maritime intelligence and analytics The provider of maritime intelligence and analytics solutions is listed among the top 50 innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) – commercial organisations more than five years o...

DNV has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) for their design of a 60,000 m3 LPG/NH3/VCM carrier.  The design addresses the growing demand for Medium Gas Carrier (MGC) vessels and aligns with the industry trend towards larger ships. LPG and ammonia transport It also anticipates stricter environmental regulations and an expected rise in LPG and ammonia transport volumes. The vessel maintains the operational characteristics of existing MGCs while incorporating a dou...

DNV has granted a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for their new LNG carrier design. The new design has been developed to offer enhanced cargo capacity, improved operational efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. Maximising cargo capacity A key design innovation is a streamlined configuration with three instead of four cargo tanks. This is intended to maximise cargo capacity and reduce the number of pump towers and associated cryogenic equi...

OrbitMI, a globally renowned provider of maritime intelligence and analytics solutions, is pleased to announce Michelle Chowey as its new Head of Software Solutions for the APAC region, as of 20 May 2024. Michelle Chowey brings a wealth of experience in maritime technology, with a career that includes leadership roles in customer success, sales, and business development within the navigational and crewing software sectors. Michelle Chowey  Michelle Chowey comes to OrbitMI from Ocean Tech...