Blue economy - News

Global ferry and port operator, Stena Line has signed a significant deal with Peel Ports Group, a major UK port operator, to operate from Heysham Port for the next 77 years until 2100. The Swedish ferry company runs a twice-daily freight service from Belfast-Heysham providing a vital trade corridor between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. 12 Quays Terminal The collaborative agreement demonstrates the strong working partnership between the two organisations and seeks to further strengt...

ABS joined Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd., Seatech Solutions International (Seatech), and Shift Clean Energy (Shift), in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop electric tugboats, part of an initiative to achieve India’s goal of becoming the ‘Global Hub for Green Shipbuilding’ by 2030. The proposed E-VOLT 50 tug aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve operational efficiency, and set new benchmarks for performance and environmental sustainab...

Global resin-applications specialist - Bolidt has signed an exclusivity agreement with long-standing customer, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, covering all of the French shipyard’s newbuild cruise vessels – in addition to several navy ships, and offshore projects – until 2027. The joint undertaking is the latest in a 32-year relationship that has so far seen Bolidt supply its decking systems to around 100 Chantiers de l’Atlantique-built vessels–primarily cruise sh...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will supply the cargo handling and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) fuel supply systems for a new Medium Gas Carrier (MGC) vessel being built for Turkish ship owner - Pasco Gas. The contract was signed with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) and was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2023. The 45,000 m3 capacity vessel was ordered as an option following an earlier new build contract signed in February 2023. The Wärtsilä scope of supply is the same for both...

Regional cluster organisation, Mersey Maritime are delighted to announce that they have surpassed their initial pledge of £20,000 for The Hive Youth Zone, a local charity providing essential support for disadvantaged youth. The impressive sum of £43,700 was raised as part of Mersey Maritime’s 20-year anniversary celebrations. Just over 12 months ago, Mersey Maritime pledged to support The Hive Youth Zone. Located just a short distance from Mersey Maritime’s headquarters...

Brunvoll Mar-El will deliver the onshore charging system for the Bergen area fast ferries, more specifically on the Knarvik-Bergen and Kleppestø-Bergen routes. Brunvoll Mar-El has earlier been contracted to deliver the electrical and hybrid system integration for the 3 ferries, and the contracts add up to both onboard and onshore system integration.  Low-emission high-speed vessels Brunvoll Mar-El is a systems integrator in the market for power and weight-optimised low-emission hi...

COSCO Shipping Technology has become the latest company to join the international autonomous shipping association, as One Sea continues to expand its geographical footprint following a period of significant growth in 2023. COSCO Shipping Technology, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Group, one of the largest shipping and logistics companies in the world, is the sixth company to join One Sea this year. Bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in the development of autonomous shipping technolog...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will supply the cargo handling and fuel supply systems for four new 40,000 cubic.metres gas carrier vessels. The ships are being built at the CIMC SinoPacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE) shipyard in China for Norwegian shipowner Avance Gas. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2023. Wärtsilä’s range of complete cargo handling systems for gas tankers are designed to reduce operating costs and improve the vessel’s Energy...

Bureau Veritas (BV), a world pioneer in testing, inspection, and certification, has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Greek company - ERMA FIRST for its BLUE CONNECT system, a high-voltage alternative maritime power solution that can be housed in a 40 ft container. ERMA FIRST’s system, which can be housed in a container or provided in a stand-alone configuration, enables most ships to connect with different shore power systems based on their required power. BLUE CONNECT can be plugge...

ABB announces the release of the 2023 edition of Generations, which focuses on the experts, companies, and solutions driving the maritime industry toward a more successful and sustainable future. 'Transforming Tomorrow' With 2023’s theme, ‘Transforming Tomorrow’, Generations showcases the technological innovations, expertise, and concepts empowering change in shipping and beyond. It also highlights how ABB is drawing on its people, passion, and pedigree to support the transf...

Harbour Commission approves promotions to fill positions. The Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners has approved the appointments of new directors for the Port of Long Beach’s Human Resources and Engineering Design divisions. Khristina Jason, previously the Port’s assistant director of Human Resources since November 2021, will become Director of Human Resources. She joined the Port’s HR Division in April 2021 as Manager of Talent Relations and Engagement, having serve...

At Peel Ports Group, working closely with major cargo owners and shipping lines to find a solution which addresses a long-standing UK cargo flow distribution challenge. The efficient movement of goods is the lifeblood of any economy, and in the UK, the distribution of freight plays a crucial role in sustaining supply chains. However, the unequal distribution of freight by sea across the country poses significant challenges to both efficiency and sustainability. UK’s general productiv...

The northern German ports are constantly expanding their rail connections. It is set to become the means of transport of the future. In the Port of Hamburg, a good half of all hinterland transport is already carried by rail. Last year, 47.3 million tonnes of cargo weight were transported by rail. At the same time, the importance of rail as a climate-friendly means of transport is also growing in other seaports. The growing demand is increasingly becoming a major challenge for the railways, as c...

Port of Hamburg Beteiligungsgesellschaft SE, a wholly owned subsidiary of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., announces the final result of its voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft: At the expiry of the acceptance period, which was extended until 7 December 2023 at 24:00 hrs (CET), the takeover offer had been accepted by shareholders holding 7,325,366 Class A shares. This corresponds to 9.74 percent of the share capital. In...

Accelleron and Web Aruba N.V., the public utility and water company for Aruba, have signed a 10 year customised Turbo LifecycleCare™ service agreement. This agreement provides for the maintenance and predictable budgeting of Web Aruba’s 32 turbochargers installed on single and dual fuel stroke engines.   A public signing between the companies took place on November 8th, 2023 with Aruba’s Minister of Labor, Energy and Integration, Glenbert Croes, attending. Power generat...

ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Christopher J. Wiernicki expressed the thanks of a grateful industry to IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim at the official gala dinner to mark the transition to his successor, Arsenio Dominguez.  Speaking to more than 250 assembled pioneers of the shipping industry at COP28, Wiernicki detailed Secretary General Lim’s 'glittering legacy of achievement' and honoured their shared commitment to safety. Greenhouse gas strategy One whose impact w...

Lateral Naval Architects received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS for its new design of a methanol-fuelled, 70-metre superyacht. Lateral’s design focuses on reducing carbon emissions by utilising alternative fuels, specifically green methanol. ABS utilised the ABS Requirements for Methanol and Ethanol Fuelled Vessels to review the design and award the AIP. Lateral Naval Architects receives AIP from ABS “ABS is proud to collaborate with forward-looking companies like Lateral N...

ABB and shipping company - Wallenius Marine have opened the doors of the first OVERSEA Fleet Support Centre, a major milestone in their collaborative strategy to help shipping companies improve environmental, technical and voyage performance. One of the maritime industry’s first digital and fleet support centres to be developed as a service, OVERSEA provides recommendations to help vessels, across all types and fleet sizes, achieve measurable performance improvements, pioneering to...

Technology group - Wärtsilä will supply an integrated hybrid propulsion solution for three new self-discharging cargo vessels being built at the Royal Bodewes shipyard in the Netherlands for Norwegian shipowner - Aasen Shipping. As part of the solution, the ships will feature the latest addition to Wärtsilä’s engine portfolio, the Wärtsilä 25, which was launched in September 2022. The engines and vessel are prepared for operation on sustainable fuels in the f...

WEG has developed an innovative coating for use in highly corrosive environments, providing greater durability to assets and increasing the lifespan by up to four times compared to current technologies. This coating technology, already being tested and applied in some offshore platforms, replaces traditional coatings, simplifying equipment and structure maintenance where applied and offering significantly greater resistance compared to currently adopted protective plans. Offshore maintenance...

Neptune Energy and its partners announced a discovery at the Kyrre prospect and confirmed the volumes for the Ofelia appraisal well, both located in the PL 929 licence, close to the Gjøa field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.  Neptune has completed the Ofelia appraisal well, 35/6-4 ST2, in the Agat formation. The estimated recoverable volume is in the range of 16-33 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). New gas discovery 35/6-4 A side track was drilled into the ove...

Each year, Siemens presents the Inventors of the Year award to outstanding inventors in six categories: Newcomers, Open Innovation, Outstanding Invention, Lifetime Achievement, Design and User Experience and the recently added PhD Award. In addition to helping explain artificial intelligence (AI), the prize-winning inventions also make power grids more sustainable, railcar axles more stable and charging stations for electric vehicles more universal. The 2023 award will be presented today to twe...

ClassNK has released the latest ‘ClassNK Technical Journal’, which has been published for contributing to the advancement of technology and society through the outcome of R&D and technical activities. The latest issue, ‘ClassNK Technical Journal No.8 2023 (II)’ features “Trends and Initiatives toward Reduction of GHG”. ‘ClassNK Technical Journal’ The new issue, ‘ClassNK Technical Journal’ covers an overview of IMO/EU GHG related...

MAN Energy Solutions has announced an agreement with Alfa Laval, the Swedish industrial concern, to develop a methanol fuel-supply solution for MAN four-stroke engines and its fuel-injection technology. As a result, the first four-stroke engine types will be capable of retrofit to methanol operation from 2025. MAN Energy Solutions and Alfa Laval previously collaborated on decarbonising shipping in 2014 when the very first methanol solution for two-stroke marine engines was in development. To da...

Technology group Wärtsilä introduces EvoTube, a revolutionary and patented advancement in Shaft Line technology for marine propulsion systems, reducing risk and simplifying operations. While based on a conventional stern tube, the EvoTube is a significantly simplified system with fewer components than a conventional stern tube system.  The inboard seal is mounted directly on the aft bearing housing, and the forward bearing is replaced with a standalone bearing inside the eng...

A major programme of repairs is underway at the iconic breakwater at South Gare after the structure suffered serious damage in the face of extraordinary sea conditions during Storm Babet. Concrete slabs weighing up to 50 tonnes were ‘tossed about like pebbles’ during Storm Babet in October, as the breakwater took the brunt of fierce winds and waves which reached several metres high. PD Ports, as Statutory Harbour Authority for Teesport and the Port of Hartlepool, with responsib...

Brunvoll has recently signed a contract with Westcon Yards for the delivery of a wide array of products to the new fishing vessel for owner - M.V. Quantus Limited and Peter & J. Johnstone Limited, based in Peterhead, United Kingdom (UK). Included is the Retractable Azimuth Combi Thruster, on its way to becoming an industry standard for fishing vessels. The vessel is designed by Salt Ship Design and will be delivered from the yard by the end of 2025. Brunvoll delivery components The Brunvo...

Accelleron welcomed the 100th customer for its running hours-based service agreement for four-stroke engine turbochargers, Turbo LifecycleCare in November 2023. More than 2,000 turbochargers supporting main or auxiliary engines across maritime and land-based power generation applications are covered by the unique agreement structure, which was established in 2017 to deliver predictable maintenance costs and reduced risk for operators. Turbo LifecycleCare agreement Turbo LifecycleCare agreemen...

International Marine Contractors, Leask Marine Ltd. achieves another “World First”. The company has announced that it has successfully installed its first offshore grouted pile with its revolutionary Raptor Submersible Drilling Rig (SDR) technology.    This marks the final commercialisation phase of the Raptor SDR, from concept, design, manufactured, and full testing programme complete with third-party verification. Characteristics of Raptor SDR design The main characte...

Waves Group is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the first phase of the decommissioning works for the iconic Royal Sovereign Lighthouse. The lighthouse represented cutting-edge maritime civil engineering technology for its time and was the only offshore lighthouse in the UK built directly on top of the seabed. Waves Group are Client Representative and Technical Consultant to Trinity House for the project. The team navigated the complex processes involved, to ensure the removal of...