Digital transformation - News

A new logistics and freight yard beside Southampton Container Terminal is predicted to give a significant extra competitive edge to cargo and haulage operations in the port.  The new yard and operation has been created in a deal between Southampton Container Terminal operator - DP World and Williams Shipping, one of Southampton’s oldest and most established maritime and logistics businesses. Cargo expansion The yard is twice the size of the existing Williams Shipping yard, which is...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has launched NexusWave, a fully managed connectivity service underpinned by a ‘bonded’ multi-dimensional network, offering high-speed connectivity, unlimited data, global coverage, and ‘secure by design’ infrastructure. NexusWave Delivered by a single provider, NexusWave is a fully managed service that seamlessly integrates multiple high-speed networks in real-time – Global Xpress (GX) Ka-band, low-Earth orbit (LEO) services, a...

This year, like any other Maritime UK is taking a stand to support women in the sector, urging the industry to get involved in Women in Maritime Day. International Day for Women in Maritime 2024 (18th May) celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector. Enhancing safety measures This day shines a spotlight on the progress of industry has made over the last year, but also the changes we as an ind...

Scottish exporters of perishable goods are set to benefit from a £750,000 investment into reefer point infrastructure at the Port of Greenock, which marks a significant upgrade to the country’s refrigerated cargo capabilities. The substantial increase in reefer points, from 32 to 220, solidifies the port’s position as a pioneer hub for refrigerated and frozen cargo on the West Coast. It will significantly increase ease of access to global markets for food and drink manufacture...

OceanWise was awarded the contract to work on a unique project involving the historic and impressive HMS Warrior vessel. This iconic piece of British history is moored in Portsmouth as part of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. HMS Warrior is an "ironclad, 40-gun, steam-powered frigate, built for the British Navy in 1859-1861″. OceanWise is proudly working with a number of project partners including Waves Group Limited, Nortek, Gill instruments and RS Divers to install a variety of en...

Zero-emissions goal energised by Forum Mobility’s new charging stations. A new charging depot that will be operated by Forum Mobility broke ground Wednesday, aimed at meeting the accelerating demand for heavy-duty electric trucks serving the Port of Long Beach. The facility, scheduled to go online in the fall, moves the Port closer toward achieving a goal of zero-emissions operations for drayage trucks by 2035. Mobility’s new charging depot “As an industry pioneer in the sus...

Harbor Lab, the maritime software company modernising the outdated accounting practices hampering the $14 trillion shipping industry, has raised a $16 million Series A funding round led by European VC Atomico.  With participation from existing investors Notion Capital, Venture Friends, SpeedInvest and The Dock, and new investors Endeavor Catalyst and maritime VC TMV, the round follows a Seed round of €6.1 million. It takes total funding for the Greek startup to some $22.5 million. A...

Complete with over 100 user-requested features, streamlined vessel applications and enhanced user experience, ABS has launched Eagle Unified™, an industry-renowned structural design verification software tool. The launch is the latest in a series of investments in major new engineering capabilities that have been delivered by ABS in recent weeks. LNGC capabilities Eagle Unified™ is a single tool that can support multiple vessel types, with containership Eagle Unified™ is a...

A new feeder fleet of two tugs and two barges dedicated to serving a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) from Maersk Supply Service (MSS) has been ordered by Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) to ABS Class. The innovative system is designed to deliver components to the construction site, allowing the ABS-classed WTIV to remain on location, promising faster wind farm installations. Offshore wind components Designed to serve the U.S. offshore wind market, the novel articulated tug/barge (ATB) co...

Shipping company ACL’s new transatlantic service in partnership with BG Freight Line and Peel Ports Group will have transit times up to two weeks faster than any similar service travelling between Dublin/Belfast and North America via a UK or Continental transshipment port. The partnership will offer importers and exporters quicker than ever before access to/from the USA and Canada with direct calls at the major ports of Halifax, New York, Baltimore and Norfolk via the Port of Liverpool....

High Eye is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the journey of innovation and growth: the selection of the Airboxer VTOL UAV by the Dutch Navy. After an extensive study of maritime VTOL UAV systems, the Dutch Navy recognised the Airboxer's suitability for the challenging maritime domain. With over a decade of development, the Airboxer has evolved to its current level through dedication and craftsmanship. They are immensely proud that the Dutch Navy acknowledges the qualities of the...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has launched a new report Digital Wave: Transforming Vessels into Floating Offices and Remote Homes. The report explores the growing importance of ‘always-on’ onboard connectivity as ships and their crew become increasingly reliant on digital technology.  In an era that sees ships functioning as ‘floating offices’, a reliable network connection optimises vessel operations and enhances life on board. Equally, the consequences of a...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has designed and delivered controllable pitch propellers for Stena’s new Ro-Pax vessel, Ala’suinu, which has completed sea trials. Following these sea trials, Ala’suinu became the first Ro-Pax vessel to fulfil the DNV Silent(E) notation, satisfying the criteria in the operating conditions at 11 and 18 knots. This environment class notation from DNV was introduced to protect sensitive marine ecosystems, applying to vessels that demonstrate...

Ricardo, a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd's Register, the global provider of classification and compliance services to the marine and offshore industries, for the design of its cutting-edge multi-megawatt containerised fuel cell power plant solution. RFC500 design, build, and test Ricardo designed and developed the technology as part of the Sustainable Hydrogen Powered Shipping (sHYpS) project, for which...

ClassNK has partnered with StormGeo for seamless sharing and verification of emission data. The collaboration marks a significant milestone for the two as it establishes the sharing and verification of emission data, to meet the requirements of their shared clients. Shipping companies that use StormGeo’s s-Insight platform will be able to share their validated emissions data to the ClassNK MRV Portal via API, for a seamless verification process. This process enables shipping comp...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with VARD for the delivery of a comprehensive propulsion and manoeuvring system for Cyan Renewables new Service Operation Vessel (SOV). Azimuth propulsion thrusters The vessel will have the first azimuth propulsion thrusters from Brunvoll with an 8-degree tilted propeller and nozzle, for enhanced performance during dynamic positioning operations. The delivery for the new SOV consists of two azimuth propulsion thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, a...

Major provider of secure maritime data communications software, GTMaritime, has unveiled an enhanced version of GTDeploy – the advanced fleet-management and diagnostics tool that helps owners get the best out of their operating systems. With unparalleled visibility into vessel assets and computer systems, IT teams now have a range of new key features to optimise performance, streamline operations, and mitigate cyber-security risks. Functionality of upgraded solution The upgraded solutio...

ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (HD KSOE), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd. (HHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the technical feasibility for medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) power systems on ships. The agreement opens the door to collaboration on design assessment, new technology qualification as well as the development of rule guidance to provide clear directives on technical requirements, safety standards, and...

Tokyu Land Corporation and SolarDuck B.V., in collaboration with Kyocera Communication Systems Corporation, have completed the installation of Japan's first offshore floating solar photovoltaic (OFPV) power plant on the sea surface, under the Tokyo Bay eSG Project (the Project), an initiative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Policy Planning Bureau.  This project is a demonstration project by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government that aims to realise the world's most advanced energy gener...

ABS has issued a New Technology Qualification (NTQ) for an innovative ammonia-to-electrical power system from Amogy. The Amogy ammonia-to-electrical power system splits, or 'cracks', liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen, funneling the hydrogen into a fuel cell generating high-performance power. Sustainable, clean energy solution  The technology represents a sustainable, clean energy solution tailored for industries, such as maritime shipping and power generation...

Accelleron has renewed its service agreement with the world’s biggest engine builder - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery Division (HHI-EMD) and its lifecycle service company - HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HMS). The agreement, continuing a collaboration that started in 2024, will ensure that owners of engines built by HHI-EMD and vessels or power plants serviced by HMS can benefit from Accelleron’s turbocharger service expertise, spare parts, lifecycle upgrades, and e...

The ABS-classed Liza Unity continues to collect industry firsts by receiving the first REMOTE-CON notation for an FPSO from ABS. The REMOTE-CON notation demonstrates the vessel’s alignment with remote-control functions and signifies that the design and construction of the offshore asset are assessed against and adhere to the ABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote Control Functions.  Liza Unity The Liza Unity is the second FPSO to be built for ExxonMobil Guyana’s Stabroek...

ABS and Seatrium have enhanced their long-running partnership on cutting-edge marine and technology projects with the signing of a three-year Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA) at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). State-of-the-art projects Entitled 'Accelerating Decarbonisation and Energy Transition', the agreement is the foundation for further collaboration on a succession of state-of-the-art projects under four broad themes: decarbonisation, electrification, new energies, and d...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised the Blue Ocean maritime strategy managed by EnTrust Global (EnTrust) on its acquisition of Norwegian alternative investment fund manager - Offshore Merchant Partners (OMP) from HitecVision. EnTrust EnTrust is a major global alternative asset management firm. Co-founded in 1997 by Chairman and CEO - Gregg S. Hymowitz, EnTrust offers a diverse range of alternative investment opportunities across strategies, including private debt and real asset...

Classification society - DNV announced at OTC Houston that its new rules and standards for the offshore industry will be published in July, after receiving industry feedback. The new DNV rules cover several segments, including underwater systems and installations, offshore units, diving systems, structural design, and drilling systems. The DNV rules and standards undergo an extensive external hearing process, before their publication and entry into force.    Rules and standardised pr...

ClassNK has released the report – ‘ClassNK Alternative Fuels Insight’, which summarises the characteristics and latest trends of alternative fuels to support their customers’ future fuel selection. Amidst the pressing need for society-wide reduction of GHG emissions, regulations aimed at further promoting GHG emission reductions in international shipping are being introduced. This heralds the arrival of an era where GHG emissions from ships will incur costs. Adoption of...

NorthStandard announces the departure of James Bean, a senior executive team member, following his decision to accept a role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The London P&I Club. NorthStandard will not be replacing him as one of two Chiefs of geographical sectors. Steve Cockburn who currently shares the position with James, will assume sole responsibility. Jeremy's comments “It is with mixed feelings that we share this news,” said Jeremy Grose, Co-Managing Director of North...

Ricardo is working to support clients in the maritime sector, developing innovations and exploring new hydrogen activities to help decarbonise the industry.    Ricardo, a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, is expanding its capabilities in the global maritime sector, supporting clients with the design, development, and testing of large-scale propulsion systems, including multi-stack fuel cell technology.   Hydrogen test facility In Jan...

The London P&I Club has announced that Ian Gooch will be stepping down during the year from the role of Chief Executive Officer after 15 years as CEO and 21 years as a Director of A. Bilbrough & Co., the Company that manages The London P&I Club.  Subject to regulatory approval, Ian Gooch will be succeeded by James Bean, from NorthStandard P&I Club. NorthStandard’s senior leadership A qualified Solicitor, James Bean has worked within the marine insurance industry sin...

ABS awarded approval in principle (AIP) to two critical autonomous functions on a proposed offshore platform in the latest phase of its pioneering collaboration with HD Hyundai Group. The artificial intelligence-based Autonomous Machinery Health Management Function (HiCBM) and the Autonomous Safety Management Function (HiCAMS) both received AIP from ABS at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. Latest stage in ABS and HD group The certificates are just the latest stage in ABS and HD H...