Digital transformation - News

Procureship, the pioneer e-procurement platform for the global maritime industry, has signed an agreement with Shipnet. The Norwegian vessel management software provider, to bring its award-winning e-procurement service to its online maritime operation app. Shipnet and procureship unite The deal will enable all Shipnet users to access Procureship’s e-procurement platformThe deal, which was signed during Sea Asia in Singapore on 25 March, will enable all Shipnet users to access Procuresh...

Ocean Network Express (ONE) successfully hosted the fourth Container Shipping Summit in Hong Kong on 26 March 2025. In pursuit of sustainable container shipping development, the Summit brought together academic pioneers in Asia to discuss diverse challenges and encourage industry-academia collaboration to drive change and innovation towards a sustainable future. Implementing growth strategies Yasuki Iwai, Global Chief Officer - Head of Corporate and Innovation of ONE, delivered the opening re...

STAR Information Systems (STAR) is proud to announce the successful signing of an agreement to acquire Arribatec Marine (Infoship), a pioneering provider of fleet technical management solutions. This acquisition strengthens STAR’s presence in the maritime software market and represents an important step forward in the growth journey. Digitalisation within maritime sector Infoship built a strong reputation in supporting digitalisation within the maritime sector Found...

As part of Singapore Maritime Week, DNV has awarded Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC), Approval in Principle (AiP) for their new wide beam ammonia-ready Kamsarmax bulk carrier. The vessel has a shallow draft for flexible port calls, as well as being WAPS (wind-assisted propulsion system) ready. Greenhouse gas reduction goals Green ammonia is emerging as a strong candidate for climate-neutral fuel for shipping Green ammonia is emerging as a strong candidate for the climate...

ABS, in collaboration with pioneering players in the maritime industry, has joined an ambitious initiative from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to tackle challenges facing global shipping. The MIT Maritime Consortium unites academia and industry to support the development of cutting-edge technologies that aim to transform the sector, including alternative fuel and new nuclear technologies, data-powered strategies for efficient operations and decision making, autonomy and cyberse...

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...

ALFA International Corporation has introduced a new high performance two-part polyurethane encapsulant that was formulated by the U.S. Navy and exhibits excellent hydrolytic stability and exceptional acoustic properties. ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encapsulant is a U.S. Navy protected proprietary formulation that is hydrolytically stable for protecting marine acoustic equipment, hydrophones, and underwater transducers. ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encapsulant ALFA NUWC XP-1 Polyurethane Encaps...

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...

Increasing incidents of interference with aviation, maritime and other satellite telecommunications services mean states must urgently enhance the protection of a critical radio-frequency band, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) said with ‘grave concern’ in a joint statement. These cases of harmful interference are in the form of jamming and spoofing that disrupt Global Navig...

“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...

International®, AkzoNobel's marine coatings brand, has published a new whitepaper on how data collaboration between fouling control coating experts and vessel operators can drive more informed decision-making, enhance vessel performance reliability and support sustainability goals for the fleet. The research includes a detailed case study of three Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) vessels tracked over a 60-month service period, all coated with Intersleek® 1100SR, an ultra-high performance foulin...

Fincantieri, one of the world's pioneer groups in high-complexity shipbuilding, and the Guardia di Finanza signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation to prevent and fight criminal infiltrations and irregularities in the economic and production sectors. The agreement establishes a joint effort to protect legality, with a focus on preventing and combating economic and financial crimes, fraud, corruption, and illegal labor practices. Enhancing transparency and securit...

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...

Orca AI, a pioneer in maritime technology, celebrates a major milestone as Seaspan Corporation, a containership powerhouse, integrates its cutting-edge SeaPod digital watchkeeper across its entire fleet, to support significant safety improvements and operational cost savings. Rooted in a robust safety culture As part of its digitalisation strategy, Seaspan began using Orca AI's SeaPod digital watchkeeper on select vessels to enhance situational awareness for navigation. An analysis of Seaspan...

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...

Propspeed®, a pioneering innovator in underwater biocide-free, foul-release coatings, announced it has signed an agreement with LUKA Marine Murter d.o.o. to serve as the Company’s new single-entry partner for Croatia and Slovenia. The partnership will kick off with the first national technical training for applicators and resellers in this vital region to prepare Propspeed for the quickly approaching refit season. Propspeed’s coating systems LUKA Marine Murter is a privately o...

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...

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...

Efficient installation and commissioning of onboard equipment is critical in the newbuild construction process. This has been demonstrated with successful sea trials for the first davits installed by Vestdavit on a series of US Navy fleet refuelling vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO. Proven performance PLRH-5000 davits excel in trials aboard USNS Robert F. Kennedy, ensuring smooth naval operations and newbuild deliveriesThe pair of high-specification PLRH-5000 rescue boat davits...

ABS and Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) have successfully completed a landmark collaboration advancing the development of fully autonomous vessels. The Action Planning and Execution System (APExS-auto) maritime autonomy framework from MTI received approval in principle from ABS. The project utilised the System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) method, an innovative hazard analysis technique. System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) method “ABS is leading the industry in forward-th...

OrbitMI, a pioneer provider of maritime SaaS software, announces that Istanbul-based Statu Shipping has deployed its compliance solutions across its fleet of 20 bulk carriers.  Rather than handling compliance as a passive, post-voyage process, Statu Shipping can now monitor and manage compliance outcomes in real time, optimizing efficiency, reducing costs, and ensuring regulatory adherence throughout the voyage. Reducing CII Impact Using Orbit’s compliance capabilities operators ca...

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...

HarborLab, the Athens-based maritime technology company, has launched a new AI-powered feature designed to optimise Disbursement Account (DA) analysis and streamline port expense management. This latest innovation, known as HL AI, is part of the company’s drive to fully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its entire platform ecosystem helping shipowners and operators unlock efficiency and major cost savings in daily vessel operations. Advanced digitalisation systems HarborLab,...

In recent months, several oil majors have begun to turn away from renewables to refocus on fossil fuels. This will likely lead them to increase their capital budgets for developing deep-sea oil and gas reserves, requiring a balance of new (large-scale) floating production units and commercial vessels to transport products. In this article, they look at the differences between the terms on which commercial vessels are designed, constructed and delivered and those for projects for offshore floati...

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...