Digital transformation - News

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...

Fincantieri and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the pioneer in innovative cruise travel, celebrated the delivery at the Marghera (Venice) shipyard of Norwegian Aqua, the first ship of the expanded Prima Plus Class that Fincantieri is building for the cruise line. The ceremony was attended by Biagio Mazzotta and Pierroberto Folgiero, respectively Chairman, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, and by Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Fincantier...

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...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has won the GREEN4SEA Sustainability Award 2025, in recognition of the contribution its digital Carbon Calculator tool makes to maritime decarbonisation. Available free of charge on the MacGregor website, Carbon Calculator allows container shipping companies to estimate the carbon dioxide emissions. They can eliminate from their operations by upgrading their onboard container cargo system. Sustainable cargo operations Maximising cargo-carrying capacity increases r...

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...

Designed for rapid evacuation from fixed and floating offshore assets, VIKING Norsafe free-fall lifeboats are extensively tested to ensure reliable performance in the harshest conditions. Fast-boarding and robust, they enter the water well away from the evacuation point - and with a world record free-fall performance of up to 50 m approved drop height. Full range of the VIKING Norsafe lifeboats VIKING Norsafe GES-model free-fall lifeboats offer all the parts of conventional lifeboats with add...

ABS issued a Type Approval for IACS UR E27 cyber resilience requirements to Hanwha Systems for its cybersecurity solution, SecuAider®. Hanwha Systems’ SecuAider® is a software solution that offers protection to a vessel’s data and networks from advanced cyberattacks, such as ransomware and malware. Range of digitally enabled systems ABS E27 credential is part of ABS Cyber Resilience Program that evaluates a digitally enabled system The ABS E27 certification is part of the...

Gibdock, Gibraltar’s premier shipyard for naval and government vessels, successfully hosted an exclusive Defence Ship Repair Event at the House of Commons last night, bringing together key stakeholders from Government, industry, and the defence sector. The event was hosted by Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, and featured keynote speeches from The Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP, Minister for Defence Procurement, Tan Dhesi, Chairman of the House of Commons’ Defence Committee and Alan Donn...

As the supplier of marine coatings, Jotun partners with a broad range of stakeholders working to decarbonise shipping. But is the industry moving fast enough? Jotun’s President and CEO Morten Fon shares his views on how leadership, innovation and collaboration can accelerate the transition to a low carbon future. From his corner office on the seventh floor of Jotun’s Headquarters and R&D Centre, Morten Fon, Jotun’s President and CEO, has stunning views of the marine traffi...

Nexans is a pioneer in the design and manufacturing of cables systems and services, specialising in the offshore wind market and subsea interconnectors. To secure Nexans’ cable deliveries to transmission system operator TenneT's North Sea projects, Eksfin in collaboration with Societe Generale provides a EUR 290 million performance guarantee. Nexans’ legal entity in Norway To support the delivery of subsea power cables for Germany’s renewable energy expansion, Export Finance...

Intellian Technologies Inc., a global technology solutions provider of resilient multi-constellation, feature-rich satellite user terminals and Eutelsat Group. The only GEO-LEO operator in satellite communications, announced today that the new Enterprise Flat Panels are now available exclusively on Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network. Next-Gen Connectivity Solutions The new series uses Intellian’s innovative antenna technology to deliver enterprise-grade connectivityFeaturing the OW11FM...

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...

To help businesses streamline heavy lifting operations with safer, more efficient, and cost-effective solutions, Hendrik Veder Group UK has strengthened its strategic alliance with Lift-Tex®. This partnership will ensure that industries reliant on heavy lifting across the UK, including maritime, shipping, construction, oil and gas, and renewables, will gain direct access to the Lift-Tex® advanced Extreema® round sling product line, known for its superior strength, flexibility, and e...

Swiss marine power company WinGD has completed shop tests of its groundbreaking variable compression ratio (VCR) technology. The results confirm that methane reductions from new X-DF engines with VCR technology deliver similar ship greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to high-pressure dual-fuel technologies, while delivering a total system cost and fuel cost advantage for several vessel applications. Dual-fuel engines in maritime The reduction is expected to be even greater for engines with a large...

Kongsberg Maritime has secured its latest upgrade project to convert the double-ended car ferry MF Hamlet to emission-free battery-powered operation. The ferry, operated by Öresundlinjen, on the route between Helsingør, Denmark, and Helsingborg, Sweden, will see a major upgrade including installation of large battery packs and new permanent magnet motors for the azimuth thrusters. Primary goals of the project The primary goals of the project include achieving zero emissions, enabl...

Cummins Inc. has received Approval in Principle (AIP) from DNV for its methanol-ready QSK60 IMO II and IMO III engines, available in power ratings from 2000 to 2700 hp (1491-2013 kW). The approval, granted in June 2024, validates Cummins' retrofittable methanol dual-fuel solution for the global marine market, ensuring compliance with the highest standards of safety and performance. Integrated with battery technology Following extensive field testing, Cummins plans to launch the retrofit kits...

At AET, they believe they all have a responsibility to address climate change as individuals and as organisations. That’s why they have been at the forefront of investments in modern, energy-efficient assets to operate their business responsibly and efficiently while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a member of the MISC Group, they have made commitments to achieve net-zero emissions across all scopes by 2050. Their future strategic pathway is focused on reducing the fleet&rsquo...

Scheduled for February 18-19, 2025, at the AC Bella Sky Convention Centre in Copenhagen, the World Maritime Forum 2025 will gather industry pioneers, policymakers, and innovators to explore the future of global shipping.  Recognised as a premier event in the maritime sector, the forum is dedicated to tackling critical challenges, while fostering collaboration and industry growth. Maritime trends and long-term prospects The conference will focus on essential topics like decarbonisation an...

Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII) announced Royal Caribbean Group, a vacation industry pioneer with a global fleet, has become the latest member to join the cross-sectoral methane abatement initiative. The company is expected to provide valuable insights and support MAMII's ongoing efforts to develop and implement effective methane emission reduction strategies across the maritime industry. Reduction of methane emissions Addressing methane emissions is a key priority...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract to deliver a 100T AHC crane for a Dive Support Vessel owned by Jana Marine Service Company. The contract, which was booked in the fourth quarter 2024, is not reported as part of Cargotec’s orders received, as MacGregor is reported as part of discontinued operations. The crane delivery to the Guangzhou Salvage shipyard is scheduled in the second quarter 2026, with vessel delivery later that year. MacGregor's local sales team M...

Marcura, the pioneer in digital maritime solutions, has acquired Shipster, a start-up specialising in AI-driven document intelligence. The acquisition further strengthens Marcura’s AI-powered automation roadmap, enabling it to accelerate in line with evolving customer needs and scale to support the growing complexity of maritime workflows. AI-powered automation Shipster’s expertise in agile AI experimentation will help Marcura further refine data extraction Marcura has already em...

With increasing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the shipping industry must accelerate decarbonisation while ensuring operational and economic viability. Energy-efficiency measures can play a crucial role in reducing fuel consumption and facilitating the transition to alternative fuels as they become available. To help shipowners identify the best solutions for their fleet, DNV has published a report offering a comprehensive overview of currently available energy-efficiency measures a...

A new deep water bulk berth has been opened at the Port of Liverpool which will give a major boost to the port’s cargo handling operations. The first deep water bulk berth to be opened at the port in 40 years is located at Peel Ports Group’s Alexandra Complex, and represents an investment of £2 million by Peel Ports as part of its ongoing development of the Alexandra Complex. Bulk storage and handling requirements The new addition will increase the vessel handling capacity o...

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will supply the cargo handling systems for three 45,000 m3 capacity gas carrier vessels being built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in Korea. The order was placed by HMD and booked by Wärtsilä in Q1, 2025. Two of the ships have been contracted by Singapore and Hong Kong headquartered ship owner/operator Purus, and the third by Pasco Gas, based in Istanbul, Turkey. Both owners have previously or...

The Dynamic Positioning Digital Survey (DPDS) from Kongsberg Marine has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS. The DPDS application from Kongsberg continuously gathers data from a vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system, allowing annual DP surveys to move from in-person assessments on the vessel in a fixed timeframe to remote analysis onshore across a wider, more flexible timeframe. Evolution of digital solutions Per Kongsberg, the DPDS app contributes to reduced vessel downtim...