Digital transformation - News

OceanScore, the global provider of data and compliance management solutions for the maritime industry, has successfully closed an oversubscribed €5 million Series A financing round. The influx of new capital will enable the company to further develop its solutions portfolio and expand its global footprint. Financing round The financing round included significant contributions from existing investor theDOCK and new investors such as Stolt Ventures, Motion Ventures, and Portline, along wit...

As the shipping industry transitions to cleaner fuels, ammonia as a marine fuel is gaining momentum. Alfa Laval is at the forefront of enabling this shift. Through research, product development, and strategic partnerships, the company is building the expertise and solutions needed for a safe and efficient transition to alternative fuels. Addressing challenges Alfa Laval is now accelerating the development of new technologies for ammonia The unique properties of ammonia, including its low fla...

Recently founded digital company Nauticworx is proud to announce the official launch of its workboat availability platform, making its debut at the SMM 2024 in Hamburg. Workboat Platform This platform aims to facilitate the way offshore and maritime professionals manage their fleet operations. It provides a seamless – and safe - solution for chartering regional workboats on the spot market in a digital environment that keeps participants anonymous until they choose not to be. In additio...

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV awarded Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company (HPWS) three approval in principle (AiP) certificates for their innovative designs of three new ship types.  Three new designs  An ammonia-fueled 43,000 cbm midsize gas carrier (MGC)  An ammonia-fueled SWAN 3,500 TEU container ship, and  A LNG dual-fueled SWAN 1,300 TEU container ship with ice class. New-generation MGC features New-generation MGC features a wider beam compared to typ...

REACH Subsea’s ground-breaking uncrewed surface vessel, REACH REMOTE 1, has received the Skipsrevven Ship of the Year 2024 award at the SMM exhibition in Hamburg. The 24-metre REACH REMOTE 1 is the first of a pair of uncrewed offshore surface vessels designed and delivered by Kongsberg Maritime to Norwegian company REACH SUBSEA ASA. REACH REMOTE USV design Crammed with state-of-the-art KONGSBERG technology, the vessels will initially carry out underwater survey...

At the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, DNV awarded Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. with three Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates and a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) certificate for the design of innovative vessels. Hudong Zhonghua, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation and one of China’s foremost shipbuilders, received these approvals as part of its efforts to address the shifting dynamics in the global energy market.  AiP certificates The AiP...

Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM) has unveiled Iridium Certus GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime safety, compliance, and communication. Building on the powerful capabilities of Iridium Certus technology, Iridium Certus GMDSS features distress alert, safety voice and Maritime Safety Information (MSI), while integrating additional regulated services, like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS). Iridium Certus GMDSS The combination of capa...

AkzoNobel’s International® marine coatings brand has announced a series of updates to Intertrac® Vision, a digital forecasting tool designed to enable data-driven decision-making on fouling control coatings for global vessel operators. Intertrac® Vision analyses proprietary International® performance data across 200,000 drydocks and now with the addition of 10,000 vessel operators.  Intertrac® Vision Harnessing the predictive capability of Artificial Intell...

Samskip is proud to announce its partnership in the ground-breaking HyEkoTank project, an initiative supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme.  As part of its ongoing efforts to reach net zero emissions by 2040, Samskip will retrofit its multi-purpose vessel - Samskip Kvitnos with cutting-edge hydrogen fuel cell technology developed by TECO 2030. This collaboration will enable Samskip to take another major step forward in decarbonising its fleet and reducing greenho...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is pleased to announce that maritime disputes expert - Natalie Jackson has joined the firm as a partner in Athens, Greece. She has over 18 years of contentious experience working at UK shipping law firms based in Piraeus, having trained as a solicitor in London. Natalie Jackson Natalie specialises in maritime law and has an emphasis on dispute resolution arising from charter parties, bills of lading, MoA and shipbuilding disputes, salvage, collisions, ground...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) is delighted to announce that it has joined the Smart Maritime Network (SMN), an initiative dedicated to supporting and further promoting digital transformation across the shipping and transport sectors. Smart Maritime Network (SMN) SMN’s goal is to provide a platform to promote the benefits of enhanced integration and data sharing among stakeholders within the maritime and transport logistics sectors, informing and educating the industry on technologic...

The second Women in Maritime Survey has been launched to gather important baseline data about women’s participation in the maritime and ocean fields. IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez issued a worldwide call to governments, companies, organisations and academic institutions to take part, stating: "Join me in championing diversity and fostering a barrier-free workplace for all by completing the survey, which will allow for a more targeted use of resources and ensure that w...

Vessel performance monitoring is a systematic approach to managing various aspects of a vessel to ensure optimal output and productivity. This process includes monitoring the engine's RPM, fuel consumption per nautical mile, speed, and emissions levels. Using digital tools and information technologies in vessel performance monitoring allows for real-time identification of the ship's onboard status, providing valuable support for continuous improvement and proactive management decision-making....

A collaboration between BERG Propulsion, shipping and logistics group CMA CGM and ship owner Reederei Rambow has proved pivotal in significant efficiency gains for an 868 TEU container vessel, with the 2007-built ship rejuvenated as one of the top performers in its class. In an innovative retrofit project requested by charterer CMA CGM, BERG worked with Rambow on a comprehensive package of efficiency optimisation measures onboard Henneke Rambow to match current and anticipated requirements. Re...

ClassNK published estimated leak frequencies of ammonia fuel from onboard components for ammonia-fuelled ships, usable for risk assessment. The estimated leak frequencies were added as an appendix of 'Part C of Guidelines for Ships Using Alternative Fuels (Edition 3.0)'. Ammonia for ships Ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is expected to be utilised as an alternative fuel for ships, and various studies and developments are currently underway toward the practical application of ammo...

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC (Additional Fire-Fighting measures for Vehicle Carrier)’ notations to ‘CERULEAN ACE,’ an LNG-fuelled car carrier operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and managed by MOL Ship Management Co., Ltd., for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs). It is the first vessel in the ClassNK registry to receive the ‘AFVC’ notations, and it marks the world's first case of a shipping company's...

In October 2023, Port Oostende had the pleasure of naming Patrick Degryse as the first "Port Personality of the Year". This award honours individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Port Oostende. In 2024, Port Oostende is proud to award this prestigious recognition to not just one, but three exceptional individuals from Japanese companies, whose innovative efforts and unwavering dedication have greatly enhanced the port's operations and solidified the bond between Japan and Oost...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with Aas Mek Verksted for the delivery of a propulsion, manoeuvring, and positioning system for Njord Aquashipping’s new live fish carriers. The delivery is for two vessels, with one additional vessel as an option. Brunvoll’s delivery for each of the two vessels consists of: Two ducted azimuth propulsion thrusters, a tunnel thruster, Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system (BruCon PTC), and Brunvoll’s Dynamic Positioning system wi...

Wärtsilä Water & Waste, part of the technology group - Wärtsilä, announces a new partnership with DHL Supply Chain, which will see DHL manage the business's warehouse and logistical operations for spare parts. The partnership will further optimise Wärtsilä Water & Waste’s supply chain and build operational capabilities in preparation for the sale of the Water & Waste business line from the corporation. Strategic goals The transition aligns with...

Reaching shipping’s 2030 decarbonisation goal of 20% emission reductions, set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will not happen without significant energy savings, according to DNV's latest Maritime Forecast to 2050. The report stresses that, until carbon-neutral fuels become viable, prioritising the development and use of technologies that reduce energy consumption is crucial for lowering shipping’s emissions. 2030 decarbonisation goals IMO’s 2030 decarbonis...

Swiss marine power company - WinGD has received its hundredth order for Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) technology, which further optimises combustion for X-DF dual-fuel engines depending on the fuel used and engine load.  The innovative solution was launched in June 2023 and has already become a favoured option for dual-fuel engine orders, especially in the LNG carrier segment. LNG carrier segment The milestone order came via a series of four LNG carriers to be built for a Middle Easte...

OrbitMI, a global provider of maritime intelligence and analytics solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Tobias Constien as its new Director of Product Management, effective April 2024. Tobias Constien brings experience in maritime technology, with a robust background in digital transformation, product strategy, and innovation within the sector. Digitalisation and sustainability Tobias Constien joined OrbitMI from zero44, where he played a role in advancing digital initiatives a...

Delkia has led the Encompass group of nine companies, many small-medium sized enterprises, in a major contract win from the Ministry of Defence to supply technical and post-design services to marine systems support globally for the Royal Navy Surface Fleet. Framework arrangement The support contract is a framework arrangement and activities likely to be delivered as part of this include design revisions, reverse engineering, interoperability studies equipment trials, etc. In addition, the grou...

Asyad Group has given its support for the inaugural Oman Maritime, Ports, and Energy Forum as its Strategic Partner.  Asyad Group is Oman’s global integrated logistics provider with an expansive portfolio that includes three deep ports, two free sones, an economic zone, and a dry port, providing unparalleled multimodal logistics solutions, actively operating in key trade hubs including China and the US.  Oman Maritime, Ports, and Energy Forum The Oman Maritime, Ports, and Ener...

ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service company, announced the launch of the latest module of Nautical Systems (NS)-Web, the highly anticipated web-based version of its flagship NS platform. During the opening session of the 24th Annual Nautical Systems User Conference, Staci Satterwhite, ABS Wavesight CEO, was on hand to make the announcement and was joined by Gregg Pelowski, Director for Total Force Management with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC), to discu...

Technology group - Wärtsilä has signed a contract with Norwegian shipowner - Eidesvik to supply the equipment for the conversion of an offshore platform supply vessel (PSV) to operate with ammonia fuel. The vessel, ‘Viking Energy’, which is on contract to energy major - Equinor, is scheduled for conversion in early 2026 and is expected to start operating on ammonia in the first half of 2026, becoming the world’s first ammonia-fuelled in-service ship.  In additio...

In July, NPDL announced some changes to their shipping services for New Caledonia (Noumea) and Vanuatu (Santo and Port Vila). They will now be rolling these changes out indefinitely as outlined below. Their goal is to have improved operational efficiencies and better supply chains for New Caledonia and Vanuatu with the opportunity of improved frequency and transit times for the customers shipping from New Zealand and to the rest of the South Pacific. Recently upgraded network Operationally th...

X-Press Feeders, the world’s largest independent common carrier, announced the launch of its second green methanol-powered route, the Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX). It is part of Europe’s first scheduled feeder network powered by green methanol. This expansion follows the successful launch of the Green Finland X-PRESS (GFX) in July and marks another significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainable shipping. The Green Baltic X-PRESS (GBX) will commen...

Kongsberg Maritime is to begin a trial of Eutelsat OneWeb’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet service on an autonomous barge operation across the Oslo Fjord. In a collaborative project with the help of Norwegian telecommunications provider Telenor Maritime, a zero-emission, electric barge, owned and operated by grocery distributor ASKO, will be equipped with Eutelsat OneWeb’s latest Kymeta Peregrine u8 flat panel antenna system for the duration of the trial. LEO connectivity...

After more than ten years of work and four diplomatic conferences, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) is proud to announce that, effective August 22, 2024, they will officially change the status from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to an Intergovernmental Organisation (IGO). Based on a Convention ratified or acceded to by 34 States to date, the new status represents a significant victory for multilateralism and ocean governance, ma...