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Increasing demand from shipowners for ABS services in Singapore has prompted ABS to invest in an expanded regional head office housing industry-pioneering research and development capabilities. The opening ceremony was prefaced by a traditional lion dance and reception, which saw ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki cut the ribbon on a facility that is home to the ABS Singapore Innovation and Research Centre, the ABS Global Electrification Centre and one of five ABS Global Sustain...

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Singapore Maritime Week to advance innovations in applied research in maritime technology and enhance talent development within the global maritime and offshore industries. The collaboration advances applied research in next-generation vessel system design, including ship power simulations with hardware-in-the-loop, shore-to-ship charging technologies, and augmented an...

For an unprecedented fourth time in a row, GAC will be The Ocean Race’s Official Logistics Partner, extending a successful collaboration that has been in place since 2014. For the first time, GAC will support all three major events on The Ocean Race calendar: The Ocean Race Europe 2025, The Ocean Race Atlantic in 2026, and the flagship around the world race starting from Alicante, Spain, in 2027. Comprehensive logistics support Services provided will include a raft of total logistics su...

RightShip, the digital maritime platform providing expertise in safety, sustainability and social responsibility practices, has announced a strategic partnership with marine technology company Mapsea to integrate RightShip’s Safety Score and GHG Rating directly into Mapsea’s advanced navigation and voyage optimisation platform. This collaboration empowers both onshore decision-makers and crew onboard vessels to access real-time safety insights, enhancing operational safety and effic...

The keel laying ceremony for "Seven Seas Prestige", the ultra-luxury cruise ship which Fincantieri is building for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, took place at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marghera (Venice). The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2026. Cruise industry milestone The ceremony was attended, among others, by Harry Sommer, President & Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, Jason Montague, Chief Luxury Officer of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Patrik Dahlgren, Exec...

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...

At the Undersea Defence Technology conference, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Ulstein Verft signed a Letter of Intent for joint efforts to deliver the next, advanced frigates to the Royal Norwegian Navy. The 2024 Fleet Plan outlines that Norway will acquire five or six frigates to replace the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Potential candidates include the British Type 26, the German F127, the American Constellation-class, and the French FDI. German-Norwegian industrial cooperation thyssenkr...

Following an application for summary judgment, the Commercial Court has provided useful guidance on the interaction between the Hague Rules time bar and contractual time bars where the Hague Rules were incorporated by a clause paramount, rather than applying by force of law. Emirates Shipping Line FZE ('The Defendant') sought to argue that the claim by cargo interests became time-barred as a result of contractual provisions providing for a 20 day time bar and a clause that required the claim fo...

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...

GAC Norway has launched a new shore excursion service covering all of Norway, including key cruise destinations such as Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen, Ålesund and Tromsø, in response to cruise operators’ drive to provide passengers with authentic experiences that connect them with local culture responsibly. Cruise operators looking to enhance their guest experience with sustainable, exclusive and competitively-priced shore excursions can now partner with GAC Norway to deliver th...

ABS and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Singapore Maritime Week that establishes a framework to collaborate on projects related to maritime technology, sustainability and safety management systems. “To make meaningful progress in this era of rapid change, we need strategic industry collaborations like this one with PIL. We look forward to capitalising on our unique strengths and capabilities in maritime compliance and cutting-edge techn...

Fuels of the future and shipping charge points in harbours are at the centre of a major new strategy to make Britain’s shipping fleet net zero by 2050 and drive growth in coastal communities. The Maritime Minister has revealed the Government’s new goals for all vessels that operate in UK waters and dock at UK ports to be carbon-free and help vessel owners, operators and scientists make emission-free voyages a reality. Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy Maritime Decarbonisation Stra...

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...

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...

IRClass Academy has successfully concluded an intensive Marine Casualty Investigation Training program aimed to enhance the investigative capabilities of maritime professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to conduct thorough and compliant marine casualty investigations. The program provided an in-depth understanding of the purpose, scope, and principal definitions of marine casualty investigations, along with the mandatory responsibilities of safety investigation auth...

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...

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...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised BPER Banca S.p.A. (“BPER”), as agent and financing bank, and Banca Popolare di Sondrio S.p.A. (“BPOS”), as financing bank, on an up to US$50m financing granted to Ignazio Messina & C. S.p.A. (“Ignazio Messina”). This allows Ignazio Messina to finance the renewal of its fleet as part of an investment plan to build full container vessels of greater capacity and size than those it previously deployed....

Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia, reinforcing its position as a frontrunner in developing solutions for decarbonizing the maritime industry.  The FCM Ammonia will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime. Ammonia-powered shipping The FCM Ammonia will be installed on a CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in ChinaAs a front-runner in enabling the use of ammonia, Alfa Laval has achieved a significant mi...

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...

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...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released a report providing recommendations on how to develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS) for ammonia-fuelled ships. Recognizing the industry's forecasts on the uptake of future fuels with low to zero carbon emissions, ammonia has emerged as one frontrunner. However, it presents new risks, such as toxicity and corrosiveness. To address these challenges, MTF has developed guidelines to close previously identified gaps when implementing...