Rising costs - News

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has verified its fully managed bonded connectivity service, NexusWave, achieved maximum download speeds of 330–340 megabits per second, with maximum upload speeds of 70–80 Mbps, in real world tests. The trials demonstrated average download and upload speeds of 120–150 Mbps and 20–45 Mbps respectively, with network availability on board NexusWave vessels over 99.99%. Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave In addition to unparalleled spe...

Baltic Exchange has introduced a series of green fuel options to its FuelEU voyage and compliance cost calculator as more shipowners, traders and charterers seek to understand the commercial implications of this regulation on their voyage costs. Biodiesel, bio-LNG, bio-LPG, green methanol, green hydrogen and green ammonia have all been added to the calculator, either as green fuel or blend options. Overview of the cost implications Baltic Exchange’s FuelEU Maritime calculator provides a...

The ABS-classed Liza Unity has become the first FPSO in the world to receive the SUSTAIN-2 notation from ABS. The notation is the next level in the vessel sustainability program developed by ABS to help fleets meet the environmental and human elements requirements contained in the strategic Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the United Nations. Usage of low-carbon fuels SUSTAIN-2 recognises additional attributes such as the usage of low-carbon fuels Liza Unity was the first...

The hull of yard number (Yno) 321 for BS Offshore arrived at Ulstein Verft. This marks the beginning of a new phase in the shipbuilding process. The vessel is designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions AS for ‘walk-to-work’ (W2W) operations, where personnel walks via a motion-compensated gangway from the ship to a wind turbine. Hull arrival at Ulstein Verft The hull arrival at Ulstein Verft marks a new phase, which includes securing, painting While the hull has been under constru...

For the first time in history, the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) International Board will hold its mid-term meeting in India. This landmark event underscores WISTA's dedication to fostering diversity, inclusion, and leadership in the global maritime, trading, and logistics sectors. Transforming maritime operations To commemorate this historic occasion, WISTA India is hosting its first WISTA International EXCO Conference, titled "Navigating Change: The Fu...

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 uses a test tower facility to perform onshore full scale testing of free-fall lifeboats, as required by DNVGL-ST-E406. This avoids the complexity and risk of testing from offshore installations. And the approach is recognised by classification societies and national authorities. Onshore testing to offshore activities Regulators are also insisting that the periodic free-fall testing is completed The onshore tower facility is increasingly engaged by construction yards who wish to rece...

Elta has launched a new high-performance EC axial fan specifically engineered for the demanding conditions of marine applications. The EMEC Marine Fan has been designed with precision and built to endure the harshest environments, demonstrating Elta’s ongoing commitment to innovation and quality. Challenges to maritime operations With the continuing challenges inherent to maritime operations – including corrosion from saltwater exposure – the need for corrosion-resistant, en...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has published a comprehensive report titled "Safe Carriage of Electric Vehicles," addressing the critical issue of transporting electric vehicles (EVs) on Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels. With the increasing number of EVs being transported on vessels and rising safety concerns regarding onboard EV fires, the industry needs to be better prepared to detect, prevent and react to fires on board. Characteristics of EV fires There are no international...

The liferaft features a self-righting ability, meaning that no matter how it lands in the water, it will always deploy facing the right way up - ready for boarding. It has the capacity to evacuate 25 people and is certified by DNV in accordance with SOLAS/MED. The liferaft is delivered complete with emergency kit SOLAS A pack or B pack. Made from natural rubber and high-grade canvas materials, a liferaft like this one has an expected lifespan of 15-20 years and is available with either a 12 mon...

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...

NorthStandard has appointed Kate Kwiatkowska as its new Head of Sustainability to drive forward a key part of the marine insurer’s long-term strategy. Joining from Fintel plc, where she served as Head of ESG and Corporate Marketing, Kate will be responsible for engaging with NorthStandard members, brokers, employees, and other stakeholders, developing the role sustainability plays in overall strategy and reviewing the Club’s sustainability priorities on an ongoing basis. She will al...

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...

Norwegian chapter of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) recently held its Annual General Meeting in Oslo at the office of law firm Thommessen, with over 50 members attending in person and a record number of proxy votes. Five board positions were elected from a record total of 13 candidates present. Capt. Jaquelyn Burton, EMBA, AFNI, Director of Experience Design at Kongsberg Maritime, was selected as President and is both the first non-...

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...

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...

COLI Shipping & Transport (Guyana) Inc., part of COLI Group, has successfully completed its first major logistics projects, marking a significant milestone for the company’s operations in the region. With Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy and growing Oil & Gas sector, COLI Guyana is positioning itself as a trusted logistics provider for project cargo, heavy-lift, and specialised transport solutions. Terrain crane-with XPD Global The crane measured 16.19 metres in length a...

CIBC Innovation Banking announces that it has provided a $20 million USD debt financing to ZeroNorth, a technology company focused on the maritime industry. ZeroNorth will use the funding to fuel its growth strategy through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with the goal of enhancing access to data, acquiring innovative technologies, and expanding market share. Maritime digital transformation ZeroNorth’s customers have optimised 1.5 million voyages through the company’s platform...

Marine Masters announces its involvement in a pivotal offshore installation project for the greenfield Bhasker A & B platforms, designed and constructed by Indian energy company SunPetro. The project, managed by main installation contractor ACE Pipeline and directly overseen by Consolidated Support Services PTE LTD (CSS), involves the development of two wellhead platforms featuring robust jackets with integrated boat landings and topsides.  Subsea and piling operations The Marine Ma...

Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (the Program), which is jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the LNG-fueled car carrier ‘OCEANUS HIGHWAY’ (IMO No. 1046049), owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE). DBJ provided financing to "K" LINE. In the shipping industry, where environmental regulations are becoming stricter as the industry moves towards decarbonisation, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scor...

Baltic Exchange, the world's only independent source of maritime market information for the trading and settlement of physical and derivative contracts, and Veson Nautical, a global pioneer in maritime data and freight management solutions, have joined forces to launch the latest version of the official Baltic99 Questionnaire for the dry bulk sector. The questionnaire, which remains the industry standard for collecting and collating detailed information about the global dry bulk fleet, is desig...

The fully equipped vessel is now ready for commissioning and integration trials from ZeroUSV’s home port of Plymouth.  The launching of the first Oceanus12 represents the culmination of nearly 18 months of design, engineering and build effort from the team at ZeroUSV which has been built on the success of the Mayflower 400’s transatlantic autonomous voyage - a milestone achieved through the same inter-company collaborations between Zero USV’s parent company MSubs, their n...

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published the final two reports in a series of six, focused on alternative fuels and decarbonisation technologies. The reports were contracted from a consortium led by ABS, which includes CE Delft, Arcsilea and Texas A&M University. A 360-degree analysis of nuclear power and synthetic fuels, specifically the renewable e-fuels of e-diesel, e-methane and e-methanol, complete a project for EMSA designed to support the European Commission, the Memb...

bound4blue has completed the installation of its breakthrough eSAIL® suction sails on tanker vessel Pacific Sentinel with a streamlined single-stop process for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) at Besiktas Shipyard in Turkey during a planned drydocking. Three 22-metre, DNV Type Approved eSAILs® were installed on the 50,000dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned. Overall energy consumption The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory wor...

Lighthouse Ship Management AS has steered one of its managed general cargo vessel coasters through a BERG Propulsion retrofit project which the Norwegian shortsea shipping service provider confirms has brought a 33% reduction in fuel costs. The Torangsvåg-based fleet manager evaluated BERG’s options for optimising energy use on board Terneskjaer, an 81m length 2,900 dwt general cargo ship owned by Bio Feeder AS. The project sought to cut fuel costs and emissions, while adding a new...