Skills - News

As the global shipping industry races to decarbonise and digitalise, Simon Fotakis, Director of Technology Sales at SmartSea, powered by SITA, and a Certified Information Services Security Professional (CISSP) is calling on the industry not to forget about the importance of cybersecurity. Despite increasing digital integration, the maritime sector remains highly vulnerable to cyber threats, many of which target poorly protected onboard IT systems rather than core navigation or pr...

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its Wärtsilä 20 main engine and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for a new 40.9-metre long state-of-the-art fishing vessel, specifically designed for lobster fishing. The vessel, which will operate in North Atlantic waters, has been ordered by Canadian operator Clearwater Seafoods and will be built at the Hvide Sande Shipyard in Denmark. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2025.  Services for the fi...

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade grew by 2.4% in 2024 to 411.24 million tonnes (MT), connecting 22 exporting markets with 48 importing markets. Asia Pacific remained the largest exporting region with 138.91 MT in 2024, adding 4.10 MT over 2023. European LNG imports declined sharply, falling 21.22 MT year-on-year to 100.07 MT, driven by high storage levels at the start of the year, sluggish demand, and steady pipeline flows. However, LNG demand rebounded in Asia, with China and India pos...

Wallem Group, a major global maritime partner, has published a new whitepaper to ensure ships, ship systems, and crews are fully prepared to load, store, and use biofuels in everyday vessel operations. ‘Marine Biofuels: Adoption, use, and best practice’ recognises the contribution that biofuels can make to maritime decarbonisation, while also offering comprehensive guidance on the precautions owners and crew need to consider before and during use. Biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas...

Skyports Drone Services (Skyports), the pioneer in drone delivery and inspection services for healthcare, maritime, logistics and energy use cases, has been conducting a series of Proof-of-Concept Ship-to-Shore beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights and deliveries in Michigan’s Great Lakes region. Conducted in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) and Newlab, the trial is operating fr...

Artemis Technologies, a pioneer in high-performance maritime innovation, alongside Orkney Ferries and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), are pleased to announce the arrival in Orkney of the fully electric hydrofoil vessel – the Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL, named ‘Zevi 1’. The arrival of the Belfast-built Artemis EF-12 Workboat XL is an important landmark in the Electric Orkney project, which aims to demonstrate the benefits of electric-powered hydrofoil workboats and pass...

Marcura and Sedna now announced a partnership giving chartering and operations teams direct access to Marcura’s ClaimsHub from inside Sedna’s email platform Stream. Integration with PortLog is planned for the next phase of the rollout. Together, these tools will help shared customers reduce system switching, speed up decisions, and minimise operational risk. Chartering and operations teams Chartering and operations teams spend much of their day in email, reviewing instructions, ma...

ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its design of a multi-purpose liquefied natural gas (LNG) floating facility for deep water (MLF-O). Called MLF-O, the next-generation design from SHI optimises the production facility for deepwater areas with a wave height of nine metres. According to SHI, the design has the advantage of providing faster delivery and cost-effective efficiency compared to onshore plants. ABS completed design reviews based on class an...

Strategic Marine, a pioneer in aluminium shipbuilding, is proud to announce the successful delivery of the first 27m Z-Bow Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) to Taiwan as part of a contract with Ventus Marine Co., Ltd for two state-of-the-art vessels. This milestone marks Strategic Marine’s continued commitment to supporting the offshore wind industry with innovative and high-performance vessel solutions. Offshore wind operations The vessels, designed in collaboration with renowned naval archit...

During the DEEPDIVE - Analyst and Investor Underwater Day held today in Milan, Fincantieri presented its long-term strategic vision for the development of its underwater segment to the financial community, outlining a clear, ambitious, and already well-advanced path of industrial growth. Accounting for about 4% of Group revenue in 2024, the segment is set to double in 2027, reaching 8%, with expected revenue of approximately 820 million euros and est...

They are pleased to announce that Grieg Logistics, which Inchcape Shipping Services acquired in June 2024, will officially change its name to Inchcape Shipping Services on 19 May 2025. This rebranding marks Grieg Logistics' full integration into the Inchcape family, uniting the strengths under one global brand. While Grieg Logistics' name is changing, the commitment to excellence remains steadfast. The dedicated team and exceptional customer service that has defined Grieg Logistics will continu...

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems has a long and proven legacy of designing and delivering world-class frigates. Since 1980, 78 vessels have been delivered across 11 different classes, demonstrating deep expertise, innovation, and reliability in naval shipbuilding. Ulstein Group also brings a strong legacy in designing the most advanced marine platforms for demanding operations. With decades of experience in offshore and specialised vessels, Ulstein is known for innovation, safety, and performance in...

Hyundai Global Services (HGS) announces the signing of a contract to deliver its Smart Ship and Satellite Communications package to KSS Line's shipping fleet, supported by Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress and digital solution Fleet Connect. This is the first time that the Integrated Smart Ship (ISS) solution from the world’s largest shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), will be delivered as a single package with a satellite communications service. The Smart Ship and Satellite Communi...

Sea trials are performed in northern waters – typically at depths of 200-300 metres off the coasts of Norway, the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland. Responsibility for conducting sea trials lies with the Development Test and Verification (DTV) department. During a heavy weather sea trial, test participants are stationed for more than two weeks in challenging conditions on a mother ship with a shared bath and toilet – i...

Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) served by liferafts is an efficient and widely used method for mass evacuation at sea.  With passenger ship capacities increasing, the ability of MES to evacuate hundreds of people in a matter of has been tested exhaustively in Beaufort Sea State 6 conditions. MES and liferafts MES and liferafts – five things they need to know To be compliant, liferafts must be designed in accordance with SOLAS Chapter lll and the LSA Code. All VIKI...

Immersion suits are a crucial safety tool for survival in cold water, designed to protect the wearer by minimising body heat loss. These suits are available in two types, offering either one-hour or six-hour insulation, which helps to prevent hypothermia in freezing waters. Why immersion suits are designed Combination of features makes immersion suits an essential part of cold-water survival gear Made from waterproof materials, immersion suits cover the entire body, except for the face, ensu...

ClassNK has started offering the 2025 edition of ClassNK Academy's e-learning content. These courses help new employees understand the maritime industry, deepen engineers' knowledge of ship stability, performance design, and structural strength, and enhance cybersecurity awareness for crew members and IT staff. Each course is available on the ClassNK Academy website, making it possible to learn the necessary knowledge anytime, anywhere. Audits of ship management systems ClassNK Academy was es...

Intellian’s eagerly-awaited C700 Iridium Certus® maritime terminal has now been launched and is expected to quickly secure a reputation as the most powerful and technically advanced Iridium Certus® terminal on the market. With its best-in-class RF performance, the C700 can deliver out-of-the-box uplink speeds of 352kbps and downlink speeds of 704kbps by default, with equally impressive low-elevation-angle RF efficiency thanks to its unique 12-patch phased array antenna technology....

While cruises are stuck in port for the next few months, the overall maritime mobility satellite market remains resilient, and increased bandwidth demand from shipping vessels offers a need that antenna companies can meet. Cruises seemed to be a key part of the pandemic’s spread around the world.  A review by The Washington Post of cruise line statements, government announcements, and media reports found that the coronavirus infected passengers and crew on at least 55 ships, abo...

Satcomms is one of the most competitive and challenging sectors in the superyacht industry. Mobile communications on shore are developing at a tremendous pace, with users now able to experience similar connection speeds when roaming as they do in the home or office, and these high expectations continue when an owner or their guests and crew board a yacht. Yet delivering seamless and efficient connectivity at sea is a demanding task: gaming, video streaming, 8K TV, on-board cinema, socialising...

Anemoi Marine Technologies Ltd, an industry pioneer in wind-assisted propulsion systems, has announced that it is collaborating with Hafnia Limited, Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), and DNV to develop the integration design of Rotor Sails suitable for installation on 50,000 dwt Medium-Range (MR) tanker vessels. The companies signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) in April 2025 to develop a new generation of efficient and environmentally friendly Rotor Sail vessel designs to increase th...

As the FuelEU Maritime regulation enters into force, the shipping industry may be looking at a surprising upside.  Instead of acting solely as a cost driver, the regulation could create a net financial gain, potentially around €250 million, according to a recent analysis by maritime data and compliance firm OceanScore. “FuelEU isn’t just another penalty,” said Albrecht Grell, Managing Director at OceanScore. “It’s structured in a way that can push money b...

How does ammonia behave when it leaks in an engine room? How does a cloud of escaped ammonia disperse during bunkering operations? These and many other critical safety questions that must be understood if ammonia is to become widely adopted as a marine fuel are addressed in the latest industry-leading ABS research. Risks associated with ammonia dispersion Safety Insights for Ammonia as a Marine Fuel brings together the findings of advanced ABS research into the performance of ammonia on...

Intellian, the global pioneer of mobile satellite communication antenna systems, is delighted to announce the unveiling of the v100NX, the all-new 1m Ku- to Ka-band convertible maritime VSAT terminal. Intellian’s latest NX series antenna is designed to simplify and streamline the entire VSAT lifecycle, enabling access to multiple global satellite communication services, providing the crucial connectivity required to leverage new efficiency and welfare enhancing digital applications. Inte...

Indian Register of Shipping hosted a Seminar on ‘Sustainable Ship Recycling: Charting India’s Course to Global Leadership’, at Bhavnagar near Alang. The seminar was held in the backdrop of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), which is set to enter into force this June. Ship recycling activities The seminar drew active participation from various stakeholders, including the SRIA The seminar drew active pa...

Nor-Shipping 2025, taking place in Oslo and Lillestrøm 2-6 June, has announced the shortlists for two of its most coveted accolades, the Next Generation Ship Award and the Ocean Solutions Award. Celebrating innovations, technologies and pioneering projects capable of balancing both environmental and commercial sustainability, the initiatives attracted a huge number of entries from across the world. Selecting the eventual winners was, according to Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik, &ldq...

Following the successful debut of Malaysia’s first hybrid Fast Crew Boat (FCB), Strategic Marine is pleased to announce the delivery of the second hybrid FCB to Centus Marine as part of their continued partnership to advance cleaner and more efficient offshore vessel technologies. The vessel, named Centus Alesha, features Strategic Marine’s hybrid propulsion system, which significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions. Designed in collaboration with Centus Marine, it supports...

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), a pioneering international classification society, marked a significant presence at the Seatrade Maritime Middle East 2025, showcasing its expanding portfolio of services, including advancements in digitalisation, decarbonisation, and maritime sustainability initiatives. As part of its outreach efforts, the IRS hosted a Customer & Stakeholder Event on the sidelines of the exhibition. Insights and valuable recommendations The event was very well attended...

A routine ship on a special call, outside the normal liner schedule, turned into a costly oversight for a liner agent, resulting in unexpected expenses of US$135,000 – ultimately reimbursed by the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC). The incident began when a liner agent received advance notice of an inbound vessel scheduled to make a special call outside the regular service pattern. Ship’s arrival at the discharge port Line informed the agent of a three-day delay i...

In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s vision to emerge as a global logistics powerhouse, the 2nd International Port & Marine Development Conference (IPMDC 2025) is set to take place from 13–14 May 2025 at the prestigious Hilton Jeddah. Organised by Creative Connect in association with Great Minds Event Management, this landmark conference gathers industry authorities and global experts to explore the evolving dynamics of port infrastructure, marine development, and the region’...