Skills - News

The Lord Mayor of Southampton has raised more than £6,800 for three local charities on board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette, during a day of fundraising and fun. The three local Southampton charities benefitting from the event are Sea Scouts, City Farm, and The Saints Foundation. Three-course meal On the day, 100 of the Lord Mayor’s guests were treated to onboard entertainment, live music with drinks and pastries, followed by a tour of the ship, including a visit to the B...

At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles unveiled a Partnership Strategy for a green and digital shipping corridor across the Pacific Ocean.  The scope of cooperation and success indicators specified in the strategy reaffirms the corridor partners’ commitment to drive global action to digitalise and decarbonise the shipping industry and improve efficiencies. Green and digital...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been selected to supply comprehensive packages of RoRo equipment for an additional four multi-fuel and zero-carbon ready Aurora class Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) for Höegh Autoliners. This will extend Höegh Autoliners’ Aurora class newbuilding program to twelve vessels, all of which will be built by China Merchant Heavy Industries (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. The significant order is booked into Cargotec’s 2023 fourth-quarter order inta...

The former Head of Supply Chain for national retailer - B&M has joined Peel Ports Group to further strengthen its relationships with importers.  Jerome Wildsmith has more than 30 years of logistics experience working with cargo owners, including time with pioneering retailers Matalan, Mamas & Papas, and Regatta.  Responsibilities Based within the Port of Liverpool’s container division, his new role will be to drive container volumes and leverage the port...

ABB has secured a contract with Auckland Transport (AT) to deliver the maritime world’s first megawatt charging system (MCS) to recharge electric ferries using the same interface as trucks and aeroplanes. Lowering the barrier to entry, the standardised and highly adaptable system is expected to improve electric vessel competitiveness against fossil-fueled counterparts. As part of its Mission Electric initiative, AT has ordered two 200-seat all-electric ferries and two 300-passenger hybri...

ClassNK has issued Approvals in Principle (AiPs) for three vehicle carrier designs developed by the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI). The first AiP acknowledges an ammonia ready LNG dual-fueled vehicle carrier with a capacity of 7,000 CEU, a significant first in China’s independently developed design. For the ship with the dimension of LOA 199.99m x B 38m × D 37m, Draft 8.6m, SDARI integrates the GTT MARK III Flex containment system for LNG and ammonia...

With the increasing demand for environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting in the maritime, offshore and oil and gas industries, many owners and operators are incorporating ESG criteria into their operations. The ABS ESG Blueprint is a new report that builds upon the work ABS is doing to support clients in their sustainability reporting and assurance journeys.  Important ESG elements The report investigates the market and institutional ESG drivers, such as greenho...

Orbital Marine Power, the renewable energy company focused on the development and global deployment of its pioneering floating tidal stream turbine technology, has been named as Euclaire Tidal’s technology partner at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). The agreement covers one 2.4MW O2X machine to be deployed on the FORCE facility in the fast flowing waters of the Minas Passage. Powerful tidal turbine Subject to the required regulatory approvals, Orbital’s floating...

Pacific International Lines (PIL) and DP World have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop green solutions to decarbonise global supply chains. The agreement pairs DP World, which handles around 10% of the world’s container trade, and PIL, a major Singapore-based shipping company. By leveraging each other’s strengths and expertise, the companies can help to accelerate progress towards their common target of net zero GHG emissions. Pacific International Lines...

Japan’s Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. has ordered 3 × MAN B&W 7G50ME-C9.6-LGIM (-Liquid Gas Injection Methanol) main engines in connection with the building of 3 × 81,200 dwt bulk carriers for Danish shipping company, J. Lauritzen. Each engine will feature MAN Energy Solutions’ proprietary EGRBP (Exhaust Gas Recirculation ByPass) emissions-reduction technology. MITSUI E&S will build the engines in Japan. Zero-carbon emission Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Str...

At the Marintec China trade fair, DNV awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate to China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. for its ground-breaking 11,000-CEU capacity pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) design. Recognised as the world's largest PCTC, the 234 m long and 40 m wide ship will have 14 decks allowing 11,000 car equivalent units (CEUs) to be stored simultaneously, which not only increases efficiency but also reduces the transport cost per vehicle. Requirements of...

ABB has launched a new digital tool allowing shipowners, operators and designers to estimate the emission-reduction impact of various ABB technologies used on board ships when compared to alternative solutions and in scenarios specified by the user. The CO2e (carbon dioxide-equivalent) Calculator is applicable to five ABB solutions for the maritime industry– Azipod® electric propulsion, energy storage, Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform, shaft generator, and shore connection...

Babcock has appointed Paul Armstrong to lead its Marine sector, delivering a number of critical UK and international defence programmes, including the UK’s Type 31 frigates for the Royal Navy. With a career that started in shipbuilding in Barrow-in-Furness, Paul brings a wealth of wide-ranging industry experience to grow and develop one of Babcock’s core business sectors. Joining Babcock from Draken International, the aviation defence business where he was CEO responsible for oper...

At the Marintec China exhibition, DNV awarded two Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates to Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (DSIC) for the design of a 50,000cbm floating liquefied CO2 (LCO2) storage and injection unit (FSIU) and a 20,000cbm LCO2 carrier. The AiPs confirm the general feasibility of the conceptual designs as reviewed by DNV. They follow earlier projects by the shipyard, such as the design development of the world’s first 7,500cbm LCO2 tanker currently under constru...

METIS Cyberspace Technology has appointed Panos Theodossopoulos as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), in a move designed to consolidate the company’s position as a pioneer in maritime digitalisation and extend market penetration.    An expert in driving business development through technological innovation, Theodossopoulos has considerable experience in leadership roles in the ICT and maritime sectors. Extensive industry experience In recent years, Panos Theodossopoulos ha...

The growing fleet of electric trucks serving the Port of Long Beach will be able to charge at a new depot scheduled to begin construction in mid-2024 along Pico Avenue just north of the Long Beach International Gateway Bridge. The Port is partnering with Forum Mobility, a pioneering zero-emission drayage trucking solutions provider, to offer 19 dual-port chargers and six single-dispenser chargers at the new station, capable of charging heavy-duty electric trucks in about 90 minutes, depending o...

A fleet of 33 new human-operated, zero-emissions battery-electric yard tractors were officially unveiled Wednesday at a Port of Long Beach container terminal where the cargo-handling machines have replaced traditional gasoline and diesel-powered models. START project The deployment–the largest of its kind on the West Coast–was led by terminal operator SSA Terminals LLC, a joint venture between SSA Marine and Matson Navigation Company. It is partially funded by a $50 million grant f...

Vale, working in partnership with Oldendorff Carriers, have just commenced their first biofuel voyage on a bulk vessel. The trial is taking place on an Oldendorff vessel performing a laden Vale voyage from Brazil to Asia, carrying a full cargo of iron ore. The Hinrich Oldendorff (209,113 deadweight built 2016) loaded the biofuel in Singapore on October 16th on the ballast voyage to Brazil. The vessel then loaded Vale’s iron ore this Tuesday, November 28th at Guaiba Island Terminal and wil...

The Assembly of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has elected the Members of its Council for the 2024-2025 biennium. The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the organisation. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention. The Assembly of IMO elects Members of its Council The As...

Babcock has teamed up with PGZ-SW shipyard in Gdynia, Poland to launch a new international apprentice exchange programme. Building on Babcock’s Skills Academy, launched earlier in 2023 to provide learning opportunities and equip our workforce to meet the evolving challenges our customers will face in the future, the Polish programme is set to grow international collaboration and shared learning. Platform design provider Babcock will be maximising the existing relationship with PGZ-SW,...

Ahlsell Sverige AB has entered into an agreement to acquire all shares in Bilco Bilbatterier AB (Batteribolaget), a specialised distributor of batteries, chargers, power supplies and accessories. The company was founded in 1961 and has ten employees with annual sales of approximately 70 MSEK. Acquisition of Batteribolaget Ahlsell’s product range, market presence and extensive offering are available Batteribolaget offers one of the widest product ranges on the market, which includes i...

IMO and the Republic of Korea have signed a suite of agreements to formally establish and boost the IMO-Republic of Korea Sustainable Maritime Transport Cooperation (SMART-C) Programme. The goal of the KRW 25.5 billion (approx. US$20 million) SMART-C Programme is to promote sustainable maritime transport systems and a sustainable marine environment, by building knowledge and developing technical capacity in developing countries via long-term thematic projects. GHG project agreement This Offic...

Mr. Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco has been confirmed as the next Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Assembly unanimously approved (30 November) the decision of the Council at its 129th session (C129) to appoint him to the role. Mr. Dominguez Velasco will take up the office of Secretary-General on 1 January 2024 for an initial term of four years, ending on 31 December 2027. He becomes the Organisation's 10th elected Secretary-General. Comprehensive b...

Working together with ABS, McAllister Towing, one of the oldest and largest marine towing and transportation companies in the U.S., has released its inaugural sustainability report, showcasing efforts to reduce its environmental impact and highlight its social and governance performance. ABS specialists worked with McAllister’s team to provide greenhouse gas inventory and sustainability reporting services, calculating the operational carbon intensity and benchmarking the performance of th...

Maritime UK has launched Version 7 of the Industry Code of Practice for Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems. The accelerating pace of change in maritime autonomy has required updated guidance for those owning and operating Maritime Autonomous Ship Systems (MASS). Whilst not a legal text, the Code has been used by manufacturers, service providers, and others as part of their day-to-day work. Many manufacturers have reported clients requiring compliance with the Code as a basis for contractual negot...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF), whose founding members include ABS, DNV, Lloyd’s Register, ClassNK, Japan’s Maritime Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Norwegian Maritime Authority, and the U.K.’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, welcomed the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as an associate member, further strengthening MTF’s collaborative approach to advancing safety and sustainability in the maritime industry. Globa...

ABS is working with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), a globally renowned offshore support vessel (OSV) operator with nearly 300 vessels, on its decarbonisation journey with greenhouse gas inventory and sustainability reporting services. ABS specialists have been working with the ECO team since 2022 providing a gap analysis for the ECO Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Framework. This led to a full sustainability reporting project i...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Commission (EC) have announced a second phase of the Global Maritime Technology Cooperation Centres Network (GMN) project, to upscale the work of the five regional centres, with a particular emphasis on pilot demonstrations aimed at achieving quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions. IMO Secretary-General - Kitack Lim and representatives of the European Commission (EC) formalized the agreement at IMO Headquarters (on 29 November), d...

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the Cargo Handling Systems (CHS) for four new medium gas carrier vessels, expected to primarily carry ammonia. The 45,000 m3 capacity ships are under construction at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) yard in Korea for UK and Singapore-based Purus. The order was placed by HMD and booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2023. HMD is a key customer of Wärtsilä in the region’s medium gas carrier market, and the two companies have co...

ClassNK has released "Guidelines for cyber resilience of on-board systems and equipment". The guidelines expound new IACS Unified Requirements (UR). For supporting the consideration of measures to ensure the cybersecurity of ships. IACS has established UR E26 for ships and UR E27 for on-board systems and equipment as minimum requirements for cyber resilience, which is the capability to reduce the occurrence and mitigate the effects of cyber incidents due to cyber-attacks. The URs will be applie...