PPG Unveils New ‘Ultra Low-Friction’ Vessels Coating
PPG has launched the PPG NEXEON 810 coating, described as an innovative copper-free antifouling coating developed with a strong emphasis on vessel performance, emissions reduction and sustainability.Independent tests, following ISO 19030 and International Towing Tank Conference standards, have confirmed that the ultrasmooth surface of PPG Nexeon 810 coating can yield an immediate boost in power of up to 10% and enhance operational efficiency by up to 15%, according to PPG.This is due to improved fouling control performance…
Aurora Botnia - RoPax Ferry + Greentech Proving Ground
Built by Rauma Marine Constructions, in Rauma, Finland, and launched in 2021, the 150-meter-long Aurora Botnia boasts a long list of onboard equipment that help it to earn its “green” designation, a label that is confirmed via a Clean Design notation from classification society DNV. The ship is also compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.Wasaline CEO Peter Ståhlberg describes Aurora Botnia as “a masterpiece of cooperation” and noted that the vessel is over 80% domestic made."I'm really proud of the Aurora Botnia.
Wärtsilä Unveils New Ultra-Low Emissions Engine for Marine Industry
Finland-based marine engine maker Wärtsilä on Wednesday introduced a new ultra-low-emissions version of its Wärtsilä 31DF engine, which was first launched in 2015. According to Wärtsilä, while operating on LNG, this new version can further reduce methane emissions on a 50 percent load point by up to 56 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 86 percent.On a weighted average, this new technology can reduce methane emissions by 41 percent more than the standard Wärtsilä 31DF engine…
MSC's New 24,000 TEU Containership Named in Italy
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) on Monday held a naming ceremony for its new ultra large containership MSC Nicola Mastro in Intaly's Port of Trieste.The 400-meter-long 24,116 TEU newbuild was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Jiangnan Shipyard as part of MSC's new record-breaking Celestino Maresca class, among the world's largest containerships. "At MSC, we continue to modernize our fleet and are investing in the most fuel-efficient vessels by design. The MSC Nicola Mastro is one of those vessels…
Grimaldi Orders More Ammonia Ready Car Carriers
The Grimaldi Group announced it has exercised its option for the construction of five additional ammonia-ready 9,000 CEU car carriers from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu, part of China Merchant Industry Holdings (CMI).Grimaldi announced its initial order for five new pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) vessels from CMI in October. The 10 vessels are scheduled to be delivered between 2025 and 2027 and will be deployed on voyages between Europe, North Africa, and the Near and Far East.Grimaldi said it developed the vessel concept in collaboration with naval architecture firm Knud E.
Size Not the Main Goal, Shippers Say, as MSC Overtakes Maersk
Swiss-based container group MSC has overtaken Denmark's Maersk as the world's biggest shipper, the company said, confirming data from intelligence provider Alphaliner.After taking delivery of several ships last year, MSC or Mediterranean Shipping Company has capacity to move the equivalent of 4,284 million twenty-foot containers, Alphaliner said. That compares with Maersk's 4,282 million.Both companies, which according to Alphaliner hold markets share of around 17%, said size was not the objective.Asked for comment…
Silversea Cruises' New Ultra-luxury Ship Christened in Greece
Silver Moon, Silversea Cruises' newest ship in its "ultra-luxury" fleet, was christened Thursday in Athens, Greece. The naming ceremony was held in the port of Piraeus.At 40,700 gross tons and with a maximum capacity of 596 guests, Silver Moon is the cruise line’s second Muse-class ship.Constructed by Fincantieri at its Ancona shipyard, Silver Moon is an evolution of her sister ship Silver Muse, Silversea Cruises said."The ship benefits from re-imagined public spaces, butler service in all suite categories…
New Ultra-Shallow Damen Shoalbuster Named "Brutus"
At Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, a new model in the Damen Shoalbuster range -- the ultra-shallow Shoalbuster 3514 SD -- was christened Brutus by Mrs Mandy Heere-van Eijk, on behalf of tug and workboat company, Herman Sr.The Shoalbuster 3514 SD measures is 35 x 14 m with a free deck space of 150 sq. m. The vessel has a draft t of 2.85m at full tank capacity and just 2.45m at 50%, allowing it access to waters inaccessible to other vessels of a similar size and capability. Four Caterpillar C32 ACERT engines deliver a total of 3…
Keel Laid for Finnlines’ Second Hybrid RoRo Ship
The Nanjing Jinling shipyard in China has laid the keel for the second of three new hybrid ro-ro vessels it is building for Finnlines.The construction of MS Finneco II is proceeding, and the keel laying ceremony was held on May 12, Finnlines said.The vessel is part of Finnlines’ €500 million ($607 million) newbuilding program which includes two eco-sustainable ro-pax vessels in addition to the three hybrid ro-ro vessels.“Finnlines has made major investments in renewing and developing its fleet into more sustainable, using the latest technologies and green innovations available.
ONE to Charter World's Largest Containerships
Singapore-headquartered container carrier Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) said it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Japan's Shoei Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. for the 15-year charter of six new ultra large containerships (ULCS). The vessels, with capacity greater than 24,000 TEU each, are said to be the world's largest.The newbuilds will be built by the consortium of compatriot shipyards Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation for planned delivery…
World’s Largest LNG Bunkering Vessel Named in Rotterdam
The world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker vessel was officially named during a ceremony held Friday in Rotterdam. The 135.5-meter-long, 18,600-cubic-meter-capacity GTT Mark III Flex membrane vessel has been named Gas Agility.The first LNG bunker vessel owned by Emerald Green Maritime Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), she is chartered by Total’s affiliate Total Marine Fuels Global Solutions (TMFGS).In February 2018, TMFGS and MOL signed a time charter party for the vessel…
Finnlines' Newbuild Program Continues as Planned
Finnlines' newbuilding program is progressing as planned despite the COVID-19 pandemic, with first steel cut Wednesday for its second new hybrid ro-ro vessel at the Chinese Nanjing Jinling shipyard.Finnlines’ ongoing €500 million ($593 million) newbuilding program includes three green hybrid ro-ro vessels as well as two eco-friendly Superstar ro-pax vessels. The ro-ro vessels are expected to be delivered during 2021–2022 and the Superstar ro-pax vessels are set to start in traffic…
Damen's Ultra Shallow Draft Shoalbuster
Damen’s new Ultra Shallow Shoalbuster 3815 SD has successfully completed sea trials and bollard pull testing. The newly designed vessel achieved 18.6 tonnes of bollard pull, while still being able to operate in extreme shallow waters. “There are several projects in the world that operate in ultra-shallow working areas – in the Arabian Gulf and the Caspian Sea in particular,” says Jeroen van Woerkum, commercial manager at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld. “We designed this vessel to…
Silver Moon Launched at Fincantieri
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched Silver Moon, the second of three Muse-class ships to be built for Silversea Cruises.The new ultra-luxury cruise ship was launched on August 29 at Fincantieri’s Ancona yard and is set to enter the ship owner’s fleet in 2020.The ceremony was attended, among others, by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of Silversea, while Fincantieri was represented by Giovanni Stecconi, Ancona Shipyard Director.The godmother of the ceremony was Miss Roberta Bonisiol, an employee of the shipbuilding group.“Silver Moon” will be a sister ship of “Silver Muse”, which took the sea in 2017, and of “Silver Dawn” due to delivery in 2021.
Alamco Wins 'SeaDream' Contract
ALMACO will deliver complete cabin and catering areas on SeaDream Yacht Club’s 155m ultra-luxury expedition vessel that will be built by Damen.SeaDream's new ultra-luxury mega yacht, SeaDream Innovation, is the first new ship added to the fleet since 2001 and introduces the concept of “Global Yachting”, operating around the world including remote destinations in polar areas with its ice class credentials, as well as in tropical ports. ALMACO has been supporting Damen Shipyards…
Seabourn Names First Expedition Ship
Cruise line Seabourn has announced that it will name its first new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship Seabourn Venture. The newbuilding is scheduled to be launched at Mariotti Damen Cruise yard in Italy in June 2021.The cruise line said the name is paying tribute to the remote destinations visited by the brand’s expeditions and Ventures by Seabourn excursion programs and the places yet to be explored in the future.Seabourn began offering expedition experiences during its first sailing to Antarctica in 2013 led by a highly qualified, world-class expedition team and those itineraries have been offered every season since.The success of the Antarctica program opened the door for similar optional experiences under the name Ventures by Seabourn featuring Zodiacs…
Yang Ming Launches Final Two Mega-Ships
Taiwanese liner Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has announced the launch of two new ultra-large container vessels (UCLVs), which were officially named at Imabari shipyard on March 6, 2019.The two ships, YM Warranty and YM Wellspring, have a container capacity of 14,000 TEU and will join the total of 20 UCLVs added to Yang Ming’s fleet since 2015.Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. President Vincent Lin was invited to the naming ceremony. Ms. Wu Pao Chen, wife of Yang Ming Shanghai Office President T. S. Chia and Ms. Chen Mei Ching, wife of Yang Ming Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President Dannis Lee, acted as the Lady Sponsors.YM Warranty and YM Wellspring…
Mega Ships Affect Freight Rates: Xeneta
Short-term container rates on the China Main ports to North Europe Main ports have seen a slight drop since the beginning of the year. However, compared to Spring and Autumn 2018, overall the industry sees an increase, said a report from Xeneta, the ocean freight price benchmarking and market intelligence platform transforming the shipping and logistics industry.Xeneta reports rates on the up, with February 7, 2019 ticking in at USD1700 market average rate for a 40' box. Also, bunker prices are not as outrageous as before. Cargo from China to the United States has been moving at a record pace, but a slowdown is expected for the main…
Shipbuilding: Fincantieri Starts on "Silver Moon"
The keel laying ceremony of “Silver Moon”, the second of three new ultra-luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Silversea Cruises took place yesterday at the Ancona yard. The vessel will enter the ship owner’s fleet in 2020.“Silver Moon” will be a sister ship of “Silver Muse”, which took the sea in 2017, and of “Silver Dawn” due to delivery in 2021. At 40,700 gross tons and with a capacity to accommodate 596 passengers on board, she will maintain the small-ship intimacy…
Shipbuilding: Fincantieri signs $542M Cruise Ship Deal
Positive momentum in the cruise sector continues, as Fincantieri signed a $543M contract with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. for the construction of one new ultra-luxury cruise ship for the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand to be delivered in 2023.The new vessel will be a sister ship to “Seven Seas Explorer”, which took the sea in 2016, and to “Seven Seas Splendor”, due to delivery in 2020. With about 54,000 tons, the unit will be able to accommodate up to 750 guests on board and she will be the brand’s sixth-all-suite vessel in Regent’s fleet. As her sister ships, the new vessel will be built using the very latest environmental protection technologies.
Hyundai Merchant Marine to Say Good Bye to 2M Alliance?
South Korea's largest shipping firm Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) is likely to part ways with the 2M Alliance which will expire in April 2020 and join a new ocean alliance said a local media report.According to a report in Business Korea, the 2M Alliance (consists of Maersk Line and MSC) is disadvantageous to HMM as it is not a full member of the alliance. HMM's status fell as the 2M Alliance inked a partnership deal with Israel's Zim Integrated Shipping Services, the report said.Under an agreement signed in 2016 2M agreed that it would accept HMM as a full membership company based on an assessment of HMM’s financial structure and liquidity improvement.The report quoting industry analysts said that given current situations into account…
ONE Accepts Delivery of 14,000 TEU Box Ship
Singapore headquartered container carrier Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) has taken delivery of a new 14,000 TEU-class containership from Japanese shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd, on July 24, 2018.The new ultra-large containership, One Minato, was built at Imabari’s Hiroshima yard and joins the ONE fleet under sublet from Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.
First Steel Cut for Seven Seas Splendor
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held a steel cutting ceremony in Ancona marking the official start of construction on Seven Seas Splendor, a new ultra-luxury cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brand Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The new vessel is scheduled to be delivered in early 2020, following Seven Seas Explorer delivered by the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, Genoa in June 2017. The 55,500-gross-ton Seven Seas Splendor will be 224 meters long and accommodate 754 passengers on board in 375 spacious suites.