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Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Short Sea News

14 Mar 2024

NIB to Co-Finance Norled’s Vessels and Infrastructure in Norway

Source: Norled

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) has signed a seven-year loan to co-finance ferry operator Norled AS’ investments in zero and low carbon vessels and related land-based infrastructure in Norway during 2024-2030.The InvestEU program supports the loan under NIBs Framework Operation Green Mobility and Transport approved by the Investment Committee.This NOK 500 million (EUR 43.4 million) loan will help Norled finance the extension of its low-carbon fleet. This is NIB’s first InvestEU loan in Norway.Norway is electrifying its transport network at a rapid pace…

01 Mar 2024

Cochin Shipyard Cuts First Steel for SAMSKIP's Zero-emission Containership

(Image: Samskip)

Indian shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard has cut first steel for the first vessel in Samskip's new series of zero-emission, autonomous ready shortsea containerships.The first of two contracted vessels, Samskip SeaShuttle, will also be among the world's first zero-emissions short sea container vessels fueled by green hydrogen.The 135-meter-long containerships were ordered by marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity for scheduled delivery in 2025 and will be operated under long-term charter by Rotterdam-based shipping company Samskip on its west European routes.

27 Feb 2024

New Container Shipping Company Launched in Saudi Arabia

Poul Hestbaek (Photo: Folk Maritime)

A new container shipping line has been launched in Saudi Arabia.The newly formed company, Folk Maritime, will provide feeder vessel and short-sea shipping services in the Middle East and the surrounding region.The Riyadh-headquartered company is led by CEO Poul Hestbaek, who previously served as CEO of Maersk's Hamburg Sud.Other executives include chief commercial officer Saleem Kadernani, chief financial officer Khalid Fawzi and chief human resources officer Abdulrahman Alshangiti.

11 Jan 2024

DFDS Completes FRS Iberia/Maroc Acquisition

(Photo: DFDS)

DFDS has completed its acquisition of FRS Iberia/Maroc, a short-sea ferry company connecting Spain and Morocco via the Strait of Gibraltar.“We are excited to start the integration of FRS Iberia/Maroc and look forward to applying our joint capabilities to grow the business while continuing to provide reliable, efficient ferry services to both passengers and freight customers,” said Torben Carlsen, CEO of DFDS.Reporting preliminary revenue of DKK 1.0bn for 2023, FRS Iberia/Maroc has three routes operated by a total of 850 staff of which just over 400 are own employees.

08 Jan 2024

Seaspan LNG Bunkering Vessel Launched

(Photo: Seaspan)

Seaspan Energy announced the launch of Seaspan Garibaldi, the first of three 7,600m3 liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels being built by CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (CIMC SOE) in China.The newbuild is named after Mount Garibaldi, or “Nch’ḵay̓” as the Squamish Nation has known it for thousands of years. This series of vessels will be named after iconic West Coast mountains and the first two vessels will be delivered in 2024 with the third vessel arriving in 2025.The Seaspan Garibaldi will be based in the Panama region…

14 Dec 2023

New Autonomous Zero-emission Containership Design Unveiled

(Image: ZULU Associates)

A new design for an autonomous zero-emission short sea containership has been unveiled by Belgium based ZULU Associates.The 200 TEU vessel, featuring an auxiliary wind assistance system, is a larger seagoing development of an inland waterways 90 TEU X-Barge, currently under final construction design.The latest design is produced by Dutch ship naval architects Conoship International, said Zulu Associates CEO Antoon Van Coillie.“We’re delighted to be working with Conoship International who share our passion for innovation,” he said.

17 Nov 2023

Bringing the Capital Construction Fund Program Ashore

© William A. Morgan / Adobe Stock

On May 5, 2023, the White House announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was “taking the next step to invest $3 billion in its Clean Ports Program to fund zero-emission port equipment and technology and to help ports develop climate action plans to reduce air pollutants, improve air quality and public health in neighboring communities, and advance environmental justice.” That “next step” was the issuance of a Request for Information to inform EPA of the availability…

15 Nov 2023

Wärtsilä Launches 'World's First' 4-stroke Engine-based Ammonia Solution

Credit: Wartsila

Finland-based marine technology and equipment maker Wärtsilä has introduced the marine sector’s "first commercially available 4-stroke engine-based solution for ammonia fuel."According to Wärtsilä, the new solution enables a significant advance in sustainable shipping operations – during a time in which ship owners are seeking viable options among green fuels. The ammonia solution is now commercially available as part of the Wärtsilä 25 engine platform, which was launched in September 2022.Viridis Bulk Carriers…

02 Nov 2023

Rhenus Upgrades Engines on Two Pushboats

(Photo: Rhenus Group)

The Rhenus Group announced it has upgraded two canal push boats operated by Deutsche Binnenreederei (DBR) with new stage V engines.While the new construction of more sustainable hydrogen-powered vessels is a long-term project, the Rhenus Group is retrofitting its older vessels with modern and therefore more environmentally-friendly technology in the short term. The two canal push boats, RSPSB146 and RSPSB153, which were built in 1978 and 1979 respectively, are the first to undergo this process.It has taken about ten months to convert the two vessels.

18 Oct 2023

Fast Lines Belgium Orders Two Combi Freighters from Damen

(Photo: Damen Shipyards)

Damen Shipyards announced it has signed a contract with Belgian shipping company Fast Lines Belgium for the delivery of two Damen Combi Freighter 3850 (CF 3850).“These will be our first newbuild vessels, and we are confident that the Damen CF 3850 vessels will fit like a glove in the Fast Lines Belgium’s business,” said managing director Catrien Scheers. “Not only are they economical and efficient, our customers will also be able to see for themselves just how low their fuel consumption and therefore their emissions are.

09 Oct 2023

Skarv Orders Four Short-sea MPVs from Huanghai Shipbuilding

(Image: LMG Marin)

Norway-based Skarv Shipping Solutions announced it has signed a contract with China's Huanghai Shipbuilding for the construction of four 7,000 dwt, low-carbon, multipurpose vessels, with an option for four more.The first vessel will be delivered in the third quarter of 2025, with the others in four-month intervals. Skarv, which will own the ships, is a joint venture between Peak Group and Grieg Edge.The vessels are designed by LMG Marin and include an optimized engine ready for ammonia or methanol…

21 Sep 2023

ABB's Power, Propulsion, and Automation for Samskip's Hydrogen-powered Container Ships

Image credit: Naval Dynamics

ABB has won a contract to deliver a power, propulsion, and automation system for two new-built short-sea container ships for Rotterdam-based global logistics company Samskip Group.According to ABB, the vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. Financial details of the contract were not disclosed. Built by India-based Cochin Shipyard, the 135-meter ships are due for delivery in Q3 and Q4 of 2025, respectively. Both vessels will be operating between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, a distance of approximately 700 nautical miles.

17 Nov 2023

Capital Construction Funds: A New Opportunity For Vessel Financing On The Inland Waterways

© Carisa Mitchell / Adobe Stock

Recent changes have opened up the Capital Construction Fund program to owners and operators of vessels on the U.S. inland waterways.Among the programs offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to promote the growth and modernization of the U.S. maritime industry, the Capital Construction Fund (CCF) program is one that has remained largely unavailable to the owners and operators of vessels on the inland waterways—until now.Created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936…

11 Sep 2023

Econowind Targets Growth With New Investors

(Image: Econowind)

Dutch company Econowind, manufacturer of sail propulsion systems for commercial ships, announced it has gained the backing of two new investors. The Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands (NOM) and Horizon Flevoland are investing to help accelerate the company's growth.Econowind builds so-called VentoFoils, which it describes as a vertical aircraft wing that converts wind into forward thrust of the ship. Manufactured in Zeewolde and Warten, the systems…

11 Sep 2023

Bibby Marine to Build Zero-emission eSOV

(Image: Bibby Marine)

Bibby Marine and its consortium partners are moving forward with plans to build the world’s first zero-emission electric service operation vessel (eSOV) after securing funding for the project from the Zero Emission Vessel Infrastructure (ZEVI) competition.The award, announced Monday at London International Shipping Week, comprises of match funding to build the pioneering vessel, which will operate solely on 20MWh of batteries – a significant step toward achieving the marine industry’s net-zero ambitions.

05 Sep 2023

Neptune Lines Orders Two Car Carriers from China's Fujian Mawei

(Image: Neptune Lines)

Greek shipping company Neptune Lines announced the order of two next generation car carrier vessels, specially designed for its short sea trades. Fujian Mawei shipyard in China will build the 4,200 CEU DF PCTC vessels for scheduled delivery in 2026.The new vessels, under the Genesis Project, are the first two of a new series which reflects Neptune’s strategy to supplement its fleet over the next decade, increase relevant cargo capacity by 36% from current core fleet vessels, and reduce emissions to remain well ahead of global targets.

30 Aug 2023

Orca AI to Participate in Second Phase of Autonomous Ship Project

Source: Orca AI

Tel Aviv-based maritime technology company Orca AI is continuing its collaboration with NYK Group subsidiary MTI and partners in the second development stage of the MEGURI2040 project administered by the Nippon Foundation.MTI, alongside sister entity Japan Marine Science Inc, is spearheading the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus (DFFAS+) consortium comprising 51 Japan-based companies that will work together on the next phase of MEGURI2040.While the OECD projects that maritime trade volumes could triple by 2050, a skilled crew shortage is growing globally.

28 Aug 2023

Erik Thun Unveils New Lake Vanern MAX Bulk Carrier Series

Source: Erik Thun Group

Sweden’s Erik Thun Group has unveiled its next generation battery-hybrid, dry cargo vessel series being built at Shipyard Ferus Smit in the Netherlands.The Lake Vanern Max is hybrid, with a battery pack for peak shaving and power smoothening, reducing the reliance on auxiliary engines for electricity generation. The vessel is designed to stay at anchor without using auxiliary engines. Shore connection enables clean and silent port operations and allows the vessel to shut down all engines onboard…

21 Aug 2023

Interferry to Co-host European Shipping Summit

Johan Roos Director of Regulatory Affairs Interferry. Image courtesy Interferry

Interferry – representing more than 270 companies and some 1,200 individual members from over 40 countries – is co-hosting a workshop at next month’s European Shipping Summit in Brussels to stress the importance of shifting more goods transport from road to short sea services, notably through better use of European Union funding to enhance the sector’s competitiveness.The workshop – ‘How to increase the share of maritime transport in Europe’s trade’  – takes place at 09:30 on September 19 in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts and is open to all interested professionals.

14 Aug 2023

Mercuria and ÈTA Shipping Partner on Vessels with Modular Power Systems

Source: Mercuria

Global energy and commodity group, Mercuria, and Netherlands-based ÈTA Shipping have established a joint venture for the construction of six diesel-electric shortsea general cargo vessels with the option for another 10.The vessels will be built by Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China and will be owned by Mare Balticum BV, a subsidiary of Mercuria, with ÈTA Shipping acting as a minority shareholder. The maiden voyage of the first vessel is planned for the second quarter of 2025.ÈTA Shipping’s modular design of the ÈTA 6700 vessel involves an electric motor that powers the propeller.

07 Aug 2023

Powering the Transition to Zero-emissions with Hydrogen Fuel Cells

(Photo: Ballard Power Systems)

By now, it is a well-known fact that the marine industry contributes significantly to the greenhouse gasses causing climate change—and the impact is predicted to rise as the demand for shipping by sea increases. Action is needed now, and the majority of ship operators are adopting or planning zero-emission solutions to accommodate upcoming emission reduction targets.A key zero-emission technology that will be a critical enabler for decarbonizing the marine industry—now and in the future—is hydrogen fuel cells.Today…

18 Jun 2023

Minimum Safe Manning Levels Questioned

© remipiotrowski / Adobe Stock

The confidential and impartial incident and near-miss reporting scheme CHIRP Maritime has released its analysis of maritime reports received between April 2022 and March 2023.A key outcome of the analysis of reported incidents was the identification of inadequate leadership and supervision as a contributing factor. Adam Parnell, Director Maritime, said: “This analysis identifies the key causal factors of safety incidents reported to CHIRP Maritime over the past year. These include inadequate leadership or supervision…

08 Jun 2023

Viridis Bulk Carriers Gets DNV AiP for Ammonia-Fueled Short Sea Bulk Carrier Design

©Viridis Bulk Carriers

Viridis Bulk Carriers has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the classification society DNV for its ammonia fuelled short sea bulk carrier design. The certificate was presented during the Nor-Shipping trade fair at the DNV stand.An Approval in Principle (AiP) is an independent assessment of a concept within an agreed framework, confirming that the design is feasible, and no significant obstacles exist to prevent the concept from being realized.As the maritime industry is looking to bend the carbon curve towards zero…

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