St. Johns Ship Building to Build Six Deck Barges for Seapath
St. Johns Ship Building on Wednesday announced it has signed a contract with Seapath for construction of a series of six ABS deck barges in support of their Jones Act leasing business.The barges will be built at St Johns Ship Buildingâs facility in Palatka, Fla. and will be dispatched to multiple charterers along the US East Coast.Seapath is a subsidiary of the Libra Group, which is also parent to St. Johnsâ holding company, Americraft Marine Group.Joshua Lubarsky, CEO of Seapath, said, âDomestic maritime transportation is the backbone of the US transportation system.
Fourth CTV Launched for WindServe Marine
Senesco Marine held a launch and christening ceremony for WindServe Marine's new Jones-Act-compliant crew transfer vessel (CTV), WindServe Explorer.WindServe Marine, a sister company to the North Kingstown, R.I. shipbuilderâboth part of the Reinauer Groupâwill operate the CTV to serve the U.S. offshore wind industry. The vessel is slated to enter operations at a project in the U.S. Northeast.The BMT-designed aluminum catamaran is 27 meters long with a 9-meter beam and 1.7-meter draft.
ABS Head Wiernicki Sees Global Carbon Tax on Shipping on the Horizon
ABS chairman and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki, said he sees a universal, global carbon tax on shipping on the horizon, as alternative blue fuels made with carbon capture emerge as a growing part of the maritime industry's ongoing energy transition.âWe need to recognize that there is an intermediate step in the energy transition,â Wiernicki said during an appearance at the CERAWeek energy conference. âLast year the conversations were focused on going from oil to a green fuel economy.
Conrad to Build Another US Navy Berthing Barge
U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command has exercised an option with Conrad Shipyard to build another Yard, Repair, Berthing, and Messing (YRBM) barge.The award is a $18,484,619 firm-fixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract for the detail design and construction and includes exercise of a design changes option.Work will be performed in Amelia, La., and is expected to be completed by June 2025. The new barge will be delivered to Norfolk, Va.The YRBM barge is an ABS A1 Accommodation Barge with a 151â-4â x 49â-4â x 14â footprint.
Updated Framework Released for Comparing Decarbonization Technologies
The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released an updated Framework for Assessing Decarbonization Technologies and Alternative Energy Carriers and a comprehensive assessment on the maturity and readiness of alternative fuel options, expanding the number of evaluated fuels covered since the previous heatmap report issued in November 2022.The assessment applied MTFâs recently updated framework to an expanded set of eight fuels, including fossil LNG, fossil MGO combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS)âŠ
Yard Starts Worldâs First Container Vessel Methanol Dual Fuel Retrofit
Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard held a steel cutting ceremony on March 8, 2024 for the 14,000 TEU Maersk Halifax methanol dual fuel retrofit project, marking what will be the world's first container vessel methanol dual fuel retrofit.Representatives from Maersk project team, ABS, and headquarters leaders and employees of the company attended the ceremony.The vessel is scheduled to arrive in early July this year and will undergo conversion and repair for a period of about three months. To ensure the smooth implementation of the project, the yard has built a 500-ton gantry crane overhead the No.3 dock.
ABS Awards AIP for OceanSTARâs FSO Design
Classification society ABS said it has granted an approval in principle (AIP) to OceanSTAR Marine & Offshore Investment Pte. Ltd., for its newbuild floating storage and offloading (FSO) design.The OceanSTAR FSO-01 is a shipshape hull design specifically developed to cater to midsize FSOs with a storage capacity to scale up to 750,000 barrels of oil for operational demands in Asia Pacific and African coastal offshore fields. Other features include a larger strengthened deck areaâŠ
ABB AzipodâŻDI Propulsion System Gets ABS Approval
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted approval in principle (AIP) to ABB for its AzipodâŻDI with a capacity of up to 4.5 MW and ice class PC3.ABB called the approval "a significant milestone", as the AzipodâŻDI propulsion system is now ready to power future icebreakers in the North American market as demand for icebreakers on the rise."Our long-standing and fruitful cooperation between ABB and ABS has been instrumental in developing cutting-edge propulsion systems for icebreaking ships.
LMG Marin Tapped to Support Eastern Pacific eSAIL Install
LMG Marin France reports it has secured an engineering contract with Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) for integration of bound4blue eSAILsEPS will install its first ever wind-assisted propulsion system, three 22-metrer eSAILs o,n board the 2019-built oil and chemical tanker Pacific Sentinel in Q4 this year. The expected net gains in term of consumption are 10% subject to routing.LMG Marin said it worked with EPS, bound4blue, ABS to ensure preliminary feasibility studies of the turnkey eSAILs solution onboard the 183-metreâŠ
US Offshore Wind: Down but Not Out
âThe winds of change are blowing wild and free.â â Bob DylanIn the U.S. offshore wind industry, developments over recent months have placed an exclamation point on the word âwildâ. Yes, the wind still blows âfreeâ, but mounting challenges have proven that harnessing its power offshore is anything but. In fact, far from it, as rising materials costs, high interest rates, labor shortages and supply chain delays, among other issues, have delivered heavy blows to the commercial viability of several projects.
Preparing for Change, ABS Enhances the Marine Vessels Rules Book
As maritime faces transcendent changes in regards to decarbonization, digitalization and automation, innovators from inside and outside of the industry will be challenged to deliver new applications and technologies with increased speed and frequency. Sitting at the center of the innovation storm are classification societies, and earlier this year the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) became the first classification society to incorporate goal-based standards throughout major rule sets, enhancing its ability to handle the increasing flow of novel concepts and new technologies.
Three Questions: Matt Tremblay, VP, Global Offshore Markets, ABS
The American Bureau of Shipping dominates the global market in the classification of Floating Production. Offshore Engineer recently sat with Matt Tremblay, ABSâ Vice President of Global Offshore Markets, at American Bureau of Shipping HQ in Houston for his insights on market drivers and technical trends in this dynamic market.Matt, big picture, how do you see the Floating Production market developing in the coming years?At a macro level, I think we're going to be supply limited over the next five years.
Singapore Picks 11 Proposals to Advance Electric Harbor Craft Designs
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has shortlisted 11 proposals, submitted by seven companies and consortia, to advance designs and promote adoption of full electric harbor craft (e-HC) in Singapore.The announcement follows call for the expressions of interest (EOI), launched by MPA) in 2023, which yielded 55 proposals from 32 international and local companies and consortia.The results signal high interest and strong confidence by global and local participants in the development of e-HC in Singapore.Of the 11 e-HC designsâŠ
Eastern Pacific Shipping to Equip Pacific Sentinel with eSAIL Wind Propulsion System
Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has signed a contract for its first ever wind-assisted propulsion system, partnering with bound4blue to install three 22-metre eSAILs onboard the Pacific Sentinel.The turnkey âsuction sailâ technology, which drags air across an aerodynamic surface to generate propulsive efficiency, will be fitted in fourth quarter of 2024.The wind-assisted propulsion technology is expected to help the 183-metre, 50,000 DWT oil and chemical tanker reduce overall energy consumption by approximately 10%âŠ
Yantai Dual-fuel Methanol WTIV Design Receives ABS Approval
Classification society ABS reports it has issued approval in principle (AIP) to Chinese shipbuilder Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd. for its design of a dual-fuel methanol, heavy-duty, offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).The WTIV is capable of transporting and installing the largest wind turbines in the world, those capable of producing up to 20 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and promises to reduce carbon emissions with its dual-fuel methanol propulsion system. The design also features a 3âŠ
Hull Stress Monitoring System Receives ABS SMART PDA
Light Structuresâ SENSFIB Hull Stress Monitoring System received the ABS SMART(SHM) Tier 3 Product Design Assessment (PDA) certificate.The SENSFIB Tier 3 Smart Structural Health Monitoring system employs an industry-leading, fiber optic, sensor-based approach for structural health assessment and prediction, calibrated and verified using high-fidelity data for improved accuracy and reliability.The system provides information about the stresses on a vesselâs hull from cargo loadingâŠ
ABS Opens LNG Academy in Qatar
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has inaugurated the ABS Global LNG Academy, a cutting-edge training center dedicated to using the latest techniques to educate mariners in modern liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel operations.Located in Doha and supported by QatarEnergy, the Academy is a coordinated effort with industry partners, who are working together to make the ABS LNG Academy the global epicenter for LNG-related training and development. Establishing the training center is also a key part of ABSâ support of Qatarâs National Vision 2030 and the Tawteen ProgramâŠ
Future Ships: Picture Perfect
Big data, advanced computers and AI are allowing vessel designers to prepare models that leave essentially nothing to chance.âLastly, it may be of considerable importance to form from the draught a block model of the vessel from which a still more accurate judgment may be formed of the fitness and beauty of the body. And should any defect be discovered, farther alterations must still be made, till the draught and the model are perfectly approved of. These different alterations and repeated calculations may appear very tediousâŠ
OSV Owners Reap the Rewards of Data Sharing
A âConnected Futureâ seminar, organized by Inmarsat in collaboration with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News and moderated by Greg Trauthwein, encapsulated the critical roles technology and data sharing play in enabling more efficient and sustainable workboat operations, and in improving conditions for crew.Insights from leading Offshore Supply Vessel owners and operators capture the extent to which technology and data sharing are driving greater efficiency, sustainability andâŠ
Navigating Disruption: CMA Shipping 2024 Unveils Agenda and Speaker Lineup
C-Suite leaders of ABS, Panama Canal Authority, BIMCO, INTERCARGO, IACS, DNV, Stena Bulk, Hapag-Lloyd, IBIA, International Seaways and many more have been announced for the conference lineup at CMA Shipping 2024.With just six weeks to go, eager anticipation is growing for the 39th edition of CMA Shipping taking place in Stamford, Conn., from March 12-14, 2024.The conference agenda promises to highlight pertinent issues surrounding the future of shipping, and how the industry can navigate challenges such as the energy transition, crewing and education, safety and compliance.
USCG Approves ABS Wavesight eLogs for US-flagged Vessels
ABS Wavesight on Thursday announced its eLogs software has received formal approval from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) for use by U.S.-flagged ships. The ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service company is now one of three maritime software providers to receive such approval on the basis of the USCGâs guidance under USCG NVIC 01-23."The maritime industry is entering an era of rapid digitalization,â said Gurinder Singh, Director of Solutions Engineering at ABS Wavesight. âWe are proud to be at the forefront of that transformation, and the fact that our eLogs software meets all of the U.S.
New Tug Enters Service for Signet Maritime
Signet Sirius, the first of two ART 92-32W Rotortugs was recently delivered by Signet Maritime at their Pascagoula Shipbuilding and Repair facility. This is the first ART Rotortug that Signet has built and operated in their fleet. Designed by Robert Allan Ltd. in collaboration with RotorTug BV, the Advanced Rotortugs (ART) incorporate the patented triple Z-drive Rotortug propulsion layout, featuring omni-directional maneuverability, and the benefits of a fully redundant and precise propulsion machinery configuration.
Crowley's All-electric Harbor Tug eWolf Delivered
Crowley on Wednesday announced it has taken delivery of its groundbreaking vessel eWolf, the first all-electric, ship assist harbor tugboat in the United States.The 82-foot tug, designed by Crowleyâs engineering services team and built by Coden, Ala. shipbuilder Master Boat Builders, will enter service at the Port of San Diego this spring following final demonstration trials and completion of Crowleyâs microgrid shoreside charging station. The vessel will operate with zero emissions while providing the complete performance capabilities of a traditional tugâŠ