Fuel Savings Are Just a ‘Nudge’ Away
The commercial maritime industry is hard at work developing, testing and implementing new and innovative technologies to limit its environmental impacts. While much of the effort has focused on physical solutions such as improved hull design, cleaner burning engines and alternative fuels—all of which are important components of the industry’s decarbonization journey—software firm Signol has its sights set on helping vessel owners and operators reap the rewards of behavioral efficiencies.The…
Planes, Trains and Ships: Criminal Antitrust Enforcement Speeding Up for Transportation Sector
The Biden administration recently issued a sweeping Executive Order [1] aimed at protecting and enhancing competition, and the transportation sector—including air, ocean, and rail—is among the industries specifically identified and likely to see heightened antitrust scrutiny under the new directives. This executive action was soon followed by the long-awaited announcement of Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (Division), Jonathan Kanter, who…
UK Startup to Apply Aviation Fuel Tracker for Shipping
A U.K. startup tracking fuel-use performance in aviation will look to apply its product in the maritime sector in an effort to improve the environmental record of the shipping industry.One of 10 winners of MarRI-UK funding, Signol and its academic partners at University College London’s Energy Institute have been awarded a total of £130,000 ($162,200) for STEAM (Sustainability Through Efficient Actions in Maritime), a project looking to directly change the behavior of ships’ crews…
Fincantieri Starts on Second Ship for Virgin Voyages
A steel cutting ceremony held today at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard marked the official start of construction for the second of three cruise ships on order for Virgin Voyages (part of Virgin Group). During the event, Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Voyages President and CEO Tom McAlpin, welcomed by Giampiero Massolo and Giuseppe Bono, Chairman and CEO of Fincantieri, also revealed the name of the series’ first ship, which is currently under construction at the yard: Scarlet Lady…
25th Anniversary of the Destriero’s Record Atlantic Crossing
On August 9, 1992 – 25 years ago today – the motor yacht Destriero set the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, a record that remains unbeaten to this day. The monohull, built in 1991 in less than one year in the Fincantieri shipyard of Muggiano and Riva Trigoso, sailed 3,106 nautical miles without refueling, from Ambrose Light, N.Y. to Bishop Rock lightship on the Scilly Isles, England, in 58 hours at an average speed of 53 knots (reaching a maximum speed of 66 knots), claiming once more the Blue Riband, awarded in 1933 to the legendary transatlantic liner Rex. The yacht also set a record on its return journey, awarded the Virgin Atlantic Trophy by the English business magnate Richard Branson on September 5, 1992, as well as the New York Yacht Club Columbus Atlantic Trophy.
Virgin Cruises to Sail Out of Miami in 2020
Virgin Cruises will launch its first luxury liner in 2020 from Miami, British tycoon Richard Branson announced, placing his bets on medium-sized "boutique" ships. The Virgin Group founder said he had signed a binding letter of intent with Italy's Fincantieri to build three 110,000-ton ships, to debut in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each ship would carry 2,860 passengers, based on double occupancy, and 1,150 crewmembers. With characteristic flair, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, sporting a skipper's hat, arrived in downtown Miami's Museum Park via helicopter and a cloud of Virgin-red smoke. Branson announced formation of the cruise line in December 2014. Bain Capital is the financing partner.
Virgin Atlantic Challenger ll Readies for UK Return
Plymouth boatyard looks to refit Richard Branson's iconic 'Virgin Atlantic Challenger II' after the boat's 20-year absence from UK shores. Dan Stevens, a merchant navy master who also runs the Mount Batten ferry and harbour cruise vessels in Plymouth, discovered the powerboat languishing in a boatyard in Majorca, where she has been laid up for more than seven years, reports 'Plymouth: The Herald'. Stevens is flying out a crew within days to carry out a basic refit to make her seaworthy…
Biofuels and Effects on Shipping Industry
Biofuels are increasingly in the news – a biofuelled airline has been flown; fuel suppliers are to ensure that a percentage of their sales must include biofuels and there is a lively debate about ‘feeding or fuelling the nation’. In his lecture, entitled ‘Biofuels and their effects on the shipping industry’ on 23 April, Richard Sadler will cover the various types of biofuels and how they may affect marine transportation, the effect on new and existing trade patterns, the subsequent changes that this may have on suitable ship designs and sizes; together with the application of biofuels as marine fuels and lubricants. The Lecture will be delivered at the City Conference Centre, (the headquarters of IMarEST). Attendance is free of charge to IMarEST members and non-members alike.
