D4 News

A port call made by CMA CGM Liberty at the Honmoku D4 terminal in Yokohama on Monday is the first by a liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership in Japan. At 15,000-TEU, the containership also ranks amongst the largest vessels to be calling in Japan.CMA CGM Liberty is one of three e-methane ready LNG-powered vessels that the Group has lined-up on the weekly Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service. They form the ACSA1 service fleet of 12 vessels, ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 TEUs and deployed on the regular Transpacific service.

The CMA CGM Group said this week it had received the arrival of the CMA CGM Argentina containership as its largest vessel to call at the Honmoku D4 terminal in Yokohama, Japan.The containership is one of two 15,000-TEU series that the group has deployed on the weekly Asia Central South America 1 (ACSA1) service. Arriving from central and south America, the CMA CGM Argentina is now the largest containership to call a Japanese port on a regular service and has brought import shipments of fresh fruits from Ecuador and Guatemala…

Tore Hoem, adventures director at Hurtigruten Svalbard, has lived on Svalbard, the remote Norwegian archipelago just a few hundred miles from the North Pole, for more than two decades, long enough to witness the sea ice retreat significantly and more rain creep into the early and late snow season.These alarming effects of climate change are among key drivers behind the Hurtigruten Group’s sustainability efforts, including a new hybrid-electric excursion vessel recently put into service in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s largest inhabited area.

High-latitude tourism company Hurtigruten Svalbard has launched a first-of-its kind hybrid-electric excursion vessel in Longyearbyen, just 800 miles from the North Pole.The 14-meter vessel, Kvitbjørn, runs on a hybrid-electric propulsion system developed by Volvo Penta in partnership with Swedish boatbuilder Marell Boats and Hurtigruten Svalbard.The new 12-passenger aluminum vessel, which will take sightseers on wilderness tours around Svalbard during the local tourist season from May through October…

Aluminum boatbuilder Brix Marine said it has delivered the newest installment of its PAXCAT portfolio, a 32’ x 12’ catamaran GOAT 1 to the Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC), the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, located on Cortes Island, B.C., Canada. The corporation, whose activities include forestry, aquaculture, tourism and retail, operates the 12-passenger vessel as a water taxi.The vessel was delivered in September 2021, and a traditional cedar brushing ceremony marked the vessel’s arrival at Klahoose Wilderness Resort.

Hurtigruten Svalbard said it has teamed up with Volvo Penta to test a new hybrid vessel that will allow guests to experience the wonders of the Arctic archipelago without disturbing the habitat around them.The near-silent, Marell M15 cruiser called Kvitbjørn (polar bear in English) will allow for fully electric operation in the environmentally sensitive waters around Svalbard, which is hugely popular with nature-loving adventure travelers. Hurtigruten Svalbard plans to test the…

A new patrol boat just launched by Ribcraft in Dubai is powered by a unique hybrid electric system supplied by Transfluid and Elcome International.The two companies collaborated to design and install the cost-effective diesel-electric system for the nine-meter Ribcraft professional-grade rigid-hull inflatable boat. A Middle Eastern customer required a patrol RHIB intended for the surveillance of the environmentally protected areas with zero environmental footprint, while at the…

Boatbuilder Brix Marine (formerly Armstrong Marine USA) is currently constructing the 32’ x 12’ catamaran for the Qathen Xwegus Management Corporation (QXMC). QXMC is the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, located on Cortes Island, B.C, Canada. The corporation, whose activities include industries such as forestry, aquaculture, tourism, and retail, will operate the twelve-passenger vessel as a water taxi. Completion is slated for Fall 2021.Power and propulsion are twin Volvo Penta D4 270hp engines with Aquamatic DPI outdrives.

The past few months have been full of uncertainties and even as we look ahead, we don’t know exactly what the future will hold. But we do know that as an industry, we’ll need to prioritize and plan differently. Within the Volvo Penta organization, the team is working hard to understand how to adapt our business as the world around us continues to adjust to a changing economic and societal landscape.As I reflect on what’s transpired since the start of the pandemic, I’m proud of the professionalism and creativity shown by our Volvo Penta team in rising to the challenges.I’ll give you an example.

As Volvo Penta continues its strategic penetration of the commercial maritime sector, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News checks in with Ron Huibers, President, Volvo Penta of the Americas. When we first met with you a few years ago, Volvo Penta was in the early stages of a strategic move into the commercial maritime sector in North America. Please update your progress. Historically, we have been strong in the marine commercial markets outside of North America. Five years ago…

Volvo Penta and Danish manufacturer BUKH have entered into a partnership by which Volvo Penta will supply BUKH with diesel engines of up to 16 liter capacity for new propulsion solutions for lifeboats. The agreement between the two companies enables BUKH to extend its SOLAS engine range, and allows Volvo Penta to extend the use of its products in new applications. Lifeboat manufacturers will benefit by the increase in available power options and leveraging of comprehensive technology offered by the two companies.

Volvo Penta is offering factory-built keel-cooled engines for the entire line of marine commercial inboard and sterndrive D4 3.7-liter and D6 5.5-liter engines. The D4/D6 keel-cooled version uses a twin circuit design, with keel coolers for both the high-temperature engine block circuit and low-temperature charge air cooler circuit. “Keel cooling provides unique advantages for commercial marine vessels,” said Jens Bering, manager product management for Volvo Penta North America.

Metal Shark now offers Volvo Penta diesel sterndrives in its 29 Defiant patrol boats for customers requiring optimum performance, durability and maneuverability. The 29 Defiant can now be ordered with twin Volvo Penta D4-225 sterndrives. The first boat has just been placed into service by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The Volvo Penta D4-225 is a four-cylinder 3.7-liter engine designed specifically for commercial marine applications. The electronically controlled common rail fuel system provides the performance required for applications requiring fast acceleration and high top speed. The Volvo Penta DPH Duoprop robust high-speed drives are designed to handle massive torque forces while providing high efficiency at all speeds, safe handling and easy maneuvering.

Volvo Penta of the Americas has announced the availability of a keel cooling option with D4 and D6 marine diesel engines to meet customer demands in the North American marine commercial market. Volvo Penta is now offering factory-built keel-cooled engines for the entire line of marine commercial inboard and sterndrive D4 3.7-liter and D6 5.5-liter engines. The D4/D6 keel-cooled version uses a twin circuit design, with keel coolers for both the high-temperature engine block circuit and low-temperature charge air cooler circuit. “Keel cooling provides unique advantages for commercial marine vessels,” said Jens Bering, manager product management for Volvo Penta North America.

Volvo Penta of the Americas today announced the availability of a keel cooling option with D4 and D6 marine diesel engines to meet customer demands in the North American marine commercial market. Volvo Penta is now offering factory-built keel-cooled engines for the entire line of marine commercial inboard and sterndrive D4 3.7-liter and D6 5.5-liter engines. The D4/D6 keel-cooled version uses a twin circuit design, with keel coolers for both the high-temperature engine block circuit and low-temperature charge air cooler circuit.

In July 2012, Tarua 120 was delivered by shipyard Italthai Marine Limited to her owners, the Port Authority of Thailand. This is the latest of the RAmparts 2800 Class Tugs to be built to this widely accepted design from Robert Allan Ltd., Naval Architects of Vancouver, B.C. and is the first tug to be built to a Robert Allan Ltd. design in Thailand. Working in close cooperation with shipyard personnel, the standard Ramparts 2800 design is customized to meet the Port Authority of Thailand’s requirements for propulsion equipment, accommodations, tank capacities and outfit.

Fluid Motion, LLC, the designers and builders of Ranger Tugs have introduced the newest model in the fleet—the Ranger 31. The new R31 will debut this month at the Seattle Boat Show in the Stadium Exhibition Center, January 26-Feburary 5. Hull #2 is expected to make the East Coast debut at the Miami International Boat Show, February 16-20 at Sea Isle Marina on Biscayne Bay. The R31 shares many of the features and qualities of her smaller sisterships but some notable additions to this larger model make her ideal for extended cruising while still being a trailerable trawler.

Transnet Port Terminal reports that its R5.6 billion, five-year investment plan aimed at increasing the capacity of the Cape Town Container Terminal is progressing according to schedule. Under its reconfiguration program on the long quay, the container stacking yard is being converted from a straddle carrier operation to a rubber tired gantry (RTG) operation. Over the past six months, 16 RTGs have been phased into the terminal and a further 16 RTGs are earmarked to arrive in the second half of this year.

Volvo Penta is continuing with the renewal of its product range. Launches this autumn will include the D9 diesel engine and high-performance versions of the new generation medium-heavy D4/D6 diesel engines introduced by Volvo Penta in 2003. The D9, which is being launched in 500-hp and 575-hp versions, is an inline six-cylinder marine diesel that strengthens Volvo Penta’s engine program for leisure boats from 40 up to 50 feet. The D9 is electronically controlled and features a mid-positioned twin-entry turbocharger that offers the possibility of pulse charging. This means that the energy in each exhaust gas pulse can be used to provide higher compression, which gives the engine highly rapid response direct from low rpms. This contributes to the D9’s very high torque.

Bay Ship & Yacht has launched the high-performance yacht, Blue Thunder, marking the shipyard’s entry into the custom-built sport-yachting market. With a service speed of 32 knots, a flank speed of 42 knots, and a draft of less than three ft, the Blue Thunder offers the speed and performance of a high-performance sport yacht. The custom interior is crafted with veneered, ultra-light honeycomb-cored panels, with a satin varnish finish. The boat has a 42-ft hull and a 10-ft beam, and is built with a light-weight wood/epoxy/fiberglass composite.