Enlarged News

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has signed a 20-year lease agreement with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), with options up to 30 years for Brunswick port expansion, increasing its strategic terminal and processing networkUpgraded and enlarged Brunswick facilities will further expand the scope and scale of U.S. Southeast operations of Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which is the world's largest RoRo vessel operator.The Brunswick expansion will further cement the company’s position as the favored partner for North American customers…

Aker Arctic’s CEO Reko-Antti Suojanen announced he will leave his position in the company, while he and the Board of Aker Arctic have agreed that he will continue in his position as CEO until of January 31, 2024.Suojanen has benn CEO of Aker Arctic for 10 years, and the Board has commenced the search process to hire his successor. “We have developed and designed worldclass icebreakers and other ice going vessels and reached a position as the leading company in this segment. The company’s financial situation is excellent…

Korean Register (KR) granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a 200,000cbms ultra-large ammonia carrier fueled by ammonia created by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). The design was unveiled at Gastech 2023 in Singapore.The carrier is a green ship designed to carry large quantities of ammonia, using the cargo as fuel, and has zero carbon dioxide emissions during operation.Ammonia, known for its distinctive odor that aids quick leak detection is also relatively lightweight, allowing effective control of leaking gases. It also offers the benefit of low explosive properties.

Singapore-based Sembcorp Marine said Monday it was proposing to change its name from “Sembcorp Marine Ltd” to “Seatrium Limited."This follows the completion of the combination of the company's businesses and Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd on February 28, 2023, and will adopt a new branding for the enlarged entity."The proposed change of name is subject to shareholders’ approval and will not affect the identity of the Company or any of its rights and obligations, nor will it affect any of the rights of shareholders or the Group’s daily business operations and financial standing…

Belgian oil tanker and storage operator Euronav said on Thursday its shareholders had elected John Fredriksen from Frontline, a major investor that pulled out of a merger deal with Euronav this year, to its supervisory board. Euronav said shareholders had also approved the nomination to the supervisory board of Marc Saverys from CMB, the Belgian group's largest shareholder, which opposed the Frontline merger that would have created the world's largest publicly listed tanker company.The…

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Ltd. said Monday that the first of Japan's first two LNG-fueled ferries, the Sunflower Kurenai, owned by MOL and operated by its group company Ferry Sunflower entered service on January 13.The ferry serves the Osaka-Beppu route between Sunflower Ferry Terminal (Osaka Prefecture) and Beppu International Tourist Port (Oita Prefecture) as a replacement for the ferry Sunflower Ivory."Compared to earlier ferries, the new ferry offers greater transport capacity and convenience for both cargo and passenger transport.

The Government of Bermuda’s Marine and Port Services has chosen Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, to undertake a major refit of the 700-passenger ferry Bermudian. Built in 1988, the 118’ steel vessel completed the 635-mile crossing of the North Atlantic, arriving at the Somerset, Mass. shipyard, this week. With engineering and project management by Gladding-Hearn and Propulsion Data Services, and Class oversight by Lloyd’s Register, the refit is scheduled for completion in mid-2023.Among the myriad items to be removed…

Gelibolu Shipyard in Turkey has started building a next generation diesel-electric short sea shipping vessel developed by ship design and engineering firm Conoship International Projects (CIP).The 3,600 tdw general cargo vessel is suited for sea-river operations, designed to be efficient and environmentally friendly with enlarged propeller in combination with a ConoDuctTail and optimized hull lines. The ship is also ready for wind-assisted propulsion, with space for the placement of Econowind VentiFoils…

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced it has delivered the first vessel for luxury cruise operator Viking equipped with an emissions reducing hydrogen fuel cell system.Identical to Viking’s other ocean ships, the 47,800 ton Viking Neptune is fitted with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the cruise industry’s first ship to test the use of hydrogen power for on board operations. “We are especially proud to welcome this newest sister ship to our ocean fleet, as it also marks a significant advancement in testing hydrogen as a future fuel for our vessels…

Singapore's Sembcorp Marine (Sembmarine) scrapped a deal to merge with Keppel Corp's offshore and marine unit and form new company, in favour of directly buying the unit for S$4.50 billion ($3.19 billion), the Temasek-backed oil rig builder said on Thursday. The new structure also lowers the value of Keppel's unit by S$378 million from the S$4.87 billion valuation it got according to the terms of the previous agreement struck in April, Sembmarine said. This deal gives Sembmarine's shareholders a bigger stake –– of 46% stake…

Data usage on commercial maritime vessels has jumped more than threefold since 2019, according to new communications analysis by maritime comms specialist Inmarsat.Inmarsat said the study results underline the shipping industry’s reliance on digital connectivity to enhance operating efficiency and safeguard crew welfare during a period of unprecedented disruption to seaborne trade.The internal study undertaken by Inmarsat, which says it connects more vessels than any other provider…

Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine has delivered a 42m Fast Crew Boat (FCB) to repeat client Centus Marine, the fourth vessel delivered to the offshore marine service provider in the last two years."The 42m FCB has been designed to meet the specific requirements of oil majors, its station-keeping and maneuvering capability have been enhanced with a tunnel thruster installed at the bow," the shipbuilder said .Powered by three Cummins KTA50 engines, the FCB completed its sea trials last month , cruising at 30 knots and reaching top speeds of more than 31 knots.

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri on Wednesday announced it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Explora Journeys, the luxury travel brand of the MSC Group's cruise division, for the construction of two hydrogen-powered luxury cruise ships.EXPLORA V and EXPLORA VI will feature a new generation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines that will tackle the issue of methane slip and will also be equipped with industry first environmental technologies and solutions, including a containment system for liquid hydrogen that will enable them to use this promising low-carbon fuel.

Dutch shipbuilder Kooiman Marine Group said it has secured a contract from Dutch dredging and marine services firm Van Oord to build two Water Injection Dredgers (WID) for delivery scheduled in the first half of 2024.The order follows the previous deliveries of the WIDs Maas and the Mersey delivered in mid-2021."The new vessels will have the same specifications, supplemented by innovative optimizations. The first of the two vessels will be commissioned in the first half of 2024…

Companies planning a new ferry build should focus on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) instead of kW-power, in order to optimize costs, Steeprop, a designer and manufacturer of azimuth propulsion systems, said.Choosing the propulsion unit based mainly on Capex, for example, will most likely increase costs in the long run, adding that a ferry owner can save more than two million euros over a 15-year period by concentrating on the TCO."The traditional way of handling the procurement of propulsion systems…

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Thursday held a naming and launching ceremony for the first of Japan’s first two LNG-fueled ferries.The ceremony was held at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works Enoura Plant, and the newbuilding ferry was named “Sunflower Kurenai” by the mayor of Beppu City Yasuhiro Nagano. The vessel is expected to enter service on the Osaka-Beppu route, operated by Ferry Sunflower Co., Ltd. as an alternative of the vessel currently in service in January 2023, after it is delivered from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding.

Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd recently handed over Centus Ten to Malaysian Offshore operator Centus Marine Sdn Bhd, marking the third fast crew boat handed over by Strategic Marine to Centus in the last 12 months and the 10th vessel overall.Commenting on the vessel handover, Strategic Marine’s CEO Chan Eng Yew said, “Centus Marine’s continued relationship and support is a solid endorsement of our design, quality, our expertise and close partner-working with each of our customers, delivering above and beyond their expectations.

Ship design and engineering firm Conoship International Projects said it has developed a new 3,600 dwt general cargo vessel suited for sea-river operations, which it says will provide major fuel savings and environmental advantages. Equipped with a diesel-electric propulsion system, enlarged propeller in combination with a ConoDuctTail and optimized hull lines, its fuel consumption will be best in class, especially in wind and waves. The design is also ready for wind-assisted propulsion…

After it in recent months acquired MMT and Abyssal, marine robotics and offshore survey company Ocean Infinity has now acquired maritime services company, Ambrey for an undisclosed fee.UK-based Ambrey offers offshore services including, security, crisis and risk management, intelligence, insurance, fleet operation, and vessel design and build.With a management team of over 150 full-time staff globally together with over 1350 contractors and crew, Ambrey operates a fleet of over 40 patrol…

Marine robotics company Ocean Infinity announced it has acquired Red Rock, a technology company with solutions that will enable autonomous port operations, an enabler for future uncrewed shipping.Red Rock is developing digital and autonomous solutions in an effort to revolutionize lifting and handling both onshore and offshore.The acquisition will combine Ocean Infinity’s ‘Armada’ robotic vessels and low emission operations with Red Rock’s ability to develop hardware and software solutions for remote and autonomous handling.

Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine has won a new contract from Centus Marine for a 42m Fast Crew Boat (FCB)."The vessel will be the latest bespoke design FCB Strategic Marine delivers for Centus Marine, with two vessels successfully delivered to the offshore marine service provider in 2021 despite the challenges of the global pandemic, and one slated for delivery early 2022," Strategic Marine said.The latest 42m FCB will be powered by three Cummins KTA50 engines, cruising at 30 knots and reaching top speeds of more than 31 knots.

US-based seabed survey and ocean exploration company Ocean Infinity on Tuesday said it had agreed to acquire the Sweden-based subsea survey firm MMT."Ocean Infinity and MMT are excited to announce an acquisition that brings together MMT’s deep expertise and established track record as a distinguished marine survey and data analytics provider and Ocean Infinity’s best-in-class robotic technology and operational expertise," the companies said without sharing the financial details…

Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) is supporting O'Hara Corporation as they modernize their 204' factory trawler, Alaska Spirit. The vessel has been successfully fishing Alaska's Bering Sea since 1989 when it was converted from an offshore supply vessel to a head and gut factory trawler. O'Hara has committed to a complete vessel overhaul to improve habitability, efficiency and optimize vessel performance.The multi-year project kicked off in 2017, shortly after O'Hara acquired the vessel and selected EBDG as their designated engineering partner.