Evolving Technology News

SWITCH Maritime announced plans to grow its U.S. fleet of zero-emission ferries following the completion of a $10 million in a Series A round led by Nexus Development Capital.Founded in 2018, SWITCH’s mission is to enable private and public municipal ferry operators to more easily replace their carbon-intensive, diesel-powered fleets while reducing operating and fueling costs over the lifetime of their vessels.The fundraise comes on the back of the completion of its flagship zero-emission vessel…

Wave measurement specialist Miros said Tuesday it had secured numerous contracts with new clients in the offshore vessel market during the first half of this year for its sea state as a service offering.The new as a service (aaS) contracts span the global offshore vessel market, with particular emphasis on the key markets of UKCS, Norway, and Brazil, Miros said, without providing details on contract values or client identities.The projects will see the Miros WaveSystem deployed across vessels…

When Ukraine successfully deployed self-driving “drone” boats for a major attack on the Russian navy at Sevastopol in Crimea in September 2022 it was a defining moment that changed the future of naval warfare. Uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) have been used before, but this was the first instance of multiple, armed USVs, used simultaneously in combination with aerial drones for a successful, offensive naval operation on a military target.Several Russian ships were damaged in the attack…

Classification society ClassNK said it has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to GTT’s technical solution fitted with Mark III membrane tank.The design developed by GTT is an upgrade of the Mark III system with a design pressure up to 2 bar gauge (barg) for LNG fuel applications. The company describes that the 2 barg upgrade is particularly useful for pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) and cruise ships, and offers improved pressure holding capabilities and operational flexibility in particular during bunkering operations.ClassNK carried out the verification according to its Rule Part GF incorporating IGF Code, especially on maximum tank dimensions…

Marcus Cheesman started his maritime training in 1987 at the early age of 13, attending Trinity House Navigation School, the UK’s only Nautical school. Upon graduation he was selected for a deck cadet apprenticeship with P&O Cruises and continued to progress through the ranks with P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line (including Windstar Cruises) and Disney Cruise Line, ultimately obtaining his Master Mariners license in 2002. He has piloted vessels on the busy River Humber based in his home town Hull…

Stonehaven-based marine technology company MarineMTS has struck an equity funding deal with SRH Marine SAIT (trading as SRH Marine Electronics). The deal will see the North-east business benefit from a multimillion dollar funding package, and through SRH Marine’s existing customer base, unlock access to approximately 15,000 vessels which could benefit from MarineMTS’ latest ‘Silverbox’ technology. The resultant trade could net the business in the region of $16 million in licensing…

Marine seismic survey provider SeaBird Exploration has entered into a settlement agreement with Ordinat Shipping AS, the owners of Munin Explorer, for the termination of the charter party agreement and redelivery of the vessel. The transaction is conditional on the fulfilment of certain preconditions and is expected to be approximately cash neutral to the company in 2018 and 2019. The company is estimating that the transaction will save in excess of $2 million over the term of the contract, including the forgiveness of the $2.4 million charter hire payment due 30 June 2020. The settlement agreement provides for a three year non-competition restriction whereby the vessel cannot compete in the company's markets.

As the offshore oil and gas industry continues to rebound, so will the demand for dynamic positioning technology and services. The annual Dynamic Positioning Conference provides an annual forum for discussion and for exchange of knowledge, experience, new technology and technical know-how associated with the use, evolving technology and application of dynamic positioning. Each year, the conference continues to attract DP professionals from around the world as well as DP manufacturers and service companies who will be exhibiting their products and services.

While much of the maritime world slumps, the cruise sector is enjoying its most vibrant growth in a generation. Carnival Corporation, in particular, is doing very well as its financial performance is stronger than ever, with 2016 delivering the best year of earnings in company history. The company’s adjusted earnings for 2016 of $2.6 billion is the best annual financial performance in its 44-year history. With that, Hans Hederstrom, Managing Director give overview of CSMART, one of the newest and richly appointed simulation centers on the planet.

Esa Jokioinen leads Rolls-Royce Marine’s Blue Ocean Team, a team that looks five to 10 years into the future to evaluate evolving technology trends, helping to determine where the company will invest. Jokioinen sat in Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ New York City headquarters to discuss the look of maritime’s future: All arrows point toward digitalization. When Esa Jokioinen and his Rolls-Royce Blue Ocean Team look at future technology trajectory, he admits that there are some things related to energy storage (batteries), new fuel and exhaust cleaning that hold promise.

ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Speaking at the opening session of the CMA Shipping 2016 Conference, ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki shared his views on developing the talent needed to lead the maritime industry forward. Setting the stage for a discussion on “Local Talent, Global Impact,” Wiernicki told attendees that the challenges impacting the industry demand new skills as well as a new way of developing leaders, and this requires organizations to change their approach.

Report explores the benefits and challenges of natural gas power from the perspective of fuel providers and operators. Classification society ABS published a new Advisory about LNG Bunkering in response to the industry's growing interest in gas propulsion, LNG Bunkering: Technical and Operational Advisory, exploring the benefits, challenges and solutions associated with fuelling vessels equipped with LNG power systems. The report is available to the public through the ABS website, www.eagle.org. "Ship owners, operators, designers and shipyards around the world are considering the advantages that operating on natural gas may provide," said Roy Bleiberg, ABS' Director of Global Gas Solutions.

Technology and dynamic mission profiles have driven change in the defense industry, Hydro Group Plc Managing Director Doug Whyte, explores the changing paradigm of submarine programs, an evolving market he has experienced first-hand, with over 30 years at the helm of his own innovative subsea design and manufacturing group. My original business partner, Mike Redstone, previously worked for Vickers Slingsby which was involved quite extensively with the Ministry of Defense (M.O.D.). At that time, in the late seventies, close involvement with the M.O.D. was commonplace.

There’s no debate about LNG in New York. ELCO, New York State Canals team up to retrofit 86-year old tugboat with an electric motor. In June, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the launch of an all-electric dredge tender work boat on the Erie Canal in the Utica area of New York. The project, a partnership with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), utilized an electric motor supplied and installed by Elco Motor Yachts, LLC, of Athens, New York. Significantly, the New York State Canal Corporation collaborated with Yorkville-based New West Technologies, LLC, in order to determine how best to transition the State’s work boat fleet to a cleaner propulsion system.

During the Informa VSAT 2014 conference in London, the Global VSAT Forum (GVF) announced the launch of its Maritime SatCom Forum (MSF) ‘Glossary’. The document, earlier iterations of which were developed by the Maritime SatCom Forum Working Group of the GVF, has been further developed by the joint-chairs of the MSF, Martin Jarrold, Chief of International Programme Development, GVF, and Roger Adamson, Chief Executive, Futurenautics. “The ‘Glossary’ comprises a highly comprehensive…

So what’s keeping ship operators awake at night these days? Plenty, it seems. Sluggish recovery from a lingering worldwide recession, unsustainable debt loads, endemic overcapacity in most shipping trades, punishing freight rates, rising costs of fuel and regulatory compliance and a lingering sense that ships are not running as efficiently as they could. The last two topics – reducing fuel costs while complying with emission regulations and improving ship operating efficiency – will take center stage at SHIPPINGInsight 2014, scheduled for Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in Stamford, Conn.

The Landing School announced that it has been selected as a recipient of a School of Excellence Award from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. According to a letter from Executive Director Dr. Michale McComis, the award “recognizes schools for their commitment to the expectations and rigors of ACCSC accreditation, as well as efforts in maintaining high-level of achievement among their students. “Accreditation is an incredibly important part of a school’s culture and quality control,” DeColfmacker said, “and this award is a testament to the quality and dedication of the entire Landing School community. Founded in 1978…

ABS announced it has been chosen to class the world's first compressed natural gas (CNG) carrier ordered by Pelayaran Bahtera Adhiguna, a subsidiary of Indonesia's state-owned power company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN). The award for the precedent-setting ship, to be built at Qingdao Wuchuan Heavy Industry's shipyard in northern China, is the latest example of ABS' leadership in the gas ship sector, where the largest share of LNG ships is presently being built to its classification standards.

The Landing School’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has named the 4th President of the Landing School. Richard J. Schuhmann, Ph.D., a former student at The Landing School and currently a Senior Lecturer and Program Manager at MIT, will begin as The Landing School’s next President on September 1, 2014. After an exhaustive search, Dr. Schuhmann was appointed on the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Trustees. He will succeed Bob DeColfmacker, who intends to retire while continuing to advise the school on strategy and major Projects. Dr.

Environmental professionals in industry are tasked with the unenviable responsibility of managing the delicate balance between compliance with ever-increasing and at times mind-numbingly complex and stringent regulations and maximization of production efforts. Consequently, Environmental Compliance Officers are perpetually on the hunt for alternatives to costly process controls and best management practices designed to mitigate potential negative impact. Requirements of the Clean…

ABS, a provider of classification services to the maritime and offshore industries, has been chosen to class the world's first contracted series of very large ethane carriers (VLECs). The class contract for the ships, which will be built in Korea by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for an Asian shipowner, represents another gas ship milestone for ABS. "We are delighted to have received the class contract for the world's first large ethane carriers," says ABS Vice President of Global Gas Solutions Patrick Janssens. "As a result of the shale gas boom in the US, ethane is developing as an exciting new market with great potential, requiring the development of new ship types. The contract is for six 87,000 m3 VLECs and available options.

All operators, regardless of vessel type, size, location or function, are plagued by the same worries: “When will my next outage happen, and what is it going to cost me?”  In an effort to ease these concerns, millions of dollars are invested every year into commercial/workboat maintenance programs. But how can maintenance be maximized without blowing budgets? What’s the most thorough way to monitor equipment? How can all mechanical components be watched for possible issues and failures?

The Navy's top admiral joined his sea service counterparts to discuss the importance of the sea services at the Sea-Air-Space Service Chief Update Panel today. Speaking to members of national and international defense industries, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert encouraged partnership and increased reliance on payload capacity rather than platform designs. "We need lower cost approaches," said Greenert. Citing recent anti-piracy operations that used larger platforms…