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Final Design News

12 Feb 2024

Future Ships: Picture Perfect

(Image: Siemens)

Big data, advanced computers and AI are allowing vessel designers to prepare models that leave essentially nothing to chance.“Lastly, 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 tedious


22 Dec 2023

Austal USA Wins USN Contract

Austal USA received an $867.6 million undefinitized contract award (UCA) for final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) from the U.S. Navy. Image courtesy Austal USA

Austal USA received an $867.6 million undefinitized contract award (UCA) for final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) from the U.S. Navy. The EMS will be manufactured in Austal USA’s aluminum manufacturing line following completion of the last Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 16).The Expeditionary Medical Ship (EMS), an Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) variant, is a cost-effective design providing a dedicated medical ship optimized to provide patient holding, stabilization, evacuation and transport in support of Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO).

13 Nov 2023

Bristol Harbor Group to Design Ferry for Casco Bay Lines

© Scott / Adobe Stock

Bristol, R.I. based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) has been selected by Casco Bay Lines (CBL), located in Portland, Maine, to provide naval architecture and marine engineering services for the evaluation and design of a new sub-chapter K passenger/vehicle ferry that will be operated year round in the coastal waters of Casco Bay.The new vessel will replace the 98-foot-long, 399-passenger Maquoit II, built by East Boothbay, Maine shipbuilder Washburn & Doughty in 1994.BHGI said it will be responsible for developing a preliminary design report


03 Nov 2023

US Awards More than $653 Million for Port Projects

© druid007 / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced over $653 million to fund 41 port improvement projects across the nation under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).The investments—part of the largest dedicated funding for ports and waterways in history, nearly $17 billion through the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are intended to help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports and inland


16 Oct 2023

Securing Federal Grant Resources for US Ports

(Photo: HDR)

Like many ports, the Alaskan Port of Homer faces aging infrastructure and capital needs well beyond the local funding capacity. The port is a key link in the supply chain for 47 remote, rural, disadvantaged or Alaska Native communities served by Homer, making proposed port infrastructure upgrades critical for shipping statewide as well as for the local community.Enter the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This unprecedented


17 Aug 2023

NSMV: The Model for the Future of Government Shipbuilding

(Photo: Philly Shipyard)

At the time of publication, the first National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the Empire State VII, is steadily advancing towards its final delivery to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and SUNY Maritime College. Let’s be clear—this is a huge win, not only for MARAD, its vessel construction manager TOTE Services, the shipbuilder Philly Shipyard, and SUNY Maritime, but for the future of government shipbuilding.To put this milestone in its appropriate context, it is worth reviewing how we got here.

06 Jun 2023

ABS AIP for Provaris’ Compressed Hydrogen Technology

Illustration of the H2Leo 26,000m3 compressed hydrogen floating storage (Image: Provaris)

ABS has presented Provaris Energy with an approval in principle (AIP) for its innovative gaseous hydrogen floating storage concept in a ceremony at NOR Shipping.The solution, dubbed H2Leo, has a design capacity range of 300 to 600 tonnes of hydrogen, expandable to up to 2,000 tonnes. The unit is designed for various hydrogen supply chains and applications, including bunkering for the maritime sector, intermittent/buffer storage for green hydrogen production, and long-duration storage for excess renewable energy.The AIP is the latest support from ABS for Provaris


28 Nov 2022

Marine News' Top Vessels of 2022

Mark W. Barker (Photo: Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding)

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

31 Oct 2022

DOT Announces $703M in Port Funding; 41 Projects in 22 States

Copyright bannafarsai/AdobeStock

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced more than $703 million to fund 41 projects in 22 states and one territory that designed to help improve port facilities through the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. Following is the full list of FY 2022 Port Infrastructure Development Grant Awards:ALASKANorth Extension Stabilization Step 1 Project ($68,700,000), Anchorage, AlaskaThe Project will reconfigure and realign the shoreline within the “North Extension” (the area north of the existing general cargo terminals) at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage, Alaska.

19 Oct 2022

USACE Orders Crane Barge for St. Marys River

(Image: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District in concert with the Philadelphia District and the Marine Design Center awarded a 11.4 million contract to Southwest Shipyard in Houston for a new crane barge on the St. Marys River.“The new crane barge will perform critical lock and hydropower facility maintenance at the Soo Project Office (Soo Locks),” said Justin Proulx, Chief of the St. Marys River Section. “Additionally, the new vessel will support channel maintenance and will be ready to respond to critical maritime incidents on the St Marys River


07 Jul 2022

This Way, Model-based Systems Engineering Effectively Helps You in the Concept Design Phase

Shutterstock/KeyFame, Shipbuilder

Maritime model-based systems engineering has been an issue in the maritime sector busy for years. It seems to be a huge challenge to define a ship in mathematical formulas, while converting a ship into formulas is only the beginning of the complexity. A lot of maritime engineers find themselves stranded in a quagmire of results. Geert Schouten, director of Shipbuilder says, "We have lots of years of experience with model-based systems engineering. With our new tool we can translate the jumble of results into a complete, perfect ship design.

01 Jun 2022

HAV Group's Hydrogen Energy System for Cruise Vessels Gets Preliminary DNV Approval

Credit; HAV Group

Norwegian technology provider HAV Group ASA has received preliminary approval from DNV for its hydrogen-based energy system for cruise ships.The system uses liquefied hydrogen storage and fuel cells and was created as part of the FreeCO2ast project, which is currently developing a high-capacity hydrogen energy system that can be retrofitted onboard two coastal cruise vessels owned by the Norwegian operator Havila  Kystruten.The preliminary approval through DNV means that HAV Group


18 Feb 2022

Interview: Inside Cadeler X-Class WTIVs with CEO Mikkel Gleerup

Photo courtesy Cadeler

Cadeler CEO Mikkel Gleerup shares insights on the path ahead for his company in the fast-growing offshore wind sector, with details on Cadeler’s new X-Class Wind Turbine Installation Vessels.The last two years were big year for your company, with a name change from Swire Blue Ocean and IPO at the end of 2020 and a rebranding through 2021. What was the rationale for these moves?We rebranded from Swire Blue Ocean to Cadeler end of 2020 to demonstrate that this was a separation from Swire.

11 Feb 2022

SP80: 80-knot Sailboat Demands High-Performance Sensing

3D rendering of the SP80 sailing on water. (photo courtesy of SP80)

Fischer Connectors’ solutions support the transmission of sensor data for the wind-powered SP80 boat setting out to reach the phenomenal speed of 80 knots, which if achieved will break the long-standing world sailing speed record of 65.45 knots.During the development of its boat that is now close to its final design phase, the SP80 team has chosen Fischer Connectors for the data-transmission solutions interconnecting the various sensors that will equip the boat and its pilot to break the world sailing speed record.

06 Dec 2021

Eye on Design: Where Are the Transportation Macro Designers?

Figure 1: Design Spiral, Evans, J. Harvey (1959), “Basic Design Concepts,” Naval Engineers Journal, Vol. 21, Nov.

As naval architects and marine engineers we are familiar with the design spiral. While design is not truly a spiral, we use the concept to remind ourselves that all pieces of a ship design interact. The design spiral is not a standard figure and can be simplistic or overcomplicated.A Google search image summary provides dozens of interpretations, all investigating different variables, with the only commonality that all spirals start with the “mission” variable.Figure 1 is an old


02 Dec 2021

World First: Kongsberg Launches Full-scale Hydrogen-based Propulsion System

Credit: Kongsberg

Norway's Kongsberg has announced "a world first" by testing and verifying a full-scale, full-size, zero-emissions drivetrain powered by hydrogen fuel cells designed for ships and ferries. The project demonstrates that the technology is now mature for using hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier, Kongsberg said.“With a verified and tested hydrogen-based propulsion system, we take the next step in zero-emission solutions at sea. This project is another example of our world-leading Norwegian maritime cluster succeeding when we face the most demanding technological challenges


11 Oct 2021

Silver Ships, Auburn University to Develop Oyster Harvesting Boat Designs

(Photo: Silver Ships)

Boat builder Silver Ships is partnering with Auburn University’s Industrial Design program and the Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory (AUSL) to create concepts for an oyster farming boat design.Beginning this fall, Silver Ships, AUSL and students within Auburn’s industrial design program will focus on designing several concepts for a new boat to support oyster farming operations. The class offers third-year students the opportunity to engage in their first substantial design


14 Sep 2021

Marine Design: Multi-Physics Simulation (MPS) & Decarbonization Walk Hand-in-Hand

“We can all understand the potential of alternate fuels in shipping’s push to achieve a sustainable footing ... however we see the potential of MPS, sitting as it does at the intersection of data, digital and decarbonization, as another, less heralded, advance with the potential to make a significant contribution.” Chris Wiernicki, CEO, ABS. Photo courtesy ABS

Chris Wiernicki, CEO, ABS, discusses the evolution of multi-physics simulation and its importance in reaching decarbonization goals through 2050.As the pace of technological evolution rapidly quickens, shipowners are increasingly forced to embrace change to ensure their fleets stay in compliance with new regulations and stave off obsolescence.Going forward, efficient, cost-effective delivery of goods from ‘point A to point B’ must be done in a more environmentally benign manner


16 Jun 2021

Multimission Vessels: Interest Across All Sectors

Damen’s “Swiss army knife” Multicats are popular in Europe. Damen has recently contracted for the first of these vessels to be built in the U.S. (Photo: Damen)

The development and construction of multimission vessels (MMVs) remains active across the maritime market.The ability to perform multiple tasks when those different duties are needed is central to an MMV’s value. Multimission capabilities mean that an expensive asset doesn’t sit idle when it isn’t being used for a singular purpose, such as firefighting. This is particularly important for public sector officials who have to weigh costs and benefits across a wide range of demands


20 Apr 2021

Glosten to Design, Freire Shipyard to Build MBARI's New Research Vessel

Photo courtesy Glosten © 2021 MBARI

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is embarking on a new chapter in its ocean research with the construction of a state-of-the-art ship, a vessel named in honor of MBARI’s founder, David Packard. The R/V David Packard will be capable of accommodating diverse expeditions in Monterey Bay and beyond to further the institute’s mission to explore and understand our changing ocean.It will measure 50 x 12.8 m with a 3.7 m draft, designed to  support a crew of 12, plus a science crew of 18.

08 Feb 2021

GEV, Ballard Developing Hydrogen Fuel Cell-powered Ship

Rendering of GEV's fuel cell-powered C-H2 Ship, to be powered by a Ballard system as it transports compressed green hydrogen (Image: Ballard)

Global Energy Ventures (GEV) and Ballard Power Systems have teamed up to design and develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for GEV’s C-H2 Ship.Under a newly executed memorandum of understanding (MOU), GEV and Ballard will work to power the C-H2 Ship using compressed hydrogen from its storage tanks, providing a zero-emissions marine transport supply chain.The power required for a small-scale demonstration of the C-H2 Ship is expected to be under 10 megawatts (MW). At full scale, the C-H2 Ship will have a propulsion power requirement of approximately 26 MW


13 Aug 2020

Engineering for Tier 4

A 3D production model of a Robert Allan Ltd. tug, showcasing a Cat 3516E Tier 4 marine engine with SCR installation. (Image: Robert Allan Ltd.)

As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world—celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020—Robert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no one’s ever come to the Vancouver, Canada-based company as early in the process as Caterpillar did during the development of its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final solutions.Like many in the industry, the team at Robert Allan Ltd.

26 Aug 2020

Interview: Heavy Lifting with John DiMartino and Tandemloc

Photo: Tandemloc

Starting from his father’s basement in Bayport, New York, John DiMartino and his brother Bill have built a custom, heavy lift powerhouse in Tandemloc. It’s a story of building something from nothing; a story of plotting a path and adjusting for multiple course changes along the way. Ultimately, it’s a story of engineering ingenuity and heavy lift success.When John DiMartino graduated from SUNY Maritime in 1980 with a BS Marine Transportation Management, his career path started as projected