Key Technology News

Austal USA Advanced Technologies is working with the US Navy on technical solutions that will power the next-gen of navy assets. Don Hairston recently took the helm of the AAT team, and discusses how additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence are powering the future of naval asset design, construction and lifecycle maintenance.Don, what specifically attracted you to the position as GM of Austal USA Advanced Technologies?I liked Austal USA as an up-and-comer; it offers tremendous growth opportunities.

ABB announced it has secured a 15-year agreement covering service for Carnival Corporation brand vessels powered by Azipod XO electric propulsion systems.The deal aims to simplify service management of Azipod XO propulsion units, with ABB experts remotely available 24/7 to support the vessels’ electric engineering crew on maintenance, based on ABB Ability Remote Diagnostic System and ABB Ability Condition Monitoring for Azipod propulsion. The owner accumulates data about Azipod propulsion performance…

Realizing the full value of digital solutions far exceeds the capability of technology. The technology exists today to help offshore energy and maritime operators radically improve efficiency and cut costs in equal measure. The real trick to driving efficiencies is to take advantage of the latest technologies while at the same time negotiating the necessary culture change within individual organizations, to really reap the benefits.Harvest Technology Group is a relatively young and small Australian company that has caught the attention of a number of offshore and subsea industry heavyweights…

In the global quest for achieving net zero emissions and slowing down global warming, carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology has emerged as an important solution. Among the notable projects being developed in the field is the Northern Lights offshore carbon capture and storage project in Norway, a country with long experience with offshore CO2 storage.The transition to a sustainable energy future requires innovative solutions that go beyond simply halting fossil fuel projects.

ABB has introduced a new Operational Planner module for its ABB Ability OCTOPUS – Marine Advisory System to help offshore fleet managers plan and optimize the maintenance of offshore wind farm operations.For support vessels moving between turbines or rigs during a single shift, OCTOPUS Operational Planner forecasts vessel workability across multiple sites. Whereas an offshore support vessel typically relies on an onboard weather routing system to predict weather and wave heights…

Norway's Kongsberg Maritime said Friday it had successfully demonstrated a range of remote and autonomous technologies on a cargo vessel operating off the coast of Norway.The test cruise has been named one of the most complex autonomous journeys at sea so far, Kongsberg Maritime said.The Eidsvaag Pioner is one of the two vessels that are equipped for remote-operated and autonomous transport demonstrations for the AUTOSHIP project, which is part of Horizon 2020, an EU research program.Owned by the Eidsvaag shipping company…

Shell has signed a five-year contract for the installation of Kongsberg's JAWS (Just Add Water System) software on board 45 of the LNG carriers chartered by Shell.These are LNG carriers that already utilize the Kongsberg Maritime K-IMS Information Management System application suite. K-IMS is a web-based solution that gives both ship crews and shore teams continual access to crucial voyage and vessel data. The provision of JAWS as an application within the K-IMS suite renders it instantly available to all K-IMS users.The contract signing follows a successful year-long trial…

Bureau Veritas (BV) has delivered an approval in principle (AIP) for BV’s ‘Cyber Managed Prepared’ notation to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (HHI) and Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (KSOE) for its vessel design.The maritime industry is growing ever more connected, with the majority of newbuild vessels today being built with integrated digital systems on board. While this increased digitalization enables ship owners and managers to collect data and exchange information with their vessels, it also leaves ships vulnerable to cyber risks, BV said.

Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, Gassco and DNV announced the kick-off of a new JIP to develop low-pressure solutions for the transportation of CO2 by ships. The CETO (CO2 Efficient Transport via Ocean) JIP will carry out the technology qualification of a low-pressure ship design and identify solutions to scale CO2 transportation volume, while reducing the associated risks, to support the development of opportunities in CCS. CETO is funded by the project partners and GASSNOVA through the CLIMIT program and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Energy companies Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, Gassco and classification society DNV have commenced a new joint industry project (JIP) to develop low-pressure solutions for the transportation of CO2 by ships. The CETO (CO2 Efficient Transport via Ocean) JIP will carry out the technology qualification of a low-pressure ship design and identify solutions to scale CO2 transportation volume, while reducing the associated risks, to support the development of opportunities in CCS. CETO is funded by the project partners and GASSNOVA through the CLIMIT program and is expected to be completed in 2023.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on November 18 that it successfully held a demonstration ceremony at the Geoje shipyard for "SENSE IV (SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Exapnsion IV)", SHI's in-house natural gas liquefaction system.The demonstration, which began on November 16, was attended by several major LNG producers and classification societies.The natural gas liquefaction system, called "An LNG plant on the sea," is one of the main processes of FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas)…

The technology group Wärtsilä has received marine sector commercial certification for compliance with the EU’s Stage V standards. The Stage V legislation, which came into force in 2020, tightens restrictions on non-road engines and equipment, and sets stricter limits on emissions, especially particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The certification applies to the total solution, including the Wärtsilä 14 engine and exhaust after-treatment system, and was received…

In what has been described as an industry first, maritime and offshore classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded China Merchants Industry (CMI) Approval in Principle (AIP) for its deep-sea mining system design.The AIP follows the publication of the ABS Guide for Subsea Mining in October 2020 and is the first to be issued that conforms to the new Guide, ABS said.CMI’s design focuses on retrieving cobalt-rich ferromanganese crust deposits attached to seamounts.

It will take well-defined goals and a mix of new green technologies to meet the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) target to achieve net-zero shipping emissions by 2050, oil major Shell said in a newly published report.In the report, Decarbonizing Shipping: Setting Shell’s Course, Shell highlights the role that hydrogen and fuel cells could play in achieving a decarbonized shipping sector. Calling for the IMO to adopt a clear trajectory to net-zero emissions by 2050,…

Tokyo-based e5 Lab Inc. says it has launched the ROBOSHIP project aiming to develop standard models of electrically powered vessels to realize zero emissions, as well as an integrated system called the ROBOSHIP BOX, which brings together telecommunications, the Internet of Things (IoT) and software.With strategic partners in Japan and overseas, the development project team targets the commercialization of electric-powered merchant vessels that adopt clean and efficient propulsion systems at the most competitive price in the global market…

The global leader in offshore wind Ørsted becomes the first-ever energy company to top a index.The Denmark-based global power company has outperformed more than 7,300 global companies with billion-dollar revenues to rank #1 in Corporate Knights' 2020 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world.Henrik Poulsen, CEO of Ørsted, said: "We're immensely proud to rank as the world's most sustainable company. From our origins as a traditional fossil fuel-based energy company, we've transformed into one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world. Every day, we deliver green energy solutions at scale to combat climate change…

Norwegian technology firm Kongsberg announced it will install and test autonomous ship technologies on two vessels in Europe's inland waterways and short sea coastal shipping routes.The AUTOSHIP project will aim to test and further develop key technology linked to fully autonomous navigation systems, intelligent machinery systems, self-diagnostics, prognostics and operation scheduling, as well as communication technology enabling a prominent level of cyber security and integrating the vessels into upgraded e-infrastructure…

While merriam-webster.com is succinct in its definition of ‘autonomous’, ask 10 people in the maritime sector what ‘autonomous’ vessel means to them and the responses vary widely. Achieving autonomous, unmanned operations is not high, today, on the agenda of many (if any) shipowners. What does command their attention? Building ships that are increasingly ‘smart,’ with integrated, connected systems that take on additional decision-making processes while helping to reduce crew size (and cost)…

The consortium promoting the commercial case for liquefied natural gas (LNG), SEA\LNG, believes LNG is a viable pathway to meet the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’s 2050 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) targets.The maritime industry really has two broad but major environmental initiatives related to air emissions; dramatic improvement of global air quality, and reduction of GHGs, said a release from the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel.Reinforcing the case for LNG as a marine fuel, SEA\LNG Ltd Chairman Peter Keller said: “In addition to immediate local air quality benefits…

The marine software developer looks to accelerate growth with new backing from global technology firm.Marine operations software company Helm Operations has been acquired by Toronto-based Volaris Group Inc. (“Volaris”). Volaris specializes in strengthening and growing technology companies and is a leader in the marine software space. Founded in 1999, Helm Operations is widely known as a developer of marine operations software for the workboat market. Following an acquisition by ClassNK in 2014, the company released its newest platform, Helm CONNECT, in 2016, reportedly achieving measurable growth in just two years. The firm is heavily involved in the subchapter M implementation markets on U.S.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued approval in principle (AiP) to Wison for its 300MW capacity floating storage, regasification, power plant (FSRP) concept design.A relatively new design concept, FSRPs are essentially floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plants that receive LNG from ships and store it within tanks below deck, before regasifying the LNG and using it to fuel an onboard power plant.LR, Wison and Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) are working together in developing this 300MW barge-type FSRP unit that will be moored at a jetty or placed near-shore.

The Shipowners’ Club, the leading mutual P&I insurer in the smaller and specialist sector, is delighted to announce a new technology partnership with Jumar Holdings Limited. The Club has taken a 33% equity stake in Jumar, which sits alongside the 67% stake held by Jumar founder and CEO, Wendy Merricks. The Club will take two seats on the Board of Jumar. Jumar has been the key technology partner of Shipowners’ for more than five years and has helped drive the delivery of Shipowners’ new policy management platform, supporting close to 33,000 of our Members’ vessels. Looking to the future it is envisaged that the partnership between the…

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced it has partnered with a company specializing in 3D printing technologies in a move that aims to transform naval shipbuilding in the U.S.Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding division will work with 3D Systems to develop additive manufacturing technologies expected to accelerate the adoption of metal 3D printing for building components of U.S. warships.The joint effort, which comes amid a significant technological transformation underway at Newport News…