Technology Challenges News

Classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has awarded Seaspan Corporation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) in collaboration with Foreship an Approval in Principle (AiP) for the design of a 15,000 TEU ammonia-powered container vessel.Ammonia is seen a promising alternative marine fuel. However, there are currently no ships capable of sailing on ammonia, ABS said.In 2022, Seaspan and the MMMCZCS jointly initiated a project to better understand the challenges and opportunities of designing a large ammonia-fueled container vessel.

An international group of maritime industry partners are conducting a feasibility study with the aim to establish a commercially viable green ammonia ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering network on the U.S. East Coast.The study, to be carried out at the Port of Savannah in Georgia, will cover the entire end-to-end supply chain of ammonia bunkering, which includes the development of a cost-effective green ammonia supply chain, the design of an ammonia bunkering articulated tug-barge (ATB)…

As Patrick Ryan assumes the top tech exec spot at ABS, Maritime Reporter TV interviewed him on the eve of the announcement. While shipowners face multiple technology challenges ahead, Ryan said a top priority is the bridging of technology from the fundamental phase into operational solutions. ABS appointed Patrick Ryan as Chief Technology Officer to support continued development of ABS as a maritime technology leader.Having served as Senior Vice President, Global Engineering and Technology since 2019…

ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries’ (SHI) design for an ammonia-fueled Neo-Panamax container vessel.Presented in Athens, Greece, at the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition, the AIP confirms the design has been reviewed by ABS against the requirements outlined in the ABS Guide for Ammonia Fueled Vessels. “This ammonia-fueled vessel represents a significant step forward in the industry’s desire to realize the emissions reduction potential of ammonia as fuel, and we are proud to use our experience to support it.

Alphabet, Google's parent company, announced that it is calling it quits on its efforts to build and monetize its Makani wind energy kites.Google acquired Makani, which developed airborne wind turbines and aimed to make wind energy more accessible and affordable, in 2013. Last year, the company spun it out of X and made it a standalone Alphabet unit.Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has reportedly been under pressure to cut losses from the company's 'Other Bets' category, which includes projects such as X, self-driving car service Waymo and wireless broadband project Loon. Last year, 'Other Bets' lost $4.8 billion, according to the Financial Times.Fort Felker said in his blog post that despite successfully demonstrating a flight off the coast of Norway last year…

A consortium of British companies, academia and government  formally established a new national center for maritime innovation and technology (MarRI-UK). The center, offering  development opportunities for the UK’s $45B maritime sector, is based at the University of Strathclyde, with hubs to be announced across the UK. The center will provide a collaborative innovation vehicle to jointly tackle innovation and technology challenges.The first area of collaborative focus is Clean…

The  maritime technology company Global Navigation Solutions (GNS) and the supplier of navigation and telecommunications equipment and services SIRM have announced a new strategic partnership.The new partnership will combine GNS’s expertise in data intelligence, back of bridge software and navigation with SIRM’s cloud-based services and telecommunications capability to deliver a new generation of ship-shore technology solutions and enhance office-based situational awareness."Agreement will leverage GNS’s unique data and software capabilities and SIRM’s cloud computing and ship-shore communications expertise," said a press release from…

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently spoke with Mark Barker, president of The Interlake Steamship Company, who has sent its fourth vessel — its second 1,000-footer — to be outfitted with exhaust gas scrubbers. After seriously pursuing the possibility of converting its ships to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG) several years ago, U.S. based Great Lakes shipper The Interlake Steamship Company found that the region’s LNG infrastructure was simply not present to support such conversions.

A new battery storage solution for offshore wind energy will be piloted in the world’s first floating wind farm, the Hywind pilot park off the coast of Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Batwind will be developed in co-operation with Scottish universities and suppliers, under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Edinburgh on 18 March between Statoil, the Scottish Government, the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Scottish Enterprise. Battery storage has the potential to mitigate intermittency and optimise output. This can improve efficiency and lower costs for offshore wind. The pilot in Scotland will provide a technological and commercial foundation for the implementation of Batwind in full-scale offshore wind farms…

Xodus Group, Cathie Associates and UTEC Geomarine have formed an industry leading consortium to deliver a study which will aim to reduce the costs of generating electricity from offshore wind farms in U.K. waters. The Carbon Trust’s Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA), which brings together nine offshore wind developers (DONG Energy, E.ON, Mainstream Renewable Power, RWE Innogy, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables, Statkraft, Statoil and Vattenfall) in a joint industry project, is working towards reducing the cost of offshore wind by at least 10% by 2015. Technology challenges are identified and prioritized by the OWA members based on the likely savings and the potential for the OWA to influence the outcomes.

ITF (Industry Technology Facilitator) welcomes to its ranks Lloyds Register, the world's oldest certification authority. ITF, the technology facilitator for the global oil and gas industry, is a not-for-profit organisation owned by 30 international oil and gas operator and service companies. It says it is the only global collaborative R&D funding programme operating across continents. Founded in 1760, Lloyds Register is the first certification authority to be part of ITF. As an energy and maritime classification society and independent risk management organisation, the company has expertise in a number of industries including oil and gas, nuclear and renewables, and provides an alternative angle of technology challenges for the energy sector.

ITF, the oil and gas industry technology facilitator announced a new membership agreement with Thailand’s national oil company, PTT Exploration & Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP). ITF plans to secure a $9 million investment from its members across the Asia-Pacific region to launch ground-breaking technologies. The organization will also bolster its team by creating a business development position, which will be based at its Kuala Lumpur office to further strengthen its presence across the region.

It’s been a year since we first told you here in Maritime Reporter about the effort to update and rewrite the IEEE-45 Standard for Electrical Installations on Ships. At that time, we urged qualified experts to offer suggestions and volunteer to join in the effort as members of the committee. Thanks to those who agreed to support the committees work, a great deal of progress has been made, says Moni Islam, chair of the IEEE-45 Standard Coordinating Committee. However, he says, there is still important work to be done and volunteers are still needed, especially now that some of the work is coming to a conclusion. The IEEE-45 standard was first released in 1920.

ABS is strengthening its ties to the Korean maritime industry by establishing the ABS Korea Energy Technology Center (KETC) in Busan in early 2012. This is ABS’ first energy center and will focus on applied research to a broad range of current and future technology challenges. In a related move, the society is creating the role of Vice President of Global Korean Technology Development. Dr. Hoseong Lee, a veteran of ABS and respected professional in the Korean maritime industry is being appointed to this new position. As part of his new responsibilities, Dr. Lee will provide guidance and oversight for the KETC. In combination, these strategic developments will better leverage the technology resources of ABS in servicing the Korean market and its clients across the globe. Under Dr.

The inaugural OceanTech Expo (OTE) debuted today at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The industry-led expo, slated for September 5-7, will showcase new equipment, training and demonstrations of technologies in the marine science and ocean technology industries. OTE will feature emerging trends in subsea technologies and markets, as they pertain to: homeland security, port & harbor defense; military and government; offshore oil & gas; and marine science and exploration. Speaker: Charles A. Martinek, Captain, U.S. Speaker: Mr. Speaker: Mr. Speaker: Dr. F. Mary Williams, Director General, Institute of Ocean Technology (IOT) of the National Research Council of Canada, St. Speaker: Donald R. Moderator: Ms. Marianne Molchan, President, Molchan Marine Sciences, Inc.