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Thursday, March 28, 2024
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M Hotel News

26 Feb 2024

Swire Shipping Opens Branch Office in Japan

Participating in the traditional Kagami-biraki ceremony, Jeremy Sutton, CEO, Swire Shipping (center, in blue tie); Chris Robertson, Country Manager – Japan, Swire Shipping (rightmost); share a toast together with former Swire employees (blue traditional Happi coats) and the current Japan team. Image courtesy Swire Shipping

Swire Shipping commemorated the opening of its new Japan branch office in Tokyo on February 21,2024 with an event at The Palace Hotel in Tokyo, marking Swire Shipping’s official return to Japan with a physical presence.A highlight of the evening was the Kagami-biraki ceremony – the customary breaking open of a sake barrel – a tradition steeped in respect and appreciation. Esteemed long-serving former employees of Swire, who had served the company with dedication in the past, shared a toast of sake alongside the current Japan team onstage.

29 Jan 2024

Designing Ships Around Emissions: The Right Path or a Fork in the Road?

© xtock / Adobe Stock

When discussing ship design, the maritime industry has been tossing around a number of new terms and definitions. Sustainability, alternative fuel “ready”, digitization and lifecycle are a few of the terms becoming more commonplace amid the industry’s search for zero emissions solutions. As IMO MEPC 80 meetings push emissions reduction to meet “well to wake” requirements, we will learn much of the challenge is tied to energy and infrastructure ashore. Electrification and the development…

24 Jan 2024

Aurora Botnia - RoPax Ferry + Greentech Proving Ground

Photo: Wasaline

Built by Rauma Marine Constructions, in Rauma, Finland, and launched in 2021, the 150-meter-long Aurora Botnia boasts a long list of onboard equipment that help it to earn its “green” designation, a label that is confirmed via a Clean Design notation from classification society DNV. The ship is also compliant with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target.Wasaline CEO Peter Ståhlberg describes Aurora Botnia as “a masterpiece of cooperation” and noted that the vessel is over 80% domestic made."I'm really proud of the Aurora Botnia.

23 Jan 2024

Aiming for Zero Waste Discharge to Sea

Wärtsilä’s MBR technology produces compliant effluent samples to the highest standards. Image courtesy Wärtsilä

Advanced water treatment systems are just the start of the cruise industry’s circular waste processing ambitions.Advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS) were revolutionary in their day. Indeed, they still are today, but with 77% of the CLIA fleet (202 ships) already using them, and another 40 specified for vessels on order, even more ambitious waste management is coming.Martin Shutler, Principal Engineer, Product Development, at Wärtsilä Water and Waste, notes that in recent…

02 Jan 2024

Amogy Brings Ammonia Into the Mix

© Forance / Adobe Stock

Ammonia is one of several renewable fuels seen as an option to help the maritime industry decarbonize.One of the companies working to unlock the fuel’s potential is Brooklyn, N.Y. based Amogy, developer of an onboard system that feeds liquid ammonia through a cracking process to create hydrogen on demand for power generation via fuel cell—without carbon emissions.Having already demonstrated its technology on an aerial drone, tractor and semi-truck, Amogy is currently working to…

28 Nov 2023

Damen Introduces Fully Electric SOV with Offshore Charging

Source: Damen

Damen Shipyards Group has officially launched a fully electric service operations vessel (SOV), 70 meters x 17 meters, with its offshore charging capabilities.To achieve offshore charging, Damen has partnered with UK-based MJR Power & Automation – a company that has previously developed an offshore charging system for a crew transfer vessel.The charging system uses the motion-compensated gangway to create a connection between the vessel and a turbine or substation offshore, in much the same way a personnel transfer is undertaken.

16 Nov 2023

Austal USA Lays Keel for USNS Billy Frank, Jr.

(Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA held a keel laying ceremony for USNS Billy Frank, Jr., marking the official start of construction on the U.S. Navy’s eleventh Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS 11).Ship sponsor Peggen Frank and her husband, William Frank III, authenticated the keel by welding their initials into a keel plate that will be welded to the hull of the ship. They were assisted by Brandon Auld, a four-year Austal USA veteran A-class structural fitter.Local community leaders…

14 Nov 2023

MSC Cruises Orders Two Cruise Ships from Chantiers de l’Atlantique

(Photo: MSC Cruises)

MSC Cruises confirmed it exercised options for two new World Class cruise ships from French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered newbuilds, currently referred to as World Class 3 and 4, will be delivered in 2026 and 2027. MSC Cruises also holds an option for a fifth ship in the series.The newly ordered ships will be an evolution of the World Class vessels, MSC World Europa and MSC World America, which already perform better than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirement.

30 Oct 2023

RMC Launches and Christens Spirit of Tasmania IV

(Photo: Rauma Marine Constructions)

Rauma Marine Constructions celebrated the launch and christening of Spirit of Tasmania IV, the first of two identical car and passenger ferries the Finnish shipyard is building for Tasmania's TT-Line.Built to replace similarly Finnish-built sister ships, the new vessels are specially designed to operate on a challenging route across the Bass Strait between Geelong, Victoria, and Devonport, Tasmania.The Spirit of Tasmania IV was christened at the RMC shipyard. The vessel’s godmother…

16 Oct 2023

Luxury Sailing Ship to be Powered by Ingeteam Electrical Equipment

Source: Ingeteam

The French shipyard Chantiers de Atlantique has selected Ingeteam to provide the electric propulsion for the luxury sailing ship Orient Express Silenseas.The ship has solid sails which make it the largest sailing ship in the world. It is one of two vessels that will emulate the famous Orient Express train, enabling more ecological and sustainable navigation via the latest marine technology.The ships belong to Accor Group under the Orient Express brand, and Ingeteam will supply two motors to drive the main propulsion plus the three transverse thrusters…

21 Sep 2023

MSC Confirms Order for Hydrogen Cruise Ship Pair

Image courtesy Fincantieri

The total investment in six luxury ships for Explora Journeys worth $3.7BMSC Group Cruises Division confirmed the order of two hydrogen ships for its luxury brand Explora Journeys with Fincantieri, confirming its commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. The contracts are conditional on obtaining financing for the shipowner.The two new ships will pursue the use of liquid hydrogen fuel cells for hotel operations while in port, to eliminate carbon emissions with engines turned off.

07 Sep 2023

Four Former US Navy Officers Cleared in Fat Leonard Case Due to Prosecutor Misconduct

© de Art / Adobe Stock

Four former U.S. Navy officers charged in a massive bribery scandal linked to the man known as Fat Leonard were cleared of felony charges on Wednesday by a judge citing prosecutor misconduct.U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino said in a sentencing hearing that prosecutors' conduct "can only be described as outrageous," the San Diego Union-Tribune reported from the courthouse. After the felony charges were cleared, the four former officers each pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor with only a $100 fine as punishment…

31 Aug 2023

Fincantieri Completes Two Refits for Crystal Cruises

(Photo: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri announced it has completed the parallel modernization of two cruise ships for Crystal Cruises. The first vessel, Crystal Serenity, rejoined the owner’s fleet on July 20, and the second, Crystal Symphony, was delivered in recent days.The contract was finalized in December 2022, and, after an initial phase committed to engineering development, works lasted for about five months significantly raising the level of amenities and accommodations on board.

14 Aug 2023

Commercial Fishing on the Great Lakes is a Family Affair

© Hank Erdmann / Adobe Stock

Although the number of fishermen who make a living on the waters of the Great Lakes is much diminished from a half century ago, the region's commercial whitefish fishery continues to be viable and profitable.Henriksen Fisheries is one of about a dozen commercial entities in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Michigan, focused on trap netting whitefish in Green Bay and the waters surrounding the Door Peninsula.Charlie Henriksen started his family-owned fishing business in Door County in 1987.Originally from Illinois…

14 Aug 2023

Strategic Marine Studying Vessel Emissions Reduction

(Photo: Strategic Marine)

Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine announced it has commissioned a study to validate greenhouse gas emissions reduction using the Sea Forrest Green Cabin Energy Saving System, its latest system in collaboration with Sea Forrest.Sea Forrest delivers energy management solutions through marine electric and hybrid propulsion, marine charging and marine energy storage systems. The deployment of Green Cabin Energy Saving System marks the first time such a system is being used on board fast crew boats (FCB).

16 Oct 2023

Future Fuels: Methanol

(Image: Glosten)

Any commentator on the maritime business decarbonization voyage will offer something along the lines of "There will be multiple fuels…" With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings of its Maritime Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) set for early July, it is likely that targets for emissions will be tightened. Whatever mileposts that the IMO actually establishes, there will be no prescriptions handed down on how to get there. By mid-2023, nearly two years after the late 2021 alternative fuels crescendo in the aftermath of the COP26 meetings in Glasgow…

01 Aug 2023

"Handing Over the Keys" of the Wismar Shipyard

Handing over the keys in the shipbuilding hall: Thomas Beyer, Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Wismar, Reinhard Meyer, Minister of Economics of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bernard Meyer, Managing Owner Meyer Werft, Dr Christoph Morgen, Insolvency Administrator MV Werften, Ines Scheel, former Chair of the Works Council MV Werften, and Stefan Soost, IG Metall Union District Coast (front row from left to right). (Photo: Andreas Laible)

The insolvency administrator of the MV Werften Group, Dr Christoph Morgen, today handed over the symbolic key of the Wismar shipyard to Bernard Meyer of Meyer Wismar. The shipyard, which has been owned by TKMS since June 2022, has been leased back by the insolvency administrator and subleased to Meyer Wismar for the completion of the cruise vessel located in the dock hall. Present at the handover were approximately 400 employees, who are as of today employed by Meyer Wismar.“Over the course of the past year…

21 Jul 2023

Meyer Werft Delivers Silver Nova to Silversea Cruises

Silver Nova (Photo: Meyer Werft)

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft announced it has delivered the new environmentally advanced cruise ship Silver Nova to Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises."We are very pleased to once again deliver a ship that will set new standards on the way to climate-neutral cruising. With the propulsion system, a combination of LNG, fuel cell system and batteries, the ship has the best possible measures to reduce emissions," said Jan Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft.A…

18 Jul 2023

China's First Home-Grown Large Cruise Ship Starts Sea Trials

Source: CSSC

China's first domestically-built large cruise ship, the Adora Magic City, has departed from Shanghai for sea trials.The 135,500 gross tonne vessel was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding. It is being classified by Lloyd’s Register and China Classification Society.The vessel has 2,125 guest rooms and can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers. The public entertainment area is over 40,000 square meters (nearly six standard football fields) over 16 floors.

11 Jul 2023

US Court Revives Lawsuit Against Royal Caribbean Over Toddler's Death

© JULOR / Adobe Stock

A federal appeals court on Tuesday revived a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises by the parents of an 18-month-old girl who died after slipping through her grandfather’s hands and falling through an open cruise ship window.The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta restored two negligence claims over the July 2019 death of Chloe Wiegand, who had been in a children’s play area aboard the ship Freedom of the Seas, which was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.Her grandfather Salvatore Anello testified that he picked Chloe up and put her feet on the windowsill…

20 Jun 2023

GEFO's Hybrid Chemical Tanker Enters Service

(Photo: Shift Clean Energy)

GEFO Shipping Group earlier this year put into service its newbuild diesel-electric hybrid inland tanker Canaletto.Shift Clean Energy, working in partnership with Gebhard Electro and Werkina Werkendam, fit the ship with 157.5 kWh of Shift’s energy storage system, significantly reducing emissions and improving performance. Shift’s ESS will primarily be used for peak shaving and optimizing the power management’s capability to use the variable speed generators feeding the DC grid.

06 Jul 2023

Ponant to Build Sailing, Fuel Cell Cruise Ship

Source: Ponant

Ponant has committed to a unique transoceanic ship design, Swap2Zero, that combines six new energy technologies.The ship is expected to be ready by 2030. Ponant has partnered with naval architect Stirling Design International, and discussions are ongoing to select a shipyard. The sail technology has not yet been decided on, with Ponant considering Ayro Oceanwings or Solid Sail technology.“By 2030, our future ship aims to have zero greenhouse gas emissions when sailing, manoeuvring, in port or at anchor. Her carbon footprint will be reduced throughout her life cycle.

07 Jul 2023

North Star's Grampian Derwent SOV Set to Assist with Construction and Commissioning at Dogger Bank Wind Farm

The Grampian Derwent, North Star’s second SOV delivered early, will join the Grampian Tyne for a new scope at Dogger Bank - Credit: North Star

UK-based offshore vessel firm North Star said Friday its second hybrid-propulsion service operation vessel (SOVs) was set to be mobilized three months earlier than planned to support SSE Renewables with a new scope of work at the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.North Star's first service operation vessel in its new offshore wind fleet, the Grampian Tyne, was blessed at an event in June. The second SOV, the Grampian Derwent, a larger ship with increased accommodation capacity and helideck…