Automation Systems News

A comprehensive open-source code library has been launched for OpenBridge. This design system is engineered to create safer and more efficient workplaces across the international fleet by standardizing how humans interact with maritime technology.The launch marks the transition of OpenBridge from a design guideline to an open-source ready-to-use code library.OpenBridge is uniquely designed to serve all maritime workplaces. While traditional ship bridge navigation remains a core focus…

Blue Ctrl AS has been selected as the automation software supplier for two new next-generation cable-laying vessels for OMS Group. The vessels will be built at Ulstein Verft with delivery in 2028, and Ulstein Power & Control AS holds the contract for the integrated power and automation systems.Blue Ctrl will deliver the X-CONNECT platform, a fully integrated software solution for monitoring, alarm management, automation, and power and energy management. The delivery also includes Blue Box data acquisition and solutions for real-time analysis and decision support.

Vaisala, a global leader in measurement technology, launched Maritime Automatic Weather Station AWS830, a new weather monitoring solution for maritime and offshore environments. AWS830 delivers weather, environment, oceanographic, and motion data to Vaisala's offshore and maritime weather systems, including Vaisala Helideck Monitoring System and Vaisala met-ocean system. Vaisala AWS830 delivers wind speed, atmospheric pressure, visibility, cloud height, air temperature, humidity, and wave height data through an expandable platform designed for demanding marine conditions.

It’s time to consider the role of “digital watchkeepers” as the become an increasingly complex tool for bridge teams.Releasing its annual report in July 2025, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch said that significant collisions between merchant vessels show no sign of reducing. The collision between Scot Explorer and Happy Falcon, the fatal collision between Verity and Polesie and the dramatic and tragic collision of the Solong into the anchored Stena Immaculate indicate…

One of North America’s busiest ferry routes is joining the growing trend for U.S.-based operators to make the efficiencies of electrification central when they modernize their fleets, after an integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system from ABB was selected for the new ship ordered by Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA).Shipbuilder Senesco Marine contracted ABB to deliver full propulsion and automation systems for the 75-car passenger and vehicle ferry, which will replace the 45-year-old Cape Henlopen in connecting Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey.

ABB has won a contract to deliver a fully integrated electrical power, propulsion and automation system for two hybrid-electric cable repair vessels being built for French shipowner Orange Marine at Colombo Dockyard PLC in Sri Lanka.The vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, will support submarine cable maintenance operations across the Atlantic and Indian oceans as well as the Mediterranean, Black and Red seas. Orange Marine is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Orange Group and specializes in the installation and maintenance of subsea telecommunications cables.Under the agreement…

Turkish tugboat builder Sanmar Shipyards has further reinforced its partnership with SAAM Towage through the delivery of a Boğaçay-Class tug that will operate in Latin America.The vessel, which has been named SAAM GUANAY, is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd and becomes the 13th Sanmar-built tug in the SAAM Towage fleet.Designed for optimum performance in ship-handling operations, the tug measures 24.4m in length, with a 12m beam, 4.5m molded depth, and a 5.45m draft.

Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for a new high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. This is the third in a series of battery-electric vessels being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. Wärtsilä solutions will drive all three ships.Wärtsilä’s scope of supply includes the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets…

Gulf Island Fabrication has announced that the acquisition of the company by IES Holdings was approved at its special meeting of shareholders held on January 13.The strategic rationale for IES is:Strategically located Gulf Coast fabrication campus: Gulf Island’s Houma, Louisiana facility, which consists of a 450,000-square foot fabrication and operations facility on 160 acres, offers a strategic complement to IES’s footprintExpanded services capabilities: Provides an experienced craft workforce and specialty services with proven ability to support complex…

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered its ninth tugboat to global marine services provider P&O Maritime Logistics.P&O took deliver of its first Sanmar-built tugboat in 2013. Since then, Sanmar has delivered eight more tugs that have gone on to serve in ports around the world.The latest vessel has been named AL FATH by its new owners.Based on the RAmparts 2200 design developed by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd., the Sırapınar Class are compact sister vessels to Sanmar’s Boğacay Class tugs.

Vard Electro, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri-owned Vard Group, has signed an agreement with the German shipyard Lloyd Werft for the delivery of complete automation and power management systems to a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) currently being converted into a research vessel.The scope of supply covers the removal of the vessel’s existing automation systems, replacing it with Vard Electro’s advanced SeaQ Integrated Automation System (IAS) and SeaQ Power Management System (PMS)…

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to deliver a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for two new high-speed catamaran ferries being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen.The battery-electric vessels are being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania, with Wärtsilä supplying the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets, as well as the Wärtsilä ProTouch propulsion control system.The two ferries…

Atlantic Towing Limited has achieved a milestone in its decarbonization journey with the successful retrofit of the Atlantic Shrike. Equipped with Vard Electro’s SeaQ Energy Storage System, the Platform Supply Vessel has recorded an 11% fuel savings across all operations and substantial CO2 savings.As the maritime industry faces mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance fuel efficiency, vessel owners are seeking solutions to modernize their fleets. In 2021, Atlantic Towing Limited, a subsidiary of J.D.

Seatrium Limited signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Karpowership, a global energy company and the owner, operator, and builder of the world’s largest Powership (floating power plant) fleet.Under the LOI, Seatrium will carry out the integration of four New Generation Powerships, with an option for two additional units. Karpowership will deliver the hulls and key equipment for the four Powerships to Seatrium Singapore, where integration works will begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Seatrium has been awarded a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) conversion contract from Kinetics, an energy transition initiative by global floating power company Karpowership.This award follows Kinetics’ confirmation of the option for a fourth FSRU conversion project with Seatrium, announced in April 2024, the award of three LNG carrier (LNGC) conversions into FSRUs for the company, with an option for a fourth project.While Kinetics is on track to become one of the major owners of floating LNG assets globally…

Flying Fish Maritime Innovations B.V., a Dutch pioneer in digital maritime technology and advice, announced a minority investment from CPAC Systems AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, on May 7, 2025. CPAC Systems (Sweden) is specialized in developing advanced control and automation systems for marine, construction and commercial vehicle industries. For the Flying Fish team, this step marks the beginning of a broader strategic partnership aimed at accelerating sales growth, product innovation…

Singapore-based Seatrium has secured a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) conversion contract from Höegh Evi, formerly known as Höegh LNG, for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Hoegh Gandria.The contract covers the conversion and longevity of LNG carrier, Hoegh Gandria to a FSRU which includes the installation of a regasification skid, as well as integration of key supporting systems such as cargo handling, utility, offloading, electrical, and automation systems.Engineering…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with Capital Group, Greece, to deliver K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo simulators for their training centre on the Greek island of Chios. The investment underscores Capital Group’s commitment to high-quality training for its crew, enhancing both general STCW training and product familiarization with onboard automation systems.The delivery, scheduled for completion by the end of June 2025, includes K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo Handling Simulators. The simulators feature K-Chief automation systems installed onboard the Capital Group’s tankers and LNG gas carriers and will ensure the crew gains hands…

Finland-based Valmet has booked an order for a marine methanol fuel automation control system for two cable-laying vessels (CLVs) being built for Jan de Nul in China.The vessels will be built in the China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) shipyard for Jan De Nul, a company providing engineering solutions in maritime and offshore energy infrastructure and construction projects.The value of the order will not be disclosed.“Valmet has experience in green fuel supply system control.

A surge in industry interest combined with systems builders and yards scaling up production and installation capacity, is set to accelerate growth in orders for wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), says DNV in a new whitepaper that examines the technologies, their onboard implementation and potential fuel savings.There has been a rapid uptake of WAPS in the global fleet since 2021, with 52 seagoing ships now in operation and 97 newbuilds with WAPS in the orderbook (as of January 2025).Retrofitting WAPS is possible for almost any ship with sufficient deck space and unobstructed airflow.

Finland-based Valmet has been selected CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China to deliver automation solutions for methanol fuel conversion projects aboard two CMA 9300SHI container ships.The vessels will be upgraded at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China for the French operator CMA CGM.The delivery includes applying a methanol control system and a methanol safety system.The order, whose value has not been disclosed, was included in Valmet’s orders received of the second quarter 2024.“This is Valmet’s first automation retrofit order in the Chinese marine market.

Tritek Power & Automation has set out plans to present a new graphical user interface for the TRICON DP during ADIPEC 2024 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi.The new interface is based on Tritek's experience in building automation systems for more than a decade and valuable input from shipowners & DP operators. The graphical representation is based OpenBridge 5.0 produced by Ocean Industries Concept Lab at Oslo School of Architecture and Design.After acquiring the rights to produce the DP control system from NAVIS in 2022…

TraPac Oakland, a container terminal operator in California, has selected Liebherr for the supply of two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, marking the company’s first shipment to United States’ West Coast.The cranes boast a 66-meter (216-foot) outreach, a 53-meter (173.83-foot) lift height, and a span of 30.48 meters (100 feet).With a lifting capacity of 66 long tonnes in twin-lift mode, they have been designed for high-capacity handling, making them suitable for servicing the world’s…