Drive Technology News

Woodfibre LNG has welcomed one of the most important modules of its facility to site as the liquefaction module arrived aboard the specialized heavy cargo vessel Red Zed 1. The liquefaction module is the 15th module to arrive at site as the project moves closer to construction completion.Weighing 10,847 metric tonnes, it is the heaviest module to become part of the future Woodfibre LNG facility. Occupying a footprint roughly the size of a football field, it is also among the largest.“The liquefaction module is the beating heart of our facility. It’s the core of how we will transform B.C.

Wasaline has successfully completed sea trials following a major battery upgrade on board Aurora Botnia, which now features the largest battery capacity ever installed on a RoPax vessel worldwide.The vessel’s battery capacity has been expanded from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh. The upgraded system has been approved for operation in traffic by DNV.The new batteries, supplied by marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy, can store nearly five times more energy than the previous battery packs…

Liebherr, a leader in mobile harbor crane technology, has reached over 2,000 mobile harbor cranes produced and approximately 1,600 units in active service across more than 100 countries.Key regions have embraced electrically driven mobile harbor cranes; India leads in adoption, followed closely by Türkiye. In Europe, the Netherlands, France and Poland also demonstrate steady demand for e-drive technology, alongside the United States and the United Kingdom.Between 2019 and 2025, Liebherr recorded an increase of 400% in its electric drive mobile harbor cranes.

Belgian marine contractor Jan De Nul has launched its newest cable laying vessel (CLV), the Fleeming Jenkin, at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China, which has now entered the final phase of construction ahead of delivery planned for second half of 2026.The 215-meter-long vessel has a loading capacity of 28,000 tonnes, making it the world’s largest of its kind.Jan De Nul will use the vessel to install subsea cables for the transmission of renewable energy, as the Fleeming Jenkin was specifically designed to install longer and heavier cables in ultra-deep waters up to 3…

This week, RWE withdrew from a $10 billion Namibia green hydrogen project, the latest example of companies considering such investments.The German power utility said on Monday that it had withdrawn from Namibia's Hyphen green ammonia project because demand for hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia is developing slower than expected in Europe.The lack of new fuel availability for shipping is a problem that Accelleron has tackled in its newly released report Deadlock…

Building on the successful delivery of the Slipway Systems for all twelve Mogami-class Multirole Frigates, PALFINGER has again been selected to supply its technology for Japan’s next-generation FFM-class Multirole Frigates. PALFINGER’s stern launch and recovery systems are designed to optimize the deployment and retrieval of USVs and boats during naval operations, offering efficient and dependable solutions tailored to the needs of Governmental, Navy and Coast Guard vessels.While maintaining visual similarities with the existing Mogami-class…

Schottel will equip a new RoRo cargo vessel for U.S.-based United Launch Alliance (ULA) being built by Bollinger Shipyards in Amelia, Louisiana. The vessel, to be named SpaceShip, will transport Vulcan rockets from the factory in Decatur, Alabama, to the launch sites at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It will be equipped with three Schottel RudderPropellers SRP 460 LE and two Schottel TransverseThrusters STT 1. SpaceShip’s tailored electric system will be designed and supplied by elkon, a member of the Schottel Group.

The passenger ferry M/S Suomenlinna II has become the first ship to be retrofitted with ABB’s new-generation ACS880LC drive. The drive technology will enhance vessel efficiency and help to secure smooth and reliable operations for many years to come.As one of three ferries operated by Helsinki City Transport subsidiary Suomenlinnan Liikenne Oy, the 33.8-meter-long Suomenlinna II serves the Market Square–Suomenlinna route year-round. An integral part of the Helsinki public transport system…

MacGregor has delivered its new type of SWL 250t electric heavy lift cranes to Nordic from Huanghai Shipbuilding.The next-generation heavy lift crane combines MacGregor and NMF’s experience in the heavy lift industry.The crane is designed to enhance operational efficiency while significantly reducing emissions, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.It will be installed on the vessel Amy, set to play a key role in a project cargo market.By leveraging MacGregor’s advanced electric drive technology…

Offshore installation services company Jan De Nul has ordered another XL cable laying vessel (CLV), identical to the Fleeming Jenkin, which boasts ‘unrivalled cable-carrying capacity’.Like the Fleeming Jenkin, the vessel will be 215 meters long and can transport 28,000 tonnes of cables.This will make them the largest capacity cable-laying vessels in the world, according to Jan De Nul.Thanks to cutting-edge technology on both vessels, designed by Jan De Nul Group's own specialists, they can lay cables in both shallow and ultra-deep waters up to 3,000 meters.

NOV reports its Lifting & Handling group has sold what is said to be the industry’s first-ever electric subsea crane. The order was booked at the end of 2023 with an undisclosed client in Europe, NOV said.The first-of-its-kind crane offers enhanced efficiency compared to electro-hydraulic cranes, helping lead to reduced vessel emissions, the manufacturer said, adding that the design allows for the recovery of potential energy from loads lowered to the seabed, supporting onboard use or storage.In addition…

Erik Thun Group selected Berg Propulsion’s Dynamic Drive technology to optimize efficiency on board all 10 of its latest newbuildings. The Swedish owner confirmed its decision after pilot installations exceeded energy efficiency gain expectations, with the integrated drive solution helping to save 10% of fuel, rising to 20% in some operational conditions.As part of Erik Thun’s rolling fleet renewal strategy, the owner recently expanded its newbuild program with Dutch yard Shipsveerf Ferus Smit B.V to include four 5…

Jan De Nul Group together with its consortium partners LS Cable & System and Denys has signed the contracts for two 525 HVDC cable systems for the two grid connection systems BalWin4 and LanWin1. These mark the first two contracts signed under the long-term framework agreement that TenneT and Jan De Nul have signed earlier this year. The projects comprise the design, manufacturing, transport, installation, protection and testing of three 525 kV cable systems for connecting offshore…

Offshore installation services company Jan De Nul has ordered an extra-large cable-laying ship with an "unrivaled" cable-carrying capacity from China's CMHI Haimen shipyard.The vessel, to be named Fleeming Jenkin, will have a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 tons, and will serve the renewable energy and subsea cable industry in installing cables over longer distances and in deeper waters. The vessel will be delivered in 2026. "Offshore wind farms go deeper and further offshore, and the interconnectivity between countries and regions become essential for the economy and energy security.

Germany-based inland waterway shipping firm HGK Shipping has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime and Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies to work on developing a scalable solution to make hydrogen available as a source of energy on a large scale. The technology is based on hydrogen, which is bound in a liquid carrier (LOHC, liquid organic hydrogen carrier). The partners are planning to develop a demonstration vessel by 2028 and then put it into service…

German shipbuilder Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) has cut first steel for a new new roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) freight vessel being constructed for Australian shipping company SeaRoad.A May 20 steel cutting event involved the ceremonial ‘pushing of the button’ to start the laser cutting machine with SeaRoad Technical Marine Manager, Tony Johnson, and FSG CEO Philipp Maracke doing the honors. Johnson is currently on the ground in Germany overseeing the newbuild project.The 210-meter-long newbuild was ordered in 2021 at a cost of more than €100 million.

The UK plans to give a boost to the country's shipbuilding sector, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing a £4 billion (around $5.26 billion) injection into regional shipbuilding "to support thousands of high-quality jobs."The PM's office said in an announcement Thursday that funding will support shipyards and suppliers across the UK, delivering a pipeline of more than 150 new naval and civil vessels.The multi-billion pound investment will galvanize and support shipyards and suppliers across the UK…

Finland-based marine engine maker Wärtsilä said Tuesday it would deliver main and auxiliary engines, fuel storage tanks, gas handling equipment and electrical systems for a new RoRo being built for Australian operator SeaRoad Shipping.The 210 meter-long vessel is being built at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) shipyard in Germany. The RoRo vessel will operate primarily on LNG fuel.The vessel will be powered by two Wärtsilä 46DF dual-fuel main engines and three Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel auxiliary engines.

Offshore installation firm Jan De Nul said Thursday that Les Alizés, its next-gen floating offshore installation vessel had been launched at the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.The vessel is now ready for the final construction phase, including sea trials, to be completed by H2 2022.Les Alizés will be the largest Heavy Lift Vessel in Jan De Nul’s fleet, able to install XXL offshore wind components, in floating conditions and with ultra-low emissions.The launch started on January 2, by flooding the dry dock in which Les Alizés was built.

Marine services and towage firm KOTUG Canada Inc., a partnership between KOTUG International and Canada’s Horizon Maritime Inc., has won a long-term agreement with Trans Mountain, operator of Canada’s only oil pipeline servicing the West Coast of Canada providing tidewater access to foreign markets for Canada’s petroleum resources. KOTUG Canada will provide escort towage to tankers loaded at Westridge Marine Terminal. "KOTUG Canada was selected for this purpose by shippers on the Trans Mountain Pipeline after a rigorous and competitive process facilitated by Trans Mountain.

WE Tech won additional orders in South Korea to supply its permanent magnet shaft generator solutions to four LPG Carriers to be built by Hyundai Mipo DockyardThe shaft generator solution comes with frequency drive technology and is designed to produce all required electrical power needed for the vessel over a wide main engine speed range, aimed to deliver substantial fuel savings and reduction of maintenance cost by reducing auxiliary generator operation. “Our solution is compact and fits perfectly to this type of gas carriers.

WE Tech Solutions said Tuesday it has been awarded a contract to equip six additional newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that will be chartered to Shell.The Finnish firm said it will deliver six shipsets of its Solution One for the 174,000m³ capacity LNG carriers, which are chartered to energy major Shell LNG via the owners Knutsen OAS Shipping, J.P.Morgan Asset Management and Korea Line Corporation. The order is an option to the earlier eight contracted in March, now also added with a second option for another six more.The vessels are being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.…

U.S. shipbuilding company Vigor has selected ABB to supply the hybrid-electric propulsion and energy storage systems for the newest additions to the Washington State Ferry fleet, setting the largest U.S. ferry system on course to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel use.The new Olympic Class ferries, each with a capacity of 144 cars and 1,500 passengers, with the planned addition of charging capability at terminals, would reduce fuel consumption by up to 95%. Upon delivery in 2024…