Great Ships Of The Year News

Great Ships of 2023: Icon of the Seas

“Turku is building the real big ships,” said Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.Meyer is not exaggerating. The yard’s latest newbuild, Icon of the Seas—the first ship of Royal Caribbean’s Icon class—is 248,655 GT, making it the largest cruise ship ever constructed.In general, the cruise ships rolling out of the nearly 300-year-old Finnish shipyard have been steadily increasing in size since the Meyer Group took full ownership in 2015. “We are proud to say Turku has been a first-mover in building these big new classes for Royal Caribbean…

Great Ships '22: With Ships, Great or Not, Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

My father was on the new construction team of the 1958 SS Rotterdam V, a visually iconic passenger liner that is presently a static hotel and event space in Rotterdam Harbor. When she entered service, her looks were much discussed and generally compared to her very graceful older running partner, the 1936 SS Nieuw Amsterdam II.I have pictures of both vessels in my office and I think the older vessel is the prettier vessel. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but, regardless…

Great Ships '22: Deepwater Atlas, “World’s First Eighth-Gen Ultra-Deepwater Drillship”

Marijana Sosic, Manager, Technical Marketing at Transocean, discusses some of the outstanding features of the Deepwater Atlas – Built in Singapore at Sembcorp Marine's Jurong Shipyard and flying the Marshall Islands flag – and sister-ship Deepwater Titan , which together represent an investment of more than $2 billion.The Deepwater Atlas was launched this year in Singapore. What, specifically, is so special about it?The Deepwater Atlas is the first of its kind eighth-generation drillship that will offer 20,000 psi well control capabilities and a 3.4 million pound hoisting capacity.

Great Ships of '22: MV George III, LNG Containership

Operating on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from day one in service, the MV George III, the first of Pasha Group’s two new ‘Ohana Class’, Jones Act-qualified containerships, features a state-of-the-art engine, an optimized hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller. George III is the first LNG-powered vessel to fuel on the West Coast and the first to serve Hawaii. The 774-ft. Jones Act vessel surpasses the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2030 emission standards for ocean vessels.

Seymour Sun, Grouse Sun Garner Green Ship Award

Delivered in January 2022 and April 2022 respectively from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, the Seymour Sun and Grouse Sun are owned by NYK Bulkship Asia Pte. Ltd., were recognized recently with the "Green Ship Award" at the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) Forum 2022 hosted by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).Each ship measures 186 x 32 m, is 30,873 gt and flies the Singapore flag.The ships have each been equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can use heavy fuel oil and methanol.

Maritime History: CV1 — USS Langley was a Trailblazer

While the December 2021 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News examines 'Great Ships' delivered this calendar  year, Edward Lundquist takes a look back into U.S. Navy history and America's first aircraft carrier —CV 1, the USS Langley.Most people think of USS Langley as America’s first aircraft carrier — CV 1. While that’s true, and being the first flattop in the fleet is an honorable distinction, Langley began life as a collier — USS Jupiter, which itself was a relatively new concept of delivering fuel to the afloat forces where they need it. Today, the U.S.

Shipbuilding: UECC Takes Delivery of Auto Advance, a “Dual-fuel LNG Battery Hybrid PCTC”

While many companies talk about decarbonization, United European Car Carrier (UECC) acts, as proven by its recent acceptance of the world’s first dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTC, Auto Advance, delivered from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard and Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 2021 Great Ship of the Year.The ship is the first in a series of three newbuild pure car and truck carriers (PCTC), measuring 169 by 28 meters with capacity for 3600 vehicles on 10 cargo decks. The remaining…

Great Ships of 2020: MOL Gas Agility, The world’s largest LNG Bunkering Vessel

Gas Agility is the world largest LNG bunkering vessel with 18,600 cu. m. MARKIII-flex type membrane tanks built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China. The vessel is equipped with four sets of 8L20DF engines for electric propulsion and two sets of azimuth thrusters and a bow thruster for navigation. A Harmonized Control system for the thrusters is a key technlolgy for maneuvering safely and efficiently for berthing, unberthing, position-keeping and approach…

Great Ships [ of 2020 ]: Island Victory, the Most Powerful (& green) Multi-Purpose OSV Ever

Norway’s Island Offshore broke free from the enforced conservatism of the E&P sector, adding not just a new ship to its fleet, but one that re-writes the rulebook in capabilities, technology and despite its size and power, environmental credentials.Simply put, Island Offshore’s new deep water installation Vessel ‘Island Victory’ is the most powerful multi-purpose offshore vessel ever built; a point proven during bollard pull tests conducted by its builder VARD last November with a towing power of 477 tonnes recorded…

Great Ships of 2020: Seri Everest, World’s Largest Ethane Carrier

Seri Everest, the first in a series of three 98,000 cbm Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) built at Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI) and delivered to MISC Berhad on October 30, 2020. Seri Everest is the first from a series of six VLECs that MISC purchased in July 2020. As a second generation VLEC, Seri Everest is one of the largest vessels of its kind in the world.With the delivery of MISC’s first VLEC – Seri Everest, she has set a new benchmark in the ethane market. Seri Everest has the capacity of transporting ethane in large volumes over long distances…

Great Ships of 2020: NYK's Sakura Leader

The world’s first Digital Smart Ship (DSS)On October 28, 2020, NYK took delivery of Sakura Leader, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) capable of navigating oceans with only LNG as the ship’s main fuel. This delivery marks a step toward achieving NYK’s environment management target, which is to reduce CO2 emissions per ton-kilometer of transport by 50% by 2050. The vessel was built at the Shin Kurushima Dockyard of Shin Kurushima Toyohashi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.The ship is the first large LNG-fueled PCTC to be built in Japan.

Great Ships and The Ship Designer’s Curse

For the Design issue Greg Trauthwein asked me to write about a favorite ship design. I have no favorite ship design, or should say there are simply too many that are truly worthy of mention. But when considering favorite designs, ship designers (and builders) do carry a strange curse. Unique among engineers (and artists, architects, and industrial designers) their creations only live for about 30 years. With very few exceptions, in their own life time, ship designers get to see the disassembly of most of their creations. I am not aware of any other creations that are so readily tossed aside.

Great Ships 2019: T. Elinor

Adnan Nefesoğlu, RMK MARINE’s CEO, thought a short moment and  replied by reflecting his self-confidence “Yes, we can do”, when the local client came and asked RMK MARINE in early 2016 that: “We have two main engines, procured eight years ago and standing in a depot since then. They have Tier I feature. Can you convert them first to Tier II compliant engines, to be followed with Tier III compliant features, make them fully operable and then can you build two ships around 15.000-16.000 dwt…

Apply Now: Great Ships of 2019

Will your ship be honored as a “Great Ship of 2019” in the December 2019 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News?Every year, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News profiles the most outstanding ships built in shipyards around the world, recognizing Ship Builders, Ship Owners and Ship Designers as leaders in their field. This edition — the much anticipated end-of-the-year Awards Edition — generates much excitement, as your work is profiled and delivered to the largest audited…

Great Ships 2018: World’s Largest MOSS Type LNG Carrier

Pacific Breeze, a 182,000 cu. m. capacity LNG carrier, is the world’s largest MOSS type LNG carrier ever constructed, built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Japan (KHI). This capacity was achieved by extending the equatorial ring section of No. 3 and 4 cargo tanks by 1.6m in height from the conventional spherical shape, which increases approximately 5,000m3 from the second largest MOSS type LNG carrier constructed by KHI. Kawasaki Panel System was adopted for the thermal insulation system of the cargo tanks…

Great Ships 2018: BP's British Partner

BP Shipping took delivery of British Partner, the first of a half dozen new 173,400 cu. m. capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers to be delivered through 2018 and 2019 from the DSME shipyard in South Korea. BP Shipping, which launched a fleet rejuvenation program in 2016 that includes 32 new vessels for delivery over a three-year period, said the six new Partnership class ships will increase its ability to transport LNG in emerging new markets, such as Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt and Bangladesh, in addition to established markets, such as India, China, the U.S.

Great Ships of 2018: Halunder Jet

Fast and comfortable to Heligoland with Halunder JetThe work took just over a year, the big day becomes finally reality: the successor to the former HALUNDER JET is ready. Around 250 shipyard employees and 60 employees from Förde Reederei Seetouristik, Flensburg, Germany, worked on the catamaran in the AUSTAL shipyard in Cebu. After 15 years of loyal service, the company, FRS, finally said goodbye to the old HALUNDER JET in the fall of 2017. It was hauled to the west coast of America…

Great Ships 2018: MV INNOVATION

The first of Damen’s revolutionary new RSD 2513: Always operating ‘bow first’ – a new Paradigm in Harbor Towage harbour tugs is a real innovation as its name saysThe radical new design of the RSD Tug 2513 is the result of extensive industry consultation at every level to find solutions to the general demand for tugs that are compact for operations in and around harbors and terminals, yet have the power and flexibility to maneuver even the largest vessels safely, quickly and efficiently…

Superyacht ARTEFACT: A real “arte factum”

NOBISKRUG’s Project 790 is one of the first yachts built under the new strict IMO Tier III emissions regulations. The name and visionary design of the 80-meter hybrid superyacht was unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show 2018: MV ARTEFACT.Less than a year away from completion, Nobiskrug’s new superyacht MV ARTEFACT will be one of the first yachts built under the new IMO Tier III low emissions regulations with an array of first-of-their-kind technology features and engineering advances…

Great Ships of 2018: #3 Future of the Fjords

As the marine industry ponders decarbonization, the world’s first all-electric and completely emissions-free ship, Future of the Fjords delivers. Future of the Fjords was commissioned as part of the shipowner’s program of fleet renewal with  the backing of Fjord1, the largest ferry operator in Norway, and of Flåm AS, the company that  promotes tourism in the Flåm area, to provide vessels that deliver optimal passenger experiences with minimal environmental impact.Constructed by specialist shipbuilder Brødrene Aa…

Top 10 Ships of 2018: #2 AIDAnova

"Green Cruising” with AIDA Cruises: Biggest AIDA Cruise Ship operates environmentally337 meters long, 42 meters wide, 8.8 meters draft, 183,900 GT, four main engines transferring in total 62 MW on two PODs: These are the most important particulars of AIDAnova, the latest Meyer Werft-built cruise ship for AIDA Cruises.During the laying of the keel Carnival Corp. announced that it was going to build a total of seven new cruise ships which can “in port and at sea” operate with natural gas/methane.The seven new builds will be built at yards of the Meyer Group in Papenburg…

Top 10 Ships of 2018: #1 - Diamond Gas Orchid

The first Sayaringo STaGE type LNG carrierMitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MHIMSB) delivered the first Sayaringo STaGE type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, named Diamond Gas Orchid in June, 2018. The Sayaringo STaGE, which was developed based on MHIMSB's cutting-edge technology, has a continuous cover over the cargo tanks, a feature inherited from its predecessor the “Sayaendo”, and while keeping this merit, incorporates apple-shaped MOSS-type cargo tanks and a twin-shaft hybrid propulsion system “STaGE” plant, enhancing economic efficiency, environment friendliness, and versatility.