Mak News

Stena RoRo and Caterpillar Motoren have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the use of methanol as fuel on board MaK-powered E-flexer class ferries.The partners will work together to explore alternative fuel solutions to reduce CO2 emissions from ferry operations. This includes the development and feasibility of converting MaK-powered ferries from diesel to methanol. An initial pilot project involves a Stena ferry equipped with VM 43 C MaK engines.Methanol is among a number of fuels being explored as an option to help the maritime industry reduce its environmental footprint.

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has floated out its latest newbuilding, the liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered AIDAcosma, for Carnival's AIDA Cruises.The 337-meter-long vessel is the sister ship of the AIDAnova, which Meyer Werft completed in 2018 as the world's first cruise ship to run entirely on LNG.Having left Meyer Werft's covered building dock II (Hall 6), the newbuild is now moored at the outfitting pier in the shipyard harbor, where the masts and funnel will be lifted onto the ship by crane and assembled, and the interior outfitting will be completed.

Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes on Friday launched and christened the latest newbuild in a series for U.K.-based shipping company Scotline.The 90-meter, 4,800 DWAT Scot Isles is Scotline's fourth vessel from Royal Bodewes in recent years, and a sister to the box-shaped singledeckers Scot Carrier, Scot Explorer and Scot Ranger, with Ice Class 1A and enclosed bridge.The British-flagged vessels are classed by Lloyd's Register and are ice class 1FB FS (Finnish and Swedish), mainly used for transporting timber from the Baltics.

Dutch marine contractor and offshore installation services company Van Oord will install a combustion conditioning system with hydrogen and methanol on its subsea rock installation vessel Bravenes, in a push to cut emissions from its fleet.The system, called FUELSAVE FS MARINE+,  is a patented solution used to reduce both fuel consumption and harmful emissions of marine diesel-powered engines. "This solution enables Van Oord to achieve substantial carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx)…

This year, despite innumerable challenges and setbacks, a great number of new U.S.-flagged vessels made their way into service. In addition to Maid of the Mist's new electric tour boats James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla featured Wednesday, the newbuilds highlighted below are some of the most noteworthy to come out of U.S. shipyards in 2020.DredgerU.S. dredging contractors have been adding tonnage in a big way. This Spring, Callan Marine added a significant piece to the U.S. fleet with its new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur.

Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes announced that U.K.-based shipping company Scotline Marine Holdings Ltd has exercised its option for a fourth newbuild 4,800 DWAT Bodewes Trader, to be named Scot Isles and launched in the third quarter of 2021.A 90-meter sister ship Scot Ranger is currently being built at Royal Bodewes' yard in Hoogezand.Previous vessels in the series include Scot Explorer delivered in December 2019 and Scot Carrier handed over in December 2018.The British-flagged box-shaped singledeckers are classed by Lloyd's Register and are ice class 1FB FS (Finnish and Swedish)…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently awarded a $54 million construction contract to Callan Marine, Ltd. for the North Breton Island Restoration Project. The funds for the project come from the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment oil spill global settlement reached in 2016.Located northeast of Venice, La., the restoration project includes dredging 5.7 million cubic yards of material in order to restore the barrier shoreline through beach, dune, and marsh fill placement.

Gula Skrinet AB reached an agreement with Caterpillar Luxembourg Sarl to acquire Caterpillar Propulsion AB and its subsidiaries. The sale is expected to close on June 30, 2020. Caterpillar Propulsion AB, formerly Berg Propulsion AB, is a manufacturer of mechanically and electrically driven propulsion systems and marine controls for ships.The proposed acquisition includes Caterpillar Propulsion AB and its subsidiaries, including Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, as well as Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd, its subsidiary Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co.

Callan Marine's new Jones Act cutterhead suction dredge (CSD) General MacArthur and its accompanying idler barge have entered service in Texas, heading to work on several projects before transiting to Corpus Christi for the second phase of the deepening and widening project.The newest and largest dredger in Callen Marine's fleet, the General MacArthur represents the next generation of dredging technology and crew comfort, said Maxie McGuire, President of Callan Marine.“The General MacArthur is a complete game-changer for the dredging industry,” McGuire said.

Stena Line’s "next-generation" ferry Stena Estrid has arrived in Holyhead after completing sea trials and a five-week, 10,000 mile journey from China to the Irish Sea where she will begin service early next year on her inaugural route from Dublin to Holyhead.Designed by Deltamarin and constructed at the China Merchants Jinling Shipbuilding Weihai Shipyard in China, Stena Estrid is the first of Stena RoRo’s nine next-generation E-Flexer Ro-Pax vessels in a series which include five for Stena Line and several additional vessels that will be on long-term charter for other ferry operators.

Texas-based, family-owned dredging business Callan Marine has  recently launched the General MacArthur, one of the largest cutter suction dredges in the U.S. market.At 290 feet in length and a 9 foot draft, the General MacArthur boasts 24,000 total installed horsepower.Powered by 3 Cat-MAK diesel engines, the dredge has a fuel capacity of over 300,000 gallons, giving it the capability to work on all U.S. coasts and waterways, as well as globally.The 32” cutter dredge General MacArthur is designed to perform capital, maintenance and beneficial use dredging (such as marsh creation and beach renourishment.) It boasts a dredging depth range of 90 feet…

New work to overhaul engines on an offshore support vessel (OSV) operated by United Offshore Support (UOS), has been completed by Royston.Engineers undertook the 30,000 running hour service on the main propulsion engines onboard the GH Challenger, as part of an extensive refurbishment and maintenance program of critical power plants.The 2009-built, 80m length, 3000 tonne-vessel, which is part of a 11-strong fleet, currently operates in the Caribbean Sea, where it’s supporting…

UK-based shipping company Scotline Marine Holdings has ordered newbuilding number 750 to be named Scot Ranger with Swedish/Finnish Ice Class 1A at Dutch shipyard Royal Bodewes Group.After the successful delivery of the Scot Carrier in November 2018, construction of the second vessel, Scot Explorer, started February 2019, said a press release.Scot Explorer is seen here with the aft section leaving the brand-new production facilities at the Royal Bodewes Shipyard site at Hoogezand. The vessel is expected to be launched in October 2019 with final delivery shortly afterwards.The Scot Explorer, a 4800 dwt Bodewes Trader type, with Swedish/Finnish…

Shell Marine has provided clear evidence of the cost savings available when a customer chooses its medium-speed engine oil Shell Gadinia, after PT Indo Container Line (ICON Line) confirmed that reduced lubricant consumption led to longer oil-drain intervals and costs down by 58%.Calculations made immediately after comparative trials for the Indonesian shipping line showed that a 58% cut in lubricant costs is available to ICON Line through the use of Shell Gadinia S3. Annualized…

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reductions of up to 21% are achievable now from LNG as a marine fuel, compared with current oil-based marine fuels over the entire life-cycle from Well-to-Wake (WtW).An independent study report confirms that emissions of other local pollutants, such as sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), are close to zero when using LNG compared with current conventional oil-based marine fuels.The study, commissioned by SEA\LNG and SGMF, was conducted by leading data and consultancy provider thinkstep according to ISO standards. The report, which has been reviewed by a panel of independent academic experts…

As the global cruise industry enjoys it most robust period of growth ever, the question invariably becomes: How long can it last?Cruising, which is a blend of the hospitality and maritime businesses, continues to grow at a historic pace. The Cruise Trends & Industry Outlook publication from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) projects a passenger count of 30 million in 2019 – up nearly 2 million from the previous year. By year end 2019 CLIA members – a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the largest brands – will have 272 vessels…

"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…

Spain's Baleària will convert three ferries from diesel to LNG dual fuel using Caterpillar and MaK solutions.Incorporating the MaK DF engines will virtually eliminate the sulfur and particulate matter in the exhaust gases, while also cutting down NOx, resulting in even lower CO2 emissions. The three ferries to be converted are Abel Matutes, Bahama Mama, and Martin i Soler, each currently equipped with a pair of MaK 9 M 43 C main engines. After the conversion, the vessels will operate on two MaK 9 M 46 DF engines, which has a rated engine output of 8,685kW.

Pair of privately owned Spanish yards ready to assist Owners with IMO regulationsNew rules are always a driver for ship refit, and this truly is a transcendent time in maritime history, as rules regarding Ballast Water Management Systems and new emissions regulations are conspiring to create a lot of work for shipyards.As IMO has set a global limit for Sulfur in fuel oil used on board ships of 0.50% m/m (mass by mass) from 1 January 2020, Astander and Astican, the two busiest privately owned ship repair & conversion shipyards in Spain…

International Maritime Organization (IMO) fuel rules entering force in 2020 mandate a drastic sulfur reduction. By 2050 the mandate is to cut greenhouse gas emissions of shipping by at least 50 percent.Marine fuels, lubricants and additives manufacturers play their part in establishing maritime’s green credentials by introducing new environmentally acceptable technologies and products.The shipping industry is more than ever portrayed in a bad light due to increasing awareness of its contribution to global climate change, according to Dirk Kronmeijer, CEO of GoodFuels Marine.

The 305-foot factory trawler f/v Golden Alaska is powered by twin MAK six-cylinder engines and has a large boiler used to support large fishmeal-fish oil processor and hoteling galley needs of the 130-person crew and factory personnel. The vessel is in its fourth year and eighth pollock season using the Fitch Fuel Catalyst on output of dual centrifuges for a 5,300-gallon day tank. They get approximately 18 months service from each core and now are on their third one. “I can attest to a fuel savings as well as a much cleaner burn…

In late November 2017, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), the largest provider of dredging services in the United States and a major provider of environmental and infrastructure services, took delivery of the new build ATB hopper dredge Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie after successful completion of United States Coast Guard and ABS regulatory sea trials. Representing a substantial reinvestment in the GLDD (and U.S. flag dredging) fleet, Ellis Island significantly…

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation has taken delivery of the newly built ATB hopper dredge Ellis Island and tug Douglas B. Mackie following completion of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) regulatory sea trials. The Jones Act dual mode articulated tug/barge (ATB) trailing suction hopper dredge was built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. David Simonelli, President of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation's dredging division, said, “This advanced vessel which improves the competitiveness of our hopper group and represents a substantial reinvestment in our fleet.