Naming Ceremony News

A formal naming ceremony was held at the CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company in the Chinese province of Quanzhou on April 26 for AAL Shipping’s new heavy lift vessel, AAL Limassol.Due to sail on her maiden voyage from China into Europe, the 32,000 deadweight AAL Limassol is set to carry a full weather deck of project heavy lift cargo, including two 135-meter-long barges, weighing 1,650 tonnes and fifteen 80.5-meter-long wind blades. The newbuild will sail under the Cyprus flag.Kyriacos Panayides…

Mitsui O.S.K. Line (MOL) has taken delivery of the newly built dual-fuel LGP and ammonia very large gas carrier (VLGC) Aquamarine Progress II, which will sail under charter with a Japanese LPG importer and distributor.Ordered by MOL’s company Aramo Shipping (Singapore), the Aquamarine Progress II has been delivered by Namura Shipbuilding.The Aquamarine Progress II will sail under a time charter contract with GYXIS Corporation, a Japanese LPG importer and distributor.The vessel is 230 meters long, with the breadth of 36.6 meters.

As their first jointly owned liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier in 21 years, NYK and Astomos Energy have named the new vessel Gas Garnet.The companies held a naming ceremony at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries on March 1, 2024.The 86,953 m3 capacity vessel was christened Gas Garnet by Yoshihito Takahashi, senior executive officer of Astomos Energy. This is the first jointly owned LPG vessel by the companies after they shared ownership of Gas Capricorn from 2003.The vessel has a breadth of 37.2 meters…

The naming ceremonies of three new vessels joining ZIM’s fleet were held in Korea and China this week for ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, continuing ZIM’s widescale fleet renovation.The naming ceremony of Zim Mount Elbrus and Zim Mount Vinson, the final additions to the series of ten 15,000 TEUs advanced LNG vessels, took place at the SHI Geoje shipyard in Korea. These vessels, showcasing state-of-the-art LNG technology, were named in a traditional manner by their respective godmothers, Mrs. Hani Kalinsky, ZIM's EVP Pacific Business Unit, and Mrs.

An LNG-fueled capesize bulk carrier, ordered by NYK and to be deployed to transport iron ore and coal from Australia to Japan under a long-term consecutive voyage charter contract with JFE Steel Corporation (JFE), has been delivered.The naming ceremony for the vessel was held on January 30, 2024, at Japan Marine United Corporation's Tsu Shipyard in Mie Prefecture.The vessel is the first capesize LNG-fueled bulk carrier to be built at a shipyard in Japan, according to an NYK research.The vessel was named ‘SG Ocean’ to reflect the ‘SG’ of NYK's ‘Sail GREEN’ brand…

AET, a member of the MISC Group, held a naming ceremony in Singapore for its latest liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel very large crude carrier (VLCC), Eagle Veracruz.The Singapore-flagged 300,000 dwt tanker was named by Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) Grace Fu, who is also the Lady Sponsor of the vessel. The ceremony, which was held at the PSA Keppel Terminal, also saw attendance by Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and senior officials from MSE…

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) announced the launch of MV Isle of Islay on March 16, 2024 at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.It is the first of four ferries being built at the yard, and marks a major milestone in CMAL’s commitment to delivering new ferries to serve the Scottish islands. The hull is now structurally complete, all blocks for the vessel have been erected and surveyed.The ferry, which will serve Islay and Jura, is set to be delivered in October 2024.

Yinson Production officially named its latest addition to the fleet, FPSO Atlanta, during a naming ceremony held at Dubai Drydocks World on December 13, 2023.FPSO Atlanta has a production capacity of 50,000 BOPD and a maximum storage capacity of 1,251,000 bbls. It will feature a carbon management process plant, which uses fuel gas for cargo tank inertization that will significantly reduce flare gas emissions through a closed flare system.Yinson Production and Enauta entered into…

Southern Ports’ new pilot boat Wardan has arrived in Bunbury, Western Australia, for local testing and trials ahead of an official naming ceremony to be held early next year.The boat, built by Hart Marine, combines top-tier technology, safety and comfort in a lightweight structure that renders the vessel resistant to corrosion, guaranteeing longevity and resilience in the harshest of marine conditions.Southern Ports Chief Executive Officer Keith Wilks acknowledged the exciting milestone for the Port of Bunbury’s fleet.

Yacht cruising company Atlas Ocean Voyages has held a naming ceremony in Ushuaia, Argentina for the World Voyager.The 198-guest expedition yacht was christened by Godmother British physiotherapist and British Army Captain Harpreet "Preet" Kaur Chandi MBE.The third vessel in the line's expedition fleet, the sister ship to Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Traveller and World Navigator, the vessel will now begin its inaugural deployment for the 2023/24 Antarctica season.The Polar Category C- and Ice Class 1B-certified vessel features two Rolls Royce 9…

Proman Stena Bulk, the joint venture between tanker company Stena Bulk and methanol producer Proman, formally christened its methanol-fueled tanker Stena Pro Marine during a ceremony at the Port of New Orleans.Delivered in mid-2022, the newbuild is a 49,990 DWT dual-fuel mid-range (MR) tanker constructed at Guangzhou Shipyard International Co Ltd (GSI) in China. The ship has been in full-time operation since its delivery and consumes 12,500 tonnes of methanol annually.Burning methanol onboard eliminates local pollutants like SOx and particulate matter (PM)…

Norwegian offshore wind vessel owner Edda Wind has secured a contract for its service operation vessel Edda Passat.The Edda Passat SOV has operated for Ørsted at Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm since it was built in 2018, and the charter is expiring in October 2023.Edda Wind said Friday that it had entered into an agreement with Vestas for a short-term charter for the majority of the fourth quarter including options at rates "significantly above" the previous contract. “We are pleased…

Maersk has teamed up with its majority owner to form a new company to produce "green methanol", the shipping company said on Thursday, as it held a naming ceremony for the world's first container vessel powered by the low-carbon fuel.Green methanol, produced either from biomass or captured carbon and hydrogen from renewable power, can reduce carbon dioxide emissions from container ships by 60% to 95% compared with conventional fossil fuels.With more than 100 container vessels capable of sailing on methanol on order…

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, on Thursday named the world’s first-ever container vessel sailing on green methanol.At a ceremony in Copenhagen on September 14, where the Maersk-owned vessel arrived from Ulsan in South Korea, Von Der Leyen acted as the ship's godmother and named the vessel 'Laura Maersk'.The Danish-flagged 172-meter-long vessel has been described as a key milestone for A.P. Moller-Maersk’s plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2040 across the entire business.To meet its 2040 target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions in time…

Finnlines on Wednesday held a naming ceremony in Naantali for its first of two new freight-passenger Superstar vessels, Finnsirius.The new ro-pax vessel, part of Finnlines €500-million Green Investment Program, was built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China.“Finnsirius is Finnlines’ new eco-efficient flagship, designed specifically for the fast-paced freight transport route between Finland and Sweden. At the same time, Finnsirius offers upgraded services and more travel comfort than the previous generation of ro-pax vessels.

Edda Wind held a naming ceremony for its new commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) Edda Nordri.The 88.3-meter-long vessel is the third in a series of three purpose-built CSOVs built by Spain's Gondan Shipbuilders for Norway-based Edda Wind. Delivered on September 7, Edda Nordri will be ready for operations in the fourth quarter of 2023.The vessel is prepared for emission-free operations with a hydrogen-based propulsion system based on the liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) concept.The name “Nordri” comes from the Nordic mythology and represents one of the four characters (Nordri…

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) on Monday held a naming ceremony for its new ultra large containership MSC Nicola Mastro in Intaly's Port of Trieste.The 400-meter-long 24,116 TEU newbuild was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation's Jiangnan Shipyard as part of MSC's new record-breaking Celestino Maresca class, among the world's largest containerships. "At MSC, we continue to modernize our fleet and are investing in the most fuel-efficient vessels by design. The MSC Nicola Mastro is one of those vessels…

AET delivered its newest vessel, the first of three Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) powered by dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines, on long-term charter to Shell Tankers (Singapore) Private Limited.The Malaysian-flagged Eagle Vellore was named at a ceremony at the MMHE Pasir Gudang yard, attended by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Malaysia and other Malaysian government officials. The naming of the 300,000 dwt tanker in Malaysia marks an important milestone for AET…

Philly Shipyard has launched Patriot State, the second in a series of five state-class National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV) it is building for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD).MARAD's NSMV provides purpose-built training platforms for state maritime academies in New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Texas and California, respectively. In addition, the five NSMVs will be available to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions when required.Patriot State will be used by the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.In 2019…

Maersk has taken delivery of the world’s first container feeder to be fueled by methanol.The 2,100 TEU vessel was built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Heavy Industries and features dual fuel main and auxiliary engines from MAN Energy Solutions that are able to operate on cleaner-burning methanol.The ABS-classed vessel, HMD Hull #4168, is embarking on its maiden voyage from Ulsan to Copenhagen for a naming ceremony in September, when the ships is expected to take the name Laura Maersk.

Philly Shipyard on Wednesday hosted a ceremony for the first state-class National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV), the Empire State.Empire State is the first of five new NSMVs being built under a program for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD), which owns and operates training ships for the nation's state maritime academies. The newbuild will be delivered this summer to the State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College, replacing the school's current training ship built in 1962.Captain Elizabeth Christman…

Norwind Offshore, an offshore vessel company formed in late 2021 by Norway's Farstad, Volstad, and Kleven to be focused purely on offshore wind, has taken delivery of the first of four Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) built by Vard. The delivery ceremony took place Monday, in Ålesund, on the west coast of Norway. The naming ceremony was attended by representatives of Norwind Offshore, as well as from Vard, various suppliers and business partners.“This is a red-letter day for us,” said Norwind Offshore’s CEO, Svein Leon Aure.

UK-based offshore vessel owner North Star this week held a naming ceremony for the Grampian Tyne service operation vessel (SOV) which will be deployed at work at the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm in the UK.The vessel was named at a ceremony at Equinor’s Port of Tyne base in the North East of England (UK), ahead of its early handover to the Dogger Bank Wind Farm.The traditional good luck celebration, involving the customary champagne bottle being smashed against the hull of the ship…