Propulsion Systems News

Belgian shipowner Exmar has named two ocean-going ammonia dual-fuel midsize gas carriers, said to be the world’s first, marking a milestone in the development of low-emission shipping.The two vessels, ANTWERPEN and ARLON, were built in South Korea in cooperation with HD Hyundai as part of a multi-year development programme.Each vessel has a cargo capacity of about 46,000 cubic metres, including 45,000 cubic metre cargo tanks and two 500 cubic metre deck tanks. The design incorporates…

For centuries, shipowners have fought a persistent enemy beneath the waterline: biofouling. Barnacles, algae, slime and other marine organisms attach themselves to hull surfaces, increasing hydrodynamic drag and reducing vessel efficiency. Traditionally, the fight against fouling relied on antifouling coatings, diver cleaning teams, and periodic drydock maintenance. But in the last decade, a new class of underwater robotics has begun to change that equation.Robotic hull-cleaning systems…

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has secured an order from Energy ONE Limited to build four ammonia dual-fuel bulk carriers, marking the first such vessels to be constructed in India.The contract covers four 92,500-deadweight tonne bulk carriers, which will be among the largest commercial ships built at an Indian yard, the company said.The vessels will measure about 229.5 meters in length with a beam of 37 meters and will be equipped with ammonia-fueled propulsion systems.

RINA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Hanwha Group to promote the adoption of battery-hybrid propulsion systems in the maritime sector.The agreement involves Hanwha affiliates Hanwha Power Systems, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Engine, and targets the development of hybrid propulsion solutions for both newbuild vessels and retrofits, with a focus on the roll-on/roll-off ferry segment.The partners said the collaboration aims to accelerate the transition to lower-emission vessels by combining Hanwha’s expertise in propulsion…

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.

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has published new guidelines to support the safe operation of ships using wind-assisted propulsion systems, as the shipping industry increasingly adopts technologies aimed at reducing fuel use and emissions.The guidelines provide recommendations for developing and implementing safety management systems tailored to vessels equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), including rotor sails, suction sails and wing sails.The report highlights the need to address operational…

Under the agreement, Steerprop will be able to order tailored simulator training from Aboa Mare for its customers. The training programs are designed to support the safe and efficient operation of vessels fitted with Steerprop propulsion equipment across a range of operating conditions and vessel types.The services consist of simulator-based courses organized together with Aboa Mare, focusing on vessel handling, maneuvering and operational decision-making using propulsion systems supplied by Steerprop.

NAG Marine, a provider of shipboard automation and fluid control solutions for maritime applications, announced the launch of the Tan Delta Oil Quality Sensor as part of its partnership with Tan Delta Systems, a global innovator in advanced oil condition analysis technologies. The addition of the Tan Delta Oil Quality Sensor expands NAG Marine’s fluid automation portfolio with advanced, real-time oil quality sensing capabilities designed to reduce maintenance costs, extend service intervals, and improve operational reliability across maritime and industrial platforms.

Kongsberg Maritime has won a contract from MKM Yachts to supply a package of equipment for the Scenic Ikon polar expedition vessel under construction for Scenic Cruise.The Scenic Ikon, the latest in a series of luxury expedition vessels for Scenic Cruise, features a hybrid electric propulsion system from Kongsberg Maritime, to enable emission-free operation in environmentally sensitive areas.The new 203-meter vessel will be the first in the series to feature Kongsberg Maritime Elegance Pods for main propulsion.

bound4blue and Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) have completed the second installation of eSAILs in EPS’ fleet, fitting three 22-meter-high units on MR tanker Pacific Sunstone at New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province, China. The project marks EPS’ first newbuild installation following a successful retrofit project on Pacific Sentinel.With smaller footprints than other solutions, eSAILs generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size. The units are also non-ATEX…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a new contract with long-standing partner Echo Marine Group to support the delivery of Western Australia’s first fully electric passenger ferries - marking a major milestone for sustainable public transport in Australia.The project, which is a part of the Perth Transport Authority’s (PTA) METRONET Swan River Ferry Service Expansion programme, will see the design and construction of five new battery-electric ferries for operation on Perth’s Swan River.

ClassNK confirmed the validity of the performance analysis evaluation for the automated kite system ‘Seawing’, which is being developed by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. and its French subsidiary OCEANICWING S.A.S., and issued a Statement of Fact (SOF). In response to environmental regulations and as a solution for reducing fuel costs, the implementation and installation planning of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), including kite systems, have been progressing. As standards for wind-assisted propulsion systems and ships equipped with such systems…

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…

ABS, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HD HSHI) signed a joint development project (JDP) for the “Conceptual Design of a Nuclear-Powered Electric Propulsion System.”Under the agreement, HD KSOE and HD HSHI will develop the basic design, electrical component specifications and arrangement plans for a nuclear-powered electric propulsion system tailored for container ships. The agreement forms a framework to assess the technical…

In the February issue of Maritime Reporter magazine Nirav Patel, Nuclear Navy Segment Director at Fairbanks Morse Defense, takes a look at the cobots (cooperative robots) that are being used for welding in the ship repair industry.He explains: “As a long-time principal supplier of propulsion systems for the U.S. nuclear navy, FMD is responsible for sustainment of a fleet of diesel engines that provide emergency backup power to onboard nuclear reactors. These 30–35-year-old engines pose a unique welding challenge.

Strategic Marine has delivered the first two Supa Swath crew transfer vessels (CTVs) to Mainprize Offshore, marking the initial handover under a multi-vessel contract signed at in June 2024.The deliveries represent the first two vessels in a program covering six Supa Swath vessels, with options for a further six units. The contract supports Mainprize Offshore’s fleet expansion for offshore renewables operations across Europe.The program follows an earlier collaboration in 2024…

Daughter Craft No. 3, commissioned by Purus, is progressing through final outfitting ahead of sea trials. Engines are now installed with Volvo Penta IPS drives, and the vessel’s electronics and interior systems are well underway in outfit.Diverse Marine has worked with Chartwell Marine to produce this daughter craft design, with inboard propulsion systems fitted with IMO Tier 3 exhaust after-treatment to reduce emissions.The Daughter Craft can serve as a nearshore CTV as well…

Often debated and long-awaited, The White House released its long-anticipated America’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP), a 40+ page blueprint aimed at what it calls a new “Maritime Golden Age” for the United States.The document, developed under Executive Order 14269, lays out a four-pillar strategy to rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity, expand the U.S.-flag fleet, reform maritime workforce development, and strengthen industrial resilience. For U.S. shipbuilders, vessel owners and maritime suppliers…

Kongsberg Maritime has announced the launch of its new Kamewa S-4L waterjet series with a major contract to supply propulsion systems for Gotlandsbolaget’s next-generation high-speed ferry, Horizon X.The multi-fuel vessel, currently under construction at Austal, is hydrogen-ready and represents a significant step toward sustainable high-speed ferry operations.Horizon X will operate on the busy Gotland–mainland Sweden route, connecting Visby with Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn. This route demands high speed…

With a growing focus on mitigating climate change and progressing toward the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 net-zero target, the marine sector is under intense pressure to decarbonize. Today, maritime transport emits nearly one billion tons of CO2 annually, representing roughly 2-3% of all energy-related carbon emissions worldwide .Substantial progress has been made over the past decade in reducing emissions from small commercial and coastal vessels via all-electric and diesel-electric propulsion (DEP) systems.

Sustainability has become a defining priority across industrial and maritime operations. While much of the discussion centers on alternative fuels and emerging technologies, one of the most immediate and cost-effective opportunities to reduce energy consumption and emissions is often overlooked: precision shaft alignment.AME sees firsthand how precision shaft alignment services improve equipment reliability, reduce vibration, and support long-term sustainability across both marine and industrial environments.The Hidden Energy Fee of Shaft MisalignmentMisalignment in rotating equipment…

Anemoi Marine Technologies and COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry have renewed a framework agreement to expand collaboration on the installation of rotor sail wind-propulsion systems across COSCO Shipping subsidiary shipyards.The renewed agreement builds on cooperation that began in 2022, during which the companies completed the installation of nine rotor sails at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry yards, including installations on very large ore carriers for Vale and U-Ming at the Zhoushan yard.Under the updated framework…

Kongsberg Maritime has been hired by Consórcio Marenova to design and equip four methanol- and ethanol-ready handy-size product tankers for Petrobras Transporte (Transpetro).The vessels will be built by Consórcio Marenova, a partnership between Ecovix in Rio Grande and MacLaren in Niterói, and will be operated by Transpetro.Kongsberg Maritime said the contract is valued at more than $31 million (NOK 300 million) and includes delivery of complete ship design and a range of integrated systems.These include propulsion systems with Promas and controllable pitch propellers…