NorthStandard, Core Power, LR Urge UK on Maritime Nuclear Power
Core Power, NorthStandard, and Lloyd’s Register (LR) jointly published Advanced Maritime Nuclear: A unique opportunity for the UK. The new paper sets out a policy framework for the UK Government to support the deployment of advanced small nuclear reactors on commercial ships and FNPPs. The report argues that the Department for Transport should include nuclear-powered shipping and FNPPs in an updated Clean Maritime Plan (CMP) and long-term nuclear strategy.In the foreword to the paper…
HFW Expands Global Shipping Practice
HFW - with a global shipping practice comprised of more than 220 lawyers - strengthened its shipping practice by hiring Master Mariner Mike Bunton.Bunton has almost 20 years of shipping experience and joins HFW in London from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, where he was Head of Navigation. He previously held a variety of roles at TechnipFMC, including Vessel Master and Senior Chief Officer,…
REV Ocean Finds Ship Management Partner for New Expedition Vessel
V.Ships, part of V.Group, will partner up with REV Ocean to provide a suite of ship management services for the REV Ocean vessel, deemed the world’s largest and most advanced research and expedition ship.Currently at Vard Søviknes in Norway, the vessel will be equipped to conduct research across the entire marine ecosystem, using advanced technology systems.Scientists and other experts will use it for research expeditions…
ECOsubsea Scoops $6.2M Loan to Grow Hull-Cleaning Robot Fleet
Innovation Norway has awarded a hull-cleaning pioneer ECOsubsea a $6.2 million Green Growth Loan, which will be used to partially fund the construction of next-generation hull-cleaning robots.In addition to expanding its fleet of next-generation hull-cleaning robots, ECOsubsea will also use the funding to expand its operations in Singapore.The Austevoll-based company performed the first commercial cleaning job in Singapore in the autumn…
AD Ports Group Opens Al Faya Dry Port in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has inaugurated a new, custom-bound inland dry port facility, enhancing the connectivity of Khalifa Port.Al Faya Dry Port, strategically located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, will act as an Inland Container Depot (ICD) linked overland to Khalifa Port, offering a transit terminal for trucks and thus improving speed to market and more cost-efficient cargo handling operations…
Berg Efficiency Upgrade Bolsters Norwegian Operator's Cargo Ship Fuel Use
Norwegian shortsea shipping service provider Lighthouse Ship Management has achieved 33% reduction in fuel costs for one managed general cargo vessel coasters following the installation of a Berg propulsion retrofit package.The Torangsvåg-based fleet manager evaluated Berg’s options for optimizing energy use on board Terneskjaer, an 81m length 2,900 dwt general cargo ship owned by Bio Feeder.The project…
bound4blue Installs Wind-Assisted eSAILs on EPS’ Tanker
Spanish wind propulsion systems supplier bound4blue has installed its eSAIL wind assisted propulsion system on Pacific Sentinel tanker, owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).Three 22-meter, DNV-Type Approved eSAILs were installed on the 50,000 dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned, bound4blue said.The installation occurred during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory work…
EDGE and Fincantieri Deepen Partnership for Underwater Protection Solutions
EDGE and Fincantieri have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), deepening their cooperation through joint venture Maestral, which will be focused on the design, development and creation of unmanned systems for critical underwater infrastructure protection and seabed mapping, next-generation submarines, drone-carrier ships, and lightweight torpedoes.The MoU is based on both companies collaborating to develop underwater technologies…
BS Offshore, Ulstein Verft Launch CSOV Newbuild (Photos)
Germany-based Bernhard Schulte Offshore (BS Offshore) and Ulstein Verft have launched a new Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV), the Yno 320.The launch followed an extensive outfitting phase that included the installation of electrical and mechanical systems, piping, accommodation, and system integration.The Yno 320 was towed from Ulstein Verft’s dock hall to the outer dock on February 20.While stationed in the outer dock…
Ukraine’s Dry Bulk Shipments Up 87% Three Years After Russian Invasion
“Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the volume of dry bulk shipments from the two countries combined is 6% below pre-war levels. However, the past 12 months have seen the countries’ dry bulk shipments develop in complete opposite directions. While Ukraine has seen an 87% y/y jump in shipments, Russia’s have taken a 6% y/y fall. Overall, their combined volume has increased 3% y/y over the last 12 months…
ABS Sees Nuclear as ‘Generational Opportunity’ for US Shipbuilding
New nuclear reactor technology represents a once in a generation opportunity for U.S. industrial policy, as vessels propelled by advanced small modular reactors (SMR) could act as a catalyst for the revitalization of the country’s shipbuilding, according the Chairman and CEO of American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Christopher J. Wiernicki.Wiernicki added he believes the next step is development of a marinized SMR demonstrator.“It is a key transformational technology.
Italy’s Saipem and Norway’s Subsea7 Merger to Create Energy Services Giant
Energy services firms Saipem and Subsea7 have reached an agreement on the key terms for possible merger of the two companies under one unit to be named Saipem7, whose combined backlog would be over $45 billion.Saipem and Subsea7 shareholders will own 50% each of the share capital of the combined company, whose revenue is expected to be around $20.9 billion, and core earnings in excess of $2 billion.Saipem7 will become a global organization of over 45…
Freight Rates Frustrate Recyclers
A recent and ongoing uptick in freight rates across many sectors (especially dry, as wet rates have been performing far admirably in comparison) has resumed depriving global ship recycling markets of tonnage over the last couple of weeks, reports cash buyer GMS.“This has promptly manifested itself at the various sub-continent waterfronts this week in both India and even Pakistan that has now returned to an empty port position once again…
Hundreds Arrested Over Illegal Wildlife and Forestry Trade
Nearly 20,000 live animals, all endangered or protected species, have been seized in a global operation against wildlife and forestry trafficking networks, jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO).Operation Thunder 2024 (November 11 – December 6) brought together police, customs, border control, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions, marking…
Incorrect Valve Led to Deadly Engine Room Fire
The installation of an incorrect valve in a pipe to a diesel oil tank led to a fatal fire aboard a cargo vessel docked in LaPorte, Texas, an National Transportation Safety Board shows.On Jan. 8, 2024, a fire broke out in the engine room aboard the cargo vessel Stride during bunkering, or fueling, operations while docked at the Barbours Cut Marine Terminal. The fire self-extinguished after crewmembers shut down all ventilation to the engine room.
Bahrain: ASRY and Noatum Maritime Form JV
ASRY has formed a joint venture (JV) with Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, offering a diversified portfolio of maritime solutions for the provision of marine services in Bahrain.The collaboration aims to sharpen the current marine service offering at ASRY Shipyard on an exclusive basis by leveraging Noatum Maritime’s operational expertise and modern fleet. It will then target external clients within Bahrain.ASRY CEO…
Interim Guidelines Agreed for Training Seafarers on Green Ships
The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) has agreed on draft interim generic guidelines for training seafarers working on ships powered by alternative fuels and new technologies. These draft guidelines will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee for approval in June 2025.Meeting in London from February 10 to 14, the Sub-Committee agreed that such guidance should…
IMO Working Group Fails to Finalize GHG Emissions Pricing Scheme
International efforts to curb GHG emissions from shipping took a step forward as the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 18) concluded its latest round of discussions on Friday.The IMO's 2023 GHG Reduction Strategy commits Member States to adopting mid-term measures to reduce GHG emissions from ships in late 2025, including:• a technical element, namely…
Chinese Drills Upset Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand said the Chinese navy conducted a live-fire exercise in international waters near the Pacific nation on Saturday, a day after it held a similar drill between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights."Reporting from the New Zealand Defence Force that the Chinese naval Task Group has advised of a second window for live firing activity, on Saturday afternoon," a spokesperson…
Russia Orders Divers to Inspect Ships After Tanker Blasts
Russia has ordered divers to inspect ships in its ports, a government letter seen by Reuters shows, after suspected attacks on four oil tankers that visited in recent weeks.At the same time the Russian navy will help protect from the threat of drones and unmanned vessels, it said.Three oil tankers around the Mediterranean, and another in the Russian Baltic, have been damaged by blasts in the last month.All four had recently called at Russian ports…
