Vattenfall Secures Dutch Base to Support Germany’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm
Vattenfall has signed a deal with EMS Maritime Offshore (EMO) to establish an operations and maintenance (O&M) base in the Dutch port of Eemshaven to support construction and operation of its planned Nordlicht 1 and 2 wind farms, which will become Germany’s largest offshore wind project.The site will provide direct access for service operation vessels (SOVs) and crew transfer vessels (CTVs), reducing travel times to the German North Sea exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Crowley-Managed CS Anthem Joins Tanker Security Program
Crowley Stena Marine Solutions, the joint venture between Crowley and Stena Bulk, has received approval from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to operate the CS Anthem tanker under the Tanker Security Program.The CS Anthem, a U.S.-flagged, 49,990-metric-ton, medium-range tanker, is crewed and managed by Crowley under a bareboat charter through the joint venture. The vessel joins Crowley-managed tankers Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable in the Tanker Security Program…
Robots are Getting Very Good at Understanding the Environment Around Them
The July/August issue of Offshore Engineer includes an update on patrolling robots. They are increasingly being used for inspection, maintenance and repair, and they are increasingly being operated, human-in-the-loop, in a cyber world that is a detailed digital twin of their offshore environment.Energy Robotics, for example, has built a software platform for operating all available oil and gas ATEX certified robots, including those of ExRobotics, Taurob, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Phase 1 of S-100 Implementation Complete
Phase 1 of S-100 Standards implementation is now complete after the operational release of standards S-124 Navigational Warnings and S-128 Catalogue of Nautical Products.The S-100 framework is a new global standard created by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), in collaboration with other hydrographic offices around the world, that enables the integration of diverse datasets within a…
Biological Hydrogen Offers Alternative to Electrolysis
Biological hydrogen is a wildcard technology that could change what Roy Allegra calls the current hydrogen cold war.Allegra, based in London, is founder of RA Energy and Green H₂ Systems Modeling.He sees Europe scrambling to lock in alliances and signing deals in the Middle East and Africa to secure green hydrogen supply. These countries are aiming to lead production.Meanwhile, China is already leading in electrolyzer manufacturing capacity…
Steering Micro Switch Failure Led to Houston Collision
A steering control system component failure on a multi-purpose carrier resulted in a collision with a bulk carrier in the Houston Ship Channel, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a newly-released investigation report.The multi-purpose carrier BBC Africa lost steering as it was departing the channel on Aug. 25, 2023, and struck the moored bulk carrier Common Faith. No injuries or pollution were reported.
Tensions Rise as US Warships Arrive in Southern Caribbean
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising amid a large U.S. naval buildup in the Southern Caribbean and nearby waters, which U.S. officials say aims to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.U.S. President Donald Trump has made cracking down on drug cartels a central goal of his administration, part of a wider effort to limit migration and secure the U.S. southern border. While U.S.
Joint Military Exercise Will See US Typhon Missile System to Deployed to Japan
A joint U.S. and Japanese military exercise will see the temporary deployment of the "Typhon" intermediate-range missile in Japan, Japanese and U.S. officials said on Thursday, a move likely to anger China.The Typhon system is part of a drive by Washington to amass a variety of anti-ship weapons in Asia. The weapon drew sharp criticism from China when first deployed in the Philippines in 2024, also…
Soya IT Marine Solutions Achieves NIS2 and NIST Compliance
Soya IT Marine Solutions is now compliant with both NIS2 and NIST—the EU and US frameworks for cybersecurity, respectively. Achieving compliance with two of the world's strictest regulations means that Soya IT Marine Solutions delivers top-class cyber security. For customers, this means extra protection against cyber attacks, intrusions and operational disruptions—both on board individual ships and…
DNV Updates Simulator Standard for Evolving Maritime Training
DNV has released a revision of its Maritime Simulator Systems Standard (DNV-ST-0033), reflecting the growing diversity of simulation technologies used in maritime training and certification.The updated standard introduces terminology for virtual reality (VR), synthetic environments and mixed reality, reflecting the growing diversity of simulation formats.The foundational competence requirements have been extended to include alternative fuels such as ammonia…
German Shipbuilder Reportedly Eyed by Rheinmetall
European defense giant Rheinmetall has signalled interest in taking over German shipbuilder Naval Vessels Luerssen, industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as the Duesseldorf-based firm looks to expand into the naval business.According to the Bild newspaper, which first reported Rheinmetall's plans, the supervisory board intends to consider the purchase in the coming weeks.According to Bild, the Luerssen family…
Tanker Vessel Market Bends Under Supply and Demand Strains
“We forecast a balanced development in the crude tanker market in 2025 and 2026 while we expect the product tanker market to remain weaker than in 2024. The product tanker suffers under the weight of increasing supply growth and weaker demand growth due to shorter sailing distances,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Due to OPEC+’s recent decision to reverse oil production cuts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has increased its crude oil supply forecast significantly.
Keppel, Seatrium in $53M Arbitration Case Over Brazil Corruption Scheme
Singapore's Keppel has initiated arbitration proceedings against local shipbuilder Seatrium for a S$68.4 million ($53.33 million) claim related to a corruption crackdown in Brazil, the companies said on Tuesday.In 2023, Seatrium had made provisions worth S$82.4 million to pay Keppel against claims related to the crackdown, named Operation Car Wash.Seatrium noted the obligation to pay Keppel expired…
Höegh Autoliners Orders First Ammonia Engines for PCTCs
Höegh Autoliners has placed an order for four ammonia-burning Everllence B&W 7S60ME-LGIA (Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) dual-fuel engines for four 9,100 CEU Aurora-class pure car truck carriers (PCTCs).The vessels will be the first in the PCTC segment to receive DNV’s ammonia-ready and methanol-ready notations.Everllence views the order as signalling a new era for clean propulsion within global shipping. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.
New Electrolyzer to Turn Emissions into e-Fuels
An EU-funded project is helping accelerate the adoption of carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies that transform carbon dioxide emissions into valuable resources such as fuels, chemicals, and construction materials.CCU is based on the principle of capturing carbon dioxide and reusing it in various forms, such as e-fuels created by combining captured CO2 with renewable hydrogen.The ECO2Fuel…
Canada Selects Qualified Bidders for Supply of New Submarines
Joël Lightbound, Canada’s Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, and the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement), have announced that the Government of Canada has identified German company Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) and Korean company Hanwha Ocean as the two qualified suppliers for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).Delivery…
Trump Tariffs Reroute Brazilian Beef to Mexico
Mexico has overtaken the U.S. as the second largest importer of Brazil's beef after the imposition of tariffs by President Donald Trump on August 6 affected shipments from the world's largest exporter, Brazilian beef lobby Abiec said on Wednesday.Brazilian beef, which was already subject to a U.S. import tax of 26.4% outside of an exempt quota, now faces an additional 50% levy.Between August 1-25, Brazil exported 10,200 metric tons of beef to Mexico worth $58.8 million, according to Abiec data.
Ascenz Marorka Signs Contract to Equip 24 LNG Carriers with Sloshield
Ascenz Marorka, a GTT Group company, announced the signing of a contract with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, a GTT long-time partner, to equip 24 LNG carriers with its Sloshield system.Sloshield is an advanced solution for detecting and reducing sloshing risks in LNG cargo tanks. By providing real-time monitoring and predictive analysis, it enables ship operators to preserve cargo integrity, limit structural stress…
Doubling of US Tariffs on India Begins Wednesday
U.S. President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on imports from India to as much as 50% took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, dealing a serious blow to ties between the two countries that became strategic partners after the turn of this century.A punitive 25% tariff imposed due to India's purchases of Russian oil adds to Trump's prior 25% tariff on many imports from the South Asian nation and is…
Port Houston Records Double-Digit Gains in Standout July
July was a standout month for Port Houston’s public terminals, with double-digit growth in key sectors that pushed year-to-date totals to new heights. Container volumes for July were up are markable 21% compared to July 2024, reaching 392,829 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). This is one of the Port’s strongest single-month performances on record. Throughout this year Port Houston has continued…
