Ariane News

This week, Van Oord’s trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Ariane completed its first bunkering of bio-LNG.The move follows the July news that NYK has started the continuous use of bio-LNG fuel on its LNG-powered car carriers.There’s been more firsts this year. In February 2025, Furetank conducted its first bio-LNG bunkering. In March, Titan and Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) completed the first bio-LNG bunkering operation of a multi-year contract. In April, the Avenir Ascension began operating on 100% bio-LNG…

Van Oord’s trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Ariane has completed its first bunkering of Bio-LNG on the Elbe in Germany.As the first marine contractor to have its climate targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Van Oord is actively investing in decarbonization solutions. Transitioning to alternative fuels such as Bio-LNG is a key part of the strategy.Bio-LNG is produced from sustainable biobased feedstocks, including municipal organic waste and agricultural residues.

A new research vessel built for the French oceanographic fleet operated for the National Science Community by the French national Institute of Ocean Sciences (IFREMER) has been launched at the Freire Shipyard celebrated in Vigo, Spain.The oceanographic vessel was named Anita Conti in honor of France's first woman oceanographer, as a tribute to her pioneering legacy in the exploration and study of the sea.Designed to replace the vessel Thalia, the Anita Conti will fully integrate the French Oceanographic Fleet in 2026.

The Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) represented by BMW Oracle Racing and the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the Americas Cup defending champion, represented by Team Alinghi were entwined in a 2.5-year legal battle over multiple court cases, including hearings in the New York Supreme Court and the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, prior to the 33rd edition of the race, due to take place in 2010.The parties disagreed about the location, format, and restrictions on boat design, all of which were changed by the courts prior to the race.

Van Oord Ship Management has taken delivery of its third dual-fuel trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), from Seatrium in Singapore.The delivery of Vox Alexia, the final unit of a series of three dual-fuel LNG-powered dredgers, follows the first and second dredger newbuilds Vox Ariane and Vox Apolonia delivered in April and December 2022 respectively.Vox Alexia is IMO Tier III compliant, built to Bureau Veritas (BV) class and has a hopper capacity of 10,500m3. Certified with the BV Green Passport and Clean Ship notations…

Van Oord announced on Tuesday it has christened its new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Vox Apolonia, built by Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd shipyard in Singapore.The newbuild is the second in a series of three new dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled TSHDs being built for the Dutch dredging and marine services contractor.The 10,500-cubic-meter-capacity Vox Apolonia and its sister vessels Vox Ariane and Vox Alexia, fall into the mid-class section of Van Oord’s TSHD fleet. measuring 137.5 meters long and 27.6 meters across the beam.

Climate change, rising sea levels, land reclamation and offshore energy are all factors underpinning business models at Europe’s dredge and marine engineering majors. They are adopting strong sustainability credentials as their operations come under closer environmental, social, governance (ESG) scrutiny and new opportunities open up in the US offshore wind sectorThe relatively small number of global marine engineering and dredge firms face more observation of their business models than ever before.

Sailing cargo ships are making a genuine comeback.Japanese bulk carrier MOL is operating a wind-assisted ship. American food giant Cargill is working with Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie to deploy WindWings on its routes. Swedish shipping company Wallenius is aiming for Oceanbird to cut emissions by up to 90%. The French start-up Zephyr & Borée has built the Canopée, which will transport parts of European Space Agency’s Ariane 6 rocket this year.I researched the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.

Van Oord announced it has accepted delivery of its new trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD), Vox Apolonia, from Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd shipyard in Singapore.The newbuild is the second in a series of three new dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled TSHDs being built for the Dutch dredging and marine services contractor.The 10,500-cubic-meter-capacity Vox Apolonia and its sister vessels Vox Ariane and Vox Alexia, fall into the mid-class section of Van Oord’s TSHD fleet.

Singaporean shipbuilder Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) announced it has delivered Vox Ariane, the first in a series of three new 10,500-cubic-meter-capacity trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHD) for Dutch contracting company Van Oord.The high-specification dredger can run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), making it the first dual-fuel TSHD built in Singapore, according to the builder.Tan Leong Peng, Managing Director (New Builds), Keppel O&M, said,  “LNG plays an important role in the clean energy transition.

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said one of its containerships has had to pause its China-U.S. voyage after a fuel problem gave rise to engine problems on board the 366-meter vessel.The Panamanian-flagged containership MSC Ariane had to stop at sea on April 2 due to an engine issue caused by "bad quality of fuel", MSC said.Maersk, MSC's partner under the 2M Alliance, said a tugboat with spare parts has reached the vessel and began towing it toward Japan for repair. The stricken box ship is expected to reach Wakayama on April 7.MSC Ariane is deployed as part of MSC's Pearl service rotation (Vung Tau – Hong Kong – Yantian – Xiamen – Los Angeles).

Van Oord has decided to use the option of ordering a third trailing suction hopper dredger at Keppel FELS Limited. The vessel is similar to the two vessels that Van Oord ordered in May 2018. Each one has a hopper capacity of approximately 10,500 cubic meters and measures 138 meters in length and 28 meters across the beam.This investment is part of a broader fleet renewal program in the Dredging business unit. The new hoppers will replace existing vessels and fit in with Van Oord’s aim of making its fleet state-of-the-art and more energy efficient.

The French shipping company, Compagnie Maritime Nantaise, initiates the process of implementing SERTICA for Maintenance, Procurement and HSQE.As of today, the first vessel has been converted to SERTICA. Compagnie Maritime Nantaise is implementing SERTICA Fleet Management for 7 vessels operating from Nantes and for 6 passenger vessels operating from Brest. The company mainly involves in the business of industrial and specialized sea transportation. They are shipping ESA Ariane launcher components between Europe and French Guiana…

Kotug Smit Towage has taken four newly-built Damen tugs into service for its European harbour towage activities, in 2017 and 2018. One of this quartet, the Southampton is currently operating in the Port of Zeebrugge.The Southampton is an ASD Tug 2913 and has a bollard pull in excess of 80 tonnes. The tug is renowned for its manoeuvrability and environmentally efficient performance. The naming ceremony of the tug Southampton was performed by Lady Sponsor Mrs. Ariane Labargue, the spouse of Mr. Rik Goetinck, Vice President of the Port of Zeebrugge (MBZ).Kotug Smit’s General Manager Scheldt Area, Geert Vandecappelle: “As a token of our appreciation for the many years of cooperation between MBZ and Kotug Smit Towage…

On September 13, 2018, a Damen-built tug for Kotug Smit Towage was named ‘Southampton’ at a ceremony in the Port of Zeebrugge.Kotug Smit Towage has taken four newly-built Damen tugs into service for its European harbour towage activities, in 2017 and 2018. One of this quartet, the ‘Southampton’ is currently operating in the Port of Zeebrugge.‘Southampton’ is an ASD Tug 2913 and has a bollard pull in excess of 80 tonnes. The naming ceremony of the tug ‘Southampton’ was performed by Lady Sponsor Mrs. Ariane Labargue, the spouse of Mr. Rik Goetinck, Vice President of the Port of Zeebrugge (MBZ).

The launch yesterday of  the Intelsat 29e, the first of the Intelsat EpicNG high throughput satellites, promises to usher in a new era of "Big Data" in the maritime sector, among others. The satellite was launched from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle. Manufactured by Boeing and equipped with advanced digital payload, Intelsat 29e will bring high throughput capacity in both C- and Ku-band to North and Latin America and the North Atlantic region. Intelsat 29e will be placed into service at 310° East, where it replaces Intelsat 1R.

Intelsat S.A. today reported that its Intelsat 34 satellite was launched successfully from French Guiana aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle. Liftoff occurred at 4:34 pm EDT. The Intelsat 34 satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage 40 minutes after launch, at 5:14 pm EDT, and signal acquisition has been confirmed. Intelsat 34 is a C- and Ku-band satellite to be placed into service at the 304.5ºE orbital location. It will replace Intelsat 805 and Galaxy 11 as the third in Intelsat’s leading Latin America, pan-regional video distribution neighborhood (which includes Intelsat 11 and Intelsat 21). Intelsat 34 includes a C-band payload which will deliver media distribution services for blue chip media powerhouses including Fox Sports and HBOLA.

Europe’s latest Galileo navigation satellite has arrived at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) technical centre in the Netherlands for testing, as the previous two satellites are prepared for shipping to French Guiana for launch this summer. ESA explains that the new satellite arrived at ESA’s Technical Centre, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, in the Netherlands, safely enclosed within an air-conditioned and environmentally controlled container from manufacturer OHB of Bremen, Germany. Meanwhile, the previous two Galileo satellites have completed their long test campaign and are being readied for shipping to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, for launch together by Soyuz. Europe’s first four Galileo satellites are already in orbit, the minimum number needed for achieving a position fix.

Inmarsat provider of global mobile satellite communications services, confirms the successful launch of Alphasat, the largest satellite, designated I-4A F4. Alphasat was launched on an Ariane 5 ECA, the latest version of the Ariane 5 launcher, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana at 20.54hrs BST on 25th July (16.54hrs Kourou local time). Arianespace confirmed a successful spacecraft separation at 27 minutes 45 seconds after launch and the Alphasat Mission Operations Team confirmed telemetry reception and that they have command of the satellite at 21.47 BST.