Automation Systems News

Turkish tugboat builder Sanmar Shipyards has further reinforced its partnership with SAAM Towage through the delivery of a Boğaçay-Class tug that will operate in Latin America.The vessel, which has been named SAAM GUANAY, is based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd and becomes the 13th Sanmar-built tug in the SAAM Towage fleet.Designed for optimum performance in ship-handling operations, the tug measures 24.4m in length, with a 12m beam, 4.5m molded depth, and a 5.45m draft.

Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for a new high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. This is the third in a series of battery-electric vessels being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. Wärtsilä solutions will drive all three ships.Wärtsilä’s scope of supply includes the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets…

Gulf Island Fabrication has announced that the acquisition of the company by IES Holdings was approved at its special meeting of shareholders held on January 13.The strategic rationale for IES is:Strategically located Gulf Coast fabrication campus: Gulf Island’s Houma, Louisiana facility, which consists of a 450,000-square foot fabrication and operations facility on 160 acres, offers a strategic complement to IES’s footprintExpanded services capabilities: Provides an experienced craft workforce and specialty services with proven ability to support complex…

Sanmar Shipyards has delivered its ninth tugboat to global marine services provider P&O Maritime Logistics.P&O took deliver of its first Sanmar-built tugboat in 2013. Since then, Sanmar has delivered eight more tugs that have gone on to serve in ports around the world.The latest vessel has been named AL FATH by its new owners.Based on the RAmparts 2200 design developed by Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd., the Sırapınar Class are compact sister vessels to Sanmar’s Boğacay Class tugs.

Vard Electro, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri-owned Vard Group, has signed an agreement with the German shipyard Lloyd Werft for the delivery of complete automation and power management systems to a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) currently being converted into a research vessel.The scope of supply covers the removal of the vessel’s existing automation systems, replacing it with Vard Electro’s advanced SeaQ Integrated Automation System (IAS) and SeaQ Power Management System (PMS)…

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to deliver a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for two new high-speed catamaran ferries being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen.The battery-electric vessels are being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania, with Wärtsilä supplying the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets, as well as the Wärtsilä ProTouch propulsion control system.The two ferries…

Atlantic Towing Limited has achieved a milestone in its decarbonization journey with the successful retrofit of the Atlantic Shrike. Equipped with Vard Electro’s SeaQ Energy Storage System, the Platform Supply Vessel has recorded an 11% fuel savings across all operations and substantial CO2 savings.As the maritime industry faces mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance fuel efficiency, vessel owners are seeking solutions to modernize their fleets. In 2021, Atlantic Towing Limited, a subsidiary of J.D.

Seatrium Limited signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Karpowership, a global energy company and the owner, operator, and builder of the world’s largest Powership (floating power plant) fleet.Under the LOI, Seatrium will carry out the integration of four New Generation Powerships, with an option for two additional units. Karpowership will deliver the hulls and key equipment for the four Powerships to Seatrium Singapore, where integration works will begin in the first quarter of 2027.

Seatrium has been awarded a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) conversion contract from Kinetics, an energy transition initiative by global floating power company Karpowership.This award follows Kinetics’ confirmation of the option for a fourth FSRU conversion project with Seatrium, announced in April 2024, the award of three LNG carrier (LNGC) conversions into FSRUs for the company, with an option for a fourth project.While Kinetics is on track to become one of the major owners of floating LNG assets globally…

Flying Fish Maritime Innovations B.V., a Dutch pioneer in digital maritime technology and advice, announced a minority investment from CPAC Systems AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, on May 7, 2025. CPAC Systems (Sweden) is specialized in developing advanced control and automation systems for marine, construction and commercial vehicle industries. For the Flying Fish team, this step marks the beginning of a broader strategic partnership aimed at accelerating sales growth, product innovation…

Singapore-based Seatrium has secured a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) conversion contract from Höegh Evi, formerly known as Höegh LNG, for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Hoegh Gandria.The contract covers the conversion and longevity of LNG carrier, Hoegh Gandria to a FSRU which includes the installation of a regasification skid, as well as integration of key supporting systems such as cargo handling, utility, offloading, electrical, and automation systems.Engineering…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with Capital Group, Greece, to deliver K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo simulators for their training centre on the Greek island of Chios. The investment underscores Capital Group’s commitment to high-quality training for its crew, enhancing both general STCW training and product familiarization with onboard automation systems.The delivery, scheduled for completion by the end of June 2025, includes K-Sim Engine Room and Cargo Handling Simulators. The simulators feature K-Chief automation systems installed onboard the Capital Group’s tankers and LNG gas carriers and will ensure the crew gains hands…

Finland-based Valmet has booked an order for a marine methanol fuel automation control system for two cable-laying vessels (CLVs) being built for Jan de Nul in China.The vessels will be built in the China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) shipyard for Jan De Nul, a company providing engineering solutions in maritime and offshore energy infrastructure and construction projects.The value of the order will not be disclosed.“Valmet has experience in green fuel supply system control.

A surge in industry interest combined with systems builders and yards scaling up production and installation capacity, is set to accelerate growth in orders for wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), says DNV in a new whitepaper that examines the technologies, their onboard implementation and potential fuel savings.There has been a rapid uptake of WAPS in the global fleet since 2021, with 52 seagoing ships now in operation and 97 newbuilds with WAPS in the orderbook (as of January 2025).Retrofitting WAPS is possible for almost any ship with sufficient deck space and unobstructed airflow.

TraPac Oakland, a container terminal operator in California, has selected Liebherr for the supply of two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes, marking the company’s first shipment to United States’ West Coast.The cranes boast a 66-meter (216-foot) outreach, a 53-meter (173.83-foot) lift height, and a span of 30.48 meters (100 feet).With a lifting capacity of 66 long tonnes in twin-lift mode, they have been designed for high-capacity handling, making them suitable for servicing the world’s…

Tritek Power & Automation has set out plans to present a new graphical user interface for the TRICON DP during ADIPEC 2024 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi.The new interface is based on Tritek's experience in building automation systems for more than a decade and valuable input from shipowners & DP operators. The graphical representation is based OpenBridge 5.0 produced by Ocean Industries Concept Lab at Oslo School of Architecture and Design.After acquiring the rights to produce the DP control system from NAVIS in 2022…

Finland-based Valmet has been selected CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China to deliver automation solutions for methanol fuel conversion projects aboard two CMA 9300SHI container ships.The vessels will be upgraded at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China for the French operator CMA CGM.The delivery includes applying a methanol control system and a methanol safety system.The order, whose value has not been disclosed, was included in Valmet’s orders received of the second quarter 2024.“This is Valmet’s first automation retrofit order in the Chinese marine market.

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to design and a equip a 10th hybrid chemical tanker for Danish operator Tärntank.The new Tärntank vessels will reduce carbon emissions using a combination of clean technologies.The wind-assist technology will be installed on the latest four vessels ordered, and this feature alone is expected to reduce emissions by up to 19%. The new vessels will have an Energy Efficiency Design Index close to 40% below the 2025 Phase 3 requirements.The 15…

Kongsberg Maritime on Monday announced it has won a contract to supply design, engineering, and equipment for two MGO/biofuel and methanol-ready chemical tankers for Swedish tanker operator Sirius Rederi AB. The low emission 15,000dwt tanker vessels will feature a range of Kongsberg Maritime equipment and can operate on battery-powered hybrid propulsion. Options for further vessels are included.This latest contract builds on a current nine-ship program with fellow Swedish owner Terntank, with a similar design and equipment package.

Singapore-based Seatrium has secured a series of major contracts for vessel repairs, upgrades and conversions, set for completion by the end of 2025.With an aggregate value of S$350 million ($259 million), the contracts have reinforced Seatrium’s reputation as a one of the market leaders in vessel repairs, upgrades and conversions.The diverse range of complex contracts secured by Seatrium Repairs and Upgrades include the upgrades and conversions of Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRU)…

South African Nouum Engineering, a provider of diesel engine services for marine, power, locomotive and generators globally, and Mauritius-based ship repair and conversion yard Taylor Smith Shipyard (TSS) have signed a cooperation agreement, expanding both companies’ commercial and operational scopes.As a part of the agreement, Nouum Engineering will be focusing on the repair and maintenance of marine engines and related equipment, such as turbochargers and automation systems, a growth market for Taylor Smith Shipyards.

Seatrium has secured the world’s first full-scale, turnkey carbon capture and storage (CCS) retrofit from Solvang ASA, Norway.The retrofit of a 7MW Wärtsilä CCS system will be carried out on Solvang’s 21,289 cubic meter ethylene carrier, Clipper Eris, and is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year. The project will use amine cleaning technology to capture 70% of the CO2 in the exhaust gas from the main engine.Seatrium’s scope of work includes basic design, detailed engineering…

U.S. shipbuilder Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc (ESG) on Wednesday announced it is teaming up with Dutch shipbuilding group Royal IHC to design and construct a highly automated hopper dredge for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).The diesel-electric vessel, contracted for the Department of Defense, will be constructed at ESG's Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities in Florida for scheduled delivery in 2027.The new 6,000-cubic-yard-capacity medium-class hopper dredge (MCHD) will be based at the Corps’ Philadelphia District…