Certificate News

WAPS: Making the Wind Blow for Shipping’s DecarbonizationIn the evolving landscape of maritime decarbonization, few subjects are as timely or arguably as misunderstood as wind-assisted propulsion. Yet the shipping industry finds itself at a decisive moment, driven by regulatory tightening, customer expectations for greener supply chains, and an urgent need to manage escalating fuel costs. Wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), and wingsails in particular, are no longer speculative technologies. They are proven, available, and scalable solutions ready to meet the moment, writes Dr.

DNV has granted a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) to CSSC Shanghai Marine Energy Saving Technology (CMES-Tech) for its new 35-meter tilting type wind assisted rotor system.This is the first domestically developed rotor sail system in China to achieve this recognition under DNV’s WAPS rules (ST-0511). With this certification, the system is confirmed ready for installation on DNV classed commercial vessels and marks a major milestone for China’s green-shipping technology industry.As shipping faces mounting pressure from fuel costs and emissions regulations…

The U.S. Navy needs to dramatically increase the fleet, especially submarines, but the available pool of skilled workers is not keeping pace.Submarine construction is ramping up. The Navy continues to build Virginia-class submarines, striving for two per year, and is gearing up build the new Columbia-class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. At the same time, the industry needs to support the ambitious Australia-U.S.-U.K. AUKUS program to make the Royal Australian Navy a nuclear submarine navy.Qualified workers are not only needed to build submarines…

ABS issued a product design assessment (PDA) certificate to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its condition-based maintenance system, SCBM.The system has earned a SMART (MHM) Tier 2 PDA from ABS, signifying that it meets the functional and system requirements listed in the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units.This achievement highlights the system’s compliance with ABS’ comprehensive standards for innovative technologies designed to enhance maritime operations in key areas such as structural and machinery health monitoring…

Building on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Peninsula and the University of Gibraltar earlier this year, the two organizations have taken their collaboration to the next level with the creation of the Peninsula Maritime Simulation Suite, a high-tech facility, funded by Peninsula, set to support cadet education and professional development.This investment not only fulfills mandatory UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) training requirements but positions Gibraltar as a rising global hub for maritime excellence.

There’s an obvious fuel saving advantage, but partnering energy storage systems with new fuels brings other advantages too.There’s a new generation of vessels emerging which is exemplified by Grimaldi’s PCTC Grande Shanghai, claimed to reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared to previous-generation car carriers, and the NCL Vestland, a container feeder vessel similarly claimed to reduce energy consumption per TEU per nautical mile by 63%.What these vessels have in common is a propulsion system that combines energy storage systems and new fuels.As Henrik Helgesen…

The U.S. Navy’s Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport has honored 42 students who completed its Academic Degree Training Program (ADTP), earning degrees in engineering, cybersecurity and other technical fields.Since the inception of ADTP in 2018, Division Newport has seen a total of 315 graduates in the program which offers financial and other support.ADTP includes a Fellowship Program, Part-time Academic Training Program (PTADTP), and Naval Postgraduate School attendance.The numerous degrees and certificate programs provide professional education and development…

OceanWings has received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from DNV, marking a major milestone in the industrial validation of the company’s automated wingsail propulsion system.The certificate confirms that the design of the rigid OceanWings system, in both its tiltable and fixed configurations, meets DNV’s rigorous technical and regulatory standards for safety, reliability, and operation.The system is designed to support shipping’s transition toward cleaner energy and…

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a blanket purchase agreement to Stealth Solutions Inc. to modernize the service’s Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) information technology system and support revitalization of the maritime workforce and industry.The MCP is essential to vetting and denying criminals access to critical maritime infrastructure and supporting the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The National Maritime Center (NMC) processed nearly 75,000 credential requests and 66…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued classification to the Surveyor, a fully autonomous deepwater unmanned surface vehicle (USV), developed by Saildrone.At 20 meters long and capable of unmanned operations across all of the world’s oceans, the Surveyor is the largest class of USVs from Saildrone, a provider of maritime security, ocean mapping, and meteorological and oceanographic data using unmanned autonomous assets.The USV is capable of long-endurance missions in the open ocean…

Since coming into force, the IMO Polar Code has had a positive effect on maritime operations in polar waters, write Dan Oldford and Ed Moakler, ABS HETC, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.What is the Polar Code, When and Why did it come into force?Polar regions have many unique hazards compared to warmer waters around the world. Since the earliest explorers sought to explore the Arctic and Antarctic by ship, many vessels have been lost due to sea ice, cold air temperatures and ice accretion.Prior to the Polar Code coming into force there were no international regulations…

ABS has issued a New Technology Qualification certificate to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for their next-generation electric propulsion solution - the Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) power system for ships.The Breakerless-MVDC Power System builds on HD Hyundai’s modular propulsion drive system and is the first in the world to receive an ABS NTQ certificate, indicating the technology’s feasibility and maturity…

The member Authorities of the Tokyo and the Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control will launch a joint concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on Ballast Water Management from September 1 to November 30.The purpose of the campaign is to determine if ships meet the mandatory requirements for Ballast Water Management (BWM) as prescribed in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention).

NYK has donated USD$7,000 (1 million yen) to support the reconstruction of a fisheries hatchery run by Daisen City in Akita Prefecture, Japan, continuing the company’s support from last year. On July 2, Tatsuya Shimomura, general manager of NYK’s Akita branch, presented a donation certificate to Daisen City Mayor Hiroyuki Oimatsu.This project aims to contribute to the sustainable conservation of salmon resources and regional revitalization through the reconstruction of the aging hatchery. This initiative marks the 130th anniversary of the hatchery release program.

After decades of ongoing efforts, the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) has entered into force with big changes underway for the industry, reports cash buyer GMS. Bangladeshi and Pakistani markets still have a lot of work to do and catch up to the strides India has already made in upgrading their facilities over the last decade.“This is certainly great news for stakeholders, ship owners, cash buyers, recyclers, and the environment at large, as positive strides at improving industry standards will further serve as a catalyst in the crucial circular world of shipping…

As there is currently a shortage of mariners, the U.S. Coast Guard has considered the barrier to mariner career progression presented by Title 46 CFR 11.211(d), Service on Articulated Tug Barges (ATB) and Integrated Tug Barges (ITB). This regulation limits the crediting of sea service based on the aggregate tonnage of the ATB or ITB to a two-for-one basis up to only 50% of the required service.The inability to receive sea service credit for the aggregate tonnage of the ATB or ITB limits career progression and is unnecessarily burdensome for mariners holding unlimited tonnage endorsements…

In a milestone for the green fuel economy, Fortescue, in collaboration with Trovio and the Green Hydrogen Organisation (GH2), has completed the issuance of the world’s first digital fuel certificate for an ammonia-to-ship transfer. The transaction involved the Fortescue Green Pioneer, the first ocean-going dual-fueled ammonia powered vessel, during a recent fuel transfer operation at the Port of Rotterdam.While attention has been directed towards the engineering and safety protocols surrounding ammonia as a maritime fuel…

The Hong Kong Convention enters into force on June 26, 2025, and DNV reminds shipowners that all internationally trading vessels of 500 GT and above will need to have on board an International Certificate on Inventory of Hazardous Materials (ICIHM) at the latest by June 26, 2030.The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) requires the ICIHM earlier if the vessel is going to recycling.Not only vessels flying the flag of a state that has ratified the HKC…

BAR Technologies has secured a Bureau Veritas (BV) Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) for its 37.5m WindWings®, a globally deployable wind propulsion system.Following an extensive and detailed review by Bureau Veritas, the TADC confirms that WindWings meets stringent international standards across structural design, material selection, load handling and supporting control systems.This official endorsement offers shipowners and operators the assurance to adopt WindWings with confidence on BV-classed vessels…

Egypt has officially declared seven missing people, including five foreigners, dead after a tourist boat capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast in November.A decree published in the official gazette on Sunday by the country's prime minister deemed two British and two Polish tourists, along with a German person and two Egyptians dead.The boat, the Sea Story, capsized in November near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip. It was struck by high waves and sank in five to seven minutes.

The US Coast Guard has streamlined the process for foreign ships to be certificated under the American Registry by consolidating the process under a single program based on international standards.The move is not expected to impact safety, and it will reduce the pre-inspection plan review and the national equivalency process, avoid schedule delays, minimize modification costs for closing regulatory gaps, expedite the Ready Reserve Force recapitalization with foreign-built vessels.To assist vessel owners and operators…

Traders have rebranded more than $1 billion of Venezuelan oil shipments to China as Brazilian crude over the past year, according to two tanker tracking firms, company documents and four traders, helping buyers to cut logistics costs and circumvent U.S. sanctions.Independent refiners in China are the main buyers of seaborne oil shipments from countries sanctioned by the United States, with offshore Malaysia serving as a key trans-shipment hub for Venezuelan and Iranian crude.Since July 2024, however, traders have also rebranded Venezuelan oil as from Brazil.

On April 17, 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) published a notice of action (the “USTR Notice”) implementing its port fee proposal, first announced on February 21, 2025. The rules differ substantially from the February proposal (summarized here). The calculation of the fees has changed to a net tonnage-based fee (or for certain vessels, based on containers discharged or Car Equivalent Units). Several points have been clarified. Specialized rules apply to LNG transportation and vehicle carriers, including fees and restrictions on non-Chinese vessels.