Challenger News

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has obtained an approval in principle (AiP) from classification society ClassNK for a liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier design equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems.The vessel, developed with Samsung Heavy Industries, is designed to transport liquefied CO2 and incorporates three Wind Challenger units, a rigid sail system that uses wind power to assist propulsion.The approval covers a design with a cargo capacity of about 40,000 cubic meters intended…

To celebrate World Ocean Day 2026, the National Maritime Museum is publishing a new illustrated book, The Ocean Map, and hosting a free festival inviting families to explore the wonders of the ocean.Written by Aimee Mook, ocean expert and Museum curator, the book will be published on June 4, 2026 and presents the ocean as a single, connected system using the Spilhaus projection. It guides readers through deep ocean trenches, glaciers, coral reefs, wind farms, shipping canals and other natural and human‑made features.

Chemical tanker operator Chemship has placed a repeat order with Dutch wind propulsion specialist Econowind for the installation of VentoFoils on two additional vessels, expanding its use of wind-assisted ship propulsion technology.Chemship said Chemical Contender and Chemical Fighter will each be fitted with four 16-meter ATEX-proof VentoFoils in the second half of 2026, as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across its fleet.The decision follows the installation of four 16-meter VentoFoils on Chemical Challenger in early 2024…

Ellerman City Liners, part of GB Global, has acquired Viasea Shipping from Norway’s ColliCare Holding AS, a move that strengthens Ellerman’s position in the European shortsea shipping market and deepens its commitment to sustainable logistics solutions.Founded in 2016, Viasea has grown rapidly as a challenger brand in Northern Europe’s shortsea sector, operating scheduled services between the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, and Lithuania. With offices across key logistics hubs including Moss…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the design of a 174,000m³ LNG carrier equipped with Wind Challenger, a wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). The AiP was formally awarded during a ceremony at Gastech 2025. While LNG carriers already operate with comparatively lower carbon emissions than conventional oil-fueled ships, the integration of the Wind Challenger demonstrates the potential to further reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by harnessing renewable wind energy.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its next-generation LNG carrier design featuring a forward accommodation layout and integrated Wind Challenger, wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) developed by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL). Developed in collaboration with MOL and the Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, the new design relocates the accommodation and bridge block from its conventional aft position to the bow.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has secured approval in principle (AiP) from a Lloyd's Register (LR) for two new different designs of a membrane-type LNG carrier equipped with four units of Wind Challenger, a hard sail wind assisted propulsion system.The AiP covers a new vessel design, for a 174,000 m3 LNG carrier, jointly developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI).Each design will be equipped with four Wind Challenger units.Detailed design work for actual construction is currently underway.

Ocean services provider DeepOcean, with its joint venture partners Solstad Offshore and Østensjø Rederi, has taken delivery of a newbuild uncrewed surface vessel (USV), which will be used for subsea survey, inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) work across offshore energy industries.The vessel - named USV Challenger - will shortly arrive at DeepOcean’s subsea base at Killingøy in Norway, where it will undergo trials of its launch and recovery system (LARS) for the onboard ROV.The USV Challenger is 24 meters long and 7.5 meters wide.

Norwegian vessel management and operations services provider Aurora Offshore, pat of Borealis Group, has welcomed the first of three high-end subsea vessels to the fleet as part of vessels transfer agreed with Sea1 Offshore.The transferred ship, Siem Stingray, is a state-of-the-art subsea vessel built in 2014 and has a 250t AHC Crane, 1300 m2 Deck Area and Accommodation for 110 People.The change of management has been completed between the vessel’s work scope, which is on long term contract with Subsea7.Earlier in January, Aurora Offshore welcomed Siem Pearl and Siem Challenger to itsfleet.

President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.President Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 with distinction, after which he was assigned to USS Wyoming (E-AG 17) as an ensign. After completing two years of surface ship duty, Carter applied for submarine duty. He served as executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer on the submarine SSK-1. When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (then a captain) started his program to create nuclear-powered submarines…

U.S. soybean export premiums are at their highest in 14 months, as grain merchants race to ship out a record-large U.S. harvest ahead of the U.S. presidential election and fears of renewed trade tensions with top importer China, traders and analysts said.Nearly 2.5 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans were inspected for export last week, including almost 1.7 million tons bound for China, the most in a year, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data released on Monday.But while this export flurry is a bright spot for U.S.

ClassNK granted its ‘AFVC(FD)(EV)’*1 notation to Positive Challenger, a car carrier operated by Eastern Car Liner Ltd., and managed by ECL Shipmanagement Limited, for vessels equipped with additional firefighting measures for transporting electric vehicles (EVs).Shipping companies are implementing various measures to address EV fires, which raise concerns due to difficulties in extinguishing and the risk of re-ignition. To support these efforts, ClassNK has issued the ‘Guidelines…

Esgian highlights several new contracts in its Week 39 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsMarket sources indicate that ADNOC has exercised an extension option for the 350-ft jackup drilling rig Aryabhatt 1 in Abu Dhabi.Petrobras has awarded two floating rig contracts to Constellation Oil Services for work at the Roncador field in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil. Valued at $1 billion, the two contracts will see Constellation 10,000-ft drillship Laguna Star and Hanwha Drilling 12,000-ft newbuild Tidal Action operate for Petrobras for around 2.5 years.

Singapore commissioned two new advanced submarines on Tuesday, vessels its navy says are meant to protect sea lines of communication, and which experts said would range beyond the waters of the tiny city-state to keep tabs on the region.The country's fifth and sixth submarines, the Invincible and the Impeccable, were ordered from Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in 2013 in a 1-billion-euro deal, and join older Archer- and Challenger-class boats.They represent a technological step forward for Singapore's fleet…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Chevron Shipping Company, a subsidiary of oil and gas giant Chevron, have signed an agreement to install Wind Challenger to a newbuild LNG carrier, which will become world’s first LNG carrier equipped with wind-assisted propulsions system.The is under long term charter from MOL Encean to Chevron Asia Pacific Shipping, and is currently under construction at the Geoje Shipyard of Hanwha Ocean, scheduled for delivery in 2026.In August 2024, MOL obtained…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has been awarded an approval in principle (AiP) by ClassNK for the design of a membrane LNG Carrier with Wind Challenger wind-assisted propulsion system.The AiP marks the world's first approval for an LNG carrier with a wind-assisted propulsion system, according to MOL, which developed the design of the system together with Hanwha Ocean.The LNG carrier that has obtained this AiP is capable of entering LNG terminals worldwide. It boasts cargo tank capacity of 174…

Seatrium Limited has secured a series of repairs and upgrades contracts with an aggregate value of S$180 million.All projects, with the exception of one, will be completed by end 2024. The range of complex contracts include major repairs on offshore vessels, naval vessels, ferries, LNG carriers, tankers, as well as damage repair.Seatrium has secured a series of four offshore refits, including two jack-ups and two drillships, from esteemed regular customers, Velesto Energy Berhad, Zonda Drilling AS and Seadrill Limited.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has completed the construction of bulk carrier Green Winds, equipped with the Wind Challenger hard sail wind power propulsion system.The construction of the 63,896 DWT Ultramax bulk carrier was completed at Oshima Shipbuilding.MOL Group’s company MOL Drybulk will operate this new vessel.This is the second of a total of nine MOL Group vessels that have been or will be equipped with the Wind Challenger and the world's first crane vessel featuring that propulsion…

Esgian provides an update on exploration drilling in its Week 25 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryDrilling Activity and DiscoveriesOslo-listed BlueNord announced on Monday the start-up of drilling operations on the Harald East Middle Jurassic well (HEMJ) in the Danish North Sea.Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) encountered non-commercial hydrocarbons at the Orange #1 exploration well on Mississippi Canyon Block 216 in the US GOM and the well has been plugged and abandoned.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and its company MOL Drybulk have announced plans to install wind propulsion systems, including Wind Challenger, on a total of seven newbuilding bulk carriers and multi-purpose vessels.The vessels will be operated by MOL Drybulk. With the latest commitment, MOL Group will have a total of nine Wind Challenger-equipped vessels, bringing the total number of vessels equipped with wind propulsion systems to 11.Among the seven vessels to be equipped with wind propulsion systems…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Electric Power Development (J-Power) have agreed to install the Wind Challenger hard sail propulsion system, which converts wind energy to propulsive force, on the coal carrier Kurotakisan Maru.The installation of the Wind Challenger sail, which transports steaming coal to J-Power's power stations, is schedule for the second half of 2025.This marks the first installation of the Wind Challenger on a vessel currently in service by retrofitting, according to MOL.The Wind Challenger is a device developed by MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding…

Esgian reports an eventful week with contract confirmations, terminations and suspensions in its Week 18 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.Report SummaryContractsBurullus Gas Company, the self-operated joint venture between Shell Egypt, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and Petronas, has agreed to move forward with the development of Phase 11 in Egypt's Nile Delta in the Mediterranean Sea.QatarEnergy has exercised a one-year option for Borr Drilling 400-ft jackup Groa…

Esgian reports that offshore drilling contractors secured additional backlog in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, Egypt, Nigeria, and Brazil and operators confirmed new discoveries in Indonesia, Côte d’Ivoire, and China in its Week 10 Rig Analytics Market Roundup.ContractsDiamond Offshore has executed a two-year contract extension with a subsidiary of bp in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for the 12,000-ft drillship Ocean BlackHornet.Shelf Drilling’s 250-ft jackup Rig 141 has secured a two-year…