Ship Conversion: USS Zumwalt Modified for Hypersonic Missiles

What has been described as the most transformational warship in the U.S. Navy has been transformed again. USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) recently completed modifications to remove her main guns and replace them with a hypersonic missile capability. The work to have her guns removed to make space for new weapons was conducted at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. With the modifications, Zumwalt now carries four âall-up round canistersâ for the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) missile in place of the forward Advanced Gun System (AGS) gun mount.
Schmidt Sciences Fosters AI Research

Schmidt Sciences has named 25 scholars working at the forefront of AI as AI2050 fellows and will award them up to $12 million to advance research that realizes the potential of AI to benefit humanity.The AI2050 program asks researchers to imagine the year 2050 where AI has been hugely beneficial and to pursue projects that help society realize this.The program will fund senior researchers and early career scholars for two years.Previous senior fellows in the first two cohorts include Prof. Kelly Chibale from the University of Cape Town, recently elected to the U.S.
As Subsea Comms Cable Security Comes to the Fore, FCC Mulls New Rules

The Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 to propose new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns in the wake of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables being severed in the Baltic Sea this week, which is suspected to be sabotage.The FCC eyes new rules to address the national security concerns over the global network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle more than 98% of international internet traffic."With the expansion of data centersâŠ
Noble Picks ABS Wavesightâs Solution for Offshore Assetsâ Digital Recordkeeping

Offshore drilling contractor Noble Corporation has selected ABS Wavesightâs eLogs electronic logbooks for digital recordkeeping across its entire fleet of offshore assets.ABS Wavesight eLogs offers a comprehensive and streamlined approach to recordkeeping for both the maritime and offshore industry.The secure digital platform replaces traditional paper logbooks, delivering a more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly solution for record management.By leveraging advanced technologies such as cloud computingâŠ
Odfjell Pairs Weather Routing with Suction Sails

Odfjell has initiated a deployment of Syrocoâs weather routing platform on two of its vessels, the Bow Olympus and Bow Optima.The two vessels are part of Odfjellâs Hudong-class chemical tankers, flying the Norwegian flag. Both built in 2019, the 183 meter vessels are each equipped with 33 stainless steel tanks and operate primarily on trans-Pacific routes.In early 2025, the Bow Olympus will be fitted with four eSAILs, bound4blueâs suction sails. As an add-on to optimise the sails' effectsâŠ
AI-Powered Vessel Tracking and Monitoring

A partnership between Iceland's TM Insurance and Hefring Marine promises to bring the 'big brother is watching' mantra foward faster in marine operations.Touted as an AI -driven âdigital assistantâ, the primary target for this offering are the helm stations of fast craft, and according to Hefring Marine, IMAS Helm addresses both accident prevention and fuel efficiency, aiming to provide fast craft operators with guidance such as a maximum advised speed, based upon the vesselâs routeâŠ
Canada in Talks About Joining Expanded AUKUS

Canada is in discussions about joining an expanded AUKUS deal between the U.S., Britain, and Australia formed to counter China's growing military influence in the Asia Pacific region, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair said.Canada has said it wants to join a second pillar of AUKUS that will collaborate on new military technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, but has not so far revealed any details of those talks."There have been important discussions about processes and platforms on a project-specific basis on where other nationsâŠ
The âBoat Nerdsâ Ringleader â Morgan Fanberg, CEO, Glosten

When he joined Glosten more than 26 years ago as an intern, little did Morgan Fanberg know that one day heâd be at the helm leading one of the largest privately owned naval architecture firm in the United States. But this USMMA-grad was well outfitted for the task, and in this Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast, Fanbergâs passion for the maritime industry and his company is clear as he candidly discusses the challenges he, his team and the maritime industry face in meeting legislatively mandated goalsâŠ
Kitsap Transit to Leverage ioCurrents' Fleet Optimization Tech

Kitsap Transit has tapped SaaS company ioCurrents to help drive efficiency gains across its ferry fleet in Washington state.ioCurrents' proprietary software, MarineInsight, employs machine learning models to provide real-time, analyzed, actionable data to shoreside operations. By utilizing an IoT device (nonstandard computing hardware) on board, MarineInsight effectively sends the compressed, analyzed data to a secure cloud, granting the Kitsap Transit shoreside team access to customized reports to make real-time decisions.Raymond ScottâŠ
Ukraine's Drone Success Shapes US Pacific 'Hellscape' Strategy

On a website run by the Ukrainian security service, donors anywhere in the world can pledge money to build Ukraine's cutting-edge "Sea Baby" unmanned maritime drones.It is a slick, professional site offering donors the chance to sign up for newsletters or even name the drone themselves if they donate the full $220,000 cost.Only six meters (20 feet) long and 60 cm (two feet) high above the water level, the craft can carry up to 850 kg of explosives up to 1,000 km (620 miles), oftenâŠ
How Are Advances in Simulation Shaping the Future of Maritime Training?

An increasing demand for safety and sustainability in the maritime industry has been instrumental in the advancement of simulation technology, which is revolutionizing maritime training by providing immersive, cost-effective, and risk-free learning experiences.Although simulation training has been used in the maritime industry for several decades, early simulation technologies were very basic compared to the sophisticated systems available today. The development of computer-based simulation technology in the latter half of the 20th century revolutionized maritime training.
Siemens and NVIDIA to Build Industrial Metaverse

Siemens is bringing immersive visualization powered by new NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs to the Siemens Xcelerator platform, driving increased use of AI-driven digital twin technology and creating an industrial metaverse.âWe will revolutionize how products and experiences are designed, manufactured and serviced. On the path to the industrial metaverse, this next generation of industrial software enables customers to experience products as they would in the real world: in contextâŠ
Future Ships: Picture Perfect

Big data, advanced computers and AI are allowing vessel designers to prepare models that leave essentially nothing to chance.âLastly, it may be of considerable importance to form from the draught a block model of the vessel from which a still more accurate judgment may be formed of the fitness and beauty of the body. And should any defect be discovered, farther alterations must still be made, till the draught and the model are perfectly approved of. These different alterations and repeated calculations may appear very tediousâŠ
USCG's New Cutters Canât Arrive Soon Enough

The much-needed replacement for the U.S. Coast Guardâs long-serving medium endurance cutters (WMEC) took a giant step closer to joining the fleet as the first Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) was launched and christened at Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) in Panama City, Fla. on October 27, 2023.The future USCGC Argus (WMSM 915) was christened by the shipâs sponsor, Captain (Ret.) Beverly Kelley, the first woman to command a U.S. military vessel, the 95-foot patrol boat, USCGC Cape Newagen (WPB 95318).
Greensea IQ Demos Autonomous Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mission

Greensea IQ reports it has completed a demonstration of a prototype Autonomous EOD Maritime Response Vehicle (AEMRV) for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and US Navy. Leaning on the capabilities of OPENSEA Edge, the system provides the computing resources needed to power edge perception systems and advanced autonomous behaviors of EOD Workspace, allowing human-on-the-loop autonomy and untethered command and control over the ROV platform.The demo took place over several days in September in the open ocean off the coast of San DiegoâŠ
Marine News' Top Vessels of 2023

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted a selection of the most notable American newbuilds delivered of 2023âfrom a first-of-its-kind green towboat, to the lead vessel in a series of game-changing ships to train U.S. mariners.Empire StateAs the lead vessel in a series of five new training ships being constructed to serve America's state maritime academies, Empire State is easily one of the most important U.S.-built vessels delivered in recent memory.Built by Philly Shipyard for the U.S.
âKâ LINE Chooses Navtor Fleet Monitoring System

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (âKâ LINE) has chosen Navtorâs NavFleet solution to support its 24/7 global fleet monitoring and support system.Once operational, the facility will help the Japanese maritime logistics company enhance the safety, efficiency and sustainable performance of its inhouse managed fleet. NavFleet will seamlessly connect vessels, crews and onshore teams and provide real-time monitoring and operational insights.âNavFleet builds a bridge between ships and shore,â explains Tor A. Svanes, CEO Navtor.
FMD, ORNL Collaborate on Alternative Fuels Tech for DoD

As alternative fuel engines start pushing into commercial sectors, the U.S. Department of Defense has taken notice, rationalizing that eventually, as alternative fuel grow in popularity, the diesel availability could drop while prices rise.To that end, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and integration of alternative fuel technologies aimed at reducing the marine engineâs reliance on fossil fuels.
Singapore Completes First Methanol Bunkering

Maersk and Hong Lam Marine have conducted the worldâs first ship-to-container ship methanol bunkering operation of a Maerskâs container vessel at the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore.This was also Singaporeâs first methanol bunkering and it was conducted with the support of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies and research institutes.Maerskâs container vessel â the worldâs first container vessel sailing on green methanol â was successfully refuelled with approximately 300 metric tonnes of bio-methanol via Hong Lam Marineâs Singapore-registered tankerâŠ
Inside the Subsea Cable Firm Secretly Helping America Take on China
On Feb. 10 last year, the cable ship CS Dependable appeared off the coast of the island of Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean atoll thatâs home to a discreet U.S. naval base.Over the next month, the shipâs crew covertly laid an underwater fiber-optic cable to the military base, an operation code-named âBig Wave,â according to four people with direct knowledge of the mission, as well as a Reuters analysis of satellite imagery and ship tracking data.The new super-fast internet link to Diego Garcia, which has not previously been reported, will boost U.S. military readiness in the Indian Ocean, a region where China has expanded its naval influence over the last decade.The CS Dependable is owned by SubComâŠ
Weather Routing: Sofar Ocean Plots the Course

Sofar Ocean is on a quest to extract and put to use data from the worldâs waterways. Co-Founder and CEO Tim Janssen discusses how his teamâs hyper-focus on data is helping to improve weather routing via Wayfinder.Tim Janssen and his Sofar Ocean team continue their âEpic Ocean Data Quest,â remaining laser focused on doing its part to help extract and put to use increasing quantities of information from the worldâs oceans. For its part, Sofar continues to build scalable networks to gather information premised on its Sofar Spotter buoy.
GLDD Preps for its New Hopper Dredge Galveston Island

With dredging business booming in the U.S., companies across the country invest in innovative new tonnage to get the job done more efficiently, effectively and safely. Chris Gunsten, SVP, Project Services & Fleet Engineering, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock (GLDD) and Patrick Webb, Senior Director Sales - Global Marine and Stationary, Wabtec discuss the tech inside the new Conrad-built trailing suction hopper dredge Galveston Island.Conrad Shipyard recently launched Galveston Island, the first of two newbuild hopper dredges being built for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation.
Greensea Launches OPENSEA Edge

Designed for military use but now available commercially, OPENSEA Edge is designed to be a modular edge computing module with perception support for autonomous underwater robots based on Greenseaâs OPENSEA open architecture software platform, advancing ocean robotics into the next generation.Greensea launched its latest product which the company says promises to bring true autonomy to ocean robotics.Based on Greenseaâs open architecture platform OPENSEA, OPENSEA Edge offers the next level of operator capability.