Friendly Technologies News

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Wednesday announced the availability of $316 million to support and modernize passenger ferry service in communities across the country.Ferry transit is a critical mode of transportation in many regions throughout the United States. Across the country, there are approximately 3 million ferry riders each month.“I have seen firsthand how, for many Americans in many different parts of the country, ferries are the best and sometimes only way to get where they need to go,” said U.S.

Windward Offshore has exercised its option for the design and construction for two additional hybrid commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV) from Vard.Windward Offshore, a consortium led by ASSC's offshore arm SeaRenergy Group in Germany, announced its initial order for two CSOVs from Vard in October 2023. Other founding partners behind the venture include Blue Star Group, Diana Shipping Inc. and SeraVerse."Windward Offshore is pleased to announce the execution of the options for two further VARD 4 19 CSOVs…

Finnlines announced it has taken delivery of Finncanopus, its second of two Superstar-series freight-passenger (ro-pax) vessels from shipbuilder China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai.The newbuild is slated to enter service on Finnlines’ line between Finland and Sweden (Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär) in February 2024. The homeward voyage is expected to take 6–7 weeks as Finncanopus will be nearly fully loaded with freight and will call several ports before entering the Baltic Sea.Finncanopus is the final vessel of Finnlines EUR 500-million Green Newbuilding Program…

Samsung Heavy Industries has received basic certification for a floating CO2 storage unit (FCSU) from DNV.The FCSU, jointly developed by Samsung Heavy Industries and MISC, is 330 meters long and 64 meters wide, and has a high-pressure tank capacity that can store 100,000 cubic meters of liquefied CO2 at -50 degrees Celsius or less.The injection module mounted on the upper part of the hull secures the ability to send five million tons (MTPA) of CO2 per year to the depths of the seabed.

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has called for the safe and environmentally friendly recycling of the FSO Safer, currently being salvaged off the coast of Yemen.The UNDP is looking for a destination for the FSO’s recycling, and the Platform is calling on the Dutch government, one of the biggest donors to the Stop Red Sea Oil Pollution operation, to assist UNDP in identifying a suitable recycling facility. The Netherlands has shown leadership in preventing the environmental disaster an oil spill from the FSO Safer would have caused, says the Platform, along with Dutch company Boskalis, via its subsidiary SMIT Salvage, which has been tasked with the removal of the oil from the FSO.Referring to Dutch involvement in the Stop Red Sea Oil Pollution operation…

MAN Energy Solutions SE announced changes to its executive board slated to take effect January 1.Dr. Gunnar Stiesch will take over the Technology department, which was previously headed by CEO Dr. Uwe Lauber in a dual role, and will join the board as the new Chief Technology Officer. The 52-year-old engineer was previously Head of Engine Development at the company and has worked for the company in responsible R&D functions for almost 15 years.Dr. Uwe Lauber, will in future assume responsibility for Sales…

South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and classification society DNV have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish energy-saving wind assistance propulsion technology.Wind-assisted propulsion will be the focus of a major innovation drive between DSME and DNV as part of shipping’s global decarbonization efforts.Dong-Kyu Choi, Executive Vice President, Head of DSME’s R&D Institute, and Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager Korea & Japan at DNV Maritime signed the agreement…

The first hydrogen-powered tug worldwide is equipped with SCHOTTEL propulsion systems. The vessel, which will be among the cleanest of the fleet of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, has recently been launched by the Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon and will enter operations at the Belgian port in early 2023.Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said, “With the Hydrotug, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is making an important step in the transition to a sustainable, CO2-neutral port.

Crowley Maritime Corporation has promoted Alisa Praskovich to vice president of sustainability to orchestrate Crowley’s environmental, social responsibility and governance (ESG) activities. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., she reports to chief operating officer Ray Fitzgerald.Sustainability responsibilities under Praskovich include supporting Crowley’s continuing commitment to cleaner, environmentally friendly technologies and operations, such as the company’s New Energy Division…

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division has ended the 2020 financial year with an underlying operating profit of $247.3 million despite suffering a 17% drop in underlying revenue to $3.8 billion. This corresponds to an underlying operating margin of 6.5% (2019: 11.5%). As a result, Power Systems, with its product and solutions brand mtu, remained in the black during the 2020 pandemic year.Power Systems is taking advantage of the crisis to prepare for a shift in its business model…

Classification society DNV GL said it has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) for a new wing-sail auxiliary propulsion system for ships designed to help reduce shipping emissions and fuel burn.The wind-powered auxiliary propulsion system, designed for installation aboard many vessel types, is the result of a joint research project from KSOE, the shipbuilding holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, and SK Shipping…

Kongsberg Maritime and Massterly (a Kongsberg Wilhelmsen joint venture) have signed contracts with the Norwegian grocery distributor ASKO to equip two new all-electric vessels with autonomous technology, and to manage their operations at sea.ASKO, which currently transports its cargo by more than 800 trucks daily, is investing heavily in environmentally friendly technologies such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. At present, road transport is the single mode of transportation…

The largest shipbuilding group in the world, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has entered into a new strategic partnership with DNV GL, the international accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Høvik, Norway.A framework agreement between both parties was signed by Qian Jianping, Vice President of CSSC, and Norbert Kray, Regional Manager for Greater China at DNV GL – Maritime. The ceremony was witnessed by Remi Eriksen, Group President & CEO of DNV GL, CSSC Chairman Lei Fanpei, and CSSC Group President Yang Jincheng.The strategic partnership will focus on developing future-proof solutions and competencies for shipping in a variety of fields including alternative fuels and environmentally friendly technologies…

Aiming to meet increasing demand in the offshore wind market, Norwegian owner Østensjø Rederi said it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the construction of four commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV) to be built at at the Astilleros Gondán shipyard in Spain for delivery from 2022.Designed by Salt Ship Design in Norway, the 88.3-meter-long vessels will be utilized for service operations during the commissioning and operation of offshore wind farms. The newbuilds, to be delivered early 2022 and onwards…

Short-sea RoRo company UECC has confirmed an option with China Ship Building Trading Co., Ltd and Jiangnan Shipyard Group Co. Ltd. for a third hybrid-battery LNG vessel, this time for use on UECC’s Atlantic short-sea trade routes.“This order is another step in our commitment to cleaner shipping,” said Glenn Edvardsen, CEO of UECC. “Our experience with LNG dual-fuel vessels has been good, and we want to keep moving forward to expand our sustainable fleet.”The company’s two first…

Europe's second-largest seaport Port of Antwerp has ordered construction of a tug powered by hydrogen, the first in the world.The unique "Hydrotug" is driven by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The motors also comply with the very strictest standard, the EU Stage V, making them the lowest-rated for emissions on the market.The Belgium-based port operator said that this ultra-low-emission tug is being built by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), a pioneer in the field of hydrogen power for shipping. With this world first Antwerp is making an important step in the transition to a sustainable, CO2-neutral port.By lending support to this promising technology Port of Antwerp hopes that the shipping industry will follow.

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) said that it has developed a lithium-ion battery power system for ships.A press release from the shipbuilding giant said that the system, jointly developed with local battery manufacturer Samsung SDI Co., earned a type approval from Norway's renowned classification society DVL-GL, becoming the first local shipbuilder to do so, according to the shipbuilder.The newly developed lithium ion battery system, which reduces fuel consumption of generators by optimally controlling and managing on-board generators and power load, is an Eco-friendly technology that enables reductions in emissions of pollutant substances and in operating costs as well.As the global demand for environmentally friendly technologies is higher than ever…

Dubai-headquartered hull-cleaning company has announced it is opening its first operations base in the Americas, in partnership with subsea services in Panama, Talleres Industriales, to offer its hull cleaning solution to the vessels transiting the Panama Canal.The agreement forms part of HullWiper’s global leasing programme introduced in 2017, which works with partners around the world to offer ship owners and operators an affordable, brush- and diver-free alternative to traditional hull cleaning methods that protects both vessel hull coatings and the delicate marine ecosystem.The Panama Canal is a key transit point for vessels sailing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, facilitating world trade by avoiding the lengthy voyage around the southern tip of the American continent.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) launched its second extra-luxury cruise ship Seven Seas Splendor at the Ancona plant of Fincantieri. RSSC is brand of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH) group.According to a press note from the Italian shipbuilding company, the delivery of Seven Seas Splendor, the sister ship to Seven Seas Explorer,  is scheduled for 2020.Like her sister ship Seven Seas Explorer, delivered by Fincantieri at the Sestri Ponente (Genova) shipyard in 2016, “Seven Seas Splendor” will be 55,000 gross tonnes with accommodation for 750 passengers. Last January Fincantieri has received an order from NCLH for a third unit of the series, which will be delivered in 2023.The construction process will implement the latest environmental-friendly technologies.

South Korean shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries(SHI) has won a new order to build two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from Copenhagen-based Celsius Tankers.The shipbuilder said the first order for two 180,000 cbm LNG Tankers is worth 419 billion won (USD376mln). The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2021.The LNG carriers will be fitted with SHI's developed eco-friendly and Smart ship technologies : SAVER Air and INTELLIMAN Ship. This will help to respond to the upcoming environmantal regulations and significantly increase energy saving, thereby further increasing the operational efficiency of vessels.SAVER Air, one of SHI's flagship eco-friendly technologies…

The port of Hamburg has for the first time introduced two straddle carriers with environmentally friendly hybrid engines.The first two energy saving, low emissions straddle carriers with hybrid engines are being used to transport containers between the ship, the yard, the rail terminal and the truck gate at the HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort (CTT).According to a press release frm the company, the two prototypes are expected to use at least 15 percent less diesel than their predecessors. This will significantly reduce emissions of CO2, nitric oxide and particulate matter.The principle behind the hybrid technology is simple: the straddle carrier stores surplus energy…

HullWiper is meeting growing demand for affordable and eco-friendly hull cleaning in the Panama Canal in partnership with the provider of subsea services Talleres Industriales, said a statement from the marine fouling remover company.It is the latest agreement signed under HullWiper’s global leasing programme introduced in 2017, which works with partners around the world to offer ship owners and operators a cost-efficient, brush- and diver-free alternative to traditional hull cleaning methods that is friendly both to the environment and the bottom line.As the key transit point for vessels sailing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans…

At gmec, the global maritime environmental congress (gmec) during SMM in Hamburg, high-profile business and science experts discussed how the global shipping industry can achieve the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) environmental goals while continuing to provide its services at competitive prices.“We are at the beginning of a new chapter in the history of shipping,” said Tian-Bing Huang, Deputy Director - Marine Environment Division at the IMO, in his opening keynote.There is no question that the shipping sector is facing huge challenges…