Lab News

At a ceremony in Brussels, Danish shipping company Hafnia was selected as the recipient of the Diversity & Inclusion Honours in Maritime 2026.Hafnia won the award for their Hafnia Culture Lab research project conducted in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark and the Danish Maritime Fund.Initiated in 2023 with independent research by the University of Southern Denmark, the study examined seven Hafnia vessels with crews of at least 50% women and included interviews…

Introduction. Looking back at history one could argue that it was French author Jules Verne in his book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, published in 1869, who was speculating about a new power source much in the same out of the box thinking that H.G. Wells employed when he wrote about inter-planetary flight in “War of the World’s. Verne was writing about “electricity” from batteries using seawater which he created after studying the model of the newly developed French Navy submarine “Plongeur” at the Exposition of 1867.In the novel…

Ship technology pioneer EcoNavis Solutions has appointed Neil Logan as Executive Chair, formalizing a more hands-on leadership role as the company prepares to scale up operations and expand across global maritime markets.Logan has been involved with EcoNavis since the company’s formal University spinout in August 2025. His initial advisory role has now transitioned into an executive position, reflecting both the company’s progress and the increasing operational demands associated with scaling technologies internationally.With experience in building and expanding technology-led businesses…

Cal Poly Maritime Academy (formerly the CSU Maritime Academy) will award 150 bachelor’s degrees and 20 master’s degrees at its commencement ceremony Saturday, May 2, at Bodnar Field.The university will also award an Honorary Doctor of Science degree to Capt. Kate McCue, who graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is the inaugural captain of Four Seasons. McCue is an internationally recognized maritime leader whose career spans nearly three decades at sea.

Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku has launched a five-year research and development program aimed at supporting the maritime industry through environmental, digital and geopolitical changes.The MERiON program, co-funded by Business Finland, will run from 2026 to 2030 and focus on developing future-ready cruise ships and floating infrastructure.The initiative builds on the company’s previous NEcOLEAP program and is part of a broader effort to strengthen Finland’s shipbuilding sector through increased research…

Everllence has announced the successful factory acceptance test (FAT) of its first ammonia-burning engine built by licensee Engine & Machinery of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI-EMD) in South Korea.The dual-fuel Everllence B&W 6G60ME-LGIA (-liquid gas injection ammonia) type is slated for a vessel for Singapore-based, Eastern Pacific Shipping currently under construction at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) in Korea. The engine also comes equipped with HPSCR (High Pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology.The first very large ammonia carrier is scheduled for delivery in October 2026.

After 14 months in daily public transport service in Fredrikstad, Hyke’s fully electric F-15 Shuttle has demonstrated low energy consumption, strong passenger demand, and a compelling case for electric ferries as a cost-effective urban mobility solution.Traffic jams plague cities worldwide, yet their waterways remain underused. After successful public transport, Norwegian tech company Hyke has shown there’s a better alternative to building bridges or tunnels by unlocking the potential of water and existing urban infrastructure.Between April 2024 and July 2025…

A comprehensive open-source code library has been launched for OpenBridge. This design system is engineered to create safer and more efficient workplaces across the international fleet by standardizing how humans interact with maritime technology.The launch marks the transition of OpenBridge from a design guideline to an open-source ready-to-use code library.OpenBridge is uniquely designed to serve all maritime workplaces. While traditional ship bridge navigation remains a core focus…

Fred. Olsen 1848 has completed a pilot installation of four automatic Tension Buoy units at the EDP Floating PV Lab, Europe’s first open-access laboratory dedicated to testing technologies for floating and hydro solar power generation.With water levels that rise and fall by as much as 50 meters, this Portuguese dam lake is a great testing ground for the adaptive mooring system, says the company.Tension Buoy's adaptive mooring technology is designed to ensure stability and performance for FPV systems under large water level variations.

~New immersive hub will infuse wellness programming throughout the conference and create a platform for new voices, innovations and experiences across the cruise ecosystem~Seatrade Cruise Global, the largest and longest-running event of its kind serving the international cruise industry, has announced the debut of the first-ever Wellness Oasis — a new, dedicated hub designed to explore the future of wellness at sea through immersive programming, innovation and connection.Launching at Seatrade Cruise Global 2026…

The global maritime industry has long been the arterial system of the world economy, responsible for over 90% of global trade. For centuries, the primary dangers to a vessel were physical: crushing storms, mechanical failure, or the threat of piracy. However, as we move through 2026, the industry has reached a critical juncture. The rapid digitization of the sector—driven by the need for logistical optimization and fuel efficiency—has fundamentally shifted the threat landscape.

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and offshore and marine engineering group Seatrium have launched an Offshore & Marine Digital Learning Lab at SIT’s Punggol Campus, aimed at accelerating maritime digitalization and supporting the energy transition.The lab builds on a 2024 memorandum of understanding between the two organizations and is supported by cash investments from Seatrium. It is designed as a joint industry-academia platform for applied learning, workforce development and industry-driven innovation in shipyard and offshore operations.Over the next three years…

Canadian EV shipbuilder Voltari Marine Electric Inc. is expanding its North American manufacturing footprint with the establishment of a new U.S. facility in Bay County, Florida. As part of a strategic growth initiative formerly known as “Project Kilowatt,” Voltari will acquire and transform the Queen Craft Shipyard, operating since 1974, to support increased production capacity for U.S.-based customers while maintaining its Canadian headquarters and core operations.Voltari is a vertically integrated shipbuilder specializing in the design…

Underwater welding is one of the most demanding and hazardous tasks in the maritime and offshore world, relying heavily on a small, highly specialized pool of industrial divers. As port infrastructure ages and offshore structures expand, demand for underwater repair continues to outpace available manpower. A new research project out of Germany aims to fundamentally change that equation.Led by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence, the MARIOW (Maritime AI-Guided…

Wind Power LAB (WPL), a Danish specialist in blade inspection and wind turbine consulting services, has appointed Lene Hellstern as its new Chief Executive Officer.Hellstern brings over 24 years of experience in the global onshore and offshore wind industry, with a background in developing wind farms, managing technical teams, and shaping O&M strategies.She is known for her expertise in wind resource assessment, site suitability, and root cause analysis of operational challenges.WPL is a division of GEV Group…

In 2010, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) began the process of replacing its research vessel, R/V Western Flyer. With Glosten at their side as vessel designer, MBARI considered three types of ships for their new project. The Western Flyer was a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH), but the parties agreed on a monohull design for the new vessel. In 2021, Freire Shipyard won the bid to build the vessel, and R/V David Packard came to life.There is no “I” in TeamWill Moon…

More than 90% of global freight is transported by over 33,000 merchant marine vessels powered by two stroke crosshead engines as their main source of propulsion; the two-stroke diesel engine has been the backbone of global trade and globalization for well over half a century. Among one of the key factors supporting the reliability and uptime of these engines, keeping trade moving, is the effective performance of cylinder oil. Often referred to as the lifeblood of the engine, these oils provide critical protection to avoid abrasive…

AEGIR-Marine has been certified as a B Corporation (B Corp). With this certification, AEGIR-Marine joins other businesses that meet standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency.AEGIR-Marine pursued this certification to strengthen its commitment to sustainability and to demonstrate that responsible business practices can go hand in hand with long-term success in the maritime industry.All 12 of AEGIR-Marine’s offices worldwide are included in the certification…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted approval in principle (AiP) for VesselWise, a next-generation autonomous technology for optimizing propulsion to improve fuel efficiency and enhance operational stability.The technology was developed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Hyundai Marine Solution (HD HMS) for LNG carriers.HD Hyundai Group says VesselWise aims to optimize the performance of critical machinery, including air lubrication systems, wind propulsion technology, generator engines and more.

South Korea’s Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has developed and demonstrated the nation’s first 20kW-class anode-supported solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) system, completing more than 3,000 hours of stable, continuous operation with electrical efficiency above 83%.The project marks a breakthrough for large-scale, low-cost clean hydrogen production, with strong potential applications in energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking, chemicals, and maritime.By using external industrial waste heat at around 200°C to generate steam…

Representatives from American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), University of Michigan, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and Sea Forrest Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore batteries and electrification in maritime applications.The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for the organizations to collaborate on academic and scientific projects related to battery technologies and electrification capabilities, with activities to include the development…

Biological hydrogen is a wildcard technology that could change what Roy Allegra calls the current hydrogen cold war.Allegra, based in London, is founder of RA Energy and Green H₂ Systems Modeling.He sees Europe scrambling to lock in alliances and signing deals in the Middle East and Africa to secure green hydrogen supply. These countries are aiming to lead production.Meanwhile, China is already leading in electrolyzer manufacturing capacity, and the US is attracting technology investment.“This is no longer about who builds the biggest electrolyzer…

Seabound has been awarded USD$1.48 million (£1.1 million) through Round 6 of the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6). The funding will support a first-of-a-kind project between Seabound, STAX Engineering, and Associated British Ports (ABP) to integrate Seabound’s carbon capture technology with the STAX emission capture and control system at the Port of Southampton. The companies previously announced their plan to deploy these barges in collaboration with ABP at the inaugural Maritime UK Solent Coastal Powerhouse Summit.ABP…