Launch New News

Wallenius Marine and KNUD E. HANSEN have launched a new RoRo (roll on/roll off) design at Donsö Shipping Meet.The new concept builds on the Sleipner PCTC concept and on operational data from the Sleipner vessels Future Way and Way Forward. The new RoRo design, which includes an engine room in the bow, creates a large cargo capacity of 2,720 lane meters, equivalent to 181 trailers.The Sleipner RoRo concept allows for loading and unloading to be carried out quickly and efficiently using the stern ramp and main deck across the full width of the ship…

Britain said on Monday it would radically change its approach to defence to address threats from Russia, nuclear risks and cyber-attacks by investing in drones and digital warfare rather than relying on a much larger army to engage in modern combat.Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence that Europe take more responsibility for its own security, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged the largest sustained increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War.But with limited finances…

Hydrodemolition company Aquajet plans to launch two robots in April: the Aqua Cutter 450A and Aqua Cutter 450V.The new electric 450 series is a more compact, maneuverable design than the Aqua Cutter 750V. The new models incorporate the Evolution 3.0 control system and the patented Infinity oscillation system.Despite their reduced size, they can handle reaction forces up to 1400N, making them highly effective in confined spaces without compromising performance.Like all Aqua Cutter robots…

HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hydrogen, and DNV signed a Joint Industry Project (JIP) agreement to develop and validate Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology for carbon capture in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC).SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that generate electricity using natural gas, ammonia, or hydrogen as fuel.HD KSOE and its subsidiary HD Hydrogen will explore the integration of PSA-based carbon capture technology into SOFCs for shipboard power generation.

Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC announced a joint venture with Swedish tanker giant Stena Bulk and Nigerian offshore logistics leader Caverton Marine to overhaul maritime transportation in West Africa.The newly formed company will streamline crude oil, refined products and LNG shipping across West Africa and cater to other oil producers and traders in the region with modern vessels.The companies did not share financial details of the deal, which was signed last week."By combining our expertise with Stena Bulk and Caverton Marine, we are creating a robust platform that will enhance our domestic r

Ballast water management systems (BWMS) manufacturer Techcross said it plans to roll out a variety of eco-friendly shipbuilding equipment lineups in addition to the existing BWMS at the Sea Japan 2024 maritime trade show."The optimal solutions provided, based on extensive engineering and installation experience, are expected to not only reduce costs for customers but also contribute to the protection of the Earth’s environment," the South Korean-based company said.Techcross said it will also officially begin sales of HYCHLOR 2.0, a non-filter type indirect electrolysis BWMS that received U.S.

Stolt Tankers, NYK and ENEOS Ocean have launched the Stolt NYK Asia Pacific Services (SNAPS) tanker pool.Lucas Vos, president of Stolt Tankers said, “By adding tonnage from Eneos Ocean’s top-tier platform, Stolt Tankers and NYK have demonstrated their ability to generate value in a highly competitive market. We expect these two ships to enhance our overall service offering across Asia by increasing logistical flexibility while continuing to provide best-in-class environmental…

Ports of Indiana has filled two key leadership roles at its Ohio River ports, naming Ashley Blocker and Michael Graves as Operations Managers in Mount Vernon and Jeffersonville, respectively.Blocker, a southwest Indiana native, was promoted to the new role after serving as Operations Analyst for Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon since 2022. She previously worked in multiple roles with Squaw Creek Southern Railroad and has more than 15 years’ experience in port and rail operations, customer relations and data analysis.

Louisiana is set to launch a new ferry service with the help of a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).The DOT said on Monday its Build America Bureau will provide nearly $41 million in loans to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for the benefit of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) that will go toward the ferry project as well as a bridge improvement program.The Bureau, which was established during the Obama Administration…

Satellite communications solutions company Intellian is set to launch another factory in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, marking an expansion of the company’s HQ base. The new factory, expected to be operational from August 2022, is located 4 km from the existing factory."The new facility and existing factory will run simultaneously, providing unparalleled production capacity of all existing product lines across maritime and land sectors, including gateway antenna systems, and the recently announced range of flat panel antennas.

HullWiper has joined forces with International Paint, a subsidiary of ship hull paint and performance coatings specialist AkzoNobel, and underwater drone ROV specialist Orobotix to provide ship owners and operators with comprehensive hull care support in a new partnership named Intertrac HullCare.The partnership offers high-performance coating schemes from International Paint tailored for different vessel types and operating profiles, which are maintained using sustainable hull…

Intellian received type approval from Inmarsat for its new FB250 and Fleet One L-band terminals, making it one of the first to market with user terminals for operation on Inmarsat’s catalyst L-band network, ELERA. The FB250 is a multi-functional terminal, either acting as a stand-alone primary communications terminal or combining with Intellian’s market-leading GX60NX and GX100NX to create the perfect Fleet Xpress (FX) solution. The Fleet One terminal is designed to provide an easy-to-install…

Israeli maritime tech venture capital firm theDOCK said it plans to launch a second fund—Navigator II—that will focus on investments in digital solutions attending to the needs of maritime, supply chain and offshore operations.The maritime-focused startups backer, which closed its first fund, Navigator I, in 2018, said it has seen an accelerating deal flow of startups and compelling investment opportunities in the domain alongside impressive performance of past investments and more strategic investors expressing interest to become limited partners (LP) in the fund.

Wilson Sons is the largest integrated port and maritime logistics operator in Brazil, operating more than 80 workboats. Marcio Castro, Executive Director Tugboat Division, discusses with Maritime Reporter the size, shape & technical direction of the fleet.Mr. Castro, to start, how did you come to a career in maritime?I graduated in System Engineering at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), I also have an MBA in Business Administration (Coppead/UFRJ). I joined Wilson Sons in 2003…

Viking announced it has a new ship under construction expected to launch next summer for its cruise tours in Vietnam and Cambodia.The 80-guest Viking Saigon is scheduled to debut for the August 30, 2021, cruise tour departure; the river cruise portion of the itinerary sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam.Purpose-built for the Mekong River, the new Viking Saigon will host 80 passengers in 40 outside staterooms. All staterooms will have hotel-style beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a veranda or French balcony.

The European Union will launch a new Mediterranean naval and air mission in April to stop more arms reach warring factions in Libya, EU diplomats said on Thursday, with Greece agreeing to take in any migrants rescued at sea.The decision, which was delayed by divisions over migrants, followed warnings by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell that the bloc risked becoming irrelevant if it could not act, potentially leaving Libya's fate to Turkey and Russia."Greece has allowed disembarkation (of rescued migrants) in its ports…

USA-based shipbuilder Metal Shark and Sea Machines, a Boston-based developer of autonomous marine technology, have partnered on the introduction of a new 29-foot autonomous vessel now being offered through Metal Shark’s “Sharktech” autonomous division.The new Sharktech 29 Defiant welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel features OEM-integrated Sea Machines technology offering a full range of advanced capabilities including active control and collision avoidance. The system allows for either traditionally manned…

Taiwanese ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation said that encouraged by the steady economic growth and foreign trade in between Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, it  continues to enhance its Southeast Asia deployment with the new ITS service (Indonesia - Singapore/Malaysia - Thailand Service).The ITS service is set to be launched on November 12th, 2019, Yang Ming said.A total of three container ships with loadable capacity of 1,180 TEU each will be deployed for ITS service, of which one is contributed by Yang Ming. The full port rotation will be Singapore, Port Kelang, Semarang, Surabaya, Port Kelang…

Two Swedish shipping companies - Wallenius and Swedish Orient Line (SOL) - have formed a shipowning joint venture that will sail from ports in Sweden and Finland.The company has five ships so far and plans to order four LNG-powered newbuilds to operate ice-class vessels for the forestry product trades in the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic Sea area.The new Nordic joint venture, named WALLENIUS SOL,  is to strengthen the infrastructure for the needs of Finnish and Swedish industry. The first customers to sign long-term agreements are Stora Enso and Metsä Board.”Together we can offer a strong mix of experience and competence, which can support a growing forest industry”…

Griffon Hoverwork will launch  its new 995ED model at  Exponaval in Valparaiso, Chile.“Griffon is hugely excited to unveil the highly innovative 995ED which is specially designed for search and rescue, coastguard and surveying work complementing Griffon’s range of marine grade aluminium hovercraft,” said sales and marketing director Nick MacLeod-Ash. “The 995ED, at eight meters (m) length and 30 knots speed at full ‘all up weight’, is the first hovercraft to achieve certification…

The Intercontinental Exchange will launch new Marine Fuel 0.5% futures contracts in advance of the implementation of the 0.5% sulphur cap by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020.The operator of global exchanges and clearing houses and provider of data and listings services said in a press release that the new contracts are expected to launch on February 4, 2019, subject to completion of relevant regulatory processes.The new contracts have been developed in response to significant market demand in advance of the IMO regulation limiting sulphur emissions from shipping bunker fuel from January 2020. The new regulation requires…

As the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) celebrates its 125th Anniversary, the new executive director shares his thoughts on the path forward for a successful future.I’m Gene Sanders, and I have been given the enviable opportunity to take SNAME into its next phase in one the most important industries in the world! In my first few months as SNAME’s new Executive Director, I’ve been working with the Board and various committees on new ventures and directives…

Germany's Kühne Logistics University (KLU) and the container shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd announced the launch of the Hapag-Lloyd Center for Shipping and Global Logistics (CSGL) in Hamburg.According to the University, in Hamburg CSGL will promote the ongoing discourse between international research and the shipping industry.Thomas Strothotte, PhD, President of the KLU said:  “We are combining theory with practice, and are building upon KLU’s key competence areas digital transformation, creating value, and sustainability.”Karl Gernandt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at KLU and Executive Chairman of Kü̈hne Holding AG, emphasized the crucial role of the news center for the industry.