Machinery News

Marine water and waste specialist Hamworthy has unveiled its new Ultra Trident MBR, a membrane bioreactor that brings wastewater treatment to a wider range of vessels.Hamworthy's first major new system development since becoming independent in June 2026, Ultra Trident represents the latest generation of its MBR technology. Designed to help ships treat black and grey water efficiently and reduce the impact of wastewater discharges on the marine environment, it combines straightforward operation…

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has launched a new Maritime Safety Data Hub, providing the maritime industry with unique insights as well as direct access to the comprehensive analysis of risks shaping global shipping.Drawing on a dataset combining three years of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) data with an industry-first analysis of 106,975 maritime safety broadcasts transmitted in 2025, the new platform offers visibility into the conditions influencing maritime risk.

The Switch has secured 13 orders for their electric machines (EM) busines since the beginning of June, covering almost 50 oceangoing vessels and 59 permanent magnet (PM) machines. July marked the company’s strongest month to date for marine EM orders.The surge comes as shipowners put greater emphasis on efficiency across the vessel, with optimization extending from ship design to individual equipment and power-system configurations. Tightening decarbonization requirements and fuel costs are strengthening the case for technologies that reduce energy consumption…

Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver a fully integrated suite of technology and equipment for a new multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel that will be owned and operated by Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore.The vessel, which will be built in China, represents a new generation of offshore construction assets designed to perform complex installation, subsea construction and heavy-duty offshore operations. With advanced mooring installation and subsea construction capabilities at its core…

Wind propulsion will have its largest-ever presence at the Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology (SMM) trade fair in September, underlining the rapid commercial expansion of one of shipping's fastest-growing decarbonization technology sectors.As shipowners seek practical solutions to reduce fuel consumption and comply with tightening emissions regulations, wind-assisted and primary wind propulsion technologies will be showcased across the exhibition halls in greater numbers than at any previous edition of the Hamburg-based maritime trade fair.Held September 1-4…

Marine fuel buyers entered 2026 facing a perfect storm, suffering some of the highest bunker prices ever experienced, paired with a sharp and concerning decline in fuel quality. Across the traditional marine fossil fuel supply chain, VPS has seen a marked rise in fuel quality issues, with the Middle East conflict playing a major role in driving both price volatility and quality deterioration. For ship owners/operators, the message is clear, today’s fuel market is not only more expensive, it is also becoming more complex and unpredictable, with a higher degree of operational risk.

Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region remained strong, while Port Houston gained momentum with increases in imports, empties and a modest decline in exports.“Our region remains resilient through evolving global trade conditions. Vessel activity in the nation’s busiest waterway is up, and we continue to see steady cargo movement that helps power industries like energy, manufacturing and retail, crucial to our national economy,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston.Key takeaways:The Houston Ship Channel region’s total trade by tonnage increased 16% year to date through June…

From total workflow solutions targeted to industry segments to launching more than a dozen new products for fab shops, individual contractors, welding engineers, students and educators, ESAB will deliver a complete welding and cutting experience at FABTECH 2026, which runs from October 21-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ESAB will exhibit in Booth #S29025 on Level 2 in the South Hall, lead nine educational sessions and station its Ultimate Demo Tour and Demo Bus outside of the Central Hall.

Kongsberg Maritime won a contract with a major energy operator to deliver advanced deck machinery for a new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for an offshore development in Asia.The contract covers a fully integrated mooring and deck machinery solution, including chain pull-in winches, chain stoppers, fairleads, riser pull-in winches, and associated control and automation systems. Delivery of the equipment is scheduled for mid-2027.A notable technical feature of the project is the large mooring chain dimension…

Estonia has taken delivery of a new 38-meter multipurpose workboat that combines compressed biomethane and battery-electric propulsion with research, buoy-handling, pollution-response and rescue capabilities in a single vessel.Named KRATT, the new vessel was designed and built by Baltic Workboats for the Estonian State Fleet and christened August 12 at Saaremaa, Estonia. The €22 million vessel is scheduled to enter service in Estonian waters this autumn.At the center of the newbuild is an alternative-fuel power plant designed around compressed biomethane (CBM) as its primary fuel…

When maritime autonomy is discussed, the image is often a large cargo ship crossing an ocean without a crew. That remains a longer-term regulatory and technical challenge. The more immediate commercial market is developing elsewhere – smaller uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are already surveying seabeds, inspecting pipelines and cables, monitoring offshore wind farms, and collecting hydrographic and geophysical data.Intelatus Global Partners identifies 825 USV…

DOF Group has agreed to sell four platform supply vessels (PSVs), acquire two construction support vessels (CSVs) under construction and declare a constructive total loss on the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Skandi Amazonas, as the company continues to optimize and modernize its fleet.The company said it will sell the Skandi Mongstad, Skandi Flora, Skandi Feistein and Skandi Kvitsøy, with deliveries expected during the third quarter of 2026.The vessels will remain on their current contracts…

For much of the maritime industry, the energy transition has been discussed in terms of alternative fuels – primarily LNG, methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen. Batteries have often been treated as a narrow tool for limited-purpose vessels, such as water taxis and harbor craft. That view is becoming too constrained.The importance of batteries comes not from technology enthusiasm alone. Global shipping accounts for roughly 3% of planet-warming emissions. Meanwhile, International Maritime…

The US domestic and global maritime industry in 2026 stands at a critical crossroads, caught between structural labor deficits and an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. Shipping has undergone a transition since Covid-19, moving away from decades of relative stability with defined trade flows toward operating conditions that grow more complex and volatile by the year. Historic energy routes have shifted, uncertainty has settled over key maritime chokepoints, and global supply chains have absorbed the disruption.

Chick sexing is a core concept for an experienced engineer. Fortunately, maritime engineers do not have to perform chick sexing, but the concept is extremely important and ties into engineering intuition and experience.We all know engineers and mechanics who have an amazing ability to diagnose certain problems that completely elude solution by the rest of the community.It is often called intuition, but there is actually no such thing as intuition; it is actually related to learning and experience.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has unveiled what it says is the world's first spray-based immersion cooling technology for lithium-ion battery packs, a development that could improve thermal management and fire safety while dramatically reducing the amount of dielectric coolant required.Developed by a research team led by Dr. Jinsub Kim at KIMM's Heat Pump Research Center, the system combines two cooling approaches: dielectric liquid is sprayed directly…

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, finalized its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce Naval Handling facility in Peterborough, Ontario. The closing officially establishes the facility as FMD’s Canadian headquarters, expanding the services division and supporting the revitalization of the Canadian defence industrial base. “For nearly a century, Fairbanks Morse has been a proud partner of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard. As Canada reinvests in its naval power and domestic manufacturing, FMD is positioned to localize a robust portfolio of trusted, mission-critical maritime solutions,” said George Whittier, FMD CEO. “Securing the Peterborough naval handling facility solidifies our commitment to manufacturing in Canada.

A record wave of global investment in new ships is translating into sustained growth for Germany's marine equipment industry, with suppliers reporting rising revenues, strong order books and growing optimism despite mounting geopolitical and competitive pressures.According to the latest industry survey from VDMA, Germany's maritime supplier sector posted average revenue growth of 5.2% in 2025, marking its fourth consecutive year of expansion. The results underscore how a historic global shipbuilding cycle—driven by fleet renewal…

If you’re viewing today’s arrival of UK ETS with mounting unease, fear not! NAVTOR’s Performance Director Jacob Clausen is here to help simplify complexity, turning compliance challenges into commercial gain. How do you feel about adding another layer of complexity on top of your existing regulatory reality? Not too excited, I imagine.The arrival of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) for parts of the shipping sector (cargo and passenger vessels over 5,000 GT) on 1 July may feel both new and familiar.

The offshore energy industry is in the midst of a new investment cycle, driven by major developments in South America, renewed demand for energy security and an increasing reliance on digital technologies to improve asset performance. For Matt Tremblay, Senior Vice President, Global Offshore at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the opportunities are significant — but so are the challenges.Speaking with Offshore Engineer in Houston, Tremblay described an industry that is “very busy…

Chick sexing is a core concept for an experienced engineer. Fortunately, maritime engineers do not have to perform chick sexing, but the concept is extremely important and ties into engineering intuition and experience.We all know engineers and mechanics who have an amazing ability to diagnose certain problems that completely elude solution by the rest of the community.It is often called intuition, but there is actually no such thing as intuition; it is actually related to learning and experience.

The maritime industry continues to improve its safety record, but the challenges confronting shipowners, operators, insurers and regulators have never been more complex.According to Allianz Commercial's Safety and Shipping Review 2026, global shipping losses remain near historic lows, yet a new era of geopolitical conflict, cyber-enabled crime, aging fleets, alternative fuels, cargo fires and supply chain disruption is reshaping risk across the maritime sector. Here is maritime safety and shipping in 2026 — by the numbers.90% -Approximately 90% of global trade still moves by sea…

At the head of the U.S.’ largest ferry system is Steve Nevey, Deputy Secretary, Washington State Ferry (WSF), which is engaged in a historic modernization to a hybrid-electric fleet. Nevey gives a candid look inside problems during the Wenatchee conversion, with insights on the hybrid electric direction and pace for newbuilds at Eastern Shipbuilding.Steve Nevey did not stumble into maritime. He was raised in it, shaped by it, and by most accounts destined for it. Born in the UK, Nevey grew up in a naval household.