The launch of the L’Astrolabe, a 72 metre polar logistics vessel fitted with a complete Wärtsilä propulsion machinery package and Wärtsilä NOR (NOx Reducer) SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) exhaust gas cleaning systems for all the main engines, took place on July 12. This is the first vessel operating with the International Maritime Organisation’s IMO Tier III EIAPP (Engine International Air Pollution Prevention) certified Wärtsilä diesel engines. The ship was built by PIRIOU (France) for the French Southern and Antarctic Lands Administration.

Russia's Eurasia Drilling Company (EDC) said on Thursday it would sell a 51 percent stake in the company to the oilfield services provider, U.S.-based Schlumberger NV. The agreement is subject to approval by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia (FAS), the company said. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed since it is subject to approval. The agreement, if approved, would extend a strategic alliance with Schlumberger that dates to 2011, Eurasia added. EDC is an onshore and offshore drilling and well services contractor.

The use of oil spill dispersants, which can be used to break down an oil slick into smaller droplets as part of response efforts, is the subject of a workshop taking place in Dakar, Senegal (17-20 July). Participants from 11 countries (Benin, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Togo) are attending the sub-regional workshop, which will analyse national policies on dispersant use and provide training on further development and implementation of these policies.

Duke University said it has received $11 million for the construction and operation of a new state-of-the-art vessel that will expand teaching and research capabilities at its marine lab. The gift to the Nicholas School of the Environment from the Grainger Family Descendants Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Chicago Community Trust, provides $5 million to build the new 68-foot oceangoing research vessel and an additional $6 million to support operating costs. The ship will have wet labs and dry labs, oceanographic equipment, a galley and sleeping quarters. It will be an oceangoing classroom to train undergraduate and graduate students in oceanography and marine biology at the Duke Marine Lab at Beaufort, N.C.

Van Oord has been awarded the contract for Dubai Harbour marine works, a prestigious mega project in Dubai. The project, which Van Oord carries out for Projects Link Contracting Co LLC, is the next step in achieving ‘Dubai Tourism Vision 2020’, Dubai’s strategy to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020. A strategy to which Van Oord has contributed since 2001 by building amongst others Palm Jumeirah, The World  and many other artificial islands. Dubai Harbour is set to span 185 hectares, and will include berths for 1,400 boats and a cruise terminal.

The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is modernising the way the UK Ship Register operates and a number of new initiatives are in the works that could help the red ensign become more commercial and internationally competitive, says a report from UK Chamber of Shipping. The MCA is considering increasing the fee structure for the UK Ship Register to above 2016 levels, attendees heard at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports on Monday. The registry is working to improve the response time for enquiries to one working day…

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS, Vlissingen) has awarded Radio Holland a contract to supply the IT systems on board the state-of-the-art Antarctic Supply Research Vessel (ASRV) newbuild for the Australian Antarctic Division. The 160m ASRV is a survey vessel which combines icebreaking, survey and supply activities. The vessel will be able to break ice up to 1.65 meters at a speed of 3 knots and will supply Australia’s permanent research stations in Antarctica and Macquarie Island with cargo, equipment and personnel.

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) said it has developed proprietary ICT technology capable of realizing economical and reliable navigation and management of ships: Integrated Smart Ship Solution (ISSS). HHI said the solution provides a wide range of ship information to operators, including optimal navigation routes and navigation speed along with a slope status of the front and back hull of a ship that minimize resistances a ship takes on voyage. ISSS is…

A think tank that advises the Russian government on taxes and energy-related issues said on Wednesday it expects the country's oil exports to fall this year thanks to a global deal to cut output, contrasting with official forecasts for a rise. Vygon Consulting said in a presentation to reporters that oil exports this year are seen declining by 0.7 percent to 252.5 million tonnes (5.1 million barrels per day) from around 255 million tonnes in 2016, a record high. The Energy Ministry forecasts Russian crude oil exports this year at 257 million tonnes.

Finnish ship technology and power plant maker Wartsila reported on Thursday a bigger-than-expected rise in quarterly order intake, saying the market demand had improved for its marine solution business. * Bookings of new orders in the second quarter increased 14 percent from a year earlier to 1.36 billion euros ($1.57 billion), beating analysts' average expectation of 1.22 billion in a Reuters poll. * Adjusted operating profit rose 3 percent from a year ago to 126 million euros, roughly in line with the market consensus.

A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday its anti-virus software was not effective against a new type of malware that hit the Danish shipping giant last month, but said further protective measures have now been put in place. "This virus attack was a previously unseen type of malware, and updates and patches applied to both the (Microsoft) Windows systems and our antivirus (program) were not an effective protection in this particular case," Maersk said in a statement. "In response to this new type of malware, we have put in place different and further protective measures," it added.

A newly built Damen Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) 650 has completed sea trials in Shanghai and is now underway to new owner, Gippsland Ports in Australia on her own keel. The TSHD, named Tommy Norton, is the first Damen dredger built for Australia. Having left Shanghai on July 14, a Damen team is sailing Tommy Norton approximately 5,000 nautical miles over a period of approximately 30 days to reach Australia. Along the way, the vessel will stop off in Guam for bunkering and to enable the crew to take on supplies of fresh water and food.

Harley Marine Services has welcomed its newest vessel, Dr Hank Kaplan, to its Puget Sound fleet on June 22. The vessel has a length of 80', a beam of 36' and a depth of 13'7" and is equipped with two 3516C marine propulsion engines that deliver a combined 5,350 HP. The vessel also features the brand new Cat MTA 524-T azimuth thrusters, which were specially designed for high performance tractor tugboats. Designed by Robert Allen Limited in Vancouver, the tug was built at Diversified Marine in Portland, Ore. and is a sister class vessel to the recently built Michelle Sloan and Lela Franco.

FLIR Systems, Inc. has added a cooled thermal camera to its M-Series platform, the FLIR M500 multi-sensor maritime camera, available from September 2017. The FLIR M500’s cooled midwave, 640x512 thermal camera’s ability to detect very small temperature variations translates into greater detail and enhanced image clarity. FLIR cooled thermal technology and the M500’s 14X optical zoom lens also provides better early detection of vessels, key landmarks and navigation aids. An integrated high-definition visible camera improves navigational awareness…

Following a recent capital investment and the growing global interest from the marine sector, Sea Machines Robotics said it has been expanding its crew and is poised for further growth, expecting to deliver first generation systems to marine customers this summer. Over the past two months, Sea Machines has added multiple new members to its experienced team of engineers, scientists and mariners. Among the new hires is Phil Bourque, the company’s new director of business development.

Classification society DNV GL has developed a new brochure to offer a set of best practices for the design of ships subject to NOx Tier III requirements. It also offers guidance on the considerations that should be taken into account at the newbuilding stage. To ensure the success of any newbuilding plan, shipowners should carefully consider the future operation of their vessels in the newbuilding planning stage, including the implications of the different technological solutions for reducing NOx emissions and how to fulfil the NOx Tier III requirements.

Aberdeen-based Seacroft Marine Consultants said it has appointed Richard Pearce as Marine Engineering and Dynamic Positioning (DP) Manager, as the firm looks to develop more specialized offshore marine projects. Pearce brings to the role 16 years’ experience in engineering and technical disciplines of the marine and offshore industry, including spells at some of the sector’s most prominent names. Most recently he was technical manager at Fletcher Group and service delivery manager…

Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has appointed Shell Marine to provide its integrated marine solutions, which include lubricants and services for OOCL Hong Kong. OOCL Hong Kong, currently plying routes between Asia and Europe, is the latest vessel to claim the title of ‘world’s largest containership’, with a capacity of 21,413 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), measuring 400m in length and 59m in width. The ship is equipped with MAN Diesel & Turbo’s (MDT) G-type engines that represent the latest in two-stroke engine technology.

Shipbuilder Fincantieri said it has partnered with Mapei, a producer of adhesives and chemical products for the construction sector with a business line of shipbuilding industry products, in the field of research and innovation. According to Fincantieri, the strategic cooperation agreement will help it to optimize installation times, reduce the weight of certain materials, improve acoustic insulation by using specific products, develop and extend the use of adhesives products in some shipbuilding applications. Mapei will aim to carry out projects, leading to exploitable solutions in its operational field. The cross-joint research issues will mainly concern the development of innovative products in a wide range…

Rapp Marine said it has received a new order from Odd Lundberg As, marking the third generation of owners from the shipping company who have selected its deck machinery. “This is the first time the shipping company has selected a high-tech electrical solution,” confirms Morten Stenkjær, VP Sales at Rapp Marine AS. “The owner’s new pride is a combined ring-net and pelagic trawler and will be equipped with a complete electric deck machinery solution from Rapp Marine. Mats Lundberg…

ClassNK Consulting Service Co., Ltd. developed next-generation diagnostic monitoring system “ClassNK CMAXS” has been chosen by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) for installation on two more ships operated by the company. The system is now installed on a total of six MOL-operated ships. The two ships are installed with CMAXS e-GICSX, a system which monitors electrically controlled main engine supplied by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and CMAXS LC-A for auxiliary engines supplied by DAIHATSU DIESEL MFG. CO, LTD. Both CMAXS systems operate simultaneously, gathering information from VDR, data logger and main engine. This information (Big Data) is consolidated on a common platform for analysis and the potential future improvement.

U.K.-based manufacturer of ballast water treatment systems based on unique inert gas technology Coldharbour Marine said it has signed a contract with Lloyd’s Register (LR) to oversee the complete range of tests required by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in its type approval process. LR has Independent Laboratory Approval from the USCG and will work closely in the type approval tests with Marine Eco Analytics (MEA), a test laboratory in the Netherlands. Revised and more comprehensive…

Bureau Veritas and Singapore based Ascenz have signed a memorandum to provide ship performance and monitoring solutions to ship owners worldwide. The agreement will enable Bureau Veritas to offer Shipulse, Ascenz’s solution for real time ship performance and monitoring, which captures shipboard fuel consumption, bunkering activity, engine, hull and propeller performance data to provide insights for better decision making, fuel savings and optimized vessel performance. Bureau Veritas…

Nautisk’s NaviPlanner, a voyage planning solution which utilizes touch-screen functionality and cloud technology based on the Microsoft Azure platform, is set to be enhanced with the inclusion of more comprehensive port data following a new partnership with Shipping Guides Ltd. The integration of port information from Shipping Guides’ online service FindaportAPI will enable users to benefit from improved ports and port operations data. Nautisk Head of Innovation, Kjetil Bentsen, said, “Following the integration of FindaportAPI, the next step will be to develop a feedback module for port information so that users of NaviPlanner can evaluate and update information. “Software will be built into the NaviPlanner system with the aim of interacting with the user.

RH Marine recently installed the Rhodium 4500 dynamic positioning (DP) and tracking system on Hakkers’ new flagship, Noordzee, an inland multipurpose vessel that can be used for lifting, dredging or pile driving. Hakkers is a specialist in the development, production and realization of excavation, dredging, construction, foundation, coastal and shoreline works. Its new vessel Noordzee required a system that could automatically hold position and maintain track with high accuracy on low speed.

American Commercial Barge Line’s leadership and early adoption of ZF Marine’s z-drive propulsion technology underscores a growing trend on the inland waterways. American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) has been around a long time – since 1915, to be exact – and along the way has developed into one of the dominant players in the inland marine transportation industry. With a passion for safety and a green footprint, ACBL has always embraced technology and innovation. That point was obvious when it made the decision to outfit at least 15 of its towboats with ZF Marine’s Z-drive systems.

The U.K.'s first maritime autonomous systems testing service is set to launch later this year. BAE Systems said it has been awarded £457,000 (approximately $594,700) in grant funding from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to design and deliver the U.K.’s first dedicated autonomous systems testing service. Based around Portsmouth, Southampton and the South East of the Isle of Wight, BAE Systems will work with ASV Global (ASV), Blue Bear Systems Research (Blue Bear)…

Wison Offshore & Marine said its newly-developed floating storage regasification and power generation barge (W-FSRP) has received Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas. W-FSRP integrates functions of LNG loading and storage facilities, regasification and power generation. Wison and Bureau Veritas have completed the validation for the specified design of 50MW FSRP this time. As the turnkey service provider for the world’s first FLNG and FSRU barge,Wison built on its rich expertise in floating LNG facilities to provide the LNG industry with innovative solutions…

Siem Offshore and Subsea 7 have signed a joint three-year service agreement with Rolls-Royce. The agreement covers a total of 74 offshore vessels. This is the first agreement the two Siem owned companies have signed with the same service provider. Under the agreement, Rolls-Royce will maintain and service all of the equipment it has delivered to the two companies’ offshore vessels. At present, aftermarket services account for roughly 40 percent of Rolls-Royce Marine’s revenues. Long-term agreements account for around a quarter of this.

Ocean Rig UDW, contractor of offshore deepwater drilling services, has announced that Lundin Norway AS, has declared their third option to extend the existing contract of the Leiv Eiriksson. In addition, Ocean Rig has granted Lundin 2 additional options to drill further wells in the future. As a result of these developments, the rig now has firm employment until at least the end of September of 2017 and should Lundin exercise its additional seven one-well options, currently un-declared, the rig could be employed until the first quarter of 2019.

Mapping and shaping the growth of marine hybrid means many things to different stakeholders. The journey leads us all to the same place. If you follow the advancements in automotive design, the term or tag “hybrid” has come to define the alternative energy movement on our roads and highways. HEV autos have moved past Ford and GM in Detroit and into the hands of contemporary entrepreneurs and inventors the likes of Tesla’s Evan Musk or Dr. Victor Wouk. BMW, Ferrari, Bentley and…

Manufacturer of underwater exhaust outlets and water-cooled exhaust systems MarQuip said it is creating a marinized IMO TIER III-certified exhaust system for an Italian shipyard. Working in close cooperation with its partners, the Dutch company has developed a fully custom module silencer/SCR system that will combine the working principles of Selective Catalytic Reduction – which eliminates most harmful NOX compounds – with highly efficient noise reduction. The silencer/SCR module is fitted on MarQuip’s water-injection piece with underwater exhaust…

A new study seeks to determine the extent to which biofouling on ships’ hulls is contributing to the spread of invasive aquatic species in the Mediterranean Sea – a phenomenon commonly associated with ship ballasting operations. According to recent research published by Tel Aviv University’s School of Zoology, half the ships passing along the Mediterranean coast of Israel are carrying invasive ascidians, presenting a global threat to ecosystems around the world. TAU’s Dr. Noa Shenkar…

ABS said it has updated the ABS Advisory on Exhaust Gas Scrubber Systems (Scrubber Advisory) to help industry prepare for IMO’s 2020 global sulfur cap. Central to the impending 2020 global sulfur cap are requirements to reduce the sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions from ships. Installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS), commonly referred to as scrubbers, is a potential solution for owners looking to comply with the upcoming requirements. This updated Advisory includes background on air emission regulations and explores the different types of available scrubber technologies along with the associated installation and operational challenges for each.

Every port and terminal facility needs weighing systems for containers. Weighing is critical in several processes in ports where accurate readings are paramount. To achieve this, the following weighing solutions can be incorporated. Weighbridges offer a vehicle weighing solution that may be placed at entrances and exits of the ports and terminals. An incoming truck can drive over the weighbridge and the total weight will be registered immediately. The tare weight of the truck must be deducted from the total weight to determine the container weight.

StormGeo’s shipping division (formerly AWT) has received its certification as an EU MRV supplier by Verifavia Shipping. The European Union’s decision to monitor CO2 emissions for most vessels in excess of 5000 gross tons affects owners or vessel managers with ships that are calling on ports in EU member states. The EU requires ship-specific monitoring plans to be in place by August 31, 2017, including being MRV compliant for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification. StormGeo's shipping division (formerly AWT) has been collecting data, monitoring data and reporting data on fuel consumption and emissions for over twenty years. More than 60,000 voyages utilized StormGeo’s methods of collecting and reporting data in 2016.

Liverpool diesel-engine sales and maintenance specialists James Troop & Co is celebrating its landmark 150th anniversary with a surge in new business and export sales. The family-run company based in Runcorn is one of Liverpool’s longest-standing maritime and industrial businesses. It is reporting a 27pc sales hike on last year’s figures between January to June. Growth has steadily been recorded across the board with a notable increase in servicing work, spare parts sales and a massive surge in engine sales.

The 'digital revolution' continues in earnest in the maritime and offshore energy sectors, driven by new pilot programs with positive results such as GE (NYSE: GE) and Maersk Drilling, which announced this morning an extension of the scope of their digital partnership following the positive results of a pilot probem, with the bottom line focus of enhancing drilling productivity. During the extended partnership, Maersk Drilling and GE will expand the scope of the 2016 pilot project—one vessel…

With the aim to dominate maritime industry China has been acquiring overseas ports with huge investments which crossed USD 20 bln last year, Financial Times reported. Beijing has spent billions expanding its ports network to secure sea lanes and establish itself as a maritime power, says the report. China is aggressively pushing its  “One Belt One Road”, a grand scheme to win diplomatic allies and open markets in around 65 countries between Asia and Europe. It is pushing ahead with plans to open new shipping routes through the Arctic circle, the report said.

The Greek shipping community is confident that Greece can be a maritime center in near term, said a research report. A study -‘repositioning Greece as a global maritime capital' - conducted by  Ernest & Young in cooperation with Aegean University professor Thanos Pallis said that Greece, especially the port of Piraeus, is viewed as future competitors of Asia’s aggressive shipping hubs in the coming decade. The study gauging the views and forecasts of 779 Greek shipping executives revealed that the most attractive and comprehensive framework among  shipping hubs or “clusters” today is Piraeus…

Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum entered in a partnership with the Ministry of Public Business Sector to establish a petrochemical plant in Suez governorate at a total cost exceeds $4 billion, Zawya reported quoting Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla. The Ministry of Petroleum will build the complex in partnership with Ministry of Public Business Sector, el-Molla added. The Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM) as well as refineries affiliated to the petroleum sector will also cooperate to implement the project, the Egyptian minister said.

The International Energy Agency predicted that the US will become the world's No. 2 exporter of liquefied natural gas by the end of 2022 with a capacity of 3.7 trillion cubic feet per year, second only to Australia. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of natural gas. The agency says more than half of the natural gas produced in the US will be converted to LNG for export. A Reuters report said that global LNG export capacity would reach 650 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year by the end of 2022, compared to less than 452 bcm a year in 2016.

BIMCO and Shipdex have signed an agreement to support the development and exchange of technical and logistic data across the shipping community, and to include BIMCO as an executive member of Shipdex steering committee. The agreement was signed at BIMCO Head office, Copenhagen by Lars Robert Pedersen, BIMCO Deputy Secretary General and representatives from the original nine executive members – Grimaldi Group S.P.A., Mastermind Shipmanagement Ltd., Alfa Laval Tumba AB, MacGregor Group AB, Man Diesel & Turbo SE, Shipdex Consulting Ltd, Yanmar Company Ltd., G&C Shipping Ltd. and Rolls Royce PLC.

Cyprus Parliament has passed a bill establishing a shipping junior ministry, the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) reported quoting government sources. The bill, tabled by the government, was approved unanimously, the agency reported, adding that two proposed amendments had been withdrawn without being put to the vote. The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Marios Dimitriades, in a written statement, welcomes the decision of the Parliament to establish a Deputy Ministry of Shipping., noting that Cyprus’ shipping is a big chapter for Cyprus.

The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) announced the successful launch of two Norwegian microsatellites developed and built by SFL for the Norwegian Space Centre with support from the Norwegian Coastal Authority, Space Norway and the European Space Agency. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the satellites into orbit launched from Baikonur at 06:36:49 UTC Friday, July 14, 2017. Shortly after launch both satellites were contacted from ground stations in Svalbard and Vardo, Norway. Both satellites are healthy based on initial telemetry, and commissioning is underway.

MARIN (Maritime Research Institute) tested an innovative concept for a floating mega island. The island comprises 87 large floating triangles that are flexibility connected to one another. Together they form a flexible floating island that can be as large as 1 to 5 km in cross-section. Olaf Waals, project manager and the concept developer: “As sea level rises, cities become overcrowded and more activities are carried out at sea, raising the dikes and reclaiming land from the seas are perhaps no longer an effective solution. • Building houses and recreation close to the water.

Mobile satellite communications company Inmarsat said it has partnered with satellite communications provider Network Innovations and maritime transportation provider Dunlap Towing to install Fleet One across its fleet of 12 vessels. For Dunlap, the Dutch Harbor and Pacific Coast routes in Alaskan waters have traditionally been challenging and its existing service did not offer the reliability required to transmit important operating and safety reports, communicate back to shore or make critical inter-fleet voice calls, according to Inmarsat.

CEJN, a producer of quick connect high-pressure hydraulics products, will host a complimentary informative, educational event focused on ultra high-pressure hydraulics and the energy market on August 23-24, 2017 in Houston. For more information and to register, visit www.cejn.us/Symposium; contact by phone: 1-847-263-7200 or by email: customer.service.usa@cejn.com. Registration is required, and seating is limited.

Germany’s marine and offshore equipment suppliers will have to continue efforts this year to respond to the continuing weak demand from other countries and growing competition in global shipping markets, says German Engineering Federation (VDMA) who reported a decline in orders in the maritime sector in 2017 as sales slid slightly to €11.1 billion ($12.7 billion). However, according to VDMA, the general situation in mechanical engineering industry and digitalization show encouraging signs as companies stand to benefit from developing new markets…

As the Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention’s D1 September 8 deadline looms, ship owners must secure International BWM Certificates and approved BWM plans for their ships. Bureau Veritas said it is addressing the challenge with its new platform, ‘My Ballast Water Management Plan’ (My BWMP). My BWMP provides ship owners with immediate online quotations, the ability to pay online, to submit documents and then receive approved BWM plans. The platform also enables Bureau Veritas to manage the high volumes to be processed within a very short timeframe.

Grand Bahama Shipyard and L&R Midland (UK) Ltd have signed an exclusive agency agreement covering the U.K. markets effective June 1, 2017. Caribbean shipyard Grand Bahama Shipyard (GBS) has engaged L&R Midland (UK) as its representative in the U.K. in what is expected to be an increasingly busy period due to approaching new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations that will require ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) and exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) retrofits.

Denmark's general prosecutor said on Thursday it had charged a former Singapore unit manager of Denmark-based OW Bunker with fraud.   The prosecutor said the former manager, a Danish citizen, has been charged with committing fraud of agent for more than 800 million Danish crowns ($122.79 million) by granting credit outside his mandate.   The prosecutor also said it did not find legal grounds for criminal prosecution of other management members within the OW Bunker group, the world's biggest marine fuel supplier before it went bankrupt in 2014.   Reporting by Stine Jacobsen 

Second such cargo in a year - traders; cargo loads from Cherry Point, heading to Botany Bay. Oil major BP Plc is shipping diesel from the United States to Australia in an unusual shipping flow, several industry sources told Reuters on Thursday. The Jupiter Express carrying about 35,000 tonnes of diesel loaded from BP's Cherry Point, Washington refinery on June 29 and is currently headed to Botany Bay, New South Wales in Australia, shipping data on Thomson Reuters Eikon showed. BP declined to comment.

Anything but new, the Victaulic method of pipe-joining has been around for a long time. Armed with myriad type approvals from most IACS groups, Victaulic’s output will no doubt (and soon) form a part of your marine equipment for a long time to come. The conservative and staid domestic waterfront, especially where it intersects boatbuilding and repair, recently set sail for increased efficiencies, driven in part by emerging technologies, but also through improved management and new assembly techniques.

The Danish EPA has contracted Danish startup Explicit to monitor sulphur compliance from ships. The monitoring will be conducted from the air by sampling exhaust plumes from vessels in waters around Denmark. The operation will deploy a unique new sniffer technology developed by Explicit for easy-mount on helicopters – and eventually also drones. The objective is to detect and deter violations of the 0.10% ECA restriction on sulphur in the bunker fuel. Deploying a new, miniaturized measurement system…

Golar LNG Partners has agreed with the charterer of the Golar Freeze FSRU, Dubai Supply Authority (DUSUP) certain amendments to the existing time charter that was due to end in May 2020. DUSUP have two FSRU's on contract and do not currently have full time use for Golar Freeze and have therefore been working with Golar Partners to find alternative employment. Golar Partners and DUSUP will continue to cooperate with regards to future employment for Golar Freeze but in the meantime have agreed certain amendments to the existing charter.

The Ministry of Shipping in India is organizing a workshop titled ‘Promoting Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation in India’ in Bhubaneswar, Odisha state today. This is the second in a series of workshops the Ministry plans to hold over the next 6-8 months to create awareness about the Sagarmala programme amongst the stake holders and to engage with them. India’s 7500 kms of coastline and almost 14,000 kms of navigable rivers provide the perfect platform for the development of integrated water based transport system for domestic and EXIM freight as well as passenger transport.

The newest New York Police Department (NYPD) response boat currently under construction will be powered by Volvo Penta diesel inboard engines from Pacific Power Group, a first for the NYPD fleet. The fifth Response Boat - Medium C (RB-M C) built by Vigor will join the fleet of RB-M C’s currently providing maritime security and law enforcement in the New York metro area. The vessel, which is under construction at Vigor Ballard, is being built based on an all-aluminum design utilized on more than 174 Coast Guard response boats.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced that two key milestones along the path to becoming the second recognized provider of Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) services have been reached. During its 98th session this past June, the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adopted new performance standards for GMDSS equipment and approved amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Treaty, which pave the way for Iridium to become a recognized GMDSS service provider. Now, the key remaining step in the approval process is an IMO resolution recognizing Iridium as a certified GMDSS mobile satellite service provider. Iridium expects this will be completed during calendar year 2018, with Iridium GMDSS service to begin in 2020.

Marine innovation company Reygar has partnered with Actisense, a manufacturer of specialist marine electronics, to enhance the capability of Reygar’s BareFLEET remote fleet monitoring system. BareFLEET offers comprehensive measurement capabilities, as well as simple and concise vessel performance, health, motion and fuel efficiency information reported back to fleet operators. This helps them reduce fleet operating costs and evidence savings and vessel activity to their customers.

Braking systems manufacturer Dellner Brakes has rolled out two new spring applied failsafe brakes to its SKP range for cranes, winches, deck machinery, oil rig draw works and other equipment, both on and offshore. Precision engineered in Sweden, Dellner’s new SKP 180 weighs in at 315 kg and delivers braking force from 141 kN up to 226 kN through two brake housings, each containing a powerful spring applied piston. The SKP 4 x 180, weighing 630 kg, combines two brake assemblies containing a total of four pistons to deliver braking force of up to 453 kN.

After recently launching its ship hull cleaning installation in all Dutch ports, Fleet Cleaner has cleaned various container vessels measuring more than 350 meters long. All these cleanings were conducted during loading and unloading at the terminals, without causing any downtime for the shipping companies, even when combined with bunkering activities. “The costs of fouling are often underestimated,” said Lodewijk Middelburg, commercial manager at Fleet Cleaner. “From our experience with shipping companies we see that these container vessels of over 350 m can save around 14 MT fuel per day.

Goltens said it has been awarded a contract for the engineering and retrofit installation of OceanSaver ballast water treatment (BWT) systems on board two of BP Shipping’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The vessels to be retrofitted are the two 138,000 cbm LNG vessels British Innovator and British Merchant. Goltens will undertake the engineering and prefabrication work in 2017 and then complete the installation services in 2018. “We look forward to working closely with BP and applying our well-proven process to the retrofit of these two gas carriers in the most efficient manner…

Norwegian energy storage company Plan B Energy Storage (PBES) announced Arnstein Andreassen has joined the firm to develop marine energy storage markets. Andreassen brings decades of experience in power generation and propulsion.   In his previous positions, both in Naval and commercial business, Andreassen worked with power generation and propulsion systems in the marine space. Andreassen comes to PBES from Bertel O. Steen Teknikk AS (Bostek), where he is responsible for sales of commercial marine generator sets.    

Deliveries of low-sulphur gasoil for July fell to 1,679 lots, or 167,900 tonnes, InterContinental Exchange data showed on Wednesday.   The contract expired at $442.25, up from $429 a tonne at June's expiry, when deliveries reached 3,036 lots. (Reporting by Eileen Soreng)

ABS informs it has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for a new MOSS-type liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank design concept developed by Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). Designated as an IMO Type B independent tank, the concept takes a new approach by applying a non-spherical tank design to increase the use of space on board an LNG carrier. According to KHI, the non-spherical design concept allows Panamax-size LNG carriers to expand their total carrying capacity to 180,000m³, a 25,000m³ volume increase when compared to using spherical tanks. In issuing its AIP, ABS reviewed the strength and fatigue analysis to support KHI in demonstrating the feasibility of the new concept.

JF Mimic, part of James Fisher and Sons plc, said it has signed an agreement to supply its specialist Mimic condition monitoring software to Stolt Tankers B.V (Stolt) to enhance operational safety and improve the technical reliability of its assets. The Mimic software will be installed on Stolt’s fleet of 75 vessels, as well as onshore at its head office, to provide instant condition status alerts along with detailed efficiency monitoring, as management and control of a 21st century maritime business demands unique solutions…

MobileOps, Inc. said it has signed a deal with Westar Marine Services, a tug and barge operator headquartered in San Fransisco with operations in Seattle and all along the West Coast. Westar will utilize the MobileOps Platform across its fleet of tugs and crew boats to further bolster its safety, quality and maintenance initiatives. The MobileOps Platform is a cloud-based subscription solution that includes both a Web Application and an offline-capable iPad application called Voyager.

Cruise ship marine operations expert John Schneider is joining the board of directors at FarSounder, Inc. Over the last 12 years, Schneider has worked in the cruise ship segment of the marine industry as fuel and energy optimization manager (Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises), superintendent engineer (Celebrity Cruises), and as vessel manager for ResidenSea’s residential passenger vessel The World. In this position, he was responsible for the overall management of the vessel within the marine operations department reporting to both WSM and to ResidenSea's Senior Management.

Deltamarin Ltd said it has signed contracts with Chinese shipbuilder Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd (XSI) for engineering and construction support services for the Viking Line Liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled ro-pax vessel newbuilding. The contracts cover basic and detail design as well as comprehensive project management support and supervision services to the shipyard during vessel construction. The new ro-pax vessel for Viking Line will have a passenger capacity of 2,800 people, and the length of its cargo lanes will be 1,500 meters.

Tideworks Technology Inc., a full-service provider of terminal management and planning software solutions, announced that Thomas J. “T.J.” Rucker will assume the role of president effective September 1, 2017, succeeding retiring president Michael Schwank, who led the company for 19 years. Rucker will relocate to Seattle in August to ensure a smooth transition into the role. Rucker is currently vice president of operations at Manzanillo International Terminal (MIT), one of the largest container terminals in Latin America, where he is responsible for managing liner customer relationships, strategic planning and ensuring terminal productivity and KPI performance.

Sealite, a manufacturer of marine aids to navigation, has introduced a mid-range lantern with a fully integrated automatic identification system (AIS) inside its body. Sealite's SL-155 series are high intensity 6-13NM medium range marine lanterns. The compact single tier lantern features extremely low power consumption, minimal maintenance and now comes available in 2.5, 5 or 10 degree vertical distributions with an integrated Type 1 or Type 3 AIS. When fitted, the AIS is encapsulated within the body of the SL-155 so no additional mounting or cables are required for a separate AIS unit.

FPT North America announced an exclusive partnership with marine distributor Motor-Services Hugo Stamp, Inc. (MSHS), an FPT distributor partner since 2005. FPT awarded MSHS the North American territory, which includes all of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. As Master FPT Marine Propulsion Distributor for North America, customers will have direct access to FPT products, factory-trained engineers, and customer support from MSHS offices in Florida, Louisiana, Maine and Seattle, as well as a coast-to-coast dealer network. MSHS, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., specializes in marine diesel engine products and services.

Following a June 16, 2017, decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that requires ship owners and managers to incorporate cyber risk management into safety management systems established by the ISM Code, COMSAT has announced its suite of cybersecurity solutions for the maritime industry. Recent events have underscored the need to protect fleets from harmful cyber-attacks. The new IMO requirement must be met prior to January 1, 2021. COMSAT provides enhanced security for data transmissions…

Almost three-quarters of cargo ships over 20,000 gross tonnage (GT) are already compliant with the SOLAS-mandated Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) deadline of July 1, 2017, according to the latest figures published by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO). The UKHO estimates that a further 3,828 cargo ships over 20,000 GT are yet to make the transition to using an ENC (Electronic Navigational Chart) service and therefore do not yet meet SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) regulations on ECDIS carriage.

Satellite communication services and solutions provider the AST Group said it has recently won a contract with SEACOR Marine International to supply VSAT and failover satellite communications to 30 vessels. The agreement sees AST supplying VSAT and back-up communications for SEACOR’s North Sea and West African fleets providing bandwidth for VOIP and data services over multiple satellite networks enabling vessels to move freely from region to region with no disruption. With SEACOR’s fleet operating in the challenging OSV market, a flexible, affordable and reliable solution was required. As well as competitive pricing and 24/7 support SEACOR Marine were able to benefit from AST’s unique INTEGRA network providing real time application identification and control…

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCC) has signed a deal with NAVTOR to install the NavBox navigation solution across its entire corporate fleet of 49 vessels, in a deal which spans RCC's six different operating companies. E-navigation specialist NAVTOR launched NavBox in 2013. The solution, which complements NAVTOR’s range of electronic navigational chart (ENC) based services, automatically downloads, distributes and updates all vessel navigational charts and publications, cutting administration time, while ensuring the very latest, compliant charts are always at hand.

SEA\LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel, has announced Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP) as its latest member. Representing the Japanese ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP brings essential knowledge from a port’s perspective to SEA\LNG, which is working collaboratively with key players across the entire LNG value chain. SEA\LNG and its member organizations continue to advocate for the need to collaborate…

Marsol International, a UAE-based global marine solutions provider focused on the offshore oil terminal market and related infrastructure, has signed a two years contract with Oman Oil Company Exploration & Production LLC (OOCEP) for the provision and management of the marine and offshore activities related to the tanker loading, via the single point mooring (SPM) offshore marine terminal including maintenance works, vessels, equipment and manpower. The Musandam gas plant, located on the west coast of the Musandam Peninsula…

BOURBON entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Automated Ships Ltd to support the building of the world’s first autonomous, fully-automated prototype vessel for offshore operations, in collaboration with the project’s primary technology partner, KONGSBERG. BOURBON will provide detailed input to the development and design of the Hrönn project, ensuring flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency to operate safely and effectively in the offshore environment. In the second phase of the project…

With the global fuel sulphur limit of 0.5% entering into force in 2020, the interest towards LNG as a marine fuel is increasing. One of the main obstacles to the accelerated uptake of LNG, however, is the uncertainty regarding future market volumes for LNG. DNV GL has addressed this issue in a recent market study on the future LNG market in the Iberian Peninsula, as part of driving the development of an EU-wide network of LNG refuelling points. DNV GL conducted the market study on behalf of the six-year CORE LNGas hive project1…

The number of States signed up to  International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Ballast Water Management Convention has reached 61, with Honduras being the latest country acceding to the treaty. The signatories now represent 68.46 % of the world's merchant fleet tonnage. Under the treaty, ships are required to manage their ballast water, which can contain thousands of aquatic or marine microbes, plants and organisms, which are then carried across the globe. Ivan Romero Martinez…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that a series of three MOL-operated 50,000 DWT methanol carriers — the Taranaki Sun, Manchac Sun, and Cajun Sun - received the "Technology Special Prize" in the Ship of the Year 2016 awards sponsored by The Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers (JASNAOE). Every year, the Ship of the Year judges select the made-in-Japan vessels that represent the highest levels of technology, design and social responsibility. The Technology Special Prize goes to the most technologically advanced ships…

The Liberian Maritime Administration has welcomed an agreement reached by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) on an implementation schedule for the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) which broadly incorporates the terms of an amendment initially proposed by Liberia. It was decided at the 71st session of the MEPC (MEPC 71) in London that ships built after September 8, 2017 should have a ballast water management system (BWMS) installed upon delivery. Existing ships…

A new all-terrain vessel propulsion system specially engineered and built for operation in extreme shallow water, riverine and mud flat environments will safely and reliably propel a vessel through dense vegetation, mud and debris-strewn waters. The highly durable Swamp Shark Drive system has been introduced through a partnership between Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark has partnered with Angelle Development, LLC of Breaux Bridge, La. “I began designing this system and building the initial prototype in 2011 with the goal of creating the ultimate ‘go anywhere…

Ampelmann has launched its latest gangway for personnel transfer: the A-type Enhanced Performace (AEP). Now providing clients with 10 percent greater workability in sea states up to 4m significant wave height; the AEP also has the ability to use smaller vessels to obtain similar performance (compared to current A-type). The AEP features an advanced motion compensation control system with precision controls to enable fast landing and comfortable people transfers. The system significantly improves operational up-time on projects year-round and provides benefits to operators in rougher waters…

Furetank is about to delivery its newest generation of environment friendly product and chemical tankers, which are intended to sail in the waters surrounding Sweden. Especially the archipelagos are difficult to navigate through but as Furetank has experienced, the EMRI autopilots can do the job together with a good ECDIS voyage planning. Besides the autopilot, Furetank’s new fleet will receive its Remote-Control System from EMRI. This entails the central steering wheel on the bridge…

After completing its sea trials program, Pax, the second dual fuel tug ever built in Europe, has been delivered to its owner, the Norwegian company Østensjø Rederi A/S. The first tug of this kind built in Europe, Dux, was delivered by the company last May. The vessel is the first tugboat of a series of three. Built by Spanish shipbuilder Gondan and designed by Canadian company Robert Allan Ltd. the new escort tug, with 40.2 meters length and 16 meters beam, will provide tug services to Norwegian state-owned energy company Statoil…

Commenting on the outcome of last week’s meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – which represents the world’s national shipowners’ associations – says it is pleased with the progress made by IMO Member States on a number of critical environmental regulatory issues that will have a profound impact on the future structure of the global shipping industry. ICS says that IMO…

The Suez Canal Authority is committed to a ban on allowing Qatari ships to dock in ports within the Suez Canal’s economic zone, Ahram reported as chairman Mohab Mamish saying. In press statements on Friday, Mamish said that Egyptian ban on the ships is being imposed on all ports within the zone based on Egyptian sovereignty over its territorial waters. The decision, however, does not include a ban on passing through the canal, as under the Constantinople 1869 agreement it is illegal to ban ships coming from any country from passing through.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to take steps that could lead to a phase-out of the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in Arctic shipping following an appeal from the Government of Canada, Indigenous participants and testimony from WWF-Canada. During a week-long meeting at IMO headquarters in London, WWF highlighted recent reports outlining major gaps in spill response capacity in the Arctic. The Canadian delegation’s submission on how to reduce the impacts of HFO in the Arctic received wide support from all Arctic states (United States…

Physical bunker supplier Monjasa has been active in the Panama Canal since 2011 and established a physical presence for operations and bunker trading in Panama City in 2015. Now one year after the official inauguration of the new locks of the expanded Panama Canal, Monjasa said it has seen supply volumes continually grow. “Since the opening of the new locks exactly a year ago, we have seen a positive development in the local bunker market,” said Rasmus Jacobsen, Managing Director for Monjasa Americas. “On a daily basis, we already see sicx ships passing through the new locks, and as the tonnage further increases, we expect this number will increase to eight1, 10, or possibly 12,” Jacobsen said.

Capturing complex bends on pipes is an art form members of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) Pipe Group have harnessed for many years. Now entering a more modern era with a new dual-head pipe bending machine, NNSY is able to create more precise bends in a fraction of the time, thanks to modern, automated controls. Originally, pipe benders would have to work on a semiautomatic machine where everything would have to be measured exactly and each bend would have to be checked with a protractor to guarantee the needed dimensions were captured. It was tedious work and there was a risk of wasted material should the measurements not equate to what was needed.

Cox Powertrain has announced its first European distributor appointment as Drammen, Norway based Erling Sande AS. The marine power specialist has signed an agreement to become Cox Powertrain’s sole Norwegian distributor and in doing so will play a prominent role in driving Norwegian sales of Cox Powertrain’s revolutionary marine diesel outboard engine, the CXO300, which will be launched in the second half of 2018. Created in 1932, Erling Sande AS is a well-established and respected name within Norway’s marine industry.

Asia CEO said ports have resumed releasing cargo; will discuss settlement, liability issues with customers. Maersk said it was too early to predict the financial impact of last month's global Petya cyber attack that hit the shipping giant's computers and delayed cargoes, but added that normal operations had resumed at its ports. A.P. Moller-Maersk, Danish owner of the world's biggest container shipping line, operates 76 ports via its APM Terminal division and was one of the many firms hit by the ransomware virus along with Russia's Rosneft and advertising agency WPP.

Renovation work on Anholt Lighthouse has begun and is expected to be finalised in late October. Brickwork, windows and doors are to be renovated. Once the renovation is complete, the classified lighthouse on the island of Anholt will be shining brightly. The front of the lighthouse is to be both replastered and painted and, in addition, both the windows and doors of the old lighthouse are to be renovated. Anholt Lighthouse is one of Denmark's oldest lighthouses. It was established…

With the new release of Sesam software for structural engineering and analysis, DNV GL is showing the results of ramped-up focus on cutting costs and boosting efficiency for customers. One of the key targets is reduction of tedious work. “We are resolute about efficiency,” says Ole Jan Nekstad, Sesam Product Director at DNV GL – Software. “Efficiency gains have been the driver of this release. Along with feedback from the annual customer satisfaction survey, Sesam’s Customer Advisory Team has been instrumental in prioritizing the development work with new functionality for fixed…

Barge Master and Bosch Rexroth have jointly introduced a new motion compensated gangway to the offshore wind market. After numerous simulations and virtual tests, the first actually manufactured gangway is currently being tested onshore at the Bosch Rexroth facilities in Boxtel, the Netherlands. On June 21 this location was transformed into a presentation area, where the visitors were informed about the partnership between the two companies, and allowed to have a close look at the complex technology on the demonstrated gangway.

Volvo Penta informs it has signed an agreement to become the major owner of U.S. based outboard motor manufacturer, Seven Marine, enabling the Swedish company to extend its scope of integrated propulsion systems. “With this acquisition, Volvo Penta is entering the outboard motor segment,” said Volvo Penta president, Björn Ingemanson. Volvo Penta said the deal will broaden its technology platform, while Seven Marine will be able to further develop its existing outboard technology to satisfy a wider range of needs for its customer base.

In the world of maritime training, MSRC has carved a unique niche in the training of pilots. Founded in 2005, MSRC is a division of the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots (CLSLP). The MSRC is a purpose-built simulator with a fully instrumented DNV Class “A” configured bridge with 330° visuals that exceed the requirements of the 1995 STCW Convention. MSRC’s Full Mission Simulator (FMS) is one of the most advanced simulators of its type and is continually being upgraded. The Center is also equipped with three fully instrumented ship bridges, with a horizontal view of 240°.

Aluminium Marine Consultants informs it has handed over MO4 to Mainprize Offshore this week for work as a wind farm support vessel carrying both cargo, equipment and personnel out of the port of Hooksiel to the German wind farm sector on an eight-year contract with Deutsche Windtechnik on the Nordergründe wind farm. MO4 took a break from sea trials to attend Seawork where she showed off her expansive deck and cabin area, with the ability to increase to 24pax. She would require a small alteration that has been designed into the construction and layout of the saloon.

ClassNK has released its annual report on Port State Control. The report aims to assist ship operators and management companies in maintaining compliant operations by providing information about ships detained by PSC as well as deficiencies that were found on board from many port states in 2016. PSC inspections ensure that vessels departing the port meet international standards and have proved to be highly effective in eliminating substandard ships that are in operation. They oversee not only the physical structures and components of a ship…

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has released new rules for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled coastal and inland vessels. The new rules, which come in addition to its already established rules for ocean going ships, aim to underscore the increasing importance of using cleaner fuels, and help maritime stakeholders to promote environment friendly fuels for coastal and inland vessels, the class society said. The rules for gas fuelled vessels have been developed based on a study of the various international requirements such as the ESTRIN (European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels), the IMO IGF Code and consultations with various stakeholders.

OceanWise announced that it has been awarded a contract to provide the Government of Northern Ireland with marine mapping. The award reinforces OceanWise as the primary supplier of marine mapping to both the public and private sectors in the U.K. The agreement includes Marine Themes, Marine Themes DEM and Raster Charts XL (eXcluding Land) provided in the form of datasets and as OGC compliant web services. The data will be used to support desktop GIS and as input to web based applications.

Ecoslops, an innovative technology company that upgrades ship-generated hydrocarbon residues into valuable new fuels and light bitumen,  announced key achievements for the first half of 2017. Ecoslops has confirmed the excellent performance of the first industrial micro-refinery unit (P2R) in the Port of Sines, Portugal and the strong growth dynamics of its production. Production doubled, from 6,050 tonnes to 12,200 during the same period last year and sales in tonnes amounted to 9,700, vs. 3,700 in H1 2016.

Saudi Aramco, Dussur – the Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company, and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly collaborate on engines and pumps business development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MOU lays out an engine and pump business cooperation framework, through the formation of a joint venture (JV) to manufacture two-stroke engines, four-stroke engines and marine pumps; including sales and aftersales services in the MENA region.

Anchor winches, cranes, level winders and other equipment exposed to the elements on the deck of a vessel ay look good with a thick, consistent layer of grease, but appearances can be deceiving. In fact, several problems may be lurking below the surface of commonly used greases. 1. Premature wear can occur if the grease is not up to the design loads and speed of the equipment. Today’s deck equipment is being pushed much harder over a wider range of operations, resulting in higher loads on gears and bearings that are rotating faster.

CMR Group said it has won funding support from Innovate UK for a new electrical wiring harness being developed for industrial diesel and gas engines used in harsh environments. The firm, which specializes in marine control instrumentation and electrical engineering, is set to invest the five-figure cash sum in a major research and development program to design and develop a new generation of ‘people-centered’ harnesses. An electrical wiring harness is a piece of equipment that forms the backbone of an electronic engine…

Ibna Zaman of Royston highlights the growing operational advantages provided by the effective analysis of intelligent data in the marine sector – if certain challenges can be successfully overcome. With the impending introduction of the EU MRV Regulations forcing shipping operators to think more seriously about monitoring, reporting and verifying fuel and emissions performance, new data driven improvements have the potential to transform the shipping sector. As its name implies…

Shanghai Salvage Bureau’s (SSB) new ship is purpose-designed for a range of roles including deep-water salvage operations, deep-water pipelay and construction as well as a saturation diving capability for up to 24 divers in two bells. Recently, GE’s Marine Solutions has been chosen by SSB, one of the largest rescue and salvage companies in the world, to provide a suite of marine technologies including power and propulsion equipment, dynamic positioning (DP) and automation and control systems to its newest deep-water dive support vessel (DSV).

Holland Shipyards has asked Hatenboer-Water to supply two Tethys reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment  units for diving support barges scheduled to be deployed along the Gabon coast. The order marks the first project for Tethys, the new Hatenboer-Water standard water maker series for compact applications. The RO units are to be installed aboard two diving support barges currently under construction in the Holland Shipyards’ site in Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands. Each unit will provide drinking water at a capacity rate of up to 6 m3 per day.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract to supply oceanographic winches and Triplex deck handling systems to a new research vessel being built by the Fassmer shipyard in Berne, Germany. The order was booked into Cargotec's second quarter 2017 order intake. MacGregor equipment deliveries are planned for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2019. The new dual-fuel (LNG) 74m vessel, Atair II, is under construction for the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

Bureau Veritas has issued a new chapter in its rules providing a framework for electric and hybrid power solutions. The new class notations include power management (PM), power back-up (PB) and zero emission (ZE) standards. It is expected that the notations will encourage wider uptake of energy storage systems (ESS) to provide both operational and environmental benefits. Martial Claudepierre, Business Development Manager, Bureau Veritas, said, “Industry uptake of hybrid and battery technology has been driven by environmental regulation.

Wärtsilä informs it has been contracted to supply four waterjets plus the hydraulics and control system for a new 109-meter-long high-speed RoPax ferry being built at the Austal Ships Pty yard in Australia for Molslinjen A/S of Denmark. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in May 2017. The new vessel will be an all aluminum catamaran having a top speed of 40 knots. It will be equipped with two full vehicle decks for 425 cars, or 610 lane meters for trucks and up to 232 cars. The ship will be able to carry more than 1,000 passengers.

Fugro said it has been awarded a further two-year contract by Petrobras to provide inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) and pipeline inspection services in Brazil. Operations commenced in May 2017. The new award follows Fugro’s completion of an initial 12-month contract for the oil major, after taking delivery of the newbuild vessel Fugro Aquarius. Built specifically for the Brazilian market by Wilson Sons shipyard in São Paulo, with local content of more than 60 percent, Fugro Aquarius is an 83-meter, DP-2 ROV support vessel.