Marine Equipment News

The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has participated in the 2018 Vicino/Lontano Festival, which was held from 10 May to 13 May in Udine, Italy. The Vicino/Lontano Festival has, since its very beginning, been closely linked to the figure of journalist and writer Tiziano Terzani, to whose memory the Festival’s annual literary prize is dedicated. It encompasses a broad range of initiatives and events, including debates, discussion forums, seminars, lectures, exhibitions, performances and screenings.

Acciona Energia, the biggest global operator exclusively in renewable energies,  received the first ever prototype certificate for a grid-scale energy storage solution by DNV GL, the world’s largest resource of independent energy experts and certification body. The handover of the certificate took place at the American Wind Energy Association’s 2018 Windpower Conference in Chicago. To explore the possibilities of grid-scale storage, Acciona Energia started up a hybrid plant for storing electricity in batteries as part of its grid-connected wind farm at Barasoain in Navarra, northern Spain.

Cargotec has signed an agreement with JCE Invest AB to establish a joint venture, Bruks Siwertell Group, specialised in dry bulk handling. The new joint venture will own Siwertell AB (previously part of Kalmar Business Area within Cargotec) and BRUKS Holding AB (previously part of JCE Group). Both companies are world-leading suppliers of bulk materials handling solutions. Cargotec will own 48% of the shares in Bruks Siwertell Group, and JCE Invest AB will own the rest, 52%. The ownerships are included to venturers' consolidated financial statements in accordance with the applicable regulation.

Finnish shipowner Finferries has partnered with Rolls-Royce in an effort to advance technologies for remote and autonomous ferry operations.The companies signed a collaboration agreement Thursday to jointly develop strategies and solutions to optimize the safety and efficiency of marine operations through developing the technology for decision supporting systems and to demonstrate remote and autonomous ferry operations.As part of the collaboration, a new research project called…

The Project Forward initiative, which is led by Athens-based Arista Shipping, has produced an energy efficient dry bulk carrier vessel that features liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.Finnish clean-tech software engineering company Eniram, a Wärtsilä company, said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to assist in the development of monitoring and optimization tools.“Our input will help ensure that operational visibility will be maximized, and that the new ships can operate at optimal efficiency…

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Chubu Electric Power, Toyota Tsusho, and Nippon Yusen KK said on Thursday they have agreed to launch a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering business in Japan and have set up two joint ventures.The companies plan to start supplying marine traffic in the Chubu region in central Japan, they said in a statement.LNG has been promoted as an alternative to bunker fuel oil for shipping lines facing a 2020 deadline to meet new international standards on sulfur emissions.(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; editing by Richard Pullin)

A new satellite device that combines the Inmarsat Fleet Xpress Network Service Device (NSD) with the RedPort Optimizer Enterprise satellite router and VoIP gateway was launched by RedPort Global.The single rackmount appliance will manage ship networks with satellite broadband routing, VoIP connectivity and crew services, and replaces at least three pieces of hardware that were previously required for Fleet Xpress installations.The innovative RedPort Optimizer Enterprise NSD for Inmarsat Fleet Xpress gives satellite service providers and ship operators an all-­in-­one solution…

Kongsberg Norcontrol has signed a framework agreement with the Norwegian Coastal Administration for delivery, operations and maintenance of radars to the maritime traffic service.The agreement has a potential total value of up to NOK 250 million ($31 million) and a duration of up to eleven years.This is amongst the largest framework agreements the Norwegian Coastal Administration has entered into with a single supplier."The Ministry of Transport and Communications has assigned us to expand the service area for our maritime traffic service…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said it has floated out the sixth ocean cruise ship in a series for owner Viking Cruises.The new vessel, Viking Jupiter, which is under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, will now undergo interior outfitting before its scheduled delivery in 2019.As its sister ships, Viking Jupiter will have a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers, placing the vessel in the small cruise ship segment.The float out ceremony included the traditional coin ceremony…

Taking ahead the bilateral relations between India & Republic of Indonesia, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Shipping met General (Retd.) Luhut Binser Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, in New Delhi. Ahead of the visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jakarta in May 2018, General (Retd.) Pandjaitan, who is on a 2-day visit to India met Shri Gadkari to discuss bilateral cooperation in the maritime sector between the two countries. The bilateral talks covered a wide range of topics including river rejuvenation…

ADNOC Logistics and Services, the shipping and services arm of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has signed a contract with Borouge, a leading provider of value creating plastics solutions, to handle its Ruwais container terminal operations. The five-year contract, awarded through a competitive bidding process, is the first deal signed between Borouge and ADNOC Logistics and Services as a new integrated entity, following the integration of IRSHAD, ESNAAD and ADNATCO into a single ADNOC operating company.

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced it has partnered with a company specializing in 3D printing technologies in a move that aims to transform naval shipbuilding in the U.S.Huntington Ingalls’ Newport News Shipbuilding division will work with 3D Systems to develop additive manufacturing technologies expected to accelerate the adoption of metal 3D printing for building components of U.S. warships.The joint effort, which comes amid a significant technological transformation underway at Newport News…

Kongsberg Norcontrol has signed a framework agreement with the Norwegian Coastal Administration for delivery, operations and maintenance of radars to the maritime traffic service. The agreement has a potential total value of up to NOK 250 million and a duration of up to eleven years. This is amongst the largest framework agreements the Norwegian Coastal Administration has entered into with a single supplier. "The Ministry of Transport and Communications has assigned us to expand the service area for our maritime traffic service…

Jorge Unda, until now the Managing Director of the Engineering and Construction area of the SENER Group, has been appointed CEO for the entire Group, replacing Jorge Sendagorta, who previously combined the positions of President and CEO. Unda becomes the top executive of the company, and Sendagorta remains as President of SENER’s Board of Directors.An industrial engineer in the field of Mechanics from the Higher School of Industrial Engineering of Bilbao (Spain), University of the Basque Country…

Crosby Tugs selected the ABS Nautical Systems (NS) mobile compliance software to enable compliance with Subchapter M regulatory requirements. By adopting NS Workboat across its fleet of tugboats, Crosby can record compliance data and generate safety reports on a mobile device while crew carry out routine operations. NS Workboat is optimized for a tablet and is available on smartphones for easy data entry, with no installed software required onboard. Ship and shore collaboration…

Cress Systems helps container terminals reduce fuel bills, emissions and power peaks with ProwESS energy storage for rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs). New technology allows container ports and terminals to capture, store and reuse energy from container yard handling equipment to reduce fuel cost and emissions and better manage peak electricity demands. Following a successful proof of concept trial at the UK Port of Felixstowe, Cress Systems is pleased to announce the commercial release of its ProwESS energy capture, storage and reuse system for container terminal yard handling equipment.

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) continued to increase the share of its fleet serving long-term energy projects over the first quarter ending 31 March 2018. This helped offset the negative impact of the protracted decline in freight rates that continues within the conventional tanker freight markets. Nikolay Kolesnikov, Executive Vice President and CFO of PAO Sovcomflot, commented on the quarter's results: "In the first quarter of 2018, conditions within the global conventional tanker market remained extremely challenging.

Rolls-Royce reports it has been selected to supply its MT30 gas turbine to power a new class of frigates for the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF).The selection means Japan is the fifth nation to select the MT30 for a major naval shipbuilding program.Sam Cameron, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President – Defence, said, “Japan’s selection of the MT30 is very significant and means that the three largest users of marine gas turbines, have all endorsed the capabilities of the MT30…

Carnival Cruise Line has previewed its new Fleet Operations Center (FOC) in Miami, the largest and most advanced in the cruise industry. The 35,000-square-foot facility is custom-designed for hands-on, around-the-clock monitoring and support of the line's 26 cruise ships. The Carnival Cruise Line FOC is the first facility of its kind in South Florida and features a state-of-the-art tracking and data-analysis platform that enables real-time information sharing between Carnival ships and specialized shoreside teams designed to support fleet operations.

Emergency preparedness and response in the oil and gas sector was at the core of a workshop held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea (7-10 May). The aim of the workshop was to strengthen the country's capacity to prepare for and respond to marine pollution from oil spills. This workshop follows on from a series of events developed with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with a view to making recommendations to improve the national preparedness and response system in the country, including a more robust national oil spill contingency plan.

The advent of industry wide tightening of allowable sulfur emissions is getting nearer. Suddenly, with the deadline now little more than one year away, the countdown clock will very soon be ticking much louder. Simply stated, the cap on allowable sulfur content in marine fuels, presently at 3.5 percent in many geographical regions, will be reduced to 0.5 percent in January 2020. The 0.1 percent sulfur cap, already in effect since 2015 in coastal Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) in Europe and North America…

Marine Travelift has recently partnered with RMK Merrill-Stevens for the delivery of a new 100 BFMII (100 metric ton lifting capacity) mobile boat hoist.The custom 100-ton machine will be operational later this summer and will join an older 70 ton Marine Travelift on site, expanding the capacity and versatility of the Miami shipyard as part of their ongoing modernization efforts.RMK Merrill-Stevens is a full-service yacht repair facility performing repair and refit of yachts, commercial craft and government vessels ranging from 30’ to 300’.

SSI CEO Darren Larkins, together with President & CTO Denis Morais, acquired ownership of the shipbuilding software development company from founder Rolf Oetter effective March 1, 2018. The two longtime employees have been managing SSI for the past seven years and have been entrenched in all aspects of the company’s day-to-day operations for even longer. Larkins, SSI’s fifth employee in 1999, said that through the years he and Morais have done “pretty much everything that SSI does at some point.” He added…

Using data collected from underwater drones, merchant ships, fishing boats and even explorers, a new scientific project aims to map the ocean floor by 2030 and solve one of the world’s enduring mysteries.With 190 million square km (73 million square miles) of water - or about 93 percent of the world's oceans with a depth of over 200 meters (650 feet) - yet to be charted, the initiative is ambitious.Satinder Bindra, director of the Seabed 2030 project, said the work can be completed within the period and will shed light on everything from tsunami wave patterns to pollution…

Michael E. Rickey was named Senior Manager, Honda Marine, effective April 1, 2018.In this capacity he oversees total sales, operations and application engineering activities for the U.S. region, working to increase volume through the execution of competitive pricing; sales channel expansion; strategic advertising and promotional campaigns; and enhanced communications with OEM and dealer channels.Before his current role, Rickey most recently served as Senior Manager, Engines and Export Sales for the Honda Engines group.

RadiantFleet announced closing an agreement with River Advice AG. The agreement includes the use of RadiantFleet platform (Software as a Service) for Crew and Payroll Management. The software solution provides River Advice real time collaboration between their corporate offices, managed vessels and crew. River Advice was established in 2004 and soon developed to what is now the leading manager of river cruise ships in Europe. With corporate offices in Basel, Cologne, Limassol and Luxemburg, the group offers a broad range of services tailored to the needs to each client.

Yanmar Marine International has appointed Daniel Sundberg as its new Nordics Regional Manager to oversee sales, after-sales and marketing related to the manufacturer’s commercial and leisure marine engines and other Yanmar Group brands in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Latvia.Sundberg's position encompasses the roles of Nordics Regional Manager, General Manager of Yanmar Norway and General Manager of Yanmar Sweden.According to Yanmar, the addition of a focused Nordics Manager…

Damen has held the first viewing of its UV 4312 Fish Farm Support Vessel. The new class is the result of extensive discussions with the global fish farming industry and the result is a versatile vessel specifically designed to undertake the maintenance and support tasks particular to saltwater fish farms. The open day took place at the group’s headquarters at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and was held for the benefit of operators from across the global sector. The 43-meter, 499 metric ton GT Utility Vessel (UV) 4312 builds on the development work that went into its smaller predecessor…

Germany-based Bomin Group has started delivering ultra-low sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) as a marine fuel to ships calling in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp region, the company said. The ULSFO marine fuel has a maximum 0.1 sulphur content and complies with regulations on designated Emissions Control Areas (ECAs)as well as the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) global sulphur cap in 2020. Coming IMO rules will slash the amount of sulphur emissions that ships worldwide are allowed to burn from 3.5 to 0.5 percent by 2020.

Marine electronics manufacturer Navico has appointed Steve Rae to the position of Country Manager for Canada.Based in Vancouver Island, B.C., Rae will be responsible for sales, service and support for the company’s three marine electronics brands, Lowrance, Simrad and B&G. In addition, he will oversee a new Edmonton-based Navico service center that will open on May 30.Rae has been involved with Navico brands since 1988, managing Canadian sales and service for Lowrance. In 2008…

DNV GL, the risk management and quality assurance company, has bought a stake in leading public blockchain service provider VeChain as it looks to use the technology to develop new digital assurance solutions. The acquisition builds on the strong relationship between the two firms and follows the recent launch of My Story, a blockchain enabled digital assurance product which gives a new level of insight into supplier and product information. DNV GL took the step to buy the minority stake as it recognises the growth potential in both the VeChain and the technology it is advancing.

Maersk Drilling awarded GustoMSC the first order for the uniquely designed crane Chela, which is to be installed on Maersk Invincible (GustoMSC CJ70 design) which is currently operating on Valhall for AkerBP. Chela is desgined to improve safe handling underneath the cantilever and reduce total time spent on wells. Chela offers an extra hand in operations as, due to its crablike motion characteristics, it can reach below the cantilever as well as elevate towards the main deck, providing crane access to an area traditionally blocked by the cantilever when drilling.

Equinor ASA (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: STO), the new name of Statoil ASA, was approved by the annual general meeting yesterday, May 15, 2018, and the new name has now been registered in the Norwegian register of business enterprises (Foretaksregisteret). The company's shares will from May 16, 2018 (inclusive) be quoted on Oslo Børs with the new name and the new ticker EQNR. Implementation date for the new ticker EQNR for the company's American Depository Receipts (ADRs) on New York Stock Exchange is expected to be May 17, 2018 at the earliest. ISIN number is unchanged.

Glasgow based Songa Shipmanagement Ltd. selected CR Ocean Engineering, LLC, as the supplier of exhaust gas cleaning systems for its oil/chemical tankers and Heavy lift vessels, with options for more. The Scrubbing Systems will enter commercial operations commencing in the late summer 2018 and go on throughout the beginning of 2020. In addition to the existing 0.1 percent sulfur fuel Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in Europe and North America, starting January 1, 2020, the rest of…

As Volvo Penta continues its strategic penetration of the commercial maritime sector, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News checks in with Ron Huibers, President, Volvo Penta of the Americas. When we first met with you a few years ago, Volvo Penta was in the early stages of a strategic move into the commercial maritime sector in North America. Please update your progress. Historically, we have been strong in the marine commercial markets outside of North America. Five years ago…

Ideol and STX Europe Offshore Energy, the well-known EPCIM supplier of substations to the bottom-fixed offshore wind industry, announce the development of a breakthrough floating substation. This one will be compatible with both bottom-fixed and floating offshore wind farms. Their universal and modular solution is expected to impact the market of offshore substations and aims at being market-ready for France’s upcoming floating commercial tenders. Based on Ideol’s patented and shallow-draft Damping Pool® concept and designed to operate in the world most extreme environments…

Navis, a part of Cargotec Corporation, announced that DP World Jeddah has upgraded from Navis SPARCS to N4 3.5 terminal operating system (TOS). The implementation of the updated TOS is a move by the terminal to leverage the latest technology to meet continuous customer service demands and address the need for increasing operational support as incoming cargo volume rises. DP World operates the South Container Terminal (SCT) at Jeddah Islamic Port, a crucial link in the world’s busiest East-West trade routes through the Red Sea and catering to a rich domestic cargo base. The port is the main import destination for Saudi Arabia, handling 59 percent of its imports by sea and serving its main commercial centers.

As part of the life extension project for the Polvo Floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, operator BW Offshore has contracted Norwegian based liquid handling and pump specialist PG Flow Solutions to supply new water booster pumps.PG Flow Solutions said its scope of work includes the engineering, procurement, assembly of pump skid and commissioning of two produced water booster pumps in super duplex materials, with 150kW electrical motors, variable frequency drives and pressurized seal system.“After a couple of challenging years for the Brazilian offshore industry…

A smart shipping survey conducted in January 2018 found that, while the majority of maritime industry executives believe digitalization and big data will transform the sector, only 8.7 percent  currently see it as a major part of their operations.Unpredictability and disruption have made the past decade anything but smooth sailing for the global shipping industry. Volatile trade patterns and policies, low freight rates, fluctuations in commodity prices and within global demand have all contributed to a highly competitive environment which requires careful navigation by shipowners.

Louisiana shipyard C&C Marine and Repair has delivered the second towboat in a series of three 6,600 hp, 160’ x 50’ triple-screw z-drive newbuilds for Marquette Transportation Company.The delivery of the new towboat m/v Chris Reeves comes three months after the series' lead vessel m/v Cindy L. Erickson was handed over in February 2018.The third in the series is scheduled for delivery this August, with a fourth optional towboat lined up for delivery in December.Chris Reeves was designed by CT Marine…

New rules coming into force from 2020 to curb pollution produced by the world's ships are worrying everyone from OPEC oil producers to bunker fuel sellers and shipping companies.The regulations will slash emissions of sulfur, which is blamed for causing respiratory diseases and is a component of acid rain that damages vegetation and wildlife.But the energy and shipping industries are ill-prepared, say analysts, with refiners likely to struggle to meet higher demand for cleaner…

The Switch Norway, part of Yaskawa Corporation’s Yaskawa Environmental Energy Division, reports it has completed a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for its Electronic Bus Link breaker (EBL). It is the first time the new EBL, a key element within its DC-Hub, has undergone a FAT.The procedure was conducted in Trondheim under the supervision of class society DNV-GL and the undisclosed end customers. There were no issues recorded with the first three EBL units to undergo stringent testing…

Physical bunker supplier arranged delivery of marine fuels to NATO navy ships in Poti, Georgia.Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) under the direction of Royal Navy Commodore Mike Utley, conducted a port visit in Poti, Georgia May 14 to May 17 with four ships from the group: Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan (flagship), Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik, Romanian frigate ROS Regele Ferdinand and Bulgarian frigate BGS Drazki.“In general, physical bunker supply in Georgian ports, available by tank trucks alongside berth.

Wise visitors to Bangkok will be sure to take a Chao Phraya river cruise past the spectacular Temple of the Dawn, Wat Arun, and the glories of the golden spired Grand Palace. The ultimate way to do this is on a dinner cruise with a buffet of the celebrated Thai food.This has become such a popular experience that the river at night becomes a spectacular parade of beautifully lit low-slung river cruise ships gliding under bridges and moving sedately amidst that city’s lights and sights.

Federico Martinengo, the seventh multipurpose FREMM frigate recently delivered to the Italian Navy by shipyard Fincantieri, like all 10 ships in the new Carlos Bergamini-class FREMM frigate program, features the power dense GE LM2500+G4 gas turbine in a COmbined Diesel eLectric And Gas turbine (CODLAG) propulsion system.In 2013, Fincantieri delivered the first Italian FREMM, Carlo Bergamini. In addition to the Italian FREMM frigates, DCNS shipyard in Lorient, France, is well underway having delivered six FREMM frigates in a 10-ship program.

U.S.-based ballast water treatment system (BWTS) manufacturer Ecochlor, Inc. said it has been awarded a contract to retrofit 36 vessels, including Suezmaxes, Aframaxes, VLCCs, Minicapes and Capes for Angelicoussis Shipping Group Limited (ASGL). Installations are expected to take place between 2018 and 2020 in Singapore, Dubai, Qatar and China.Ecochlor CEO Steve Candito remarked, “Having both IMO and USCG Type Approval were very important factors in the selection process by ASGL.

Norway-based Reach Subsea has been awarded a Frame Agreement for Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) services to Statoil Petroleum.The frame agreement has a duration of five years, and commences in 2019.Commercial terms under the agreement are confidential between the parties. However, the frame agreement is call-off based, which means that Statoil can award contracts for IMR services in the North Sea on an as needed basis.Reach Subsea CEO Jostein Alendal said, “We are proud to be awarded the IMR Frame Agreement with Statoil…

We visited Grand Bahama Shipyard CEO Dave Skentelbery, who updates us on his shipyard and the cruise shipping industry.How do you see the market today?In terms of the cruise ship market, it is very healthy. As a business, we are growing the amount of work we do on each of those projects. We’re doing more complex scopes of work. I think we’re truly demonstrating our capability as a project management company to the cruise lines.How do you evolve to more complex jobs?It’s investment in people and facilities.

Work has kicked off at Damen Shiprepair Dunkerque to convert the trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Samuel de Champlain from diesel-electric propulsion to dual-fuel capability combining marine gas oil (MGO) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). A ceremony was held at the yard to mark the first cutting of steel for the prefabrication of a new section of hull that will hold the new generators and other equipment.Present at the occasion were Jean-Pierre Guellec, CEO of GIE Dragages-Ports…

As industry efforts to make autonomous shipping a reality continue, Rolls-Royce and AXA Corporate Solutions have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to explore ways in which they can bring a new risk management offering to the marine market.The companies say they seek to utilize Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence systems and equipment and AXA’s risk analytics capabilities to support current sailing and future vessels."Combining AXA’s Marine Underwriting expertise and Rolls-Royce Ship Intelligence will enable both companies to deliver higher customer value through continuous innovation…

French energy group Total said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Oman to develop natural gas resources in the country."Total and Shell as operator will develop several natural gas discoveries located in the Greater Barik area on onshore Block 6 with respective shares of 25 percent and 75 percent, as per the agreement between both companies and before possible State back-in, with the objective of an initial gas production of around 500 MMcfd and a potential to reach 1 bcf/d at a later stage," Total said in a press release on Sunday."Total will use its equity gas entitlement as feedstock to develop in Oman a regional hub for liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering service to supply LNG as a fuel to marine vessels.

Jordan Tilton has rejoined the Marine Jet Power (MJP) sales team as Program Manager responsible for key account management and aftermarket business development in the Americas.Tilton has more than 15 years experience in the commercial marine sector. He began his career on the Great Lakes captaining high speed ferries and also worked as a captain on board yachts and commercial vessels in the Gulf Coast and Caribbean before joining U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air…

Saudi Arabia based Bahri Group, one of the largest ship owners in the Middle East and the largest owner of very large crude carriers (VLCC) in the world, has opted for digital solutions from Singapore based MariApps Marine Solutions to help meet its ship management software requirements. Majid Al-Shenaiber, Senior VP, Information Technology, Bahri Group, and Sankar Ragavan, CEO MariApps Marine Solutions, signed the agreement at the Bahri offices in Dubai on May 13. MariApps said it will roll out the latest version of the ship management Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP)…

The new ‘Sulfur 2020 – Options Evaluator’ from Lloyd’s Register (LR) aims to help the industry identify the best strategy for compliance with the global sulfur in fuel oil limit of 0.50 percent m/m, which comes into effect on January 1, 2020.According to LR, the ‘Options Evaluator’ aims to bring clarity to what the potential cost and investment implications could be for the various compliance strategies, such as transition from fuel oil to marine gasoil (MGO), use of scrubbers…

Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Corpetrolsa Group of Guayaquil, Ecuador, for the supply of three tugs; one Stan Tug 1205 and two Stan Tugs 1606. The tugs will be operated by Corpetrolsa subsidiary DLEN S.A. to support its bunkering operation. Corpetrolsa Group operates its own fleet of tankers in the 2,000 to 7,000 DWT range and the three new tugs will be used to assist them in the Ecuadorean ports of Esmeraldas and La Libertad. The vessels were already in stock at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and will be supplied in their standard format without modifications.

There's a new report out from the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) -- authorted by Lloyds Register (LR) and University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) -- that examines different fuel options and costs as increasingly the world's oceangoing fleet is pushed toward decarbonization. As a back drop, as Mariitme Reporter & Engineering News reports in its May 2018 edition with its cover feature interview with Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the International Mariitme Organization (IMO), the IMO mandate is to cut emissions 50% by 2050, as agreed in mid-April 2018, as compared to 2008 levels.

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has concluded a deal with Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) to supply three Kalmar SmartPower rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) for its container yard at the Port of Buatan in Indonesia. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 first quarter order intake and delivery is scheduled to take place towards the end of Q4 2018. RAPP, a subsidiary of APRIL Group - one of the world's leading producers of pulp and fine papers - operates a pulp and paper mill in Riau Province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

SWIVEL Software announced, at the 3PL Value Creation Asia Summit in Hong Kong,  the launch of SWIVEL 360, a Logistics Control Tower that can provide both visibility and transparency between all parties in the supply chain. With SWIVEL 360, all parties can get real time alerts and search the status of a shipment based on SKU or item code, purchase order, bill of lading, container, or customer. The collaboration portal also allows simple tasks as searching airline and sailing schedules, communication with factories overseas, booking freight to logistics partners/carriers, and much more.

In the Santa Barbara County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, the Thomas Fire Debris Flow Incident Emergency Dredging Project in the Carpinteria Salt Marsh needed a special dredge to make it happen. DSC Dredge was there. Carpinteria is a small California town approximately 80 miles north of Los Angeles. The town sits right on the Pacific Ocean with mountains just behind it. Unfortunately, this past year has been very difficult for this region. Wild fires ravaged the mountains and left the hills completely void of vegetation.

INTTRA, the largest neutral network, software and information provider at the center of the ocean shipping industry, announced an expansion of its rapidly growing carrier network with the addition of Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines (SPIL), its first carrier in Indonesia. The addition of SPIL represents a trend by regional carriers who are joining INTTRA to gain a competitive advantage in their service regions. SPIL provides services to all Indonesian routes, with 32 offices strategically located across the Indonesian archipelago.

The U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) in New London, Connecticut, is the service's only command conducting research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) support for all 11 statutory missions. Since its commissioning in 1972, RDC has been involved in over 2,000 projects and initiatives that have significantly benefited the Coast Guard and the components of the Maritime Transportation System. As the demand for research and development capability grows within the service…

The Danish Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO) announced the purchase of a major upgrade of BMT’s SARIS, the search and rescue planning tool that helps save lives, plan searches and minimize danger at sea. The upgrade will consist of a deployment of 20 licenses primarily to Denmark but also including Greenland and the Faroe Islands. A large part of the upgrade will include capacity for ongoing in-house training, with initial training being delivered by BMT. The SARIS technology is designed to help locate targets, whether it be people or objects, lost at sea.

Compared to new technologies, conventional engineering in shipping is a relatively simple science: computable and generally predictable. However, heavy lift shipping presents challenges that go far beyond what is required with standard unitized cargoes. The transportation of project cargoes - often highly valuable components of multi-billion-dollar projects - requires expert planning to ensure they are loaded and transported safely and efficiently. Last year AAL shipped two giant cyclone vessels (22m x 11m x 10m and weighing over 500mt each) to Petronas’ $27 billion RAPID project in Malaysia.

Corvus Energy was selected by Norwegian Electric System (NES) to supply lithium ion battery-based energy storage systems (ESS) for two new all-electric ferries being built by Havyard for Norwegian ferry operator Fjord1. The ferries will operate on the Magerholm-Sykkylven route. This follows a previous order in November 2017 to supply the ESSs for three similar newbuilt Fjord1 ferries that will operate on the Hareid-Sulesund route. Each of the five all-electric ferries, which are 111 meters in length and holds 120 cars…

As the marine industry collectively pushes toward decarbonization, there are seemingly daily 'world firsts' as owners, designers, builders and suppliers alike conspire to deliver innovative solutions to reducing marine emissions. MAN Diesel & Turbo was picked to provide a complete propulsion package and fuel-gas system for the world’s first fishing vessel with LNG propulsion, an 86-m newbuild purse-seiner dubbed ‘Libas’ to be built by Cemre Shipyard in Istanbul. Libas will feature a MAN 6L51/60DF main engine…

The developer of the barnacle-repelling antifouling ingredient Selektope have become members of the non-profit organization Clean Shipping Index (CSI). Through its membership, I-Tech AB will encourage environmentally responsible decisions around antifouling coating procurement to users of CSI’s holistic labeling system which ranks the environmental performance of ships. I-Tech will seek to promote the benefits of choosing less environmentally impactful antifoulings and educate CSI users on the impact of coating types…

Italy’s first ARMG (Automated rail mounted gantry cranes) have reached APM Terminals Vado Ligure. These will be used in the new Container Terminal due for completion in 2019. The long journey to Italy started in China in January and included stops in South Africa and the UK. These six cranes are the first of 21 cranes to be delivered. These fully automated Gantry Cranes are the most technologically advanced in the terminal. In addition to their considerable size (they can handle up to six stacked containers)…

Port of Amsterdam is launching the Portle digital business guide. The new search engine provides access to all businesses and terminals that are located in the Port of Amsterdam and conduct business in and around the port area. Portle increases the online visibility and findability of port companies. How do you find the right company and suitable partner in the preferred port? Starting today, the answer is only a couple of clicks away on https://portle.portofamsterdam.com/en.

Earlier this year in New York City the Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Association (EGCSA) held its annual meeting to discuss the business, technologies and future of scrubbers as a solution to the looming IMO 2020 fuel rules. At the meeting, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News was afforded the opportunity to pick the brains of several leading executives to help understand the challenge and promise that scrubbers provide. In October 2016 a landmark decision was handed down from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which set January 1…

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) announced it has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to provide its Integrated Bridge and Navigation System (IBNS) for the first four ships of the Royal Saudi Navy’s (RSN) Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) program.  OSI will build and deliver a military grade system for the MMSC program based on the system designed for the U.S. Navy Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program.The company was awarded the LCS-27 contract by Lockheed Martin in November 2017.As a company that is exclusively focused on the naval market, OSI’s IBNS is designed and built specifically for warships and meets stringent military specification demanded by both the USN and RSN.

New research from DNV GL, the technical advisor to the oil and gas industry, reveals that 46% of senior professionals in the sector believe there has been underinvestment in inspection and maintenance of infrastructure and equipment in recent years. Just a quarter (28%) said that they expect to increase spending on safety in 2018. 61% will maintain current budgets and 5% plan to cut investment. The findings appear in The State of Safety, a special report from DNV GL’s research on the outlook for the oil and gas industry in 2018.

Women in maritime are a key contributor to the maritime transport sector. This was the message of Helen Buni from International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s gender programme as she opened the second regional conference for Pacific Women in Maritime held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, (26–28 April). The conference highlighted the significant progress made by the women in maritime association (WIMA) in the Pacific to integrate more women into the industry. The event reaffirmed…

The partnership between Damen Shipyards Group and Ampelmann to extend the benefits of motion-compensated gangway systems to fast crew supply vessels has reached a major landmark. At the end of March, the first Damen fast crew supply (FCS) vessel to be fitted with an Ampelmann L-type system began operations in the Gulf of Guinea. This marks a significant step forward in the move towards bringing the latest advances in safe and flexible marine access to a wider array of oil and gas operations.

Shipbuilder Austal USA announced today it has acquired privately held ElectraWatch, Inc. in an all cash stock purchase. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., ElectraWatch develops and deploys portable probe devices that help maintain aluminum structures. According to Austal USA, the acquisition reinforces its position in aluminum ship manufacturing and sustainment and extends its ability to support the U.S. Navy fleet where nearly every ship includes aluminum structures. “The…

Damen Shipyards Group has introduced a new model to its Fast Crew Supplier range: the FCS 2710, which builds on the FCS 2610 first introduced in 2011.The first FCS 2710 vessel is already in build at Damen Shipyards Gorinchem for delivery in July 2018. The FCS 2710 retains the twin hull, axe bow design. However, as the offshore energy industry has evolved in recent years so has its requirements for crew transfer vessels and the regulations that govern them. Damen has listened to the feedback and designed a vessel that retains much of the fundamental design of the 2610…

Flintstone Technology Ltd said it has secured a contract with MODEC for its in-line tensioning and pull through connection mooring system to be deployed off West Africa.The system will be used on Tullow Oil’s Kwame Nkrumah MV21 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel located on the Jubilee field off the coast of Ghana.The mooring system will allow the conversion of the FPSO to a spread moored configuration.The Kwame Nkrumah MV21 is installed in approximately 1,100 meters water depth on the Jubilee Field, which is one of the largest oil fields discovered offshore West Africa in the past 10 years.Earlier this month, Flintstone…

Aerial drones have made major advances in endurance, range and payload capacity over recent years while prices have continually plummeted, leading to a proliferation of drones expected to reach 12 million by 2020.This trend, some believe, means aerial drones will pose an even greater threat to the safety and security of commercial shipping vessels.To help combat this emerging threat, U.K. based Martek Marine has developed a maritime drone detection and defeat system called D-FENCE.As terrorist use of drones deploying explosives is well documented…

Klas Bendrik will join DNV GL September 1 as Chief Digital Transformation Officer to support DNV GL’s digitalization and IT strategy. Bendrik will be based at the DNV GL headquarters in Høvik, Norway and will be a member of DNV GL Group’s Executive Committee and report to Group President and CEO Remi Eriksen.“Digitalization is central to our strategy. DNV GL invests 5 percent of its revenue on research, development and innovation, and now more than 60 percent of this is dedicated to our digital transformation,” Eriksen said.

Robert Allan Ltd. has developed a new all electric pilot boat for service involving short trips where the run to the ship is 5 nautical miles or less.An aluminum version of its steel predecessor, the RAlly 1600-E boasts a fully electric twin screw drivetrain and a substantial bank of high energy density batteries that are recharged from shore power. Twin small auxiliary generators give “get home” and range extension capability but are normally not running. The vessel runs quietly and emissions free and is capable of reaching speeds up to 20 knots.According to the designer…

Boston Carriers announced that in April 24 2018, the company entered into an exclusivity agreement with Nuova. The agreement provides six months for the acquisition of Nuova and all its assets and liabilities including but not limited to the storage facility in Italy as well as all its business, licenses and trademarks. "Our preliminary assessment of Nuova’s property plant and equipment assets only without including any valuation on the business, licenses and trademarks is approximately…

At BP's massive Thunder Horse oil platform in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, a dog-sized robot called Maggie uses magnetic tracks to creep along pipes connecting the giant oil facility to the sea floor. Before MaggHD, dubbed "Maggie" by BP, the dangerous inspection job was reserved for highly paid specialist technicians who did their jobs while rappelling along the platform. The energy industry has turned to robots and drones to cut costs and improve safety in some of the world's tougher working environments. Drones inspect gear high up on floating rigs.

BIMCO’s Documentary Committee approved a new set of standard bunker terms, developed by a cross-industry group, in New York on 2 May. The BIMCO Bunker Terms 2018 improve on the previous edition with a maximum limit of the parties’ liabilities – a key change that will lead to wider adoption of the contract. “I think it is a positive step for the industry that representatives for the bunker traders and shipowners have agreed on a standard set of terms, which both parties consider fair and balanced,” says Francis Sarre, Chair of the BIMCO Documentary Committee.

The growing number of construction projects in the Greater Amsterdam Area has created a need for a smart and efficient method for transporting materials to building sites. In an effort to meet this demand, the City of Amsterdam, Port of Amsterdam, Waternet and TNO (the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) have launched a partnership project in Amsterdam focussing on building logistics. As part of the project, commissioned by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment…

Top Ships, an international owner and operator of modern, fuel efficient "ECO" tanker vessels focusing on the transportation of petroleum products, announced that it has extended the firm period of the time charter of M/T Eco Fleet with BP Shipping Limited for six months. Following the signing of the above mentioned time charter party extension, the Company’s charter coverage is 100% of the operating fleet including vessels partly owned through joint ventures in the year 2018. The charter coverage of the operating fleet  for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 will be 83%, 65% and 20% repectively.

The technology group Wärtsilä announces that its acquisition of Transas, a global company headquartered in the U.K., has now been finalized. Control of the company will be transferred to Wärtsilä effective from 4 May, 2018. The acquisition, which was announced in March 2018, has a transaction value of MEUR 210 (enterprise value). Transas is a global market leader in marine navigation solutions that include complete bridge systems, digital products and electronic charts. It is also a leader in professional training and simulation services, as well as ship traffic control systems.

Rolls-Royce said it has won an order to supply MTU engines for four new tugs for Aliança Navegação, a company owned by the Hamburg Süd shipping line. The shipping company uses 16-cylinder MTU Series 4000 propulsion systems throughout its Brazilian tugboat fleet consisting of seven harbor tugs, two of which are deployed in São Francisco in the north of Santa Catarina. The remaining five tugboats are still to undergo commissioning.All tugs are being built by Detroit Brasil Ltda.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector North Carolina has restored radio communication capability Friday.Repairs were completed at approximately 4 a.m. after communications went down Thursday evening, leaving the Coast Guard unable to monitor radio traffic offshoreThe Coast Guard said HC-130 Hercules airplane had been launched Thursday night to monitor communications in the area on a temporary basis.

Southampton headquartered ship repairer and marine engineering services provider SMS has completed a major refit within the U.K. Port of Southampton at Williams Shipping’s specialist repair berth for the Isle of Wight operator Red Funnel.SMS has completed the build and installation of a two new 17-metric-ton aluminum passenger lounges on board the Red Eagle ferry in partnership with its sister co. the Wight Shipyard Company.Chris Norman, the Managing Director of SMS, said, “This project is a great example of our in-house capability.“Seventeen [metric ton] of aluminium…

120 miles out at sea, 6,000-horsepower devices lift drilling equipment weighing up to 3 million pounds out of holes lying 10,000 feet beneath the water. Keeping such sea monsters in good working order, often for years at a time, is no mean feat. Oil companies spend between $300,000 and $800,000 per day on each vessel drilling offshore. Any failures can result in losses that run into hundreds of thousands of dollars per day.With such high costs and massive market pressures, including volatile oil prices…

Located at the confluence of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, the Ohio River and the Cumberland River and just upstream from the Mississippi, the City of Paducah is an important hub in the inland waterways network. In 2015, newly appointed Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority Executive Director Bill Miller’s first priority was to upgrade the port’s infrastructure.“Our 20 year old lattice boom crane was past its useful service life,” he said, adding, “So the Board for the Riverport Authority authorized a bid spec to replace it with the best available equipment.” Today…

A 10-tug build project leads to federal standard color update for Great Lakes Towing Company.Attention to detail enables uniformity. And when you’re refreshing a renowned tugboat fleet with a 117-year history, you want to ensure a uniform look across all vessels to portray a strong brand image. Doing so means achieving uniform coloring throughout the fleet. It also means having uniform colors on each vessel between dry dockings – such that maintenance coatings don’t stand out…

Ship owner Dorian LPG Ltd. said it will look to upgrade the main engines of up to 10 of its very large gas carriers (VLGCs) to dual fuel technology utilizing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel.The ship owner has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with marine service provider Hyundai Global Service Co., Ltd (HGS) to undertake research and preliminary engineering studies for the project.The initiative follows the conclusion of a study announced in September 2017…

On Friday (4 May), United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres visited the Headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for ship safety, maritime security and prevention of pollution from ships. He was welcomed by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim. Addressing representatives of IMO Member States and IMO staff, Guterres highlighted the important contribution of IMO’s work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) is positive towards the proposal for the EU budget 2021 – 2027 published earlier this week. Specifically the large increase of the EU budget for Research, Innovation and Digital and for Climate and Environment could provide resources to support the European shipping industry in its transition to decarbonisation. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted in mid-April an initial strategy to reduce the total annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels.

Stena Oil has signed an agreement to create a new marine fuel terminal in the Port of Frederikshavn. The facility will be fully adapted for the new Sulphur Directive 2020 and its location will reduce the distances travelled by bunkering vessels. The oil terminal will be the largest of its kind in Scandinavia, with a capacity of 75 000 cubic metres. "We are delighted to be developing our business in Frederikshavn. We will create a state-of-the-art terminal that can handle all fuel types that meet the IMO’s global sulphur directive, which comes into effect in 2020.

Carnival Corporation officially opened its second cruise terminal at the Port of Barcelona with an inauguration ceremony attended by government, business and community representatives.During the ceremony, the company revealed that Helix cruise center will be the name of its new 12,500 square meter state-of-the-art terminal. At over 46 million euros, the Helix terminal and the company's existing terminal at the port represent Carnival Corporation's largest combined terminal investment…

Ben van Scherpenzeel is Chairman of the international Port Call Optimisation Task Force said that it’s rather curious that the shipping sector, whose history goes back some 5,000 years, only recently adopted international standards for nautical port information. Numerous younger industries, including aviation and telephony, set up international standards a long time ago. The task force works to improve the quality of information in the port call process by identifying data bottlenecks…

A pipeline connecting Cyprus' Aphrodite gas field to Egypt's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities will cost between $800 million and $1 billion, Egyptian petroleum minister Tarek El Molla said on Monday. Egypt has rapidly increased its production of natural gas and is hoping to become a hub for exporting to Europe after making a series of big discoveries in recent years. Molla, speaking at a joint news conference with Cyprus energy minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, said Cypriot gas would be used in part for domestic consumption and in part for export. Lakkotrypis said a final agreement on the pipeline would be signed as quickly as possible but did not specify when. Egypt is hoping to halt gas imports by 2019 and achieve self-sufficiency.

U.S. oil firm ConocoPhillips has moved to take Caribbean assets of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA to enforce a $2 billion arbitration award over a decade-oil nationalization of its projects in the South American country, according to three sources familiar with its actions. The U.S. firm targeted facilities on the islands of Curacao, Bonaire and St. Eustatius that accounted for about a quarter of Venezuela's oil exports last year. The three play key roles in processing, storing and blending PDVSA's oil for export.

Wärtsilä said it has been contracted to design and equip one of PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd's newest harbor tugs. Operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and incorporating fuel efficiency features, the harbor tug, which will be built by PaxOcean Shipyard, will be aligned with the maritime industry’s increasing emphasis on environmental impact. The order with Wärtsilä, booked in March 2018.The 28-meter long, 50-metric-ton bollard pull harbor tug will operate with two Wärtsilä 20DF dual-fuel engines running primarily on LNG fuel.

Japanese shipbuilders Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. announced they have signed a business cooperation agreement to partner in areas of commercial shipbuilding.The compatriot shipbuilders had announced in February 2018 they were discussing plans to partner, becoming the latest in a string of Japanese yards to team up to combat the industry downturn.Now, after several months of dialog, MES and Tsuneishi have identified specific areas for collaboration.

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has delivered the first new beam trawler to take to the North Sea in 12 years.Over the last 10 months, Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam (Maaskant) has outfitted the 41-meter hull from stock. The vessel, designated UK 46, is for Hakvoort Brothers, based in Urk, the Netherlands. According to the builder, a key feature of the vessel is the installation of twin Optima nozzles manufactured by Damen Marine Components (DMC). This is the first time that Maaskant has installed these in a fishing boat.The nozzles are Damen Optima L/D 0.4 models with a diameter of 3.63 meters.

GE Marine Solutions' LM2500 marine engines power the U.S. Navy’s newest Independence class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), which was christened May 5 at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.Each of the ship’s two LM2500 engines produce over 29,500 horsepower, propelling the USS Cincinnati to speeds in excess of 40 knots or 46 miles per hour.“Our skilled and diverse workforce proudly manufactures the LM2500 gas turbines used to power this sophisticated surface combatant at GE Aviation’s hometown just a few minutes-drive from downtown Cincinnati…

Alfa Laval said it has signed fleet agreements with Polsteam and Nova Ship Tech SA for the supply of PureBallast 3, the third generation of Alfa Laval’s ballast water treatment technology.Under the agreements, Alfa Laval will provide dozens of Polsteam and Nova Ship Tech SA vessels with PureBallast 3 systems – the vast majority of which will handle large flows of more than 1,000 m3/h.The agreements with Polsteam and Nova Ship Tech SA come as many ship owners shift their focus from individual ballast water treatment systems to complete fleet solutions.

It is time to move toward a quantitative approach that provides deeper understanding of individual risk elements observed in marine operating systems.Increasing connectivity in complex maritime operating systems is escalating the potential impact of cyber-related incidents and complicating the task of defending against them. Traditional methods for assessing cyber risk provide inadequate guidance for applying limited security resources.Currently, available risk assessment methods are largely qualitative.

The news that Venezuela's PDVSA has diverted a crude tanker from Curacao after ConocoPhillips moves to satisfy a $2 billion arbitration award signals that worst may be yet to come. Reuters is reporting that Venezuela's state-run PDVSA ordered a tanker waiting to discharge at its Curacao terminal to divert to Venezuelan waters after ConocoPhillips introduced an order in a Caribbean court to seize its inventories and other assets in the island, according to a shipper and Reuters data on Tuesday.

“Time is fast running out” for implementation by IMO Member States of the 0.5% global sulphur in fuel cap by 1 January 2020, says Esben Poulsson, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). The IMO global sulphur cap for marine fuel is expected to see shipping’s bunker prices increase significantly. “While ICS fully supports the objectives of the IMO cap, the overnight introduction of this regulatory game-changer will have enormous implications for ship operations.

With more than 500 trucks per day passing through the gates at APM Terminals Pipavav, even the smallest efficiency improvement quickly adds up to 100s of hours saved per day. The terminal’s latest digital solution also offers significant environmental benefits, cost savings and improved safety. APM Terminals Pipavav have developed an online version of Form 13 (gate-in permits issued by terminals) required for each import/export container. Known as e-form 13, it will save close to 3 million kilometres of road trips and their associated carbon emissions each year.

Rolls-Royce said it has signed a long-term service agreement with offshore vessel owner Siem Offshore for the maintenance of its deck machinery installations aboard 12 anchor handling vessels.The five-year Maintenance Inspection Program (MIP) is the formalization of a cooperation agreement between the two companies following the delivery of 10 new AHTS vessels in 2010, and two additional AHTS vessels that Siem Offshore took over ship management of in 2017.Jon August Houge, Operations Manager…

When it comes to training bridge officers, simulator training is the standard, with over 86 percent of companies using simulators for this purpose, according to the Maritime Training Insights Database (MarTID) 2018 Training Practices Report.The MarTID report found that a smaller proportion, around 60 percent total, use simulators for training engineering officers.Investment into simulation training will only increase in years to come. Of the companies that currently make use of simulation training…

Damen’s Head of Communications, Sylvia Boer, has recently been appointed President of the Netherlands chapter of WISTA – the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association. WISTA the Netherlands was founded in 2000 and currently has 140 members from across the maritime industry. WISTA the Netherlands focuses on a number of priority topics affecting the industry. Amongst these are sustainability, new technologies, big data, health & safety, cyber security, block chain, developing cultural sensitivity and last, but by no means least, clean oceans.

A great deal of debate and speculation surrounds autonomous sailing. While MARIN does not pretend to know all the answers, it is taking practical steps to assist in its development.The introduction of further autonomy in shipping first aims to facilitate much higher safety standards, but at the same time, a reduction in manning. MARIN is focusing on three main areas in relation to autonomous sailing. We believe it is important to study the ship in relation to traffic control, to understand nautical safety issues and the definition of new manning roles…

Japan's Nippon Foundation and Deepstar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) recently which essentially will allow Japan to tap the expertise and resources of DeepStar to help Japan discover and recover new-found subsea resources, as well as educate future generations of Japanese. The MOU was signed on May 1, 2018 at the Hotel ZaZa in Houston, and speaking at the event Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa said "We need to acquire the resources to discover and reach (our) natural resources.