Maritime Industry News

Simulation and training solutions provider Wärtsilä Voyage and knowledge and technology solutions provider Ocean Technologies Group (OTG) say they have partnered in an effort to enhance safety and efficiency in the maritime sector.With complementary converging digital technologies and platforms, Wärtsilä Voyage and OTG will provide industry stakeholders an opportunity to be connected on a single end-to-end learning journey, combining on-demand digital training and assessment, virtual and simulation events via cloud-based solutions…

The lucrative prospect of transporting COVID-19 vaccines by sea has intensified the spotlight on the maritime industry’s cold supply chain and its ability to carry high-value pharmaceuticals.At present, speed to market is critical to stemming the spread of the pandemic, so the vaccines are being shipped by air to international destinations. Delivering them by sea is a longer-term strategy; certainly, the present urgency would have to calm considerably before enough confidence could be built to support delivery times in weeks…

Venezuela is shipping jet fuel to Iran in return for vital gasoline imports for the South American nation as part of a swap deal agreed by the two state-run oil firms, three people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.Iran has ramped up assistance to Venezuela since last year as the United States tightened sanctions on both countries, hitting oil exports by state-run firms Petroleos de Venezuela and National Iranian oil Company (NIOC).Iran has sent flotillas of state-operated tankers carrying gasoline and feedstock for motor fuel to Venezuela…

Cargill and Maersk Tankers are aiming to unlock more competitive and transparent bunker pricing and improved customer service through a new strategic partnership combining their bunker volumes, offering a new bunker procurement service to tramp shipping companies and trading houses. The initial goal is to procure bunker fuel for Cargill and Maersk Tankers’ combined fleet, while aiming to attract additional customers in the coming months. The service will leverage Cargill’s in-house bunker expertise and Maersk Tankers’ commercial and operational capabilities and will launch on April 1…

Svitzer, Kongsberg Maritime and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) signed a deal to jointly develop the RECOTUG, touted as the world’s first commercial tug to be fully operated from a remote operations center on shore.Each organization delivers a unique perspective: Svitzer brings operational experience; Kongsberg brings remote control systems and autonomous technology; and ABS brings guidance for regulatory approval.The RECOTUG project's aim is to develop a remotely controlled…

Recent cyber attacks to the US Government, the IMO, Maersk, amongst others has caused the world to pay attention to criminal cyber activities by foreign states, terrorists, and criminals. The cyber attack against CMA CGM shut down services for close on two weeks. Two days later, on October 30th the IMO was held hostage by a cyber attack. These attacks follow attacks earlier this year against MSC and COSCO.As of January 1, 2021 all vessels that have a safety management system must address cyber security in order to maintain ISM certification.

A new approach to safety is necessary along the maritime industry's rapid transition to a decarbonized, digitally smart future, says classification society DNV GL in a new white paper released this week, and as discussed on Maritime Reporter TV with Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL - Maritime and Fenna van de Merwe, Principal Consultant at DNV GL, the report’s author.The white paper entitled “Closing the Safety Gap in an Era of Transformation”, identifies a looming “safety gap”…

The growing U.S. offshore wind industry will offer "a substantial number of opportunities" for the local fishermen and mariners to supplement their income, a study commissioned by the New York State Economic Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), has found.The study – compiled by The Renewables Consulting Group (RCG) – concluded that as the offshore wind industry grows, the option for mariners to supplement their income will become available during all phases of a project’s lifecycle.Based on current Northeastern US offshore wind commitments alone…

ABB Marine & Ports said it is ramping its presence with local divisions in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, in a move aimed at extending the company's global reach and service capabilities.In Turkey, ABB's newly established local division will serve the country’s vibrant maritime community. The shipbuilding segment in Turkey is a hive of activity – particularly for smaller and short-sea vessels, where ABB’s recent references include systems for two Turkish-built windfarm service vessels delivered to Louis Dreyfus Armateurs…

SAFE Boats International has hired Mark Stott as Business Development Director for the U.S. Western Region for government customers and private/commercial customers worldwide.Stott began his professional career in electronics and telecommunications before diving into the maritime industry. He has served as an engineer on large, private vessels worldwide and undertaken technical and business development roles with Protector USA and most recently, Moose Boats.“I’m excited to bring to SAFE Boats my 20-plus years of marine technical and business development experience,” Stott says.

A new approach to safety is necessary along the maritime industry's rapid transition to a decarbonized, digitally smart future, says classification society DNV GL in a new white paper released Tuesday.The white paper, “Closing the safety gap in an era of transformation”, identifies a looming “safety gap” between shipping’s existing approach to safety risks and its ambitions for greater digitalization and the adoption of alternative fuels. According to DNV GL, the new technologies…

Bellingham, Wash. shipbuilder All American Marine (AAM) has promoted Ron Wille to the role of president.AAM's business development manager since 2018, Wille brings to the role considerable maritime industry experience, having previously managed and directed large company operations. He has also worked on tugboats that specialized in commercial towing and ship assist in Southcentral Alaska. Of particular note, while Wille worked at Kenai Fjords Tours in Seward, Alaska, the company purchased and operated three AAM hydrofoil-assisted catamarans.A licensed merchant mariner…

While the EU parliament call for an emissions ban at berth, Yara Marine Technologies announced a partnership with NG3 signaling the return of cold ironing to its green tech portfolio."We used to do shore power projects on ships some years ago, but the market was too slow. Now however, with new regulation and grants supporting shipowner’s shore power investments, we are back in the business of shore power," said Aleksander Askeland CSO at Yara Marine Technologies. "Together with…

Maritime risk management and environmental assessment organization RightShip announced its new Safety Score and Platform has gone live, aiming to provide a clear and transparent pathway to improved safety standards for shipping.RightShip said it spent two years building and refining the Safety Score, a metric that enables the maritime industry to improve the safety of vessel operations. The Safety Score ensures there are minimum standards that all vessels must meet, as well as clear actions to take to improve a vessel’s score.

DG Risk Group announced Monday it has acquired armed maritime security company Protection Vessels International, along with its trading division Halcyon Yacht Security. The acquisition was completed in 2020.UK-based Protection Vessels International (PVI) specializes in armed maritime security solutions for commercial and governmental agencies. Most recently PVI, in unison with DG Risk Group, supported and partnered with several navies in the Gulf of Guinea in support of two major…

French oil major Total said it will contribute to a project led by shipping giant Maersk aiming to develop new alternative fuels and carbon neutral solutions for ships.The nonprofit Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping was formed in 2020 as the maritime industry continues efforts to reduce its environmental footprint. The center will create overviews of decarbonization pathways, accelerate the development of selected decarbonizing fuels and powering technologies, and support the establishment of regulatory, financial and commercial means to enable transformation.

Mike Corrigan, the ubiquitous leader of Interferry, has a broad base of energy and maritime industry experience, including his stint as CEO of BC Ferries. Corrigan shares with Maritime Reporter & Engineering News his thoughts on a broad range of issues facing the ferry industry: COVID-19, emerging international regulations, and yes, maritime training and education initiatives throughout the world ferry industry.Looking back to your tenure atop BC Ferries, can you discuss this through a training and education lens?At BC Ferries, safety and training was an integral part of my role and passion.

Bureau Veritas (BV) said it has certified a new-generation 3D printed propeller manufactured by Naval Group for a Tripartite-class minehunter vessel.“This technology is promising and opens the room for further, more complex, innovations in additive manufacturing,” Laurent Leblanc, Senior Vice President Technical & Operations at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore.With its 2.5-meter span supported by five 200-kg blades, the propeller is said to be the largest metal 3D-printed propeller ever manufactured.

As the maritime industry grapples with the technology and technique to meet increasingly strict emission mandates, eConowind is working to deliver an innovative wind sail system.In step with the development, Liebherr delivered what is currently the largest worm-driven slewing drive units in the world for the sailing system by eConowind. Inspired by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, eConowind develops an innovative sailing system that is intended to revolutionize commercial shipping. Up to 40 meters high, futuristic metal sails serve as propulsion support for cargo ships.

Pete Buttigieg was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday by a 86-13 vote to head the U.S. Transportation Department.Buttigieg, a U.S. Navy veteran and the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., will oversee maritime, aviation, highways, vehicles, pipelines and transit, as well as efforts to ensure safe transportation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.Buttigieg recently drew praise from members of the American maritime industry after voicing his support for the Jones Act, a federal law requiring goods transported between U.S.

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) and Ship Data Center Co., Ltd. (ShipDC) have agreed to share operation data of all “K” Line fleet equipped with Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions through IoS Open Platform (IoS-OP), the ship IoT data sharing platform promoted by ShipDC.“K” LINE had so far stored operation data collected from several vessels equipped with Kawasaki Integrated Maritime Solutions to IoS-OP, and has now agreed to expand the sharing for all its owned fleet…

Despite being the second-largest global market for onshore wind, the United States is today a very minor player in comparison to the European and East Asian offshore wind markets, however, this is about to change.Philip Lewis, Director of Research, World Energy Reports said in an interview with Maritime Reporter TV, that 2021 is expected to be a "step-change" for the U.S. Offshore wind industry.But first, where are we today? Per Lewis, the U.S. currently has only two operational projects for a total of 42MW of installed capacity versus a global offshore installed base of 34…

A new emissions monitoring system from ABB is designed to help the maritime industry meet emissions regulations that entered into force in 2020.In January 2020, the low sulphur and nitrous oxide emission limits in the International Maritime Organization regulations became effective worldwide. ABB's CEMcaptain is designed to help owners and operators comply with the new rules, and it also provides measurement and digital capabilities increase on-board safety, provide process optimization and substantially reduce ownership costs…