Maritime Industry News

An electric propulsion system conversion kit developed by power transmission technology company Twin Disc and distributor partner Palmer Johnson Power Systems has been approved by the California Air & Resources Board (CARB) under the Clean Off-Road Equipment Voucher Incentive Project (CORE).The CORE incentive program aims to encourage California off-road equipment users to purchase or lease currently commercialized zero-emission off-road equipment by offsetting the higher cost…

ABS and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) are working together to develop a model-based additive manufacturing (AM) qualification framework for the maritime industry with the aim to reduce lead time and cost for AM part approvals.Traditional manufacturing processes rely on physical tests for verification and validation of their mechanical performance, including test coupons, specimens and prototype components. Additive manufacturing, while also currently dependent on physical tests…

Michele Grubbs, vice president at the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA), has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII), a not-for-profit organization committed to supporting and promoting the business of international trade and the intermodal transportation community.Grubbs has been with PMSA since 2004, overseeing its Long Beach office. PMSA, an independent nonprofit association, represents ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, and the maritime industry on the U.S. West Coast.

Romania-based GLO Marine announced it has appointed John Louring as its new sales director.Louring brings to the position a strong background in the maritime industry and green technologies gained over more than 20 years in sales and business development, having previously held roles at companies like Desmi and Blucher.Louring said, “I am thrilled to join the GLO Marine team. Their business transformation is truly impressive. They are passionate individuals, exceptional engineers, and highly ambitious. For me, this is a winning move.

The maritime industry is seeing significant fleet growth in the containership sector as the volume of newbuild deliveries eclipses previous highs.“Since the beginning of the year, the capacity of the containership fleet has increased by 1.6 million TEU. Compared to one year ago, the capacity has risen 11% to 29.5 million TEU, the fastest fleet growth in 15 years,” said Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping analyst at BIMCO.During the first half of 2024, a total of 264 ships with a combined capacity of 1.6 million TEU have been delivered from shipyards…

Classification society ABS on Wednesday announced it has released guidance focused on ammonia bunkering, said to be the first such advisory for the industry.The ABS Ammonia Bunkering: Technical and Operational Advisory considers the aspects of bunkering ammonia as a fuel, providing the maritime industry with a better understanding of the challenges involved and how best to address them.Due to its greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential, ammonia is widely considered a leading alternative fuel candidate.

The Board of Directors of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) are deeply saddened by the death of Spyros M Polemis, who served as Chairman of ICS from 2006 to 2012.Polemis had a long history of leadership of the maritime industry, previously serving on the ICS Board for many years as the representative of the Union of Greek Shipowners. He was also President of the International Shipping Federation (ISF) before its merger with ICS, which he oversaw, in 2011.Polemis was a tireless advocate for shipping and the maintenance of global rules for a global industry…

There are many forces pushing stakeholders across the global maritime industry to decarbonize.In the U.S. inland waterways, regulations aren’t one of the main drivers—at least not at the moment, according to Mike Complita, principal and vice president of strategic expansion at Elliott Bay Design Group, a naval architecture firm.Speaking on a panel at the IMX trade show in Nashville, Complita said proposed rules from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are “driving massive change on the West Coast”…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center (USCG-RDC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) as a stepping stone towards collaborative research and development on top-of-mind technologies impacting the maritime industry.Activity under the MoU can include developing joint research publications, new technology qualifications and information sharing in a variety of research areas including remote and autonomous systems for uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles…

AST Networks has expanded into the navigation and communication (NavCom) system sector.The move reflects their commitment to providing comprehensive communication solutions that address the evolving needs of the marine industry. By integrating NavCom technologies with its existing suite of maritime IT solutions, AST Networks aims to offer unmatched operational efficiency, safety and compliance for maritime operators worldwide. NavCom systems provide real-time data and alerts, helping prevent collisions, grounding, and other hazards.

After its launch at last year’s London International Shipping Week, an exhibition spotlighting the inspirational stories of women in maritime is coming to Portsmouth, United Kingdom.Launching on Friday August 2, members of the public will be able to experience the free SHE_SEES exhibition hosted in Boathouse 4 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, spearheaded by UK-based global safety and education charity Lloyd’s Register Foundation.The exhibition, hosted in partnership with Portsmouth Historic Quarter and the University of Portsmouth…

Guy Platten, Secretary General of ICS, has been awarded the prestigious Man of the Year Award by the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association , UK (WISTA, UK).The award ceremony was the flagship event of WISTA’s 50 Years Summer Celebration which took place at the IMO headquarters in London.The awards were presented by IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, and President of WISTA UK, Monica Kohli.The award celebrates Guy Platten's unwavering commitment to advancing gender diversity and inclusion within the maritime industry.

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has unveiled new engine, Damen D16, combined with the in-house marine emission reduction system, which has recently been awarded EU stage V certification.The Damen D16 is a marine engine and aftertreatment system designed and developed inhouse by Damen Sustainable Solutions. It aims to reduce emissions and increase power efficiency supporting Damen’s goal of becoming the most sustainable maritime solutions provider in the world.The Damen D16 is an extension…

Ottomotive Tech has joined the global community of maritime battery enablers, the Maritime Battery Forum.Founded in 2021, Ottomotive Tech gives support for products, engineering and consultancy in different sectors such as maritime, automotive, telecommunication and energy storage systems. The company’s expertise comprises of system engineering from scratch to pre-serial production, followed by production, test, homologation and delivery processes of requested products. Their…

Crowley named Walter Tague as vice president of sales and supply for its Crowley Fuels businesses unit, which services energy logistics needs throughout Alaska. With more than 30 years of maritime industry experience specializing in supply chain management and support in the oil and gas sectors, Tague will oversee Crowley’s marketing, sales, customer relations and procurement of refined product supply for the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic markets.Since joining Crowley in 1999, Tague has served in multiple roles…

OrbitMI has launched its latest Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering, tailored specifically for maritime industry players in the dry bulk sector.The new product is said to deliver precise and timely data to support decision-making and boost operational efficiency across the maritime industry.The Vessel and Company Particulars product provides information on various vessel characteristics, enabling ship owners and operators to leverage up-to-date data for optimizing their technology stacks and enhancing performance."Our goal is to empower the industry with confidence through accessible…

Dutch shipbuilder Damen has signed a contract with Western Coast Port Services (WCPS) to construct six ASD Tugs.This order consists of five ASD Tugs 2813 and one ASD Tug 3212, which will be operated at Saudi Arabia's Jeddah Port.For this order, Damen is adapting the vessels to suit the Middle Eastern climate by incorporating additional air-conditioning and cooling equipment, ensuring optimal performance in the region’s challenging conditions. “With its fast delivery, customization and lifecycle support…

CIMAC has been officially granted consultative status with the IMO.CIMAC is the leading global non-profit association promoting the development of ship propulsion, train drive and power generation.Eero Lehtovaara (ABB Marine and Ports), CIMAC VP Digitalization, said: "There are still many opportunities to optimize the status quo in shipping. Just think of efficiency gains through digitalization, for example. We want to encourage the maritime industry to embrace digitalization and implement it.

In recent weeks the U.S. Supreme Court has fundamentally changed the ways that laws are interpreted and enforced by federal agencies. These decisions will have far-reaching impacts on heavily-regulated sectors, such as the U.S. maritime industry, potentially altering the balance of power between stakeholders and federal regulators.Civil penalties require 7th Amendment protectionsOn June 27, 2024, in SEC v. Jarkesy, the Supreme Court held that under the Seventh Amendment, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must bring civil-penalty actions for securities fraud in federal court…

The U.S. Army has selected Maj. Gen William H. "Butch" Graham Jr. to be its next chief of engineers and commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III announced on July 10.Graham is currently serving as the deputy chief of engineers and deputy commanding general for civil works and emergency operations. His long Army career includes leadership positions supporting both civil works and military construction.If confirmed by the Senate, Graham would succeed Lt. Gen. Scott A.

The first-of-its-kind hydrogen-fueled ferry Sea Change will soon begin public service, providing zero-emissions transport for passengers in San Francisco Bay.The groundbreaking commercial passenger vessel is the world’s first powered 100% by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells. It was developed by owner SWITCH Maritime with grant support from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a solution to reduce emissions from the marine transportation system.A group of private and public sector partners came together to officially launch the Sea Change on July 12…

Power solutions companies Yanmar and Amogy are teaming up to explore ammonia-to-hydrogen integration for decarbonized power generation aboard marine vessels.The companies on Thursday announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate Amogy’s advanced ammonia-cracking technology into Yanmar’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE). The partners have been exploring opportunities to integrate their technologies since 2023 when Yanmar’s corporate venture capital arm…

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) on Wednesday announced $8.75 million in grant awards to 15 small shipyards in 12 states through the Small Shipyard Grant Program. The funds will help shipyards modernize, increase productivity, and expand local job opportunities while competing in the global marketplace.“Small shipyards are integral to the strength of America’s supply chains and the maritime industry” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.