Plug And Play News

Batteries have become a practical part of maritime decarbonization. They are used on ferries, harbor craft, tugs, offshore support vessels, crew transfer vessels, various types of remotely operated vessels, and hybrid ships to reduce fuel burn, provide spinning reserve, support dynamic positioning, enable peak shaving, and allow zero-emission operation in port. As of mid-2026, 156 different maritime battery systems from 118 manufacturing companies are commercially available. Notably…

U.S. transportation has steadily become more efficient through advances in engine technology, infrastructure upgrades and increasingly sophisticated logistics networks.The next wave is different. Automation is turning transportation networks into continuously optimizing systems that consume less energy per unit moved, operate for longer hours, reduce labor bottlenecks and reshape demand for fuels and electricity.Across rivers, roads, rail and air, software increasingly determines…

bound4blue has received Type Approval Design Certification (TADC) from DNV for its Model 3-24 eSAIL, the company’s largest and most powerful installed suction sail. The approval, formally presented during a handover ceremony at last week’s Posidonia in Athens, confirms the system’s compliance with DNV’s classification requirements for safety, structural integrity, and design robustness.bound4blue’s Model 3 range is designed for larger vessels and projects looking to maximize the possible propulsive contribution from wind power. Units range from 24 meters to 36 meters in height.

HD Hyundai Robotics USA has secured an order for its robotic welding solution, ArcLift GO, from Chouest Group Shipyards. Under this contract, robotic welding systems will be supplied to three Chouest Group shipyards in North America, including Louisiana, and one shipyard in Brazil.Recently, the shortage of skilled welders in the U.S. shipbuilding industry has evolved beyond a temporary labor issue into a structural challenge that constrains overall productivity and competitiveness.

bound4blue and Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) have completed the second installation of eSAILs in EPS’ fleet, fitting three 22-meter-high units on MR tanker Pacific Sunstone at New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province, China. The project marks EPS’ first newbuild installation following a successful retrofit project on Pacific Sentinel.With smaller footprints than other solutions, eSAILs generate lift up to seven times greater than conventional rigid sails of the same size. The units are also non-ATEX…

The Daniamant DanEI-300 electronic inclinometer has achieved IMO Wheelmark (Marine Equipment Directive) approval, becoming the world’s first electronic inclinometer certified to meet IMO carriage requirements for container ships and bulk carriers.The approval confirms that the DanEI-300 complies with the requirements of Directive 2014/90/EU (MED) for Electronic Inclinometer Equipment, following successful conformity assessment under Module B (EC Type Examination) and Module D (Quality System Assessment) by the notified body DNV (Notified Body No.

Tim Mooney is the third-generation family member at the helm of the iconic Fire Island Ferries. While the company’s primary focus has been moving people to and fro, from the Long Island, NY mainland to the Fire Island barrier communities and beaches, the business has evolved and grown since its start in 1948 via acquisition and organic growth. Mooney discuss the assets, the people and the priorities to safely, efficiently keep his cumulative operation of moving about one million people annually in good order.There are ferry operators…

Deltamarin has signed a basic design contract with Jiangsu Zhenjiang shipyard (Group) CO., LTD for Meriaura’s new open deck carrier.Design work will start immediately at Deltamarin Finland, with delivery scheduled for early 2028. The ordered 6,800 DWT open deck carrier is 120 meters long and features 1A ice class and DP2 notation.Deltamarin developed the vessel concept together with Meriaura during 2025, based on Meriaura’s two preceding open deck carriers. The contract signed with the builder…

Wind propulsion specialist bound4blue has completed the first installation under its agreement with Maersk Tankers, fitting four 24-meter eSAIL suction sails on the medium-range tanker Maersk Trieste as part of a wider fleet retrofit program.The installation marks the first phase of a contract agreed in December 2024 covering 20 eSAIL units across five Maersk Tankers MR vessels, representing bound4blue’s largest order to date.The four eSAIL units were installed at EDR Shipyard in Belgium following preparatory work carried out at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China.

On Yonges Island, South Carolina, just up the Wadmalaw River from Charleston, the fourth-generation maritime company Stevens Towing Company continues to rewrite its own history. Long known for its towing and barge work, its ship repair business is growing at light speed, transforming what began decades ago as an internal maintenance yard into a dynamic commercial shipyard serving tugs, barges, OSVs, and dredge vessels from Florida to Virginia. At the center of this evolution is Kurt Olsen…

bound4blue and Amasus Shipping have completed the installation of a 22-meter eSAIL on the general cargo vessel Fluvius Tavy at Astander Shipyard in Santander, Spain. The project marks the companies’ second installation, reinforcing both the scalability of suction sail technology and the growing confidence of shipowners in wind propulsion as a mainstream decarbonization solution.The latest adoption of bound4blue’s autonomous suction sails follows a previous installation on board Amasus’ Eems Traveller…

Fireboy, a leader in marine fire detection and suppression technology, is launching the BACC Mist System, a low-pressure water mist system designed specifically for the cooling and containment of battery rooms and machinery spaces. The Fireboy BACC Mist (Battery Area Cooling and Containment) system provides a compact, scalable and efficient solution for managing heat build-up and fire risk in critical onboard environments. Operating at pressures below 16 bar, it delivers effective water mist suppression using a small pump…

Shell Marine has launched a new technical service, Shell Marine Sensor Service (SMSS), an onboard monitoring service that provides real-time insights into oil and equipment condition, helping shipping operators improve vessel uptime and operational resilience.The new service acts as a “digital deckhand,” continuously monitoring oil condition to help crews manage and maintain equipment across a vessel proactively to prevent unplanned downtime.Designed to detect maintenance issues early, SMSS allows crews to act on them before they become critical.

ST Engineering’s Marine business and Siemens Energy have been awarded a second contract by Transcontinental Capital Corporation (Bermuda), a subsidiary of Seaboard Corporation, to deliver Estrella del Mar IV, a barge-mounted power plant to Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic.The new power plant will be based on its predecessor, the Estrella del Mar III, which was commissioned in 2022.When completed, it will enhance the Dominican Republic’s energy infrastructure with greater efficiency…

U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation has completed the installation of four Rotor Sails on its very large ore carrier (VLOC) vessel Grand Pioneer, becoming the first Taiwanese shipowner to adopt the wind-assisted propulsion technology.The sails, supplied by U.K.-based Anemoi Marine Technologies, were installed on a 325,000 deadweight tonne (DWT) vessel at COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard in September during a scheduled dry-docking.The plug-and-play process saw the four 35-meter tall, five-meter diameter sails lifted onto the vessel and fixed in 1.5 days…

Singapore-based BW Epic Kosan (BWEK), a provider of LPG, petrochemicals and specialty gas transportation, has signed an agreement with bound4blue for the installation of a 24-meter tall eSAIL suction sail on the 2007-buit Helena Kosan vessel.The autonomous wind propulsion system, to be installed in 2026, will allow BWEK to save fuel, cut emissions, reduce costs and simplify regulatory compliance, as the BW Group-affiliated company invests to support industry decarbonization goals.The…

As battery technology evolves at speed, so too do developments on maritime's increasing use of the energy packs for hybrid and pure electric applications. Today, Fleetzero, a developer and manufacturer of modular propulsion platforms for hybrid and electric ships, selected Glosten to design what is expected to be the world’s longest-range hybrid electric vessel. Glosten has been working with Fleetzero on the retrofit of a Lightering Support Vessel owned and operated by AET. This…

In the high-stakes world of marine fuel procurement, where average deliveries can exceed $1 million, precision and accountability are everything. Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) has been conducting Bunker Quantity Surveys (BQS) since 1987 and has delivered close to 200,000 surveys across the globe.In a recent analysis of 10,000 VPS surveys, results show that a single vessel could save up to $145,000 per year by identifying short deliveries, detecting density discrepancies, and properly measuring remaining onboard fuel (ROB).

NetZero Renewable Solutions and CT Marine have announced the launch of the CT70, a next-generation, fully electric pushboat purpose-built for the unique demands of U.S. inland waterways. Designed with crew safety, operational performance, and environmental at its core, the CT70 delivers up to 90% fewer emissions and 65% lower maintenance costs compared to traditional diesel vessels.At the heart of each CT70 is a 5MWh containerized, swappable battery system, providing up to 12 hours of continuous operation.

As maritime operations embrace digital transformation, electronic logbooks (elogs) are rapidly replacing paper-based records across global fleets. Elogs deliver more than convenience—they enhance the quality, consistency, and traceability of onboard records, especially in critical compliance areas. like:By digitizing logkeeping, operators benefit from faster reporting, better data quality, and seamless integration with shore systems—a key step in aligning with international regulatory frameworks and decarbonization efforts.

Flying Fish Maritime Innovations B.V., a Dutch pioneer in digital maritime technology and advice, announced a minority investment from CPAC Systems AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, on May 7, 2025. CPAC Systems (Sweden) is specialized in developing advanced control and automation systems for marine, construction and commercial vehicle industries. For the Flying Fish team, this step marks the beginning of a broader strategic partnership aimed at accelerating sales growth, product innovation…

Offshore services provider DOF has announced an investment in a modular cable repair spread designed to expedite offshore wind operators’ response to cable faults.Engineered for compatibility across DOF’s fleet of 65 vessels, the system offers an industry-first combination of fleet-wide flexibility, road transportability, and rapid deployment capabilities.Developed in collaboration with engineering specialists, Royal IHC, the spread allows for mobilization and commissioning within 48 hours…

Fast-growing energy demand is driving the need for technical support and guidance in new locations, writes Terrance Roberts, Manager, Global Business Development, ABS.Surging appetite for natural gas is accelerating the development of global and regional supply chains, with established producers seeking new markets and emerging suppliers looking to meet demand from local consumers.Long-tabled export projects are being fast-tracked for approval in North America while new facilities are under development in Canada and South America.