Ship Design News

Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (KONGSBERG) today entered into agreement with Rolls-Royce plc to acquire Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine, a world leading technology business within maritime operations. The transaction is structured as an acquisition by KONGSBERG of the marine products, systems and aftermarket services businesses carried out by subsidiaries of Rolls-Royce plc. The transaction does not include Bergen Engines nor Rolls-Royce's Naval Business. The parties have agreed a value…

Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Keppel Singmarine Pte Ltd, has secured a contract from FueLNG, a joint venture between Keppel O&M and Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd, to build South East Asia's first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering vessel valued at approximately S$50 million. Scheduled for completion in 3Q 2020, the dual-fuel LNG bunkering vessel will have a capacity of 7,500 cubic metres. FueLNG will receive a grant of up to S$3 million as part of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) LNG Bunkering Pilot Programme (LBPP).

Canada’s shipbuilding and ship repair company Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan), joined by representatives from industry and government,  celebrated the start of construction on the first Joint Support Ship (JSS) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The steel cutting ceremony held at Vancouver Shipyards is a significant milestone for Seaspan, the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and Canada’s shipbuilding industry. With the start of construction on JSS, Seaspan is leading the way in rebuilding Canada’s shipbuilding industry.

China earns cruise newbuild business, aims for ship financeWhile China has steadily built shipbuilding market share, cruise ship construction –  more specifically mastering the logistical complexities inherent in cruise ship design, outfit and construction – has proved elusive. But it appears that Chinese shipbuilders have turned the corner, with contracts signed for the first cruise newbuilds. We were in Tianjin, China, earlier this year for the 4th Annual China Maritime Finance Forum for a look behind the covers of passenger vessel in China…

The Netherlands based naval architecture and marine engineering firm Offshore Ship Designers (OSD) announced it has changed its company name to OSD-IMT.The company said the name change aims to leverage the strength of both OSD and IMT. IMT is the signature brand-name for vessels designed by OSD’s U.K. branch, which was already named OSD-IMT. Using one name for all offices reflects the way the group already works - as one single organization, it said.“The name Offshore Ship Designers has served us well up to now…

In examining the history of commercial ships, the common refrain is “from sail to steam to diesel.” If the International Windship Association (IWSA) is right, that common refrain one day could be “from sail to steam to diesel … to sail.”As the collective maritime industry struggles to find a future proof propulsion system to meet ever stricter environmental emissions mandates from the IMO, serious talk and research is being paid to alternative technologies such as wind propulsion.

With digitalization technologies sweeping through maritime, Henrik Segercrantz, Maritime Reporter’s correspondent in Helsinki, explores latest developments in the quest to harness the power of 'big data.'Wärtsilä's Smart Marine EcosystemWärtsilä continues to build its leadership resume in marine and energy markets, boasting net sales of $5.7 billion last year, supported by 18,000 employees with operations in more than 80 countries. Increasingly Wärtsilä is using ‘smart’ technologies in its growing scope of products for the maritime industry…

Nexans Subsea Operations has signed a shipbuilding contract with Ulstein Verft on the construction of a large, DP3 cable laying vessel. CEO Gunvor Ulstein, Ulstein Group, said: “We are very pleased that Nexans, a solid and important player, chooses Ulstein to construct their new flag ship. We have a strong organisation with long experience in delivering advanced vessels. The contract was won in tough, international competition. We look forward to a constructive and fruitful cooperation with Nexans in the years to come”.

Large shipping losses have declined by 38 percent overall in the past decade, according to the Safety & Shipping Review 2018 by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).Further, the number of total losses declined by 4 percent to 94 last year, the second lowest number in a decade.“Insurance claims have been relatively benign, reflecting improved ship design and the positive effects of risk management policy and safety regulation over time,” says Baptiste Ossena, Global Product Leader Hull & Marine Liabilities…

Nordlaks in Stokmarknes, Norway, is currently building a 385m long and 60m wide offshore salmon farm. The installation is being built at the CIMC Raffles yard in China. Nordlaks has also ordered a new hybrid/LNG live fish carrier (wellboat) to be built at the Tersan shipyard in Turkey. Rolls-Royce has been commissioned to provide equipment for both newbuilds, which have been designed by NSK Ship Design.Rolls-Royce will supply six TT1100 tunnel thrusters to the massive fish farm, which has been designed to produce salmon further offshore than has been possible so far.

Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine said it has received an order to deliver a battery-powered energy system for two offshore vessels (PSVs) operated by Norway-based Golden Energy Offshore.The delivery includes the SAVe Energy system, which was launched by Rolls-Royce earlier this month. In addition, the two vessels will receive an upgrade of the existing Rolls-Royce ship design engineering package to match the new features. This includes an upgrade of the Dynamic Positioning (DP) system…

Hepburn and Sons LLC, premier advisors to the American maritime industry, recently visited TEFELEN America in Frederick, Md. to discuss their new partnership.Hepburn and Sons LLC’s President/CEO retired U.S. Navy Captain, Rick Hepburn met with TEFELEN America’s President/CEO, Philip Brown on Thursday, June 21, 2018, to discuss conjoined marketing and sales efforts between the two companies. Also in attendance was Hepburn and Sons LLC’s Principal, Customer Relations Officer, Samantha Hepburn Hertel.In December 2017…

Huangpu-Wenchong Shipyard (HPWS) announced that a 2,750 TEU feeder container ship for China Navigation will be the 200th DNV GL classified ship.A press release said that the cooperation between DNV GL and HPWS dates back to 1996 and covers ship types from feeder vessels to larger container ships, to bulk carriers, offshore supply vessels, and many others.“The close relationship and comfortable communication between the two companies has enhanced HPWS’s position in shipbuilding.

The world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fueled handysize bulk carrier, M/V Haaga, was delivered from Chinese shipbuilder from Jinling Shipyard in Nanjing to Finnish shipowner ESL Shipping, in August.The first-of-its-kind vessel features innovative solutions from Finnish hybrid solutions company WE Tech, including Economical Operations and Boost Mode with the direct drive permanent magnet shaft generator, that help minimize energy consumption and emissions to reduce the ship's environmental footprint.The Economical Operations…

Coltraco Ultrasonics Chief Executive, Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter, has been welcomed onto the Board of Trustees at The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA), an internationally renowned professional institute at the heart of surface and sub-surface ship design.Formed in 1860 and established by Royal Warrant RINA occupies a central and essential role at the heart of British and global maritime with 70% overseas members and Consultative Status at the International Maritime Organisation.Commenting on the appointment…

Quark Expeditions has signed an agreement with Croatian shipbuilder Brodosplit to build a new expedition ship designed for operation in the polar regions.The 13,000+ gross metric ton, 200-passenger ship was designed by LMG Marin in cooperation with Quark Expeditions and is scheduled to be launched in 2020.“This ship will be more than just a ship – it will be an unrivalled operational base for polar expeditions,” said Andrew White, Quark Expeditions President.The ship will carry 20 zodiacs that will be rapidly deployable from an internal zodiac hangar with four embarkation points.

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…

DESS Aquaculture Shipping AS, a joint venture between Solstad Farstad ASA (SOFF) and Marine Harvest ASA, took delivery of the harvest vessel “Aqua Merdø” on May 24th 2018. The vessel will commence its 10-year charter contract with Marine Harvest upon delivery at location within few days. “Aqua Merdø” is developed in close collaboration between the owners and Salt Ship Design and has been built by Myklebust Verft, Norway. Long term financing of “Aqua Merdø” is arranged by ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

ABB technology allowing integration of batteries receives major vote of confidence as Louis Dreyfus Armateurs orders second wind farm service vessel featuring a wide scope of ABB’s solutions.Maritime transportation group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) will add a second 83 meter windfarm service operation vessel (SOV) to its fleet, featuring an extensive range of ABB’s technology, with the award-winning power distribution system Onboard DC Grid at its core. The vessel will support operations at Hornsea Project Two off the UK coast…

Norwegian shipbuilder Kleven Verft today delivered the 95-metre-long anchor handling vessel Maersk Minder, the fourth of six vessels in Maersk Supply Services’ Starfish series.The naming ceremony was held at Kleven Verft this afternoon, led by the shipyard’s new CEO Karsten Sævik, with Anni Bak as sponsor.“This is vessel number four in the series, and the yard has demonstrated its ability to again construct a very advanced and sophisticated vessel,” Sævik said. “We are very grateful for the efforts made by all suppliers…

Bureau Veritas has issued a broad swathe of approvals to GTT, expert in membrane containment systems and liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology applications.Bureau Veritas experts have been working with GTT to approve two new containment systems: the Mark III Flex+, an evolution of the Mark III but with a lower boil-off rate (BOR), and the GTT MARS, a containment system developed for LPG carriers that is adaptable to any size of tank or ship.Approval in Principle (AiP) has been provided for a 6…

The Liberian Registry has signed a framework cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the China Classification Society (CCS) as the latest step in its strategy to collaborate with long-term key industry stakeholders.Under the terms of the MoU, the Liberian Registry’s technical competence will be employed to help shipyards and shipowners improve their innovative strategies. The CCS MoU has a particular focus on innovation and technology within the international regulatory framework and maritime sector projects.

Rolls-Royce Marine said it has signed a contract with Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, L.L.C. in Louisiana for the development of a 100-meter-long trawler to be built for the Seattle based company Arctic Storm Management Group, LLC.In addition to being the largest fishing vessel contract to date for Rolls-Royce with a value of about £15 million, it also marks the first Rolls-Royce fishing vessel concept to be built at a U.S. shipyard.Rolls-Royce has been working closely with the owner…