Shipbuilding News

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Monday officially started fabrication of the Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131).“Start of fabrication is our first opportunity to formally celebrate and reflect on our contributions as shipbuilders,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are very proud of what we do here for the country and endeavor to do our part…

Classification society DNV has awarded approval in principle (AIP) for the ZeroCoaster ammonia fueled cargo ship, confirming an independent assessment that the ship's design is feasible and there are no obstacles to the design being commercially realized.The ZeroCoaster Consortium, led by Vard Engineering Brevik AS in partnership with ABB, Trosvik Maritime, AFC Energy, SINTEF Ocean and HK Shipping and is sponsored by the Norwegian Government, aims to design next generation coastal cargo ships to accelerate the transition to zero-emission shipping solutions.AFC Energy…

As naval architects and marine engineers we are familiar with the design spiral. While design is not truly a spiral, we use the concept to remind ourselves that all pieces of a ship design interact. The design spiral is not a standard figure and can be simplistic or overcomplicated.A Google search image summary provides dozens of interpretations, all investigating different variables, with the only commonality that all spirals start with the “mission” variable.Figure 1 is an old…

Eastaway, a subsidiary of Singapore-based X-Press Feeders Group, has ordered eight dual-fuel, methanol-powered containerships.The order, which was reportedly placed with Chinese shipyards, includes options for additional ships. The first of the new 1,170 TEU vessels will be delivered in late 2023, and all ships are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024. .X-Press Feeders said it will operate the ships in its Europe and America trade routes.The new containerships have been designed by naval architects TECHNOLOG Servies GmbH.

Naval architecture firm LMG Marin has secured a contract to design a zero-emissions tanker for Grieg Edge, the dedicated innovation unit of the Grieg Maritime Group. The vessel is said to be the world’s first green ammonia-fueled tanker, according to the Norway-based designer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-headquartered Sembcorp Marine.The new ship, to be named Green Ammonia, will transport and distribute green ammonia fuel from a production facility in Berlevåg, Norway…

The world's first liquefied hydrogen carrier could leave Japan for Australia to pick up its first cargo of hydrogen late this month though the return date has yet to be set due to COVID-19, Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd said on Friday.The A$500 million ($353 million) pilot project, led by Kawasaki and backed by the Japanese and Australian governments, was originally scheduled to ship its first cargo of hydrogen extracted from brown coal in Australia in spring.

A shipment of Royal IHC's equipment is traveling from Europe to the U.S. to be installed on Weeks Marine's new trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) R.B. Weeks, currently under construction at Eastern Shipbuilding Group's Allanton shipyard in Florida. In May of 2020, Royal IHC and Weeks Marine Inc. entered into a contract for the engineering and equipment delivery for the 6,540-cubic-meter-capacity newbuild, an identical vessel to the Magdalen delivered to Weeks from Eastern in 2017. Like the Magdalen, the R.B.

The world's largest containership lessor Seaspan Corporation said it has taken delivery of two 12,200 TEU newbuilds. The vessels will immediately begin 18-year charters with an unnamed "major liner customer".The new ships are the second and third of five newbuild containerships in this class, the first having been delivered in October. Each has been delivered approximately two months ahead of schedule, according to Seaspan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Corp.Bing Chen, Chairman…

GasLog Ltd. has ordered four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).The 174,000 cubic meter capacity newbuilds are scheduled to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.The ships will feature the latest generation MEGI propulsion, "setting the bar for energy efficiency very high with a best in class EEDI," according to Gaslog.The company said its fleet consists of 39 LNG carriers, including 35 on the water and four under construction.

Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku on Thursday announced it has delivered the 180,000 GT liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered cruise ship Costa Toscana to Costa Cruises. “With Costa Toscana we are turning a new page at the shipyard. We have been pushing our shipbuilding processes onward and are now seeing the results with this beautiful vessel. We are very proud of her and I feel confident that the guests onboard will really enjoy Costa Toscana in the coming years,” said Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.The 337-meter…

Eneti, an offshore wind installation company in the making, said Thursday it had entered into a binding agreement for the construction of one wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV).The company, formerly known as Scorpio Bulkers, ordered the first WTIV from South Korea-based builder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) back in May.Now, the company has exercised an option it held with DSME for the construction of one more  WTIV. The contract price is $326 million,…

Rolls-Royce revealed it is supplying eight 16V 4000 M63 mtu engines to Brazilian shipyard Rio Maguari, to be installed in four new tugboats being built for Maersk's towage arm Svitzer. The engines, each with an output of 2,000 kW, will be delivered by May 2022.The four new tugs of the Ramparts 2300 series designed by Robert Allan Ltd. have a bollard pull of 70 tons and are to be used in ports in Brazil.With the new vessels, Svitzer will operate a total of 11 mtu-powered tugs in Brazil.

San Diego shipyard General Dynamics NASSCO on Wednesday started construction on the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), the fifth ship of the Navy’s reclassified Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program.Long-time NASSCO employee Dennis DuBard served as the Start of Construction honoree, initiating the first cut of steel that will be used to construct the vessel.“Today, we start construction of the ship that honors the life and service of the ship’s namesake, Marine Corps Private First Class Robert E. Simanek,” said Dave Carver, president of General Dynamics NASSCO.

The Great Lakes Towing Company announced it has purchased The Wm. Plotz Machine & Forge Company.The acquisition, which includes all Plotz Machine’s assets and real estate, increases the services provided by Great Lakes and allows the company to now offer marine and industrial machine shop services to all types of customers, including shipyard new construction and ship repair. The transaction closed on Tuesday, November 30, 2021.Great Lakes said it has retained all employees of…

French engineering firm GTT an order from the Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the tank design of four new LNG carriers.The LNG carriers will be built for the Japanese ship-owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). GTT will design the tanks of these four LNG carriers for navigation in cold temperatures, with a total LNG tank capacity of 174,000 m3 per ship. Each tank will be fitted with the GTT’s membrane containment system adapted to the extreme conditions of navigation in arctic waters.

The technology group Wärtsilä said it will supply a complete liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo storage and handling system for a new 103 meter (340 feet) long LNG bunker barge to be built at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Wisconsin, USA for Polaris New Energy (PNE). This is the second of two such barges built at the yard for PNE, the same Wärtsilä solution having been ordered for both. The first barge is scheduled for delivery from FBS in December 2021. This latest order with Wärtsilä was placed in November 2021.In addition to the equipment scope…

The Salamanca ferry, the second of five ships in the E-Flexer class ordered by Stena RoRo for the French ferry firm Brittany Ferries was delivered on November 30. The vessel is the sixth E-Flexer of twelve ordered from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The Salamanca will be chartered by Brittany Ferries on a long-term basis.The 214.5 meters long Salamanca has been built with LNG dual-fuel engines and is the first ship in the E-Flexer series with gas engines. The interior has been designed by Richard Nilsson at Figura Architects.

Caterpillar Marine said it has been selected to be the power solutions provider for Edda Wind’s four new commissioning service operation vessels (CSOV) being built at Astilleros Gondán and two new service operation vessels (SOV) to be built at Astilleros Balenciaga shipyards in Spain. The series of vessels six will be delivered in 2022-2024.Of the six confirmed units, the first four in the series have been contracted to work on offshore wind farms under long-term agreements with Ørsted, Vestas and Ocean Breeze.

Volvo Penta has secured a contract to provide quad IPS propulsion systems for the four new offshore wind farm crew transfer vessels (CTVs) that will be built at Blount Boats for American Offshore Services (AOS). The new 30-meter (99-ft.) twin-hull CTVs will be powered by four IPS900 propulsion drives, two in each hull. The fully integrated system will also include Volvo Penta’s GPS-based Dynamic Positioning System and integrated joystick controls, allowing for convenient and easy maneuverability even in conditions of strong currents and high waves.

Hurtigruten Svalbard said it has teamed up with Volvo Penta to test a new hybrid vessel that will allow guests to experience the wonders of the Arctic archipelago without disturbing the habitat around them.The near-silent, Marell M15 cruiser called Kvitbjørn (polar bear in English) will allow for fully electric operation in the environmentally sensitive waters around Svalbard, which is hugely popular with nature-loving adventure travelers. Hurtigruten Svalbard plans to test the…

Integrated automation and energy specialist Høglund announced it has been commissioned to supply advanced, fully integrated hybrid, automation, and digital solutions to two asphalt carriers to be built in Wuhu shipyard, China. The owner, Continental Bitumen, is an integrated procurement, logistics and distribution company supplying bitumen in Europe, Africa and Middle East. The technical manager and operator of the vessels is Tipco Asphalt.The central part of this delivery is the hybrid electric system…

Fincantieri Marine Systems North America (FMSNA) announced that it will expand its marine repair operations on the U.S. East Coast, a move that is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Jacksonville, Fla., as they will provide extra marine repair capacity for both commercial and government vessels.FMSNA will make Commodores Point the focus of this effort, bringing business and investment to the downtown Jacksonville waterfront.“We are investing millions of dollars in waterfront improvements…

On Monday, the new ocean transport barge Holland arrived at Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard. The 400 foot long barge was purpose-built to support delivery of Columbia class ballistic missile submarines. General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor on construction of the Columbia class.The Holland was designed by Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. and constructed by Bollinger Shipyards, LLC, of Lockport, La. The namesake of the new barge is John Holland, the Irish-born immigrant who designed the first submarine purchased by the US Navy.

A first of its kind cleaner burning methanol-fueled towboat is set to hit the water in 2023 as the maritime industry continues to develop and implement new technologies for cleaner vessel operations.The Hydrogen One is being developed by owner Maritime Partners in cooperation with naval architecture firm Elliott Bay Design Group and hardware suppliers e1 Marine and ABB.Decarbonizing the towboat sector poses substantial challenges, particularly due to towboats’ inherent size, space and weight limitations.

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has entered into contract with local Alabama steel provider SSAB to provide steel for the new Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships (T-ATS) it is building for the U.S. Navy.Austal said it will source various strength and sized steel plating from SSAB capable of being cut, shaped, welded, and fitted resulting in the construction of support ships and potential combat ships for our U.S. military.“SSAB not only provides us with quality steel…

While many companies talk about decarbonization, United European Car Carrier (UECC) acts, as proven by its recent acceptance of the world’s first dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid PCTC, Auto Advance, delivered from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard and Maritime Reporter & Engineering News’ 2021 Great Ship of the Year.The ship is the first in a series of three newbuild pure car and truck carriers (PCTC), measuring 169 by 28 meters with capacity for 3600 vehicles on 10 cargo decks. The remaining…

Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine has won contracts for the conversion of a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) and the integration of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). For the first project, Keppel Shipyard signed a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) with what it said was a global provider of LNG shipping services to start early works for the conversion of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Carrier into an FSRU. It did not say who the client was.The scope of the LNTP includes engineering work starting in 4Q 2021…

Seaway 7, a company specializing in offshore wind installation services, has informed that construction has started for its next-generation Wind Turbine Installation Vessel (WTIV) at the China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) facility in Jiangsu, China. In a statement on Thursday, Seaway 7 said the first steel cutting ceremony marked the first major milestone in bringing its GustoMSC NG-14000XL-G jack-up vessel to the market.This week, Seaway 7 also revealed the new build vessel’s name; Seaway Ventus meaning ‘wind’ in Latin.

Samsung Heavy Industries announced on November 18 that it successfully held a demonstration ceremony at the Geoje shipyard for "SENSE IV (SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Exapnsion IV)", SHI's in-house natural gas liquefaction system.The demonstration, which began on November 16, was attended by several major LNG producers and classification societies.The natural gas liquefaction system, called "An LNG plant on the sea," is one of the main processes of FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas)…

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Group has ordered 10 MAN B&W 7G80ME-C10.5-GI engines in connection with the construction of 10 7,000-teu containerships for Seaspan Corporation, the world's largest, independent container vessel owner.The contract includes an option for five further vessels. Engine delivery is scheduled from October 2023 to 2024; Seaspan has  already chartered the ships on long-term contracts.Upon completion, the newbuildings will become the largest ME-GI-powered container vessels built by a Chinese shipyard.Thomas S.

U.S. boatbuilder SAFE Boats International announced it has hired Cole Christensen as Business Development Manager - Commercial.Christensen brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience. In his new role with the Business Development Team, he will focus on all aspects of the commercial sector, growing brand awareness both domestically and globally. He will be integral in advancing efforts to expand SAFE Boats’ presence in the offshore wind market and promoting the Stormer Workboats line of products.“We’re excited to have Cole on board to lead our commercial efforts.

Lindblad Expeditions announced the launch of its second new polar vessel, National Geographic Resolution, on her inaugural voyage to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands. Under Antarctica’s clear blue skies and parked on fast ice in the Weddell Sea’s Duse Bay, guests walked onto the ice to cheer on Captain Heidi Norling as she christened the 126-guest National Geographic Resolution.“I wish this ship calm winds, fair seas, and great adventures. May everyone who sails with her be blessed,” marked Captain Norling as she tossed the bottle.

Southampton-UK based hovercraft manufacturer Griffon Hoverwork said it has landed one of its biggest ever deals, worth more than £25 million, to supply three of its latest 12000TD craft to Japan.The deal with the Oita Prefecture government will see the hovercraft providing a passenger service connecting Oita Airport in Kunisaki with Oita City, reintroducing a ferry route last used about 10 years ago.Work on the first hovercraft will start at the end of January 2022, with the final craft set to be delivered to the customer before January 2024.

The first of three Vega-class ships under construction in Helsinki for Swan Hellenic’s heritage brand has been named at Helsinki Shipyard. The new ship, SH Minerva, is scheduled to depart the shipyard early next week.The series of three expedition cruise vessels have high ice class and they are made for high-end cruise experience in worldwide cruising area with strong bias for high latitude areas.SH Minerva is completely self-sufficient for up to 40 days or 8,000 nautical miles. Preparations are made for implementing battery technology, which would make it possible to operate also silently.

Finnish shipping company Langh Ship announced it has ordered three 7,800 dwt newbuild cargo ships from Wuhu Shipyard in China.The first vessel is expected to be delivered in summer 2023 followed by its two sisters soon thereafter.The vessels will operate in a regular service between Outokumpu’s steel mills in northern Finland and the Netherlands. The cargo holds will be equipped with tween decks for steel coil carriage, a special design by Langh Cargo Solutions.Langh Ship said it developed the vessel design in close cooperation with Outokumpu to make the ships as energy efficient…

Boat builder Metal Shark said it has delivered a 55- by 17-foot welded aluminum pilot boat to the Pascagoula Bar Pilots Association in Mississippi.Designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team and built at the company’s Franklin, La. shipyard, the new Singing River Island is the second Metal Shark pilot boat to join the Pascagoula Pilots fleet. It represents the latest evolution in the Louisiana-based builder’s Defiant-class pilot boat lineup, combining a proven hull form with a modern…

A fish-farming superyacht developed by Ocean Ark Tech of Chile (OATECH) and its strategic ally, London-based Ocean Sovereign, is one step closer to delivering fish to market after winning a key approval from marine classification society, RINA.Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) announced the Approval in Principle (AiP) of the new-concept offshore fish-farming system, Ocean Ark. The vessel delivers a new approach to aquaculture and looks set to disrupt by dramatically improving fish health…

EU antitrust regulators have resumed their investigation into Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co Ltd's bid for rival Daewoo Shipbuilding after a temporary halt of more than a year, setting a Jan. 20 deadline for their decision on the deal.The European Commission, which paused its probe in July last year while waiting for the companies to provide requested data, had previously expressed concerns that the deal could inflate prices and reduce competition in cargo shipbuilding.The EU competition enforcer resumed its probe on Nov.

Institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Global Alternatives, in cooperation with Norwegian offshore services firm Havfram, have signed a letter of intent with China's CIMC-Raffles to build "a series of next-generation, state-of-the-art wind turbine installation vessels (“WTIV”)."The jack-up installation units will be offered for market entry in 2024, Havfram said.The first vessels will be built at CIMC-Raffle’s Yantai yard in China for delivery in 2024. "The plan is to…

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said its Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a contract modification from the U.S. Navy for $113.6 million to enable long-lead-time material and advance procurement activities for amphibious assault ship LHA 9. This modification brings the total advance funding for LHA 9 to $651 million.Ingalls is the sole builder of large-deck amphibious ships for the Navy. The Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard delivered its first amphibious assault ship, the Iwo Jima-class USS Tripoli (LPH 10), in 1966.

The recent noteworthy drop in the Indian ship recycling market seems to have reverberated across the sub-continent recycling sector this week, as competing markets start to reverse their vessel offerings in near unison, according to GMS.Bangladesh has remained largely quiet for much of the week as they observe the ongoing price reductions, whilst local Recyclers expect further falls ahead.Indian steel plate prices have declined by nearly $45/LDT over recent weeks, leaving Alang Buyers rather spooked and fearful to maintain previous offers, or even consider offering on any fresh units.

Svitzer Suez 1, the first RAstar 2800-CL ASD escort tug, has been delivered to Svitzer Egypt LLC by Cheoy Lee Shipyards and will soon commence operations in the Suez Canal. Svitzer are the first owners of this new escort tug design and a further nine tugs to this design have already been ordered with Cheoy Lee.The RAstar 2800-CL design started with a “blank sheet of paper”, according to naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd., who said one of the primary goals of the design was to make it extremely flexible allowing for various propulsion machinery options…

Shipping giant Maersk said it has launched its Green Finance Framework designed to allow the company to issue a variety of sustainable financing instruments which may include bonds, loans, project finance and other instruments.“Issuing Green Financing Instruments is a further step to integrating sustainability into our financing operations as it is an effective tool for channeling investments to projects with positive environmental impact and thereby contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, said it has been taped to deliver a suite of overboard handling systems for the new oceanographic research vessel David Packard owned by Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), a private, nonprofit oceanographic research center based in California. Founded in 1987 by David Packard, MBARI’s mission is to advance marine science and technology to understand a changing ocean. The David Packard is designed by naval architecture firm Glosten, and is currently under construction at Freire Shipyard in Vigo…

A major project to lengthen and renovate three Windstar cruise ships has been completed.The conversions were led by the Fincantieri yard starting in 2019 with the first of the three sister vessels, the Star Breeze, being completed in 2020. This was followed by the Star Legend in mid- 2020, and finally the Star Pride in October 2021. The renovation included the ships being extended in length from 135 meters (443 feet) to 160.6 meters (527 feet). The project was part of Windstar’s $250 million Star Plus initiative.The ships were each cut in half at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Palermo…

Yara Birkeland, the world's first electric and self-propelled container ship has set off for its maiden voyage in the Oslo fjord in Norway.No Friday, today, the Norwegian Prime Minister was given a tour by the CEO of Yara, Svein Tore Holsether.Holsether said: "We are proud to be able to showcase the world's first fully electric and self-propelled container ship. It will cut 1,000 tonnes of CO2 and replace 40,000 trips by diesel-powered trucks a year."Friday morning, Holsether welcomed Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Bjørnar Skjæran on Yara Birkeland…

Southern Europe's first all-electric ferry is being built by Navaltagus Reparação e Construção Naval, a member of Grupo ETE, in Portugal.Designed by Vera Navis Naval Architects, the zero-emissions ferry is being built and will operate in Aveiro, Portugal.Shift Clean Energy and Nave De Luz Lda (NDL) are co-leading a consortium to supply and install electrical components for the new vessel. Additional members of the consortium include Danfoss Editron, power electronic and Technology Venture Middle East Marine Services LLC, the technology integration consultants and Marine Electricals (I) Pvt.

Alternatives to fossil fuels are emerging throughout the maritime universe, and vessels working in U.S. rivers, waterways and harbors are at the cusp on this trend. While the alternative fuels spectrum is wide, battery power and electrification—a technology that has seen a decade of shipboard applications already—is particularly suited for smaller vessels.Crowley Maritime Corp will be taking delivery of a completely electric tugboat, dubbed eWolf; the boat- which will include kit for advanced vessel control tied to an electric propulsion system from ABB…

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured an order to supply hatch covers for 12 new 3,055 TEU containerships. The ships will be built by Japan Marine United (JMU) for the Taiwanese shipping company Wan Hai Lines. Scope of supply includes design and key components, fabrication and delivery of hatch covers to JMU.The order is booked into Cargotec's fourth quarter 2021 order intake, with deliveries planned to commence during the fourth quarter of 2022 and completed during the first…

Emirati and Israeli state-owned weapons makers on Thursday signed a strategic agreement in Dubai to jointly design unmanned vessels capable of carrying out anti-submarine warfare.United Arab Emirates defense conglomerate EDGE and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced the partnership on the final day of the biennial Dubai Airshow.In a joint statement, the firms said they would design the "170 M" advanced modular unmanned service vessels that would be able to be used for both…

Heddle Shipyards said it has been awarded the vessel life extension of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Amundsen.This week, the CCGS Amundsen will arrive at the Port Weller Dry Docks in Canada, the St. Catharines, Ontario, where it will stay through June 2022. The eight-month refit valued at approximately $12,000,000 CAD will sustain over 100 direct jobs and support subcontractors and suppliers across the Niagara Region, Ontario, and Canada.Heddle Shipyards noted it has also secured the dry docking of a seaway max laker at its Port Weller facility…

Asia's first newbuild service operation vessel (SOV) has been launched in Vietnam.The hybrid-electric TSS Pioneer is being built by Vard Vung Tau for owner Ta San Shang Marine Co., Ltd, a joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) and Ta Tong Marine Co., Ltd. (TTM). It is scheduled to be delivered in early 2022.The 6,000 GT vessel will be time-chartered to Orsted Taiwan Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Denmark-based Ørsted, to support the operations and maintenance of the Ørsted-developed Greater Changhua offshore wind farms in the Taiwan Strait.The SOV is of VARD 4 19 design…

HMS Cutlass, the first of two new vessels being built for the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron, has undergone initial trials.Over recent weeks, the new HPB-1900 has been subjected to rigorous trials to test all systems and performance against a demanding set of requirements specified by the Royal Navy.Marine Specialised Technology Group (MST Group) and designed in partnership with BMT, the vessel is powered by three Volvo D13 engines, each producing 1000 HP and driving triple MJP 350X Waterjets.

French engineering firm GTT said it has received an order from South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the tank design of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier on behalf of an Asian shipowner.As part of this order, GTT will provide the design and associated engineering services for the tanks of the vessel, which will offer a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters. The tanks will be fitted with the GTT NO96 GW membrane containment system.The vessel will be delivered in the second half of 2024.

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä said it is set to launch a new engine combustion technology platform designed to enable the "fast and cost-effective" conversion of two-stroke main engines to operate on clean-burning future fuels.The company's Two-Stroke Future Fuels Conversion platform is due for commercial launch during the first quarter of 2022, as the maritime industry continues to work toward decarbonized shipping operations.The retrofit conversion will initially enable operation with liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel…

American Offshore Services (A-O-S) announced Tuesday it has ordered four hybrid-ready crew transfer vessels (CTV) from Blount Boats to service the United States' emerging offshore wind industry.In the years ahead, it's expected that potentially dozens of CTVs will be built as part of a new fleet of Jones Act compliant vessels required to support the construction and long-term service of a pipeline of new offshore wind farms slated to sprout up along the U.S. East Coast. The Biden…

Paramount Maritime launched the company’s latest 35m Sentinel ballistic patrol vessel in Elliot Basin, located in Cape Town.Christened MV Meedoi, the next-generation vessel is slated to be used for contemporary security and patrol operations within the Gulf of Guinea. The platform was manufactured by Paramount Maritime company, Nautic Africa.The 35m Sentinel is an aluminium-hulled vessel with an optimal V-bottom hull shape. Measuring 35 x 7.5m with a draft of two meters, the vessel comfortably hosts up to 6 cabins for both crew and security personnel.

Dutch shipbuilder Royal Niestern Sander last weekend launched "yard number 862", a shallow draft ice-breaking walk to work vessel, being built for a joint venture between the Russian companies Mercury Sakhalin and Pola."The world’s first ice-breaking walk-to-work vessel is one step closer to delivery and operations in harsh weather conditions in Sakhalin. To be continued!," the shipbuilder said in a press statement on Tuesday.The shallow draft ice-breaking walk-to-work vessel is designed and optimized for year-round operations in the challenging conditions on the east coast of Sakhalin…

Samsung Heavy Industries SHI selected Light Structures AS, a supplier of fiber optic condition monitoring systems for maritime applications, to deliver comprehensive ice load monitoring systems for 10 Arctic Liquid Natural Gas Carriers (ALNGC) operated by Russia´s largest shipping company, Sovcomflot.Click here for feature on Light Structures' as published in the November 2021 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineeering NewsThe first of Sovcomflot’s newbuild ice-class ships will be delivered before the end of the year, with six more due in 2022 and the final three arriving in 2023.

Digitalization is expediting and maximizing the safety and economics of structural stress and fatigue measurement technologies. Terje Sannerud, Chief Commercial Officer at Norwegian fiber optic condition monitoring system developer Light Structures explains.Yet to be mandated by the IMO or included in any SOLAS regulations, structural stress and fatigue monitoring systems have in fact been used for providing real-time safety warnings on large and specialist vessels for more than two decades.

U.S. shipbuilder Philly Shipyard has won a contract from the dredging giant Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company to build a Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation vessel that will serve the growing U.S. offshore wind market.The contract award, first in the U.S. offshore wind space for the shipyard, is worth around $197 million. Great Lakes, the U.S. largest dredging services provider, will have a right of first refusal on a second ship. If both ships are ordered, then the total contract value of the two-ship program would be around $382 million."Over the past several years…

The Italian Coast Guard on Monday signed a contract for the design and construction of a new multi-role offshore unit (UAM) for missions ranging from sea rescue to maritime safety, from marine conservation to fish resources protection, as well as civil protection.The signing took place in Rome at the headquarters of the General Command of the Harbor Authorities - Coast Guard between the Commanding General, Adm. Inspector Nicola Carlone, and the CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono…

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) christened pre-commissioning unit New Jersey (SSN 796) at the company’s Newport News Shipbuilding division.“The christening is a Navy and shipbuilder tradition that celebrates the hard work and dedication of the women and men who are building this magnificent submarine, readying her for the next phase of construction, which includes launch, testing, sea trials and delivery to the Navy,” said Jennifer Boykin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding.

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) signed a $110 million credit facility, for 10 years, with ING BANK N.V., SMBC BANK EU AG and UNICREDIT BANK AG, to finance two new ice-class shuttle tankers.The ships, scheduled to be delivered in Q1 2022, will serve the Sakhalin-1 project (oil and gas development in the Sea of Okhotsk, on the north-eastern shelf of Sakhalin Island, Russia. Exxon Neftegas Ltd. (an affiliate of Exxon Mobil) is the project’s operator and acts as the charterer for the vessels.

Our Cleaner Planet, a non-profit startup with an 'innovative technique to remove plastics from our oceans', said it has completed prototype testing of its first plastic harvester and is now ready to move forward with larger unit testing. The program is scheduled to launch the first of its full-sized, plastic harvesters into ocean operation in 2025.“The test parameters for our 1:164-scale prototype were set up to evaluate speed and control and the first stage of the filtration process,” said Pat Marshall, founder of Our Cleaner Planet.

Austal USA christened Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF-13) USNS Apalachicola at its shipyard in Mobile over the weekend.Austal has delivered 12 EPFs since December 2012, and USNS Apalachicola is slated for delivery in the summer of 2022.The Honorable Kelly Loeffler, ship sponsor of USNS Apalachicola, performed the ceremonial bottle break over the bow of the ship, the 13th EPF designed and constructed by Austal USA and the second U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Florida coast city.

Seabulk's new electric-hybrid tugboat Spartan was launched on November 1 at Master Boat Builders' Coden, Ala., shipyard.Scheduled to be delivered in January 2022, the Robert Allan Ltd.-designed vessel has overall length of 98 feet, beam of 43 feet and bollard pull of 90 tons. The integrated hybrid propulsion system was provided by Thompson Tractor and includes two EPA Tier 4 certified Caterpillar 3512E main engines, each producing 2,550 horsepower and two Berg MTA 628 azimuth thrusters…

Known best for its construction of U.S. Navy warships, Austal USA in September 2020 acquired waterfront property along the Mobile River and established a commercial ship repair facility. Mike Bell, Austal’s VP Operations and Harley Combs, Director, Austal West Campus Ship Repair discuss the plan. Austal USA’s long-established shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Ala., is a modern ship manufacturing factory, one of the largest aluminum warship builders in the world producing new ships for the U.S. Navy.

Marine Group Boat Works (MBGW) transfered the lease of its National City facility to Austal USA. The deal is scheduled to close mid-December 2021. This announcement comes after a period of unprecedented growth for MGBW in its yacht, commercial and specialty government craft divisions. The San Diego-based company will continue their focus on the growing superyacht industry and servicing commercial vessels, with emphasis on the high-speed ferry and tug and barge industries. In addition…

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd (SHI) received an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an LNG carrier design under Bureau Veritas’ (BV) Cyber Managed Prepared notation. The certificate was delivered to the Hyun Joe Kim, Vice President of SHI, by Christophe Capitant, Chief Country Executive of BV Korea, at a ceremony on SHI R&D Center in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.SHI has received the AiP for its SVESSEL smart ship solution, which focuses on complete digitalization of the ship and its applications.

Introducing a new class of warship can be fraught with pain, and the first ship is always the hardest – almost always behind schedule and over budget. And trying something new and transformational is even harder.The U.S. Navy knows this from experience. That’s one reason why the Navy is opting for a lower risk design for its next class of guided missile frigates (FFGs).Just about every new class has experienced a rough start. Although the USS Arleigh Burke-class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) today represent the largest and most successful class of warships…

Celsius Tankers and partners have ordered two additional 180,000-cubic-meter-capacity (CBM) liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from south Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI). The two new ships are scheduled to be delivered in 2024 and will enter into long term time charter with an energy major.According to Celsius, the new vessels’ highly efficient design minimizes CO2 emissions and methane slip from operations via installation of air lubrication, optimization of hull shape and use of the best available paint system to reduce the vessels’ friction in water.

AqualisBraemar LOC, an energy and marine industry consultancy, has agreed to buy the UK operations of ship design and marine consultancy company OSD-IMT from the Dutch-based Damen Shipyards Group.OSD-IMT is a specialist consultancy in ship design for new build, refit, and conversion projects. The company operates the renewables, maritime, defense, and offshore oil and gas sectors."Combining OSD-IMT's wide track record with ABL Group's own expertise in specialist ship design, marine…

Nautilus Data Technologies (NDT) and Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) provide an interesting new twist to the maritime digitalization discussion, with the design, manufacture and delivery of an innovative 7MW data center housed on a refurbished 240-ft. deck barge. Jim Connaughton, CEO, NDT & Michael Complita, PE – VP Strategic Expansion, EBDG, discuss the strategic and environmental advantages as well as the future of housing massive computer banks on barges.When one says “Silicon Valley”, the first image to come to mind likely is not a barge.

Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment will install its open loop exhaust gas abatement technology on two roll-on/roll-off passenger ferries owned by Spanish company Trasmed GLE S.L., which is part of the multinational logistics company Grimaldi Group.Trasmed GLE S.L. has selected four of Wärtsilä’s I-SOx open loop scrubbers with exhaust de-plume systems for the RoPax vessels Volcan del Teide and Ciudad de Granada, which operate in the Mediterranean Sea. Each vessel will have four scrubbers installed, one on each main engine.

Shipbuilder Austal USA said it received approval from the San Diego Port of Commissioners to assume the lease of Marine Group Boat Works in the Port of San Diego. Austal USA and Marine Group Boat Works are entering a 45-day exclusive period to close the agreement.Austal USA will use the 15-acre site to focus on ship repair for U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and U.S. Coast Guard ships, establishing a full service ship repair capability providing maintenance and modernization for small surface combatants, autonomous vehicles and other vessels. The site, immediately adjacent to U.S.

The latest addition to FinFerries’ fleet, the ferry Altera, features high-efficiency azimuth thrusters from SCHOTTEL. The electrically powered hybrid ferry, which is scheduled to enter operation in 2023, is currently under construction at the Polish shipyard Crist. Altera will be able to sail solely on battery power charging its batteries with renewable electricity.Altera measures 100 meters in length and 17 meters in width. The ferry provides space for up to 90 cars and a maximum…

Japan's Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has completed a concept study with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) regarding liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers. The project will combine Mitsubishi Shipbuilding's gas handling technologies developed through the construction of liquified gas carriers (LPG and LNG carriers), with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' experience in operations for a wide range of vessels, to facilitate the development of technologies for marine transport of CO2…

U.S. shipyard Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding announced a change of leadership. Todd Thayse, who began working at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding more than 37 years ago and he has spent the last 10 years as the vice president and general manager, has decided to retire.“The timing of one’s retirement is not an easy decision,” Thayse said. “Especially when you enjoy what you do and the people you get to work with every day.”Thayse will remain at FBS through mid-January to help enable a smooth transition with the incoming VP and GM, Craig Perciavalle.

Wärtsilä’s Optimized Maintenance Agreement has been selected by Greek shipowner and operator Gaslog to cover 10 of the company’s very large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier vessels. The agreement, signed in June 2021, is designed to ensure certainty of operations with budgeted maintenance costs, Wärtsilä said.The tailored agreement covers the vessels’ twin two-stroke dual-fuel main engines, enabling them to benefit from condition monitoring and asset diagnostic services, including Wärtsilä’s Expert Insight solution and remote operational support capabilities.

A.P. Moller - Maersk’s towage operator Svitzer has signed an agreement with naval architect company Robert Allan Ltd to design the world’s first fuel cell tug for harbor operations, running on green methanol.The project aims to explore the combination of methanol fuel cells, batteries, storage/handling systems, electric drives and propulsion units as a carbon neutral alternative to the conventional fossil fueled propulsion train.Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard, Global COO, Svitzer…

SunStone Ships announced the successful launch of itts fifth, Infinity-Class Vessel, Ocean Odyssey.The series is an interesting one as it was started wiith the goal of melding European design and Chinese shipbuilding.“We are very pleased with the high quality, design solutions and equipment packages," said Niels-Erik Lund, SunStone CEO. "We are looking forward to continuing the relationships with all our partners in the Infinity-Class project.”The Launching Ceremony of the OCEAN ODYSSEY (CMHI 196-5) took place at China Merchant Heavy Industries in Haimen, China.

With all eyes on carbon neutrality, a pair of Japanese maritime titans -- Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) -- have agreed to jointly develop a large-scale liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier. To facilitate the development of technologies for transporting CO2 using large vessels, this project will combine Mitsubishi Shipbuilding’s gas handling technologies with NYK Line’s knowledge in operations of not only small and medium-sized vessels, but also large vessels that are expected to increase in demand globally.

Denmark-headquartered Scandlines said it has entered into a contract with Turkey's Cemre Shipyard to build an emissions-free freight ferry for the Puttgarden-Rødby route. The ferry will enter service in 2024.With a crossing time of one hour, the ferry is emissions free. It can also be operated as a hybrid ferry like the current passenger ferries on the Scandlines routes between Germany and Denmark. As a hybrid ferry, the crossing time is 45 minutes.Initially, the ferry will exclusively charge in Rødby.

San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO christened and launched the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the second ship for the U.S. Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.In 2016, General Dynamics NASSCO was awarded the contract by the U.S. Navy for the detailed design and construction of the next generation of fleet oilers, the John Lewis-class (T-AO 205). The contract calls for the design and construction of six 742-foot-long oilers with a full load displacement of 49,850 tons. Designed to transfer fuel to U.S.

British defense company BAE Systems stuck to guidance for earnings to grow by 3% to 5% this year over 2020's result and said that demand for its products and services remained high.BAE, whose main customers are the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia, also said that so far it had been able to overcome supply chain pressures affecting many other manufacturers globally, helped by the long-lead items it uses in programs.Defense has been largely unaffected by the pandemic, with governments sticking to military and security commitments…

When Chinese billionaire Jack Ma took a trip to Spain's Mallorca island last month, much was made of it being his first foreign foray since a 2020 fallout with regulators had clipped his wings.However, Ma's sunny sojourn on his newly-built 88-metre (289 ft) cruise boat Zen - estimated to be worth $200 million - also put a spotlight on a global trend: the return of the superyacht.As the number of billionaires grows and COVID-19 has added to incentives for avoiding crowds, the multi…

Qatar's state-run energy firm QatarEnergy, until recently known as Qatar Petroleum, has ordered six LNG tankers, four from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) and two from Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in support of its North Field expansion project.Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the Minister of State for Energy Affairs, the President and CEO of QatarEnergy, said: “We are pleased to take this further step with DSME and SHI, which have built 23 Q-Flex and 14 Q-Max LNG vessels for Qatar as part of our previous LNG expansion project.”Al-Kaabi further said: These orders…

The very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) Tateshina, owned by NYK, was delivered on November 8, 2021, built at Nantong COSCO KHI Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) in China.According to the owner, several enhancements have been incorporated on Tateshina to help improve performance and fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, including a modified bow shape to help reduce wave resistance. This ship is also equipped low-friction paint, high-efficiency large-diameter propellers, and ladder fins that regulate the water flow at the stern and reduce energy loss.

South Korea's Hyundai Mipo Dockyard has delivered the dual-fuel methanol carrier Capilano Sun, Japanese Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, (MOL) has informed.MOL said that the vessel, which can run on either heavy oil or methanol fuel, would be chartered from Hisafuku Kisen K.K., and then, Canada-based Waterfront Shipping Company (WFS) will charter the vessel from MOL under a long-term contract.Including Capilano Sun, MOL operates 18 methanol carriers. It also operates four of the 13 methanol dual-fuel tankers in service around the world.Per MOL…

GTT announced it received, in October 2021, an order from Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. (HZ) for the tank design of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier on behalf of the leasing entity of the Chinese CSSC Group.As part of this order, GTT will design the tanks of the vessel which will offer a capacity of 174 000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the GTT NO96 L03+ membrane containment system.The vessel will be delivered in the first quarter of 2024.

The first in a series of three new 49,900 dwt methanol dual-fuel MR tankers has been launched for a joint venture between Proman and Stena Bulk.Stena Pro Patria’s launching took place at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), which is the first Chinese shipyard to build a Methanol Dual-Fuel vessel.Construction will now continue on the water, ahead of sea trials and final delivery in the first quarter of 2022.Over the next two years, she will be joined by another five methanol-powered newbuilds: Stena Pro Mare and Stena Prosperous…

The vessel Åsværfjord, which is the sixth ship in the Havtrans series, is leaving Havyard Leirvik to go into service for Frøy.Managing director of the yard, Tor Leif Mongstad, says they must have broken the world record for start-up on these kinds of ships.‘I do not think there is anyone who can compare with us when it comes to starting up this type of ships. We have learned a lot along the way and dare to say that we are experts in wellboats.’Excellent, quick workHåkon Bosdal has been project manager for Åsværfjord.

Rolls-Royce announced it has secured a contract to supply eight of its mtu 16V 4000 M65L engines for four 80-ton bollard pull tugboats to be built by Detroit Brasil, Ltda. and operated by Starnav Servicos Maritimos Ltda. The new tugs will feature a hybrid propulsion system, combining the mtu engines and mtu Blue Vision New Generation (BVNG) monitoring system with Z-drive thrusters, hybrid components and controls from Schottel, a manufacturer of propulsion and steering systems…

Australian energy transportation company Global Energy Ventures (GEV) has secured an Approval-in-Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping for its pilot-scale 430 tonne C-H2 Carrier vessel.AIP for the Handymax vessel, which GEV intends to be the first commercial-scale vessel available for the marine transport of hydrogen, follows an ABS AIP which GEV received in July this year for a compressed hydrogen vessel with a 2,000-tonne capacity.“Hydrogen has a significant role to play in global decarbonization initiatives both within shipping and the wider economy.

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding announced Wednesday it will build a second liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge for PNE Marine Holdings, an affiliate of Northstar Terminals subsidiary Polaris New Energy. The new 5,500 cubic meter (CBM) capacity barge will be a sister to Clean Canaveral, which is scheduled to be delivered to Polaris in mid-November.The maritime sector is seeing growing demand for economical supply of LNG fueling, with more than 400 new vessels utilizing the cleaner…

Three new Damen Patrol Vessels 1304 Electric have been christened at a recent ceremony at the Scheepvaart Museum in the maritime heart of Amsterdam. Two of the vessels, named Waterpieper and Waterhoen, were ordered by Gemeente Amsterdam (the City of Amsterdam) and the third (P55) is for Politie Eenheid Amsterdam (the Amsterdam Police). They will be used for general patrol duties in and around the canals of Amsterdam.The hulls for the vessels were built at Damen Shipyards Kozle…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Spain's Navantia said on Tuesday they will sign a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 3 to strengthen their relationship and explore the benefits of a broadened collaboration in the naval and maritime field.The companies said in a statement they would assess future opportunities for Italian and Spanish navies, including "the participation in the development of future destroyers and other naval platforms that will be part of the future European Defence Force".(Reporting by Elisa Anzolin; editing by Agnieszka Flak)

Norwegian shipowner Wallenius Wilhelmsen said it has taken delivery of Nabucco, the fourth and final vessel in a series of new high-efficiency RoRo (HERO) car carriers.The highly efficient post-Panamax vessels, built by China's Tianjin Xingang Shipbuilding, are each 200 meters long, with capacity of a LCTC and capability similar to a Mark IV. Nabucco and sister ships Tannhauser, Titus and Traviatahas each have capacity to carry 7,700 vehicles.The newly-delivered Nabucco has started…

The Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards Group said it handed over twin fireboats to Flotte Hamburg, a subsidiary of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) tasked with implementing low-emission shipping in the city.With 315 kWh of battery capacity, the state-of-the-art, plug-in hybrid vessels are capable of extended, fully-electric, emissions-free operations in and around the Port of Hamburg. Prag will be operated by Hamburg’s fire service while Dresden will support the HPA, the fire service and other third parties.The vessels, classed as Damen Fire-Fighting Vessels 3508, are completely new designs.

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced on Tuesday that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division recently completed the first round of sea trials for San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).“Shipbuilding is about teamwork. Our shipbuilders work as a team with our Navy partners to make these ships ready to join the fleet,” said Steve Sloan, Ingalls’ LPD program manager. “The success we achieved this week will propel us into a strong finish as we prepare for acceptance trials later this year.

The first MV7000 drives for the LSS FLOTLOG program has successfully passed their Factory Acceptance Tests at GE Power Conversion Nancy Factory, reaching a first milestone for the new fleet of logistic support ships (LSS) of the French Navy.It follows the contract signed in 2020 between GE Power Conversion and Chantiers de l’Atlantique to provide systems for the four LSS to be built by the Shipyard for the French Navy, under the contract management of the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR)…

Sanmar Shipyards said it has signed a contract to deliver two cleaner and greener versions of its Bogacay series of tugs to Sicily-based operator Rimorchiatori Augusta Srl. BOGACAY LII and BOGACY LIV have been refurbished and their propulsion systems upgraded using the latest technology to make them IMO Tier III emissions compliant. They will be delivered to Augusta Port in Sicily towards the end of 2022.The 24.4m x 12m x 5.45m sister tugs will be powered by two Caterpillar CAT 3512E C rating main engines…