Shipbuilding News

Antwerp-based Brabo Group has held a naming ceremony for a Multi Cat 1506 and a Multi Cat 1908 delivered by Damen Shipyards Group. The group’s cleaning division, Brabo Cleaning Company, has secured a contract with Port of Antwerp to maintain a pollution-free environment in the harbor.The naming ceremony took place at Brabo’s headquarters in Antwerp on October 21. The vessels were sponsored by Annick de Ridder and Yasmine Janssen.After securing the contract, Brabo required the vessels quickly.

Propspeed launched a new kit packaged specifically for the commercial marine trade professional. Rusty Morgan, VP of Sales & Operations, Americas, discusses with Maritime Reporter TV.New Zealand-based Propspeed, a maker of underwater foul-release coatings for 21 years, recently signaled its intention to enter full-force into the commercial maritime space with the launch of its first coatings kit packaged specifically for the commercial marine trade professional. The Propspeed Commercial Kit includes all that is needed to coat two propellers 165-203cm in size…

Bollinger Shipyards has delivered the newest Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC), the USCGC John Scheuerman, to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. nearly one week ahead of schedule despite a three week shutdown due to the significant damage sustained to Bollinger’s facilities during Hurricane Ida. The storm made landfall in late August near Port Fourchon, La. as a Category 4 storm. Bollinger’s facilities in Port Fourchon, Lockport, Houma and Larose suffered significant damage as a result of Hurricane Ida…

Exmar, a company owning gas carriers and FSRU units, has partnered up with Lattice Technology to develop a new type of CO2 carrier."With the global need to decarbonize the atmosphere and our world economy heavily relying on a secure energy supply, one of the promising fast-track solutions to cover both opportunities Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS). To achieve sustainable CCUS projects, there will be a need to transport CO₂ in an economical way and on a very large scale…

MAN Engines said it is supplying engines for German customs vessels for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany.The vessels, which are being built at Tamsen Maritim in Rostock, are also the first suitable for fording to be used by the customs authorities. The shallow 1.2 meter draft with a 23 meter length greatly reduces the risk of running aground at low water levels."The new vessels provide significant added value in the calm waters of the North Sea and at low tide.

On Monday, October 18, Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG), Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and industry partners commissioned the new Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Production Facility (PF) in support of the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program at ESG’s Allanton Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by leaders of the United States Coast Guard Project Resident Office.The C5ISR PF is a new…

French engineering firm GTT said it has been chosen by South Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to design the cryogenic fuel tanks of six liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled container vessels.Each LNG fuel tank will be fitted with the Mark III membrane containment technology developed by GTT. The vessels deliveries are scheduled to occur between the third quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024.In addition to the engineering services and technical assistance at the shipyard, GTT will assist the operator through every step of its first LNG-fueled projects: commissioning of the LNG tank, first LNG bunkering operations, as well as further specific LNG operations and maintenance of the vessels.

Effective November 1, 2021, Jeroen Heesters will be the new Managing Director of Damen Shiprepair & Conversion, one of the seven divisions of the Damen Shipyards Group. With Finance Director Eric Snoeren, who joined the division on 1 October, he will make up the management team.After graduating in mechanical engineering, Heesters worked in the oil and gas industry. In 2008, he moved to Damen Shipyards Group, where he worked for Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam and Damen Shiprepair Vlissingen, among others.

Japanese shipping firm NYK said Thursday it had delivered the LNG carrier LNG Endeavour to TotalEnergies on a long-term charter.The vessel commercially managed by France LNG Shipping, a French ship-owning company jointly owned by NYK and Geogas LNG, was delivered on October 20. The 293 meters long vessel was built by Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea. NYK did not say how long exactly the charter with total would be.The LNG carrier is equipped with a WinGD X-DF diesel engine that can operate on fuel oil or boil-off gas stored in its cargo tank.

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) said it has granted Digital Twin Ready Approval in Principle (AIP) to shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its Smart Ship Solution, SVESSEL CBM and S-Fugas (Samsung Fuel Gas) System.The class approval, which comes as a result of a Joint Development Project (JDP) formed earlier in the year, is SHI's first for a systems engineering approach for developing artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technology.As part of the project…

Aker Solutions received a Letter of Intent (LOI) for a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract from Equinor, for the FPSO for the Wisting field development in the Norwegian Barents Sea.Wisting is a greenfield development located in the Barents Sea, about 310 km from the Norwegian mainland. Equinor is the operator of the field (35%), with partners OMV Norge AS (25%), Petoro AS (20%), Idemitsu Petroleum Norge AS (10%) and Lundin Energy Norway AS (10%).The intended FEED contract includes an option for engineering, procurement, construction and integration (EPCI) of the topside for the FPSO. The scope of the FEED is to provide front-end design- and engineering for a circular floating production…

Norwegian shipping company Solvang will pilot a retrofitted carbon capture and storage (CCS) system on one of its ethylene carriers in an effort to test the technology as a potential solution to support decarbonization in the shipping industry.Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment said it is designing the retrofitted unit while it also completes a land-based 1MW test system at its Moss headquarters in Norway. The land-based unit will be completed in Autumn 2021, and the companies expect to retrofit the pilot CCS system on Solvang's 21…

Singapore-based Sam Pan Marine Holdings Pte Ltd has ordered six Strat Cat 27 (SC27) crew transfer vessels (CTV) from Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd, with an option to build and deliver six more vessels.Sam Pan Marine Holdings has also appointed Strategic Marine Group as the exclusive commercial agent to provide commercial management services for the new CTVs, including marketing the vessels for bareboat charter or sale.Strategic Marine’s recently launched SC27 CTV has been designed specifically for the offshore windfarm and renewables market…

A newly formed dredging company has placed an order for what will be one of the largest dredges of its kind in the U.S. On October 12, Michael Kerns, President and CEO of Muddy Water Dredging, LP and Bob Wetta, President and CEO of DSC Dredge LLC, launched the project to build the custom 24” dual pump Marlin Class dredge to maintain U.S. navigable waterways.Muddy Water Dredging, LP (MWD) was established in late 2021 with corporate headquarters located in Orange, Texas. Co-owners Michael J. Kerns and Matthew B.

HullWiper has joined forces with International Paint, a subsidiary of ship hull paint and performance coatings specialist AkzoNobel, and underwater drone ROV specialist Orobotix to provide ship owners and operators with comprehensive hull care support in a new partnership named Intertrac HullCare.The partnership offers high-performance coating schemes from International Paint tailored for different vessel types and operating profiles, which are maintained using sustainable hull…

Austal Australia launched the first of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats, to be constructed for the Royal Australian Navy at the company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.Austal was awarded a $324 million contract by the Australian Department of Defense in May 2020 for the six 58 meter Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats, which include a number of enhancements that improve operational capability and crew capacity, compared to the vessels already in service with the Navy…

Detyens Shipyards Inc. has been awarded an $8,991,045 firm-fixed-price contract for the overhaul of U.S. Navy cable layer USNS Zeus (T-ARC 7), the Pentagon announced Friday.Work to be performed under the 90-calendar day shipyard availability includes services for the regular overhaul and dry-docking availability of the 513.5-foot vessel. The contract also contains 11 unexercised options, which if exercised, would increase cumulative contract value to $9,975,203.Work at the North Charleston, S.C.

Bollinger Shipyards joined U.S. Coast Guard officials at USCG Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, Pa., for the commissioning of one of the newest Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (“FRC”), USCGC Emlen Tunnell.Named in honor of Coast Guard hero and NFL great Emlen Tunnell, the cutter is the fourth of six FRCs to be home-ported in Manama, Bahrain, which will replace the aging 110-ft. Island Class Patrol Boats, built by Bollinger Shipyards 30 years ago, supporting the Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), the U.S. Coast Guard’s largest overseas presence outside the United States.The U.S.

Italian industrial giants Eni and Fincantieri have signed an agreement to establish a partnership for promoting initiatives focused on the energy transition. Oil giant Eni and shipbuilder Fincantieri said the goal of the collaboration was to create a system of integrated solutions for decarbonization projects in the fields of energy, transport, and the circular economy."Eni and Fincantieri have identified areas of common interest for developing synergies, including reducing the environmental impact of the maritime transport sector…

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA, part of Australia's Austal Group, hosted a christening ceremony for the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship at the company’s Gulf Coast shipyard today. Ship sponsor Lolita Zinke performed the ceremonial bottle break over the bow of the Santa Barbara, the 16th LCS designed and constructed by Austal USA and the third U.S. Navy ship to be named after the California coast city.Zinke, wife of former U.S. Congressman and former U.S.

Naval architecture and marine engineering firm NETSCo said it is collaborating with Viking Cruises in preparation for the company's new Mississippi River cruises, launching in 2022 from New Orleans to St. Paul.According to NETSCo, the first phase of the project required vetting the ship design. This included taking into account varying water levels (which can change as much as 50 feet) and determining if the physical size and height of the ship would fit through locks, bridges and other obstacles throughout the entire 2…

Danish shipping company Celsius Tankers announced it has ordered a series of four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries. Upon delivery during 2023 and 2024, the 180,000-cuboc-meter capacity newbuilds will enter into long-term time charters with Clearlake Shipping, a subsidiary of Gunvor Group Ltd.Celsius Tankers recently took delivery of the fourth and last LNG carrier from the previous series of 180,000-cubic-meter capacity XDF vessels ordered at Samsung Heavy Industries in 2018.

The last quarter jump in local steel plate prices (and at varying degrees) seems to have swept across all major recycling markets (including China) this week, according to recent market insights from GMS. The jump in levels varied from as little as $5/Ton from the Chinese market, all the way to $30/Ton on the Turkish end, with the sub-continent markets bridging the gap.Despite the dry sector continuing to perform surprisingly well and keeping the markets starved of bulker and container units…

Update: The article was updated on Wednesday, October 10, to include a statement by the crane manufacturer Liebherr.Offshore wind installation company Seaway 7 said Monday there had been an incident during the construction of its Alfa Lift offshore wind foundation installation vessel, currently being built in China at China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard in Jiangsu."Today, we have been informed of an incident involving the folding A-frame on the main crane of Alfa Lift, currently under construction in China.

Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo has delivered the Star Pride, the third ship of the extension and modernization Star Plus Initiative project of cruise operator Windstar Cruises.The program, worth $250 million dollars and involved the cruise ships “Star Breeze” and “Star Legend”, delivered respectively in 2020 and last May, and now “Star Pride.”Under the extension and modernization program, Fincantieri was responsible for the installation of a new 25.6 meters mid-body section; the total renewal of the propulsion engines and diesel generators for a more environmentally responsible navigation…

U.S. offshore wind farm developer Mayflower Wind announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement with Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding/Duclos Corporation of Somerset, Mass. for the specification, design and manufacture of a Jones Act-compliant, hybrid battery diesel electric crew transfer vessel (CTV).The design utilizes technologies that will provide significant fuel savings and emissions reductions, including the use of lithium-Ion battery energy storage to create a hybrid vessel that will be a bridge to full electrification.

ALMACO said it has delivered the crew areas for the newbuild expedition cruise vessel Crystal Endeavor built in Stralsund in MV Werften shipyard.The company’s scope of delivery consisted of all crew areas and state-of-the-art public areas, where the guests prepare themselves for the expeditions that the vessel offers.ALMACO completed the areas onboard Crystal Endeavor on time prior to the vessel delivery. The steel-to-steel installation included interior and background outfitting. The installation of all 109 crew cabins and crew public areas were done by ALMACO’s team on site.

Norwegian naval architecture firm Skipsteknisk announced it has secured a design contract from fishing company Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries Corporation (QFC) operating out of Iqaluit on Baffin Island in Canada for itsnew state-of-the-art freezer trawler.The new multi-species factory freezer trawler Saputi II will have a carrying capacity of 800 tons of shrimps or 1,200 tons of turbot. The vessel is of ST-118 design and will have a length of 79 meters and a beam of 17 meters.The trawler will be built with heavy ice-class and designed for operation in severe climatic conditions in the Bay of Baffin…

Denmark-headquartered ferry operator Scandlines has opted to install a rotor sail on board a second vessel in its fleet after equipping the hybrid ferry Copenhagen with its first wind auxiliary propulsion unit in 2020.Berlin, a sister vessel to Copenhagen, also operates on the Rostock-Gedser route but, unlike Copenhagen, is flagged by Germany.Scandlines has had more than a year to collect data on how the Norsepower rotor sail works on Copenhagen, and what effect it has on the route.Scandlines’ COO…

In a typical year, the waters surrounding British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver host approximately 3,000 deep sea commercial vessels and 19 of the 35 ferries operated by BC Ferries, one of the largest ferry operators in the world. These waters are also home to a wide variety of aquatic wildlife, including the southern resident killer whales (SRKW), which have been listed as endangered in Canada since 2003.With vessel-generated acoustic disturbances identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as one of four key threats to the SRKW…

French shipbuilder OCEA has launched a new offshore patrol vessel for the French Maritime Affairs. The OCEA OPV 150 type aluminum vessel is now starting a phase of sea trials before its scheduled delivery at the beginning of 2022.In December 2019, following a call for tenders, the French Maritime Affairs placed an order to OCEA for its new offshore patrol vessel, which will be based in Marseille. The Mediterranean patrol vessel Gyptis, 46.2 meters long and 8.5 meters wide, is…

Since the 1980s there has been a remarkable revival of ferry services in many U.S. waterfront cities, but COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the most profitable component of these services: the commuter runs. With post-COVID work-at-home arrangements and part-week in-office work, these ferry services have suffered a tremendous loss of income. But there are glimmers of hope that a recovery is likely, although in a different form, in a different world.Commuter runs are often the bread and butter portion of a ferry services…

New Lighting Technology offers bright ideas for better interior and exterior lighting that saves money, manpowerThe U.S. Navy is leaving traditional lighting behind for Solid State Lighting (SSL) with very long-life solid-state light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. Technology has illuminated new ways to light ships that are safer, more efficient and more affordable. Taking advantage of the new technology has its challenges, such as finding cost effective lighting that is rugged…

Chinese shipbuilder Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. has won a contract to build two CO2 carriers for Northern Lights, a Norwegian carbon capture and storage project.Under the contract awarded by the Northern Lights JV, owned equally by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies, the Chinese shipbuilder will build two CO2 carriers, each with a cargo size of 7,500 m3 and a length of 130 meters.The two vessels, designed to transport liquid CO2 with purpose-built pressurized cargo tanks, are expected to be ready for delivery by mid-2024. The primary fuel for the ships will be LNG, keeping emissions low.

China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai, China has cut first steel for Finncanopus, the second of two Superstar ro-pax vessels ordered by Finnlines.Construction of the series' first vessel, Finnsirius, started earlier this year, and keel-laying is scheduled to take place in April 2022. So-called mock-ups have been built of cabins, as well as public spaces, to check and test the quality and fine-tune details.Freight drivers, who are frequent travelers on the Finland–Sweden line…

French engineering firm GTT announced Thursday that it has received, in Q3 2021, an order from Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the tank design of four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers on behalf of an Asian shipowner.As part of the order, GTT will design the tanks of the vessels which will each offer a capacity of 174,000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the GTT Mark III Flex membrane containment system.Deliveries of the vessels are scheduled for the first quarter of 2024.

Pemamek has provided automated welding solutions to the shipbuilding industry for more than 25 years. Modular lines consisting of everything from simple robotic welding systems to entirely integrated plate preparation, joining and finishing operations can be built according to customer needs. But, according to Michael Bell, Sales Director for Pemamek LLC, the North American subsidiary of Finland-based Pemamek Oy, their systems are customizable for all types of vessels ranging from sub birthing barges…

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri has cut first steel for Explora Journeys' new-concept luxury cruise ship Explora II.Explora Journeys, the new luxury brand of the cruises division of MSC Group, ordered four vessels of this class in 2018, in a deal worth more than €2 billion.The series' first ship, Explora I is currently under construction in Monfalcone, while Explora II will be built at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente (Genoa) yard, with deliveries planned in 2023 and 2024 respectively.Each of the four 64,000-gross-ton vessels will have 461 guest suites on board.

Aluminum workboat builder Silver Ships, Inc. said it was awarded an $8.2 million delivery order as a result of being awarded a firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) single award contract by the Naval Sea Systems Command for the construction and delivery of up to 110 Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Surface Support Craft (SSC) and U.S. Coast Guard Special Purpose Craft, Law Enforcement (SPC-LE) vessels, in addition to other accessories, parts and training.

OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) announced it has been selected by Damen Naval to provide a navigation suite to the Federal German Navy’s F126 program. The contract includes Integrated Bridge Management Systems (IBMS) for the frigates and land-based test and training sites (Landanlage), all powered by ECPINS.ECPINS forms the heart of OSI’s IMO type-approved Integrated Navigation System - MSC 252(83), and is a leading WECDIS among NATO and Allied navies. Already 80% compliant to STANAG 4564 Edition 3…

Kongsberg Maritime (KM) announced it has been awarded a contract with Finnish shipyard Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) to deliver propulsion and steering equipment for two new car and passenger ferries. The vessels will be operated by the Australian company TT-Line for the regular Spirit of Tasmania ferry service – a 10.5-hour journey across the Bass Strait between Melbourne, Victoria and Devonport, Tasmania.Each vessel will be fitted with two of KM’s Promas combined propulsion and steering systems…

The U.S. Navy awarded Austal USA a $144 million two-ship Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) detailed design and construction contract October 5.T-ATS will provide oceangoing tug, salvage and rescue capabilities to support U.S. fleet operations and will be a multi mission common hull platform capable of towing heavy ships. These ships will be able to support current missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and wide area search and surveillance. The…

Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. has unveiled a methanol-fueled RAptor 2400 crew transfer vessel (CTV), bringing the offshore wind industry closer to eliminating carbon emissions from the supply chain.As a marine fuel, methanol provides emissions benefits that are similar to natural gas when it comes to reducing CO2, NOx, SOx and particulates, but without the need for cryogenic or pressurized fuel tanks. This reduces capital cost, saves space and allows more fuel to be carried.

Fred. Olsen Express has taken delivery of a new high-speed ferry, Bañaderos Express, built by Austal Philippines. Captain Juan Antonio Rojas and the crew of Bañaderos Express formally accepted the vessel from Austal Philippines president and general manager Wayne Murray at a COVID-safe ceremony held at the company’s Balamban, Cebu shipyard.The Austal Auto Express 118 trimaran is the second and final vessel in a A$190 million series ordered by the Canary Islands operator in 2018. The first vessel, Bajamar Express was constructed by Austal Australia and delivered in July 2020.

DP World's subsidiary Drydocks World Dubai has started converting an Aframax tanker capable of carrying 700,000 barrels of oil to a Floating Storage and Offloading Unit (FSO) for Dixstone, part of Perenco.As part of the extensive modification and life extension work at the FSO Pargo project, Drydocks will apply a new hull coating, which will ensure the FSO's performance remains reliable for the next 20 years of offshore operations.The work will also involve fabrication and installation of an external turret for weather waning…

The New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) on Monday commissioned the newest Staten Island ferry, SSG Michael H. Ollis.The 320-foot, 4,500-passenger vessel was built by Eastern Shipbuilding Group ass the first in a series of three new Ollis Class ferries due to enter service for Staten Island Ferry.The three Ollis Class double ended 4,500 passenger ferries, are designed by Elliott Bay Design Group, each featuring four ABS Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) L12ME23B @ 750…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group is one of America’s leading shipbuilders. Perhaps best known for its history building tugs, towboats and offshore supply vessels, the company is today finding success in other markets, with notable build projects underway for the U.S. Coast Guard, Staten Island Ferry and dredging contractor Weeks Marine. Eastern’s president Joey D’Isernia weighs in on the yard’s current workload, market drivers and the challenges overcome and on the horizon.Where do you see the best opportunities for Eastern Shipbuilding Group today?We see a lot of opportunity in the defense sector…

Norwegian shipping company Höegh Autoliners announced it has entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with shipbuilder China Merchants Heavy Industry (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (CMHI) to build a series of multi-fuel, ammonia-ready Aurora class car carriers.Under the terms of the LOI, the first two vessels will be delivered already in the second half of 2024. The Aurora class vessels each have capacity to carry up to 9,100 cars as well as DNV’s new “ammonia ready” notation, which makes it the first in the segment to be ready for operation on carbon neutral ammonia.Andreas Enger…

The world's largest container shipping lessor Seaspan Corporation announced on Monday that it has accepted delivery of a new containership that will immediately begin an 18-year charter with a "major liner customer". The vessel is the first in a series of five 12,200 TEU newbuilds and the lead ship of 70 newbuilds announced by Seaspan."This delivery marks a major milestone in Seaspan's continuing quality growth and unmatched ability to best serve our customers," said Bing Chen, chairman, president and CEO of Seaspan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Corp.

Qatar Petroleum has ordered four new LNG carriers from Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, a subsidiary of China's CSSC, as part of its North Field expansion project."These four carriers are the first batch of orders in Qatar Petroleum’s massive LNG shipbuilding program, which will cater for future LNG fleet requirements for the North Field expansion projects as well as for existing vessel replacement requirements. This order is also the first ever placed by Qatar Petroleum or any of its affiliates with a Chinese shipyard for LNG ships…

Classification society DNV and the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) have granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to South Korea's shipbuilders Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) and Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (KSOE) for a 40,000 CBM barge-type LNG Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU). DNV said  Thursday that the AiP was the result of a joint research project by HMD, KSOE, LISCR, and DNV to develop a 40K barge-type LNG FSRU. Operated together with a large-size floating storage unit (FSU) and a shuttle LNG carrier…

Australian vessel designer Incat Crowther said Friday China’s first purpose-built catamaran crew transfer vessel was under construction at AFAI Southern Shipyard. To be operated by Goldsea Marine & Offshore Engineering (Shanghai) Co Ltd, the vessel will support China’s offshore wind farm sector."The Incat Crowther 32 will represent a step-change in vessel capability in the area, offering stability, performance and functionality unmatched by vessels currently serving the industry…

Dutch marine and offshore services company Van Oord has ordered a new offshore wind turbine installation vessel that will be able to install next-generation wind turbines of up to 20MW. The vessel will be built by Yantai CIMC Raffles Shipyard in China."The jack-up vessel can operate on methanol and install up to 20 MW wind turbines at sea with a very low CO2 footprint. The investment is in line with the increasing global demand for offshore wind farms. The ship is expected to enter the market in 2024…

Lindblad Expeditions Holdings took delivery of National Geographic Resolution from Ulstein Verft, marking the official completion of the line’s second polar new build. Present at the handover ceremony in Ulsteinvik, Norway for the official signing was Nikolaos Doulis, Senior Vice President, New Buildings and Kenneth Pettersen, Project Director at Ulstein Verft. The vessel is now ready to set off for her inaugural polar voyage on November 17, 2021 to Antarctica, South Georgia and…

French engineering firm GTT said on Thursday it has received an order from Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) for the tank design of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier on behalf of the Korean shipowner Hyundai LNG Shipping Co., LTD.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, a technology developed by GTT.The vessel will be delivered in the first half of 2024.

Following the acquisition of additional waterfront along the Mobile River in September 2020, Austal USA reports it quickly established a ship repair facility that has had a booming response.“Almost immediately after word got out Austal USA had purchased the additional waterfront property, we were inundated with calls from commercial captains looking to return to Mobile to have their ships serviced,” Austal USA’s Senior Vice President of Operations Mike Bell said.Austal’s acquisition included 15 acres of waterfront property spanning almost 3…

Could you imagine designing your own car or truck or airplane, and then trying to build it? Unless you’re Elon Musk, you most likely couldn’t.Today’s consumers don’t want to solve their own problems, they want turnkey solutions, and they want them now. In what industry—other than maritime—do you see customers designing their own products, putting them out for bid, and then dealing with time and cost overruns? Yet, in the maritime world most acquisitions are long, drawn-out processes…

Superior  Wis. fire, patrol, and rescue craft builder Lake Assault Boats, part of Fraser Industries, has named Banner Fire Equipment, Inc. – of Roxanna, Illinois – as its sales and service dealership for Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and portions of Illinois. “Adding Banner Fire Equipment to our dealer network is great news for fire departments and law enforcement agencies in the region that have protection areas with on-the-water responsibilities,” said Bob Beck, director of sales and marketing at Lake Assault Boats.

The 210,000-dwt ton capesize bulker Cape Brolga has been delivered from Japan Marine United Corporation's Tsu shipyard to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group on Monday commenced construction of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Ingham (WMSM-917), the third hull of the Heritage Class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program.The occasion was observed by leaders of the U.S. Coast Guard Project Resident Office at ESG’s Allanton Shipyard where the first steel plates were cut by ESG personnel in the 103,000-square-foot steel and aluminum processing facility and transferred to the Nelson Street Shipyard for assembly and construction.This milestone is yet another signal of growing momentum in the OPC program.

Master Boat Builders, Inc. on Monday announced it will construct two new tugboats in its Coden, Ala., yard for Suderman and Young Towing Company of Houston, Texas.Under a contract order signed in February 2021, Suderman & Young will receive two vessels scheduled for delivery starting in July 2022. This summer, Master Boat Builders laid the keel for the first of the vessels.The tugboats will have an overall length of 85 feet, beam of 38.5 feet, and produce a bollard pull of over 52 metric tonnes.

Wärtsilä will supply the engines for two new pusher tugs being built for the Brazilian operator Hidrovias do Brasil at the Uzmar Shipyard in Turkey. There is an option for an additional two vessels. The Hidrovias fleet already includes a number of vessels operating with Wärtsilä engines, and their operational dependability and competitive lifecycle cost were cited as key considerations in the award of this latest contract, which was signed in the second quarter of 2021, Wärtsilä…

Harland & Wolff Group said Monday that Clive Richardson, Non-Executive Chairman of the company was stepping down from the Board. His notice period will run until mid-December 2021.Harland & Wolff Group said: "The company remains involved in advanced large complex bids and negotiations for multiple projects for financial year 2022 and beyond. Given the volume of work and related time investment required of the management team and of the broader Board of Directors over a prolonged period to bring these contracts to fruition, Mr.

First steel was cut Thursday for the first of the UK Royal Navy’s five new Type 31 frigates, HMS Venturer.The historic ceremony took place at Babcock's factory in Rosyth, Scotland, where the Type 31 Inspiration class ships are being constructed."The frigates will be at the heart of the Royal Navy’s surface fleet, deterring aggression and maintaining the security of the UK’s interests as well as providing humanitarian relief when needed. The frigates will work alongside the UK’s Allies to deliver a warship presence across the globe and enable a forward naval presence…

McAllister Towing announced on Thursday it has signed a contract for the construction of two new tugs to be built at Washburn & Doughty Associates (W&D) in East Boothbay, Maine, with an option for two additional vessels.The 93- by 38-foot tractor tugs will each offer 84 metric tons bollard pull, further enhancing McAllister’s East Coast fleet with the ability to service its customers largest ships and bring McAllister’s tractor fleet to 39 tugs with a total of over 182,000 horsepower…

Classification society Bureau Veritas said it has issued novel design approval for what will be the world’s largest very large gas carriers (VLGC).The new 93,000-cubic-meter (CBM) capacity Panda 93P VLGC design has been developed by Jiangnan Shipyard, part of the CSSC Group (China State Shipbuilding Corporation), as an evolution of of the shipyard’s Panda gas carrier series, featuring optimized hull-form to allow increased cargo capacity without significant increases in fuel consumption.

Renewable energy company RWE said Thursday it would create an offshore wind operations hub at Grimsby’s Royal Dock, on the UK’s east coast.The new ‘Grimsby Hub’ will expand the existing Triton Knoll offshore wind farm base and will be the home for RWE’s specialist team for major component exchanges and offshore repairs. As part of the move, RWE’s 1.4 gigawatt (GW) Sofia offshore wind farm will also locate its operations and maintenance activities to the new hub in the future.RWE expects the new facility will accommodate around 140 RWE employees…

Shipbuilder Austal's Chief Financial Office Greg Jason has tendered his resignation from the company, to take an extended break, the company said Thursday.Jason started with Austal almost 15 years ago, serving in both finance and operational roles, the last nine years as CFO. He will conclude his tenure at Austal in December 2021, and, similar to previous senior management changes at Austal, will assist in the search and transition process to appoint a new CFO.Jason said: "Helping…

Manitowoc, Wis., shipbuilder Burger Boat Company announced it has begun work on a new vehicle and passenger ferry for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.Due to launch Summer 2022, the 92-foot steel ferry will operate year-round on the St. Mary’s River in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula between Barbeau, Mich., and Neebish Island. The ferry was designed to operate in the harsh winter environment and through the solid ice conditions it will encounter on its route.The ferry is designed by Seacraft Design, LLC of Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä and Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have teamed up to develop ammonia-fueled vessels as the cleaner burning fuel gains traction amid the maritime industry’s drive toward decarbonization.Under the joint development program (JDP) agreement signed between the two firms in July 2021, the partners will aim to develop ammonia-fueled vessels with four-stroke auxiliary engines available for future newbuild projects.Ammonia, which continues to gain interest as a marine fuel worldwide…

Norwegian shipbuilder Havyard Leirvik has delivered another offshore wind service operation vessel (SOV) to Danish vessel owner Esvagt.The vessel, Esvagt Havelok, is the third and last of the ‘triplet ships’ built by Havyard for Esvagt. The ship handed over Tuesday was the third in the same series, but it is the sixth wind farm service vessel that the Sognefjorden yard has delivered to the Danish offshore wind pioneer Managing director of Havyard Leirvik, Tor Leif Mongstad, says…

France should not have been surprised that Australia cancelled a submarine contract, as major concerns about delays, cost overruns and suitability had been aired officially and publicly for years, Australian politicians said.Paris has recalled its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington, saying it was blindsided by Canberra's decision to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain rather than stick with its contract for French diesel submarines.Yet as early as September 2018, an independent oversight board led by a former U.S.

After a 30-day voyage from Altinova, Turkey, SAAM Towage's newest tug SAAM Palenque has arrived in Colón, Panama, where the company provides towage services on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.SAAM Towage Country Manager in Panama, Matia de Luiggi said, “We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this new tug, which will be an important reinforcement for our fleet. A compact vessel with advanced fire-fighting systems, it has all the technical specs for safely, efficiently serving…

Somerset, Mass. shipbuilder Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation delivered a new Chesapeake class pilot boat to the Associated Federal Pilots in Venice, La.With a deep-V hull designed by Ray Hunt Design, the new all-aluminum launch measures 52.6’ overall, with a 16.8’ beam and a 3.10’ draft. Powered by twin Volvo Penta D-16, EPA Tier 3-certified diesel engines, each producing 641 Bhp at 1800 rpm; the vessel’s top speed is 26 knots. A Humphree interceptor trim control system…

Finland-based CADMATIC said it is expanding its presence in Canada to support Seaspan Shipyards and to drive business development in the North American region. A local Canadian business entity, CADMATIC INC. has been set up in Vancouver and the recruitment of employees has started.The first employee for local customer services has already been hired. For the immediate future, CADMATIC plans to recruit more hull and outfitting application specialists, with other recruitments to support business development to follow.CADMATIC’s key customer in the region…

Australian shipping company SeaRoad said it has finalized an agreement with German shipbuilding yard Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) to construct a new roll-on /roll-off (RoRo) vessel with liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion worth more than 100 million euros.Construction on the 210-meter-long vessel will commence in late 2021. The ship will have a capacity of 4,227 lane meters and capability to transport heavy cargo with a unit weight of up to 100 tonnes. At over 40…

Mercy Ships is known globally for its charitable work performing medical procedures in developing countries. For the first time, the organization has a new ship, Global Mercy, recently delivered from a shipyard in China. Jim Paterson, Marine Executive Consultant, Mercy Ships takes Maritime Reporter & Engineering News inside the construction of the world’s largest civilian hospital ship.Jim Paterson already had a career and Chief Engineer’s Certificate when he joined Mercy Ships nearly 34 years ago, in search of a life change to make a difference.

Hyundai Heavy Industries' shares closed 86% above their initial public offering (IPO) price on their trading debut in South Korea on Friday.The shipbuilder, one of the largest in the world, raised $935 million from its IPO, with much of the proceeds set to fund investments in new technology.A total of 1,633 domestic and foreign institutional investors placed bids to acquire shares earlier this month, valuing total bids at 1,130 trillion won ($962.3 billion), according to Hyundai Heavy.The institutional book for the IPO had been 1,836 times covered - the second-largest for an IPO in South Korea

Navigator Gas was awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia fueled gas carrier design from DNV. The new design draws together a consortium including MAN Energy Solutions, Babcock International and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), all of which have collaborated with Navigator Gas to earn the AiP.The design earned the AiP based on the special features notation (GF NH3) under DNV’s new rules for the use of ammonia as fuel in gas carriers. DNV, alongside the NMA…

Vitol’s Singaporean bunker operations company, V-Bunkers, placed an order to build two electric-hybrid bunker tankers, with the intention to deploy them for harbor ops in Singapore.The bunker tankers are being built at an undisclosed shipyard in China with Electric-Hybrid notation and will employ Energy Storage Systems (ESS) technology comprising Lithium ion batteries for energy storage and anautomated Power Management System (PMS) designed to efficiently manage power consumption to reduce GHG emissions.

Australian vessel designer Incat Crowther on Friday announced the launch of Tamoya, an Incat Crowther 17 to join Reef Ranger and Reef Resilience in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Joint Field Management Program fleet."Tamoya packs a lot of punch for her size, which is measured specifically to fit the home port berth. The main deck is dominated by an aft working deck with a quick launch and recovery system for a 3.4m RHIB, dive racks, deck winches, BBQ area, a sink and multiple deck lashing points…

Aerospace, defense and security company Babcock said it has secured the first export contract for its Arrowhead 140 (AH140) frigate through a design license agreement with PT PAL Indonesia (Persero), a state-owned enterprise that builds and maintains ships for military and commercial use from its facilities in Surabaya, Indonesia. The deal comes two years since Babcock’s AH140 design was first announced as the preferred bidder for the UK Type 31 frigate program at DSEI 2019, with…

Australian shipbuilding group Austal Limited announced its Austal USA arm has appointed Rusty Murdaugh as president, effective September 9, 2021.Murdaugh joined Austal USA in 2017 as chief financial officer, and has been serving as interim president of the company since February 2021. As interim president, Murdaugh led the addition of steel shipbuilding to the Austal USA manufacturing operations and the company’s facility expansion in Mobile by acquiring additional waterfront and services capability on the Mobile River. A U.S.

Techcross said its Europe office has signed a contract to install ballast water management systems (BWMS) aboard Dutch shipping company Anthony Veder Rederijzaken B.V.'s fleet of gas carriers.Through this order, 13 of Anthony Veder's vessels will be equipped with a direct electrolysis BWMS, Electro-Cleen System (ECS). Depending on the size of the vessel, products with 300 to 450 tons will be delivered sequentially by 2024, and delivery to the first vessel will begin immediately from the third quarter of this year.Founded in 1937…

Initial appropriations discussions are underway for Fiscal Year 2022, with a continued focus on federal shipbuilding programs. It has been rough going for the Navy as Congress raised questions about the President’s commitment to the Navy’s long-term shipbuilding program. Meanwhile, House appropriators are seemingly focused on continuing shipbuilding successes at the Maritime Administration and Coast Guard. With billions of dollars in the balance, the U.S. shipbuilding industry…

Japan's Yanmar said Thursday it had received an order for dual fuel 6EY22ALDF engines which will be used to power generators on board Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' new LNG-fueled large coal carrier. The coal carrier will be built by Namura Shipbuilding."Emission regulations in the marine sector are becoming ever more stringent, with LNG vessels being adopted globally as a means of reducing environmental impact. As this trend has progressed in recent years, dual-fuel engines have attracted ever more attention…

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering  (DSME) said Thursday they would jointly develop designs for a 70,000 CBM very large, liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carrier.The joint development project (JDP) is responding to the development of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technology, which will ultimately require larger vessels for CO2 transport than those used in the existing food industry.“CCUS can play a role in reducing emissions in a range of industries…

The United States, Britain and Australia will establish a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific that will involve helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, senior U.S. officials said on Wednesday, as Chinese influence over the region grows.Under the partnership, to be announced on Wednesday by President Joe Biden, British Prime Minster Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the United States will provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines…

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday approved $1 billion for U.S. Coast Guard shore side infrastructure nationwide and $350 million for a heavy Great Lakes icebreaker as part of its budget reconciliation bill, an action that the Great Lake Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) called “great news for the Great Lakes.”The GLMTF described the heavy Great Lakes icebreaker as desperately needed and expects that a portion of the infrastructure funds will go to good…

British aerospace, defense and security company Babcock has launched a new shipbuilding approach enabling international customers to build and support the company’s Arrowhead 140 frigate (AH140) in-country. Launched at DSEI 2021, Arrowyard enables the construction of the AH140 hull, superstructure and components, final assembly and outfitting and also supports the development of sovereign in-service fleet support capability.Babcock will share its experience in preparing and investing in facilities…

Revenues and core earnings at the Italian Sea Group at least doubled in the first half of the year thanks to new contracts, allowing the luxury yacht maker to narrow its full-year guidance to the higher end of a previously given range.Shares rose more than 4% after the results were released and were up 2.4% by 1200 GMT, outperforming a 0.6% drop in Milan's all-share index.The group had initially guided for 2021 net sales of between 160-170 million euros ($189-201 million) and adjusted earnings before interests, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the range of between 25-26 million e

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) on Tuesday announced it has ordered four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from South Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) for delivery in 2024.The Japanese shipping company said it has signed time charter contracts for the four newbuilds with NOVATEK Gas & Power Asia Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Russia's PAO NOVATEK.The 174,000-cubic-meter capacity newbuilds will be equipped with the "cutting-edge" MAN Energy Solutions engines, which offer improved fuel efficiency, MOL said.

French engineering firm GTT announced on Tuesday it has received an order from its partner the South Korean shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the tank design of three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers on behalf of an Asian shipowner.As part of this order placed at the end of July, GTT will provide the design and associated engineering services for the tanks of the vessels which will each offer a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters. The tanks will be fitted with the GTT Mark III Flex membrane containment system.The vessels are scheduled to be delivered in the second and third quarters of 2024.

InfraStrata, the UK quoted company focused on strategic infrastructure projects and physical asset lifecycle management, has applied to Companies House to trade under the name Harland & Wolff Group Holdings plc.The company, which in 2019 bought Harland & Wolff, the Belfast shipyard that built the Titanic, has said it has over the past year and a half proceeded through various phases which have included, the acquisition of assets, significant upgrades to all its facilities, the introduction of state-of-the-art technology and has simultaneously established a substantial sales pipeline.

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $500-million design contract for the modernization of two of its shipyards in Hawaii and Washington.The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity architecture-engineering contract awarded to Honolulu, Hawaii-based WSM Pacific SIOP by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) on September 7 is for structural and waterfront-related projects at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) in Hawaii and Puget…

Harland & Wolff welcomed 13 new apprentices to its flagship Belfast site as part of its very first ‘Apprentice Induction Day’.The scheme will run in line and with partnership from Northern Regional College and will see apprentices range from 17 - 28 years old, with a mixture of genders. Held on Friday, September 3, the day gave the newest recruits a chance to tour the site as well as learn more about the company’s heritage and significance within national and international maritime sectors.Harland & Wolff Apprenticeships are offered across three distinct functions…

Majestic Ferries Pte Ltd has selected Perkins’ marine engines to power more of their fleet, most recently through the supply of six Perkins E70M auxiliary engines. Two engines will power the generator set onboard each of the three new Incat Crowther 42 series offering a high-speed service on the Singapore/Batam route.“We have a good relationship with Majestic Ferries Pte Ltd,” said Danny Lim from Multico PowerDrive Pte Ltd, the Perkins distributor for Singapore. “The Perkins E70M engines do more than meet the power and application requirements…

A pair of fully-electric road ferries are now on their way from Damen Shipyards Galati to Lake Ontario, Canada, to begin operations. Ordered by the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario, Canada, the Amherst Islander II and Wolfe Islander IV, 68 and 98 meters in length respectively, departed the yard on August 26 to be loaded on the semi-submersible transport vessel Super Servant 4 and will arrive in Lake Ontario in mid-September.Both of the open-deck vessels are equipped to be fully-electric…

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to VARD Marine for its 115-meter offshore patrol vessel (NGOPV) design.The VARD 7 115 NGOPV caters to a range of mission requirements, including air, surface, and sub-surface surveillance and engagement capabilities. The vessel arrangement offers a multi-mission bay and a set-down area for containerized mission payloads, with a configuration that can be tailored to meet a variety of mission objectives, ABS said.The vessel, which is to be unveiled at the Defence and Security Equipment International Show in London…

ABS, Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding (HZS), and Wärtsilä have teamed to develop a flexible, future-ready, and modular concept for a future multi-fuel electric Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier (LNGC) vessel.The project will, partners say, apply various decarbonization technologies and solutions to the vessel design and operation models to investigate its performance against the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) up to at least 2050."The LNGC will be highly flexible…

Marubeni Corporation and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) are working together to develop a dual-fuel methanol/very-low sulfur fuel oil powered vessel to ship methanol from Russia.On September3, during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, the Japanese firms signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Development of the Far East and the Arctic Regions, State Development Corporation VEB.RF, VTB Bank and ESN Limited Liability Company (ESN Group) to commence a joint study to build…

Container shipping firm Evergreen Marine has this week ordered 24 container ships for a total price of up to ~$1.1 billion from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in China.In a Taiwan Stock Exchange announcement on Wednesday, Evergreen said the order comprised newly-built 1,800 TEU, 2,300 TEU, and 3,000 TEU container ships.More precisely, the company has ordered two 1,800 TEU vessels, eleven 2,300 vessels TEU and eleven 3,000 TEU vessels.The total transaction price is between $958 million and ~1.1 billion.Evergreen Marine, the owner of the Ever Given container ship which earlier this year bloc

Naval architects and marine engineers sit on the front lines of the maritime industry’s battle toward decarbonization. Morgan Fanberg, President, Glosten, discusses the challenges and opportunities ahead.Put in context the challenge ahead for ship owners and ship designers to meet emission targets of 2050?I started my career in 1998 and as a young marine engineer, the challenges that I faced were taking old boats and meeting SOLAS requirements, developing ship yard packages for modifications such as oily water separator upgrades (for example).