Shipbuilding News

Diverse and conveniently located, St. Johns Ship Building has quickly developed into a reliable partner for its many repeat customers. Today, and as a direct result, a lot more people know exactly where Palatka, Florida is located.On the St Johns River, just 60 miles south of Jacksonville, lies the sleepy town of Palatka, Florida. Founded as a trading post in 1821, its location on the highly navigable river made the area attractive to orange growers and timber men alike.In its heyday between 1875 and 1900…

The trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Meuse River, built for DEME Group at the Royal IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, is launched.The launch ceremony of the the 7,950m³ vessel took place at IHC’s shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, the Netherlands."Meuse River has the same innovative design as the award winning IHC-built TSHD Scheldt  River, which joined the DEME fleet in 2017 and since then operated non-stop on waterways and access channels in Europe," said a press release.Meuse River features several energy smart technologies…

Britain's newest aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales sails into home port of Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time.The £3.1 billion warship left Rosyth dockyard, Scotland, where it was built in September before undergoing eight weeks of sea trials.The ship’s arrival into Portsmouth represents the culmination of 16 years of work by the ACA – a unique alliance relationship between BAE Systems, Babcock, Thales, and the UK Ministry of Defence.More than 10,000 people across the UK have been involved in the program to deliver the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers…

Stena Line took ownership of its newest ferry Stena Estrid following a handover ceremony at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard in north-western China. Stena Estrid is the first of five next generation Stena Line RoPax vessels that are currently being constructed. Stena Estrid will now embark on a six-week journey to its new home on the Irish Sea, where it will begin service on the Dublin to Holyhead route in January 2020.A further two of the new ferries are also destined for the Irish Sea with Stena Edda expected to commence operations from Belfast to Liverpool next spring…

Wight Shipyard Co (WSC), Europe's leading high speed craft and aluminium ship builder based on Britain's Isle of Wight, has been contracted by CWind to build a hybrid surface effect crew transfer vessel.The world’s first hybrid surface effect crew transfer vessel will service the Borssele 1 and 2 offshore windfarms located 23 kilometers off the Dutch coast, said the specialized in aluminium vessel construction.“We have built a reputation in the fast ferry arena and commercial marine sector,” said Peter Morton, CEO WSC. “But this a world first, building a hybrid SES for crew transfer.

Hong Kong-headquartered Seaspan Corporation, a major player in independent containership management and ownership, has agreed to acquire a fleet of six containerships for $380 million in cash.The independent containership lessor said that the purchase of the acquired vessels is expected to be financed from additional borrowings as well as cash on hand.The closing of the acquisition is expected to occur in December 2019, and is subject to customary closing conditions. Upon closing…

Swedish shipping company Thun Tankers has taken delivery of the third of five L-class product tankers from China’s Avic Dingheng. Just like her sister ships, Thun Lidkoping and Thun London, the new vessel Thun Liverpool will enter the Gothia Tanker Alliance network.Thun Tankers took delivery of the 18,650-dead-weight product tanker on Wednesday (November 13).The L-class series have been designed and developed in-house, using the Erik Thun group’s long experience of building sustainable…

Ulstein Group unveiled a hydrogen-powered ship design that it claims is market-ready, offering zero-emission marine operations.Recently, DNV GL identified the five most promising alternative fuels for shipping, with hydrogen as the ultimate zero-emission solution. The first complete hydrogen fueled prospect has been put together by Ulstein Design & Solutions BV and Nedstack fuel cell technology BV. The ULSTEIN SX190 Zero Emission DP2 construction support vessel is Ulstein’s first hydrogen powered offshore vessel, featuring a Nedstack fuel cell power system.

Hung Hua Construction of Taiwan has ordered a third Damen Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) to add to the two it ordered at the start of the year.This latest vessel will be a Damen FCS 2610. The contract was signed by the two parties at the start of September and, with the vessel already on stock at Damen Shipyards Singapore, it will be delivered this month following finishing and some customization. It will be the company’s first operational vessel.The FCS 2610 is a best-selling design…

Maritime focused steel and aluminum fabrication specialist Blue Atlantic Fabricators said it has been awarded as 2019 Manufacturer of the Year by the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership.Formed in August 2014, the Manufacturing Caucus and Annual Manufacturing Awards includes more than 60 legislators from around the state of Massachusetts. Lawmakers focus on training for manufacturing employees; encouraging innovation by helping start-ups access resources; and expanding education and apprenticeship opportunities in key manufacturing centers.

Shipbuilder Metal Shark has delivered two new pilot boats to New Orleans-based operator Belle Chasse Marine Transportation, LLC (BCMT).Designed in-house by Metal Shark and built at the company’s Jeanerette, La. production facility, Jet 1 and Jet 2 are 45-foot welded aluminum Defiant-class monohull pilothouse vessels featuring an extensively proven hull design. The vessels feature a unique deck arrangement designed for pilots and customized to meet BCMT’s specific requirements.Both vessels were recently delivered and are now operating on the Mississippi River…

The Coast Guard needs a ship that can do more than just break ice; it needs a multi-mission ship to provide for the nation’s security, asserting its sovereign rights, and protecting its long-term economic interests. That ship is the Polar Security Cutter.Since Russia cashed the check in 1867 for the purchase of Alaska the U.S. has been an Arctic nation. Today, it is one of eight countries that have territorial land or seas above the Arctic Circle or in the polar region (six of those countries have Arctic Ocean coastline or an exclusive economic zone above the Arctic Circle). The U.S.

Damen Marine Components (DMC) received acontract to supply the rudders and steering gear for the fifth Infinity-class vessel to be built for SunStone Ships by China Merchants Heavy Industries to an Ulstein design. The contract was awarded by Brunvoll Volda, with whom DMC is working on this ongoing series.DMC will supply two Van der Velden ATLANTIC rudders and two Van der Velden COMMANDER rotary vane steering gear systems. The ATLANTIC is a full-spade rudder with a surface area of eight square meters and steering gear torque of 110 kNm.

Bollinger Shipyards won a contract to build an ocean transport barge for General Dynamics Electric Boat, a barge designed and built to transport submarine modules to Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard for final assembly and test.  The concept and contract design for the 395 x 100ft. Ocean Transport Barge was performed by the Bristol Harbor Group.  The detail design engineering will be performed at the Bollinger Lockport New Construction facility in Lockport, Louisiana and the construction will take place at the Bollinger Marine Fabrication facility in Amelia, La. Delivery is scheduled for 2021.

South Korea’s leading shipbuilding conglomerate Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Group has submitted an application to the European Union for approval for its takeover of the compatriot shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).According a Yonhap report,  HHI informed that the submission will be reviewed by anti-trust authorities at the European Commission, expecting the results of their call in 2020.Hyundai Heavy has been taking prerequisite steps since April to apply for the EU’s mergers and acquisitions approval.In March…

In one week Damen Shipyards Group has launched an FCS 3007 Patrol vessel and, in cooperation with the same owner, SR Platforms, successfully completed the sea trials of two FCS 4008 Patrol vessels. This brings the number of Damen ships in SR Platforms’ fleet up to four, following the delivery of its first FCS 3307 Patrol in October 2015.These milestones follow the contract signings taking place just a few months earlier, with those for the FCS 4008 vessels occurring in July this year and that for the FCS 3007 at the beginning of April.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division started fabrication of the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest Legend-class national security cutter (NSC) Calhoun (WMSL 759) . The start of fabrication signifies that the first 100 tons of steel have been cut."Each new ship in this class has been an exciting opportunity to build on our legacy," said Jay Boyd, Ingalls' NSC program manager. "This is the 10th cutter in the class and a steady production line has allowed…

After completing a new stateroom project onboard Carnival Elation during a dry dock in 2017 -- part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 ship enhancement program - ALMACO was again tasked with to deliver 30 new staterooms during an upcoming refit at Grand Bahama Shipyard in March 2020.ALMACO's scope of work involves the full turnkey outfitting of 30 new staterooms on deck 9 .

Will Moon was one of my very early engineering interns (and also helped me finish out the second story of my house decades ago). He has since moved to the West Coast and has worked for the naval architecture firm Glosten for quite a while now. On Marinelink.com I saw a quick flash of a foiling passenger ferry and the name Glosten and I contacted him for a closer look.Will provided me with more information and this is one of those cases where I really like what I see. This is still an early concept that was developed with the designers and composites engineers at Bieker Boats…

TORM, a pure play product tanker company and one of the world's leading carriers of refined oil products, expects to install a total of 44 scrubbers and has since the last quarter committed to an additional ten scrubber installations.The new installations support our balanced approach to the new sulfur regulation, with scrubbers.The recently decided additional scrubber installations will be conducted during the first and the second quarter of 2020.As of 12 November 2019, TORM has conducted 16 scrubber installations.

Offshore drilling contractor Awilco Drilling has said that the first steel has been cut for its second rig under construction at a Keppel yard."We are pleased to confirm that first steel cutting took place for the lower hull of our new CS60 ECO drilling semi-submersible at KeppelFels shipyard in Nantong, China," said the drilling contractors based in the North Sea oil & gas sector."We expect to also strike steel on the upper hull at KeppelFels in Singapore within December," it said.The new rig is scheduled for delivery in March 2021…

Netherlands-based Damen Marine Components (DMC) will supply the rudders and steering gear for SunStone Ships' fifth Infinity-class polar expedition cruise ship.The 200-passenger vessel will be built by China Merchants Heavy Industries to an Ulstein design. The contract was awarded once again by propulsion specialist Brunvoll Volda, with whom DMC is working on this ongoing series.DMC will supply two Van der VeldenATLANTIC rudders and two Van der Velden COMMANDER rotary vane steering gear systems.

Fincantieri Chairman Giampiero Massolo defended the Italian shipbuilder's planned acquisition of French rival Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and said jobs in the industry could suffer if the project fell through.European competition authorities last month opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal, saying it would significantly reduce competition and could push up prices for cruise ships."Ours is a valid industrial project that could not only help Europe's shipbuilding industry compete better globally…

Fincantieri Chairman Giampiero Massolo defended the Italian shipbuilder's planned acquisition of French rival Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and said jobs in the industry could suffer if the project fell through.European competition authorities last month opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed deal, saying it would significantly reduce competition and could push up prices for cruise ships."Ours is a valid industrial project that could not only help Europe's shipbuilding industry compete better globally…

Damen Shipyards Group has won a repeat order from B.C. Ferries for four additional Damen Road Ferries 8117 E3, also known as the “Island Class vessels”. The diesel-electric hybrid ferries follow two such vessels that the client ordered from Damen in 2017. The four new vessels will provide inter-island ferry services between Vancouver and Vancouver Island.“The fact that Damen had designed the original two island class ferries for BC Ferries, positioned us well to start building very quickly," said Leo Postma, Sales Manager, Damen.

Royal IHC, the provider of design and construction for the specialist maritime sector, has been awarded another contract by Van Oord to design and supply the dredge installation for its new 10,500m3 trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD).The suction pipe installation with underwater pump, two dredge pumps and three jet water pumps will be installed on the new TSHD and built in Singapore.Earlier this year, IHC was commissioned to deliver similar systems for two other Van Oord TSHDs.“We were delighted to receive this repeat order from Van Oord…

Navis, the provider of maritime software solutions for cargo and vessel performance and compliance,  announced that its MACS3 loading computer will be installed on two newbuilding series of container vessels owned and operated by Taiwan-based Evergreen Marine Corporation.Navis, a part of Cargotec Corporation, said that due to the owner’s decision to have this loading computer installed, they are moving to support safer and more effective onboard cargo handling.The newbuildings are currently being built at two different Chinese shipyards.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched yesterday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Halifax Shipyard.The launch of the second of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, marks a significant milestone for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combatant fleet.The 103-metre future HMCS Margaret Brooke transitioned from Halifax Shipyard’s land level facility to a submersible barge on Nov.

The world's first hybrid electric-powered expedition ship and newest member of the Hurtigruten fleet, MS Roald Amundsen, was officially named in Antarctica.The ceremony took place in Chiriguano Bay on Brabant Island - and instead of a traditional champagne bottle, godmother Karin Strand opted for a chunk of ice.According to the Norwegean cruise company, the ship will offer itineraries across the Antarctic. It was named after iconic polar explorer Roald Amundsen who led the first expeditions to the likes of the Northern Passage…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has posted higher earnings in the first nine months, but said the result was hit by losses at its Vard unit. Revenues increased by 9.7% at euro 4,254 million (euro 3,878 million at 30 September 2018).Fincantieri reported a positive performance of the Shipbuilding segment (+30.2% compared to 30 September 2018 despite the negative impact of Vard cruise projects) and was affected by the negative margin of the Offshore and Specialized Vessels segment.Positive operating performance at Group level…

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) said that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125).Lucas was the youngest Marine and the youngest service member in World War II to receive the Medal of Honor.“We are honored to have with us today the sponsors of this great ship, including Ruby Lucas, widow of our ship’s namesake. It is Navy tradition to name destroyers after men and women who served their country with distinction and this ship is certainly no exception…

In September 2019, in a milestone agreement, Namdock concluded a contract to maintain and repair the vessels of the Marinha de Guerra Angolana (MGA), the Angolan Navy.According to Namdock’s Commercial and Operations Manager, Willie Esterhuyse, although the contract has been concluded, the exact date when the vessels will be arriving in Walvis Bay has not been finalized, it is anticipated that this will be early in 2020.In terms of this agreement, Namdock will take two Angolan Navy vessels into its dry docks initially.

HGG recently announced a partnership with PypeServer, providing full compatibility with HGG's 3D pipe profiling machines. Starting in 2020, PypeServer's Enterprise software will be available as an option for HGG's affordable PC600 and PC900 3D pipe-profiling systems alongside HGG’s proven ProCAM software.“HGG Profiling Equipment is an established and well-known name in the world of 3D Pipe Cutting. HGG has an unique expertise in developing automated 3D Pipe Cutting solutions, and through our collaboration, PypeServer’s customers will be able to benefit from it.

The technology group Wärtsilä’s industry-leading portfolio of products, systems and integrated solutions, which allows the company to be a single-source provider for shipbuilding projects, has resulted in a major order.Two new RoPax ferries being built at the Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) yard in China will feature a comprehensive package of Wärtsilä solutions. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in October 2019, and there are options for an additional two vessels.The full scope of the order includes four Wärtsilä 46 main engines…

The discussion of the ‘future of class’ seems more relevant today than ever, as the maritime industry navigates a transcendent period, with digitalization, decarbonization and a long list of related safety and risk concerns occupying the attention and budgets of shipowners globally.“There are many things going on in the industry, and in fact the world, and looking ahead I think we’re looking at a ‘new norm’,” said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman, President and CEO. “It’s…

Canadian ferry owner and operator British Columbia Ferry Services Inc (BC Ferries) has made a further order of four additional electric-battery hybrid Island Class vessels from a major European shipyard.The ferry corporation announced that Damen Shipyards Group of the Netherlands has been awarded the contract to build the new vessels.Project cost for the four latest Island-class vessels is about $200 million, including financing and project-management.According to a release, BC Ferries’ procurement process resulted in 18 bids from international shipyards…

Kooiman Marine Group has obtained a contract from the Port of Antwerp to design and build 2 aluminium patrol vessels. In ordering the hybrid enforcement vessels, the Port of Antwerp is emphasizing the port’s sustainability and safety ambitions. The innovative hybrid vessels were developed by Kooiman Engineering and will be built by Scheepswerf Gebr. Kooiman, both from Zwijndrecht.The vessel dimensions are LOA 25.0 m, beam 5.4 m, moulded depth 3.1 m and draught 1.36 m. The vessel…

Shipbuilder Metal Shark is significantly expanding its presence in the fireboat market with a diverse range of fireboats currently in production for multiple customers. Most notably, the company has announced a custom “70 Defiant” fireboat to be built for Canaveral Fire Rescue in Cape Canaveral, Florida.The new Canaveral fireboat is a 70’ x 22’ welded aluminum monohull pilothouse vessel designed by Metal Shark’s in-house engineering team utilizing a military-proven hull form.

The technology group Wärtsilä, in collaboration with PSA Marine, has achieved a breakthrough in its IntelliTug project.Following the successful installation of a first-of-its-kind Dynamic Positioning (DP) system onboard the harbor tug ‘PSA Polaris’, trials are now being carried out in the Port of Singapore under real-world conditions. This phase of the project implementation, which has been approved by Lloyd’s Register, moves the bar higher on safety standards for vessel automation and autonomy.

First dual-fuel retrofit now set to be first vessel globally to use SNG derived from renewable energy in furtherance of Maritime Energy Transition MAN Energy Solutions and Wessels Marine GmbH have announced a technical showcase whereby the 2017-retrofitted ‘Wes Amelie’, a 1,036-teu feeder container ship, will use liquefied SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) produced from renewable electrical energy as drop-in fuel. The companies are cooperating on the Wes Amelie project with Nauticor…

Japanese shipping giant Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has placed an order for a 210,000 dwt bulk carrier at compatriot shipbuilder, Japan Marine United Corporation.The 108,900 gross ton vessel is being built for a consecutive voyage contract with JFE Steel and will be used to ship iron ore and coal. The newbuild is due for delivery in fiscal year 2021.The main features of this vessel will comply with NOx emission regulations (Tier III) and be equipped with SOx scrubber that removes…

Norway-based dry bulk shipping company 2020 Bulkers has taken delivery of Bulk Shanghai, the fourth of eight 208,000 dwt Newcastlemax newbuilds.The 300-meter-long bulker, which commenced a 13-year bareboat charter with 2020 Bulkers, is owned by Norwegian shipping company Ocean Yield.Two further vessels are expected to be delivered by January 2020, and the remaining two vessels are expected to be delivered by May 2020.The vessel will on November 9, 2019, commence a 11-13 month index-linked timecharter with ST Shipping…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri held an official float-out ceremony at its shipyard in Marghera for Costa Firenze, Costa Cruises’ second ship designed and built specifically for the Chinese market.Costa Cruises is the Italian company of Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest leisure travel company.The ceremony was held at Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy, where the ship is being built with scheduled delivery on September 30, 2020, once the interior fittings have been completed.Costa Firenze is the sister ship of Costa Venezia…

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. has announced that construction contract for 210,000-dwt Bulk Carrier to be completed in 2021 fiscal year has been made with Japan Marine United Corporation.After delivery from the yard, the vessel will be put into a consecutive voyage as per contract signed with JFE Steel and will be engaged in iron ore and coal transportation.The main features of this vessel will comply with NOx emission regulations (Tier III) and be  equipped with SOx scrubber that…

Italian finance police searched offices of several companies working for state-controlled shipbuilder Fincantieri, as part of an investigation into suspected corruption, fraud and worker exploitation, the prosecutor's office in Venice said on Wednesday.The prosecutor added in a statement that 34 people were under investigation for alleged "systematic exploitation" of foreign workers - mainly from Bangladesh and Albania - in shipyards in the port city of Marghera, close to Venice, working on orders for Fincantieri.The searches involved 19 different companies in seven different Italian regions a

Swedish shipping company Terntank has placed orders for two hybrid tankers, which  run on liquefied biogas (LBG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG),  at China’s AVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding with an option for two more vessels.The 15,000 dwt new-builds with hybrid battery system and on-shore power are designed by Kongsberg (ex Rolls-Royce) and they will be in operation in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea in 2021.The close cooperation with the customers and with the crew at shore and onboard…

British cruise line Holidays announced plans to launch a newbuild river cruise ship to sail on European rivers in spring 2021.The new ship will be built by Vahali, a Dutch-founded company which has  been building rivers ships since 1923. The new vessel is christened Spirit of the Rhine.This follows  launch of Saga’s new luxury boutique ocean cruise ship, Spirit of Discovery in July 2019, and the launch of her sister ship in Summer 2020."Using more than 60 years of insight gained from providing products and services exclusively to the over-50’s…

Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has announced that the new scrubber-equipped wood chip carrier Southern Treasure has been delivered.The delivery ceremony for the 60,300 dwt vessel with with a cargo capacity of 4.3 million-cubic feet was held at Oshima Shipbuilding, Nagasaki Prefecture.MOL will operate the vessel, which transport wood chips for Hokuetsu Corporation, said a press release."The vessel is equipped with a SOx scrubber and Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) to comply with today's stricter environmental regulations…

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that the Society of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded HII President and CEO Mike Petters the 2019 Vice Admiral Emory S. “Jerry” Land Medal. Petters received the Land Medal on Thursday during the Annual SNAME Banquet, held in Tacoma, WA.Mike Petters Accepts Land AwardHII President and CEO Mike Petters, center, accepts the 2019 Vice Admiral Emory S. “Jerry” Land Medal from, at left, Fred Harris, former president of General Dynamics NASSCO and Bath Iron Works…

On November 1st, 2019, the latest Damen Shipyards Group fishing vessel, constructed at Damen Maaskant Shipyards Stellendam (Maaskant) was named in a dedicated ceremony organized by leading fishing company Van der Zwan. The vessel was named Spes Nova by Director of Fisheries and Rural Affairs at the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality for the Netherlands Nanou Beekman.The Spes Nova, a UK-205 fly-shooter/twinrigger vessel, is part of a newly-developed range of fishing trawlers based on a Vripack Naval Architects design that sets new benchmarks for the entire sector.

Brunswick Corporation has announced that its Sea Ray, Boston Whaler and Mercury Marine brands have set multiple records during the 2019 Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show. Sea Ray, which launched an all-new 320 Sundancer Coupe at Ft. Lauderdale, saw a massive 80 percent increase in show sales from a year ago, demonstrating the success of its reinvention strategy. Boston Whaler continues to benefit from significant year-over-year sales growth in September and October, leading to a very successful Ft.

Robert Allan Ltd. has completed the design of a new TRAktor 3000-Z escort tug for Bukser og Berging of Lysaker, Norway who have placed an order for two of the vessels with Sanmar Shipyards of Turkey. The design was developed working closely with both Bukser og Berging and Sanmar to arrive at a design achieving not only the Owner’s requirements but also suiting Sanmar’s tug building practice. Bukser og Berging already operates several Robert Allan Ltd. designs and these two new…

A temporary consortium formed by Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group has been awarded a contract for four Logistic Support Ships (LSS). As part of the deal, MAN Energy Solutions will supply the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard with a total of 16 engines in connection with the building of the four refueling tankers for the French Navy.Each vessel will feature a diesel-electric propulsion system with two shaft lines and propellers. MAN’s scope of supply covers 2 × MAN 12V32/44CR engines (2 × 7,200kW) + 2 × MAN 8L32/44CR engines (2 × 4,800kW) resiliently mounted on baseframes.

The newly built Service Operation Vessel (SOV) “Bibby WaveMaster Horizon” is equipped with propulsion units from SCHOTTEL. Ordered by the British company Bibby Marine Services Ltd. and built at Damen Shipyards Galati, the vessel is driven by three rudderpropellers and two bow thrusters from the German propulsion expert. The new walk-to-work vessel is purpose-built for the transfer and accommodation of support and maintenance engineers at offshore wind farms.Maintaining wind turbines…

Melbourne-headquartered resource company BHP wants to introduce LNG-fuelled iron ore vessels, which could transport up to 10 per cent of its product in the coming years."In July this year, we released the world’s first bulk carrier tender for LNG-fuelled transport for up to 27 million tonnes of iron ore," said Sundeep Singh, Group Procurement Officer.He said that introducing LNG-fuelled ships into BHP’s maritime supply chain will eliminate NOx (nitrogen oxide) and SOx (sulfur…

South Korea's top shipbuilding conglomerate Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Group said that its holding company HHI Holdings Co will receive 1.4 trillion won ($1.24 billion) in proceeds next month from the sale of a stake in its refining unit, Hyundai Oilbank.In April, state-owned Saudi Aramco had agreed to buy a 17 percent stake in HHIs oil processing operations.Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings said in a regulatory filing that it had signed a sales agreement with Saudi Aramco…

Unique pasteurization treatment system sails through new tougher type approval process to give shipowners better peace of mindBAWAT, the Danish manufacturer of a unique opex-neutral ballast water treatment system, has been granted IMO Type Approval for its technology that uses only a ship’s own waste heat to kill off invasive species.Type Approval certification has been issued by Lloyd’s Register on behalf of the Danish Maritime Authority and makes the BAWAT system one of the first to be tested and issued with approval under the new toughened mandatory requirements of the IMO’s BWMS Code…

Setting new standards in the maritime industry with its fouling release film, the film manufacturer RENOLIT will be exhibiting and presenting its innovative films at Europort in Rotterdam.In a few days, the fair, the business hub for the maritime sector, will start. From November 5-9, manufacturers and suppliers in shipbuilding, repair and conversion, ship owners, shipyard manager and ship designer from all over the world will visit the fair for networking and more.The demand for alternative biocide-free antifouling coatings is constantly increasing…

ABB signs a landmark contract with Singaporean shipyard Keppel Offshore & Marine to enable autonomous tug operation in 2020.ABB, in collaboration with Keppel O&M’s technology arm, Keppel Marine and Deepwater Technology (KMDTech), will jointly develop the technology for autonomous vessels and retrofit a 32-meter harbor tugboat with leading-edge digital solutions, enabling autonomous vessel operations in the Port of Singapore at the end of 2020. Upon project completion, the vessel is anticipated to be South Asia’s first autonomous tug.During the initial phase of the project…

Havyard is taking the next step towards a hydrogen system pilot for large ships. The company is entering the approval phase and has signed agreements with suppliers of  hydrogen tanks and fuel cells.If large vessels are to sail zero emission at high speed over long distances, battery solutions does not contain enough energy. Fuel cells running on hydrogen is a solution to this, and the Havyard Group, with Havyard Design & Solutions and Norwegian Electric Systems, is now conducting…

The future USS Kansas City (LCS 22) successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico. LCS 22 is the 11th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), built by Austal USA in Mobile, to reach this milestone.Acceptance trials involve the execution of intense comprehensive tests by the Austal USA-led industry team while underway, which demonstrate to the Navy the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment. This the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship.

Thyssenkrupp plans to invest 250 million euros ($279 million) at its unit that builds submarines and warships, the German industrial conglomerate said on Monday.The investment at Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) will be made by 2023, the group said, pointing to good order intake at the moment. TKMS will also hire 500 new employees by the end of next year, it said."Our ambition is to be Europe's most modern naval company. By making major investments, we are preparing our operations for the future…

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday pledged funds for a state-owned Argentine shipyard to finish building two long- overdue tankers for state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, which is struggling with a diminished tanker fleet.Maduro, a socialist who has overseen a drastic economic collapse in the once-prosperous OPEC nation and stands accused of corruption and human rights violations, did not say how much money Venezuela would provide or when it would be disbursed.But…

MSC Cruises, a global cruise line registered in Switzerland and based in Geneva, has held a steel-cutting ceremony for its first new-generation World-Class ship at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.The first of five liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered cruise ships on order, MSC Europa is the first LNG ship to be built in France.On the occasion of the cutting of the first steel ceremony held in Saint-Nazaire, MSC and Chantiers de l’Atlantique unveiled…

The concept of a world-class superyacht, able to take on the most extreme cruising itinerary, is at the root of Nordhavn’s newest collaboration with Vripack: the brilliant Nordhavn 148. Designed to Class with ice capability, the ambitions of this adventuresome, forward-thinking cruising ship are infinite thanks to the combined efforts of the world’s foremost expedition yacht brand and Europe’s premiere yacht design and engineering firm. Individually, they have each specialized in the creation of high-latitude explorer yachts.

Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) and Vigor (Team RB-M) has announced the delivery of the first three on a six vessel RB-M contract to the US Coast Guard. The boats are part of a Foreign Military Sale to The Kingdom of Bahrain’s Coast Guard. Hulls four through six are expected to ship in 2020. A total of 182 RB-Ms have been built by Team RB-M.FMM was the prime contractor and program manager. Vigor fabricated the vessels at its Seattle, Washington facility using high temp resistant aluminum.

Damen has just shipped a fully customized Cutter Suction Dredger (CSD) 350, to Brazil. The standard dredger was adapted to meet Brazilian Naval requirements and received additional options as per customer request. Damen has carried out the job very quickly; from contract signature to departure from the Port of Antwerp in just under four months.The CSD350 is the first stationary dredger Damen has delivered to Brazil. Many countries – Brazil not being an exception – have their own regulations for outfitting vessels. Therefore the standard suction dredger from stock has been adapted accordingly.

Loy Stewart, Jr. is President, Detyens Shipyards. He is a 1991 graduate of the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point where he earned a degree in Marine Engineering. After several months sailing on the Sealift Atlantic, Loy began working at Detyens as a Ship Superintendent and coordinated work on numerous commercial and navy contracts. In 1996, when the Detyens Shipyards were divided into separate profit centers, Loy Jr. was promoted to Profit Center Manager of the Wando facility. In 2002 he was made PCM of the Main Yard in North Charleston and promoted to Executive Vice President in 2003.

Norwegian investment company Hunter Group said that its wholly owned subsidiary Hunter Tankers has taken delivery of its third newly built very large crude carrier (VLCC) and subsequently delivered it to its new owner.The new VLCC with hull number 5457, built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), was handed over on October 31 in accordance with a Memorandum of Agreement signed in June 2019. All funds have been transferred and the transaction is complete, the company informed in a press note.On 19 October 2019, Hunter Tankers took delivery of “Hunter Saga” (NB No.

Schottel, a manufacturer of propulsion and steering systems for ships and offshore applications, said that the new diving bell ship from the Duisburg waterway and shipping authority (WSA Duisburg) is equipped with its propulsion units.Two rudder-propellers and a pump jet enable maximum maneuverability in narrow waterways, said a press release.The special vessel is being built at the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Gorinchem. The order was placed by FMSW Koblenz for the federal waterways and shipping administration.The diving bell ship is powered by a total of three azimuth thrusters…

Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering NV (DEME) informed that its latest trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) River Thames  was successfully launched at PaxOcean Graha, Batam in Indonesia.The TSHD, designed and build by Royal IHC, has a hopper capacity of 2,300m³ and a maximum dredging depth of 30 meters below the waterline, said a press release from Royal IHC, a supplier of equipment, vessels and services for the offshore, dredging and wet mining markets.The RiverThames is a copy of the 2,300m³ TSHD LESSE, successfully delivered by IHC to Baggerbedrijf de Boer in August.

Norway's Ulstein Group is aiming to become a leading player in the growing offshore wind industry designing and building vessels for some of the world’s toughest areas and demanding operations."The knowledge of how to integrate technical, operational and commercial aspects in a vessel design is paramount when contributing to the LCOE (Levelised Cost Of Energy) reduction in future offshore wind projects," said a release from the shipbuilder.New offshore wind farms are being developed further from shore, in rougher seas and deeper waters.

Born at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s, Bristol Harbor Group (BHG) has grown into a diverse and widely respected naval architecture and marine engineering firm. Cory Wood, Vice President and one of the four co-founders of BHG, discusses the companies past and design drivers to power its future.The University of Michigan runs one of the most prestigious naval architecture and marine engineering programs in the country, but when Cory Wood entered U of M, he did so with the intent of becoming an aerospace engineer.

The U.S. Navy awarded Austal USA a $$21,529,121 order yesterday to perform planned post delivery services on the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship USS Charleston (LCS 18). Austal’s west coast operations team will perform the work in Seattle, Washington, with it scheduled to be completed by September 2020.As the number of Austal-built ships in the fleet continues to grow, the company is expanding its west coast operations in San Diego and its Asia-Pacific operations in…

The delivery of the third Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2710 bought by Swansea, UK-based High Speed Transfers has taken place at Damen Shipyards Antalya. Named HST Harri, she joins the HST Hudson, delivered in May 2018, and the HST Sofia, which was handed over in March this year. A fourth FCS 2710 for High Speed Transfers, to be named HST Euan, is currently nearing completion for delivery in December.The HST Harri is booked to start immediately on a five-year contract in the North Sea with wind farm operator MHI Vestas…

French shipbuilders Naval Group and Italy's Fincantieri announced the name of the 50/50  joint venture NAVIRIS.The name was presented during the recent Steering Committee held in Genoa (it meets every quarter alternatively in France and Italy) and is a new step in the strong collaboration between Fincantieri and Naval Group.The Alliance between Fincantieri and Naval Group represents a great opportunity for both groups and their ecosystems to enhance their ability to better serve the French and Italian navies…

America’s largest military shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HHI) said that it has successfully completed acceptance trials aboard the amphibious assault ship Tripoli (LHA 7).The second ship in the America class spent three days at sea in the Gulf of Mexico with the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), performing vital test procedures that included a full power run of the main propulsion system.“The success of these trials is the culmination of the hard work and determination from our shipbuilders and leadership team.

European ferry operator Stena Line has announced that the first of its three new E-Flexer class ferries destined for the Irish Sea, Stena Estrid has successfully completed sea trials in China’s Yellow Sea.Following three days of extensive testing, the new vessel performed excellently across a wide range of stringent test criteria and is now on schedule to start operating on the Dublin to Holyhead route in early 2020.Stena Estrid is the first of five new Stena Line next generation RoPax vessels that are being constructed at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard in China…

Italy's bid to create a European industrial champion in the shipbuilding industry faces hurdles after EU antitrust regulators said Fincantieri's bid for Chantiers de l'Atlantique would significantly reduce competition.The European Commission said the deal between two global leaders in an already concentrated and capacity-constrained market could push up prices for cruise ships as it began an investigation on Wednesday.Italy is hoping the deal will help Fincantieri, Europe's biggest shipyard…

MMS Offshore Renewable Services Ltd has taken delivery of a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2610 from Damen Shipyards Group. The new vessel – to be called MMS Superior – will be deployed in a variety of roles in the offshore renewables, oil & gas and marine civil engineering sectors.MMS Offshore Renewable Services is located on the banks of the River Humber in Hull and Grimsby, UK. The company operates a modern fleet that consists of workboats and multi-purpose wind farm support vessels…

The first ULSTEIN X-BOW polar cruise vessel, ‘Greg Mortimer’ is about to set off for her first Antarctica expedition, and will cross the notorious Drake Passage on November 1. The X-BOW feature reduces the slamming in head seas. This was proven on the vessel’s transit from China to Argentina, when she entered 10m high waves and very strong winds.The vessel is a true globetrotter from birth, having been developed on four continents: The ship owner SunStone Ships is based in the U.S.…

At the GRP Division facilities in Castropol, at high tide, the launching of a new GRP passenger ferry built for the Croatian shipowner Krilo HR took place.Krilo Lux, with a capacity for up to 440 pax, has a length of 36 m and a beam of 10.5 m and can reach a speed of up to 34 knots, being the largest and fastest GRP catamaran built in Spain.The vessel will operate as a ferry for regular passenger transport lines, covering the route between Split and Dubrovnik.In the next few days…

United States Marine, Inc. (USMI) and Brunswick Commercial and Government Products (BCGP) are pleased to announce they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to explore potential business opportunities.USMI and BCGP have a history of providing our warfighters with mission proven vessels to help ensure our troops come home safely. “We have always admired Brunswick craft. This is an opportunity for both of us to work together to explore our core strengths and synergies to determine how we can provide unique craft to the military market with our combined expertise.

EU antitrust regulators launched on Wednesday a full-scale investigation into Italian shipyard Fincantieri's bid for France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique, saying the deal may reduce competition and push up prices for cruise ships.The European Commission said it was unlikely that the entry of other ship builders into the market would offset the possible negative effects of the deal, confirming a Reuters story on Oct. 29.The EU competition enforcer will now decide by 17 March whether to clear or block the deal.(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Francesco Guarascio)

German shipbuilding company Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) announced the christening and launch of a new 4,076 lane meter roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) freight ferry in Flensburg yard.The ship was named “LIEKUT”, which means “straight ahead” in the local dialect of Lower German, reflecting the continued focus and endeavour of SIEM Europe and FSG.The new vessel is the eighth Ro-Ro vessel ordered from FSG by Norwegian shipping company SIEM Europe.The ship was launched after being officially named…

Seafast Marine has named its renewables service vessel (RSV) Isle of Jura at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld in The Netherlands.Isle of Jura is a newbuild vessel, constructed at Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld, and is the second vessel built to a new Damen Renewables Service Vessel design.The RSV, according to Seafast Marine, is for use in the offshore and onshore wind industries. As a business based in Ross-shire in Scotland, Seafast Marine was happy to see it painted in the colors of the country’s Saint Andrew's flag.The Damen RSV 3315…

Japanese public multinational corporation Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) has delivered a 61,000 dwt bulk carrier newbuild, Gramos, to Gramos Navigation, in China.The delivery of the Ultramax took place at the Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (NACKS) on October 29, 2019, said a release from KHI.NAKCS is located in Nantong City, China and operated jointly by China COSCO Shipping and KHI.The vessel incorporates various energy saving technologies, which reduce both fuel consumption and emission of carbon dioxide (CO2)…

As the 90th anniversary of Robert Allan Ltd. approaches it is quite timely to address the development of Robert Allan’s designs as the years passed by and technology changed.When the first Robert Allan came out to Canada at the end of the First War he was a trained naval architect experienced in the design of rivetted steel ships. With the end of the war and the curtailment of Government support of shipbuilding new steel ships built in BC became very rare. Wood was the material of choice, used in the design and construction of all sorts of commercial and government vessels.

“Carnival Panorama”, the new ship of Carnival Cruise Line, a brand under Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise ship operator, was presented at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice) at the presence of the Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transport Paola De Micheli.The ceremony was attended, among others, by Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Line, who was welcomed by the Chairman of Fincantieri Giampiero Massolo and the CEO Giuseppe Bono.The new unit is a sister ship of “Carnival Vista”…

Tokyo Kisen Co., Ltd. and e5 Lab Inc. have jointly developed the new concept design of “e5 Tug,” electric propulsion harbor tugboat powered by large-capacity battery and a hydrogen fuel cell.The e5 Tug is a harbor tug fully electrified and designed to minimize environmental footprint and is equipped with a propulsion system running on “e5 powertrain platform”, devised and planned by e5 Lab, which utilizes a large-capacity battery system as a main power source and a hydrogen fuel…

Humphree USA has revealed that a 130-ft. Mangusta motoryacht has become the first in North America to be fitted with quad fin stabilizers and quad interceptors.When originally built in 2009, the superyacht was equipped with a set of four Humphree interceptors and a pair of course stability fins. The vessel was recently retrofitted with four 1.0-square-meter fin stabilizers, which have been fully integrated with the transom-mounted interceptors to provide a comprehensive stabilization…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has mandated a global 0.50% cap on the maximum level of sulphur in marine fuel. This new cap represents a significant reduction – down from the current 3.50% limit – and presents the marine industry with compliance challenges.Starting from January 1, 2020, vessel operators will need to use a compliant fuel, or have a scrubber fitted if they wish to continue burning high-sulphur fuel oil. This ruling does not affect Emission Control Areas (ECAs), where a 0.10% sulphur fuel is still required.ExxonMobil anticipates that the vast majority of the industry will choose a low-sulphur fuel to meet the new IMO 2020 cap. However, there is no single route to compliance.

Europe's largest shipyard Fincantieri faces a full-scale EU antitrust investigation into its bid for France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique on concerns the deal would reduce competition, three people familiar with the matter said.The European Commission's preliminary review of the deal ends on Wednesday. It will follow up with an in-depth investigation, the sources said. This lasts 90 working days but could stretch to as long as five months.The EU competition enforcer is worried the number of European players will be cut to two from three as a result of the deal, the sources said. The other competitor is a German shipyard.Fincantieri has argued Asian shipyards could pose strong competition in the next decade to try to address the Commission's worries, the people said.

Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku announced it has encountered more delays in the construction of a 180,000 GT cruise ship for Costa Cruises.Having already pushed back the delivery date from mid-October to mid-November, the shipbuilder said it now plans to hand over the newbuild Costa Smeralda in December 2019."The delay is due to the high complexity and the sheer size of the ship project," Meyer Turku said on Tuesday.Costa Smeralda features a liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system and many sophisticated rooms with stage and audio/video equipment…

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) completed her necessary repairs and extensive, accelerated upgrades over the last two years, following a fatal 2017 collision.The ship and her crew, now underway to conduct comprehensive at sea testing, will perform a series of demonstrations to evaluate onboard systems to ensure they meet or exceed Navy performance specifications. Among the systems that will be tested are navigation, damage control, mechanical and electrical systems…

Sembcorp Marine earns 3D printing certifications for parts used in construction and repairsThese certifications will help the Group unlock significant efficiencies and reduce supply chain risksSingapore-based Sembcorp Marine has received certifications qualifying its 3D printing procedures and specifications for components used in its construction and repair projects, paving the way for new efficiencies and reduced supply chain risk, the company said.Awarded by quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL…

The evolution of marine design is increasingly influenced by three drivers: New three-dimensional design tools, the increasing complexity of power systems, and new access to high-latitude shipping routes. While new digital design tools are a natural progression of the current Information Age, new propulsion energy requirements and Polar shipping routes are reactions to the legacy of the ebbing Industrial Age. Three-Dimensional Design WorkflowsA young naval architect recently stated…

South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Group said that its its consolidated operating income shrink 38.3%  to 219.6 billion won ($187.7 million)  in the July-September quarter against a year-ago period.Its net profit plunged 72% on year amid weak demand for ships and oil rigs.The business ranging from shipbuilding to oil refining took a hit from a slowdown in global economy, HHI said.The group, however, managed to show improvement in the bottom-line against the previous quarter.

Damen Shipyards Den Helder is preparing Clipper vessel to undertake world tour promotion of UN Sustainable Development Goals.On 28th October, the iconic Clipper Stad Amsterdam arrived early in Den Helder in sunny weather, after a calm voyage from Amsterdam. After watching her arrival, invited guests were given a tour of the vessel by Captain Moritz Kuhlenbäumer, who provided details of the vessel’s forthcoming maintenance program in Den Helder’s historic Willemsoord harbour.The maintenance will prepare Stad Amsterdam for her green ambassadorial role…

Estonian shipping company Tallink Grupp announced that the name of the new Tallinn-Helsinki route shuttle vessel MySTAR.The new dual-fuel vessel  will be built at Rauma shipyard in Finland and is due to be completed by the end of 2021.The name for the vessel was proposed as an entry in the vessel naming competition by a Finnish national.The shipping company ran a naming competition for the new vessel this summer and the final decision regarding the name was made by the company’s…

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) announced that an agreement has been made with Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., on consecutive voyage contract of new 3.6 million CFT woodchip carrier delivered in 2022. The carrier will be carrying woodchips for paper materials and woodchips for Biomass power generation business which will operate at Tomakomai in 2023.The Carrier will be equipped with the latest economical and environmental-friendly features. The carrier installs Hybrid fin behind the propeller to save energy and Ballast water treatment system to compliant with the ballast water discharging rules. Furthermore, for complying with the regulation of SOx global cap that will be enforced in all sea areas from January 2020…

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE:HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division on Friday delivered the newest fast-attack submarine to the U.S. Navy.Delaware (SSN 791), which successfully completed sea trials earlier this month, is the ninth Virginia-class submarine to be delivered by Newport News and the 18th built as part of the teaming agreement with General Dynamics Electric Boat.The submarine is the second ship to be named for the country’s first state, the first being the dreadnought battleship USS Delaware (BB 28)…

As the offshore industry recovers, choosing the right hull coating for those newly activated assets will be equally important.The global offshore support vessel (OSV) market is still recovering from a protracted slump, but thankfully momentum is now returning with predictions for significant activity for OSV’s ahead. As summarized in a report by market analysts Grand View Research, projections are for the OSV market to exceed USD 71 billion by 2022 on the back of a significant increase in projects reaching final investment decision (FID) status, and a rising demand for oil and gas worldwide.