Shipbuilding News

On September 11, Damen Shipyards Group launched a Marine Aggregate Dredger (MAD) 3500 at its Galati yard in Romania. Damen is building the MAD for UK-based Hanson, who will use the vessel to conduct offshore aggregate extraction in water depths up to -55 metres in the North Sea and English Channel.Following the launch, Damen will complete work on the vessel, to be named Hanson Thames, and afterwards undertake commissioning, including of dredge equipment and screening installation…

Maritime classification society ABS will class four new 98,000 cbm Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLECs) ordered by China's Zhejiang Satellite Petrochemical (STL)These ethane-fueled VLECs are part of a Phase-2 order from STL and South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries will build two VLECs each.ABS, which was the classification society of choice for the first order of the six dedicated VLECs by Reliance Industries in 2014, says that these 87,000 cbm VLECs have been successfully trading and laid the foundation for the next generation of larger VLECs.

China's shipbuilder CIMC Raffles has launched the Antarctic Provider, a vessel being built for Norway's krill harvesting company Aker BioMarine.The launching ceremony for the krill transport vessel built by CIMC Raffles Offshore Ltd. was held Thursday at CIMC Raffles Yantai base. The 167.6 meters long Antarctic Provider will be used mainly for krill transportation between the Antarctic fishing area and South American ports. It will also provide the fuel supply for fishing vessels…

ASRY (Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard) signed a representation agreement with AMS to exclusively market ASRY’s products, services and facilities to the Singapore and Hong Kong shipping market, part of ASRY’s new management’s strategic re-alignment of its international agent’s network following the takeover of the National Oil and Gas Authority in the Kingdom of Bahrain (NOGA) of Bahrain’s shares in the company last year.AMS has a network of four offices in Asia.

Corvus Energy will deliver lithium-ion battery-based energy storage systems (ESS) from for five new all-electric ferries being built for Amsterdam’s municipal public transport provider, GVB, that will replace the current fleet built in 1930s.The order for the Corvus Energy ESS has been placed by Holland Ship Electric. The ferries, that are being built by Holland Shipyard Group, will operate on three of the North Sea Canal routes, replacing the current fleet built in the 1930s.

Naval architecture and marine engineering firm BMT said it has been awarded a contract to conduct industry studies to advance the design of the next generation of U.S. Navy Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship (T-AGOS(X)).The industry studies address technical solutions and design tradeoffs, provide recommendations to improve producibility and affordability, and include technical reviews of the Navy’s evolving ship design, said prime contractor BMT, who will partner with U.S.

Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries has delivered the world's first very large containership powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Singapore's Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), the South Korean shipbuilder announced Wednesday.The LNG-powered, 14,800 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity CMA CGM Tenere is one of six containerships in a series being built for EPS by Hyundai Samho, a unit of shipbuilding giant Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. The six neo-Panamax box…

As the focus on carbon emissions comes to the fore across all industries, Keppel O&M, which supports the circular economy concept and is a ship conversion leader, is able to help companies reduce their indirect emissions. Proof of this was delivery of the world’s first FLNG conversion solution that dramatically reduced the carbon footprint of the project as compared to new construction. There’s a second conversion project currently underway, and by the way: it’s faster to market…

Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards announced Wednesday it will construct a state-of-the-art, floating dry dock for Groton, Conn. shipyard General Dynamics Electric Boat to support the construction and maintenance of the United States’ new Columbia Class of Ballistic Missile Submarines.The detail design engineering will be performed at the Bollinger facility in Lockport, La. The concept and contract design for the 618ft by 140ft dry dock was performed by the Bristol Harbor Group in Rhode Island.

I don’t remember when I discovered that the first application of lightbulbs occurred at sea rather than ashore. But when I dug a little deeper into the subject recently, I came across an interesting set of coincidences that shows how innovation often relies on simply doing, rather than endlessly talking about it. After Thomas Edison managed to make sufficient improvements to the lightbulb concept to have it show commercial viability in late 1879, he ended up in a chicken and egg conundrum.The lightbulb might be great, but to get it to work would require an electrical power plant.

Texas-based Gulf Copper and Manufacturing said it has been awarded a $3.9 million dry docking and refurbishment of the NOAA research vessel Henry B. Bigelow. The work will be performed at Gulf Copper's Galveston yard.Commissioned in 2007 and homeported in Newport, R.I., Henry B. Bigelow is a fisheries survey vessel that studies a wide range of marine life and ocean conditions along the U.S. East Coast, primarily from Maine to North Carolina. The ship's main mission is to study and monitor fish stocks…

Greek oil tanker operator Okeanis Eco Tankers has taken delivery of the Suezmax tanker “Nissos Sikinos” today.The tanker was delivered from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in South Korea and is the first of the two Suezmaxes that will be delivered to the company by the end of September. The second one is named Nissos Sifnos.Both scrubber-fitted, 158,000 dwt, tankers secured contracts in July 2020, with a three-year charter each. The Nissos Sikinos has already started its three-year charter contract…

Sovcomflot, a Russian oil and gas shipping company,  has taken delivery of SCF Barents, a new 174,000-cbm LNG carrier.The vessel was delivered Monday and has already started its maiden voyage under a long-term time charter agreement with Shell.According to Sovcomflot, the LNG carrier was named after Willem Barents, a prominent Dutch navigator and explorer. The naming ceremony, held on September 10, was attended by Igor Tonkovidov, President and CEO of SCF Group; Cederic Cremers…

Greek shipowner GasLog announced Monday its newest liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier HN2300, to be named GasLog Georgetown, commenced sea trials off South Korea.Built by Samsung Heavy Industries, HN2300 is a 174,000-cubic-meter capacity XDF LNG carrier with a Mk III Flex Plus cargo containment system giving a low boil off rate of 0.07%, combined with a sub cooler.Upon delivery, GasLog Georgetown will be operated under a seven-year charterer for U.S.-based Cheniere.The ship will be the fourth newbuild delivered to GasLog in 2020…

The U.S. Coast Guard’s newest national security cutter Stone (WMSL 758) completed builder’s sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico. The new ship, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula, Miss., spent three days testing propulsion and auxiliary equipment, as well as various shipboard systems, Ingalls announced Monday.“Every successful sea trial is a major accomplishment for our shipbuilders, but this set proved to be a particularly substantial undertaking,” said Jay Boyd, Ingalls’ NSC program manager.

Harvey Gulf International Marine is continuing its push to diversify, announcing on Monday its plan to convert four of its platform supply vessels (PSV) to be redeployed in the lightering support market.The four vessels will provide lightering services in California, Texas, Louisiana and Florida, said Shane Guidry, CEO of Harvey Gulf. “In this market, we will offer a larger vessel with newer equipment in order to provide a safer service, all at the price of the smaller vessels presently doing this work…

The dredging market in the U.S. is strong and growing, a bright spot for U.S. shipyards, with increased funding for critical infrastructure projects and port dredging at the federal and state levels. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock, the country’s largest dredging company, has invested mightily in new dredgers at U.S. yards. Lasse Petterson, CEO and President, shares insights on the strategy ahead.You have sat at the helm of Great Lakes Dredge and Dock for just over three years. What…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine and Vigor (Team RB-M) in August delivered two additional Response Boat-Mediums (RB-Ms) to the U.S. Coast Guard. These boats are part of an approved foreign military sale to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan through the Department of Homeland Security.Fincantieri Marinette Marine was the prime contractor and program manager for the project, and Vigor built the vessels at its Seattle facility.The Royal Jordanian Naval Force (RJNF) plans to operate the new boats from its base in Aqaba…

South Korean shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries' Floating LNG to Power solution - Hi-FL2P - has been granted an approval in principle certificate by the global classification society Bureau Veritas.‘Hi-FL2P’ has been described as an ‘All-in-One Type’ Floating LNG Power Plant where all equipment and systems that are required for the power generation and transmission including LNG containment, gas supply system, and power plant are installed in one unit to function as a stand-alone power plant.The ‘Hi-FL2P’ was developed in a Joint Development Project with  Bureau Veritas.

The U.S. Navy’s latest fast-attack submarine Montana (SSN 794) was christened on Saturday at Huntington Ingalls' Newport News Shipbuilding division, in what was the shipyard's first virtual christening ceremony.Namely, due to COVID-19 restrictions on the size of public gatherings, the christening ceremony was hosted virtually at Newport News’ Module Outfitting Facility.Former Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell the ship’s sponsor, smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the…

Cathelco, part of Evac Group, has won an order to deliver marine growth prevention system (MGPS) for a new multi-purpose oil spill response and towage vessel being built for the Kuwait Oil Co.The system will be installed to prevent bio-fouling and corrosion in seawater pipework on the 60-meter vessel is currently under construction at the Uzmar Shipyard in Turkey with delivery scheduled for Q4 2020.The vessel will be equipped for towing services, area surveillance, offshore fire-fighting…

P&O Maritime Logistics (P&OML), the marine services arm of global port operator DP World, has taken delivery of a Sanmar Shipyards-built tug for the DP World managed Berbera Port on behalf of Somaliland Port Authority (SPA). The M JEEX (ex. Dogancay XXV) arrived Berbera Port under P&OML management and crew on September 10, 2020. The delivery follows a previous purchase from Sanmar, the EGAL (ex. Dogancay XXVI), delivered in the summer of 2018.Powered by a pair of Caterpillar 3212B diesel engines (two 1…

Shipbuilder Austal's U.S. subsidiary Austal USA announced Friday it has completed the purchase of waterfront land, buildings and an existing dry dock along the Mobile River to enhance its new construction and service business lines.“As we’ve consistently done over the course of our history, we’re adding capability to meet the growing demand from our customers,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said. “Our business remains focused on continuing to manufacture highly capable…

Australian manufacturer and designer of high pressure cleaning equipment Australian Pump said it was chosen to design and build 4,000 psi high pressure water blasters for Sydney’s Garden Island Dockyard applications.Designed for working on a wide range of vessels in the dry dock, the machines, called the Aussie Atlas, feature an all stainless steel construction and produce a 4,000 psi, 16 liter per minute performance.With up to 30 machines working at any one time in the dock, safety is a key issue.

Davit supplier Vestdavit said its U.S. operation has won a contract to deliver boat launch-and-recovery systems to two U.S. Navy Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels currently being built by global shipbuilder Austal at its yard in Mobile, Ala.Vestdavit Inc. will supply a 2TDB-7000 davit system to each of EPF 13 and EPF 14, the latest vessels to be commissioned as part of the U.S. Navy’s EPF program. With EPF 13 due for delivery in late 2021, both ships will be deployed in the high-speed…

Wight Shipyard Co said it has built and delivered four ferries simultaneously from its yard in Cowes, Isle of Wight, for a Maltese tour operator.The order, WSC’s largest ferry export order to date, consists of two 20-meter and two 33-meter lightweight ferries, designed by One2Three Naval Architects.Jo Daly, COO, WSC, said the four ferries were produced within a year, despite the restrictions and changes to working brought about by the worldwide pandemic COVID-19.The bespoke vessels for Captain Morgan Holdings Ltd…

Master Marine, Inc. (MMI) has delivered the 67- by 28-foot Iron Lady, the first of four new push boats it is building for Lower Mississippi River operator Plimsoll Marine.The four vessels are designed by Entech Designs, LLC. and are fully compliant with all U.S. Coast Guard regulatory requirements.Towboat Iron Lady is powered by two Laborde Products, Inc. Mitsubishi 803 HP Tier III diesel marine engines operating at 1,400 RPM and coupled to Twin Disc 5321 gears. Laborde Products…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) said it has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for its Digital Health Management (DHM) System for a Type B gas containment tank, following a Joint Development Project (JDP) between the two parties launched in November 2019.The system, Hyundai Prismatic Independent IMO Type B Tank eXcellence (HiPIX), has been assessed by LR’s digital experts against LR’s ShipRight Procedure for Digital Compliance, resulting in HiPIX receiving Digital Twin Ready AiP.This approval sets HHI on the path to become a DHM provider to the maritime industry…

RLS PhotoNorway-based krill extraction and processing company Rimfrost has awarded Kongsberg Maritime a contract to design and equip a new 120-meter krill harvesting vessel destined for operations in Antarctica.The vessel will be built by Westcon in Norway, and Tersan Shipyard in Turkey. Westcon will complete the vessel at its facility in Norway after initial construction at the Tersan Shipyard in Turkey. It is expected that the 120m ship will be ready to begin operations in 2022.Kongsberg Maritime said that the contract has been awarded in several stages during 2020…

Beca Applied Technologies Ltd, with the support of specialist naval architecture company Vard Marine Inc, have been appointed by the New Zealand Ministry of Defense as the Technical Support Partner to the Southern Ocean Patrol Vessel (SOPV) project. Beca and Vard Marine will join the Ministry’s Integrated Project Team providing systems engineering, concept design and technical logistics input for the early stages of the project as the capability is defined and specified.The SOPV project is exploring options for an ice-strengthened offshore patrol vessel for Southern Ocean operations will be navigating the large distance between New Zealand and Antarctica…

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards said it will soon deliver the fifth and final vessel in a series of new tug builds for operator Svitzer at Oman's Port of Sohar.The newest tug Svitzer Saham is the third 80t bollard pull RAstar 2900SX variant, Sanmar’s Bigacay class, joining sister vessels Svitzer Sohar and Svitzer Shinas, alongside two other earlier deliveries in 2020 of the 50t bollard pull variant of the RAmparts 2200 (named Svitzer Liwa and Svitzer Barka), Sanmar’s Sirapinar…

Europe has been the clear leader in offshore wind power since the world’s first offshore wind farm was built off the coast of Denmark in 1991. Now, as regions in Asia and North America set out to harness the huge energy potential gusting off their shores, local firms are drawing from the expertise laid out in the well-established European industry as they build the foundations for new offshore wind markets of their own.It’s no surprise, then, that designs for offshore wind support vessels currently being built in the U.S. come from the other side of the Atlantic.

On August 28, Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) held a keel-laying for the second of three Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV) that it is building for the South African Navy’s Project BIRO.The South African Navy’s Project BIRO aims to develop maritime security, ensuring the country’s capabilities to respond effectively, rapidly, and cost-efficiently to maritime threats such as piracy and illegal fishing.The MMIPVs draw on proven technology from Damen’s standardized range of patrol boats…

The new U.S. Navy destroyer Delbert D. Black departed from Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula Miss. Friday, sailing to its homeport in Mayport, Fla.Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, delivered to the Navy in April this year, was was originally scheduled to be commissioned in 2019, but an allision at the shipyard in March 2019 caused scheduling delays, minor injuries and more than $30 million in damage to the new destroyer, which was still under construction at the time.

Damen Shipyards Group delivered a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 2710 to Rederij Groen, who has secured a contract to use the vessel to undertake crew transfers for the oil and gas industry in Germany and DenmarkThe first new FCS 2710 to be delivered in the Netherlands, Green Waves was handed over to its new owner in Scheveningen less than six months after the contract signing. The speed of delivery is due to Damen’s practice of building standardized vessels in series and for stock…

The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy have awarded six contracts worth around $42 million for studies of a large unmanned surface vessel.The companies awarded the contracts, valued around $7 million each, are Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Huntington Ingalls, Lockheed Martin, Gibbs & Cox, Austal, and Bollinger Shipyards.Each contract includes an option for engineering support, that if exercised, would bring the cumulative value for all awards to $59,476,146, the DoD said."...each contract and is expected to be complete by August 2021…

Russian gas giant Novatek has informed that its Arctic LNG 2 joint venture has entered into long-term charter agreements for 14 Arc7 ice-class LNG tankers.The Arctic LNG 2 partners have signed the charter agreements will SMART LNG, a joint venture established in September 2019 between NOVATEK and PAO Sovcomflot. The vessels will be built in Russia's Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex and will serve the giant Arctic LNG 2 project on the Gydan peninsula, Russia. The LNG Carriers will operate under the Russian Federation flag.

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) has ordered energy management and electric propulsion package from GE’s Power Conversion for the new Combat Support Ship (CSS) being built for the Royal Netherlands Navy.The CSS ordered by the Dutch government in December 2019 will be 180 meters in length, will accommodate a 75-persons basic crew, with capacity for an additional 85 persons on-board. GE’s will deliver main switchboards for the ship distribution system, with two shore connection cubicles…

SMS Group said it is relocating its Southampton headquarters to become the only ship repairer based within the Port of Southampton.The business will move to Western Avenue, within ABP Southampton’s footprint adjacent the King George V drydock.The move represents a strategic decision to move the business closer to its core customer base, and at the same time improve its geographical location, says Ben Rowe and Dave Chaffers, who head SMS Southampton. The location will also improve the company’s quayside presence…

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, says its DIA-SOx marine scrubbers have been installed on 22 ships during the last eight months.The builder said the installations were completed as scheduled despite the continued spread of COVID-19 globally through remote commissioning conducted via close communication and cooperation with its local partners' engineers in China and Singapore.The  DIA-SOx lineup consists of the R Series and C Series.

Shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO on Thursday laid the keel for the future USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206), the second of six vessels in the John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler program for the U.S. Navy.At 746-feet in length and displacing 49,000 tons, the future USNS Harvey Milk will provide logistics support to carrier strike groups around the world. Fleet oilers serve as a supply lifeline for Navy vessels carrying out missions in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and beyond.

Australia's BHP said Friday it had awarded a tender for world’s first LNG-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers to Eastern Pacific Shipping, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 30 percent per voyage.Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has been awarded the five-year time charter contract for five LNG-fuelled Newcastlemax bulk carriers to carry iron ore between Western Australia and China from 2022.

Miami shipyard RMK Merrill-Stevens says it is hiring 75 new employees over the next two months to staff its newly renovated North Yard and South Yard. The hiring campaign follows years full of updates after Rahmi M. Koç, a Turkish philanthropist, purchased the shipyard in 2013 while committing to restore the yard to its former glory. RMK Merrill-Stevens is known as the first shipyard in Florida and is now one of the most updated and capable shipyards in the region.RMK Merrill-Stevens provides yacht service…

Austal Limited announced Thursday that USNS Newport (EPF 12) has been delivered to the United States Navy from Austal USA's shipyard in Mobile, Ala.USNS Newport is the 12th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship to be delivered to the U.S. Navy – and brings the total number of ships delivered to the Navy by Austal USA to 24 in 10 years, including three this year. USS Oakland (LCS 24) was delivered in June, following the future USS Kansas City (LCS 22) handed over in .Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said…

When will the first fully digitized, autonomous and environmentally friendly ship be ready to sail? The answer is uncertain but the Danish Maritime Authority’s ShippingLab project aims to have most of the technical and managerial challenges solved in as little as two years from now. Tom Mulligan reports.Denmark’s ShippingLab project is a three-year initiative that commenced its work in March 2019 with the aim of developing the first fully commercially operational, fully digital, autonomous and environmentally friendly ship.

As the marine industry works to find the ‘fuel of the future’ to address increasingly stringent emission regulations, an interesting development from a trio of marine powers in Japan seeks to develop the world’s first ammonia-fueled tugboat. The joint research and development agreement was signed by NYK, IHI Power Systems Co., Ltd., and ClassNK recently to put the world's first ammonia-fueled tugboat into practical use.With the entry into force of the Paris Agreement in 2016, global momentum for decarbonization has increased…

Austal announced that the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) has been christened at Austal USA’s manufacturing facility in Mobile, Ala. The future USS Savannah is the 14th of 19 Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) Austal USA has under contract with the United States Navy.Austal Limited Chief Executive David Singleton said the continued success of the Independence-class LCS shipbuilding program demonstrated the extensive capabilities of the high-caliber Austal USA team. “The…

Philly Shipyard announced Wednesday that Jeffrey Theisen will re-join the company as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 8. Theisen fills the vacancy created by last month's sudden passing of Brian Leathers.Theisen previously served as Philly Shipyard's CFO for eight years, from 2007 - 2015. He was involved in the spin-off of Philly Shipyard from its parent Aker American Shipping and subsequent listing of the company on Oslo Axess, and he was instrumental in securing backlog and negotiating various financings, investments and other significant transactions.

ABS and Chevron Shipping Company LLC have embarked on a digital fleet management journey.As a first step, the Suezmax lightering vessel Pegasus Voyager has become the first vessel in Chevron’s fleet to qualify for the ABS maintenance optimization notation SMART-MHM (Machinery Health Monitoring), with more vessels expected to follow. The ship is also the first ABS-classed to receive the notation.ABS says this is just the beginning of the journey to condition-based maintenance for the Chevron’s fleet of 28 vessels.

China's Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding (SWS) shipyard has delivered another Guyana-bound FPSO hull for the Dutch FPSO specialist SBM Offshore.Following the delivery of the Liza Unity hull in late 2019, SWS on Monday delivered the Liza Prosperity hull, the second hull built under SBM Offshore's Fast4Ward standardized-FPSO-hull program. The construction of the FPSO Prosperity hull started in January 2019.The FPSO Prosperity is expected to be deployed at ExxonMobil's Stabroek block offshore Guyana, as part of the Payara oil field development.

Kanagawa Dockyard Co. Ltd, Kobe, Japan delivered the tug, Dolphin No. 29 on August 19, 2020, the fourth, in a series of 13 tugs, built for Adani Group. The tug will be engaged in mooring and towing work for berthing and un-berthing at the Adani Vizhinjam Port and on the coast of India.The tow tug has a 55t BP capacity and is equipped with diesel propulsion engines totaling 4,400 PS and Z-drive propellers. The Z driver propeller provides for 360-degrees maneuverability allowing for rapid changes in thrust direction and tug direction.Measuring 34.5m in length, Dolphin No.

American Cruise Lines announced it has taken delivery of a new riverboat from Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Md.The 190-passenger American Jazz is the latest in American’s series of five new modern riverboats and will be added to the company’s fleet on the Mississippi River. American’s building plans have continued at full strength, despite this year’s pause in cruising.“American Jazz and the modern riverboats we currently have under construction demonstrate our commitment to leading the U.S. river cruise market by adding new small ships each year,” said Charles B.

Belle Chasse, La. shipyard C&C Marine and Repair said it has delivered the second vessel in a series of 15 towboats it is building for Metairie, La. based Maritime Partners, LLC.The 2,600-horsepower, 84’ x 34’ towboat Brooks M. Hamilton was designed by Entech Design, LLC, based in Kenner, La., with the 3D modeling and production drawings done by C&C Marine and Repair’s in-house engineering department. The design includes two Cummins QSK38-M1 main engines, provided by Cummins Mid-South, that are paired to two Reintjes WAF 665 reduction gears, provided by Karl Senner, LLC.

India's steel exports more than doubled between April and July to hit their highest level in at least six years, boosted by a surge of Chinese buying in defiance of tensions between Beijing and New Delhi.Traders said reduced prices had driven the purchases as Indian sellers sought to get rid of a surplus generated by the impact of COVID-19 on domestic demand and generate much-needed income.It was unclear whether the sales broke any trade rules, but the China Iron and Steel Association…

Ocean Installer, a Norwegian company mostly known for its offshore oil and gas services provider, is increasingly turning towards the offshore wind industry.Following a recent establishment of an offshore wind branch, and the naming of a director to lead it, Ocean Installer on Monday announced it would enter into a partnership with shipbuilder Vard - a Fincantieri company - "to develop one of the world's most advanced turbine installation vessels for offshore wind." Erik Haakonsholm…

As the global maritime community collectively is slowly pushed toward decarbonization, it is generally agreed that there is no ‘silver bullet’ technical solution and that progress will come in steps, led by public/private collaboration and funding.A recent development following that script is the awarding this week of federal funds to a Washington State team working to accelerate ferry technology, with the joint innovation project selected for funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration.

The oil and gas industry is currently enduring one of the most challenging periods in its history. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated an existing decline in global demand for hydrocarbons, resulting in the lowest oil prices for 30 years. This has left the industry facing the dual challenge of ensuring successful and safe working conditions and practices for employees while maintaining the economic viability of assets.How can operators maintain, or even raise…

Coastwise Offshore Services and Next Generation Shipyards signed a contract for the building of a new type of vessel, an aluminum vessel for the offshore wind-industry, with an option for three additional vessels. The signing took place at Next Generation Shipyards on Lauwersoog, the Netherlands. The new boat aims to combine the stability of a catamaran with the speed and fuel efficiency of a monohull, and the building of the vessel was at the initiative of Coastwise Offshore Services, the new shipping enterprise owned by Eelko Wijdieks, Douwe van den Berg and Onno Nienhuis.

A Corpus Christi crew boat runs with renewed power and graceMiss Vivian has a commanding presence while plying the waters off the Texas Gulf Coast.Hardworking crew boat Miss Vivian serves offshore oil platforms and large ships moored in Corpus Christi Harbor. Owned by Sea Level Marine, Inc., in Aransas Pass, Texas, the 28-meter (91-foot) welded aluminum vessel is U.S. Coast Guard-approved for 50 passengers, and its 15x5-meter (50x15-foot) deck offers ample space to transport food provisions, equipment, and other supplies to offshore locations.There’s a rather heroic side to Miss Vivian, too.

Caterpillar Marine recently signed a contract to supply its solutions for the next generation of Brusco Tug and Barge’s new tugs. The first tug was delivered in December 2019, and the second vessel will soon be under construction at Diversified Marine Inc. (DMI), in Portland, Ore., featuring a bollard pull of 84 short tons and complete system integration by Caterpillar Marine.Caterpillar Marine’s West Coast territory sales manager Enrique Aponte said, “This vessel will change the escort tug market…

Common Structural Rules Software LLC (CSR), a joint venture company formed by ABS and Lloyd’s Register (LR), has updated its products to comply with the latest Rule Change Notice (RCN) from the International Association of Classification Societies.The CSR Prescriptive Analysis (PA) and CSR Finite Element Analysis (FEA) products have been updated to support users with creating designs that comply with the latest July 1, 2020 RCN.The update follows improvements to CSR PA and CSR FEA software products introduced earlier this year, which added new functionality.

Newport Shipping announces it will be working with global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market service provider Gloryholder Liquified Gas Machinery (DL) Co., Ltd (LGM Engineering).The agreement between the two companies was signed in February and will see LGM Engineering supply LNG solutions for Newport Shipping’s retrofit projects.In June LGM Engineering signed a contract to design and supply LNG fuel gas supply system for two 13,000 DWT chemical tankers with Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Company Limited (YZJ). The shipowner is Tarbit Tankers B.V, and the classification society is Bureau Veritas (BV).The complete LNG fuel gas supply system delivered by LGM Engineering includes the design and manufacture of double vacuum insulated LNG fuel tanks with integrated tank connection space (TCS)…

The global heavy lift vessel market is a difficult place to be. Utilization for the fleet has remained depressingly low since the first oil and gas downturn in 2014, currently hovering around 33% for the global fleet with a lift capacity of over 800 tonnes, according to IHS Markit’s ConstructionVesselBase. Fixed platform installation work, the traditional market driver for the heavy-lift fleet in oil and gas, has seen demand fall significantly. According to global figures from IHS Markit’s FieldsBase, 190 fixed platforms were installed in both 2013 and 2014, rising to 219 in 2015.

Rederij Doeksen’s Vlieland underwent repairs at Damen Shiprepair Harlingen (DSHl) in the Netherlands following a recent incident that took place as the passenger/car ferry was departing the harbor in Harlingen.The Vlieland operates a ferry service across the Wadden Sea between Harlingen in the north of the Netherlands and the island of Vlieland, and the recent accident caused the vessel’s SB engine room became flooded. DSHL said it carried out an emergency operation, closing the hole…

Fairbanks Morse recently won an order by Huntington Ingalls Industries to build and deliver the four main propulsion diesel engines that will power the U.S. Navy’s newest Landing Platform/Dock (LPD) ship, LPD 31, the second of 13 in the LPD Flight II class of ships. We caught up with George Whittier, CEO, for his insights on this contract, COVID-19 and business overall.How long have you been at the helm at Fairbanks Morse?I returned to Fairbanks Morse in January where I previously served as CEO from 2009 to 2012.

UK-based InfraStrata announced it has acquired the Appledore Shipyard located in Bideford, North Devon.The new deal follows InfraStrata’s acquisition of the Harland & Wolff Shipyard in Belfast last year. The London Stock Exchange-listed firm specializes in the development, commercialization and operation of advanced, high-value, strategic infrastructure facilities.“We see Appledore playing a key role in an exciting new era for UK shipyards and shipbuilding; supporting UK industry and revitalizing economic growth in the South West…

Imabari Shipbuilding Group's Tadotsu Shipyard in Japan has launched a new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled car carrier vessel for compatriot shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line).Construction is ongoing with an estimated delivery within the 2020 fiscal year.The main engine on this vessel is a dual-fuel diesel Mitsui MAN B&W ME-GI engine with exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) to apply with MARPOL Annex VI NOx Tier III.The vessel, ordered by "K" Line in December 2018…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group commenced steel cutting for R.B. Weeks, ESG Hull 258, a new Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger for Weeks Marine.The contract for the new vessel was signed four months ago, and it will be built at Eastern’s Allanton Shipyard Panama City, Florida. This is the second Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge project for Weeks Marine, the Magdalen, ESG Hull 256 was delivered back in December of 2017. The R.B. Weeks, (ESG Hull 258) is named in honor of Richard B. Weeks…

SPI Servicios Portuarios Integrados for Mar del Plata port in Argentina has acquired a DOP Dredger component package from Damen Shipyards Group. The Argentinian shipyard will build major components and assemble the dredger. The DOP Dredger 250 will be used to dredge underneath a floating dock, which the shipyards wants to keep operational full-time. The trick is that the dock will remain in place during the dredging activities.The Argentinian ship builder SPI has an extensive yard in the bay of Mar del Plata, located on the South Atlantic Ocean.

Shipbuilder Metal Shark has delivered an 85- by 19.5-foot welded aluminum Near Coastal Patrol Vessel (NCPV) to the Dominican Republic’s Navy under a $54 million U.S. Navy contract to produce up to 13 Defiant-class patrol craft for U.S. partner nations.Christened Betelgeuse in keeping with the Dominican tradition of naming military vessels after constellations, the new patrol craft was built at Metal Shark’s Franklin, La. shipyard and officially incorporated into the Dominican…

Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri has ordered ten 49,999-dwt Medium Range (MR) chemical tankers from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, part of South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).Bahri said the order, signed at a virtual ceremony,  was valued $410 million, meaning $41 million per vessel. The first deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2022.Seung-Yong Park, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of HHI, said the latest order would bring the tally of various types of vessels that HHI has built for Bahri to 61.In May 2020…

Danish operator Hovedstadens Beredskab (HBR)—part of the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department Association— recently commissioned the build of HBR 1 Copenhagen, a full cabin multi-response vessel that can sail under all weather conditions. The new vessel responds to emergency calls in the Harbor of Copenhagen and the surrounding area, navigating the city’s canals to deliver a fast and effective fire response to the residence.The finished vessel latest model in Tuco Marine Group’s ProZero series of fast workboats.

Damen Marine Components said it has delivered two large 19A nozzles to Parlevliet & Van der Plas for its fishing trawler, the Margiris. The vessel, which is one of the largest of its type in the world, is undergoing a modification project at Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam.At Damen’s Amsterdam repair yard, the Margiris is receiving work that includes bow thruster overhaul and fabrication of new bow thruster grids, piping renewal, steel tank repairs, hull cleaning and painting and fabrication…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri announced Thursday it has floated out the new cruise ship MSC Seashore at its shipyard in Monfalcone. The vessel has been moved to a wet dock where interior outfitting work will continue until delivery to MSC Cruises in July 2021.MSC Seashore, which will be MSC Cruises’ longest ship at 339 metres and the largest and most innovative ever built in Italy, is the third of four vessels in MSC Cruises’ Seaside class, following MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation delivered a Chesapeake class pilot boat to the Seaway Pilots Inc. in Cape Vincent, N.Y. The Seaway pilots navigate ships in and out of the ports and harbors of the St. Lawrence Seaway between St. Regis, N.Y. and Port Weller on Lake Ontario.With a length overall of 53.6’, a beam of 17.8’ and a draft of 4.8’, the all-aluminum pilot boat features the Ray Hunt Designs deep-V hull. It is powered by twin keel-cooled Volvo Penta D16, EPA Tier 3-compliant diesel engines, each delivering 641Bhp at 1,800 rpm and a top speed of 23 knots.

Sri Lanka shipbuilder Colombo Dockyard PLC (CDPLC) said it is moving toward executing an already signed contract with Misje Eco Bulk AS to build a series of six bulk carriers, with options for up to four additional vessels. The contracts were signed in March but are scheduled to come into effect in September upon the Norwegian shipowner's final board approval.Misje is a fully owned subsidiary of Kåre Misje & Co., a family owned Norwegian company which holds a group of companies…

Singapore's Keppel Offshore & Marine has said that converted FLNG vessels save approximately 33% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to an FLNG new build, citing a study by environmental consultants, Environmental Resources Management (ERM).Commissioned by Keppel O&M, the study by ERM assesses the converted and new build FLNG across three stages of the project life cycle, namely the end of life of the LNG tanker, repurposing, or shipbuilding of the FLNG, and maintenance…

The Canadian Coast Guard’s third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV) has begun sea trials just six weeks after being launched by Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver, B.C.The future Coast Guard vessel the CCGS John Cabot cruised out of English Bay on Wednesday to begin sea trials, marking another major milestone for this third OFSV built under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).Over the next 10 days the 63.4-meter-long ship will be put through its paces during rigorous full-scale exercises where specialists from Seaspan Shipyards…

The global pandemic news has been horrific and certainly an historic moment in domestic and worldwide shipping. For many businesses, the action was simple; hang the “closed” sign, furlough or layoff staff and wait for the approval to re-open. Or not, depending how long the virus will linger and continue to cause hundreds or thousands of deaths and rising numbers of cases. Make no mistake, there will be many businesses associated with our industry that will not return. The damages will be far beyond bars and restaurant businesses.

Altera Infrastructure held a remote naming ceremony for three new shuttle tankers built by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea.The 130,000 dwt Current Spirit and 103,000 dwt Altera Wave and Altera Wind are constructed based on Altera's E-shuttle design, which incorporates technologies intended to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, using liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and recovered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a secondary fuel, as well as battery…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group said it has delivered the second of two 80-foot, 5,100-horsepower Z-drive tugs for Bisso Offshore, a division of E.N. Bisso & Son of New Orleans, La.Following delivery on June 11, the newbuild ship-handling tug A. Thomas Higgins completed its bollard pull testing witnessed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and received its USCG Sub-M Certificate of Inspection (COI). In addition to  A. Thomas Higgins, E.N. Bisso has taken delivery of five previous modern Z-drive ship assist tugs from Eastern from 2007, including Josephine Anne, Beverly B, Elizabeth B, Archie T.

ARES Shipyard in Antalya, Turkey has been awarded a contract to build 122 patrol boats for the Turkish Coastguard.“The project represents the largest volume serial production in Turkey’s shipbuilding history, and it will certainly put a significant record in the world’s shipbuilding archives as well,” said Utku Alanc, CEO of ARES Shipyard.“The project is planned to last five years and will involve construction and delivery of 122-ARES 35 FPB boats to meet the needs of the Turkish Coastguard.

SunStone's new expedition cruise vessel 'Ocean Explorer' was launched last week at the CMHI shipyard, China, Ulstein, the vessel designer has informed.The ship is number four in the INFINITY class of X-BOW expedition ships, all designed by Ulstein. The vessel for which the keel was laid in January, was launched on Wednesday, August 12, 2020.INFINITY Class Vessels are 104 meters long, and 18 meters wide, having a draft of 5.1 meters. They feature a passenger capacity between 130-200 and a crew capacity between 85 and 115.

The first of two CSL-Hartmann joint venture ships built at Chengxi Shipyard in China was delivered on August 10.Having already completed all dockside and sea trials, the 40,000 DWT self-unloading bulk carrier Starnes set sail for Hamburg via the Suez Canal on August 14. Captain Bi Fusheng and Chief Engineer Li Fuwang will take the 190-meter-long vessel to Manilla where there will be a crew change, and the new crew will take the vessel on to Germany.Starnes is the first of two…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already being applied in both ship and yacht building by a number of maritime companies that are currently using it successfully. AI technology makes a completely new way of working possible. It helps companies to operate competitively in a highly competitive maritime world.I believe in this way of working, and we have adjusted our software accordingly. I’m convinced that any software which cannot deal with AI has no future. So don't lose track, and work toward knowledge-driven operations with the help of AI.

The first tug of a two vessel contract, Hai Kun, built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, was delivered to Yiu Lian Dockyards Ltd., Hong Kong on July 15, 2020.This delivery marks the 21st vessel built and delivered by Cheoy Lee of the Robert Allan Ltd. RAstar 3200-CL design. Unique modifications were implemented to this hull to accommodate both the owner’s selected Niigata propulsion package and the required escort capability of the tug. This included a redesign of the skeg and simulations…

German propulsion systems manufacturer Schottel says it has secured a contract with Turkish shipyard Med Marine to provide azimuth thrusters for a powerful new salvage tug ordered by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The vessel will be equipped with main and auxiliary propulsion systems from Schottel, achieving a bollard pull of more than 120 tonnes. The Robert Allan RAstar 4200 (MED-A42120) design vessel is considered the largest tugboat on the East African Coast of the Indian Ocean.Recai Hakan Şen…

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipyard industry, today announced the 2020 annual shipyard safety awards. SCA honors shipbuilding and repair organizations with the “Excellence in Safety” Award and “Improvement in Safety” Award each year for enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.Over the past several years, the industry has seen the total recordable incident rate steadily decline, with the most significant decline seen in 2019.

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has delivered the first vessel in a series of three new ambulance boats for the Hellenic Coastguard.For many years, the Coastguard and the Hellenic National Center for Emergency Care (EKAB) have worked together to support patient transfer requirements from the Greek islands to larger hospitals. Today, a call for transport services is almost a daily occurrence.The new closed-cabin boat will be station in Naxos as the first in a series of special craft equipped with medical equipment.

Greek operator Maran Tankers Management (MTM), part of the Angelicoussis Group, has taken delivery of the 157,000 dwt oil tanker Maran Orpheus, built by Daehan Shipbuilding Co. in South Korea. The Suezmax delivery follows the 157,946 dwt Maran Phoebe handed over from Daehan in June. Both ships are Greek-flagged and classed by DNV GL.Daehan is also building the ABS-classed, 157,000 dwt Maran Aspasia and Maran Solon scheduled for delivery to MTM in October and December respectively.

As one of the largest, most widely known naval architecture and marine engineering firms in the world—celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2020—Robert Allan Ltd. is no stranger to being approached by marine engine manufacturers seeking input on their products. But no one’s ever come to the Vancouver, Canada-based company as early in the process as Caterpillar did during the development of its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier 4 Final solutions.Like many in the industry, the team at Robert Allan Ltd.

Finnish shipbuilding company Meyer Turku will permanently lay off 166 people due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on its business.The company which builds cruise ships had in April said it would lay off up to 450 of its roughly 2,000 employees, with talks also in place for another 900 to be affected by other measures, such as temporary layoffs of different length, work time adjustments, and other arrangements. Meyer Turku on Thursday said that the first part of permanent layoffs negotiations had come to a conclusion with a decision made to permanently lay off 166 people.

MAN Energy Solutions announced that the first ME-GI engine featuring its newly-developed pump vaporizer unit (PVU) has completed liquefied natural gas (LNG) trials in Korea.The engine is installed aboard the first in a series of six neo-Panamax boxships—built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI), and ordered by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), the Singapore-based shipping company—each powered by individual MAN B&W 11G90ME-GI main engines. French container shipping company CMA CGM has already chartered the vessel…

Conrad Shipyard announced it has hired Robert A. Socha to lead the company’s sales and marketing efforts as vice president of sales and marketing. He will work collaboratively with other Conrad business groups, including business development, engineering and product development, contracts, estimating and operations.Socha has served in numerous roles of increasing responsibility with various companies in the offshore and inland marine transportation, shipbuilding, oil and gas exploration, and offshore engineering/construction industries.

Merseyside, U.K.-based boatbuilder Marine Specialised Technology (MST) has been awarded a £9.9-million ($12.9 million) contract to supply two new boats to replace the U.K. Royal Navy's Gibraltar Squadron fast patrol craft used to patrol HMNB Gibraltar and British Gibraltar territorial waters. Construction began in July, and the first vessel is due to be delivered in the third quarter of 2021 followed by the second in the first quarter of 2022. MST will provide four years of local…

Philly Shipyard announced the unexpected death of its chief financial officer, Brian Leathers, age 60. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of Brian’s passing, and our entire organization mourns his death. Brian was a well-respected colleague and friend to many. His positive energy, enthusiasm, and dynamic personality will be sorely missed,” said Steinar Nerbovik, Philly Shipyard President and CEOLeathers joined Philly Shipyard in early 2019 as the company’s strategy…

Two new tugs launched last month at the Damen Song Cam Shipyard in Vietnam are due to enter service for Boluda Towage Europe at the Port of Zeebrugge in December. The new tugs will be named VB Bolero and VB Rumba and will join Boluda Towage Europe's fleet currently comprising 81 tugs operating in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.The highly maneuverable Damen ASD Tugs 2813 each offer 85 metric tons bollard pull and will be used for harbor and terminal escort and berthing duties…

Norden announced Tuesday it has added two bulk carriers to an existing newbuilding contract with shipbuilder Nantong Cosco Khi Ship Engineering Co. (NACKS), taking the total order to six vessels.The Danish shipowner said it has already sold two of the six vessels on sale and lease back terms, freeing up liquidity. The newbuilds are scheduled to be delivered from 2022.In addition, Norden said it bought a secondhand 2014 built Supramax bulk carrier scheduled to join its fleet in September.

Russia's Nevsky Shipyard has launched the second and final cargo-passenger vessel as part of the PV22 project.The newbuild Pavel Leonov, launched on August 6, is the second vessel in the series of two dry cargo-passenger vessel carriers ordered by Sakhalinlizingflot in August 2018. The series' lead vessel, Admiral Nevelskoy, was launched in May.The 75-meter-long vessels are each designed to transport 146 passengers, general cargo, containers (including refrigerated) and cars between…

Four new 90-meter oil/deck cargo barges for Canada's Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Marine Transportation Services (MTS) have been launched by Nanjing Jinling Shipyard, in Nanjing, China.The first barge MTS 3501 was launched on June 16, followed by barge MTS 3502 launched on June 22 and barges MTS 3503 and MTS 3504 launched on June 28.The barges will undergo final testing and touch-up work in preparation for the 400-kilometer tow down the Yangtse River to Shanghai where they will be loaded onto a semi-submersible heavy lift vessel and transported to Tuktoyaktuk…

Maersk Tankers has taken delivery of Maersk Sandra, the first in a series of 10 newbuild LR2 tankers on order from Dalian Shipyard, in China.The series' first six vessels were ordered in May 2018, and options for the final four vessel were exercised in May 2019.Due for delivery from 2020 through 2022, the vessels will come under Maersk Tankers’ commercial, technical and corporate management.

BAE Systems received a $83.5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to modernize the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64) and USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81). The modernization work will be performed sequentially by the company’s shipyard in Jacksonville, Fla. The contract include options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $211.6 million.The USS Carney will be first in the shipyard, arriving in September 2020. The 23-year-old ship just returned from a six year operational period in Rota…

General Dynamics announced today that the negotiating teams from Bath Iron Works and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local S6 reached agreement last night on mutually acceptable terms to end the ongoing strike by shipyard workers in Bath, Maine. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service deputy director Rich Giacolone and IAM International President Robert Martinez helped to facilitate the tentative agreement.“We are pleased to have reached agreement with our union partners and look forward to getting back to the job of building ships for the U.S. Navy,” said Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer.