Smartphone News

The modern mariner has changed. Today’s crew members may be just as fluent in maritime procedures as they are in memes, video shorts, and social media scrolling. And while that brings tech-savviness and adaptability, it also introduces a very real challenge: shrinking attention spans. In a world of endless distractions and bite-sized content, how do you deliver training that actually sticks?The answer isn’t to fight it, but to embrace it. Modern training is increasingly more art than science…

Every mariner knows the routine: alarms sound, crew muster, checklists are followed, and then everyone returns to work. But the question remains—are these mandatory safety drills truly improving onboard safety, or have they simply become boxes to check? The reality is, drills often suffer from predictability and repetition, causing crews to disengage and limiting their effectiveness. This month, we explore how to transform these routine drills into impactful and fresh learning experiences by combining them with microlearning techniques that reinforce skills…

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) selected 13 panel projects for award as part of the program's mission to reduce costs and expand capability for U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair. These new projects, valued at over $2.55M in government funding, were among those proposed in response to the Panel Project Solicitation issued in June 2024. Abbreviated descriptions follow; prime contractors are listed first and noted in bold text:Laser…

Nordic Fender has entered a strategic partnership with SkyLab IoT for the development and expansion of smart fender and buoy solutions that provide real-time data worldwide.Nordic Fender products can now benefit from live monitoring of critical parameters such as air pressure, temperature, humidity, acceleration, angle and rotation (X, Y, Z), and location services based on GPS, GNSS, geolocation, and WiFi/MAC addresses. In addition to the standard data, it is also possible to monitor other environmental…

A maritime technology company based in Aberdeen has been awarded funding from Scottish Enterprise to support the development of an app-based version of its breakthrough draft survey technology. Tymor Marine’s DRFT MRKS software uses artificial intelligence with deep learning applied to video capture to provide an accurate measurement of the weight and load of a vessel.The grant funding from Scottish Enterprise will allow Tymor’s team to build on the operational capabilities of the software…

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), MTI, and Nabtesco Corporation have developed an electric diagnostic tool that records, visualizes, and analyzes the operational sounds of a vessel's engine plant for early anomaly detection.The device has been named “Kirari MUSE” and can store operational sounds from the equipment as data and use it to diagnose equipment conditions.Listening rods made of elongated metal are already widely used for diagnosing equipment conditions. By placing a listening rod on a turbine…

The November edition of Marine News magazine highlighted the most notable newbuilds delivered in 2022. From sturdy and nimble workboats, to the first new Jones Act laker in a generation, each vessel on display showcases the industry’s engineering prowess and technological ingenuity, with the focus on improving efficiency in operations. The maritime industry has no shortage of challenges to overcome, and each of Marine News’ top vessels will, in one way or another, aid efforts to tackle them.Mark W.

Finnlines will make major investments in its route between Sweden and mainland Finland via Åland during 2023 as the freight and passenger shipping company continues to bounce back from the pandemic slowdown.The company announced on Tuesday that it is introducing two new Superstar cargo-passenger vessels as part of general plans for increasing passenger comfort on the Kapellskär–Långnäs–Naantali route, with the first ro-pax vessel set to start operating on the route in autumn 2023.The new vessels Finnsirius and Finncanopus are part of Finnlines EUR 500 million investment program…

As companies around the globe seek to optimize operations through digitization, ESAB Welding & Cutting Products announced that its Aristo 4004i Pulse, Aristo 5000i and Aristo U5000i advanced welding power sources are sold exclusively as WeldCloud-enabled systems. The Aristo 500ix will continue to be sold as A WeldCloud-optional system. To encourage use, ESAB will offer Aristo purchasers a free three-month trial period, which can be activated at any time.WeldCloud is a suite of online data management applications that enables users to improve overall operational efficiency by monitoring…

A new touch-free payment platform for the maritime industry has been launched by Secure Seas.Secure Seas says its electronic payment platform is designed to provide financial security to seafarers by transferring their pay electronically, removing the antiquated and problematic system of cash distribution in U.S. dollars. This provides seafarers with basic facilities the rest of us take for granted: full access to their funds in their preferred currency, use of an International…

A new smartphone app created in the U.K. enables the fishing industry to report accidental wildlife catch (bycatch) alongside standard catch reporting and will help to record bycatch of important marine species such as dolphins and porpoises, seals, seabirds, sharks, skates and rays.The app's developer, AST Marine Sciences Limited, part of Applied Satellite Technology Ltd, says it hopes the technology will be used by scientists and the fishing industry to help understand which…

Take a look around you.Perhaps you’re snacking on a banana, sipping some coffee or sitting in front of your computer and taking a break from work to read this article. Most likely, those goods—as well as your smartphone, refrigerator and virtually every other object in your home—were once loaded onto a large container in another country and traveled thousands of miles via ships crossing the ocean before ultimately arriving at your doorstep.Today, an estimated 90% of the world’s goods are transported by sea…

Havyard delivered the wellboat ‘Reisa’ to Norsk Fisketransport this week, significant in that Reisa is the first vessel in the world to use the bridge system Raven INS developed by Norwegian Electric Systems.What is the Raven INS?When the Raven Integrated Navigation System (INS) was type-approved by DNV GL, it was granted a world-first type approval for a bridge solution where an integrated computer system was developed for the bridge instead of combining different pieces of software.

Kidde Fire Systems has launched a real-time, cloud-connected remote monitoring solution for gaseous fire suppression systems. The IntelliSite system allows users to monitor the status of a portfolio of fire control units in real time across multiple locations.“With 24/7 information access, the IntelliSite system enhances safety and service levels for system end-users and can help reduce service calls, maintenance and administration costs for our valued distribution channel partners…

In recent years the U.S. Coast Guard has identified an increasing trend in the use of cellular phones by the maritime public when communicating distress. In 2018, leadership in the Office of Search and Rescue (SAR) at Coast Guard Headquarters asked the Research and Development Center (RDC) to investigate available technologies that could assist Coast Guard responders in adapting to this trend by leveraging the cellphone’s internal GPS. The RDC, located in New London, Conn., has been serving the Coast Guard for nearly 50 years through research…

North P&I Club announced it has completed the integration of the Sunderland Marine Insurance Company Limited business into parent company The North of England Protecting and Indemnity Association Limited.The formal transfer of business, which takes effect Tuesday, comes six years after the merger of interests between North and Sunderland Marine in 2014.North Chief Executive Paul Jennings says the integration further embeds Sunderland Marine’s specialist fishing and coastal vessels…

Maritime cranes and equipment manufacturer Liebherr has developed a remote service tool aiming to improve assistance through visual information that ultimately leads to faster and easier troubleshooting.The service's launch comes as industry stakeholders increasingly turn to remote services and other digital offerings to help maintain operations amid travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.Features integrated into the newly launched remote service tool such as audio and video calls…

The Internet of Maritime Things (IoMT) is coming! Start planning now.The Internet of Things (IoT) is already with us. You can get a doorbell camera that allows you to see on your smartphone who is at or approaching your front door. You can also get a refrigerator that keeps track of items inside and will advise you when you are running low (maybe on beer). It can also automatically place orders with your local grocery store for replenishment. Your automobile will attempt to keep you in your lane and avoid collisions while keeping track of where you are…

Important training need? A quick video may be the answer!Have you ever witnessed a mariner performing a task poorly or unsafely? Possibly day-to-day confined space entry? A commonly misapplied or misunderstood ColReg? Inattentive watchkeeping? Of course you have. And if you have seen it happen once, you can rest assured that it has happened before, and it will continue to happen unless someone does something about it. So - what can you do?Video may be your answer. It is surprisingly fast and easy to create short, laser-targeted videos that demonstrate best practice.

Shipowner d’Amico will trial remote inspection ship technology as the marine industry adjusts to the constraints placed on people’s movements imposed by national governments to limit the spread of COVID-19.Italian classification society RINA said its remote technology has been approved the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR) for the inspections of Liberian flagged vessels, and it anticipates that the decision of LISCR could shortly be followed by other Flag Administrations.Alfonso Castillero…

With the release of DNV GL’s Sesam Insight application, which provides shared 3D models among all stakeholders, costly barriers in offshore engineering are removed.When analysis models and data are stored in several places, there is a risk of costly and time-consuming information exchange between the involved players, such as owners, operators, contractors and regulatory bodies. This lack of transparency can lead to issues during the verification process, and uncertainty about the status and quality of project work.In some cases, knowledge and data remain with contractors instead of asset owners, and data recovery costs can be high.With the release of the Sesam Insight solution from DNV GL…

The international container terminal operating company headquartered in The Hague, APM Terminals said that its terminal at Aarhus, Denmark has broken records for reefer volumes, despite murmurings of global downturns. The company attributes it’s growing reefer business to its flexible approach.The latest figures for the terminal, August year-to-date (YTD), show an increase of more than 4% in reefer volumes compared to the same period in 2018. Helle Almind, Head of Commercial for APM Terminals sees signs of the trend continuing, with an extremely strong start to September, and higher volumes forecast until the end of the year.This month the terminal also beat its existing record for the number of reefers loaded onto one service.

Offshore passenger transportation provider Bourbon Mobility has partnered with Moment to provide an entertainment offer on board its vessels.In an effort to enhance its transport service of staff to oil platforms in West Africa, Bourbon Mobility has opted to have its fleet of Surfers outfitted with portable streaming servers, which enables passengers to access movies, documentaries and games on their mobile devices throughout their journey. So far 15 vessels have been equipped with the Moment digital entertainment solution.Aboard Bourbon Mobility’s ships…