Technology News

Onshore Power Supply (OPS), commonly referred to as “cold ironing” or shore power, is expected to play a critical role in reducing pollution and achieving global decarbonisation targets, so International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published recommendation, Rec. 182, a comprehensive framework to support the effective adoption of OPS systems.This recommendation provides detailed guidance for ship designers, builders, operators and owners on integrating OPS systems into both newbuilds and retrofits…

GTT announces that it has received, in the first quarter of 2025, an order from its partner the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua (Group) Co. Ltd. for the tank design of six new very large Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers.These six LNG carriers will each feature a total capacity of 271,000 m³ and will be fitted with GTT’s NO96 Super+ membrane containment system.Deliveries of the vessels are scheduled for the second quarter of 2028, the second and third quarters of 2029, the first and third quarters of 2031.

Today marks a momentous occasion for SpecTec as we celebrate 40 incredible years of empowering the maritime industry with cutting-edge solutions. From our humble beginnings in 1985 in Oslo, Norway, to becoming a trusted partner for shipowners and operators worldwide, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.This milestone is a testament to the passion and dedication of our people, the unwavering trust of our customers, and the invaluable support of our partners. Over the past four decades…

Contract talks covering 45,000 dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts are set to restart on Tuesday in a labor dispute that will help set the pace of automation at ports stretching from Maine to Texas.The International Longshoremen's Association wants to eliminate past labor contract concessions on automation - notably the use of semi-automated cranes that stack containers on docks - arguing they pose a threat to jobs.The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group…

European Union marine fuel rules, effective from Jan. 1 as part of efforts to cut emissions, will raise shipping costs, although firms with vessels that can run on alternative fuels, such as biodiesel and LNG, will benefit, two shipbrokers said.The policy is the second major EU regulation focused on cutting the shipping industry's carbon emissions in as many years. Shipping transports over 80% of all traded goods and causes nearly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions.The FuelEU Maritime regulation requires commercial ships above 5…

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing is hosting an intersessional meeting of the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (NMERPAC) subcommittee on task 24-3 Operator of Remote-Controlled Survey Vessels of 65' or less.The subcommittee will meet virtually through Microsoft Teams on January 27, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EST).NMERPAC advises, consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the…

Clarksons Research have today released their latest Green Technology Tracker, including full year 2024 data points, charting the progress of alternative fuel uptake and investments in energy saving technologies across the global shipping fleet.Summarizing the latest Tracker, Steve Gordon, Global Head of Clarksons Research, commented: “With overall newbuild order volumes reaching their highest level since 2007, alternative fuel has continued to play a prominent role representing 50% of all tonnage ordered in 2024.

Technology group Wärtsilä has been included as an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Europe (DJSI) for the ninth consecutive time.The company was assessed based on its 2023 performance and was ranked within the top four per cent of its peers in the IEQ Machinery and Electrical Equipment sector with a total score of 62/100. The results were announced on 13 December 2024.“Receiving this recognition for the ninth time in a row underlines our holistic approach and long-term commitment to sustainability as a company.

Egypt successfully tested a new 10 km channel near the southern end of the Suez Canal, even as its revenue from the waterway has plunged since Yemen's Houthi militants began attacking vessels in the Red Sea.The Suez Canal Authority said in a statement that during a trial run two ships passed through a new stretch of the canal's two-way section without incident.Following the 2021 grounding of the container ship Ever Given that blocked the vital waterway for six days, Egypt accelerated…

ABS and Akselos have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance engineering and certification processes for floating offshore wind projects.The companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on solutions aimed at optimizing design, reducing costs, and improving efficiency for the floating wind sector globally.The collaboration utilizes ABS's expertise in offshore certification and classification with Akselos' simulation technology for structural risk mitigation and optimization. Together, they aim to support the U.S.

After what we would argue has been an incredibly eventful 2024 with massive deals, tremendous dayrate developments, further charterer backlog build, and the first series of newbuild orders in years, now comes the time when we turn our gaze towards 2025. What are some of the main trends we expect for next year, and how do we see the continuation of today's developments impact the year to come. Overall, we find continued strides for the better in the offshore support market although we foresee an industry that will not fire on all cylinders…

Brunvoll won another contract with Myklebust Shipyard for the delivery of a comprehensive thruster package, an additional vessel for REM Offshore, the option originally announced in May 2024. Like the previous contract, this agreement also includes an option for a third additional vessel.Brunvoll’s thruster package consists of two propulsion azimuth thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and a tunnel thruster. This configuration is the same as the previous vessel announced in May, except that this vessel with be equipped with a slightly larger tunnel thruster.

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have partnered up to develop Floating CO2 Storage Units (FCSU) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects in the Republic of Korea in an effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions.The collaboration will center on validating and certifying cutting-edge CCS technologies that are cost-effective and sustainable.By blending BV's certification expertise with SHI's innovative technology, the partnership aims to set new industry standards and accelerate the deployment of CCS solutions that can drive a greener…

Anemoi Marine Technologies completed the installation of five Rotor Sails onboard the 400,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC), Sohar Max, making it the largest vessel to receive wind propulsion technology to date. Sohar Max is a first generation Valemax, built in 2012 in China’s Rongsheng shipyard, and is a project that  showcased collaboration between Brazilian mining giant Vale S.A., Omani shipowner Asyad and UK-based Rotor Sail provider Anemoi.The five 35 m tall, 5 m diameter Rotor Sails were retrofitted onboard Sohar Max at the COSCO Zhoushan shipyard in China, in October 2024.

Stowaways are an ongoing issue for the security of ships and the safety of crew members, as well as incurring substantial associated costs for shipowners and insurers. Worldwide, information about stowaways is incomplete and incidents are under-recorded, but the financial cost per incident is known to be rising, costing the industry millions of US dollars every year. In recent years, increasing global migration by sea has meant that encountering people in difficulty in small or…

Houston-based Noble Corporation contracted with Kongsberg Digital for the delivery of navigation, engine and dynamic positioning (DP) simulators based on Kongsberg Maritime’s K-Pos DP system. The simulators will be tailored and integrated with Kongsberg Maritime’s Riser Monitoring System (RMS) and electronic Well Specific Operating Guidelines (eW-SOG) to meet Noble’s training needs.Noble will be the first company globally to implement such an advanced DP drilling training solution for in-house Nautical Institute-accredited training.

Political winds blowing a raft of new tariffs and incoming supply uptick suggests a volatile 2025 Bearish sentiment crept into the car carrier market in June after the European Union (EU) announced increased import tariffs for Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) up to as much as 45.3%. The EU tariffs, which came into play in November for a period of five years and were increased following an investigation into Chinese state subsidies to domestic car manufacturers, are weighing…

BlueBox Systems, developers of intelligent freight tracking solutions, has further developed its BlueBoxCargo tracking platform.The new features include the tracking of CO₂ emissions for sea freight, simplified shipment registration for smaller customers and extended analysis options that further optimize decision-making for customers. This includes, for example, a new routing function for air freight customers. The enhancements give customers access to even more precise and comprehensive…

Gatehouse Maritime, a provider of  AIS (Automatic Identification System) network monitoring and maritime domain awareness software, announced the award of a new contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.The contract, initially set for one year, includes an option for a four-year extension, underscoring the long-term strategic importance of the partnership.Under the newly awarded contract, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will use Gatehouse Maritime's industry-leading AIS Network Monitoring system to enhance their management of U.S. national waterways.

Iridium Communications Inc. announced the service launch of Iridium Certus GMDSS, a generational advancement in maritime satellite communication safety services.Iridium Certus GMDSS, the only truly global GMDSS service available, features distress alert, safety voice, and Maritime Safety Information (MSI); includes additional regulated services like Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) and Ship Security Alert System (SSAS), and provides the fastest weather-resilient broadband service available for conducting ships' business when other systems are blocked or unavailable.

How propane offers unmatched reliability and resiliency when severe weather strikesPorts are critical hubs for global trade and shipping logistics, and they can’t afford to slow down due to extreme weather events. Especially in the Northern U.S., winter storms bring extreme freezing temperatures that can quickly create issues for any diesel or electric engines powering port equipment. Meanwhile, ports along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Coast must be prepared for hurricanes every year that can knock out the power grid and slow down operations for days…

Techcross, a leading ballast water management system (BWMS) manufacturer in Korea, said it has become the first in the industry to obtain Cyber Resilience Certification from the Korean Register (KR), a certification that evaluates ability to respond to cyber threats during design, operation, and recovery process based on the UR E27 regulations established by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). With the growing adoption of digital technologies into ships, the risks of cyber threats and attacks have increased significantly.

DP World is trialing an innovative carbon reduction program at its UK logistics hubs, London Gateway and Southampton, aimed at helping cargo importers cut their emissions.Starting on 1 January 2025 for an initial six-month trial, the Carbon Inset Program will reward importers with 50kg CO₂e of carbon credits for every loaded import container they move through DP World’s UK terminals. These independently certified credits, issued quarterly, will showcase participating companies’ efforts to reduce the indirect (Scope 3) emissions in their supply chains.Unlike traditional carbon offset credits…