Technology Developers News

Bureau Veritas (BV) has launched its first classification Rules for hydrogen-fueled ships (NR678) to support the safe development of hydrogen propulsion in the maritime sector.The rules outline technical requirements for the safe bunkering, storage, preparation, distribution, and use of hydrogen as fuel for power generation on board. Monitoring and control systems are also covered, addressing specific safety challenges relating to the transport and use of hydrogen on ships, such as high flammability…

TECO 2030 and 14 consortium partners are to receive Horizon Europe funding to build and demonstrate a passenger ferry powered by TECO 2030 PEM fuel cells.The grant amount reserved for TECO 2030 is EUR 2.3 million ($2.5 million), and the consortium members come from seven European countries and cover the whole innovation value chain, including technology developers, academic institutions, maritime engineering, class society, digital transformation and a shipyard.The project is a Horizon Innovation Action that aims to develop…

For the first time in Australia, autonomous marine technology developers have a location to safely test autonomous vessels without needing to apply for a permit. The Australian Institute of Marine Science’s ReefWorks inshore test range, near Townsville in north Queensland, was granted regulatory sandbox approval for uncrewed vessels from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).It’s the first approval issued under a proposed Australian Maritime Regulatory Sandbox advocated by Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS), AIMS and AMC Search.

The latest installations of wind propulsion technology on large commercial vessels have tipped the amount of cargo that can be transported on vessels that make use of wind as a renewable energy source over the one million tonnes of deadweight (DWT) milestone.The timing of wind-powered ship propulsion passing this pivotal milestone comes in the same week that the industry celebrates World Maritime Day and its theme "New Technologies for Greener Shipping".In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in equipping vessels to harness the power of the wind.

Wave energy converter developer Bombora Wave Power (Bombora) has completed tank testing of a floating foundation system suitable for the InSPIRE solution, where Bombora's mWave technology is combined with a wind turbine onto a single floating offshore platform.An adapted version of the semi-submersible INSPIRE platform, developed in partnership with TechnipFMC, underwent tank testing evaluations to confirm the system loads and dynamics at the FloWave test facility at the University of Edinburgh.Head of Loads and Modelling at Bombora…

Shipbuilder and designer Ulstein is looking to take its revolutionary Thorium powered vessel concept from the drawing board to the deep blue sea. Is this the solution that industry, and society, have been searching for to enable a truly sustainable maritime future?Everything about the launch of ULSTEIN THOR was unexpected.The vessel concept, a 149m 3R (Replenishment, Research and Rescue) design with a Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR), took the industry, and wider society, by surprise.

HEMEXPO President, Helen Polychronopoulou, says Greek marine technology developers see collaboration between shipping industry stakeholders as the key to innovation and decarbonization.Helen Polychronopoulou has dedicated her career to the successful growth and development of the marine equipment manufacturing industry in Greece and today leads HEMEXPO –  Hellenic Marine Equipment Manufacturers and Exporters.Established in 2014, HEMEXPO has developed a pivotal role in representing Greek marine technology specialists by reinforcing links worldwide with ship owners and operators…

As International Maritime Organization (IMO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions requirements continue throughout the IMO Emission Control Areas (ECA), they are also forcing postponement of many new construction decisions as vessel owners and operators continue to tread cautiously along the path forward. The Marpol Annex VI program looked to correct emissions requirements while working with petroleum fuels. Technology developers continue best efforts to advance long-term solutions to reach the latest IMO zero emissions greenhouse gas (GHG) goals of 2050.

Harnessing the power of the tides is not for the squeamish, with the roster of trials and failures long and distinguished. Jason Hayman and his Sustainable Marine Energy crew are putting their tech to the test in one of the harshest spots on the planet, the Bay of Fundy, as his discussed with Marine Technology TV.Jason, to start, how did you come to a career in the offshore renewable energy field?I suppose my interest got piqued back in about 2003. I went to a lecture at the University of Newcastle and they had a wave energy crowd there and a tidal energy developer.

Ocean mapping at scale is the target of a new unmanned systems player started by two ex-US Navy SEALS. They have big ambitions, from new building unmanned vehicles to creating the intelligence that will drive them to changing how accessible ocean data is. Elaine Maslin learned more. The pace of change in the ocean mapping space has been fast in recent years. New entrants have come into the scene offering “force multiplier” mapping using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vessels (USVs).

A 27-meter harbor tug equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities has been put through its paces at the Port of Singapore, demonstrating functions such as smart navigation and collision avoidance which are key to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) goal to enable autonomous ship operations within the world’s busiest transshipment hub.The IntelliTug project, led by technology provider Wärtsilä and marine services firm PSA Marine, is a collaboration with classification society Lloyd’s Register…

A joint Lloyd’s Register (LR) and A.P. Moller – Maersk study assessing the transition to zero carbon fuels has found that the cost of transport will rise – not because ships themselves will require greater levels of investment but because new fuels are projected to be significantly more expensive than existing fossil solutions which will lead to increased operating costs.According to the study partners, achieving net zero is therefore an operating expense (OPEX) not a capital expenditure (CAPEX) challenge.

Maritime innovator KVH has announced it has joined the Smart Maritime Network (SMN) as one of the founding members of the initiative dedicated to supporting collaboration and standardization in the development of IT systems for the shipping sector. As a founding member, KVH will participate in Smart Maritime Council meetings with a select group of maritime technology developers, systems integrators, and vessel operators to discuss issues relating to the compatibility, standardization…

The world's largest container shipping company A.P. Moller -Maersk has pledged to cut net carbon emissions to zero by 2050.The Danish business conglomerate with activities in the transport, logistics and energy sectors said in a press note that to achieve this goal, carbon neutral vessels must be commercially viable by 2030, and an acceleration in new innovations and adaption of new technology is required.Climate is one of the most important issues in the world, and carrying around 80% of global trade, the shipping industry is vital to finding solutions. By now, Maersk´s relative CO2 emissions have been reduced by 46% (baseline 2007), approx.

The near-shore and inland workboat fleet is at the leading edge for autonomous vessel developmentWhile the advent of autonomous workboats are not exactly mainstream, you better believe that in the not-too-distant future they will be a reality on waterways in and around the U.S. Today there remain more questions than answers, particularly on the legal, logistics and insurance side of the coin. But the technology is evolving at record pace, providing many in the industry with mixed emotions. Excitement. Controversy. Curiosity. Skepticism. These are just a few of thoughts, and emotions that arise to any mention of the topic of autonomous vessels.It’s happening now.

As the global fleet of offshore renewables fleet increases, ways to reduce the cost and increase the efficiency and safety of operations and maintenance work, using robotics and autonomous systems, will also grow. Elaine Maslin reports.Robotics and autonomous systems are moving into many areas of modern day life. It’s becoming harder to avoid them, from our phones to automotive systems and now offshore energy renewable projects.Both are seen as tools to do otherwise dull, dirty or dangerous work…

Hatteland Display, the leading global provider of display and computer solutions for professional maritime use has expanded its next generation Series X Multi Vision Display (MVD) range with the addition of a new state-of-the-art, Ultra High Definition large format model for integration on maritime bridge systems. The new 32" Series X MVD features the same 4K screen resolution and high-end panel technology as the flagship Series X 55” Ultra High Definition Chart & Planning table. Like Hatteland Display’s flagship 55" 4K model, the new 32" Series X MVD provides unmatched viewing clarity in all light conditions. Its ultramodern approach represents the pinnacle of maritime display technology…

Hatteland Display, a global provider of display and computer solutions for professional maritime use has expanded its next generation Series X Multi Vision Display (MVD) range with the addition of a new state-of-the-art, Ultra High Definition large format model for integration on maritime bridge systems. The new 32" Series X MVD features the same 4K screen resolution and high-end panel technology as the flagship Series X 55” Ultra High Definition Chart & Planning table. Like Hatteland Display’s flagship 55" 4K model…

The inaugural Danish Maritime Days was held with the goal of providing an open platform for a diverse range of industry stakeholders to collaboratively address some of the largest issues facing the maritime sector; but the event also showcased a resurging maritime nation asserting itself on the international radar. From October 6-10, 2014, maritime stakeholders from across the globe convened in Denmark for the inaugural Danish Maritime Days (DMD), held via a public-private partnership between Danish Maritime, the Danish Maritime Authority and the Danish Shipowner’s Association.

ARENA today announced $770,000 funding for Swinburne University of Technology to develop modelling on the performance of wave energy farms. The wave energy industry is emerging world-wide and there are few multiple device installations operating today. Predicting the best way to arrange future projects will help to better understand how different technologies will behave in certain circumstances. The modelling aims to discover the best ways of positioning wave arrays so that devices move in synergy with one-another, creating greater efficiencies. Swinburne is collaborating with interested Australian wave energy companies, which will sit on a project steering committee and have offered funding support and staff resources.

The 2014 Navy Opportunity Forum paired small businesses and researchers with potential partners, funding sources, acquisition professionals and resource sponsors. Companies—small businesses in particular— were able to present their new materials, processes and manufacturing techniques to prime contractors and Navy and Marine Corps program managers. The focus of the event was the Department of the Navy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. It also touched on related programs designed to help small business contribute to the nation’s defense…

Decom North Sea (DNS), the offshore oil and gas decommissioning forum, is hosting a “lunch and learn” event to give supply chain companies the opportunity to present their offshore decommissioning capabilities and encourage knowledge share among members. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 19, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, Aberdeen, from 12-2 p.m. The event will include a presentation from Claxton Engineering, a company providing a broad range of cutting and abandonment services using methodologies that have been deployed on more than 260 well abandonments and slot recoveries.

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission seeks local companies and individuals to participate in its Wireless Waterway (WW) Interoperability Test Bed (ITB) the week of June 15, 2014. The commission is accepting applications through April 1, 2014 from interested entrepreneurs, organizations and vendors to conduct demonstrations of technologies and products on the WWITB. In addition it seeks volunteers both to act as professional evaluators and to assist in the operations of the event. The commission established this test bed to help identify technologies which addressed critical river water challenges in the areas of river transportation, communications, environment, safety, sensor, communications, cyber-security, collaboration and interoperability.