The island nation’s maritime industry is fraught with challenges, but glimmers of hope have emerged Japan’s maritime sector stands as a testament to the nation’s ingenuity, resilience, and global competitiveness. For over a century, Japanese shipbuilders have been at the forefront of the market, constructing vessels that have sailed the world’s waters with precision and […]
In a new move toward sustainable maritime transportation, bound4blue, one of several companies working on wind-assisted propulsion systems, has achieved another landmark by installing the first-ever fixed suction sails on a Roll-on/Roll-off (ro-ro) vessel. The project took place aboard the Ville de Bordeaux, a vessel chartered by Airbus from French shipowner Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA). […]
The recent sinking of the Belize-flagged bulk carrier Rubymar in the Red Sea has further escalated tensions in the region and raised alarm bells over potential environmental damage. The vessel, carrying approximately 18,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulphate fertiliser, sank after being struck by an Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist anti-ship ballistic missile on 18 February. […]
Completed just five years since the signing of the initial contract, Adora Magic City is a potent symbol of China’s shipbuilding dominance. While the 135,500 gt cruise ship, which has accommodation for 5,246 passengers can’t claim to be the world’s most innovative vessel – being largely based on Carnival Corp’s Vista class vessels and built […]
Ferry companies, which carry both large and varied numbers of vehicles and a multitude of passengers, could be particularly at risk from fires breaking out on board. This is likely to grow as more and more EVs, powered by lithium-ion batteries, are adopted for private and commercial use. The large numbers of passengers carried on […]
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the first ferry to become often referred to as a ro-pax – the Majestic of Grandi Navi Veloci. While the ship and its numerous sister ships featured high-quality passenger accommodation, ro-paxes soon became regarded mainly as ferry companies’ response to budget airlines, providing a no-frills […]
Dry weather and low water levels on the River Rhine in Germany this year have again hindered inland shipping. Operations were disrupted on the waterway for several weeks over the summer and, after a brief recovery in September, the river’s water levels fell once more in October, preventing vessels from sailing fully loaded. This latest […]
The LNG dual-fuel-powered very large crude carrier (VLCC) Antonis I. Angelicoussis has been certified by the Green Award Foundation. The 330m-long, 320,916dwt tanker is the first LNG dual-fuel VLCC to join the Green Award programme. The certification includes the Green Award greenhouse gas labels CO2 (level 1) and CH4. The Greek-flagged ship is managed by […]
Plans for the creation of the first-ever green shipping corridor across the Pacific have been unveiled by the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach and Port of Shanghai. The ports, together with other stakeholders, including some of the largest carriers in the world, deem the Green Shipping Corridor Implementation Plan as a significant […]
By Kari Reinikainen, Correspondent Silver Nova, a 54,700gt newbuilding that Meyer Werft in Germany has recently delivered to Silversea Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean Group, features a layout that represents new thinking on cruise ships of this size. Perhaps the most immediately visible feature in the layout is the location of the swimming pool […]
Despite a surge in orders for methanol-ready vessels during the past year it’s LNG that continues to have the competitive edge over other alternative fuels, according to Lloyd’s Register’s principal gas expert. Panos Mitrou, global gas segment director for LR, tells The Naval Architect that the characteristics of LNG remain a competitive challenge for LNG […]
Long-term ocean freight rates fall again, with almost 50% drop in key pricing benchmark across last three months The beleaguered carrier industry took another major hit in June, with the latest data from Xeneta’s Shipping Index (XSI) showing a decline of 9.4% in global long-term shipping rates. Following on the heels of a 27.5% collapse […]