Industry News

Idwal launches digital platform for maritime inspection and fleet management

Idwal launches digital platform for maritime inspection and fleet management

Idwal, a specialist in ship pre-purchase inspections, has unveiled its latest product – Idwal ID, a digital platform which the company hopes will help to redefine the landscape of maritime inspections. The company aims to improve standardisation in fleet inspections, offering a comprehensive condition improvement program which feature a detailed analysis of individual assets within fleets.  […]

Japanese consortium signs contracts for construction of ammonia-fuelled gas carrier

Japanese consortium signs contracts for construction of ammonia-fuelled gas carrier

In a move towards harnessing more sustainable technology, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Japan Engine Corporation, IHI Power Systems Co., and Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. have inked contracts for the construction of the world’s first ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier (AFMGC).   The vessel, a 40,000 m³ type ammonia fuel ammonia carrier, is set to be delivered […]

New size options for Unique survey drones

New size options for Unique survey drones

Offshore and subsea tech developer Unique Group is preparing to launch two new uncrewed surface vessel (USV) types, the Uni-Mini and Uni-Max. Both models have been engineered for surveying operations, and tailored to meet “diverse optional needs across challenging environments”, the group says. Built in carbon fibre, the Uni-Mini measures a compact 1.68m x 0.8m […]

Longitude Engineering chosen as designer for ‘world’s first’ zero-emission SOV

Longitude Engineering chosen as designer for ‘world’s first’ zero-emission SOV

Engineering consultants and ship designers Longitude Engineering has been selected as the designer for a zero-emission electric Service Operation Vessel (eSOV) being developed by a British-based consortium led by shipowner and operator Bibby Line. The project, which was first announced during London International Shipping Week in September 2023, is developing a vessel to operate in […]

William Froude: the father of hydrodynamics

William Froude: the father of hydrodynamics

RINA Historian Mark Barton looks at the life and career of one of the Institution’s, and naval architecture’s, most influential figures William Froude (1810-1879) was the first person to formulate reliable laws for the resistance that water offers to ships (such as the hull speed equation) and thus enable ship designers to predict their stability […]

RINA evaluating dual-function float-free survival craft initiative

RINA evaluating dual-function float-free survival craft initiative

In the ongoing evolution of maritime safety protocols, a forthcoming project scheduled for 2024 seeks to redefine the standards governing survival and rescue craft on cargo ships. The primary objective of this initiative is the conceptualisation and realisation of a dual-function float-free survival craft or module, engineered to furnish a secure environment for up to […]

RINA conference provides intense debate on CII rating system and maritime decarbonisation

RINA conference provides intense debate on CII rating system and maritime decarbonisation

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) concluded its technical conference on Managing CII and Associated Challenges this week on 17th January. The conference painted a revealing picture of the maritime industry at a pivotal moment as it delved into the adoption of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating system.    […]

All aboard the BMT ‘bike bus’

All aboard the BMT ‘bike bus’

Decarbonisation of the ferry sector continues to gain pace, with naval architect and designer BMT recently providing a preview of its forthcoming EF-500 all-electric passenger vessel concept. Developed to meet international demand for low- and zero-emission ferry services, the EF-500 concept was unveiled at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, hosted between November-December 2023, […]

From metrics to measures: IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator one year on

From metrics to measures: IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator one year on

Whether you consider it a utilitarian solution for determining shipping’s contribution towards greenhouse gas emissions, or an inherently flawed regulatory instrument that fails to grasp the nuances of ship operations, IMO’s Carbon Intensity Indicator is now an inescapable reality. By 31 March 2024, shipowners should have submitted their calculated CII to their nominated Data Collection […]

RINA conference explores maritime carbon intensity solutions and sustainable practices

RINA conference explores maritime carbon intensity solutions and sustainable practices

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects’ (RINA) Technical Conference on Managing CII and Associated Challenges began today at the International Maritime Organization’s Headquarters in London.   The conference, the first of its kind organised by RINA,  provided a comprehensive exploration of Carbon Intensity Indicators (CII) and the profound impact the rating system will have on the […]

Quick wins: 15% of the global fleet is ripe for decarbonisation, says Powercell

Quick wins: 15% of the global fleet is ripe for decarbonisation, says Powercell

By Johan Burgren, business manager Marine, PowerCell   To date, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has focused many of its greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations on bigger ships in the merchant fleet that make up 85% of the industry’s carbon footprint. But it is the other 15% – such as short-sea fixed route shipping – where ultra-low- and […]