Although the effects of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) caused by ships on marine life have been a cause of concern for many years it’s a nebulous, multi-faceted problem where evidence may be contentious and remedial action difficult to put into practice. Part of the challenge has been forging relationships between stakeholders from quite disparate fields […]
Although rarely required, lifeboats are an essential component of a cruise ship. As the last line of defence in extreme emergencies they are subject to stringent regulations regarding the number onboard and their upkeep is of central importance for a ship to meet and pass safety standards. The trend over the last decade or so […]
Dr Rotimi Alabi sets out his ambition to reduce “lubrication-related machinery failure by 95%, downtime by 45%, machinery operating and maintenance cost by 30%,” while increasing machine availability by 25% using a new technique he developed to analyse machinery lubricating oil. In an exclusive interview for The Naval Architect, he describes how his PhD studies […]
On 31 August 2022, Fincantieri-owned Marinette Marine started construction of the US Navy’s first Constellation-class guided missile frigate. The future USS Constellation moved into the next stage of development as shipbuilders began cutting steel for the ship with representatives of the US Navy, elected officials and community leaders in attendance. Two years ago the US […]
Italy’s Guardia di Finanza took delivery of a new flagship on 22 September 2022, a Damen Stan Patrol 6009 patrol boat. The 60m vessel for the Guardia di Finanza – a law enforcement agency operating under the authority of the Ministry of Finance – was built at Cantiere Navale Vittoria Shipyard in Adria on Italy’s […]
Boosting the US Navy’s ability to maintain vessels whilst they are operational was the goal of an exercise that took place off the coast of California from 22 August to 2 September 2022. The Repair Technology Exercise (REPTX) took place on the US Navy’s Self Defense Test Ship, an asset operated by the Naval Surface […]
The Royal Navy’s new test and trials ship entered HM Naval Base Portsmouth for the first time on 27 July 2022. Named XV Patrick Blackett during a ceremony two days later, the vessel is due to begin its career as a platform for trials and autonomy development later in 2022. Built by Damen Shipyards by […]
Recently refurbished oil spill response vessel (OSRV) Aktea II has commenced operations in the Aegean Sea, where it will assist the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in protecting this territory. The 2007-built vessel has embarked on these Aegean missions on a four-year contract with EMSA, with the possibility to extend this period by another four […]
As a shipbuilder and designer with more than a century of history, Ulstein has a proven resilience when it comes to adapting to maritime’s ever-changing political and economic landscape. Although the group is centred around its Ulsteinvik yard in Western Norway, which today specialises in offshore and expedition cruise ships, it’s nowadays perhaps most closely […]
Viking Cruises’ new ship Viking Neptune will set sail on the Mediterranean in November, before embarking on the 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise. With its diverse itineraries taking in everything from subarctic Scandinavia to the tropical waters of Southeast Asia and Latin America, the 227m newbuild will be faced a wide range of temperatures and climates. […]
The vast majority of ships continue to be broken under conditions that pollute and expose workers to immense risk. In 2021, of the 763 ocean-going commercial ships and floating offshore units sold for scrap, 583 of the largest tankers, bulkers, floating platforms, cargo- and passenger ships ended up on the beaches of Bangladesh, India, and […]
The social relations between the various parties involved in shipbuilding in general are a topic that probably has received little attention in academia. However, Leena Jokinen’s doctoral thesis, ‘Ideation for Cruise Ships – Collaborative Interorganisational Foresight in Cruise Ship Concept Ideation’, which was recently approved at the University of Turku in Finland, looks at these […]