Around 30% of all LR surveys are now being carried out remotely The Covid-19 pandemic saw a huge shift in the attitudes towards remote work, with the capability to conduct remote surveys becoming an essential part of classification services to the maritime industry. Lloyd’s Register (LR) has continued its drive towards this tech-driven future with […]
No sign of any slowdown as the yard experiences healthy demand across a wide range of vessel types Gibraltar shipyard Gibdock enjoyed a very positive year in 2023, sustaining the heathy growth in repair and maintenance activity seen the year before. Managing director Richard Beards says: “It was an extremely good year for us […]
Late March saw the ‘end of an era’ of sorts – not to mention, a new beginning – as UK offshore wind CTV operator Tidal Transit purchased what it intends to be its last ever diesel-powered crew carrier, in line with its plans to transition to a fully electric fleet. The 27m x 9m newbuild, […]
A decade-long programme of upgrade work on the UK Royal Navy’s ageing Type 23 frigates is nearing completion, with one ship left to complete the process. At the end of February 2024, the UK Royal Navy frigate HMS St Albans returned to sea after what the Royal Navy described as a “massive revamp” at Devonport […]
In February 2024, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) confirmed that its Newport News Shipbuilding division (NNS) had initiated topside testing of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on the US Navy’s aircraft carrier John F Kennedy (CVN 79). EMALS, first integrated into USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), replaces the existing steam catapults currently in use on the US Navy’s Nimitz-class […]
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has provisionally selected Naval Group – offering its Black Sword Barracuda design – to deliver a replacement submarine capability to succeed the Royal Netherlands Navy’s current Walrus-class boats. Announcing the decision on 15 March 2024, State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat said that the French naval shipbuilding, support […]
The Australian government has selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to jointly build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the latest significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact. SSN-AUKUS is a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) being developed in partnership with the US and Australia to satisfy the needs of […]
If the subsea deployment of ROVs, AUVs and UUVs can reduce Opex and emissions, it makes sense that using an uncrewed vessel to launch and recover these drones could boost operational efficiency even further. That’s the rationale behind the design of the Ocean Aurora: a remotely operated ‘drone launchpad’ conceived by offshore survey/inspection services provider […]
Singaporean boatbuilder Penguin International has received an order for a fast supply vessel (FSV), placed by offshore operator O3S-Oil Senegal Support Services. Designed by Incat Crowther, the FSV will measure 36.4m length overall (or 32.4m on the waterline) by 10m in beam, and will carry up to 28 offshore service personnel and 20tonnes of cargo. […]
By Mark Barton, RINA Historian This year sees two hundred years of life afloat for what is the most original old ship in the world, HMS Unicorn. Now a museum in Dundee, she was a 46-gun frigate, designed by Sir Robert Seppings. Built as the changeover started she combines the traditional wooden craftsmanship of the […]
Project FuTube brings together Finnish company’s latest technology to advance ship propulsion In the world of maritime technology, efficiency is usually a key driver of innovation. Drive shaft problems on vessels are a significant cause of ship delays and many companies have sought to tackle this issue in the past. Finnish engineering company Wärtsilä has […]
New research in hull coatings and grooming could revolutionise vessel efficiency In maritime operations the importance of marine coatings extends far beyond mere aesthetics. The outside layer of a vessel’s hull serve as the first line of defence against corrosion, fouling, and degradation. Thus, playing a critical role in safeguarding marine assets, optimising vessel efficiency, […]