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). […]
Crew wellbeing behind development of navigation safety solutions Navigating safely at sea is one of the most crucial parts of the safe operation of maritime vessels. Too often accidents have occurred due to negligence, fatigue or poor visibility, sometimes with big consequences for a vessel’s crew, and the environment. Recently, several solutions aided by new […]
Stena contract highlights engine manufacturer’s growing influence in the methanol engine conversion sector Since last year Wärtsilä has been working closely with the ferry operator Stena Line on a contract for the conversion of some of its vessels to operate on methanol, as part of a broader decarbonisation strategy. The project involves modifying fuel supply […]
The usage of artificial intelligence in the shipping industry has been steadily growing in recent years. The technology has a myriad of uses, from monitoring carbon emissions and ship systems to navigation and threat detection. The progress in the field of AI in shipping is often pioneered by technology startups with dedicated teams of researchers […]
VideoRay is anticipating a shake-up of its ROV inspection offerings following its acquisition of Blue Ring Imaging, a Florida-based producer of 3D photorealistic marine environment simulations for drone operations. VideoRay will now incorporate Blue Ring’s products into its 700mm x 400mm Mission Specialist Defender ROV, with the goal of eliminating the need for experienced operators […]
In a strategic move to expand its presence in the maritime software domain, today ABB announced the acquisition of the shipping arm of DTN Europe BV and DTN Philippines Inc. The deal positions ABB as a prominent player in ship route optimisation, enhancing its offering in vessel weather routing, analytics, reporting, and shore-based support. The […]
Andorra-headquartered AYK Marine batteries is emerging as one of the prime disruptors in the marine battery industry thanks to innovation in design, safety and driving down production costs. AYK, established by marine battery pioneer and electrical engineer Chris Kruger in 2018, is seeing a surge in demand since opening a new state-of-the-art automated manufacturing plant in […]
Stolt Tankers’ Stolt Lotus has become the first vessel in the world to be coated using Canadian firm Graphite Innovation & Technologies’ (GIT) X-GIT FUEL graphene-based hull coating solution, which is believed to offer significant reductions in fuel consumption. The 30,000-deadweight vessel spent five days drydocked in China where the sustainable hull coating was applied. Reckoned […]
As a solution that’s been officially recognised by IMO as a Category B-1 ‘Innovative Energy Efficiency Solution’ since 2013 (MEPC. 1/Circ. 815), the air lubrication system (ALS) is most certainly on an upward trajectory as shipowners strive to improve the CII ratings of their vessels. According to DNV’s most recent Maritime Forecast Report as of […]
By Dr Marco J Cianni, FRINA, FIEAust., FRSA HMS Ark Royal was the former flagship of the Royal Navy and the third and final vessel of the Invincible-Class aircraft carriers. It was commissioned in 1985 with a complement of 685 crew, 366 fleet air arm and 22 aircraft. At 210 metres in length, a beam […]
Whether or not methanol should prove to be the winner (or one of them) in the great rush towards cleaner fuels is one of many questions unlikely to become apparent for a number of years yet. What is clear is that many shipowners are already prepared to hedge their bets. Over the summer Maersk, whose […]
Offshore wind turbine installation is still a maturing segment but with its growth have also emerged concerns about safety. Figures published earlier this year by G+, the global offshore wind health and safety organisation, revealed that a total of 78 vessel-related ‘high potential incidents’ took place in 2022, a 59% year-on-year increase on the year […]