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 […]
A Japanese consortium has been jointly awarded what is thought to be the first Approval in Principle (AiP) for a ship equipped with a large low-speed two-stroke hydrogen-fueled engine as the main propulsion engine. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), MOL Drybulk, Onomichi Dockyard, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) received the AiP from ClassNK for […]
3D printing for marine applications is still in it nascent phase – although ambitious projects in the US, Denmark and the Netherlands are casting light on the potential for 3D-printed vessels. In October 2019, the world’s largest 3D-printed composite boat, the 3Dirigo, was assembled and launched by the Advanced Structures & Composites Center of the […]
Cycloidal (or vertical axis) propellers have, frankly, been a bit ‘niche’ – until now, writes Stevie Knight. Although their ability to change thrust direction almost instantaneously has proven very useful for tugs and ferries, their Achilles Heel has been speed. So, the most important point about ABB’s new Dynafin is that it promises to deliver […]
ABB has signed a contract with global logistics company Samskip Group, based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to supply a comprehensive power, propulsion and automation system for two newbuild short-sea container ships. The vessels will be among the world’s first of their kind to use hydrogen as a fuel. The two vessels will be built by […]
Zulu Associates, the Belgian short-sea shipping company, has contracted Conoship International to advance the design of the Zulu MASS 200TEU container vessel. The new 100m-long vessel will be powered by zero-emission propulsion technology and provide a short-sea platform initially for direct container and feeder flows. It will be able to operate on both rivers and […]
European developer of wind-assisted propulsion (WAP) systems bound4blue has secured €22.4 million in new funding from several key investors as well as the European Commission. A total of €15.9 million comes from a Series A funding round led by GTT Strategic Ventures, with the participation of the EIC Fund (European Innovation Council) and the Sustainable […]
South Korean company develops new ESS technology for large ocean-going vessels The most recent acquisition by South Korea-based technology and engineering conglomerate Hanwha Group has had a rocky start. Formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), the newly rebranded Hanwha Ocean posted losses of 159.1 billion won (US$120 million) in Q2 2023. However, […]
The company says the unmanned vessel ‘demonstrates compelling technical feasibility’ but also needs to be economically viable and be sustainable. UK-based engineering and ship design consultancy BMT has unveiled the design of a Large Uncrewed Surface Vessel (LUSV). The LUSV concept, was unveiled at the Defence and Security Equipment International 2023 (DSEI) exhibition and conference […]