Having gone through its first, exciting growth spurt, the US offshore wind sector has hit its next step – the ‘challenge phase’, we could maybe call it – where the country’s ambitions for clean, renewable energy come up against harsh market realities. For example, the second half of 2023 saw delays hit some of the […]
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 […]
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, […]
The new 7017 E service operation vessel (SOV) from Damen has a trick up its sleeve – or more accurately, at the end of its gangway, writes Stevie Knight. Importantly, it’s a trick that promises to allow the vessel to run on battery power alone. This recent 4,300gt design will, like its SOV 7017 predecessor, […]
If all goes to plan, the new year will see Stockholm welcome the first Candela P-12 foiling passenger shuttle – a city transport solution that promises zero emissions and extremely favourable efficiency gains compared to conventional diesel inland ferries. For example, Candela claims, the 11.99m x 4.5m, 30-pax vessel will only require 44kW of engine […]
Overall, patrol and rescue vessels have been relatively slow on the uptake of electric propulsion, which is understandable. Unlike ferries on fixed coastal routes, patrol boats need the guarantee of a certain level of speed and range, especially when undertaking surveillance, interception and casualty recovery missions that take them far from shore, necessitating capabilities that […]
Most naval architects, boatbuilders, institutions and engineers will tell you about the pressing need to attract new blood into the maritime industry – but we rarely get to hear from the ‘new blood’ themselves. To address this, Ship & Boat International is considering handing over content to students for one special issue in 2024, so that they can […]
Exail, the company formed in 2022 from a team-up between ECA Group and iXblue, has unveiled its new ROV, the R7, which has been developed for police, naval, customs agency and coast guard support. The unit is reportedly capable of tasks ranging from search and rescue, port/harbour surveillance and diver assistance to UXO identification and […]
Portuguese boatbuilder Navaltagus Shipyard has delivered what’s claimed to be the first all-electric ferry on the Iberian Peninsula. The battery-powered Salicornia will replace an older vessel on the São Jacinto-to-Ílhavo route, and Navaltagus predicts that the newcomer should reduce CO2 emissions by 300tonnes each year. Salicornia features an overall length of 37.4m, a 9.2m beam […]
ABP Humber reports that it has taken delivery of its second new pilot vessel from UK boatbuilder Goodchild Marine Services. Christened Trent, the newcomer follows the 2021 handover of the first-in-class Ouse, which has been based on Goodchild’s 17.6m x 5.4m and 28knots-capable ORC 171 fast pilot boat class. ABP Humber tells Ship & Boat […]
One of Britain’s most iconic boatbuilders is back, after a short hiatus – and creating a new generation of battery-powered sports boats ranks among its top priorities. Formed by Norman Fletcher in 1960, Fletcher Boats began life as a model shop in the West Midlands, before turning to real boat construction – firstly as a […]
Mitigation of underwater noise is a hot topic, especially with the proliferation of offshore wind farm projects across Europe, the US East Coast and parts of Asia. Typically, wind turbine monopiles are driven into the seabed by large hydraulic hammers attached to the tops of the monopiles, a process that generates excessive noise. These high […]