While the classification of operational ships can be a challenging task, the compliance required to ensure safe navigation is at least well-known, in most cases. However, when it comes to static floating ships, the regulations become much more ambiguous. As John Monasta, associate director at maritime engineering firm Beckett Rankine, explains, the first key question […]
The Joint Research on Ship Design Evaluation (JoRes) project is a global research initiative aimed at revolutionising the way hulls are tested for performance and efficiency, writes Dr. Shona Cunningham, principal engineer at BMT. Traditionally, hullform designs are validated through model-scale testing in tow tanks, which involves building scaled-down versions of the hull and testing […]
UK yacht designer and builder Brythonic Yachts says it is inviting “serious inquiries only” for a new customisable house boat concept. Potential owners will be able to select from: aluminium or composite construction; a fully built boat or a flatpack/self-assembly package; and between one to four bedrooms, with boat lengths set to span 9-25m. Sharing […]
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems in Germany and Ulstein Verft in Norway have agreed to work together on the Royal Norwegian Navy’s next frigate programme. Norway’s 2024 Fleet Plan outlines the acquisition of five or potentially six frigates to replace the Royal Norwegian Navy’s Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. Potential candidates include the British Type 26, German F127, American […]
In March 2025, the Canadian government awarded contracts to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards and Chantier Davie Canada to build two polar icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. The contracts, awarded as part of the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, should see the vessels delivered by the early 2030s. The programme to replace Canada’s existing icebreaking vessels was […]
It’s possible to cut the kilos through carbon-fibre construction, according to Karl Wagner, SAY Carbon Yachts CTO. However, this process demands rigour – and you can’t make assumptions based on other composite builds. After a fairly difficult 2024, SAY has returned to the table with new designs. But the company and Wagner himself are both […]
Tanker shipping company Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) has extended its adoption of GIT Coatings’ graphene-based propeller coating, XGIT-PROP, across seven additional crude oil tankers. OSG had applied the coating to one of its crude oil tanker vessels in October 2023, and this initial application reportedly generated performance gains and fuel savings, which were further validated by […]
A collaboration between Spanish engineering start-up V2 Group and Italy-headquartered 3D-printing specialist Caracol Additive Manufacturing (AM) has resulted in the production of a part-functional, 6m-long monolithic catamaran for open waters, produced entirely via robotic 3D-printing technology. While whole 3D-printed boats are not entirely new, the models produced to date – including a 9m ferry unit […]
Damen Naval has handed over the combat support ship (CSS) it is building for the Royal Netherlands Navy. The CSS, to be named Den Helder when commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy, was handed over to the Command Materiel and IT (COMMIT) organisation in a ceremony in Den Helder, the home port for the vessel. […]
Uncrewed surface vessel (USV) developer Exail reports that it has sold its first DriX O-16 transoceanic USV to an unspecified commercial customer in the Indo-Pacific region. The sale was agreed shortly after the launch of the monohull unit, which has been designed for the collection of hydrographic, geophysical and environmental data. Fashioned from infusion […]
The IMO Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) gives ship operators wide freedoms on how to reduce their vessel and fleet carbon intensity. However, according to recent analysis carried out by Wärtsilä Marine, 47% of the global merchant fleet will need to upgrade its emissions performance to avoid slipping into the C to E CII bands across […]
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published a new recommendation, Rec. 186, which has been developed to help determine a standardised approach to integrating additive manufacturing (AM), AKA 3D printing, into marine and offshore applications. IACS comments: “AM has emerged as an alternative to traditional manufacturing processes by fusing materials to produce objects […]