Transitioning from traditional to alternative marine fuels introduces a new range of uncertainties – and not just for naval architects, shipbuilders and operators. Many mutual insurers are bracing for a future wave of complex alt-fuel-related claims and unprecedented liabilities, Mark Smith, loss prevention director for decarbonisation at global mutual NorthStandard, tells The Naval Architect. Rather than […]
Singapore-headquartered shipbuilder and aluminium specialist Strategic Marine has delivered a pair of custom-built 40m x 9.7m low-emission catamaran ferries to the Government of Bermuda, reportedly ahead of schedule and within budget. The ferries, christened Warbaby Fox and Cecil Smith, will support the island nation’s transport and cruise tourism network while achieving 25% lower CO2 emissions, […]
A UK-based collaboration between USV developer HydroSurv, naval architect and designer BMT and South Devon College is nearing completion of a project set up to assess the benefits of electric USV operations in ports and harbours. The ‘ROC + DOCK’ initiative has involved shoreside pilots remotely controlling South Devon College’s unmanned training vessel USV Dart […]
Military and paramilitary vessels have long used stern-based launch and recovery systems for manned vessels, but how do you launch and recover a USV, and enable multiple USVs deployed in ‘swarms’ to operate truly independently of manned vessels? These are some of the challenges Israel-based Sealartec and its founder Amitai Peleg set out to solve, […]
Ulstein Verft has delivered Windea Clausius, the second in Bernhard Schulte Offshore’s new series of commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs), writes Patrik Wheater. Windea Clausius and her sister Windea Curie, delivered in June, form part of an extensive newbuild programme that began in 2023. Hulls three and four are on schedule for delivery next year […]
Until now, aside from some short-sea/coastal shipping applications, wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) have tended to be the domain of 100m+, oceangoing vessels, including tankers and large cargo ships. So, it’s something of a surprise to see WAPS technology being applied to a patrol boat, as is the case with the New Generation Maritime Affairs Patrol […]
Spanish builder Rodman Polyboats has delivered a new coastal patrol boat to the State Tax Administration Agency, the body responsible for countering organised crime, money laundering and drug trafficking both on land and in Spanish waters. The newbuild, christened Gavilán I, is a Rodman 33-class patrol boat constructed by Rodman’s facility in Moaña, and now […]
The Fleet Solid Support (FSS) programme has achieved a milestone with the completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR), marking the transition from design to manufacturing for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s (RFA’s) next-generation support ships. The CDR provides the green light to begin physical production of the three FSS ships, which will take place at […]
AUV developer Teledyne Marine and Rutgers University, New Jersey have deployed a next-gen version of Teledyne’s Slocum Sentinel Glider, rebranded the Sentinel Redwing, on a mission to circumnavigate the globe. The Sentinel Mission, hailed by the partners as a “world first”, will see the drone undertake the 73,000km journey over a total of five years, […]
Damen Shipyards Group reports that it has delivered its latest Combi Freighter (CF) 3850 type newbuild to German short-sea shipping firm Reederei Gerdes. Christened Holger G, and designed to carry both bulk and breakbulk cargoes, the vessel marks the 11th Damen delivery to Reederei Gerdes, and follows the handover of sister vessel Helga G in […]
A new initiative, dubbed the Digitally Enabled Efficient Propeller (D.E.E.P.) project, aims to combine additive manufacturing (AM) with digital twin technology to produce a series of ‘smart propellers’ that can monitor their own performance throughout their operational lifecycles. Funded by the sixth round of Innovate UK’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), and led by Enki […]
The past few years have seen regulators warm to nuclear power’s potential, but a major challenge remains: persuading investors to fund nuclear-powered commercial ships. This was the main theme of the roundtable Is Nuclear the Missing Piece in Maritime Decarbonisation?, hosted by classification society IRClass during London International Shipping Week in September. Gihan Ismail, director […]