February 2025 should see ‘Project Orion’, the working name for the hybrid-powered motor yacht launched this month by Heesen Yachts, commence a round of intensive sea trials in the North Sea, prior to its planned debut cruise in spring. “Engineered for both style and security”, as Dutch boatbuilder Heesen puts it, the newbuild has restricted […]
(Part 1: https://rina.org.uk/publications/the-naval-architect/neurodiversity-and-naval-architecture-pt-1/) TNA: What are some of the benefits of hiring neurodiverse individuals? David: One trait of neurodiverse people is that, if you give us an opportunity, we’re very reliable – we’ll work for the company for 25 years. While graduates are vitally important for their skills, a lot of them tend to stay […]
The US Navy is considering recruiting a second yard to help build its new class of guided missile frigates as the programme falls further and further behind schedule. In November, amid mounting concern over the delays and cost, the US Department of Defense issued a request for information (RfI) for a second yard to build […]
Simply put, the term ‘neurodiversity’ – originally coined by sociologist Judy Stringer in the 1990s – recognises that people’s brains function in diverse ways. Neurodivergent people tend to exhibit different strengths, and undergo different challenges, to neurotypical (or, to use a blanket term, ‘normal’) people, and understanding this is key to helping them to integrate […]
Incat Crowther has been commissioned to design an all-electric light cargo vessel for marinEV, a division of Yinson GreenTech specialising in zero-emissions cargo and crew transfers. The vessel, Hydromover 2.0, will be used to transport stores, food and spare parts to ships anchored in the Singapore Strait and preparing to dock at the Port of […]
London,UK operator Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has announced that it will launch its first all-electric cross-river passenger ferry, Orbit Clipper, in March 2025. The zero-emissions catamaran will connect Canary Wharf, on the north side of the Thames, with Rotherhithe, on the south, seven days a week, making crossings every 10 minutes on weekdays and […]
Swedish tanker operator Sirius Shipping has confirmed an order for four hybrid-powered oil/chemical tankers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. The newbuilds will feature energy-efficient propulsion systems, and will be future-proofed for impending environmental regulations. Each tanker in the Evolution 8K series features a length of 119.9m, a breadth of 19.4m, a draught of 7.23m and […]
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a damning report about the state of the US Navy’s amphibious fleet and the efforts to undertake much-needed maintenance work. The 3 December report, Amphibious Warfare Fleet: Navy Needs to Complete Key Efforts to Better Ensure Ships Are Available for Marines (GAO-25-106728) – the latest of several […]
Wind-assisted propulsion systems manufacturer Norsepower has opened what it calls “the world’s first dedicated rotor sail factory” in the coastal district of Dafeng, China. The company initially plans to produce 50 Norsepower Rotor Sail (NPRS) units annually at this facility, scaling up to 100 per year by the end of 2027. The Dafeng site was […]
Data taken from the latest release of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s biannual World Risk Poll indicates that 26% of fishers around the world have personally experienced harm at work in the past two years – “more than [in] any other industry”, the safety charity comments, contrasting this sector with construction (where 22% of workers reported experiencing […]
Digital solution saves time and decreases incident risks Described by some as the “seafarer’s friend”, Permit to Work (PtW) systems are an essential safeguard to minimise the risk of accidents and incidents on board ships. The mandatory process is used to authorise controlled work in both standard and nonstandard, potentially hazardous conditions – such […]
Liferaft servicing is a necessity, not an option, but society’s wider shift from product ownership to the service-based economy is being felt even in this unexpected area In 2016, a World Economic Forum blog by Danish politician Ida Auken caused an unexpected stir by predicting that, in 2030, “I don’t own anything. I don’t own […]