Although rarely required, lifeboats are an essential component of a cruise ship. As the last line of defence in extreme emergencies they are subject to stringent regulations regarding the number onboard and their upkeep is of central importance for a ship to meet and pass safety standards. The trend over the last decade or so […]
Dr Rotimi Alabi sets out his ambition to reduce “lubrication-related machinery failure by 95%, downtime by 45%, machinery operating and maintenance cost by 30%,” while increasing machine availability by 25% using a new technique he developed to analyse machinery lubricating oil. In an exclusive interview for The Naval Architect, he describes how his PhD studies […]
As a shipbuilder and designer with more than a century of history, Ulstein has a proven resilience when it comes to adapting to maritime’s ever-changing political and economic landscape. Although the group is centred around its Ulsteinvik yard in Western Norway, which today specialises in offshore and expedition cruise ships, it’s nowadays perhaps most closely […]
Viking Cruises’ new ship Viking Neptune will set sail on the Mediterranean in November, before embarking on the 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise. With its diverse itineraries taking in everything from subarctic Scandinavia to the tropical waters of Southeast Asia and Latin America, the 227m newbuild will be faced a wide range of temperatures and climates. […]
The vast majority of ships continue to be broken under conditions that pollute and expose workers to immense risk. In 2021, of the 763 ocean-going commercial ships and floating offshore units sold for scrap, 583 of the largest tankers, bulkers, floating platforms, cargo- and passenger ships ended up on the beaches of Bangladesh, India, and […]
The social relations between the various parties involved in shipbuilding in general are a topic that probably has received little attention in academia. However, Leena Jokinen’s doctoral thesis, ‘Ideation for Cruise Ships – Collaborative Interorganisational Foresight in Cruise Ship Concept Ideation’, which was recently approved at the University of Turku in Finland, looks at these […]
While the Covid era brought huge changes to many of our lives, for the container ship sector it very quickly turned into a boom cycle that continues to show little sign of slowing down, at least not yet. Despite concerns when the pandemic first struck that demand for goods would slump and freight rates likewise, […]
Faced with enormous efficiency and compliance challenges, the shipping industry is increasingly turning to digital tools and services to help balance the complex needs for performance monitoring, meeting regulatory requirements and commercial agility. The capability of traditional satellite networks to meet these demands is being tested, leading to the emergence of hybrid networks that combine […]
In light of the acceleration in initiatives toward zero-emission shipping, Japanese classification society ClassNK has been stepping up its services to help customers involved in the maritime transportation business manage their reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG). Restructures in the organisation have seen the establishment of a Zero-Emission Transition Center and Marine GHG Certification Department, and […]
This summer propulsion specialist SCHOTTEL celebrated its 100th anniversary with a party for its staff at the company’s headquarters in Germany. Postponed from the autumn of 2021 because of the pandemic, the gathering was an opportunity for the firm to reflect on an eventful history and dynamic present, but also to look to the future, […]
This year, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. A remarkable achievement and one unlikely to be repeated. Her Majesty’s historic reign has had a varied and bountiful impact on […]
The Naval Architect June 2022
Building China’s first methanol-fuelled newbuilding is GSI’s latest step on it journey with new fuels.