New digital technologies, supported by developments in connectivity and the ability to transfer data in greater volumes between ship and shore, promise significant gains for ship and fleet performance. However, the deepening of onboard and onshore interconnectedness and the mixing of shipboard IT and operational technology (OT) systems also opens up new avenues for security […]
The GCE Blue Maritime cluster comprises more than 100 Norwegian ship designers, yards and OEMs. Recently, it has set out a new strategy of fully decarbonising, and becoming “the world’s full scale net-zero maritime cluster,” explains Daniel Garden, CEO of GCE Blue Maritime. “Throughout the pandemic, we made up a new strategy called the new […]
As the maritime industry pivots towards greener operations, switching to alternative fuels will be crucial to decarbonising the sector. Although it is not clear which fuels will prevail, methanol is fast emerging as an attractive option for shipowners and operators looking to reduce their carbon footprint – container shipping giants Maersk Line and CMA CGM […]
Danish ferry company Scandlines, which operates two services between Denmark and Germany, converted a ferry to hybrid propulsion in 2013 and has since worked on ways to reduce emissions and to meet its target of becoming emission free by 2040. A ro-pax ferry currently on order at the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey will take the […]
Modern wind-assist systems are a major departure from traditional sail systems in that they are not made of canvas and while there may be some systems that can alter their shape, most are made of rigid materials and have automated control systems. Flettner rotors have been the most popular choice of system so far accounting […]
In recognition of the important role that inland shipping can play in helping to reduce freight transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, the Dutch government is making significant investments to accelerate the sector’s decarbonisation and has committed itself to reduce CO2 emissions from the country’s still largely diesel-fuelled fleet by between 40% and 50% in 2030 compared […]
Although the effects of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) caused by ships on marine life have been a cause of concern for many years it’s a nebulous, multi-faceted problem where evidence may be contentious and remedial action difficult to put into practice. Part of the challenge has been forging relationships between stakeholders from quite disparate fields […]
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 […]