The Royal Australian Navy's Anzac Class Designer Support Contract, DSC-West, will see BMT provide specialist engineering support. BMT's 2024 acquisition of Australian Maritime Technologies preserves an unbroken design lineage from the original build programme. With the frigates operating beyond their design service life, configuration control, baseline integrity and engineering change management require design-origin knowledge. BMT's contribution spans design, systems assurance and autonomy.

BAE Systems' Herne extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle is set to be the first platform of its kind certified under Lloyd's Register's Unmanned Marine Systems Code. The milestone establishes recognised assurance standards for large uncrewed submersibles, with significant implications for naval architects and the defence maritime sector.

The UK Government has committed £50 million to Plymouth's National Centre for Marine Autonomy, targeting UUV and USV development. Smart Sound Plymouth offers more than 1,000km² of deconflicted water space and 75m offshore depths, while proximity to HM Naval Base Devonport adds operational credibility for autonomous systems validation.

Brazil’s emerging offshore industry offers an alternative challenge for naval architects. The region’s shallow water will require redesigned vessels that will work in very different conditions to those experienced in Europe’s North Sea. Brazil’s offshore ships will look quite different from the platform supply vessels (PSVs) and anchor handlers (AHTS) currently in use there.

The levelised cost of energy has seen offshore wind dive well below fossil fuels. And following damage reports in the Middle East there is a chance that this situation will persist for some years. Oil is expected to remain around US$90/barrel, prompting European operators to develop electric solutions, charging support vessels on location at windfarm arrays.

Making American Shipbuilding Great Again is a challenge that has been accepted by South Korean Yard Hanwha, with its investment in the Philly Yard. To resuscitate the industry will need a major effort, but it could start with the smaller, less complex vessels operating in offshore wind and could provide an opportunity for naval architects too.

As fast craft design adapts to harsher offshore demands and faster-moving procurement cycles, RINA explores what naval architects can learn from Arksen Pro’s approach to ruggedisation, modularity and modern market dynamics

Candela Technology’s flagship vessel, Candela P-12, holds the record as the fastest electric passenger vessel in operation. RINA reveals some of the secrets behind Candela’s pioneering hydrofoiling electric vessel design

RINA talks exclusively to Strategic Marine on how low-emission targets are helping reshape hullform optimisation in large fast ferries and how this is subsequently spurring the market towards more tailored vessel designs

David Foote, Maritime Diversity Award winner, shares how neurodiversity strengthens innovation, safety and long-term talent in shipbuilding, while calling for more inclusive recruitment and support. Nominations for this year’s Maritime Diversity Award are open, with the deadline extended to 24 April 2026

Explore the emergent engineering challenges shaping vessel architectures, from integrated electric propulsion and advanced control systems to autonomy‑enabling sensor suites and evolving regulatory frameworks. Register now for Advanced Maritime Technology Expo & Conference, 16–18 June 2026 in Amsterdam.

BMT’s new Digital Innovation & Simulation Centre (DISC) aims to reshape how naval architects design, test and validate vessels. In this exclusive interview, discover how it uses immersive simulation to de-risk decision-making