Decarbonisation of the ferry sector continues to gain pace, with naval architect and designer BMT recently providing a preview of its forthcoming EF-500 all-electric passenger vessel concept. Developed to meet international demand for low- and zero-emission ferry services, the EF-500 concept was unveiled at the International WorkBoat Show in New Orleans, hosted between November-December 2023, […]
RINA member Allan Dickson was the proud recipient of the Merchant Navy Medal, the highest medal of honour in the UK maritime sector, at a ceremony at Trinity House at London’s historic Trinity House on 21 November. Allan received the award from Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in recognition of his services to Merchant Navy […]
Portuguese boatbuilder Navaltagus Shipyard has delivered what’s claimed to be the first all-electric ferry on the Iberian Peninsula. The battery-powered Salicornia will replace an older vessel on the São Jacinto-to-Ílhavo route, and Navaltagus predicts that the newcomer should reduce CO2 emissions by 300tonnes each year. Salicornia features an overall length of 37.4m, a 9.2m beam […]
Ferry companies, which carry both large and varied numbers of vehicles and a multitude of passengers, could be particularly at risk from fires breaking out on board. This is likely to grow as more and more EVs, powered by lithium-ion batteries, are adopted for private and commercial use. The large numbers of passengers carried on […]
3D printing for marine applications is still in it nascent phase – although ambitious projects in the US, Denmark and the Netherlands are casting light on the potential for 3D-printed vessels. In October 2019, the world’s largest 3D-printed composite boat, the 3Dirigo, was assembled and launched by the Advanced Structures & Composites Center of the […]
By Philippe Holthof, Correspondent True to its name, the Guangzhou Shipyard International-built P&O Pioneer introduces many firsts on the English Channel. Besides being the first double-ended ferry on the Dover-Calais route, P&O Ferries’ new flagship also pioneers the hybrid element. This, together with the double-ender design and a long list of energy-saving technologies, guarantees a […]
130m-long vessel to be fitted with a 40MWh battery energy storage system that will power a series of electric propulsion system and waterjets In a significant change to earlier plans, Australian shipyard Incat Tasmania has announced that the 130m lightweight inland ro-pax ordered by Uruguayan operator Buquebús, first announced in 2019 and already under construction, […]
The August 2023 edition of the official journal of The Royal Institution of Naval Architects’ Australian division, The Australian Naval Architect, is now available free of charge. As well as the usual round-up of section news, meetings and activities, you’ll find coverage of Incat Tasmania’s latest delivery, the 76 m high-speed passenger catamaran El Dorado […]
Hull stress monitoring has been a feature of commercial shipping since the 1990s, but according to Terje Sannerud from marine structural monitoring specialist Light Structures, it is today finding applications for improving ship design, insightful maintenance and potentially extending the period between dry-dockings allowing for cost savings without compromising ship safety. Ships can become damaged, […]
The recently decided decarbonisation targets from the IMO will no doubt be leading shipowners to target renewable fuels more so now than ever. Not least because the agenda set out at MEPC80 obligates member states to a minimum commitment to ensure the uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030. One company poised […]
For the 10th instalment of its Annual International Student Design Competition for a Safe, Affordable Ferry, spanning 2022-2023, the Worldwide Ferry Safety Association (WFSA) shook things up by introducing a new stipulation for the participating teams. Although previous years’ contests had called for ferry designs to meet specific operational demands, the panel of judges had […]
Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon is building a dozen hybrid monohull passenger ferries for Italian operator Liberty Lines, with deliveries scheduled to run from this year until 2026. Each newbuild in the series will measure 39.5m x 8.3m and feature a depth of 4m and a draught of 1.8m. The aluminium ferries will be kifted out […]