United Kingdom

Anglo-Italian partnership explores shipping’s nuclear potential

Anglo-Italian partnership explores shipping’s nuclear potential

Fincantieri, RINa and newcleo team up for nuclear-propulsion study Although it’s unlikely to offer a short-term solution to shipping’s decarbonisation mission, the tantalising possibilities offered by nuclear power continue to attract a small but growing number of proponents among the industry’s forward thinkers. In late July, Italian shipyard Fincantieri became the latest company to declare […]

Fincantieri to collaborate in nuclear feasibility study

Fincantieri to collaborate in nuclear feasibility study

newcleo, a UK-headquartered nuclear technology company, has announced an agreement with shipbuilders Fincantieri and Italian classification society RINa to carry out a feasibility study into the application of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the shipping industry. In particular, the collaboration will explore the potential of using newcleo’s innovative LFR (Lead-cooled Fast Reactor) as a small nuclear […]

Regulatory barriers threaten UK hydrogen marine fuel prospects, says report

Regulatory barriers threaten UK hydrogen marine fuel prospects, says report

A report published by the independent expert committee the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) has concluded that a lack of alignment between stakeholders and regulators, including a lack of regulatory guidance for innovators, threaten the UK’s ability to play a leading role in ship and technology-related design and manufacture for hydrogen-propelled vessels. The RHC report on […]

Royal Navy outlines next steps for future mine hunting capability programme

Royal Navy outlines next steps for future mine hunting capability programme

The Royal Navy is transitioning mine countermeasures capability from ships to unmanned, autonomous units and a distributed, disaggregated force that makes use of networking, autonomy and artificial intelligence. With a series of operational demonstrators already on contract as part of Block 1 of the Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) programme, the Ministry of Defence and UK […]

Harland & Wolff-led e-tug concept takes shape

Harland & Wolff-led e-tug concept takes shape

Shipbuilder Harland & Wolff has teamed up with naval architect Macduff Ship Design, propulsion specialist Kongsberg Maritime and battery manufacturer Echandia to develop a zero-emissions harbour and coastal tug. Two tugs are specified in the initial order, each with a proposed length of 25.5m, a beam of 12m and a draught of 4.85m – although, […]

Sunseeker launches skills academy

Sunseeker launches skills academy

Yachtbuilder Sunseeker International has launched an intensive boatbuilding course with the aim of attracting fresh talent into the industry to counter the UK’s current “national skills shortage”, the company says. The course is the first offering of the newly created Sunseeker Skills Academy, which was developed in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole College. Alex Bowman, […]

CII drives hull and propeller cleaning interest

CII drives hull and propeller cleaning interest

SeaTec Services reports increased demand for its propeller polishing and hull cleaning services on the back of the latest IMO environmental regulations UK-based SeaTec Services last year launched its new closed-circuit propeller polishing system, which features technology that captures biofouling and metal particles and removes them safely to the surface for filtering. Over the past […]

Cruise ship milestone for Falmouth yard

Cruise ship milestone for Falmouth yard

A&P Falmouth has completed a multi-million-pound program of works on the largest passenger ship to visit the facility in over 60 years. Bolette, a Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ vessel, entered drydock for a 13-day refurbishment, including maintenance to the ship’s azipods and bow thrusters as well as a new application of underwater paint. This was […]

Sponsored: PALFINGER introduces New Offshore Passenger Transfer System

Sponsored: PALFINGER introduces New Offshore Passenger Transfer System

PALFINGER MARINE is currently updating their state-of-the-art transportation system for the offshore industry – the Offshore Passenger Transfer System (OPTS). At Nor-Shipping 2023 in June, the company showcased a model of this technology for the first time. The OPTS is a 3D-compensated passenger and cargo transfer system. Designed specifically for marine applications, it compensates on […]

Construction initiated for fourth Type 26 frigate

Construction initiated for fourth Type 26 frigate

In early April 2023, UK Minister for Defence Procurement Alex Chalk attended the ceremony to officially begin construction on the future HMS Birmingham at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow. The steel cutting, marking the official start of build on the fourth of eight Type 26 frigates, was carried out by apprentice burner, Ciaran Baillie, […]