Corporate News

The Floating Offshore Wind Power Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) of Japan and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) have signed, a Memorandum of Understanding to explore technology development cooperation in the field of floating offshore wind. FLOWRA and ClassNK will explore the possibilities of collaboration in floating offshore wind development. FLOWRA is a technical research association that works with overseas organisations to research and develop common basic technologies for floating of...

Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second largest port operator, has announced a fresh £10m investment into its Great Yarmouth site, which is being repositioned as the Port of East Anglia. The newly announced £10m brings this year’s total investment to £70m across the site and will be used to redevelop the port’s Northern Terminal, helping to accommodate the next generation of major offshore wind projects across the region. The change reflects the Group’s growt...

World-pioneering pumping systems specialist - Framo is taking another strategic step into the future with the expansion of its factory at Holsnøy in Vestland Country. In the first phase, two new halls each of 10,000 sqm will provide a total of 20,000 sqm of state-of-the-art production space. This marks a significant investment in capacity, technology development and local value creation. "Holsnøy will become a strategic focus area for Framo. All our aquaculture production, as...

ABS granted approval in principle (AIP) for Samsung Remote Operation Centre (SROC), a remote operation management solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of maritime vessels and offshore units. The technology was reviewed by ABS for compliance in accordance with the ABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote-Control Functions, recognising its remote operational capability to manage auxiliary and industrial processes, cargo handling, and ballast and trim machinery functions....

Ridderkerk-based maritime supplier Ned Marine Services has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Drewil Entership, a Polish manufacturer of high-quality pilot and embarkation ladders. Under the new partnership, NMS will represent Drewil Entership in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, and Norway, expanding its access solutions portfolio for maritime clients across Europe. Range of certified access products This partnership further strengthens Ned Marine’s position as a...

ClassNK has released 'Guidelines for Onboard CO2 Capture and Storage Systems (Edition 2.0)' first in the world, which assumes onboard CO2 capture systems (OCCS) using membrane separation method which are expected to be applicable to a wide variety of vessel types. The guidelines can be supported the safety development, manufacturing, and installation of relevant system. Not only fuel transition, but interest in capturing CO2 from ships' exhaust gas is growing as a way to reduce GHG emissio...

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) is marking its 45th anniversary in 2025 with record membership, expanded global reach, and a renewed focus on the industry’s future priorities. The Association now counts more than 350 members from more than 35 countries, comprising more than 180 Full Members, representing more than 4,400 bulk carriers totalling near 420 million DWT. This equates to approximately 40% by DWT of the global dry bulk carrier fleet, highli...

Alfa Laval UK is focused on supporting shipowners with drydocking by helping them identify the kits and parts required for maintenance, whether these are unique to each vessel or pre-identified kits, enabling smarter planning, faster turnaround, and longer fleet uptime. A major focus will be providing condition audit services up to six months before docking. "By auditing systems months before docking, we can spot issues early, plan ahead, and prevent costly surprises," said Ezgi Sezen, UK...

ABS awarded approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its novel design of a wireless fire and gas detection system that advances safety in maritime operations. Conventional detection systems use power cables to transmit signals to a control panel. The new design from SHI uses a vessel’s metal structure as the low-voltage power transmission medium. Similarly, signals from the fire detection and alarm devices are converted into magnetic waves and transmitted wir...

In a significant move for the Asia-Pacific renewable energy sector, U-Ming Marine Offshore (UMO), a subsidiary of the Far Eastern Group, and Purus, a Singapore headquartered global major firm in offshore energy maritime services, are excited to announce the formation of UPO Holdings Co., Ltd. (UPO), a joint venture aimed at expanding offshore wind operations in Taiwan and the region. The partnership will be unveiled at Wind Energy Taiwan 2025, marking a new chapter of international collaboratio...

Raymarine – global pioneer in high-performance marine electronics – announced that its innovative Pathfinder Radar System has been selected by New Orleans-based Blessey Marine to support the company’s inland tow boat and barge fleet operating across the United States. As required on new and refitted vessels, Blessey Marine’s full fleet will be outfitted with Raymarine Commercial radars and displays in the coming months. T hese cost-effective and easy-to-install radar sy...

ABS has appointed David Wechsler, a Founding Partner of the firm that became Hitachi Consulting, as the new Chief Executive Officer for ABS Group. Wechsler has a distinguished 35-year career in management consulting leadership positions across manufacturing, consumer products, sustainable energy, automotive, technology and services industries. He has grown multiple consulting practices, demonstrating expertise in heading complex operations and driving growth. Wealth of experience Christopher...

A major, and global, milestone for autonomous inland shipping was reached on Friday 24 October 2025. During a live showcase on board Scylla’s brand-new passenger vessel - MS Lumière, Shipping Technology, Retina, and Scylla successfully completed the first-ever autonomous Dock2Dock voyage - from undocking in Hardinxveld-Giessendam to docking in Gorinchem. The demonstration combined Retina’s M-Pilot manoeuvring system with the ST BRAIN and Autonomous Lane Assist (ST Sailing) fr...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a global pioneer in maritime safety solutions and supplier of high-performance boats for professional applications, has signed a contract with Tolletaten (the Norwegian Customs Service) to deliver a new fleet of cutting-edge patrol and fast response craft. The new boats will strengthen Tolletaten’s maritime capabilities and support its law enforcement and inspection duties in Norwegian waters. The contract further reinforces VIKING’s position as a trust...

ABS and the Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cooperate on the application of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the marine and offshore sectors. The agreement establishes a framework for both organisations to exchange information and engage in joint research projects related to concept designs for an SMR-powered ship and a floating SMR power generation platform. Among the objectives are identifying and developing appli...

Peninsula, the pioneer in marine energy solutions, has successfully renewed its $400 million Singapore-based syndicated credit facility — reinforcing its position as one of the most financially robust players in the sector. This follows the renewal of Peninsula’s European banking facility earlier this year and, together with other bilateral lines, brings the group’s total funding capacity to over $1.5 billion. Peninsula’s resilient business model The Singapore facility...

Maritime operations run on tight schedules and thin margins, and as ships, terminals and supply chains connect systems for visibility and efficiency, attackers gain paths to entry. Cyber risk has become an operational reliability and safety concern, not just an IT issue. “Whether we are looking at this challenge through an operational or organisational safety lens, cyber risk is a critical business risk. An incident will impact everyone,” says Michael DeVolld, Senior Director of Mar...

Kongsberg Maritime, a global provider of advanced technology solutions for the maritime industry, has been awarded a contract to upgrade the waterjet propulsion systems on 13 vessels operated by the Kuwait Coast Guard, in partnership with EDGE Group entity - Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), reinforcing their ongoing collaboration in the region’s naval sector. Under the agreement, ADSB will install Kongsberg Kamewa waterjets across the fleet, replacing existing third-party systems on ten ve...

ABS hosted the second edition of the Middle East Women in Maritime Summit at the Address Dubai Mall, gathering more than 150 industry professionals to celebrate the expanding role of women in the region’s maritime sector. Themed “Advancing Women in Maritime – Challenges and Opportunities,” the summit showcased stories of leadership and mentorship across the Middle East’s fast-growing maritime ecosystem. Keynote address Guests of honour included Her Excellency Eng...

ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, brought together customers for two days of interactive sessions to hear the latest product updates, strategic initiatives, and best practices for optimising the user experience with the full portfolio of ABS Wavesight software. “For more than 25 years, our user summit has been the anchor point for unveiling our latest innovations and connecting with the maritime software community to shape what’s next.” &...

Technology group - Wärtsilä and TMS Cardiff Gas have renewed their existing Lifecycle Agreement, covering the 2-stroke main engines onboard seven LNG Carrier vessels, for a further five years. The agreement is designed to ensure the vessels’ maximum operational reliability by enabling flexible maintenance scheduling and optimising time between overhauls (TBO). The renewed order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q3 2025.  LNG demand and delivery schedules LNG carrier ope...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for 'Samsung Remote Operation Centre (SROC)', a shore-based remote monitoring system developed by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., and a certificate handover ceremony was held in KORMARINE 2025.  ClassNK is involved in various demonstration projects and continuously works to develop necessary safety standards, in order to support the development and implementation of automated/autonomous operation technologies from a safety perspective....

ClassNK has issued a Technology Qualification (TQ) for 'SAS-IBS', one of the components of the 'Samsung Autonomous Navigation Assistance System (SAS)' developed by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., and a certificate handover ceremony was held in KORMARINE 2025. Technologies related to maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS) are being actively developed to reduce human error, ease crew workloads, and address labour shortages. To support the implementation of such technologies, Class...

Classification society - DNV has awarded HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a new 15,000 TEU container vessel design powered by Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology at the KORMARINE trade fair this week. The presentation was attended by Sungkon Han, Executive Vice President of the Green Energy Research Lab at HD KSOE, Geir Dugstad, Technical Director at DNV, and Ole Christen Reistad, Senior Principal Researcher and nuclear research le...

According to a new paper by DNV, shifting environmental requirements are reigniting interest in nuclear propulsion as a long-term solution for maritime decarbonisation. This renewed attention comes despite the absence of any civilian commercial nuclear-powered vessel commissions in more than four decades. DNV’s latest report, “Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels,” highlights how maritime nuclear...

NorthStandard has announced Michael Hustler as its new Head of Asia Pacific, in an appointment which reinforces the global marine insurer’s focus on growth, service expansion and diversification in the region. With a formal start date of 27th October, Mr Hustler brings 16 years of Claims and Underwriting with NorthStandard to his new role – most recently as Head of Underwriting, Asia Pacific. As Head of Asia Pacific, he replaces David Roberts, who will leave NorthStandard in Fe...

Kongsberg Maritime proudly marks a decade since the launch of its pioneering rim-drive permanent magnet thruster technology, celebrating both its 10th anniversary and almost 100 orders for this groundbreaking propulsion solution. Following extensive trials of the first prototype tunnel thrusters, including installation on the anchor handling vessel - Olympic Octopus, the first rim-drive azimuth thruster was introduced in 2015 onboard the Norwegian research vessel - RV Gunnerus, representin...

ClassNK has added Japan's first hydrogen-fueled tugboat TEN-OH to its register, which is built by TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. This vessel was developed and build under the 'Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships Project', a grant program by The Nippon Foundation aimed at developing ships with zero CO2 emissions. Impacts of hydrogen fuel Based on discussions among the parties involved during the planning stage of the vessel, ClassNK reviewed the safety requirements and countermea...

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Yacht Code 2021, as amended through August 2023, has been updated as the RMI Yacht Code 2026 (hereinafter the “Code”) to provide practical rule application for the increasing innovative designs of superyachts, new construction methods, and modern operational practices. The Code will come into force on 1 January 2026. The Code serves as a robust framework for safety and compliance, especially for new build projects and shipyards. It reflects...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised shipping company - MPC Container Ships ASA (“MPCC”) on the order of two 1,600 TEU container ships and related eight-year charter agreements with a renowned shipping liner company. The contracts for the two high-cube container-optimised newbuilds were signed with the Fujian Mawei Shipyard in China, with the total investment amounting to US$66 million. Delivery of the two vessels is scheduled for the second half of 2027. MPCC al...