Netherlands Antilles News

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...

Icelandic tech company - Hefring Marine has announced a new partnership with the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation (NIFF), which was formed in early 2025 to pilot innovative solutions that support the fishing fleet in tackling rising fuel costs, improving safety, and reducing emissions. With support from the previous Marine Environment & Fisheries Fund from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, this initiative will see members of the N...

ABS Wavesight™, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, has been chosen by Navilands Group to provide a single integrated platform to help streamline compliance with the FuelEU Maritime Regulation and EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) requirements. Navilands will implement the Carbon Diligence suite, part of the new ABS Wavesight Advantage™ platform, across a selection of bulkers and containerships, with further expansion planned by year-end. ABS Wavesight platform...

Roughly three percent of the world’s greenhouse gases come from ships, a figure that puts the sector on par with the emissions of entire industrialised nations. Trade volumes keep growing, and if nothing changes, that percentage will climb. The International Maritime Organization has already set a 2050 net-zero target. For operators, shipyards, and ports, the question is not whether change is coming but how fast they can adapt without undermining the economics of global shipping. H...

Brunvoll has entered into an agreement with VARD for the delivery of complete propulsion and manoeuvring systems for two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs). The owner of these new vessels is North Star. Each of the two CSOVs will be equipped, from aft to bow, with two azimuth propulsion thrusters, a retractable azimuth thruster, a tunnel thruster, and a combined retractable azimuth/tunnel thruster. Together with Brunvoll’s Propulsion and Thruster Control system, BruCon PTC, t...

The offshore energy sector has always been cyclical, but today’s volatility feels different. Inflation, rising capital costs, and shifting forecasts are reshaping both offshore wind and oil and gas, prompting a rethink of how vessel owners, designers, and operators prepare for the decade ahead. While costs have soared, investment has not collapsed. Instead, a new kind of resilience is emerging, built on design flexibility, hybridisation, and system integration. For projects commissioned...

In a landmark deal to deliver immersive, next-generation training at scale to the maritime industry, ABS has signed an agreement to purchase the MetaSHIP intellectual property and related vessel simulator software assets from Orka Informatics as part of the strategic growth plan for ABS Training Solutions. The acquisition, subject to Turkish regulatory approval, will allow ABS to expand its highly realistic digital training program, which can be delivered on board, in port or at home, as well a...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a Keel Clearance (UKC) predictive port management system ‘Dynamic UKC System (DUKC®)’ developed by OMC International. In order to promote the spread and development of innovative technologies, ClassNK has offered Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions. ClassNK supports the deployment of products and services through third-party certification for equipment and software technology with inno...

HikoTerra, innovator in mobile integrated power solutions, officially ushers in the next generation of marine power with the introduction of the H4 Hybrid Power System. HikoTerra has been quietly working on the project for some time and is now set for a phase of rapid expansion, introducing its innovative, world-class technology to the market with the support of experienced founders, investors and leaders with a history of success. Offering an unparalleled level of efficiency, scalability, int...

Helm Operations, the major provider of maritime operations and crew management software, announced a key leadership transition as James Wadsworth assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Nolan Barclay, Helm’s first employee and most recent CEO, will continue to support the company as Chairman. Wadsworth brings more than two decades of maritime industry experience and visionary leadership to the role. He joined Helm a decade ago after nearly ten years with ClassNK in Japan, where...

Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK), a major specialist insurer, announces the launch of Enterprise Ctrl, a comprehensive enterprise errors and omissions (E&O) insurance solution that enhances the recently launched TMK Cyber Ctrl+ suite. This first-of-its-kind integrated offering provides enhanced Cyber, Technology E&O, Media and Intellectual Property coverage under one policy, reducing the risk of coverage gaps and addressing the digital risks facing modern businesses. Professional services lands...

The Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International) and BIMCO, the global trade association whose members represent 64% of the world’s tonnage, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise collaboration in promoting diversity, sustainability, and professional excellence across the maritime industry. Working together, WISTA International and BIMCO aim to address shared industry challenges and create opportunities for professionals throug...

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is launching the industry’s first public tender portal for e-methanol procurement within the European Union and the United Kingdom via the DNV.com website. The initiative connects a pioneering e-methanol producer with industrial offtakers across EU and UK markets, creating a new pathway to secure long-term, reliable supplies of this key low-carbon fuel. Key European regulatory frameworks As the global energy transition...

As part of its preparations for the ninth edition of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX 2026), the Organising Committee convened a diplomat briefing to provide updates on the event's significant evolution as a global defence platform, its growing commercial impact, and its responsiveness to industry needs, alongside essential information and logistical arrangements related to participation. The event took place at the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces base (Umm Al...

Q&A with Pasi Lehtonen, Executive Vice President, Offshore Solutions, MacGregor How well is MacGregor positioned in the offshore sector under Triton’s new ownership? MacGregor’s lifecycle-focused strategy is closely aligned with Triton’s commitment to sustainable growth and value creation, and with the support of our new owner, we are strategically positioned across the maritime and offshore sectors to deliver lasting value. Our solutions are proven, by performance,...

Corvus Energy, the world’s major supplier of energy-storage systems (ESS) for the maritime industry, announced it has secured a $60 million growth capital injection from a group of blue-chip international investors. Morgan Stanley Investment Management led an investor consortium that includes Just Climate and J. Lauritzen. Founded in 2009, Corvus Energy has pioneered maritime ESS and supplies more than half of the world’s zero-emission vessels. The company has delivered over 1,300...

As the maritime industry works to decarbonise, electrification is proving to be one of the most practical and immediate solutions. Wärtsilä’s Torsten Büssow explains how batteries, hybrid propulsion, and alternative fuels together are shaping the fleet of the future. Shipping is entering a decisive phase in its energy transition. Electrification, once confined to pilot projects and short-sea ferries, is now becoming a cornerstone of decarbonisation strategies across the mar...

Dutch, Werkendam-based shipbuilder - Concordia Damen has commenced construction of a new River Cruise vessel for Century Cruises, one of China’s major river cruise operators. The vessel has been developed in partnership with United Waterways, and marks Century Cruises’ official entry into the European river cruise market. The hull of the vessel, to be named Century Star, has recently arrived at Concordia Damen’s yard in Werkendam for outfitting. Delivery is scheduled for...

Xeneta, the globally renowned ocean and air freight rate intelligence platform, has unveiled a new generation of in-platform products, marking the next chapter in the company’s mission to transform freight procurement through data, insights and AI. Presented live to hundreds of industry pioneers at the annual Xeneta Summit in Barcelona, the new products will redefine how freight is bought and sold by reducing manual work and helping procurement teams to make better and faster decisions....

To mark World Mental Health Day, The London P&I Club has funded one full day of Stella Maris’ UK operations, supporting the charity’s work in providing practical, spiritual, and emotional support to thousands of seafarers every year who are struggling with stress, loneliness, exhaustion, bullying or exploitation. The Club’s contribution covers the costs of the charity’s ship visits, welfare support and pastoral care for a 24-hour period, ensuring thousands of seafare...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a profound and multifaceted impact throughout the business world, driving a transformation across all sectors by significantly increasing efficiency, enabling data-driven decision-making, and fostering innovation. Maritime is one of the many industries that are already benefiting from deploying AI. In the future, the potential is even bigger. In maritime as in many other markets, the key to success is balancing the use of AI with human labour. The current t...

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has secured a major grant worth US$450,000 from The TK Foundation to create the world’s first free global e-learning system for the maritime search and rescue (SAR) sector. The project marks a major milestone in international efforts to strengthen the capabilities of key SAR and shipping personnel, and close critical training gaps for those who continue to put their lives at risk at sea.  To ensure equitable access and long-term su...

ABB has signed a term sheet agreement with SwitcH2 to engineer and supply automation and electrification solutions for SwitcH2’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit dedicated to producing green ammonia from green hydrogen, to support future demand for low-carbon marine fuels. The FPSO facility will be stationed off the coast of Portugal and powered by certified renewable electricity from the national grid under a Power Purchase Agreements. It will feature a 300 MW elec...

Technology group Wärtsilä and Seagems, a Brazil-based offshore operator formerly known as Sapura, has renewed and expanded its Lifecycle Agreement to cover its fleet of offshore support vessels. The renewed agreement expands the scope and elevates the strategic partnership and the importance of Wärtsilä’s services, aiming to enhance the reliability and reduce the carbon footprint of the vessels. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q3 2025. The new agreemen...

Propspeed, a major innovator in biocide-free, foul-release coatings, announced the debut of its newest coating for various surface types, Foulfree Multi-Surface System, offering a foul-release solution to a wide range of components fitted to an expanded range of vessel types from RIBs to centre consoles and cruisers to pleasure yachts. Engineered to adhere to a wide range of substrates, Foulfree brings Propspeed’s proven performance to various underwater components. This system is pe...

ClassNK has agreed to collaborate with GTT Training Ltd. (GTT Training), a GTT subsidiary dedicated to the training of professionals in the LNG and future fuels industry. Under the framework of the ClassNK Academy, ClassNK invites lecturers from GTT Training to provide specialised training courses on alternative fuels, focusing on LNG. Efficient handling of alternative fuels GTT Training specialises in providing training based on GTT's technology and know-how GTT is a technology and engineer...

An advanced design of an ammonia vent treatment system from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS and the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR). Ammonia vent treatment system The ammonia vent treatment system integrates compact scrubbers to treat ammonia fuel, which can escape during the purging process, to maintain safe concentration levels before discharge through the vent mast. HD KSOE says this design...