Sierra Leone News

The International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference (IBEX), North America’s premier technical trade event for the recreational marine industry, announced its slate of new presentations, panel discussions, and technical seminars as part of its world-class IBEX Education Conference. With a can’t-miss lineup of opportunities from Tech Talks to Main Stage events, the 2025 IBEX Education Conference features sessions for everyone from leadership to engineers. This year&rsquo...

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has announced that Anglo-Eastern will upgrade Hadley Shipping Group’s fleet to Inmarsat’s fully managed bonded connectivity solution, NexusWave. Hadley Shipping Group is a long-standing Inmarsat Maritime user. Its transition to NexusWave represents a significant step forward in adopting a unified, bonded multi-orbit solution that will deliver enhanced performance, enterprise-grade cybersecurity, and a scalable platform for future operational nee...

Premier Singapore-based shipbuilder - Strategic Marine has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with US-based advanced naval innovation pioneer - Eureka Naval Craft to collaborate on the construction of the first-ever Aircat Bengal MC Modular Attack Surface Craft. The partnership will give a significant boost to the global maritime sector and brings together Eureka’s pioneering modular naval Surface Effect Ship (SES) design and Strategic Marine’s world-class shipbuilding expertise t...

Optrak Distribution Software has launched a new cloud-based route optimisation platform to help road freight operators manage fleet decarbonisation, while improving efficiency in existing operations. Optrak, a UK provider of route planning and load optimisation solutions, has developed the system to combine EV consumption modelling, en-route charging and alternative fuel support with advanced load and route optimisation. New system models EV energy use The new system models EV energy use by f...

RAD Propulsion, the Southampton-based marine electric propulsion specialists, announces the successful completion of a project with Williams Shipping, a globally renowned marine services provider, to deliver zero-emission vessel operations in Southampton waters. Electric vessel technology The venture saw RAD Propulsion provide cutting-edge electric vessel technology and propulsion expertise, while Williams Shipping contributed essential marine operations knowledge, harbour authority liaison, a...

ABS Wavesight™, the ABS-affiliated maritime Software-as-a-Service company, announces the appointment of Captain Stephen (Steve) Bomgardner as Chief Customer Officer (CCO). Captain Bomgardner brings more than 23 years of maritime leadership experience encompassing operations, regulatory compliance and environmental innovation. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Shipping & Offshore Solutions at Pole Star Global, where he directed strategic growth initiatives and oversaw...

OrbitMI, a pioneering provider of maritime SaaS software, has now announced the appointment of Egil Husby to its Board of Directors.  A seasoned shipping strategist and risk management professional, Husby brings more than two decades of experience shaping corporate strategy, managing freight risk, and pioneering transformation initiatives within the global shipping sector. Prior roles of Husby Husby served as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Western Bulk, where he led busines...

Peel Ports Group has underlined its commitment to supporting UK steel and metals supply chains by becoming the first and only UK port operator to join the Aluminium Federation (ALFED). The UK’s second-largest port operator has signed up to the trade body as it aims to grow its presence in the aluminium sector, following a record-breaking year for steel imports at the Port of Liverpool. Use of coastal and short sea shipping This aims to reduce road miles and cut carbon emissions by makin...

The 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference (APPEC) by S&P Global – Asia’s pioneering energy conference - will take place from September 8 to 11, 2025, at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore. A cornerstone of the energy industry for the past 40 years, this premier gathering of close to 1,500 industry pioneers, experts and executives across 65 countries aims to explore the evolving landscape of the oil and gas sector, discussing critical issues such as energy tr...

With under four weeks to go until the inaugural Container Terminal Automation Conference Asia (CTAC Asia), the agenda has everything ports and terminals are looking for! Seeing as Asia’s ports are facing growing pressures from congestion and the rising demand for increased logistics, the agenda presents strategies, insights and new technology presentations from major industry figures. Bringing together expert figures, the agenda will examine the region’s unique challenges across, d...

The Coast Guard Foundation has been named the official charitable partner of the Chicago International Boat Show, a new event coming to Navy Pier Marina August 22-24, 2025. This partnership gives boaters a unique opportunity to support the Coast Guard Foundation while enjoying the best in boats, gear, and lakefront experiences. The three-day event will feature more than 150 luxury boats and yachts, 70 exhibitors showcasing the latest in marine technology and services, and a full schedule of...

Xeneta AS announces the acquisition of fellow maritime and supply chain data company eeSea, furthering customers’ ability to evaluate and optimise containerised freight. Gaining visibility into freight rates, managing contracts and suppliers, and de-risking delivery delays have always been a challenge for those responsible for getting goods shipped efficiently around the world.  Recent trade tariffs, wars, and geopolitical changes have caused carriers to adapt trade patterns: blank...

Thordon Bearings Inc., a global major in water-lubricated and grease-free bearing solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Progreen as its exclusive distributor for Azerbaijan. The formal arrangement strengthens Thordon's strategic presence across the Caspian region and marks another important step in delivering its high-performance bearing and seal solutions to key sectors, including marine, hydro power, and industrial markets. Range of heavy industries in Azerbaijan Progreen has...

Oceanology International, the world’s renowned forum for ocean science, engineering and technology, returns to London’s ExCeL from 10th to 12th March 2026, to connect the global ocean community for three unmissable days of innovation, networking and thought leadership. Welcoming engineering, survey and science professionals from ocean industries including offshore energy, ocean observation and defence, the 2026 edition will spotlight breakthrough solutions driving the future of ocea...

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised a consortium of lenders on an ECA-backed JOLCO financing for Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd. (ONE) to finance four newbuild container vessels. The consortium comprised BNP PARIBAS (acting through its Tokyo Branch and as ECA Coordinator), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Tokyo Branch and Citibank, N.A., Tokyo Branch (as mandated lead arrangers) as well as Japanese export credit agencies Japan Bank for International Cooperation (&l...

Concordia Damen has delivered yet another CDS Tanker 110, the tanker type it builds on stock, due to its reliability and cargo capacity. VOF Generation, formed by Dutch inland shipping entrepreneurs Danny and Wim Mourik and Sergei Mulder, has taken delivery of their new vessel, mts Generation, and will deploy it for the transport of mineral oils on the Rhine River. CDS Tanker 110 The CDS Tanker 110 has been developed with a focus on efficiency, operational reliability The CDS Tanker 110 ha...

Sunderland Marine, part of global marine insurer - NorthStandard, has announced its contribution to the release of 'The Lifeboat', a stirring new single by Celtic music icons - Skipinnish, featuring renowned sea shanty group - The Fisherman’s Friends. The song is a tribute to two centuries of bravery by Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) volunteers, honouring their courageous service saving lives at sea under the most challenging conditions – including the North East shores....

Strategic Marine, a major builder of high-performance aluminium vessels, is proud to announce the successful delivery of two Generation 4 Fast Crew Boats (FCBs) to Aesen, an integrated marine solutions provider with more than 120 offshore vessels operating globally. This landmark achievement marks the commencement of a new partnership, reinforcing Strategic Marine’s growing footprint across key markets. As the first delivery to Aesen, this contract demonstrates Strategic Marine’s ab...

The first Jones Act plug-in hybrid offshore wind service operation vessel (SOV) in the United States has been christened and launched in a ceremony at the Port of New Orleans. The ABS-classed ECO Liberty was constructed by Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO) at its LaShip shipyard in Houma, Louisiana, and will be owned and operated by ECO for international energy company - Equinor. Use of hybrid systems The 262-foot vessel saw more than 500 local labourers donate to the vessel’s building, usi...

RAD Propulsion, the British developer of advanced electric boat drive systems, announced a new partnership with Pangolin Photo Safaris, Africa's major wildlife photography safari specialists. The collaboration sees RAD's revolutionary RAD 40 electric outboard system power the new Pangolin Voyager houseboat, setting a new standard for sustainable luxury tourism in one of Africa's most stunning wildlife environments. This project brings together RAD Propulsion’s cutting-edge 40kW electri...

ABB has integrated a comprehensive scope of technologies onboard Feadship Breakthrough. The vessel was constructed by Dutch high-end yacht builder Feadship. Launched in May 2025, the privately-owned 118.8-metre yacht will be among the first vessels in the world to feature multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.  Azipod® electric propulsion units ABB has also provided shipside shore connection technology and Remote Diagnostic Services ABB’s scope of supply comprises the Onboard DC...

Samskip, one of Europe's renowned logistics service providers, has officially joined the DCSA+ partnership program, reinforcing its commitment to digital innovation, interoperability, and the evolution of global logistics standards. By becoming part of this influential network, Samskip takes a pioneering role in shaping the digital frameworks that will power tomorrow’s logistics, frameworks built on openness, collaboration, and efficiency. Future industry standards “We believe the...

Watson Farley & Williams advised a consortium of lenders comprising Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge, acting as facility and security agent, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and Danske Bank A/S on a US$350m revolving credit facility provided to Ardmore Shipping Corporation (“Ardmore”) to refinance Ardmore’s existing revolving credit facilities and for general corporate purposes. The facility was secured by 20 of Ardmore’s vessels. Founded in 2010,...

Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LR OneOcean) has launched OneOcean 2025, marking the most substantial enhancement to its digital maritime platform in recent years. Designed to address the evolving challenges of voyage planning, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency, this latest release introduces a host of new features aimed at improving safety, reducing human error, and streamlining fleet-wide operations. Risk of grounding incidents Users accept real-time alerts for UKC pol...

At LR OneOcean, they continue to evolve the digital solutions to help maritime organisations manage their operations more effectively. The latest step on this journey is the new integration between Cloud Fleet Manager (CFM) and ISF Watchkeeper (ISF WK), which enables more connected crew compliance and management across fleets. The integration allows relevant crew and contract data and work and rest hour records to synchronise between CFM Crewing and ISF WK. This helps ship operators reduce manu...

Regional Container Lines partners with Lloyd’s Register OneOcean to optimise fleet operations, cut emissions, and boost sustainability using advanced voyage planning and routing technology. RCL has partnered with Lloyd's Register OneOcean (LR OneOcean) to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of its fleet operations. Advanced optimisation technology Under the agreement, RCL has subscribed to LR OneOcean’s voyage optimisation platform, which provides real-time voyage plann...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is working toward a smooth transition to the next generation of navigation technologies. The standard for Electronic Navigations Charts (ENCs) is transitioning from S-57, an older, static data standard to exchange digital hydrographic data, to the new S-100, a more dynamic framework. While S-57 was limited to just ENCs, the new S-100 framework can handle a variety of data types, such as real-time tides and currents, to improve situational awareness...

Marcura, a major maritime technology provider, has acquired Brightwell Navigator, the maritime crew payroll and payment services division of Brightwell, an Atlanta-based financial technology company. The transaction expands Marcura’s footprint in the cruise sector, where Navigator dominates global cruise line crew payments with a particularly strong North American presence. Marcura dominates commercial shipping crew payments with established strength in Europe and Asia. Together,...

ABS issued a New Technology Qualification (NTQ) certificate to HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for their next-generation electric propulsion solution: the Medium Voltage Direct Current (MVDC) power system for ships. The Breakerless-MVDC Power System builds on HD Hyundai’s modular propulsion drive system and is the first in the world to receive an ABS NTQ certificate, indicating the technology’s feasibility and matur...

Sallaum Lines proudly announces the successful early delivery of the MV Ocean Breeze, a next-generation LNG dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) built by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China. The vessel was delivered on July 18, an impressive four months ahead of schedule, setting a new standard for green shipbuilding speed and precision. The Ocean Breeze is more than just a new ship; it represents a major milestone in Sallaum Lines’ strategic vision to modernise global automotive lo...