Prime movers News

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group - Wärtsilä, has been contracted to supply a regasification module for Höegh Evi, a pioneer in marine energy infrastructure. The module will be installed onboard the LNG carrier Hoegh Gandria to convert the vessel to a high-capacity floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). The order, booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2025, further strengthens Wärtsilä’s market-pioneering position in LNG regasificat...

According to DNV’s latest report, Maritime Safety Trends 2014-2024 - Preparing for future risks, the number of maritime casualty incidents has increased by 42% between 2018 and 2024, while during the same period the global fleet grew by just 10%. Driven mainly by an ageing fleet and machine damage/failure, the findings highlight the risks connected with operating older ships, often more prone to faults, groundings, and fire-related incidents.  Vessel age and operational reliability...

Kongsberg Maritime will supply a comprehensive equipment package for four new offshore construction vessels (OCVs) to be built at Cosco Nantong for Norwegian offshore services provider Sea1 Offshore. Kongsberg Maritime and Sea1 Offshore will also collaborate on a study to accurately assess emissions reductions achieved with Kongsberg’s equipment. Integrated and navigation systems The equipment package includes K-Pos dynamic positioning systems, integrated control and navigation systems,...

At the Nor-Shipping trade fair, classification society DNV awarded HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) an Approval in Principle (AiP) to for its newly developed 40,000 CBM liquefied CO₂ (LCO₂) carrier design featuring three cargo holds.  The cargo handling system is optimised through a reduction in the number of cargo holds from four to three which results in number of cargo tanks as well. BOG management system This redesign simplifies the overall system architecture, resulting in enhanced...

Advanced Navigation, a pioneer in navigation and autonomous systems, in collaboration with marine consultancy O2 Marine, has revealed an explicit visual depiction of Hall Bank - a small, nearshore reef off Fremantle in south-west Australia (32°S), located well beyond the typical latitudinal range for coral reefs. Using Hydrus, a microhovering autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the teams conducted a detailed survey of the reef, capturing geo-referenced high-resolution imagery and 4K video...

Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg's Senator for Economic Affairs, Friedrich Stuhrmann, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and Takahiro Kikuchi, Managing Director of Ocean Network Express (Europe) Ltd. (ONE) signed an agreement on the future use of shore power supply. The signing ceremony took place along the sidelines of "Transport Logistic 2025" trade fair in Munich, Germany. CTB and CTA facilities Since May 2024, the Port of Hamburg has provided shore power for c...

ABS continued its long-standing support for the AMVER Awards by sponsoring a ceremony recognising the contribution of Norwegian owners to the unique AMVER reporting system that supports search and rescue efforts for distress calls at sea. The event honoured 259 vessels from 24 Norwegian shipowners and operators, who were awarded diplomas for their role in maintaining maritime safety and in recognition of the owners’ commitment to assisting in search and rescue activities anywhere in the w...

Classification Society DNV awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hudong-Zhonghua) for three innovative new vessel designs. The AiPs highlight the ongoing collaboration between the two organisations and reinforce their shared commitment to supporting the continued development of Chinese shipbuilding and the maritime industry’s low-carbon transition and technical advancement. Key shipping segments AiPs represent the ongoing adv...

KR (Korean Register) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HD Hyundai Mipo and HD Korean Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) on June 3 at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo, Norway.  The agreement focuses on applying Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) techniques to the design of Type-C cargo tanks for liquefied gas carriers to ensure their structural safety.  Integrity of cargo tanks Ensuring the structural integrity of cargo tanks has become a critical element...

Liferafts now may look different to those first offered by VIKING in 1960, but expertise is needed to identify the many steps taken in the cause of advancing maritime safety and the reasoning behind any given detail. Lending the experts eye at VIKING is Gert Smedmann Rasmussen – designer, engineer, and maritime safety equipment inventor. A practically-minded man, Gert also sees ensuring that every liferaft is conceived, manufactured and tested for optimized performance as part of his job...

Samskip is revitalising its UK trade strategy with a new direct connection offering more flexibility, efficiency, and multimodal options for northeast England. Samskip is proud to announce the launch of a new shortsea container service calling at the Port of Blyth, enhancing multimodal connections between the UK and key European trade hubs. This strategic expansion strengthens its presence in northeast England, offering shippers a reliable, cost-efficient and sustainable transport alternat...

NCL Nordland, the second of two container vessels that put bio-methanol at the forefront of container shipping’s low-carbon future, has entered service weeks after sistership - Vestland verified that its Berg Propulsion package optimises efficiency regardless of energy source. Owned by MPC Container Ships, these dual fuel 1300 TEU vessels can be operated on methanol and/or MGO, under a 15-year charter to North Sea Container Line in services connecting Norway and Rotterdam. Early movers...

RensenDriessen Shipbuilding & Shipbrokers is stepping into the deep-sea segment with the brokerage of two 20,000 m³ sea-going LNG tankers. The dual-fuel vessels, fully compliant with IMO Tier III standards, will be built at a selected Chinese shipyard and delivered in 2027. New chapter for RensenDriessen The project marks a new chapter for the Dutch firm, best known for its inland shipping expertise. With more than four decades of experience in inland vessel design, construction...

VARD, one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialised vessels, and a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, is proud to announce that it has delivered two of the world's first vessels with cyber notation according to the new mandatory regulations from July 1st, 2024. Both the CSOV Grampian Kestrel to North Star and the CSOV Purus Chinook for Purus are delivered in accordance with the new mandatory cybersecurity requirements and class notation. VARD’s shipbuilding process...

How can the global energy grid keep pace with fast-growing demand from new data centres supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing? Nuclear energy and coastal waters offer a potential answer. The potential for floating nuclear-powered data centres is explored in depth in the latest industry-pioneering research from ABS and Herbert Engineering. Intersection of new nuclear technologies Pathways to a Low-Carbon Future Floating Nuclear Power Data Centre details design considerati...

Strategic Marine is proud to announce the successful delivery of two new StratCat 27 Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) to Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA), expanding their high-specification offshore wind support fleet. The newly delivered vessels, sister ships to Acti’Vent and Esti’Vent, will be deployed in the growing offshore wind sector in France and Europe. Needs of offshore renewables Built at Strategic Marine’s Singapore shipyard, these 27-metre aluminium catamarans are...

As the maritime industry scans the horizon for scalable zero-emission fuels, low-emission ammonia is looming ever larger as a potential solution for deep-sea operators. Here, Hans Olav Raen, CEO of Yara Clean Ammonia, explains the universal appeal of the power source, while outlining why his company has the experience, knowledge, and global vision to help fuel the future of sustainable shipping. Zero-emission fuel “No one is better positioned than Yara to capture value in the clean ammo...

Fincantieri and TUI Cruises, a joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises, celebrated the launch of “Mein Schiff Flow” at the Monfalcone shipyard. The vessel is the second of two next-generation InTUItion class cruise ships, designed for dual-fuel operation (Liquefied Natural Gas – LNG and Marine Gas Oil – MGO). A sister ship to “Mein Schiff Relax”, delivered in February, the new unit is scheduled to enter service in mid-2026. Moderni...

ABS has issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Light Structures for its new hull monitoring concept, ARGUS-VM. The ARGUS-VM concept received a SMART (SHM) Tier 1 AIP from ABS, which provides industry recognition that the product complies with the functional and system requirements listed in the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units. Range of shipowners ARGUS-VM provides virtual sizes of hull responses using vessel data from existing onboard systems Unlike trad...

Kongsberg Maritime has entered into a contract with Norwegian shipbuilder - Maritime Partner AS for the delivery of waterjets and control systems for seven new Search and Rescue (SAR) vessels. These vessels are being built for the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO), reinforcing a strong Nordic collaboration in support of mission-critical maritime operations. Each of the seven SAR vessels will be equipped with two Kongsberg Maritime S50-3/CA waterjets a...

ABS and the Hydrogen Ship Technology Centre at Pusan National University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint research and technology development of liquid hydrogen carriers and cryogenic engineering. The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for both organisations to share resources and expertise to help develop a liquid hydrogen carrier and hydrogen propulsion systems. Application of hydrogen technology “ABS and Pusan National University's Hydrogen Ship Tec...

IMTRA, the globally renowned manufacturer and importer of quality solutions and products for the marine, energy and transportation markets, announced it was selected by Silverback Marine to provide Norsap seats and Roca wipers for their Sherpa 24-foot landing craft. Nicknamed the “Swiss Army knife of a workboat” the Sherpa 24 landing craft is designed for marine construction, law enforcement, diving and underwater operations and transportation services. Requirements of the vessel...

Peel Ports Clydeport has invested £3 million in infrastructure to support the growing demand for handling huge wind turbine components for the renewable energy sector at a key facility. The UK’s second-largest port operator has developed a new egress road at its King George V(KGV) Dock in Glasgow, which is designed to improve the movement of such project cargo through the port. Route for oversized cargo More than 100 turbines and 800 wind turbine components will also be processed...

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), hosted and organised by the Qatar Armed Forces, is set to welcome global naval pioneers, defence ministers, chiefs of staff, government officials, and industry executives from around the world for its ninth edition, taking place from 19 to 22 January 2026 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). Held under the theme &...

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC), aboard the Office of Naval Research (ONR)-owned research vessel (R/V) Atlantis, visited and documented the final resting places of two U.S. Navy sunken military craft off San Diego with the human-occupied vehicle (HOV) - Alvin in late February 2025. Alvin, carrying a science observer from both NHHC and ONR, was piloted by WHOI to explore the World War I-era submarine USS F-1 (SS 20), which serves as t...

As part of its digital transformation journey and commitment to sustainable enterprise development (ESG), U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation has proactively addressed information security risks by aligning with international cybersecurity standards and complying with domestic and global regulatory requirements. With the expert guidance from the Information Security Service Digital United Inc. (ISSDU), U-Ming is proud to announce its successful attainment of the latest ISO 27001:2022 Informatio...

Holland Home of Wind Energy (HHWE) and NMT-IRO are pleased to announce that HHWE will officially merge with NMT-IRO as of 1 January 2026. With strong support from its members, HHWE approved the merger proposal during an extraordinary general meeting. This merger marks a significant step in strengthening the (inter)national positioning of the Dutch offshore wind industry. Dutch offshore energy sector The merger brings together two organisations that have long been committed to promoting and su...

Team Electric rose to some special challenges in its successful completion of electrical installation and refit work during Royal Caribbean’s recent high profile drydocking and ‘amplification’ of Allure of the Seas. Despite heavy weather, tight deadlines, and complex coordination across multiple contractors and workstreams, Team Electric showcased its hallmark adaptability and technical expertise to deliver the full scope of work on schedule. Three turnkey suppliers With a t...

As the global shipping industry races to decarbonise and digitalise, Simon Fotakis, Director of Technology Sales at SmartSea, powered by SITA, and a Certified Information Services Security Professional (CISSP) is calling on the industry not to forget about the importance of cybersecurity. Despite increasing digital integration, the maritime sector remains highly vulnerable to cyber threats, many of which target poorly protected onboard IT systems rather than core navigation or pr...

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its Wärtsilä 20 main engine and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for a new 40.9-metre long state-of-the-art fishing vessel, specifically designed for lobster fishing. The vessel, which will operate in North Atlantic waters, has been ordered by Canadian operator Clearwater Seafoods and will be built at the Hvide Sande Shipyard in Denmark. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2025.  Services for the fi...