Digital transformation - News

ABB & StarDream Cruises renew service agreement

ABB and StarDream Cruises strengthen their longstanding collaboration with a new service agreement covering two of the cruise line’s luxury ships – reinforcing a partnership that has helped the evolution of cruise travel in Asia. The five-year agreement covers maintenance and lifecycle support for the cruise ships - Star Navigator and Genting Dream, measuring 269 and 335 metres, respectively. During this period, Star Navigator will undergo two, and Genting Dream one, drydocking proj...

AI in smart shipyards: ABS & HD Hyundai Samho collaboration

ABS and HD Hyundai Samho signed a memorandum of understanding for the technical collaboration for an artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart shipyard. The agreement establishes a cooperative framework for both organisations to leverage smart technologies, such as AI, automation and robotics to identify opportunities for process improvement at HD Hyundai Samho shipyard. ABS will utilise its established Guide for Smart Technologies for Shipyards in the review process. Transforming shipyard...

ABS backs floating nuclear power module concept

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for a concept of a floating small modular reactor (SMR)-powered power module. The design is intended to generate electricity offshore and near shore, supporting port facilities and onshore communities. ABS completed design reviews based on the ABS Requirements for Nuclear Power Systems for Marine and Offshore Applications. Advanced nuclear technology...

AI innovation in ship design by KR & Hyundai Samho

KR (Korean Register) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with HD Hyundai Samho on June 11 to jointly develop AI-based solutions for innovation in ship design and analysis. This partnership is a part of a broader digital transformation strategy aimed at enhancing design productivity and strengthening the capabilities of ship design engineers in the rapidly evolving shipbuilding landscape. The collaboration focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to build a more efficient and accurat...

Proteus maritime fuel cell: Hydrogen power for vessels

Proteus Energy, headquartered in Singapore, has developed the Proteus® Maritime Fuel Cell Solution, a modular hydrogen fuel-based system for ports and vessels. The first offering is the Proteus®75. Each fuel cell stack is 75 kW output, and these can be combined for larger power requirements. Offshore support Symbio is jointly owned by global industrial groups Michelin, Stellantis, and Forvia The vessel types being targeted are harbour craft, and vessels in the coastal, offshore...

Unseenlabs BRO-18: New satellite for maritime security

Unseenlabs, the pioneer in space-based radio frequency (RF) detection, announces the upcoming launch of its latest satellite, BRO-18. This new asset will expand Unseenlabs’ existing constellation and further strengthen its operational capabilities in tracking illegal and unreported maritime activity. The launch is scheduled for NET June 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with the support of Exolaunch. A concrete response to g...

ONE launches sustainable vessel 'ONE Singapore'

Ocean Network Express (“ONE”) announced today the naming of ONE Singapore, the sixth vessel in a series of 20 ammonia/methanol ready container vessels. The naming ceremony took place at the Hiroshima Shipyard of Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Japan, marking another milestone in ONE's fleet expansion program. The 13,900 TEU vessel, which is methanol and ammonia-ready, is another demonstration of ONE's commitment to sustainable shipping practices. Authority comment ONE Singapore...

Future-proof focus at Nor-Shipping 2025

Nor-Shipping has confirmed that its 60th anniversary programme, which ran from 2-6 June in Oslo and Lillestrøm, broke all previous records for the event week. Total visitor numbers were up an impressive 23%, to 63,698 (from 51,948 in 2023), while greater global engagement saw a 24% rise in visiting countries (with decision makers gathering from 104 nations). The number of national pavilions climbed an eye-catching 31%, anchored by major presences from clusters such as India, China and G...

Christopher Wiernicki honoured in maritime industry

ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki was honoured by The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), receiving the 2025 Silver Bell Award for lifelong service and outstanding leadership in the maritime industry. Lives of mariners and seafarers SCI is a nearly 200-year-old charity headquartered in New York that serves and protects the personal and professional lives of mariners and seafarers, both internationally and domestically, by partnering with the maritime industry to ensure dignity w...

WinGD's X-DF-A engines set for Trafigura vessels

Swiss marine power company - WinGD is to deliver X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine designs for four newbuild medium gas carriers (MGC) to be built by HD Hyundai Mipo for Trafigura, a market pioneer in the global commodities industry. The 45,000 cubic.metres vessels will each be powered by a six-cylinder, 52-bore 6X52DF-A engine with high-pressure selective catalytic reduction. WinGD ammonia-carrying vessels The order is one of several that WinGD has received for ammonia-carrying vessels The Traf...

Wärtsilä powers Vertom's sustainable shipping fleet

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply an integrated hybrid propulsion solution for four new 10,700 DWT geared tween decker vessels being built for Dutch ship owner and maritime service provider Vertom Group. Combining the Wärtsilä 25 medium-speed 4-stroke engine with a hybrid propulsion drive train with PTO/PTI/PTH, the package is designed to optimise vessel propulsion efficiency, while enabling sailing modes on batteries without using combustion power. The 10,700 DWT serie...

EV Maritime pioneers electric ferry in New Zealand

EV Maritime, New Zealand’s pioneering electric ferry design and technology company, announced the launch of its first fully electric passenger ferry. The new vessel will operate between downtown Auckland and the suburb of Half Moon Bay. This is the first of the EVM200 class – a series of battery-electric fast ferries built using lightweight carbon fibre. Designed for urban public transport, the EVM200 offers service speeds of up to 25 knots and a range of up to 20 miles. Auckland T...

ITIC resolves $6M legacy claim for ship managers

In a complex case highlighting the risks ship managers face from legacy vessel issues, the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has successfully resolved a US$6 million claim against a ship manager for only a fraction of the original demand. The ship manager took charge of a ship over 12 years old under a SHIPMAN contract, albeit for just a short six-month duration. Despite the brief tenure, the manager faced a substantial claim alleging failure to identify and address pre-existin...

ABB powers Brazilian offshore energy growth with FPSOs

ABB has been awarded a large order by Seatrium, a provider of marine engineering solutions based in Singapore, for the supply of electrical equipment and automation solutions on a new generation of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels for operator Petrobras. The two vessels – P-84 and P-85 – will be deployed in the Atapu and Sépia fields, approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. ABB Ability™ System 800xA® ABB wil...

WFW advises MPCC on $94M container ship sale

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised shipping company MPC Container Ships ASA (“MPCC”) on its strategic sale of seven container ships for a transaction value of US$94m. The disposal is part of MPCC's strategic development and the targeted restructuring of its fleet. MPCC has agreed to sell five ships en bloc to Contships Group, comprising three 1,300 TEU ships and two 2,000 TEU ships. In addition, two further ships have been sold to Seacon Group. Portf...

ABS grants AIP to Pherousa for ammonia tech

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to Pherousa Shipping for its ammonia cracking technology onboard ships, featuring proton exchange membrane fuel cells and fuel gas supply system (FGSS) for fully electric propulsion. The emissions-free propulsion system is targeted for application on Pherousa’s Ultramax 64,000 dwt bulk carrier to transport copper, a key material in solar panels and electric cars, in fully emissions-free vessels. Rapid innovation and new developments “We are s...

Port of Toulon marks milestone installation in France with ABB shore power technology

The commissioning of France’s largest-ever shore power solution for ships at the Port of Toulon has been completed. Operational since February 13, the installation is currently in its final acceptance period. The consortium responsible for delivering the installation was led by ABB, comprising also construction company Eiffage Construction and electrical installation company - Fauché responsible for building and civil engineering services. The facility supports cruise and ferry ve...

DNV validates bound4blue eSAILs® wind propulsion system

bound4blue has taken a major step forward in simplifying the adoption of wind power worldwide, with DNV validation of its ‘wind propulsion system force matrix’ calculation method. This validation provides ship owners, designers, and yards with a trusted, regulation-ready tool to evaluate the performance of bound4blue’s eSAIL®. The validation gives the industry a reliable tool to easily calculate the benefits of bound4blue’s eSAIL® suction sail technology, without...

Kongsberg Maritime signs MoU with India for polar research vessel at Nor-Shipping 2025

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) during the Nor-Shipping 2025 event in Oslo, initiating a collaborative effort to explore the design of India’s first indigenous polar research vessel. The agreement marks a significant milestone in India’s ambitions to strengthen its polar research capabilities and scientific presence in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Kongsberg Maritime signs MoU...

ABS issues approval in principle (AIP) for Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS systems

ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for an innovative new design of a cargo handling system and fuel gas supply system. Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS systems Named Hi-ecoGAS and Hi-neoGAS, the systems are designed to handle boil-off gas in dual-fuel engines on gas carriers. The innovative approach has an optimised fuel gas supply system for feeding the fuel gas to the dual-fuel engine, or an LNG...

Korean Register & HHI's new VLEC design partnership at Nor-Shipping 2025

KR (Korean Register) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) on June 3 during Nor-Shipping 2025 to jointly develop a very large ethane carrier (VLEC). Ethane carriers are high value-added vessels designed to transport liquefied ethane at ultra-low temperatures of around -100°C. These ships require advanced engineering capabilities and highly specialised design expertise due to the complexity of their cargo. New very large ethane carrier (VLEC)...

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) launches Korean ferry, expands global footprint

Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) is pleased to announce a significant milestone with the successful launch of an inter-island passenger ferry at Mokpo, South Korea. This vessel marks the first project from a Korean owner to be classed with IRS, representing a landmark moment in the class society’s growing international footprint. The vessel is being constructed by Miraero Shipbuilding, Ltd for Dea Bu Marine Transport Ltd., and is intended for inter-island service along the Korean coast....

NAVTOR & Chris-Marine partner for enhanced data solutions

NAVTOR has taken another step in its mission to ‘make life easier’ for shipping crews and companies, announcing a fresh strategic partnership with Sweden’s Chris-Marine. The agreement will see Chris-Marine integrate its acclaimed Trust-Ocean data collection system within NAVTOR’s NavBox and NavReporting platforms, empowering greater efficiency and data accuracy for users worldwide. Simple, seamless, accurate Jacob Clausen, Director of Performance, NAVTOR, says the move...

GeoServe's GeoOne reimagines voyage management

Dubai-based GeoServe, a provider of voyage management solutions, announces the launch of GeoOne, a unified Voyage Operations Suite (VOS) that orchestrates multiple digital systems to deliver an innovative, integrated solution. GeoOne integrates all the key functions of a vessel operator’s workflow into a single solution, thereby boosting productivity, improving overall visibility, and reducing operational challenges. This unique platform represents a world-first for marine applications, p...

Wärtsilä's Fit4Power enhances ONE Maestro efficiency

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply a conversion package featuring the company’s Fit4Power radical derating solution for the containership ‘ONE Maestro’. The Fit4Power solution optimises the power output from the ship’s engine, thereby reducing fuel consumption by on average, approximately 13 percent. This will, in turn, reduce emissions. The conversion is also expected to extend the operational life of the vessel. The ship is owned by Ocean Network Express...

Kongsberg Maritime launches K-Sail for wind-assist tech

Kongsberg Maritime has officially launched K-Sail, a new service that helps vessel owners choose and integrate wind-assist technology effectively. Wind-assist technology has rapidly gained popularity and variety over the past few years as ship owners seek ways to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The new K-Sail service helps owners navigate the complexities of adopting wind-assist technology by focusing on integration and collaborating with various technology partners. Wind assist techno...

Navtor Nautical Charts: Boosting maritime security

Seasearcher, the globally renowned maritime intelligence platform, launches Navtor Nautical Charts, a powerful new feature that integrates detailed nautical overlays into Seasearcher’s vessel tracking platform. Navtor Nautical Charts Designed for legal, insurance, and government professionals, Navtor Nautical Charts delivers complete and effortless situational awareness, helping users streamline claims investigations, reduce risks, and make faster, more accurate decisions. By seamlessly...

Korean Register and Hanwha Ocean sign MoU for LNG carrier development at Nor-Shipping 2025

KR (Korean Register) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Hanwha Ocean on June 3 during Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo. The agreements cover the joint development of a 150K ultra-large ammonia carrier and an LNG carrier featuring a forward deckhouse arrangement. The 150K ammonia carrier project aims to develop an ultra-large vessel capable of transporting substantial volumes of ammonia, while also utilising ammonia as marine fuel. Special emphasis will be placed on safety design, given...

KR and SHI sign MoU to jointly develop 3-cargo-tank 174K LNG carrier at Nor-Shipping 2025

KR (Korean Register) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) on June 4 at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo to jointly develop a 174,000㎥ LNG carrier featuring three cargo tanks. Despite the ongoing trend toward larger vessels across all ship types, the 174K LNG carrier remains the standard design in the global LNG shipbuilding market, with dozens of orders placed annually. Revised cargo tank configuration To further enhance the technical competitiveness of thi...

Nor-Shipping 2025: DNV and COSCO sign new class contract for Suezmax DP2 shuttle tanker

Classification society - DNV has signed a new contract with Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry Zhoushan Shipyard (COSCO) during Nor-Shipping 2025 for the classification of a newly contracted methanol-ethanol ready Suezmax DP2 shuttle tanker ordered by Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT). The vessel, part of a broader fleet expansion by KNOT, to be operated under charter to Norwegian energy major - Equinor, marks the latest milestone in a long-standing collaboration between the companies. Suezmax DP...

vfd