Digital transformation - News

With increasing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the shipping industry must accelerate decarbonisation while ensuring operational and economic viability. Energy-efficiency measures can play a crucial role in reducing fuel consumption and facilitating the transition to alternative fuels as they become available. To help shipowners identify the best solutions for their fleet, DNV has published a report offering a comprehensive overview of currently available energy-efficiency measures a...

A new deep water bulk berth has been opened at the Port of Liverpool which will give a major boost to the port’s cargo handling operations. The first deep water bulk berth to be opened at the port in 40 years is located at Peel Ports Group’s Alexandra Complex, and represents an investment of £2 million by Peel Ports as part of its ongoing development of the Alexandra Complex. Bulk storage and handling requirements The new addition will increase the vessel handling capacity o...

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will supply the cargo handling systems for three 45,000 m3 capacity gas carrier vessels being built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in Korea. The order was placed by HMD and booked by Wärtsilä in Q1, 2025. Two of the ships have been contracted by Singapore and Hong Kong headquartered ship owner/operator Purus, and the third by Pasco Gas, based in Istanbul, Turkey. Both owners have previously or...

The Dynamic Positioning Digital Survey (DPDS) from Kongsberg Marine has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS. The DPDS application from Kongsberg continuously gathers data from a vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system, allowing annual DP surveys to move from in-person assessments on the vessel in a fixed timeframe to remote analysis onshore across a wider, more flexible timeframe. Evolution of digital solutions Per Kongsberg, the DPDS app contributes to reduced vessel downtim...

The impact of carbon capture and digital technologies as well as IMO Mid-Term Measures and FuelEU on the cost of compliance led the discussion at the ABS Middle East Regional Committee Meeting. The committee welcomed Khalid Alhammad, President of Bahri Ship Management, who started his term as chairman of the ABS Middle East Regional Committee. Environmental sustainability and excellence Alhammad said: “This forum has an important role in fostering collaboration among industry pione...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is advising InfraVia Capital Partners (“InfraVia”), through its InfraVia European Fund VI, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (“LDA”), the French family-owned group specialising in high value-added industrial marine services. Expected to be completed in H1 2025, the transaction is subject to prior consultation with employee representative bodies and the usual regulatory approvals. New modes...

COLI Shipping & Transport (Guyana) Inc., part of COLI Group, has successfully completed its first major logistics projects, marking a significant milestone for the company’s operations in the region. With Guyana’s rapidly expanding economy and growing Oil & Gas sector, COLI Guyana is positioning itself as a trusted logistics provider for project cargo, heavy-lift, and specialised transport solutions. Terrain crane-with XPD Global The crane measured 16.19 metres in length a...

CIBC Innovation Banking announces that it has provided a $20 million USD debt financing to ZeroNorth, a technology company focused on the maritime industry. ZeroNorth will use the funding to fuel its growth strategy through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with the goal of enhancing access to data, acquiring innovative technologies, and expanding market share. Maritime digital transformation ZeroNorth’s customers have optimised 1.5 million voyages through the company’s platform...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for an ammonia-fuelled ammonia bunkering vessel. This vessel is jointly developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and LMG Marin AS (a member of the Seatrium Group). As ammonia fuel utilization is expected in shipping for decarbonization, bunkering vessels that supply fuel to ships and related equipment will play an essential role in the supply chain. Fuel engines from IHI Power Systems Additionally, a safety verification was conduc...

Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (the Program), which is jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the LNG-fueled car carrier ‘OCEANUS HIGHWAY’ (IMO No. 1046049), owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE). DBJ provided financing to "K" LINE. In the shipping industry, where environmental regulations are becoming stricter as the industry moves towards decarbonisation, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scor...

ABS approved the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) documents for a deep water floating offshore wind platform design from ECO TLP, Inc. and MOCEAN-Offshore BV. The unique design supports the largest wind turbines on the market and utilises slip-formed cylindrical concrete hulls and a variety of anchor types. Challenges to renewable energy ABS completed design reviews based on class and supporting offshore standards When combined with a hybrid spar tension-leg mooring system, the unit has a...

Norsepower, the provider of wind propulsion systems, announces a new collaboration with Climate Tech start-up Syroco. Together, the two companies are delivering innovative energy efficiency solutions for merchant vessels, reducing fuel consumption, minimising carbon emissions, and accurately measuring the savings enabled by Norsepower Rotor Sails™. The joint deployment of Norsepower and Syroco onboard Socatra’s tanker Alcyone demonstrates how combining wind propulsion with cutting-e...

Fleet safety and efficiency improvements see Turkiye's pioneer shipowner sign a new three-year contract for global weather intelligence provider's comprehensive performance monitoring platform.  Yasa has subscribed to Weathernews' market-pioneer SeaNavigator platform for the past two years and will continue with its premium package that includes route optimization, accurate vessel performance monitoring, and full environmental support covering CII (Carbon Intensity Index), EU ETS, CO2 Emis...

D-Fend Solutions, the pioneer in field-proven radio frequency (RF) cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming, counter-drone takeover technology, announces the launch of EnforceAir2 Maritime, a specialised version of its award-winning EnforceAir2 system, tailored to meet the unique needs of Counter-UAS operations in maritime environments. Designed with the demanding conditions of open-sea and near-shore operations in mind, EnforceAir2 Maritime is purpose built to reliably deliver unparalleled perfor...

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a service representation agreement with G-jet s.r.l., a prominent service provider in the yacht segment and part of the V610 AG group. The agreement aims to strengthen customer support for Kongsberg Maritime’s Kamewa waterjets, ensuring yacht customers receive the highest level of service and expertise. Strengthening Service Excellence Kongsberg's waterjets provide exceptional durability and performance, catering to diverse operational requirements “W...

bound4blue has completed the installation of its breakthrough eSAIL® suction sails on tanker vessel Pacific Sentinel with a streamlined single-stop process for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) at Besiktas Shipyard in Turkey during a planned drydocking. Three 22-metre, DNV Type Approved eSAILs® were installed on the 50,000dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned. Overall energy consumption The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory wor...

Government agency Innovation Norway provides sustainable hull-cleaning pioneer ECOsubsea with a NOK 69m (USD 6.2m) Green Growth Loan that will part-fund the construction of more of the company's next-generation hull-cleaning robots, as it gears up to significantly expand its operations in the world's second-busiest port. The Austevoll-based company undertook its first commercial clean in Singapore in the autumn, using its first next-generation cleaning robot dubbed the 'Pink Panther'....

The UK is well positioned to lead the safe development and deployment of new nuclear power systems for commercial ships and Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs), according to a new report from CORE POWER, NorthStandard and Lloyd’s Register (LR). Technology company CORE POWER, global marine insurer NorthStandard and maritime professional services provider LR have jointly published Advanced Maritime Nuclear: A unique opportunity for the UK.  Deployment of small nuclear reactors...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already driving huge changes across the world and is starting to have an impact on the maritime industry, but its transformative potential depends on addressing fundamental challenges first.  While AI promises increased efficiency, intelligent automation, and decision support, its adoption in shipping software requires a strong foundation of well-structured and engineered data, a shift in digital mentality, and a realistic approach to evaluating solutions....

New nuclear reactor technology represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for U.S. industrial policy. Vessels propelled by advanced small modular reactors (SMR) could act as a catalyst for the revitalisation of U.S. shipbuilding. That is the view of ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki, who believes the next step is the development of a marinised SMR demonstrator. New industrial policy “It is a key transformational technology. It changes the commercial model, the economics o...

ABB has secured orders from shipbuilders in China and South Korea to equip 18 and 12 liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers, respectively, with permanent magnet shaft generator technology. The ships are due for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Enhancing operational efficiency by utilising the power from the main engine, ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system improves fuel economy compared to solutions where power is provided by auxiliary engines. Magnet shaft generator solution The...

Watson Farley & Williams (‘WFW’) advised Eurazeo, acting as lead investor via its Eurazeo Transition Infrastructure Fund, on a €70 million investment in new offshore service vessel platform MPC OSE Offshore. The platform, a joint venture between MPC Capital and O.S. Energy, helps develop, build and manage service support vessels for offshore wind farms. The consortium of investors comprised European family office and others in addition to Eurazeo. Watson Farley & Willi...

Watson Farley & Williams (‘WFW’) advised BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered Bank as co-documentation banks and DNB Bank ASA, New York, as agent, on a US$500 million revolving credit facility to Scorpio Tankers Inc. (‘Scorpio Tankers’). The oversubscribed credit facility was provided by a group of eight banks. The facility is a revolving credit facility with a seven year maturity date and provides Scorpio Tankers the flexibility to draw down or repay the loan during t...

Marcura unveils a bold new look and new AI capabilities, part of a broader transformation to connect its industry-pioneering solutions and drive greater efficiency for customers. Marcura powers some of the most trusted solutions in maritime, including DA-Desk, ShipServ, MarTrust, ClaimsHub, and PortLog. Collectively, the pioneer in digital maritime solutions handles 200,000 port calls annually, manage over 6 million SOF events, facilitate $21.6 billion in payments and pay 36,000 crew digitally....

James Fisher & Sons plc, a pioneering provider of specialist services to the energy, marine and defence industries, launches a new legal entity in Japan, reinforcing its long-term commitment to Japan and its footprint in North East Asia. The move furthers James Fisher’s intention to bring its integrated offering and innovative, sustainable solutions to the country’s energy transition, maritime security and defence needs. Japan’s industrial ambitions Fisher can use both i...

Watson Farley & Williams advised long-standing client TUI Cruises GmbH on the delivery of the Mein Schiff Relax, the eighth ship in the Mein Schiff series and TUI Cruises’ first to be built at Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard. The Mein Schiff Relax is the first of two InTUItion-class ships being built at Fincantieri for TUI Cruises. The vessel marks a new era for the Mein Schiff experience, setting new standards in terms of comfort, exclusivity and feel-good atmospher...

NorthStandard has announced an exclusive collaboration with pioneering maritime digital decarbonisation experts BetterSea. The new partnership will allow NorthStandard members heavily discounted access to the BetterSea FuelEU Maritime Compliance service, including its in-house digital support resources. GHG intensity of energy New FuelEU Maritime reporting requirements for shipping companies began on January 1 2025 The new FuelEU Maritime reporting requirements for shipping companies began...

The race for industry recognition is on at Nor-Shipping 2025, with today’s launch of the prestigious Next Generation Ship and Ocean Solutions Awards. The accolades support the exhibition and event week’s main theme of #future-proof, as major global innovators compete against one another to showcase truly defining projects and solutions. Both awards, which hold extra significance coming in Nor-Shipping’s 60th anniversary year, will be judged by expert panels, with Remi Erikson...

Kongsberg Maritime has developed an innovative mooring-capable solution for Offshore Construction Vessels (OSCVs), expanding the capabilities of OSCVs beyond their current scope to include the pre-lay of mooring lines as a natural extension to original suction anchor capabilities. By integrating a purpose-designed anchor handling winch, shark jaws and stern rollers into the design of OSCVs at the newbuild stage, vessel owners can now equip their ships to perform a broader range of mooring opera...

Ocean Network Express is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its corporate history with the naming of ONE Sparkle, the company's first owned and operated new building container vessel. Says Jeremy Nixon, CEO, "The naming of ONE Sparkle represents another important milestone for ONE. This vessel is our first owned newbuilding, and it also showcases our commitment to sustainable shipping with its innovative design and alternative fuel capabilities. As we expand our owned fleet, these a...