Digital transformation - News

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...

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 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...

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 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...

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...

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 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 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...

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) 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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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 (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...

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...

Megamas Resources announced a ship design contract with Norway-based Ulstein Design & Solutions AS to start the engineering phase on a fibre-optic cable-laying vessel (CLV) planned to be built at the Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven GmbH. Capt. Tiew Sien Kheng, managing partner at Megamas, disclosed the contract at Ulstein's booth at the Nor-Shipping exhibition. Multi-purpose cable laying vessel "The contract marks a significant milestone following the Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in May between...

The Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) announced Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) as its National Media Sponsor for the highly anticipated DIMDEX 2026 edition, taking place from 19 to 22 January, 2026, at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), in Doha, Qatar. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and hosted and organised by the Qatar Armed Forces, DIMDEX is set to welcome defence ministers, ch...

On May 22, 2025, during a SEAMAP scientific mission, the team decided to take a small detour, not initially the mission plan, driven by curiosity. They went searching, according to the advises of Karl, their boat captain, a 63-year maritime mystery: the disappearance of the Ravenel in 1962. Equipped with SEABER’s fleet of four AUVs, they scanned 4 km² in just 3 hours using 680 kHz side-scan sonar. The analysis of the first 2 km² revealed nothing but sand—something Karl, wi...

Nor-Shipping, in partnership with YoungShip International, has crowned Alisha Fredriksson, CEO and Co-Founder of pioneering carbon capture company Seabound, winner of the Nor-Shipping 2025 Young Entrepreneur Award. Fredriksson collected the accolade yesterday evening in Oslo, triumphing over a high-quality shortlist featuring Kvasir Technologies’ CEO Joachim Bachmann Nielsen, Fabian Fussek, Co-Founder and CEO of Kaiko Systems, and Josephine Le, Founder of The Hood Platform. Fredriksson n...

Kongsberg Maritime announced the launch of its new Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS). This advanced system lets shipowners and operators effectively monitor and control vessel emissions, ensuring compliance with increasingly stringent environmental regulations and optimising fuel efficiency. Kongsberg CEMS uses innovative sensor technology to provide accurate and continuous measurement of key greenhouse gases, including CO₂, CH₄, SOx, NOx, and CO. Decarbonisation strategies Unlike...

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...

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...