Regulations - News

The performance of Hempel’s cutting-edge silicone-based hull coating solution, Hempaguard X7, and its ability to accelerate decarbonisation efforts in the maritime industry are now third-party validated by DNV. Since its launch in 2013, Hempaguard has provided vessels around the world with significant energy efficiency compared to the industry average and contributed to substantial reductions in carbon emissions. With this external validation by DNV, Hempel is now better able to demonstra...

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has advised the lenders, led by Citi, on the financing and subsequent delivery of Royal Caribbean’s latest flagship vessel, “Utopia of the Seas”. The Norton Rose Fulbright team advised on all aspects of the transaction, including the original financing arrangements and, most recently, the delivery of the vessel. The vessel is the latest Royal Caribbean vessel financed under a French ECA-supported receivable purchase financing and post-deli...

North, a pioneering provider of smart integrated solutions, has been awarded contracts to the value of £1 million by the Port of Aberdeen to improve the safety, connectivity and sustainability of Scotland’s largest berthing port. The contract includes the upgrade and expansion of the port’s CCTV and security systems and the deployment of private 5G, public Wi-Fi and IoT networks to support a range of solutions to improve operations and customer experience. Marine infrastructu...

The shipping community is appalled and deeply saddened with the tragic news that, yet another seafarer seems certain to have been killed in a drone boat strike on Wednesday 12 June while on board the MV Tutor in the Red Sea. They utterly condemn these assaults which directly contravene the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation. Thoughts and condolences go to the family and loved ones of the seafarer who tragically lost their life. It is deplorable that innocent seafarer...

Oceania Cruises, the world's pioneering culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has revealed the next chapter in its culinary story as it highlights new Relaxed Yet Refined dining venues aboard its eight small, luxurious ships. New sushi and Indian cuisine offerings at Terrace Café and a revamped poolside lunch menu at Waves Grill are in the spotlight as the line redefines The Finest Cuisine at Sea. Winning specialty restaurants Frank A. Del Rio, President of Oceania Cruises, co...

Defence giants HII and Babcock have formed a ground-breaking new joint venture and entity – H&B Defence – to accelerate the development of critical sovereign capability for the once-in-a-generation AUKUS conventional armed, nuclear-powered submarine program. H&B Defence combines nuclear submarine and shipbuilding experience from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to support the nation’s inaugural nuclear-powered submarine program under AUKUS. Skilled...

As part of a CEF Study project co-funded by the European Union, Port of Rotterdam, in collaboration with the municipality of Rotterdam and various partners in the port of Rotterdam, is conducting four feasibility studies for shore power. This takes place at four large terminals in the port of Rotterdam; the ECT (Amazonehaven), APMT2 (Amaliahaven), VOPAK (Vlaardingen) and the Cruise terminal (Wilhelminakade). The studies consist of different parts; detailed technical studies, environmental and s...

The marine tech company Frugal Technologies is advancing its class-approved Frugal Propulsion, a cost-, fuel-, and emissions-saving system for large vessels. The solution also shows temperature, pressure - and vibration deviations, helping engineers and shipowners make smarter decisions. AI-based control system With an artificial intelligence-based control system, Frugal Technologies has helped shipping companies such as Uni-Tankers, Christiania Shipping, and Royal Arctic Line reduce fuel con...

SRC Group and GREEN MARINE have signed a collaborative agreement that brings two of the strongest advocates of methanol as a marine fuel together to develop and deliver Methanol Superstorage to market. SPS Technology The cooperation aims to realise the benefits available to SRC’s Methanol Superstorage solution, which has been turning heads among owners, builders, repairers, class societies, and insurers since its launch. Using the SPS Technology Sandwich Plate System instead of traditio...

From June 10-13, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partnered with the Government of Indonesia under the U.S. Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement and U.S. Department of Defence Threat Reduction Agency programmes to enhance the security and resilience of the international maritime transportation system. Cybersecurity and incident response This reflects a joint commitment by both nations to strengthen cybersecurity collaboration and protect maritime crit...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have emerged as significant priorities within the maritime industry's pursuit of sustainability. However, the industry's genuine commitment to embracing diversity, particularly concerning sexuality and gender, remains a topic of exploration. LGBTQ+: Beyond acronyms The LGBTQ+ community, comprising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer individuals and many other inclusive identities, has long fought for societal acceptance. Historical taboos, social s...

Technology group - Wärtsilä announced it will supply its EnergoFlow and EnergoProFin propulsion solutions to four medium-range ('MR') tankers in the International Seaways fleet.  The devices will be used to upgrade the ships’ existing Wärtsilä controllable pitch propeller system resulting in an estimated five percent (5%) in fuel savings. These will be the first Ice Class 1A FS vessels to be fitted with the EnergoFlow solution. The order was booked by Wärtsil...

Norway-based maritime technology business, Shipnet, has collaborated with Source2Sea in an initiative to drive data-based and transparent catalogue ordering within the maritime supply industry. The PunchOut integration allows Shipnet users to access Source2Sea’s marketplace without leaving Shipnet, optimising the ordering processes onboard and the building and maintenance of procurement product data and assortments. Linking procurement systems Linking procurement systems with supplier c...

It is the launch of the International Maritime Cyber Security Organisation (IMCSO), an organisation that aims to raise the standard of cybersecurity risk assessment across the maritime industry. IMCSO The IMCSO has devised a certification programme for security consultants and a professional register, helping shipping organisations to confidently select experienced personnel. Alongside this, the IMCSO will also validate report outputs to ensure consistency with those reports then held on a ce...

Watson Farley & Williams advised Crédit Mutuel Impact and Atlante Gestion on their equity investment in SO TOWT to finance the construction of six new sailing cargo ships for TOWT TransOceanic Wind Transport (“TOWT”), the pioneering French low-carbon shipping company. The six new vessels are being built in Brittany’s Piriou shipyards for delivery in 2027. Once operational they will join the first two vessels of TOWT’s fleet, which are expected to enter commerc...

FuelEU Maritime, an EU regulation aimed at promoting the decarbonisation of fuels used on board ships, has entered into force and will apply to all ships above 5,000 gross tonnages calling at EU ports from January 1, 2025. FAQs on the FuelEU maritime In this 'FAQs on the FuelEU Maritime (2nd Edition)', the explanation regarding the responsible entities under the regulation and the necessary regulatory compliance timeline for shipping companies have been added, and the contents have been update...

It was destroyed in an explosion during the Blitz, hosted Cunard liners during the 1960s, and was a key link for trade in everything from sugar to second-hand appliances. Now an industrial site on the Mersey docklands is looking for a new occupier to continue the story of the extraordinary site. The rare lot of land at Huskisson Dock, owned by the UK’s second largest port operator, Peel Ports, will serve as an ideal hub for companies working in the distribution, manufacturing, and sp...

STAR Capital, a pioneering European investment fund manager, is pleased to announce that the STAR IV Fund has signed an agreement to acquire V.Group, a global provider of mission-critical services to the maritime industry.  STAR will lead a consortium of investors including Ackermans & van Haaren and others to partner with V.Group’s management team. The transaction is subject to regulatory consents and is expected to complete in early autumn 2024. Financial terms have not been di...

Energy Solutions, the provider of cost-efficient sustainable hybrid power solutions, was proud to support the 2024 British Marine Electrical and Electronics Association (BMEEA) annual marine apprenticeship competition held at the Seawork Expo 2024. The three-day show in Southampton, Europe’s largest on-water commercial marine and workboat exhibition was a big success, and excitement built for the apprenticeship competition held on the final day. Marine electrical and electronics The Bri...

Ocean Harvesting is currently developing generation 6 of its wave energy converter InfinityWEC in close collaboration with ball screw manufacturer NSK. A ball screw is a very good actuator providing a high ratio between linear motion and rotation to the generator, high efficiency, low weight and long life. However, ball screws are sensitive to the side forces and bending moments in the PTO caused by the surge motion of the buoy and high speeds that may occur in large waves. This challenge in th...

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has received a large order for its 50-tonne active heave compensated (AHC) crane to be installed on board MMA Valour, a versatile and flexible multi-purpose platform supply vessel. The vessel has a proven track record in servicing a broad range of offshore work scopes across the energy and offshore wind sectors. The contract has been booked into Cargotec’s second-quarter 2024 order intake, with crane supply scheduled for the third quarter of 2025. Successful d...

Global demand in subsea markets for oil and gas continues to help drive growth at manufacturing, assembly and testing specialist Express Engineering, which is investing in capital equipment and its workforce. The international business, based in Gateshead in the North of England, has been enjoying buoyant growth during the last 12-18 months – growing its workforce while building a record pipeline of new work. With buoyant oil and gas prices and optimistic five-year forecasts from ene...

ABS has published a new notation that enables containership operators to load an additional tier of containers on deck with reduced risk of loss due to parametric rolling. CLP-V(PARR) combines the ABS Computer Lashing Program notation with mandatory Parametric Roll guidance to allow operators to optimise stowage and lashing of containers without loss of safety margin. Flexible loading configurations “Optimising container loading is key to efficient vessel operations but also has a found...

Future newbuild ships of all types should be built without a sterntube and with a seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing arrangement, according to Blue Ocean Alliance’s Chris Leontopoulos. Speaking at a recent maritime industry forum in Hamburg, Mr. Leontopoulos said the sterntubeless ship design – jointly developed by Blue Ocean Alliance members ABS, Thordon Bearings, Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), Wärtsilä, and the National Technical...

Crew proficiency in safe boat handling is vital for effective response with mission-critical naval operations - and US Navy personnel have been put through their paces to get up to speed with advanced davits being supplied by Vestdavit Inc. for a series of newly built expeditionary sea base (ESB) ships. Crew and davit operators serving on the newly commissioned USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) recently participated in operational training conducted by Vestdavit at a naval base in San Diego, Californi...

BERG Propulsion has won a contract covering the hybrid propulsion solution that ensure three wind-assisted Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels will maximise efficiency regardless of their mode of operation. Following delivery by China’s Wuchang Shipbuilding from 2026 onwards, the innovative vessels will carry Airbus A320 Family jetliner subassemblies from France (Saint-Nazaire) to the final assembly line in the United States (Mobile, Alabama). The ships have been designed by Delta...

Mr. Arno Nommensen has been appointed as the new Managing Director as of June 11. With over 24 years of experience, Arno is a highly motivated and focused sales and business development expert in the maritime industry. “After more than two decades of cooperation with Alphatron Marine from my previous position as a supplier, I feel very much honoured and proud to step into my new role as Managing Director of Alphatron Marine Germany. Together with the entire team, we will further build t...

Milaha, one of the largest and most diversified maritime and logistics companies in the Middle East, acquired the NAUTIS simulator to significantly enhance their crew’s ship-handling skills and ensure they are well-prepared for their upcoming duties. The NAUTIS simulator, initially installed at Milaha in 2015, has undergone several upgrades to its TVs and control panels over the years. Testament to Milaha’s dedication The simulator allows for the creation of scenarios...

Strategic Marine, a pioneering aluminium shipbuilder, is pleased to announce the construction of four 27m Z-Bow Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs) to Ventus Marine in Europe and Taiwan. This milestone project is the result of a collaborative effort with renowned design firm BMT Limited, showcasing the latest advancements in marine engineering and technology. The contract signing signifies Strategic Marine’s commitment to delivering top-quality vessels tailored to meet the needs of the offshore...

Hefring Marine has announced a new partnership with Loodswezen, aiming to improve the safety and efficiency of the Dutch pilotage associations operations by installing the Intelligent Marine Assistance System (IMAS) on its latest pilot tenders. Loodswezen, also known as the Dutch Pilots' Corporation, is responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient navigation of vessels through Dutch waters. This includes providing pilotage services for ships entering and leaving ports, navigating through riv...