Regulations - News

Global law firm Reed Smith hosted a breakfast seminar as part of London International Shipping Week (LISW), bringing together insurers, financiers, and other key stakeholders across the maritime industry. The event, titled ‘Navigating Uncharted Waters: Legal Risk in a Changing World’s featured an interactive panel discussion by pioneering figures from the maritime and legal sectors. Speakers addressed critical challenges facing the shipping industry now, including international...

“It is a constantly changing picture, which is extremely challenging for a lot of our clients. Basically, there has been a huge increase in the volume of cases when it comes to sanctions-related issues.” How does one navigate their way through a plethora of new and constantly changing rules that can affect large parts of their business, some of which one may not even be aware of until the very last minute? Combine that with those rules being made by several different jurisdictions...

bound4blue has taken another step forward in its mission to accelerate and simplify the adoption of wind power, with the validation of its ‘wind propulsion system force matrix calculation methodology’ by Lloyd’s Register (LR). The validation gives shipowners a robust, credible and compliant means to calculate the Pwind value of installations, ensuring they unlock full regulatory (and cost) benefits under frameworks such as FuelEU Maritime, and EEDI/EEXI. Advanced CFD-based ca...

“The IMO has a critical role in delivering a unified global framework, something the industry needs if we are to avoid the fragmentation and inefficiencies arising from a patchwork of regional regulation. This is important but it is equally important we get it right.” That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO - Christopher J. Wiernicki in a keynote address to the Capital Link Conference at London International Shipping Week. Green fuel scaling and technology de...

“Shipping and the IMO are on different trajectories. There is no clear pathway for green fuel availability and scalability and infrastructure support. LNG and biofuels are mission critical to any success and should not be overlooked, over penalised or discarded in the Net Zero regulation. Quite frankly, achieving net zero for shipping by 2050 looks like a wildcard.” That was the message for the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO - Christopher J. Wiernicki at the launch of the 2025...

ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a large liquefied CO2 carrier (50,000 m3) jointly developed by Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co., Ltd. (DSOC) and Nantong Offshore Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd (NODRI). The certification confirms the feasibility of the vessel from regulatory and safety perspectives. Advanced decarbonisation initiatives ClassNK reviewed the design concept of the vessel based on its 'Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ship...

DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HD HMD) for an ammonia dual-fuel medium gas carrier (MGC) design featuring a forward accommodation layout. The AiP was presented to Mr. D.J. Lee, Executive Vice President/Head of Initial Design Division & Detailed Design Division at HD HMD, by Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager for Korea & Japan at DNV, during a ceremony at Gastech 2025. Integrating future technology solutions The vessel concept relocates the cre...

KR (Korean Register) announced on September 10 at Gastech 2025 that it has granted an Approval in Principle (AIP) for an LNG Boil-off Gas (BOG) Treatment System jointly developed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and Donghwa Pneutec. The AIP, awarded in cooperation with the Liberian Registry (LISCR), is based on a concept proposed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE).  BOG treatment system Newly developed BOG treatment system is designed for installation an...

New insights from DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 show that shipping’s energy transition is entering a new phase: One defined by strategic investment, accelerating fleet readiness, and emerging regulatory developments. With the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework (NZF) approved but pending adoption in October, and the number of alternative-fuel-capable vessels in operation set to almost double by 2028, shipowners are shifting from preparation to action. Consumption of low-GHG fuels By...

KR (Korean Register) has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) for the ammonia-fuelled ship safety solution ‘Hi-CLEARS’ (Hyundai integrated Clean Liquid based Ammonia Release mitigation system with SCR). The system was developed in collaboration with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and was announced on September 11 at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy.  Future international technical standards The approval is the re...

Fukui Seisakusho Co., Ltd. and ClassNK have signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for joint consideration of ultra-high pressure safety relief valves designed for the use in hydrogen dual-fuel engines, and hosted a signing ceremony at the 'Gastech 2025' exhibition being held in Milan, Italy.  Both parties agreed in 2023 to jointly conduct study for installation of safety relief valves for cargo tanks of liquefied hydrogen carriers on actual ships, and signed a MOU in 'Gastech 2023'....

KR (Korean Register) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Samho on September 9 at Gastech 2025 in Milan, the world’s largest gas and energy exhibition. The two companies will jointly develop a water circulation system for the double-wall pipe annular space of ammonia-fueled vessels, aiming to enhance the safety of next-generation ships powered by ammonia. Ship design and operation Ammonia is drawing watch as a next-generation carbon-free fuel, but its toxicity and...

Brownell Boat Stands & Equipment, manufacturer of the highest-quality, safest boat storage equipment on the market, now in its 70th year of operation, announced the expansion of its leadership team with the addition of Matt Duggan in the role of VP of Sales & Business Development. Duggan joins Brownell with a wealth of marine industry experience, having most recently spent the last three years with Edson Marine in New Bedford, Mass., where he worked with both OEM and retail customers as...

ABS issued approval in principle to HD Hyundai Mipo for its design development of a 30,000 CBM liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrying and bunkering vessel. The design is intended to carry LNG as cargo as well as bunker fuel for a wide variety of receiving vessels. ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements. “LNG continues to be an important option in the alternative fuel mix. We are proud to support pioneering clients like HD Hyundai Mipo whose design has the po...

BW Epic Kosan (BWEK), a world pioneer in LPG, petrochemicals and speciality gas transportation, has signed an agreement with bound4blue for the installation of a 24 metre tall eSAIL® suction sail on the 2007-buit Helena Kosan. The autonomous wind propulsion system, to be installed in 2026, will allow BWEK to save fuel, cut emissions, reduce costs and simplify regulatory compliance, as the Singapore-based company invests to support industry decarbonisation goals. Safe, simple sailing &ldqu...

ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for an ammonia fuelled LPG/NH₃ carrier, applied for jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. The certification demonstrates its feasibility from regulatory and safety perspectives. Ammonia, which does not emit CO₂ during combustion, is expected to see wider use as a zero-carbon fuel for ships. At present, various studies and development efforts are underway to bring ammonia fuelled ships into practical use. Intern...

Procureship, the maritime industry’s renowned e-procurement platform provider, has partnered with Copenhagen-based climate data specialist - ReFlow to launch a new Scope 3 emissions solution to enable ship owners, operators, and managers to prepare for new climate-related reporting requirements by mapping emissions across their procurement value chains. As shipping stakeholders begin to respond to new requirements set out by the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), ther...

Moving from concept to early-stage implementation in just five years, ammonia has a path to becoming a low-GHG fuel alternative for deep-sea shipping, according to a new paper from DNV. DNV’s new report, Ammonia in Shipping: Tracing the Emergence of a New Fuel, addresses the key barriers to the uptake of ammonia and outlines a two-phase pathway for its widespread adoption in shipping. The first phase would see the building, fuelling, and operation of a pioneering ammonia-powered fleet c...

ION Commodities, a pioneer in energy and commodity management solutions, is relaunching Softmar as a SaaS platform, expanding beyond chartering and operations to address the new realities of freight management. Volatility, sanctions, and tougher emissions and regulatory rules are redefining freight markets. Rate swings are squeezing shipowners’ margins, while traders grapple with rising costs and compliance obligations. Global commodity supply chains This unpredictability has...

ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, announced the launch of ABS Wavesight Advantage, a powerful new intelligent platform designed to transform regulatory complexity into operational clarity. Built as a single source of truth, the platform connects vessels, shore teams, and systems — empowering maritime experts to make smarter, faster decisions with confidence. Connected platform “In an industry where every ton and every ton-mile matters, the pr...

Swiss marine power company - WinGD and marine engine manufacturer - Hanwha Engine have successfully produced the world's first X72DF-2.2 VCR engine equipped with Variable Compression Ratio technology. This next-generation low-emission engine technology, developed by WinGD for ships using both LNG and diesel fuel, maximises fuel efficiency and reduces methane slip, which means vessels can operate more cleanly and cost-effectively, ensuring compliance with stricter emissions regulations. Initiat...

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) celebrates the first anniversary of SIRE 2.0, its updated and enhanced Ship Inspection Report Programme, recognising a year since the global implementation of the overhauled tanker inspection programme. Since its launch on 2 September 2024, following a gradual roll-out to the industry to replace the paper-based SIRE (VIQ7) programme, over 22,000 SIRE 2.0 inspections have been completed worldwide. Adoption of the new programme SIRE 2.0 inspe...

Kongsberg Discovery is targeting a global roll out of advanced passive acoustic technology, helping markets such as the oil, gas and naval sectors detect operational anomalies from the outset, safeguarding critical subsea assets and environments. The push comes with the full integration of Bergen, Norway’s Naxys Technologies into the company, following on from its acquisition in January this year. Kongsberg Discovery is a world pioneer in advanced ocean sensors and robotics.  Trans...

Goltens Worldwide, the major independent provider of specialised repair and retrofit services to the marine and power industries, is proud to announce the grand opening of its new service workshop in Batam, Indonesia. This expansion further strengthens Goltens’ presence in Southeast Asia and reinforces its commitment to delivering world-class engineering and service solutions to ship-owners and operators across the region. Strategically located near Singapore, Batam has rapidly grown int...

OceanScore has announced the launch of the OceanScore Pool-Price Index (OPX), the maritime industry's most comprehensive benchmark for tracking FuelEU pooling prices.  Published monthly, the OPX reflects the average cost of compliance surplus in euro per ton of CO2e, and serves as a benchmark for comparing individual surplus offers, assessing biofuel-based compliance and for negotiating compensations in Charter Party and SHIPMAN agreements. The index addresses market transparency gaps by...

DNV has released a revision of its Maritime Simulator Systems Standard (DNV-ST-0033), reflecting the growing diversity of simulation technologies used in maritime training and certification. As vessel systems become more complex and alternative fuels gain traction, simulation is playing an increasingly central role in preparing seafarers and maritime professionals for operational realities. The revised standard responds to these developments by refining class definitions and expanding simulati...

ABS awarded Classification to the Saildrone Surveyor, a fully autonomous deepwater unmanned surface vehicle (USV). At 20 metres long and capable of unmanned operations across all of the world’s oceans, the Surveyor breaks new ground.  The Surveyor is the largest class of USVs from Saildrone, a provider of maritime security, ocean mapping, and meteorological and oceanographic data using unmanned autonomous assets. Investments in ABS’ technical capability “ABS and Saildro...

Daphne Technology has released a new white paper: From Assumptions to Accuracy-Unlocking the Value of Direct Emissions Monitoring in the Maritime Industry. The publication examines the limitations of estimation-based emissions reporting and explains how direct measurement offers a more accurate, transparent, and future-proof approach. Quality of emissions data The quality of emissions data is becoming a financial and operational priority for shipowners and operators As regulations tight...

OrbitMI, a globally renowned provider of maritime SaaS software, announced its acquisition of Gale Force, a respected provider of maritime advisory services. Gale Force specialises in voyage optimisation, environmental compliance, and voyage execution support. This acquisition represents a strategic step forward in OrbitMI’s mission to deliver a comprehensive, intelligent maritime platform that meets the evolving expectations of clients. Integrating Gale Force’s expertise OrbitMI...

The shipping company Baleària has reached agreements with the owner of Armas Trasmediterránea to acquire its operations in the Canary Islands and Alboran Sea, as well as part of the Strait of Gibraltar, which has been largely acquired by the Danish shipping group DFDS. The transaction, which is pending the implementation of resolutions from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC), would involve the management of 15 vessels and the operation of maritime lines, as...