Skills - News

In Rotterdam, the Eco Maestro was christened, the first dual-fuel container vessel to sail on methanol. Rotterdam will be the home port to all fourteen vessels of the Singapore X-Press Feeders. X-press Feeders aims to have these ‘green vessels’ sail mainly on routes in Europe, which means there will be a first network of feeders sailing on green methanol in Europe. The Taiwan container shipping company Evergreen Feeders has signed a contract to that end with the Singapore feeder shi...

Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has bolstered its Marine Finance business with the appointment of an experienced front and back-office team, as it looks to grow its support for the maritime sector. First launching in 2023, BFS Marine Finance provides specialist financing and support to the sector across a wide range of vessel types, including wind farm service vessels, general purpose workboats, passenger vessels and ferries, survey vessels, tugs and barges, coastal ships, charter boats and hire...

National Maritime, in partnership with the University of Greenwich, will host a two-day conference and exhibition exploring sustainable practices and business opportunities in the maritime realm. The 4th Society & the Sea International Conference 2024 will take place on the 9th and 10th of September 2024 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maritime Greenwich. The theme of the conference is ‘To be truly blue, we must also think green: developing a sustainable blue economy needs b...

ITOCHU Corporation, ClassNK, Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd., and Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a joint study for the design and safety specifications of ammonia-fuelled ships which are under development by ITOCHU and partners. Ammonia is advancing as a viable marine fuel solution for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. The discussion for a specification of ammonia-fuelled ship with governmental body related to their op...

A pair of dual fuel (diesel and LNG) RAstar 4200-DF standby vessels have recently entered service with Hongkong Salvage & Towage (HKST). Built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, LNG Sentinel I and LNG Sentinel II were specifically designed for service at the Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited (HKLTL) import terminal. Featuring a unique electrical propulsion system with Z-drives that can receive power from both diesel and dual fuel (diesel and LNG) propulsion gensets, these vessels will help maintain a saf...

Peninsula, the global pioneer in marine energy solutions, is pleased to announce the successful LNG bunkering of the car carrier - Thor Highway by their LNG bunker vessel, Levante LNG.  The supply operation was carried out for their customer - “K” LINE in Gibraltar. Thor Highway The Thor Highway, operated by “K” LINE, is a newly built LNG dual-fueled car carrier chartered by the company and was delivered in 2024. The vessel is part of “K” LINE’s...

VSTEP is pleased to announce the early access release of NAUTIS Instructor Station 2.0! This updated version promises a significantly improved user experience, reduced work time, enhanced ease of use and many other crucial advancements. Less clicks, more teaching! Over the past year, VSTEP has diligently collected and analysed feedback from customers both internally and externally. Through extensive testing, numerous discussions and learning from NAUTIS Home, they have identified key areas for...

Innovative technology developed by Arkitech delivers substantial efficiency improvements to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system onboard MSC Magnifica. Leveraging AI and machine learning, the technology analyses data from over 1,500 sensors on the MSC Cruises’ ship, enhancing chiller efficiency by up to 12% and achieving predicted annual savings of 1600MW which is equivalent to removing the 687 cars from European roads. This efficiency is realised without compromis...

Cammell Laird’s defence division has welcomed five Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels simultaneously to its facility for vital maintenance work. In the first five months of 2024, Cammell Laird has welcomed RFA Tideforce, RFA Tiderace, RFA Fort Victoria, RFA Proteus and RFA Stirling Castle. Cammell Laird has provided in service support to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary under the Cluster support Contract since 2008. The team has supported vessels from the RFA Fort-Class, Wave-Class and Tid...

OrbitMI announces the launch of its latest Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) offering, tailored specifically for maritime industry players in the dry bulk sector. This new product delivers precise and timely data to support decision-making and boost operational efficiency across the maritime industry. Vessel and Company Particulars The Vessel and Company Particulars product provides comprehensive information on various vessel characteristics, enabling ship owners and operators to leverage up-to-date da...

The launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship) “Domenico Millelire” took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genova) on Saturday 13 July 2024. The ceremony was attended, among others, by Vice Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Deputy Chief of Staff of Italian Navy, and Massimo Scialpi, Deputy Director OCCAR, welcomed for Fincantieri by Dario Deste, General Manager Naval Vessels Division. The godmother of the ceremony was Ms. Franca Millelire, a relative o...

KR held the 19th KR European Committee (KREC) meeting in London, UK, on July 1st. The KREC, established in 2004, includes members from major international maritime organisations and key European KR customers as follows: Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) In...

Watson Farley & Williams advised ABN AMRO BANK N.V. and ING BANK N.V. on a US$245m term loan facility granted to Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited for the financing of a fleet of tanker vessels. WFW acted as lead counsel on the transaction and assisted ABN and ING throughout the life cycle of the transaction, from the negotiation and execution of the facility to the delivery of each vessel. Transportation services TEN is a world-pioneering tanker operator, listed on the New York...

The last of the 18 ‘Training of Trainers’ workshops given by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2008, the year of the creation of the Spanish-speaking Network for the port training programme, closed on July 12, 2024, at Valenciaport. In these 16 years, more than 260 instructors have participated, 72 of them women, to be trained in the key management skills of port management. ‘Train For Trade’ programme Twenty-one students of seven...

Babcock and the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia, Poland, have announced that they are set to collaborate on an exciting new programme of professional internships following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Cooperation Agreement. The MoU outlines the intent for Babcock to work in cooperation with the Polish Naval Academy to facilitate future academic collaboration, underpinning Babcock’s global commitment to skills development. Future academic collaboration This summe...

Seatrium announced that it has awarded the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) a Classification contract for the newbuild floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSO) platforms P-84 and P-85 with the final delivery expected in 2029. These are the first FPSOs to be awarded following ABS and Seatrium’s Technology Collaboration Agreement (TCA), which aims to promote increased decarbonisation, digitalisation and innovation in the offshore industry. Efficient power generation Both...

EV Maritime, New Zealand’s pioneering electric ferry design and technology company, announced it has been commissioned by Angel Island Tiburon Ferry (AITF) to design an all-new hybrid electric vessel for the fleet. The progressive project, which will see the electrification of two existing vessels and the construction of a third new plug-in hybrid vessel, has been funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The hybrid vessel will be designed and engineered by EV Maritime with el...

Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd. and Amogy, a provider of mature, scalable, and efficient ammonia-to-power solutions, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate Amogy’s advanced ammonia-cracking technology into Yanmar’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE). This collaboration seeks to pioneer a solution for decarbonising marine power generation. The partnership will focus on combining Amogy’s technology with Yanmar’s H2ICE to provide low-cost...

Thordon Bearings has secured an order from French shipbuilding giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique to supply its award-winning COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearings for installation to a pair of wind-assisted passenger ships operated by luxury travel operator Accor. When the first 220m (722 ft) long, 22,300 gt vessel is delivered in 2026, Orient Express Corinthian will be the world’s largest contemporary sailship. The contract marks Thordon’s first reference aboard a Chant...

Oceania Cruises®, the world's pioneering culinary- and destination-focused cruise line is delighted to announce its new collaboration with the American Cancer Society (ACS), bringing the ACS Relay For Life at Sea program to the cruise line's esteemed guests, crew and team members, fostering a community of support and raising vital funds for cancer research, patient support services, and advocacy efforts. The program was just launched on Oceania Cruises' newest ship, Vista, as well as aboard...

Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity has been selected as the International Maritime Organisation's World Maritime Day theme for 2025, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on 25 September 2025. The IMO Council, meeting for its 132nd session, endorsed the theme following a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez. Management of ocean resources The theme reflects the ocean’s vital role in the world economy, with more than 80% of glo...

Satcom Global Inc. has secured a new five-year GSA (General Services Administration) Contract, which permits the supply of satellite airtime and equipment to US Government departments and agencies. Contract #47QTCA24D00BA extends Satcom Global’s experience of supplying the federal, state, local, and Indigenous governments with commercial satellite communications services for over 25 years. Satcom Global Inc. is honoured to be among a select group of pre-approved suppliers offering product...

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) emergency towing vessel (ETV), Ievoli Black, is carrying out a training exercise in Scapa Flow, on Wednesday 10 July 2024. Exercise Stromness, which involves the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) vessel Pole Star, is supported by Orkney Islands Council’s Marine Services. MCA, ETV and NLB personnel Exercise Controller Paul Tunstall, MCA Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer, Scottish Islands and Northern Ireland, said: "The nature of this...

Wilhelmsen Ships Service is pleased to announce its participation to RightShip’s Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program. As a pioneering maritime solution provider, the participation in this program exemplifies the commitment to safer mooring practices.  RightShip is a pioneering global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) focused digital maritime platform with the mission to drive operational improvements in the global shipping industry and improve overall maritime safe...

SBM Offshore and Ocean-Power are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the intent to collaborate on a floating power generation hub with CO2 capture and storage. The purpose of the partnership is to assess the technical feasibility and commercial readiness to collaborate on the concept, exclusive to the Norwegian Continental Shelf and United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Bi-directional transmission structure The offshore power hub will apply Ocean-Power’s...

Vigor, a Titan company, has completed a docking selected restricted available (DSRA) on USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, at the company’s Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle. The ship departed Harbor Island earlier this year and has been undergoing sea trials prior to returning to full service. Originally a $131-million contract, the 18-month project supported more than 600 family wage jobs. Underwater hull preservation “Our skilled emp...

Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands to IMO, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2023. The decision was made by the IMO Council at its 132nd session (8 to 12 July 2024). Captain Finley was nominated for the award by the Government of the Cook Islands. As a delegate to IMO, representing Panama and latterly the Cook Islands, he has been an active participant in the development of virtually all safety, environmental and...

RightShip, a global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focused digital maritime platform, welcomes Wilhelmsen Ships Service (Wilhelmsen), a leader in maritime solutions, to its Zero Harm Innovation Partners programme (ZHIP). As part of this collaboration, Wilhelmsen will highlight its cutting-edge products, the Timm Snap Back Arrestor (SBA™) rope and the Line Management Plan (LMP™), both of which exemplify its commitment to safer mooring practice. Zero-harm maritime The Z...

Syroco, the Climate Tech startup that supports the energy transition of maritime transport, announced that Compagnie Maritime Nantaise - MN, a subsidiary of SOGESTRAN Group, has deployed the Syroco platform on the MN Pelican in order to reduce her fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This deployment is part of a global approach which includes the optimisation of the routing and efficiency of the vessel but also better speed management and improvement of hull performance. The MN Pelican, a 155-me...

X-Press Feeders has launched their Matadi Shuttle X-Press service (MSX), an innovative and efficient addition to their network of feeder services. This 10-day rolling schedule service will provide 2 direct shuttles between Pointe Noire and Matadi. This new route is designed to meet the growing demand for efficient and timely transportation of goods between these strategic ports. The service rotation is: Pointe Noire - Matadi - Pointe Noire. Network of feeder services At X-Press Feeders, their...