Skills - News

  Boudewijn Siemons (59) has been appointed CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority effective 1 February 2024. He succeeds Allard Castelein, who took leave of the Port Authority last summer. Since then, Siemons has served as CEO on an interim basis in addition to his position as COO. The Executive Board of the Port Authority now consists of Boudewijn Siemons (CEO and interim COO) and Vivienne de Leeuw (CFO). The process of looking for a new COO has begun. Excellent abilities...

International charity, Mercy Ships returned to Madagascar to bring transformative surgical education and free, life-changing surgeries.   Freshly refitted hospital ship, the upgraded Africa Mercy® has arrived at the island nation to build on the charity’s long-standing collaboration and will provide specialised surgeries in various fields, including maxillofacial and ear nose and throat, general, pediatric specialised general, pediatric orthopedic, cataract surgery, and reconstru...

The very first Brunvoll BruCon DP2 dynamic positioning system has passed third party verification onboard the offshore vessel Stril Mar. The successful installation and testing of the BruCon DP2 system marks a new era for Brunvoll, and the BruCon DP2 system is offered to both new builds and as a retrofit solution. The BruCon DP2 installation was part of a larger power and energy management system upgrade onboard Stril Mar, delivered by SEAM AS. The upgrade and sea trial took place at Westcon Ya...

India’s shipyard, Cochin Shipyard Limited, bagged another prestigious international order with a European client for construction of hybrid Service Operation Vessels (‘SOVs’) for the offshore wind renewables market, with an option for one more. With attention turning towards sustainable & green energy solutions, there is a large global focus on the development of offshore renewable energy segment. The hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) are the workhorse of the growin...

2023 has been a magnificent period for Newport Shipping in bringing new solutions to the market and growing its business for the needs of tomorrow's shipping industry. In 2023 Newport Shipping executed 36 drydocking projects at its Tuzla Bay yard in Turkey, with other projects being completed at its partner shipyards in China and the rest of the world. BWTS projects Since the Ballast Water Management Convention (BWMC) has been ratified there has also been an increase in ballast water treatmen...

Ireland’s largest bulk port Shannon Foynes and the port of Rotterdam – Europe’s largest port – have signed an agreement with a view to developing a supply-chain corridor for exporting green fuels into Europe produced from the west of Ireland’s limitless wind resource. The agreement will focus on market and trade development for vast volumes of green hydrogen and its derivatives produced at the planned international green energy hub on the Shannon Estuary. The Memor...

NIBCO INC. has announced the promotion of Lisa Lyon to Webstone general manager, with responsibility for overseeing all aspects of operations for the Webstone business unit of NIBCO. “Lisa has been instrumental in aggressively expanding the Webstone product portfolio since NIBCO acquired the company,” said Ashley Martin, president and COO, NIBCO. “She demonstrates great passion and knowledge for the industry, and we are confident that she will meet and exceed the goals establi...

P&I Club’s head of external affairs will discuss major events with pioneering experts in the weekly Alongside: Future Thinking podcast series. Pioneering P&I Club NorthStandard is launching a weekly podcast mini-series that will discuss the most pressing current geopolitical issues for the maritime industry. Key geopolitical developments NorthStandard Head of External Affairs, Mike Salthouse, will be hosting Alongside: Future Thinking, joined by experts from across the shipping...

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to the Digital Learning Management System (Ver.2) developed by MarinePALS, a unit of Maritime Knowledge Ltd. Digital Learning Management System is an education and training suite of micro-learning videos, gaming apps for learning and virtual reality programs, and mentoring online. Functions of management system ClassNK has verified the functions of the Digital Learning Management System. A comprehensive digital le...

Peel Ports Logistics has signed a deal to become renewable energy specialist Drax’s new shipping agency service provider for vessels importing biomass into Liverpool. The leading shipping and freight forwarder will support the arrival of all Drax’s ships from locations such as North America into the Port of Liverpool’s £100m biomass terminal. The renewable fuel is then transported to Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, the UK’s single largest genera...

As of 1 March, Hanna Stelzel will take on the role of Director Containers within the Commercial Department of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and is responsible for all activities within the container chain at sea, in the port and in the hinterland. Hanna Stelzel is the successor to Hans Nagtegaal. Stelzel has a background in the German automotive industry, logistics and digitalisation. She has worked at the Port of Rotterdam Authority since 2018 and has held various positions in which she made...

Ocean Technologies Group (OTG), the renowned global provider of Human Capital Management solutions for the maritime industry, has launched a tender boat operator e-learning course for the passenger ship industry. As the cruise sector grows, some cruise ships are unable to berth in ports due to their size. An increasing number of guests need to be transported between ship and shore in smaller boats, known as tenders. For safety purposes, cruise lines need to ensure that safety training extends t...

ABB and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) have signed a long-term partnership agreement to accelerate the decarbonisation and digitalisation of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) fleet. Targeting increased safety and efficiency, the agreement covers 14 existing ships and a further four vessels due for delivery from 2025 to 2028. The first phase of the partnership includes a 10-year Azipod® propulsion service agreement for the fleet, providing efficient preventive maintenance to support saf...

Brunvoll Mar-El has been contracted to deliver its standardised lightweight parallel hybrid solution for Rødne Fjord Cruise’s newest vessel. The vessel will be operating out of Bergen and offer guided tours in the area. Brødrene Aa, who also specialises in fast ferries, is chosen as both designer and constructor for this fjord cruise vessel, with final delivery in 2025. Brunvoll Mar-El has over the years and through a series of projects established good relationships with bo...

The incremental costs of diverting a tanker from Asia to NW Europe via the Cape of Good Hope is accounting for an extra $932,905 USD per voyage while increasing transit time from 16 days to 32 days according to a report by LSEG Shipping Research. These additional costs mostly account for extra fuel and increase costs for an Aframax tanker by 110%, while for a large container vessel, it increases by 35% for a voyage between Asia to NW Europe. Average monthly transits Transits through Suez have...

Technology group Wärtsilä and Carnival Corporation & plc have signed a one-year extension to the Performance-based agreement that has been in place since 2017. The agreement, which was due to expire in March 2029, will now be valid until March 2030. It covers the maintenance, technical support, optimisation and fuel-saving solutions for 57 cruise ships within the global Carnival Corporation fleet. The contract was signed in October 2023. By optimising the performance and effi...

ABB announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the shipping business of DTN Europe BV and DTN Philippines Inc. (hereinafter DTN Shipping), expanding the company’s offering in maritime software. This will establish ABB as one of the market pioneers in ship route optimisation. The acquisition of the DTN Shipping portfolio covers vessel routeing software, including analytics, reporting, and modelling applications. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. The...

A major provider of secure maritime data communications software, GTMaritime, has responded to growing demand for its products and services, by opening an office in Greece and appointing two new executives to its sales team. In 2023, the company reported a 35% increase in monthly user traffic across its portfolio of software solutions between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023. It also announced its 15,000th ship installation – just 16 months after passing the 10,000-vessel milestone. N...

Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world's leading luxury cruise line, has announced a collection of six unique immersive overnight voyages where each port of call features an overnight stay allowing for deeper exploration and discovery in much-loved destinations. The World's Most Luxurious Fleet® These voyages, currently on board four of the six ships in The World's Most Luxurious Fleet®, will include special shoreside experiences exclusively crafted to make each overnight call a mem...

Wallem Westminster, Manila, is proud to partner with the IMO-endorsed ‘Adopt a Ship’ programme (AaS). Working together with San Antonio Elementary School (SAES), Wallem Westminster’s senior officers embarked on a 10-week immersive curriculum to raise maritime awareness. Wallem provided educational materials and interactive content that explained maritime concepts, supported interactive activities that engaged students' creative learning and skill development and encouraged co...

The visit of the Honourable Minister is in connection with taking forward the cooperation based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL) and Marine Services Company Ltd (MCSL), a company under the Ministry of Transport Tanzania during the state visit to meet the President and Prime Minister of India by the of President H.E.Samia Suluhu Hassan, the United Republic of Tanzania to India in October 2023, wherein the parties aim to cooperate and co...

NorthStandard has announced plans to open a new office in South Korea, one year after establishing its combined Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore.  The new Seoul office, initially to be staffed by Shang Doe Shim, a Claims Director currently based in the club’s Singapore office, will be operational from late Spring 2024. Asia's 8th office This will be NorthStandard’s eighth office in the Asia Pacific region, underlining the importance of the area to the club.  N...

Wallem Group is pleased to partner with Chinese automaker BYD by providing commercial services for its first fully chartered PCTC vessel, MV BYD Explorer No. 1. The vessel has completed its first loading operations and is on its inaugural voyage to Europe. Wallem Group is providing BYD with day-to-day support on vessel operations including cargo stowage, route and bunker planning, and is liaising between the vessel, owner, and charterer. In addition, Wallem Group is working closely with BYD to...

ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed by YANMAR Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YANMAR PT). This is the first AiP certification for a maritime hydrogen fuel cell system developed by a Japanese manufacturer. Hydrogen fuel cells are gaining attention as a potential means to help reduce GHG emissions from shipping. Meanwhile, due to the unique characteristics of hydrogen, distinct from conventional gas fuels, safety discussions are activel...

Brunvoll has signed a contract with VARD Group for the delivery of an extensive propulsion and manoeuvring system for Toyo Construction Co. Ltd.'s new Cable Laying Vessel (CLV). Toyo’s new vessel will have three azimuth propulsion thrusters in the aft of the vessel. The foreship of the vessel will have two tunnel thrusters and a retractable Azimuth thruster. Furthermore, the vessel will feature Brunvoll’s control system for propulsion and manoeuvring, BruCon PTC. VARD’s shipy...

Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd) and Maersk A/S, an entity under A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk), have signed an agreement for a new long-term operational collaboration called ‘Gemini Cooperation’, which will start in February 2025. The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with reliability. “Teaming up with Maersk will help us to further boost the quality we deliver to our customers. Additionally, we will benefit from efficiency gains in our operations...

DNV has recently completed an extensive market study commissioned by a consortium of Danish companies and organisations in the CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) industry. The study focuses on assessing the possibilities and business potential of establishing Denmark as a key European CO2 hub. This initiative aligns with Denmark's ambitious climate targets, aiming for a 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and complete climate neutrality by 2045. Addressing carbon emissions...

In Port Vauban, Antibes, lying between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera, the Quai des Milliardaires – ‘Billionaires’ Quay’ – has undergone an extensive transformation, consolidating its position as the leading yachting hub in the Mediterranean. A paradise for yachting and super yachting enthusiasts, Port Vauban is Europe's largest yachting harbour, with over 1,500 berths and 18 superyacht berths of up to 160 metres.  Appearance and infrastructure Since...

  Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company based in Yokohama, held a christening and launch ceremony for a salvage tug currently being built for Nippon Salvage Co., Ltd. The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The vessel, named "Koyo Maru", is scheduled for handover to Nippon Salvage in June 2024 following the completion of outfitting work and sea tr...

Jumbo Offshore Installation Contractors B.V. (Jumbo Offshore) has been awarded a contract by MODEC Guyana Inc. for the pre-installation of the mooring spread of the FPSO Errea Wittu, which will be located offshore Guyana. The FPSO 'Errea Wittu', the name of which means 'abundance', will have the capacity to store two million barrels of oil. It will produce approximately 250,000 barrels of oil per day and will have a gas treatment capacity of 540 million cubic feet per day, and a water injectio...