Skills - News

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has been awarded a contract to deliver a 100T AHC crane for a Dive Support Vessel owned by Jana Marine Service Company. The contract, which was booked in the fourth quarter 2024, is not reported as part of Cargotec’s orders received, as MacGregor is reported as part of discontinued operations. The crane delivery to the Guangzhou Salvage shipyard is scheduled in the second quarter 2026, with vessel delivery later that year. MacGregor's local sales team M...

Marcura, the pioneer in digital maritime solutions, has acquired Shipster, a start-up specialising in AI-driven document intelligence. The acquisition further strengthens Marcura’s AI-powered automation roadmap, enabling it to accelerate in line with evolving customer needs and scale to support the growing complexity of maritime workflows. AI-powered automation Shipster’s expertise in agile AI experimentation will help Marcura further refine data extraction Marcura has already em...

With increasing regulatory pressure and rising fuel costs, the shipping industry must accelerate decarbonisation while ensuring operational and economic viability. Energy-efficiency measures can play a crucial role in reducing fuel consumption and facilitating the transition to alternative fuels as they become available. To help shipowners identify the best solutions for their fleet, DNV has published a report offering a comprehensive overview of currently available energy-efficiency measures a...

Norwegian chapter of WISTA (Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association) recently held its Annual General Meeting in Oslo at the office of law firm Thommessen, with over 50 members attending in person and a record number of proxy votes. Five board positions were elected from a record total of 13 candidates present. Capt. Jaquelyn Burton, EMBA, AFNI, Director of Experience Design at Kongsberg Maritime, was selected as President and is both the first non-...

The Dynamic Positioning Digital Survey (DPDS) from Kongsberg Marine has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS. The DPDS application from Kongsberg continuously gathers data from a vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system, allowing annual DP surveys to move from in-person assessments on the vessel in a fixed timeframe to remote analysis onshore across a wider, more flexible timeframe. Evolution of digital solutions Per Kongsberg, the DPDS app contributes to reduced vessel downtim...

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is advising InfraVia Capital Partners (“InfraVia”), through its InfraVia European Fund VI, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (“LDA”), the French family-owned group specialising in high value-added industrial marine services. Expected to be completed in H1 2025, the transaction is subject to prior consultation with employee representative bodies and the usual regulatory approvals. New modes...

Kongsberg Maritime will supply the design and integrated equipment package for a new walk-to-work offshore service vessel (OSV), to be built by ST Engineering Marine in Singapore for a leading oil & gas company. The 97-metre vessel of Kongsberg Maritime UT 5520 design will accommodate 106 people and features a motion-compensated gangway to enable safe transfer of personnel between to and from offshore installations. Kongsberg Maritime’s vessel types The new design is a further devel...

With NMDC Group (NMDC), one of the largest dredging and marine contractors in the Middle East. The agreement represents a significant step forward in strengthening the partnership between Wärtsilä and NMDC.  It will focus on optimising the availability and operational efficiency of NMDC’s dredging fleet.  The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2025.  Optimizing NMDC’s Fleet for Efficiency This partnership will focus on optimising the availability...

CIBC Innovation Banking announces that it has provided a $20 million USD debt financing to ZeroNorth, a technology company focused on the maritime industry. ZeroNorth will use the funding to fuel its growth strategy through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with the goal of enhancing access to data, acquiring innovative technologies, and expanding market share. Maritime digital transformation ZeroNorth’s customers have optimised 1.5 million voyages through the company’s platform...

Marine Masters announces its involvement in a pivotal offshore installation project for the greenfield Bhasker A & B platforms, designed and constructed by Indian energy company SunPetro. The project, managed by main installation contractor ACE Pipeline and directly overseen by Consolidated Support Services PTE LTD (CSS), involves the development of two wellhead platforms featuring robust jackets with integrated boat landings and topsides.  Subsea and piling operations The Marine Ma...

Under Zero-Emission Accelerating Ship Finance (the Program), which is jointly operated by Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) and ClassNK, ClassNK evaluated the LNG-fueled car carrier ‘OCEANUS HIGHWAY’ (IMO No. 1046049), owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" LINE). DBJ provided financing to "K" LINE. In the shipping industry, where environmental regulations are becoming stricter as the industry moves towards decarbonisation, ClassNK evaluates ships based on a comprehensive scor...

ABS approved the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) documents for a deep water floating offshore wind platform design from ECO TLP, Inc. and MOCEAN-Offshore BV. The unique design supports the largest wind turbines on the market and utilises slip-formed cylindrical concrete hulls and a variety of anchor types. Challenges to renewable energy ABS completed design reviews based on class and supporting offshore standards When combined with a hybrid spar tension-leg mooring system, the unit has a...

Norsepower, the provider of wind propulsion systems, announces a new collaboration with Climate Tech start-up Syroco. Together, the two companies are delivering innovative energy efficiency solutions for merchant vessels, reducing fuel consumption, minimising carbon emissions, and accurately measuring the savings enabled by Norsepower Rotor Sails™. The joint deployment of Norsepower and Syroco onboard Socatra’s tanker Alcyone demonstrates how combining wind propulsion with cutting-e...

Fleet safety and efficiency improvements see Turkiye's pioneer shipowner sign a new three-year contract for global weather intelligence provider's comprehensive performance monitoring platform.  Yasa has subscribed to Weathernews' market-pioneer SeaNavigator platform for the past two years and will continue with its premium package that includes route optimization, accurate vessel performance monitoring, and full environmental support covering CII (Carbon Intensity Index), EU ETS, CO2 Emis...

The fully equipped vessel is now ready for commissioning and integration trials from ZeroUSV’s home port of Plymouth.  The launching of the first Oceanus12 represents the culmination of nearly 18 months of design, engineering and build effort from the team at ZeroUSV which has been built on the success of the Mayflower 400’s transatlantic autonomous voyage - a milestone achieved through the same inter-company collaborations between Zero USV’s parent company MSubs, their n...

Kongsberg Maritime has signed a service representation agreement with G-jet s.r.l., a prominent service provider in the yacht segment and part of the V610 AG group. The agreement aims to strengthen customer support for Kongsberg Maritime’s Kamewa waterjets, ensuring yacht customers receive the highest level of service and expertise. Strengthening Service Excellence Kongsberg's waterjets provide exceptional durability and performance, catering to diverse operational requirements “W...

bound4blue has completed the installation of its breakthrough eSAIL® suction sails on tanker vessel Pacific Sentinel with a streamlined single-stop process for Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) at Besiktas Shipyard in Turkey during a planned drydocking. Three 22-metre, DNV Type Approved eSAILs® were installed on the 50,000dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned. Overall energy consumption The installation took place during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory wor...

Lighthouse Ship Management AS has steered one of its managed general cargo vessel coasters through a BERG Propulsion retrofit project which the Norwegian shortsea shipping service provider confirms has brought a 33% reduction in fuel costs. The Torangsvåg-based fleet manager evaluated BERG’s options for optimising energy use on board Terneskjaer, an 81m length 2,900 dwt general cargo ship owned by Bio Feeder AS. The project sought to cut fuel costs and emissions, while adding a new...

Government agency Innovation Norway provides sustainable hull-cleaning pioneer ECOsubsea with a NOK 69m (USD 6.2m) Green Growth Loan that will part-fund the construction of more of the company's next-generation hull-cleaning robots, as it gears up to significantly expand its operations in the world's second-busiest port. The Austevoll-based company undertook its first commercial clean in Singapore in the autumn, using its first next-generation cleaning robot dubbed the 'Pink Panther'....

The UK is well positioned to lead the safe development and deployment of new nuclear power systems for commercial ships and Floating Nuclear Power Plants (FNPPs), according to a new report from CORE POWER, NorthStandard and Lloyd’s Register (LR). Technology company CORE POWER, global marine insurer NorthStandard and maritime professional services provider LR have jointly published Advanced Maritime Nuclear: A unique opportunity for the UK.  Deployment of small nuclear reactors...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already driving huge changes across the world and is starting to have an impact on the maritime industry, but its transformative potential depends on addressing fundamental challenges first.  While AI promises increased efficiency, intelligent automation, and decision support, its adoption in shipping software requires a strong foundation of well-structured and engineered data, a shift in digital mentality, and a realistic approach to evaluating solutions....

BS Offshore and Ulstein Verft passed a significant milestone with the launch of the Yno 320, a state-of-the-art Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV). This event followed an extensive outfitting phase that included the installation of electrical and mechanical systems, piping, accommodation, and system integration. Ulstein Verft’s dock hall The Yno 320 was towed from Ulstein Verft’s dock hall to the outer dock on 20 February. While stationed in the outer dock, the Ampelman...

The TMS Ship Finance and Trade Conference 2025 brought together global industry pioneers, financial experts, and policymakers for transformative discussions on the future of maritime trade, finance, and sustainability. The conference served as a vital platform for addressing key challenges, exploring financial innovations, and advancing sustainability-driven solutions for the maritime sector. Challenges for maritime decarbonisation Al-Maghafi cautioned that these changes might slow sustainab...

ABB has secured orders from shipbuilders in China and South Korea to equip 18 and 12 liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers, respectively, with permanent magnet shaft generator technology. The ships are due for delivery between 2028 and 2030. Enhancing operational efficiency by utilising the power from the main engine, ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system improves fuel economy compared to solutions where power is provided by auxiliary engines. Magnet shaft generator solution The...

NorthStandard has finished a challenging year for global marine insurance, reporting an increase in poolable tonnage and continuing progress towards meeting its strategic goals. Marine insurers worldwide saw a rise in the number of large claims in the year ending 20 February, alongside compromised Asia-Europe ship routeing choices and a growing number of ‘shadow’ tankers seeking cover outside the International Group of P&I Clubs system. NorthStandard’s premium income Nev...

Shipowners and operators of EU vessels must take steps to ensure that all new firefighting suits on board comply with changes to European regulations which enter into force from June 2025, according to urgent advice from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment. The leading life-saving equipment solutions provider is recommending fleet managers undertake a full risk assessment of their firefighting suits to verify compliance with requirements applying under MED regulations (EU) 2024/1975. New firefighting...

Watson Farley & Williams (‘WFW’) advised BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered Bank as co-documentation banks and DNB Bank ASA, New York, as agent, on a US$500 million revolving credit facility to Scorpio Tankers Inc. (‘Scorpio Tankers’). The oversubscribed credit facility was provided by a group of eight banks. The facility is a revolving credit facility with a seven year maturity date and provides Scorpio Tankers the flexibility to draw down or repay the loan during t...

Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a Lifecycle Agreement with CMA Ships, a subsidiary of pioneering French shipping company CMA CGM. The agreement covers 14 large LNG-fuelled container ships already in operation. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q1 2025. In today’s global environment, owner and operators of container vessels are focused on optimising operations and maintenance more effectively so that their vessels can continue to operate flexibly, and in the mo...

Sentinel Marine has secured an extension of its contract with INEOS, continuing the Cromarty Sentinel’s operations in the Southern North Sea (SNS) for an additional three years. The vessel will continue to provide vital support to the Breagh and Clipper South platforms, with the agreement including options for two further one-year extensions. Additions to Sentinel Marine’s fleet Cromarty Sentinel, one of the uniqueadditions to Sentinel Marine’s fleet, was delivered in March...

Goltens Worldwide, a pioneering provider of specialised marine services, is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with Denmark-headquartered Marine Fluid Technology A/S (MFT) covering MFT’s SEA-Mate® Blending-on-Board (BOB) system, SEA-Mate® Filter system and other SEA-Mate® products across key maritime markets in Singapore, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and the Middle East including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. Critical factors in the maritime T...