Svitzer Orders World's First Battery-methanol Tug from Uzmar
Marine towage provider Svitzer announced it has inked a deal Turkish shipbuilder Uzmar to build a world-first battery-methanol tug for scheduled delivery in the second half of 2025.Designed in collaboration with naval architect Robert Allan Ltd, the first-of-its-kind tug will be based on Svitzer’s TRAnsverse tug design and feature a 6MWh battery supported by dual fuel methanol engines for back-up and…
Philippines to Maintain Vessel Presence at Contested South China Sea Shoal
The Philippines will continuously deploy vessels in the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, its coast guard said on Monday after a Philippine ship returned to port after a five-month deployment there."We will sustain presence over these waters," Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Spokesperson Jay Tarriela told a press conference.The PCG's vessel, Teresa Magbanua, was deployed to Sabina Shoal in…
ABS Greenlights Toray’s Innovative Technique for In-Situ FSO, FPSO Repairs
Japan-based Toray Industries has secured type approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM) process for in-situ ship repairs, developed jointly with MODEC.The technique entails applying carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) to corroded areas with reduced thicknesses of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) and floating storage and offloading (FSO) systems.ABS is one of the world’s leading classification societies…
US Amassing Anti-Ship Weapons to Counter China
The United States is amassing an arsenal of abundant and easily made anti-ship weapons as part of American efforts to deter China in the Indo-Pacific region and gear up U.S. forces there.Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed U.S. thinking toward a new philosophy - "affordable mass," as one missile industry CEO put it, speaking on condition of anonymity, referring to having plenty of relatively cheap weapons at the ready."It's a natural counter to what China has been doing…
Global Marine Insurance Market Trending Upwards Since COVID
The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) presented its analysis of the latest marine insurance market trends at its 150th annual conference in Berlin, Germany, on Monday.The global marine insurance premium base for 2023 was reported as $38.9 billion representing an uplift of 5.9% from the previous year. Development was seen across all lines of business with the offshore energy sector experiencing a 4.6% increase…
European Shipowners Want 40% Local Production of Clean Fuels
The European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA) has released a position paper on a European Maritime Industrial Strategy as part of the new Clean Industrial Deal, saying that European shipping is a geopolitical asset for Europe and a cornerstone of the energy, food and supply chain security of the continent.European shipping controls 39.5% of the global tonnage. ECSA says that the European Maritime Industrial Strategy must be a core pillar of the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal…
Alarm Fatigue Taskforce Established
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has released a new report indicating that alarms on ships must be rationalized to support crew welfare and avoid the safety risks associated with alarm fatigue.Consequently, LR and a selection of partners have created an industry task force to research industry approaches and assess their suitability for managing alarm systems funded by the Danish Maritime Fund.The report states…
New Guide Links Underwater Radiated Noise and GHG Emissions
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Publications has released the second edition of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Guide to International Regulatory Compliance.The guide addresses the full spectrum of issues related to maritime emissions, from current regulations to future projections. It pays particular attention to the needs of the tanker sector, for which the CII regulations are particularly…