Coastal Shipping News

Wilson Sons operates in the port and shipping logistics industry throughout Brazil, boasting more than 188 years of experience. They offer solutions to over 5,000 clients, including shipowners, importers and exporters, the offshore energy industry, renewable energy projects, the agribusiness sector, as well as other players across various economic segments. Engaged in the continuous pursuit of new technologies, Wilson Sons will participate in Intermodal South America, April 14-16…

Dutch maritime solar company Wattlab has delivered a solar energy system for globally operating shipping, trading, and maritime services company Vertom.The recently delivered Vertom Tula is a 7,280dwt diesel-electric multipurpose cargo vessel. The solar system represents a major technical milestone and a step forward for sustainable shipping. Wattlab has delivered and installed 44 Solar Flatracks that will provide power to onboard systems, reducing 20% of the hotel load. Vertom operates a fleet of over 100 vessels…

Unifeeder, a DP World company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to collaborate on developing and scaling commercially sustainable coastal and shortsea shipping services across India.The MoU established a framework for joint action to design and finance coastal shipping corridors that support India’s ambitions to decongest roads, lower logistics costs, and decarbonize transportation.

James Fisher and Sons, a global provider of marine solutions, has marked the start of construction of its chemical tankers fleet with the laying of the keel for the first vessel, Orca Fisher, at the China Merchants Industry Yangzhou Dingheng Shipyard (YZDH).Orca Fisher is the first of four next-generation vessels - known as the Sealife class - introduced as part of James Fisher’s Fleet of the Future, a long-term program to modernize its tankships fleet with more efficient, lower-carbon vessels that support the use of alternative fuel propulsion.The new vessels - which includes Orca Fisher…

Wattlab introduced its SolarDeck - a modular and scalable system of deck-mounted solar panels that is designed to yield "significant reductions" in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions - for the seagoing shipping industry, with an expected ROI of 3-5 years.Established in 2017, Wattlab has spent its first years of operations focusing on the inland shipping sector with its Solar Flatrack, a modular solar energy system consisting of movable and stackable integrated solar panels and inverters.

Imabari Maritime Fair, "Bari-Ship 2025" is schedule to be held from May 22- 24, 2025 at Texport Imabari (Imabari, Japan)."Bari-Ship" is the largest international maritime exhibition in Western Japan, held every two years in Imabari, Japan’s leading maritime city. The event serves as a venue for maritime industry professionals from not only Japan but around the world to gather, engage in business matching, and exchange information.This year's exhibition will be the largest ever…

Brazilian state-run oil firm Petrobras will commission four more support vessels by 2026, Chief Executive Magda Chambriard told Reuters, increasing the number of new ships aimed at supporting its operations to 48 by 2026.The reinforcement of Petrobras' fleet comes amid expectations of higher offshore oil output in the next few years as new production units come online at the Buzios field, where it expects to produce up to 2 million barrels per day by 2030.The commissioning of…

Dutch company Econowind, based in Zeewolde, has secured €1 million in development capital from Invest International to advance and test its VentoFoil XL, a 24-30 meter high steel wind sail inspired by aviation technology. Like airplane wings, these innovative sails are designed for large vessels, harnessing wind power to reduce fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 15%.Econowind has been producing smaller VentoFoils for coastal shipping for several years. With the introduction of the XL model…

The Australian government is seeking vessels to participate in Australia’s Strategic Fleet Pilot.The aim is to provide maritime capabilities that bolster resilience, providing assistance in times of crisis or natural disaster, and to support industries reliant on shipping, such as heavy manufacturing.Recent supply chain disruptions and geopolitical events have underlined the importance of a strong domestic maritime sector, says Transport Minister Catherine King.These disruptions…

A new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation has investigated the feasibility of establishing green shipping corridors for China’s coastal shipping.The researchers assessed whether the ships could be powered by renewable hydrogen, methanol, ammonia or batteries without the need to refuel en route. They concluded that the technological feasibility of applying renewable marine fuels on China’s coastal shipping routes is high, and three routes were identified as potential first mover candidates for green shipping corridors.These routes were two interregional routes…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a basic contract for the marine transport of offshore wind components with JFE Engineering Corporation, while also agreeing to build a new module carrier vessel with Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering.This will be first coastal module carrier in Japan to transport components for offshore wind turbine foundation components, according to MOL. MOL DrybulkThe vessel is scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2026, and will then engage in the coastal transport of offshore wind turbine foundations from JFE Engineering's manufacturing base in Kasaoka-shi…

Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., has embarked on the development of a hydrogen-fueled four-stroke high-speed engine for power generation for coastal vessels in Japan as part of the Nippon Foundation’s zero emission ship demonstration experiment. The engine utilizes hydrogen as a fuel, emitting no CO2 during combustion.In parallel with the hydrogen engine development, YPT will also work on the creation of a hydrogen engine-compatible hybrid electric propulsion vessel, combining hydrogen engine generators with batteries.

A report into the security of Western Australia's supply chains has recommended policy and regulatory reforms to support Australian-owned shipping lines competing for domestic sea-freight work.The recommendation has been made in a report by the Western Australian (WA) Government's Shipping and Supply Chain Taskforce. Co-chaired by Kyle McGinn and Jessica Stojkovski, the Taskforce was established following the floods in South Australia in early 2022 that cut off supplies of essential…

Tel Aviv-based maritime technology company Orca AI is continuing its collaboration with NYK Group subsidiary MTI and partners in the second development stage of the MEGURI2040 project administered by the Nippon Foundation.MTI, alongside sister entity Japan Marine Science Inc, is spearheading the Designing the Future of Fully Autonomous Ships Plus (DFFAS+) consortium comprising 51 Japan-based companies that will work together on the next phase of MEGURI2040.While the OECD projects that maritime trade volumes could triple by 2050, a skilled crew shortage is growing globally.

The design of a pioneering, fully autonomous ship framework has received approval in principle (AIP) from ABS.The fully autonomous ship framework, named APExS-auto (Action Planning and Execution System for full autonomous), was developed by Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), Monohakobi Technology Institute (MTI) and Japan Marine Science Inc. (JMS) as part of the fully autonomous ship program MEGURI 2040.ABS worked with MTI and JMS to review the APExS-auto framework in accordance with the ABS Requirements for Autonomous and Remote-Control Functions.

MOL and partners have completed a trial of bioLNG (liquefied bio-methane or LBM) derived from cattle manure on the domestic LNG fueled general cargo vessel Ise Mirai.Teaming up on the project with MOL were Air Water Inc., Techno Chubu Company, Kyoudou Kaiun,The trial, conducted in Ise Bay, was Japan's first bunkering of carbon-neutral LBM derived from biomass. The vessel was jointly built by MOL Coastal Shipping, Techno Chubu, and Kyoudou Kaiun, and was delivered in December 2020.

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Line has concluded a time charter contract with Shimizu Corporation for two crew transfer vessels (CTV) for an offshore wind farm at Ishikari Bay New Port. "This marks the MOL Group’s first entry into the CTV business. In addition, one of the CTVs, The KAZEHAYA, owned by MOL, is the first CTV in Japan managed and operated under International Safety Management (ISM) Code, which is the international standard of ship safety management system, certified by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK )," MOL said.MOL Group company MOL Coastal Shipping, Ltd.

A shift to coastal shipping and rail could cut NZ’s freight transport emissions – why aren’t we doing it?According to a recent study, coastal shipping produces a fifth of the carbon emissions (well-to-wheel) of road freight. Rail also performed well, with about a quarter of trucking emissions.Despite this, trucking accounts for nearly 80% of New Zealand’s heavy goods transport, and a 94.5% share of the total emissions from heavy freight transport.The dominance of trucking follows the expansion of the road network…

Toyota Tsusho and subsidiary Toyotsu Energy have launched Japan's first continuous, commercial supply of biodiesel blended fuel at the Port of Nagoya.Toyotsu Energy is supplying Toyofuji Shipping's car carrier Toyofuji Maru after earlier conducting ship-to-ship bunkering trials.Toyota Tsusho, in cooperation with Daiseki Eco. Solution, is procuring waste cooking oil collected from the employee cafeterias and other facilities of Toyota Group and Toyota Tsusho Group companies, which…

New Zealand based MOVE Logistics Group revealed its plans to order a new coastal roll-on, roll-off (RORO) vessel capable of running on methanol fuel.Earlier this year, MOVE secured $10 million in co-investment funds from transport agency Waka Kotahi to support coastal shipping initiatives that improve the competitiveness of domestic coastal shipping, reduce freight sector greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience.Waka Kotahi has endorsed the proposal by MOVE for its vessel design that includes a methanol tank and pipework installation during construction.

On July 31, the coal carrier Ushio, which NYK had ordered from Honda Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. was delivered at the Saiki Shipyard. A naming ceremony was attended by Masato Mizutani, executive officer, head of fuel operation management group of JERA Co., Inc.; Nobuhiro Kashima, managing executive officer of NYK; and a number of related parties.This vessel is the NYK Group’s first coal carrier for domestic coastal transport by JERA. The ship will be operated by the NYK Group's Asia Pacific Marine Corporation based on a transportation contract between JERA and NYK.

Pacifica Shipping confirms it is introducing a second vessel onto its New Zealand coastal shipping service, which is expected to be operational mid-September this year.The vessel will add 1,300TEU extra capacity every week and will complement the existing coastal service provided by Pacifica Shipping’s MV Moana Chief, a 1,700TEU ship, which has been operating since August 2019.Country Manager for Pacifica Shipping and Swire Shipping New Zealand Brodie Stevens, said the service…

A new port container barge concept being offered by Durban's Sandock Austral Shipyards aims to improve the way containers are handled in South Africa’s ports, ultimately leading to less road congestion and faster turnaround times for imports and exports.The internationally patented, German-designed self-propelled and self-sustained Port Feeder Barge can be deployed at a moment’s notice to wherever it is needed and can operate easily in low water depth or high berth. The barge…