Propulsion Systems News

With the 500th tug designed by Robert Allan and equipped with SCHOTTEL propulsion systems, the Canadian naval architect and German propulsion specialist companies have now reached a very special milestone in their long-standing partnership.Tug number 500 is one of a pair for KOTUG Canada, which are currently being built at Turkish Sanmar shipyards.Based on the RAsalvor 4400-DFM design from Robert Allan, the world's first large purpose-built dual fuel methanol escort tug will service…

Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation has delivered a repowered pilot boat, after 10 years of continuous service for the port of Charleston, to the Charleston Branch Pilots. The all-aluminum vessel was also outfitted with a Seakeeper 40 gyro stabilizer.The 65’ Fort Ripley was designed by Ray Hunt Design and Gladding-Hearn and built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 2014. With a top speed of 28 knots, it was the first commercial vessel in the United States powered by Volvo Penta IPS drives with twin forward-facing…

HD Hyundai and A.P. Moller - Maersk have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a collaboration on decarbonization solutions for vessels, while HD Hyundai plans to expand the use of Maersk’s integrated logistics services across its affiliates.Since 2021, HD Hyundai has received orders for a total of 19 methanol-powered container ships from Maersk. Last year, the company successfully delivered the world’s first methanol-powered ultra-large container ship, continuing its collaboration with Maersk in the field of decarbonization of shipbuilding and shipping industry.Initially…

GLO Marine and VMS Group Denmark have secured a multi-vessel retrofit work for offshore support vessel operator Tidewater, expanding their role in the offshore energy sector.Covering 16 vessels across three continents, including several in U.S. waters, the retrofit program marks an important step in both companies’ strategy to provide fleet-scale retrofit solutions to the international offshore vessels market.The companies are executing a full-scope BWTS retrofit and lifecycle project management plan for Tidewater.To date…

R2mc Technologies is entering the marine propulsion market after success in motorsports and heavy-duty transport, with a new patented Eco Patch Technology.The Eco Patch System acts as an autonomous torsional damper, converting mechanical, thermal and acoustic vibrations from rotating systems into a counteracting electromagnetic field – entirely self-powered, with no external energy input required. The core principle: rectification of electrons – the conversion of alternating physical forces into stabilized continuous output…

Swiss marine power company WinGD has secured a contract to integrate hybrid power and energy systems on four 113,600 DWT, wind-assisted tankers under construction for Union Maritime (UML).The agreement marks the first time that WinGD’s X-EL Integrated Energy solution will be deployed with wind-assisted propulsion systems, with the aim of ensuring optimal use of power generated by the main engine and the sails onboard.The vessels will be built by Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry, with WinGD configuring the hybrid power system…

Danish logistics specialist deugro and its partners Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S and Amasus Offshore B.V. are moving full steam ahead with the next generation of purpose-built transport vessels for the offshore wind sector. In a key milestone for offshore project logistics, the Rotra Futura was delivered on March 30, 2025, and just four days later, her sister ship Rotra Horizon was launched from Zhenjiang Shipyards in Jiangsu Province, China. The Rotra Horizon is slated for delivery in July 2025.The delivery and launch represent a significant expansion of the “Rotra concept…

Spanish wind propulsion system supplier bound4blue has installed ‘world’s largest’ suction sails onboard the juice carrier MV Atlantic Orchard, chartered by Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) and owned by Wisby Tankers.The four bound4blue’s 26-meter high eSAILS were installed in under a day per unit, as planned. When sailing, the 2014-built vessel, which was originally a dry bulk vessel before undergoing a conversion in 2020, will now enjoy simplified FuelEU Maritime compliance, taking advantage of the Wind Reward Factor…

Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark is set to debut its latest unmanned surface vessel at the upcoming Sea-Air-Space military symposium in National Harbor, Maryland, with three days of on-water demonstrations.Metal Shark’s new high speed maneuverable unmanned surface vessel (HSMUSV) is a 21-foot military craft specifically configured for unmanned, human-in-the-loop operation. It has been designed to offer the US Armed Forces and allies a low-cost multi-payload USV solution…

Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) latest Fuel for Thought report states that LNG remains the dominant alternative marine fuel readily available to the shipping industry. The report highlights LNG’s growing adoption, its cost-effectiveness under tightening emissions regulations and the urgent need to address methane slip to ensure its future as a viable low-carbon fuel.Fuel for Thought: LNG reveals a significant resurgence in orders for LNG-capable vessels, with an expanding global fleet and rapidly growing bunkering infrastructure.

DNV is inviting feedback on its newly-released Recommended Practice (RP) to assess the performance of wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS).The new RP has been developed to provide a basis for reliably determining the ability of different technologies to deliver efficiency gains when installed onboard.Johanna Tranell, WAPS Performance Assessment Lead at DNV Maritime, says the new RP establishes a practical, reliable standard that helps generate transparent, verifiable data,…

New ABS Singapore Maritime Safety Centre to support immersive training in alternative fuels and safety operationsThe American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have renewed their long-standing partnership with the signing of a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on accelerating maritime innovation, talent development, and regulatory collaboration. The expanded agreement reinforces Singapore’s position as a leading global maritime hub…

The annual Singapore Maritime Week was officially launched on Monday by Murali Pillai, Singapore’s Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport.Organized by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, SMW 2025 is the 19th iteration of the event.Taking place at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, SMW 2025 is expected to welcome more than 20,000 attendees from close to 80 countries. The expanded EXPO@SMW features close to 200 local and international exhibitors…

Wind assisted ship propulsion (WASP) pioneer Blue Wasp Marine announced the launch of its latest software tool, Pelican Suite, which will enable vessel owners, operators and charterers to assess and optimize a range of WASP solutions.Pelican Suite hosts a collection of tools to assess the suitability of WASP solutions, both pre- and post-installation. It provides important insights such as the probability that a certain rudder angle or grid load is exceeded, or which routes are more favorable for wind assistance.

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has marked the start of construction of six new gas carriers at HD Hyundai Samho (HSHI) shipyard in South Korea.The steel cutting ceremony was attended by senior officials from Nakilat, HD Hyundai Samho and guests, who witnessed the official start of construction for two LNG carriers and four LPG/ammonia gas carriers. The LNG carriers, each with a capacity of 174,000 cubic meters, and the LPG carriers, with a substantial capacity of 88,000 cubic meters each…

EST-Floattech was contracted by Electric Marine Support (EMS), a Dutch system integrator, to participate in projects for Rhenus and its fleet enhancement initiative. Rhenus PartnerShip, the shipping branch of the company, invested in sustainable inland waterway transportation with three new inland shipping combo vessels, Mannheim I+II, Wörth I+II and Ludwigshafen.Mannheim I+II and  Wörth I+II will sail with a hybrid propulsion systems: one diesel-electric vessel and one fuel-cell system inland waterway vessel.

ProZero International, a workboat supplier in the Danish Tuco Marine Group, has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of the innovative American “Swamp Shark Drives propulsion systems” across Europe, West Africa, Kenya, and additional regions. This partnership brings a revolutionary solution to the maritime industry, particularly for operators in challenging environments such as mangrove areas, shallow waters, and debris-filled rivers.The Swamp Shark Drive is an advanced surface drive system engineered for seemless performance in demanding conditions.

Rocket Lab, a company specializing in launch services and space systems, has acquired a barge which will be modified to specialized ocean landing platform for rockets returning to Earth.Rocket Lab acquired the Oceanus barge from New Orleans-based, private marine transportation company Canal Barge.The barge, renamed Return on Investment, will be customized to serve as an at-sea landing platform with propulsion systems to maintain the platform’s target position and thermal protection…

Spanish wind propulsion systems supplier bound4blue has installed its eSAIL wind assisted propulsion system on Pacific Sentinel tanker, owned by Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS).Three 22-meter, DNV-Type Approved eSAILs were installed on the 50,000 dwt Pacific Sentinel in under a day per unit, as planned, bound4blue said.The installation occurred during a scheduled vessel drydock, with preparatory work completed in advance.The fully autonomous wind assisted propulsion system will…

Charleston Branch Pilots have returned a pilot boat to Gladding-Hearn after 10 years of continuous service for the port of Charlestown. The all-aluminum vessel will be repowered and refitted with a new Seakeeper 40 gyro stabilizer.The 65’ Fort Ripley was designed by Ray Hunt Design and Gladding-Hearn and built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 2014. With a top speed of 28 knots, it was the first commercial vessel in the United States powered by Volvo Penta IPS drives with twin forward-facing…

A nuclear-propelled containership designed by HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) received approval in principle from ABS.The design for a 15k TEU vessel uses a propulsion system comprised of a molten salt reactor (MSR) for heat and a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) system for power generation. Unlike conventional ships, nuclear-powered vessels do not require engine exhaust systems or fuel tanks. HD KSOE has optimized the space previously occupied by large engine room equipment to accommodate additional containers, enhancing economic efficiency.

Jim Towers is Principal in Charge as well as a Senior Naval Architect and Marine Engineer at Elliott Bay Design Group. He has 45 years of marine experience in vessel design and construction with a specific emphasis on structure. A recognized industry expert in vessel design and a part of numerous vessel construction and refurbishment projects, Jim has worked for the Pacific Northwest's top shipyards, where he developed his engineering talent and was involved in the construction of many high-speed aluminum vessels.

BAR Technologies, a developer of wind propulsion systems and maritime decarbonization solutions, has expanded its team as it gears up for further growth in 2025.The company made 20 new hires in 2024, including new Sales and Marketing team, four Naval Architects, and 13 engineers, following an increase in global demand for its technologies.Among the notable hires is Tom James, who joined as Sales Director in early 2024. A Chartered Engineer and fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects…