Romania News

Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania laid the keel for the first two of four fully electric ferries for BC Ferries.The keel laying ceremony marked an important milestone in the third phase of construction of the Island Class Ferries, which will bring the total number of Damen vessels in the BC Ferries fleet to ten.During the recent second phase of the program, Damen delivered four hybrid diesel-electric ferries.These reduced emissions vessels were intended to pave the way to the development of fully electric vessels.Now…

Damen Shipyards is building a multifunctional vessel for the Portuguese Navy. The ship will be the first in the world to combine oceanographic research with drone deployment capabilities.The multi-purpose vessel (MPV), named NRP D. João II, has been funded by the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that is part of NextGenerationEU, the economic recovery package to support EU member states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.The vessel, measuring 107 meters in length…

Norwegian Electric Systems (NES) has secured a contract to develop and deliver the complete energy design, an integrated automation system and its future-oriented bridge system for a Field Support Vessel, being built by Green Yard Kleven for Romania’s OMV Petrom.NES will supply frequency converters and electric motors for the propulsion system, battery system, transformers and its proprietary Quadro Master switchboard – a DC power distribution switchboard that enables the use of variable speed generators.The Quadro Master is supported by NES’ Odin’s Eye…

Romanian integrated energy company OMV Petrom has signed a shipbuilding contract with Green Yard Kleven for the construction of a Field Support Vessel that will operate for the Neptun Deep project.Neptun Deep is the largest natural gas project in the Romanian Black Sea and the first deepwater offshore project in Romania, under development, with expected contribution to the country’s security of energy supply.The assignment starts immediately, and the ship is to be delivered in the second half of 2026.The ship will operate for an unmanned gas platform in the Black Sea…

Damen has signed a contract with the City of Toronto in Canada for the delivery of two fully electric ferries.The electric vessels will operate between the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto and the Toronto Islands, a major tourist destination, located in a high traffic area close to the shores of Lake Ontario.Damen is building the Toronto ferries at its Galati yard in Romania, to a design produced by Quebec-based Concept Naval. The naval architect company has developed…

The Danube River was closed to all shipping traffic in Austria on Tuesday due to severe flooding, according to APA news agency, citing the Austrian transport ministry.Central Europe is grappling with widespread flooding that has disrupted shipping and resulted in at least 21 fatalities. Rivers continued to overflow in the Czech Republic, while the Danube’s water levels were rising in Hungary. Floodwaters have also affected parts of Austria and Romania.In Hungary, mobile dams have been deployed in the historic towns of Visegrad and Szentendre…

Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday of using strategic bombers to hit a civilian grain vessel with a missile in the Black Sea in NATO member Romania's maritime economic zone, in what it described as a "brazen attack" on freedom of navigation.President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the vessel carrying Ukrainian grain to Egypt had been hit by a Russian missile just after it exited Ukrainian territorial waters, and that there were no casualties according to a preliminary assessment.There was no immediate comment from Russia.If confirmed…

Vard has signed a contract for the design and construction of a second hybrid ocean energy construction vessel (OECV) for the Norwegian shipping group Island Offshore.In May, the companies signed a contract for one firm OECVs with an option for two sister vessels. This new contract confirms the first option.“We are happy to confirm this order, demonstrating our faith in the market outlook and our commitment to continue renewing our fleet. The vessel will further strengthen Island Offshore’s positioning in attractive market segments based on a fleet of versatile advanced offshore vessels…

Bergen Engines announced a new contract with VARD to supply a Bergen B33:45L9P propulsion engine to the Norwegian owner Havbryn AS, a part of Strand Rederi. The vessel will be built in VARD’s 8 02 design and operate on a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, minimizing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions while in operation.The new stern trawler, with a length of 80.4 meters and a beam of 16.7 meters, is being constructed with an ice-strengthened hull according to Ice-1A standards, and it will feature an advanced H/G processing factory, and spacious cargo areas.

Petrobras has awarded contracts to Techdof, a joint venture between DOF Subsea and TechnipFMC, for two of its pipelay support vessel (PLSVs).Petrobras extended the existing contract for PLSV Skandi Açu to mid-2026. This extension will be followed by the new three-year contract ending mid-2029, DOF informed.Skandi Açu is designed to achieve a 650-tonne laying tension capacity, enabling the installation of large diameter flexible pipes in ultra deepwater environments, such as the Brazilian pre-salt.The vessel has been built by VARD in Romania and Norway.Also…

Ardmore Shipping has announced a series of leadership changes and updates to its commercial organization following news of the upcoming retirement of Founder and CEO, Anthony Gurnee, and the appointment of Gernot Ruppelt and Bart Kelleher to CEO and President roles respectively.Effective September 16, 2024, Robert Gaina will join the Ardmore Senior Management Team (SMT) as Senior Vice President, Commercial, succeeding the current CCO, Gernot Ruppelt upon his advancement to CEO.

Despite stating that the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France is in breach of EU law, the European Commission has so far failed to take action against it, says Ethical Farming Ireland.In an audit report published in December 2023, the Commission claimed the journey was in breach of Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, as the calves are not being fed during the long ferry crossing to France. In most cases, these animals are left unfed for up to 30 hours…

Romania-based GLO Marine announced it has appointed John Louring as its new sales director.Louring brings to the position a strong background in the maritime industry and green technologies gained over more than 20 years in sales and business development, having previously held roles at companies like Desmi and Blucher.Louring said, “I am thrilled to join the GLO Marine team. Their business transformation is truly impressive. They are passionate individuals, exceptional engineers, and highly ambitious. For me, this is a winning move.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia would consider any plans to establish a permanent presence of NATO warships in the Black Sea as a threat, given the alliance's involvement in the Ukraine conflict.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remark when asked by reporters on a conference call about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's new maritime security strategy.

Prysmian's Monna Lisa vessel, being build by Vard, has reached Norway for final outfitting, installation of main mission equipment and trials, before becoming fully operational in 2025.The 171-meter-long cable laying vessel (CLV) arrived to Norway after travelling 4,000 nautical miles around Europe for 28 days, following its launch at Vard’s shipyard in Tulcea Romania.The vessel was towed down the Danube River, across the Mediterranean Sea, and up the coast of Portugal and Spain…

Vard has launched the cable laying vessel (CLV) being built for Danish offshore services firm NCT Offshore, ahead of delivery planned later in 2024.The newbuild CLV, named Freja, has been launched at Vard Shipyards in Tulcea, Romania.The vessel features VARD 9 01 design, and is especially equipped for subsea cable laying operations and developed in close collaboration with NCT Offshore.According to Vard, the vessel has high focus on sea-keeping capabilities, excellent station keeping performances and low fuel consumption.The cable layer…

Managers of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship on Tuesday renewed calls for the release of the vessel's 25 crew being held by Yemen's Houthi militants for seven months.The militants used helicopters to attack the Bahamas-flagged ship on Nov. 19. They captured the Bulgarian ship master and chief officer, along with 17 Filipinos and other sailors from Ukraine, Mexico and Romania, the ship managers said."There is nothing to be gained by the Houthis in keeping the 25 crew members," said the ship managers…

Nergård Havfiske has held a naming ceremony for its newbuild stern trawler, delivered by Norwegian shipbuilder Vard, which will sail under the name Sørkapp.The stern trawler is the third vessel Vard has delivered to Nergård Havfiske. The two previous trawlers are Breidtind and Senja. All three vessels were at the quay during the ceremony.Sørkapp is a stern trawler of VARD 8 02 design, developed by Vard in close collaboration with Nergård Havfiske, with a common objective to create an advanced trawler with all latest available technology on board.The 80.4 meters long vessel…

The last of the three coast guard vessels, strengthening the control and surveillance in the northern area of Norway, has been named KV Hopen by Minister of Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen at Vard Langsten in Norway.With the naming ceremony of the third vessel in the Jan Mayen class, one of Norway's largest maritime acquisitions ever is about to be completed.Norway's new coast guard vessel KV Hopen is said to be very important for guarding Norway's interests in…

Nergård Havfiske’s third stern trawler Sørkapp was named in a ceremony in Tromsø, Norway, on June 13.The stern trawler is the third vessel Vard has delivered to Nergård Havfiske. The two previous trawlers are Breidtind and Senja. All three vessels were at the quay during the ceremony.Sørkapp is a Vard 8 02 design and is outfitted for semi-pelagic and bottom-trawling operations, emphasizing gentle handling of the catch to meet the latest requirements for fish health, efficiency and environmentally friendly operation.

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has launched a 171-meter-long cable laying vessel (CLV) Monna Lisa, being built for Prysmian, marking another major milestone towards the delivery of the vessel, scheduled for 2025.Prysmian executives gathered at the VARD shipyard in Tulcea, Romania to celebrate the launching of the new CLV Monna Lisa, the sister ship to the cutting-edge Leonardo da Vinci.Steel cutting, keel laying, generators installation and hull erection have successfully been completed on the Monna Lisa…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has secured a new contract for the design and construction of a stern trawler for Havbryn, part of fishing boat company Strand Rederiet.The vessel will be of Vard 8 02 trawler design, outfitted for semi-pelagic and bottom-trawling operations with gentle handling to meet the latest demands for fish health management, efficiency, and environmentally friendly operations.The new vessel will have a length of 80,4 meters and a beam of 16,7 meters. The hull is ice strengthened according to Ice-1A.

Deliveries will begin in 2028 if all goes well. Delays and escalating costs have bedeviled the procurement process up until now.Washington State Ferries on Thursday published an invitation to bid on building five new hybrid-electric ferries, an overdue achievement that promises to eventually bring more reliability to cross-Sound ferry service.It’s the first time in more than 50 years that the state will accept bids from shipyards nationwide to construct its vessels. Going out to bid on this contract also represents a major step toward electrification of the WSF fleet.