Workboats News

Operating one of the world’s largest marine fleets of any kind, it is Svitzer’s local footprint that speaks volumes for its diverse and far-flung workforce and assets. Strengthened by a multi-national team, providing value in more than three dozen countries, Svitzer stands out every day. On 30 April 2024, Svitzer was listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (SVITZR) as a result of the previously announced separation from its former parent company, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S. Danish national Kasper Karlsen has been Global Chief Operating Officer of the Svitzer Group since December 2022.

Western Baltic Engineering (WBE), a Lithuanian maritime engineering company, and Belgium’s Batia Mosa Shipyard announced a strategic partnership aiming to transform European inland waterway shipping with the launch of WBE’s design electric pusher vessel series, BlueKick. The collaboration aligns with the Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe (SEA Europe)'s advocacy for the European Commission's focus on advancing the inland waterways sector. SEA Europe has called for ambitious measures to prioritize sustainable…

Deere & Company announced the unveiling of new engines — the JD14 and JD18 marine engines.With the addition of these engines, John Deere will be able to offer marine customers heavier duty cycles* and a more comprehensive power range, from 298 up to 599 kW (400 up to 803 hp). Production is anticipated to begin in 2026.“The vessels powered by our marine engines are part of hardworking, relentless commercial operations that need uncompromising power and reliability,” said Pierre Guyot, senior vice president of John Deere Power Systems.

A towing vessel was pushing a barge loaded with aggregate when it allided with a bulk liquid transfer terminal pier on the Columbia River. The Coast Guard’s marine casualty investigation determined that the operator fell asleep at the helm, resulting in more than $1.5 million in property damage to the barge, handling equipment, and the facility. The incident occurred near a pipeline that could have discharged 25,000 gallons of synthetic diesel into the waterway.The investigation also identified the failure of the Pilothouse Alerter System as a key contributing factor.

A second multi-purpose tugboat has joined her twin sister at Rijeka, Croatia’s principal seaport, part of a two-tug contract with the Italian shipping group Scafi for its Croatian subsidiary Jadranski Pomorski Servis.Known as BOĞAÇAY LXXII while under construction in Turkiye the tug, renamed TITAN by her new owner, is now working alongside fellow Bogacay Series tugboat MORETTO.Both 80-ton bollard pull tugs are based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar RAmparts 2400SX MKII design from Robert Allan Ltd.Measuring 24.4m LOA…

Damen Shipyards Group has delivered a Shoalbuster (SBu) 3209 to Caspian Offshore Construction, which will be put to work in support of dredging projects in the Persian Gulf.The vessel, named Caspian Lotus, joins the company’s fleet of over 50 vessels and barges.It features shallow draught of just 3.3 metres, 80 m2 of deck space, ample crane capacity and powerful propulsion.Caspian Offshore Construction is a long-term client of Damen. The company took delivery of its first Damen vessel – a Fast Crew Supplier (FCS) 1605 back in 2006.Since…

On December 4th, Tug Malta held a naming ceremony for its latest vessel, a Damen RSD Tug 2513, in Malta. During a celebration attended by the Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela, the vessel was named Med Aldebaran.With more than 80 tonnes of bollard pull at its disposal, the new vessel will add significant strength to the company’s operations in Malta’s Port of Marsaxlokk. The RSD Tug 2513 is a compact, maneuverable vessel combining elements of ASD and tractor tugs to deliver an ‘always bow first’ approach to towage.

Marking a groundbreaking milestone in sustainable transport, the Sogestran Group launched the ZULU 06, France's first hydrogen-powered river vessel, on the Seine in Paris today.Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, was the vessel’s godmother: “The successful integration of fuel cells into the riverboat ZULU 06, soon to operate commercially in the heart of Paris, marks a significant technical and regulatory milestone. Building on the momentum of the FLAGSHIPS project…

At the Sanmar shipyard, located in Tuzla Bay, Istanbul, Latin American's first electric tug was launched.The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Chile per the service agreement signed in January this year between Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (Enap) and SAAM. This advance reaffirms both companies’ commitment to the energy transition, since the tug's electric propulsion structure does not emit greenhouse gases and reduces environmental and underwater noise.After this first launch stage…

New MPV brings increased versatility to workboat sector.Damen Shipyards Group and Herman Sr. have signed a letter of intent (LOI) for the construction of a new Multi-Purpose Vessel (MPV) 4916. The LOI was signed during the Offshore Energy exhibition in Amsterdam on 26 November by Jeroen van Woerkum on behalf of Damen and Chris and Erwin van Dodewaard of behalf of Herman Sr.Next level versatilityThe MPV 4916 will be the first in a series of vessels combining the qualities of the…

While in New Orleans, Maritime Reporter TV visited with Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) and Diversified Marine to discuss the Electrified Truckable Tug.Hitting tightening maritime emission targets will require innovation and collaboration across the sector, the type of teaming recently announced between Elliott Bay Design Group and Diversified Marine with the introduction of the electrical truckable tug.“This is a great collaboration with Diversified Marine; they had a tug design and they came to us to electrify it,” said Steve Carlson, Principal in Charge, EBDG.

Anyone who knows Aaron Smith, president and CEO of OMSA, knows that he is passionately focused on the U.S. maritime industry and staunchly defending the U.S. Jones Act fleet and mariners. We caught with Smith on the sidelines of the Workboat Show in New Orleans last week. Highlights of the conversation are below – including an update on the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act – the full interview can be seen on Maritime Reporter TV.Let’s talk a bit about the offshore energy industry today.

There’s plenty to go around for everyone, no matter it comes from.I will admit that attending the 2024 Workboat Show in the Big Easy just ten days after settling into the MarineNews Editor’s chair (for this, the second time around) had my full attention. The event typically evokes the specter of drinking from the proverbial fire hose in routine times, but attending and digesting all it has to offer, right out of the gate, makes the task just little bit edgier. Ultimately, last week’s trade show exuded terrific energy, from exhibitors to attendees alike.

The California Volkswagen (VW) Zero-Emission Freight and Marine (ZEFM) Program Administrator is preparing to open a statewide solicitation offering up to $25 million to owners of cargo handling equipment, heavy-lift forklifts and marine vessels for zero-emissions projects:• Repowering marine vessels, including ferries, tugboats, and towboats to zero-emission;• Replacing heavy-lift forklifts (with a lift capacity of 8,001 lbs. or greater) with zero-emission alternatives; and• Replacing…

Since its September launch, Nauticworx.com, the new digital platform designed for efficient workboat spot chartering, has attracted several early adopters.The companies have joined the platform to publish their real-time project needs for temporary workboats or list vessels with regional availability in the spot charter market.Nauticworx aims to simplify the complex spot market by bringing brokers, fleet owners and charterers together on one matchmaking platform, enabling seamless connections between asset providers and project managers across sectors like offshore wind…

Baker Marine Solutions is unveiling its newest towing vessel design and the International WorkBoat Show.The BMS 1882 - A 6000 HP Inland Towboat is designed for the inland waterway and transportation market.At a length of 170ft, the design boasts accommodation for a 10-person crew while providing ample living, recreation and leisure spaces to ensure crew comfort and habitability.Powering this 6000HP vessel can be achieved in both a hybrid diesel electric design or standard traditional design.BMS 1882 is named in honor of the largest diesel towboat currently operating on the Mississippi River…

Vessel owners are making new fuel choices, but increasingly, they have options to help reduce the risk of doing so.The latest engine developments aim to make it easier for owners to avoid the chicken-and-egg fuel price and availability risks of new fuels.As Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine and Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation recently pointed out, the challenge is that owners won’t commit to a fuel today that is expensive, only produced in small quantities and may be usurped by another fuel that scales faster and more affordably.

There is a small but global fleet of clean up boats preventing trash from flowing into the ocean. More than that, these battery-powered, autonomous boats are performing a growing range of other tasks.For the developers of Clearbot, the inspiration to be involved in removing trash from waterways arose from personal experience. They had watched villagers in India catching fish in rivers carpeted with trash and surfers in Bali manually hauling in trash from otherwise beautiful beaches.Samyuktha Sriram…

Wilson Sons will start building in 2025 a new range of three powerful tugboats with sustainable technology at its shipyard in Guarujá, São Paulo. It plans on renewing and modernizing its fleet of more than 80 tugboats, which operate along the Brazilian coast.The three vessels are ASD 2312 (23 x 12m) tugs with azimuth propulsion and 70 tons of bollard pull, and are capable of supporting 366-m super container ships on docking and undocking maneuvers in the country's main ports.The new tugs follow the IMO TIER III standard established by the International Maritime Organization…

Mobile, AL-based Blakeley BoatWorks has announced the completion and delivery of Hull 107, formally named M/V Claire Ellen, to Cooper Marine’s Louisiana operations.Designed by Farrell and Norton and built by Blakeley BoatWorks, the 70-foot long, 28-foot wide, 1,600 horsepower vessel is fully compliant with the latest United States Coast Guard Subchapter M regulatory requirements. The new pushboat is the sixth 70 foot workboat delivered by Blakeley to to Cooper Marine-Louisiana.

Turkish shipbuilder UZMAR Shipyard announced it has delivered the new tugboat Balahu to P&O Reyser for operations at the Port of Barcelona, one of Spain's busiest ports.The Balahu is an asymmetric tractor tug (ATT), designed by Spanish ship design firm Cintranaval to provide exceptional maneuverability, ideal for handling large vessels in high-traffic port environments. It features a propulsion system powered by Kongsberg azimuth stern drive (ASD) units and offers a bollard pull of 73.5 tonnes.The vessel is powered by two MAN Energy Solution 12V175D MM+ 12-cylinder high-speed diesel engines…

In the course of the market launch of the MAN D3872 for workboats, MAN Engines is expanding its portfolio with additional performance for heavy-duty applications. The new MAN D3872 in the LE427 variant for heavy-duty applications has an output of 920 kW (1,250 hp) at 1,800 rpm and is equipped with an exhaust gas aftertreatment system consisting of a diesel particulate filter and SCR system.This means that the engine meets the strict emission standards of the EU Stage V for inland navigation with the limits of 1.8 g/kWh nitrogen oxides (NOx)…

The divers with Code 760, Regional Dive Locker at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility took delivery of a new purpose-built dive boat in May.The new boat replaces an Explosive Ordnance Disposal support boat built in 1991 that PSNS & IMF acquired in 2007.According to Mike Richardson, Diving Operations manager, Code 760, the new boat will help the divers accomplish their mission more effectively and comfortably.“The new boat is a purpose-built dive boat with a Marine Knuckle Boom crane,” said Richardson.