Shipbuilding News

PANAMA CITY, FL – Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) announced the successful delivery of the LONG ISLAND (ESG Hull 228), a newly constructed passenger and auto ferry, to the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, a subsidiary of McAllister Towing. The vessel, designed to provide seamless transportation between Bridgeport, CT, and Port Jefferson, NY, across Long Island Sound, is the latest addition to the company’s fleet."This delivery is a proud moment for our team," said Joey D’Isernia, CEO and Chairman of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.

Fabrum, a New Zealand company, has collaborated on the design and build of a zero-emission hydrogen-powered boat H2Ocean with King Watercraft, a developer of sophisticated New Zealand made rigid inflatable boats. The H2Ocean hydrogen-powered rigid inflatable boat (RIB), a zero-emissions solution suitable for tourism, commercial and leisure activities, will begin sea trials in January 2025. The boat can be adapted to suit the environment and operations of the end user – and be equipped to carry up to 12 people…

Don’t Overlook Shipping’s Critical Role in U.S. Sustainable Transport Future, ABS Chairman and CEO Urges Washington.“Many of our sustainable transportation programs and initiatives tend to become mode-centric, but it is critically important to optimize the overall sustainable freight transportation across modes from origin to destination, which requires a system of systems focus.”That was the message to U.S. transportation industry and Government leaders from ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J.

The bipartisan, bicameral bill will fuel U.S. economy, strengthen national security by responding to China’s threat over the oceans. Currently, the number of U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce is 80; China has 5,500.Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-8), and Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries.

Bisso Towboat Co., Inc. officially christened the M/V Mr. Brian on December 5, 2024, on the Mississippi River while docked at Woldenburg Riverfront Park at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.The Mr. Brian is a 100’ x 38’ x 13.5’ ASD Tractor Tugboat and was officially christened with a bottle breaking at 5:00 pm followed by a reception at the Audubon Aquarium - River Terrace Room.The Mr. Brian is named after Brian Cyprowski, who is the Bisso Towboat Vice President of Operations and a member of the company's executive team. Brian has been with the company for 37 years.

Brunvoll won another contract with Myklebust Shipyard for the delivery of a comprehensive thruster package, an additional vessel for REM Offshore, the option originally announced in May 2024. Like the previous contract, this agreement also includes an option for a third additional vessel.Brunvoll’s thruster package consists of two propulsion azimuth thrusters, two retractable azimuth thrusters, and a tunnel thruster. This configuration is the same as the previous vessel announced in May, except that this vessel with be equipped with a slightly larger tunnel thruster.

ProZero delivered a 15m ProZero passenger vessel to Metro-Opus, a provider of high-speed ferry services in Norway, approved for operations by the Norwegian Maritime Authority.The vessel was handed over to Metro-Opus Project Manager Rasmus Husby Larsen by Jakob Frost, co-owner of the shipyard. Designed and built with ProZero's modular construction approach, the vessel combines latest technology, universal design principles, and optimized hull design. It is certified to accommodate 12 passengers…

Earlier this month the liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Elisa Ardea was delivered. The vessel is owned by France LNG Shipping, a joint venture between NYK and Geogas LNG, and under a long-term charter contract with EDF LNG Shipping. The vessel was built at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.Elisa Ardea will be chartered to the EDF Group long-term (up to 20 years, including extension options) and will be engaged in LNG transportation under the ship management of Gazocean, a French ship-management company.Elisa Ardea is propelled by…

Technology group Wärtsilä’s focus on supporting the marine industry’s efforts to decarbonize operations continues to drive concrete steps forward.The latest order is to supply a complete propulsion package for a 38,000 DWT methanol-ready cement carrier vessel. When built, this will be the world’s largest vessel of its type, and the first with a methanol-ready notation. The order has been placed by NovaAlgoma, a joint venture between the Italian Swiss-based, Nova Marine Group and the Canadian Algoma Central Corporation.

You would be hard pressed to find a corporate leader more passionate about the company they lead; more dedicated to the customer they serve. In this case it’s George Whittier, CEO, Fairbanks Morse Defense and the U.S. Navy. Upon his return less than five years ago, Whittier has driven FMD towards the top of the U.S. Navy supply heap, with a string of strategic acquisitions. Whittier discusses with Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast, FMD’s rich history and promising future in helping the U.S.

Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) reached an exciting milestone today, initiating steel cutting for the first of four advanced escort tugs for Saltchuk Marine at its Allanton Facility. Attending the ceremony were key members of Saltchuk's leadership team. These high-performance vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2026."Our team is excited to begin construction on these state-of-the-art escort tugs for Saltchuk," said Joey D’Isernia, Chairman and CEO of Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc.

The hull of the first TWIN X-STERN Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) for BS Offshore arrived Ulstein Verft on 18 December 2024. This milestone marks the start-up of the outfitting for Yard Number 320 at Ulstein Verft.Ulstein Verft welcomed BS Offshore back at the shipyard. This will be their first ULSTEIN SX222 CSOV. The hull arrival marks a significant milestone in constructing this state-of-the-art vessel, designed to support the growing offshore wind industry. The SX222 design…

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…

With four commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) currently under construction, German shipowner Windward Offshore has formed strategic partnerships with major industry suppliers such as Ampelmann, MAN Energy Solutions, and others, to ensure safe and high-quality delivery of the vessels.The CSOVS, two being built in Norway and two in Vietnam, are part of the contracts Windward Offshore signed with Vard for the design and construction of two hybrid CSOVs, which was later expanded to four vessels.The first vessel is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2025…

The Maritime Safety Committee met for its 109th session at IMO Headquarters in London from December 2 to 6, 2024. The outcomes include:Amendments to mandatory IGC and IGF Codes adoptedThe Committee adopted amendments to Chapter 16 of the IGC Code, related to the use as fuel of cargoes identified as toxic products, in the context of alternative fuels and new technologies. The amendments are expected to enter into force on July 1, 2026. The Committee adopted amendments to parts A and A-1 of the IGF Code relate to ship design, fire safety, ventilation and other safety issues.

ClassNK has released guidance to assist in the safe evacuation of crew members from vehicle carriers in the event of a cargo hold fire. Additionally, the world’s first notation, AMEVC(EV), has been established to indicate vessels equipped with additional measures to facilitate safe evacuation.Vehicle carriers often have accommodation areas and life-saving equipment, such as lifeboats and liferafts, positioned above cargo holds, with ventilation ducts for the holds located close to the accommodation spaces.

Anemoi Marine Technologies completed the installation of five Rotor Sails onboard the 400,000 dwt Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC), Sohar Max, making it the largest vessel to receive wind propulsion technology to date. Sohar Max is a first generation Valemax, built in 2012 in China’s Rongsheng shipyard, and is a project that  showcased collaboration between Brazilian mining giant Vale S.A., Omani shipowner Asyad and UK-based Rotor Sail provider Anemoi.The five 35 m tall, 5 m diameter Rotor Sails were retrofitted onboard Sohar Max at the COSCO Zhoushan shipyard in China, in October 2024.

Japan-based Penta-Ocean Construction has signed a shipbuilding contract with PaxOcean Group for the construction of a self-propelled large-scale cable laying vessel (CLV), expanding its capabilities from offshore wind turbine construction to power cable laying for the industry.The new CLV will be self-propelled, mounted with two 5,000 t cable carousels (a total of 10,000 t) also known as cable storage, enabling safe and efficient cable laying in the open sea with severe metocean conditions.Equipped with a latest trencher (for burying cables) and work class ROV…

CMA CGM will build and deploy a zero emissions inland transport solution in Vietnam, a solution the company says is a "100% green electricity barge coupled with dedicated charging infrastructures" supplied by a new solar farm at Gemalink terminal in Cai Mep (25% owned by CMA CGM Group). A new dedicated solar farm on the premises of Gemalink will produce 1GWH of green electricity annually to recharge the e-barge.From Binh Duong Province to the deep-sea terminal of Gemalink, the e-barge will make the 180 km return journey emitting zero greenhouse gas emissions…

All American Marine (AAM) has announced a partnership with San Francisco Bay Ferry to build their 150-passenger battery-electric vessels. This landmark project will contribute significantly to advancing sustainable passenger transport in the San Francisco Bay Area while showcasing innovative maritime engineering.The concept vessel was initially developed by Aurora Marine Design, based in San Diego, as part of  SF Bay Ferry’s REEF program. Teknicraft Design of Auckland, New Zealand…

Finland will replace one of its eight existing icebreakers with a new vessel to secure open routes in the Baltic Sea year round, the Finnish government said on Monday.The announcement followed the signing of an "ICE Pact" last month, a deal between the United States, Canada and Finland to jointly advance their Arctic and polar icebreaker development in order to counter Russia and China in increasingly strategic polar regions.Navigable maritime routes are crucial for Finland's foreign trade…

Avikus, HD Hyundai’s Autonomous Navigation Technology subsidiary, secured an order for its HiNAS Control autonomous navigation solutions, inking a contract with H-Line Shipping. H-Line plans to first apply HiNAS Control to five vessels to validate its safety and efficiency, with the intention to expand its deployment to as many as 30 vessels by next year. The signing ceremony was attended by Sung-joon Kim, CEO of HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, Do-hyeong Lim, CEO of Avikus, and Myung-deuk Seo, CEO of H-Line Shipping.

It’s already possible to have smart decision support on the bridge: With Furuno’s technology, live video imagery of the front view from the vessel has navigation information superimposed on it including heading, AIS data, radar target tracking, object identification, route waypoint and chart information.SEA.AI’s bridge support system can identify larger vessels not fitted with AIS up to a range of 7.5 kilometers (nearly five miles), smaller vessels up to 3 kilometers (nearly 2…

The Baltic Exchange’s main sea freight index eased for the fourth straight session on Friday, falling close to 0.5%, its lowest since July 2023. “This has certainly assisted the ship recycling sector with the supply of tonnage of late, fueling its survival into early 2025,” says cash buyer GMS.“As we stand on the edge of the final weeks of 2024, compared to the rest of the year, it certainly seems as though there has been more of an uptick in the markets of late, in addition to a far more positive conclusion for ship the recycling sector in the Indian sub-continent…

Newly released data from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) states that about 97% of the world’s fleet of cruise ships was built in Europe, and 98% of ships on order, based on cost, will be built here.The total investment cruise lines are making in new ships built in Europe from 2024 to 2036 is currently €57 billion, with additional orders anticipated.In the next 12 years, 72 of the 76 ocean cruise ships will be built in European shipyards (97%) of which 40 in Italy (52.6%)…

Combat Support Ship (CSS) Den Helder (A834) arrived in Vlissingen this morning after successfully completing her maiden voyage and sea trials.The new supply ship for the Royal Netherlands Navy departed from the Damen Naval shipyard in Galați, Romania on 16 November for her Sea Acceptance Tests (SATs) and is now in Vlissingen-Oost for the final outfitting phase of the project. In the coming months, the finishing work will be carried out before the CSS is handed over to the Netherlands…

The keel of the first of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS), being built at Hindustan Shipyard, was recently laid at a ceremony held at the shipyard.The HSL VC11200 project project, when delivered, will considerably enhance the Indian Navy’s operational capabilities also marks a major milestone in the shipyard’s ability to undertake complex projects.The Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) is providing classification services for all five vessels. These ships are being constructed in compliance with IRS Naval Combatant Rules…

This week at MarineLink…Two reports released this week, one on the upscaling of green hydrogen production, the other on upscaling CCUS, both point to a lack of government initiatives as hindering investment. Without the establishment of regulations and multi-lateral frameworks, big projects are floundering.DNV’s latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 estimates that shipping’s demand for carbon-neutral fuels will be between 9 and 55 Mtoe in 2030 while the global cross-sector production volume of carbon-neutral fuel will be between 44 and 62 Mtoe.Clearly…

The Poseidon Principles, which represents nearly 80% of global ship finance, has published its fifth Annual Disclosure Report, showing progress towards decarbonised shipping.Continued growth of climate transparency from financial institutions shows that the global finance portfolio for shipping has moved closer to alignment with ambitious decarbonisation trajectories set by the IMO, aiming to remove emissions from international shipping by 2050.The report showcases the climate alignment of 35 major financial institutions across 14 countries.This year’s report…

Salaries of the 500 employees are secured by insolvency money; discussions planned with clients for shipbuilding projects already underway. The Provisional insolvency administrators want to jointly develop restructuring solutions.The Flensburg and Neumünster district courts have initiated insolvency proceedings for four companies in the Schleswig-Holstein shipyard group FSG-Nobiskrug. The companies affected are FSG-Nobiskrug Holding GmbH, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH…

BB ELECTRA, the first fully electric powered tugboat to operate in Europe, has been extremely busy since arriving in Norway on April 8, 2024, to start working for environmentally-friendly operator Buksér og Berging.Built by Sanmar Shipyards in Turkiye to the exclusive to Sanmar ElectRA 2200SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, this game-changing tug has already completed 81 towage operations during 835 running hours.Part of a project unveiled in 2021, a total of seven ElectRA Series tugs are now in operation in Europe and North America…

Anemoi Marine Technologies has today announced that Clare Urmston has been appointed as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).After holding a number of executive and non-executive positions within the manufacturing, healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods sectors, Clare Urmston joined Anemoi in March 2020 as its Chief Financial Officer and, in May 2024, became Chief Operating Officer as part of the company’s growth into Asia.She replaces Kim Diederichsen who is stepping…

Seaspan Shipyards, Canada’s long-term, strategic shipbuilding partner for large, complex vessels under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, and the Royal Canadian Navy have reached an important milestone for the first Joint Support Ship, HMCS Protecteur.Seaspan will be holding a naming ceremony and celebration for the upcoming launch for the JSS at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; Vice Admiral Angus Topshee…

The once bankrupt Chinese shipbuilder Rongsheng Heavy Industries has restarted business under the new name of Jiangsu New Rongsheng Heavy Industry.Rongsheng was previously the largest private shipbuilding company in China, and it owned four large docks, eight outfitting quays and two material quays. Its last vessel was delivered in 2017.Now, local media are reporting the yard has secured orders for eight dual-fuel LNG 11,500 TEU container ships from MSC and two 210,000dwt bulk…

Global digital shipbuilder Incat Crowther has been commissioned to design an ultra-efficient, all-electric light cargo transfer vessel for Singapore’s marinEV, a business of Yinson GreenTech. The vessel, Hydromover 2.0, will transport light cargo such as stores, food and maintenance items to vessels anchored in the Singapore Strait, waiting to dock at the Port of Singapore. Hydromover 2.0 builds on the success of the prototype Hydromover 1.0.Hydromover 2.0 will feature Incat Crowther’s efficient hull form…

QatarEnergy has selected the joint venture of Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) and China’s COSCO Shipping LNG Investment (Shanghai) (CSLNG) to own and operate six QC-Max size LNG vessels.The six vessels will be built in China by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).These vessels are the last batch of the 128 LNG vessels in QatarEnergy’s historic ship building program, made up of 104 conventional and 24 QC-Max size ultra…

HII announced that Jennifer Childs has been named vice president of quality and engineering of the company’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, effective Jan. 6, 2025.She succeeds Brian Blanchette, incoming vice president of HII and president of Ingalls Shipbuilding. Childs, a former Navy surface warfare officer (nuclear), has been with Ingalls for 17 years and previously served as director of technical & design engineering. She will now be responsible for the management and oversight of quality programs…

Austal Philippines has delivered a 32-meter catamaran to Rottnest Fast Ferries, less than twelve months after commencing construction in Balamban, Cebu.The vessel, named ‘Ocean Master’, designed by Incat Crowther, was officially accepted by representatives from Rottnest Fast Ferries following the successful completion of sea trials in November 2024.President of Austal Asia, Wayne Murray said the delivery was yet another demonstration of the proven capability of the Austal Philippines shipyard to construct world-class vessels of high-level designs…

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program, partnered to host a two-day recruiting event to offer students a direct career path to a job in the shipbuilding industry. The event attracted over 120 students from across 20 states who interviewed for positions in key trades, including welding, electrical, and machining. By the event’s conclusion, 68 students received job offers to begin their careers at HII.The recruiting event began on Fri., Dec.

Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has strengthened its collaboration with bound4blue by contracting three 22-meter high eSAIL suction sails. The fully autonomous Wind Assisted Propulsion System (WAPS) will be installed on a newbuild MR Tanker from New Times Shipbuilding in Jiangsu Province, China in late 2025. This agreement follows EPS’s first project with bound4blue earlier this year, which involved retrofitting three eSAILs on Pacific Sentinel, a 50,000dwt vessel, in February.

Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest on Tuesday was refused permission to appeal against Mozambique's victory in a London lawsuit over the decade-old "tuna bond" scandal.The southeast African country sued Privinvest and its now late owner Iskandar Safa, alleging they paid bribes to Mozambican officials and Credit Suisse bankers to secure favourable terms on three projects in 2013 and 2014, including one designed to exploit Mozambique's tuna-rich coastal waters.London's High Court ruled in July that Mozambique was entitled to payment of just over $825 million from Safa and companies in the Privinvest group, plus an indemnity in relation to $1.5 billion it is liable to pay lenders and bondholders…

Damen Naval has signed contract with classification society Lloyd’s Register for the delivery of Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) frigate for Colombia, which will be built by Colombian shipbuilder COTECMAR.Following a successful design study contract with COTECMAR, Damen Naval signed a contract for the delivery of engineering, technical support and the shipbuilding materials and equipment for the first frigate in August 2024.Lloyd’s Register has been involved with the project since the end of 2022…

Shipping is poised to play a vital role in APAC cross-border CCUS initiatives, with annual CO2 shipping volumes projected to reach 100 MtPA by 2050, according to a joint study by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG).The study has identified that shipping will play a key role in enabling CCUS initiatives, particularly when there is a large geographical mismatch between potential captured CO2 sources and sequestration hubs.The report…

Fincantieri has re-launched the Fincantieri Foundation as part of its commitment to building a more inclusive world by bridging the past and the future.Established in March 2008, the Fincantieri Foundation is committed to the protection of the unique heritage of documents and artefacts related to civil and military shipbuilding, an "industrial archaeology" that also represents a cultural legacy for the country.The new era begins with the appointment of a new Board of Directors…

Sanmar ends 2024 strong with the launch of the first fully electric tugboat to operate in Latin America.Ordered by SAAM Towage, the new tug is based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2500SX design from naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, and is the eighth fully electric tug Sanmar has built.The tug built for SAAM Towage measures 25.4 x 12.86m with a draft of 5.55m, and with a installed battery capacity 3,616 kWh can achieve a bollard pull ahead of at least 70 tonnes and a speed…

The Baltic Exchange Sea Freight Index cooled its seven-day losing streak on Friday, bouncing back about 0.5%, and propelled primarily by larger sized vessels. Translation? “The ensuing performance of the Baltic Exchange Dry Index has, and should see a general increase in the supply of mid-sized (and smaller) dry (and even the occasional wet) units being offered into the ship recycling markets, as evident from both Bangladeshi and Indian port reports over recent weeks,” says cash buyer GPS.For ship recycling…

Wallenius Marine is conducting advanced wind tunnel tests aimed at realising the world’s first wind-powered pure car and truck carrier (PCTC).The tests are being carried out in Gothenburg, Sweden, at one of Europe’s most advanced wind tunnels, with wind speeds of up to 250 km/h.Wallenius Marine is gathered with experts from RISE KTH, and Oceanbird in Gothenburg for a series of tests that will confirm the design and contribute to the development of new data simulation models for wind-powered ships.The tests are being conducted by RISE Maritime Department (formerly SSPA)…

The battery-electric hydrofoiling boat VS-9 has officially joined the fleet of Fullers360, New Zealand’s largest ferry operator.Designed and built by Vessev, the vessel is nine meters long, can transport passengers at a service speed of 25 knots and has a range of up to 50 nautical miles (57 miles / 92 kilometers).Throughout sea trials, the VS-9 exceeded performance expectations in waves of up to one meter. The propulsion system uses approximately 55kW while cruising at 25 knots – the equivalent of just over 70HP.

The unemployment rate in the U.S. transportation sector was 4.8% (not seasonally adjusted) in November 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).These data have been updated on the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ (BTS) Unemployment in Transportation dashboard. In November 2024, the transportation sector unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points from 4.5% in November 2023 and was above the pre-pandemic November 2019 level of 3.3%. Unemployment in the transportation…

Austal Philippines delivered a 32m catamaran to Rottnest Fast Ferries, less than 12 months after commencing construction in Balamban, Cebu.Dubbed Ocean Master and designed by Incat Crowther, was officially accepted by representatives from Rottnest Fast Ferries following the successful completion of sea trials in November 2024.President of Austal Asia, Wayne Murray said “The Austal Philippines team have delivered this impressive new catamaran in less than 12 months - exceeding expectations for productivity…

This week at MarineLink…An Australian Prime Minister once famously (infamously) said: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”He could have been talking about the maze of IMO and EU regulations relating to new fuels, especially the concept of well-to-wake emissions.It’s not enough to have a clean-burning engine or even an onboard carbon capture system. Well-to-take emissions, upstream and out of the control of ship operators, will have to be factored in.This week, MarineLink reported that a CMA-CGM vessel bunkered bio-LNG in Rotterdam…

Each year, as we prepare for the largest U.S. based maritime industry conference in New Orleans, we tend to look back on the state of the industry and initiatives that were announced from the conference that took place the year before. 2023 provided us with plenty to talk about. In September of 2023, while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the global shipbuilding industry were fixated on “emissions” and alternative fuels, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro held the opening meeting of the Government Shipbuilders Council.

Konecranes has received its fifth portal jib order from the US Navy, part of an agreement initially announced in December 2019. This latest process crane order, worth $46.8 million, was booked in November 2024 and the jib will be delivered to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia. The US Navy has the option for 2 additional portal jib cranes over the next 2 years, putting the potential total value of the agreement at around the previously estimated $330 million.The 175-ton heavy-lift portal crane will be built in Wisconsin and installed at Norfolk, the Navy's largest shipyard on the country’s east coast. The newest crane is similar to previous orders: customized design with unique features that allow the crane to operate on straight or curved tracks.

The operator Tug Malta has held a naming ceremony for its latest tug, Med Aldebaran, following its delivery from Damen’s shipyard in Vietnam.With more than 80 tonnes of bollard pull at its disposal, the tug of Damen RSD Tug 2513 type will add significant strength to the company’s operations in Malta’s Port of Marsaxlokk.The tug is a compact, maneuverable vessel combining elements of ASD and tractor tugs.The Med Aldebaran tug has been outfitted with a Damen Marine NOX Reduction System.

Spoiler Alert: we already know what to do. Some of it just isn’t physically possible. Help isn’t going to come from South Korea.Just two days following Donald Trump’s historic election victory, positioning him to become just the second U.S. President to be elected twice, in separate, non-following terms, the headlines curiously turned to shipbuilding. Which is a nice thing, since the average American thinks very little about that industry on a daily basis. Digging deeper, it seems that America’s once dominant shipbuilding industry needs help…

American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) said that M/V ARC Endeavorentered the Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet on December 1, strengthening ARC’s position for U.S.-flag Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping services.M/V ARC Endeavor replaces ARC’s M/V Endurance in the MSP fleet. MSP is the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program that since 1996 maintains a modern, active fleet of 60 U.S.-flag, privately-owned ships available to provide sealift capacity and support to the military and other federal agencies in times of need, such as war or national emergencies.

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.

HII announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of W International SC, LLC and Vivid Empire SC, LLC (collectively “W International”), a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator specializing in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies.Upon completion of the transaction, the manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina, will operate within HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

The Baltic Sea has become a flashpoint for a multitude of maritime security issues, a driver for the Finnish Border Guard to renew its fleet.The completion of the two new patrol vessels ordered from Meyer Turku by the Finnish Border Guard is progressing, an on December 3, 2024, production was started of the second ship, planned for delivery in 2026.A start of production ceremony was held at the Baltic Operator shipyard in Gdansk. Representatives of the Border Guard, Meyer Turku…

NYK has obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the design concept of a cable-laying vessel for the construction of a long-distance subsea DC transmission network in Japan.Since suitable locations for wind-power generation, such as Hokkaido, are far from areas of major electricity demand, developing a power transmission network is crucial to increasing the amount of renewable electricity generated in Japan in the future.As part of a four-company consortium with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric and Mitsui O.S.K.

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…

Kongsberg Maritime signed a contract with Hindustan Shipbuilding Limited to supply its electric replenishment-at-sea equipment for its Fleet Support Ships program, a new class of five large replenishment vessels designed to enhance the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy.“To have secured the contract to supply our electric Replenishment-at-Sea systems to the Indian Navy’s Fleet Support Ships program is significant for Kongsberg Maritime," said Lisa Edvardsen Haugan, President, Kongsberg Maritime.

Viking Vela, the first of a new series of cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for the Viking shipowner, was delivered at the Ancona shipyard in Italy.With a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons and 499 cabins accomodating 998 passengers, Viking Vela is in the small cruise ship segment. It is the 13th ship delivered by Fincantieri to Viking , including the two expedition units built by the subsidiary Vard.

Swiss marine power company WinGD has received an order for 16 X-DF dual-fuel engines for eight liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, after a late-stage switch by a major ship owner.The order was received relatively late in the newbuilding planning phase as operational and delivery concerns arose around the engines originally selected, according to WinGD.Despite the timing, close collaboration with engine builder, yard and shipowner – which already uses X-DF engines on several…

Effective January 1, 2025, Jordan Pechie has been appointed President of Seaspan Marine Transportation, succeeding Derek Ollmann, who assumes a new role as Chief Executive Officer of Transportation with The Washington Companies, following the planned retirement of Frank Butzelaar, the former Chief Operating Officer. “Both Derek Ollmann and Jordan Pechie have demonstrated exceptional leadership in transforming and re-imagining the business at Seaspan Marine. We have full confidence…

A.P. Moller - Maersk has signed agreements with three yards for a total of 20 container vessels equipped with dual-fuel LNG engines.Combined, the vessels have a capacity of 300,000 TEU.All 20 ships will be equipped with liquified gas dual-fuel propulsion systems and vary in size from 9,000 to 17,000 TEU. Two 9,000 TEU and six 17,000 TEU vessels have been ordered from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, six 15,000 TEU vessels have been ordered from Hanwha Ocean, South Korea, and six 15,000 TEU vessels have been ordered from New Times Shipbuilding…

The Northern Lights JV has taken delivery of the Northern Pioneer, the first in a fleet of four CO2 transport ships, from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC).The Northern Pioneer is the first of its kind, custom designed to transport liquefied CO2 from capture sites in Europe to the Northern Lights receiving terminal.Northern Lights is the first company to offer commercial CO2 transport and storage as a service. The CO2 receiving facility in Øygarden, Norway, was completed in September.Northern Lights is a Joint Venture between Equinor, TotalEnergies and Shell.

Russia's second largest lender VTB will acquire the Zvezda shipbuilding yard from oil company Rosneft but the deal is still in its early stages, VTB CEO Andrei Kostin told Reuters.VTB is currently running Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), Russia's largest shipbuilder, which operates about 40 shipyards, design offices and repair yards across Russia, employing 95,000 staff."The deal is at the very beginning. There are basic agreements.

Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and NYK’s affiliate Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers AS (KNCC) are conducting a joint constructability study of a 40,000 cbm terminal-to-terminal liquefied CO2 (LCO2) vessel based on KNCC’s proprietary technology of LCO2-Elevated Pressure (LCO2-EP) Cargo Tanks together with Nihon Shipyard Co., Ltd. (NSY), which is a joint venture for ship design and sales between Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Japan Marine United Corporation.CCS (Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage) is a technology to capture CO2 at the source — such as power plants…

Glamox won a contract from Alexandria Shipyard in Egypt to light two new salvage tugs being built for the Suez Canal Authority. The two new tugs will sport Glamox LED floodlights and searchlights, helping to enable the vessels to work around the clock, as well as navigation lights, and indoor lighting. The design specification and equipment for the powerful tugs are provided by Kongsberg Maritime.The 71.6m vessels will be built to Kongsberg’s UT 722 CDT design, and each will be equipped with approximately 780 marine-certified lights from Glamox.

American Cruise Lines announced its line-up for 2025, including more new ships, 8 new itineraries, and the longest river cruise in the country, the 51-Day Great United States. 2025 offerings also feature an array of exclusive U.S. cruises, including bucket-list adventures exploring U.S. National Parks from Alaska to Wyoming to the Smoky Mountains. Next year, the world’s only 100% U.S.-flagged fleet of riverboats and small cruise ships, will sail over 50 different itineraries, including brand new cruises on the Mississippi River…

The latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform have confirmed that a total of 27 new orders for alternative fueled vessels have been placed in November 2024.According to DNV’s AFI platform, LNG continues to be the main driver, accounting for 23 vessels, with most of these (15) coming from the container segment.November 2024 has also been a strong month for the car carrier segment, with six new LNG-fueled vessels added to the orderbook.Four new orders for…

Senesco Marine has launched its sixth Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), the WindServe Spartan, which will put to service for United States’ growing offshore wind industry.WindServe Marine, a sister company to the Rhode Island shipbuilder Senesco Marine - both part of the Reinauer Group - will operate the CTV.“This state-of-the-art vessel is set to begin its important work off the coast, showcasing our commitment to excellence and innovation. A big shoutout to our incredible team for their hard work and dedication…

Norwegian offshore wind vessel owner Edda Wind has launched its Vard-built Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) in Vietnam, which will be put to its maiden job at offshore wind project in Taiwan following delivery scheduled for 2025.The vessel, NB967, was launched from a floating dock on December 1, 2024, ensuring the process was controlled and slow.Prior to the launch, the yard held a ceremony in accordance with the traditional Vietnamese blessing of the vessel.The vessel…

Damen Shiprepair Oranjewerf has advanced its on-shore power charging capabilities to cover all types of vessels that call at the yard in Amsterdam.The yard had already installed shore power suited to many of its projects. However, with this latest installation, developed by Elma Systems, the availability of clean on-shore power converted to 60Hz has been expanded to cover more vessel types.“Previously, we were able to provide shore power with 50 hertz. However, we get a lot of offshore…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has launched the Mitsui Ocean Fuji cruise ship, owned by MOL Group company MOL Cruises.The 32,477-ton Mitsui Ocean Fuji, the first cruise ship in Japan with all suite cabins, will offer a total of five debut cruise packages and one New Year's cruise through January 2025.In addition to cruises to and from Yokohama, it also offers cruises to andfrom Kobe and Nagoya, and cruise to and from Beppu, Shimonoseki, Shingu, Kochi, Nagoya, Sakaide, Kobe, Matsuyama…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard, part of Fincantieri Group, has secured Lloyd’s Register’s Approval in Principle (AiP) of the methanol fueling system for two offshore wind Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) being built for North Star.With the AiP, the two ships will be amongst the first prepared for conversion to green fuels in the wind market.The CSOVs are of VARD 422 design and are tailor-made for the UK’s infrastructure support vessel operator North Star, with new methanol ready hybrid-propulsion solutions.VARD 4 22 is Vard’s first methanol ready project…

NYK Line has taken delivery of the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI)-built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, named Quest Kirishima.The LNG carrier was completed and delivered at the SHI Geoje Shipyard on December 2, 2024.The vessel, Quest Kirishima, will be deployed under a time-charter contract with Q United Energy Supply & Trading, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyushu Electric Power.Quest Kirishima’s membrane-type cargo tanks have a 174,000 cubic meter capacity and use a tank system that features heat insulation.The vessel…

Cash buyer GMS notes that despite incoming president Trump’s announcement of applying sweeping tariffs to the tune of 25% on China, Mexico and Canada, the U.S. economy continues to firm as U.S. inflation drops to (globally) fantastic levels and the US Dollar strengthens against nearly all ship recycling nation currencies this week.The news of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah ceasefire eased tensions around trade routes, and a healthy number of already beach-worthy yet still employed ladies finally make their appearances at the various ship recycling waterfronts…

A.P. Moller - Maersk has named its newest dual-fuel methanol container vessel A.P. Møller in honor of Arnold Peter Møller, the founder of A.P. Moller – Maersk.The newbuild is the ninth vessel in Maersk’s fleet capable of operating on methanol.A.P. Møller is part of a series of 18 large dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025. Built at Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea, the 16,592 TEU vessel is the eighth large dual-fuel methanol vessel to join the Maersk fleet in 2024.Arnold Peter Møller (1876-1965) and his father…

SunStone Maritime Group has launched its latest expedition cruise vessel, Douglas Mawson, at China Merchants Heavy Industry.With a capacity up to 170 passengers and 102 crew, the vessel features advanced safety systems, energy-efficient operations and eco-friendly technologies designed to minimize environmental impact.Built with Ulstein’s revolutionary X-Bow® design, the vessel is IceClass 1A and Polar Class 6, ensuring safe and efficient operations in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

American Offshore Services (A-O-S) has taken delivery of a hybrid-ready ready Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), the third G-Class vessel for the company in 2024, which will support the development of offshore wind industry on the United States’ East Coast.The vessel, named M/V Guarder, has been designed and developed in partnership with Northern Offshore Services (N-O-S) to transfer technicians and equipment to the rapidly expanding offshore wind industry, a service crucial for constructing and maintaining wind energy infrastructure.As a ‘future-proof’ platform…

GAIL (India) has signed a long-term time charter contract with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line) for a newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship.The LNG ship will be a modern two-stroke vessel having a tank capacity of 1,74,000 cubic metres and will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries.The contract was signed through GAIL’s ship-owning company established in Singapore.This is the first long-term time charter contract between GAIL and "K" LINE involving a newly built vessel which is expected to be engaged in transportation of LNG for GAIL in 2027.GAIL currently has four LNG vessels…

Damen Shipyards has delivered six RSD Tugs 2513 to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, including the first fully electric tug that will operate in a European port.The delivery consists of five RSD Tugs 2513 and one RSD-E Tug 2513.With its fully electric propulsion, the RSD-E Tug 2513 paves the way to zero emission operations. The remaining five vessels are also contributing to cleaner operations.As part of the contract scope, Damen has delivered and commissioned the electric tug’s 1.5 megawatt charger and onshore electric infrastructure.

While the U.S. Navy’s first Constellation-Class Frigate (FFG 62) is under construction in the United States, Norway is showing serious interest in the guided-missile frigate, as well as bolstering its longstanding strategic partnership with America.Last week Norwegian Minister of Defence, Mr. Bjørn Arild Gram, released a statement confirming that Norway is considering the Constellation-Class Frigate, as well as three other designs from outside the country. Norway is interested in procuring five or six ships…

Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine has signed a contract with South Korea’s Yeosu Ocean for the construction of a StratCat 27 crew transfer vessel (CTV) for the country’s growing offshore wind market.Designed by Strategic Marine’s partner BMT, the CTV is capable of incorporating multiple propulsion and engine options, coupled with a larger asymmetric superstructure ensuring ample interior space for a large range of operational requirements.The hybrid-ready designed vessel will be tailored for Korean water conditions…

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will supply the complete cargo handling system for a new fully pressurized LPG Carrier being built for Meghna Fresh LPG, part of the Bangladeshi Meghna Group of Industries.The group is one of the Bangladesh’s largest industrial conglomerates, and in addition to being the owner of the new ship, it also owns the shipyard where the vessel is constructed and is the owner of the energy industries that the vessel will serve.The Wärtsilä scope for the complete cargo handling system covers three main parts - the engineering scope…

Chinese ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said that if New Zealand were to join security grouping AUKUS it would "inevitably" have negative consequences for the country's relationship with China.In a wide-ranging interview with state-owned Radio New Zealand released on Wednesday, Wang said that when deciding whether to join the grouping, China hoped that New Zealand would "take into account its own long-term best interests, the potential implications for regional security…

The Executive Control Board of the National Shipbuilding Research Program (NSRP) selected 13 panel projects for award as part of the program's mission to reduce costs and expand capability for U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair. These new projects, valued at over $2.55M in government funding, were among those proposed in response to the Panel Project Solicitation issued in June 2024. Abbreviated descriptions follow; prime contractors are listed first and noted in bold text:Laser…

Sallaum Lines has ordered six additional Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels from China, two with Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding Co Ltd. (2 x 7,500 RT SDARI design) and four with China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. (4 x 7,400 RT Deltamarin design). Each vessel has a capacity ranging from 7,400 to 7,500 Car Equivalent Unit (CEU) Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) design. By incorporating dual-fuel LNG technology, the newbuilds deliver a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least 25%In addition…

As the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew departed Seattle recently for its deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, all eyes come back around to the U.S. icebreaking fleet, or lack thereof, as the nation and its allies work to help build the fleet to be larger and stronger than ever, facing potential national security threats that come with a strong Russian and Chinese presence in the polar regions.Click here to read about "U.S. Polar Security…

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…

PPG announced its 50th order for the electrostatic application of marine fouling control coatings, to be carried out on the VLCC SIDR, a 336-m oil tanker operated by Bahri Ship Management at the Asyad Drydock Company shipyard in Oman, using PPG NEXEON 810 antifouling coating on the hull.PPG introduced electrostatic coating application to the shipping industry just over a year ago, and the technique is designed to provide an increased transfer efficiency compared to airless spraying…

Xiamen Minhua Shipping has specified a Steelpaint corrosion protection system for a trio of newbuild multi-purpose cargo ships building at Fujian Shipbuilding’s yards in China. The order marks the Germany-based coatings specialist’s first newbuilding contract with a Chinese shipowner.The first vessel in the series, the 12,000dwt Min Hua 9 delivered from the Fujian Hengsheng shipyard in June, is now operating with a Stelpant-PU-Zinc universal primer protecting steel cargo holds…

Locally supported, high-quality navigation systems for demanding vessels.In accordance with the regulations of the Chinese Classification Society, Anschütz is supplying a comprehensive Integrated Bridge System (IBS) for two newly built heavy-lift crane vessels at Jingjiang Nanyang Shipbuilding Co. Ltd in China.The IBS is equipped with five Synapsis NX multifunctional workstations for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), (chart) radar and conning applications, as well as a NautoPilot 5000 NX autopilot, X- and S-band radars and a Standard 22 NX triple-gyro compass system.

American Cruise Lines announced that American Legend sets sail today, along its first cruise.The newest small ship in the country, is sailing American’s 8-Day Florida Gulf Coast & Keys itinerary, roundtrip from St. Petersburg Florida. The fully domestic cruise visits: St. Petersburg, FL; Marco Island, FL; Key West, FL; Punta Gorda, FL; and offers an optional pre-cruise hotel stay in Tampa, Florida. The cruise explores the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast, offering many shoreside excursions…

A key consideration in planning for the future of offshore wind is designing and delivering the maritime assets that are 'future-proof', able to scale with the growing size of offshore wind pieces and components.A collaboration between Concordia Damen, Amasus, deugro Danmark, Siemens Gamesa, and DEKC Maritime aims to do exactly that, in the development and construction of two new and advanced Offshore Wind RoRo vessels: Rotra Futura and Rotra Horizon. These vessels, of which the first one launched yesterday at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard…

BAR Technologies, a wind propulsion leader and innovative simulation-driven marine engineering consultancy, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Corporation, and Nihon Shipyard which will set a framework for collaborations between the three businesses following the successful installation of BAR Technologies’ patented wind propulsion system WindWings onto Mitsubishi Corporation’s vessel Pyxis Ocean. Under the terms of the MoU, BAR Technologies, Mitsubishi Corporation…

HJ Shipbuilding & Construction (HJSC) held a christening ceremony for two 7,700 TEU LNG dual-fuel (DF) container ships at its Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan last week, marking the company’s first LNG DF container ship construction.The event was attended by more than 100 guests, including Angeliki Frangou, Chairwoman of Navios Maritime Partners LP, Shunji Sasada, President of Navios, Kim Kyung-bae, President of HMM, Yoo Sang-cheol, CEO of HJSC, along with other officials. The two vessels…

ADNOC Logistics and Services plc has taken delivery of Al Shelila, the first of six newbuild liquified natural gas (LNG) carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard in China. The vessel has been delivered two months ahead of schedule, with the remaining five expected to be delivered in 2025 and 2026. Immediately after delivery Al Shelila will go on hire with a top-tier, global energy trader.Al Shelila’s naming and delivery ceremony will be attended by His Excellency Muhannad Sulaiman Al Naqbi…

As global ship recycling markets head into the final month of the year on a comparatively firmer footing and a 2024 full of minimal sales and activity wraps up, cash buyer GMS says that noteworthy declines in prices have seen nearly USD 150/LDT wiped from sub-continent ship recycling levels.“Q1 2025 doesn’t seem as though it is ready to greet the ship recycling industry with its customary January / Q1 vigor,” says GMS. “In fact, if things continue the way they are with the Nuclear Clock ticking ever closer to midnight…

BlastOne International announced that it has been chosen by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) to construct a cutting-edge three bay paint hall as part of the River-class Destroyer (RCD) Infrastructure Project.This initiative is essential for enhancing ISI’s facilities to support the production of RCD vessels in support of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy.Under this project, BlastOne will be responsible for designing and building the new paint and blast facility at the Halifax Shipyard.

The effects of climate change, technological advancements, and economic opportunities have created competition between the United States and its strategic adversaries in the Arctic region. Both Russia and China have developed Arctic strategies with geopolitical goals contrary to U.S. interests, including the control of resources and sea routes. In recent months, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have encountered Russian and Chinese naval vessels near Alaska.The U.S. Government…