Ships & Shipyards

• Chinese bulker class aims for high efficiency

  The popular image of Chinese shipyards still tends to be one of low-tech operations turning out large numbers of vessels, built to basic standards, with cost and simplicity having priority over efficiency, timely delivery and sophisticated design. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship

• Mixed fortunes in German yards as offshore booms

  Tom Todd relates a story of mixed fortunes currently in German newbuilding with some yards busy and prospering while others struggle to find work and stay afloat. Proving a blessing is offshore work, specifically tough wind power transport and installation newbuildings and yards continue to switch production to join in the boom. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship

• The true hybrid platform supply vessel becomes reality

  Det Norske Veritas has announced the latest, and third, phase of the FellowShip project, in which energy storage capability in the form of a battery pack is introduced in the energy system of the offshore supply ship ‘Viking Lady’. This allows the benefits of a true hybrid energy system to be explored. 01 May 2012 - The Motorship

• IMT 950 joins North Star fleet

  The OSD-designed and Spanish-built 50.7m safety standby vessel 'Grampian Don' has recently joined the fleet of Aberdeen-based North Star Shipping. 29 Apr 2012 - The Motorship

• Ferry uses electric power and air support

  Development is well underway with a pioneering fast electric air-supported commuter ferry that can operate on battery power alone, writes Dag Pike. 01 Apr 2012 - The Motorship

• Dawning of the age of Aquarius

  Eco Marine Power (EMP), a Japanese technology company that develops and markets solar, wind and electric marine power and propulsion systems, recently unveiled a concept design incorporating its Aquarius Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) system. 31 Mar 2012 - The Motorship

• New damage stability system from Japan

  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in Japan says it has developed a system to enhance the damage stability of ships, enabling reduction in capsizing risk, and has received the first order for the new system for a ro-ro cargo vessel. 31 Mar 2012 - The Motorship

• Nissan goes greener with new car carrier

  Japanese car manufacturer Nissan Motor Company recently introduced its ultra-green eco-friendly car carrier, built by Shin Kurushima Dockyard, which began its maiden voyage on 27 January. 31 Mar 2012 - The Motorship

• Brodosplit delivers its most expensive vessel to date

  In late 2011 Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia, handed over the most expensive (at a cost exceeding $150 million) and one of the most complex newbuildings in the shipyard’s history to its owner, the French shipping/logistic company SNC Navale STEF-TFE. 30 Mar 2012 - The Motorship

• X-Bow proves effective on seismic survey ships

  On our recent visit to Norway’s West Coast offshore shipbuilders, we inspected the Ulstein SX120 ship ‘Oceanic Sirius’, second of a pair of large, high-specification seismic vessels. 29 Feb 2012 - The Motorship

• Second of two ‘green’ PSVs from Kleven

  ‘Rem Fortress’ is a new PSV delivered in the last quarter of 2011 by Kleven Maritime. She is sister to ‘Rem Commander’, delivered earlier in the year. Both ships were ordered in July 2010 and replace older ships with the same name in the Rem Offshore fleet, also built by Kleven. 29 Feb 2012 - The Motorship

• New ‘green’ Handysize contract signed

  With mounting commercial and environmental pressure on the shipping industry to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, it’s encouraging to see that an increasing number of shipowners are ordering more efficient vessels. 29 Feb 2012 - The Motorship

• Environmentally-sound hybrid ferries to be built on the Clyde

  In a rare reversal of fortunes for the UK shipbuilding industry, Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, Scotland has been selected to build the world’s first two sea-going ro-ro diesel electric hybrid ferries. 29 Feb 2012 - The Motorship

• Norway leads the way in the offshore industry

  The Norwegians – and the west coast area in particular – enjoy a strong position in the global offshore industry. Building on the foundations of North Sea oil and gas, Norway has established itself at the forefront of ship and equipment design, building and operation. 01 Feb 2012 - The Motorship

• Offshore orders for high speed Cat engines

  Caterpillar Marine Power Systems has won two significant orders for its 3500 series diesel electric propulsion engines to power offshore support vessels. 31 Jan 2012 - The Motorship