General News

The Korean Register of Shipping (KR) has extended its port state control pre-inspection service to ships scheduled to call at European ports.Relatively poor performance of KR-registered ships in USCG statistics for 1999…

South Korea, like Japan, is continuing to invest in research and development to guarantee its long-term future. All the major shipbuilders on the South Korean peninsula have R&D projects underway recognising that…

The idea of shipping passengers, trailers and containers together in one hull is, on the face of it, an attractive idea for ferry operators as they seek to expand the flexibility of…

When it comes to high-speed commercial vessels, shipowners are spoilt for choice with a range of catamarans, air cushion craft, pentamarans and semi-displacement hulls either already in service or under consideration. Another…

Incinerators? days are numbered. So says Jeff Argent, environmental projects manager at Norwegian-headquartered roro operator United European Car Carriers (UECC).The pressures of environmental stewardship - to reduce air borne emissions - are…

Fitting environmentally friendly systems onboard ship comes at a cost and owners want to see some return for their investment, which is why class societies now offer environmental class notation.A number of…

Sea trials are underway on the first Royal Navy vessel to feature integrated electric propulsion and podded propulsors. HMS Echo, a 3,470t survey ship, left Appledore Shipbuilders yard in Devon, UK in…

Like a child growing up, the path to technical maturity isn?t always trouble-free. So in spite of its problems, it should always be remembered that podded propulsion technology remains in its infancy.Computer…

A number of Finnish companies are working together to produce vessel concepts that combine diesel-electric with diesel-mechanical machinery. Wärtsilä, the engine manufacturer, Kvaerner Masa-Yards, the shipbuilder, and ABB, the electrical systems developer,…

Responding to a perceived market demand for electric drives with power ratings under 5 MW, the German propulsors manufacturer, Schottel, has launched a small compact pod-type drive. The drive, called the Schottel…