General News

The growth of Korea into the world?s leading shipbuilding nation has not troubled Europe?s critical equipment manufacturers. Korea?s shipyards have largely bought their steel and other non-critical components locally while relying on…

The government and the shipyard marketing departments may be anxious to connect the future of Korean shipbuilding with high value ships, but the reality of today is that much of the shipyards?…

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…

After nearly 75 years of producing and marketing its highly successful cycloidal propulsion system, Voith Schneider in Germany has extended its range by developing the Voith Cycloidal Rudder (VCR). This is basically…

In an interesting approach to upgrading a flexible fleet while meeting diverse transport requirements, the French ferry company Société Nationale Maritime Corse Méditerranée (SNCM) is about to see its expansion plans come…

In a blow to the French shipbuilding industry, the English Channel ferry operator Brittany Ferries has confirmed that it has placed a $150 million contract with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft of Papenburg…

Many will have thought that the hovercraft is dead in all but its military guise. However, hovercraft are still being used as a means of commercial transport and have a number of…

The pentamaran design first patented by Nigel Gee & Associates (NGA) six years ago looks like it might eventually get built. The backing of Spanish shipbuilder Izar has given the vessel?s British…

Izar Carenas, the ship repair division of the Spanish Izar Group, says 2001 was a successful year for it in the ship repair business. The group, which includes yards at Cadiz, Cartegena,…

Medium-speed market-leader Wärtsilä may not have much to report in the way of big development stories right now that The Motor Ship hasn?t previously covered, but those companies trying to take market…

The European Community?s phase out of shipyards subsidies by the end of next year for orders received up to the end of 2000 led, understandably, to an orders boom in 2000. That…

Communications service providers have been having a tough time of it since Iridium filed for Chapter 11 creditor protection and was cut off on March 17, 2000. Both ICO and more recently…

They carry passengers, but they are much more than mere ferries. Hurtigruten ships provide a lifeline for Norway?s remote northern communities, bringing in essentials while taking local products out to market.A Hurtigruten…

In September 2000, German shipowner ER Schiffahrt/ Nordcapital, better known as Erck Rickmers, contracted compatriot shipbuilder SSW Fähr- und Spezialschiffbau to build up to 10 units of the shipyard?s Super 25-type container…

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Küstenschutz (coastal protection working group) ? set up by the towing companies Bugsier, Transport & Service, Fairplay and URAG ? has, in cooperation with SSW Fähr- und Spezialschiffbau, developed a new…

Until passengers are prepared to pay very high ticket prices for speed, weight and cost will remain the most important parameters when looking at fast-ferry propulsion systems, with low fuel consumption and…

Chipolbrok, the Sino-Polish shipping company, is upgrading its fleet with the building of two 30,000 dwt newbuildings at Shanghai Shipyard. The contract includes an option for a second pair. The ships will…