Vessels & Shipyards

Long in the gestation, Belgium’s plan for a new vessel to reinvigorate the country’s oceanographic research endeavours is coming to fruition in the Spanish-built, 71m Belgica, writes David Tinsley.

The shortlist of nominees for the 2021 Motorship Award is dominated by commercially available solutions, ranging from batteries and wind propulsion through to propulsion solutions.

Grants totalling nearly US$20 million have been authorised for improvement schemes at smaller shipyard companies throughout the USA, writes David Tinsley.

Five years in the making, Germany’s unique new €113.8 million government-owned LNG research all-rounder Atair has finally entered service, writes Tom Todd.

Built in Baku to a Ukrainian design, Azerbaijan’s new ferry is central to the country’s logistic goals and testament to its advancing production capabilities.

After over 60,000 hours of trouble-free operation for shipowner Polarcus, Berg Propulsion’s Twin Fin direct electric drive propulsion system has been chosen by CSL Group for their latest self unloading bulk carrier…

HGK Shipping in Duisburg is building two innovative low-draught inland tankers of “pioneering” hybrid propulsion design and more are likely to follow, reports Tom Todd.

Belgian medium-speed manufacturer ABC Engines is poised to land a major export contract to refit inland waterway vessels with dual-fuel machinery, writes David Tinsley.

Australian company TT-Line has inked contracts for two 48,000gt ro-pax ferries at Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC), scarcely eight months after withdrawing from a previous agreement.

The two Kiel-based shipyard partners of Nobiskrug Werft say its insolvency will have” no negative impact” on their own activities, reports Tom Todd.

Underscoring the drive to re-enter the shipbuilding market, Harland & Wolff has installed a state-of-the-art welding robot at its Belfast yard, writes David Tinsley.

European innovation project Flagships will deploy the world’s first commercial hydrogen-fuelled cargo transport vessel later this year.

Turkish shipyard Sefine received a US$10.6 million (NOK90 million) order for an innovative hybrid wellboat in December 2020. The vessel will set new standards for environmental emissions, according to ship designer HAV…

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) announced the order of 13 x 920mm-bore WinGD diesel engines in connection with the building of 13 × 16,000-teu containerships in a press release on 2 April.

VARD will build three Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) for North Star Renewables in Scotland.

Diversified UK marine services group James Fisher has ordered two tankers specified with dual-fuel propulsion for its coastwise and short-sea trading operations, writes David Tinsley.

Sweden’s shipping industry is set to introduce the largest ro-ro freight vessels that combine the highest ice class rating with LNG-fuelled propulsion, writes David Tinsley.

Giving extra capacity to German acumen in heavy-lift shipping, dship Carriers is strengthening its fleet with multi-purpose vessels of the F-500 generation, writes David Tinsley.