Yanmar Power Technology has successfully completed a land-based demonstration test of a pilot-ignition hydrogen 4-stroke high-speed engine designed for power generation in coastal vessels.

The 6-cylinder engine operates by using a small amount of diesel oil as the ignition source (pilot fuel) to burn a premixture of hydrogen and air. The engine achieved the world’s highest hydrogen fuel ratio and an output of approximately 500kW (according to Yanmar’s research).

Yanmar Power Technology is developing a similar pilot-ignition engine that will achieve zero emissions by co-firing a small amount of biofuel for ignition with hydrogen and a spark-ignition engine that will burn hydrogen exclusively. Land-based demonstration tests using this pilot-ignition 6-cylinder hydrogen engine are scheduled to begin in 2024, with demonstration operations planned for 2026.

The current trial was conducted as part of the Nippon Foundation’s zero emission ship demonstration experiment. This project focuses on the development of hydrogen-powered, zero-emission ships, and supports related technology development.

In addition to hydrogen engine development, the project is currently working on a hydrogen engine-compatible hybrid electric propulsion vessel, combining…

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Engine & Machinery (HHI-EMD) has signed a contract with China Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding Company and Taiwan’s Evergreen Line to supply 18 methanol dual-fuel HiMSEN engines (7H22CDF-LM) for six 2,400 TEU container ships.

HHI-EMD has successfully introduced the eco-friendly methanol HiMSEN engine H32DF-LM (3,000~4,500kW) for ultra-large container ships, with a total of 352 engines ordered and manufactured to date.

Following this, the newly developed H22CDF-LM (1,440~2,160kW) successfully completed its Type Approval Test in March.

With this contract for feeder container ships, HHI-EMD anticipates expanding its orders for various types of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers and PCTCs.

Meanwhile, HHI-EMD is focusing its efforts on the development of future fuel engines. Recently, it received type approval for its ammonia engine (H22CDF-LA).

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has signed a partnership agreement with technology start-up Satva Trust to provide its maritime domain expertise to further develop Satva Trust’s data analytics platform aimed at vessels decarbonization.

Satva Trust is a climate data tech and fintech company that leverages blockchain, artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies to accurately predict vessel emissions. The company supports marine lenders, marine insurers, shipowners and vessel charterers.

Under the agreement, ABL will share its naval architecture and marine engineering expertise along with knowledge of vessel types and design data for the enhancement of Satva Trust’s platform. ABL will also support Satva Trust in the launch and post-launch growth of its platform.

‘’This is an exciting partnership for us. We will draw upon ABL’s substantial naval architecture and marine engineering experience along with the vessel design, upgrade and conversion expertise of sister company Longitude to enhance Satva Trust’s platform, offering the industry a forward-thinking solution to support its decarbonization efforts,” said RV Ahilan, chief energy transition officer at ABL Group.

Stefano Scarpa, ABL’s associate director for maritime…

The shipping industry is looking into ammonia as an alternative fuel for powering ships, amid other ongoing plans to cut carbon emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050.

Here is a list of companies with ammonia-fuelled ship projects:

NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (NYK)

NYK, with IHI Power Systems and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), completed the world’s first ammonia-fuelled tugboat, Sakigake, on Aug. 23. The vessel will operate in Tokyo Bay for three months.

NYK is also building the world’s first ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier, scheduled for completion in November 2026.

MITSUI O.S.K LINES (MOL)

MOL, in collaboration with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and Yara International, completed the world’s first ammonia ship-to-ship (STS) transfer at anchorage within the Australian port of Dampier. Two transfers, each involving 4,000 cubic metres of ammonia, took place between two gas carriers to simulate bunkering operations.

MOL has also received approval in principle from shipping classification society ClassNK to design a 210,000-DWT (deadweight tonnage) ammonia-powered bulk carrier.

ITOCHU

Japanese trading house Itochu signed an initial agreement with marine fuel supplier Peninsula Petroleum to jointly develop ammonia bunkering in Algeciras,…

The union representing 45,000 East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers and a group representing employers will resume negotiations next month toward reaching a new six-year contract ahead of a Jan. 15 deadline, they said on Friday.

The International Longshoremen’s Association union agreed to end a three-day strike on Oct. 3 after it won agreement for a 62% wage hike over six years with the United States Maritime Alliance employer group after significant involvement by the White House and other Biden administration officials.

The work stoppage was the first large-scale strike at East and Gulf coast ports in nearly 50 years, briefly halting the flow of about half the country’s ocean shipping.

The negotiating committees will meet in New Jersey next month, both sides said in a joint statement, aiming to agree on terms that can be presented to workers for approval.

They jointly said they want to get a new agreement in place as soon as possible but would not discuss any issues prior to resumption of the negotiations.

The key outstanding issue remains the use of automation at the ports, officials told Reuters. The Biden administration is concerned about the prospect of a new work stoppage next year, a senior official said.

The union earlier demanded the…

The International Hydrographic Organization – Singapore Innovation and Technology Laboratory (IHO-Singapore Lab) is conducting trials of next generation IHO S-100 standards and dual format Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) on a prototype S-100 ECDIS [2] aboard the Italian Navy’s training ship, Amerigo Vespucci.

This is known as the “dual fuel” mode within the international hydrographic community, where S-100 ECDIS supports both current S-57 and new S-101 ENC formats.

This trial marks the first time that the dual format mode is used for navigation in the Malacca and Singapore Straits. Trials will include testing the accurate encoding and display of S-57 and S-100 ENCs on a S-100 ECDIS, as well as the wireless update of charts while at sea.

The S-100 data framework, currently under development by the IHO, is a set of standards designed to support the development of digital products and services for the hydrographic, maritime and geospatial communities. This data framework will enable ENCs, bathymetric data, and other real-time maritime information, to be integrated seamlessly, enabling informed decision-making at sea.

The IMO has set a timeline for the transition to S-100 ECDIS, with optional installation of S-100 ECDIS from January 1, 2026,…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner DDW Offshore, a subsidiary of Akastor, has secured work for two of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels with an international oil company offshore Australia.

DDW Offshore has secured two one-year contracts, each with a further 24-month priced option structure, for its Skandi Peregrino and Skandi Atlantic AHTS vessels.

The vessels will provide anchor handling and towage services in Australia for an unnamed oil company, starting on January 1, 2025, and March 1, 2025, respectively.

The Skandi Peregrino and Skandit Atlantic are high powered anchor handling vessels of STX AH08 deisgn, suitable for operations across a wide range of water depths and environmental conditions.