EDGE and Fincantieri have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the design, development, and creation of advanced manned and unmanned underwater systems solution capability through their recently launched UAE-based shipbuilding joint venture MAESTRAL.

The preliminary agreement will pave the way and boost for developing sophisticated solutions tailored to the unique underwater needs of navies worldwide.

The collaboration marks EDGE’s first venture into underwater domain, enabling both organizations to share expertise and leverage extensive technical and production resources to develop a range of innovative, interoperable manned and unmanned products – further advancing the UAE’s sovereign capabilities in cutting-edge defense technologies, for the benefit of the UAE and other navies worldwide.

“This agreement between Fincantieri and EDGE underscores a commitment to pioneering advancements in underwater technologies, combining engineering excellence with a forward-thinking approach. The underwater domain presents unique challenges, from fluid dynamics to communication and autonomy, which demand innovative and resilient solutions.

“Together, we aim to develop systems that meet the highest standards of interoperability,…

Dominion Energy has installed 78 monopile and four offshore substation foundations for as part of the first offshore construction campaign for the 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project.

CVOW, the largest offshore wind project under construction in the United States, will consist of 176 turbines that will generate enough clean, renewable energy to power up to 660,000 homes and is expected to generate fuel savings of $3 billion for customers during the first 10 years of operation.

With the completed first installation campaign, Dominion Energy exceeded the initial objectives of at least at least 70 monopiles set into the sea floor 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach.

DEME Group’s heavy lift vessel Orion has been tasked with the installation of the monopile foundations, with the first being installed in May 2024.

According to Dominion Energy, CVOW construction remains on-budget and on schedule to be complete in late 2026, with 43% of the project already completed.

For the next few months, the company will focus on installation of the first offshore substation, continued export cable lays and onshore transmission construction, and placement of transition pieces on top of monopiles in preparation for turbine installation starting in…

St. Johns Ship Building this week announced a deal with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to construct two (2) 140′ x 32′ x 7′ Stop Log Barges. The contract is St. Johns Ship Building’s first new construction project for the U.S. Government.

“The new Stop-Log Barges will support the Army Corps’ major maintenance fleet working on the navigation system, locks and powerhouses, and the flood control lakes located within the Tulsa District,” according to a USACE statement.

St. Johns Ship Building (SJSB) specializes in Jones Act-compliant new construction and repair of aluminum and steel vessels, including crew boats, ferries, tugs, deck and tank barges, landing crafts, and general cargo ships. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides essential public engineering services across a wide range of projects, including water infrastructure, flood risk management, and environmental restoration. The Corps plays a critical role in supporting the nation’s navigation and safety infrastructure.

Mobile, AL-based Blakeley BoatWorks has announced the completion and delivery of Hull 107, formally named M/V Claire Ellen, to Cooper Marine’s Louisiana operations.

Designed by Farrell and Norton and built by Blakeley BoatWorks, the 70-foot long, 28-foot wide, 1,600 horsepower vessel is fully compliant with the latest United States Coast Guard Subchapter M regulatory requirements.
 
The new pushboat is the sixth 70 foot workboat delivered by Blakeley to to Cooper Marine-Louisiana. Powered by two (2) Caterpillar C32 800 HP Tier 3 diesel marine engines and coupled to two (2) Twin Disc MGX5222 gears, the vessel’s electrical power is supplied by two (2) Caterpillar C4.4 Tier 3 generators.

In addition to the delivery of M/V Claire Ellen, Blakeley BoatWorks has also begun construction on a seventh 1,600 horsepower vessel, Hull 113, for Cooper Marine’s Louisiana operations.

Situated on 26 acres in heart of the port of Mobile and with capacity to simultaneously service up to 15 towing vessels and barges, Blakeley BoatWorks (BBW) is equipped with a 1,900-ton floating dry dock, 660-ton travel lift, and four covered fabrication shops. Cooper Marine’s operations are powered by 42 towing vessels, 450 hopper barges, and one of the country’s largest fleet…

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released an interim report into the grounding of the passenger ferry Aratere in Titoki Bay, Picton, on June 21, 2024, citing lack of knowledge about the steering system.

The Aratere had been in service for about 26 years, and in May 2024, KiwiRail installed a new steering control system in four of the five command consoles on the bridge. It wasn’t installed on the autopilot console, which was part of the original track pilot integrated bridge navigation system by a different manufacturer. In the three weeks following wet docking, Aratere completed 83 Cook Strait crossings.

For Aratere’s 2120 Picton to Wellington sailing on June 21, 2024, the bridge team comprised:

• Pilot: Master (the Refamiliarisation Master) re-acquainting themselves with the ship after some time commanding other vessels.

• Co-pilot: the Night Master, in command.

•Helmsman: a Deck Rating at the central helmsman steering console.

• Assisting as required: Officer Of the Watch (OOW) and a Deck Rating on lookout duty

Timeline:

2119: departure Aratere left its berth at Picton. The re-familiarisation master, piloting and controlling the engines, asked the helmsman to steer for the first waypoint off Mabel…

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,…