A partnership between Iceland’s TM Insurance and Hefring Marine promises to bring the ‘big brother is watching’ mantra foward faster in marine operations.

Touted as an AI -driven ‘digital assistant’, the primary target for this offering are the helm stations of fast craft, and according to Hefring Marine, IMAS Helm addresses both accident prevention and fuel efficiency, aiming to provide fast craft operators with guidance such as a maximum advised speed, based upon the vessel’s route, current sea state, weather conditions, and the system’s previously learned handling tendencies of the boat.

The IMAS Helm system comprises two main components: the Control Unit and the Sensor Unit. 

The Control Unit is the central computing module of the IMAS Helm system that collects, stores, and processes data from the Sensor Unit and other onboard systems via NMEA2000. The processed information is displayed on a compatible multi-function display through an ethernet connection. Additionally, all data is uploaded to the IMAS Cloud platform via a cellular network or the vessel’s modem. The IP67-rated Control Unit is designed to connect and integrate seamlessly with most onboard systems.

The Sensor Unit is a high-performance inertial measurement unit (IMU)…

Danish shipowner CBED has secured a one-year contract extension with Hughes Subsea, an OEG Renewables company, for its Wind Evolution commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV).

Only six months into the Wind Evolution’s first contract with Hughes Subsea, the charter has now been extended one year and will run until January 2026.

Earlier this year, CBED announced the first project for the newly acquired CSOV, Wind Evolution, with Hughes Subsea.

Since then, Wind Evolution has been assigned to the offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank in U.K. where she will continue to serve as a walk-to-work CSOV.

“From the beginning, we have had a very good cooperation with Hughes Subsea, and we are very pleased that they have decided to extend the contract. They are extremely professional and have a unique understanding for planning and operating Wind Evolution to utilize the CSOV best possible and keep efficiency high on this project,” said Daniel Alon, General Manager, CBED:

“Hughes Subsea is pleased to continue utilization of the Wind Evolution with CBED, the vessel and crew have performed exceptionally well since its inception in April 2024.

“The vessel provides a safe and efficient platform for our dedicated technicians. The cooperation between Hughes…

For the second running week and on the back of firming Chinese plate prices last week, ship recycling markets felt some positive moves as local plate prices remain on a positive to firm footing across the board, reports cash buyer GMS.

However, increasing magnification into local markets proved to be a reality check, says GMS, due to the ongoing lack of tonnage that has been typical of this “dark year” in ship recycling.

“After the U.S. Fed rate cut of 0.5% on interest rates a couple of weeks back and global currencies took a moment to adjust, this week, nearly all recycling nation currencies resumed their depreciations against the U.S. Dollar adding further jitters to a skirt of tonnage that is barely covering the ship recycling body.”

The Indian markets witnessed the most positivity of the week, but any gains seem destined to being stalled with the general expectation that the market has reached a state of equilibrium.

Bangladesh continues to slip landing at last place in the market rankings, whilst Pakistan (perhaps reactionarily) responded to firming plate prices in China from recent weeks, recording improvements of their own that were followed by firming prices from Gadani as well.

Turkey at the far end reported further improvements in…

Oceans worldwide hold untold riches hidden beneath the waves.  Now treasure hunters are using  cutting-edge technology to explore them, discovering some of history’s most treasured sunken finds from Caribbean waters to Arctic depths rewriting maritime history and uncovering fortunes lost at sea.

According to estimates by marine archaeologists and treasure hunting experts, the value of treasure lying beneath the waves could range anywhere between $60 billion to over $100 billion. Their calculations are based on historical accounts of sunken ships like colonial-era galleons carrying New World gold; warships hauling spoils of war;  merchant ships transporting valuables around the globe – among many others

Over the centuries, thousands of ships have perished due to storms, pirate attacks, naval battles and navigational mishaps. European powers accumulated immense wealth during this golden era of seafaring from Americas, Africa and Asia that they transported back home  leaving an abundance of treasure on the seafloor that modern explorers are eager to unlock and uncover.

Due to advances in deep-sea exploration…

The U.S. military said it carried out 15 strikes on Friday against targets linked to Iran-aligned Houthi fighters in Yemen, where residents reported blasts at military outposts and even an airport.

Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, said the targets were tied to Houthi offensive military capabilities, but did not detail whether that included missile, drone or radar capabilities.

In a post on X, Central Command said the strikes took place at about 1400 GMT.

The Houthis have carried out nearly 100 attacks on ships crossing the Red Sea since November and say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s year-long war in Gaza. They have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least four seafarers.

Al Masirah TV, the main television news outlet run by the Houthi movement controlling much of Yemen, and residents said airstrikes were launched at several parts of Yemen including its capital Sanaa and Hodeidah airport.

Strikes also targeted the south of Dhamar city and the southeast of al-Bayda province, the channel added.

Residents said that the attack on al-Bayda province targeted several Houthi military outposts.

The Biden administration has been acting mostly defensively against Houthi strikes in the Red…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Sea1 Offshore, formerly Siem Offshore, has secured a multi-well project for three anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels in Australia.

The contract begins in second to third quarter of 2025, for a firm period of around 380 days up to 670 days per vessel.

No additional details have been revealed, but Sea1 Offshore said the vessels will be servicing a consortium of local operators with various drilling and decommissioning projects.

One of the vessels will be from Viking Supply Ships, which entered into agreement with Sea1 Offshore in August 2024 to outsource the management of its six AHTS to the Norwegian company.

The six AHTS vessels include Magne Viking, Odin Viking, Loke Viking, Njord Viking, Brage Viking and Andreas Viking, all with ice class notations and built from 2011 through 2013.

Sea1 Offshore, formerly known as Siem Offshore, currently operates a fleet of 26 vessels, including platform supply vessels (PSV), AHTSs as well as offshore subsea construction and well intervention vessels.

New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its report into the injury of a crew member on the bulk carrier Poavosa Brave on June 23, 2023.

The vessel was at anchor outside Tauranga Harbour, preparing to load logs. An on-board crane was hoisting stanchions (vertical posts for securing logs on the main deck) when the crane’s block struck an able seaman. The seaman was very seriously injured and was later evacuated to hospital by helicopter.

TAIC states that in doing unauthorized work and not telling responsible officers, a safety-critical team leader (the bosun) short-cut the abilities and authorities of leaders responsible for the safety of planned work.

Under the operator’s safety management system, the master and chief officer were responsible for safety assurance, including assessing risks and analyzing the safety of planned work. “The accident happened because the people involved didn’t know what each other were doing,” said TAIC in a statement.  

The master’s plan: At 0700, the ship’s master allocated tasks for the deck crew. The master instructed the bosun not to use the ship’s cranes, partly because weather and sea conditions were unsuitable for crane operations.

Bosun sets new plan – not…

Provaris Energy and Yinson Production Offshore have agreed to develop storage tank solutions for the bulk storage and marine transportation of CO2.

Yinson Production and Provaris will jointly evaluate the technical and economic viability of adapting Provaris’ proprietary tank design for compressed hydrogen to the bulk-scale storage and transport of compressed and liquid CO2.

Provaris says that, currently, there is no ship transport of CO2 in a low pressure and temperature range suitable for long sailing distances and large cargo volumes. This collaboration aims to help develop a new CO2 tank design solution that will address current CO2 transit and storage limitations.

The collaboration will also assess the potential for other hydrogen derivatives such as ammonia.

Provaris has developed a hydrogen carrier design, H2Neo Carrier, and has final class approval pending for a prototype tank construction and testing program. Provaris has also been instrumental in the development of regional compressed hydrogen supply chain projects with collaborations in place with hydrogen production and export project developers, port developers and German utilities for future offtake.

Provaris’ proprietary cargo containment system incorporates multiple carbon steel…

Technology group Wärtsilä has secured an order from Jiangnan Shipyard to supply cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for five new very large ethane carrier (VLEC) vessels.

The ships are being built for Chinese owners. The order follows a similar order for cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems placed by the yard in 2023 for four VLECs.

The new 99,000 m3 capacity VLECs are mainly designed to transport ethane, and will use ethane as fuel.

As part of the cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems scope, Wärtsilä will also provide basic and detailed engineering services, along with supervision and commissioning at the yard.

The Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment will begin in the third quarter of 2026, according to the company.

“Our strategy is always to build the most optimized, efficient, and integrated vessels possible. For this, we have opted to fit these new vessels with various technologically advanced and highly reliable solutions,” said Zhao Zhenhua, Deputy Director of Supply Department, Jiangnan Shipyard.