Technology News

Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (DSIC) unveiled a new generation of decarbonization-focused vessel designs, including a wind-assisted 175,000-cu.-m. LNG carrier that has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV). Developed by DSIC, the wind-assisted LNG carrier introduces an integrated solution combining LNG dual-fuel propulsion with sail-assisted technology, offering a practical and cost-controlled upgrade pathway for the global fleet of 175,000 m³ LNG carriers. The vessel is equipped with three next-generation foldable wing sails based on proprietary technology. Manufactured using lightweight composite materials, the sails feature independent folding and rotation functions.

When we interviewed Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas late last year, he insisted that Saronic's mission was to deliver commercially viable autonomous vessels first, and in turn parlay that into a ready package for defense. That vision comes to fruition as Saronic announced a partnership with Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS), to accelerate innovation and deployment of autonomous platforms, advanced software, and maritime solutions to the markets HOS serves. Specifically…

In a move that underscores how quickly artificial intelligence is moving from pilot projects to production systems in global shipping, Ocean Network Express (ONE) and MTI Ltd. have established a new joint venture, QUAVEO Company Limited, aimed squarely at fast-tracking digital transformation (DX) across maritime operations.Formed in December 2025 and headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, the new venture—trading as QUAVEO—is designed to blend ONE’s real-world container shipping expertise with MTI’s AI development and human-resource training capabilities. The goal: move the industry beyond proof-of-concept experiments and into scalable, operational AI solutions that deliver measurable gains in efficiency…

Chinese multinational oilfield equipment and services provider Jereh Group has delivered slop treatment units and oil purifiers to CIMC Raffles for Petrobras’ P84 and P85 floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) units, bound for deployment at the Atapu and Sépia fields, off Brazil.The equipment will support slop water and oil separation during deepwater production. The systems are designed to handle complex wastewater streams including deck drainage, machinery space oily water…

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued approval in principle (AIP) to Seatrium for its next-generation offshore substation (OSS) design.Seatrium’s design features 500 MW OSS modules, engineered for scalability and aligned with the highest international standards, according to the company.The OSS-500 A substation design is said to offer flexibility across a wide range of water depths, grid configurations, and project scales, integrating robust structural design, advanced electrical systems…

CIMC Raffles has awarded a contract to TMC Compressors to deliver a complete marine compressed air system for the MK II floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, currently under construction for Golar LNG.TMC’s scope includes instrument air compressors, utility compressors, nitrogen feed air compressors, and air driers. The company did not disclose the value of the contract.The MK II FLNG project involves converting Golar’s LNG tanker, Fuji LNG, into a floating liquefaction facility.

The FPSO P-78 can produce up to 180,000 barrels per day and will increase the gas supply.Petrobras began oil production from the P-78 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Búzios field, in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin, this Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Búzios 6 (P-78) has the capacity to produce 180,000 barrels of oil and 7.2 million m³ of gas per day. The FPSO will increase the field's installed production capacity to approximately 1.15 million barrels of oil per day.

As offshore wind rises to meet ambitious climate goals, balancing the need for infrastructure with maintaining biodiversity has become a pressing challenge. One innovative, recent example is the installation of the UK’s first nearshore artificial nesting structures, designed to safeguard seabirds while enabling the development of the world’s single largest offshore wind farm.Hornsea 3, developed by Ørsted, plays a critical role in the UK’s clean energy transition. Yet the project faced a significant environmental challenge by needing to protect the black-legged kittiwake…

While challenges linger from the 2025 offshore rig market, there are signs it will look brighter from late 2026 onwards.Main Events of 2025One of the biggest talking points of 2024 and 2025 was Saudi Aramco’s suspension of 36 jackups from April 2024, but by 3Q 2025 21 units had been re-deployed into other regions of the world. Fast forward to today, the national oil company (NOC) has confirmed it will restart work with eight of the remaining suspended rigs in early 2026. It has…

15,000 cu. yd. Hopper Dredge = “the Cookie Monster” of Beach ReplenishmentManson Construction Co.’s Frederick Paup is the largest Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge in the United States. Designed and built specifically to meet the needs of the U.S. dredging market, she boasts 25,000 HP and volumetric capacity of over 15,000 cubic yards. Utilizing her triple Z Drives and twin Bow Thrusters enables the Frederick Paup to maneuver and dredge within the tightest channels. This further…

WAPS: Making the Wind Blow for Shipping’s DecarbonizationIn the evolving landscape of maritime decarbonization, few subjects are as timely or arguably as misunderstood as wind-assisted propulsion. Yet the shipping industry finds itself at a decisive moment, driven by regulatory tightening, customer expectations for greener supply chains, and an urgent need to manage escalating fuel costs. Wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS), and wingsails in particular, are no longer speculative technologies. They are proven, available, and scalable solutions ready to meet the moment, writes Dr.

With lower emissions and proven reliability, it’s the ready-now solution for cleaner port operations.As demand for cleaner energy grows, port authorities and terminal operators face the challenge of finding environmentally friendly options without increasing budgets or sacrificing productivity. Propane has met these performance criteria at ports for decades, powering everything from terminal tractors and forklifts to shore power and generators. It reduces emissions while ensuring critical operational uptime…

On January 8, 2026, NYK will launch an expert committee dedicated to the long-term preservation of Hikawa Maru, a national Important Cultural Property moored in front of Yokohama’s Yamashita Park.Since 2024, NYK has been conducting surveys on the hull of Hikawa Maru to assess its safety and structural integrity in preparation for large-scale repairs. This long-term preservation project aims not only to ensure the ship’s structural soundness but also to enhance public engagement with the ship’s rich historical legacy.Based on our findings…

It’s trite (but true) to say that in the maritime industry’s quest to cut emissions, there is no ‘silver bullet’ solution, rather a series of small step changes that cumulatively add up over time. Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast, recently hosted Giuseppe Gargiulo, Head of Newbuildings, MSC and Daniel Bischofberger, CEO, Accelleron, to specifically discuss the development and delivery of Accelleron’s FITS2 technology, and automation technology built with MSC and premised on Accelleron’s cumulative 100+ years of turbocharger experience.

Orca AI has signed a multi-year agreement with Gram Car Carriers (GCC), the world’s third-largest tonnage provider of Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs) and part of the MSC Group, to deploy its AI-powered navigational safety and fleet analytics platform across GCC's global fleet of 22 owned vessels.Building on the success of Orca AI’s existing collaboration with MSC, the partnership marks an expansion of the group’s digital transformation roadmap and reinforces GCC’s commitment to operational safety, compliance and efficiency.

Italy’s Cimolai Technology  reached a major construction milestone on one of the largest crane projects currently underway in Europe, completing the lifting and erection of the main girder of the first of two massive 800-ton rail-mounted Goliath cranes at the Port of Chioggia.The lift, carried out at Cimolai Technology’s Chioggia facility in the Val da Rio port area, marks the conclusion of a critical technical phase in a complex, international heavy-engineering project. Once completed…

IMO has kicked the can of sustainability down the road by delaying the Net Zero Framework. It was a strange retreat.It looked like there would be a useable Framework to reduce emissions, but at the meeting the US fought its implementation tooth and nail and threatened other states if they accepted it. Some countries buckled under and, with the loss of US support, the oil majors saw their chance to jump ship too.Then ABS expressed doubt about the Framework, and DNV also mumbled…

Kongsberg Maritime has announced the introduction of two new sizes to its Underwater Mountable, Permanent Magnet (UUC PM) azimuth thruster range, expanding its offering for propulsion solutions for demanding offshore and marine operations.The new additions to the UUC PM 405 model include units with 3.8 m and 4.1 m propeller diameters, delivering 86 and 91 metric tons of thrust respectively.Kongsberg Maritime is also preparing to extend the UUC PM range further, with future models offering up to 5.5m diameter and power ratings of 6000 kW.

MISC and China Offshore Engineering & Technology Company have received the Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their design of an ammonia floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This innovative floater solution adapts proven onshore production technology for offshore operations, transforming unutilized hydrocarbon gas from nearby offshore facilities into high-value blue ammonia, which is stored onboard at cryogenic conditions.This…

Jumbo Offshore has signed two contracts for the Transport and Installation (T&I) of Transition Pieces (TPs) for an upcoming offshore wind farm development.Jumbo Offshore will install the TPs using one of its two DP2 heavy-lift vessels during the project campaigns.In addition to T&I, the awarded scope includes full management and operation of the marshalling yard.This includes responsibility for receiving the TPs from the transport vessel at the quayside, transferring them to the storage area…

Scottish engineering and consultancy firm Wood has secured a ten-year contract with NextDecade to deliver maintenance solutions at Rio Grande LNG, a major natural gas liquefaction and export facility under development near Brownsville in Texas.Wood will provide comprehensive maintenance services to support operations at the approximately 1,000-acre site.NextDecade expects the liquefaction and export facility will deliver secure and affordable energy through the safe and efficient…

Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe has taken a decisive step toward low-emission coastal logistics with the development of a next-generation methanol-powered cement carrier, an 80% emissions-cutting vessel that could redefine short-sea bulk operations in Scandinavia. Planned to enter service in early 2028, the newbuild is the product of a multi-stakeholder public-private partnership involving the Hartmann Group, the Green Shipping Programme (GSP) and the Norwegian NOx Fund,…

A consortium of GE Vernova and Singapore’s Seatrium has secured a major contract from Dutch-German grid operator TenneT to deliver the BalWin5 offshore grid connection, a 2.2 GW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system designed to bring North Sea wind power to Germany’s electricity network.BalWin5 is expected to provide enough renewable electricity to supply about 2.75 million households, forming part of Germany’s strategy to accelerate offshore wind deployment and…