Technical

BMT’s ROC-Sim platform enables commercial and defence operators to train crews for remote and autonomous vessel operations in immersive simulations, improving safety and efficiency without removing ships from active service.

Overview of LNG as a marine fuel, highlighting its properties, risks, and key considerations for spill response, safety measures, and emergency preparedness in maritime operations.

Insight into how over-reliance on AIS can contribute to maritime collisions, highlighting human factors, misinterpretation risks, and the need for vigilant navigation practices alongside electronic aids.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen highlights the teams behind its new Shaper Class vessels, showcasing the people, expertise, and years of collaboration that transformed concept into reality across design, engineering, and safety systems.

An overview of ship emergency power systems, examining whether they function reliably during blackouts, key regulatory requirements, common failure risks, and practical considerations for ensuring backup power readiness when main systems fail at sea.

Steamship Mutual examines Fuel Oil Non-Availability Reports (FONARs), explaining when they are valid, common pitfalls, and how improper use can expose shipowners to compliance risks under IMO sulphur regulations.

MSC outlines how cargo ships have evolved in size and capacity, highlighting technological advances, efficiency gains, and the impact of larger vessels on global trade and modern shipping logistics.

At MSC 111 in London on 22 May 2026, the IMO adopted a new international safety code for autonomous shipping, marking a significant step toward regulating and enabling the safe operation of maritime autonomous surface ships.

Panagiotis Kasionis examines why coal cargoes, though routine, pose significant risks, outlining key hazards, evolving regulations, and practical strategies for managing exposure across the maritime supply chain.

Akar Group enhances fleet performance, compliance, and operational visibility by implementing StormGeo’s Vessel Performance solutions, improving efficiency and data-driven decision-making across its maritime operations.

Insight into China’s new Maritime Code highlighting key cargo-related risks and obligations for carriers, including liability changes, cargo handling rules, and potential impacts on shipping operations and claims exposure.

Steamship Mutual examines how the BIMCO Hull Fouling Clause allocates responsibility for hull cleaning costs, highlighting key considerations for owners and charterers when fouling occurs due to trading patterns and port-related delays.

The ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025–2026 highlights current industry sentiment, key risks, and emerging challenges in global shipping, offering insight into economic pressures, regulatory shifts, and future outlook across the maritime sector.

Gard’s early 2026 insights examine trends in bunker fuel off-spec claims, highlighting common causes, operational risks, and lessons for shipowners and operators managing fuel quality disputes.

A medium-sized container vessel suffered a catastrophic engine room fire after smoke was detected from the shaft generator during voyage, triggering alarms and resulting in serious injury, highlights a Swedish Club case study on onboard fire risks.

BMT highlights how advanced 3D scanning delivers high‑fidelity spatial data in complex, secure environments, enabling accurate inspection, digital modelling, and asset management while reducing downtime and supporting faster, data‑driven decisions.

BIMCO introduces a new Biofuels Clause for time charterparties, addressing regulatory pressures from FuelEU Maritime and the IMO’s net-zero ambitions, and providing a contractual framework for the use of alternative fuels in shipping.

BIMCO, ITS Norway and DYNAPORT hosted a Copenhagen workshop with 45 maritime stakeholders to advance harmonised digital interfaces, focusing on achieving scalable, practical interoperability between ship and shore systems across the industry.

From 1 July 2026, shipping will be included in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, aligning it more closely with the EU ETS and extending carbon pricing requirements to maritime operators in UK waters.

BIMCO’s Ship Recycling Alliance marks progress a year after the Hong Kong Convention took effect, promoting safer, environmentally responsible ship recycling through coordinated industry action and global standards.

CO2TIME 2026 introduces a standard contract framework for the emerging CO₂ shipping market, supporting the growth of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) by addressing key commercial and legal considerations in this developing sector.

UK P&I outlines safety considerations for “liquid light” fuels, covering properties, handling, storage, and emergency response, highlighting risks to crews and vessels and practical mitigation measures for maritime operations.

ABB advances offshore operations with a next-generation dynamic positioning control system, fully integrated into its ship control technology, enhancing performance, safety, and reliability while responding to evolving market demands and lessons learned from past incidents.

BIMCO is advancing its Energy Saving Device Retrofitting Addendum, aiming to standardise contracts for vessel retrofits by clarifying cost, risk and benefit sharing between owners and charterers, supporting broader adoption of energy efficiency upgrades.

ICS reviews onboard carbon capture and storage as a near-term option to cut shipping emissions amid slow alternative fuel uptake, outlining technology readiness, challenges, and its potential role in meeting tightening global decarbonisation targets.

Anglo-Eastern’s Swapnodeep Mondal outlines practical, fleet-wide innovations focused on timely, effective solutions, highlighting how targeted technologies and operational strategies are being evaluated to address current maritime challenges and improve future performance.

Japan’s shipbuilding sector faces a pivotal shift amid global decarbonization, with an “All-Japan” initiative and investment in MILES aiming to centralize next-generation vessel development and strengthen industry competitiveness.

CINS issues updated guidelines for safely transporting lithium-ion batteries in containers, addressing rising maritime shipments and associated fire risks, and highlighting best practices for packaging, declaration, and risk management across the supply chain.

ABB highlights AI’s growing role in maritime operations, while stressing the continued importance of human expertise to guide how and when data-driven solutions deliver value for shipping customers.

Overview of how intelligent automation and battery management systems enhance performance, safety, and efficiency in hybrid and electric marine vessels, highlighting their role in modern maritime operations.

ABB outlines a forward-looking strategy to modernize Japan’s shipping sector, focusing on decarbonization, digitalization, and operational efficiency to address industry challenges and strengthen competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global maritime landscape.

Running Tide proposes an ocean-based carbon removal method, sinking biomass to store CO₂. The approach offers a potentially simple complement to emissions cuts, though scaling and environmental impacts remain key considerations.

Examines how decarbonisation, digitalisation and new fuels are transforming ship engine rooms, increasing technical complexity and shifting them from machinery spaces into key sources of operational, safety and liability risk for modern shipping.

NYK Line highlights how 3D model digitalization is advancing ship design and management, improving efficiency and supporting broader digital transformation efforts across the maritime industry.

With the IMO’s MASS Code nearing finalisation, shipowners are urged to assess legal risks of autonomous vessels now, including liability, insurance, and compliance challenges, before the first global framework for crewless shipping becomes mandatory.

Swedish Club reports an engine room fire on a 12-year-old product tanker, traced to a cracked fuel oil pipe during routine ballast passage, highlighting maintenance risks and fire hazards linked to fuel system failures.

ABB and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) highlight the importance of open dialogue between technology providers and classification societies to align evolving marine technologies with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

ABB is advancing future-ready technologies for icebreaking vessels, focusing on efficiency, sustainability, and enhanced performance to support safer operations in harsh Arctic conditions and meet evolving environmental and regulatory demands.

NYK Group leads the Nippon Foundation’s MEGURI2040 program, advancing fully autonomous ship technology to address labor shortages and safety challenges in Japan’s coastal shipping sector through cutting-edge maritime innovation.

Rapid advances in fourth-generation nuclear reactors for zero-emission shipping are intensifying calls to overhaul International Maritime Organization regulations to accommodate nuclear-powered vessels.

As decarbonisation accelerates, liquid CO₂ shipping is becoming central to carbon capture and storage. This article explores the growing role of LCO₂ transport and the operational and risk considerations shaping its development.

Neptune’s Bunker Information tab now includes updated VPS data highlighting off-spec VLSFO sulphur issues in the ARA region, offering the latest insights into fuel quality trends affecting marine bunkering operations.

Fuel shortages are raising concerns about maintaining adequate fuel tank levels on car carriers, highlighting operational risks, safety implications, and the need for careful fuel management in current market conditions.

NYK highlights the versatility of chemical tankers, which transport a wide range of liquid chemicals worldwide, supporting global trade and daily life while reflecting the company’s mission to deliver value across international shipping operations.

Dr Thomas Beard of BMT discusses with The Naval Architect how the maritime industry is addressing safety challenges linked to adopting new alternative fuels, highlighting evolving standards, risks, and best practices.

ABB Marine & Ports experts explore how generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT can support marine engineering, highlighting practical applications, benefits, and considerations for adoption across the maritime sector.

ABB highlights how AI-driven automation enhances container terminal operations, enabling safer, more efficient handling of high container volumes while managing complex equipment and environmental challenges in modern port environments.

MARIN basin tests and analysis confirm significant efficiency gains from ABB’s Dynafin™ propulsion system, validating its performance and potential to improve vessel energy efficiency in maritime applications.

An insight into the serious safety risks of power-operated watertight doors, highlighting how improper use, poor maintenance, and human error can lead to fatal accidents onboard ships.

ABB reports growing maritime interest in nuclear propulsion, as shifting attitudes toward nuclear energy drive engagement with small modular reactor technology for future shipping solutions.

Commercial shipping is rethinking underwater radiated noise as improved monitoring technologies align with growing regulatory pressure, signaling a shift toward more active management of maritime noise pollution.

Blank Rome explores how military reconnaissance principles inform legal due diligence in maritime contexts, highlighting risk assessment, information gathering, and strategic decision-making lessons applicable from land operations to complex maritime litigation and compliance.

Ionic has rolled out Orca AI across 19 tankers and bulkers after trials showed fewer close encounters, wider passing distances and lower fuel use, strengthening bridge awareness and shore-side oversight in congested, low-visibility waters.

VPS has flagged high-abrasive VLSFO in Singapore, with Al+Si levels reaching 482 mg/kg in bunkers supplied by multiple vendors in late March to mid-April 2026, raising risks of accelerated engine wear.

Critical engineering services firm MARCH has acquired ventilation specialist Expervent, strengthening its capabilities and expanding its portfolio within the engineering and maritime support sectors.

Gas carriers are increasingly vital to global energy security, transporting LNG, LPG, and emerging gaseous cargoes. As their role expands, so do operational risks, highlighting the need for focused safety awareness and risk management across the sector.

NYK and Chuo University are exploring biofouling organisms from ship hulls as a new source of pharmaceutical compounds, turning marine “nuisances” into potential breakthroughs for drug discovery and future medical innovation.

VPS warns of high-sediment VLSFO deliveries in Busan from one supplier, with elevated acid numbers and cat fines raising risks of sludge, filter blockage and engine wear.

At IMC 2025 in Sydney, a new report highlights class-approved composite repair methods for FPSO hulls, showcasing cost-effective, durable solutions that reduce downtime and support safer, more efficient offshore asset maintenance.

ABS explores public attitudes toward nuclear maritime power, arguing advanced reactor safety, clearer communication and regulatory alignment could make nuclear a credible low-emission option for shipping and coastal energy needs.

Lloyd’s Register’s H2 2025 fuel quality report warns of rising off-spec bunker incidents, especially in major hubs, with sulphur, cat-fines, sediment, water and flash point failures driving operational and compliance risks into 2026.

MHI-MME outlines fuel-efficiency and decarbonization measures, highlighting turbochargers for ammonia, methanol and hydrogen engines, plus retrofit solutions including propeller upgrades, MARF and EPLO to cut fuel use across bulkers, tankers and container ships.

VPS says Middle East-driven distillate price spikes are improving the business case for B100 FAME marine fuel, while stressing careful tank preparation, fuel management and testing to manage stability, water, microbial and engine-lubrication risks.

Orca AI says Athens-based operator Ionic cut close encounters, widened passing distances and reduced fuel use after rolling out its navigation AI across tankers and bulkers operating in congested and low-visibility waters.

VPS has flagged multiple bunker fuel quality issues in Singapore following recent testing, issuing several alerts and a circular to warn the industry of potential risks affecting vessel operations and fuel reliability.

Japan is revitalising its shipbuilding industry through digital innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and development of next-generation vessels, aiming to boost competitiveness and modernise production for the future.

BIMCO has released SUPERMAN 2025, updating its standard agreement for vessel construction supervision and replacing the 2016 version, alongside revised explanatory notes outlining key contractual changes and practical considerations for the maritime industry.

White House proposes FY2027 budget prioritizing maritime strength, including $65.8 billion for shipbuilding within a $1.5 trillion national security plan, signaling a major push to revive U.S. shipping and naval capabilities.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen spotlights Kari Haugen, Senior Manager of Energy Sourcing, who leads the Marine Operations Management team and brings over 25 years of experience in energy sourcing since joining the company in 1990.

ABB examines maritime safety gaps, questioning why ships lack automated support systems common in cars, and explores how technology could assist crews when human decision-making or command chains fail.

Analysis of six years of marine insurance claims highlights common risks linked to exhaust gas scrubbers, including operational failures, maintenance issues, and compliance challenges, offering lessons for safer and more reliable shipboard use.

Bisso Towboats latest ASD tractor tug shows how smart upgrades pay off on the Mississippi. This case study explores power choice, maneuverability, serviceability and the long-term collaboration shaping vessels built for brutal inland operating conditions.

Tallink's MyStar offers a real-world test of LNG ferry performance on the demanding Helsinki-Tallinn route. The story explores lower-emissions propulsion, built-in redundancy and practical lessons for operators balancing reliability, compliance and future fuel flexibility today.

Strategic technology leadership means making decisions before certainty arrives. ABB�s latest insight examines how curiosity, courage and disciplined foresight help leaders navigate fast-moving change, build resilient teams and prepare businesses for emerging maritime challenges ahead.

Polar operations leave little room for guesswork. This technical insight shows how ABB measures ice loads in extreme Arctic conditions, generating data needed to improve ship design, strengthen safety margins and refine icebreaking performance decisions.

This NYK insight highlights initiatives improving safety, efficiency and sustainability across fleet operations. The article showcases practical developments and operational experiences that demonstrate how innovation continues to shape modern shipping practices and performance.

A human-centred account from onboard M.V. Morning Charlotte explores life at sea and the realities of extended deployments. The story highlights crew resilience, community and adaptation, offering a personal perspective on modern seafaring that complements technical discussions of shipping operations and safety culture.

This operational insight from NYK highlights innovation and practical improvements across vessel operations. Focusing on efficiency, safety and sustainability initiatives, the article demonstrates how operational refinements and technology adoption continue to support safer and more environmentally responsible shipping practices.

Chris Poyner�s work sits at the point where maritime decarbonization becomes practical. This profile explores how engineering discipline, commercial focus and shore power expertise are helping ports and operators turn electrification ambitions into workable projects.

Five Surprising Things That Make Your Ship Spare Parts More Sustainable

Hybrid tugboats are no longer just a future-facing idea. Caterpillar explains how batteries, flexible generators and energy management systems can cut emissions, reduce maintenance and still deliver the range, agility and reliability port operators require.

Three Expert Tips To Help You Make Smarter Choices About Vessel Propulsion

As ammonia gains attention as a potential marine fuel, safety considerations are critical. This article reviews operational risks associated with ammonia bunkering and handling, highlighting hazards, safety procedures, and training requirements supporting safe adoption in maritime decarbonization efforts.

Lomarlabs and Signal Fusion are combining data analytics and human-performance insights to enhance operational decision-making. The collaboration focuses on predictive behaviour intelligence, aiming to improve safety, efficiency and performance across increasingly complex maritime operations.

A technical paper presenting case studies on composite repair solutions for naval vessels. It explores repair methodologies, performance outcomes, and lifecycle benefits, demonstrating how advanced materials can enhance durability and reduce downtime in naval operations.

Underwater radiated noise is moving from specialist concern to mainstream shipping issue. ABB examines why the conversation is changing, what�s driving attention from regulators and stakeholders, and how technology choices can support quieter vessel operations.

A Simple But Powerful Secret: How To Choose Marine Engines The Smart Way

Testing and inspection of oil filtering equipment (MEPC.107(49)) explores critical maritime safety and regulatory developments, unpacking implications for operators, crews, and compliance. It highlights key risks, evolving standards, and practical considerations shaping decision-making across Australia’s marine environment.

Aerodynamics at Sea: Unlocking Efficiency Through Design

Upgrading a well-known cruise vessel is never purely technical. This project highlights how C-Job approached modernization for a family-run operator, balancing emissions performance, engineering practicality and the sensitivities that come with a high-profile shipboard icon.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is positioning itself where specialist vessels, decarbonization and engineering complexity meet. This article explores its strategy across ammonia, methanol and CO2 carriers - and why niche expertise may define the next shipping cycle.

By reducing hull friction with a layer of bubbles, air lubrication offers a surprisingly practical emissions lever. This article explains the technology, retrofit potential and why incremental efficiency gains still matter in shipping�s net-zero transition.

Mythos AI and Lomarlabs are piloting advanced bridge intelligence systems onboard CB Pacific. The technology enhances situational awareness and decision-making, marking a step toward smarter, AI-assisted navigation and safer, more efficient vessel operations.

Replacing the Pelagia meant creating a research vessel with greater capability and stronger sustainability credentials. This case study explores C-Job�s concept design for Anna Weber-van Bosse, a compact but more capable platform for ocean science.

12 Amazingly Simple Ways To Slash Ship Maintenance Costs

Methanol and ammonia are reshaping the future of two-stroke propulsion. This article explains the engine technologies, testing milestones and fuel-flexibility strategies that could help deep-sea shipping cut emissions without sacrificing scale, performance or operational confidence.

How To Protect Ship Crews From The Biggest Cause Of Engine Room Fires

This insight looks beyond the buzz around autonomous vessels to the wider opportunity. BMT explores how autonomy could improve safety, productivity and sustainability, while also confronting the trust, regulatory and workforce questions it raises globally.

Planned maintenance on ships explores critical maritime safety and regulatory developments, unpacking implications for operators, crews, and compliance. It highlights key risks, evolving standards, and practical considerations shaping decision-making across Australia’s marine environment.

Four Successful Ways To Electrify Mechanical Propulsion: From Basic To Brilliant