The size of monetary penalties for violations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 has been increased by a whopping-tenfold: from a maximum of CAD 25,000 to a new maximum of CAD 250,000 (about US$18,000 to US$180,000. The increased maritime penalties were announced by Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez and are structured into three levels: minor, medium, and serious. Minor violations are administrative in nature and pose no threat to public safety or the environment; medium violations apply to situations when regulations on pollution response are not followed, but may not pose a large threa ..read more

SPONSORED CONTENT: In the world of new construction shipbuilding, the value that digital twins can bring to a program and the steps to achieve that value are more and more understood. But for sustainment and in-service support, most have an idea of what the ideal is, but getting there in reality is proving tricky. What is the role of the digital twin for sustainment, and how do we make the first step to taking advantage of the digital twin? Different requirements for design and build vs sustainment We often think of the digital twin as one ‘thing.’ Instead, it is a combination of connected and ..read more

Japanese coastal containership operator Imoto Lines and maritime software company Marindows have launched a zero emission ship project. The vessel will use containerized swappable batteries, in combination with onboard storage batteries, and generators, to create a next-generation system that enables both hybrid operation and extended zero-emission operations . The containerized swappable batteries will be recharged on shore using renewable energy. As the batteries store renewable energy, Imoto Lines says that they “achieve ‘complete zero-emission’ CO2 output over the entire lifecycle from fue ..read more

ABS and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are to collaborate on clean energy development in the maritime domain and decarbonization of maritime operations after signing a new memorandum of understanding (MOU). The agreement between the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and ABS is designed to draw on experience and capabilities from both organizations to support emissions reduction initiatives that benefit the maritime industry. “This new agreement allows ABS and the DOE to take advantage of the deep insight and complimentary capabilities of each organization to ac ..read more

The Nashville Engineer District is soliciting bids from contractors for the Approach Wall and Decommissioning Contract as part of the Chickamauga Lock Replacement Project in Chattanooga, Tenn. “This lock, as part of the nation’s inland waterway system, is critical for providing safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation for the movement of commercial goods, for national security needs and for recreation,” said Lt. Col. Robert Green, USACE Nashville District commander. “There is a need to re-invest in our aging inland navigation infrastructure and we are ..read more

Norwegian ferry operator Torghatten Nord has awarded Myklelbust Shipyard a contract for what, it says, will be the world’s two largest hydrogen powered ferries. With a length of 117 meter and a capacity of up to 120 cars, they will carry operate on Norway’s longest ferry route between Bodø and Lofoten, with a distance of around 166 kilometers. They will be bunkered with hydrogen produced in Bodø. “At Myklebust we found an environment with high competence at a sustainable price. I am proud that we are making it happen in Norway, because this is a big boost for the Norwegian technology and shipy ..read more

By Lise Demant, Managing Director, Svitzer Europe As the maritime industry navigates waves of change, celebrating milestones becomes not just a reflection of time served, but also a testament to adaptability and resilience. Recently, Marine Log spoke to Lise Demant, Managing Director of Svitzer Europe, who is commemorating her 25-year journey within the maritime sector, a journey deeply intertwined with the evolution of Svitzer itself. Demant’s journey in the maritime world began in 1999 when she joined Maersk as a trainee. Little did she know then, her trajectory would lead her through variou ..read more

The Mike Rushing Legacy Service Award selection committee has selected George Foster, president of St. Louis, Mo.-based JB Marine Service Inc., as the inaugural recipient of the award. The award, named in honor of the late Mike Rushing, founder of Rushing Marine Service and a founder of the Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau (TVIB), will be presented to Foster along with a donation to the Seamen’s Church Institute’s Ministry on the River program on May 31 in Nashville, Tenn. “After deep and thoughtful conversation, George Foster emerged as the standout nominee who exemplified the three core pilla ..read more

The European Union is setting up a Union Database (UDB) of biofuels. The database aims to ensure the traceability of liquid and gaseous biofuels that are eligible for being counted towards the share of renewable energy in the transportation sector in any EU member state. One aspect of the European Commission’s plans for the UDB is causing “deep concerns” to both the Methanol Institute (MI) and SEA-LNG, key representatives of the methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries respectively,, The Commission has noted its intention to exclude the automatic certification of biomethane and biom ..read more

Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards has selected Finnish propulsion system specialist Steerprop to provide a comprehensive Polar Class 4 (PC 4) propulsion package for the first flight of Multi-Purpose Vessels (MPVs) it is building for the Canadian Coast Guard under a recently awarded contract. Steerprop’s solution includes two tunnel thrusters for auxiliary propulsion and two Contra-Rotating Propulsors (CRP) for main propulsion, for each ship.meticulously engineered to meet the stringent operational demands of the vessels in challenging Arctic waters. Designed in cooperation with Aker Arctic and with a ..read more