Wight Shipyard, located on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, has launched a Windfarm Support Vessel (WFSV) design under its new Vortisea brand. The concept, designed in collaboration with Australia’s Incat Crowther, is specifically geared towards European and UK windfarms, particularly those further offshore.

Mooring a ship still often results in accidents and unsafe work situations. The International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has now approved measures intended to improve safety during mooring operations.

The European Patent Office (EPO) has presented Dutch materials scientist Rik Breur with the European Inventor Award 2019 in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) category. Breur has developed a non-toxic wrap for marine structures and ships that prevents biofouling.

Sailing on batteries can significantly reduce emissions, but the ones with a large capacity need to come down in cost to be a viable option for ship owners. This was the result of the HYCAS study, which researched the use of batteries in a 1700 TEU container feeder vessel.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has contracted Damen for nine SAR 1906 search and rescue boats for the Turkish Coast Guard Command. Financed by the European Union, these 19-metre boats will be in addition to the six vessels of the same class delivered to Turkish Coast Guard Command in 2017.

Knud E. Hansen has introduced the design of a 110-metre Wind Cruise Vessel that combines low-sulphur diesel, wind power and batteries. This sail-assisted cruise vessel can accommodate up to 100 passengers and has a range of 6000 nautical miles.

A newly designed Energy Saving Device (ESD) for ships with controllable pitch propellers can save some 3.5 per cent in fuel. This was confirmed after sea trials with Grimaldi’s Grande Portogallo, a 165 metres long Pure Car & Truck Carrier.

In consortium with TechnipFMC, Van Oord has been awarded a contract worth over one billion US dollars for the Area 1 Mozambique Golfinho/Atum development. This project is Mozambique’s first onshore LNG development, which will be used to support the development of the Golfinho/Atum fields offshore.

Ships from the Bahamas, Singapore, France and the United Kingdom complied best with international shipping regulations over 2018. They top the Paris MoU White List, a list that ranks flag states according to deficiencies found during port state control inspections. The Netherlands is close to the top of this list and came in sixth.

DEME’s multi-year fleet investment programme continues with the arrival of the new generation trailing suction hopper dredger Bonny River. The vessel is currently being mobilised in Flushing, the Netherlands, for its first assignments.