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Seaspan Energy & Anew Climate partner to deliver lower carbon marine fuel

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Seaspan Energy (Seaspan) and Anew Climate (Anew) have entered into a strategic agreement to offer delivery of renewable liquefied natural gas (R-LNG) to customers on the North American West Coast.

As part of the service offering, Anew will supply renewable natural gas (RNG) certified by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and provide pre-audit services to Seaspan required for ISCC certification. The RNG will comply with global standard frameworks like the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework and the FuelEU Maritime Regulation in the European Union.

This collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind initiative on North America’s West Coast, offering a more sustainable fuel option for ship owners. The initiative builds on the first bio-LNG bunkering in the U.S. that Anew Climate — then known as Element Markets — facilitated in 2021.

Seaspan Energy is a subsidiary of Seaspan ULC and a market leader on the West Coast for ship- to-ship marine bunkering of liquefied natural gas. In partnering with Anew Climate, Seaspan will expand its portfolio of offerings to include ISCC-certified R-LNG to customers all along the West Coast. This service offering will be among the first to target delivery of ISCC-certified lower carbon marine fuel at scale.

The initiative aligns with emerging guidance from the IMO, which has preliminarily approved measures to encourage emissions reductions like those associated with the use of alternative fuels such as R-LNG.

This partnership marks a significant step forward in delivering scalable, lower-carbon solutions to the maritime industry and accelerating the shift to a cleaner energy future. Anew Climate and Seaspan will work together to identify and develop commercial opportunities that promote the adoption of lower-carbon fuels, with a focus on delivering ISCC-certified R-LNG to ships throughout the region.

Saipem marks First Steel Cut for Tangguh UCC Project at Karimun Yard

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The event was attended by representatives of the client, local and national government bodies, together with key members of Saipem’s management team gathered to celebrate this significant milestone achievement.

The Tangguh UCC project, located in Papua Barat province, Indonesia, is a national strategic project that includes the development of the Ubadari gas field, increasing gas acquisition through carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology, and onshore compression. It is expected to unlock around 3 trillion cubic feet of additional natural gas resources from the Ubadari offshore field.

Saipem’s activities include the engineering, procurement, construction and installation and commissioning of two wellhead platforms, a CO2 reinjection platform, and approximately 90 km of associated pipelines, cables and tie-in to existing brownfield facilities.

The Karimun Yard, recognized as Saipem’s strategic fabrication centre in Southeast Asia, is Saipem’s largest one worldwide and one of the largest in the Southeast Asian region, with over 5,000 employees and approximately 1.4 million square meters area including the marine base and docks. This project confirms Karimun Yard’s ability to produce high-quality, intricate EPC modules. The facility is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance throughout the entire execution phase, further solidifying its reputation in the industry.

Van Oord completes first Bio-LNG fuel bunkering

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As the first marine contractor to have its climate targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Van Oord is actively investing in decarbonisation solutions.

Transitioning to alternative fuels such as Bio-LNG for our fleet is a key part of this strategy. Bio-LNG is produced from sustainable biobased feedstocks, including municipal organic waste and agricultural residues. By adopting Bio-LNG, Van Oord not only aims to reduce CO₂ emissions but also to stimulate the development and wider availability of sustainable biofuels. 

Martin Smouter, Director Dredging & Infra at Van Oord, said:

‘The successful bunkering of Bio-LNG by Vox Ariane is a significant milestone in our journey towards net-zero emissions. With our climate targets approved by the SBTi, we are leading the way in adopting more sustainable fuels and technologies. In close collaboration with our clients and stakeholders we continue to develop innovative and sustainable solutions in our projects worldwide.’

The bunkered fuel was verified by the ISCC EU certification scheme to ensure compliance with the European Union’s requirements for sustainable fuels. ISCC EU also covers additional ecological and social requirements that go beyond the requirements of RED III.

Van Oord is committed to science-based emission reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement on the levels needed to limit global warming to well below 1.5 degrees. To achieve these ambitious goals, Van Oord is investing in sustainable technology, zero-emission electric equipment and alternative fuels.

In addition to modernising its fleet and equipment, Van Oord is actively working with clients and partners worldwide through its Sustainable Supply Chain Programme, supporting a shift to greener products and services. This reflects Van Oord’s commitment to innovation and leadership in the transition to a sustainable maritime industry.

ABB integrates multi-megawatt marine fuel cell system for the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht

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ABB has integrated a comprehensive scope of technologies onboard Feadship Breakthrough. The vessel was constructed by Dutch high-end yacht builder Feadship. Launched in May 2025, the privately-owned 118.8-meter yacht will be among the first vessels in the world to feature multi-megawatt fuel cell technology. 

ABB’s scope of supply comprises the Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform and two 3.2MW Azipod® electric propulsion units, which minimize noise and vibrations on board. ABB’s Power and Energy Management System PEMS™ optimizes energy use on board, while the ABB Ability™ Marine Pilot Control digital solution enables seamless transition between joystick operations and dynamic positioning, simplifying docking. As part of the integrated scope, ABB has also provided shipside shore connection technology and Remote Diagnostic Services. 

The 3MW hydrogen fuel cell system onboard Breakthrough can generate sufficient energy to operate the yacht’s hotel load and amenities with emission-free power from hydrogen. Moreover, it can provide enough power for up to a week of silent operations at anchor or emission-free navigation at 10 knots while leaving harbors or cruising in protected marine zones.

“Breakthrough perfectly demonstrates how passenger comfort and environmental protection can go hand in hand on board the world’s biggest superyachts,” said Jan-Bart Verkuyl, Feadship Director / CEO Royal Van Lent Shipyard. “We are grateful to ABB whose extensive technical expertise and dedicated support have been crucial in bringing this project to fruition.”

“For ABB, this order represents a breakthrough in the integration of marine fuel cells with propulsion systems,” said Riccardo Repetto, Global Vessel Type Responsible, Yachts, ABB Marine & Ports. “More broadly, Feadship Breakthrough showcases the potential of hydrogen fuel cells as a feasible alternative to conventional energy sources in shipping, helping to encourage their adoption among a wider range of vessel types. We are proud of our key role in this innovative project.”

Electric harbour tug development project launches in Japan

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This EV harbor tugboat which will be operated in the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki is aiming to contribute to “zero GHG emissions from the ports” in accordance with the Carbon Neutral Port (CNP) policy.

In January 2023, Tokyo Kisen put into service “TAIGA” which was the Japan’s first series-hybrid electric-powered tugboat equipped with a large-capacity 2,486 kWh battery. 

Building on two and a half years of operating experience with electric-powered tugs, this project advances to the next stage—enabling truly zero-emission (zero CO₂) operations—by developing and constructing a pure battery-powered EV tugboat. 

This could be possible by the combination of a large-capacity onboard battery system (6.66 MWh) and MW-class fast chargers.

The Power and Purpose of the 2-Stroke Turbocharger

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When considering the immense power required to propel a colossal container ship across an ocean, the solution often lies in a potent, yet frequently misunderstood, piece of technology: the 2-stroke turbocharger. This is not a mere bolt-on accessory; it is a core component engineered to solve the most significant inherent challenge of two-stroke engines—the effective removal of exhaust gases.

Functionally, a turbocharger provides the engine with a dramatically enhanced respiratory system, enabling it to ingest a much larger volume of air and, consequently, operate

Article created using Outrank

China deploys five icebreakers near Alaska to monitor the United States

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The Chinese icebreakers were detected by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters. 

The report comes from The War Zone.

Initially, the U.S. Coast Guard detected two Chinese research vessels – Ji Di and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di – in the Bering Sea on August 5. The following day, one of them was spotted in the Chukchi Sea, above the Arctic Circle. At the end of July, another vessel, Xue Long 2, was seen 466 km from Alaska.

The exact reasons for China’s icebreakers’ increased activity near the United States remain unclear. However, as noted by The War Zone, the melting ice is opening new maritime routes in the Arctic, making the region strategically important for trade and resource extraction.

China considers itself a ‘near-Arctic state’ and aims to use the Northern Sea Route (NSR) to shorten the journey from Shanghai to Europe by thousands of kilometers.

Additionally, this situation highlights the significant gap between the United States, Russia, and China. Currently, the U.S. only has two icebreakers capable of operating in the Arctic – USCGC Polar Star and USCGC Healy. In comparison, China already has five icebreakers in the region, while Russia has dozens.

Since the U.S. has not built new icebreakers in nearly 50 years and plans to commission new vessels only by 2029, the country is currently significantly trailing behind its competitors in the ‘Arctic race.’

To address the icebreaker shortage, the United States, Canada, and Finland have entered into an agreement called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact).

This initiative involves the exchange of information, workforce development, and inviting allies to purchase icebreakers built at American, Canadian, or Finnish shipyards.

Source: Militarnyi

Worst bleaching event on record for WA coral reefs following long lasting marine heatwave

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The 2024/25 marine heatwave that brought heat stress to coral reefs off the Western Australian coast was the longest, largest and most intense on record for the state, resulting in the most widespread coral bleaching event ever recorded for WA, scientists and managers say. 

While the full impact of the coral bleaching will take months to be known, experts from multiple organisations and agencies which make up the WA Coral Bleaching Group have so far reported bleaching and mortality ranging from medium (11%-30%) to extreme (>90%) levels across systems up to 1500km apart as a result of the marine heatwave. A newsletter summarising the event has been released by the Group, available here.

Members of the WA Coral Bleaching Group, which is convened by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), first began monitoring the marine heatwave in September 2024. Heat stress sufficient to cause coral bleaching peaked in December 2024/January 2025, followed by a slight easing with a late monsoon, and another peak in March/April 2025. Temperatures only began to recede in May. 

AIMS senior research scientist Dr James Gilmour said the intensity of the event had been relentless with the marine heatwave impacting reefs that had previously escaped bleaching.

“There has been little reprieve this time for any of our northwest reefs. Areas which had given us hope because they’d rarely or not bleached before like the Rowley Shoals, north Kimberley and Ningaloo have been hit hard this time. Finally, climate heating has caught up with these reefs.”

“The length and intensity of the heat stress, and its footprint across multiple regions, is something we’ve never seen before on most of the reefs in WA. For individual coral reefs we are still crunching the numbers around Degree Heating Weeks (DHW) – a measure of heat stress on corals – but early estimates are over 15 DHWs on all reefs and up to 30 DHWs at some Pilbara reefs. Eight DHWs is the level of heat stress we generally consider severe enough to cause coral mortality.” 

AIMS coral scientist Nicole Ryan, who coordinates the WA Coral Bleaching Group added: “The heat stress will beat records set during the 2011 La Nina and the 2016 El Nino on all but the southernmost reefs, in the south of Ningaloo, Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands.

“It will take several months to understand how much this year’s event will have impacted coral cover on various systems. A bleached coral is not a dead coral – it can recover.”

“For some coral species, it can take time after bleaching for it to recover or die. WA reefs are also spread across thousands of kilometres with many being remote, making them difficult to monitor.” 

AIMS oceanographer Dr Camille Grimaldi recorded ocean temperatures at coral reefs along the northwest during this period and found that local in situ measurements often exceeded satellite-derived sea surface temperatures, which are commonly used to monitor reef conditions globally.

“At Ashmore Reef, for instance, in situ temperatures recorded in the lagoon were up to 1.4 °C higher than satellite estimates. Additionally, temperatures measured at 20 m depth exceeded satellite readings by nearly 0.5 °C, indicating that ocean warming extended not just at the surface, but throughout the water column, spanning the depth range for most corals,” said Dr Grimaldi.

“These differences highlight how local oceanographic processes, such as shallow water depth, upwelling or mixing, can amplify or dampen the effects of regional heatwaves, making extreme events either more severe or more tolerable at specific reef locations.” 

Dr Claire Spillman, Seasonal and Marine Applications Team Leader from The Bureau of Meteorology said: “2024 was the warmest year on record for global oceans. For Australian waters, sea surface temperatures during the summer of 2024-2025 were the warmest since official records began in 1900.

“The northwest waters of WA also experienced a warm winter in 2024, with persistent warm water at depth, and this background warmth increased the chances of marine heatwave conditions. While the 2010-11 WA marine heatwave was associated with a strong La Nina event, this was not the case this summer. The increased frequency of extreme and record-breaking ocean temperatures is associated with global warming.”

Dr Gilmour added: “This huge WA bleaching event comes at a concerning time for coral reefs in Australia. It was synchronised with another mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef and is part of the ongoing fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event, which began in 2023 and has circumnavigated our oceans in a wave of coral mortality. Climate change is driving these events, which are becoming more frequent, more intense and more widespread, giving our amazing, valuable coral reefs little time to recover. And they need 10 to 15 years to recover fully.  

“The key to helping coral reefs survive under climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Good management of local issues like water quality and overfishing and using interventions developed by marine science to help reefs will also assist.” 

Brittany Ferries steps-in on Rosslare Cherbourg, offering more sailings and greater choice

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The company, which is based in Cork and Rosslare, will increase both capacity and frequency of sailings departing Rosslare Europort from the end of September.

Departures will rise from five to seven every week. This means a daily Brittany Ferries departure from Rosslare Europort, starting October 2025.

The move includes a new Tuesday evening departure at 21:00, with additional sailings to be phased in as part of a broader strengthening of the route. Full schedules will be published shortly, after T’s have been crossed and I’s dotted. In the meantime, Brittany Ferries says it is ready to boost business continuity for Irish hauliers – and to offer more choice to holidaymakers.

It also reflects the close partnership of Brittany Ferries with Rosslare Europort, as well as the Port of Cherbourg. The company says long-term investment will strengthen trade links between Ireland and France, while offering modern ships, comfort, and a dependable alternative to air travel for passengers.

Christened Ro-Ro Rail, the company’s first train is a further development in its route network. It connects Ireland with the Iberian Peninsula via ferry and rail.  The rail line links Cherbourg and Bayonne, carrying unaccompanied trailers over 600 miles of the French rail network. Fewer emissions, competitive rates, and no need for accompanying drivers are key benefits.

Glenn Carr, Director Commercial Business Units for Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail – Port Authority for Rosslare Europort – said:

“We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Brittany Ferries and welcome their expansion to a daily service in each direction on the Rosslare to Cherbourg route.  Since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased six-fold, and our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike.  There has been intense interest in additional Rosslare to Cherbourg sailings, and Brittany Ferries have demonstrated their can-do attitude by confirming this expansion with us so quickly, capitalising on the strength of the route for passenger and freight markets alike.”

Brittany Ferries launched a Rosslare to Cherbourg service in 2021. It was a post-Brexit response to demand from hauliers, to obviate the need to cross the UK-landbridge when moving freight between Ireland and France. Recently third, fourth and fifth weekly return-sailings had been added to the menu, as demand continued to rise – and not just from freight customers.

Passenger and freight figures show the seaborne connection is ripe for further development. Passenger volumes have soared nearly 40 per cent this year. Freight units have doubled.

The capacity boost is also good news for Brittany Ferries’ seafarers. Several ships – scheduled to be taken out of service over the winter – are now expected to serve the Rosslare-Cherbourg expansion.

Galicia for example, one of five new ships that joined the Brittany Ferries fleet since 2020 will serve Rosslare-Cherbourg throughout the winter, rather than being tied up. Pont-Aven, the company’s flagship, will also continue to sail during part of the winter period, after the company initially planned to lay her over.

Star Princess shines through successful sea trials

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Princess Cruises’ second Sphere-Class ship, which is currently being built by Fincantieri, has reached a major milestone with the successful completion of its sea trials. The ship is on track to welcome its first guests on October 4, 2025, sailing the Mediterranean from Barcelona.

During these final sea trials from August 9–12, Star Princess departed the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, for the Adriatic Sea, where the vessel completed a comprehensive series of tests, including steering, navigation systems, and propulsion. As the second ship in the Princess fleet powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), Star Princess represents a significant step forward in reducing emissions.

To optimize both power efficiency and maneuverability, the vessel is fitted with two Azipod propulsion units, providing 360 degree thrust for both forward and reverse movement, along with four large controllable pitch bow thrusters, enabling precise lateral maneuvering.

Star Princess Captain Gennaro Arma, a 27-year veteran with Princess Cruises and leader of the Sphere-Class newbuild site team, oversaw the sea trials. He now heads a team of 1,600 dedicated crew members as the ship enters its final phase of outfitting.

“We confidently led Star Princess through sea trials,” said Captain Arma. “As the proud leader of our newest vessel, I’m extremely impressed with the ship’s navigation capabilities and maneuverability. With the final countdown underway, my incredible teammates and I can’t wait to welcome guests aboard for unforgettable adventures this fall.”

Currently under final construction at Fincantieri, the 177,800-ton, 4,300-guest Star Princess – sister to the award-winning Sun Princess – will feature 30 distinct dining and bar venues, elevated entertainment and activity offerings, and luxurious accommodations, including Sanctuary Collection suites, mini-suites and balcony rooms, each offering a private getaway with exclusive amenities, spaces and rooms.

With over 1,500 balcony staterooms, guests will enjoy panoramic views from the privacy of their own rooms. Standout venues include The Dome, a next-generation relaxation and entertainment space; The Arena, Princess’ most technologically advanced theater yet; The Piazza, the architectural centerpiece of the ship with its dramatic curves, floor-to-ceiling windows, and sweeping ocean vistas; and Spellbound by Magic Castle®, the captivating speakeasy experience born from a collaboration with the famed Hollywood icon, The Magic Castle™.

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