Shipyard News

A collaboration to develop inspection technologies for Persona AI’s humanoid robot platform that enhances productivity and safety in shipyards was formalized with the signing of an MOU between ABS and Persona AI.The initiative will focus on adapting Persona AI’s humanoid robots, based in part on NASA’s robotic hand technology, for a range of shipyard tasks. Unlike traditional industrial robots, humanoid robots are uniquely suited to operate in shipyards designed for human workers…

Financially, 2024 was a positive year for Damen Shipyards Group. Revenue remained just above USD$3.47 billion (3 billion euros). Net profit rose from USD$49.8 million (43 million euros) to USD$67.1 million (58 million euros). The order book was filled with a record USD$6.83 billion (5.9 billion euros) in new orders, rising to USD$12 billion (10.4 billion euros). In 2024, Damen delivered no fewer than 146 new vessels to clients. This included the Volta 1 and the Bu Tinah. The former is Europe's first fully electric tug, which has been put into service by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $95 million contract to JAG Alaska, Inc., a shipyard based in Alaska, for a mid-life renovation of the Oscar Dyson. This project not only enhances NOAA’s operational readiness but also boosts Alaska’s economy by creating skilled jobs.A highlight of the upgrade is Siemens Energy’s SISHIP BlueDrive PlusC low-voltage direct current (LVDC) propulsion system, which improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. The system minimizes specific fuel consumption (g/kWh) during operations…

The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY)  completed the repair, maintenance and handover of the giant cargo tanker Torm Venture, owned by Denmark's Torm. The project involved major repair and maintenance works to renew the vessel and improve its operationalefficiency.‘During this project, we faced a challenge to complete the repairs and deliver the vessel successfully within just 14 days from the start of work, while the expected timeframe was 18 days," said Mahmood Hassan, a project manager at ASRY.

HD Hyundai Samho has signed an MOU with LG CNS and HD Hyundai Robotics to co-develop AI humanoid robots and logistics automation technologies as part of a move to accelerate the creation of a smart, sustainable shipyard.The partnership focuses on humanoid robots capable of handling complex shipyard tasks and autonomous mobile robots for logistics automation.HD Hyundai Samho will provide manufacturing data and infrastructure, LG CNS will deliver AI and data platforms, and HD Hyundai Robotics will supply AI-based motion control solutions…

Conrad Shipyard announced that its Amelia facility has achieved two consecutive years without a recordable incident. The Amelia facility is currently constructing YRBM vessels for the U.S. Navy, alongside projects for several valued commercial clients.This accomplishment reflects the dedication and commitment of Conrad’s employees to maintaining high standards of workplace safety. Achieving zero recordable incidents over a two-year period in a shipyard environment is no small…

HII is partnering with shipyards and fabricators in multiple states to grow its throughput and meet the increased demand for ships by the U.S. Navy. With its customer’s support, HII is bringing the work to more companies and more jobs in more states, expanding capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base and improving schedule adherence for all ships built by HII.HII’s structural assembly network, consisting of companies that contribute to outsourced modular assembly of ships…

Empowering Small and Medium Shipyards Through Strategic ReformAs the United States faces mounting global maritime challenges, from contested sea lanes to aging fleets, the need to expand and modernize our shipbuilding industrial base has never been more urgent. Yet the path forward must be more than a call for capacity. It must be a call for smarter capacity. That means a more distributed, resilient, and inclusive strategy; one that fully leverages the capabilities of small and medium-sized shipyards across the country.These yards are not fringe players.

PT Bahtera Bahari Shipyard (PT BBS) has purchased Liebherr’s CBG 500 E. Scheduled for delivery in October 2025, the crane will be installed on a barge currently under construction at their Batam facility. The CBG 500 E features a rope luffing mechanism, a 65-ton safe working load in grab operation, and a 43-meter outreach—making it ideal for high-volumecoal handling. Its all-electric drive system, supported by the Licatronic energy recovery system and supercapacitors, ensures reduced emissions and optimized energy use.

Estonia has launched a €25 million ($28 million) government grant designed to encourage the reconstruction and greening of passenger and cargo ships, tugboats and other port and auxiliary vessels in Estonian ports.This makes Estonia one of the few countries in Europe offering direct financial support in the form of state aid for ship retrofitting. The new grant, enacted by Estonia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Kuldar Leis, provides shipowners and operators with subsidies covering 15% to 30% of eligible retrofit costs…

JSA Loadmaster Arabia Ltd and HMH have entered into a strategic Cooperation Agreement to deliver joint solutions to shipyards, as well as onshore and offshore rig operators, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Established in 2019, JSA Loadmaster Arabia Ltd was formed by bringing together the product lines and service offerings of two global brands; Loadmaster Industries and Jackup Structures Alliance (JSA), in combination with Saudi joint venture partner, Saudi Drill. HMH is a provider of engineered…

Dutch prosecutors said on Friday they had summoned shipbuilder Damen Shipyards on suspicion of violating EU sanctions against Russia and opened a separate case against the company and some of its executives for corruption.The company denied both sets of accusations.

Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ultra is the latest ballast water management system (BWMS) built on the PureBallast 3 technology. Just a few months after its introduction, PureBallast 3 Ultra has secured orders from shipyards worldwide, with deliveries set to begin in Q3 2025. The new system delivers enhanced performance, greater energy efficiency, and simplified installation.Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ultra has seen a rising demand in the market with confirmed orders from shipyards in China…

ASRY has formed a joint venture (JV) with Noatum Maritime, part of AD Ports Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, offering a diversified portfolio of maritime solutions for the provision of marine services in Bahrain.The collaboration aims to sharpen the current marine service offering at ASRY Shipyard on an exclusive basis by leveraging Noatum Maritime’s operational expertise and modern fleet. It will then target external clients within Bahrain.ASRY CEO, Dr Ahmed AlAbri, said: “Our partnership with Noatum Maritime marks a strategic step in strengthening our maritime services.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report into the death of a seafarer on the bulk carrier Equinox Seas whilst the vessel was undergoing scheduled maintenance in a yard.On April 17, 2023, a crewman on board Equinox Seas was fatally injured when he fell 10m down an open ventilation trunk where a fan had been removed for maintenance by the shipyard. The fitter was recovered from the base of the ventilation trunk and moved to a local hospital, where…

Incat Tasmania has acquired a 12-hectare site in the Derwent Valley, located north-west of Hobart, Australia, to double its current shipbuilding capacity and workforce.The expansion plan for the site includes the construction of a 240 x 120meter production facility, with capacity to construct three large ships at one time.Incat CEO Stephen Casey said: “Incat is leading the industry by building the world’s largest electric ferry, and our goal over the next 5-10 years is to build on that success and produce multiple electric ships for the global market while expanding our workforce.

Cerberus Capital Management agreed to lease part of its 350-hectare Philippine shipyard in Subic Bay to HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering, which plans to build a facility there to manufacture offshore wind platforms.The shipyard was run by Hanjin Philippines before it defaulted on loans worth $1.3B in 2019.

M/S. S.N. Corporation’s Unit-02 ship recycling yard at Shitalpur, Sitakunda is now the second ship yard in Bangladesh to become compliant with IMO's Guidelines for Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling. The certification process was undertaken by Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, establishing that S.N. Corporation was capable of the intensive procedural and performance standards required under the Hong Kong Convention (HKC). This process was assisted by GMS under its Sustainable Ship & Offshore Recycling Program (SSORP).

The tenth International Dry Dock Conference is scheduled to take place in Virginia Beach, VA, September 22-23, 2022.The 10th in this series of International Dry Dock Conferences/Advanced Training Forums is set, with discussions and knowledge-share designed to provide advance training for those in the dry dock industry.While the adoption of innovative technologies has permeated nearly all industries, one that remains largely unchanged is the drydocking industry. Handling a vessel in drydocking is a large liability, and changes to methodologies creates risk.

German Naval Yards has converted and and will delivery later in May the high-performance tug Abeille Normandie to the French shipping company Les Abeilles. The vessel arrived at the shipyard for conversion in September 2021.The 91 x 22-m vessel has a 282 ton towing capacity and 20,800 kW (28,300 hp) of power, and will be available to the French Navy as a multifunctional emergency tug.Designed to be multifunction, the ship has the ability to accommodate 300 shipwrecked persons…

Philippine creditors are close to selling a strategically located but debt-laden shipyard north of the capital Manila, government officials said on Tuesday, with a North American company cited as being an investor in the deal.Hanjin Philippines, a unit of South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co Ltd, in 2019 defaulted on $1.3 billion in loans, of which $900 million is owed to South Korean banks and the rest to five Philippine lenders.Talks with investors were almost complete…

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd applied for preliminary approval for an initial public offering, Korea Exchange said on Thursday.The company, currently wholly owned by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, was separated from Korea Shipbuilding in 2019.Hyundai Heavy reported a 2020 operating profit of 32.5 billion won on revenue of 8.3 trillion, Korea Exchange said in a statement.(Reporting by Joyce Lee; editing by Jason Neely)

Transportation cradles are a key component in the build, transportation and launch of a ship and a suitable design can be fundamental in the success of these operations. Throughout their use they will support the various blocks and completed ship during construction, act as the interface between the vessel and SPMT’s (Self Propelled Modular Transporters) or barge, and ultimately support the ship during float off operations. The cradles are possibly the only item of equipment that will see the ship from very early stages of construction through until she is floating in the water.