Industry news

MOL vessel carrying luxury cars catches fire off Portugal coast

18 February | Vessels

A luxury car carrying vessel, named Felicity Ace, has caught fire off the coast of Portugal’s Azores islands while crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the report by the Portuguese Navy, the 6,400 car equivalent unit vessel sent out an alarm on 16 February following the break out of a fire in one of the cargo decks.

The rescue teams included the Portuguese Navy’s patrol ship NRP Setúbal, as well as four merchant ships that were sailing in the area.

The Portuguese Air Force also took part in the evacuation operation. Felicity Ace was expected to arrive in Rhode Island, US, on 23 February. It departed from Emden port in Germany on 10 February.

According to a report of German newspaper Handelsblatt, the ship was carrying 3,965 vehicles, including a number of Lamborghinis, Audis, and Bentleys.

The vessel had 22 crew members on board, all of whom have been rescued. According to the Portuguese Navy, no one has been hurt by the fire. The crew members have been taken to a hotel.

The vessel is operated by Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL). The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Main image: The Felicity Ace is seen as it is adrift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean after it caught fire, near Portuguese on February 18, 2022. Credit: Portuguese Naval Forces/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

17 February| Engines

Rolls-Royce to supply mtu Series 2000 engines for US-built yacht

Rolls-Royce has secured an order to deliver its new generation mtu Series 2000 engines for the Westport 125 yacht.

This marks the first time that Rolls-Royce is supplying these engines for a yacht that will be constructed in the US.

The 38m yacht will be constructed in Westport Yachts’ shipyard in Westport, Washington, US.

According to the agreement, Rolls-Royce will supply two 16V 2000 M97L engines with integrated selective catalytic reduction systems and a power output of 1,939KW (2,600bhp) each.

The firm will also provide its automation solution, mtu NautIQ Blue Vision NG.

17 February | routes

Hapag-Lloyd to introduce new China–Germany service

German container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd will launch a new service to connect Southern China with Northern Europe.

The new China Germany Express (CGX) service will be offered as a two-port loop product from 1 April. They will sail on a weekly basis, with a 27-day transit period.

The route will become another gateway to and from Southern China, directly linking to Northern Europe.

The CGX service will replace Hapag-Lloyd’s Far East Loop 6, 7, and 8 services and run with eight Panamax ships.

The first westbound voyage from Dachan Bay to Hamburg is slated for April, while the initial eastbound sailing from Hamburg to Dachan Bay will commence in May.

16 february | environmental

FuelTrust launches AI-based solution for assessing GHG emissions

Technology firm FuelTrust has unveiled an AI solution, Carbon Baseline, to provide detailed and verified baseline assessments of historical ship and fleet emissions.

The advancement made by individual ships towards reducing carbon emissions will be evaluated on the basis of historical baselines up to 2008.

The assessment of ship performance can then be used to influence finance decisions, tax levies and environmental, social, and governance reporting.

The solution will utilise blockchain technology and Cloud-based AI to offer a ‘validated’ historic carbon baseline in just weeks and at a reduced cost.

According to the firm, its patent-pending AI Digital Chemist uses historical operational data to calculate previous-year greenhouse gas (GHG) emission profiles for a ship or fleet.

After receiving the validated historic carbon baseline, owners can raise charter pricing for validated green vessels and certify applications for carbon credits.

FuelTrust’s autonomous emissions scoring will also allow firms to pay reduced carbon taxes and fees internationally.

15 February | ports

UK and Scotland to develop two new green freeports in Scotland

The UK Government has signed an agreement with the Scottish Government to join forces for the establish two green freeports in Scotland.

The UK Government will allocate up to £52m ($70.8m) for the new ports. Potential bidders for the development will have to make a pledge to attain net-zero by 2045.

The bidding process will be launched in spring, following which the bids will be evaluated and successful sites declared. The new locations are expected to become operational by next spring.

The bid will be open for any sea, air, or rail port as part of a consortium with other businesses, the council, and other relevant public bodies.

14 february | Fuels

Aker Clean Hydrogen and Kuehne+Nagel partner on green container shipping

Norway’s Aker Clean Hydrogen has teamed up with sea logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel to deliver green container transport as part of the effort to decarbonise the maritime logistics space.

The entities intend to increase Kuehne+Nagel’s offerings of eco-friendly fuels, which include hydrogen, ammonia and methanol.

Currently, the first ships featuring engines operating on these fuel alternatives are in production. They are projected to commence services in 2024.

Through this cooperation, both firms aim to be early sources in the scaling up of fossil-free shipping.

9 february | Business & Operations

Wight Shipyard signs merger deal with Ocea

UK-based aluminium shipbuilder Wight Shipyard is set to merge with French shipbuilding company Ocea in an all-share deal that will double its size.

The merger aims to tap opportunities in the fast ferry and offshore renewable energy space.

The combined entity will offer employment opportunities at the East Cowes yard.

After the merger, the group will be involved in aluminium shipbuilding operations, with an order book that provides business security as well as sustainability in upcoming years.

In brief

MOL receives order to construct two LNG-driven ferries

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), along with its group firm MOL Ferry, has secured orders from Naikai Zosen Corporation to build two liquefied natural gas-powered ferries.

RINA grants AiP to FKAB Marine Design’s Hydrogen Tanker

Swedish designer FKAB Marine Design has obtained approval in principle from classification society RINA for its hydrogen-powered MR Tanker.

CCS and DNV grant AiP for new methanol-driven VLCC design

Class societies CCS and DNV have granted approval in principle certificates to a methanol-powered very large crude carrier (VLCC) ship design.

This green vessel’s design has been developed by Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation and Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corporation.

NYK, PowerX collaborate on development of marine batteries

Japanese shipping firm Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) Line has partnered with PowerX, a company that develops new businesses using large-capacity batteries and power-transmission technologies.

They will jointly explore partnership prospects to develop marine batteries for vessels, carry out trial navigation, and promote a power-transfer ship.

14 february | fuels