Maersk announces new reefer container

Maersk Line has announced the implementation of QUEST, which will enable a significant reduction in the energy consumption and CO2 emissions of refrigerated containers (reefers).

QUEST (Quality and Energy efficiency in Storage and Transport) is a software solution, providing a new temperature control regime. The reefer container can cut the energy consumption used for cooling with up to 50% without impacting the quality of refrigeration solutions. Maersk Line estimates that QUEST will lead to CO2 emission reductions of 325,000 tonnes annually when fully implemented during 2008. Traditionally, containers maintain a constant supply air temperature in the reefer container, a process that uses high amounts of energy. QUEST, however, focuses on the temperature of the transported commodity.

Read More

Mitsubishi to re-launch shipbuilding

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will return to building large passenger ships next year for the first time since it suspended such operations after an October 2002 fire on a vessel under construction.

Amid soaring popularity in Europe and the US for cruise vacations, demand for new construction of large passenger ships is expected to total about 30 vessels over the next three to four years. Mitsubishi Heavy will begin taking orders next year for large cruise ships with more than 1,000 cabins costing about US$873 billion each. US cruise operator Carnival and others are said to have approached Mitsubishi with interest in placing shipbuilding orders.

Read More

DNV and COSCO reach strategic agreement

DNV and COSCO Shipyard Group signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement at the Word Shipping (China) Summit 2007, marking the cooperation between COSCO and DNV have entered into a new phase.

Under the new agreement the two parties are committed to work further to enhance the competence on commercial ship repair, conversion, newbuilding and offshore classification. Technical support services and training through DNV Academy are also covered by the new agreement valid to 2012. The agreement was signed by Bjorn K. Haugland, DNV Vice President and Regional Manager for Greater China, and Wang Xingru, General Manager of COSCO Shipyard Group.

Read More

GE Shipping signs contract for new vessels

Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd said the Singapore unit of its subsidiary, Greatship (India) Ltd, had signed a contract for building 2 new multi-purpose platform supply and support vessels.

The contract has been signed between Greatship Global Offshore Services Pte Ltd, Singapore and Mazagaon Dock Ltd. The multi-purpose platform supply and support vessels are of 4,600dwt. These vessels are expected to join the company's fleet in the second half of the year to March 2010. The statement also said with this order, Greatship (India) and its subsidiaries have a building order book of 16 new offshore supply vessels and one new 350 feet jack-up rig.

Read More