[By: Wärtsilä]
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, has been contracted to supply a regasification module for Höegh Evi, a global leader in marine energy infrastructure. The module will be installed onboard the LNG carrier Hoegh Gandria to convert the vessel to a high-capacity floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU). The order, booked by Wärtsilä in Q1 2025, further strengthens Wärtsilä’s market leading position in LNG regasification systems.
When converted, the Hoegh Gandria will be deployed in the port of Sumed, Egypt. It will supply the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company with up to 1,000 mmscf/day of peak LNG regasification capacity, making it a critical part of Egypt’s diversified and flexible energy infrastructure.
“We are very familiar with Wärtsilä’s regasification solutions and appreciate their quality and reliability. This vessel will act as a floating import terminal and will play an important role in supporting Egypt’s diversified energy system. Given the critical nature of the project, we needed a partner with proven technology and a highly efficient solution. Wärtsilä fully met all our requirements,” comments Øivin Iversen, Chief of Projects in Höegh Evi.
The Wärtsilä equipment is scheduled for delivery in Q2 2026. The conversion of Hoegh Gandria will be completed in Q4 2026.
“Höegh Evi is a market leader in floating storage and regasification units and Wärtsilä Gas Solutions has been supplying them with regasification modules for some 20 years. This long-standing partnership not only underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in the energy sector but also aligns with Wärtsilä’s strategic goals of enhancing solutions for decarbonisation,” says Kjell Ove Ulstein, Director Sales & Marketing, Wärtsilä Gas Solutions.
[By: BASS]
Closelink GmbH, a maritime technology company specialising in marine lubricant procurement, and BASS Software, the leading global provider of maritime ERP cloud solutions, have successfully completed an integration between their platforms.
The connection enables data sharing, allowing shipping companies to manage marine lubricant procurement with greater speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
The integration was fast-tracked to support the smooth onboarding of a new Closelink customer. To avoid disruption during the implementation, both teams worked closely together to deliver a fully operational system integration to the mutual customer in just a couple of weeks. The current setup will leverage BASS’s generic adaptor, which enables data exchange with external platforms—a key component of BASS’s framework which supports broader third-party integrations.
The newly completed integration enables two-way data exchange between BASSnet Fleet Management Systems’ planned maintenance and procurement software and Closelink’s lubricant-specific planning and ordering platform. The connection eliminates the need for manual data transfer, streamlining the entire lubricant procurement process from requisition creation to order optimization and supplier confirmation.
“The ability to exchange data instantly between the two systems is essential,” said Philippe Lavarde, Managing Director at Closelink. “It offers the speed and visibility that the customer needs to respond to operational demands with confidence and without delays”.
A fully connected workflow
Closelink’s platform brings transparency and automation to lubricant procurement, helping teams manage demand, plan deliveries, place orders, and track performance, all in one place. By automating data collection from various sources and providing actionable insights, Closelink empowers procurement teams to make faster, more informed decisions.
“Maritime operations are more connected than ever, and integrations like this are key to delivering real value,” said Per Steinar Upsaker, CEO & Managing Director of BASS Software. “BASSnet is the best-in-class, advanced software to streamline fleet-wide purchasing and logistics with end-to-end visibility. We’re proud to work with Closelink to enhance our scalable and integrated solution and support smarter, more connected fleet management for our customers worldwide. Our customers will gain significant value from this seamless integration to drive greater efficiency.”
Built to support growth
The integration offers a foundation for all BASSnet users looking to optimize their lubricant procurement. BASSnet’s scalable ERP environment supports large, complex fleets and makes it easy to onboard new vessels while extending access to tools like Closelink. As the maritime industry accelerates its digital transformation, such integrations provide a proven path to roll out best practices in procurement across entire fleets.
The shipping industry is rushing to build new capacity in Vietnam as the country works to expand its role as a manufacturing base competing with China. Two international players, CMA CGM and DP World, are highlighting their investments to build new capacity focusing on internal logistics with new river – sea transport operations.
Vietnam has already successfully positioned itself as a cost-effective alternative to China and now looks to leverage the Trump administration’s efforts to reign in China by presenting itself as a strong alternative. Reports are that Vietnam was quick to open tariff negotiations with the Trump administration. South Vietnam, home to the Mekong Delta Key Economic Region and the Southern Key Economic Region has become a driver for Vietnam’s manufacturing and export economy.
One of the challenges is internal infrastructure. The government has been calling for developing inland waterway transportation as a means of linking the manufacturing areas and ports.
DP World currently operates the Saigon Premier Container Terminal in Ho Chi Minh City with an annual capacity of 400,000 TEU and the only RoRo port in the south. It announced a new partnership with VIMC Lines, one of the units of Vietnam National Shipping Lines. They said the program known as the Mekong Express will enhance connectivity between the key economic regions in the South.
The companies mark the launch of the new Megong Express river service at the end of ay. Hey will be operating two trips per week combining river and sea routes with the ability to move hundreds of containers per week, including reefers.
“DP World is committed to building an integrated, seamless supply chain ecosystem in Vietnam – an increasingly important market in the Asia Pacific region as well as globally,” said Glen Hilton, General Director of Asia Pacific for DP World. “With the Mekong Express, we are meeting the demand for an efficient and reliable service. This transport route will contribute to promoting economic development not only in the Southern region but also throughout Vietnam.”
The companies highlight that the water route is significantly shorter reducing an approximately 230-mile trip to 125 miles. Travel time for containers will be reduced from 48 hours to 15 hours. The service connects to Cai Mep Port and Cai Cui Port. They are also exploring extending it to the port operations of DP World and VIMC at two locations in Saigon.
CMA CGM announced last month its planned investment to expand port operations to the north of Vietnam. The company has also signed an agreement with Gemadept, a key logistics and port operator in Vietnam, to establish a new joint venture, Green River Transport. It will operate the previously announced electric barge that CMA CGM is building for transport in Vietnam. The new joint venture will manage transport in the Mekong Delta.
The barge is due to enter service in 2026 and it will be powered by a charging station being built at the Cai Mep port near Ho Chi Minh City. It is the country’s main container gateway. CMA CGM highlights that it operates 29 weekly maritime services from Vietnam.
Nike has agreed to be the first customer of the new electric barge service. It will use the service for its logistics flow between its Vietnam manufacturing locations and the Gemalink container terminal.
[By: Speedcast]
Speedcast, a leading communications and IT services provider, announced today that the company has partnered with Antamedia, a provider of advanced on-premise and cloud-based network management solutions, to integrate its Enterprise WiFi Hotspot and Digital Guide Hospitality software in the latest release of Speedcast’s SIGMA™ intelligent network management platform. The integration supports new end-user features and functionalities now directly available in the latest SIGMA expansion – enabling enhanced staff, crew and guest connectivity, improvement of daily operations, and provision of access to essential services in remote environments.
Speedcast recently announced enhancements to SIGMA, including a new architecture, evolving the platform to address the modern-day challenges of visibility, control, compliance, and security required to manage distributed edge environments at scales not previously possible. The new architecture provides the backbone for the SIGMA marketplace, offering managed containerized or virtual machine deployments of applications that customers can leverage for their digital operations.
As an anchor application in Speedcast’s SIGMA marketplace, the integration of Antamedia’s Enterprise-grade WiFi Hotspot solution delivers added internet control, service access, payment features and a self-service portal that works across different environments. The fully managed solution can be deployed at scale for high-volume operations and relieves the remote site operator of any administrative burdens and monthly commitments, while Speedcast manages and provisions all aspects of individual usage and connectivity. The new SIGMA marketplace application augments Speedcast’s existing proprietary and third-party WiFi Hotspot management solutions, expanding the company’s suite of options under its Launch Internet service. Customers can select between platforms based on remote site needs, including scale of deployments, management, monitoring and analytics requirements, along with marketing-related capabilities.
This deployment adds a managed internet access layer that gives offshore energy, maritime vessel and cruise and ferry operators, along with mining and construction camp managers, full control over how staff and guests use onsite connectivity. The system allows for the creation of varying internet plans, enforces data quotas and speed limits, and supports user identification through vouchers, PMS credentials, SMS verification, or other login methods. The software is cloud-managed and hosted as an application on Speedcast’s SIGMA platform, easily allowing centralized configuration and real-time monitoring across different locations.
“Today, reliable internet connectivity is essential, especially for our customers operating in remote locations,” said Dee Schwalb, Chief Product Officer at Speedcast. “Managing usage and providing connectivity for staff, contractors and guests is an increasing burden on IT. Partnering with Antamedia as one of our SIGMA anchor tenants was an obvious choice. Their technology serves as an enhancement to the portfolio of remote staff, guest and crew welfare solutions that we offer and meets a critical need for our customers. Now, with Antamedia integrated into our SIGMA platform, we’re helping our customers streamline operations and simplify processes, all within a single, unified solution that is deployable at scale for high-volume operations.”
Antamedia provides advanced on-premise and cloud-based network management solutions, complete with integrated tools for digital marketing, user billing, and secure access control. Trusted by more than 50,000 customers, including telecommunications providers, ISPs, hospitality brands, and government institutions, Antamedia’s product suite includes Enterprise WiFi Hotspot, CRM, Cloud Kiosk, Internet Café software, and the Digital Guide for Hospitality.
Speedcast will debut the enhanced, next-generation SIGMA platform at Nor-Shipping 2025, held June 2-6 in Oslo, Norway, beginning with a celebration event at the Speedcast stand #B05-33 on Tuesday, June 3 at 3:00 p.m. Speedcast technical and commercial experts will be on site, providing demonstrations of the platform. Additionally, Speedcast will be discussing how the upgraded architecture brings the power of edge intelligence to maritime operations during a session on Future-Proofing Your Fleet as part of the Digital Ship Forum at Nor-Shipping. The session takes place Wednesday, June 4 at 12:15 p.m. in the Thon Hotel Arena.
[By: DNV Maritime]
Classification Society DNV awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) certificates to Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. (Hudong-Zhonghua) for three innovative new vessel designs. The AiPs highlight the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations and reinforce their shared commitment to supporting the continued development of Chinese shipbuilding and the maritime industry’s low-carbon transition and technical advancement.
The three AiPs represent the continuing advancement of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in key shipping segments, to meet the global demand for energy as well as the more efficient transport of goods through alternative fuels. The new certificates not only validate these latest designs, but reflect the value of long-term collaboration between the Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding and DNV, building on innovations in designs for large LNG carriers, ammonia transports, and LCO2 carriers, among others.
The AiP certificates were presented for:
Øyvind Pettersen, Head of the Technical Centre China at DNV Maritime, commented: “Chinese shipyards like Hudong-Zhonghua are operating at the forefront of the global maritime transformation. Across the industry there is continuing demand for vessels that utilize new fuels, more advanced systems, and fully integrated digital capabilities – and we are proud to help deliver these advances. At DNV are very proud that Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard has again chosen us to cooperate on these exciting and innovative projects. We look forward to deepening this long-lasting and productive partnership as we work to enable new designs that are practical, cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and continue to push shipping safety forward.”
As China’s shipbuilding sector has developed over the past years, DNV has taken extensive measures to build up its competence in China and make it available to the local industry. These include dedicated teams for tankers, bulkers, alternative fuels, and most recently container vessels in Shanghai, to support both owners and yards as they navigating the complex transition toward more sustainable, efficient and technologically advanced vessel construction and operation.
An Approval in Principle (AiP) is an independent evaluation of a concept based on a predefined framework of requirements. It confirms the feasibility of the design and ensures there are no significant technical obstacles hindering its implementation.
Photo caption: Handover for the 174,000 m³ ice-strengthened Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier (LNGC) at the CSSC stand: (from left) Martin Cartwright, Global Business Director for Gas carriers at DNV, Lu Xinwei, Vice General Manager of CSTC Special Ship Division, Zhang Heng, Vice Director of Business and Sales Department in Hudong-Zhonghua, Song Wei, Chief Technical Officer of Hudong-Zhonghua, Øyvind Pettersen, DNV Vice President and Head of Technical Centre China, Geir Dugstad, Technical Director, Classification at DNV, Jason Liu, Regional Business Development Manager, Greater China at DNV, Dong Hai, Area Offshore Technical Manager Area China South at DNV.
[By: Foreship]
Ship design and engineering company Foreship has been working with Royal Caribbean on the $100 million amplification of Allure of the Seas, culminating in the recently completed drydock phase.
Foreship’s multi-disciplinary team worked in close coordination with Royal Caribbean from the planning phase in late 2023 onwards, with personnel in the yard on project management duties until the new-look ship’s redelivery in April 2025.
In between, Foreship has been providing the naval architecture, risk assessment, basic design work, piping and cabling engineering services, documentation for class and contractor coordination that turn owner amplification ambitions into ship-shape solutions.
Tasks have included designing a new steel structure in the forward part of the ship to accommodate additional cabins, and structural design to support new water slides.
Foreship has also taken care of work involving the installation of Ultimate Abyss – a 10-storey dry slide at the aft of the ship that is already featured on other Oasis-class ships. With a 100ft drop between decks 16 and 6, the exhilarating ride required new pillars under Boardwalk on Deck 6 to take the additional load.
In less visible work, Foreship has taken responsibility for modifying the piping, electrical cabling, and other systems that Allure of the Seas needs to support new attractions, including whirlpools and fountains and a remodeled pool deck.
“We have been working with Royal Caribbean for over a decade across multiple major assignments, including their newbuilding and refurbishment work and we are delighted to add the amplification of Allure of the Seas to our Royal Caribbean projects,” said Daniel Grönroos, Senior Project Manager, Foreship. “Our job is to provide the planning, design, engineering, and project management services to help Royal Caribbean deliver phenomenal holidays.”
The UK government has unveiled the most significant transformation of its airspace since the 1950s, with a bold plan to modernise outdated flight paths, reduce congestion and slash carbon emissions. The overhaul, announced on Monday, 2 June, includes new legislation laid before Parliament that will support the implementation of more efficient, direct routes for aircraft arriving into and departing from UK airspace.
The airspace redesign is a core part of the UK’s Airspace Modernisation Strategy, led by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which seeks to accommodate future air traffic growth while enhancing safety, cutting noise pollution, and supporting environmental goals. The reforms are expected to significantly reduce flight delays and help airlines cut fuel burn—potentially saving hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Under the new laws, the Secretary of State for Transport will gain powers to compel airports and air navigation service providers to take part in redesign efforts if progress stalls. This legislative support ensures collaboration across the aviation sector, which is essential for the success of the complex, multi-year programme.
The government estimates that the reforms could unlock billions in economic benefits by improving airspace capacity and efficiency, while also aligning with its Jet Zero strategy to achieve net zero carbon emissions from UK aviation by 2050. Aviation Minister Anthony Browne called the move “a crucial step forward in building a modern, green, and competitive aviation sector fit for the 21st century.”
Jet2’s CEO Steve Heapy commented on the changes. He said: “As well as investing in tangible actions to decarbonise our own operations, we have been calling for the modernisation of airspace for years, as it has been proven to be a key driver in achieving CO2 reductions. Today’s announcement is excellent news and we are now calling for swift action so that the decarbonisation and passenger experience benefits can be realised as soon as possible.”
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One of the stalwarts of the modern shipping industry and known to all as a statesman who brought the industry together, Jim Lawrence passed away on June 1. News of his passing at age 70 was released on Monday afternoon by MTI Network, which Lawrence remained as founder and chairman at the time of his death.
Throughout his career, which included a stint at Lloyd’s List before going on to lead the Connecticut Maritime Association for more than 30 years, founding Marine Money, and MTI Network, was all about being a staunch supporter of the maritime industry and a source for discussion and information. Lawrence is remembered for his steadfast support of the industry and push to drive the industry forward.
Lawrence joined the Connecticut Maritime Association, a non-profit that represents aspects of shipping and international trade, in 1988 and became the face of the annual CMA Conference held each March. It is known for bringing together leaders from, as the organization describes it, “bunker brokers and tug-boat operators to lawyers and underwriters, to ship owners, brokers and managers, shippers and merchants of all kinds of cargo.” A membership-driven organization it also seeks to mentor the future with its education foundation and the Commodore Gala Dinner of which Lawrence was a familiar face at the event promoting the best of the industry. In 2018, when he stepped away from the leadership of CMA, he highlighted that the organization would be in good hands with Informa to continue its mission.
Professionally he also was a founder in 1988 of Marine Money and served as Chairman for the organization which is recognized as the source of information in ship finance. It also hosts conferences to bring together industry leaders. He also co-founded MTI Network, a crisis communication network for the maritime industry, in 1990.
His colleagues at MTI said of him, “Jim was always a much-loved and deeply respected member of the MTI family. Over the years, he worked on numerous high-profile incidents, offering invaluable advice to clients both in the U.S. and internationally. He was not only a trusted advisor but also a prominent figure in the U.S. maritime industry.”
His support of mariners and the industry extended further. For 15 years, he also served on the board of the Seaman’s Church Institute. An ecumenical agency based in New York City, the Church is dedicated to promoting the safety, dignity, and improved working environment for seafarers and providing critical support. Lawrence in the last few years also became a board member of the OPA 90 Forum, a non-profit organization supporting the industry with OPA 90 (the U.S.’s Oil Pollution Act of 1990).
Lawrence’s unwavering support and dedication to the maritime industry earned him the U.S. Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service Award in 2019.
“Jim was always a consummate professional, but to us, he was always Jim – incredibly energetic, hugely good fun, and incredibly knowledgeable about the shipping industry,” writes his colleagues at MTI Networks. “Whether climbing Mt Kilimanjaro or providing sensitive advice to clients he was a force to be reckoned with and will be missed by us all.”
The Maritime Executive joins with the industry to remember the lasting contributions of Jim Lawrence. We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues on the loss of a steadfast and loyal supporter.
Highlighting their shared commitment to advancing sustainability, innovation, and secure maritime solutions, the governments of Singapore and France announced an enhanced maritime partnership agreement. The move which is designed to advance key initiatives in sustainability and digitalization was announced after French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a two-day visit to the city-state during his tour of Asia at the end of May.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable, innovative, and secure maritime solutions,” said Eric Banel, Director General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Singapore. “Both France and Singapore, as global maritime hubs and key worldwide players in innovation and engineering, recognize the strategic importance of strengthening cooperation in port digitalization, green shipping, and maritime safety and security.”
French shipping company CMA CGM will also be joining in with the initiatives. It will participate as it seeks to support fuel innovation and the adoption of digital standards for the industry.
One of the key pilots will focus on supporting the adoption of biomethane. Working to advance maritime decarbonization, the partners will explore the development of a bio-methane supply chain and certification program.
They are planning the first bio-methane bunkering trail which will take place in Singapore. They will develop a certification framework similar to the efforts Singapore undertook to develop the first ammonia bunkering. The port conducted the first ammonia bunkering as a marine fuel in March 2024 and working with CMA CGM will conduct the first for bio-methane.
The French shipping company will also support an initiative between France’s HAROPA Port, the operator for the ports of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris, and the Port of Marseille-Fos authority to advance digitization. This initiative will focus on port call optimization and maritime digitalization testing ship-to-shore data exchange to automate and streamline port clearance processes. By reducing manual documentation, they believe the industry will improve the timeliness and accuracy of operational data. They will look to support efforts to have internationally recognized data standards.
The government of Panama issued a statement rejecting the claims of critics that its flag registry has failed to take sufficient action to stop vessels supporting the Iranian oil trade by citing its removal of vessels from the registry. As the largest registry by the number of ships, approximately 8,500 vessels, Panama has come under scrutiny for the number of shadow tankers or vessels transporting Iranian oil that are operating under its flag.
The statement details the actions taken by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) over the past few years to purge the ranks of its registry. It is a frequent topic that has often drawn criticism. Today, the AMP asserts that it has de-flagged more than 650 ships from its registry since 2019. In the past, it has discussed the changes to rules and efforts to speed up the cancellation process.
It also reports that last October it took a further step empowering the AMP to unilaterally remove vessels from its registry if their owners appear on international sanctions lists. Today, they claim this has resulted in the cancellation of 214 vessels representing more than 12 million tons over the past eight months.
The statement came after long-time critic, the NGO United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), renewed its calls for Panama to increase its efforts to stop its support of the Iranian oil trade. UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace asserted that the registry has a “lack of consistent, proactive enforcement,” which the group says permits Iran to continue to earn billions from the oil trade.
UANI asserted that its analysis shows that one in five vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil, or 17 percent of the 542 vessels the group has listed, sail under the flag of Panama. The group points to the fact that the U.S. and others continue to list vessels registered in Panama when they announce sanctions.
The AMP has highlighted its efforts over the past few years to increase the oversight of its registry and remove violators. In the past, they noted it was a slow process.
Starting in 2019, the AMP has taken steps such as establishing rules that sanction vessels for deliberately deactivating Long-Rage Identification and Tracking or their AIS signal. Recently, the AMP also established new rules for the reporting of planned ship-to-ship oil transfers, another technique favored by shadow tankers to obscure the source of oil.
Panama was also instrumental in working with other registries to establish information sharing. The program was aimed at notifying other flags when a registry cancels or initiates a sanction or cancellation process. It was designed to crack down on the practice of flag hopping to avoid cancellation or other penalties.
In responding to the critics, the registry highlights that it follows IMO and United Nations standards and maintains close collaboration with the United States. During the Biden administration, the U.S. State Department met with Panama to discuss enforcement and the crackdown on vessels that were violating sanctions.
The Government of Panama notes that the AMP carries out investigations into compliance. It also highlights that the efforts go beyond tankers to also include a focus on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
