Maritime Directory

Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has signed a new contract with existing customer Ocean Infinity for the design and construction of four Multi-Purpose Robotic Vessels (MPVs).The contract, whose value exceeds $230 million (€200 million), also includes a comprehensive scope of supply from Vard Electro, which will deliver the full suite of SeaQ systems for remote operations.Also, Vard Interiors, responsible for the complete interior solutions, will combine innovative design with energy-efficient systems to ensure crew comfort and operational excellence.Seaonics will provide the Launch and Recovery System (LARS), enabling advanced handling of ROVs and geotechnical units.

Britain said on Sunday discussions with other NATO members on deterring Russian activity in the Arctic were "business as usual", after media reports the UK was in talks with its European allies about deploying a military force to Greenland.The Telegraph reported on Saturday that military chiefs from Britain and other European countries were drawing up plans for a possible NATO mission in Greenland, which U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to acquire.The newspaper said British officials had begun early-stage talks with Germany, France and others on plans that could involve deploying British troops, warships and aircraft to protect Greenland from Russia and China.

Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft has launched first of the two offshore wind commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) under construction at its yard for J.P. Morgan.On January 2, Ulstein Verft towed the CSOV yard number 322 from the dock hall to the outer dock, where the yard’s heavy-lift department installed the vessel’s tower using a crawler crane with a lifting capacity of up to 600 tonnes.Late in the month, on January 7, the vessel was towed further out and moored alongside the quay, while its sister vessel, hull number 323, was docked in the dock hall for continued outfitting work.

When we interviewed Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas late last year, he insisted that Saronic's mission was to deliver commercially viable autonomous vessels first, and in turn parlay that into a ready package for defense. That vision comes to fruition as Saronic announced a partnership with Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS), to accelerate innovation and deployment of autonomous platforms, advanced software, and maritime solutions to the markets HOS serves.  Specifically, as part of the agreement, Saronic and Hornbeck intend to pursue commercial solutions to support offshore services and energy operations, including pilot projects for Marauder

The quest to rebuild the U.S. iceabreaking fleet continues to move at lightening speed, with Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) signing agreements with Bollinger Shipyards (Bollinger) and Rauma Marine Constructions Oy (Rauma) to provide its Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) design and associated supply chain packages to enable rapid construction and delivery of up to six vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) program.Rauma will build up to two vessels in Finland with delivery expected in 2028 under the contracts formally announced by the U.S. Coast Guard last week. Bollinger will construct up to four cutters in the U.S; the first U.S.-built vessel is expected in 2029.