HADI H. AL-HAMMAM ESTABLISHMENT

Tug owners are cutting emissions and increasing automation. Subject to technology choices, ‘greener’ tugs are a global phenomenon today, while the autonomous tugs of tomorrow are starting to emerge. David Lee S,enior Account Manager, New Build, ABB Marine & Ports, discusses tugs of the future.Around the world, there is a growing appetite for hybrid and electric technology in tugboat operations. In the Asian and European towage markets, owners are responding to increasingly stringent regulations on air emissions in ports by investing in cleaner, more efficient propulsion.

Carnival Corp said on Friday it was planning to resume operations in a phased manner and would operate with a smaller fleet on its return, months after suspending trips due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The company’s shares, that have lost more than two-thirds of their value this year, rose as much as 11% to $16.12 in morning trading.The world’s largest cruise operator said it has reduced capital expenditures by more than $5 billion over the next 18 months and raised a couple more billions to navigate through the virus outbreak.The cruise business has been one of the worst hit after several ships, including some owned by Carnival’s Princess Cruises, became coronavirus hotspots.

Carnival Corporation announced another set of moves within its global leadership team as part of the company's broader efforts to enhance operations and best prepare the organization for the eventual resumption of cruising amid the coronavirus health crisis.Gus Antorcha, currently chief operations officer for the group's Carnival Cruise Line brand, has been named president of the company's Holland America Line, while Neil Palomba, currently president of the company's Italy-based Costa Cruises, has been named executive vice president and chief operations officer for Carnival Cruise Line, both effective immediately.

Theodore, Ala. boat builder Silver Ships said it has recently delivered an Ambar 1100 oceangoing rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) for the Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida.Built to assist in ocean rescue and firefighting missions, the 36-foot-long vessel includes an enhanced center console model that features Silver Ships’ specially designed console with a front windscreen and additional bolster seating. Twin Mercury Verado 300-horsepower outboard motors enable the vessel to reach top speeds of 43 knots.The AM1100 features shock-mitigating SHOX seating and Viconic decking for maximum comfort and injury prevention during high speed missions.

Wärtsilä said its digital predictive maintenance product is now being offered to support two-stroke engines and will be available for scrubbers at a later date.Originally launched in November 2019 for four-stroke engines, Expert Insight combines artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and rule-based advanced diagnostics with the knowledge and experience of Wärtsilä’s product experts to detect potential issues in asset operating data, and enable experts to provide actionable advice proactively. This enables a predictive maintenance strategy, whereby the health and efficiency of the equipment form the basis of maintenance activities.