MORAN TOWING CORPORATION

An ABS-classed Suezmax tanker ordered by Avin International LTD, the first vessel of a potential order of three vessels, is to be the first ammonia-fuel ready vessel in the world.The landmark 274-meter-long vessel is now under construction at China's New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (NTS), with options for two further vessels. Currently conventionally fueled, the vessel complies with the ABS Ammonia Ready Level 1 requirements, indicating it is designed to be converted to run on ammonia in the future. All the ships in the project will also meet ABS LNG Fuel Ready Level 1 requirements.

U.K.-based shipping company Scotline Marine Holdings said it has taken delivery of Scot Ranger, the third vessel in a newbuild series from Dutch shipbuilder Royal Bodewes.This ship is a close sister to the previous two, Scot Carrier and Scot Explorer, but with one key difference. Scot Ranger has ice class 1A (Finnish and Swedish Ice Class Regulations 2010), meaning that the ship can continue to sail from the Baltic during the winter months.Scot Ranger was launched on November 6, and final mechanical works, outfitting, testing and sea trials were performed during the following the weeks.The newbuild is the second Scot Ranger to serve in the Scotline fleet.

Business interruption, pandemic outbreak and cyber incidents -- three separate but 'strongly interlinked' matters -- lead the pack as the top threats to maritime in 2021, according to the 10th Allianz survey on risk in the maritime sector.The maritime industry, on its best day, is fraught with risk, as people, machinery and the bulk of world trade regularly traverses some of the most perilous conditions on the planet. According to the 10th Allianz Risk Barometer 2021 for the sector, a trio of COVID-19-linked risks pose the greatest threat to maritime in 2021, but these three are far from alone.

Boatbuilder Brix Marine (formerly Armstrong Marine USA) has been contracted by aerospace and defense technology company, Northrop Grumman, to build a catamaran survey-research vessel, slated for fall 2021 completion.The 44- by 16-foot vessel is Brix’s third IPS-drive catamaran; the first two were 4216-CTC models, both delivered in 2019, to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography (R/V Bob and Betty Beyster) and Orca Maritime, Inc. (R/V Benthic Cat), respectively.Northrop Grumman said they will utilize the vessel for testing commercial navigation systems, undersea and aviation programs

KVH Industries, Inc. announced Tuesday that GreenSteam, developers of vessel performance optimization solutions for a sustainable shipping industry, has joined the KVH Watch Solution Partner program and will offer the KVH Watch service as part of its enhanced performance platform for improved data mobility. KVH Watch’s dedicated connectivity will support GreenSteam’s core services, facilitating the movement of data from vessels to shore-based analysts more frequently and reliably in real-time.