Naikai Zosen Corp .

The world's largest group of shipping insurers will not insure vessels involved in the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream gas pipeline projects because of the threat of U.S. sanctions.Associations belonging to the International Group of P&I Clubs, including the Shipowners' Club and the London P&I Club, said in a circular on Monday that it would not provide cover "for any activity involving or related to the Nord Stream 2 or TurkStream construction projects".It said members were "strongly urged to assess and mitigate the risks of entering into contracts on the Nord Stream 2 or TurkStream construction projects and exercise the fullest possible due diligence to avoid exposure to

A high-tech tug in the Netherlands has traveled without human intervention on an AI-optimized route from Boompjes to Waalhaven in the Port of Rotterdam, marking a milestone on the path toward fully autonomous and maritime sustainable operations.The milestone voyage was led by maritime service provider KOTUG International, ship design company Rotortug and tech start-up Captain AI, as part of the Netherlands Forum for Smart Shipping.The demonstration follows the summer 2018 trial of a Rotortug sailing under remote control from Marseille, France to the port of Rotterdam, which according to KOTUG marked the first step on the road toward full vessel autonomy.

A new service operations vessel (SOV) was launched at the Cemre Shipyard in Turkey for French vessel owners Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA).Upon delivery in 2021, the 84-meter SOV Wind of Hope will go to work for Danish wind energy giant Ørsted servicing its Hornsea Two offshore wind farm, with accommodations for up to 64 technicians who will service and maintain the wind turbines and an additional vessel crew. The ship is expected to arrive at Ørsted’s east coast operations and maintenance facility at the U.K. port of Grimsby next year.

South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) recently held a sail-off ceremony in Ulsan for the delivery of the 27,000 gross tonnage car ferry Queen Jenuvia to Sea World Express Ferry, the largest domestic car ferry operator.The ferry with maximum speed of 21.8 knots and capable of accommodating 1,284 passengers, 478 cars and 88 trucks (25 ton) is scheduled to provide the service between Mokpo and Jeju island from end of this month.The vessel, measuring 170m in length, 26m in width and 14.5m in height, is equipped 116 luxury European cruise-style cabins with various facilities such as large atrium, cinema, fountains, open terraces and pet rooms.

The Korean Register (KR) said it established a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and bunkering simulation center (KR LSC) at its headquarters in BusanThe use of LNG as a ship fuel and demand for bunkering is expected to increase as a result of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) regulations to reduce SOx, which came into effect at the beginning of this year, and with the strengthening of GHG emission regulations in the future.The KR LSC will provide comprehensive technical services relating to LNG operations