RATHBOYNE

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and five other HD Hyundai affiliates are embarking on the development of a robot and data-based integrated hull management solution that automates the entire process—from hull diagnosis to cleaning and performance verification—for the first time in the shipbuilding industry.HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint development and commercialization of the "Total Hull Care Solution" with affiliates HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics, HD Hyundai Marine Solution, and Avicus, as well as with KCC, a specialist in marine paints, and TAS Global, a specialist in underwater robots.

ABS, Polaris Shipping, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and autonomous navigation solutions provider AVIKUS have signed a four-party Concept Study Agreement for the implementation of a Conditional Unmanned Bridge.Under the agreement, the parties will jointly develop an autonomous navigation concept enabling unmanned bridge operation during deep-sea voyages, when defined conditions are met, on one of Polaris Shipping's 325K Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs).The concept is not a fully unmanned operation across the entire voyage. Rather, it is a phased autonomous navigation concept under which the bridge is left unmanned only under specific low-risk conditions, such as open-ocean passage.

British commandos boarded and intercepted a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel on Sunday, leading for the first time an operation to disrupt the oil revenue that helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine.The vessel Smyrtos, sailing under a Cameroonian flag, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency (NCA) officials in the early hours on Sunday, with support from Chinook helicopters and other aircraft, a frigate and a minehunter."This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on X.

CORE POWER has launched a feasibility study to evaluate the use of BWX Technologies' mPower small modular reactor (SMR) technology in floating nuclear power plants designed to be built in shipyards and deployed near energy demand centers.The study will assess technical, regulatory and commercial pathways for integrating BWXT's mPower reactor design into floating nuclear facilities, the company said on Tuesday.The mPower reactor was originally developed as a Generation III+ integral pressurized water small modular reactor with a generating capacity of 195 megawatts of electricity and 575 megawatts thermal per unit.

ALMACO Group Inc., a leader in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC solutions) for the marine and offshore industries, has officially announced its expansion into League City, Texas. Operational from June, 2026, the new location, operating under the name ALMACO Gulf Coast, will serve as a key regional hub to support accelerating shipbuilding efforts along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The new League City hub aims to firmly position the company as an integrated local partner.The new office is strategically located in a high-growth maritime environment at 2600 South Shore Boulevard, Suite 300, League City, TX 77573.