Articles tagged with "shipbuilding"
The US Offshore Wind Industry Gets An Assist From Singapore
The US offshore wind industry has faced challenges due to the Jones Act, a century-old law requiring commercial vessels operating between US ports to be US-built, owned, and crewed. This law has complicated the deployment of specialized service operational vessels (SOVs) needed for installing large offshore wind turbines, as the US shipbuilding industry has lagged in producing Jones-compliant vessels. To work around this, developers have used a shuttle model where a main construction vessel remains offshore while Jones-compliant feeder vessels transport supplies and personnel. A significant development in overcoming these challenges is the commissioning of a specialized wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) built in Singapore by Seatrium for Maersk Offshore Wind. This vessel, designed with advanced features to improve operational efficiency and extend weather windows, is set to install 54 turbines at the Empire Wind project off New York. Despite political interruptions, including halts ordered by former President Trump and legal battles, the vessel passed final tests in Singapore and is expected to arrive
energyoffshore-windwind-turbinesrenewable-energyshipbuildingJones-ActMaersk-Offshore-WindUnmanned shipbuilding operations to get boost, AI to automate tasks
HII, a Virginia-based military shipbuilder, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Path Robotics to integrate Path’s physical AI models into shipbuilding operations, specifically targeting welding automation. This partnership aims to augment the welding workforce, automate structural production, and accelerate shipbuilding throughput, supporting the U.S. Navy’s growing demand. HII reported a 14% increase in shipbuilding throughput in 2025 and anticipates a further 15% increase in 2026, with AI-driven autonomous welding technology expected to enhance efficiency without compromising quality. The collaboration focuses on developing autonomous shipbuilding capabilities, workforce training for automation, and establishing intellectual property frameworks for AI-based welding systems. Path Robotics’ physical AI technology transforms traditional industrial robot arms into real-time perception and decision-making systems capable of adapting to the complex and variable shipbuilding environment. This innovation is seen as a critical step to modernize defense manufacturing, strengthen the naval industrial base, and support national security objectives by expanding distributed shipbuilding capacity and accelerating delivery
robotAIautomationshipbuildingwelding-technologyunmanned-vehiclesmanufacturing-innovationEngineers build quietest ship propellers to save marine life
German researchers at HAW Kiel have launched the MinKav project, funded by a €390,000 grant from Schleswig-Holstein, to develop quieter ship propellers aimed at reducing underwater noise pollution that disrupts marine life. The project, which began in January 2026 and will run until the end of 2028, focuses on mitigating noise caused by cavitation—a process where vapor bubbles form and violently collapse on propeller blades, generating loud sounds that interfere with marine mammals’ communication, feeding, and mating behaviors. Using advanced tools such as cavitation tunnels, high-speed cameras, and underwater microphones, the team seeks to understand and slow down bubble collapse to reduce noise without compromising ship efficiency or speed. Led by Prof. Jörn Kröger and doctoral researcher Leonie Föhring, the project addresses a critical gap in maritime engineering, where noise reduction has not been a priority despite environmental concerns. Unlike current solutions that often require ships to slow down—resulting in longer travel times and higher costs
energymarine-technologyshipbuildingnoise-reductionenvironmental-protectioncavitationfluid-dynamicsChina outpaces US in nuclear submarine launches over past five years
A recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) reveals that China has surpassed the United States in launching nuclear-powered submarines over the past five years (2021–2025). China launched 10 nuclear submarines totaling about 79,000 metric tons, compared to the US’s seven submarines totaling 55,500 metric tons during the same period. This marks a significant shift from 2016–2020, when the US led in both numbers and displacement. Despite this surge, the US still maintains a substantial advantage in active submarines, operating 65 nuclear-powered boats versus China’s 12, alongside 46 conventional submarines. China’s expansion of the Huludao shipyard has been key to this growth, enabling production of ballistic missile submarines that enhance its nuclear triad, as well as guided missile submarines equipped with advanced vertical launch systems. The report also highlights challenges facing US submarine production, including delays in Virginia-class attack submarines and the Columbia
energynuclear-powersubmarinesnaval-technologymilitary-technologyshipbuildingpropulsion-systemsWorld's largest car carrier launched in China, holds 10,800 cars
China has launched the world’s largest car carrier, capable of transporting up to 10,800 vehicles in a single voyage. Developed by Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd. (GSI), a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the LNG dual-fuel vessel marks a significant advancement in maritime logistics amid rising global demand for car shipping. Built for South Korea’s HMM, a major shipping operator, the ship features a 14-deck design that allows flexible loading of conventional cars, electric vehicles (EVs), hydrogen-powered vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks. Measuring approximately 755 feet long and 131 feet wide, it surpasses previous Chinese-built carriers and complies with stringent International Maritime Organization Tier III emission standards, reflecting the industry’s shift toward greener propulsion. The launch underscores China’s growing influence in both shipbuilding and automotive exports, with the country exporting over seven million vehicles in 2025 and increasing EV shipments. HMM’s move back into car shipping, in partnership with Hyundai Gl
energymaritimeLNGemissionsshipbuildingelectric-vehiclesclean-propulsionChina may build tugs for UK’s nuclear base, Scottish lawmaker warns
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Dutch defence manufacturer Damen, via service provider Serco, to supply 24 support vessels—including tug boats—to His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde, the Royal Navy’s main base in Scotland. While the contract was competitively awarded to Serco, the company has the freedom to subcontract vessel construction without UK tendering or ministry approval. Damen’s distributed shipbuilding model often involves building smaller vessels like tugs in Asian shipyards, including those in China or Vietnam, with final fitting and integration completed in Europe. This raises security concerns given the sensitive nature of the vessels’ role in moving nuclear-powered submarines within confined waters, despite tug boats not handling nuclear material directly. Scottish lawmaker Paul Sweeney criticized the arrangement as a national security risk and a blow to UK industrial sovereignty, highlighting that UK shipyards such as Ferguson Marine could have built these vessels but were excluded due to the subcontracting process. Critics argue that cost savings should
energynuclear-powernaval-baseshipbuildingdefense-technologysecurity-concernsinfrastructureCanadian Maritime Leaders Call for National Fleet and Clean Electrification Strategy Amid Global Trade Uncertainty - CleanTechnica
Canadian maritime leaders from British Columbia are calling on federal and provincial governments to establish a Canadian-owned commercial trading fleet alongside a clean, electrified shipbuilding strategy. They emphasize the strategic importance of controlling national trade and energy systems to safeguard economic independence amid global trade uncertainties. Drawing on economist Ray Dalio’s insights, they warn that reliance on foreign fleets and imported energy undermines Canada’s sovereignty and exposes it to geopolitical risks. The proposed initiative aims to enhance supply chain security, promote domestic shipbuilding, and accelerate investment in green marine technology and clean energy infrastructure. Coastal Gateway Port Ltd. executives highlight British Columbia’s strategic advantage due to its ports, shipyards, and Pacific access, positioning it as a hub for a Canadian-controlled, clean-powered maritime network. They are exploring advanced electrification and modular shipbuilding technologies combined with CANDU-derived clean energy systems to develop port microgrids and vessel charging infrastructure. Their Union Bay development on Vancouver Island exemplifies this vision, featuring shore power at every berth and
energyclean-energyelectrificationmaritime-technologygreen-marine-technologyshipbuildingenergy-sovereignty10,200-ton submarine for US: Hanwha proposes to build nuclear vessels
South Korean defense conglomerate Hanwha Group has proposed building nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines for the U.S. Navy at its Philadelphia shipyard, which it acquired and has been modernizing since 2023. This proposal comes amid growing pressure on the U.S. Navy to expand its submarine fleet and address production delays at existing shipyards. Hanwha emphasizes that its facility could help alleviate the current bottleneck by adding critical shipbuilding capacity, supporting the U.S. government's strong commitment to nuclear submarine capabilities for itself and its allies. Nuclear-powered submarines like the Virginia class are among the most complex military platforms to construct, requiring stringent safety, security, and regulatory compliance along with specialized infrastructure and skilled labor. Hanwha’s plan would expand the U.S. naval industrial base rather than replace existing builders, marking a significant development in defense-industrial cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea. The Virginia-class submarines, with a submerged displacement of about 10,200 tons,
energynuclear-powersubmarine-technologyshipbuildingdefense-industrymilitary-technologyHanwha-GroupUS Navy wants warships that move faster, hit harder, and stay small
The US Navy is advancing plans to develop a new class of smaller, more agile combat ships known as the FF(X) frigates, intended to address critical shortfalls in surface combatant capacity. Announced by Navy Secretary John Phelan, the first FF(X) hull is slated for launch in 2028. These frigates will be based on the proven US Coast Guard Legend-class National Security Cutter design, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries, aiming to reduce cost and schedule risks that have historically plagued Navy shipbuilding programs. The FF(X) ships are envisioned as flexible, multi-mission platforms capable of surface warfare, modular payload transport, and operating unmanned systems, complementing larger vessels like guided-missile destroyers. Navy leaders emphasize that the FF(X) program seeks to break the cycle of delays and cost overruns by leveraging an existing, mature design already operational within the fleet. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle highlighted the urgent need for more capable small
robotunmanned-systemsnaval-technologydefense-technologyshipbuildingmilitary-roboticsautonomous-vesselsPalantir's tool cuts US submarine planning from 160 hours to 10 mins
The U.S. Navy is investing $448 million to develop the Shipbuilding Operating System (Ship OS), a new digital platform designed to modernize American shipyards by integrating artificial intelligence and automation into maritime production. Announced by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and supported by Palantir Technologies, which provides the software foundation, Ship OS aims to unify data from various enterprise and production systems to improve scheduling, identify bottlenecks, and provide early warnings on risks. Early pilot projects have demonstrated dramatic efficiency gains, such as reducing submarine schedule planning at General Dynamics Electric Boat from 160 manual hours to under 10 minutes, and cutting material review times at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from weeks to less than an hour. Initially focused on the submarine industrial base to address delays and material shortages in Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine production, Ship OS is planned to expand systematically to other shipbuilding programs, including next-generation destroyers and amphibious ships. The Navy views the initiative as a long-term industrial reform
energymaterialsartificial-intelligenceautomationshipbuildingdefense-technologymanufacturing-optimization6,000-ton warship to counter Chinese aggression: Taiwan to get frigates
Taiwan has resumed its next-generation frigate program, known as the “Zhenhai Project,” to strengthen its navy amid increasing military pressure from China. The Ministry of National Defense approved restarting contract design work for powerful 6,000-ton-class frigates equipped with advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems, comparable to the US Aegis combat system. These frigates will feature enhanced command and control capabilities for surveillance, reconnaissance, and long-range missions, addressing the need to counter frequent Chinese military exercises and incursions near Taiwanese borders. The project had been stalled due to technical challenges in developing compact AESA radar suitable for the initially planned 4,500-ton vessels. Taiwan now plans to outsource the design contract to a domestic firm experienced in ship design, aiming to build prototypes with increased displacement over 6,000 tons. The frigates are expected to carry vertical launch systems capable of deploying land-attack cruise missiles, enhancing Taiwan’s maritime defense and force deployment flexibility. This development comes
military-technologynaval-defenseAESA-radarfrigate-developmentsurveillance-systemsshipbuildingdefense-electronicsBlue Water Autonomy nets $50M to build autonomous ships
Blue Water Autonomy, a Boston-based company specializing in unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy, has raised $50 million in Series A funding, bringing its total capital raised to $64 million following a $14 million seed round in April 2025. The company plans to build and deploy its first long-range, full-sized autonomous ship next year. Since its seed round, Blue Water Autonomy has significantly expanded its team, conducted on-water engineering tests, and begun sourcing materials from over 50 suppliers. CEO Rylan Hamilton emphasized the urgent need for autonomous ships tailored for maritime security and logistics, highlighting the company’s focused strategy on perfecting a single platform to ensure quality, reliability, and rapid market entry. The funding round was led by GV, with participation from existing investors Eclipse, Riot, and Impatient Ventures, and GV Managing Partner Dave Munichiello joining Blue Water’s Board of Directors. Blue Water Autonomy aims to address the growing challenge posed by China’s dominant shipbuilding capacity
robotautonomous-shipsmaritime-securityunmanned-surface-vesselsAI-integrationnaval-technologyshipbuildingBill Gates backs nuclear-powered ships in new push with HD Hyundai
HD Hyundai, South Korea’s leading shipbuilder, is strengthening its partnership with Bill Gates’ nuclear energy startup TerraPower to advance small modular reactor (SMR) technology, particularly for marine applications. Executive Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun met with Gates in Seoul to discuss collaboration on TerraPower’s Natrium reactor, a fourth-generation sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) design known for high thermal efficiency, enhanced safety, and up to 40% reduced nuclear waste compared to conventional reactors. This meeting followed a March agreement to build a manufacturing and supply network for Natrium reactors, including a planned 345-megawatt reactor in Wyoming for which HD Hyundai will supply the reactor vessel. HD Hyundai had previously invested $30 million in TerraPower, underscoring its commitment to this technology. HD Hyundai views SMRs as a crucial component of the future global energy mix and aims to develop marine nuclear propulsion systems, including SMRs and hydrogen fuel cells, with a planned investment of about $215 million
energynuclear-energysmall-modular-reactorsSMRTerraPowerHD-HyundaishipbuildingRussia to redeploy 28,000-ton nuclear battlecruiser after 3 decades
Russia’s nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov, a 28,000-ton Kirov-class warship originally laid down in 1983 and launched in 1986, has returned to sea trials after nearly three decades. The ship, renamed in 1992 after Admiral Pavel Nakhimov, has been undergoing an extensive modernization since 2014 at the Sevmash shipyard. This overhaul, described as the most comprehensive refit of any Russian surface combatant in decades, aims to transform the vessel into the future flagship of the Russian Navy. The ship’s two nuclear reactors were restarted earlier in 2025, and it recently began factory sea trials in the White Sea, marking a significant milestone after multiple delays that pushed the project’s completion from an initial 2018 estimate to now expected around 2024-2025. Key upgrades include the installation of 174 vertical launch cells, surpassing the missile capacity of comparable surface combatants like China’s Type
energynuclear-powernaval-technologymissile-systemsmilitary-modernizationshipbuildingdefense-technologyUS certifies Hyundai's breakthrough ship propulsion system
Hyundai has achieved a historic milestone by securing the first-ever New Technology Qualification (NTQ) certificate from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its advanced electric propulsion system, developed by its affiliates HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI). This breakthrough propulsion system, known as the Breakerless-MVDC Power System, utilizes medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) to optimize power distribution, reduce energy loss, and improve ship operational efficiency. The certification validates the system’s technical feasibility and maturity after a rigorous evaluation, marking a significant advancement in marine electrification technology for both commercial and naval vessels. The collaboration between ABS and HD Hyundai underscores a shared commitment to maritime safety and the transition to clean energy, aiming to support the shipping industry’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. HD KSOE emphasizes that MVDC technology is essential for advancing electrification and automation in large vessels, building on their prior
energymarine-electrificationelectric-propulsionshipbuildingclean-energyzero-carbon-vesselspower-systemsHyundai shipyard trials German humanoid robot for welding tasks
Hyundai’s shipbuilding division is partnering with German robotics firm Neura Robotics to trial advanced humanoid and quadruped robots, specifically the 4NE1 humanoid robot, for welding and assembly tasks in shipyards. This collaboration involves HD Hyundai Robotics and HD Hyundai Samho, who will provide technical expertise and real-world testing environments at their Korean shipyards. The initiative aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and productivity in the shipbuilding industry, which is known for its demanding and hazardous working conditions. Notably, Hyundai is leveraging external innovation despite owning Boston Dynamics, signaling a strategic move to integrate cutting-edge cognitive robotics into heavy industry operations. The 4NE1 robot is designed with cognitive capabilities and adaptive learning to handle complex tasks autonomously, addressing challenges such as skilled labor shortages and the physical demands of shipyard work. HD Hyundai Robotics will contribute welding automation expertise, including path-learning data and performance validation, to ensure the robots meet rigorous industrial standards. This partnership was officially announced at the Autom
robothumanoid-robotwelding-automationshipbuildingindustrial-roboticsHD-Hyundai-RoboticsNeura-RoboticsPersona AI raises $27M to develop humanoid robots for shipyards
robothumanoid-robotsindustrial-automationshipbuildingrobotics-as-a-serviceworkplace-safetylabor-shortages