MAN Energy Solutions, one of the world’s largest maritime suppliers, has integrated with the electronic procurement platform MESPAS Connect, resulting in faster, easier and more efficient purchasing.

The technology group Wärtsilä’s hybrid power module solution, the Wärtsilä HY, is now fully operational on the ‘Vilja’, an escort tug owned by the Swedish port of Luleå. The tug was built at Gondan Shipbuilders in Asturias, Spain and was delivered in the end of June 2019 following successful completion of the commissioning and sea trials. The Wärtsilä HY is the first hybrid power module in the marine industry, and its operational application onboard the ‘Vilja’ marks a new era in shipping.

Helsinki Shipyard Oy and Russia’s largest river cruise company Vodohod Ltd have today signed a contract for two Luxury Cruise Expedition Vessels. The vessels are intented to operate in high latitude areas both in the Arctic and Antarctic waters as well as in the tropical waters during the Spring and Autumn seasons.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, and Kongsberg Maritime have entered into an agreement where MacGregor will deliver an automated mooring system for the world’s first autonomous container ship, Yara Birkeland.

The construction of Viking Glory is proceeding on schedule. The keel laying ceremony will take place today, 3 June, at the Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry shipyard in China. The new climate-smart ship will begin operating along the Turku-Åland-Stockholm route under the year 2021. Passengers can make bookings for the ship as of December 2019.

Tapani Voionmaa, Group General Counsel at Finnlines Plc, has been elected to the BIMCO Board of Directors. The election was made at BIMCO’s General Meeting in Athens on Tuesday 14 May 2019.

During the past year, the technology group Wärtsilä has received orders to supply more than sixty of its transverse thrusters for twelve new cruise ships being built in four shipyards on behalf of six different owners. This represents the dominant share of newbuild vessels within the cruise sector during this period. The efficiency and performance of Wärtsilä’s transverse thrusters is particularly important for large cruise ships, since manoeuvring and mooring in often crowded harbours is mission critical.