Environment – Professional Mariner

25 Apr

Arc, Diversified building truckable electric tug for LA

Professional Mariner StaffTugboats & TowingEnvironment, Ports

(LOS ANGELES) — Arc Boat Co. is bringing the first truckable electric tugboat to the Port of Los Angeles. The company is retrofitting the 26-foot tug in a new partnership with Portland, Ore., shipyard Diversified Marine. The vessel is built for high-performance, zero-emission operations – ushering in a new era of electric workboats at the Western Hemisphere’s busiest port and…

24 Apr

New Atlantic ECA links Europe and North America

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — At the 83rd session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), the panel approved a proposal to designate the northeast Atlantic Ocean as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter (PM), amending MARPOL Annex VI Regulations 13 and 14 accordingly. The northeast Atlantic Ocean ECA encompasses…

14 Apr

IMO approves net-zero regulations for global shipping

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsemissions, Environment, IMO, shipping

(LONDON) — The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has achieved another important step toward establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around 2050. The IMO Net-Zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector.  Approved by the…

08 Apr

Nichols to build pair of electric ferries for San Francisco

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, ferries, propulsion, shipbuilding

(FREELAND, Wash.) — Nichols Brothers Boat Builders (NBBB) has been awarded a contract from San Francisco Bay Ferry to design and construct two 400-passenger battery-electric ferries as part of the agency’s Rapid Electric Emission Free (REEF) ferry program. This groundbreaking project will significantly reduce emissions and advance sustainable transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lacey Greene, vice president of…

31 Mar

Panama Canal offers transit slot for low-emission ships

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, shipping, technology

(PANAMA CITY, Panama) — Contributing to the commitment of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the Panama Canal Authority has launched the NetZero Slot, a transit slot reserved only for vessels with low-carbon emissions, as a strategy to incentivize customers on their path to decarbonization. Beginning Oct. 5, the Panama Canal will implement the first phase of a weekly NetZero…

05 Mar

Long Beach going greener on cargo equipment, harbor craft

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Ports

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The Port of Long Beach, a worldwide leader in sustainable supply chain operations, is launching two new incentive programs totaling $57.4 million to accelerate emissions reductions by supporting the purchase of zero-emissions cargo-handling equipment and cleaner harbor craft. The funding is part of the System-Wide Investment in Freight Transport (SWIFT), a pioneering initiative funded by the…

13 Feb

Legal at sea: Charting the new maritime regulatory landscape

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Licensing and training, Regulation, shipping

(ARENDAL, Norway) — Reflecting the ongoing emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable maritime operations, this year sees the implementation of crucial regulations across various domains, from emissions control and fuel efficiency to ship recycling and safety standards. These changes underscore the industry's continuous evolution towards a more environmentally responsible and sustainable future. Below, maritime insurer Gard looks at several of…

28 Jan

All American to build unique hybrid for California operator

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Hybrids, propulsion, shipbuilding

(BELLINGHAM, Wash.) — All American Marine (AAM) has received an order from Harbor Breeze Cruises to design and construct a 108-by-32.5-foot hybrid passenger vessel for deployment in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif. This innovative vessel will be used for harbor tours, whale watch cruises and dinner events. Developed by Nic de Waal of Teknicraft Design, it…

21 Jan

LA gets $31 million grant to test zero-emission vessels

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, Ports

(LOS ANGELES) — In partnership with Catalina Express and Harbor Breeze Cruises, the Port of Los Angeles will soon begin emission-reduction technology demonstration projects for specialized harbor craft, thanks to a $31 million grant awarded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The project will involve testing and evaluation of two different harbor craft emission-reduction technologies, and a comprehensive evaluation…

06 Jan

Clarksons reports record investment in alternative fuel vessels

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsEnvironment, propulsion, shipping

(LONDON) — Clarksons Research reported on Friday that alternative fuel vessels represented 50 percent of all tonnage ordered globally in 2024, which it called "a record level of investment." The data for the year is included in Clarksons' latest Green Technology Tracker, charting the progress of alternative fuel uptake and investments in energy-saving technologies across the global shipping fleet. There…