DNV News

The Nordic countries are taking an important step towards decarbonising maritime transport with the launch of Phase 2 of the “Nordic Roadmap for the introduction of sustainable zero-carbon fuels in shipping: Implementation and realisation 2025–2027.” Managed by DNV and supported by partners Everllence, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Icelandic New Energy, Sintef Ocean, and VTT, the programme aims to accelerate the transition to emission-free shipping across the r...

DNV has granted a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) to CSSC Shanghai Marine Energy Saving Technology Co., Ltd. (CMES-Tech) for its new 5m × 35m Tilting Type Wind Assisted Rotor System. This is the first domestically developed rotor sail system in China to achieve this recognition under DNV’s WAPS rules (ST-0511). With this certification, the system is confirmed ready for installation on DNV-classed commercial vessels and marks a major milestone for China’s green-shipping...

DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to the joint consortium of MSC, Zhoushan Changhong International, and CIMC ORIC for a new 21,700 TEU ammonia-dual-fueled ultra-large container ship design. The AiP is another milestone in the development of next-generation, zero-carbon mainline container shipping. The proposed 21,700 TEU container ship integrates the latest-generation of ammonia dual-fuel main engines alongside oversized C-type ammonia tanks. The hull design, with a new vertical bo...

As the industry explores multiple decarbonisation pathways, methanol is gaining attention as a practical and scalable alternative fuel for deep-sea shipping. This is supported by over 450 methanol-capable vessels in operation and on order and technical solutions now available for all major ship types. Low-GHG methanol production DNV’s latest white paper, “Methanol fuel in shipping,” highlights that methanol-fuelled engines and technical systems have reached high readiness le...

DNV has awarded Jiangnan Shipyard an Approval in Principle (AiP) for its Jiangnan Intelligent System JNIS (DATA) under the D-INF(S) class notation. Jiangnan received the recognition for their standardised onboard data platform which is aligned with ISO 19847 and ISO 19848. The accelerating digital transformation of the maritime industry depends on trusted, high-quality data collected systematically from sensors, control systems, and other onboard sources. But as vessels generate increasingly la...

U-Boat Worx, the world leader in private manned submersibles, has dispatched its revolutionary Super Sub to Curaçao, where it will undergo final sea trials and validation dives ahead of delivery to its owner. The Super Sub represents a new era of underwater performance. With a top speed of 9 knots, it is the fastest submarine ever built for private use, offering an unparalleled blend of power, agility, and panoramic visibility. The Curaçao testing program will validate the sub&rsq...

Singapore is named the world’s top container port in the first edition of the Leading Container Ports of the World (LCP) report, an independent global benchmark published by DNV and Menon Economics. Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan follow in second and third place, with Rotterdam and Busan completing the global top five. Maritime transport carries close to 90 percent of global trade by volume, and container ports alone handle more than 80 percent of non-bulk merchandise. Currenlty, these port...

The maritime industry is experiencing a period of significant transformation, driven by rapidly evolving regulations, increasing commercial pressure, and a global shift towards reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In response, DNV and the World Maritime Merchants Forum (WMMF) ESG team have published a new guide to help shipowners navigate these evolving challenges, an effort supported by industry organisations in Hong Kong and worldwide. The "Net-Zero Guide: Practical Approaches for Global...

The Maritime Standard recently held its most successful Tanker Conference yet, as over 400 delegates registered to attend in person at the Atlantis, the Palm, Dubai on Thursday October 25th. The tenth conference in this series, which had the theme “Tanker Shipping Negotiates Challenging Market Headwinds’ was dominated by market uncertainties, caused primarily by geopolitical factors. Impact on tanker shipping Conference editor, Clive Woodbridge, said: “During the morning ses...

Classification society - DNV announced it has launched a new Cruise Centre based in DNV’s London offices. The new London Cruise Centre will strengthen DNV’s support for cruise owners, operators, ports and yards throughout Europe and beyond – providing local, time-zone aligned support, alongside DNV’s global technical capabilities and competencies for the entire cruise value chain. Rapid adoption of alternative fuels Cruise line operators are growing their footprint in...

Sperry Marine, a pioneer in navigation solutions for seagoing vessels, has completed the first of five VisionMaster integrated bridge system installations on board a new generation of ships under delivery to one of the most advanced owner-operators in project cargo shipping. Elise is the first of SAL Heavy Lift’s new 14,600 dwt ‘Orca Class’ vessels to combine market-pioneering performance on sustainability with the ability to handle ultra-large loads including some of the worl...

Classification society - DNV has awarded HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) an Approval in Principle (AiP) for a new 15,000 TEU container vessel design powered by Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology at the KORMARINE trade fair this week. The presentation was attended by Sungkon Han, Executive Vice President of the Green Energy Research Lab at HD KSOE, Geir Dugstad, Technical Director at DNV, and Ole Christen Reistad, Senior Principal Researcher and nuclear research le...

According to a new paper by DNV, shifting environmental requirements are reigniting interest in nuclear propulsion as a long-term solution for maritime decarbonisation. This renewed attention comes despite the absence of any civilian commercial nuclear-powered vessel commissions in more than four decades. DNV’s latest report, “Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels,” highlights how maritime nuclear...

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is launching the industry’s first public tender portal for e-methanol procurement within the European Union and the United Kingdom via the DNV.com website. The initiative connects a pioneering e-methanol producer with industrial offtakers across EU and UK markets, creating a new pathway to secure long-term, reliable supplies of this key low-carbon fuel. Key European regulatory frameworks As the global energy transition...

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) released a comprehensive report providing guidelines for the safe inspection of methanol dual-fuel ships. The project was led by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) with the participation of various MTF members. IMO emission regulations As the maritime industry accelerates its shift to alternative fuels under increasingly stringent IMO laws As the maritime industry accelerates its transition to alternative fuels under increasingly stringen...

At Gastech 2025, DNV awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for the design of next-generation LNG carriers (LNGC) and Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC) with forward accommodation and Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).  The innovative designs, featuring 174K LNGCs and 100K VLECs (Ethane/LPG carriers), are the first from HD HHI to combine a forward accommodation layout with the integration of tiltable rotor sails. The LNGC design will be equipp...

DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HD HMD) for an ammonia dual-fuel medium gas carrier (MGC) design featuring a forward accommodation layout. The AiP was presented to Mr. D.J. Lee, Executive Vice President/Head of Initial Design Division & Detailed Design Division at HD HMD, by Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager for Korea & Japan at DNV, during a ceremony at Gastech 2025. Integrating future technology solutions The vessel concept relocates the cre...

DNV and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and verification of an optimised 200,000 cubic metre LNG carrier. The new design aims to deliver improved operational efficiency and enhanced terminal compatibility compared to previous vessel designs. Design verification of HD HHI Under the agreement, DNV will carry out design verification of HD HHI’s streamlined LNG carrier The MOU was signed by Vidar Dolonen...

New insights from DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 show that shipping’s energy transition is entering a new phase: One defined by strategic investment, accelerating fleet readiness, and emerging regulatory developments. With the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework (NZF) approved but pending adoption in October, and the number of alternative-fuel-capable vessels in operation set to almost double by 2028, shipowners are shifting from preparation to action. Consumption of low-GHG fuels By...

Moving from concept to early-stage implementation in just five years, ammonia has a path to becoming a low-GHG fuel alternative for deep-sea shipping, according to a new paper from DNV. DNV’s new report, Ammonia in Shipping: Tracing the Emergence of a New Fuel, addresses the key barriers to the uptake of ammonia and outlines a two-phase pathway for its widespread adoption in shipping. The first phase would see the building, fuelling, and operation of a pioneering ammonia-powered fleet c...

DNV has released a revision of its Maritime Simulator Systems Standard (DNV-ST-0033), reflecting the growing diversity of simulation technologies used in maritime training and certification. As vessel systems become more complex and alternative fuels gain traction, simulation is playing an increasingly central role in preparing seafarers and maritime professionals for operational realities. The revised standard responds to these developments by refining class definitions and expanding simulati...

This August marks the official launch of CFARER, a new brand formed from what was previously known as DNV Maritime Software. The move represents a significant shift in the ownership and operational structure of DNV’s fleet management software business. The new name CFARER is a clear commitment to the people who keep ships moving, offshore and onshore: the seafarers.  CFARER now operates independently, with DNV retaining majority ownership and shipping company Wilhelmsen Port Servi...

The third edition of The Maritime Standard Transportation and Climate Change Conference (TACCC) will bring together industry pioneers for an in-depth exploration of emerging technologies and innovations driving sustainable maritime mobility. Session 2, titled "Innovations & Technology for Decarbonized Mobility", will feature a diverse lineup of experts from across the global shipping, ports, and maritime technology sectors. The conference will take place on Thursday, 25th September 2025,...

DNV has awarded a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) certificate to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., (MOL), MISC Berhad (MISC), PETRONAS CCS Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (PCCSV), and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), for their jointly developed 62,000 cubic metres (cbm) liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier design. This milestone builds upon an Approval in Principle (AiP) awarded by DNV in 2023 and highlights the growing role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Asia&rsqu...

AdvanTec Marine is pleased to announce a major milestone: both its Canadian manufacturing facility in British Columbia and its Oregon, USA facility are now certified to produce fire-rated marine doors. With the Canadian site receiving MED Wheel Mark certification — making it the only such facility in Canada — AdvanTec now proudly holds fire-rated door certifications on both sides of the border.  Commitment to safety and innovation New chapter as AdvanTec strengthens its posit...

The ordering of alternative-fuelled vessels is continuing to grow in 2025, despite a slowdown in the overall newbuild market. According to data from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, new orders for alternative-fuelled vessels reached 19.8 million gross tonnes (GT) in the first six months of 2025, exceeding the 2024 figure by 78%. This marks a significant shift in capital allocation, as shipowners increasingly prioritise future-ready assets in response to regulatory pressure...

In a major step towards more efficient offshore operations, Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SHI) and ABB have signed an agreement to equip a fleet of shuttle tankers with ABB’s Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform. Engineered to optimise fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and enable a flexible integration of energy sources, the technology will be the heart of the integrated power system specified for nine newbuild vessels. Fleet of new vessels The fleet of new vessels will be...

As part of the Ammonia Energy APAC Conference 2025, Classification society DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to SeaTech Solutions International (SeaTech) in collaboration with Oceania Marine Energy (Oceania) for the design of a new 10,000cbm ammonia bunkering vessel. This AiP builds on a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DNV, SeaTech, and Oceania, initiated at Singapore Maritime Week and signed in April this year. Port of Dampier The Port of Dampier is emerging as...

Proteus Energy, headquartered in Singapore, has developed the Proteus® Maritime Fuel Cell Solution, a modular hydrogen fuel-based system for ports and vessels. The first offering is the Proteus®75. Each fuel cell stack is 75 kW output, and these can be combined for larger power requirements. Offshore support Symbio is jointly owned by global industrial groups Michelin, Stellantis, and Forvia The vessel types being targeted are harbour craft, and vessels in the coastal, offshore...

bound4blue has taken a major step forward in simplifying the adoption of wind power worldwide, with DNV validation of its ‘wind propulsion system force matrix’ calculation method. This validation provides ship owners, designers, and yards with a trusted, regulation-ready tool to evaluate the performance of bound4blue’s eSAIL®. The validation gives the industry a reliable tool to easily calculate the benefits of bound4blue’s eSAIL® suction sail technology, without...