Published Nov 3, 2025 7:21 PM by The Maritime Executive
[By: Damen Shipyards Group]
Damen Shiprepair Brest has just marked the conclusion of its 50th cruise ship project since becoming part of the Damen Shipyards Group in 2012. Over the past years, the yard has been using its facilities, knowledge and extensive experience of the cruise sector to advance efficiency and sustainable performance.
Enhancing efficiency and extending life
Damen Shipyards is taking a clear leadership role in driving the global transformation toward sustainable maritime solutions. With the ambition to become the world’s most sustainable and connected maritime solutions provider, Damen is implementing innovative approaches across its worldwide operations.
This commitment is especially evident in the ship repair and refit sector, where Damen Shiprepair Brest is fulfilling its role, supporting and servicing its clients with advanced, environmentally responsible solutions. The Brest yard, home to one of Europe’s largest docks and strategically located near the English Channel, is at the forefront of sustainable change delivering green refits for cruise ships. Through its work, the yard enables customers to benefit from enhanced efficiency, reduced emissions, and extended vessel lifespans, actively shaping the future of sustainable shipping.
Adding efficiency to operations
Recently, Damen Shiprepair Brest has completed such a refit on the 340-metre Disney Fantasy – its fiftieth cruise project in the last ten years. The project follows one with a similar scope undertaken by the yard to sister vessel Disney Dream last year.
In its execution of projects such as these, the yard has developed a strong track record in preparing cruise vessels for more sustainable operations. Work has included installation of increasingly efficient propulsion and manoeuvring systems, application of biocide-free silicon paint systems, and even the in- house fabrication of bulbous bows of 160 tons to reduce resistance in the water, thereby lowering fuel consumption and emissions.
Well placed to serve the sector
The yard is well placed to serve the cruise sector, both geographically and in terms of its high standard facilities. One of its primary assets is its drydock number 3 at 420 x 80 metres. In addition, it has in place a team of over 180 personnel well-versed in undertaking complex, large-scale and logistically challenging projects.
Damen Shiprepair Brest also enjoys long-standing relationships with numerous suppliers and co-workers. This includes MEYER Group member Meyer RE, with which Damen Shiprepair has developed a long-standing cooperation for the express purpose of increasing cruise ship efficiency. The yard’s success in serving the cruise industry is perhaps best demonstrated by the long-term relationships it enjoys with its clients.
Strength in collaboration
Damen Shiprepair Brest Commercial Director Ronan Scolan said, “Our ability to deliver these ambitious vessel transformations comes from the skill of our personnel, our on-site facilities and the strength of our collaborations. Loyal customers such as Disney Cruise Line – and many others – have trusted us with 50 cruise vessel projects over the past decade. Our collaboration with Meyer RE, with whom we work hand-in-hand on complex engineering projects, and with our strong network of local subcontractors with whom we’ve built long-lasting partnerships, are also an important part of our success. This collective expertise is what truly drives us forward and enables us to support the maritime industry’s transition towards greater sustainability.”
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
Sperry Marine Sets New Benchmark for Heavy Lift Ship Performance
[By: Sperry Marine]
Sperry Marine, a global leader 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-leading performance on sustainability with the ability to handle ultra-large loads including some of the world’s biggest wind turbines. The first in class ship enters into service after a formal ceremony overseen by SAL in Hamburg on 6 November 2025.
Built to Ice-class 1A requirements and Polar Code standards, these DNV-classed ships are distinguished by their optimised hull shape, twin 800t capacity all-electric cranes, high efficiency hybrid propulsion, shore power connection to achieve zero emissions in port, and full readiness to use methanol as a marine fuel. They are designed to meet the stringent demands of heavy lift shipping while minimizing carbon emissions, and provide the basis for zero-emission operations once green e-methanol is available.
“The Orca Class represents a new era in heavy lift shipping, combining advanced technology with a strong focus on efficiency and sustainability,” said Sebastian Westphal, Managing Director, SAL Heavy Lift. “These vessels are equipped to establish a new benchmark for safety, precision, and innovation in this highly specialised shipping sector.”
SAL and Sperry Marine worked closely through a two-yard build project to ensure that the VisionMaster Integrated Bridge System selected for the Orca Class meets all safety and operating performance requirements, even in the most challenging conditions.
Elise’s advanced Integrated Bridge System (IBS) features VNC (Virtual Network Computing) watch modes, allowing watchkeepers to access critical tools such as the ice radar directly at the conning position. Raw video data from the VisionMaster Net Additional Facilities X-Band navigation radar is seamlessly fed into the Rutter Sigma S6 Ice Navigator, enhancing ice detection capabilities. Through VNC, the ice radar display can be flexibly operated from the conning position, ensuring greater situational awareness and operational efficiency.
The vessel is also equipped with Sperry Marine’s advanced Fiber Optic Gyrocompasses (FOGs), which deliver highly accurate heading data and maintain stability even when external GNSS signals are jammed or spoofed. Leveraging an integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS) model, FOGs provide continuous and reliable performance during GNSS disruptions, while also giving operators early warning of potential signal manipulation.
“This ship is also the first newbuild equipped with Sperry Marine’s new NAVISTAR satellite compass solution, which ensures precise and reliable heading data - even at high latitudes - and the first newly built vessel to feature a complete installation of the cutting-edge 27" VisionMaster Net Panel PCs,” said Pascal Göllnitz, Product Line Manager – Integrated Bridge Systems, Sperry Marine. “The platform’s adaptability to evolving customer requirements was further demonstrated when we responded to SAL’s last-minute request to integrate Orca AI’s camera system into VisionMaster Net, adding a layer of situational awareness.”
The Sperry Marine solution also includes SperrySphere, a powerful onboard voyage planning tool that combines speed, ease of use, and intelligent route optimization, along with advanced 7-inch XDi multifunctional repeater displays. These highly flexible displays were deployed with customised information pages tailored to the customer’s specific operational needs, making them ideal for overhead console applications and beyond. The IBS package furthermore contains Sperry Marine’s new ‘self-adaptive’ NAVIPILOT 4500N autopilot, which dynamically adjusts to vessel characteristics and changing conditions, resulting in measurable fuel savings and reduced bridge workload.
“Elise enters service equipped with Sperry Marine’s latest navigation technologies after a strong collaboration between SAL and Sperry Marine’s engineering, project management and support staff to coordinate an unusual build project that started at Wuhu Shipyard and was completed in Weihai,” added Göllnitz.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
Wallem Group Reaches a Century in Hong Kong
[By: Wallem Group]
Wallem Group, a leading global maritime partner, is celebrating the centenary of moving its headquarters to Hong Kong.
The celebrations will be marked by a special event on 12 November 2025 in the presence of Guest of Honour Hong Kong Finance Secretary, commemorating 100 years since the relocation – 22 years after Norwegian shipbroker and agent Haakon Wallem formed Wallem & Co. in 1903.
By 1925, Haakon had earned the nickname ‘Typhoon Wallem’, reflecting his energy and business acumen and his deployment of both to support Chinese shipowners.
In the 100 years since, shipping has been buffeted by wars, piracy, economic crises, terrorism, environmental and safety emergencies, and adapted to new regulatory agendas, digital revolutions, and a global pandemic.
Hong Kong has remained Wallem’s home throughout, during a century of radically changing trade patterns, containerisation and globalisation. Home, too, to the world’s fourth largest ship register and a top ten global container port, Hong Kong recently benefited from a new favourable maritime tax regime.
“Wallem’s enduring commitment to Hong Kong reflects the critical role it plays as a hub for international shipping and the global centre of gravity for ship management itself,” says John Rowley, CEO, Wallem Group. “It also offers a deep pool of talent to drive success across every aspect of our activities as we look ahead with confidence based on a strategy for sustainable growth that places clients and the business opportunities they seek at its heart.”
Since 2006, Wallem has been owned by Tom Steckmest, great grandson of Haakon Wallem, and Nigel Hill, the current Chairman. Both emphasise that their goal was and is to develop the best ship management group in terms of quality and service with a growing client base to match.
Nigel Hill comments: “Wallem sees ship management as a very personalised service, offered so that each vessel meets the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability whilst ensuring cost-effectiveness. Achieving this requires an equal partnership with the shipowner to make the best use of Wallem’s management and technical expertise. Hong Kong is Wallem’s home, and we believe that Wallem’s independence remains the key to our ship management’s future success.”
Wallem’s other divisions – Agency, Marine services, Crewing, IT and Commercial - support the core ship management service, and technology is required to do the same. Key emphases are always maintained on safety and the welfare of seafarers.
Further celebrating its maritime heritage, Wallem has published an updated edition of Typhoon Wallem, the history first released in 2003 to commemorate 100 years since the company’s foundation. Anthony Hardy’s original text has been combined with new chapters from maritime historian, Stephanie Zarach, detailing the challenges and changes that have occurred since.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
International Maritime Industries and ARO Partner Up
[By: International Maritime Industries]
International Maritime Industries (IMI) – Saudi Arabia’s maritime construction and repair company and the largest, most technologically advanced full-service maritime facility in the MENA – today signed a landmark agreement with ARO for the construction of a new offshore jack-up rig, KINGDOM 4.
Signed at the Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress in Dammam, the agreement reinforces the two companies’ long-term strategic partnership and supports ARO’s needs in the Kingdom’s waters, while advancing the country’s ambitions to be a regional leader in offshore maritime capabilities.
The new project builds on the shared vision of IMI and ARO to redefine industry standards within Saudi Arabia, strengthen local supply chains, and contribute to the realization of the nation’s Vision 2030 – namely, its objectives of economic diversification and sustainable industrial growth.
Wail Al-Jaafari, Chairman of the Board at IMI, said: "The commencement of construction of KINGDOM 4 demonstrates the continued strength of our partnership with ARO and reflects our strategic commitment to building world-class offshore capabilities within the Kingdom. This project further accelerates the development of a robust maritime supply chain while advancing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for global leadership in the sector as part of Vision 2030."
Abdul Hameed Al-Dughaither, Chairman of the Board at ARO, said: “KINGDOM-4 is a testament of our growing collaboration with IMI. The project advances the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by introducing new capabilities and skillset to the global maritime industry, increasing local content, and driving economic diversification, making a lasting impact on the industry and the local community."
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, Chief Executive Officer of IMI, said: "KINGDOM 4 represents yet another significant accomplishment in our journey to elevate Saudi Arabia’s maritime industry. Through our enduring partnership with ARO, we remain committed to enhancing local expertise and building a globally competitive maritime ecosystem."
Mohamed Hegazi, Chief Executive Officer of ARO, said “The development of KINGDOM 4 builds on the momentum of our earlier success and demonstrates ARO’s long-term vision for technological innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth in alignment with Vision 2030.”
KINGDOM 4 follows a previous partnership between ARO and IMI for the construction of KINGDOM 3, the first offshore jack-up drilling rig built in Saudi Arabia. This continued partnership is paving the way for sustained progress and excellence in the Kingdom's emerging maritime industries sector and positioning Saudi Arabia as a rising hub in the global maritime industry.
The full operability of IMI’s 12 million-square-meter maritime facility in Ras Al-Khair will allow the company to build up to six jack-up drilling rigs annually, in addition to 25 offshore support vessels, and 18 large commercial vessels per year – including chemical carriers, bulk carriers, product carriers, and Very Large Crude Carriers. Additionally, IMI will be capable of providing maintenance and repair services for up to 250 vessels and 15 rigs annually.
The products and services herein described in this press release are not endorsed by The Maritime Executive.
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