The commercial production of LNG on a floating vessel is edging nearer. The development will bring the LNG industry full circle, for the first ever LNG cargoes – several trans-Atlantic trial shipments to the UK in 1959 – were produced on a floating barge stationed in the Louisiana bayous near Lake Charles. Which of the three floating LNG production (FLNG) vessels ordered to date will be the first to enter service is a moot point. Shell ordered the first LNG “floater” in May 2011.

New equipment is coming to market to tackle fire, flood and dangerous gas risks, writes Wendy LaursenMartek Marine claims to have solved the problem of deaths in enclosed spaces caused by faulty portable gas detectors. The company has developed a system for its portable gas detectors that calibrates and certifies them automatically while the batteries are being recharged.

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has been awarded a US$700m contract for five 18,400 teu containerships from China Shipping Container Lines Co Ltd (CSCL).HHI says that the containerships will be the world’s largest and will feature electronically controlled main engines and two EcoBallast seawater treatment systems.

In 2012 US sales of electric and hybrid cars doubled, and we are told that before long more and more of us will be driving electric cars. The motor industry’s response to rising fuel costs and environmental legislation has been to develop new technology aimed at reducing emissions and fuel consumption. Sound familiar? What about electrically-powered ships?

The world's most environmentally friendly large passenger ship, Viking Grace, was delivered at STX Finland's Turku shipyard last week. Apart from its unique green credentials, the vessel's two standout features are its LNG-powered Wartsila engines and its safe return to port compliance technology.

When people in the energy industry talk about shipping and liquefied natural gas, generally the topic of conversation is how to push the U.S. to begin exporting the suddenly abundant fuel abroad. But for Princeton, New Jersey-based shipping company TOTE, Inc., the more interesting idea is how LNG can change the fuel picture on the high seas, according to Popular Mechanics.

We are moving into a new era with the arrival of true “e-Navigation”, the first manifestation of which is the electronic chart. And as with every other advance in navigation since the arrival of radar, the benefits of the new bring with them cautions and caveats which must be considered if we are not to see a rash of “ECDIS assisted” incidents.

Wärtsilä says that it is to supply its recently introduced Wärtsilä X72 licensed engines to power six new vessels – four container ships and two bulkers - being built in China for two Singapore based shipping companies.The four container vessels have been contracted by Pacific International Lines (PIL) with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC), in China, and the two bulk carriers are to be built by Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Company (BSHIC) also in China. Each of these ships will have a Wärtsilä X72 as the main engine, with delivery of the first engines scheduled for early 2014.