Category: Technology

Cosco aims for the top spot

Cosco Shipping, the shipping arm of China's largest maritime conglomerate and currently number four among the world's largest container liner shipping companies, is clearly aiming for the top. According to Chinese statements, the company aims to become the world's largest container shipping company. A newbuilding programme worth USD 4.9 billion is planned for 32 ships of various sizes and a total slot capacity of 580,000 TEU. This involves both megamax carriers with slots for 23,000 TEU and medium-sized units with a capacity of 15,000 TEU each. According to reports, Cosco is already in negotiations with the shipbuilding group Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry, which also belongs to the group...

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Building mega yachts as an alternative

In the search for alternatives to merchant ship orders, which are almost impossible to acquire, and the lack of orders for government and naval vessels, some German shipyards have created another mainstay for themselves by building yachts and, where possible, mega-yachts. Here are two examples: Meyer Werft, a newcomer in this highly complex business sector, presented details of its large One 50 project, which breaks all boundaries, at this year's Monaco Yacht Show, which is highly regarded in financially powerful circles. At 150 metres long and 20 metres wide, the yacht, if the ship can still be described as such, is...

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Concerned about Germany as a maritime location

There are increasing calls from the two important pillars of the German maritime industry, shipbuilding and shipping, for more support from politicians. IG Metall Küste, for example, expects the federal government to ensure that the announced orders for research and naval vessels create work at the shipyards as quickly as possible and that the procurement offices do not get lost in the procurement jungle. The 32nd shipbuilding survey carried out by IG Metall Küste among the works councils of 42 German shipyards revealed that the number of employees at the shipyards had reached its lowest level to date at 14,027 - a decline of almost 16 per cent compared to the previous year....

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New mine defence vehicles for European navies

As their mine countermeasure vessels are on average around 30 years old, most European navies are replacing existing weapon systems with a mix of mother ships and unmanned plug-and-play systems to manage a full detect-to-engage cycle. The navies of Northern, Western and Southern Europe continue to receive the majority of funding for new build programmes, while Eastern European navies, for example from Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, are seeking to modernise their existing ships. As of September 2022, there are fourteen Mine Countermeasures (MCM) projects for European navies with a total of 82 platforms in the pipeline. Five of these projects are already underway and nine are planned. The following overview begins...

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Sailing in the wake of the kite

In recent decades, China has continuously upgraded its navy with strategic foresight. Its democratic neighbour India, on the other hand, has largely failed to build up its maritime capabilities. Now could be the time to change course. Indians upset by recent images of Chinese naval vessels in Indian Ocean ports such as Hambantota (Southern Province of Sri Lanka, editor's note) and Djibouti would have been pleased to learn that on 15 August, nine Indian Navy warships in seven ports worldwide - one on each continent - flew the Indian flag to mark the 75th anniversary of independence from Britain....

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