The naval architect

 

The Naval Architect provides in-depth information on all aspects of vessel design, construction and engineering. Practical applications of latest technology and case studies are accompanied by analysis and foresights.​ Published every two months, the magazine covers everything from superyachts and short-hop ferries to tankers and heavy-lift vessels; from battery pack installations and sail-assisted solutions to LNG tank retrofits; and from offshore safety to warship resilience. 

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An engine that makes its own hydrogen

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Yang Wenming and Zhou Xinyi in their laboratory

A new approach to ammonia-hydrogen marine propulsion could remove one of the most significant practical obstacles to zero-carbon shipping, say associate professor Yang Wenming and senior research fellow Dr Zhou Xinyi, from the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore

Detail Link: An engine that makes its own hydrogen

Classification society outlines Hydrogen recommendations

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: Jul/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

DNV recommended practice sets out hydrogen fuel competence requirements, providing technical guidance for training, risk management and safe vessel operations.

Detail Link: Classification society outlines Hydrogen recommendations

Electric powerboat sets course benchmark

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Image: Zoe Dunne

Electric foiling powerboat Spirit BARTech F35 establishes early benchmark in the newly electrified Harmsworth Trophy.

Detail Link: Electric powerboat sets course benchmark

Arctic Corsair

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Arctic Corsair is a 1960s sidewinder trawler, one of the last surviving to sail from the UK. Part of Hull’s deep-sea fishing fleet, she fished as far as Iceland and Newfoundland, saw action in the Cod Wars and retired in 1987.

Detail Link: Arctic Corsair

Berg Propulsion powers India's electric tug programme

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

The green tugs will help India on its path to net zero (image: Navnautik).

Berg Propulsion’s propulsion technology and systems integration set to help optimise onboard space for two all-electric tugs under construction for India.

Detail Link: Berg Propulsion powers India's electric tug programme

Measuring what you emit

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Uwe Altenbach, from Hamburg-based Hoppe, beside a CEMS system (image: Hoppe)

Uwe Altenbach’s paper presented at the 11th Hull Performance & Insight Conference looks at the findings of a pilot project into continuous exhaust gas measurement of CO2.

Detail Link: Measuring what you emit

Japan backs floating wind push in UK waters with £9bn investment

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Floating wind capacity of 5.9GW would power an estimated 8 million homes (image: Shutterstock).

Japan-UK Offshore Wind Compact backs major floating wind projects, strengthening bilateral collaboration on renewable energy.

Detail Link: Japan backs floating wind push in UK waters with £9bn investment

Dynautics wins 2026 Seawork award with modular Phantom 2

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Phantom 2 AUV (image: Dynautics)

Dynautics’ Phantom 2 AUV delivers enhanced endurance, payload flexibility and autonomous subsea survey capability.

Detail Link: Dynautics wins 2026 Seawork award with modular Phantom 2

Signal through steel

The Naval Architect

By Sven-Eric Brooks

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

ScanReach wearable tags and mesh node (image: ScanReach)

For decades, steel ships relied on extensive cabling for connectivity. Now, wireless mesh technology is proving that reliable wireless networks can enhance safety, efficiency and vessel design.

Detail Link: Signal through steel

Warship 2026: Submarines

The Naval Architect

 

Edition Issue: July/August Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Magazine

Warship 2026: Submarines - Accelerating Underwater Capability Through Collaboration

Warship 2026: Submarines brought together naval architects, defence scientists and engineers from around the world to address the accelerating demands placed on underwater capability. To follow are summaries of four papers.

Detail Link: Warship 2026: Submarines

Latest News

 

Read stories from across our global community, including our new specialist e-newsletters across Power & Sustainability, Ship Repair & Maintenance, Warship Technology, Ferries & Fast Craft and Offshore Technology. 

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Wind Propulsion 2026 overview: Momentum meets method

By Tom Barlow-Brown

Pictured, RINA CEO Paul Jobson takes the stand at the Institution's sold-out Wind Propulsion 2026 Conference

RINA’s Wind Propulsion 2026 conference brought together industry leaders to examine how wind-assisted propulsion is moving from concept to fleet-level implementation

Detail Link: Wind Propulsion 2026 overview: Momentum meets method

Engineering flexibility into hybrid ferry design

Ferries & Fast Craft (Newsletter)

By Anne-Marie Causer

Edition Issue: Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Incat and Echandia are demonstrating how working closer together on modular battery integration, collaborative vessel design and whole-system engineering is working to future-proof ferries as technology and infrastructure evolve.

Detail Link: Engineering flexibility into hybrid ferry design

Naval architecture in the electric age

Ferries & Fast Craft (Newsletter)

By Anne-Marie Causer

Edition Issue: Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Chartwell Marine is expanding its work in the fast passenger ferry market, drawing best practice from CTV design. Its low-wake ferry hullform is a direct response to how electrification has fundamentally changed vessel design.

Detail Link: Naval architecture in the electric age

Simple physics with a significant impact

Ferries & Fast Craft (Newsletter)

By Jake Frith

Edition Issue: Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Salmon Marine’s Wavebreaker dynamic ballast system, originally conceived for offshore racing powerboats, has evolved into a design solution for reducing vertical accelerations experienced by crew and passengers operating at speed.

Detail Link: Simple physics with a significant impact

Fuel cell technology powering up at speed

Power & Sustainability (Newsletter)

By Charlie Bartlett

Edition Issue: August - Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Samskip's fuel cell-powered shuttle will operate between Rotterdam and Oslo (image: Courtesy of Samskip).

Delivering maritime fuel cells that can drive deepsea shipping is not only within reach but is inevitable according to some.

Detail Link: Fuel cell technology powering up at speed

Oceanbird sets sail to zero-emission target

Power & Sustainability (Newsletter)

By Nick Savvides

Edition Issue: August - Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Tirranna's Oceanbird Wing560 was installed in June (image: Wallenius Marine).

Maritime wings are taking off! The latest design from Alfa Laval and Wallenius Marine is promising to make wind the primary source of vessel power.

Detail Link: Oceanbird sets sail to zero-emission target

Solar added to roro energy mix

Power & Sustainability (Newsletter)

By Charlie Bartlett

Edition Issue: August - Edition 3 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

Wattlab's first full-scale installation on a seagoing vessel, the Vertom Tula (image: Wattlab)

Solar power has finally found its way onto ships. Slow uptake of solar energy is seen as surprising. Coastal shipping is showing that solar can improve efficiencies.

Detail Link: Solar added to roro energy mix

FLNG orders and challenges rising

Offshore Technology (Newsletter)

By Charlie Bartlett

Edition Issue: Edition 1 Publication Year: 2026 Publication Type: Articles

FLNG Prelude is the world's largest floating facility located offshore Australia (image: Shutterstock)

The number of floating LNG projects are increasing fast. Today’s liquefaction capacity is forecast to more than treble from 16 million to 55 million tonnes by 2040.

Detail Link: FLNG orders and challenges rising

Magazines

 

Keep up to date on the latest news, insights and innovations from across the maritime community. Our flagship title, The Naval Architect, covers everything from commercial shipping and small craft to defence and advanced design, while our yearly publication Significant Ships, showcases the most innovative and commercially important vessel designs of the prior year. 

 

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Newsletters

 

Stay connected with the global maritime community through RINA’s newsletters.

Whether you are a member or not, you can receive updates from The Naval Architect, alongside selected RINA news, events and industry insights. Members also gain access to a wider portfolio of exclusive newsletters on key topics in the maritime industry.

 

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Journals

 

RINA has published technical papers and maritime research since 1860, creating an extensive record of developments across naval architecture and marine engineering.

Explore the Institution’s historic Transactions and the International Journal of Maritime Engineering (IJME), which continues this tradition by publishing peer-reviewed research and technical discussion from across the maritime sector.

 

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On RINA's radar

 

Have you come across an interesting project, valuable research or someone whose work deserves more attention? Help us discover the people, ideas and achievements shaping naval architecture across our global community.

 

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Library Archive

 

Explore RINA’s collection of maritime knowledge, including historic magazines, journals and Transactions dating back to 1860, reviewed conference papers, and the catalogue of the Denny Library.

Our team is continuing to digitise and expand the archive, making more of the Institution’s technical content available on demand.

 

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