Full slots in a building boom for shipyards has seen concerns over unfamiliar wind power, added to vessel designs, with yards refusing to build to non-standard plans, rejecting orders. Two owners describe how they have managed to persuade yards otherwise

Advances in battery technology make it possible for short-sea ships and feeder vessels to electrify. That simultaneously offers the possibility to cut costs and emissions and improve vessel efficiency

Savings of more than 50% on fleet-wide emissions can be achieved using cheap modifications on ships. Compared to the cost of building new LNG powered vessels, there is no contest. And the cuts to carbon emissions are twice as high

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

A series of six LNG-enabled pure car and truck carriers are set to play a crucial role in Sallaum Lines’ efforts to decarbonise its transportation operations

The US Navy is pioneering a new approach to shipbuilding with its Landing Ship Medium (LSM) programme, an approach it hopes will enable it to quickly bring large numbers of newbuilds into service on time and on budget

Outfitted in the Netherlands, with a hull built in China, Somtrans’ new bunker barge, United LNG I, will help the company to extend its LNG bunkering capacity across various Belgian and Dutch seaports

The forthcoming Oceanus17 USV from UK-based ZeroUSV will incorporate most of the components and design features that characterised its earlier, smaller, Oceanus12 model, speeding up the design, engineering and build phases

Careers in engineering demand a sound education. Consequently, there is a need to attract Naval Architects with above average qualifications into Universities and Colleges as professors and lecturers.

Maritime research in the UK enjoys a high reputation world-wide and Naval Architects, many with post-graduate qualifications, are engaged in research in universities and industry throughout the country. Classification Societies also devote resources to Research and Development employing Naval Architects in this field.

Naval Architects employed by Classification Societies as Ship Surveyors are engaged world-wide in evaluating the safety of ships and marine structures using the Society's Rules and those of intergovernmental organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation. Plans of ships to be built and eventually classed with the Society are scrutinised, and aspects of design such as strength, stability, and lifesaving approved before construction.

During construction, Ship Surveyors carry out inspections to ensure that the quality of the workmanship and materials used is in accordance with the Rules and Regulations. Once the vessel or structure is in service, Ship Surveyors will continue to carry out inspections to ensure that any serious defects arising from operation are made good and that a safe and seaworthy structure is maintained. Government Departments employ Naval Architects who deal mainly with the framing of safety regulations and the surveying of ships and equipment from the safety point of view.

Ship operators and the Ministry of Defence employ Naval Architects to oversee the construction and repair of their vessels.

Many shipping companies have technical departments in which Naval Architects are responsible for the many phases of ship and equipment procurement and for solving problems affecting the economics of maritime operations.