Baird Maritime

by Gareth Havelock on 23 February 2026 at 1:00 am

Six people were killed after the boat they were riding in collided with another vessel and subsequently capsized in Lao Cai province in northern Vietnam on Saturday, February 21.The unidentified passenger boat was transiting a lake when the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon (local time).Local authorities conducted search and rescue operations and recovered 17 survivors including the boat’s operator as well as the bodies of six deceased individuals over the next 48 hours. The deceased also included two small children.EDITORIAL | Passenger vessel death toll falls 28 per cent in 2025; tour boats become an increasing problemState news outlet VnExpress has reported that an investigation into the tragedy is underway.Saturday’s capsizing is the second fatal vessel incident to occur in Vietnam in less than a week.On Thursday, February 19, a passenger boat capsized in the central province of Quang Tri. The incident resulted in three deaths while the body of a fourth passenger, identified as the 14-year-old granddaughter of two of the deceased victims, has not yet been found.

by Jens Karsten on 23 February 2026 at 12:25 am

French subsea company Orange Marine has placed orders for two new hybrid cable laying vessels (CLVs) in a series.The vessels will be designed by Vard Design as near-identical sisters of Sophie Germain, which was handed over to Orange Marine in 2023.The CLVs will be specially designed for the maintenance of submarine fibre optic telecommunication cables. Vard developed the vessel design according to the client’s operating requirements, with particular focus on seakeeping capabilities, low fuel consumption and efficient arrangements.The completed vessels will each have a length of 100 metres, a beam of 18.8 metres, a depth of 7.15 metres, a deadweight of 1,800, accommodation for 76 personnel, and three cable tanks including one fitted with a carousel system.Each CLV’s hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system will include generators and a 497kWh battery pack. The entire propulsion arrangement can deliver speeds of up to 14.5 knots.The hybrid configuration will also reduce the number of generators used while maintaining the redundancy needed for the safe maintenance of cables if a generator shuts down unexpectedly. The batteries will immediately shoulder the load of the failed generator while reducing fuel consumption.

by Will Xavier on 23 February 2026 at 12:14 am

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri recently launched a new offshore patrol vessel (OPV) ordered by the Italian Navy.The future Ugolino Vivaldi is the first in a new class of four OPVs being built by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture owned by Fincantieri and defence technology company Leonardo.Upon completion, the OPV will have a length of 96 metres, a displacement of approximately 2,400 tonnes, and accommodation for up to 93 crewmembers. Construction of all four ships in the class will take place at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso and Muggiano Integrated Shipyard.The OPV’s duties will include maritime patrols and surveillance, protection of sea lines of communication, and environmental protection.Among the notable features of the vessel will be a cockpit-style integrated navigation management system that can be operated by only two crewmembers. The station, which will also be located in the bridge, will enable two operators to have direct control of the engines, the rudders, and some functions of the combat system.

by Baird Maritime on 23 January 2026 at 2:13 am

Deliveries include two emergency response tugs for a Turkish Government operator and an inland pusher for a US shipping company. Orders have meanwhile been placed by customers in Brazil and Qatar. Lastly, a Russian design bureau has unveiled design images of a new harbour tug that can also be used for icebreaking.Qatari Emiri Navy orders two tugs for port and offshore useArtist’s impression of two 32-metre ASD tugs for naval useThe Qatari Emiri Navy (QEN) has placed an order for two ASD tugs in a series to support its operations in both port and offshore waters.One of the tugs is already under construction and is scheduled to be handed over to the QEN later this year. The keel of the second tug was laid last December and delivery will take place in the second quarter of 2027.Each tug will have a length of 32.7 metres, a beam of 12.82 metres, and bollard pulls of 82.4 tonnes and 77.4 tonnes ahead and astern, respectively.Construction begins on river tugs for Brazilian operator HermasaHermasa’s new 30-metre pusher tugConstruction recently began on two new pusher tugs in a series ordered by Brazilian river transport company Hermasa Navegacao da Amazonia.The tugs were designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd and will be tailored to the unique conditions of the Madeira River system in Brazil’s Amazon region.The vessels will handle barges transporting grain in the region. Once in service, they will be able to operate on B100 biodiesel as well as conventional marine diesel.Canal Barge Company welcomes first pusher tug in new seriesAl SlossNew Orleans-based Canal Barge Company has taken delivery of the first vessel in a new series of four inland pusher tugs designed and built by C&C Marine and Repair.Al Sloss has a length of 87 feet (27 metres), a beam of 34 feet (10 metres), and accommodation for up to eight crewmembers. Power is provided by two Mitsubishi S12-R main engines that each produce 1,300 hp (970 kW).The engines drive two propellers via Reintjes WAF 665 gearboxes. Also fitted are two FPT generators to supply power for the various onboard systems.New emergency response tugs delivered to Turkish coastal safety directorateKurtarma 22The Turkish Directorate General of Coastal Safety (Kıyı Emniyeti Genel Müdürlüğü; KEGM) recently took delivery of two new emergency response tugs in a series designed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd.Optimised for multi-role functionality, Kurtarma 21 and Kurtarma 22 are each fitted with a high-performance escort winch on the foredeck, ensuring they can take on escort operations and ship-assist work in Turkey’s busy ports. The aft deck on each tug is meanwhile equipped with a tow hook for long line towing operations.The new KEGM tugs each feature comfortable accommodation for up to 10 crewmembers, supporting extended missions and ensuring crew welfare.Russian design firm unveils hybrid icebreaking tug conceptRendering of the hybrid icebreaking tugRussian engineering firm Petrobalt Design Bureau recently introduced a concept design for a new icebreaking tug fitted with a hybrid electric propulsion system.The tug will primarily run on batteries whereas diesel generators will be used to provide propulsive power as backup or when navigating in difficult ice conditions.The vessel’s duties will include towing of other vessels and floating objects, icebreaking in port waters, and limited cargo transport.

by Gareth Havelock on 19 January 2026 at 1:07 am

New Orleans-based Canal Barge Company has taken delivery of the first vessel in a new series of four inland pusher tugs designed and built by C&C Marine and Repair.Al Sloss has a length of 87 feet (27 metres), a beam of 34 feet (10 metres), and accommodation for up to eight crewmembers. Power is provided by two Mitsubishi S12-R main engines that each produce 1,300 hp (970 kW).The engines drive two propellers via Reintjes WAF 665 gearboxes. Also fitted are two FPT generators to supply power for the various onboard systems.The electronics suite consists of radars from Furuno, Standard Horizon VHF radios, an AIS, a bridge alarm system, a satellite compass, and a loudhailer. Two Carlisle and Finch 1,000W searchlights are also fitted.The deck equipment meanwhile includes a five-ton vertical capstan and two 40-ton winches, all supplied by Wintech.Construction of Al Sloss lasted approximately six months. The six remaining tugs in the series are scheduled to be delivered to Canal Barge at intervals of two to three months.