Last August we heard about the Baltika,
a rather clever icebreaker that can temporarily increase its frontal
area by traveling sideways into the ice. At the time, it was still under
construction, and the only images available were renderings. Now,
however, it's complete and has begun sea trials. Read More
The EPA has identified pollution from ships as a
contributing factor to respiratory problems and premature deaths
suffered by residents of the US and Canada. As such, it is in the
process of implementing stricter emissions standards for ships operating
within 200 miles (321.9 km) of shore with the aim of significantly
reducing emissions by the year 2020. In a development that could play
into these environmental initiatives, the SeaChange Group, a US-based
start-up that converts agricultural by-products into clean-burning fuel,
has been awarded a patent for an eco-hybrid fuel technology shown to
reduce NOx, particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions. Read More
Personal water craft (or PWCs) have been around
since the 1950s, and received a boost in popularity when the Kawasaki
Jet Ski was released in 1973. Since then, we've seen the introduction of
a number of makes and models,
all boasting their own unique features. One of the latest, the
BomBoard, is claimed to be the world's only modular PWC – and at a
planned price of US$3,495, it could also be the cheapest. Read More
World's first 3D-printed kayak takes to the water
By Paul Ridden
March 24, 2014
It doesn't seem too long ago that 3D-printers
were astounding us by churning out cheeky little trinkets or small
replacement parts. But the technology has quickly grown to cater for
everything from rapid prototyping to slick-looking commercial products, and a quick snack for astronauts to bizarre models of unborn babies.
Jim Smith of Grass Roots Engineering has been designing and building
his own home-based, large-scale 3D printer since 2008, and the latest
modification recently spent over 40 days producing 28 colorful ABS
plastic sections that were bolted together to create a 16.7 ft-long
kayak. Read More
Kitetender blends sailing and kitesurfing
March 23, 2014
Dutch water sports enthusiast Peter Renssen, in
collaboration with designer Peter Schermer, has created a hybrid
recreational boat that merges kitesurfing with sailing. Dubbed,
Kitetender the original prototype has undergone four years of tests and
tweaks, resulting in the Kitetender 400, which is now ready for
commercial release. Read More
It becomes difficult for boats to stand out when
they're stuffed into an expo center segmented into row after row of
seafaring vessels and marine hardware. Even massive yachts and striking
boat concepts can start to look alike after a few passes through a boat
show. One boat that did grab our attention at the Boot Dusseldorf show
earlier this year is the new Frauscher 858 Fantom, a V8-powered craft
inspired by German and Italian sports cars. Read More
Horatio Hornblower meets Jean-Luc Picard on the
ship’s bridge of 2025 as Finnish applied research organization VTT and
Rolls-Royce present their vision of seafaring ten years from now.
Presented in 3D animation videos that projects current technology to the
near future, the study shows a world where ship captains call on
heads-up displays and high-tech workstations turn the bridge into an
augmented reality command and control system. Read More
“It’s like removing the handbrake – suddenly
everything gets smoother and faster in pure silence.” This
gravity-defying US$40k catamaran rises completely out of the water at
speed on a pair of hook-shaped hydrofoils. It looks like the work of
David Copperfield, but it’s real, and it’s set to start a revolution in
the sailing world. Read More
Running away to sea has been a dream of escape
for centuries, but unless you plan to be a tap dancer on a cruise ship,
that door may be closing. In a report on the future of cargo shipping, Rolls-Royce
Vice President for Innovation, Engineering and Technology, Oskar
Levander, outlines a vision for a time not far from now when freighters
and other ships are unmanned robots that cruise the oceans under remote
control by shore based captains. Read More
Given the recent announcements of products like the ElectraFin and the Rum Runner,
it certainly looks like we're in the midst of a stand-up paddleboarding
gold rush. One of the latest gadgets to get in on the action, the Oar
Board, lets you convert your board into a single scull rowing boat. Read More
FOR MORE SEARCH "Marine".. OR @GIZMAG
ElectraFin offers extra propulsion for paddleboarders
By Ben Coxworth
February 28, 2014
As stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) continue to gain
popularity, we're seeing something happen with them that always seems to
happen with popular items – manufacturers are augmenting them. Just
this week we heard about a modular SUP, which joins the ranks of ones that fold, and that can be converted into a tent. Now, Seattle-based Current Drives is offering an electric motor for SUPs, known as the ElectraFin. Read More
Rum Runner takes the stand-up paddle board to pieces
By Ben Coxworth
February 26, 2014
There are at least two things that you can say
about stand-up paddleboards, or SUPs: they're popular, and they're big.
This means that while a lot of people may want one, they might not have
room to store or transport it. That's why Sweden's Point 65 is
introducing its Rum Runner modular SUP, that can be taken apart in
seconds when not in use. Read More
Using X-rays and other forms of radiation has
been a standard tool for testing pipelines for decades, but until now
it's been largely confined to factories and land-based pipelines instead
of the deep seabed. That’s changing as GE adapts its medical X-ray
systems to work in the crushing pressures of the deep oceans, as part of
a remote-controlled submersible rig for examining pipelines in place.
Read More
At last month's Boot Dusseldorf show, we learned
two things about electric boats. One, there aren't that many of them,
and two, those that are available tend to be on the small side – as
evidenced by day cruisers like the Joyboat and Superiore Uno.
The latter point was true save for one exception: the 23-foot (6.9 m)
long Energy 23cs from Slovenia's Alfastreet Marine. The 23cs is an
(optionally) electric boat with sleeping quarters, plus a few other
tricks up its sleeve. Read More
X-Jetpacks tweaks the ride of the hydro jetpack
By C.C. Weiss
February 11, 2014
Water-based jetpacking originally looked like an
insane activity for the extremely rich and bored, but it has gradually
gained in popularity. First, we saw the JetLev-Flyer, then the Flyboard,
and now the X-Jetpack H3X Hydro. More than just a "me too" competitor
in the water jetpack market, the H3X offers a few key evolutionary
advantages for novices, families and daredevils alike. Read More
Amphibious trimaran is made for more than just water
By Ben Coxworth
February 11, 2014
Here's one you might not have heard before ...
Whaddaya get when cross a hovercraft, an airboat and a pontoon boat?
Give up? An ATASD, or Amphibious Trimaran with Aerostatic Discharge! OK,
it's not that funny, but the vehicle itself is pretty cool. It can
travel over virtually any surface, and should soon be heading into
production. Read More
Most water lovers would be happy to own a single
boat, but in order to enjoy the many activities of the sea – fishing,
water skiing, pleasure touring, etc. – they'd need an entire fleet ...
or they'd need the all-new Ethos E30 from Milano's Azure Embark. Billed
as the "first hybrid crossover boat," this innovative vessel uses a
modular design to transform for all kinds of purposes. Read More
The TriKayak XS-1 features adjustable outriggers
By Ben Coxworth
February 3, 2014
Kayaking is a fast, easy and fun way of paddling
across the water. That said, some people worry that the perceived
tippiness of the boats makes it too easy a way of ending up in
the water, too. That's why you sometimes see kayaks with stabilizing
outriggers ... although those outriggers can get in the way. The
TriKayak XS-1 is designed to offer the stability, without the hassle.
Read More
Seaway debuts flagship Greenline 48 hybrid yacht
By David Szondy
January 29, 2014
A motor yacht’s nice, big diesel engines are
wonderful if you’re in a hurry, but they’re thirsty, not very green, and
not the best of neighbors as they roar away while leaving harbor at
first light. As a quieter, cleaner alternative for the luxury boating
market, Greenline Boat’s Greenline 48 Hybrid motor yacht made its world
première last week at the Dusseldorf Boat Show. Using hybrid electric
technology combined with solar panels and a new hull design for greater
efficiency, Greenline sees is as a the flagship of the company’s range
and a bridge between its Greenline line and its transoceanic OceanClass
yachts. Read More
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced on Friday that the Alvin
deep-sea submersible is returning to service. The DC3 of the
oceanographic world was launched fifty years ago in 1964 and is ready to
begin its second half-century of service after a three-year overhaul
involving significant redesigns and upgrades. Read More
Supiore electric luxury tender offers a quiet float
By C.C. Weiss
January 28, 2014
"Where electric cars have been a part of the
streetscape for a long time, the boating market failed to pick up the
pass and join the trend, until now." Dutch boat manufacturer Supiore may
overstate the case a bit, but for every e-boat we saw at the boot
Dusseldorf show last week, there was a fleet of liquid-fueled boats.
Supiore's Uno is a stylish, solar-powered boat set to help redress the
balance a bit. Read More
Although all sorts of people enjoy boating, not
everyone wants to go blasting across the waves in a noisy speedboat. If
you're more content with quietly cruising the waterways, then you might
like Sky-Yacht's electric Joyboat. We recently spied the watercraft, at
the Dusseldorf boat show. Read More
Waterwolf electric surfboard speeds over lakes and rivers
By C.C. Weiss
January 26, 2014
Not every surfer is lucky enough to live near a
world-class break. In fact, many would-be surfers live hundreds of miles
from the nearest piece of coast. For them, the new MXP-3 from Germany's
Waterwolf represents the chance to transform the local lazy lake or
river into a riveting surfer's playground. Part surfboard, part personal
watercraft, the MXP-3 zips clean across flat water at speeds up to 21
mph (35 km/h). Read More
There's a reason that they say the two good days
of boat ownership are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. In
addition to spending thousands on the boat itself, you're looking at
dock fees, trailer equipment, boat parking at home, maintenance ... the
expenses go on and on. Dutch outfit Aquacrafts employs inflatable design
to help cut down on some of those expenses, offering a sailboat that's
much easier to transport and store. The 3-in-1 boat can also float under
man and motor power. Read More
The TIWAL 3.2 is an inflatable sailing dinghy
that can be assembled or packed down into two bags in a little under 20
minutes. According to its creators, the dinghy is a "high performance"
sailing vessel with a multi-purpose design that not only allows families
and first time sailors to experience the joys of sailing in calm
weather, but also lets expert sailors test their limits. Read More
Who wouldn't like to fly around underwater? You can already sort of do so using devices such as the SeaBob,
although you're still basically just "along for the ride." If SCP
Marine Innovations' Underwater Jet Pack reaches production, however, it
looks like it should provide an experience much closer to that of being
Aquaman. Read More
After four years of development and months of prototype testing,
Platypus founder Francois Alexandre Bertrand and his team have decided
on the final design for their Platypus underwater exploration vehicle
that will be launched next year. Aside from sporting a more polished
look, the final production version also includes a number of
newly-announced features. Read More
The Wokart is a featherweight asymmetric
catamaran with a centrally-located 70 hp outboard motor that's designed
to have the driving characteristics and power-to-weight of a go-kart.
The automotive seating and controls make it just like driving a car ...
and in four years of development and testing, no-one has flipped one
over. Production begins next month and at €20,000 it offers all the fun
of a PWC with a fraction of the environmental footprint. Unlike most
toys, a horsepower upgrade is as simple as bolting in an 85hp motor,
which makes it "unsuitable for the general public," a nice way of
saying, "you can't handle this." Read More
Building a ship to carry fish as passengers may
seem like a phenomenal case of missing the point, but Rolls-Royce has
signed a £5.8 million (US$9.5 million) contact to design and equip one
that does just that. The live fish carrier will be built by Turkey's
Tersan shipyard for the Faroese salmon farming company Bakkafrost as a
way to carry fish from their pens to the processing plant. Read More
World's largest ship floated for the first time
By Darren Quick
December 4, 2013
A hull longer than the Empire State Building is
tall has been floated out of dry dock in Geoje, South Korea. Measuring
488 m (1,601 ft) long and 74 m (243 ft) wide, the hull belongs to
Shell's Prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, which
upon completion will be the largest floating facility ever built. Read More
ABH20 skis bring cross country skiing to the water
By C.C. Weiss
November 27, 2013
Decades ago, a few individuals looked at what
skiers were doing on snow and thought, "Why can't I do that on a board?"
Thus, the sport of snowboarding was born, and it eventually exploded in
popularity. On the water, the opposite is happening. The sport of
paddleboarding has been growing in popularity and some folks are
thinking, "Why can't I do that on skis?" With the Slovenian-designed
ABH20 skis, you can. Strap a pair on and you can walk on water. Read More
Vehicles such as the EGO semi-submarine boat and Adventure-Doo
are designed to bring the underwater action within reach of those
without the time or inclination to put in the training required to get
behind the controls of personal submarines like the offerings from U-boat Worx.
But the Platypus underwater exploration vehicle from François-Alexandre
Bertrand ditches the waterproof hull while giving users a taste of life
beneath the waves. We first looked at the Platypus in concept form in
2011 and a prototype has now hit the water as it navigates the
often-treacherous waters to commercial availability. Read More
Italian design firm launches its first "mini yacht"
November 8, 2013
Italian design studio Lazzarini recently
presented its first "mini yacht" during the 2013 Monaco Yacht Show. The
Jet Capsule is a compact water craft measuring 7.5 meters (24.6 ft) long
and 3.5 meters (11.5ft) wide. The futuristic looking vessel can be
customized to suit a myriad of purposes including a water taxi,
emergency water vehicle, patrol boat, scuba diving vessel or
recreational cruiser. Read More
Dubbed Picchio Boat (Woodpecker Boat), this
luxury catamaran concept from yacht designer Christian Grande boasts
large living zones, luxury furnishings and a stunning glass-bottom
master bedroom. Read More
Since 1995, XPrize
has been promoting science and technology by setting “Grand Challenges”
with cash incentive prizes. On Monday, the organization announced the
launch of three new competitions by 2020 as part of its XPrize Ocean
Initiative, which is aimed at improving the health and understanding of
the world’s oceans. Read More
Superyacht concepts get the Zaha Hadid treatment
October 17, 2013
Her work may have its critics, but you can't
fault the consistency of her design language. Even those with the most
fleeting of interests in architecture and design cannot fail to
recognize that this yacht design for Blohm+Voss has Zaha Hadid written
all over it. Read More
Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Riva Aquarama restored
By David Szondy
October 16, 2013
When you hear the word “Lamborghini,” you tend to
think of land, not water, yet the car maker has a page in one of the
most famous chapters of boat design. After a three-year effort, Dutch
Riva has announced the successful restoration of a piece of maritime
history: Ferrucio Lamborghini's Riva Aquarama speedboat. Read More
Fabien Cousteau, filmmaker, explorer, and
grandson of pioneering oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, is set to take a
page out of his grandfather’s book by conducting a month-long scientific
research mission in the world's only underwater habitat and laboratory.
Mission 31 beings on November 12 at the Aquarius Reef Base off the
coast of the Florida Keys, marking the 50th anniversary of his the elder
Cousteau's historic Conshelf II habitat experiment. Read More
BayCycle bike kit puts commuters on the water
October 8, 2013
The BayCycle Project is fast gathering attention
for its crowd-funding campaign to bring a fully-fledged water-bike to
the masses. BayCycle has released a number of eye-catching videos,
including one of project founder Judah Schiller crossing San Francisco
Bay on one (which is apparently a first). The project appears to be
using off-the-shelf kits from Italian outfit SBK-KIT, whose Shuttle Bike we first featured back in 2005. Read More
Feadship Royale concept superyacht designed for Dutch royalty
By David Szondy
September 27, 2013
Earlier this month, Feadship Royal Dutch Shipyards
released a teaser video promising a “sovereign surprise” at this year’s
Monaco Yacht Show. On Wednesday, the company took the wraps off in
Monaco as it unveiled a scale model of its 2013 Feadship Future Concept.
Dubbed the Feadship Royale, the concept is designed to mark this year’s
ascension to throne of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Read More
FOR MORE SEARCH "Marine".. OR @GIZMAG
0 comments:
Post a Comment