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Marine

The Baltika at the Arctech Helsinki Shipyard
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 team observed reductions in emissions of NOx, particulate matter and greenhouse gases ...
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
The BomBoard disassembles into four modules, and can be put back together in one minute
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
Jim Smith on the water in his 3D-printed kayak
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
The Kitetender 400 is a one to two person monohull water vessel, featuring a sports kite
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
The Frausher 858 Fantom hits the water
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
The bridge of 2025 will use a computerized workstation
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
The Flying Phantom catamaran seems to levitate above the water as it hydrofoils.
“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
Rendering of the robot ship of the future
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
The Oar Board lets you row on your stand-up paddleboard
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

The motorized ElectraFin slides into the existing fin box on stand-up paddleboards
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
The Rum Runner prototype hits the water
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
Artist's impression of the undersea pipline X-ray in operation (Image: GE)
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
Alfastreet hits the water
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
The X-Jetpacks H3X Hydro hits the water
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
The go-anywhere ATASD
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
The Ethos E30 hits the water
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 position of the XS-1's outriggers can be adjusted on the water
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
The Greenline 48 that débuted at the Dusseldorf Boat Show
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
Starboard profile of Alvin that is returning to service after a three-year overhaul
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
 
Back at the dock
"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
The Joyboat can reportedly cruise for up to eight hours on one charge of its battery pack
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
The Waterwolf MXP-3 at the Dusseldorf boat show
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
Aquacrafts claims the DinghyGo's sail can be manned singlehandedly with ease
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
A family tries out the TIWAL 3.2 (Photo: Tiwal)
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
The Underwater Jet Pack is designed to let users perform underwater acrobatics using forea...
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
The final design of the Platypus underwater exploration vehicle
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  (Photo: Wokart)
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
Rolls-Royce has signed a £5.8 million  to design and equip one that does just thatThe new ...
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
The 488-m-long hull of the Prelude FLNG is floated for the first time
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

Cross country skiing in the summer
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
The Platypus prototype takes passengers beneath the waves
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 studio Lazzarini recently presented its first 'mini yacht' during the 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
Picchio Boat is a luxury catamaran concept which boasts a glass-bottom master bedroom
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
The Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPrize aims at combating ocean acidification (Image: NOAA)
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
Zaha Hadid's master concept
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
The Lamborghini Riva Aquarama is the fastest Aquarama built
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 in the porch of the Aquarius Reef Base (Image: Mission 31)
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's water-bike (Photo: BayCycle Project)
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
Profile of the scale model of Feadship Royale (Photo: Gizmag)
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

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