News Archives - Alpha Marine Consulting

M/V UBC Cadiz: Retrofit Design & Conversion into a Modern Pneumatic Cement Carrier A New Addition to AMC’s Conversion Projects Portfolio!

George Natsoulis — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:09:06 +0000

Alpha Marine Consulting is pleased to announce the successful delivery of its engineering and consultancy services for the conversion of M/V UBC Cadiz, a 16,461 DWT Japanese-built bulk carrier delivered in 2013, into a modern pneumatic cement carrier. The vessel is scheduled to complete her conversion and commence operations in early 2027.

AMC’s scope of work included the 3D laser scanning survey, registration and point-cloud generation, feasibility study, plan approval/ engineering coordination, and on-site supervision. Throughout the project, AMC provided the technical expertise required to facilitate the vessel’s structural and systems adaptation while maintaining compliance with applicable classification society requirements and the Owner’s operational needs.

AMC extends its sincere appreciation to @Harmann Group, and the Owners’ technical team for their excellent collaboration and continued trust throughout the project. Special recognition is also extended to AMC’s survey, engineering and on-site teams for their exceptional coordination, professionalism, and technical execution throughout this demanding conversion project. The conversion of MV UBC Cadiz represents another significant milestone in AMC’s involvement in complex vessel retrofit and conversion projects, combining advanced surveying, naval architecture and marine engineering services.

Stay tuned for further updates as MV UBC Cadiz approaches the successful completion of her transformation into a modern cement carrier!

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SIRE 2.0 Benchmarking Report: Where the Industry Stands in H1 2026

George Natsoulis — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:18:06 +0000

Nearly two years after the implementation of SIRE 2.0, the tanker industry continues to adapt to a vetting regime that places greater emphasis on operational excellence, crew competence, and the effective implementation of Safety Management Systems. While operators have become increasingly familiar with the revised inspection methodology, inspection data continues to provide valuable insights into industry performance, recurring challenges, and emerging areas of focus.

Rather than focusing solely on inspection outcomes, the publication explores the broader trends shaping vessel performance under the SIRE 2.0 regime. It identifies the inspection chapters generating the highest concentration of observations, analyses recurring inspection themes, and explores how inspection findings continue to evolve as operators mature their compliance strategies. Our benchmarking analysis presents the most observed findings by inspection chapter and observation type trends, benchmarked against H1 2025, together with the most frequently recurring questions identified during H1 2026.

Alpha Marine Consulting provides practical, tailored solutions that help shipowners and managers enhance inspection readiness, strengthen compliance, and drive continuous improvement. Our services include:

Development of Safety Management Systems compliant with SIRE 2.0
Pre-Vetting Inspections
Benchmarking & Trend Analysis

Explore our latest SIRE 2.0 H1 2026 Benchmarking Insights to see how industry benchmarking can enhance operational excellence; for further details, please refer to the attached circular or contact us.

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Secondary Means of Support for Suspended Accommodation Ladders!

George Natsoulis — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:30:35 +0000

(Recommended compliance starting from 2026)

As a follow-up to our previously issued guidance, Alpha Marine Consulting highlights the increasing adoption of secondary support requirements for suspended accommodation ladders at Australian ports, aimed at preventing injury and fatality in the event of primary hoisting wire failure. With Port of Newcastle already applying this requirement and Port of Dampier introducing mandatory compliance from 1 January 2027 under Local Marine Notice D13-2026, Messrs. Owners and Managers are encouraged to review their vessel arrangements and ensure readiness for the new safety expectations.

AMC provides specialized engineering and compliance support, including technical assessments, vessel-specific design solutions, structural evaluations, Class and Flag coordination, and implementation assistance to ensure accommodation ladder arrangements meet the required standards. We can also support with SMS integration, including the development of relevant procedures, onboard practices, responsibilities, documentation, and record-keeping requirements to ensure effective implementation and port authority verification.

Early assessment and planning are strongly recommended, allowing any required modifications to be incorporated during scheduled dry-docking or repair periods, ensuring safe and uninterrupted vessel operations.

For further information or technical assistance, please contact us.

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WAVE Officially Launched at SMM Hamburg 2026: A New Alliance for Vessel Decarbonization and Energy Transition!

George Natsoulis — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:31:16 +0000

AMC is pleased to announce a significant milestone: the official launch of WAVE, which stands for Worldwide Alliance for Vessel Decarbonization & Energy Transition, a new maritime cluster that aims to connect Innovation with practical integration onboard. WAVE was officially launched on 1 September 2026 at SMM Hamburg, marked by the signing of the founding agreement between its four founding members: ALPHA MARINE CONSULTING, LOMAR LABS, MARIN & C-JOB.

During the launch event at the Digital Hub, our Georgios D. Kouris, AMC R&D Manager alongside our friends Nikol Kostantopoulou from Lomar Labs, Yvette Klinkenberg from MARIN, and Job Volwater from C-Job, presented WAVE’s vision, main objectives, governance framework, and future goals.

As a structured collaborative platform, WAVE aims to connect maritime stakeholders across Europe and beyond, strengthen North–South cooperation, accelerate technology demonstration and validation, and support the transition of promising innovations from research and development to practical, scalable onboard applications. Our ambition is to create a strong and open maritime ecosystem where innovation meets implementation, contributing directly to vessel decarbonization, the energy transition, and the sustainable transformation of the shipping industry.

Discover WAVE and learn more about the initiative: https://wave-cluster.eu/

Follow WAVE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wave-maritime-cluster/

Interested in becoming a WAVE member? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dh4Pjg2q

The post WAVE Officially Launched at SMM Hamburg 2026: A New Alliance for Vessel Decarbonization and Energy Transition! appeared first on Alpha Marine Consulting.

66K BC Newbuilding Successfully Delivered to DryDel Shipping

George Natsoulis — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:52:39 +0000

Alpha Marine Consulting is pleased to announce the successful delivery of the 66K BC newbuilding project for DryDel Shipping.

The delivery ceremony was attended by representatives of the Owners, the site supervision team, the Classification Society and the Shipyard, marking an important milestone in the successful completion of the project.

Entrusted with the project management and remote construction monitoring of the vessel, AMC is proud to have contributed to its successful completion and delivery.

The project was completed to the Owners’ satisfaction and demonstrated the importance of thorough and continuous monitoring throughout the construction process, together with close cooperation among all parties involved.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Costas Delaportas, President and CEO of DryDel Shipping,

and Mr. Minos Bras, Technical Manager, for their trust and excellent cooperation throughout the project. We are pleased to share a selection of photographs from the delivery ceremony held in May, kindly provided by the Site Office team.

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Crew Welfare & Well-Being Surveys, Independent Seafarer Feedback & Welfare Intelligence!

George Natsoulis — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:26:28 +0000

“Because people-first shipping is smart shipping”

Alpha Marine Consulting is pleased to present its latest HSQE Circular, highlighting the growing importance of Crew Welfare & Well-being Surveys and the value of independent, confidential seafarer feedback.

As industry expectations continue to evolve, effective crew welfare assessments enable shipping companies to better understand the onboard experience, strengthen safety culture, support crew retention, and drive continuous improvement, while aligning with initiatives such as the RightShip Crew Welfare Self-Assessment.

We invite you to explore the enclosed circular and discover how a people-first approach can contribute to stronger operational performance and long-term success. For further information regarding our Crew Welfare & Well-being Survey services, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

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Secondary Means of Support for Suspended Accommodation Ladders!

George Natsoulis — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:36:51 +0000

Alpha Marine Consulting highlights the increasing adoption of secondary support requirements for suspended accommodation ladders at Australian ports, aimed at preventing injury and fatality in the event of primary hoisting wire failure. With Port of Newcastle already applying this requirement and Port of Dampier introducing mandatory compliance from 1 January 2027 under Local Marine Notice D13-2026, Messrs. Owners and Managers are encouraged to review their vessel arrangements and ensure readiness for the new safety expectations.

For further information or technical assistance, please contact us.

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New Open Webinar Training: 2nd Semester 2026 Schedule Announced!

George Natsoulis — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:33:59 +0000

Alpha Marine Consulting is pleased to announce its 2026 Second Semester Open Webinar Training Programme, offering
a comprehensive series of professional courses designed to support the continuous development of maritime personnel and organizations.

AMC training programme addresses the latest operational, technical, regulatory and compliance requirements, equipping participants with practical knowledge and industry best practices across a broad range of maritime subjects, as detailed in the enclosed programme.

Whether you are a Superintendent, DPA, CSO, Marine or Technical Officer, HSQE professional, or shore-based personnel, our training programmes are tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s maritime industry and support the continuous professional development of your teams.

Early registration is recommended, as places are limited.

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Alpha Marine Consulting at the SEASTARS 3rd General Assembly in Naples, Italy!

George Natsoulis — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:45:51 +0000

Alpha Marine Consulting was pleased to participate in the 3rd General Assembly of the SEASTARS Horizon Europe Project, hosted in Naples, Italy,
bringing together the consortium to review the significant progress achieved during the first half of the project and align on the next implementation phase.

As the technical leader of the vessel retrofit activities, AMC presented the progress achieved across the ongoing retrofit case designs,
including the evaluation of innovative decarbonisation technologies, concept development, integration challenges and the establishment of vessel-specific retrofit pathways.

Following the successful completion of the initial technology screening activities, the project is now entering an exciting new phase. The focus will progressively shift towards the application of Model-Based Systems Engineering, MBSE and the use of of digital twin architectures. In parallel, the technology screening process will continue with the assessment of additional innovative technologies to further strengthen the range of decarbonisation solutions considered within the project.

We would like to sincerely thank DGTwin for the excellent organisation of the meeting and all SEASTARS partners for the constructive discussions and continued collaboration.

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RISQ 3.2 Is Already Reshaping RightShip Inspections. Is Your Fleet Ready?

George Natsoulis — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:40:33 +0000

The implementation of RISQ 3.2 marks a significant evolution in RightShip inspections, with greater emphasis on the effective implementation of Safety Management Systems (SMS), crew competence, risk management, and the quality of onboard evidence demonstrating compliance.

Based on our benchmarking analysis of H1 2026 inspections, which is presented in this circular, encouraging improvements are already evident, with a noticeable reduction in the average number of inspection findings. Nevertheless, our data confirms that ISM implementation, machinery spaces, navigation, hatch covers, and overall vessel condition continue to represent the areas attracting the highest number of observations.

Having successfully completed more than 180 RISQ-related SMS projects and over 370 pre-RightShip inspections, Alpha Marine Consulting has developed extensive practical experience in preparing vessels and management systems for successful inspections.

Our support includes:
✔ RISQ 3.2 SMS reviews and updates
✔ Comprehensive gap analyses against the latest requirements
✔ Fleet readiness assessments and crew awareness support
✔ Pre-vetting inspections with practical recommendations to minimize findings
✔ Continuous technical support to improve inspection performance and maintain compliance

Proactive preparation remains the most effective way to reduce inspection findings, enhance safety performance, and strengthen charterers’ confidence.

If your organization is preparing for upcoming RightShip inspections or wishes to benchmark its fleet against the latest RISQ 3.2 expectations, we would be pleased to discuss how we can support your objectives.

For further details, please refer to the attached circular or contact us.

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