Page 2: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 2026)

NO. 4 | VOL. 88 | APRIL 2026 46

On the cover

John McDonald,

Chairman & CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Image courtesy ABS

On this page

Image courtesy Imabari Shipbuilding

Departments

Chair of the Board Tore Ulstein discusses the ULSTEIN X-BOW, which two 26 Engineering: X-BOW Turns 20 4 Authors & Contributors decades ago upended naval architecture and sparked a global success story for Ulstein Group. 6 Editorial

By Jose? ne Spiro 8 Vessel Hardening Readiness 34 Gotland’s Hydrogen Power Play By Dave Cudbertson,

Jonas Moberg, Head of Newbuildings at Gotlandsbolaget, gives the rationale Programmes Director, OCIMF behind, and the challenges ahead, in building and operating a hydrogen- ready 130-m, 18,300-gt, 1,500-passenger, 400-car, 30-knot catamaran. 10 Maritime Safety

By Greg Trauthwein MV Estonia’s Impact on Passenger Vessel Safety 14 The Path to Zero

There are maritime executives who ? nd the industry by accident, then there 38 John McDonald, Chairman & CEO, ABS EverClean Hull Cleaning are those that are destined to be in it from birth; John McDonald is the latter. He takes the helm of ABS at arguably one of the most exciting yet tumultuous 16 Start Up times in maritime history, as it is an industry facing multiple in? ection points Homer & Actionable Data in terms of decarbonization and fuel transition, automation and autonomy, digitalization, robotics and seafarer training, to name but a few. 18 Market Report: WTIVs

By Greg Trauthwein by Phil Lewis, Intelatus 22 Market Report: Icebreakers

Design re? nement, productivity gains and attention to product quality have by Phil Lewis, Intelatus 46 Changing Shipyard Dynamics in Japan seen shipbuilders maintain a high pro? le in certain commercial sectors. 54 Tech File: Deck Machinery

By David Tinsley 58 In the Shipyard

A ? ourishing cruise market and European shipbuilders’ unerring contractual 50 European Shipyards Build Cruise Backlog 62 Classi? eds success in the sector has taken orderbooks into the middle of 2030.

64 Buyer’s Directory

By David Tinsley 64 Advertisers Index 2 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • April 2026

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