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Bureau Veritas launches OptiCARBON to optimize fleet energy, fuel and compliance costs

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 17 September 2025 17 September 2025

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification, together with its technical advisory arm Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS), has launched OptiCARBON, a SaaS platform which represents an all-in-one solution capable of optimizing and predicting energy, fuel, and compliance costs across an entire fleet.

OptiCARBON utilizes BV’s highly accurate digital vessel models to simulate various operational, regulatory, and financial scenarios tailored to the user's requirements. OptiCARBON's advanced modeling capabilities enable users to explore multiple decarbonization pathways, assessing emissions reduction alongside cost and compliance impacts. The platform’s comprehensive forecasting and scenario planning tools allow users to measure and compare the impact of their operational strategy over time.

The platform is modular, scalable and customizable to different fleet sizes and vessel types. OptiCARBON is designed to support dynamic, long-term decarbonization strategies that evolve alongside new technologies and regulations. While initially developed to meet the specific needs of ferries, cruise ships and RoRo vessels, its future-proofed framework allows for rapid expansion to other vessel segments.

OptiCARBON has already been deployed with Brittany Ferries, where it delivers highly accurate mapping and compliance simulations, while facilitating the company’s EU-ETS requirements. The results demonstrate that combining data-driven forecasting with BVS’ specialized maritime consulting expertise can serve as the cornerstone of a company’s long-term strategic planning.

Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities, BV, said: “The maritime industry is under mounting pressure to decarbonize. With the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and the likely introduction of the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework, it’s not just compliance costs that are rising but also operational complexity and uncertainty.”

Flavia Caldi Rezende, Vice President, BV Solutions Marine & Offshore, said “With OptiCARBON, we’re making dynamic, forward-looking planning accessible to more stakeholders. Our goal is to empower stakeholders to reduce costs, avoid penalties, and develop tailored pathways to net zero – backed by unparalleled regulatory insight and maritime expertise.”

Starboard debuts vibrant, immersive retail experiences aboard Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, Brilliant Lady

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 13 September 2025 13 September 2025

Starboard Group, the world’s leading retail curator at sea, recently announced the latest expansion of its partnership with Virgin Voyages as the exclusive retail partner for Brilliant Lady. Starboard offers a vibrant, curated shopping experience at sea, blending luxury, sustainability and discovery across 5,500 square feet of retail space on the ship, which recently departed from New York City on its inaugural voyage. From exclusive, destination-inspired collections to iconic fashion, beauty and fine jewelry brands, the retail offering is designed to enhance the Virgin Voyages experience for every Sailor.

“We’re proud to continue building our partnership with Virgin Voyages as its exclusive retail partner for Brilliant Lady’s inaugural season,” said Lisa Bauer, Starboard’s President and CEO. “We’ve leveraged our curation expertise, creativity and global resources to create unforgettable retail offerings that perfectly reflect Virgin Voyages’ blend of modern, adults-only sophistication and rebellious fun.”

Starboard reimagined retail on Brilliant Lady through bold visual merchandising, open-flow boutiques and pop-up activations that create an experience that’s less traditional store and more concept gallery. From lab-created diamonds and limited-edition designer collections to sustainable fashion labels, cult beauty and destination-inspired assortments, Starboard brought trend-forward brands directly to sea.

“Starboard is unique in its ability to turn retail into an immersive lifestyle experience that enhances each voyage, and we’re pleased to expand our partnership as we launch Brilliant Lady,” said Nicole Huang, SVP of Fleet Experiences at Virgin Voyages. “Through thoughtful curation and one-of-a-kind activations that blend exclusivity, storytelling and personalization, Starboard is setting a new standard for cruise retail and helping ensure our Sailors have an unforgettable experience.”

First-at-sea luxury offerings

Aboard Brilliant Lady, Starboard is pioneering the future of cruise beauty retail with the launch of the very first Clarins boutique at sea, offering a tailored selection from the French luxury brand along with personalized beauty consultations and complete look transformations. Other first-at-sea offerings include stunning assortments from Blue Stallion Farm and cruelty-free, clean beauty from Briogeo. Men’s and women’s fragrances from the world’s most renowned luxury brands, including INITIO, Loewe, Mancera, Montale and Tom Ford, will also feature prominently. In addition, Virgin Voyages will debut its first TAG Heuer boutique and smart sunglasses from the new Ray-Ban® Meta AI collection onboard Brilliant Lady.

Immersive activations, personalization and sustainability

Multi-sensory activations that spark connection, create memories and foster discovery – such as exclusive liquor tastings, trunk shows and personalized styling sessions – will be key to the Brilliant Lady retail experience. Customization options range from the engraving of jewelry, fragrances and liquor bottles to personalization of apparel and accessories with Virgin Voyages – themed patches.

Sustainability is a core retail pillar, building on Virgin Voyages’ ethos of “Creating an Epic Sea Change for All.” The line already partners with like-minded brands that source responsibly, such as Yellow Leaf Hammocks and Intelligentsia. On Brilliant Lady’s High Street, Sailors discover an expertly curated selection designed to extend product life cycles and reduce environmental impact, from certified pre-owned Rolex watches to lab-grown diamonds by sustainable jewelry brand Engrace Diamonds to vintage luxury handbags from What Goes Around Comes Around. This commitment extends beyond retail, with initiatives like reusable mugs that help eliminate single-use plastic bottles.

Fine jewelry, designer fashion and destination-inspired finds

Brilliant Lady also feature fine jewelry from Roberto Coin, the Italian luxury brand celebrated for its craftsmanship, quality and design, along with artisan handcrafted pieces from John Hardy and modern, fashion-forward designs from Shy Creation. The fashion jewelry shop will offer collections from Uno de 50, Swarovski, Kendra Scott, Jet Set Candy and Shae, Starboard’s exclusive fashion jewelry brand.

The luxury accessories selection showcases handbags and small leather goods from Coach, Marc Jacobs and Kurt Geiger, complemented by a range of timepieces, from the Swiss precision of Frédérique Constant, Longines, Movado, Norqain and Tissot to the timeless appeal of Bulova and Citizen.

Women’s resortwear, accessories and lifestyle pieces from trend-forward labels such as Kiwi St. Tropez, Lamarque and Skemo are offered, while athleisure fans can enjoy stylish, functional Fabletics apparel for both men and women. Men’s fashion options will include contemporary picks from 7 Diamonds, Invicta, John Hatter & Co., Mavrans and New Era. Tees, tanks, hats, totes and sunglasses adorned with the iconic Virgin Voyages logo will also be available, along with a special collection celebrating Brilliant Lady’s inaugural season.

Brilliant Lady recently was launched from New York, making her way down the East Coast to her home port of Miami for a winter season in the Caribbean. In 2026, she will reposition to Los Angeles in preparation for her highly anticipated Alaska itineraries – a first for the Virgin Voyages fleet.

Heineken appoints Natalia Kuldyaeva as new Head of Global Duty Free business

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 12 September 2025 12 September 2025

Heineken has announced the appointment of Natalia Kuldyaeva as Global Duty Free Manager. In this strategic role, Natalia will lead the entire Heineken global duty free business across cruise lines, ferries, airlines, border stores and diplomatic channels, reinforcing the company's ambitions to expand its premium presence in travel environments worldwide.

Commenting on her new appointment, Natalia remarks, “I’m excited to be leading the Heineken business in global duty free, building on its already strong performance, and driving forward initiatives that align with the company’s global ambitions to become the partner of choice and to win the hearts of consumers. Our focus is on delivering premium experiences and championing sustainable innovation at every opportunity.

“Global Duty Free is a powerful channel, offering both commercial growth and brand-building opportunities. Travel environments are ideal for driving premiumization and visibility, enabling us to create memorable connections with travellers for our iconic brands such as Heineken, Heineken 0.0, Birra Moretti, Tiger, Amstel and Desperados, as well as regional favourites such as Red Stripe, and Cruzcampo. Together with our partners, we curate offerings tailored to the diverse preferences of multi-generation guests across cruise and air routes. In today’s challenging domestic landscape, global duty free stands out as a strategic touchpoint, engaging consumers during their journeys and reinforcing brand relevance when they return home.”

Since joining Heineken in 2003, Natalia has held a range of high-impact commercial roles including channel transformation, sales and marketing across several key international markets including the USA, Russia and Italy. Her leadership was instrumental in expansion of Heineken premium portfolio in these markets, delivering significant growth in volume and profitability.

Wärtsilä and Wasaline’s cooperation continues with world’s largest marine battery hybrid system project

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 31 August 2025 31 August 2025

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected as the electrical integrator for a major battery extension project for the Wasaline ropax ferry Aurora Botnia. The project will increase the ship’s battery capacity by 10.4 MWh, from 2.2 MWh to 12.6 MWh, making it the world’s largest marine battery hybrid system in operation. The order with Wärtsilä was booked in Q3 2025.

In the transition to more sustainable ferry transportation, hybrid propulsion systems have emerged as a compelling solution, offering a multitude of pathways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These systems, which combine energy storage capabilities with conventional engines, can significantly cut fuel consumption and, consequently, emissions.

The Aurora Botnia ferry, which is operated by Wasaline, is equipped with dual-fuel engines and batteries and is using biogas and batteries for the propulsion. Expanding its battery capacity is a major step in making the ship even more sustainable. Wärtsilä will lead the integration project and as a result, the battery capacity of the ferry will be extended by 10.4MWh. Wärtsilä will also deliver the Energy Management System, as well as upgrade the power drives and the control system integration. The system is scheduled to be commissioned in early 2026.

“Wasaline’s commitment to decarbonised shipping operations is central to everything we do,” says Peter Ståhlberg, Managing Director – Wasaline. “In this, our close cooperation with Wärtsilä is an essential element that benefits not only both our companies, and we can see that our cooperation sets standards for the whole marine sector. Through our continued collaboration, the ‘Aurora Botnia’ has become a working example of what is possible when it comes to delivering environmentally friendly transportation within shipping.”

This latest project will strengthen the existing collaboration agreement between Wärtsilä and Wasaline, with the Aurora Botnia acting as a floating testlab linked to Wärtsilä’s Sustainable Technology Hub. It allows further development of hybrid technologies to optimise fuel efficiency and minimise exhaust emissions. As a result, the vessel is one of the most environmentally sustainable ferries in the world, operating carbon neutrally already today.

“Wasaline once again demonstrates its strong commitment to decarbonisation by extending the electrification capacity of this ferry. Our latest contribution will optimise the ship's operations even further, creating fuel savings and a significant reduction in emissions,” comments Roger Holm, President of Wärtsilä Marine & Executive Vice President at Wärtsilä Corporation.

The Aurora Botnia, which entered into service in 2021, operates with a range of integrated Wärtsilä solutions, including four highly efficient Wärtsilä 31DF engines. The ultra-low emissions version of the engine has helped the ferry to significantly reduce methane emissions. The ferry operates between Vaasa in Finland and Umeå, Sweden.