Nor-Shipping has  revealed the winners of its prestigious Next Generation Ship Award and Ocean Solutions Award, with Bibby Marine’s eCSOV hybrid vessels and bound4blue’s eSAIL suction sails taking home the silverware. Both winners were chosen for their outstanding innovation, showcasing maritime’s commitment to building a more sustainable, resilient and #Future-Proof industry.

Bibby Marine took the ship award ahead of fellow shortlisted entrants Windcat, Solvang Shipping, NYK and Samskip, while bound4blue collected the solutions prize – open to all Nor-Shipping exhibitors – edging in front of fellow nominees Wärtsilä, Zeabuz and ORCA AI. Both accolades were awarded in front of key global decision makers at the Ocean Leadership Conference in Lillestrøm, Norway this morning.

Celebrating progress

Nor-Shipping Director Sidsel Norvik congratulated the winners, praising the “amazing breadth of innovation” on display. She notes: “This year’s winners are fantastic examples of what it means to be future-proof – our main theme for this, the 60^th anniversary Nor-Shipping.

“Both Bibby Marine and bound4blue have developed solutions that don’t just respond to today’s operational needs, but proactively anticipate the direction this industry must go – towards cleaner, smarter, and more collaborative ways of working. We are proud to celebrate their vision and impact at Nor-Shipping 2025, and applaud all the shortlisted companies for helping push the maritime world towards more sustainable, profitable horizons.”

A new breed of innovation

Bibby Marine’s eCSOV hybrids are a new breed of offshore wind support ships designed for long-term zero-emission operations. The vessels have the ability to charge massive battery banks – the largest ever installed on DP2 ships – directly from wind farms, while also boasting full methanol fuel systems enabling completely clean-in-field operations.

bound4blue’s eSAIL system is an innovative wind assisted propulsion technology using suction sails to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs and simplify regulatory compliance. The units are easy to install, operate autonomously and are suitable for multiple shipping segments.

Nor-Shipping 2025 is currently underway in Oslo and Lillestrøm, running from 2 to 6 June. The event week offers around 1,000 exhibiting companies, in addition to a packed programme of conferences, knowledge sharing events and networking activities.