MarineCraft Journal 
Survey ships are the dedicated data-gathering platforms of the maritime world, engineered to probe the ocean floor, measure water column properties, monitor environmental health, and support operations from seabed mapping to underwater search. The breadth of their applications, and the sophistication of the technology they carry, make them among the most capable and consequential vessels in the global fleet.
Onshore Power Supply allows vessels at berth to shut down their auxiliary engines and draw power from the port grid, eliminating a significant source of localised air and noise pollution at a stroke. With the FuelEU Maritime Regulation mandating OPS from January 2025 and European ports targeting net-zero gas emissions by 2030, the technology has moved from voluntary sustainability initiative to compliance imperative.
Nearly 90% of shipping companies raised crew salaries in 2024, and retention rates improved as a result. Yet one in three crew managers still struggles to recruit skilled seafarers, pointing to a structural mismatch between the supply of qualified candidates and the increasingly complex demands of modern vessel operations.
