Gulf Marine Hooks Multi-Year Jack-Up Vessels Charter in Europe
Gulf Marine Services (GMS), a provider of jack-up support vessels to the offshore energy industry, has secured a contract covering two of its large-class vessels in Europe.The contract spans a total of 985 days and will see the vessels continue to support offshore operations across the region.Following this award, GMS’s contracted backlog has increased to $540 million, according to the company.“We are delighted to have secured this contract, which once again highlights the strong demand for our vessels across multiple geographies and the confidence our clients place in GMS to deliver reliable…
DOF Bags Two Deals in Asia-Pacific Region
Norwegian offshore vessel owner and subsea services provider DOF Group has secured two contracts for its vessels and services in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.DOF signed a three-year frame agreement for the provision of subsea inspection, maintenance and repair services with associated assets in the APAC region.A call off under the contract has also been confirmed and will utilize DSV Skandi Singapore and all related diver-less subsea services on a brownfield tieback campaign…
Oil Loading in Venezuela Crawls After New US Interceptions
Tanker loading in Venezuela dwindled on Monday, with most ships moving oil cargoes only between domestic ports following U.S. action against two more ships and as state-run energy company PDVSA struggles to recover from a cyberattack, according to tracking data and sources.The U.S. Coast Guard this month seized a supertanker under sanctions carrying Venezuelan oil and tried to intercept two more Venezuela-related ships over the weekend, U.S. authorities said. One of them is an empty ship under U.S.
Shearwater Set to Start Multi-Client Survey Offshore Nigeria
Offshore seismic services firm Shearwater Geoservices has finalized the preparations for the upcoming start of a new multi-client seismic project offshore Nigeria.The 3D survey is backed by significant industry funding and will be executed in partnership with Harvex Geosolutions and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).The project is scheduled to start at year-end 2025 and will be carried out by Shearwater’s high-end vessel SW Duchess over an expected two-month period.The survey will provide high-resolution subsurface data across the Western Niger Delta Basin…
DOF Expands Backlog with Atlantic Awards, Shell IMR Deal
Norwegian offshore vessel owner and subsea services provider DOF Group has secured several new project awards in the Atlantic region and a separate contract in North America with Shell.The Atlantic region awards, amounting to over $60 million, will be executed primarily using DOF’s regional fleet during the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. The contracts represent more than 250 firm vessel days, excluding optional work.In West Africa, DOF will deploy Skandi Hera and Skandi Master under direct contracts with an operator.
Equinor Renews Subsea Inspection Deal with Subsea 7
Subsea7 has secured a sizeable extension of an existing frame agreement by Equinor for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair services using the vessel Seven Viking.The extension continues a frame agreement first signed in 2018 and runs through the end of 2027.Under the terms of the deal, Seven Viking will carry out inspection, maintenance and repair services at Equinor’s oil and gas wells across the Norwegian Continental Shelf.Project management and engineering work will continue to be handled from Subsea 7’s office in Stavanger…
Saipem Gets DNV Certification for Offshore Asset Lifecycle Management
Saipem has obtained ISO 55001:2024 certification, the international standard for asset lifecycle management, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards operational excellence and offshore sustainability.The certification, issued by DNV, confirms Saipem’s Asset Management system compliance with the most advanced requirements, covering all operational phases - design, procurement, installation, commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning, ensuring a robust and effective “Asset Integrity” framework.The certification applies to Saipem’s entire offshore asset portfolio…
Britain Imposes Sanctions on Russia's Energy Sector
Britain imposed sanctions on Thursday on more Russian oil companies and Canadian-Pakistani billionaire Murtaza Lakhani as part of efforts to ramp up pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.The government targeted 24 individuals and entities, including what it described as Russia's largest remaining unsanctioned oil companies: Tatneft, Russneft, NNK-Oil and Rusneftegaz.The latest measures aim to make it harder for Russia to trade its oil globally. In October, Britain and the U.S.
US Imposes Sanctions Iranian Oil Shadow Fleet
The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on 29 vessels and their management firms as Washington targeted Tehran's "shadow fleet", which it says exports Iranian petroleum and petroleum products.The targeted vessels and companies have transported hundreds of millions of dollars of the products through deceptive shipping practices, the U.S. Treasury said.The shadow fleet refers to ships that carry oil that is under sanctions. They are typically old, their ownership opaque…
DOF Bags Multiple Vessel Deals with Petrobras in Brazil
Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has secured seven new contract extensions with Petrobras for its offshore support vessels (OSVs) in Brazil, valued over $160 million.Five of DOF's Brazilian-flagged anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, all with ROVs on board, including Skandi Fluminense, Skandi Paraty, Skandi Angra, Skandi Urca and Skandi Iguaçu, have had their current contracts with Petrobras extended until the first quarter of 2027.The new four-year contracts…
Woodside's Meg O’Neill to Serve as Next CEO of BP
The bp Board has appointed Meg O’Neill as bp’s next CEO effective April 1, 2026.Murray Auchincloss is stepping down from his position as CEO and director of the Board, effective December 18. Carol Howle, current executive vice president, supply, trading & shipping of bp, will serve as interim CEO.O'Neill is the first CEO to be appointed by BP from outside of the company and the first female to lead any of the top five oil companies in the world. The company began a major shift in strategy earlier this year.
PDVSA Resumes Oil Cargo Deliveries After Cyberattack
Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA on Wednesday was resuming oil cargo deliveries at its terminals following a cyberattack that affected its centralized administrative systems, according to the company and sources.PDVSA, which is grappling with the U.S. announcement on Tuesday of a blockade of all sanctioned tankers approaching or planning to leave Venezuelan waters, was able to isolate oilfields, refineries, ports and other facilities from its central system to resume work…
Trump Targets Venezuelan Oil Exports with ‘Sanctioned’ Tankers Blockade
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.It is unclear how Trump will impose the move against the sanctioned vessels, and whether he will turn to the Coast Guard to interdict vessels like he did last week. The administration has moved thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships - including an aircraft carrier - to the region."For the theft of our Assets…
PDVSA Faces Stuck Cargos, Rising Discounts, and Contract Change Demands
Venezuela's state-run company PDVSA is dealing with stuck oil cargoes, rising price discounts and demands from customers to change terms of spot contracts following the U.S. seizure of a ship carrying the OPEC country's crude, traders and sources said.As Washington's pressure on President Nicolas Maduro grows, the U.S. Coast Guard last week intercepted the vessel Skipper near Venezuela's coast, its first seizure of an oil tanker or cargo from the South American country. The U.S. also imposed sanctions against six ships and their linked companies.By the time the U.S.
Seadrill Awarded Contract in the U.S. Gulf and Angola
Seadrill Limited has been awarded contracts for the West Neptune, Sevan Louisiana, and Sonangol Quenguela.In the U.S. Gulf, the West Neptune was awarded a contract with LLOG Exploration. The four-month program is expected to commence in direct continuation to the current contract, adding approximately $48 million to backlog.Also in the U.S. Gulf, the Sevan Louisiana received an award from an undisclosed operator for a two-month program which is expected to commence in direct continuation to the current contract with Walter Oil and Gas.
ABS Approves MISC and China Offshore’s Ammonia FPSO Design
MISC and China Offshore Engineering & Technology Company have received the Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their design of an ammonia floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This innovative floater solution adapts proven onshore production technology for offshore operations, transforming unutilized hydrocarbon gas from nearby offshore facilities into high-value blue ammonia, which is stored onboard at cryogenic conditions.This…
Iran Seizes Tanker, Detains 18 Crew Over Alleged Smuggled Fuel
Iranian authorities detained 18 crew members of a foreign tanker seized in the Gulf of Oman on Friday that they said was carrying 6 million litres of smuggled fuel, Iranian media reported on Saturday.Iran, which has some of the world's lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in the value of its national currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.(Reuters - Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Jan Harvey)
Oil Tankers Delayed up to 12 Days in Turkish Straits
Delays for oil tankers passing through the Turkish Straits have climbed to about 12 days for a round trip to the Black Sea, up from about seven days last week, as winter storms, heightened security risks and shorter daylight hours snarl traffic, traders said and Riverlake data in LSEG showed.The congestion, which last exceeded 12 days in February, is being compounded by intensified security checks following recent attacks on tankers carrying Russian oil and strikes on port infrastructure in Novorossiysk…
Wood Nets Long-Term Maintenance Contract for Rio Grande LNG Facility
Scottish engineering and consultancy firm Wood has secured a ten-year contract with NextDecade to deliver maintenance solutions at Rio Grande LNG, a major natural gas liquefaction and export facility under development near Brownsville in Texas.Wood will provide comprehensive maintenance services to support operations at the approximately 1,000-acre site.NextDecade expects the liquefaction and export facility will deliver secure and affordable energy through the safe and efficient…
DeepOcean Extends IMR Services Deal with Equinor
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured an extension to its existing frame agreement with Equinor for the provision of subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) services.As a part of the renewal, DeepOcean will deploy specialized IMR vessels, along with comprehensive subsea services, throughout 2026 and into 2027.The scope of work also includes onshore engineering and project management services for various subsea operations.With this contract, DeepOcean will deliver uninterrupted IMR activities for Equinor from 2006 to 2035…
Chevron Among Top Bidders at Gulf of Mexico Oil and Gas Auction
BP, Chevron and Shell were among the top bidders on Wednesday at the U.S. government's first sale of oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico since 2023.The auction, which ended with $279.4 million in high bids, was the first of 30 mandated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill, which he signed into law in July.His administration's plans for offshore leasing are a significant departure from that of his predecessor, President Joe Biden, which had planned…
Bourbon Inks Multi-Year PSV Deal with ExxonMobil in Guyana
French offshore services provider Bourbon has signed a five-year contract, with extension options, with ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL) to provide maritime services in Guyana.It will start in the first quarter of 2026, with the commissioning of the large platform supply vessel (PSV) Bourbon Calm and covers the transport of products essential to offshore operations in one of the world's most dynamic oil basins.The discovery of oil fields in 2015 has made Guyana one of the fastest-growing offshore operations…
Vissim to Provide Vessel Collision Avoidance System for Qatari Offshore Field
Norwegian technology company Vissim has secured a contract with a Qatar-based oil and gas operator to deliver a vessel collision avoidance system at an undisclosed oil field offshore Qatar.As part of a three-year agreement, Vissim will provide specialized software that enables a fully digitized and user-friendly overview of vessel traffic at the offshore field.The core of Vissim’s technology is a specially designed software platform which, through input from millions of data points such as the automatic vessel identification system (AIS)…