Asia News

Vard has started construction of the UPO Atlantic commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for U-Ming Purus Offshore (UPO), following a steel-cutting ceremony at its Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.The ceremony, held on November 2, marked the first construction milestone for the vessel, designated NB 1004 and based on Vard's VARD 4 19 design.The UPO Atlantic is being developed to support offshore wind projects in Taiwan and across Asia, as part of UPO's expansion into the…

Dutch-based Jack-Up Barge, backed by the Van Es Group, has expanded its fleet with the three-legged accommodation and services jack-up unit JB 121, following a naming ceremony in Dalian, China.The ceremony took place on November 3 at Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore, ahead of the unit's scheduled departure for the Netherlands in early November.Jack-Up Barge, a company that provides support services across the offshore wind, oil and gas, and maritime infrastructure sectors, initiated the acquisition of JB 121 earlier in 2026 as part of its fleet expansion strategy…

Saudi state oil giant Aramco is working to expand a crude pipeline that circumvents the Strait of Hormuz as the world continues to experience the biggest energy supply shock in history, CEO Amin Nasser said on Tuesday.The effective blockade of the chokepoint that links the Gulf to world markets, previously a conduit for 20% of global oil supplies, has redrawn global energy flows and infrastructure investment priorities among the region's oil producers.Last month, Saudi Energy…

Yangzijiang Maritime Development has placed orders for 11 new vessels at Chinese shipyards, expanding its newbuilding portfolio to 111 vessels, including options and previously delivered ships.The latest orders comprise four bulk carriers of approximately 82,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) each and seven Long-Range 2 (LR2) tankers of approximately 114,000 DWT each, with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030.The bulk carrier orders also include options for two additional vessels of similar specifications.Following the new orders…

Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat) has named nine new gas carriers at three South Korean shipyards, marking progress in its fleet expansion programs aimed at increasing LNG transportation capacity and diversifying into LPG/ammonia shipping.The naming ceremonies, announced on November 2, took place at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Samho, covering seven LNG carriers and two LPG/ammonia carriers.Five of the LNG carriers form part of Nakilat's 25-vessel…

Singapore-based Asia Break Bulk (ABB), part of Hamburg-based COLI Group, has signed long-term agreements with Schoeller Holdings for four new multipurpose heavy-lift vessels, with the first scheduled for delivery in October 2028.The four 12,600-DWT Octopus-type vessels, designed by CSSC-SDARI, will each feature two 250-tonne cranes capable of tandem lifts of up to 500 tonnes, expanding ABB's project cargo transportation capabilities.Each vessel will have a single box-shaped cargo hold measuring more than 89 meters in length…

Oil fell nearly 4% on Monday as talks between Iranian and Qatari officials on a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran raised hopes that Middle East supply disruptions could ease.Iranian negotiators left Doha talks on Sunday, but not due to difficulties in negotiations, an official briefed on the meeting told Reuters on Monday."The new month brought with it renewed hopes of a breakthrough in the Iranian stalemate," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $4.20…

Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Friday that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, while attempting to use what it described as unauthorised routes, Iranian state media reported.In its latest statement, the IRGC Navy said a fourth vessel, a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, had hit a mine, suffered a powerful explosion and was burning.An IRGC Navy statement had said earlier that one of the tankers, which was also carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil…

Big Oil is reaping near record cash windfalls from the eight-month-old Iran war, but Western energy producers’ reluctance to ramp up spending reveals persistent doubts about the industry’s long-term outlook.BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and TotalEnergies reported combined net profits of $56 billion in the third quarter, driven by surging oil and gas prices, record-high refining margins and strong trading results.BP posted its highest quarterly profit ever, $8.5 billion, as earnings from its refining business rose tenfold from a year earlier.

Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbour tugboat to Bulgarian operator VTC S.A., marking the fifth vessel supplied to the company since their partnership began in 2003.The tug, renamed KASTRITSI by its new owner, will join VTC's fleet at the Black Sea port of Varna, supporting harbour towage and marine operations.Based on the RApport 2500 design by Robert Allan, KASTRITSI is a shallow-draft Azimuth Stern Drive (ASD) tug designed for operations in confined and shallow waterways.The vessel measures 25.2 meters in length and 12 meters in beam…

Solstad Maritime has secured two contracts for its Normand Australis construction support vessel (CSV) in the Asia Pacific region, with a combined firm duration of 250 days.The contracts will be executed consecutively, with operations expected to begin in December 2026, Solstad Maritime announced on October 30.The agreements also include options for a combined 75 additional days beyond the firm contract periods.The estimated value of the contracts is at the lower end of the $10 million to $30 million range.Under the contracts, Normand Australis will provide remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and

Dutch geological data specialist Fugro said on Friday that Iran war-linked disruptions had dented its earnings by €25 million ($28 million) this year, including €10 million in the third quarter alone, while GPS jamming and restrictions on vessel movements continued to hamper Gulf offshore operations.Some clients in the region have altered project plans and, in some cases, used their own vessels for work that would otherwise have been contracted to Fugro, CEO Mark Heine told Reuters."We have work…

India has approved a $1.05 billion (100 billion rupee) scheme aimed at increasing domestic shipping container manufacturing capacity around tenfold to 750,000 TEUs annually, as the country seeks to reduce import dependence and strengthen its maritime supply chains.The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS), approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 28, will support the establishment of new manufacturing facilities and expansion of existing production units.The initiative…

An oil spill from a damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, satellite images showed, triggering more beach closures and raising environmental concerns.Images from the European Union's Copernicus satellite observation network dated October 24 show the oil spill has widened over the last few days and is reaching close to the shores of the northern Umm Al Quwain emirate, with dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along its coastline.Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran…

HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have secured concept verification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for a breakerless medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) power system designed to improve energy efficiency and support electrification of large commercial vessels.The system, designed for vessels requiring around 30 MW of power, aims to improve energy efficiency and support high-capacity electrification as ships…

Siem Industries has ordered two offshore subsea construction vessels (OSCVs) from Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China, with deliveries scheduled for 2029 and 2030.Each vessel will be equipped with a 400-tonne active heave compensated (AHC) subsea crane and an additional 50-tonne AHC subsea crane to support subsea construction and offshore support operations.The vessels will measure approximately 145 meters in length and 27 meters in beam, with designs developed by Sirius Design…

Singapore's Seatrium has secured an agreement with Keppel's subsidiary RigCo to complete construction work on four offshore drilling rigs under an existing master services arrangement, with the total estimated contract value exceeding $390 million (S$500 million).The four rigs comprise a premium seventh-generation drillship, a harsh environment jack-up and two mid-water semisubmersibles designed for operations in the harsh conditions of Northwest Europe.The construction work will be funded by existing cash retained in RigCo…

The United Arab Emirates said efforts were under way on Friday to contain oil leaking from a tanker vessel offshore that prompted authorities to close beaches and warn fishermen to avoid the area.Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran, attacks on commercial vessels in Gulf shipping lanes have driven up security risks for maritime traffic and heightened fears over the conflict's environmental fallout.The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said in a statement…

Oil prices rallied over $2 a barrel on Thursday after more Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concerns over a broader escalation of conflict and further disruptions to crude supplies from the world's key exporting region.Brent crude futures LCOc1 climbed$2.82, or 2.59%, to $111.64 a barrel at 0626 GMT, close to a five-month high. US West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 gained $2.24, or 2.31%, to $99.39."Oil prices remain well bid, with ICE Brent back above $110 per barrel this morning following additional deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia…

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were simultaneously hit and caught fire after being tracked by its forces on Wednesday.The IRGC added that three more vessels collided with mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, and warned the US military that continued provocations could lead to a wider response against its regional bases.(Reuters - Reporting by Tala Ramadan; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

ZEBOX, the international innovation accelerator founded by CMA CGM Group Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadé, has announced four winners of its first Asia-Pacific Challenge for Impact competition, held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.The competition, organized in partnership with CMA CGM Vietnam and technology company FPT, focused on developing solutions for maritime operations, logistics and artificial intelligence applications.Held on October 15 at the Caravelle Saigon Hotel as part of France Vietnam Forward…

DNV has become the first non-Japanese recognized organization authorized by Japan's Flag Administration to apply floating offshore wind classification rules in the country.The authorization allows DNV to apply its floating offshore wind rules within Japan's regulatory framework, supporting the classification and technical assessment of floating wind installations.The rules cover floating substructures, mooring and station-keeping systems, as well as associated safety and utility systems.DNV said the approval strengthens its ability to provide technical expertise…

Saitec Offshore Technologies and Japan's Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) have agreed to extend operations at the 2 MW DemoSATH floating offshore wind demonstrator in Spain through 2027, with Japanese construction company Kumagai Gumi joining the project as a new partner.The three companies have signed a cooperation agreement to continue operating the floating wind turbine at the BiMEP open-sea test site off the Basque coast, shifting the project's focus towards research…