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Sunday, September 20, 2026

Offshore News

18 Sep 2026

Aesen Debuts Next-Gen Hybrid Crew Boat

Image courtesy Aesen

Aesen introduced the Aesen 116H, a next-generation hybrid crew boat developed to support the evolving operational requirements of offshore personnel transportation and infield logistics operations. This vessel combines hybrid propulsion technology, intelligent energy management and enhanced operational resilience to support safer, more efficient and lower-emission offshore operations.By integrating hybrid propulsion and energy storage systems, Aesen 116H is engineered to optimise engine loading and power utilization…

18 Sep 2026

Exmar FLNG Conversion Concept Gets Bureau Veritas Approval

(Credit: Exmar)

Exmar has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for a concept to convert an existing membrane-type LNG carrier into a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit for offshore gas developments.The FLNG concept would use a membrane-type LNG carrier with an effective LNG storage capacity of about 170,000 cubic meters and a design life of 25 years.Designed for operation in mild environments, the converted vessel would provide offshore gas processing…

18 Sep 2026

INEOS Starts Full-Scale CO2 Storage at Greensand Project in Danish North Sea

(Credit: INEOS Energy)

INEOS Energy has started commercial operations at the Greensand project in the Danish North Sea, opening what it describes as the European Union's first full-scale carbon dioxide storage site, with initial capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes per year.Denmark's King Frederik X officially opened the facility on September 18 at the Port of Esbjerg. The project is led by INEOS Energy alongside Harbour Energy and the Danish North Sea Fund, or Nordsøfonden.Greensand is designed to scale up to between 4 million and 8 million tonnes of CO2 storage annually as demand grows.In the first commercial phase…

18 Sep 2026

Oil Goes Down 2% as Saudi Supply Concerns Recede

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Oil prices fell 2% on Friday, extending losses for a third straight session as easing concerns over Saudi supply disruptions outweighed anxiety about a widening of conflict across the Middle East.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell by $2.14, or 2%, to $102.68 a barrel by 0806 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 futures fell $1.83, or 1.8%, to $100.08.Benchmark Brent prices are on track for their first weekly loss in three.Immediate concerns over supply tightness have been eased by a combination of Saudi Arabia loading more crude via Oman…

17 Sep 2026

LNG Prices Projected to Spike; European Stocks Dwindle

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Global LNG prices could shoot higher this winter as Europe holds its lowest stocks in years and North Asian buyers face increased competition with the Strait of Hormuz still closed, executives said at an industry conference this week.Europe will enter this winter more vulnerable than usual amid storage levels that are lower than last year, industry executives and analysts said at Gastech in Bangkok.At the same time, the war on Iran has prevented Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from shipping liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz…

17 Sep 2026

LNG Prices Projected to Spike; European Stocks Dwindle

Global LNG prices could shoot higher this winter as Europe holds its lowest stocks in years and North Asian buyers face increased competition with the Strait of Hormuz still closed, executives said at an industry conference this week.Europe will enter this winter more vulnerable than usual amid storage levels that are lower than last year, industry executives and analysts said at Gastech in Bangkok.At the same time, the war on Iran has prevented Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from shipping liquefied natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a loss of 36 million metric tons of supply this year, according to Shell."Right now…

16 Sep 2026

Lloyd’s Register Backs Fore-Accommodation Wind-Powered LNG Carrier Design

(Credit: Lloyd's Register)

Lloyd's Register has granted Design Appraisal to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' fore-accommodation LNG carrier design featuring Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' Wind Challenger hard-sail system, advancing the concept towards potential commercial deployment.The appraisal confirms that the design complies with LR's Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems notation requirements and follows Approval in Principle granted at Gastech 2025.The partners describe the vessel as the world's first fore-accommodation LNG carrier equipped with the Wind Challenger system.

16 Sep 2026

Saudi Export Disruptions Push Oil to Four-Month Highs

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Oil prices settled $3 higher on Tuesday after shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh had canceled some cargo deliveries to European customers, deepening concerns that disruptions to a critical oil-export route could persist for weeks.Gains in U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 outpaced Brent on Tuesday, as fears that Saudi Arabia's supply troubles were widening sent investors rushing into U.S.

16 Sep 2026

Strait of Hormuz Traffic Falls to Four Ship Crossings

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Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained in the single digits at four on Tuesday, down from seven a day earlier, preliminary shipping data showed on Wednesday, falling well short of the 10-day average of 18.The drop in traffic through the waterway that handled one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply before the Iran war comes after attacks in the region intensified.Of the total on Tuesday, two ships were exiting and two were entering, according…

15 Sep 2026

China Taps Crude Inventories ... Again

Copyright Grispb/AdobeStock

China dipped into its massive crude oil stockpile in August for the third month in the past four as increased refinery processing exceeded a modest increase in oil imports.Refineries processed about 640,000 barrels per day (bpd) more than what was available to them from imports and domestic oil production, according to calculations based on official data.China, the world's biggest crude importer, slashed its purchases to the lowest in a decade in the wake of the higher oil prices caused by the disruption to supplies from the Middle East after the U.S.

15 Sep 2026

Saudi Export Halt Contributes to $3 Oil Jump

Copyright StreetonCamera/AdobeStock

Oil prices rose nearly $3 on Tuesday after a report said oil loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu have been suspended, and Libya halted operations at three oil fields, heightening concerns that disruptions to key oil supply routes could persist for weeks.Brent crude futures were up $2.81, or 2.66%, at $108.49 a barrel at 1106 a.m. ET, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 futures were up $3.29 at $104.68 a barrel. If prices hold, both contracts would be on track…

15 Sep 2026

Oman Rescues 23 from Attacked Oil Tanker, Two Missing

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Oman's Maritime Security Centre said on Tuesday that the Panama-flagged oil tanker 'EL GAIA' was being towed to an Omani port after a fire broke out in its engine room following an attack.The tanker was about 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam when it was attacked, the centre said. An Omani naval vessel evacuated 23 crew members, while two remain missing.(Reuters - Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

15 Sep 2026

Russian Frigate Fires Flares at Danish Military Helicopter

© frag / Adobe Stock

A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft, the Nordic NATO member's military said.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after incidents involving gas pipeline outages, airspace violations and drone sightings since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all of which have increased tensions between Moscow and the West.The Fennec military helicopter had been on a routine mission to photograph the Russian frigate…

15 Sep 2026

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Set for Return to Suez Canal Shipping

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Shipping group Maersk said on Monday that four more of its joint container services with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd will resume sailings through the Suez Canal, as they gradually return to using the shortcut between Asia and Europe.The Asia-Europe trade corridor through the Suez Canal was abandoned by most shippers earlier this decade after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, forcing ships to take the much longer trip around Africa."The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and West and a key driver of efficient global supply chains," Denmark's Maersk said in a statement."By t

14 Sep 2026

KERSHIP Launches First of Two Offshore Patrol Vessels for Montenegrin Navy

© KERSHIP

KERSHIP, a joint venture between PIRIOU and Naval Group, launched the PETAR NJEGOS I, the first of two OPV 60M offshore patrol vessels ordered by Montenegro, at its Lanester shipyard on Friday, September 11, 2026.The ceremony, marking a milestone in the program, was attended by numerous Montenegrin and French dignitaries, including Mr. Aleksa Becic, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Dragan Krapovié, Minister of Defence of Montenegro, Ms Dubravka Lalovic, Ambassador of Montenegro in France…

14 Sep 2026

XRG, ADNOC and SEFE Deepen Gas Ties in Europe

(Credit: XRG)

XRG, ADNOC and SEFE have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore wider cooperation across the natural gas and LNG value chain, including supply, infrastructure and shipping opportunities aimed at Germany and the wider European market.The agreement covers potential cooperation in four areas: security of supply, market development and growth, supply chain resilience, and portfolio and shipping optimization.The companies will explore combining ADNOC's UAE-based supply and XRG's international supply sources with SEFE's market presence…

14 Sep 2026

Saudi Oil Lifeline Shut After Attack as Red Sea Threat Grows

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Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West pipeline, after the vital oil conduit came under aerial attack in the widening Middle East war, threatening to send energy prices even higher.The world’s largest crude oil exporter said it temporarily closed the pipeline as a precaution after a drone attack that both Baghdad and Riyadh said had originated in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias operate. Iraq dismissed a military commander on Saturday in response to the attack.The 1,200-km…

11 Sep 2026

GONDAN Launches Its Largest-Ever Vessel Built for Østensjø Rederi

(Credit: GONDAN)

Spanish shipyard GONDAN Shipbuilders has launched a 120-metre Ocean Energy Support Vessel (OESV) for Østensjø Rederi, the largest vessel built by the shipyard to date.The C513 OESV was launched at GONDAN's Figueras facility and will now undergo final outfitting and sea trials ahead of scheduled delivery in late 2027.Designed by Salt Ship Design, the vessel has a beam of 23 meters and is intended for operations including walk-to-work personnel transfers, commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) support for offshore wind…

11 Sep 2026

Deadly Cargo Ship Fire Kills 25 at China Shipyard

(Credit: Screenshot/Video on X)

Twenty-five people died in a fire aboard a foreign cargo vessel undergoing repairs at a state-owned shipyard in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao on Thursday, state media reported.The fire broke out at about 11:15 a.m. (0315 GMT) at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard during repair and inspection works, state-run Xinhua said. Of the 42 people onboard, 12 were evacuated safely and five were injured and hospitalised.The blaze was extinguished by early afternoon, state media said.A picture of the scene released by Xinhua showed the vessel involved to be the Ocean Melody.

11 Sep 2026

Houthi Forces Reach Perim Island, Raising Red Sea Shipping Threat

© SABBIR / Adobe Stock

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on Friday reached the strategic island of Perim in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, four Yemeni government sources told Reuters, potentially tightening their grip on one of the world's vital shipping routes and further increasing the threat to energy markets in the widening Middle East war.Earlier, two sources from the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government said its forces had withdrawn from Perim and that the Houthis had also taken the mainland Red Sea coastal town of Dhubab…

10 Sep 2026

Boskalis’ Windpiper Starts Maiden Job at Polish Wind Farms

Windpiper subsea rock installation vessel (Credit: Boskalis)

Boskalis’ recently commissioned Windpiper subsea rock installation vessel has started its maiden project at the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea, placing its first rocks to protect the projects’ export cables.The 227-meter-long vessel loaded nearly 45,000 tons of rock in Norway following its christening in July before sailing for the installation campaign.Boskalis said the load represents a record cargo, with no single subsea rock installation vessel…

10 Sep 2026

GEOS’ Energy Paradise PSV to Stay with Peterson into 2027

Energy Paradise PSV (Credit: GEOS)

Golden Energy Offshore Services (GEOS) said Peterson has exercised a further well option for the platform supply vessel (PSV) Energy Paradise, extending its firm employment into early 2027.The option has an anticipated duration of about 100 days and an estimated contract value of $3.4 million.Energy Paradise is currently working under an existing well program expected to finish around mid-October 2026. The new option will start immediately afterwards, securing firm employment…

10 Sep 2026

Houthi Advance Toward Bab el-Mandeb Raises New Shipping Threat

© SABBIR / Adobe Stock

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militants have seized control of the historic port city of Mocha, four government military sources said, ina strategic shift that could threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world's most important shipping routes.Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified in recent days, with the militant group shifting its focus to control over Yemen's long coastline instead of just the north, putting them in a stronger position to disrupt maritime trade.The group has launched attacks on the strategic Red Sea islands of Hanish…

10 Sep 2026

Iran Waives 10% Levy to Ease Foreign Energy Shipping

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Iran has suspended a 10% charge on freight fees for foreign vessels carrying imported or exported oil, gas and liquid petroleum products to and from Iran, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Thursday.A U.S. naval blockade has sharply disrupted the country's seaborne oil exports.(Reuters - Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Alex Richardson)

10 Sep 2026

NATO Allies Disrupt Russian Subsea Cable Sabotage Exercise

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Deep in Arctic waters near the remote Svalbard archipelago this spring, NATO allies caught Russian subs training to unleash a secret weapon designed to disable critical undersea cables without leaving any fingerprints.The clandestine Russian operation, described to Reuters by two Western officials, was carried out by Moscow's GUGI undersea warfare directorate, which used deep-sea submersibles to simulate the deployment of the sophisticated and destructive technology.A joint operation involving Britain…

09 Sep 2026

Iran Strikes Back After US Military Destroys Five Oil Tankers

© Parilov / Adobe Stock

The Middle East war intensified on Tuesday with Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen launching strikes on several Saudi cities, further embroiling a U.S. ally in the conflict, while U.S. forces hit multiple Iranian oil tankers and Iran targeted a U.S. base in Jordan.The Houthis attacked four cities in the south of Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old war.As global oil markets were pricing in the Saudi attacks, the U.S.

08 Sep 2026

Hapag-Lloyd Revising $4.2B ZIM Offer to Address Israeli Concerns

© olrat - stock.adobe.com / Adobe Stock

Hapag-Lloyd is working with the Israeli government on improvements to its proposed $4.2 billion cash purchase of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, the German shipping group said on Monday.The proposed deal has faced heavy opposition in Israel, including ZIM's workers, Defence Minister Israel Katz and other government officials, who argue that it undermines national security by transferring Israel's shipping to a foreign company."We are now developing an improved proposal designed to further strengthen Israel's maritime security and independence…

08 Sep 2026

Inmarsat’s NexusWave Earns Bureau Veritas Cyber Certification

(Credit: Inmarsat)

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has secured Cyber Security Type Approval from Bureau Veritas (BV) for its NexusWave multi-network maritime connectivity service, following an assessment against the International Association of Classification Societies' (IACS) Unified Requirement E27.The approval follows a ClassNK Cyber Security Type Approval against the same IACS requirement earlier in 2026, adding another independent assessment of the security controls incorporated into NexusWave.Bureau Veritas assessed the service's onboard ICT architecture…

08 Sep 2026

Kongsberg Maritime to Acquire Finnish Propulsion Specialist Steerprop

(Credit: Kongsberg Maritime)

Kongsberg Maritime has entered into an agreement to acquire Finnish azimuth propulsion specialist Steerprop, strengthening its position in the Arctic and high ice-class vessel market.Steerprop designs and manufactures azimuth propulsion systems for icebreakers, polar research vessels, offshore support vessels and other demanding applications. It has an installed base of more than 400 vessels globally and a significant order backlog, with the majority linked to Arctic and ice-class…

08 Sep 2026

Oil Jumps as Houthi Strikes Disrupt Saudi Energy Operations

© hunterpic2013 / Adobe Stock

Oil prices hit multi-week highs on Tuesday after Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi energy facilities and Tehran threatened the United States with "economic warfare".Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up $2.00, or 2.06%, at $99.00 a barrel by 0800 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was at $94.41 a barrel, up $2.93, or 3.2%.Brent earlier rose to as much as $99.22 a barrel, its highest since July 24, while WTI reached $94.60 a barrel, its highest since June 8."The price action…

08 Sep 2026

Iran Raises Stakes with Gulf Exclusion Zone and Missile Warning

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Iran threatened the United States with "economic warfare" on Tuesday and said it had fired an advanced missile at U.S. warships, underscoring the risks of further escalation in the war only days after both sides traded blows again.The six-month-old war has been marked by a cycle of pauses followed by periodic flare-ups, with the U.S. last reporting attacks on Iranian targets on Saturday, when U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers. Iranian state media on Sunday reported that Iran fired the Qassem Basir missile.Despite U.S.

07 Sep 2026

Windward Offshore Completes Four-Vessel Vard-Built CSOV Fleet (Video)

(Credit: Vard)

Windward Offshore has taken delivery of the Windward Hamburg, completing its four-vessel series of purpose-built commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) ordered from shipbuilder Vard.The delivery brings the Windward Hamburg into the fleet alongside sister vessels Windward Athens, Windward Paris and Windward Munich, providing capacity to support offshore wind projects during construction, commissioning and long-term operations.Based on VARD's 4 19 design, the Windward Hamburg is 87.5 meters long and 19.5 meters wide and can accommodate up to 120 people.

07 Sep 2026

Tanker Strikes Push Hormuz Traffic to Lowest Since May

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An average of 10 commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz per day over the past 10 days, the lowest since May, according to shipping data on Monday, after U.S. and Iranian strikes on tankers.The 10-day moving average was 10 on Sunday, down from more than 15 on Friday and nearly 13 on Saturday, data from analytics firm Kpler found.Only two vessels passed through the strait on Saturday while six went through on Sunday, mostly using the Iranian route.U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday, U.S.

03 Sep 2026

Milei Vows Tougher Sanctions, Defense Push Over Falklands Oil Drilling

© Peter Hermes Furian / Adobe Stock

Argentine President Javier Milei said on Thursday he would tighten sanctions on companies involved in oil projects around the Falkland Islands, boost defense resources in the country's south and send Congress a bill aimed at strengthening Argentina's response to what he called violations of its sovereignty.In a televised address, Milei said he would sign a decree to speed sanctions under Argentine law against companies participating in oil and gas extraction in territory Argentina…

01 Sep 2026

Iran Creates Oil Bonanza for the Americas

© SimonPeter / Adobe Stock

From Canada to Argentina, oil producers across the Americas have enjoyed a windfall during the Iran war by capturing market share lost by Middle Eastern exporters. The renewed focus on energy security globally could transform this emergency response into a lasting structural change.Oil production in the Americas has become a viable alternative to the Middle East's vast hydrocarbon resources since the outbreak of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz six months ago, which disrupted roughly a fifth of global oil supplies.

01 Sep 2026

Trump's Deal with Venezuela Raises Red Flags for Some

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An unprecedented deal for the U.S. to gain access to a fifth of Venezuela's oil reserves - and the central role a Venezuelan businessman will play - is prompting questions and hesitation from some oil companies evaluating potential investments in the country, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.A White House fact sheet released late on Monday outlined an arrangement under which private oil firm North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) would receive a 100-year lease for 17 oilfields in Venezuela holding some 65 billion barrels of oil reserves. The U.S.

31 Aug 2026

Trump says Exxon will Re-Enter Venezuela

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U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil major, was among a group of companies planning to do business in Venezuela.Exxon declined to comment. Any entrance into the South American country would mark a stunning reversal nearly two decades after the company exited following the nationalization of its assets. The oil producer operates the prolific Stabroek Block in next-door Guyana, which currently produces more than 900,000 barrels of oil a day."We have Exxon going in…

28 Aug 2026

Op-Ed: Estonia Prepares the Next Phase of Growth for EST Flag

(Credit: Estonian Transport Administration)

The following article is an op-ed piece from Andrei Barotov and Kristiina Peterson, Chief Specialists of Maritime Competitiveness at the Estonian Transport AdministrationLeveraging its ‘e-Estonia’ digital society initiative, the government of Estonia is preparing to extend the digital reach of EST Flag ship registration services, while also expanding its tonnage eligibility. Andrei Barotov and Kristiina Peterson, Chief Specialists of Maritime Competitiveness at the Estonian Transport Administration…

28 Aug 2026

Four Shipowners Order Four VINGA Product Tankers

(Credit: VINGA)

Four shipowners from Sweden, Norway and Canada have ordered four new VINGA product tankers for delivery in 2028 and 2029, expanding the Furetank-developed vessel series to 26 ships.Two of the vessels will be owned by FureBear, a joint venture between Sweden's Furetank and Canada's Algoma Central Corporation, while Norway's O.H. Meling and Sweden's Älvtank will each take one.The order marks O.H. Meling's first investment in the VINGA series, while Älvtank already owns three of the vessels.The four 17,999-dwt product tankers will be built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou, China.

28 Aug 2026

Iran Outlines Terms for Restoring Hormuz Shipping

© ink drop / Adobe Stock

Iran is preparing a list of conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz after mediators asked Tehran to set them out, said Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, adding that ending the regional war was among them.Rezaei said Iran had agreed with Oman on a shipping corridor through the strait, with parts of the route in Omani waters and parts in Iranian waters. Ships would use a designated central channel if the U.S. met Iran's conditions, he said through an interpreter in an Al Manar TV interview.On Wednesday…

27 Aug 2026

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Marks Slight Rise

© M-Production / Adobe Stock

Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz rose slightly even as a standoff persisted between the United States and Iran, data showed on Thursday, while the market monitored Iran-Oman talks about the waterway.Visible commodity vessel transits at Hormuz totalled 10 on Wednesday, up slightly from eight on Tuesday, data from Kpler showed.

26 Aug 2026

TDI-Brooks Completes Subsea Cable Survey Project Offshore Alaska

© TDI-Brooks

TDI-Brooks recently completed a third-party geotechnical project offshore Alaska, supporting a short cable route survey for Woolpert utilizing their Gravity CPT Stinger (gCPT) system. The project consisted of a geophysical and geotechnical survey for a marine cable route in the Valdez Arm.Designed for rapid deployment in remote and challenging environments, the gCPT tool enables efficient in-situ soil characterization without the need for conventional drilling.

26 Aug 2026

Lloyd’s Register Joins Austal’s $715M Australian Army Landing Craft Program

(Credit: Lloyd’s Register)

Lloyd’s Register has secured a $7.8 million (A$11 million) contract from Austal Defence Australia to provide naval classification services for the Australian Army’s Landing Craft Medium program.The contract covers classification services throughout the construction of 18 landing craft, supporting quality, compliance and assurance from construction through to delivery.Austal Defence Australia is delivering the vessels under a Design and Build Tasking Statement worth more than $715 million (A$1.029 billion)…

26 Aug 2026

Astro Offshore, Oceaneering Team Up on Integrated Subsea Solutions

(Credit: Astro Offshore)

Dubai-based offshore vessel operator Astro Offshore has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Oceaneering International to jointly pursue and deliver offshore and subsea projects.The agreement combines Astro Offshore's offshore vessel capabilities with Oceaneering's remotely operated vehicle (ROV), survey and integrated project delivery expertise.Astro Offshore said the partnership will allow the companies to provide integrated solutions across a wider range of offshore operations.The agreement coincides with Astro Offshore's acquisition of Astro Aurora…

26 Aug 2026

Solstad’s Normand Valiant CSV Hooks $62M Contract with Petrobras

(Credit: Solstad Offshore)

Petrobras has signed a two-year contract for the Normand Valiant construction support vessel (CSV), owned by Solstad Maritime (SOMA).The contract is expected to start in fourth quarter 2026 in direct continuation of the current agreement and subsequent class renewal.The vessel will provide accommodation services to support production activities on the Brazilian continental shelf.The Normand Valiant is a 2008-built smaller CSV mobilized with a walk to work gangway system and has…

26 Aug 2026

Oil Companies to Steer Clear of Iran Blacklisted Ships

© Osobenkovs / Adobe Stock

At least three Indian oil refiners and a global energy major plan to stop using vessels on Iran's new blacklist, including for ship-to-ship transfers, due to security concerns, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said this week.Tehran announced on Sunday a blacklist of 45 ships it said had broken its rules for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and would take action against any vessels transferring loads with them, escalating its threats over the key waterway for global…

26 Aug 2026

Iran-Oman Talks on Hormuz Reopening Drive Down Oil Prices

© Awais / Adobe Stock

Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel on Wednesday as talks between Iran and Oman revived hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen and remove shipping constraints affecting supply in the key Middle East region.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $2.30, or 2.6%, to $86.28 a barrel by 0447 GMT, earlier dropping to their lowest since August 13. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were down $2.08, or 2.53%, at $80.29, earlier sinking to their lowest since August 10.Both…

25 Aug 2026

MacGregor Advances Floating-to-Floating Transfer and LCO2 Systems

Floating-to-floating personnel transfer gangway (Credit: MacGregor)

MacGregor has expanded its offshore technology portfolio with a certified floating-to-floating personnel transfer capability for its Horizon gangway and a new bow transfer system designed for direct ship-to-well transfer of LCO2.The Horizon gangway has received DNV certification under DNV-ST-0358 for floating-to-floating personnel transfers following a successful sea acceptance test. The certification enables motion-compensated connections between two vessels moving independently…

25 Aug 2026

US Court Rejects Challenge to Trump’s Offshore Drilling Expansion

U.S. President Donald Trump (Credit: The White House)

An Alaska federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit by environmental groups challenging President Donald Trump’s move to allow offshore drilling along broad swaths of previously protected coastline.U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason found the lawsuit by groups, including the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, was premature because drilling was not imminent in federal waters that were placed off-limits by Trump’s predecessors.Gleason did not rule on whether presidents have…

25 Aug 2026

Strait of Hormuz Commodity Vessel Transits at Three-Month Low

© Yellow Boat / Adobe Stock

Just two tankers transited the key energy chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, for the lowest daily tally of commodity vessels since early May, with both entering the Gulf, shipping data showed.The figure was also well below the 10-day average of 14, with one very large gas carrier and one very large crude carrier entering the strait from the Gulf of Oman, according to shiptracker Kpler by 0657 GMT on Tuesday.While down from Sunday's tally of seven vessels of all types…

24 Aug 2026

Oceaneering Becomes Authorized Starlink Reseller

© Oceaneering International

Oceaneering International, Inc. announced it is now an authorized Starlink reseller, expanding its portfolio of digital solutions available to offshore, maritime, and industrial customers operating in remote and challenging environments.Starlink is a connectivity solution and can be integrated into connectivity architectures designed to support operational continuity across remote and offshore operations.Reliable connectivity plays an important role in supporting today's offshore and industrial operations…

24 Aug 2026

Kongsberg to Add Three More Satellites to Maritime Surveillance Network

(Credit: Kongsberg)

Kongsberg has unveiled plans to add three more satellites to its N3X maritime surveillance constellation in early 2027, doubling the number of satellites in the network to six as it expands space-based monitoring capabilities for the Norwegian Armed Forces.The additional satellites are intended to improve revisit rates and provide near-real-time coverage, strengthening maritime situational awareness for Norway and international partners.The expansion builds on the deployment of three initial N3X satellites in 2025…

24 Aug 2026

Tanker Hit by Projectile Catches Fire Off Saudi Red Sea Coast

Illustration © Nightman1965 / Adobe Stock

A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Saudi Arabia's port city of Yanbu, leading to a fire on the vessel's main deck, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Monday.The UKMTO said all crew were safe and accounted for with no reported environmental impact.Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, where millions of barrels a day are loaded, and has become the main route out for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which has…

24 Aug 2026

Iran Tightens Enforcement of Strait of Hormuz Transit Rules

© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

Iran has issued a warning that vessels violating its arrangements for transiting the Strait of Hormuz could face restrictions, including fines, detention, or confiscation, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority wrote in a post on X.The warning heightens risks for the charterers and shipowners whose vessels transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the world's energy shipments.The PGSA, a new body Iran has established with the aim of managing the strait, has said cargo owners should refer to an updated list of vessels deemed non-compliant for voyages relating to the Persian Gulf.Vesse

20 Aug 2026

Everllence’s 175D Engines to Power Four Offshore Tugs Destined for Guyana

Source: Everllence

Everllence has signed a contract with a Turkish shipyard within the high-speed segment. The contract comprises 16 × 175D gensets bound for 4 × Rampage 6000‑DE offshore terminal tugs designed by Robert Allen.These will be operated by Smit Lamnalco, a Boskalis company, in Guyana, South America to support an FPSO fleet in the Stabroek Block.The newbuilds’ roles will combine towing, safety, logistics, dynamic positioning and maintenance functions, supporting large‑scale deepwater oil production.

20 Aug 2026

World Maritime Forum 2027 to Address Shipping’s Investment Choices in Copenhagen

Credit: IGGS group

The two-day maritime conference will take place at Copenhagen’s AC Bella Sky Convention Center on 23-24 February 2027.World Maritime Forum 2027 will bring the international maritime community back to Copenhagen for a two-day event at the AC Bella Sky Convention Center. Organised by IGGS Group, the forum is intended for shipowners, ship managers, shipbuilders, ports, authorities, maritime suppliers and service providers. It will take place as the industry considers increasingly important decisions around fleet investment…

19 Aug 2026

Tech File: MacGregor LCO₂ Bow Transfer System

Image courtesy MacGregor

A new liquid carbon dioxide (LCO2) transfer solution built on proven technology from MacGregor enables the flexible, direct ship-to-well injection needed to support the EU’s carbon capture and storage goals.If the European Union is to meet its objective of net-zero emissions by 2050, carbon capture and storage (CCS) will have a significant part to play. The EU-funded CCS research and innovation project, COREu, targets a 6.8- and 36-megatonne reduction in annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2035 and mid-century…

18 Aug 2026

SeaDry Protects Offshore Instrumentation From Humidity

Floating measurement systems are constantly exposed to harsh climatic conditions on the
high seas. Image credit: stock.adobe.com / driftwood

Excessive humidity can damage sensitive equipment in offshore measurement systems, impair data quality and necessitate costly service call-outs. Customers in offshore data collection and marine research therefore use ThoMar's SeaDry to reduce humidity inside protected enclosures and technical cavities.SeaDry was developed to cope with high levels of humidity and extreme climatic changes during transport at sea. Manufactured in Germany, this salt-and-starch-based high-performance…

18 Aug 2026

Deepwater FIDs Set to Drive Sub-Saharan Africa Production Growth

Eni’s Baleine development offshore Côte d’Ivoire © Eni

Sub-Saharan Africa’s deepwater production is expected to grow by over 1 million boe/d by 2035 and big-ticket projects taking final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2026 and 2027 will be key to unlocking this.In late January, Equatorial Guinea and Chevron signed-off the Aseng Gas blowdown project. This will monetize ~1 Tcf from Aseng on Block I and help backfill the Equatorial Guinea LNG plant.We expect production to start in 2028. And in May, Eni gave the greenlight to Phase 3 of the Baleine project offshore Côte d’Ivoire.

18 Aug 2026

Kongsberg Wins FPSO Deck MachineryDeal

Image courtesy Kongsberg Maritime

Kongsberg Maritime won a contract with a major energy operator to deliver advanced deck machinery for a new Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for an offshore development in Asia.The contract covers a fully integrated mooring and deck machinery solution, including chain pull-in winches, chain stoppers, fairleads, riser pull-in winches, and associated control and automation systems. Delivery of the equipment is scheduled for mid-2027.A notable technical feature of the project is the large mooring chain dimension…

17 Aug 2026

Corvus Energy Expands Service Support in Brazil

Source: Corvus Energy

Corvus Energy has entered into a strategic partnership with Belga Marine to deliver specialized local support, expert aftermarket battery system services, and on-the-ground spare parts storage to efficiently meet the needs of Brazil’s expanding fleet of battery-powered offshore support vessels (OSVs).Brazil now boasts its largest-ever OSV fleet, with nearly 500 vessels currently in operation and many more anticipated in the near future. Notably, Petrobras is investing substantially in both decommissioning outdated assets and renewing the fleet…

17 Aug 2026

Glomar Debuts New Multi-Purpose OSV Design

Image courtesy CJob | Glomar

C-Job Naval Architects and Glomar unveiled the design of a next-generation Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) that the pair claims provides a breakthrough in versatility and sustainable engineering.Purpose-built as Glomar’s first vessel of its kind, the design eliminates the need for multiple specialized ships. Engineered for peak performance across diverse offshore tasks — from subsea inspections and cable trenching to ROV operations — this vessel sets a new industry benchmark as a “Swiss Army knife” for offshore work.“This project reflects C-Job’s drive to deliver innovative…

17 Aug 2026

The Gulf of America Remains the World's Offshore Innovation Laboratory

© kittikunfoto / Adobe Stock

For generations, the Gulf of America has served as the proving ground for offshore innovation. Every major chapter in modern offshore energy has depended upon American engineers, geoscientists, mariners, fabricators, regulators, and offshore workers to solve problems many believed were beyond reach.From the earliest fixed platforms to deepwater production, subsea systems, floating facilities, and today's 20,000 psi reservoirs, the Gulf of America has consistently demonstrated…

17 Aug 2026

MOBY Robotics: A New Playbook for Subsea Mineral Recovery

Image courtesy MOBY Robotics

Moby Robotics is a new entrant to the subsea swarm autonomous robotic space, created in 2025 and aiming to take a leadership role in the discovery and recovery of subsea minerals market.The race to secure critical minerals from the deep ocean has accelerated dramatically over the past two years, driven by geopolitical concerns, energy transition goals and growing demand for rare earth elements. While much of the industry's attention has centered on regulatory debates and large mining contractors…

13 Aug 2026

Seatrium, Golar Ink FLNG Conversion LOI

Seatrium and Golar strengthen FLNG partnership with planned third conversion project.
Photo Credit: Seatrium

Seatrium Limited entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Golar LNG Limited to advance a potential third Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) conversion project to be undertaken by Seatrium for Golar.Under the arrangement, Seatrium and Golar will work together to advance technical design development and project definition activities, with the objective of finalising an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract in the second half of 2026. An upfront consideration…

13 Aug 2026

Autonomy Offshore: Uncrewed Systems Move from Trials to Critical Operations

Copyright Stela/AdobeStock

When maritime autonomy is discussed, the image is often a large cargo ship crossing an ocean without a crew. That remains a longer-term regulatory and technical challenge. The more immediate commercial market is developing elsewhere – smaller uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are already surveying seabeds, inspecting pipelines and cables, monitoring offshore wind farms, and collecting hydrographic and geophysical data.Intelatus Global Partners identifies 825 USV…

12 Aug 2026

Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale Attracts $82.7 Million in High Bids

© Mike Mareen / Adobe Stock

The latest Trump administration sale of oil and gas drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico attracted nearly $82.7 million in high bids on Wednesday, generating more money than a sale in March, but far less than one held in December.The Trump administration offered more than 80 million acres (32.4 million hectares) in the Gulf of Mexico to drillers as part of an effort to boost domestic energy production with regular offshore lease sales.The sale is the second since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupted global crude flows and sent oil prices to four-year highs.

12 Aug 2026

81m Acres Opened in Gulf of America Lease Sale

Copyright frank/AdobeStock

The Trump administration will offer more than 81 million acres (32.8 million hectares) in the Gulf of America to oil and gas drillers as part of an effort to boost domestic energy production with regular offshore lease sales.The sale is the second since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupted global crude flows and sent oil prices to four-year highs. It is the third of 30 mandated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending law passed in 2025.The Interior Department will offer 15,100 unleased blocks located between 3 and 231 miles (4.8 to 372 km) offshore on the U.S.

12 Aug 2026

He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm: Final Turbine Installed

Image courtesy Cadeler

Cadeler completed the final turbine installation at the 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea. The final turbines were installed by Wind Keeper, under its long-term contract with Vestas.Cadeler’s scope of the installation campaign was executed using two of Cadeler's offshore wind installation vessels. Wind Orca commenced the project in April 2025 before Wind Keeper took over the remaining installation scope in the first quarter of 2026 under Cadeler's long-term contract with Vestas announced last year.

12 Aug 2026

Karoon Energy Approves U.S. Who Dat East Development

Source: Karoon Energy

The Who Dat East Joint Venture, operated by LLOG, has sanctioned the development of the Who Dat East field. The field, located in lease MC 509-1, is in a water depth of approximately 1,300 metres.The Who Dat East project is a one-well development comprising the completion of the 2024 Who Dat East discovery well, the construction of a 29-kilometer pipeline to the Who Dat Floating Production System (FPS), installation of subsea controls, and minor upgrades to the FPS.The total capital cost is estimated at US$155 – 165 million net to Karoon.First production is expected in the second half of 2028…

11 Aug 2026

Cadeler Acquires Offshore Wind Foundation Specialist

Source: Cadeler

Offshore wind installation contractor and operator Cadeler has acquired Menck, a global provider of specialist equipment and technology solutions for offshore foundation installation based in Germany.The acquisition strengthens Cadeler’s offshore wind installation capabilities. Cadeler intends to continue operating Menck as a standalone business, preserving its independent market position while strengthening its role as a key supply chain provider across the offshore wind industry.Combining…

11 Aug 2026

Romania Destroys Drones Drifting Near Offshore Gas Project

© Serhii / Adobe Stock

Romanian army divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones drifting in the country's Black Sea exclusive economic zone near the offshore gas project Neptun Deep, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Tuesday.The NATO state shares a 614-km (382-mile) land border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones repeatedly breach its airspace over the last four years, as well as mines floating in the Black Sea across key trade and energy routes.In July, Romanian F-16 fighter jet pilots shot down…

11 Aug 2026

Wouter Pattynama Appointed as LR Executive Client Solutions Manager, Offshore

Wouter Pattynama. © Lloyd's Register

Lloyd's Register (LR) has appointed Wouter Pattynama as Executive Client Solutions Manager, Offshore, strengthening its offshore energy expertise and expanding support for clients across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region.Based in Perth Western Australia, Wouter brings nearly 30 years of experience spanning maritime, offshore energy, and oil and gas. Wouter joins LR from Australia's offshore regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA)…