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Friday, September 4, 2026

Offshore News

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

© Sashkin / Adobe Stock

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

© Lucasz Z / Adobe Stock

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

MacGregor Advances Floating-to-Floating Transfer and LCO2 Systems

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, allowing personnel to transfer between floating assets without a fixed landing point.The capability is designed for applications including FPSOs, floating rigs, floating wind arrays and offshore service fleets.

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

Glomar Debuts New Multi-Purpose OSV Design

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, future-proof vessel designs,” said Job Volwater, CEO and co-founder of C-Job Naval Architects.

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

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

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 that producing more American energy safely requires constant technological advancement.The foundation built through decades of offshore energy innovation will support not only the next generation of oil and gas production…

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)…

11 Aug 2026

DOF Wins AHTS Contracts in CARICOM Region

Source: DOF

DOF has been awarded firm contracts with a combined duration of 150 days for two of its AHTS vessels in the CARICOM region (Caribbean). DOF will also provide ROV services for the engagement.The two vessels will commence transit to the region shortly. The combined value of the contracts is “significant”, which DOF defines as contracts with value between $15 and $25 million.

10 Aug 2026

Cadeler Orders More Offshore Wind Installation Vessels

Source: Cadeler

Cadeler has signed firm contracts with COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, for the construction of two new T-class offshore wind installation vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031.The new T-class series vessels have been engineered to be the largest and most capable vessels ever introduced to this market. They are designed to tackle increasingly complex projects with greater efficiency, versatility and performance.Earlier this year, Cadeler secured the…

07 Aug 2026

SLB, Equinor to Upgrade Vessel Under Multi-Year Well Stimulation Deal

MV Island Captain (Credit: SLB)

SLB and Equinor have signed a multi-year agreement for advanced reservoir stimulation services across the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including a major upgrade of the well stimulation vessel MV Island Captain.The agreement provides dedicated stimulation capacity to support the development of tight offshore reservoirs and help maximize recovery from future wells.As part of the contract, MV Island Captain will be converted into a fully proppant-capable stimulation vessel.Planned upgrades include expanded proppant storage…

07 Aug 2026

Oil Climbs as Hormuz Transit Plan Raises Fresh Concerns

© Awais / Adobe Stock

Oil extended gains on Friday amid further concerns around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran, working with Oman, suggested banning vessels deemed hostile from the strait and heavily fining those which violated the proposed rules.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 85 cents, or 1.03%, at $83.34 a barrel by 0634 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 rose 52 cents, or 0.67%, to $77.81.Oil futures settled up more than $3 a barrel on Thursday as Iran reviewed a bill to ban U.S.

07 Aug 2026

ADNOC L&S Acquires 11 Vessels in $1.3B Fleet Expansion Deal

(Credit: ADNOC L&S)

ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) has agreed to acquire 11 tankers for approximately $1.3 billion, expanding its crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipping capacity to support ADNOC Group's growing production, trading and export activities.The acquisition comprises five very large gas carriers (VLGCs) and six very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Nine vessels - six VLCCs and three VLGCs - were acquired on the secondary market and are scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2026…

06 Aug 2026

RWE, Trump Reach $1.22b agreement to Cancel Offshore Wind Leases

© Adobe Stock/NBLX

German energy company RWE said on Thursday that it had reached a $1.22 billion agreement with the Trump administration to cancel three offshore wind leases in U.S. waters and to direct the funds to LNG and natural gas power plant projects.The arrangement is the fifth, and largest, the administration has entered into this year as part of its wide-ranging effort to stop development of U.S. offshore wind projects, which U.S. President Donald Trump regards as costly and ugly. His…

05 Aug 2026

OPA '90 and Deepwater Horizon: A Law That Worked Better than Anyone Could Have Imagined

The damaged Blow Out Preventer (BOP), along with the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap from Deepwater Horizon. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas M. Blue.

A few months ago, I authored an article for Marine News focused on just one of the many successful features of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90,” Pub. L. No. 101-380 (1990)) — Alaska’s regional citizen advisory councils (RCACs). The Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet RCACs were established under OPA 90 to work with oil and gas industry interests on behalf of the surrounding communities to ensure safe operations and community buy-in. I was heartened by the positive responses I received from friends…

05 Aug 2026

The Potential Benefits of a Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council for Our Gulf Coast Energy Industry

The Exxon Valdez remains in place in Prince Williams Sound after running aground. The Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, March 23, 1989 spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil, which resulted in the largest oil spill in U.S. history. U.S. COAST GUARD PHOTO

When the EXXON VALDEZ ran aground in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, it was an action-forcing event that led to what was the most substantial overhaul of our federal oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response regime in the Nation’s history. But the event that really got policymakers and experts started thinking about such a sweeping re-rack of federal law actually occurred a decade earlier—the Ixtoc One blowout in Mexico’s Bay of Campeche in 1979.If Ixtoc sounds eerily similar to the Macondo blowout (i.e.…

05 Aug 2026

Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea

© Yaroslav / Adobe Stock

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Wednesday they had launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Yanbu.Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, did not say when the attack took place.(Reuters - Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

04 Aug 2026

Oil Rises as Uncertainty Clouds US-Iran Peace Talks

© hunterpic2013 / Adobe Stock

Oil prices rose on Tuesday as a diplomatic resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict remained uncertain, while disruptions to oil flows through key shipping routes persisted.Front-month Brent futures LCOc1 rose $1.04, or 1.24%, to $84.81 a barrel by 0800 GMT after dropping 7% in the previous session to a three-week low.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was up 30 cents, or 0.37%, at $80.64 a barrel after falling more than 5% in the previous session to its lowest in nearly a week.Prices had dropped after U.S.

04 Aug 2026

Trump Presses ExxonMobil, Chevron to Lower Fuel Prices After Record Profits

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

U.S. President Donald Trump accused ExxonMobil and Chevron on Monday of making "too much money" off higher fuel prices and said the oil giants should "give some of that back to the public," a notable break from his usual alliance with the industry."I don't like it," Trump told reporters on Monday, three days after the companies reported blowout second-quarter earnings as the ongoing war in Iran keeps oil prices high. “Chevron, too much money. ExxonMobil, too much. Too much money.”Exxon…

03 Aug 2026

Saipem, Subsea7 Clear Key US Regulatory Merger Hurdle

Saipem's Castorone vessel (Credit: Saipem)

Saipem and Subsea7 have cleared a key U.S. regulatory hurdle for their planned merger after the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired, allowing the transaction to close in the United States once all remaining conditions are met.The companies said all applicable waiting periods under the U.S. antitrust law have expired, while noting that the proposed merger remains subject to certain regulatory approvals outside the United States.The merger was agreed under a binding agreement signed in July 2025…

03 Aug 2026

Saudi Oil Tankers Cross Red Sea as Hormuz Traffic Slows

© Parilov / Adobe Stock

Two tankers laden with Saudi oil crossed the Bab el-Mandeb strait over the weekend, while traffic in the Strait of Hormuz slowed following reports of vessel attacks, shipping data showed on Monday.The number of commodity vessels that passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell to 18 on Sunday, from 27 on Saturday and 28 on Friday, the Kpler data showed.The Iran-aligned Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi ‌Arabia on July 20, opening a new front against the U.S. and…

03 Aug 2026

GasLog LNG Tanker Safe Following Strait of Hormuz Incident

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A liquefied natural gas vessel controlled by Greek shipping company GasLog was stable after an incident while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with everyone on board safe and accounted for, the company said.An "incident" had occurred on its Gaslog Shanghai LNG vessel on July 31, said GasLog in a statement. It did not provide details about the incident or whether the ship or its cargo had sustained any damage."GasLog LNG Services immediately activated their emergency plan, notified all relevant authorities…

31 Jul 2026

Petrobras Extends Contracts for DOF-TechnipFMC PLSV Duo

(Credit: DOF Group)

DOF Group has secured long-term contract extensions with Petrobras for the Skandi Buzios and Skandi Recife pipelay support vessels (PLSVs), extending both contracts into January 2028.Following negotiations with Petrobras, Skandi Buzios was awarded a 516-day extension, while Skandi Recife secured a 550-day extension, DOF said.The contracts had previously been due to expire in the third quarter of 2026.Both vessels are owned by a joint venture between DOF and TechnipFMC, with each company holding a 50% interest.

31 Jul 2026

Two Oil Supertankers Exit Hormuz as Traffic Remains Sparse

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The two very large crude carriers (VLCC) carrying oil loaded from the Gulf exited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with traffic through the waterway remaining thin, according to Kpler ship-tracking data.The Spain B vessel is carrying crude oil loaded from the Saudi Arabian port of Ras Tanura on July 12, and is currently anchored off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile Noble, which loaded Iraqi Basrah crude on July 25, is heading to China.Both VLCCs are carrying about 2 million barrels of crude each.

30 Jul 2026

Singapore Issues Eight New LNG Bunkering Licenses

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Singapore has issued eight new licenses to supply liquefied natural gas as a marine fuel in Singapore from September 1, 2026, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said on Thursday.The new licences will expand Singapore's LNG bunkering capacity to meet growing demand expectations and support a multi-fuel bunkering hub.The licences were awarded to companies including Aramco Trading Singapore, Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, ExxonMobil Asia Pacific, PetroChina International Singapore, Shell Eastern Trading, Sinopec Fuel Oil Singapore, the TotalEnergies Gas & Power Asia-Sembcor

30 Jul 2026

Egypt Confirms Drone Hit Damietta Gas Vessels

Energos Winter FSRU (Credit: Energos)

A drone caused the fire that engulfed two gas vessels at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, the Egyptian cabinet said on Thursday, confirming for the first time that the blaze which erupted a day earlier was the result of an attack rather than an accident.No party has claimed responsibility, and authorities were continuing their investigations and taking necessary measures to protect Egypt's national security, the cabinet added.British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Wednesday that a drone had hit a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at the port…