Offshore News

The count down is on for this year’s CMA Shipping 2026 conference and exhibition taking place from 10–12 March 2026 at the Hilton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. Organised by the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) and Informa Markets, this flagship event is set to bring together the most influential voices in the maritime industry for three days of industry networking, knowledge sharing, and innovation.CMA Shipping 2026 features a robust conference agenda designed to address the most pressing issues facing the maritime sector.

A U.S. judge on Monday will consider a request from Danish energy company Orsted to block the Trump administration's halt on its Sunrise Wind project off the coast of New York.The preliminary injunction request is the fifth brought by an offshore wind developer since the Interior Department's December 22 pause on five offshore wind leases in federal waters. The agency stopped work on the multi-billion-dollar facilities due to national security concerns around radar interference.Orsted has spent or committed more than $7 billion to date to build Sunrise Wind, the company said in a court filing.

Dominion Energy said on Friday the total project costs for the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind have increased to roughly $11.5 billion from $11.2 billion.The changes in estimated costs reflect the impact of temporary suspension of work issued by the U.S. government in December as well costs associated with tariffs.Earlier this month, a federal judge allowed Dominion to resume work at the Virginia offshore wind project, after it was initially suspended by the Trump administration over what it called national security concerns.The project was originally slated to be completed by the end of 2026…

As part of a broader effort to unleash American energy by encouraging oil and gas exploration and production on federal lands and waters, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the Final Notice of Sale for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 1. Officially authorized under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and commonly known as BBC1, this marks the first of six lease sales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet required by the legislation.“Regular and predictable federal leasing is the minimum standard for maintaining domestic energy production…

As part of a broader effort to unleash American energy by encouraging oil and gas exploration and production on federal lands and waters, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the Final Notice of Sale for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 1. Officially authorized under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and commonly known as BBC1, this marks the first of six lease sales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet required by the legislation.“Regular and predictable federal leasing is the minimum standard for maintaining domestic energy production,” said BOEM Acting Director Matt Giacona. “Energy security is national security, and this sale reflects a clear, congressionally mandated path forward for Cook Inlet leasing.

Stena RoRo has ordered a new generation of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessels, placing firm orders for two C-Flexer RoRo ships with options for an additional four, as the company moves to expand its offering of flexible and future-proofed tonnage for the global market.The vessels have been developed by Stena RoRo in cooperation with Italian design firm NAOS Ship and Boat Design and form part of the company’s long-term strategy to provide adaptable RoRo vessels capable of meeting evolving operational and regulatory requirements.“With Stena RoRo’s extensive experience and market knowledge…

Japanese shipping company NYK has invested in XFuel, a company developing technology to refine waste-derived liquid hydrocarbons into low-carbon fuel for marine applications.The investment is aimed at advancing collaboration with XFuel, including the recycling of fuel sludge generated from NYK’s operating vessels, to support the development of decarbonization technologies that utilize existing fuels.XFuel has developed proprietary Chemical Liquid Refining (CLR) technology capable of converting waste-derived hydrocarbon liquids into high-purity, low-carbon fuels suitable for marine use.

Offshore wind installation contractor Cadeler has signed a preferred supplier agreement with an undisclosed client for the transportation and installation (T&I) of monopiles and transition pieces at a large offshore wind farm in European waters.The foundation installation campaign is expected to begin in the first half of 2028 and would be carried out using two of Cadeler’s wind installation vessels, including one of its newbuild A-class ships designed for XXL foundation installation.The…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced it will publish a Request for Information and Interest to evaluate industry interest and gather public input that could inform a potential lease sale for minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Alaska.The Request for Information supports the Trump Administration’s focus on strengthening domestic supply chains and advancing American energy and resource leadership.“Alaska’s offshore holds strategic potential for the minerals that drive American industry…

Nam Cheong Limited, one of Southeast Asia’s leading Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) providers based in Sarawak, Malaysia, has announced that the Group has entered into a sales agreement with an Indonesian customer to sell one 11-year-old 3,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT) platform support vessel (PSV) for $19.8 million.The vessel sale is part of the Group’s fleet reprofiling initiatives and is expected to contribute positively soto the Group’s earnings for the financial year ending 2026.

Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), Asia’s premier exhibition and conference for Shipbuilding & Marine, Workboat, Offshore, and Electric & Hybrid Marine, will return for its 19th instalment, from 25-27 March 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, with its largest edition to date. Anchored by the theme “Future of Vessels, Solutions for Tomorrow”, APM 2026 is set to convene the global leaders to examine how the next energy technologies and innovation are driving the future of maritime.As decarbonisation targets intensify and digital innovation accelerates…

Norwegian vessel owner and operator Golden Energy Offshore Services has signed binding agreements to sell two offshore support vessels for a combined gross price of about $57.25 million, completing a previously announced plan to divest vessels in the near term.The company said its subsidiary Energy Empress signed a sales agreement on January 23 for the multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) Energy Empress at a gross price of $30 million. The transaction is expected to be completed during February 2026 and is based on the industry standard Saleform 2012 contract…

Berge Bulk has completed the installation of four folding rotor sails supplied by Anemoi Marine Technologies on its 208,000 DWT Newcastlemax vessel Berge Meru, marking the shipping group’s second wind propulsion project with the technology provider.The installation was carried out at Yiu Lian Dockyards in China in December 2025, and the vessel has since completed its first voyage to Singapore. The four rotor sails measure five meters in diameter and 35 meters in height and are designed to harness wind power to provide auxiliary propulsion…

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Monday that her country has agreed with Germany to jointly proceed with the Bornholm Energy Island, a large offshore wind project.Frederiksen was speaking at a press conference at an energy conference in Hamburg alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.(Reuters)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the issuance of two Calls for Information and Nominations to solicit industry nominations and public comments on areas of interest for potential offshore oil and gas leasing in Southern California and Central California under President Trump’s 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Program.Publishing these calls in the Federal Register marks the first step in BOEM’s offshore oil and gas leasing process under 30 CFR 556.301.

Wind propulsion specialist bound4blue has completed the first installation under its agreement with Maersk Tankers, fitting four 24-meter eSAIL suction sails on the medium-range tanker Maersk Trieste as part of a wider fleet retrofit program.The installation marks the first phase of a contract agreed in December 2024 covering 20 eSAIL units across five Maersk Tankers MR vessels, representing bound4blue’s largest order to date.The four eSAIL units were installed at EDR Shipyard in Belgium following preparatory work carried out at Yiu Lian Shipyard in Shenzhen, China.

Gulf Marine Services (GMS), a provider of jack-up support vessels to the offshore energy industry, has agreed to acquire a new mid-class self-propelled, self-elevating support vessel, marking its first vessel acquisition in a decade.The vessel is expected to join the company’s fleet of 14 vessels within the next two weeks and is intended to support GMS’ strategy of doubling its 2024 adjusted EBITDA by 2030.The acquisition was partly financed through a $37.4 million 90-day interim loan provided by a Middle Eastern bank that is part of the company’s existing lending syndicate…

A study led by Vard, a subsidiary of Italy’s Fincantieri, has found that nuclear-powered offshore vessels are technically feasible, confirming that small fourth-generation nuclear reactors can be integrated into dynamically positioned vessels while meeting safety, redundancy and operational requirements.Results from the NuProShip II research and innovation project show that nuclear propulsion can support DP2 power architectures, with potential adaptability to DP3 standards, offering…

Fincantieri has signed new contracts with the Italian Navy to enhance the cyber resilience of modern naval units, strengthening protection against cyber threats to onboard systems and mission security.The contracts, signed through e-phors, a subsidiary of Fincantieri NexTech, cover the deployment of an integrated solution designed to monitor and counter cyber threats targeting ships’ onboard Ship Management System networks. The program is aimed at reinforcing platform protection…

Finland’s Border Guard is setting up a maritime surveillance centre together with other Baltic Sea states and the European Commission for the protection of critical undersea infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland, it said on Monday."Competent authorities must have the capability and the authority to intervene in situations occurring in the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone," it said in a statement.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and NATO has increased its Baltic Sea pr

James Fisher and Sons has invested in U.S.-based autonomous marine technology company Ocean Aero, taking a strategic minority stake as part of Ocean Aero’s Series D funding round.The investment increases James Fisher’s exposure to autonomous and low-emission marine technology and supports the development and deployment of Ocean Aero’s Triton Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), a wind- and solar-powered platform designed to operate without onboard crews.Ocean Aero designs…

James Fisher and Sons has invested in U.S.-based autonomous marine technology company Ocean Aero, taking a strategic minority stake as part of Ocean Aero’s Series D funding round.The investment increases James Fisher’s exposure to autonomous and low-emission marine technology and supports the development and deployment of Ocean Aero’s Triton Autonomous Underwater and Surface Vehicle (AUSV), a wind- and solar-powered platform designed to operate without onboard crews.Ocean Aero designs, manufactures and operates the Triton, an autonomous vehicle capable of operating both above and below the sea surface to collect and transmit data remotely.

ADNOC Gas has signed a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement worth between $2.5 billion and $3 billion with India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).The 10-year sales and purchase agreement covers the supply of 0.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG and converts a previously signed heads of agreement into a binding contract.India is now the UAE’s largest LNG customer, and by 2029 around 20% of LNG operated by ADNOC Gas is expected to be supplied to Indian buyers.

A U.K.-led maritime consortium has set out plans to develop international standards for nuclear-powered commercial ships, as Britain seeks a leading role in efforts to decarbonize global shipping.The Maritime Nuclear Consortium, convened by Lloyd’s Register, brings together companies from the nuclear, maritime, insurance and regulatory sectors to address safety, security, regulation and commercial viability for nuclear-powered vessels.The consortium’s core members include Lloyd’s Register…

Energy assets investment firm Samos Energy has signed an agreement to acquire the Suksan Salamander floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit from Altera Infrastructure, expanding its offshore asset portfolio in Southeast Asia.The Suksan Salamander FSO is currently deployed on the Bualuang oil field offshore Thailand, which is operated by Medco Energi Thailand. Under the transaction, Samos will take ownership of the vessel and the associated bareboat charter contract following delivery from Altera.As part of the deal…

Saipem has launched a new Drilling Training Centre featuring a full-scale simulator designed to provide immersive, hands-on training for drilling personnel.The center is accredited by the International Well Control Forum, a global body for well control competency certification, enabling it to deliver internationally recognized training and certification for personnel working on drilling rigs.At the core of the facility is a full-scale simulator that reproduces real operational drilling scenarios, combining theoretical instruction with practical training.

Subsea services provider OMS Group has signed contracts with Ulstein for the design and construction of two cable laying vessels (CLVs).The vessels will be designed by Ulstein Design & Solutions and constructed at Ulstein Verft, with delivery planned for 2028. Each vessel will be about 130 meters long and 22 meters wide, with cable capacity of up to 6,500 tonnes and accommodation for 75 people.The design includes two large cable tanks, two spare-cable tanks, an enclosed cable deck hangar, and an open deck above the hangar for remotely operated vehicles and containers.

Today the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted Dominion Energy’s request for a preliminary injunction allowing construction to resume on the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project while Dominion Energy’s lawsuit challenging the agency’s action proceeds. Our team will now focus on safely restarting work to ensure CVOW begins delivery of critical energy in just weeks. While our legal challenge proceeds, we will continue seeking a durable resolution…

JERA Nex bp is acquiring EnBW’s stake in the Mona Offshore Wind Farm and has signed a lease agreement with The Crown Estate for the project, marking an important milestone for the company and for the UK’s offshore wind ambitions.This is a significant step towards final investment decision for the project which, once operational, could deliver up 1.5GW of clean energy to the UK. As Mona advances, the project has the potential to unlock new jobs, grow the UK supply chain, and bring economic benefits to coastal communities in Wales and across the UK.Amid current market conditions…

The underlying lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s December 22, 2025 suspension order will continue to proceed.Empire Wind will now focus on safely restarting construction activities that were halted during the suspension period. In addition, the project will continue to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safe, secure and responsible execution of its operations.Empire Wind is being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to deliver a critical new…

Singaporean shipbuilder Strategic Marine has delivered the second 27-metre Z-Bow Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) to Taiwan for an undisclosed customer.With the delivery, Strategic Marine completed the two-vessel program for the client.Purpose-built for offshore wind farm duties, the vessel was developed in close collaboration with BMT Limited and features advanced marine engineering to ensure reliable performance in demanding operating conditions.Equipped with controllable pitch propellers…

Woodside Energy Trading Singapore has signed a sale and purchase agreement with Japan’s JERA for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) during Japan’s peak winter period, strengthening long-term LNG supply arrangements between the two companies.Under the agreement, Woodside will supply three LNG cargoes per year, equivalent to around 0.2 million tonnes annually, for a period of five years starting in 2027. The LNG will be delivered on a delivered ex-ship basis to Japan during…

Together with its sister company Hanwha Ocean, Q ENERGY France, a Hanwha company, has announced its participation in the pre-qualification process to participate in a call for bids for seabed licenses to develop offshore wind projects in Nova Scotia, Canada.The move underscores the company’s ambition to contribute to Canada’s clean energy transition through large-scale, sustainable offshore wind developments.As part of the Hanwha Group, one of South Korea’s leading global business groups…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner DDW Offshore, a subsidiary of Akastor, has completed the sale of Skandi Atlantic anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel.The purchase price for the vessel is $22.5 million, Akastor said, without disclosing further details about the buyer.Built in 2012 and featuring STX AH08 design, the Skandi Atlantic is a high powered AHTS vessel designed for operations across a wide range of water depths and environmental conditions.The agreement for the vessel was entered into on Saleform 2012 terms…

The European Union has awarded funding to support the development of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in the Øresund region, backing a cross-border project aimed at accelerating renewable energy use and enabling the production of sustainable fuels.The three-year project is supported by financing from the Interreg Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak program and will establish a Danish-Swedish collaboration platform focused on integrating CCUS into the regional energy system.The…

Coach Solutions, a Kongsberg Company, and classification society ClassNK have partnered to deliver an automated emissions data verification process for their mutual clients.The companies said the process creates a seamless experience for shipowners and Document of Compliance holders who need to extract, standardize, verify and share vessel data for transparent use by stakeholders.The integration with ClassNK is a strategic partnership that, from January 2026, will further strengthen Coach’s mission to put practical…

A newly built very large gas carrier (VLGC) was named Lucent Pathfinder at a ceremony held at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works, marking the seventh dual-fuel LPG carrier using LPG ordered by NYK.The vessel, which will be chartered by United Arab Emirates-based LPG trader BGN INT DMCC, is designed for the global transportation of liquefied petroleum gas and is capable of operating on both heavy fuel oil and LPG.The naming ceremony was attended by around 30 stakeholders.

Three Greek-managed oil tankers were hit by unidentified drones in the Black Sea on Tuesday as they were on their way to load crude at a terminal on Russia's coast, sources told Reuters.The attacks come as Kazakhstan's oil production, most of which is exported via the terminal, cratered in early January.It was not immediately clear who was behind Tuesday's strikes. Ukraine did not immediately comment. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates the terminal where the tankers were due to take on board cargoes…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued approval in principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for its new design of a floating offshore substation to support deepwater wind farms.The substation concept received a SMART (SHM) Tier 3 AiP from ABS. The approval acknowledges the proposed structural health management system’s alignment with the Tier 3 requirements in the ABS Guide for Smart Functions for Marine Vessels and Offshore Units.The recognition supports the system’s design to integrate high-fidelity measurements with predictive modeling…

MOL PLUS has decided to invest in Pyxis Maritime, a Singapore-based developer of electric vessels and operator of electric boat charging stations, as part of efforts to promote the commercialization of electric vessels and related infrastructure.The investment comes as Singapore advances toward its national net-zero target for 2050. From 2030, all new harbor craft operating in the Port of Singapore will be required to be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuel, or compatible…

At least two supertankers, not under sanctions, were departing Venezuelan waters on Monday carrying crude, according to monitoring service Tankertrackers.com and shipping records from state-run company PDVSA seen by Reuters.Venezuela's oil exports had remained at an almost complete standstill since mid-December, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned vessels going in and out the OPEC country's waters.U.S. forces intercepted and seized five Venezuela-linked vessels as a way to pressure the government…

Thailand's Gulf Energy has issued a tender seeking four to six cargoes a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a 10-year period, said two industry sources on Tuesday.It is seeking the cargoes for delivery from 2028, in a tender that closes on January 19.(Reuters - Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

Finnish police said on Monday they had lifted the seizure of a ship which had been held on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland, although the investigation continues.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and NATO has boosted its military presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.Finland seized the Fitburg cargo ship on December 31 while en route from Russia to Israel…

Delfin Midstream has extended a letter of award with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and placed orders for critical liquefaction equipment, as the company moves toward a final investment decision on the first floating LNG vessel for its Delfin LNG project.The U.S.-based developer said the extension of the letter of award with SHI follows early engagement work carried out in recent weeks and comes as the remaining workstreams required to reach FID are nearing completion. Delfin expects to take a final investment decision during February 2026.Separately…

LNG-fueled container ships helped sustain the share of alternative fuels in the global shipbuilding orderbook in 2025, even as overall newbuilding activity slowed sharply following a record year, according to data from classification society DNV.Annual figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight platform show that while total newbuild orders fell to 2,403 vessels in 2025 from 4,405 a year earlier, alternative-fueled ships retained a 38% share of total gross tonnage, supported…

Vantris Energy, formerly known as Sapura Energy, has divested its 40% equity stake in L&T-Sapura Shipping to joint-venture partner Larsen & Toubro for total consideration of about $30.5 million, as part of a broader portfolio optimization strategy.The transaction includes equity consideration as well as the full repayment of an outstanding shareholder loan and accrued interest owed to Vantris Energy. The divestment was executed through the group’s indirect wholly owned subsidiary Sapura Nautical Power…

Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has signed a new contract with existing customer Ocean Infinity for the design and construction of four Multi-Purpose Robotic Vessels (MPVs).The contract, whose value exceeds $230 million (€200 million), also includes a comprehensive scope of supply from Vard Electro, which will deliver the full suite of SeaQ systems for remote operations.Also, Vard Interiors, responsible for the complete interior solutions, will combine…

Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft has launched first of the two offshore wind commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) under construction at its yard for J.P. Morgan.On January 2, Ulstein Verft towed the CSOV yard number 322 from the dock hall to the outer dock, where the yard’s heavy-lift department installed the vessel’s tower using a crawler crane with a lifting capacity of up to 600 tonnes.Late in the month, on January 7, the vessel was towed further out and moored alongside the quay…

Drydocks World, a unit of Dubai-owned ports and logistics group DP World, has signed a contract with Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO to convert an LNG carrier into a floating storage unit (FSU) for use in Gabon’s offshore gas development.The engineering, procurement and construction project will see the LNG carrier transformed into the FSU Cap Lopez, supporting Gabon’s floating LNG development by enabling offshore gas liquefaction, storage and export.The project is also expected to contribute…

Australia- based Bhagwan Marine has christened the Bhagwan Micah, a 38m state-of-the-art Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) designed from the ground up for the exacting requirements of modern offshore energy and subsea operations – particularly oil & gas decommissioning with the ability to work in shallow water environments, subsea IMR, and defense logistics projects.Unlike a traditional landing craft that loads and discharges over a forward ramp, a SLV operates from the stern. This design provides:• Safer…

When we interviewed Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas late last year, he insisted that Saronic's mission was to deliver commercially viable autonomous vessels first, and in turn parlay that into a ready package for defense. That vision comes to fruition as Saronic announced a partnership with Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS), to accelerate innovation and deployment of autonomous platforms, advanced software, and maritime solutions to the markets HOS serves. Specifically…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has extended the previously agree four-year contract with Petrobras for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Turquesa.The current Normand Turquesa contract with Petrobras has been extended by one year, and the start of the previously announced four-year contract has been amended from the first quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2027.This represents an additional gross value of approximately $15.4 million, according to Solstad Offshore…

Union Maritime has taken delivery of what it said is the world’s first long-range 2 (LR2) tanker powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and wind-assisted propulsion.The vessel, MT SPA, was delivered on January 6 in Jingjiang, China, and was built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. It is a high-specification LNG dual-fuel LR2 tanker fitted with WindWings technology, combining alternative fuel capability with wind-assisted propulsion.Union Maritime said the vessel was designed to reduce emissions while maintaining operational efficiency and commercial performance.

Danish shipping company NORDEN has sold one MR tanker and one Capesize dry bulk vessel from its owned fleet, capitalizing on strong asset prices across the dry cargo and tanker markets.The company also said it had entered into two new multi-purpose (MPP) newbuilding lease agreements with purchase options, as part of its strategy to expand in the project cargo market. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2028.NORDEN said the MPP segment benefits from a favorable supply outlook…

Babcock and Frankenburg Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore development of a new maritime counter‑drone air defense system in response to the rise of one‑way attack drones.Under the agreement, the partners will work on a cost‑effective, containerized platform for launching Frankenburg’s new low‑cost missiles, designed specifically to defend against one‑way attack drones. The capability is intended to offer affordable, scalable, kinetic solutions…

The United States is attempting to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker with links to Venezuela after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic and as a Russian submarine and warship were close by, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime "blockade" of sanctioned tankers and rebuffed U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it.The officials…