Atlantic Zonda Drillship Starts its Maiden Job with Petrobras
The seventh generation Atlantic Zonda drillship, managed by Ventura Offshore Midco, has started operations for Petrobras under a three-year drilling contract.The Atlantic Zonda is managed by Ventura Offshore through marketing and operating agreements with the rig owner, Eldorado Drilling, and the company will earn its management fees and reimbursable revenues from these agreements.Following the delivery of the Atlantic Zonda from Samsung shipyards…
US Launches Preps for Expanded Offshore Drilling
The U.S. Interior Department on Friday said it would begin taking public input for a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program that could include new zones in the Arctic and elsewhere to maximize energy development.President Donald Trump has ordered government agencies to identify ways to increase already record high U.S. oil and gas production, arguing past administrations had unnecessarily curtailed drilling to combat climate change.
China Tariffs Concern Ship Recycling Markets
Even though dry markets were up for the week by 1.6%, overall, they have declined a massive 24% this month (according to Baltic Exchange Dry Index), reports cash buyer GMS.This comes as oil climbed over 3% to end the week at nearly USD 64.50/barrel, in the face of OPEC+ countries now reversing course on increasing output amidst a rampant decline in global energy demands.Sub-continent markets have also had to endure knock on effects of the tariffs as the standoff between China and the U.S.
Timeline of Tall Ship Collision Released
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation interim report outlines the sequence of events leading up to the collision of a container ship with the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle last August.The 333m, Singapore-flagged container ship Maersk Shekou was being piloted towards its assigned berth in Fremantle’s inner harbor when it collided with and substantially damaged STS Leeuwin II alongside Victoria Quay on the morning of August 30…
US Plans New Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales
US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to begin a public engagement process to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.“Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Moved to "Safer" Anchorpoint
The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was moved on Thursday (April 17) to the Nordperd anchorpoint, about 3 nautical miles from its previous position. According…
Russian Arctic Oil Exports to China Increase With More STS Transfers, Avoiding US Sanctions
Russia’s Arctic oil exports to China are set to rise sharply this month buoyed by a jump in ship-to-ship transfers at sea to ensure tankers pulling into port are not on U.S. sanctions lists, according to traders and data from Vortexa.The Arctic oil business accounts for a tenth of Russia's seaborne oil exports which were hit with widened U.S. sanctions in January on nearly all tankers carrying crude oil grades such as ARCO and Novy Port and on Russian producer Gazprom Neft.To evade the curbs…
Global Shippers Await Word on US Port Fees for China-Linked Vessels
The U.S. Trade office will this week announce its plan for levying port fees on China-linked ships as part of President Donald Trump's effort to revive domestic shipbuilding and counter China's dominance on the high seas.The proposed fees on China-built ships could hit $1.5 million per U.S. port call. Few vessels would be exempt, making U.S. export prices unattractive and foisting billions of dollars…
Asian Spot LNG Prices Remain at One-Year Low Amidst Supply Disruptions
Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices remained at a near one-year low this week, as supply disruptions from three export facilities in the region and some…
Rhine River: Rising Levels Allow For Increased Shipping Capacity
Rain in past few days has raised Rhine river water levels in Germany, with vessels able to carry more cargo although most are still sailing around half full, commodity traders said on Thursday."Large volumes of rain have fallen in the Rhine region in past days and there has been an improvement in the low water problem," one trader said. "More rain is forecast and if it actually arrives, the parts of the Rhine could see a significant recovery next week…
Petronas' Bintulu LNG Complex: Production Issues
Petronas' Bintulu liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex in Malaysia is experiencing production issues, two industry sources said on Thursday, though offtakers say supply is not expected to be affected.One of the sources added that the production problems were due to an issue with the boiler in the complex.Petronas did not respond to a request for comment.The Bintulu complex in the Sarawak state on Borneo island is Petronas' flagship LNG facility, with an annual production capacity of 29.3 million
Noatum Maritime, ASRY Mark Commencement of JV with Tugboat Delivery
Noatum Maritime and The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) marked the operational commencement of their joint venture (JV) to provide integrated marine services in Bahrain, with the arrival of four modern tugs at ASRY’s headquarters.The arrival of the tugs, part of Noatum Maritime’s existing fleet, was celebrated during a ceremony attended by representatives from various ministries, public…
Saipem Renews Offshore Activities Agreement With Saudi Aramco
Saipem has signed a renewal for its framework agreement with Saudi Aramco. The Long-Term Agreement (LTA) now extends until the end of 2027.With the renewal of the LTA, Saipem is reconfirmed in the exclusive list of contractors selected by Saudi Aramco who are eligible to bid for work orders, known as CRPOs (Contract Release Purchase Orders). These contracts may relate to both the construction of new…
Fugro, Damen Support the Royal Netherlands Navy With Surveillance Vessel and Crew
Fugro and Damen have teamed up to provide the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) with a surveillance vessel and operating crew. The Dutch Ministry of Defence has contracted this new partnership to enhance its marine security and surveillance capabilities. The RNLN will deploy the surveillance vessel to conduct security operations within the Netherlands’ North Sea exclusive economic zone (EEZ), both above and below the water.
Equinor: Statement on Halting Empire Wind Project
In accordance with a halt work order issued by the US government, Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) will safely halt the offshore construction in waters of the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project.On 16 April, Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering Empire to halt all activities on the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its review.Empire…
MEYER WERFT Contracts ALMACO for NYK Cruises Newbuild Project
In September 2022, ALMACO signed an agreement with MEYER WERFT to provide the newbuild S721 of Japanese NYK Cruises with ALMACO’s Provision Cooling Plant. The scope of work includes the supply and commissioning of chiller units and air coolers. The vessel will be the second luxury cruise ship of NYK Cruises and serve the Japanese cruise market.The vessel will carry 744 passengers and 470 crew members. It will be 228.86 meters long and 29.8 meters wide with a tonnage of 51,950 GT.
Arc Expands Into the Commercial Sector With Electric Tugboat Retrofit
Arc Boat Company announced its entrance into the commercial sector. In partnership with a West Coast shipyard, Diversified Marine, Inc., Arc will retrofit a 26 ft…
Charting Key Regulatory Change Across Maritime Law in 2025 and Beyond
A tidal wave of new regulations is set to hit the global maritime sector this year, representing fresh, highly-complex compliance challenges. From environmental performance to evolving security and safety standards, the shipping industry faces a raft of new rules intended to ensure safe operations and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this article, Stamatis Fradelos, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at the American Bureau of Shipping…
Maritime’s Search for the Holy Grail of Alternative Energy
The maritime industry has worked with a single fuel source for over a century and with the rush to meet emission standards in both domestic and foreign markets, adapting to the current list of alternative fuels is going to present significant problems. Each market has its issues whether bluewater, brownwater, coastal, foreign or domestic.Chose any of the larger global shipbuilding yards and the basic…
Salvage Awards: How to Do the Right Thing and Still Get It Wrong
Tony Siciliano provides a bunch of his friends and I with an invaluable service by sending us daily emails with copies of articles that may be interest to us. This includes an occasional maritime court or regulatory decision. I tend to ignore the court decisions, but a decision with this title piqued my interest: Admiralty Court determines salvage remunerationSD Rebel BV & another -v- Elise Tankschiffahrt…