Hormuz Disruption Shifts LNG Bargaining Power to Buyers
Asian and European buyers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plan to ask for lower prices and additional supply guarantees from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as the U.S.-Iran war raises insurance costs on those deliveries, buyers, traders and industry executives told Reuters.The war is reshaping the global energy industry, stripping Gulf producers of their reputation as the world's most reliable suppliers, which in the past gave them significant negotiating power. Their ability…
Chinese Supertankers Exiting Red Sea Amid Houthi Threats
Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are exiting the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region.The ships' attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia they announced on Monday. The group said they attacked two Saudi tankers with drones and missiles earlier on Thursday.The Red…
Houthis Claim Attack on Saudi Tankers in Red Sea
The Iranian-aligned Houthis said on Thursday they struck two Saudi oil tankers as part of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening to create a second chokepoint on global oil supplies alongside Iran's near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile the U.S. military completed a new round of strikes on Iran at President Donald Trump's direction, marking a 12th successive night of American attacks and prompting further Iranian retaliation.Iran said it attacked U.S. missile systems, weapons and fuel storages in Jordan, as well as U.S.
Offshore Safety: Improving Injury Rates May Be Masking Continued Fatalities
Improving injury rates are masking the continued threat of fatal accidents across the offshore marine contracting industry, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) after its latest Annual Safety Statistics Report revealed fatalities more than doubled despite overall safety performance improving.The report covers more than 1.02 billion working hours submitted by 167 contractor members. While traditional safety indicators continued to improve during 2025…
ABL Gets Papua New Guinea FSO Job
ABL has been awarded a contract by Oil Search (PNG), a subsidiary of Santos, to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services for Papua New Guinea's first offshore floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility.The work will support the supply, transportation, installation, pre-commissioning and commissioning of the FSO, which will be deployed at the Kumul Marine Terminal as part of the Kutubu Pipeline System.The FSO will provide storage and offloading for crude oil and condensate produced from multiple fields…
Sea1 Offshore’s First Offshore Energy Support Vessel Hits Water in China
Sea1 Offshore has launched the Sea1 Diamond, the first vessel in a series of four offshore energy support vessels under construction at COSCO Shipping.The float-out marks a key milestone in Sea1 Offshore's newbuild program, with the company describing the vessel as the start of a new chapter for its fleet.Sea1 Diamond is the first of four offshore energy support vessels ordered from the Chinese shipyard. The initial two vessels were contracted in November 2024, followed by two additional units in March 2025 as Sea1 expanded the program.Based on the ST-245 design…
Oil Rises on Dual Shipping Threat in Hormuz and Red Sea
Oil prices rose to near six-week highs on Wednesday on mounting concerns about disruptions to key Middle Eastern supply routes because of escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran and threats to shipping by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose $2.84, or 3.12%, to $93.85 a barrel at 0833 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 climbed $2.93, or 3.47%, to $87.27. Both benchmarks touched their highest levels since June 11.The U.S. military said late on Tuesday, early Wednesday in Iran, that it carried out an 11th consecutive night of attacks. The U.S.
DEME to Install Foundations at Zeevonk Offshore Wind Farm
Belgium marine contractor DEME has secured a contract to transport and install foundations for the first phase of the Zeevonk offshore wind farm in the Netherlands.The project, jointly owned by Vattenfall and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners through its Energy Transition Fund I, will have a total installed capacity of about 1 GW.Under the contract, valued between $170 million and $340 million (€150 million and €300 million), DEME will provide intermediate transport of monopiles…
Cadeler Welcomes Wind Ace WTIV to its Fleet
Cadeler has taken delivery of Wind Ace, its 11th offshore wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) and the second of three A-class newbuilds.Built over the past two years at the COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, the vessel was delivered on schedule and within budget, according to Cadeler.Following mobilization, Wind Ace will prepare for deployment on ScottishPower Renewables' 960 MW East Anglia TWO offshore wind farm in the UK, where Cadeler will transport and…
Taihan Takes Delivery of Second Cable Laying Vessel
Taihan Cable & Solution has taken delivery of its second cable laying vessel (CLV) Skandi Connector, strengthening its offshore wind and subsea power cable installation capabilities.Skandi Connector CLV, delivered by DOF Group, joins Taihan’s existing offshore wind-dedicated cable-laying vessel PALOS, creating what the company described as a dual-track installation system for offshore wind, HVDC transmission and long-distance power interconnection projects.The 10,000-ton-class CLV can load up to 7…
ABB to Buy Rotork in $5.5B Automation Deal
ABB has agreed to acquire UK-based intelligent flow control solutions provider Rotork in a recommended all-cash deal valuing the company at about $5.5 billion, expanding its automation portfolio and strengthening its position in industrial automation.ABB said Rotork's flow control and instrumentation portfolio complements its existing automation business and will strengthen its position at the field-device layer by adding intelligent field devices and software used to monitor…
Hormuz Crossings Decline as US Renews Iran Blockade
Fewer vessels travelled through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day after the U.S. reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports with both countries escalating strikes across the Gulf, shipping data showed.Nine vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, mostly on the Iranian route, down from 13 the previous day, Kpler data showed.There were no Very Large Crude Carrier or liquefied natural gas tankers visibly passing through the strait on Wednesday.U.S. Central Command…
ECITB, GWO Launch Wind Turbine Maintenance Cross Skill Program
Following two successful pilots, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), in partnership with the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, have officially launched the Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Cross Skill Program to support worker transferability between oil and gas and wind operations and maintenance.The six-week program gives existing Instrument and Controls, Mechanical and Electrical Technicians the requisite…
Wärtsilä Secures FSRU Service Agreement with Pardus Energy
Wärtsilä has signed a five-year lifecycle agreement with Ireland-based Pardus Energy to support the operation of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) TURQUOISE P.The agreement includes contract management, maintenance planning and spare parts support for the vessel. Wärtsilä said the order was booked in the second quarter of 2026.The TURQUOISE P, commissioned in 2019, operates as a stationary FSRU at the ETKI LNG terminal in Aliaga, Türkiye, and is equipped with Wärtsilä systems.Under the agreement…
SMD, Prysmian Advance Power Cable Installation with New Plough
SMD has delivered the first of two heavy-duty power cable ploughs to Prysmian for deployment on the company's new-generation cable laying vessels (CLVs).The second system is scheduled for delivery later this year. The ploughs will be mobilized on Prysmian Alessandro Volta and Prysmian Mona Lisa CLVs.The systems are designed to bury conventional multi-core power cables, bundled two-pole power cables and quad bundles at depths of up to five metres below the mean seabed level.SMD…
Windcat, Ørsted Extend CTV Partnership
Windcat has secured long-term contracts with Ørsted to provide crew transfer vessel (CTV) services supporting the offshore wind developer's operations from Grimsby in northeast England.The agreements, which began in June, have a firm term of five years with options for extension.Under the contracts, Windcat will continue supplying seven crew transfer vessels that support Ørsted's Generation UK Hub, which operates and maintains six offshore wind farms from Grimsby's Royal Docks.The vessels were already operating on Ørsted's UK offshore wind projects under previous agreements.
Oil Rises 2% as Middle East Hostilities Escalate
Oil extended gains by around 2% on Wednesday as President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to close "all other export corridors that benefit the U.S. and its allies".Brent futures LCOc1 climbed $1.71, or 2%, to $86.44 a barrel at 0806 GMT. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 gained $1.43, or 1.8%, to $80.77 a barrel.Oil prices settled up 2% at a one-month high on Tuesday as attacks exacerbated a supply disruption in the Strait of Hormuz…
DOF Lands Four-Year AHTS Vessel Deal
Norwegian offshore services provider DOF has received a letter of award for a four-year offshore contract valued between $100 million and $200 million, adding another long-term assignment to its vessel fleet.The company will deploy the anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Skandi Hera on the contract, with operations expected to begin between late 2026 and early 2027.In addition to vessel services, DOF will provide remotely operated vehicle (ROV) services under the agreement.The award remains subject to partner approval…
Hormuz Traffic Falls to Five-Week Low as Tensions Escalate
The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to multi-week lows on Sunday, shipping data showed, as renewed strikes between the U.S. and Iran and attacks on ships in the Middle East heightened safety concerns.Six vessels transited the strait on Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, the lowest number in five weeks.Tankers that exited the strait included the Very Large Crude Carrier Humanity, laden with 2 million barrels of Iranian oil and another tanker, Capetan Andreas…
Oil Jumps 3% on Renewed US-Iran Conflict
Oil prices surged more than 3% on Monday after renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran reignited concerns over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up $2.67, or 3.51%, to $78.68 at 0743 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up $2.48, or 3.47%, to $73.89 a barrel."Shipping operators are adopting a cautious approach and inbound movements have slowed under heightening security concerns," ANZ analysts said.Fresh U.S. and Iranian strikes over the weekend fuelled fears of a renewed escalation. Tehran targeted U.S.
James Fisher, Aquaterra Launch Global Decommissioning Partnership
James Fisher and Sons and Aquaterra Energy have formed a strategic global partnership to provide integrated offshore decommissioning services, combining front-end engineering, well access, subsea operations and offshore execution under a single delivery model.The collaboration is designed to streamline well abandonment and offshore infrastructure removal projects by reducing contractor interfaces and improving coordination from project planning through execution.Under the partnership…
Voyage Optimization Pilot Cuts Sleipnir Vessel’s Atlantic Transit by 2.5 Days
Heerema Marine Contractors has reduced the North Atlantic transit time of its semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) Sleipnir by 2.5 days following a voyage optimization pilot with French ocean intelligence company Amphitrite.The data-driven pilot reduced the vessel's sailing distance by 240 nautical miles and lowered carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 18%, while maintaining higher average sailing speeds without increasing fuel consumption.The optimization program combined Heerema's offshore operational expertise with Amphitrite's vessel-specific voyage optimization platform…
Bordelon Marine Delivers Converted Intervention Vessel
Bordelon Marine has completed the conversion and redelivery of the MV Lilly Bordelon, a Stingray Series 260 Class DP-2 Ultra-Light Intervention Vessel (ULIV).Repurposed from an existing platform, the Lilly Bordelon has been transformed into a subsea intervention vessel designed to deliver solutions for offshore operations. The vessel features over 5,500 sq. ft. of clear deck space, a mezzanine deck supporting two work-class ROVs, with an integrated ROV control room.Equipped with a 60-ton active heave-compensated crane with over 3…