Dong News

China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025 sailing back and forth in the seas near Taiwan and the U.S. stronghold of Guam, and around strategic stretches of the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters shows.

China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025 sailing back and forth in the seas near Taiwan and the U.S. stronghold of Guam, and around strategic stretches of the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters shows.

Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), one of Asia’s largest offshore wind service providers, has signed a major shipbuilding contract with Norwegian yard Westcon for a new subsea and cable lay vessel (CLV), set for delivery in 2027.Westcon will take over and complete construction of a large cable lay vessel already under build.DFO said the order supports its recent growth and replaces installation capacity lost in Taiwan after DeepOcean exercised an option to keep the Orient Adventurer working in Europe until 2028…

China's sanctions against five U.S.-linked affiliates of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean are seen as a warning gesture without immediate impact, and Beijing is unlikely to gain much by expanding them, analysts said on Wednesday.The move, announced on Tuesday when the U.S. and China began charging additional port fees targeting each other's vessels, comes ahead of an expected meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in late October to resolve…

South Korean defense, shipbuilding and energy solutions provider Hanwha Group has appointed Alex Wong as Global Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) to lead the company's strategic initiatives in international markets.In this newly created role based in Washington, D.C., Wong will spearhead Hanwha's efforts to deepen partnerships, build defense capabilities, and accelerate reindustrialization in key markets, particularly in the United States and Europe.Wong brings deep experience in national security and international diplomacy. He most recently served in the White House as Principal Deputy U.S.

Offshore wind developer Orsted won shareholder approval on Friday for a $9.4 billion emergency rights issue to help fund U.S. projects thrown into uncertainty by President Donald Trump's opposition to the renewable energy source.The stakes are high for the Danish state-controlled firm, which was once celebrated as a trailblazer in offshore wind but is now struggling to stave off a potentially crippling credit rating downgrade.Orsted, previously an oil producer under the name DONG Energy…

Hanwha Group has announced a $5 billion infrastructure plan for Hanwha Philly Shipyard as part of South Korea’s commitment to supporting growth of the U.S. shipbuilding industry through a $150 billion investment fund.The $5 billion program will be dedicated to the installation of two additional docks, and three quays to increase capacity. Hanwha is also reviewing the build-out of a new block assembly facility.Through this expansion, Hanwha aims to increase Philly Shipyard’s annual production volume from less than two vessels to up to 20.

Asia-Pacific region offshore wind developer Synera Renewable Energy (SRE) has awarded a 15-year service contract to Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) for the provision of a service operations vessel (SOV) to support the operations and maintenance (O&M) of SRE’s offshore wind assets.Under the contract, DFO will provide a newly built, Taiwan-flagged SOV to support Formosa 4 offshore wind project from the construction phase onward.Custom-designed for Taiwan’s offshore conditions, the vessel…

Three cabinet-level South Korean officials met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for trade talks, Seoul said on Wednesday, as top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs.South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol joined Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo, who have been in Washington since last week, for two hours of talks with Lutnick, a ministry spokesperson said in Seoul.The finance ministry spokesperson did not offer details of the discussions. U.S.

South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said on Tuesday he would seek a mutually beneficial trade deal when he meets U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for talks this week, just days before an August 1 deadline expires to avoid punishing tariffs.Speaking at the airport before departing for Washington, Koo said he would propose at Thursday's meeting a "program" South Korea had prepared and consult on areas where they could cooperate in the mid-to-long term, such as shipbuilding.South Korea's Hanwha Group…

Huisman has signed a contract with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) for the delivery of a modular cable lay system, specifically designed for deployment across range of vessels.Huisman’s 30mt cable lay system will be suitable for deployment for DFO’s newbuild Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) and Offshore Construction Vessels, built by Vard.This marks Huisman’s first cable lay system, built on the company’s extensive track record in the deepwater pipelay market.The system can be configured to support both inter-array and export cable laying with DFO’s existing and newbuild vessels…

Lamprell has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) for a newbuild NG-9000X wind turbine installation and maintenance vessel.The newbuild vessel will support offshore wind activities in the Asia Pacific region and will be designed to accommodate the latest generation of turbines.The MoU outlines steps for collaboration between DFO, Lamprell, and prospective regional clients, including a combined engineering and procurement effort to develop the vessel.The GustoMSC-designed NG-9000X vessel will be built in compliance with Taiwanese shipping law…

Vard has secured a new contract with Taiwanese-based Dong Fang Offshore (DFO) for the design and construction of one Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV), a sister vessel to the two CSOVs ordered in May 2024.After sealing the contract for two CSOVs in May 2024, Taiwanese DFO is adding a third vessel of the same design, the VARD 4 39.The design is the result of collaboration between DFO and Vard.The design gives a highly versatile all-round platform for sustainable wind…

VARD signed a contract with Taiwan's Dong Fang Offshore for the design and construction of one Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel, with option(s). The vessel is of VARD 3 39 design, and the value of the contract is $125 million. This is the third vessel VARD is building for DFO, with the first two being Commissioning Service Operations Vessels, contracted in May 2024.DFO aspires to be the supplier of choice to deliver international standard cable installation and repair solutions in the wind and telecoms industries…

Scottish subsea specialist Sulmara has supported a major fuel recovery operation from typhoon-struck cargo ship in shallow waters off Taiwan.At the request of the Taiwanese government, Sulmara mobilized a WAM-V 16 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) and a team of survey specialists to assist in the emergency fuel recovery operation for the heavy transport vessel, Yu Zhou Qi Hang.The operation was launched to help salvage cargo from the heavy transport vessel which ran aground with almost 300 t of fuel oil on board during one of the worst typhoons to hit Taiwan in decades.The 143-meter-long vessel…

Ocean services provider DeepOcean has signed a charter contract for the high-spec subsea vessel Orient Adventurer.The new capacity aligns with the company’s service offerings and subsea capabilities across both the offshore renewables and conventional energy sectors in multiple regions.Under a new contract with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), DeepOcean will take on the Orient Adventurer as part of its fleet from early 2026 until the end of 2027.The agreement includes options for up…

PTSC Asia Pacific, a joint venture between Yinson Production and PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), has secured a contract for the provision, charter, operation and maintenance of the floating storage and offloading (FSO) vessel for the Lac Da Vang project offshore Vietnam.PTSC Asia Pacific executed the contract with Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation.The FSO will be a newbuild double-hull vessel with storage capacity around 500…

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has granted an approval in principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) for the design of cargo containment system for a liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) carrier.HMD developed a cargo containment system optimized for a 35,000 cbm LCO2 carrier using new cargo tank materials.Ahead of issuing the AiP, ABS completed design reviews based on class and statutory requirements for liquefied gas carriers.“Capturing and transporting carbon are key components in the carbon value chain for the global energy transition.

HD Hyundai Marine Solution, HD Hyundai Engineering & Technology, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), and Hyundai Heavy Industries Power Systems have obtained Approval in Principle (AIP) from DNV for their design of an onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) system for retrofits.The retrofit design is applicable to a wide range of vessels, and DNV's AIP confirms that the OCCS technology is both feasible and prepared to meet emerging regulatory requirements.The project was conducted as a Joint Industry Project (JIP) between DNV and the HD Hyundai companies…

The 2024 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is to go to two sets of nominees: the captain and crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda for containing a fire after the ship was struck by an anti-ship missile; and the captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya for their rescue of six shipwrecked people from four different vessels during a hurricane.Nominations were initially reviewed by an Assessment Panel and their recommendations were considered by a Panel of Judges, who ultimately selected the recipients of honors.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his Chinese counterpart on Friday for the first time since 2022 to discuss contentious issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, but also the importance of communicating, Pentagon officials said.U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have sought to manage tensions, and in November the two leaders agreed to resume direct military talks.Since then the two sides' militaries have held discussions, but Austin's…

DNV has awarded HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard an approval in principle (AIP) for the design of ammonia dual fuel 45,000 m3 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers.The presentation took place at the HD Hyundai Global R&D Center (GRC) in Seongnam, Korea. HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD), who have developed the basic ship design, provided detailed engine specifications and operational data from global engine maker, WinGD, and reviewed the safety and suitability of the design with DNV. The designs are based around a new 10…

Shipowner Naftomar Shipping announced an order for four very large ammonia carriers, to be built by South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean (formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering) for scheduled delivery from 2026. With a capacity of 93,000 m3, the ships are among the world’s largest ammonia carriers ordered to date.The Bureau Veritas (BV) classed ships will be fitted with a ME-LGIP LPG dual-fuel engine, ready to be converted to use ammonia as fuel when the MAN ES ammonia engine retrofit kit is made available.