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Monday, April 20, 2026

Energy Management News

20 Apr 2026

Hyke Electric Ferry Pilot Sees Success in Norwegian Public Transport

© Hyke

After 14 months in daily public transport service in Fredrikstad, Hyke’s fully electric F-15 Shuttle has demonstrated low energy consumption, strong passenger demand, and a compelling case for electric ferries as a cost-effective urban mobility solution.Traffic jams plague cities worldwide, yet their waterways remain underused. After successful public transport, Norwegian tech company Hyke has shown there’s a better alternative to building bridges or tunnels by unlocking the potential of water and existing urban infrastructure.Between April 2024 and July 2025…

13 Apr 2026

Blue Ctrl to Supply Automation Software for Cable-Laying Vessels

© Blue Ctrl AS

Blue Ctrl AS has been selected as the automation software supplier for two new next-generation cable-laying vessels for OMS Group. The vessels will be built at Ulstein Verft with delivery in 2028, and Ulstein Power & Control AS holds the contract for the integrated power and automation systems.Blue Ctrl will deliver the X-CONNECT platform, a fully integrated software solution for monitoring, alarm management, automation, and power and energy management. The delivery also includes Blue Box data acquisition and solutions for real-time analysis and decision support.

31 Mar 2026

Delaware River and Bay Authority Looks to Electric in Cape May-Lewes Ferry Modernization

© ABB

One of North America’s busiest ferry routes is joining the growing trend for U.S.-based operators to make the efficiencies of electrification central when they modernize their fleets, after an integrated hybrid-electric propulsion system from ABB was selected for the new ship ordered by Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA).Shipbuilder Senesco Marine contracted ABB to deliver full propulsion and automation systems for the 75-car passenger and vehicle ferry, which will replace the 45-year-old Cape Henlopen in connecting Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey.

24 Mar 2026

Kongsberg Maritime Selected to Provide Equipment Package for Luxury Polar Expedition Vessel

© Kongsberg Maritime

Kongsberg Maritime has won a contract from MKM Yachts to supply a package of equipment for the Scenic Ikon polar expedition vessel under construction for Scenic Cruise.The Scenic Ikon, the latest in a series of luxury expedition vessels for Scenic Cruise, features a hybrid electric propulsion system from Kongsberg Maritime, to enable emission-free operation in environmentally sensitive areas.The new 203-meter vessel will be the first in the series to feature Kongsberg Maritime Elegance Pods for main propulsion.

19 Mar 2026

BOEM Identifies Potential Offshore Mineral Leasing Area

Source: BOEM

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has completed the Area Identification step in BOEM’s Outer Continental Shelf mineral leasing process for potential critical mineral development offshore the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.Area Identification is the next step in BOEM’s regulatory framework and represents the identification of tracts to be carried forward for further leasing consideration and environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. It…

17 Mar 2026

BOEM Issues Notice of Intent for Offshore Well Stimulation Work

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed update to the Santa Clara Unit Development and Production Plan, which includes the use of hydraulic fracturing on 16 existing wells at Platform Gilda, located 8.8 miles offshore Ventura County, California.BOEM has deemed the plan complete and is launching an environmental review under the Department of the Interior’s “Alternative Arrangements for NEPA Compliance During a National Energy Emergency,” published on the April 23, 2025.

11 Mar 2026

Gulf of Mexico Auction Yields Far Fewer Bids Than First Trump Sale

© Mike Mareen / Adobe Stock

The Trump administration's second sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in three months attracted far less industry interest than the auction it held in December, according to a sale document posted on a government website on Tuesday.The sale comes as a U.S. war with Iran has disrupted global crude flows and sent oil prices to four-year highs.Of the 15,000 blocks offered by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 25 received bids, according to the document of presale statistics.

10 Mar 2026

ABB inks Deal for Orange Marine Cable Repair Newbuilds

Sister ships of the iconic Sophie Germain will mainly be dedicated to submarine cable maintenance. Image credit Orange Marine

ABB has won a contract to deliver a fully integrated electrical power, propulsion and automation system for two hybrid-electric cable repair vessels being built for French shipowner Orange Marine at Colombo Dockyard PLC in Sri Lanka.The vessels, scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029, will support submarine cable maintenance operations across the Atlantic and Indian oceans as well as the Mediterranean, Black and Red seas. Orange Marine is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Orange Group and specializes in the installation and maintenance of subsea telecommunications cables.Under the agreement…

09 Mar 2026

US Undiscovered Offshore Reserves Could Maintain Supply for 100 Years

© Lukasz Z / Adobe Stock

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has released the 2026 National Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources, an estimate of the undiscovered, technically and economically recoverable oil and natural gas resources outside of known oil and gas fields on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).The National Assessment, published every five years, represents BOEM's current understanding of the distribution of undiscovered oil and gas resources on the OCS.Using a play-based assessment methodology…

04 Mar 2026

Oil companies reject Trump Administration's Alaska Offshore Auction

© htrnr / Adobe Stock

The Trump administration sold more than 400,000 acres (406,876 hectares) of land in Alaska's Cook Inlet on Wednesday, but no oil and gas drillers showed up. They refused to make a bid.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of U.S. president Donald Trump, which was signed into law in 2017, mandates six Alaska offshore gas and oil auctions through 2032.Trump has sought ways to increase domestic oil and gas production, including in Alaska, where the industry has seen a decline in recent decades.

27 Feb 2026

BOEM Advances Leasing Process for Offshore California

© Patrick / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Northern, Central and Southern California Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.This marks the initial step under the National Environmental Policy Act which initiates the process to analyze a representative California lease sale and inform decisions under the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and…

24 Feb 2026

Kongsberg Maritime Expands Offerings in Indonesia with PT PAL MoU

Rut Krüger Giverin, Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia and Mr. Wiyono Komodjojo, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) from PT PAL. © Kongsberg Maritime

Kongsberg Maritime announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT PAL Indonesia, the country’s largest state‑owned shipyard. The signing ceremony took place at PT PAL’s headquarters in Surabaya and was attended by representatives from Kongsberg Maritime, PT PAL, and the Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia, Rut Krüger Giverin.Kongsberg Maritime is a leading provider of marine technology solutions. Its offerings include marine automation, navigation, propulsion…

24 Feb 2026

BOEM Proposes Regulation Revision to Support Mineral Exploration

© BOEM

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced proposed revisions to its regulations governing hard mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf aiming to advance exploration and development of critical minerals essential to national security, economic competitiveness and technological progress.These proposed updates align with Executive Orders 14285 and 14154, which prioritize unleashing America’s potential to explore and develop OCS critical mineral resources. The updates also support Executive Order 14192…

19 Feb 2026

BOEM Proposes BBG3, Third Gulf of America Lease Sale

Copyright nicholasjermy/AdobeStock

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced a Proposed Notice of Sale for the third offshore oil and gas lease sale under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The proposed lease sale, known as Lease Sale Big Beautiful Gulf 3, or BBG3, is scheduled to take place on Aug. 12, 2026.This sale is the third of 30 Gulf of America oil and gas lease sales required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law No: 119-21). By committing to a predictable sale schedule, the Department is delivering on President Trump’s promise to expand American energy production and strengthen U.S. energy dominance.

04 Feb 2026

BOEM Advances Second OBBBA Offshore Lease Sales

© BOEM

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, today announced another major step toward expanding offshore energy development pursuant to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. BOEM released the Final Notice of Sale for Lease Sale Big Beautiful Gulf 2 (BBG2), the second of 30 Gulf of America lease sales required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law No: 119-21). BOEM will again invite lease sale bidders to attend the live bid reading, per BOEM instructions, on March 11, 2026, starting at 9 a.m. Central Time.

30 Jan 2026

BOEM Publishes Final Notice of Sale for Cook Inlet Lease Sale

© BOEM

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…

29 Jan 2026

Wärtsilä to Provide Electric Propulsion Solution for Third Molslinjen Ferry

Wärtsilä will deliver a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for three new high-speed catamaran ferries being built by Incat Tasmania for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen © Incat

Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for a new high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. This is the third in a series of battery-electric vessels being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. Wärtsilä solutions will drive all three ships.Wärtsilä’s scope of supply includes the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system, its energy management and automation systems, eight electric propulsion motors and waterjets…

27 Jan 2026

BOEM Seeks Public Input on Potential Alaska Minerals Lease Sale

© bogdanserban / Adobe Stock

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…

26 Jan 2026

BOEM Invites Public Input on Potential Offshore Oil Leasing Areas in California

© Adobe Stock/Lukasz Z

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.

08 Jan 2026

Singapore’s First Fully Electric Tug Commissioned Ahead of 2026 Deployment

(Credit: PaxOcean Group)

PaxOcean Group and ABB have announced that Singapore’s first fully electric tug completed commissioning, marking a major milestone in the city-state’s harbor craft electrification program.The 50-tonne bollard pull tug, PXO-ACE-1, is expected to be deployed in April 2026 and is the first fully electric tug to be built and operated in Singapore. The vessel was built by PaxOcean Group, a subsidiary of Kuok Maritime Group, and is powered by an integrated electric propulsion system…

05 Jan 2026

Empire to File Injunction Against Lease Suspension Order

Credit: Adobe Stock/ Peter Adams

Empire Offshore Wind LLC (Empire) filed a civil suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today, January 2, 2026, challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s order directing a suspension to the Empire Wind project. As part of that case, Empire plans to seek a preliminary injunction and allow construction to continue while the litigation proceeds. While Empire continues to work closely with Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the other relevant authorities to find a prompt resolution to the matter…

23 Dec 2025

Equinor Halts Activities on Empire Wind Project After US Stop-Work Order

The christening of the US-built service operations vessel ECO Liberty in June 2025 (Credit: Brian Young/Equinor)

Equinor said it is complying with a stop-work order issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which ordered the suspension of offshore construction activities on the Empire Wind project citing national security concerns.Empire Offshore Wind LLC, the project company, received the notice on December 22 and has begun safely suspending all ongoing work on the U.S. outer continental shelf, while retaining the ability to carry out emergency actions and measures necessary to protect health…

16 Dec 2025

Inmarsat Maritime to Deploy NexusWave on Krey Schiffahrt Heavy Lift Vessels

© Inmarsat Maritime

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, will deploy NexusWave on Krey Schiffahrt’s four newbuild heavy lift vessels. The deployment will enable the German ship manager to enhance operational efficiency and unlock the benefits of always-on, unlimited connectivity.Krey Schiffahrt currently manages eight modern multi-purpose heavy lift vessels and is expanding its fleet to meet evolving project cargo demands. Its new project cargo carriers have been designed for operational flexibility…