Explorer News

Norwegian marine seismic survey services firm SeaBird Exploration, part of SED Energy Holdings, has secured a contract extension for its Fulmar Explorer seismic survey vessel.SeaBird Exploration has signed a three-month contract extension for ocean bottom node (OBN) source work for the vessel in the Western Hemisphere.This extension now commits the 2009-built vessel through mid-June 2026, maintaining the same commercial terms as the original agreement, the company said.The name of the client or the value of the contract extension has not been disclosed.

Island Offshore’s new hybrid Ocean Energy Construction Vessel (OECV) has been launched to the water at Vard Shipyards Romania in Brăila.The 120-meter vessel, labeled NB 977, is designed to support offshore operations with reduced environmental impact. The vessel, of VARD 3 25 design, will be equipped with a 250-tonne heave-compensated subsea crane, DP2 capability and accommodation for up to 130 personnel.The hybrid-powered vessel will feature a 1.7 MWh energy storage system for hybrid propulsion, a heat recovery system and engine sets prepared for alternative low-emission fuels.

Global operator of roll-on/roll-off carriers Sallaum Lines has taken delivery of the MV Ocean Legacy, a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) that has joined its Ocean Class fleet.The delivery follows the recent entry into service of the MV Ocean Explorer and forms part of Sallaum Lines’ Ocean Class program, which focuses on fleet renewal, operational efficiency and lower-emission maritime operations.The vessel was built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Jiangsu) and measures about 199.9 meters in length and 37.7 meters in breadth.

Sallaum Lines accepted its latest Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessel, MV Ocean Explorer as part of its Ocean Class fleet. The newbuilding’s arrival represents a major milestone in the company’s ongoing fleet expansion strategy and its commitment to advancing sustainable and energy-efficient maritime operations.“With the delivery of MV Ocean Explorer, we are proud to take another bold step toward a more sustainable future for maritime transport,” said Mr. Hasan Sallaum – Sallaum Lines Managing Director.

While challenges linger from the 2025 offshore rig market, there are signs it will look brighter from late 2026 onwards.Main Events of 2025One of the biggest talking points of 2024 and 2025 was Saudi Aramco’s suspension of 36 jackups from April 2024, but by 3Q 2025 21 units had been re-deployed into other regions of the world. Fast forward to today, the national oil company (NOC) has confirmed it will restart work with eight of the remaining suspended rigs in early 2026. It has…

Within the margins of the IMO Assembly meetings, on December 2, the World Maritime University (WMU), in collaboration with the 90 North Foundation, announced the release of the 2025 Arctic Report: The Arctic Ocean Region – Biodiversity, Governance & Protective Measures, a comprehensive assessment of one of the planet’s most rapidly changing and geopolitically significant regions.The report warns that the Arctic Ocean—long perceived as remote and inaccessible—is now experiencing profound environmental, economic, and political transformation.

Vantage Drilling International Ltd. reported a net income attributable to shareholders of approximately $67.2 million or $4.97 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2025, based on the weighted average shares outstanding, as compared to a net loss attributable to shareholders of approximately $10.6 million or $0.80 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2024.As of September 30, 2025, Vantage had approximately $197.4 million in cash, including $35.0 million in pre-funding for upgrading the Tungsten Explorer…

SunStone Maritime Group A/S, touted as the world’s largest tonnage provider to the expedition cruise industry, announced the delivery of the seventh and final vessel in this first series of newbuilds, the Douglas Mawson. The delivery took place at China Merchants Heavy Industry in Haimen, China, on September 9, 2025.Named after Sir Douglas Mawson, the Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer whose work was central to the study of the polar regions, it is the third Infinity vessel to go to Aurora Expeditions…

Seaward Services, Inc., a provider of maritime solutions and part of the global Hornblower Group, announced that its vessel the M/V Seaward Endeavor is available for extended international operations following its approval by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for expanded authority to operate in international waters. The Seaward Endeavor is an integral component of Seaward’s growing fleet of Multi-Purpose Offshore Supply Vessels. Currently stationed on the US East Coast, the Seaward Endeavor is now positioned to support operations beyond domestic waters…

Vantage Drilling International completed the sale of the Tungsten Explorer to TEVA Ship Charter LLC, the joint venture entity owned 25% by the Ccompany and 75% by TotalEnergies. In line with previous announcements Vantage will continue to manage the Tungsten Explorer for a ten year term with the option to extend for an additional five years.Ihab Toma, CEO of Vantage Drilling, commented: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of the Tungsten Explorer. We now look forward to a productive and mutually beneficial relationship for the joint venture with our esteemed client and partner TotalEnergies.”

This week MarineLink reported on the NTSB’s analysis of a 2024 collision on the lower Mississippi that resulted from a tow pilot’s distraction caused by personal cellphone use.While navigating the tow for about 1.5 hours before the collision, the pilot engaged in non-operational, secondary tasks, including taking an administrative phone call from the company’s safety officer, making a personal phone call and sending text messages.The pilot had only had about four hours of continuous sleep in the 36 hours before the collision…

Silver Ships recently delivered an Explorer 32 Fire Boat variant to the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department provides fire protection, emergency medical advanced life support, hazardous materials mitigation and technical rescue to residents and visitors of the busy coastal city.The Silver Ships vessel is equipped to handle all fire protection and medical support needs on the water. The Explorer 32 is outfitted with twin 300 HP Suzuki outboards with an engine protection and crash guard.

Humans arose in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago and later trekked worldwide, eventually reaching some of Earth's most remote places. In doing so, they surmounted geographic barriers including treacherous ocean expanses. But how did they do that with only rudimentary technology available to them?Scientists now have undertaken an experimental voyage across a stretch of the East China Sea, paddling from Ushibi in eastern Taiwan to Japan's Yonaguni Island in a dugout canoe to demonstrate how such a trip may have been accomplished some 30…

American Cruise Lines announced their biggest season of New England cruises—featuring nine itineraries and five small ships, including the newest cruise ship in the country, American Patriot.American Patriot is the flagship in the company’s new Patriot Class series. The 130-passenger ship passed Sea Trials and will embark on its first cruise this week, sailing June 21 roundtrip from Boston. Guests will enjoy one of the Line’s premiere New England itineraries, a 15-Day Grand New England cruise…

Next Geosolutions Europe S.p.A., a marine geosciences and offshore construction support services company, and the Norwegian shipyard Green Yard Kleven announced a collaboration agreement for the conversion of the vessel named NG EXPLORER. The vessel will be converted to perform high-spec seabed surveys worldwide.The NG EXPLORER is 58 meters long and 14 metres wide, and has got a draft of 4.5 meters, which makes her suitable also for shallow water environments.Originally built in 2010 as an offshore vessel…

A replica of Christopher Columbus's flagship Nao Santa Maria opened to public at London's St. Katharine Docks Marina on Thursday (May 29).The original ship was one of the three used by Columbus's crew in 1492 when he discovered territories in the Caribbean and the Americas.The 93 feet replica carries the Spanish flag as the Italian explorer's voyage was sponsored by Spanish monarchs. A smaller Union Jack also hangs on the mast, marking the replica's British pitstop.The Nao Santra Maria replica was built under the Nao Victoria Foundation…

Alaskan state representatives will visit Japan this month to court investors for a natural gas project President Donald Trump says could pump trillions of dollars into the United States, but Japanese energy firms remain wary of its viability.Officials from the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) and development partner Glenfarne Group will visit "allied Asian nations in late March to update industry leaders on Alaska LNG's economic and strategic competitive advantages…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has marked the start of construction of Island Offshore’s hybrid power ocean energy construction vessel (OECV) at its shipyard in Romania.Vard secured the order for the vessel, named Island Evolution, from Island Offshore back in May 2024, which also included an option for two additional vessels. Island Offshore placed the order for the second vessel, to be named Island Explorer, in August.Roy Viggo Fjørtoft, Project Manager from Island Offshore, had…

The Fascinated by Shipwrecks Podcast, hosted by Kathy A. Smith,  is dedicated to the People & the Science of Maritime Archaeology.EPISODE 8 – Guest: Vince Capone – Hunting Shipwrecks with Side Scan Sonar“The robot is navigating underwater and runs a search pattern, collecting the data. We are not at the point where we can transmit that data in real time back to the vessel because of the volume of data. We can transmit snippets to make sure it's working. When I say snippets, those are just small images of the sonar waterfall. But that time is coming.

Marine geosciences and offshore construction support services firm Next Geosolutions has acquired a multi-purpose survey vessel (MPSV) from Beitveit Holding for $7.1 million.The vessel, Sea Admiral, will be renamed NG EXPLORER, and will be used for geophysical, geotechnical, environmental and UXO surveys.The NG EXPLORER, with a length of 58 meters and a width of 14 meters, is an MPSV built in 2010 and equipped with a Dynamic Positioning Class II (DP2) system and diesel-electric…

R.W. Fernstrum & Company, founded by Robert W. Fernstrum 75 years ago, is a quintessential U.S. manufacturing story. The company was born in the aftermath of WWII, founded on an invention developed during the war by Robert Fernstrum to help solve an engine overheating problem that was plaguing U.S. Navy landing craft. Family owned and operated from day one, today the company includes a fourth generation of family that aims to continue the legacy of its founder, a legacy built on effective…

Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot became the first cruise ship to reach the North Pole of Inaccessibility on September 12.The North Pole of Inaccessibility is the point on the Arctic Ocean that is furthest from land. First described in 1909 by the Russian polar explorer Alexander Koltchak, the exact geographic coordinates were established in 2013 by Jim McNeill with the help of NASA and satellites: 85°48’ North, 176°09’ East. It is located at 1,465km (910 miles) from Utqiasuk in Alaska…

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te told sailors aboard a combat-ready warship at a major base in the Taiwan Strait on Friday that he had their backs, thanking them for safeguarding Taiwanese security at a time of heightened tensions with Beijing.China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory over the strong objections of the government in Taipei, detests Lai as a "separatist" and staged war games around the island in May shortly after his inauguration.Speaking to sailors on board the warship Cheng Ho at the Magong base on the Penghu islands in the Taiwan Strait…