2025: Fascinated with Subsea Discovery
Our fascination with the depths of the ocean revealed itself in some of our most-read stories of 2025.What’s really down there? asked New Wave Media President Greg Trauthwein in his interview with Matt Grove, Regional Segment Manager Offshore at Seequent in September, in the most watched Offshore Engineer TV show.Working underneath the world’s waters is a challenge in and of itself, a challenge exacerbated if an operator does not have a clear picture of the make-up of the seabed with insights on the potential traps that might await.
DOF Bags Multiple Vessel Deals with Petrobras in Brazil
Norwegian offshore supply vessel owner DOF Group has secured seven new contract extensions with Petrobras for its offshore support vessels (OSVs) in Brazil, valued over $160 million.Five of DOF's Brazilian-flagged anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels, all with ROVs on board, including Skandi Fluminense, Skandi Paraty, Skandi Angra, Skandi Urca and Skandi Iguaçu, have had their current contracts with Petrobras extended until the first quarter of 2027.The new four-year contracts…
ABS Approves MISC and China Offshore’s Ammonia FPSO Design
MISC and China Offshore Engineering & Technology Company have received the Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their design of an ammonia floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This innovative floater solution adapts proven onshore production technology for offshore operations, transforming unutilized hydrocarbon gas from nearby offshore facilities into high-value blue ammonia, which is stored onboard at cryogenic conditions.This…
DeepOcean Extends IMR Services Deal with Equinor
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured an extension to its existing frame agreement with Equinor for the provision of subsea inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) services.As a part of the renewal, DeepOcean will deploy specialized IMR vessels, along with comprehensive subsea services, throughout 2026 and into 2027.The scope of work also includes onshore engineering and project management services for various subsea operations.With this contract, DeepOcean will deliver uninterrupted IMR activities for Equinor from 2006 to 2035…
Dong Fang Offshore Picks Westcon for New CLV Delivery
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…
Jan De Nul Unveils ‘Most Advanced’ Wind Farm Installation Simulator
Belgium’s Jan De Nul is commissioning what it calls its most advanced offshore wind installation simulator, a digital twin of its vessels Les Alizés and Voltaire designed to train crews to install the latest generation of giant wind turbines and foundations at sea.The crane simulator, installed at the company’s Aalst office, features a seven-meter-wide dome offering a 360-degree view and allows operators to rehearse complex installation operations at heights exceeding 150 meters.Wind turbine tip heights now reach 300 metres…
Semco Maritime to Work on Floatel Endurance Rig Optimization
Floatel International has selected Semco Maritime’s Hanøytangen facility outside Bergen in Norway, to perform a series of modifications and service works on the Floatel Endurance rig ahead of an upcoming contract on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.Following completion of its current assignment in Canada, Floatel Endurance will sail across the Atlantic to Hanøytangen, arriving in the first quarter of 2026 for yard stay and energy optimization works.Under the contract, Semco Maritime will be in charge of thruster removal and overhaul…
Drydocks World Converts Tanker to FPSO Ahead of Deployment off Nigeria
Drydocks World has completed the full conversion and integration of the EMEM Floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, delivering a key offshore asset to support production at Nigeria’s Okwok field.The FPSO, converted from double-hulled tanker, underwent structural modifications, marine system upgrades and the installation of 19 topside production and utility modules at Drydocks World’s Dubai facility.The unit was commissioned by World Carrier Corporation on behalf of Oriental Energy Resources for deployment its Okwok field in Petroleum Mining Lease 15.Once operational…
ABS Grants AiP to Encomara for Squid System for Floating Offshore Wind Projects
ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Encomara for its Squid system, an approach that adapts proven disconnectable mooring technology to support floating offshore wind developments.The Squid system builds upon the established Disconnectable Turret Buoy (DTB) concept long used in floating production projects. By utilizing existing, well-understood offshore technology and installation methods, the system aims to enhance safety and reduce complexity during floating wind turbine installation and off-station operations.“The potential efficiency gains…
Petrobras Sandwich Hull Tank Design Receives ABS Approval
ABS issued an approval in principle (AIP) to Petrobras for its safety-enhancing “sandwich hull” design concept for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) tanks.The design uses parts of longitudinal and transverse elements constructed with steel-concrete-steel sandwich structures that allow tanks to remain free of internal obstructions, promising to improve operational efficiency during tank inspections and enabling activities to be performed using remotely operated tools and automated devices such as robots.ABS completed design reviews based on class requirements.
Noatum Maritime, Siemens Energy and GPT Team Up for Offshore Renewables
Noatum Maritime, Siemens Energy and Green Parrot Tech (GPT) have signed a partnership agreement to explore collaboration in the offshore renewable energy sector.Noatum Maritime, an AD Ports Group company, Siemens Energy and GPT plan to combine their capabilities to support the development of offshore renewable infrastructure including substations and power grid networks.The partnership aims to integrate expertise in electrical systems, engineering and design, subsea solutions…
Technip Energies to Supply CO2 Loading Arms for Northern Lights CCS Project
Technip Energies Loading Systems has secured a contract to supply three fully electric marine loading arms for phase 2 of the Northern Lights CO2 transport and storage project in Øygarden, Norway.The loading solution will be installed at the new Northern Lights jetty and will consist of three marine loading arms fully qualified to transfer liquefied CO2.For this second phase, Technip Energies Loading Systems will deliver a fully electric design, a first-of-a-kind eliminating the use of hydraulics and setting a new industry benchmark in terms of operability…
HyfloWind Float from SHI Receives ABS Approval
ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its HyfloWind Float, a hybrid floating offshore wind structure designed to enhance production efficiency and streamline deployment processes.The HyfloWind Float features a concrete-based steel composite design, diverging from traditional all-steel structures. This approach facilitates local fabrication in regions where steel manufacturing capabilities are limited, helping lower the costs associated with importing steel.
Efficiency First: Inside Olympic Subsea’s Bet on Greener Offshore Vessels
A new generation of hybrid vessels is demonstrating significant gains in both fuel economy and operational output. For Olympic Subsea’s owner and CEO Stig Remøy, it proves that technology-led efficiency is the fastest path to decarbonization—and a powerful business case.When Stig Remøy began pivoting Olympic Subsea toward subsea and renewables a decade ago, the move was met with some internal skepticism. “Naturally, there were internal discussions — some believed oil and gas was the future,” he recalled.
Major Offshore Renewables Emergency Exercise Tests Industry Response
The UK offshore renewables sector has been put through its paces in a major emergency response exercise designed to test coordination among industry, government, and emergency services during a large-scale offshore incident.Organized by the Offshore Renewable Energy Emergency Forum (OREEF), the triennial TRIREX exercise — titled Exercise Blyth — brought together Ocean Winds, Police Scotland, HM Coastguard, Esvagt, Vestas, and other stakeholders at the Moray East Offshore Wind Farm to conduct realistic emergency response drills.The two-day exercise…
Tidewater Leverages Digitalization for Vessel Drydocking
Digital Dry-Docking: Tidewater Sees 60% Time Savings Using UniSea’s Maindeck AppTidewater is redefining how vessel dry-dockings are managed, estimating up to a 60% reduction in project time after deploying UniSea’s Maindeck digital platform during the recent yard stay of the Highland Prestige at Dales Marine Services in Aberdeen.According to Chris Tundogan, Assistant Operations Superintendent at Tidewater, the Maindeck app has “revolutionized” the way dry-docking projects are planned and executed…
DOF Group gets Extension for Pipelay Support Vessels in Brazil
DOF Group ASA ("DOF") is pleased to announce that three PLSVs (pipelay support vessels) owned through a joint venture between DOF (50%) and TechnipFMC (50%) have secured contract extensions with Petrobras in Brazil.Skandi Vitória and Skandi Niterói have had their current contracts extended from Q4-2025 until Q1-2027. The 3-year contracts announced in June 2024 will now commence following the extension period. Skandi Açu has had its current contract extended from Q3-2026 until Q1-2027.
Reach Remote 1 USV Cleared for Fully Remote Operations
Norwegian subsea services firm Reach Subsea has been granted a trading permit to operate its Reach Remote 1 Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) entirely through remote operations - without a support vessel.The permit was issued by the Norwegian Maritime Authorities, with technical validation and support from DNV. Reach Remote 1 has already been in full commercial operation, and this permit initiates the final phase towards full certification.This is the first approval of its kind for an USV of this size with integrated Work Class ROV capability…
Seatools to Equip Jan De Nul’s New Subsea Vessel with Fall Pipe ROV
Subsea technology company Seatools has been awarded a contract by Jan De Nul for the design and delivery of a Fall Pipe ROV (FP-ROV) that will form a key system of the Belgian contractor’s recently ordered subsea rock installation vessel, the George W. Goethals.The ROV will play an essential role in the vessel’s mission to protect critical subsea infrastructure by enabling highly accurate and controlled rock placement around cables and foundations, safeguarding assets that underpin…
LNG Vessel Elisa Halcyon Delivered to EDF
A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, Elisa Halcyon, ordered by France LNG Shipping SAS from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries in Korea, was completed and delivered on October 31. The vessel will be chartered on a long-term basis (up to 20 years) to EDF LNG Shipping SAS for LNG transportation under the ship management of Gazocean.Elisa Halcyon is equipped with a WinGD-manufactured dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine capable of operating on fuel oil and boil-off gas (natural gas vaporized during transport).
Emerson Launches WirelessHART Non-Contacting Radar Level Transmitter
Emerson, an industrial technology leader delivering automation solutions, has launched the world’s first native WirelessHART non-contacting radar level transmitter. The Rosemount 3408 Wireless Level Transmitter – Non-Contacting Radar reduces the complexity, time and costs associated with installing cabling in automated measurement points. By eliminating measurement blind spots and the need for manual readings, the transmitter enhances plant safety, boosts operational efficiency, and enables more reliable, continuous level monitoring in industrial environments.
Poland Eyes Bids to Expand Floating LNG Terminal
Poland will seek binding offers for capacity that would be available in the expanded floating liquefied natural gas terminal near Gdansk following ample interest from shippers, the country's gas pipeline operator Gaz-System said on Monday.Gaz-System is building a terminal with a regasification capacity of 6.1 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas per year and considering adding a second unit which could regasify 4.5 bcm annually."Nearly half of the regasified LNG would be exported to Ukraine…
US Exports Record Levels of Natural Gas to Mexico
U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico averaged 7.5 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in May 2025, the most of any month on record as Mexico's demand for natural gas increases, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Monday.On an annual basis, U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico averaged 6.4 bcfd in 2024, a 25% increase compared with 2019 and the highest on record in data going back as early as 1975, the EIA report stated."Total consumption of natural gas in Mexico increased from 7.7 bcfd to 8.6 bcfd during the same time (2019-2024) period…