Marine Link
Monday, March 9, 2026

Lng News

08 Mar 2026

Seatrium Wins FSRU Conversion Contract

From left to right – Mr. Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President, Repairs & Upgrades, Seatrium, Mr. Gokhan Kocak, Chief Technical Operations Officer, Karpowership, at the signing of the eighth FSRU conversion contract. (Photo: Seatrium)

Seatrium has been awarded a contract by Karpowership for the conversion of a new floating storage regasification unit (FSRU).Scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2026, the LNG carrier Karadeniz will be converted to a high-capacity FSRU engineered to deliver a regasification capacity of up to 600 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).This latest completion brings Seatrium’s FSRU conversion track record to 23 FSRU and FSU conversion projects delivered.Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President…

04 Mar 2026

Russian LNG Tanker Sinks in Mediterranean

© Adobe Stock/Evgenii Bakhchev

A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) sank in the Mediterranean on Wednesday after what Moscow described as an attack by Ukrainian drones launched from Libya.The Arctic Metagaz sank in waters between Libya and Malta after catching fire a day earlier, Libya's maritime rescue agency said in an advisory seen by Reuters."Information indicates that the tanker experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking," the agency said.Ukraine has frequently targeted Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure in an attempt to de

04 Mar 2026

QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure with LNG Production Still on Hold

© Mike Mareen / Adobe Stock

QatarEnergy has declared Force Majeure to its affected buyers, following the decision to stop the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products as a consequence of Israel-U.S. war with Iran.“QatarEnergy values its relationships with all of its stakeholders and will continue to communicate the latest available information,” the company said in a statement on March 4, 2026.Qatar halted its production of LNG on March 2, following Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iran and its retaliation…

03 Mar 2026

Supertanker Costs Hit All-Time High as Iran Threatens Strait of Hormuz Closure


© Robert - stock.adobe.com / Adobe Stock

Supertanker costs in the Middle East have hit all-time highs, according to shipping data and industry sources on Tuesday, as the U.S.-Iran conflict intensifies with Tehran attacking ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Shipping through the Strait between Iran and Oman, which carries around one-fifth of oil consumed globally as well as large quantities of liquefied natural gas, has ground to a near halt after vessels in the area were hit as Iran retaliated against U.S. and…

03 Mar 2026

Qatar LNG Halt Forces Asia to Seek Alternative Supplies

© vladsv / Adobe Stock

India began rationing natural gas on Tuesday while countries around Asia looked to the spot market to replace supplies, activated emergency plans and prepared to step up production, as the conflict in the Middle East curtailed shipping and halted Qatari output.Government officials and company executives in Japan, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Pakistan said they did not expect an immediate impact as some cargoes due this month had already arrived, but they would diversify their import…

27 Feb 2026

US DOE Green Light Set to Make Corpus Christi Second Largest US LNG Scheme

(Credit: Cheniere Energy)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved a 12% expansion in exports at Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Texas, authorizing additional shipments to non-free trade agreement countries.U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed the order allowing exports of up to 0.47 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas as LNG from Trains 8 and 9 of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 Project, known as the Midscale Trains 8 & 9 Project.With the latest approval…

26 Feb 2026

German Shipowner Buys Two Multi-Purpose Vessels

MV Charlie (Credit: dship Carriers)

Germany’s Ernst Russ has acquired two multi-purpose vessels, MV Ronnie and MV Charlie, as part of its long-term fleet strategy to expand exposure to the project cargo segment and strengthen predictable earnings.The Hamburg-based shipowner said both vessels have been fixed on seven-year charters to dship Carriers, a globally operating European company specialized in project cargo, providing long-term employment and improved cash flow visibility.The vessels, scheduled for handover in the first quarter of 2026…

25 Feb 2026

Kongsberg Maritime to Equip LS Marine’s Ultra-Large Cable Lay Vessel

(Credit: Kongsberg Maritime)

Kongsberg Maritime has been selected to supply a fully integrated equipment package for a next-generation ultra-large cable laying (CLV) vessel being built for LS Marine Solution at Tersan Shipyard in Türkiye.The vessel, designed to support growing global demand for subsea high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and optical cable installation, will be 148.4 meters long and 31 meters wide, with a cable carrying capacity of 13,000 tonnes and total displacement of 18,800 tonnes.It is…

25 Feb 2026

Shell, METLEN Sign LNG Supply and Trading Deal

(Credit: METLEN)

Shell and Greece’s METLEN have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a framework for cooperation in the supply and trading of liquefied natural gas (LNG).Under the agreement, the two companies plan to supply and trade approximately 0.5 to 1.0 billion cubic metres (bcm) of LNG per year over the five-year period from 2027 to 2031.Deliveries are expected to be made to the Greek LNG regasification terminals at Revithoussa and Alexandroupolis.The MoU also envisages…

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…

20 Feb 2026

AKOFS Offshore Inks New Vessel Deal with Petrobras

Aker Wayfarer (Credit: AKOFS Offshore)

Norway-based subsea well intervention and installation services company AKOFS Offshore has signed a firm contract with Petrobras for its Aker Wayfarer vessel.AKOFS Offshore, majority owned by Akastor, said the 2010-built vessel will continue to perform services as a Subsea Equipment Support Vessel (SESV) for Petrobras in Brazil.The contract, valued at $330 million, has a duration of four years, with operations expected to begin in September 2027, following the expiry of the current…

19 Feb 2026

DOF Upgrades AHTS Fleet

© Julian / Adobe Stock

DOF Group has entered into an agreement to purchase the very high-end AHTS vessels Aurora Saltfjord and Aurora Sandefjord.The vessels are 2011-built and feature a bollard pull of almost 400 metric tonnes, making them among the most powerful AHTS vessels globally.The vessels are among the most recently built in their segment (AHTS >300mt bollard pull), a segment which sees no newbuilding activity due to prohibitive newbuilding costs. DOF sees a very strong market outlook for projects that require high-end AHTS vessels in the years to come…

18 Feb 2026

Wärtsilä to Supply LNG Cargo, Fuel Systems for Bunker Ships

(Credit: Wärtsilä Gas Solutions)

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions has secured a contract to supply LNG cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems for two 20,000 cubic meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessels under construction at Zhejiang XinLe Shipbuilding yard in China.The vessels will be owned by a Hong Kong-based shipowner. The order was booked in the fourth quarter of 2025.The contract covers the delivery of LNG cargo handling and fuel gas supply systems, including system engineering and design, as well…

16 Feb 2026

DOF Group ASA Awarded Contract in Argentina

© DOF Group ASA

DOF Group ASA announced the award of a substantial contract for a project in Argentina. The project is scheduled for offshore operations across two campaigns in Q2 and Q3-Q4 of 2026 and will encompass mooring pre-lay, pipeline end manifold installation/construction management, tie-in spools installation, hook-up and pre-commissioning of two CALM buoys, and diving services. DOF will utilize Skandi Hera and Skandi Patagonia for the project with an expected combined duration of more than 250 days.Preparations are underway…

12 Feb 2026

Martens en Van Oord Purchases Autonomous Survey Vessel From Demcon unmanned systems

Martens en Van Oord, a contractor in roadworks, civil and hydraulic engineering, is taking a step toward further sustainability and modernization of its fleet by investing in the latest generation of the V4000 autonomous unmanned survey vessel (USV) from Demcon unmanned systems, a specialist in high-tech autonomous vessels for hydrographic and maritime applications. The selected 4‑meter variant provides increased range and longer endurance thanks to the additional hull length…

12 Feb 2026

Jan De Nul’s Fleeming Jenkin CLV to Get Dedicated Training Simulator

(Credit: Tree C)

Tree C, a Dutch virtual and augmented reality specialist for the offshore and remote handling industry, has announced it will develop a training simulator for Fleeming Jenkin, described as the world’s largest cable laying vessel (CLV), owned by Jan De Nul.The simulator is intended to allow inexperienced crew members to become familiar with onboard equipment, practice procedures and operate systems before deployment offshore.It will feature an integrated control system designed to replicate the vessel’s onboard experience…

09 Feb 2026

New Zealand Moves Ahead with LNG Import Facility Plan

© Sepia100 / Adobe Stock

New Zealand has shortlisted contractors to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility to boost energy security, provide a reliable backup power source and support economic growth, Energy Minister Simon Watts said on Monday.The government aims to sign a contract by the middle of this year for an import facility in Taranaki, on the country's North Island, that would be ready to receive LNG in 2027 or early 2028.The model will allow LNG to be imported in large shipments and only when needed…

06 Feb 2026

Jacket Loadout Milestone Completed for BorWin6 Offshore HVDC Platform

© Mammoet

Progress on the BorWin6 Project continues with the successful completion of a fabrication yard milestone in Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates. Mammoet has completed the transport, loadout and mooring of the 5,461-ton offshore jacket foundation, set to support the BorWin6 offshore converter platform BorWin kappa in the German North Sea. Developed by TenneT and delivered by McDermott International, the BorWin6 offshore grid connection is a 980-megawatt high voltage direct current connection that will transmit offshore wind energy from the German North Sea to the mainland…

26 Jan 2026

Stolt-Nielsen Looks for Partner in LNG Venture

© hao / Adobe Stock

Stolt-Nielsen, through its subsidiary Stolt-Nielsen Gas, has confirmed it is in discussions with a strategic buyer, regarding the potential sale of up to 50% of its interest in Avenir LNG.Avenir LNG is an industry leader in small-scale LNG supply and is focused on supporting the marine energy transition through one of the largest fleets of small-scale LNG vessels. Avenir LNG owns and operates a fleet of five modern small-scale LNG bunkering vessels, with two newbuildings under construction.The potential sale agreement is subject to final documentation and customary approvals…

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.

04 Feb 2026

Norway Socialist Party Withdraws Support for LNG Electricity Project Opposition

© Adobe Stock/Grispb

Norway's Socialist Party has withdrawn its support for a proposal to block Equinor's Hammerfest liquefied natural gas plant from receiving a planned onshore power connection, clearing the way for the grid development to proceed.Parliament is due on Thursday to vote on an opposition proposal seeking to revoke the LNG plant's planned link to the power grid, but the motion is likely to fail without backing from the Socialist Party.The government approved the connection in 2023 to cut greenhouse gas emissions at the plant on Melkoeya island off Hammerfest and extend its lifetime.Critics say hookin

05 Feb 2026

Norway Parliament Rejects Challenge to LNG Plant's Power Supply Plan

Norway's parliament on Thursday rejected a proposal to block Equinor's plan to supply electricity to its Hammerfest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant from the region's power grid, allowing the ongoing development to continue.Opposition parties had sought to revoke the LNG plant's planned link to the power grid, but the motion failed when the Socialist Party withdrew its support for the plan, calling it "in practice unlawful".A total of 48 members of parliament, known as the Storting, backed the opposition's proposal while 54 voted against."For Equinor and our partners, it is crucial to be able

02 Feb 2026

Electricity Needs for AI, Data Centers May Turn LNG Glut into Gap by 2030

© Adobe Stock/Grispb

Growing electricity demand from AI and data centres, together with rising fuel use in Asia and European gas needs could turn an expected global liquefied natural gas supply glut into a shortage by 2030, Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi said on Monday.LNG coming online between 2026 and 2029 has raised concerns of a supply glut that could depress prices, with projects like Golden Pass LNG on the U.S. Gulf Coast and Qatar's North Field Expansion expected to contribute sizeable volumes."We…