Offshore News

Norway’s IKM Gruppen has acquired Hendrik Veder Group, headquartered in Rotterdam.The combined entity will operate under the new name IKM Hendrik Veder.Hendrik Veder Group brings a distinguished 225-year legacy, making it one of the oldest maritime enterprises in the Netherlands. With 79 employees, the company has built a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and long-standing customer relationships. It remains a trusted provider of steel wire and synthetic rope solutions for lifting…

Norway’s IKM Gruppen has acquired Hendrik Veder Group, headquartered in Rotterdam.The combined entity will operate under the new name IKM Hendrik Veder.Hendrik Veder Group brings a distinguished 225-year legacy, making it one of the oldest maritime enterprises in the Netherlands. With 79 employees, the company has built a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and long-standing customer relationships. It remains a trusted provider of steel wire and synthetic rope solutions for lifting, mooring, towing, and rigging in the maritime and offshore industries, with a clear focus on sustainability.IKM Gruppen AS is an international industrial group active in maritime, offshore and subsea domains.

Oil loading at the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah was at least partly halted after a third attack in four days caused a fire at the export terminal, while operations at the Shah gas field remained suspended after an earlier attack.The cascading disruptions threaten to completely sever the OPEC producer's remaining crude export outlet from global markets, potentially deepening a crisis that has sent energy prices surging.The UAE's other export hubs are located within the Gulf…

Next Geosolutions has finalized financing to support the acquisition of a new offshore vessel, strengthening its fleet and subsea service capabilities as demand grows in the offshore energy sector.The Italy-based marine geosciences and offshore construction support specialist said it has secured backing from Intesa Sanpaolo and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) for the purchase of the vessel Siem Day, which will be renamed NG Supporter. The total investment is valued at approximately $112 million.The two financial institutions are providing 70% of the funding, with a 10-year repayment term.

Next Geosolutions has finalized financing to support the acquisition of a new offshore vessel, strengthening its fleet and subsea service capabilities as demand grows in the offshore energy sector.The Italy-based marine geosciences and offshore construction support specialist said it has secured backing from Intesa Sanpaolo and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) for the purchase of the vessel Siem Day, which will be renamed NG Supporter. The total investment is valued at approximately $112 million.The two financial institutions are providing 70% of the funding, with a 10-year repayment term. Intesa Sanpaolo is acting as lead bank, underwriting 60% of the financed amount…

Vietnam's domestic crude oil production is expected to decline this decade, according to a government document released this week, increasing the country's reliance on imports as its offshore fields mature and geopolitical tensions threaten global supplies.The new forecasts for dwindling oil output come as Vietnam, a regional industrial hub hosting large manufacturing operations of electronics and garment multinationals, is bracing for oil shortages caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and subsequent export bans from energy suppliers.Crude output is projected to fall to 5.8 million-8.0 milli

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.

U.S. officials are drafting agreements to pay nearly $1 billion to oil major TotalEnergies as compensation for the cancellation of leases for wind farms in federal waters off New York State and North Carolina, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.Under the terms of the proposed settlements, the U.S. Interior Department will cancel the leases in federal waters for two projects, known as Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay, the NYT said, citing documents.The Justice Department will then pay more than $928 million to TotalEnergies…

U.S. officials are drafting agreements to pay nearly $1 billion to oil major TotalEnergies as compensation for the cancellation of leases for wind farms in federal waters off New York State and North Carolina, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.Under the terms of the proposed settlements, the U.S. Interior Department will cancel the leases in federal waters for two projects, known as Attentive Energy and Carolina Long Bay, the NYT said, citing documents.The Justice Department will then pay more than $928 million to TotalEnergies, compensating the firm for its winning bids in lease sales under the previous Biden administration, according to the NYT report.The White House, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S.

Tampnet won a contract with Porthos CO2 Transport and Storage C.V. to deliver communications infrastructure for what will be the first CO₂ injection platform on the Dutch Continental Shelf.The project centers on Platform P18-A, a former gas production asset being converted into an unmanned installation for carbon storage as part of the broader Porthos CCS Project. The development is a cornerstone of Europe’s push to scale offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS).Under the contract…

Seadrill has announced that Sonadrill Holding, its 50:50 joint venture with an affiliate of Sonangol E.P., has been awarded a contract extension.A seven-well priced option for the ultra-deepwater drillship Sonangol Quenguela has been exercised, extending operations in Angola by approximately 480 days and committing the rig into June 2028.Seadrill earns a management fee for providing management, operational and technical support to Sonadrill.

Kent has been selected by EnEarth, to perform the front end engineering design (FEED) for the Prinos CO₂ Storage Project in Northern Greece.Kent will develop the FEED design for the new CO₂ handling and storage facility, which will receive, store, transport, and inject CO₂ into the Prinos aquifer underlying the existing reservoir.The Prinos CO2 Storage Project is the first of its kind that has been awarded an environmental permit and a storage permit in the Mediterranean, and one of the very few in Europe.

British energy major BP has received approval from the Trump administration to advance its Kaskida project in the Gulf of Mexico, a company spokesperson told Reuters in an emailed statement late on Friday.The $5 billion investment would unlock 10 billion barrels of resources that BP has discovered in the Paleogene fields of the U.S. Gulf, the spokesperson said.The U.S. Department of the Interior's approval of Kaskida follows a year-long review of the company's development plan…

Revolution Wind, a 50/50 joint venture between Global Infrastructure Partners’ Skyborn Renewables and Ørsted, started delivering power to New England's electric grid on March 14.Revolution Wind, a 704MW offshore wind energy project, is expected to supply enough electricity to power more than 350,000 homes and businesses. The project will deliver power under fixed-price, 20-year agreements with energy utilities in Rhode Island and Connecticut.At a time of rising electricity demand…

Maersk Offshore Wind has officially christened its new Seatrium-built wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Maersk Viridis, marking the entry of the first vessel in the company’s new offshore wind installation fleet.The naming ceremony was held on board the vessel, where its godmother, Charlotte Nørkjær Larsen, formally named the ship by smashing a bottle of champagne against the main crane pedestal.Delivered by Seatrium, the 40,000-tonne vessel was recently delivered following sea trials and final readiness evaluations.

A Turkish-owned ship that had been waiting near Iran was allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after authorities received permission from Tehran, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.In comments to Turkish media on Thursday that were released on Friday, Uraloglu said Ankara had declared the highest-level security warning for the strait and continued contacts with Iranian officials regarding the situation of the remaining 14 Turkish-owned vessels there."Fifteen ships (with Turkish owners) were there…

Ships must coordinate with Iran's navy to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the country's foreign ministry spokesperson said in comments carried by Mehr news agency on Thursday.Iran will fight on and keep the Strait of Hormuz shut as leverage against the United States and Israel, new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday in defiant first comments attributed to him since he succeeded his slain father."The security of the Strait of Hormuz is of vital importance to Iran, because the country’s security is tied to the security of the region.

Iranian crude oil has continued to flow through the Strait of Hormuz at a near-normal pace even as Tehran-linked attacks on ships in the narrow waterway have decimated exports from other Gulf countries, a Reuters review of tanker tracking data showed.Iran has exported about 13.7 million barrels of crude oil since Israel and the U.S. launched attacks on the country on February 28, according to analysis from TankerTrackers.com, a maritime intelligence company that specializes in tracking the so-called shadow fleet…

DNV has completed a multi-year study commissioned by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) examining the safety implications of using hydrogen as a fuel in ships.The study, titled Safety of hydrogen for use in ships, concludes that hydrogen-fuelled vessels require a design-based safety approach and recommends the use of secondary enclosures across all hydrogen-carrying components, including those located on open deck.Hydrogen is increasingly being considered as a potential marine fuel, although broader adoption is expected to take time.

Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday as Iran stepped up attacks on oil and transport facilities across the Middle East, fuelling concerns of a prolonged conflict and potential disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent futures LCOc1 climbed $5.95, or 6.47%, to $97.93 a barrel at 0915 GMT, having hit $100 per barrel in earlier trading, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up $5.25, or 6%, to $92.50.Brent hit $119.50 a barrel on Monday, its highest since mid-2022, then dropped after U.S.

The International Energy Agency on Wednesday agreed to release a record 400 million barrels of oil from strategic stockpiles to combat a spike in global crude prices since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, with the U.S. contributing the bulk of the supply.The IEA said all 32 member countries backed the move, the sixth coordinated stockpile release since the agency's creation in the 1970s. The United States will take a lead role by contributing 172 million barrels, according to U.S.

Major industry announcements and new product launches continued to drive significant visitor numbers and plentiful business activity as Oceanology International 2026 (Oi26) surpassed expectations on the second day at Excel London.Among the companies taking center stage, expanding platform OceanSight used Oi to unveil its new collection of ocean technology brands built to advance marine sensing and subsea intelligence, celebrating an exciting new chapter focused on accelerating innovation and strategic growth.OceanSight…

Equinor has entered into a two-year bio-methanol supply agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a major global player in shipping and vehicle logistics, supporting a growing marine segment for low-carbon fuels.Soon bio-methanol from Equinor will fuel ships that are bringing cars and machinery from points of production to markets. Wallenius Wilhelmsen is a roll‑on/roll‑off (RoRo) shipping and vehicle logistics giant, and will use the bio‑methanol as bunker fuel for its upcoming dual‑fuel…

G7 energy ministers stopped short of agreeing on a release of strategic oil reserves on Tuesday and instead asked the International Energy Agency to assess the situation before acting.The IEA said it was convening an extraordinary meeting of its member states on Tuesday.Members would "assess the current security of supply and market conditions to inform a subsequent decision on whether to make emergency stocks of IEA countries available to the market," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said."We have asked the IEA to elaborate scenarios for a potential oil stock release…

Three vessels have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security agencies and sources said on Wednesday, as one of the strikes led to a fire onboard a ship and forced most of its crew to evacuate it.The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was targeted and damaged approximately 11 nautical miles north of Oman, two maritime security sources said.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said later, referring to the incident, that the fire had been extinguished and that there was no environmental impact.

The economic risks of the world’s heavy dependence on oil and gas have been laid bare twice in four years - first with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and now with the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran - undermining U.S. President Donald Trump’s flagship push to double down on fossil fuels.The dramatic supply disruptions and price spikes unleashed by the latest Middle East conflict are likely to harden the resolve of many governments to accelerate the drive for greater energy self‑sufficiency…

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.

Responding to the surge in global subsea cable investment driven by cloud computing and artificial intelligence, ABS has published its Technical Standard for Subsea Power Cables.Subsea power cable design, installation and operation pose unique challenges due to harsh marine environments, significant water depths and extended cable lengths. The new ABS standard provides a comprehensive set of requirements and specifications to help the offshore industry mitigate risk, maintain…

Cable, connector and lighting company BIRNS, Inc. has appointed Sophia Bruner as the company’s new Engineering Manager.She leads BIRNS’ cross-functional engineering teams, overseeing the design, development, and scaling of products to achieve quality, cost, and delivery objectives. She is also responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating all design and manufacturing engineering activities.With more than 30 years of expertise across manufacturing, engineering, quality engineering…

Jan De Nul has selected Ulstein Design & Solutions to provide the vessel design for a new subsea trenching vessel that will be added to the company’s offshore fleet.The vessel, scheduled for delivery in 2028, will be based on a proven subsea vessel platform adapted to support large-scale trenching operations.Subsea trenching involves creating protective channels on the seabed to bury pipelines, power cables and telecommunications lines.The vessel design will feature a modular configuration allowing it to support activities across several offshore sectors…

Oil prices plummeted 7% on Tuesday after soaring to a more than three-year high in the previous session as U.S. President Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could end soon, easing concerns about prolonged disruptions to oil supplies.Brent futures LCOc1 fell $6.79, or 6.9%, to $92.17 a barrel at 0840 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was down $6.55, or 6.9%, to $88.22 a barrel. Both contracts fell as much as 11% earlier before paring some losses.Oil surged past $100 a barrel on Monday to the highest since mid-2022…

Saudi Arabia's Aramco, the world's top oil exporter, said on Tuesday there would be "catastrophic consequences" for the world's oil markets if the Iran war continues to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.Oil shipments have been largely blocked from traversing through the shipping artery, where normally roughly 20% of the world's oil would pass through daily. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Tuesday they would not allow "one litre of oil" to be shipped from the Middle East if U.S.

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…

2025 was a year of recalibration, continuing the softness experienced since the fourth quarter of 2024. Rather than a slowdown, this period can be better described as a collective deep breath as the industry prepares for the next upcycle in the Asian Pacific region.Compared to 2024, the composite dayrates, calculated as a weighted average across size categories, declined by approximately 16% for PSVs and 14% for AHTS vessels. In tandem, utilization also softened, with the number of working vessels down 19% and 8% respectively…

Unlike larger jackup regions where scale provides greater flexibility, relatively minor changes in supply can have an outsized impact. The availability, reactivation, or retirement of a single rig can materially shift utilisation levels, dayrate negotiations, and contracting dynamics, often with limited visibility.There are currently five jackups drilling in the region, operating across Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Iran. Several of these units are contracted into 2026 and beyond, which is meaningful in a market of this size.© EsgianDespite this coverage, active supply remains constrained.

The transition towards digitalisation and automation is speeding up in the maritime industry, and a comprehensive strategy is emerging to turbo-charge efficiency, safety and sustainability. Yet key questions remain about the adoption of technologies and solutions to enhance operational performance, future-proof fleets while remaining commercially competitive, and ultimately realise the zero-emission goal. At Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026, held from 25–27 March 2026 at Marina Bay Sands…

Tug Network Team (TNT), an alliance of independent towage operators launched in the Americas in 2024, has expanded into Europe with the addition of Fairplay Towage.The move increases the alliance’s presence to 113 ports across 13 countries with a combined fleet of more than 200 tugboats.TNT was initially formed by Group Ocean, Sulnorte and CPT Towage to strengthen regional cooperation among independent operators and offer shipowners broader access to towage services across the Americas.With the addition of Hamburg-based Fairplay Towage, the alliance now extends its reach into Europe.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has agreed to jointly own two commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) with Cyprus-based shipping company Schoeller Holdings, marking the Japanese company’s first entry into the European offshore wind support vessel market.The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2027. MOL has also decided to invest in Germany-based offshore vessel developer and operator Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt (DOS), which will operate the ships.The move expands MOL’s offshore wind vessel business beyond Asia…

Governments scrambled to limit the impact on economies and consumers from the widening Iran war, which fuelled a record surge in oil prices on Monday after key producers cut output and Tehran signalled that hardliners would remain in charge.In a sign of mounting governmental concern over supply disruptions, the Group of Seven finance ministers will discuss the possibility of a joint release of emergency oil reserves in a meeting on Monday, a French government source said.In South Korea…

Saudi Aramco has offered more than 4 million barrels of Saudi crude in rare tenders as the U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted exports from the Middle East, several traders said.In a tender that will close at 5 p.m. Beijing time (0900 GMT) on Monday, Aramco offered 2 million barrels of Arab Heavy crude to load at the Ain Sokhna port of Egypt.The loading date, subject to confirmation, is from March 10 to March 30, according to a tender document shared by the traders. The sale, on a free-on-board basis…

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation began cutting oil output on Saturday and declared force majeure, adding to earlier oil and gas reductions from Iraq and Qatar as the U.S.-Iran war blocked shipments from the Middle East for the eighth consecutive day.The war has blocked the world's most important oil artery the Strait of Hormuz which is responsible for 20% of global oil and LNG supply. Analysts predict the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will have to also cut output soon as they run out of oil storage.Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) declared force majeure…

Qatar is offering at least two liquefied natural gas tankers that it controls for lease, as the country’s massive export facility in the Gulf remains shut due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.The Al Thumama and Mesaieed, both of which are under long-term charter by state-owned QatarEnergy, are being offered to the market, the report said citing traders with knowledge of the matter.Reuters could not immediately verify the report.(Reuters - Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Maersk, one of the world's biggest container shipping groups, said on Friday it has temporarily suspended two services linking the Middle East to Asia and Europe as the Iran conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains.The Danish group said in a statement it would halt its FM1 service connecting the Far East to the Middle East and its ME11 service linking the Middle East to Europe"This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our personnel and vessels while minimizing operational disruption across our wider network," Maersk said in an advisory to custome

Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said on Friday it has escalated its legal fight in Panama after the government seized its port operations, petitioning for a review of the decree behind the takeover.The company said Panama unlawfully occupied facilities, seized property and ignored consultations, prompting further national and international legal action.CK Hutchison's Panama Ports Company (PPC), which manages two terminals near the globally strategic Panama Canal, filed an…

Around 50 French ships are currently blocked in the Persian Gulf and another eight in the Red Sea, France's Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said on Friday, as Paris seeks support to build a coalition of countries to secure shipping traffic in the region."There are around fifty ships - 52 to be precise - in the Persian Gulf and eight in the Red Sea, and we are also in permanent contact with the crews, as there are French sailors aboard a number of these vessels," Tabarot told French broadcaster CNews/Europe 1.(Reuters - Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro; Editing by Makini Brice)

Brazilian firms OceanPact and CBO have announced plans to combine their businesses, creating what the companies described as the country’s most comprehensive integrated fleet and services platform for the offshore sector.The transaction will be implemented through the incorporation of CBO’s holding company into OceanPact, according to a regulatory filing. Completion of the deal is subject to approval by Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE and other customary conditions, including approval by shareholders and consent from creditors.Once completed…

A Russian drone damaged a civilian Panama-flagged vessel that was transporting corn near the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in the Black Sea Odesa region, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said late on Wednesday.The vessel was hit while en route out of the port and some of the crew were injured, the ports authority said on the Telegram messaging app, without specifying the extent of the damage to the ship or how many crew members had been hurt.Ukraine ships about 90% of its exports via the Odesa port hub.Russia in recent months has been attacking Ukraine's maritime export arteries, including po

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that they had hit a U.S. tanker in the northern part of the Gulf and the vessel was on fire. There was no immediate confirmation of the incident or of a similar attack that Iran claimed earlier this week.The Guards said in their Thursday statement carried by state media that, in time of war, passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be under the control of the Islamic Republic.(Reuters - Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; additional reporting by Jonathan Saul; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

Oil prices surged more than 3% on Thursday, extending a rally as the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran raised fears of prolonged disruptions to vital Middle East oil and gas supplies.Brent LCOc1 crude advanced $2.44, or 3%, to $83.84 per barrel by 0722 GMT, a fifth session of gains. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose $2.44, or 3.27%, to $77.10.Crude oil markets remained on edge as they face ongoing risks to supply following the attacks in the Middle East, with concerns centred on trade flows through the Strait of Hormuz…

Seadrill Limited, an offshore drilling contractor, Kongsberg Maritime AS, a global technology leader, and Hanwha Drilling, a provider of offshore drilling services, announced a strategic alliance to develop the next generation of remote Dynamic Positioning (DP) technology in offshore drilling.This collaboration represents a shared commitment to defining a global operating model for the future of DP operations for the industry. The initiative will develop the technical and regulatory…

Strategic Marine has delivered the first two Supa Swath crew transfer vessels (CTVs) to Mainprize Offshore, marking the initial handover under a multi-vessel contract signed at in June 2024.The deliveries represent the first two vessels in a program covering six Supa Swath vessels, with options for a further six units. The contract supports Mainprize Offshore’s fleet expansion for offshore renewables operations across Europe.The program follows an earlier collaboration in 2024…

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…

Subsea7 has secured a large variation order by Turkish Petroleum Offshore Technology Center AS (TP-OTC) relating to the Sakarya field development in the Black Sea, offshore Türkiye.The award represents an extension to the contract announced by Subsea7 in August 2025 for the third phase of Sakarya and will connect the recently discovered Goktepe field to the Phase 3 floating production unit.The scope of work comprises engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of approximately 20 kilometers of flexibles…

Euro zone government bonds edged higher on Wednesday as investors paused after a sharp selloff earlier this week driven by fears the Middle East war would fuel inflation.President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf."A U.S. insurance for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz could be a game changer, if successfully implemented," said Mohit Kumar…

Chinese shipping and logistics conglomerate COSCO Shipping's container liner unit said on Wednesday it had suspended all new bookings for routes to and from ports in the Middle East region, including those in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.The move was due to escalating conflict in the region and traffic restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, COSCO Shipping Lines said in a statement.Bookings for routes to and from Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait have also been suspended, it added.The company said it was evaluating follow-up disposal plans, including possible alternative unloading ports, for

Oil prices rose 3% on Wednesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted Middle East supplies, but the pace of gains slowed from past sessions after President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. Navy could escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent LCOc1 rose $2.67, or 3.3%, to $84.07 a barrel by 0659 GMT, after closing on Tuesday at its highest since January 2025.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose $2.24, or 3%, to $76.8, after settling at its highest since June.

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has launched the IMCA Next Generation Network – a global, member-led network that will support the development of early career professionals.Designed to strengthen development pathways for junior workers in the marine construction sector, the new global community forms a central pillar of IMCA’s strategic focus on people, competency, and skills.It will also support the offshore industry to raise awareness of the growing range…

DRIFT Energy, a leader in ocean-based renewable energy, has signed a collaboration agreement with Enapter to adapt the design of their Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer technology for deployment at sea. The agreement was formalized during a visit by DRIFT’s CEO, Ben Medland, to Enapter’s production facility in Pisa, Italy, this week.The partnership will accelerate development of the energy storage element of DRIFT’s technology ecosystem, paving the way for the production of over 30 energy ships currently on the company’s order book.

OEG has expanded its offshore wind vessel fleet with the delivery of Fulmar, a new multi-purpose crew transfer vessel (CTV), following successful sea trials.The vessel will operate in U.K. waters and has secured its first charter in Scotland, supporting offshore construction work at the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm. The project was awarded to OEG earlier last year and is supported by the company’s specialists based in Edinburgh.Fulmar can accommodate up to 24 personnel for high-speed transfers and can be configured for extended offshore trips.

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…

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…

China is the world's largest energy importer and would therefore appear vulnerable to the surge in crude oil and natural gas prices from the conflict between Israel and the United States against Iran.But the opposite is most likely the case, with China's vast stockpile of crude a cushion against price spikes, meaning that any energy-led inflation in the rest of the world will not hit China.It is also possible that China's refiners could reap windfall profits in the event of a prolonged disruption to crude supplies from the Middle East, by ramping up exports of refined products.If Asia's export

European financial markets are under strain as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran revives concerns about an energy supply shock exacerbating inflation.ING says the euro zone is the most exposed major economy to the conflict, making the region, which has benefited from investor diversification out of U.S. assets, vulnerable to setbacks.Not Good, But 2022 Was WorseThe jump in oil and gas prices evokes memories of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered a global energy crunch and hit Europe particularly hard.Since Friday…

Brent rose more than $3 on Tuesday for a third day of gains as the widening U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and threats to shipping via the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key Middle East producing region.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $80.89 a barrel, up $3.15, or 4.1%, by 0745 GMT. On Monday, the contract surged to as high as $82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7% higher.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 climbed $2.55, or 3.6%, to $73.78 a barrel.

Tidewater Inc. announced its 2025 results with Quintin Kneen, Tidewater’s President and CEO, commenting, “Although 2025 was anticipated to be a down year for the offshore industry, I am pleased to say that by all measures Tidewater was able to successfully navigate these challenges to deliver one of the best years in recent memory, demonstrating the resilience of the company we’ve endeavored to build over the last eight years.”The business generated year-over-year revenue growth, gross margin expansion and average day rate growth.

After a softer 2025, floater backlog is strengthening for 2026 and beyond, driven by early contracting, strong South American demand, and a growing pipeline of 2027+ programs.By the close of 2025, total floating rig backlog days had fallen 25% compared with 2024. This was in large part due to few contract awards coming out of Brazil, the world’s biggest user of floating rigs. As of the end of January 2026 however, the number of rig days already booked for this year is up 4% from…

Oil surged 9% on Monday after retaliatory Iranian attacks disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz following the weekend's bombing by Israel and the United States that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.A sustained jump in prices would threaten a global economic recovery, spur inflation and could push up U.S. retail gasoline prices, a risky result for President Donald Trump ahead of midterm elections this November.The price surge on the restart of trading after the weekend…

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…

Singapore-based Seatrium has delivered a next-generation wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) to Maersk Offshore Wind, following the completion of sea trials and final readiness evaluations.The custom-engineered vessel is designed to install 15+ MW-class offshore wind turbines and is equipped with a 1,900-tonne main crane featuring a 180-metre hook height.The construction program included heavy-lift operations, full system integration and validation by international classification…

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has announced it has launched IMCA Skills, their leading, digital, learning hub, which will now be the go-to place for the marine industry’s competence and development needs.The first product on the new platform is the migration of the Dynamic Positioning continuing professional development learning program which is designed to be the first step in bringing all their CPD content together in the secure and easy-to-use platform which will offer improved learning and user experience.It is designed to make professional development simpler…

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…

Low ship recycling activity could undermine tanker market strength in the coming years, BIMCO said in its February 2026 Tanker Shipping Market Overview & Outlook, even as crude tanker earnings are expected to remain firm in the near term.“We expect continued strong market conditions for crude tankers in 2026 and 2027 despite some weakening in 2027. On the other hand, we forecast that the product tanker market will weaken during both years as fleet and supply growth accelerates…

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…

Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has extended a contract for Eidesvik Offshore’s platform supply vessel (PSV) Viking Prince.The firm period for the PSV has been extended with approximately two months, and will run to end of April 2026. No additional details about the contract were disclosed.Viking Prince is a 2012-built platform supply vessel (PSV), with a deck area of around 1 050 m2.The 89.6 meters-long, liquified natural gas (LNG)-fueled vessel was upgraded to battery hybrid system and a shore power system in January 2022.

DP World has acquired a 5,000+ TEU container vessel, DP World Chennai, integrating it into its Red Sea Gulf–India service to strengthen trade links between India and the Middle East.The vessel has been deployed on the route with its maiden call at Jebel Ali, lifting DP Wordl Shipping Solutions’ owned capacity to over 6 million TEU and aimed at enhancing schedule reliability across key regional markets."The acquisition of DP World Chennai enhances our capability to offer consistent…

Dutch offshore services provider Boskalis, in consortium with TKF Subsea Solutions, has signed a contract with OWP Gennaker, as developed by Skyborn Renewables, for the supply and installation of inter-array cables for the Gennaker offshore wind farm in the German Baltic Sea.The contract for around 140 kilometers of 66 kilovolt inter-array cables has been classified by Boskalis as sizable, carrying a value between $58 million and $177 million (€50 million and €150 million).Under the agreement…

CMB Tech reported fourth-quarter core earnings above market expectations on Thursday as robust tanker and dry-bulk markets allowed the Belgian shipping group to lock in charter contracts and sell older ships at high prices.The tanker group said market conditions remain supportive into early 2026, though a potential crude supply surplus later in the year could pressure oil prices and curb transport demand if producers cut output.Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation came in at $322 million for the quarter ended in December…

Intermoor, Acteon’s Moorings and Anchors business been awarded a new contract by Petrobras for the provision of stack-up mooring system services in Brazil.This work will support light-workover interventions and abandonment operations on installed subsea Christmas trees across both anchored and dynamically positioned mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) and well intervention vessels (WIVs). The assets are located in water depths from 80 to 600 metres.A key strength of this award…

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…

The Bureau of Ocean Energy announced a Record of Decision reaffirming its prior decisions regarding Gulf of America’s Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sales 259 and 261. This ROD supports BOEM’s continued commitment to responsible offshore energy development while strengthening environmental safeguards and legal compliance.This decision follows the August 29, 2025, publication of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Gulf of America Regional OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales and Post-Lease Activities.

Malaysia-based offshore support vessel (OSV) builder Nam Cheong has secured shipbuilding contracts worth $64.5 million from a UAE-based global energy maritime logistics company for the construction of four offshore support vessels, marking its first newbuild contract win in over a decade.The order comprises two dive support vessels (DSVs) and two 60-meter remote operated landing crafts (ROLC), with deliveries scheduled between the second half of 2027 and early 2028. All four vessels will be constructed at Nam Cheong’s Miri Yard in Sarawak…

Marine insurer NorthStandard has entered a two-year partnership with behavior change specialist Signol to offer members discounted access to a crew-focused decarbonization service aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions.Under the agreement, Signol will cover onboarding costs and provide preferential rates on its monthly software-as-a-service subscription.NorthStandard said it recognizes the critical role of crews in ensuring safety on board and believes they play an equally…

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has announced it will complete five offshore support vessels (OSVs) for Kakinada-based San Maritime India, marking a further step in the revival of the Pipavav shipyard.San Maritime has begun docking the vessels at SDHI’s yard in Pipavav for completion under IR Class, after which the ships are expected to serve offshore industry demand.The hulls were acquired by SDHI as part of its acquisition plan for Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited (RNEL) through India’s National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) process.

DetentionTrackr has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered maritime intelligence platform designed to centralize global Port State Control (PSC) detention data into real-time operational insight.The DetentionTrackr platform aggregates live detention data from global ports and converts fragmented enforcement records into structured intelligence aimed at improving efficiency and decision-making across the maritime industry.In February alone, 72 vessels were detained across global ports, with 164 detentions recorded worldwide since the start of 2026, according to DetentionTrackr.

Retrofit specialist GLO Marine has announced a $7 million (€6 million) investment in a new integrated assembly and production facility in Galați, Romania, as it seeks to expand its end-to-end vessel upgrade and decarbonization capabilities.The new facility will allow the company to engineer, fabricate, pre-assemble and integrate complex retrofit systems under a coordinated delivery model. Construction is underway, with completion scheduled by the end of the year and production set to begin in February 2027.The project is expected to create around 40 skilled technical roles…

Seatrium has put in motion a series of non-core asset divestments set to complete by early 2026, targeting over $40 million (S$50 million) in annualized operational cost savings.The Singapore-based offshore and marine group said the savings will follow recent divestments of the AmFELS yard in Texas and the GNL Platform Supply Vessels disclosed in 2025, alongside additional transactions earlier.The company said the divestments form part of its strategy to rationalize non-core assets…

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.

All-Cash Deal, Expanding Brazil FootprintTidewater Inc. (NYSE: TDW) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wilson Sons Ultratug Participações S.A. and its affiliate Atlantic Offshore Services S.A. (collectively, WSUT) in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $500 million, including the assumption of existing debt.The acquisition significantly strengthens Tidewater’s position in the global offshore support vessel (OSV) market while marking a decisive expansion in…