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After what we would argue has been an incredibly eventful 2024 with massive deals, tremendous dayrate developments, further charterer backlog build, and the first series of newbuild orders in years, now comes the time when we turn our gaze towards 2025. What are some of the main trends we expect for next year, and how do we see the continuation of today's developments impact the year to come. Overall, we find continued strides for the better in the offshore support market although we foresee an industry that will not fire on all cylinders…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has made executive-level personnel changes, appointing Eisaku Ito as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).Ito, which currently serves as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at MHI, will take on the new role on April 1, 2025.He succeeds Seiji Izumisawa, who will take on the role of Chairman of the Board after six years as MHI's top executive."The reforms enacted by Izumizawa have further advanced MHI Group's position as a global company.

Marine electrical systems provider Vard Electro, part of Fincantieri’s Vard Group, has named Hans Tore as its new General Manager.Hans Tore has been working at Vard Electro since 2017. He started as System Integrator before he became a Project Manager.From June 2021 he took on the position as Vice President for Electrical Installation Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President Elelectrical Installation Operations with effect from January 1, 2024."I’m honored by my promotion to General Manager and excited to continue driving Vard Electro’s growth under our current strategy.

Shell is stepping back from new offshore wind investments and is splitting its power division following an extensive review of the business that was once seen as a key driver of the company's energy transition strategy.The changes are part of a company-wide review launched in 2023 aimed at reducing costs as CEO Wael Sawan focuses on activities with the highest returns. In many cases that has meant reducing spending on low-carbon and renewable businesses and increasing the focus on oil…

bound4blue, a leader in maritime’s Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) segment, appointed Daniel Mann as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). He joins the team after four years as VP Business Development at Silverstream Technologies, and more than 25 years supporting and growing various maritime and energy businesses worldwide, which includes a decade at Rolls-Royce Marine, plus five years at Siemens, and more than two years at MAN Energy Solutions.In his new position Mann will…

Donald Trump's transition team is putting together a wide-ranging energy package to roll out within days of his taking office that would approve export permits for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and increase oil drilling off the U.S. coast and on federal lands, according to two sources familiar with the plans.The energy checklist largely reflects promises Trump made on the campaign trail, but the plan to roll out the list as early as day one ensures that oil and gas…

The COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan aim to agree an annual finance target of $1 trillion or more a year to help poorer countries respond to global warming. Some see new taxes as one way to get there. The Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (GSLT), led by France, Barbados and Kenya, is exploring the issue. Below are excerpts from its latest report on the options being discussed -- as it pertains to shipping and fossil fuels -- and estimates about how much could be raised.SHIPPINGThe levy that could be closest to being agreed is for shipping…

The U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than $1.4 million for 36 Mexican engineers employed in San Diego by a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp., one of the world’s largest defense contractors, that paid them in Mexican pesos below the federal minimum wage rate in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.The department’s Wage and Hour Division found National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. one of three shipyards in the Marine Systems group of General Dynamics that designs and builds auxiliary and support ships for the U.S.

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…

SEACOR Marine Holdings Inc. announced it has appointed Lisa P. Young as an independent member of its board of directors, in a move that expands the marine services company's board from five to six members.Young is a seasoned professional with 36 years of cross-sector, international experience in public accounting and professional services. As a retired senior partner with Ernst & Young, Young has served in a number of leadership roles, most recently serving as a Senior Global Client Service Partner until her retirement in 2021.

The chief executive officer of Norwegian offshore vessel owner Eidesvik Offshore, Gitte Gard Talmo has resigned from his role to take up a new position in an international company abroad.Gitte Gard Talmo has been with the company for 22 years and has been CEO of Eidesvik Offshore since January 1, 2022.According to Eidsevik Offshore, Gitte Gard Talmo will continue in her position as CEO for the time being, while the board of the company will initiate a search for her replacement…

Equinor will establish and operate a new area-wide emergency preparedness solution for the southwestern Barents Sea."Together with the other operators, the authorities and the supply industry, we have through 50years developed the preparedness for the fields in the North Sea and in the Norwegian Sea. With Johan Castberg coming on stream towards the end of the year and increased activity in the north, we are now establishing an area-wide emergency preparedness system in the Barents Sea in the Barents Sea," says Grete B. Haaland, Equinor’s SVP for Exploration & Production North.Grete B.

KOTUG International B.V.won a contract for ENI Congo to deliver critical marine services for the Congo LNG project. This project, situated offshore the Republic of Congo, includes the Tango FLNG and the Excalibur Floating Storage Unit (FSU), with a second FLNG currently under construction.Under the terms of the contract, KOTUG will deploy three Rotortugs to support a range of operations, including mooring and unmooring of vessels, handling mooring equipment, providing stand-by services, transporting pilots, and offering antipollution, oilfield goods, and passenger transport services.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. completed the purchase on the market of 89,500 shares of common stock of MODEC, Inc. and along with the 10,162,300 shares already acquired in June 2023, MOL now holds a 15% stake in MODEC and will make it an equity-method affiliate.MODEC is a leading company in the offshore oil and gas development industry, engaging in the entire process from Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation (EPCI) of Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) systems to long-term leases and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) for more than 20 years.

President Vladimir Putin appointed security veteran Nikolai Patrushev to head a new body in charge of Russia's naval policy.The new Maritime Board will include councils responsible for developing Russian naval activity and its military fleet, and defending Russian interests in the Arctic, according to a decree issued by Putin.Russia has a massively more powerful navy than Ukraine but has suffered a number of embarrassing setbacks at sea in the course of the two-and-a-half-year war…

ExxonMobil Canada Properties (EMCP) reported a near miss event occurred on August 7, 2024, during a gangway crew change between the survey vessel Amazon Conqueror and offshore supply vessel (OSV) Victory G off Canada's East Coast.Operations were halted when it was indicated that the gangway was approaching operating condition limits for safely transporting personnel. Subsequently, the gangway detached from the landing platform on the Victory G and was left suspended between the two vessels.There were no injuries to personnel during this incident…

SeaRenergy Group was awarded a Marine Coordination Services contract by Baltic Power for the construction phase of the Baltic Power offshore wind farm.The services will be kicked off with the preparatory phase in summer, with operations starting in the last quarter of 2024.SeaRenergy’s comprehensive Marine Coordination Service involves ship registration, personnel registration and check-in, inspection, and construction site monitoring based on an innovative Vessel Traffic Management and Maritime Surveillance Systems provided by experienced long-term partner Vissim AS.

On June 25, the International Day of the Seafarer, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez pays tribute to the two million seafarers who keep global markets functioning and supply chains going.In a video message to seafarers, Dominguez said: “Seafarers have been sorely tested in recent years – facing hostile acts from piracy or in conflict zones. I humbly acknowledge seafarers’ resilience and sacrifice in the name of work.”  United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres marked the day…

The next chief executive of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard, arrives with the résumé and mandate to make Brazil's state-run oil firm what it was under prior Workers Party governments: an engine of job creation and industrial development, said people familiar with the matter.President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - who used Petrobras to spur domestic shipbuilding and major refinery projects during his earlier 2002-2010 presidency - has tapped the four-decade petroleum industry veteran to reboot that vision…

Marine geosciences and offshore construction support services company NextGeo has appointed Frank Koopman as Offshore Wind Strategy Director.Koopman is an experienced executive and leader in the offshore energy sector, with over 20 years of experience in leading complex organizations, projects and innovation programs. He was Global Director Offshore Wind and Global Director Marine Site Characterization at Fugro from 2019 to 2023.Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of NextGeo, said, “We are thrilled to confirm our collaboration with Frank Koopman, who will serve as NextGeo's Offshore Wind Strategy Director.

As the U.S. offshore wind industry endures a predictable number of stops and starts during its adolescence, common mantras are ‘learn from the established European model’ and ‘embrace technology transfer from the offshore oil and gas sector.’ In Robert Langford, the American Bureau of Shipping has all of that and more bundled in one neat package.Rob Langford has worked in the offshore industry for more than three decades, ‘cutting his teeth’ in a UK design firm working in the North Sea oil and gas platforms, the holy grail of rigorous conditions in offshore energy production.

Global heat transfer, separation and fluid handling company Alfa Laval has appointed Rachel Bridges as its Managing Director, who also became the first female to take the post.Having spent 20 years at global power technology company Cummins in both the marine and aftermarket businesses, Bridges brings a wealth of experience to Alfa Laval as it gets poised for further growth.Bridges will now oversee business in a multitude of sectors including marine, energy, food and beverage…

Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou voiced gratitude at being selected as recipient of the first ever IMO Gender Equality award, presented by Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez ahead of the International Maritime Organization Women in Maritime 2024 event. The award recognized Co-Chief Executive Officer of Tototheo Maritime, Ms. Panayiotou Theodosiou's leading and pivotal role in advancing gender equality and empowering women through her tenure as President of WISTA International.The IMO said Ms.