Asia News

U.S. President Donald Trump's energy security council plans to host a summit in Alaska in early June, when it hopes Japan and South Korea will announce commitments to the Alaska LNG project, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.Trump has touted the $44 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas project, which would deliver gas from the state's North Slope fields via an 800-mile (1,300-km) pipeline for domestic use and also ship it to customers in Asia as LNG, bypassing the Panama Canal.While the project has been talked about for years…

Singaporean aluminum boat builder Strategic Marine has delivered another fast crew boat (FCB) to Truth Maritime Services (TMS) in Thailand.Following the successful handover of the first two Gen 4 FCBs, TMS RANOD and TMS RAMAN, in 2024, these vessels have been operating efficiently and meeting the needs of TMS’s clients.The addition of two more 42-meters vessels underscores the company’s commitment to fleet expansion and enhanced service capabilities in the Southeast Asian and in Middle east offshore energy sector.TMS…

Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices remained at a near one-year low this week, as supply disruptions from three export facilities in the region and some buying interest capped losses fuelled by overall weak demand.The average LNG price for June delivery into north-east Asia LNG-AS was at $11.50 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), estimated industry sources, down from $11.80/mmBtu last week but still at its lowest levels since mid-May."Lower Asian LNG prices this week prompted opportunistic buying by some East Asian importers, while supply disruptions at export projects in Australia and Brunei provided support to otherwise falling regional fundamentals…

China's first integrated offshore hydrogen-ammonia-methanol project, which will produce clean fuels for ships, has entered the trial operation phase in Yantai, in eastern Chinse province of Shandong.Jointly developed by CHN Energy Hydrogen Energy Technology, CIMC Raffles and Guoneng Hydrogen Innovation Technology (Beijing), the initiative represents the nation’s first comprehensive demonstration project for offshore hydrogen production, storage, transportation and utilization…

Singapore's offshore services firm Kim Heng has held a christening ceremony for the Bridgewater Discovery, a DP2 geotechnical survey vessel, rebuilt in 2024.With the Bridgewater Discovery vessel, Kim Heng has marked another milestone in its expansion into the renewable business sector.The Bridgewater Discovery is a result of the collaboration between Kim Heng and Soiltech Engineering Co Ltd Korea (STE).Together, the companies aim to provide comprehensive offshore geotechnical investigation services…

Malaysia-based fleet owner of self-propelled accommodation workboats Keyfield International has set out plans to acquire a newly-built DP2 cable-laying barge for $20.5 million, marking its expansion into cable laying market.The 98-meter-long barge, to be renamed to Keyfield Blessing, will be acquired from Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China.The acquisition will be undertaken by Keyfield Ventures (Labuan) Limited, a newly-incorporated 100% subsidiary of Keyfield.The purchase…

Malaysia-based offshore services firm Sapura Energy, through its Offshore Support Vessel & Geosciences business, has secured multiple vessel contracts in Malaysia and Thailand, worth around $22.6 million.The newly secured contract will keep Sapura Energy’s accommodation workboats and geosurvey vessels engaged for an extended period during the financial year 2026.The contracts include the chartering of two 200-pax-capacity workboats, KPV Redang and Sapura Duyong, to support offshore operations in East Malaysia.The contract for KPV Redang started in February for a duration of one year…

Japanese operator Tokyo Kisen has taken delivery of the first of two new bespoke crew transfer vessels (CTVs), designed by Incat Crowther, which will be put to service Japan’s growing offshore wind energy sector.Constructed by Cheoy Lee shipyard in China, the first 26.4-meter-long vessel completed sea trials in late 2024.The two ClassNK 26-metre catamaran CTVs have been developed with Tokyo Kisen to comply with strict local regulations.The design of the vessels has been future-proofed…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported that a moored Belize-registered dredger, KSE Hitachi, had sunk off Tuas in Singapore.According to MPA, there were no personnel reported to be on board the dredger at the time of the incident, with port operations remaining unaffected.MPA is investigating the incident, and navigational broadcast has been issued to advise passing vessels to keep clear of the area.The dredger’s company is making arrangements to salvage the vessel.Three MPA patrol crafts have been deployed to the site to render assistance.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Japan's second-largest shipping company, aims to capitalize on opportunities that emerge from a shift in trade routes driven by new U.S. tariffs, CEO Takeshi Hashimoto said.The highest U.S. tariffs in more than a hundred years came into force on Wednesday, roiling global markets."Trade routes will inevitably be reshuffled," Hashimoto told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday."We'll likely see increased trade from low-tariff countries and declines from high-tariff ones…

Hanwha Ocean has held a naming ceremony for its high specification ultra-deepwater drillship Tidal Action, signaling its official entry into the deepwater drilling industry.The Tidal Action is built on Hanwha Ocean’s proprietary design and is capable of drilling at depths of up to 12 kilometers in waters as deep as 3.6 kilometers.The drillship is also equipped with a dynamic positioning system for a stable station keeping and ready to accommodate 20,000 psi blowout preventers for enhanced safety and operational efficiency.In February 2024…

India is considering a proposal to scrap import tax on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to boost purchases and help cut the trade surplus with Washington, a key irritant for President Donald Trump, four government and industry sources said.The United States is India's second biggest supplier but the two sides are looking to ramp up volumes for India's energy-hungry economy, one of the fastest growing in the world.During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's U.S. visit last month, India pledged to increase U.S.

Taiwan's defence minister dismissed on Friday China's complaints about a collision between a Taiwan navy ship and a Chinese trawler in the sensitive Taiwan Strait, vowing that Taipei would carry on military exercises undeterred.China's Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the actions of the Taiwanese landing ship as "wicked" following Thursday's collision off Taiwan's central city of Taichung. Taiwan, however, said it did not take place in "restricted" waters."The Taiwan Affairs Office always says things like this…

Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp has purchased three 8,000 TEU methanol dual-fuel-ready container ships from Japanese ship leasing company Shoei Kisen Kaisha.The vessels, being built by Imabari Shipbuilding, are scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029.Yang Ming said the acquisition will strengthen its global service network and reinforce its commitment to providing customers with reliable and sustainable transportation service.To support business growth and maintain core competitiveness…

VARD signed a contract with Taiwan's Dong Fang Offshore for the design and construction of one Offshore Subsea Construction Vessel, with option(s). The vessel is of VARD 3 39 design, and the value of the contract is $125 million. This is the third vessel VARD is building for DFO, with the first two being Commissioning Service Operations Vessels, contracted in May 2024.DFO aspires to be the supplier of choice to deliver international standard cable installation and repair solutions in the wind and telecoms industries…

Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers  (KNCC), a subsidiary of NYK and Knutsen Group, has obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the design of liquified CO2 carriers (LCO2-EP carrier) that use the elevated pressure (EP) method to store and transport liquefied CO2 at ambient temperature.ClassNK has carried out a design review of this ship in accordance with the Rules for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships, and has issued an AiP after confirming that the ship meets…

Hong Kong's CK Hutchison will not sign a deal next week to sell its two port operations near the Panama Canal to a BlackRock-led group, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said, amid growing pressure from Beijing.China's market regulator said it will carry out an antitrust review on the Panama port deal in accordance with law to protect fair competition and safeguard public interests, its official WeChat account showed late on Friday.The telecoms-to-retail conglomerate owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing this month agreed to sell most of the global $22.8 billion ports business…

Sea1 Offshore, formerly Siem Offshore, has ordered two more offshore energy support vessels from Cosco Shipping.The vessels are based on a similar design as the first two vessels Sea1 Offshore ordered from the same shipyard in November 2024.The four vessels will have capabilities to serve both oil and gas and renewable markets.The scheduled delivery for the vessels is from third quarter 2027 to fourth quarter 2027.Based on ST-245 design, the vessels will be methanol ready with…

NYK Line, NTT FACIITIES, Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation, MUFG Bank, and the city of Yokohama have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a demonstration project of an offshore green data center, utilizing a mini-float installed as a disaster countermeasure.On a mini-float, spanning 25 meters in length and 80 meters in width, installed off Osanbashi Pier in Yokohama City, the partners will test an offshore floating data center fully powered by renewable energy generated by solar power and battery energy storage systems.Based on the results…

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has completed a biodiesel-blended marine fuel (biofuel) bunkering on its capsize bulk carrier, Midnight Dream.In March 2025, the vessel was supplied with about 1,000 tons of biofuel in Singapore, initiating MOL’s first biofuel utilization in collaboration with BHP Group on a capesize bulk carrier.Biofuel is made from organic resources (biomass) of biological origin, such as agricultural residues and waste cooking oil.The biofuel bunkered in the most recent operation is a blend of about 24% biodiesel (B24) with Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)…

The Johor Port Authority has informed the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) that the oil leak at Langsat Terminal has stopped and that the spill clean-up at the site is ongoing.On April 3, an oil patch was sighted in the eastern Johor Strait off the northeastern coast of Pulau Ubin.Three patrol craft from the MPA and an oil spill response craft have been deployed to survey the area and carry out mitigation efforts.The Johor Port Authority confirmed an oil spill incident within the Langsat Terminal in Johor.

COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers has placed an order for a next generation semi-submersible vessel to Chinese shipyards.COSCO will build the vessel in partnership with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation and Guangzhou Shipbuilding International.The 70,000 dwt DP2 semi-submersible vessel is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2027.

U.S.-based military shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today to explore opportunities to collaborate on accelerating ship production in support of defense and commercial shipbuilding projects.This strategic partnership aims to leverage the combined expertise and resources of both companies to advance technological innovation, maximize production efficiency, and strengthen the global defense industry.The efforts applied under the MoU aim to increase the collective maritime industrial base strength of both the U.S.