Industry News

CSL OWL Subsea Rock Installation, a newly formed partnership between the CSL Group and Offshore Wind Logistics (OWL), has ordered two newbuild subsea rock installation vessels tailored for the offshore wind sector.Each vessel will have a cargo capacity of 17,500 metric tonnes and will be equipped with dynamic positioning (DP2).They will be able to operate on marine gas oil (MGO) and/or methanol, providing a pathway to zero emission operations.Purpose-built for optimal flexibility…

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured multiple new contracts and contract extensions, whose combined value is $60 million.Solstad secured one new contract, and one contract extension from Petrobras, for work offshore Brazil.Namely, Petrobras awarded an 18-month firm contract for the construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Valiant. The start of the contract is scheduled for February 2025 in direct continuation of current contract.Solastad also secured a contract extension for its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel Normand Sagaris…

Strategic Marine, Mirai Ships, and Ragnar Energy Solutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a framework for exclusive newbuild collaborations, aiming to deliver vessels tailored for Japanese offshore markets.The MoU sets out the terms for exclusive collaboration on the design and construction of Crew Transfer Vessels (CTVs), a predominant asset utilized during the operational and maintenance phase of offshore wind farm operations, together with supporting…

Ocean services provider DeepOcean has secured a long-term subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR) contract from Equinor, its largest contract on record.The eight-year contract will set a new benchmark for digitalized and environmentally friendly IMR operations.Equinor and DeepOcean have signed a contract for IMR services covering the period 2027-2035 for Equinor-operated assets on the Norwegian continental shelf and in Europe.The contract will be served by an extensive team of specialist subsea engineers…

The Netherlands plans to temporarily enlist additional personnel and equipment from private companies to strengthen security in its part of the North Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday, confirming media reports.The decision follows reports last year from Dutch military intelligence agency MIVD that Dutch North Sea infrastructure, such as gas pipes and windmills, is the target of Russian sabotage activities.

At a recent seminar in London organized by the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) and the Association of Average Adjusters (AAA), participants heard how ignoring or not fully understanding the concept of General Average (GA) when concluding charter-party contracts for offshore services could cause problems in the event of an incident or accident.Michiel Starmans, a Fellow of the AAA and Director Legal Department of the Spliethoff Group and Alf Inge Johannessen…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has signed a contract for the design and construction of five Walk-to-work vessels with an international customer, which will be put to service for offshore oil and gas platforms.The vessels are of VARD 3 32 design, a design developed by VARD in close collaboration with the unnamed customer.The five Walk-to-work vessels will provide maintenance, supply, and operational services to offshore platforms in the oil and gas sector.The vessels will be equipped with a diesel/electric and battery-hybrid propulsion system…

AST Reygar has introduced its BareFLEET remote monitoring system, a solution designed to optimize Service Operation Vessels (SOV) performance in real-time, while providing long-term operational insights.BareFLEET delivers actionable insights across key areas, including fuel consumption, emissions, vessel motion, gangway operability, and navigation activity.The system was developed in response to challenges faced by SOV operators responding to unprecedented growth of offshore wind…

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has expanded its global presence with a new office in New Zealand, to support the country’s growing maritime and offshore energy markets.The ABL New Zealand office will be led by experienced maritime professional Morwenna Vye, offering the company’s full range of energy and marine consultancy services.Leveraging the global expertise and resources of ABL Group, the new office will specialize in services including technical due diligence, technical advisory and management consultancy…

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…

Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and hydrogen.STADEState-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) has said in German media reports that FSRUs at both Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will start operations before the winter, without specifying precise commissioning dates.

Norwegian shipowner Olympic has taken delivery of Olympic Notos, the second of two Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) built by Ulstein.The vessel is based on the SX222 design, and has now joined its sister vessel Olympic Boreas.The Olympic Notos was developed in close partnership with Ulstein, incorporating the TWIN X-STERN design and hybrid power solutions to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.This innovative design enhances operability and stability, allowing…

Finnish engineering firm Cargotec said on Thursday it would sell its cargo handler business MacGregor to European private equity firm Triton in a deal valued at 480 million euros ($506 million), including debt.The deal would be pursued to help its on-road load handling business, Hiab, operate as a standalone business, Cargotec said, adding that its CEO Casimir Lindholm would step down and be replaced by Hiab President Scott Phillips as a part of the arrangement.Hiab would subsequently be the only business remaining under Cargotec as a result of the deal…

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for the joint development of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) system for green ammonia. The FPSO process has been widely used in the oil and gas industries, but its application for ammonia is relatively new. The unit will use renewable energy to provide power for electrolysis of seawater to produce green hydrogen, which will be combined with nitrogen and synthesized to produce green ammonia…

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has delivered a newbuild Commissioning Service Operation Vessel (CSOV) to Norwind Offshore, which has been named Norwind Helm.The vessel naming ceremony was held in Ålesund on November 15, 2024, marking the fifth vessel delivery from Vard to Norwind Offshore, a company that offers specialized vessels designed for advanced maritime operations in the development and service of the offshore wind sector..The CSOVs designed and built for Norwind Offshore are tailor-made for world-wide services…

Soaring costs, project delays and limited investment put targets out of reachAfter a year of canceled projects, broken turbines, and abandoned lease sales, the global offshore wind industry no longer has much chance to hit the lofty targets set by governments in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere ... with the exception of China.Reuters spoke to 12 offshore wind companies, industry researchers, trade associations, and government officials in six countries to come up with a global picture of the state of the industry and its outlook…

GE Vernova’s offshore wind turbine manufacturing plant has fired or suspended several workers in Quebec after a company investigation found they took shortcuts on quality control, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.GE Vernova launched the probe at the factory in Gaspe, Quebec, after one of the 107-meter-long turbine blades it made shattered at the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts in July. Shards of fiberglass littered the beaches and forced the project…

Cadeler’s newbuild offshore wind installation vessel (WTIV) Wind Peak, designed to be able to transport and install up to seven complete 15 MW offshore wind turbine sets per load, has arrived to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, ahead of its first deployment.The P-class vessel arrived to Rotterdam after 73-day long journey from Cosco Shipyard in Qidong, China.The vessel has sailed more than 14,000 nautical miles with stops in Singapore, Cape Town, Las Palmas and now, Rotterdam.Wind…

Strategic Marine has delivered a a StratCat 27 Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) to ORLEN to operate in Poland’s growing offshore wind sector.The vessel is designed specifically for offshore wind farm operations. It is scheduled to begin operations in the North Sea before transitioning to the Polish exclusive economic zone in the Baltic Sea.The StratCat 27 is equipped with advanced technologies to meet the demanding conditions of offshore wind farms. The vessel meets Tier III emission requirements and is hybrid-ready…

DNV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Seatrium to cooperate on strategic activities and projects in the areas of engineering, technology and new product design, with key focus on floating offshore energy solutions.Under the MoU, DNV will provide Seatrium with expert advice on market and regulatory trends, emerging technologies, and best practices for environmental, safety and quality standards, in the maritime and offshore sectors.Both parties will work closely on optimizing existing processes and improving efficiencies across newbuilding…

Bourbon Logistics has secured a new fully integrated logistics contract by an unnamed oil and gas major to support its exploration campaign and the drilling of its first well in the waters of southern Namibia.The campaign, estimated to last about six months, marks a significant step forward in the client’s strategy, particularly in terms logistics strategy with the first integrated logistics contract.For Bourbon Logistics, it is the continuation of the successes already achieved…

Ocean energy company Global OTEC unveiled the OTEC Power Module concept, a system that employs ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) technology to provide clean power for remote offshore platforms and wells.Designed as an alternative to traditional long subsea tiebacks, the OTEC Power Module could provide clean baseload electricity and flow assurance services without the need for cables and hydraulics, which typically limit reach to 35 km.Building on Global OTEC’s experience…

Eco Wave Power has received the final Nationwide Permit (NWP) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its wave energy project at AltaSea’s premises at the Port of Los Angeles.The milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of Eco Wave Power’s pioneering wave energy project, which is set to become the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States.The permit, authorizes Eco Wave Power to install eight wave energy floaters on the piles of an existing concrete wharf structure.The system will also include an energy conversion unit…