Odyssey Marine Exploration Request for Offshore Mineral Lease Sale Advances
Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc., a U.S.-based ocean exploration and marine resource development leader, received news that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM), a department of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI), has initiated the formal review process for its unsolicited request for a potential marine mineral lease sale in federal waters offshore Virginia.BOEM’s action highlights the increasing federal focus on responsibly assessing domestic offshore mineral resources.
Rimorchitori Napoletani Holds Naming, Christening Ceremony for Sanmar Tugs
Naming and christening ceremonies for two class-leading tugboats built by Sanmar for Italian operator Rimorchitori Napoletani took place in Naples on November 29.GARGANO and PORTOSALVO are both examples of the latest tugboats in the Turkish tug builder's Boğaçay range of ship-handling tugs based on the RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.Boğaçay tugs are continually…
Tankers Turn Back After US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Cargo
A tanker carrying Russian naphtha for Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and at least four supertankers due to pick up crude cargoes in Venezuela have made u-turns after the U.S. seized a vessel carrying Venezuelan crude, ship monitoring data showed on Monday.The U.S. Coast Guard last week intercepted and seized a very large crude carrier (VLCC) carrying some 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy oil sold by PDVSA…
EU Introduces New Sanctions on Companies, Individuals Connected to Russian Oil
The European Union has adopted fresh sanctions targeting companies and individuals accused of helping Moscow to circumvent Western sanctions on oil exports that help to fund Russia's war in Ukraine.The EU has imposed 19 packages of sanctions so far, but Moscow has managed to adapt to most measures and is still selling millions of barrels of oil to India and China, albeit at discounts to global prices.
LNG Bunker Vessel Christened
Bunker barge United LNG I was christened in the port of Antwerp, an important moment for shipping company Somtrans, main shipbuilding contractor RensenDriessen and outfitting partners TeamCo Shipyard and Gas & Heat.The vessel will enter service in early 2026, reinforcing the growing role of LNG bunkering in the Belgian and Dutch seaports.It is an estuary-class LNG bunker barge designed for both inland waterways and coastal service up to Zeebrugge.
New on the Bookshelf: Famous Irish Mariners
Title: Famous Irish MarinersAuthor: Emma ByrnePublication date: September 22, 2025ISBN 9781788494922 PRICE €17.99/£15.99 HBFORMAT 196x129 mm EXTENT 176ppAlso available as an eBook.Ireland has a rich history of famous – and infamous – mariners: from our earliest navigators, who may have reached North America – by currach – a thousand years before Columbus, to daring polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.Read the stirring adventures of Ireland’s seafaring women…
Jan De Nul Wraps Up Cable Installation Job for TenneT’s DolWin Platform
Belgian offshore contractor Jan De Nul has concluded the 2025 transport and installation campaign of three HVAC grid connection cables at TenneT’s DolWin kappa platform.When finalized, these cables will ensure the transport of almost 660 MW renewable electricity from two offshore wind farms, which is enough energy needed to power more than 800,000 German homes.Jan De Nul and partner Hellenic Cables are responsible for design…
Ocean Infinity Takes Delivery of Final Armada Fleet Vessel
Ocean Infinity has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of the final vessel in its 14-vessel Armada fleet, featuring advanced underwater robotic systems capable of a wide range of data collection tasks.Over the past five years, Ocean Infinity has built and deployed a fleet of cutting-edge lean crewed vessels unlike anything the industry has seen before.This latest delivery completes the 86-meter class of Armada ships…
Kongsberg Maritime Grows UUC PM Azimuth Thruster Range
Kongsberg Maritime has announced the introduction of two new sizes to its Underwater Mountable, Permanent Magnet (UUC PM) azimuth thruster range, expanding its offering for propulsion solutions for demanding offshore and marine operations.The new additions to the UUC PM 405 model include units with 3.8 m and 4.1 m propeller diameters, delivering 86 and 91 metric tons of thrust respectively.Kongsberg Maritime is also preparing to extend the UUC PM range further…
ABS Approves MISC and China Offshore’s Ammonia FPSO Design
MISC and China Offshore Engineering & Technology Company have received the Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for their design of an ammonia floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel.This innovative floater solution adapts proven onshore production technology for offshore operations, transforming unutilized hydrocarbon gas from nearby offshore facilities into high-value blue ammonia…
ABB, HDF Energy Target Maritime Decarbonization with Fuel Cells
ABB and HDF Energy have signed a joint-development agreement (JDA) to develop a high-power fuel cell unit for marine applications.The agreement builds on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ABB and HDF Energy in 2020, envisaging the collaboration.Foreseeing pilot installations in 2028 - 2029 and serial production from 2030, the agreement initiates a significant step forward…
Iran Seizes Tanker, Detains 18 Crew Over Alleged Smuggled Fuel
Iranian authorities detained 18 crew members of a foreign tanker seized in the Gulf of Oman on Friday that they said was carrying 6 million litres of smuggled fuel, Iranian media reported on Saturday.Iran, which has some of the world's lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in the value of its national currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.(Reuters - Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Dubai Newsroom; E
Celebrity Edge Makes Maiden Call to Newcastle, Australia
Celebrity Edge made a debut visit to the port of Newcastle in Australia on December 13 with over 4,000 passengers on board.Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said: “The passengers and crew aboard the 306-meter-long Celebrity Edge will make a significant contribution to the economy.“From wine tasting in the Hunter Valley to getting up close with Australian wildlife on the Central Coast and Port Stephens, and exploring Newcastle’s historic sites, this stopover showcases why the region is a mus
Grounded MSC Baltic III Sustains Storm Damage
Severe weather has caused additional damage to the MSC Baltic III grounded in Cedar Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The hull suffered significant new damage, including increased plate buckling on both the starboard and port sides, and the stern is now noticeably lower in the water. Small salvage equipment onboard was also found damaged.Teams continue on-water and shoreline surveys in Cedar Cove and surrounding beaches as weather permits, reports the Canadian Coast Guard.
Thailand Considers Blocking Fuel Exports to Cambodia
Thailand's military said it was considering blocking fuel exports to Cambodia, as fighting between the two countries spread to coastal areas of a disputed border region two days after U.S. President Donald Trump said the sides had agreed to a new ceasefire.The Southeast Asian neighbours have resorted to arms several times this year since a Cambodian soldier was killed in a May skirmish, reigniting…
Ukraine Says Russian Drone Attack Hit Civilian Vessel
Ukraine's navy accused Russia of deliberately attacking a civilian Turkish vessel carrying sunflower oil to Egypt with a drone on Saturday, a day after Moscow hit two Ukrainian ports.In a statement on Telegram, the navy said the vessel was called the Viva and had 11 Turkish citizens on board. It added that nobody was hurt and the vessel was continuing its journey to Egypt."The strike was carried out in the open sea in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone…
BOEM Initiates Process for Potential Mineral Lease Sale Offshore Virginia
To advance President Trump’s national strategy for securing America’s critical mineral supply, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has initiated the process for a potential mineral lease sale in federal waters off the coast of Virginia. This action—only the third of its kind in over three decades—marks a step toward unlocking the vast mineral potential of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and reinforcing…
Boston's Cathleen Stone Island Ferry Undergoes Refit
Boston Harbor's MV Outward Bound has returned to Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation for a mid-life refit. Redelivery is planned for spring 2026. Purpose-designed by JW Gilbert Associates and built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1995, the 64-foot, 140-passenger steel vessel carries visitors and supplies seasonally to Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound, which offers experiential outdoor…
Oil Tankers Delayed up to 12 Days in Turkish Straits
Delays for oil tankers passing through the Turkish Straits have climbed to about 12 days for a round trip to the Black Sea, up from about seven days last week, as winter storms, heightened security risks and shorter daylight hours snarl traffic, traders said and Riverlake data in LSEG showed.The congestion, which last exceeded 12 days in February, is being compounded by intensified security checks…
Bulk Carrier on Fire After Russian Attack
A bulk carrier in Ukraine's Odesa region suffered damage and was on fire after a Russian attack on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.One of the sources said the vessel was in the port of Chornomorsk, one of Odesa region's three big Black Sea ports.Russia last week threatened to "cut Ukraine off from the sea" as retaliation for Kyiv's attacks with sea drones on unlicensed tankers heading to Russia to export its oil.It was not immediately clear whether the attack deliberate
