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Saturday, July 18, 2026

Asia News

17 Jul 2026

Taihan Takes Delivery of Second Cable Laying Vessel

Skandi Connector CLV (Credit: DOF Group)

Taihan Cable & Solution has taken delivery of its second cable laying vessel (CLV) Skandi Connector, strengthening its offshore wind and subsea power cable installation capabilities.Skandi Connector CLV, delivered by DOF Group, joins Taihan’s existing offshore wind-dedicated cable-laying vessel PALOS, creating what the company described as a dual-track installation system for offshore wind, HVDC transmission and long-distance power interconnection projects.The 10,000-ton-class CLV can load up to 7…

17 Jul 2026

US-Iran Attacks Escalation Chokes Hormuz Shipping

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Just three commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, the fewest daily transits since May, shipping data showed, with most ships halting or making U-turns after recent Iranian attacks on vessels and the resumption of a U.S. blockade on Iran-related shipping.The re-escalation in fighting between the U.S. and Iran has once again largely stopped traffic through Hormuz, the world's most important shipping route for oil and gas, driving up global energy prices.Miraan…

16 Jul 2026

Hormuz Crossings Decline as US Renews Iran Blockade

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Fewer vessels travelled through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day after the U.S. reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports with both countries escalating strikes across the Gulf, shipping data showed.Nine vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, mostly on the Iranian route, down from 13 the previous day, Kpler data showed.There were no Very Large Crude Carrier or liquefied natural gas tankers visibly passing through the strait on Wednesday.U.S. Central Command…

15 Jul 2026

Oil Rises 2% as Middle East Hostilities Escalate

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Oil extended gains by around 2% on Wednesday as President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on all Iranian ports and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to close "all other export corridors that benefit the U.S. and its allies".Brent futures LCOc1 climbed $1.71, or 2%, to $86.44 a barrel at 0806 GMT. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 gained $1.43, or 1.8%, to $80.77 a barrel.Oil prices settled up 2% at a one-month high on Tuesday as attacks exacerbated a supply disruption in the Strait of Hormuz…

15 Jul 2026

Iran Warns More Seaways Could Close as US Reimposes Naval Blockade

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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to close "all other export corridors that benefit the U.S. and its allies", Iranian media reported, after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports."Regional energy exports are either shared by all, or denied to all," the IRGC said in a statement carried by Iran's IRNA state news agency on Wednesday.Analysts have said Iran has been signalling it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea…

14 Jul 2026

KR, HD Hyundai Complete Korea's First Ammonia Vessel Trial

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' Ammonia Dual-Fuel Vessel (Credit:HHI)

Korean Register (KR) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have completed a sea trial of South Korea's first ammonia dual-fuel propulsion vessel as part of a government-backed initiative to support the development of ammonia-fueled shipping.The trial was conducted under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' Green Shipping Corridor Construction Support Project, which aims to establish a domestic operating environment for ammonia-powered vessels.According to KR, the sea trial generated…

14 Jul 2026

Iranian Missiles Hit Two UAE Oil Tankers, One Person Dead

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One Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded when two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday, in the latest escalation in the strategic waterway.Abu Dhabi National Oil Company's shipping arm ADNOC L&S later confirmed the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) Mombasa B and Al Bahiyah were struck while transiting Hormuz and had sustained "significant damage".UAE state oil giant ADNOC has been among the most active participants in a U.S.

13 Jul 2026

James Fisher, Aquaterra Launch Global Decommissioning Partnership

(Credit: James Fisher and Sons)

James Fisher and Sons and Aquaterra Energy have formed a strategic global partnership to provide integrated offshore decommissioning services, combining front-end engineering, well access, subsea operations and offshore execution under a single delivery model.The collaboration is designed to streamline well abandonment and offshore infrastructure removal projects by reducing contractor interfaces and improving coordination from project planning through execution.Under the partnership…

13 Jul 2026

Oil Jumps 3% on Renewed US-Iran Conflict

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Oil prices surged more than 3% on Monday after renewed military strikes between the United States and Iran reignited concerns over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up $2.67, or 3.51%, to $78.68 at 0743 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up $2.48, or 3.47%, to $73.89 a barrel."Shipping operators are adopting a cautious approach and inbound movements have slowed under heightening security concerns," ANZ analysts said.Fresh U.S. and Iranian strikes over the weekend fuelled fears of a renewed escalation. Tehran targeted U.S.

13 Jul 2026

Hormuz Traffic Falls to Five-Week Low as Tensions Escalate

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The number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz fell to multi-week lows on Sunday, shipping data showed, as renewed strikes between the U.S. and Iran and attacks on ships in the Middle East heightened safety concerns.Six vessels transited the strait on Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, the lowest number in five weeks.Tankers that exited the strait included the Very Large Crude Carrier Humanity, laden with 2 million barrels of Iranian oil and another tanker, Capetan Andreas…

10 Jul 2026

Berg Propulsion Secures Six-Vessel Equipment Order

(Credit: Supplied by Berg Propulsion)

Swedish marine propulsion technology company Berg Propulsion has secured a contract to supply propulsion packages for six 7,000-dwt multi-purpose dry cargo vessels being built by Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry in China for UK shipowner and operator Carisbrooke Shipping.The six vessels, designed by Dutch naval architecture firm Groot Ship Design, are scheduled for delivery between the third quarter of 2027 and the first quarter of 2029.Measuring 110 meters in length and 15.45 meters in breadth…

10 Jul 2026

ADNOC L&S Orders Four LNG Carriers, Takes Delivery of VLAC Newbuild

(Credit: ADNOC L&S)

ADNOC Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S) has ordered four new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard for about $900 million, expanding its LNG newbuild program to 18 vessels, while also taking delivery of the first of four very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) newbuilds.The four ships will each have a capacity of 175,000 cubic meters and are scheduled for delivery in 2029. They will be built at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.The agreement was signed during a visit to the shipyard by ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.

10 Jul 2026

Marco Polo, Siemens Gamesa Ink Two-CSOV Framework Agreement

CSOV Wind Archer (Credit: PKR Offshore)

Singapore-listed marine logistics company Marco Polo Marine's offshore wind division, PKR Offshore, has signed a framework agreement with Siemens Gamesa for the deployment and charter of two commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) for offshore wind projects in Asia.Under the non-exclusive agreement, PKR Offshore will provide two upcoming CSOVs to support Siemens Gamesa across multiple offshore wind projects in Taiwan. The companies will also work together on deploying…

10 Jul 2026

LNG Tankers Resume Hormuz Crossings Amid Tensions

© Altin Osmanaj / Adobe Stock

More liquefied natural gas tankers have resumed transiting the Strait of Hormuz in recent days, ship-tracking data showed, and 22 Japan-linked vessels have left the Gulf since Tuesday, Tokyo said, despite renewed fighting in the Middle East.The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and LNG shipments, has been closely watched by shipping companies and governments following Iranian attacks this week on commercial vessels and U.S.

09 Jul 2026

Hormuz Standoff Risks Chronic Instability for Gulf Oil Flows

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The possible collapse of U.S.-Iran peace talks and the stop-start flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz are a nightmare scenario for Gulf nations desperate to return to normal after a bruising multi-month conflict.What was meant to mark the start of a fragile recovery following the June 17 memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington is instead evolving into a period of chronic instability, with each new incident reinforcing doubts over the security of one of the world's most important energy arteries.U.S.

08 Jul 2026

Vessel Attacks Force Hormuz Tanker U-Turns

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At least four oil and gas tankers have turned back from attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data showed, as renewed attacks on vessels in the critical waterway heightened safety and security concerns.The diversions come after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged near the strait on Tuesday following reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway, prompting maritime authorities to raise the threat risk for transiting vessels to "severe."The LNG tankers Al Ghariya…

08 Jul 2026

Oil Surges 3% on Renewed US-Iran Strikes

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Oil prices gained more than 3% on Wednesday after Iran and the U.S. military traded airstrikes and Washington reimposed crude sales sanctions on Tehran, raising fears their fragile truce was unravelling and Middle East supplies could be disrupted again.Brent crude futures LCOc1 gained $2.40, or 3.2%, at $76.56 a barrel at 0645 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 climbed $2.26, or 3.2%, to $72.70 a barrel.Both benchmarks rose about 3% on Tuesday after the U.S. revoked…

07 Jul 2026

ADNOC, XRG and Mitsui Broaden Energy Cooperation

(Credit: ADNOC)

ADNOC and XRG have signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Mitsui to explore opportunities across liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, sulfur, shipping and chemicals, as well as international energy investments through XRG.The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration in areas including crude oil market development and long-term supply, LNG sales and optimization, sulfur procurement and logistics, and shipping solutions for LNG, ammonia, sulfur and other commodities.Through XRG…

07 Jul 2026

Oil Climbs on US-Iran Deal Uncertainty

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Oil rose on Tuesday as traders' nervousness about a lack of progress on peace talks between the United States and Iran offset any price impact of a slight recovery in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures LCOc1 gained $1.02, or 1.42%, to $73.01 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose 93 cents, or 1.36%, to $69.48 a barrel as of 0748 GMT."The deal is by no means signed yet, so something can still go wrong and any comments from either side…

07 Jul 2026

Commercial Ships Hit in Hormuz Missile Attacks

© alones / Adobe Stock

Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired at least two missiles at commercial ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, Axios reported, citing two U.S. officials.Two commercial ships suffered significant damage but had no casualties, the report said, citing a U.S. official.Separately, Britain's maritime security agency said a tanker caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile east of Oman's Limah early on Tuesday.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations…

06 Jul 2026

South Korea’s Largest Cable Layer Starts Taking Shape in Türkiye

(Credit:  LS Cable & System via LinkedIn)

LS Marine Solution, a subsidiary of LS Cable & System, has started construction of a next-generation cable laying vessel (CLV) designed for long-distance high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and large-scale offshore wind grid projects.A steel-cutting ceremony for the new CLV was held at Tersan Shipyard in Türkiye, with delivery scheduled for the first half of 2028.The vessel will have a cable loading capacity of 13,000 tons and is set to become South Korea’s largest cable layer.Its capacity will allow long-distance cables to be installed in a single voyage…

06 Jul 2026

Iran-Qatar Maritime Trade Resumes After Five-Month Halt

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Maritime trade between Iran and Qatar has resumed after a roughly five-month suspension, Iran’s commercial attaché in Doha told state media on Sunday.An interim deal between Tehran and Washington signed last month announced the end of hostilities after a four-month conflict and mandated a return to pre-war maritime traffic in the Gulf, although transit in and out of the Gulf remains contested.Abbas Abdolkhani said shipping between Iran’s Dayyer port and Qatar’s Al Ruwais port…

06 Jul 2026

Ten Japan-Linked Vessels Exit Hormuz After Iran War Disruption

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A fleet of 10 Japan-linked vessels was exiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday while a supertanker carrying Saudi crude for South Korea left over the weekend, shipping data on LSEG showed, after the ships were stranded in the Gulf for months because of the Iran war.The Japan-linked ships include six very large crude carriers loaded with 12 million barrels of Middle Eastern crude, two chemical tankers, a vehicle carrier and a container ship, the data showed. The tankers are carrying crudes from Saudi Arabia…