Offshore Drilling Gains Momentum in US as Onshore Fades
            Rigs drilling beneath the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico will drive U.S. oil industry growth this year and next as onshore production slows due to lower prices and maturing shale fields, and analysts and consultants expect the trend to continue as new technology and friendly regulations attract investment offshore.The offshore oil and gas sector took a backseat to shale in recent years because drilling at sea requires years of construction work and higher upfront investments. Entry costs were lower for shale production and returns quicker, so rapid expansion in shale made the U.S.
Baker Hughes Inks Multi-Year Petrobras Deal for Offshore Stimulation Vessels
            Baker Hughes has signed a multi-year contract with Petrobras to extend deployment of its Blue Marlin and Blue Orca stimulation vessels, supporting offshore oil and gas production in Brazil’s post and pre-salt fields.The award, which followed an open tender, also covers the supply of associated chemicals and services.The vessels will deliver advanced chemical treatments to maximize production in brownfield and greenfield wells, and support well construction through gravel pack and frac pack operations.Baker Hughes said Blue Marlin and Blue Orca combine trained crews with onboard laboratories…
Intermoor, Jumbo Offshore form Alliance for O&G, Floating Wind Sectors
            Intermoor, Acteon’s Moorings and Anchors business line, and Jumbo Offshore, an offshore transportation and installation specialist, have entered into strategic alliance aimed at jointly delivering fully integrated project management, engineering, transport and installation services to the offshore oil and gas as well as floating wind sectors.This partnership brings together Intermoor’s expertise in mooring systems and offshore engineering with Jumbo Offshore’s capabilities in heavy-lift transport and mooring installation.Under the alliance…
Eureka Naval Craft Teams Up with Strategic Marine in Singapore
            Houston-headquartered defense company Eureka Naval Craft is ramping up production of its AIRCAT BENGAL MC warship in Asia after signing an MOU with Singapore shipbuilder Strategic Marine (S) Pte Ltd.Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine said the aim of the partnership is to bring a highly advanced Modular Attack Surface Craft (MASC) to the US Navy and allied navies quickly at a time of increased threat. The versatile catamaran vessel design can further be retooled for the commercial…
US Unveils Schedule for Over 30 Offshore Lease Auctions
            U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive schedule to hold more than 30 offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska's Cook Inlet over the next 15 years.The plan fulfills a directive in Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed last month, and is aligned with his administration's energy dominance agenda to boost domestic fossil fuel production.The schedule marks a significant departure from former President Joe Biden…
US Delays Rule on Gulf of Mexico Whale Protection
            U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will delay by two years a final rule designating protections for the endangered Rice's whale in the oil and gas drilling region of the Gulf of Mexico, according to an agreement with environmental groups filed in a federal court.The U.S. Commerce Department's National Marine Fisheries Service agreed with green group Natural Resources Defense Council to finalize by July 15, 2027 the geographic area deemed critical for the Rice's whale survival. The previous deadline had been Tuesday, July 15, of this year.The agreement filed in the U.S.
BOEM Looks to Open 80 million Acres for Oil and Gas Lease Sale
            The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the publication of a Proposed Notice of Sale (PNOS) for an oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of America.As directed by Secretary of the Interior and outlined in the PNOS, Lease Sale 262 will offer approximately 15,000 unleased blocks located 3 to 231 miles offshore across the Gulf’s Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas. Covering roughly 80 million acres, these blocks are situated in water depths ranging from 9 feet to more than 11…
Russia Looks to Myanmar Offshore Oil and Gas Prospects
            Russia signed an investment agreement with Myanmar on Friday that it said could open up new opportunities for Russian energy companies in the south Asian country."We especially note the readiness of the Myanmar side to attract Russian companies to the development of offshore oil and gas fields," Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said after signing the agreement in St Petersburg with Kan Zaw, Myanmar's minister of investment and foreign economic relations.Russia said the deal would help accelerate projects including in Myanmar's Dawei special economic zone…
Republican Governor Doesn’t Want Trump’s Offshore Drilling
            The Republican governor of South Carolina appealed to the Trump administration on Monday to leave his state out of an impending plan to increase offshore oil and gas production.The letter comes as the administration wraps up a 45-day request for public input into a federal offshore oil and gas leasing program that could include new zones in the Arctic and elsewhere to maximize domestic energy development.The current five-year plan, developed by the administration of former President Joe Biden, includes just three sales of oil and gas development rights in the Gulf of Mexico.
ABS, Akselos Deepen FPSO Digital Twin Tech Collaboration
            American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Akselos have completed the technical assessment for structural digital twin technology, marking an advancement in the application of the solution for Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units.Akselos’ SPM software provides a high-fidelity, near real-time digital twin of the entire FPSO. By combining inspection records, metocean conditions, and cargo operations into one dynamic model, operators gain a live, continuous view of structural performance.
US Launches Preps for Expanded Offshore Drilling
            The U.S. Interior Department on Friday said it would begin taking public input for a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program that could include new zones in the Arctic and elsewhere to maximize energy development.President Donald Trump has ordered government agencies to identify ways to increase already record high U.S. oil and gas production, arguing past administrations had unnecessarily curtailed drilling to combat climate change. He had also repealed former President Joe Biden’s efforts to block oil drilling in the Arctic and along large areas off the U.S.
US Plans New Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales
            US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to begin a public engagement process to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.“Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Through a transparent and inclusive public engagement process…
Saipem Renews Offshore Activities Agreement With Saudi Aramco
            Saipem has signed a renewal for its framework agreement with Saudi Aramco. The Long-Term Agreement (LTA) now extends until the end of 2027.With the renewal of the LTA, Saipem is reconfirmed in the exclusive list of contractors selected by Saudi Aramco who are eligible to bid for work orders, known as CRPOs (Contract Release Purchase Orders). These contracts may relate to both the construction of new investment projects and any projects aimed at maintaining production capacity from Saudi Arabia’s offshore fields.Should Saipem be awarded contracts for activities within the Kingdom under the LTA…
Sea Change in Cybersecurity: USCG's New Maritime Reg Set to Transform Digital Safety at Sea
            The $5.4 trillion global maritime industry faces a perfect storm of cyber vulnerabilities, and a new government regulation aims to be the lighthouse guiding stakeholders to safer digital harbors.On January 17, 2025, the US Coast Guard (USCG) published a final rule titled “Cybersecurity in the Marine Transportation System,” aiming to bolster the cybersecurity posture of the nation’s marine transportation system (MTS). This rule introduces mandatory cybersecurity measures for US-flagged vessels…
ABL Group Co-Founder Phil Lenox Rejoins in Marine Operations Role
            ABL Group co-founder and offshore energy and marine professional Phil Lenox joins Longitude as global director of its marine operations engineering business line.Longitude, the design and engineering arm of ABL Group, has been providing marine operations engineering, design, and analysis services since its inception in 2006. Its offering supports offshore oil and gas, maritime, offshore wind, and other marine renewable technologies. The team provides engineering, analysis and design to support offshore mobilization…
The SAL SPU-200 Provides a Safeguard Against GPS Jamming
            As GPS jamming and spoofing incidents escalate across Europe, disrupting aviation and posing security risks, the maritime sector faces similar vulnerabilities that threaten global trade and safety. AST Networks, a provider of satellite communication solutions and marine electronics, warns that vessels relying on GPS for navigation are increasingly at risk and must seek countermeasures to ensure operational integrity.GPS jamming occurs when a device deliberately transmits signals on the same frequencies used by GPS satellites…
Kongsberg Maritime Launches Advanced Simulator for Maritime Training
            Kongsberg Maritime has launched the K-Sim Offshore DP3 Anchor Handling Simulator, designed for training for complex offshore operations.With an investment of over $322,000, the innovative training solution is designed to elevate competency standards, enhance operational efficiency, and promote sustainability across the sector.Additionally, it focuses on improving maritime safety by supporting our local customers and partners in ensuring safe operations and reducing risks in critical maritime activities.Situated at Kongsberg Maritime’s Aberdeen office in Westhill…
One Year Ago Today: U.S. Maritime Industry Delivers in Wake of FSK Bridge Collapse
            We are at the one-year since the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge collapsed over the Patapsco River’s Fort McHenry Channel in Baltimore, Maryland. Nearly 100 percent of the wreckage and debris removal was conducted by the Jones Act private sector U.S. maritime industry. The FSK collapsed at about 1:28 a.m. local time on March 26, 2025 after the container ship MV DALI lost power and collided with one of bridge’s support piers. Six construction workers died in the collapse, while two other workers survived the fall into the freezing water.
Unwinding the Morass that is U.S. Offshore Wind
            In the last decade, changing U.S. Administrations have become increasingly tumultuous, as the swings in priorities and directives have a real, material impact on business. Read on for insights on the current and future of U.S. Offshore Wind.In the weeks preceding his late January inauguration, then President-elect Donald Trump referred to wind turbines (both onshore and offshore) as “garbage in a field” and described electric power produced through offshore wind as “…the most expensive energy ever…”In the same briefing…
Vard Cuts First Steel for Island Offshore’s Hybrid Construction Vessel
            Norwegian shipbuilder Vard has marked the start of construction of Island Offshore’s hybrid power ocean energy construction vessel (OECV) at its shipyard in Romania.Vard secured the order for the vessel, named Island Evolution, from Island Offshore back in May 2024, which also included an option for two additional vessels. Island Offshore placed the order for the second vessel, to be named Island Explorer, in August.Roy Viggo Fjørtoft, Project Manager from Island Offshore, had…
Aiviq becomes USCGC Storis, to be based in Juneau
            The Coast Guard gets its first new polar icebreaker in more than 25 years.The Coast Guard has accepted its first new polar icebreaker in more than 25 years, but it’s not really new. The 12,900-ton, 360-foot Anchor Handling Tug Support Ship (AHTS) Aiviq was acquired by the Coast Guard and renamed USCGC Storis (WAGB 21).According to a Coast Guard statement, “On Nov. 20, the Coast Guard purchased the M/V Aiviq, a 360-foot U.S.-built polar class 3-equivalent icebreaker for $125 million in a deal with Offshore Surface Vessels LLC.
Seaonics to Equip Five Vard-Built W2W Newbuilds
            Seaonics has signed a contract covering the delivery of five Electric Controlled Motion Compensated (ECMC) Gangways and five ECMC 3D Cranes for an international customer to a series of walk-to-work offshore newbuilds under construction at global shipbuilder VARD's yard in Vietnam.The advanced equipment will enable the vessels to provide comprehensive maintenance, supply and operational services to offshore oil-and-gas installations.The ECMC systems ensure smooth and precise movements even in challenging sea conditions by compensating for the vessel motion.
Spreading the High-Spec Joy
            This week at MarineLink…A noteworthy vessel was introduced to the fixed-bottom offshore wind sector this week. The offshore installation vessel Boreas was delivered to Van Oord by Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore in China. The vessel will be the largest of its kind once operational, and it is purpose-built for the transport and installation of foundations and turbines up to 20MW capacity turbines.China’s Dongfang Electric is already building 26MW turbines, part of an on-going upsizing of projects that is driving up the size of these specialized…