MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS

Subsea 7 Profit Rises to $254 Million as 2026 Margin Guidance Reaches 24%

2026-07-31T23:23:11.943-07:00

Subsea 7 reported Q2 2026 net income of $254 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $471 million as its full-year margin guidance increased to approximately 24%.

Photo source: Subsea7

Subsea 7 reported net income of $254 million for the second quarter of 2026, compared with $131 million in the same period last year, as earnings increased across its Subsea and Conventional and Renewables businesses.

Revenue rose 10% year on year to $1.9 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 31% to $471 million, while the Adjusted EBITDA margin reached 24%, up from 21% in the second quarter of 2025.

The company raised its full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA margin guidance to approximately 24% from 23%. Revenue guidance remained between $7.4 billion and $7.8 billion.

Stuart Fitzgerald became chief executive officer on 1 July 2026. He said the company would continue its strategy in the subsea and renewable energy markets while progressing with the proposed merger with Saipem.

Subsea and Conventional revenue increased by $130 million to $1.5 billion. Net operating income rose to $291 million from $165 million in the prior-year period.

Work continued on CRPO-153 in Saudi Arabia; Yggdrasil, Irpa, Fenris, Bestla and Fram Sør in Norway; Sakarya Phase 2a and Phase 3 in Türkiye; and Ginger, Monument and Trion in the US. In Brazil, PLSV activity remained high, with work progressing on Búzios 9 and Búzios 11.

Renewables revenue rose 14% to $350 million, while net operating income increased to $39 million from $20 million.

During the quarter, Seaway Ventus installed 26 monopiles at East Anglia THREE in the UK, while Seaway Strashnov installed monopiles in France. Seaway Aimery and Seaway Phoenix completed class renewals before starting work on Hornsea 3 and East Anglia THREE. Seaway Alfa Lift installed transition pieces at Inch Cape.

Fleet utilisation was 87%, compared with 86% in the second quarter of 2025. At 30 June 2026, the fleet comprised 35 vessels, including six chartered vessels.

Second-quarter order intake reached $2.1 billion, producing a book-to-bill ratio of 1.1 times. Backlog stood at $13.6 billion, including $3.9 billion for execution during the remainder of 2026, $5.6 billion in 2027 and $4.1 billion from 2028 onwards.

Net cash generated from operating activities was $570 million. Cash and cash equivalents were $1.0 billion at the end of June, while net cash including lease liabilities was $190 million after dividend payments of approximately $414 million.

DOF Extends Petrobras Contracts for Skandi Buzios and Skandi Recife

2026-07-31T23:21:04.781-07:00

DOF Group ASA has extended Petrobras contracts for the PLSVs Skandi Buzios and Skandi Recife in Brazil, keeping both vessels under contract through January 2028.

Image source: DOF

DOF Group ASA has secured contract extensions with Petrobras for the pipe-laying support vessels Skandi Buzios and Skandi Recife in Brazil.

Under the amended agreements, the contract for Skandi Buzios has been extended by 516 days, while Skandi Recife has received a 550-day extension.

Both contracts had been scheduled to end in the third quarter of 2026. The vessels will now remain under contract with Petrobras through January 2028.

Skandi Buzios and Skandi Recife are owned by a joint venture in which DOF Group ASA and TechnipFMC each hold a 50% interest.

Source: HMT News

SK Oceanplant Secures BalWin5 Jacket Contract from Seatrium

2026-07-31T23:17:50.607-07:00

SK Oceanplant has secured a $110.7 million Seatrium contract to supply one jacket foundation and 20 piles for TenneT’s BalWin5 HVDC offshore converter platform in the German North Sea.

Image credit: SK Oceanplant

SK Oceanplant has secured an approximately $110.7 million contract from Seatrium to supply the jacket foundation and piles for TenneT’s BalWin5 high-voltage direct current offshore converter platform in the German North Sea.

The agreement, valued at around EUR 96 million, covers construction engineering, procurement, fabrication and load-out. SK Oceanplant will deliver one jacket foundation and 20 piles for the offshore substation.

The jacket will weigh approximately 15,000 tonnes. SK Oceanplant said the contract is the first full jacket supply agreement awarded to a Korean company for a European HVDC offshore substation.

SK Oceanplant entered the European offshore wind market through the DolWin4 and BorWin4 projects. The company signed contracts for those projects in April 2025 and delivered key components in May 2026.

BalWin5 is planned as a 2.2 GW-class HVDC offshore converter platform. It forms part of TenneT’s next-generation offshore transmission infrastructure in Germany, which will connect large offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the German electricity grid.

The GE Vernova–Seatrium consortium received the offshore converter platform contract in December 2025. GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems business will supply the HVDC technology and the onshore and offshore converter stations.

Seatrium will design, build, transport and install the offshore converter platform.

BalWin5 is scheduled for commissioning in 2033. The project comprises an offshore converter platform in the North Sea and an onshore converter in Bremen. The two facilities will be connected by approximately 210 km of subsea cable and around 115 km of land cable.

At the offshore platform, alternating current generated by offshore wind farms will be converted into direct current. The electricity will then travel through the cable system beneath the island of Langeoog to the mainland.

From the Lower Saxon coast, the underground cable will continue to the onshore converter in Bremen. The direct current will be converted back into alternating current before entering the high-voltage grid through the adjacent substation.

Source: HMT News

London Insurers Widen Red Sea High-Risk Zone After Houthi Attacks

2026-07-31T22:02:39.607-07:00

London marine insurers have widened the Red Sea high-risk zone after Houthi attacks on Saudi-linked vessels, with war risk premiums rising for ships serving Saudi ports and regional routes.

AI generated image.

London marine insurers have extended the Red Sea area designated as high risk following Houthi attacks on two Saudi-linked vessels. The change is expected to raise war risk insurance costs for ships using the regional trade and energy route.

The Joint War Committee moved its notification boundary further north after the vessels were attacked in the days following the Houthis’ maritime embargo announcement on 20 July.

The Iran-aligned group said the embargo against Saudi Arabia marked a new front against the United States and its allies in the conflict involving Iran.

Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at the Lloyd’s Market Association and secretary of the committee, said the revised listed areas reflected the escalation in Houthi activity and attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.

The Joint War Committee includes Lloyd’s Market Association syndicate members and representatives of the London insurance market. Marine underwriters use its high-risk area list when assessing war risk premiums.

Insurance industry sources said indicative premiums for Saudi ports north of Jizan had risen to about 1% of a ship’s value from 0.25% earlier in the week. The affected ports include Jeddah and the Yanbu oil export terminal.

Rates for voyages through the southern Red Sea have increased to between 1% and 2% of a vessel’s value. Before the embargo announcement, the rate was around 0.3%.

War risk insurance costs had begun increasing immediately after the Houthis announced the measure. Indicative premiums initially rose to approximately 0.75% of a ship’s value from about 0.3%, according to industry sources.

An increase in the premium rate can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the insurance cost of a seven-day voyage.

The Houthis described the measure as a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. The available information does not establish how the group would enforce it or whether commercial shipping attacks would resume.

British maritime security company Ambrey assessed Saudi Arabia-flagged, owned or operated vessels as facing a high risk of attack. Its assessment also covered ships travelling to or from Saudi Arabia and vessels calling at Saudi ports on the Red Sea.

Ambrey said outdated company affiliation data had contributed to targeting errors during the 2024 Red Sea crisis, creating a risk that ships could again be attacked because of mistaken identity.

Saudi Aramco has increased its use of the Yanbu terminal since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began on 28 February.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and carries global trade and oil shipments. The reference data stated that a complete closure would stop Saudi oil exports to Asia and could reduce global oil supply by 7%.

Red Sea shipping traffic has not fully recovered since the Houthis began attacking vessels off Yemen in November 2023. The group said the attacks supported Palestinians during the Gaza war. Some attacks continued until mid-2025 and ended after the Gaza ceasefire in October last year.

Source: HMT News

Boskalis Windpiper Departs for First Baltic Sea Project

2026-07-31T22:00:40.457-07:00

Boskalis vessel Windpiper has left Rotterdam for its first project, loading 45,500 tonnes of rock in Norway before starting subsea rock installation work in the Baltic Sea.

Image source: Boskalis via LinkedIn

Boskalis’ new subsea rock installation vessel Windpiper has departed the Port of Rotterdam for its first project in the Baltic Sea.

The vessel will first sail to a quarry in Norway, where 45,500 tonnes of rock will be loaded into its two cargo holds. It will then continue to the Baltic Sea to begin its first subsea rock installation work.

Subsea rock installation is used to protect and stabilise offshore infrastructure on the seabed, including offshore wind assets, cables and pipelines.

The first deployment follows 18 months of work by teams across Boskalis to transform Windpiper into a subsea rock installation vessel.

The vessel’s entry into operation increases Boskalis’ capacity to support offshore energy projects in Europe and worldwide.

Source: HMT News

Seatrium 1H2026 Net Profit Rises 158% to S$373 Million

2026-07-31T21:58:40.601-07:00

Seatrium reported a 158% rise in 1H2026 net profit to S$373 million, while revenue increased to S$5.6 billion and its net order book stood at S$13.3 billion.

Image sourceK Seatrium

Seatrium reported net profit of S$373 million for the first half of 2026, an increase of 158% from S$144 million in the same period a year earlier.

The result included divestment gains. Excluding those gains, net profit rose 54% year-on-year to S$212 million during the January-to-June 2026 period.

Revenue increased 4.7% to S$5.6 billion from S$5.4 billion in 1H2025 as the group continued work on its existing order book. Gross margin improved to 8.6% from 7.4%.

The company attributed the margin increase to a larger share of higher-margin projects, lower indirect overheads, improved productivity, strategic divestments and cost controls.

EBITDA excluding divestment gains rose 20% to S$479 million.

As of 30 June 2026, Seatrium had a net order book of S$13.3 billion covering 24 projects scheduled for delivery through 2033. More than 95% of the order book consisted of Series Build projects.

Lower-margin legacy non-FPSO projects represented about 1% of the order book after the completion of three projects.

The P-80 and P-82 FPSOs for Petrobras, along with the Shell Sparta FPU, remained scheduled for sailaway in the second half of 2026.

Seatrium also reported a pipeline of more than S$32 billion in potential opportunities over the next 24 months. This comprised approximately S$21 billion in oil and gas, S$9 billion in offshore wind and S$2 billion in conversion projects.

Brazil remained the company’s main market for deepwater FPSOs. Demand for newbuilds, conversions and upgrades was also reported in Guyana, West Africa and Southeast Asia.

The company operates three yards in Brazil that can support local-content requirements for upcoming FPSO tenders, including projects with full engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning scopes similar to the six P-Series projects in its order book.

In the gas segment, Seatrium secured a new FSRU conversion contract during 1H2026. It also identified opportunities involving FLNG, FSRU and other gas conversion and newbuild projects.

Its offshore wind activities cover offshore substations, heavy lift vessels, wind turbine installation vessels and floating wind foundations.

For the full year, Seatrium expects the factors supporting its first-half margins to continue. Including one-off divestment gains, the company expects FY2026 net profit to be materially higher than in FY2025.

Source: HMT News

France Awards €260m to Five Ports for Floating Offshore Wind

2026-07-31T21:57:32.174-07:00

France has awarded almost €260m to five ports under France 2030 to upgrade infrastructure for floating offshore wind and support nearly €1bn of port investment.

Port of Cherbourg ( Photo source: Ports de Normandie)

France has awarded almost €260m to five ports under the France 2030 programme to develop infrastructure for floating offshore wind projects.

Cherbourg, Brest, Nantes-Saint Nazaire, Port-la-Nouvelle and Marseille-Fos were selected to establish facilities for the manufacture, assembly and integration of floating offshore wind developments.

The French government said the projects are expected to support almost €1bn of investment in port infrastructure. The programme is also linked to France’s target of having almost 6GW of floating offshore wind capacity in operation by 2040.

The planned upgrades will cover quays, reclaimed land and access roads. The work is intended to enable the ports to handle the large components required for floating offshore wind projects.

Transport minister Philippe Tabarot said ports have a strategic role in wind power development, particularly in the offshore sector. He added that port activity can support employment, industrial value and France’s industrial and energy sovereignty.

Minister delegate for energy Maud Bregeon described floating offshore wind as one of the pillars of France’s energy strategy. She said the port investments are intended to support a competitive domestic industrial sector, create jobs and contribute to the country’s decarbonisation objectives.

Source: HMT News

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Takes Delivery of WIND WHALE in China

2026-07-31T21:55:19.270-07:00

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has taken delivery of WIND WHALE, Japan’s first coastal module carrier for offshore wind foundation components, at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China.

Photo credit: MOL

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has taken delivery of WIND WHALE, Japan’s first coastal module carrier for transporting offshore wind foundation components.

The vessel was delivered and named on 26 June 2026 at Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, China. It will transport offshore wind foundation components from JFE Engineering’s monopile manufacturing facility in Kasaoka, Okayama Prefecture, to project sites in Japan.

WIND WHALE was designed by Heavylift@Sea and measures 149.9 m in length, 30 m in beam and 8.72 m in depth. The vessel has a deadweight of 13,000 tonnes and a design speed of 12.9 knots.

Its flush deck can accommodate monopiles, towers, blades, nacelles and floating foundations. Cargo can be moved onto the vessel from the stern or either side using self-propelled modular transporters.

The carrier is equipped with a dynamic positioning system, allowing direct cargo transfer to self-elevating platform vessels to be considered at offshore wind construction sites.

A compartmentalised ballast tank arrangement supports rapid trim and heel adjustment during loading and transit. The ventilation system is centrally arranged, removing deck vent pipes and increasing the available cargo area.

The vessel also uses independent electric propulsion units, two bow thrusters, battery energy storage and variable-frequency generators. Its energy management and route optimisation systems are intended to reduce fuel consumption and emissions while improving onboard energy use.

Source: HMT News

Petra Marine Agrees $15 Million Sale of Two Work Barges

2026-07-31T21:53:49.217-07:00

Petra Marine has agreed to sell Petra Endeavour and Petra Orbit in separate transactions worth a combined $15 million, reducing future lay-up, reactivation and drydocking costs.

Petra Endeavour (Image credit: Reynold Lihan / MarineTraffic)

Petra Marine, a subsidiary of Petra Energy, has agreed to sell two Malaysian-flagged accommodation work barges in separate transactions valued at a combined $15 million.

India-based AJR Oil & Gas Engineering Services will acquire the Petra Endeavour for $7.75 million, equivalent to approximately RM31.68 million. The 2009-built barge had a net book value of RM30.06 million at the time of the proposed disposal.

The buyer is required to pay a 25% deposit of approximately RM7.92 million. The remaining 75%, or about RM23.76 million, will be paid when the vessel is delivered.

In the second transaction, Beaufond Swissline, which is registered in the UAE, will purchase the Petra Orbit for $7.25 million, equivalent to RM29.63 million.

The Petra Orbit was also built in 2009 and had a net book value of RM25.01 million. The payment terms include a 20% deposit of $1.45 million, followed by the remaining $5.8 million upon delivery.

Petra Energy said the prices were determined on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis after considering market conditions and vessel valuations.

The company also said the transactions would reduce future lay-up, reactivation and drydocking costs associated with the two barges.

Source: HMT News

AAL Shipping Transfers Transformers to Rail in New Orleans

2026-07-31T21:51:48.379-07:00

AAL Shipping discharged two transformers weighing nearly 300 tonnes from AAL Galveston in New Orleans for direct transfer to rail and onward inland transport.

Image source: AAL Shipping via LinkedIn

AAL Shipping has discharged two heavy lift transformers with a combined weight of nearly 300 tonnes from the AAL Galveston at the Port of New Orleans.

The transformers were handled by Ports America and moved directly from the vessel onto rail transport. With no terminal storage stage required, the cargo was able to begin its inland journey after discharge.

The operation reduced the number of handling steps needed to transfer the oversized equipment between maritime and inland transport. For heavy project cargo, limiting additional movements can reduce delays, costs and operational risks.

The shipment also demonstrated the role of multimodal terminal infrastructure in supporting complex cargo operations. The Port of New Orleans provided the vessel and rail connections needed to move the transformers through the terminal without a separate transfer process.

Large electrical transformers are regularly transported through U.S. ports for substations, transmission networks, renewable energy developments and grid modernisation projects. Their weight, dimensions and limited manufacturing availability require detailed transport planning.

Delays involving this type of equipment can affect construction programmes and project commissioning schedules. Breakbulk ports therefore remain important for cargo that is unsuitable for containerised transport.

The Port of New Orleans serves heavy lift and project cargo movements entering the U.S. Gulf Coast. Its rail links connect the port with industrial regions across North America.

The vessel-to-rail operation enabled the two transformers to continue inland through an integrated transport process involving AAL Shipping, Ports America and the Port of New Orleans.

Source: HMT News

45 Rescued, 17 Missing After Khoi Nguyen 18 Sinks

2026-07-27T00:51:59.556-07:00

Search teams rescued 45 people after the Vietnamese cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 sank near Fiery Cross Reef, while 17 people remained missing.

Photo: Screenshot from a video of the rescue operation.

Search teams were continuing operations near Fiery Cross Reef after the Vietnam-flagged cargo vessel Khoi Nguyen 18 sank with 62 Vietnamese nationals aboard.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 45 people had been rescued by midday on 26 July, while 17 remained unaccounted for. Vietnamese fishing vessels operating in the area joined the official search and rescue response.

The ministry said the vessel was operating in poor weather when it sank. Vietnamese agencies deployed resources after receiving a report of the incident.

According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, maritime authorities in Hainan province identified the vessel as Khoi Nguyen 18 and located the distress position near Fiery Cross Reef, which China administers as Yongshu Reef.

The alert was raised at about 6:23 pm local time on Saturday. China’s rescue vessel Nanhai Jiu 115 sighted what was believed to be a rocket parachute distress flare, Xinhua reported.

Six Chinese vessels, one rescue helicopter and one Vietnamese vessel were involved in the operation on Sunday. Nanhai Jiu 115 is operated by the Nanhai Rescue Bureau of China’s Ministry of Transport, which maintains rescue and salvage units at the reef.

Vietnam later confirmed that 45 people had been recovered alive. Earlier reports from Chinese state media had given lower totals of 37 and 39.

Neither government had confirmed any fatalities, and no bodies had been reported recovered.

Built in 2017, Khoi Nguyen 18 is a general cargo vessel measuring 69.9 m in length with a beam of 10.8 m. It has a gross tonnage of 999 and a deadweight of just over 1,900 t.

Authorities did not provide further details about those aboard. They also did not disclose the vessel’s cargo or destination.

Fiery Cross Reef forms part of the Spratly Islands, which are claimed in whole or in part by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. China has developed the feature into an artificial island with a runway, port infrastructure and a maritime rescue centre.

Vietnam thanked the Chinese search and rescue units involved and said both sides were expected to continue cooperating in the search for the missing people.

Operations remained underway on Sunday evening. No cause had been established beyond the poor weather conditions reported by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: HMT News

Saipem Secures €800 Million Contracts in Ivory Coast and Italy

2026-07-27T00:49:35.429-07:00

Saipem has secured contracts worth approximately €800 million for Baleine Phase 3 offshore Ivory Coast and a new unit at Enilive’s Venice biorefinery.

Image source: Saipem

Saipem has been awarded two contracts with a combined value of approximately €800 million for offshore work in Ivory Coast and an onshore biorefinery project in Italy.

The first contract was awarded by Eni Côte d’Ivoire and its partners for Baleine Phase 3, the third development stage of the Baleine oil and gas field. The field is located offshore Ivory Coast in water depths of up to 1,300 m.

Saipem will provide engineering, fabrication, transportation and installation services for approximately 50 km of rigid pipelines and associated subsea structures.

The scope also includes the transportation and installation of flexible risers, flexible jumpers, subsea production systems, a 3-km flexible gas export flowline and 22 km of subsea umbilical.

The project is expected to continue for approximately three years. The construction vessels FDS and Shen Da will be deployed for the work.

The second contract was awarded by Enilive for the engineering, procurement and construction of a deoxygenation unit at its biorefinery in Porto Marghera, Venice.

The unit will be designed to process 70 tonnes per hour of biogenic feedstocks and will contribute to increasing the site’s production capacity for HVO biofuel.

The award is part of a broader biorefining collaboration between Eni and Saipem. It follows an EPC contract announced in June 2025 for biojet production at the Venice biorefinery.

Saipem announced the two contract awards in Milan on 27 July 2026.

Source: HMT News

HD Hyundai Subcontractor Dies in Gunsan Shipyard Accident

2026-07-27T00:47:02.936-07:00

A subcontractor died in an equipment accident at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ Gunsan Shipyard. Authorities are investigating the incident, while panel factory assembly lines remain suspended.

HD Hyundai Gunsan shipyard

A subcontractor at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has died after an industrial accident at the company’s Gunsan Shipyard in South Korea. The incident was the third fatal accident reported at the company’s domestic yards in July.

The worker, a man in his 30s, was involved in an accident at about 16:44 local time on Friday inside the yard’s panel factory. His head became trapped in equipment, causing severe injuries and cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at around 19:00 after being taken to hospital.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries confirmed on Monday that the worker had been caught between a lug and a lug attachment machine during operations at the panel factory.

Police and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have started an on-site investigation and are reviewing records related to the accident.

The company said special safety training would be provided to employees and that measures would be introduced to prevent a recurrence.

On Saturday, the Gunsan Branch of the Gwangju Regional Office of Employment and Labor issued a partial work suspension order covering all assembly lines at the panel factory.

According to the police investigation cited by South Korean media, the accident occurred while lugs were being installed on hull plating. The worker was operating a lug attachment machine in reverse and is understood to have become trapped between the machine and a lug that had already been installed.

A lug attachment machine secures steel lifting rings for ship blocks to the hull.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said its Serious Accident Investigation Division at the Jeonju branch office and the Industrial Accident Prevention and Supervision Division at the Gunsan branch office began investigating the incident and imposed work suspension measures.

The ministry is also examining whether the workplace breached the Occupational Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

Source: HMT News

Japan-U.S. AI Shipbuilding R&D Project Launches

2026-07-27T00:43:52.356-07:00

Japan and the United States have launched joint R&D on AI shipbuilding robotics and a simulation platform, while discussing demonstration methods for shipyards in both countries.

Photo source: Fukuoka Shipbuilding

Japan and the United States have launched a joint AI shipbuilding R&D project covering robotic systems and production-process simulation technology.

The project is being conducted under the Memorandum of Cooperation Regarding the Shipbuilding Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America. Minister Kaneko and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Lutnick signed the memorandum in October, including cooperation on advanced shipbuilding technologies.

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been supporting the development of AI-based robotics for processes including plate bending and welding. The work also covers an AI simulation platform designed to evaluate robot operations and related shipyard processes.

The joint project started with a visit to Japan by the U.S. development team from 6–10 July. The team is responsible for developing the production-process simulation platform required for the operation of AI shipbuilding robotics.

Participants visited shipyards operated by Fukuoka Shipbuilding and Japan Marine United to review site conditions and challenges associated with introducing robotic technologies.

The Japanese and U.S. teams confirmed the development schedule and their respective responsibilities. Their objective is to establish an AI simulation platform by the end of March that can incorporate actual hull blocks and shipyard environments.

The platform will be used to evaluate robot operations and related production processes. The teams also discussed methods for conducting demonstrations at Japanese and U.S. shipyards.

U.S. participants include the University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and American Bureau of Shipping. The Japanese team includes Osaka University, Yokohama National University, MTI, ClassNK, Namura Shipbuilding, Fukuoka Shipbuilding, MLIT and the National Maritime Research Institute.

The work is being implemented as MLIT’s Technology Development Project Contributing to the Realization of Next-Generation Shipyards through AI Utilization under the Cabinet Office’s BRIDGE Program.

Source: HMT News

Smulders Loads Bałtyk 2 and 3 Substation Jackets in Newcastle

2026-07-27T00:41:37.792-07:00

Smulders has loaded two offshore substation jackets for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 wind projects onto barges at its Newcastle yard for transport to the Polish Baltic Sea.

Image source: Smulders

Smulders has loaded the offshore substation jackets for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 wind projects onto barges at its Newcastle yard in the UK. The load-out was completed on 24 July 2026 for projects being developed by Equinor and Polenergia in the Polish Baltic Sea.

Prefabrication work was carried out at Smulders facilities in Arendonk and Balen, while the jackets were assembled in Newcastle. The company also prepared the associated piles for transport alongside the two structures.

An earlier construction update issued on 23 February 2026 said the cable deck had been installed on the Bałtyk 2 jacket and the first pile sleeve clusters were being fitted. The Bałtyk 3 jacket had also undergone move-up and roll-up work at the Newcastle site.

Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 will each have an installed capacity of 720 MW, providing a combined capacity of 1,440 MW. Smulders is responsible for the design, procurement and construction of both offshore substations, including their topsides and jackets. The company is also working with Sif to manufacture 100 transition pieces for the two wind farms.

Source: HMT News

Chinese Shipyards Record 173% Surge in H1 2026 Newbuilding Orders

2026-07-26T18:54:16.059-07:00

Chinese shipbuilders recorded a 173% rise in newbuilding orders by tonnage in the first half of 2026, exceeding the previous full-year all-time record.

Photo source: CSSC

Chinese shipbuilders recorded a 173% increase in newbuilding orders by tonnage during the first half of 2026, according to a Seatrade Maritime report.

The six-month total surpassed the previous full-year all-time record, marking a sharp increase in contracting activity at Chinese shipyards.

The report suggested that decarbonization requirements, fleet renewal and changing trade patterns may have contributed to the rise. Demand for more fuel-efficient and environmentally compliant vessels, including dual-fuel and ammonia-ready designs, was also identified as a possible factor.

Competitive pricing and delivery schedules at Chinese yards were cited as additional reasons for continued interest from international shipowners.

The report said the larger orderbook could increase the supply of modern tonnage as new vessels enter service. In some vessel segments, this may create oversupply and place pressure on charter rates and asset values.

It also suggested that the arrival of newer and more efficient ships could increase competitive pressure on older vessels. Owners and operators with ageing fleets may face higher operating costs and weaker market competitiveness, while newer tonnage may offer efficiency and compliance advantages.

The analysis identified Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East as regions where greater vessel availability could affect competition and operating conditions. Trade routes serving the Suez Canal, the Bosphorus and major regional ports may also experience changes in freight competition and vessel deployment.

The report further indicated that demand for dry-docking, retrofitting and specialist repair services could rise as operators maintain both new and existing vessels.

Shipowners and operators were advised to monitor Chinese shipyard orderbooks and delivery schedules when reviewing long-term fleet plans, including newbuilding investment, vessel sales and chartering options.

Source: HMT news

Allseas’ large 28-year-old pipelayer returns to sea after major 10-month upgrade

2026-07-26T18:24:38.888-07:00

Source: Allseas via LinkedIn

Allseas’ Solitaire, one of the world’s largest pipelay vessels, is heading back to sea following a ten-month renewal and upgrade program that further advances its installation capabilities and production efficiency.

Source:

USCG Icebreaker ‘Healy’ Towed Back to Seattle Following ‘Significant Engineering Casualty’

2026-07-25T22:10:26.801-07:00

Photo source: gCaptain

U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy suffered a significant engineering casualty during post-refit sea trials off the Washington coast before being towed back to Seattle on July 13 for an investigation and major repairs, the Coast Guard told gCaptain.

Source: gCaptain

Strait Of Hormuz Tanker Traffic Falls To Lowest Level In Over Two Months

2026-07-25T21:19:43.619-07:00

Image for representation purposes only (Source: marine insight)

The number of tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz fell to just one on July 23, the lowest daily level since May 7, according to shiptracking data, as security risks in the Middle East continued to affect commercial shipping and oil prices climbed back to $100 a barrel.

Source: marine insight

Hanwha Ocean, HD KSOE and Samsung Heavy Expand U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation

2026-07-25T19:57:37.619-07:00

Hanwha Ocean, HD KSOE and Samsung Heavy Industries are expanding U.S. cooperation in naval ship design, digital shipyards, autonomous vessels, workforce training and supply chains.

Image source: Hanwha Ocean

Hanwha Ocean, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Samsung Heavy Industries are expanding cooperation with U.S. partners in naval ship design, digital shipyards, workforce development, autonomous vessels and supply chains.

The initiatives come as Korea and the United States advance bilateral shipbuilding cooperation. The two countries previously agreed to allocate $150 billion of a wider $350 billion investment package to the sector.

Hanwha Ocean signed a Professional Services Agreement with Leidos for the design of the Global Fast Sealift. The agreement advances an April memorandum of understanding covering next-generation naval ship design, U.S. shipbuilding capacity and global defense opportunities.

Gibbs & Cox, a subsidiary of Leidos, has designed more than 70 percent of U.S. Navy surface combatants built since World War II.

The Global Fast Sealift is designed for commercial logistics operations during peacetime and the high-speed transport of military supplies during conflicts.

Hanwha Ocean also signed memorandums of understanding with Hanwha Philly Shipyard, Delaware County Community College and Philadelphia business groups. The agreements cover shipbuilding workforce training and measures to strengthen the local supply chain.

HD KSOE, the shipbuilding intermediate holding company of HD Hyundai, signed a definitive agreement with Siemens Digital Industries Software to introduce a next-generation marine platform.

The system will digitally connect ship design, production, supply chain management, quality control and maintenance. It will use artificial intelligence, digital twin technology and a single 3D data model to share design changes and production data in real time across the shipbuilding process.

HD KSOE also plans to develop a virtual shipyard that can simulate production processes and equipment operations. The company is pursuing an AI-driven autonomous manufacturing system incorporating robotics and automated production facilities.

Samsung Heavy Industries is extending its U.S. cooperation into ship design, autonomous vessels, research and workforce development.

The company received Approval in Principle from the American Bureau of Shipping for the basic design of a 12,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas bunkering vessel developed jointly with Conrad Shipyard.

Samsung Heavy Industries also signed a strategic partnership with Saronic Technologies to develop autonomous surface vessels and AI digital solutions.

Under a separate agreement with Vigor Marine Group, the company will establish a training center in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. The center will use augmented and virtual reality technologies to train welding and painting workers.

Source: HMT news

Saudi Oil Reroute Now Costs $5 Million Extra Per Shipment as Houthis Block Red Sea

2026-07-25T19:10:48.328-07:00

Credit: Ojas Narappanawar

Saudi Aramco tankers are sailing thousands of extra miles around Africa. Each voyage now costs an additional $5 million. The reason is simple: the Houthis have declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, and the kingdom’s Red Sea lifeline is no longer safe.

Source: BREAKBULK.NEWS™

Russian Warship Fires Main Cannon In A Short Notice Test 45 Miles South Of Plymouth,U.K

2026-07-25T18:58:31.973-07:00

Image for representation purposes only (Source: marine insight)

A Russian naval ship fired its main cannon in a live-fire test, 45 miles south of Plymouth, U.K, on the same day when Andy Burnham was appointed as prime minister of the country.

The 130 m long Neustrashimy, on short notice, announced that it wanted to carry out a short drill in the morning and requested HMS Tyne, a British warship, which was tracking it, to retreat to a safe distance.

Source: marine insight

South Korea targets 30% port productivity boost with AI strategy

2026-07-25T00:38:00.310-07:00

Busan Port Authority

South Korea has unveiled a national strategy to deploy artificial intelligence across its ports, targeting a 30% increase in productivity and a 10% share of the global port-equipment market by 2035.

Source: Splash

North Sea Pilot Project Produces First Green Hydrogen on Operational Platform

2026-07-25T00:29:28.749-07:00

Source: PosHYdon

PosHYdon, the first project in the world to combine offshore wind power, hydrogen production, and natural gas production at sea, has started producing green hydrogen on an operational offshore platform in the North Sea.

Source: offshoreWIND.biz

Chevron awards Velesto jackup contract for North Malay Basin development drilling

2026-07-25T00:23:40.711-07:00

Velesto Drilling's NAGA 8 jackup rig has been selected to support Chevron's 2026–2028 North Malay Basin Full Field Development campaign offshore Malaysia.

Chevron subsidiary Hess Exploration and Production Malaysia has awarded Velesto Drilling a $51-million contract for integrated drilling and completion services, with the NAGA 8 jackup set to support the 2026-2028 North Malay Basin Full Field Development campaign.

Read more.

Source: Offshore magazine