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Sunday, August 30, 2026

Offshore Energy News

25 Aug 2026

MacGregor Advances Floating-to-Floating Transfer and LCO2 Systems

Floating-to-floating personnel transfer gangway (Credit: MacGregor)

MacGregor has expanded its offshore technology portfolio with a certified floating-to-floating personnel transfer capability for its Horizon gangway and a new bow transfer system designed for direct ship-to-well transfer of LCO2.The Horizon gangway has received DNV certification under DNV-ST-0358 for floating-to-floating personnel transfers following a successful sea acceptance test. The certification enables motion-compensated connections between two vessels moving independently…

18 Aug 2026

SeaDry Protects Offshore Instrumentation From Humidity

Floating measurement systems are constantly exposed to harsh climatic conditions on the
high seas. Image credit: stock.adobe.com / driftwood

Excessive humidity can damage sensitive equipment in offshore measurement systems, impair data quality and necessitate costly service call-outs. Customers in offshore data collection and marine research therefore use ThoMar's SeaDry to reduce humidity inside protected enclosures and technical cavities.SeaDry was developed to cope with high levels of humidity and extreme climatic changes during transport at sea. Manufactured in Germany, this salt-and-starch-based high-performance…

17 Aug 2026

Glomar Debuts New Multi-Purpose OSV Design

Image courtesy CJob | Glomar

C-Job Naval Architects and Glomar unveiled the design of a next-generation Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) that the pair claims provides a breakthrough in versatility and sustainable engineering.Purpose-built as Glomar’s first vessel of its kind, the design eliminates the need for multiple specialized ships. Engineered for peak performance across diverse offshore tasks — from subsea inspections and cable trenching to ROV operations — this vessel sets a new industry benchmark as a “Swiss Army knife” for offshore work.“This project reflects C-Job’s drive to deliver innovative…

17 Aug 2026

The Gulf of America Remains the World's Offshore Innovation Laboratory

© kittikunfoto / Adobe Stock

For generations, the Gulf of America has served as the proving ground for offshore innovation. Every major chapter in modern offshore energy has depended upon American engineers, geoscientists, mariners, fabricators, regulators, and offshore workers to solve problems many believed were beyond reach.From the earliest fixed platforms to deepwater production, subsea systems, floating facilities, and today's 20,000 psi reservoirs, the Gulf of America has consistently demonstrated…

17 Aug 2026

MOBY Robotics: A New Playbook for Subsea Mineral Recovery

Image courtesy MOBY Robotics

Moby Robotics is a new entrant to the subsea swarm autonomous robotic space, created in 2025 and aiming to take a leadership role in the discovery and recovery of subsea minerals market.The race to secure critical minerals from the deep ocean has accelerated dramatically over the past two years, driven by geopolitical concerns, energy transition goals and growing demand for rare earth elements. While much of the industry's attention has centered on regulatory debates and large mining contractors…

13 Aug 2026

Autonomy Offshore: Uncrewed Systems Move from Trials to Critical Operations

Copyright Stela/AdobeStock

When maritime autonomy is discussed, the image is often a large cargo ship crossing an ocean without a crew. That remains a longer-term regulatory and technical challenge. The more immediate commercial market is developing elsewhere – smaller uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are already surveying seabeds, inspecting pipelines and cables, monitoring offshore wind farms, and collecting hydrographic and geophysical data.Intelatus Global Partners identifies 825 USV…

12 Aug 2026

81m Acres Opened in Gulf of America Lease Sale

Copyright frank/AdobeStock

The Trump administration will offer more than 81 million acres (32.8 million hectares) in the Gulf of America to oil and gas drillers as part of an effort to boost domestic energy production with regular offshore lease sales.The sale is the second since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupted global crude flows and sent oil prices to four-year highs. It is the third of 30 mandated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending law passed in 2025.The Interior Department will offer 15,100 unleased blocks located between 3 and 231 miles (4.8 to 372 km) offshore on the U.S.

12 Aug 2026

He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm: Final Turbine Installed

Image courtesy Cadeler

Cadeler completed the final turbine installation at the 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea. The final turbines were installed by Wind Keeper, under its long-term contract with Vestas.Cadeler’s scope of the installation campaign was executed using two of Cadeler's offshore wind installation vessels. Wind Orca commenced the project in April 2025 before Wind Keeper took over the remaining installation scope in the first quarter of 2026 under Cadeler's long-term contract with Vestas announced last year.

05 Aug 2026

OPA '90 and Deepwater Horizon: A Law That Worked Better than Anyone Could Have Imagined

The damaged Blow Out Preventer (BOP), along with the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap from Deepwater Horizon. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas M. Blue.

A few months ago, I authored an article for Marine News focused on just one of the many successful features of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90,” Pub. L. No. 101-380 (1990)) — Alaska’s regional citizen advisory councils (RCACs). The Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet RCACs were established under OPA 90 to work with oil and gas industry interests on behalf of the surrounding communities to ensure safe operations and community buy-in. I was heartened by the positive responses I received from friends…

03 Aug 2026

Saipem, Subsea7 Clear Key US Regulatory Merger Hurdle

Saipem's Castorone vessel (Credit: Saipem)

Saipem and Subsea7 have cleared a key U.S. regulatory hurdle for their planned merger after the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired, allowing the transaction to close in the United States once all remaining conditions are met.The companies said all applicable waiting periods under the U.S. antitrust law have expired, while noting that the proposed merger remains subject to certain regulatory approvals outside the United States.The merger was agreed under a binding agreement signed in July 2025…

28 Jul 2026

Bureau Veritas Gives Blessing to Seatrium’s 30MW Floating Data Center

(Credit: Seatrium)

Seatrium has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore for its 30 MW Floating Data Centre (FDC) concept, marking a milestone in the development of offshore digital infrastructure designed to support growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing.The concept features a jetty-moored, non-propelled barge incorporating six independent 5 MW Data-In-A-Box modules, each integrating IT equipment, cooling systems, power distribution and supporting infrastructure in a modular design.The company said the concept combines modular construction…

15 Jul 2026

SMD, Prysmian Advance Power Cable Installation with New Plough

The delivery of Prysmian’s new SMD Plough for subsea cables (Credit: Prysmian)

SMD has delivered the first of two heavy-duty power cable ploughs to Prysmian for deployment on the company's new-generation cable laying vessels (CLVs).The second system is scheduled for delivery later this year. The ploughs will be mobilized on Prysmian Alessandro Volta and Prysmian Mona Lisa CLVs.The systems are designed to bury conventional multi-core power cables, bundled two-pole power cables and quad bundles at depths of up to five metres below the mean seabed level.SMD…

09 Jul 2026

Saitec Tests Nature Inclusive Design Installations at Floating Wind Platform

© Saitec Offshore Technologies

Saitec Offshore Technologies, through DemoSATH Lab, is using its operating floating wind demonstrator as a real-scale testing ground to study environmental interactions, improve monitoring methods, and explore solutions that support coexistence with marine biodiversity.Following the successful deployment of biomimetic reef solutions on the submerged section of the platform, the company is now testing new methods to co-locate floating wind and aquaculture.The recent offshore operation marks a new step in DemoSATH Lab's biodiversity program and forms part of the AQUASATH Project…

06 Jul 2026

Fincantieri Strikes Four Deals in $687M Underwater Expansion

(Credit: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has agreed to acquire majority stakes in four companies for an initial expenditure of about $687 million (€600 million), expanding its capabilities in marine drones, subsea services and underwater communications across commercial and defense markets.The agreements cover acquisitions of majority stakes in Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech, and Defcomm, which will be integrated into Fincantieri’s Underwater technological hub.Next Geosolutions…

02 Jul 2026

Kongsberg Secures Critical Infrastructure Protection Deal

Kongsberg has signed a contract with an unnamed international customer to deliver technologies for the protection of critical infrastructure.The project will focus primarily on underwater surveillance and protection, according to Kongsberg, which did not disclose the value of the contract.Critical infrastructure includes oil and gas installations, telecommunication cables, energy grids, ports and transportation networks.“Preventing and detecting threats and attacks are essential to protect people and critical infrastructure.

02 Jul 2026

German Prosecutors Charge Ukrainian in Nord Stream Blasts Case

© Danish Defense

German federal prosecutors said on Thursday that a Ukrainian national tied to the Nord Stream pipeline blasts has been charged with being an accomplice to a war crime, disruption of public services, causing an explosion and destroying structures.Serhii K, as the suspect is known under German privacy rules, is suspected of acting on behalf of Ukrainian government entities, along with other military personnel, to destroy the pipelines in 2022.The aim was to permanently halt gas deliveries…

01 Jul 2026

Aker Solutions Secures Offshore Wind HVDC Substructure Contract

© benoitgrasser / Adobe Stock

Aker Solutions has been awarded a substantial contract to deliver a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) substructure for a European offshore wind project by an undisclosed customer.The company's scope of work includes engineering, procurement and construction.Aker Solutions said it will book the award as order intake in the second quarter of 2026 in its Renewables and Field Development segment.The company defines a substantial contract as having a value of between $250 million (NOK 2.5 billion) and $400 million (NOK 4.0 billion).The customer and the offshore wind project were not disclosed.

29 Jun 2026

ABS Helps Blaze a Digitization Path, Reshaping Offshore Energy

ABS EagleTwinTM is a web-based structural digital twin solution that aims to improve safety for offshore operations. EagleTwin provides an interactive 3D digital representation of an offshore asset to help enable more informed decision-making for repair and inspection operations.
Image courtesy ABS

The offshore energy industry is in the midst of a new investment cycle, driven by major developments in South America, renewed demand for energy security and an increasing reliance on digital technologies to improve asset performance. For Matt Tremblay, Senior Vice President, Global Offshore at the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), the opportunities are significant — but so are the challenges.Speaking with Offshore Engineer in Houston, Tremblay described an industry that is “very busy…

29 Jun 2026

TGS Gets Exclusive Rights for Seismic Survey Offshore Brunei

Illustration (Credit: TGS)

TGS has secured exclusive rights from the Petroleum Authority of Brunei Darussalam to undertake a multi-client 3D seismic survey offshore Brunei.The contract covers the acquisition, processing and marketing of new 3D seismic data under a multi-client model.TGS said the project would allow it to seek industry prefunding to deliver new seismic data aimed at improving understanding of reservoir potential, de-risking exploration leads and supporting investment decisions ahead of future…

26 Jun 2026

Aker Solutions Inks 'Sizeable' Service Agreement

Copyright  Postmodern Studio/AdobeStock

Aker Solutions signed a 'sizeable. ($50m to $150m by the company's definition)  five-year agreement with Cenovus Energy Inc. for engineering and maintenance services on White Rose field assets.The White Rose field is located approximately 350 km east of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on the eastern edge of the Jeanne d’Arc Basin.The scope includes comprehensive engineering, maintenance, and operations support for the new West White Rose platform as well as the SeaRose Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

25 Jun 2026

SolarDuck, MARIN Awarded $3.6m to Advance Offshore Floating Power Hub

© SolarDuck

Offshore floating solar company SolarDuck and the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) have been awarded a USD$3.64 million (€3.2 million) subsidy from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) for the Steady Seas research program. The project will advance the foundational design of SolarDuck's Offshore Floating Power & Utility Hub (OFPH), a single-platform offshore solar solution developed to provide reliable power, communications and other utilities to remote offshore and subsea assets.As offshore energy activity moves further from shore…

25 Jun 2026

Floating Nuclear: A New Offshore Energy Frontier

Copyright phonlamaiphoto/AdobeStock

For decades, floating nuclear power occupied a niche position in the energy debate – technically feasible, strategically intriguing, but commercially marginal. Today, however, combined pressures of decarbonization, energy security, land constraints, rising electricity demand and water scarcity are making floating nuclear power a more serious proposition for policymakers, utilities, and infrastructureFloating Nuclear offers a potential source of reliable, low-carbon electricity and heat (and…

25 Jun 2026

Markets: Oil Majors Reload Exploration Hoppers Across Sub-Saharan Africa

© alexmu / Adobe Stock

Faced with declining production post-2030, across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the Majors have started the process of reloading exploration hoppers. Targeting predominantly deep and ultra-deep waters, they have signed numerous agreements aimed at unlocking acreage and discovering the next Namibia or Guyana. But while there have been agreements for acreage that were offered as part of traditional licensing rounds – such as the award to TotalEnergies of PPLs 2000 and 2001 in Nigeria in September 2025 – there has been an increasing trend to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoU)…