Vessel Hunter News
Maritime, in motion
New dry bulk outfit emerges in Dubai
A new Dubai-based dry bulk venture, Mayborne Bulk, has launched under industry veterans Jesper Lollesgaard and Parikshit Sial, with an asset-light model focused on the handy, supramax and ultramax sectors.
Yasa tipped for debut VLCC order
Turkey's Yasa Holding is being linked to its first VLCC newbuilding order — four 319,000 dwt units in China at $125m each — amid one of the busiest supertanker ordering spells in years.
Asiatic Lloyd signs up for three LR2 tankers
Singapore's Asiatic Lloyd is linked to three LR2 newbuildings at HD Hyundai's Philippines yard, marking its return to the larger product tanker segment after exiting LR2s in 2023.
IMO backs mineralisation pathway for onboard carbon capture
The IMO has given in-principle support to recognising carbon mineralisation as permanent storage, potentially opening a new pathway for onboard carbon capture and storage systems.
ADES acquires Saipem's Saudi drilling business in $285m deal
Saudi driller ADES has agreed to acquire Saipem's Saudi subsidiary and its five jackup rigs for $285m, expanding its fleet to 88 units and entering the Mexican market.
Prysmian bags $1bn contract for Greek power links
Prysmian has won a roughly EUR910m ($1.03bn) framework agreement with Greek grid operator IPTO to design and install submarine and land cables for Dodecanese and North Aegean island interconnections.
TGS grows Asia-Africa footprint with Brunei and Sierra Leone work
TGS has won a multi-client 3D seismic survey contract in Brunei and is starting 2D and 3D reprocessing projects offshore Sierra Leone, expanding its Asia-Pacific and Africa footprint.
Simon Møkster secures new PSV frame deal with Aker BP
Simon Møkster Shipping has signed a new four-year PSV frame agreement with Aker BP, extending a partnership that dates back to 2019.
Trump adds Duke Energy to offshore wind buyout campaign
The US Department of the Interior has agreed a $129m settlement with Duke Energy to terminate its Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease, extending the Trump administration's buyout campaign.
SBM Offshore places new FPSO hull order with Chinese yard
SBM Offshore has ordered its seventh Fast4Ward FPSO hull, the MPF7, at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, the 13th multi-purpose floater hull it has commissioned to date.
MPCC moves up in size with $340m boxship buy
MPC Container Ships is buying four 7,000 teu boxships for $340m, moving into a larger segment while selling two older vessels and lifting its backlog to $2.2bn.
HMM moves on $1.1bn bulker and gas carrier haul
HMM has unveiled a KRW1.7trn ($1.1bn) order for eight bulk carriers and two gas carriers, the latest step in the Korean major's drive to diversify beyond containers.
Hormuz moves from shutdown to managed recovery
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is recovering under heavy restrictions as the IMO oversees the evacuation of more than 11,000 stranded seafarers, in what Windward calls the clearest sign yet of returning normalcy.
Officer shortage risks exceeding 100,000 by 2030
The shipping industry needs over 113,000 additional certified officers by 2030, according to the BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report 2026, which warns of a widening structural shortage.
Integrated Wind Solutions boosts 2026 backlog with new charter awards
Integrated Wind Solutions has secured new charter work for its Skywalker-class CSOVs, adding about 120 days and EUR6m to its 2026 backlog and taking charter cover to 94%.
Ocean Installer bags one of its largest-ever contracts
Ocean Installer has won a fast-track EPCI contract from Var Energi for the Balder Next New Wells project in the North Sea — among the largest in the Moreld subsidiary's history.
Aker Solutions lands long-term offshore services deal in Canada
Aker Solutions has signed a five-year engineering and maintenance agreement with Cenovus Energy for the White Rose field off Newfoundland, valued at up to around $152m.
Carbon pricing is becoming a compliance maze
Overlapping carbon schemes — EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and the IMO framework — risk duplicated reporting and double charging for shipowners. EmissionLink's Philippos Ioulianou on navigating the maze.
France boards another Russian shadow fleet tanker off Sicily
France has intercepted the Russia-linked tanker Deliver off Sicily, stepping up Europe's campaign against the shadow fleet used to move sanctioned Russian oil.
Seized tanker tests the limits of shadow fleet enforcement
Russia has warned of legal action if the UK sells crude from the seized shadow-fleet tanker Smyrtos, in a case testing how far Europe will go to enforce sanctions at sea.
Hormuz reopening plans thrown into doubt after Evergreen boxship attack
A drone attack on Evergreen's Ever Lovely shortly after it transited the Strait of Hormuz has stalled the fragile reopening of the waterway and prompted the IMO to pause its evacuation of stranded vessels.
RWE takes control position in Amprion
German utility RWE has raised its indirect holding in transmission system operator Amprion to 55%, expanding into grid infrastructure to support Germany's grid build-out.
Engine shortage returns to haunt shipyards — now with AI bidding for the same parts
A shortage of marine engines is quietly capping shipyard output, echoing the 2007 boom. The new twist: AI data centres are now bidding for generator sets from the same supply chain.
Houthis impose Red Sea ban as Israel and Iran exchange missile strikes
Israel and Iran trade missile strikes and Houthis ban Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, lifting Brent crude and clouding tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Leadership reshuffle at MedcoEnergi as company names new chief executive
Indonesian oil and gas firm MedcoEnergi has appointed Ronald Gunawan as its new chief executive officer. The move follows a broader leadership reshuffle confirmed at the company's annual general meeting of shareholders.…
Panama Canal trims vessel draft, reviving memories of the drought crisis
The Panama Canal Authority will cut the neopanamax draft limit to 49.5 ft from 3 July, citing Gatun Lake levels and El Niño risk and reviving 2023-24 drought fears.
South Korea's Heung-A books up to six chemical tankers in China
Heung-A Shipping has ordered up to six stainless steel chemical tankers at China's Wuchang Shipbuilding in a roughly $280m deal - its first newbuildings since 2016.
BGN doubles down on LPG shipping with pair of HD Hyundai VLGCs
Energy trader BGN has ordered two more dual-fuel VLGCs at HD Hyundai, lifting its owned LPG fleet to 19 ships and its 2026 VLGC commitments at the yard to six.
Boxship goes down off Batam
The Tanzania-flagged boxship Golden Star 1 has sunk off Batam after taking on water; all nine crew were rescued and Singapore Strait traffic is unaffected.
Lidl-backed carrier switches to German flag as Heilbronn becomes seaport for first time
Lidl's carrier Tailwind Shipping Lines has put its first ship under the German flag, making inland Heilbronn the home port of an oceangoing vessel for the first time.
Norway averts offshore oil strike with last-minute pay deal
Norway has averted an offshore oil strike after unions and producers struck a last-minute pay deal, avoiding a potential cut of about 45,500 boe per day in output.
Safeen Subsea lands offshore installation contract
AD Ports Group's Safeen Subsea has won a contract to install sleepers, riser clamps and risers for an undisclosed but 'major' offshore project in the region.
Petronas forms regional alliance to boost offshore oil recovery
Petronas has signed an MoU with Petronas Carigali, PTTEP, Pertamina and Universiti Teknologi Petronas to jointly pursue enhanced oil recovery across offshore acreages.
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