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Al Seer Marine and BGN JV announces delivery of third VLGC Merak

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Al Seer Marine has announced with BGN the successful delivery of Merak, its third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC) equipped with ammonia-carrying capability.

Delivered on 14 August 2025 by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) in South Korea, with a capacity of 86,423 CBM, the vessel further establishes Al Seer Marine’s leadership in the global shipping industry. A syndicated sharia-compliant facility, led by the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), was used to finance the purchase of the Merak and two additional VLGCs.

Managed by Fleet Management Singapore, Merak has begun her first voyage to the US Gulf to load her initial shipment of propane and butane. Following the delivery of Merak, ABGC DMCC now anticipates the arrival of the two carriers currently under construction from its order placed in 2023: a VLGC from South Korea’s Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, expected in November 2025, and an LPG/NH3 carrier from Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries, scheduled for delivery in October 2025.

Guy Neivens, Chief Executive Officer of Al Seer Marine, said: “From the outset, we recognised the significant role of alternative fuel shipping in the transition of the global energy supply. Driven by this insight, we have shaped our strategy around fleet and cargo diversification to meet evolving market demands. This well-founded approach is reflected in the strong financial results for the first half of 2025, with a 20.2% increase in operational revenues and an 81.7% rise in gross profit. With the recent delivery of Merak, we reinforce our position at the forefront of holistic maritime solutions.”

Rüya Bayegan, BGN group CEO, commented: “We are pleased to be taking delivery of Merak, and the third in our strategic partnership with Al Seer Marine. This state-of-the-art vessel adds to our growing fleet of dual-fuel gas carriers capable of operating on both traditional fuels and lower emissions alternatives and underlines our commitment to contributing to industry-wide decarbonization efforts. With its advanced capabilities, the Merak also supports BGN’s strategic ambitions as we build on our success in the LPG market and scale our operations to expand into ammonia trading, which has always been a key objective in our growth plans.”

With the addition of Merak, Al Seer Marine currently operates a diverse fleet of 16 vessels, through direct ownership and joint ventures, spanning LPG carriers, crude and product tankers, Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), Medium Range (MR) tankers, bulk carriers, and VLGCs. This extensive fleet provides comprehensive coverage across key energy markets and underpins sustainable revenues and strong returns for investors.

Cadeler signs firm contract with Ocean Winds for WTG installation

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The signing of this firm contract follows the Vessel Reservation Agreement (VRA) signed in February 2025 between Cadeler and Ocean Winds. 

When fully completed, BC-Wind will have a total capacity of up to 390 MW, supplying clean electricity to nearly half a million Polish households. The Project is located about 23 km from the Polish coastline, north of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is Ocean Winds’ first project in Poland and will play an important role in the country’s ambitious offshore wind plans.

The installation is set to start in 2028 and to continue for approximately 4 months. Cadeler will deploy one of its O-class wind turbine installation vessels and will operate from the Port of Gdańsk in Poland.

Cadeler and Ocean Winds have worked together previously, most recently on the Moray West offshore wind farm off the coast of Scotland, but this contract represents their first direct contractual partnership.

Mikkel Gleerup, CEO of Cadeler, comments: “With this firm contract now signed, we are ready to bring our best-in-class fleet and experienced crews to support Ocean Winds on this important project. Poland is establishing itself as a key offshore wind market in Europe, and this project will be a significant step in strengthening the country’s renewable energy ambitions. We look forward to expanding our presence in the Polish Baltic Sea, building on the strong pipeline of projects we have already secured in the region.”

This project reaffirms Cadeler’s strong position in the Polish offshore wind market and is a natural continuation of four other milestone projects in Cadeler’s Polish pipeline.

This July, Cadeler began installation work on the Baltic Power project, which will become Poland’s first offshore wind farm. From the Port of Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm, Cadeler will execute the transportation and installation of 76 Vestas 15 MW turbines. The 1.2 GW project will have the capacity to power over 1.5 million households with green energy once fully commissioned next year.

In February 2024, Cadeler signed a contract with Ørsted and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna for the transport and installation of Siemens Gamesa 14 MW turbines at Baltica 2, part of the Baltica Offshore Wind Farm. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

In October 2024, Cadeler signed firm contracts with Equinor and Polenergia joint ventures for the installation of two offshore wind farms, Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3, with operations scheduled to begin in 2027.

Equinor drills dry well in the North Sea

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Wildcat well 34/8-20 S was drilled in the “Narvi nord” prospect. This prospect is located in production licence 554 E, which was awarded in 2023 through APA 2022 (Awards in pre-defined areas).

This is the first well drilled in this production licence.

The wildcat well was drilled by the COSL Innovator rig.

The objective of the well was to prove petroleum in reservoir rocks in the Brent Group from the Middle Jurassic.

The well encountered the Brent Group with a vertical thickness of 148 metres, 74 metres of which was sandstone with moderate to good reservoir quality. The reservoir was aquiferous, and the well is classified as dry.

Well 34/8-20 S was drilled to respective vertical and measured depths of 3435 and 3280 metres below sea level, and was terminated in the Drake Formation from the Early Jurassic.

Water depth at the site is 375 metres. The well has been permanently plugged and abandoned.

FLOWRA and EMEC to collaborate

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The Floating Offshore Wind Power Technology Research Association (FLOWRA) of Japan and The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore technology development cooperation in the field of floating offshore wind.

FLOWRA is a technical research association that works with overseas organisations to research and develop common basic technologies for floating offshore wind to reduce costs and risks.

Based in Orkney, Scotland, EMEC is the world’s leading accredited test laboratory for demonstrating new marine energy technologies. A not-for-profit company, EMEC’s mission is to reduce the time, cost and risk to progress innovative sustainable technologies to market.

Building on its experience with wave and tidal testing, EMEC has designed a floating offshore wind test and demonstration site. The site will offer floating wind developers the opportunity to prove performance and de-risk technologies in some of the most challenging metocean conditions in the world.

Comment by Masakatsu Terasaki, Chairperson of the Board, FLOWRA:

“EMEC is recognised as the world’s first centre for testing power generation technologies in real-sea conditions, serving as a leading global hub for innovation in the marine renewable energy sector and driving the development and commercialisation of new technologies. What makes EMEC truly remarkable is not only its role as a testing centre, but also its strong research and development networks, its contribution to regional economic growth, and its active engagement with local communities.

It is a great honour for FLOWRA to collaborate with EMEC, an organisation with a proven track record and deep expertise. By combining our efforts, we aim to accelerate the development of core technologies for floating offshore wind, establish robust verification and evaluation methodologies, and contribute to the expansion of the floating offshore wind market – ultimately helping to realise a sustainable society.”

Comment by Matthew Finn, Managing Director, EMEC:

“Floating wind is set to play a major role in the global energy transition, and EMEC is committed to supporting its development. Our MoU with FLOWRA marks an exciting step forward in international collaboration, enabling knowledge exchange and accelerating innovation.

By leveraging our experience in offshore renewables with the aim of expanding our testing infrastructure, including a new floating wind demonstration site in Scotland, we aim to help developers de-risk technologies in real-world conditions before large-scale deployment. Together, we want to bridge the gap between innovation and investment, advancing the global floating wind market.”

Pulsar International and Inmarsat Maritime expand partnership with 300+ NexusWave rollouts

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NexusWave, Inmarsat’s bonded multi-network service, combines GEO Ka-band, LEO, LTE and L-band to deliver reliable performance. 

Built on secure-by-design infrastructure, NexusWave empowers shipping companies to accelerate digitalisation, support decarbonisation strategies, and enhance crew welfare by providing both home-like and office-like internet experiences onboard.

To support the ambitious rollout, Pulsar will expand its global reach and local sales teams, and its project management and service delivery capabilities, ensuring customers benefit from seamless planning, installation and round-the-clock support. This investment reflects Pulsar’s commitment to helping operators harness the full value of digital connectivity at scale.

Robert Sakker, President and CEO of Pulsar International, said: “Our customers expect solutions that are secure, dependable and future-ready, enabling both the operational performance of their fleets and the well-being of their crews. By investing in our workforce and expanding our local sales teams, and our project management and service delivery capabilities, Pulsar is committed to ensuring every NexusWave installation delivers maximum value from day one. We are proud to extend our partnership with Inmarsat Maritime and bring this transformative solution to more than 300 vessels over the coming year.”

Ben Palmer, President of Inmarsat Maritime, said: “Pulsar has long been a trusted partner, and this commitment to NexusWave at scale reflects the momentum we are seeing across the industry. Shipping companies are looking for connectivity that goes beyond bandwidth, delivering an ecosystem that is secure, bonded across multiple networks, and assured by service-level guarantees. Together with Pulsar, we can enable owners and operators to run smarter and more sustainable fleets while ensuring their crews stay connected to home wherever they sail.”

With installations commencing in October 2025, the programme will play a pivotal role in supporting shipping operators in enabling the digital ecosystem onboard, and strengthening both operational resilience and welfare at sea.

Fatal accident at Mongstad Refinery

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The accident occurred on Wednesday 17 September at 13:40 CEST.

The worker was treated by health personnel at the scene, but his life could not be saved.

The deceased was employed by Crane Norway, a supplier of crane and lifting services at Mongstad.

“We are deeply impacted by this tragic accident, in which a person lost his life while working for Equinor. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues who have lost a loved one. In cooperation with the supplier companies, we will do everything we can to support those affected by this accident,” says Equinor CEO Anders Opedal.

All non-critical activity on the plant has been stopped until further notice and the area has been cordoned off.

On Wednesday afternoon, 1500 employees at Mongstad were gathered for an information meeting. Additional gatherings will be held on Thursday morning. Equinor will also meet with leadership of the supplier companies to follow up the incident.

Relevant authorities have been notified of the incident, and the police have initiated an investigation. Equinor will also investigate the incident.

The next of kin have been informed.

Damen partners with AAAPropulsion to advance efficient electric pod propulsion

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Damen Shipyards Group has announced a strategic partnership with AAAPropulsion. 

AAAPropulsion, based in Boven-Leeuwen, the Netherlands, is specialised in the production of electric maritime propulsion systems. The patented A-Pod is a 360°azimuthing thruster system  with an integrated electric motor installed in the lower POD housing and cooled by the outer water.

The A-Pod, fitted beneath the hull, reduces drag and increases efficiency. Its lower centre of gravity also enhances ship stability.

Damen, as a frontrunner in vessel electrification, has delivered a number of fully electric tugs to its clients around the world. Already able to operate with zero emissions, these vessels will benefit from the increased efficiency offered by the A-Pod.

Following the successful integration of the A-Pod into its electric tugs and workboats, Damen aims to expand use of the A-Pod system to other market segments. The A-Pod is suited to various applications, being available with a planetary gearbox (PG), a direct drive (DD) version, as well as the A-Pod CRP with contra rotating propellers.

Jean-Pierre van Lankveld, Category Manager Propulsion at Damen said, “We aspire to become the most sustainable, connected shipbuilder and maritime solutions provider of the world. One way in which we will achieve this goal is through collaboration with partners such as AAAPropulsion who share our commitment to a cleaner and more efficient maritime future.”

Dick-Jan de Blaeij, CEO of AAAProplusion said, “We are very excited to enter into this partnership with Damen. There is a clear synergy between our two organisations, particularly with regard to our shared vision of innovation and sustainability. We are looking forward to working together with Damen. Combining our strengths, we will explore the potential that exists to boost vessel efficiency.”

SpecTec launches AMOS-X to streamline maritime asset management

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SpecTec has announced the launch of AMOS-X, its next-generation platform for fleet asset management. The new software brings its powerful Maintenance, Inventory and Procurement modules into a single, integrated platform helping ship owners, operators and managers better protect their assets, improve operational performance and efficiency, as well as increase safety standards and reduce costs.

As industry stakeholders face more complexity and pressure to optimise resources, and with the increased operational risks associated with a significantly aging global commercial fleet, AMOS-X has been developed to streamline operations and provide greater visibility, efficiency, control and reduce risk across an entire fleet as well as shore-based teams.  

AMOS-X comprises three core modules. “Maintenance”, which enables customers to plan and document maintenance tasks, report and deal with unexpected maintenance issues, and continually monitor the condition of equipment to predict maintenance needs and prevent failures. “Inventory”, which provides complete visibility of spares and consumables across a vessel and on shore. And “Procurement”, which streamlines purchasing from requisition to supplier management. AMOS-X is one of the only systems within the maritime industry that combines these critical functions that every ship operator, manager and owner relies upon into one single, integrated platform. Additional modules, including Quality & Safety, are already in development and will be released as part of AMOS-X in the near future, further strengthening its position as the industry’s most comprehensive solution.

Through effective preventative maintenance and planning, AMOS-X has been proven to reduce downtime and associated costs by 15%. Crew efficiency is boosted by 30% through increased automation and streamlined workflows. $30,000 in fuel and maintenance costs is saved per vessel, per year, audit preparation time is reduced by 50%, which aids compliance, and a return on investment can be delivered in just 12 months.

AMOS-X has been built to accommodate vessels and crews of all sizes and for every IT strategy. It can be integrated and hosted in customers’ existing IT systems and infrastructure, or within the Cloud enabling secure access at anytime and anywhere. For full flexibility, customers can also operate a hybrid model of both options should they want to, and it can be scaled accordingly to meet their growing needs. The software is also easy to implement as well as being simple and incredibly fast to use, which speeds up access to data, decision making and action.

Commenting on the launch, Adam Dennett, CEO of SpecTec, said: “AMOS-X reflects our continued focus on providing solutions that bring clarity and control to maritime operations and help customers meet the everyday demands and pressures of efficiently, safely and sustainably running their vessels. There are far more complexities in today’s market, and the age of the global fleet is the oldest it has been for 40 years, which is having a significant impact on the efficiency and safety of vessels and crews. These are real challenges, which demand real world solutions. The launch of AMOS-X is designed to provide a system that can be simply and easily used by any company of any size, bringing critical asset management functions into one web-based platform that helps them to operate smarter, faster and more securely.”

The launch of AMOS-X is part of SpecTec’s continued commitment to constant innovation, which sees the company invest 25% of its annual operating profit into Research and Development (R&D). The company is also a subsidiary of Volaris, an operating group within Constellation Software Inc (CSI), one of the world’s largest providers of vertical market software.  This gives SpecTec access to knowledge, the latest innovation and best practice, as well as financial resource to bring to market new products and services that will continue to move the dial, set new standards for excellence, and help the shipping industry meet the significant challenges that it faces in relation to efficiency, safety and sustainability.

Bureau Veritas launches OptiCARBONTM to optimize fleet energy, fuel and compliance costs

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Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), together with its technical advisory arm Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS), has launched OptiCARBONTM, a SaaS platform which represents an all-in-one solution capable of optimizing and predicting energy, fuel, and compliance costs across an entire fleet.

OptiCARBONTM utilizes BV’s highly accurate digital vessel models to simulate various operational, regulatory, and financial scenarios tailored to the user’s requirements. OptiCARBON™’s advanced modeling capabilities enable users to explore multiple decarbonization pathways, assessing emissions reduction alongside cost and compliance impacts. The platform’s comprehensive forecasting and scenario planning tools allow users to measure and compare the impact of their operational strategy over time.

The platform is modular, scalable and customizable to different fleet sizes and vessel types. OptiCARBONTM is designed to support dynamic, long-term decarbonization strategies that evolve alongside new technologies and regulations. While initially developed to meet the specific needs of ferries, cruise ships and RoRo vessels, its future-proofed framework allows for rapid expansion to other vessel segments.

OptiCARBONTM has already been deployed with Brittany Ferries, where it delivers highly accurate mapping and compliance simulations, while facilitating the company’s EU-ETS requirements. The results demonstrate that combining data-driven forecasting with BVS’ specialized maritime consulting expertise can serve as the cornerstone of a company’s long-term strategic planning.

Matthieu de Tugny, Executive Vice President, Industrials and Commodities, BV, said: “The maritime industry is under mounting pressure to decarbonize. With the EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime, and the likely introduction of the IMO’s Net-Zero Framework, it’s not just compliance costs that are rising but also operational complexity and uncertainty.”

Flavia Caldi Rezende, Vice President, BV Solutions Marine & Offshore, said “With OptiCARBONTM, we’re making dynamic, forward-looking planning accessible to more stakeholders. Our goal is to empower stakeholders to reduce costs, avoid penalties, and develop tailored pathways to net zero – backed by unparalleled regulatory insight and maritime expertise.”

ABB to power Singapore’s first floating LNG terminal

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Hanwha Ocean, one of the leading shipbuilders in South Korea, has awarded ABB the contract to supply a complete electric power and propulsion system for Singapore’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal. The contract is the latest milestone in the long-standing collaboration between ABB and Hanwha Ocean.

ABB ‘s integrated electrical system on board the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) will comprise a medium voltage generator, 6.6kV switchboards for cargo and regasification, and the motor, transformer and drive for propulsion. The floating terminal will also feature ABB’s remote control and remote diagnostics system, its proven condition monitoring solution and an enhanced power protection system (EPPS).

The FSRU will be delivered to owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) in 2027 and contracted for long-term charter by Singapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (Singapore LNG). With capacity for 200,000 cubic meters of LNG, the FSRU will be moored at Jurong Port and connected to the gas network in 2030, under the management of MOL.

The new FSRU is a strategic investment in Singapore’s energy infrastructure and a key part of the city state’s energy transition toward net-zero emissions. Singapore LNG has signed contracts to process five million tons of LNG per annum at a floating facility, adding flexibility and increasing Singapore’s LNG importing capacity by 50 percent compared to the current single landside terminal in Jurong.

“We are proud to continue our long-lasting collaboration with Hanwha Ocean by supplying an integrated electrical system for Singapore’s first FSRU,” said Rune Braastad, Global Business Line Manager, Marine Systems, ABB’s Marine & Ports division. “This collaboration underscores our shared commitment to innovation, reliability, and sustainability, and is ABB’s latest contribution to the critical infrastructure supporting Singapore’s position as an important LNG hub in Asia.”

Wood Mackenzie notes that Asia Pacific accounted for two-thirds of global LNG demand in 2024, and anticipates the high level of activity to continue as stakeholders balance energy security with economic realities1. The strong outlook highlights the significance of the enduring and growing relationship between Hanwha Ocean and ABB – as well as ABB’s continued contribution to infrastructure development in Singapore, where it began operating in 1971.

Hanwha Ocean has delivered 23.4 percent of the global gas fleet and recently became the first shipbuilder to complete its 200th LNG carrier2. It is also one of the leading builders of FSRUs in the world.

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