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Johan Castberg officially opened

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The Johan Castberg oil field came on stream in March, and was officially opened on 8 August.

A total of 13 discoveries have been made in the production licence; two of which were made this year. On 30 June 2025, an oil discovery was reported in the Johan Castberg area And a gas discovery was made on 10 July.

Discoveries have also been made in nearby production licences, and future tie-backs may be relevant.

This generates substantial values for society and helps strengthen Norway as a reliable and long-term energy supplier.

«Johan Castberg is important for further development of the Barents Sea and to contribute toward slowing the expected production decline from the Norwegian continental shelf,» says Hege Susanne Blåsternes, Director of Offshore development and technology in the Norwegian Offshore Directorate.

The Barents Sea is the ocean area on the shelf which holds the greatest expectations for undiscovered resources. A lack of export solutions – particularly for gas deposits – can affect the companies’ interest in exploration.

«With infrastructure in place, for example a pipeline solution for gas export, the Barents Sea will remain attractive for exploration.»

Phasing in discoveries to existing fields helps extend the host field’s lifetime and profitability. This yields good value creation for society.

The Norwegian Offshore Directorate estimates that about 67 per cent of the remaining resources in opened areas in the Barents Sea have yet to be discovered. These resources can form the basis for producing oil and gas for many years to come. However, this development will not simply materialise on its own:

«In order for the Norwegian continental shelf to maintain production at a high level, the companies will need to explore more, drill more wells and continue developing technology. The Norwegian Offshore Directorate wants to ensure that the decisions made contribute to good area solutions for the best possible resource management,» Blåsternes says.

New Russian military tugboat Kapitan Ushakov sank in St. Petersburg

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A new Russian naval tugboat, the Kapitan Ushakov, project 23470, sank near the quay wall In St. Petersburg.

The local media outlet Fontanka reported on the issue.

The incident occurred at the Baltic Shipyard, whose production facilities are leased by the Yaroslavl Shipyard.

On the evening of August 8, the tug tilted, and the city’s special services and the company’s emergency services were on site.

An investigative team is working at the site to establish the circumstances under which the Russian Navy tugboat sank.

According to available information, the auxiliary machinery room flooded, after which the ship tilted and subsequently sank.

Marine tugs of the 23470 project are designed to tow ships, floating objects and structures in the seas and oceans without limiting the areas of navigation.

They can operate in ice conditions according to the Arc4 class. They are also designed to perform search and rescue functions, extinguish fires, etc.

Brief technical specifications:

  • Displacement : 3200 tons
  • Length : 69.75 meters
  • Beam : 15 meters
  • Carrying capacity : 200 tons
  • Crew : 33 people
  • Autonomy : 30 days
  • There is a helicopter landing site.

Two of the tugs, Sergey Balk and Kapitan Nayden, are part of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, although the former was in the Baltic Sea, according to VesselFinder, after which the AIS system was turned off.

The other of the three tugs, Andrey Stepanov, is part of the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.

The fifth tugboat of Project 23470, under the serial number 414, named Kapitan Ushakov, was laid down at the Yaroslavl Shipyard in 2017.

It was launched on June 14, 2022. In October-November 2023, it was transported via Russia’s inland waterways to the Baltic Shipyard in St. Petersburg for completion.

It was expected to be completed by the end of 2024, and then it would become part of the 566th detachment of support vessels of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy based in Murmansk.

Source: Militarnyi

Fugro secures a major geotechnical site investigation contract for offshore wind farm in Taiwan

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Fugro has been awarded a significant contract for the 700 MW Youde offshore wind farm by Shinfox Energy in Taiwan’s Round 3.2 offshore wind tender. Under this contract, Fugro will deliver comprehensive geotechnical services to support the development of the Youde project, located off the west coast of Taiwan.

The Youde offshore wind farm project is a cornerstone of Taiwan’s strategy to reach 13.1 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.

“We are honoured to be selected by Shinfox Energy for this landmark project in Taiwan and to be part of the development of the Youde offshore wind farm. This award showcases the trust that Shinfox has placed in our track record of delivering high-value Geo-data solutions to offshore wind clients in Taiwan since 2016”, said Shalu Shajahan, Regional Business Line Director Asia Pacific at Fugro.

“By leveraging our ISO-accredited local laboratory, we will deliver integrated high-quality services. This milestone reinforces Fugro IOVTEC’s commitment to strengthening domestic offshore wind capabilities and building long-term partnerships that support Taiwan’s energy transition”, said Vincent Tsai, Chairman of Fugro IOVTEC.

Fugro’s Taiwan-flagged vessel, Pacific Hornbill, an IOVTEC-managed DP2 vessel, is equipped with an advanced C30 marine geotechnical drilling rig and Fugro’s proprietary specialist WISON®MkV EcoDrive downhole in situ testing and sampling system. It also features specialised seabed geotechnical equipment, including the SEACALF® MkV Deep Drive®, enabling the acquisition of high-quality geotechnical data in both seabed and downhole mode throughout the project. The geotechnical fieldwork campaign has started and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.

FPSO ONE GUYANA producing and on hire

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FPSO ONE GUYANA is based on SBM Offshore’s industry leading Fast4Ward® program that incorporates a new build, multi-purpose hull combined with standardized topside modules. FPSO ONE GUYANA is the fourth and largest FPSO that SBM Offshore operates in Guyana and builds on the excellent operational performance of FPSOs Liza Destiny, Liza Unity and Prosperity.

The FPSO is designed to initially produce an annual average of 250,000 barrels of oil per day, with associated gas treatment capacity of 450 million cubic feet per day and water injection capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. The FPSO is spread moored in water depth of about 1,800 meters and can store 2 million barrels of crude oil.

The FPSO is part of the Yellowtail development which is the fourth development within the Stabroek block, circa 200 kilometers offshore Guyana. ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, an affiliate of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is the operator and holds a 45 percent interest in the Stabroek block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, hold a 30 percent interest and a 25 percent interest, respectively.

FPSO ONE GUYANA is the Company’s third major unit brought into operation in 2025, following the first oil of FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, which is on hire since February 16, 2025 and FPSO Alexandre de Gusmão, which is on hire since May 24, 2025. Collectively, these three Fast4Ward® FPSOs increase installed capacity by 655,000 barrels of oil per day.
 

Belfast Harbour leads as first net zero port operator in Ireland

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Belfast Harbour has made significant strides as it advances on its journey to becoming the first net zero port in UK and on the island, and one of the first net zero ports in Europe.

Launching its annual Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) Report 2024, the pioneering Port has reported an impressive 71% reduction in its scope 1 and 2 emissions against its baseline year in 2015, a figure made all the more noteworthy by the doubling of business turnover in that period.

This emissions reduction included a 35% decrease from 2023, with Belfast Harbour on course to achieve a remarkable 93% reduction by 2027.

As a Trust Port, Belfast Harbour is funded solely by the profits it makes and does not receive public funding. It invests all post-tax profits back into improvements to the port and estate for the benefit of customers and the community.

Sustained investment in decarbonisation has included the switch to low-emission fuels including Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and the transition of 30% of the organisation’s fleet to electric vehicles. All the electricity, supplied to tenants across Belfast Harbour Estate now comes from REGO certified renewable sources.

The Report, which tracks the organisation’s sustainability activities against international best practice, highlights the successes achieved during a year of action, accountability and impact, reporting progress in many environmental and social projects.

Belfast Harbour continues to provide significant leadership in the ESG space including awarding £315,000 in community grants during 2024, expanding its LGBTQIA+ and neurodiversity forums and extending its oyster nurseries to improve water quality.

In addition, the Report highlights that Belfast Harbour maintained its Platinum status in the Business in the Community Environmental Benchmarking Survey, and Platinum CORE Accreditation for Responsible Business as well achieving the Silver Diversity Mark.

Commenting on the achievements outlined in the report, Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners said:

“This report marks another year of strong progress across ESG and DEI initiatives and the Board is determined that Belfast Harbour continues its transformative leadership in this space.

“As one of only five organisations in Northern Ireland with BITC Responsible Business Platinum standard, we are delighted that our efforts continue to be recognised. Together with the Silver Diversity Mark Award, these achievements underpin our unwavering commitment to doing the right thing for the city, region and all our stakeholders.”

Speaking on the launch of the Report, Joe O’Neill, Chief Executive, Belfast Harbour said:

“ESG is fundamental to our long-term planning and operational decision-making. It shapes our partnerships, informs our investments, and supports the delivery of our wider ambitions as a Trust Port. 2024 has seen our ESG journey step to another level especially in terms of our emissions reductions.  We remain on track to be the first net zero port operator in the UK and on island of Ireland.

“We are proud of the significant progress we continue to make and the strategic investments that are transforming us into a more sustainable business, while doubling our business turnover since our baseline year. For the third year running we have reduced our carbon footprint, expanded our electric vehicle fleet and invested in lower emission plant and machinery.

“As we implement our new five-year strategy and shape our 25-year masterplan, ESG will continue to guide our thinking.”

New maps published of Alexander Island, Antarctica

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The Mapping and Geographic Information Centre (MAGIC) at the British Antarctic Survey have produced new maps of the topography (physical features) and geology of Alexander Island in Antarctica. 

New maps like this not only demonstrate the success of new technologies to map remote locations but are vital tools in aiding navigational and scientific endeavours in the region. 

Alexander Island lies off the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula and it is the largest island in Antarctica and the second largest uninhabited island in the world. The region surrounding Alexander Island is shown on the map, including the well-studied Wilkins and George VI ice shelves, and the smaller islands of Rothschild, Charcot and Latady.

The history of the region is a very interesting one. The island was first sighted and roughly charted in 1821, although it took until 1940 to confirm that the island was entirely disconnected from the mainland by the George VI Sound. The first detailed reconnaissance map of the region was compiled in 1959 by the Falkland Island Dependencies Survey (FIDS), the predecessor to BAS. Further maps were released in the 1980s, but none of these are comparable to modern standards of mapping. The island itself is constantly changing  in this volatile polar environment, meaning new maps are needed to be made. 

The topographic map contains information including the coastline and ice shelf extents, contours, mountain spot heights, rock outcrop extents, and place names. It displays the information in an easy-to-read manner. 

Alexander Island has extensive mountain ranges reaching over 3000 metres in elevation. Due to the inhospitable conditions in these regions, exploration can be treacherous and very few of these mountains have been summited as a result. The team used satellite derived data to extract the heights of mountains.  Mount Stephenson has long been thought the highest mountain on the island at 2944 m, but these new findings confirmed thinking in BAS that Mount Hall is the tallest at 3078 m!  

Ice shelves in the region are another important feature to show accurately. The Wilkins Ice Shelf has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. Once connected to Charcot Island via ice bridge, the final remnants linking them collapsed in 2009 after years of gradual thinning. The retreat has continued since then, meaning the ice shelf remains vulnerable and is expected to recede further, much like many ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula. The extents displayed on the map show its position as of late 2024 and early 2025, but in some areas it will have already changed. 

Newly built LPG carrier named “Luna Pathfinder”

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On August 5, a naming ceremony took place at the Sakaide Works of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for a newly built very large gas carrier (VLGC). 

This vessel marks the sixth dual-fuel LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) carrier ordered by NYK, following the delivery of Liberty Pathfinder in October of the previous year. Upon its completion, the ship will be chartered by Astomos Energy Corporation, one of the world’s leading LPG companies, for the domestic and global transportation of LPG.

The ceremony was attended by about 50 people, including Toshinobu Sato, vice president of Astomos Energy, and Hironobu Watanabe, managing executive officer of NYK. During the event, Sato officially named the vessel “Luna Pathfinder,” after which his wife performed the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

“Pathfinder” denotes a guiding marker, while “Luna,” the Roman goddess of the moon, evokes imagery of tranquility and peaceful voyages under the night sky.

The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel engine capable of using both heavy oil and LPG as fuel. By utilizing the rotation of the shaft connected from the main engine to the propeller to generate electricity, the diesel generators can be shut down during regular navigation, enabling operation primarily on LPG fuel. When using LPG, emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) are reduced by more than 95% and greenhouse gases (GHG) by over 20% compared to conventional heavy fuel oil.

Moreover, in addition to LPG the vessel can carry ammonia, for which demand is expected to increase as it is attracting attention as a means of realizing a decarbonized society in the future.

Vessel Particulars

  • Length overall: 229.90 m
  • Breadth: 37.20 m
  • Depth：21.90 m
  • Summer draft: 11.65 m
  • Tank capacity: 86,920 ㎥

Samskip pioneers Morocco’s first fast container route to the UK and Netherlands

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Samskip announces the launch of its long-anticipated Moroccan Reefer Service, a new shortsea container route connecting Agadir and Casablanca directly with the UK and the Netherlands. 

Specially designed to meet the needs of the fresh produce sector, this service provides the fastest door-to-door transit time in the market offering a true alternative to traditional road transport for Moroccan fruits and vegetables. To support this impactful milestone, Samskip has also signed a long-term agreement with the Moroccan Fruit Board covering the export of key fresh produce.

With weekly non-stop sailings and a reliable, integrated door-to-door solution, the service provides seamless customs clearance and inland transport for perishable goods bound for key European markets. This is the only container service on the market fast enough to carry vegetables, setting a new benchmark for fresh produce logistics between North Africa and Europe.

“This new connection marks a major milestone, not just for Samskip, but for the entire supply chain between Morocco and Northern Europe,” said Ólafur Orri Ólafsson, Chief Business Officer at Samskip. “We’ve listened to growers, importers, and retailers, and will deliver a service that’s faster, greener, and more reliable. It’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we combine local expertise with the strength of Europe’s largest multimodal network.”

Samskip’s transshipment and cross-docking capabilities mean that customers can deliver throughout Europe, to Norway, Poland, Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic states in just a matter of days after arrival in Rotterdam. Deliveries to Ireland can be achieved within just six days of departure from Agadir, which Samskip proudly promotes as a compelling new option for Irish importers looking for fresher, faster, and more sustainable logistics from North Africa.

The new reefer route brings a host of benefits to the market:

  • Dedicated shortsea service designed for Moroccan perishable
  • A weekly direct sailing to the south UK and the Netherlands (Rotterdam)
  • Significantly faster transit than other container alternatives
  • Compatible with 45ft reefer containers, matching the capacity of standard trailers
  • Up to 80% CO₂ reduction compared to full road transport

Calling at Casablanca and Agadir ports, the new service continues to Rotterdam ensuring smooth and efficient cargo flows into the heart of European retail markets.

Vard receives new order from North Star for two hybrid SOVs

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Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has signed a new contract with North Star, the UK’s largest shipowner-operator, for the design and construction of two hybrid Service Operation Vessels (SOVs), further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two companies and reaffirming their joint commitment to sustainable maritime innovation. The value of the contract is considered as very important.

This contract represents the ninth and tenth vessels commissioned by North Star from VARD, following previous contracts for four SOVs, two Construction Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), in addition to two Vard Designs at an external yard.

The new SOVs will be developed by Vard Design in Ålesund, Norway, leveraging the proven VARD 4 19 platform, tailored specifically for offshore windfarm operations. Each vessel will measure 87.5 meters in length with a beam of 19.5 meters and will accommodate up to 120 personnel. They will be equipped with a battery hybrid system and ready for future conversion to operation on methanol, underlining the companies’ shared drive toward decarbonization in the maritime sector. The onboard features include a height-adjustable motion-compensated gangway integrated with an elevator system, a boat landing system for safe personnel transfers, and advanced energy management solutions.

Vard Electro will supply its comprehensive SeaQ package, integrating systems for power, control, bridge and communications to ensure optimized and energy-efficient vessel performance. Vard Interiors will provide HVAC-R systems and interior concepts to guarantee high standards of comfort and functionality onboard.

Construction of the first vessel’s hull will take place at Vard Shipyards Romania – Brăila, followed by outfitting and delivery from one of VARD’s Norwegian shipyards, with delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027. The second vessel will be entirely built and delivered from Vard Vung Tau in Vietnam, with delivery planned for the fourth quarter of 2028.

North Star owns the largest wholly UK-owned fleet engaged in the North Sea. The firm has committed to delivering 40 hybrid offshore wind ships by 2040 to meet the evolving demand of operations and maintenance (O&M) logistical support across the UK and Europe. 

Northern Endurance Partnership awards Halliburton contract for carbon capture and storage monitoring

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Halliburton announces a contract award to provide completions and downhole monitoring services for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) carbon capture and storage (CCS) system in northeast England’s East Coast Cluster (ECC).

Halliburton will manufacture and deliver the majority of the equipment required for this project from its U.K. completion manufacturing facility in Arbroath. For more than 50 years, the center has supported North Sea operations and provides on-site product development and testing resources alongside advanced manufacturing capabilities to support efficient production and the delivery of equipment.

Jean-Marc Lopez, senior vice president, Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa region, Halliburton, said: 

“The NEP infrastructure includes a CO2 gathering network and onshore compression facilities, as well as a 145-km offshore pipeline, and subsea injection and monitoring systems for the Endurance saline aquifer, located around 1000 m below the seabed. The infrastructure will transport and permanently store up to an initial 4 million tonnes/yr of CO2.”

NEP is a joint venture that includes bp, Equinor, and TotalEnergies. It was formed in 2020 as the ECC CO2 transportation and storage provider, which will transport and store CO2 emissions from the Teesside and Humber regional industrial clusters.

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