1. Prima Marine in for six product tanker newbuilds. Thai owner Prima Marine has placed an order for six small product tanker newbuilds at China’s Ningbo Zhenhe Shipyard.
The deal with an undisclosed value covers 73-m-long 2,499 dwt vessels based on FKAB design and tailor-developed for easy and efficient operation in Thailand’s coast and rivers. Delivery details have not been divulged.
https://splash247.com/prima-marine-in-for-six-product-tanker-newbuilds/
2. Houthis release Galaxy Leader crew after 430 days in captivity. After 14 months and three days in captivity, the crew of the Galaxy Leader car carrier has been released.
The vessel’s crew, made up of 25 nationals from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania, was captured on November 19, 2023, when armed Houthis stormed the ship via helicopter.
https://splash247.com/houthis-release-galaxy-leader-crew-after-430-days-in-captivity/
3. Aker Solutions forms partnership for work on Vår Energi assets. Norway’s Aker Solutions has entered a strategic partnership agreement to deliver maintenance and modification services on Vår Energi-operated assets on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.The partnership, which also includes Honeywell and StS-ISONOR, will work under a five-year deal with the option to be extended up to 11 years.
https://splash247.com/aker-solutions-forms-partnership-for-work-on-var-energi-assets/
4. Equinor taps BW Offshore for Bay du Nord FPSO pre-FEED. Floater specialist BW Offshore has been awarded a contract for the pre-FEED study of the Bay du Nord FPSO by Norwegian oil major Equinor.Andreas Sohmen-Pao’s company said in a social media post that the Bay du Nord development marks an exciting step forward for the offshore energy sector in Canada.
https://splash247.com/equinor-taps-bw-offshore-for-bay-du-nord-fpso-pre-feed/
5. India Widens Approvals for Russian Insurers After Oil Sanctions. India widened backing for Russian insurers as the largest buyer of Moscow’s seaborne crude strives to keep discounted barrels flowing, after the US imposed fresh sanctions earlier this month.
https://gcaptain.com/india-widens-approvals-for-russian-insurers-after-oil-sanctions/
6. Crude Oil Tanker Fleet Growth Flatlines as Deliveries Hit Lowest Level Since 1988. New crude oil tanker deliveries hit a 36-year low in 2024, with only 17 new vessels joining the global fleet, representing a capacity of 2.5 million deadweight tonnes (DWT), according to BIMCO.This marks a dramatic 74% drop in delivery capacity compared to the previous year.
https://gcaptain.com/crude-oil-tanker-fleet-growth-flatlines-as-deliveries-hit-lowest-level-since-1988/
7. Royal Navy Tracks Russian Spy Ship in English Channel. The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset intercepted and monitored the Russian spy ship Yantar as it passed through the English Channel, marking the vessel’s second incursion near critical undersea infrastructure in recent months.
https://gcaptain.com/royal-navy-tracks-russian-spy-ship-in-english-channel/
8. ‘Be Serious’, Says Panama President on Trump ‘Invasion’ Question. Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino responded “be serious, be serious” on Wednesday when asked in Davos whether he was concerned the U.S. would invade after President Donald Trump said he would take back the Panama Canal.
https://gcaptain.com/be-serious-says-panama-president-on-trump-invasion-question/
9. LNG traders divert six US cargoes to Europe from Asia. Traders diverted at least six cargoes of liquefied natural gas that were on course for Asia to Europe earlier this month, drawn by higher European prices and amid weak Asian demand, according to analysts and shipping data.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/LNG+traders+divert+six+US+cargoes+to+Europe+from+Asia
10. “JNPA amongst top global ports and India’s largest port with 10 plus million TEUs capacity”: Sarbananda Sonowal. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched multiple projects worth nearly ?2,000 crore in order to expand capacity at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai, today. The Union Minister also launched one Solar powered boat, two indigenously developed 70T tugs and three fire tenders, boosting the safety and efficiency of the port.
https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/%E2%80%9CJNPA+amongst+top+global+ports+and+India%E2%80%99s+largest+port+with+10+plus+million+TEUs+capacity%E2%80%9D%3A+Sarbananda+Sonowal
