Releases
Announcements, partnerships, and product updates from Blackwell.
Industry News
Headlines from across the maritime and offshore energy industry.
Transocean Secures $550M in US Gulf Drillship Deals
Transocean has secured approximately $550 million in firm backlog from US Gulf contracts for Deepwater Proteus and Deepwater Conqueror.[6][10] The awards cover 15 wells, with work expected to begin in the first and third quarters of 2027.[6]
Source: Offshore Engineer
Mid Atlantic coast bracing for October nor'easter
ABC News reports a prolonged coastal storm with strong winds and large waves from North Carolina to New Jersey.[2] NOAA's latest bulletin forecasts winds of 35 to 50 knots in specified sectors of the western Atlantic, adding an offshore weather risk to the coastal warnings.[3]
Source: ABC News
U.S. Sets First Deep Sea Mining Lease Sale for November
The United States has confirmed a 19 November auction for two seabed mineral lease areas covering about 31.5 million acres near American Samoa.[6][12] Winning a lease would allow preliminary work such as mapping, not immediate commercial mining.[12]
Source: gCaptain
Natural Gas Project Paused After Greenpeace Protest Off Western Australia
Woodside said work remained paused on 18 October at the floating production unit for its $12.5 billion Scarborough gas project after Greenpeace activists climbed aboard.[4] The company said it had halted work before commissioning because of unauthorized access.[4]
Source: Reuters
The Port of Rotterdam loses 20% of its transshipment traffic while keeping container volumes stable
Rotterdam's inland container volumes rose 7.2 percent in the first nine months of 2026, while transshipment fell 20 percent.[1][5] The port attributes the shift to terminal capacity limits that are sending some cargo through other ports.[1][5]
Source: El Estrecho Digital
Taiwan's 1GW Hai Long Offshore Wind Farm Brings All Turbines Online
All 73 turbines at Taiwan's 1 GW Hai Long offshore wind project are installed and generating electricity.[5] Northland Power still expects final permitting approvals in the first half of 2027, so the milestone does not mark final project completion.[5][7]
Source: Offshore Engineer
International Seaways Adds to VLCC Fleet with $370 Million Bruton Deal
International Seaways has agreed to acquire Bruton for approximately $370 million, covering one operating crude tanker and three ships under construction.[3][8] The deal still requires a shareholder vote and closing conditions, with most of the consideration payable in shares.[3][8]
Source: gCaptain
Wind assisted shipping gains ground as Airbus RoRo adds rotor sails
LD Armateurs has completed installation of six rotor sails on Spirit of Toulouse, the first of three ships chartered to carry Airbus aircraft assemblies across the Atlantic.[1][4] Sea trials will test the equipment before further adjustments during the maiden voyage from China to France.[4]
Source: gCaptain
Subsea7 contracts Worley for Northern Lights' key subsea structures
Subsea7 has awarded Worley Rosenberg fabrication work for the second phase of Norway's Northern Lights carbon transport and storage project.[10][11] The expansion targets annual capacity above 5 million tonnes by 2028, compared with 1.5 million tonnes in the first phase.[11]
Source: Offshore Energy
Seven Sailors Missing After Chemical Tankers Struck Near Romania
Drone strikes set two chemical tankers ablaze near Romania's Black Sea coast, with seven Wine Trader crew members missing when Reuters reported on 15 October.[6] The attacks affected shipping near the Danube export route used by Ukraine.[6]
Source: Reuters
DEME's Norse Energi Tapped for Zeevonk Wind Turbine Installation
DEME has signed a contract to transport and install 69 turbines at the Netherlands' Zeevonk offshore wind farm.[4][8] Mobilization is expected in 2028, but the project still requires a final investment decision.[4][8]
Source: Ocean News & Technology
Singapore to build digital bunkering data ecosystem
Singapore plans a November grant call for trials that automate bunker data transfers from measuring equipment to industry participants and the regulator.[1][2] Licensed bunker craft operators can apply with their technology partners.[1][2]
Source: The Business Times