We are well into the discussions advising shipbuilders and operators how the U.S. will create a renaissance of the maritime industry. Federal Legislation, Executive Orders, and new foreign partnerships driving the promise of commercial competitiveness with the leading global shipbuilders. Most of the shipbuilding rhetoric indicates the domestic markets will be left to survive on their own.
The military and Coast Guard budgets are established that will benefit the U.S. ship building and repair sector, but what will stimulate the commercial yards?This author has been scratching his head of late, after a thrilling dive into July’s U.S. Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has asked several colleagues where the funding for support commercial shipbuilding can be found? To answer that
Norwegian oil and gas company Aker BP has completed the installation of a jacket for a new production platform at the Valhall field in the Southern North Sea.The Valhall production and wellhead platform (PWP) jacket has been installed with the support from Allseas' Pioneering Spirit and Heerema Marine Contractors' Sleipnir, two of the world’s largest offshore vessels
Kraken Robotics Inc. announced the passing of founder and former CEO, Karl Kenny on February 11, 2025, at the age of 64. Karl founded Kraken in 2012 and was instrumental in building the company into a leading player in subsea robotics over his 10-year tenure, before retiring in December 2022.
On December 3, the U.S. Coast Guard released their report on the Spirit of Boston fire on March 24, 2023. The fire occurred onboard the vessel in the Boston Harbor after an evening dinner excursion. The vessel suffered extensive fire damage and was taken out of service for repairs.
Spirit of Mulgumpin, a customized 22-meter tour vessel Incat Crowther has designed for The Tour Collective’s See Moreton business has entered service supporting See Moreton’s operations in the Moreton Bay Marine Park in Queensland, AustraliaNamed in honor of the local Indigenous name for Moreton Island – ‘Mulgumpin’ – Spirit of Mulgumpin has been designed to support the unique schedule and
The Royal Van Beest Group announced that it has acquired Enduro Softslings. Established ten years ago in The Netherlands, Enduro Softslings has secured a leading position in the lifting industry through its manufacturing capabilities, custom-made soft slings, and customer support. As part of the Royal Van Beest Group, the leader behind brands like Green Pin and Irizar Forge
Offshore industry leader Allseas selected Dutch maritime design house Vuyk Engineering to design its new semi-submersible Heavy Transport Vessel (HTV) ‘Grand Tour’. Purpose-designed to support seamless topsides transfers to ‘Pioneering Spirit’, the vessel represents a major step forward in integrated offshore transport and installation solutions.
Offshore contractor Allseas has signed a construction contract with Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China for a purpose-built semi-submersible heavy transport vessel (HTV), marking a major expansion of its fleet capabilities.The vessel, to be named Grand Tour, is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2028.
EnQuest completed the removal of the Heather Alpha topsides on August 11.The Allseas-owned Pioneering Spirit heavy lift vessel removed the 15,300 tonne topsides in a single lift, the largest single lift planned in the North Sea this year.EnQuest Decommissioning Director, John Allan, said: “The Pioneering Spirit completed the lift in around 14 seconds
Lankhorst Ropes has supplied high capacity, ultra-heavy lift slings to Allseas’ Pioneering Spirit for the transportation and lowering of a 7,300 tonne jacket for a converter platform for the German offshore project BorWin 5.The Lankhorst Gama 98 slings held the jacket in position above the stern of the Pioneering Spirit for the 2-day journey to the installation site.
The port of Prince Rupert has welcomed the startup of Wolverine Terminals’ marine bunkering service for deep sea shipping, adding a key logistical capability to this strategic deepwater port on the west coast of Canada. Using a unique pair of barges designed by Robert Allan Ltd., Wolverine Terminals can deliver a wide range of fuels to suit the needs of vessels calling at the port