UK-based offshore energy supply chain Balmoral Comtec has secured a multi-million dollar contract from Ørsted to supply cable protection systems for its Hornsea 3 offshore wind project. The contract includes design engineering, supply of 400 cable protection systems and handling and installation training. Balmoral Comtec’s patented system is designed to improve the operational performance and fatigue life of underwater cables. Hornsea 3 is the world’s largest offshore wind farm and is expected to be operational by 2027.

Researchers have discovered a potential breeding ground for smooth hammerhead sharks near an island in Ecuador's Galapagos archipelago. The "nursery" will be the first breeding site for the species, which is considered "vulnerable" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species. The Galapagos Islands are home to many unique species and were crucial to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

New research reveals potential effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on hormones in sea turtles. The 2010 oil spill exposed hundreds of thousands of sea turtles to oil and killed up to 86,500 juvenile Kemp's ridley turtles, a critically endangered species. A total of 319 live sea turtles were recovered following the spill and transported to rehabilitation facilities for medical evaluation and treatment. Scientists at the New England Aquarium's Anderson-Cabot Marine Life Center have developed a test to analyze the hormone aldosterone in sea turtle blood. The results showed that when the turtles arrived for treatment, they had abnormally elevated concentrations of aldosterone, corticosterone and thyroid hormones, which can affect metabolism, electrolytes and other processes.

Forum Energy Technologies (FET) has been awarded a contract by AQUA Exploracion to supply one of its Perry XLX-C work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). With a depth rating of 2,000 m and the compact Dynacon LARS design, this ROV will enhance seafloor exploration, inspection and intervention operations in challenging environments. It is equipped with a seven-function robotic arm for complex underwater procedures. The ROV will be refurbished and retested at FET’s UK facility before being used in AQUA Exploracion operations.

Houston-based subsea equipment specialist Koil Energy has secured a multi-million dollar subsea safety control system contract from a major international energy company. The contract includes the design, procurement, manufacturing, installation and testing of KOIL’s technology solutions. Engineering and procurement will begin in 2024, followed by manufacturing in Houston in 2025.

UK-based Exail has been contracted by French maritime services provider Bourbon to supply Octans Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) units for integration into its fleet. Octans AHRS will increase the efficiency of Bourbon vessels in installation, maintenance and repair tasks in the oil and gas and offshore wind industries. The units will be installed on several Bourbon Evolution 800 Series multipurpose support vessels, providing measurements of roll, pitch and heave.

France-based Vallourec has secured an order from ExxonMobil to supply line pipe for the Whiptail development offshore Guyana. This is the fourth major order within the framework of the long-term agreement signed in 2021. The Whiptail order strengthens Vallourec’s strategic supplier relationship with ExxonMobil Guyana. The project is located in the Stabroek Block, a strategic basin covering an area of ​​26,800 square kilometers off the Guyana continental shelf.

Malaysia-based Sapura Energy has been awarded a five-year contract to provide subsea services to the Malaysian subsidiary of Thai oil company PTTEP. The contract, which is effective from February 21, 2024, includes diving support vessels, air and saturation diving systems, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other related subsea services. Sapura's scope of work includes subsea inspection, restoration, maintenance, abandonment, intervention and decommissioning. PTTEP's investment portfolio in Malaysia includes exploration, development and production phases.

Finnish subsidiary Arctia Meritaito has been awarded a contract by the Norwegian Mapping Agency to carry out hydrographic seabed surveys in Sørvest F, a potential offshore wind area in the North Sea. The survey will be conducted using multi-beam echo sounders and seafloor profilers as the Norwegian government aims to increase access to renewable energy.

OMV Petrom has appointed ABL to provide Marine Warranty Survey (MWS) services for the Neptun Deep gas field project in Romania’s Black Sea.
• ABL's London operations will review, investigate and approve all operations related to the transportation and installation of critical project assets.
• The scope of work includes T&I of shallow water platforms, subsea installation and 160 km of subsea pipelines.
• The Neptun Deep project is Romania’s largest natural gas project in the Black Sea and is expected to come on stream in 2027.
• ABL's project management will be centralized in London, with the local Black Sea business unit responsible for operations and site management.
• ABL's global team will support the project's global supply chain, including its Indonesian operations.
• OMV Petrom and Romgaz in June 2023 approved development plans for the Domino and Pelican South commercial gas fields in the Neptun Deep block.