Sea1 Offshore Launches First OESV Sea1 Diamond
22, July 2026
Sea1 Offshore has launched Sea1 Diamond, the first of four 120 m Offshore Energy Support Vessels being built by COSCO Shipping for delivery from 2027.
China
China Defends Panama-Flag Ship Inspections Against U.S. Claims
16, July 2026
China rejected U.S. claims that inspections of Panama-flagged ships amount to maritime coercion, saying the checks follow international rules and reflect vessel safety incidents.
KANG SHENG KOU Transports Saturn 5701 Barge to Brazil
7, July 2026
COSCO’s semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel KANG SHENG KOU transported the Saturn 5701 barge from China to Brazil, where it was safely offloaded after an approximately 45-day voyage.
China Deploys AI Welding Robot for Offshore Rig Fabrication
17, June 2026
China has deployed a domestically built AI robotic welding system in Tianjin to support offshore rig fabrication and improve shipyard safety and efficiency.
U.S. Senators Seek Ban on Chinese and Russian Research Vessels in Arctic Waters
16, June 2026
U.S. lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent Chinese and Russian government-linked research vessels from operating in U.S. Arctic waters amid growing security concerns near Alaska.
China’s Pinglu Canal Set for Early Trial Operations
1, June 2026
China’s $10 billion Pinglu Canal is set to begin trial operations as early as September, linking Guangxi’s inland regions to the Gulf of Tonkin.
Chinese Coast Guard Vessel Leaves Pratas Waters After Taiwan Standoff
26, May 2026
A Chinese coast guard vessel departed waters near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands following a standoff and verbal exchange with Taiwan’s coast guard.
BBC KIBO Carries 600t Tugboats to Nigeria
22, May 2026
BBC Chartering is carrying 600 tonnes of tugboats from Zhangjiagang, China, to Apapa, Nigeria, aboard the multipurpose heavy-lift vessel BBC KIBO.
Chinese-Owned Vessel Hit in Odesa Ahead of Putin China Visit
19, May 2026
A Chinese-owned vessel was hit during a Russian drone strike on Odesa, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, days before Vladimir Putin’s planned state visit to Beijing.
