ESVAGT AURORA

When tensions rise in the Middle East, it can be helpful to look at what is not happening as much as what is.In the crude oil market, this means focusing on the fact that so far not a single barrel of crude oil supply has been lost. It is in the interests of all involved parties that this remains the case.Crude oil prices rose again in early trade in Asia on Monday, with global benchmark Brent futures LCOc1 gaining 2.1% to trade at $75.76 a barrel.This built upon the 7% leap on June 13, which saw Brent rise to the highest in nearly five months as Israel launched a series of drone and air strikes that killed several top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists and damaged nuclear facilities.

Ships warned to avoid Red Sea, log Hormuz voyages after Israel hits IranMerchant shipping is continuing to pass through the Strait of Hormuz despite Israel's attacks on Iran on Friday, the multinational, U.S.-led Combined Maritime Force said, although some shipowners were looking to avoid the region.Iran has in the past threatened to close the critical Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation for Western pressure. Any closure of the Strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.

Davie, a leader in icebreaker and specialized vessel construction, announced plans to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation — marking a major step toward revitalizing large-scale shipbuilding of icebreakers in the United States. The move underscores growing momentum behind domestic production of ice-capable vessels and aligns with U.S. maritime security and industrial revitalization goals.The deal, expected to close in summer 2025, is subject to standard financial, regulatory, and land lease approvals, including negotiations with the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees.

GTT has received a new order from HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) for the tank design of a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier.The LNG carrier will be built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries on behalf of the ship-owner Purus, a specialist in low-carbon maritime transport solutions.As part of this order, GTT will design the vessel’s cryogenic tanks, which will have a total capacity of 180,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system, developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessel is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027.

PETRONAS CCS Ventures Sdn. Bhd. (PCCSV) MISC Berhad (MISC), and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., (MOL) announced the incorporation of a strategic joint venture (JV), Jules Nautica Sdn. Bhd. This JV will lead the development and act as the ultimate owner of Liquefied Carbon Dioxide (LCO₂) carriers, which are critical for transporting LCO₂ to designated storage sites as part of advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions.The trio completed the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for a 62,000 cubic meter LCO2 carrier, which was awarded to Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI).