EIDE LIFT

A Japanese consortium led by shipping giant NYK Line has developed a new port-based floating data center concept designed to accelerate the commercialization of offshore data centers while addressing growing constraints on land availability, electrical power and construction timelines.The consortium, comprising Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), NTT FACILITIES, Eurus Energy Holdings and MUFG Bank, envisions floating data centers moored alongside existing port quays, leveraging established shoreside infrastructure and local energy resources.

Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off the coast of Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia's ambassador.Two cargo ships were hit by drones overnight and one was sunk, Bulgarian officials said. Bulgaria stopped short of explicitly accusing Russia of carrying out the attacks but Prime Minister Rumen Radev said their outcome "benefits the Russian Federation".There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the incidents."This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters," Radev said in a televised address.

Bibby Marine has launched its new battery-first electric commissioning service operation vessel (eCSOV) at Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, ahead of its planned delivery in 2027.The vessel, which will carry the name Staffordshire, entered the water on October 10 and will undergo further outfitting at the shipyard over the coming months, including the installation of its battery systems.Unlike conventional hybrid-assist designs, the eCSOV is designed to use its energy storage system as the primary source of power rather than as a supplementary propulsion system.

LD Armateurs and Norsepower completed installation of six rotor sails aboard Spirit of Toulouse, the first of three low-emission RoRo vessels being built to transport aircraft components for Airbus between Europe and North America.The installation, completed by Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group at an outfitting facility in Shanghai, makes Spirit of Toulouse the world's largest RoRo vessel equipped with wind-assisted propulsion and, according to the companies, the vessel carrying the greatest number of mechanical sails.Each Norsepower Rotor Sail measures 35 meters high and five meters in diameter.

Oil markets initially treated the Iran war as a brief bullish disruption in a long-term bearish trend. But traders are now betting that oil prices will remain elevated through 2028, forcing a rethink of the global inflation outlook.Eight months into the war, the buffers that helped absorb the initial energy shock – most notably onshore crude oil stockpiles – are wearing dangerously thin. At the same time, the recovery in crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile, global refining capacity has been eroded and credible diplomatic pathways to end the conflict appear narrower than ever.Global benchmark Brent crude futures tell the story.