WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Group and one of the world's leading builders of specialized vessels, has signed a new contract with the US research organization Inkfish for the design and construction of an advanced research vessel. The deal is valued at over USD$233 million (€200 million).The custom-built research vessel, designated Project RV6000, is specifically designed for scientific exploration. It will join Inkfish's expanding fleet, alongside the RV Hydra and RV Dagon, to support global marine research. In close collaboration with host countries, the data collected will contribute to open-source repositories.

Rescuers pulled six crew members alive from the Red Sea after Houthi militants attacked and sank a second ship this week, while the fate of another 15 was unknown after the Iran-aligned group said they held some of the seafarers.The Houthis claimed responsibility for the assault that maritime officials say killed four of the 25 people aboard the Eternity C before the rest abandoned the cargo ship. Eternity C went down Wednesday morning after attacks on two previous days, sources at security companies involved in a rescue operation said.The six rescued seafarers spent more than 24 hours in the water, those firms said.

Rescuers pulled six crew members alive from the Red Sea on Wednesday and 15 were still missing from the second of two ships sunk in recent days in attacks claimed by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia after months of calm.Four of the 25 people aboard the Eternity C cargo ship were killed before the rest of the crew abandoned the vessel, which sank on Wednesday morning after being attacked on Monday and Tuesday, sources at security companies involved in a rescue operation said.The six seafarers who were rescued had spent more than 24 hours in the water, they said.The Houthis said on Wednesday they had sunk the Eternity C.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called for intensified diplomatic efforts following a renewed wave of attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called for intensified diplomatic efforts following a renewed wave of attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea. Addressing the IMO Council in London, Dominguez expressed dismay over recent assaults on the Magic Seas and Eternity C, both targeted on 6 and 7 July. At least three fatalities and several injuries have been reported aboard the Eternity C, while all 22 crew members of the Magic Seas were safely rescued.

Four seafarers on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Eternity C were killed in a drone and speedboat attack off Yemen, an official with knowledge of the issue said on Tuesday, the second incident in a day after months of calm.The Red Sea, which passes Yemen's coast, has long been a critical waterway for the world's oil and commodities but traffic has dropped since the Iran-aligned Houthi militia began targeting ships in November 2023 in what they said was solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.